Veterans Motorplex At The Rim

Informational Meeting

Please join us Nov 9th at 1 pm at the grandstands for info regarding the upcoming 2020 race season here at Veterans Motorplex at The Rim

RACE REPORTS FOR OCTOBER 19, 2019

(all photos by Gary Chopik unless noted)

It was hard to accept that the day that started out so beautifully could end so abruptly. Practice saw sunny skies and pleasant temperatures at the Little Track on the Hill, but by the time the racing was due to begin the skies had clouded up and before time trials had completed a light curtain of mist was descending, just enough to delay events. The track crew was, as ever, right on the problem and the racing surface was cleared with only a slight delay, the first races being for…

BABY GRANDS
Sweeps seemed to be the order of the event on Pull-A-Part Night, and the first was scored by the hustlin’ Hoosier, Danny Trent. Trent nabbed fast time, the heat race win, and the feature win in a thoroughly dominant performance…despite being dead last on lap 1! As ever, Justin Shanes gave it his all, but this time the flying deuce from Martinsville would not be caught, Shanes even looping his #24 racer in his spirited pursuit. Mark Cole brought home a top three after a vicious wreck ended the night for Tim Vinsant and Jessie Binkley (who made a visit to the ambulance for a sore hand) while Darrell Fudge who had spun a couple of times as well) managed to get his 13 back on the track—minus its front bodywork!—in time to complete the full distance. “I love this joint!” Trent declared in Victory Lane. “It’s a driver’s track!” He sure does seem to have acclimated to it…

Close quarters racing sees Justin Shanes (24) leading Danny Trent (2) off of turn 4.

Baby Grands Feature Race Finish
1. Danny Trent (2) 25 laps
2. Justin Shanes (24) 25 laps
3. Mark Cole (50) 25 laps
4. Darrell Fudge (13) 25 laps
5. Tim Vinsant (14) 17 laps
Other finisher: 6. Jessie Binkley (25) 17 laps

Baby Grands Heat Race Top Five
1. Danny Trent (2) 10 laps
2. Tim Vinsant (14) 10 laps
3. Jessie Binkley (25) 10 laps
4. Justin Shanes (24) 10 laps
5. Mark Cole (50) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Danny Trent (2) 13.971 64.419 mph

HIM AGAIN? Yup, it’s the man from Martinsville, Danny Trent, taking home the hardware.

PRO 4 ASPHALT SERIES
The Pro 4 Asphalt Series inaugural champion, Rick Rowland, made just one more start, but not in his usual blue 82. No, on this night he was in his son’s normal ride, the 51, which had already seen Victory Lane at Veterans Motorplex in 2019. While he did have to give way in the heat race to Michael Carter (his first VMR win!) in the feature he was as steady and smooth as always though Jaclyn Barnett and Michael Meadows (in the white Smyrna Ready Mix machine again) kept him honest. Carter wound up fourth, while Jeffrey Lee’s 79 could not make the call for the feature.

Pro 4 Asphalt Series Feature Race Finish
1. Rick Rowland (51) 25 laps
2. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 25 laps
3. Michael Meadows (17X) 25 laps
4. Michael Carter (07) 25 laps
DNS: Jeffrey Lee (79)

Michael Carter won the battle in the Pro 4 Asphalt Series heat race, but…

Pro 4 Asphalt Series Heat Race Top Five
1. Michael Carter (07) 10 laps
2. Rick Rowland (51) 10 laps
3. Michael Meadows (17X) 10 laps
4. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 10 laps
5. Jeffrey Lee (79) 4 laps

Fast qualifier: Rick Rowland (51) 14.956 60.177 mph

…it was series champ Rick Rowland answering Lanny Adams’ questions in Victory Lane after the feature race.

PURE STOCKS
On his way to a championship…? Or perhaps the question mark isn’t appropriate anymore…on this night Josh Hood did what he needed to do, completing the second sweep of the weekend in Pure Stocks. The only car remotely close to the black 08 was the BLUE 08, that of Ronnie Upchurch. Upchurch gave a good chase but to be fair, Hood was in his own area code. Donold Webb Jr came back this weekend to wheel the 27 to third in the main, ahead of Michael Williams. Making a brave return after his horrifying roll down the back stretch on August 24th, Willie Coats presented himself in the 11, sore but competitive, and brought the machine home in 5th. Hood merely needs to start next weekend’s race to secure the 2019 Pure Stock championship title.

He didn’t win the race, but for Willie Coats to even be in a race car was remarkable considering his brutal barrel roll down the backstretch in August.

Pure Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
2. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 30 laps
3. Donold Webb Jr (27) 30 laps
4. Michael Williams (91) 30 laps
5. Willie Coats (11) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Brandon Ladd (40) 17 laps

Pure Stocks Heat Race Top Five
1. Josh Hood (08X) 10 laps
2. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 10 laps
3. Michael Williams (91) 10 laps
4. Donold Webb Jr (27) 10 laps
5. Brandon Ladd (40) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Josh Hood (08X) 14.853 60.594 mph

One start away: Josh Hood won the Pure Stock feature and by his calculations needs only to start next weekend’s race to clinch the championship.

PULL-A-PART PRO 8 LATE MODEL
When you beat Mark Day in a straight fight at Veterans Motorplex, you know you’ve accomplished something! Dylan Fetcho did just that in the Pull-A-APart Pro 8 Late Models on the sponsor’s own special night. Fetcho dove under Day on lap 10 and withstood multiple challenges from the perennial champion to claim the win. Day never gave up even as he scraped the wall repeatedly but was unable to repass the 89. Previous race winner Jonathan Wilhite chased the leading pair but was never able to close in enough to contend, while Dylan Jones brought the Climer 05 home in fourth. Blake Isenberg tossed sparks in every turn but survived for fifth, just managing to hold off a disappointed Walt Garrison. We may get a chance to revisit the Fetcho/Day battle next weekend as Dylan reported that he’d be back for the final race of the year…

This is how close the two leaders ran in the Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Model feature race…Mark Day (8) outside, Dylan Fetcho (89) inside.

Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Model Feature Race Finish
1. Dylan Fetcho (89) 50 laps
2. Mark Day (8) 50 laps
3. Jonathan Wilhite (71) 50 laps
4. Dylan Jones (05) 50 laps
5. Blake Isenberg (77) 49 laps
Other finishers: 6. Walt Garrison (5.3) 49 laps

Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Model Heat Race Top Five
1. Mark Day (8) 10 laps
2. Walt Garrison (5.3) 10 laps
3. Jonathan Wilhite (71) 10 laps
4. Dylan Jones (05) 10 laps
5. Blake Isenberg (77) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Dylan Fetcho (89) 13.267 67.837 mph

Tired but happy, Dylan Fetcho climbs from his racer after claiming the Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Model feature.

PEST DOCTOR RIDGE RUNNERS
Last weekend Jesse Litchford ruled the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners roost; this weekend Daniel Harper was on the top perch as he swept the board in the speedy front wheel drive division. Litchford arrived arrived late and had no practice (and a bad wheel bearing!) but still qualified second fastest…in the race though, it was Harper from flag-to-flag. Josh Harrell had to withstand a late challenge from Litchford, but the mist that would soon put an end to the night’s events made the track just a little slick and the move that might’ve gotten the 58 into contention for the win turned into a lurid slide that Jesse JUST managed to keep off the wall. At that point perhaps he might’ve figured that third was better than a wadded-up car, though he did close back in on the 411 in the waning laps but just fell short…Josh Garvin and Steve Akey had their own private battle throughout with Garvin eventually claiming fourth and Moonshiner 50 winner Akey fifth.

The same, but different…Jesse Litchford (58) returned but was unable to turn away the advances of the 95 of Daniel Harper.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Feature Race Finish
1. Daniel Harper (95) 30 laps
2. Josh Harrell (411) 30 laps
3. Jesse Litchford (58) 30 laps
4. Josh Garvin (25) 30 laps
5. Steve Akey (99) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Tony Chambers (43) 6 laps, 7. Marc Deist (423) 1 lap. DNS: David Ray Bates (88)

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Heat Race Top Five
1. Daniel Harper (95) 10 laps
2. Jesse Litchford (58) 10 laps
3. Josh Garvin (25) 10 laps
4. Josh Harrell (411) 10 laps
5. Steve Akey (99) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Daniel Harper (95) 15.099 59.607 mph

Division sponsor Roger (The Pest Doctor) Kidd joins Nikki Criswell, winner Daniel Harper, and Chris Carter in Victory Lane after the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners feature.

ROAD WARRIORS
The mist that preempted qualifying returned in the closing laps of the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners feature, which resulted in the Road Warriors being unable to compete in their feature. Still, they did get their heat race completed, which resulted in the second straight checkered flag for Kasey Williams (winner of the feature one week prior), and a far more unfortunate result for Brandon Miller, who piled his #59 into the turn two wall in as vicious a hit as we’ve seen this year that didn’t end in a roll. Brandon was shaken and was transported to Skyline for a checkup but was treated and released to hopefully race again. David Lassiter ended up second in the prelim, ahead of Derrick Bissinger, Austin Jacobs took a fine fourth, and Jerry Langston was fifth.

OUCH. Literally. Brandon Miller and “Scrappy” had a mechanical failure and ended up in the turn 2 wall. Brandon was checked and released; Scrappy is done for the year.

Road Warriors Heat Race Finish
1. Kasey Williams (K3) 10 laps
2. David Lassiter (6) 10 laps
3. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
4. Austin Jacobs (95) 10 laps
5. Jerry Langston (3) 10 laps
Other finishers: 6. Justin Doney (7), 7. Tony Chambers (43), 8. Jessie Pedigo (2), 9. David Ray Bates (88), 10. Cameron Choate (19), 11. Aaron Porter (04), 12. Brandon Miller (59) DNS: Lynn Newcomb (55)

Fast qualifier: David Lassiter (6) 17.244 52.192 mph

Rain precluded a feature win picture, but here’s Kasey Williams grabbing another checkered flag in the Road Warriors heat race.

NEXT WEEKEND…it’s the closing event of the 2019 season…and EVERYBODY RACES! And we do mean EVERYBODY! The Road Warriors, the Pro 4 Asphalt Series, the Legends, the Baby Grands, the Pure Stocks, the Super Stocks, the Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Models, and…100 laps for the Late Model Sportsman! EVERYBODY! What a way to put a cap on an outstanding season of action at Veterans Motorplex! REMEMBER: gates open at 2 PM, first green flag at 4 PM…all this action PLUS TRUNK OR TREAT for the kids, at YOUR HOME for FAMILY FRIENDLY high-banked racing excitement…VETERANS MOTORPLEX AT THE RIM, where ACTION is the ATTRACTION!

#MyTrackMyRoots

Pull-A-Part Night

Please join us this Saturday Oct 19 , 2019 for another exciting night of racing.

It’s PULL-A-PART NIGHT!
Featuring…
100 laps for the Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Models
50 laps for the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners
30 laps for the Pure Stocks
25 laps for the Baby Grands
25 laps for the Pro 4 Asphalt Series
20 laps for the Road Warriors
Plus qualifying and heat races…DON’T MISS A LAP!

Tickets are available at the track on event days.

** Family Pack Special **
$30 for 2 Adults and up to 6 minor children ( less than $4.00 per person )

Pit admission is $35 per person.

Regular Events Grandstand Admission: Adult $12.00

62+ Senior $10.00

Military ID $10.00

13-17 Students $10.00

6-12 Youth $5.00

Children ages 5 and under are always free with a paid adult

FREE PARKING !!!

Racing starts at 6 pm.
6801 Kelly Willis Rd.
Greenbrier , Tn 37073

Juston Maxwell and Hunter Wright are on their way to the INEX Asphalt Nationals.

(All photos by Gary Chopik)

Wow! What a weekend we had for Race 2 Include…and one week later we reconvened to learn just what had been wrought…a grand total of no less than $22,118.58 was raised for DSAMT! AMAZING! That we should be blessed thus with such gorgeous weather for the next race night was only appropriate…well, to be fair, it WAS sunny, but as that sun went down, so did the temperature…it seems Mother Nature finally figured out that it really WAS Autumn and she was making up for lost time! Our general response to that sort of thing is, well, that’s okay…just put on more clothes and come out and enjoy the racing…and the folks that did were treated to some fine action and a slew of brand new faces in Victory Lane…including one that was WAY overdue!

Jesse Litchford was *the* *Man* in the Pest Doctor Ridge Runenrs!

PEST DOCTOR RIDGE RUNNERS
All right, full disclosure: the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners event was strictly the Jesse Litchford show. There’s really no other way to put it. He was fast qualifier (by three tenths!), heat race winner, and in dominating the feature Jesse executed a clean sweep of the night’s events and but for a slight handling issue that slowed him in the late going he might’ve lapped up to third place! Josh Harrell pursued gamely but didn’t have anything for the flying 58. Moonshiner 50 winner Steve Akey ran third, with Justin Dickens fourth and Marc Deist fifth.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Feature Race Finish
1. Jesse Litchford (58) 25 laps
2. Josh Harrell (411) 25 laps
3. Steve Akey (99) 25 laps
4. Justin Dickens (73) 25 laps
5. Marc Deist (423) 24 laps
Other finishers: 6. Tony Chambers (43) 24 laps, 7. Lance Steele (10) 24 laps. DNS: Ricky Calkins (413).

Jesse Litchford and crew celebrate in Victory Lane.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Heat Race Top Five
1. Jesse Litchford (58) 10 laps
2. Josh Harrell (411) 10 laps
3. Steve Akey (99) 10 laps
4. Justin Dickens (73) 10 laps
5. Marc Deist (423) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Jesse Litchford (58) 15.147 59.418 mph

ROAD WARRIORS
AT LAST! Kasey Williams FINALLY broke through and won his first ever feature in a race that saw seven or eight cars circulating in close company throughout…several of which had X flags looming over them. Amazingly though, the second half of the race was run with NO X flags, every lap being turned a tenth of a second above the 17 second breakout time. It was an amazing display of precision driving that had to be seen to be believed. In the end it came down to a shootout between ten time winner and points leader David Lassiter and Williams, with Williams half a car length to the good at the line. Lassiter settled for second, with Jerry Langston third, David Ray Bates fourth, and Derrick Bissinger fifth (minus a good portion of the passenger side bodywork!) Justin Doney took his first-ever VMR checkered flag in the heat race, while fast qualifier Aaron Porter claimed the victory in the trophy dash, edging Scott Conner at the line in a thrilling photo finish!

Gettin’ with it…David Lassiter (6) leads Kasey Williams (K3), David Ray Bates (88), Derrick Bissinger (469), and Jerry Langston (3) off turn four late in the Road Warriors main.

Road Warriors Feature Race Finish
1. Kasey Williams (K3) 20 laps
2. David Lassiter (6) 20 laps
3. Jerry Langston (3) 20 laps
4. David Ray Bates (88) 20 laps
5. Derrick Bissinger (469) 20 laps
Other finishers: 6. Tony Chambers (43) 20 laps, 7. Justin Doney (7) 14 laps, 8. Lynn Newcomb (55) 14 laps, 9. Scott Conner (07) 12 laps, 10. Aaron Porter (04) 10 laps, 11. Nate Allen (01) 6 laps. DNS: Austin Jacobs (95).

That *first win feeling…*Kasey Williams savors it!

Road Warriors Heat Race Top Five
1. Justin Doney (7) 10 laps
2. David Lassiter (6) 10 laps
3. Kasey Williams (K3) 10 laps
4. Scott Conner (07) 10 laps
5. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps

Road Warriors Non-Winners Trophy Dash Finish
1. Aaron Porter (04) 10 laps
2. Scott Conner (7) 10 laps
3. Chase Allen (07) 10 laps
4. Lynn Newcomb (55) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Aaron Porter (04) 17.027 52.857 mph

How close was the finish of the Road Warriors trophy dash? **THIS** close!

LEGENDS
Another first time winner? Why not TWO wins? With a stout field of Legends, this feat didn’t come easy for Bryson Shaffer, but we finally got to see his face in Victory Lane, not just once but twice as the 12 car topped both the heat race and the main. In the feature the youngster from Jackson had to hold off a determined Hunter Wright, the two dicing furiously through lapped traffic and ultimately having to avoid the car of Paul Jones sitting sideways in the fourth turn on the last lap…a hair-raising moment that both handled with aplomb. Oliver Cordell ran strongly in third, just ahead of Justin Maxwell, while Kouts, Indiana’s Ben Fidone took fifth. Wright was the night’s fast qualifier, and both his and Maxwell’s next stop are the INEX Asphalt Nationals in Swansboro, North Carolina.

Bryson Shaffer (12) holds off a determined Hunter Wright (29) in the waning laps.

Legends Feature Race Finish
1. Bryson Shaffer (12) 25 laps
2. Hunter Wright (12) 25 laps
3. Oliver Cordell (17) 25 laps
4. Justin Maxwell (20) laps
5. Ben Fidone (3) 25 laps
Other finishers: 6. Galen Clark (38) 24 laps, 7. Greg Gresham (11) 24 laps, 8. Paul Jones (36) 23 laps, 9. Scott Henderson (75) 23 laps, 10. Rod Nelson (35) 23 laps.

Legends Heat Race Top Five
1. Bryson Shaffer (12) 10 laps
2. Oliver Cordell (17) 10 laps
3. Justin Maxwell (29) 10 laps
4. Greg Gresham (11) 10 laps
5. Galen Clark (38) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Hunter Wright (29) 14.350 62.718 mph

Victory is sweeter still when it’s eluded you so many times before…ask Bryson Shaffer!

PURE STOCKS
There was a lot of sheet metal wrinkled in Pure Stocks on this night, and young Jackson McLerran had his best weekend of the season with a win in the heat race—his first ever—and a third in the feature. But the feature win belonged to Ronnie Upchurch…or at least it did once he finally muscled his way past leader Josh Hood with one lap to go. It took a while to get this one underway, with Michael Pannell pranging the wall off turn four on the initial green and bringing out a red flag, but once we finally did get going, Upchurch began steadily working his way up through the pack with some thrilling three-wide racing. Fast qualifier Michael Williams battled for the lead for the lead with Hood before a sideways moment eventually dropped him to fourth, and Landin Dickens came back from an extra-crunchy sorta crash in the heat to claim fifth.

Early action sees an already wrinkled 331 of Landin Dickens alongside Jackson McLerran (7), with Cameron Choate (82) and eventual winner Ronnie Upchurch in hot pursuit.

Pure Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 30 laps
2. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
3. Jackson McLerran (7) 30 laps
4. Michael Williams (91) 30 laps
5. Landin Dickens (331) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. James Webb (27) 30 laps, 7. Cameron Choate (82) 30 laps, 8. Brandon Webb (40) 13 laps, 9. Michael Pannell (80) 0 laps. DNS: Danny Johnson (39), Bubba Turner (62).

Pure Stocks Heat Race Top Five
1. Jackson McLerran (7) 10 laps
2. Brandon Ladd (40) 10 laps
3. James Webb (27) 10 laps
4. Ronnie Upchurch (08)
5. Michael Williams (91)

Fast qualifier: Michael Williams (91) 14.919 60.326 mph

And, for the second time in as many weeks, it’s Ronnie Upchurch carrying the checkered flag!

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN
Coulda, woulda, shoulda…did! This Sportsman go could’ve been an epic event…we would’ve had eight really competitive machines, but for the issues Dillon Hoover had just before the green…then Chuck Adcock gave the turn 3 wall an almighty smack after a mechanical failure of some sort. Chuck was okay but the car was done. At this point we STILL should’ve had a terrific six way battle for the win and it looked pretty good from the get-go, with Bradley Arms giving the 3 car a spirited run before finally giving way to Thomas Pannell. While that was happening, Jeff Belt was quietly climbing into contention in the Climer Bonding 05, and when Arms had a sideways moment just before the halfway point, Belt darted past into second. A moment later, Arms and the 8 of Tre Ashworth came together, sending Arms skidding down the backstretch and bringing out the caution. This turned out to be the pivotal moment of the event, as on the restart Belt skidded up the hill in turn 2 and lost second to Arms. He would eventually get it back, but by that time Pannell was gone, and with fast time and the heat race already in his pocket, Thomas got out the broom and completed the clean sweep…the second of the night. Afterward, Pannell issued a Victory Lane challenge to all the absent area Sportsman drivers: “Open invitation to anybody that runs at Nashville…you want some, come get some…” Sounds like a throw down…!

Bradley Arms (3), Tre Ashworth (8) and Jeff Belt (05) all had solid runs…

Late Model Sportsman Feature Race Finish
1. Thomas Pannell (8T) 30 laps
2. Jeff Belt (05) 30 laps
3. Bradley Arms (3) 30 laps
4. Tre Ashworth (8) 30 laps
5. Wayne White (00) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Taylor Ryman (90) 30 laps, 7. Chuck Adcock (0) 1 lap, 8. Dillon Hoover (37) 0 laps.

Late Model Sportsman Heat Race Top Five
1. Thomas Pannell (8T) 10 laps
2. Bradley Arms (3) 10 laps
3. Wayne White (00) 10 laps
4. Taylor Ryman (90) 10 laps
5. Chuck Adcock (0) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Thomas Pannell (8T) 13.921 64.651 mph

…but it was a smiling Thomas Pannell wheeling the 8T into Victory Lane.

POWDER PUFF
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! For then there came the ladies…ten laps to determine the fastest distaff driver at Veterans Motorplex. It could’ve been good too, with six cars lined up…but after turn one, lap one, we were down to four, as Laurie Langston and Ragan Johnson made contact, pitching the 43 HIGH into the air and back down hard…poor Kelli Cunningham had nowhere to go and got collected. Langston and Cunningham retired on the spot; amazingly, the 43, which SHOULD have been terminal, continued…at least to the halfway mark and the caution for the invert, at which point it was finally discovered that the 43 had in fact sustained severe suspension damage and had to be withdrawn. Going placidly amid the noise and haste was Page Ryman, who sailed on to the win, invert or no invert! Mindy Hughes and Beverly Deist fought it out for second and third, with Hughes eventually prevailing.

Lauren Langston (3) and Ragan Johnson (43) led Page Ryman (2) and Beverly Deist toward the green flag.

Powder Puff Feature Race Finish
1. Page Ryman (2) 10 laps
2. Mindy Hughes (07) 10 laps
3. Beverly Deist (423) 10 laps
4. Ragan Johnson (43) 5 laps
5. Kelli Cunningham (88) 0 laps
Other finishers: 6. Lauren Langston (3) 0 laps

A Ryman in Victory Lane? Say it ain’t so! Page gets the post-race treatment from Lanny Adams.

THIS WEEKEND AT THE RIM: It’s PULL-A-PART NIGHT featuring the Southern 100 for the Pull-A-Part Pro 8 Late Models! The Pest Doctor Ridge Runners will be a back for a 50 lap event, and they’ll be joined by the Baby Grands, Pure Stocks, an encore appearance for the Pro 4 Asphalt Series, and…of course…the Road Warriors! All this, plus a chance to take home a 55 inch color TV, only at VETERANS MOTORPLEX at the RIM…where FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTION is the ATTRACTION!

#MyTrackMyRoots

RACE REPORTS FOR OCTOBER 5, 2019

(All photos by Gary Chopik)

Could Race 2 Include Night have been any better? An enthusiastic, generous crowd that raised over 13,000 dollars for Down Syndrome and DSAMT, a solid car count, and—yes!—excellent weather throughout made for a grand evening’s entertainment. There were rough skies and even lighting to the southeast, but the Little Track on the Hill and its environs were spared and the thunder remained on the track…where it belonged!

BABY GRANDS
The feature race for the Baby Grands was frantic! Ronnie Binkley (tonight in Tim Vinsant’s 14) led initially, with Justin Shanes in hot pursuit…then the invaders from Indiana began to make their presence known. Yes, Kent Balledge and Danny Trent came trophy hunting once again, and ultimately it was fast qualifier Trent grabbing the hardware after heat race winner Balledge suffered a flat tire in the main. That resulted in a spin that collected both Shanes as well as Joe McCloud. McCloud managed to fight his way back to second place, and Justin Shanes had a busy race, going to the tail on a couple of occasions after on track incidents, including one while challenging for the lead on a late restart. He looked to be the only one with anything for the 2 car but ended up third. Ronnie Binkley wheeled the 14 car (officially scored as 25X) to fourth, while Trent Key returned and got himself a fifth in a VERY tightly bunched field.

Kent Baledge took the win in the Baby Grands heat…

Baby Grands Feature Race Finish
1. Danny Trent (2) 25 laps
2. Joe McCloud (15) 25 laps
3. Justin Shanes (24) 25 laps
4. Ronnie Binkley (25X) 25 laps
5. Trent Key (18) 25 laps
Other finishers: 6. Mark Cole (50) 25 laps, 7. Jessie Binkley (25) 15 laps, 8. Kent Baledge (32) 3 laps.

Baby Grands Heat Race Top Five
1. Kent Baledge (32) 10 laps
2. Danny Trent (2) 10 laps
3. Ronnie Binkley (14) 10 laps
4. Joe McCloud (15) 10 laps
5. Trent Key (18) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Danny Trent (2) 13.826 65.095 mph

…but Danny Trent took the checkers in the Feature.

PRO 4 ASPHALT SERIES
The Pro 4 Asphalt Series returned to the Little Track on the Hill for what would be their final event of 2019. They brought a solid field of cars (which seems to grow with every appearance!) and a good deal of action…but in the end, it was a familiar name out front in the feature. No, it wasn’t Rowland either…it was Jerry Fitzgerald Jr, and he was simply the class of the field, setting fast time and darting away on every restart to a dominant feature win. Second placed Rick Rowland did take the heat race win and the championship of the debut series, while Jeffrey Lee got himself a win in the dash and a third in the main, followed by Jaclyn Barnett and Michael Carter. Hopes are high for still more growth in 2020 for the snarling Pro 4s and the future seems unlimited.

Jeffrey Lee brings home the bacon in the Pro 4 Asphalt Series Dash.

Pro 4 Asphalt Series Feature Race Finish
1. Jerry Fitzgerald Jr (28) 25 laps
2. Rick Rowland (82) 25 laps
3. Jeffery Lee (79) 24 laps
4. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 24 laps
5. Michael Carter (07) 24 laps
Other finishers: 6. Michael Meadows (17X) 24 laps, 7. Tony Chambers (43) 1 lap. DNS: Corey Rowland (51), Craig Busick (45), Leslie Best (44L), Jerrill Jones (32).

Pro 4 Asphalt Series Heat Race Top Five
1. Rick Rowland (82) 7 laps
2. Corey Rowland (51) 7 laps
3. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 7 laps
4. Craig Busick (45) 7 laps
5. Leslie Best (44L) 7 laps

Jerry Fitzgerald Jr motors to the Pro 4 Asphalt Series win.

Pro 4 Asphalt Series Non-Winners Trophy Dash Finish
1. Jeffrey Lee (79) 10 laps
2. Michael Carter (07) 10 laps
3. Tony Chambers (43) 10 laps
4. David Craig (17) 7 laps

Fast qualifier: Jerry Fitzgerald Jr (28) 14.520 61.983 mph

ROAD WARRIORS
Another barn-burner of a feature for the Road Warriors saw yet another return to Victory Lane for Godzilla as Derrick Bissinger worked that ol’ X flag magic again and was in the right place at the right time when havoc erupted in Turn 4 on the last lap. But oh, how close to a first win was Nate Allen in his new white 01…he looked to have it in the bag till the last turn contact with the K3 of Kasey Williams ended his hopes…and maybe the service life of his second race car of the year! Williams might’ve been the winner but for the wreck with the leader, for which he was dropped to the tail of the lead lap cars. Jerry Langston added to a good night with second—he’d already notched a win in the heat race—and David Lassiter took third, followed by Tony Chambers and Paul Cummings.

As Kasey Williams (K3) and Derrick Bissinger (469) scoot by on the inside, David Ray Bates (88), Paul Cummings (A1) and Tony Chambers (43) scatter, and Nate Allen’s 01 is about halfway into a spin that will end up against the inside wall.

Road Warriors Feature Race Finish
1. Derrick Bissinger (469) 20 laps
2. Jerry Langston (3) 20 laps
3. David Lassiter (6) 20 laps
4. Tony Chambers (43) 20 laps
5. Paul Cummings (A1) 20 laps
Other finishers: 6. Shane Jackson Jr (19) 20 laps, 7. Lynn Newcomb (55) 20 laps, 8. Ray Gonzales (83) 20 laps, 9. Nate Allen (01) 20 laps, 10. Kasey Williams (K3) 20 laps, 11. Justin Doney (7) 13 laps, 12. Austin Jacobs (95) 12 laps, 13. David Ray Bates (88) 12 laps, 14. Chris Jackson (133) 8 laps, 15. Aaron Porter (04) 1 lap, 16. Michael Meadows (12) 1 lap.

Road Warriors Heat Race Top Five
1. Jerry Langston (3) 10 laps
2. Nate Allen (01) 10 laps
3. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
4. Kasey Williams (K3) 10 laps
5. Justin Doney (7) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Aaron Porter (04) 17.033 52.839 mph

Yep, him again! Derrick Bissinger in Victory Lane for the second straight week.

PURE STOCKS
A week after having his car trashed in a heat race—a HEAT RACE!—Donold Webb Jr returned and decisively claimed the win in the Pure Stocks. Michael Williams had a replacement machine out too and led the first lap but points leader Josh Hood powered past almost immediately, bringing Cameron Choate and Webb with him. Webb then passed Choate and set to work on Hood, making it stick just before the halfway mark. Hood hung on for second, with Choate grabbing yet another top three in what has become a solid season for him. Ditto for Jackson McLerran, who traded paint with Ronnie Upchurch a couple of times on his way to fourth. Hood also took the heat race and set fast time.

Donold Webb Jr roars beneath Andy Breedlove’s checkered flag as the winner in Pure Stocks.

Pure Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Donold Webb Jr (27) 30 laps
2. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
3. Cameron Choate (82) 30 laps
4. Jackson McLerran (7) 30 laps
5. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Michael Williams (91) 30 laps, 7. Quinton Smeathers (33) 29 laps, 8. Bryson Russell (5) 29 laps, 9. Brandon Ladd (40) 15 laps, 10. Terry Russell (8) 9 laps, 11. Donny Webb (79) 0 laps.

Pure Stocks Heat Race Top Five
1. Josh Hood (08X) 10 laps
2. Jackson McLerran (7) 10 laps
3. Donold Webb Jr (27) 10 laps
4. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 10 laps
5. Cameron Choate (82) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Josh Hood (08X) 14.937 60.253

“And then we had to bend the frame back into shape…” Little D tells Lanny the details.

THIS WEEK AT VETERANS MOTORPLEX: The Late Model Sportsman return! Plus: Legends, the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners, Road Warriors, Pure Stocks, and…POWDER PUFF RACES for the Ladies! Big Wheel Races for the Kids! All this and more Family Fun that can’t be beat, so bring a friend to VETERANS MOTORPLEX AT THE RIM, where ACTION IS THE ATTRACTION!

#MyTrackMyRoots

Piling in: Michael Williams (91) goes high to avoid a pileup that included Cameron Choate (82), Michael Pannell (80), Ronnie Upchurch (08), Jackson McLerran (7), and Donold Webb Jr.

(all photos by Gary Chopik)

It was another scorcher at the Little Track on the Hill, with just enough breeze to keep things from getting too oppressive. The action on the racetrack proved hot and heavy as well, and saw a return to Victory Lane for a driver who’d been absent lately, a first time winner, and one of the best races we’ve seen all year…and a roll of the dice worth a C note!

SUPER STOCK
The Fall Classic 50 was perhaps lightly attended car-wise, but it was certainly hotly contested, and turned into “The Battle of the Novas”. The front four from the break ran nose to tail for the first half of the race, with heat race winner Matt Fuqua leading Johnathan Dishman, fast qualifier Gus Moody, and Carl Porter Jr. Walt Garrison had problems in the early going and was not a factor, while the “Family Truckster” #4 of Michael Neidert made a return and eventually ended up fifth. Porter gradually dropped back, leaving things to Fuqua, Dishman, and Moody. Dishman kept after Fuqua lap after lap, and his persistence paid off as the hot brakes that finally doomed Fuqua became more and more evident. That said, the pair in the Nova-bodied machines stayed within a car length throughout, with Moody within striking distance should anything happen. Things weren’t settled till five laps to go when Dishman finally put enough distance between himself and the 93 that he could finally breathe. It was a display of driving talent and car control that was awesome to watch throughout. Meanwhile, a post-race dice roll for an extra $100 went, appropriately enough, to Walt Garrison, who’d had himself a rotten night and maybe this helped a little…”I ain’t got much luck racing, but I might start shooting dice,” Walt quipped.

Close quarters racing includes Johnathan Dishman (67), Gus Moody (48), Matt Fuqua (93), Carl Porter Jr (465), and Michael Neidert (4).

Super Stock Feature Race Finish
1. Johnathan Dishman (67) 50 laps
2. Matt Fuqua (93) 50 laps
3. Gus Moody (48) 50 laps
4. Carl Porter Jr (465) 50 laps
5. Michael Neidert (4) 50 laps
Other finisher: 6. Walt Garrison (99) 9 laps.

Super Stock Heat Race Top Five
1. Matt Fuqua (93) 10 laps
2. Gus Moody (48) 10 laps
3. Johnathan Dishman (67) 10 laps
4. Carl Porter Jr (465) 10 laps
5. Michael Neidert (4) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Gus Moody (48) 14.511 61.851 mph

Mike Ramsey brought out this sweet-looking Super Stock for its first run.

PEST DOCTOR RIDGE RUNNERS
For the second race weekend it was the Josh Harrell Show in the premiere front wheel drive class…this weekend it was the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners that got the nod. Harrell seemed set to claim a clean sweep from qualifying to feature, as he drew another weapon from his arsenal, breaking out the red Honda this weekend to good effect. Too good, unfortunately…when the hustlin’ Honda passed through tech after the race, it soon became apparent that heat race winner Harrell was about to lose his second straight feature in devastating fashion as a non-standard flywheel was discovered. This awarded the win to Steve Akey, the winner in the Moonshiner 50 just one week ago. Akey ran a fine race and was slowing reeling in Harrell till a wild slide in the south end of the race track put paid to that effort. Duane White ran a steady if lonely race to claim second, with Derrick Bissinger bringing Godzilla home third. Marc Deist won a drag race with Tony Chambers for what ended up being fourth and fifth.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Feature Race Finish
1. Steve Akey (99) 25 laps
2. Duane White (84) 25 laps
3. Derrick Bissinger (469) 24 laps
4. Marc Deist (423) 24 laps
5. Tony Chambers (43) 24 laps
DQ: Josh Harrell (411)

Pest Doctor Ridge Runners Heat Race Top Five
1. Steve Akey (99) 10 laps
2. Duane White (84) 10 laps
3. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
4. Tony Chambers (43) 10 laps
5. Marc Deist (423) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Josh Harrell (411) 15.746 57.157 mph

Derrick Bissinger leads, Steve Akey (99), Marc Deist, and Josh Harrell up high give chase.

ROAD WARRIORS
Derrick Bissinger sat out the past few Road Warriors races and he and Godzilla were sorely missed by the fans at Veterans Motorplex…by his competitors, maybe not so much! Derrick has the knack for sitting back and avoiding that crucial third X flag and putting himself into contention at the end…and he did it again last Saturday, hanging within the top five till the last few laps when it counted the most. Kasey Williams got another superb finish, as did Jerry Langston and Justin Doney, while Tony Chambers joined Bissinger with two feature race top fives. Early contenders Lance Steele, David Ray Bates, and David Lassiter piled things up in turn four…Lassiter and Bates continued, but Steele had just gotten his third X flag and was done for the night. Bissinger also claimed the heat race win, while Aaron Porter took fast time.

Lance Steele having a moment, staring down David Lassiter and David Ray Bates while Nate Allen looks for a way around.

Road Warriors Feature Race Finish
1. Derrick Bissinger (469) 20 laps
2. Kasey Williams (K3) 20 laps
3. Jerry Langston (3) 20 laps
4. Justin Doney (7) 20 laps
5. Tony Chambers (43) 20 laps
Other finishers: 6. David Lassiter (6) 20 laps, 7. Nate Allen (01) 20 laps, 8. Scott Conner (07) 20 laps, 9. Aaron Porter (04) 20 laps, 10. Austin Jacobs (95) 20 laps, 11. Jason Turner (1) 20 laps, 12. David Ray Bates (88) 20 laps, 13. Gerald Jackson (19) 20 laps, 14. Lance Steele (10) 16 laps, 15. Michael Meadows (12) 9 laps, 16. Lynn Newcomb (423) 1 lap, DNS: Cody Denney (28)

Road Warriors Heat Race Top Five
1. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
2. Kasey Williams (K3) 10 laps
3. Lance Steele (10) 10 laps
4. Nate Allen (01) 10 laps
5. Justin Doney (7) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Aaron Porter (04) 17.010 52.910 mph

He’s baaaaaack…Derrick Bissinger and Godzilla showed no mercy in Road Warriors.

PURE STOCKS
He did it! Ronnie Upchurch has been on the verge of a win in the Pure Stocks lately, and it all came good this weekend as he took BOTH the heat race and the feature! Mind you, we lost Donold Webb Jr in the heat race and almost lost the 08X of points leader Josh Hood and the 91 of Michael Williams as well…as it transpired, a lot of parts off of the 27 were swapped to the 91 so that he could make the feature, and he was a bit slow to get to the grid. Still the race was finally green flagged after an extended delay and Williams led from the break. He was immediately challenged and passed by the 7 of a stout Jackson McLerran. Rookie McLerran made the most of his time out front, taking the lead and staying there till the 6 car of Mark Fuqua lunched a motor going into the first turn. Jackson somehow managed to motor past, but Williams skated up into the wall and his night was over. Once the mess was cleaned up the race was restarted with Upchurch taking the opportunity to grab the lead he would not lose for the rest of the distance. McLerran survived a spin to claim his best finish ever in second, with Cameron Choate third. Josh Hood drove the re-numbered 40 to fourth, and Michael Pannell made it two talented youngsters in the top five.

Pure Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 30 laps
2. Jackson McLerran (7) 30 laps
3. Cameron Chaote (82) 30 laps
4. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
5. Michael Pannell (80) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Mike Ramsey (07) 30 laps, 7. Michael Williams (91) 14 laps, 8. Mark Fuqua (6) 14 laps. DNS: Donold Webb Jr (27), Brandon Ladd (40).

Pure Stocks Heat Race Top Five
1. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 10 laps
2. Mark Fuqua (6) 10 laps
3. Mike Ramsey (07) 10 laps
4. Donold Webb Jr (27) 9 laps
5. Josh Hood (08X) 9 laps

Fast qualifier: Donold Webb Jr (27) 14.951 60.197 mph

Ronnie Upchurch and crew celebrate their win in Pure Stocks.

THIS WEEKEND AT VETERANS MOTORPLEX: It’s Race To Include, a special benefit event for Downs Syndrome and DSAMT…there’ll be a silent auction, games and activities, photo opportunities, and an appearance by Mike Morgan and his MackVader Truck! KIDS! Bring out your fastest Hot Wheels cars and try out our EIGHT LANE Hot Wheels Track! Grab yourself some DOLLAR HOT DOGS! Enjoy live music by Charlotte Medley! The Darrell Waltrip Tide Show Car! Loads of fun for a great cause, plus GREAT RACING…this week we’re featuring the Pro 4 Asphalt Series cars, along with the wild Pure Stocks, Baby Grands and those wacky Road Warriors, so come on out and bring the family to VETERANS MOTORPLEX AT THE RIM, your HOME for FAMILY EXCITEMENT!

#MyTrackMyRoots

Steve Akey gets the big check and the guitar from “The Pest Doctor”, Roger Kidd. We need more guys like Roger Kidd.

All photos by Gary Chopik

Sometimes you arrive at the race track early and things are quiet and still, in between practice sessions…you can walk through the gate and and all you’ll hear is the wind soughing overhead…at least till a car or two takes to the track for practice. You could not say the same about this past weekend, however…there were so many cars on the property, so much was going on, that it seemed there was hardly a still moment from gate open at least till the drivers meeting. And of course once THAT ended, the real action began in earnest…

LEGENDS

First Feature Race
One of the most hotly contested races of 2019 saw nearly 20 cars take the green for the first of two Legends features. Oliver Cordell had problems early and fell out of contention (remember this!) while Bryson Shaffer, Hunter Wright, and Delphi, Indiana’s Sam Butler swapped the lead back and forth. Ultimately the top five (joined by Justin Maxwell and fast qualifier Caleb Heady) pulled away and scythed through traffic as Wright and Butler battled side by side for the lead. It was nail-bitingly intense action, sometimes three wide, and a final shootout after some late race cautions didn’t end till the last turn of the lap when Butler got the jump on the restart and looked like he might have stolen the win…but Wright wasn’t finished. Hunter got a run off turn two and got alongside, and Wright and Butler ran the last two laps side-by-side and came across the line in a virtual dead heat. While the two exuberant drivers congratulated each other on a race well run, race officials looked at pictures taken at the line…and it was Wright by no more than a few inches! Shaffer, Maxwell, and Heady were not far behind and completed the top five.

Legends Feature Race 1 Results
1. Hunter Wright (29) 25 laps
2. Sam Butler (8) 25 laps
3. Bryson Shaffer (12) 25 laps
4. Justin Maxwell (20) 25 laps
5. Caleb Heady (82) 25 laps
Other finishers: 6. Chase Smith (10), 7. Travis Oliver (07), 8. Bryce Applegate (7), 9. Laci Minton (66), 10. Boston Oliver (88), 11. Paul Jones (36), 12. (34), 13. Dale Jackson (75), 14. Adam Roberson (10D), 15. Rich Michalik (11X), 16. Rod Nelson (35), 17. Greg Gresham (11), 18. Oliver Cordell (17)

…and it was just THIS close…Hunter Wright eeks out the win in the first Legends feature over Sam Butler.

Second Feature Race
A glance at the finish for the second Legends feature will reveal the EXACT SAME top five, after a race with JUST a little less drama. In fact, the top SIX raced throughout pretty much as they would finish. Not that there wasn’t plenty to watch, especially when the aforementioned top six started to work their way through lapped traffic. No, the real action was provided by Oliver Cordell in the 17, who had resolved his problems from the first feature, started last, and carved his way up through the pack with gusto. He had just joined the tail of the lead pack when he ran out of time…one late caution and he might’ve been in the mix. Meanwhile, Hunter Wright managed to ease away for his third win of the night…he also won his heat. Greg Gresham didn’t make the call for the second feature, but he did pick up a consolation prize, winning his heat race.

Legends Feature Race 2 Results
1. Hunter Wright (29) 25 laps
2. Sam Butler (8) 25 laps
3. Bryson Shaffer (12) 25 laps
4. Justin Maxwell (20) 25 laps
5. Caleb Heady (82) 25 laps
Other finishers: 6.Chase Smith (10), 7. Oliver Cordell (17), 8. Bryce Applegate (7), 9. Travis Oliver (07), 10. Rich Michalik (11X), 11. Boston Oliver (88), 12. Paul Jones (36), 13. Laci Minton (66), 14. Donnie Milburn (34), 15. Rod Nelson (35), 16. Dale Jackson (75) DNS: Adam Roberson (10D), Greg Gresham (11)

Deep into the second Legends feature…Sam Butler (8) leads Justin Maxwell (29), Bryson Shaffer (12), Chase Smith (12) and Caleb Heady (82).

Legends Heat Race 1 Top Five
1. Hunter Wright (29) 10 laps
2. Bryson Shaffer (12) 10 laps
3. Sam Butler (8) 10 laps
4. Caleb Heady (82) 10 laps
5. Justin Maxwell (20) 10 laps

Legends Heat Race 2 Top Five
1. Greg Gresham (11) 10 laps
2. Donnie Milburn (34) 10 laps
3. Bryce Applegate (7) 10 laps
4. Rich Michalik (11X) 10 laps
5. Boston Oliver (88) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Caleb Heady (82) 14.169 63.519 mph

Greg Gresham drove this sharp-looking #11 to the win in the second Legends heat.

BABY GRANDS

The Baby Grands looked like they could at least equal the Legends for excitement despite having less than half the cars…reason being, the cars that WERE there were so very close! Jessie Binkley and Mark Cole were very, very fast, and Joe McCloud was faster still, the only driver to qualify in the 13 second range. McCloud won the heat race and looked like he might be on his way to a clean sweep of the night, but…a couple of cautions just before the halfway point brought the field together and set up a battle for the lead that ended with multiple cars piling into turn 4. Only Cole and Darrell Fudge managed to snake through the mess unscathed, though only Vinsant and Roper were done. Once the wreckage was cleared the restart saw McCloud take the lead till Darrell Fudge spun and brought out another caution which drew the field together once last time. Justin Shanes got the better restart, but a few laps later Shanes got the 24 sideways and collected McCloud! That set up a five lap sprint to the finish, and Jessie Binkley snagged the opportunity to collect his first-ever feature race win. Mark Cole and Justin Shanes fought it out for second, and Fudge ended up fourth. McCloud limped home in fifth after suffering car problems in the last few laps.

Chaos ensues in turn four..eventual winner Jessie Binkley just manages to stay off the wall as Justin Shanes (24), Tim Vinsant (14), and Joe McCloud and Randy Roper pile in. Lucky 13 is Darrell Fudge, who escaped!

Baby Grands Feature Race Results
1. Jessie Binkley (25) 25 laps
2. Mark Cole (50) 25 laps
3. Justin Shanes (24) 25 laps
4. Darrell Fudge (13) 25 laps
5. Joe McCloud (15) 25 laps
Other finishers: 6. Tim Vinsant (14) 12 laps, 7. Randy Roper (3R) 12 laps

Baby Grands Heat Race Top Five
1. Joe McCloud (15) 10 laps
2. Justin Shanes (24) 10 laps
3. Mark Cole (50) 10 laps
4. Jessie Binkley (25) 10 laps
5. Randy Roper (3R) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Joe McCloud (15) 13.963 64.456 mph

That “first win feeling”…Jessie Binkley brought home the hardware in Baby Grands.

PURE STOCKS

Points leader Joshua Hood took the lead on lap number two of the 30 laps Pure Stock feature…and, for all intents and purposes, that was that. Be fair, EVERY Pure Stock race can’t be the super-close affairs we’ve had the last couple of weeks. Oh, what about Travis Ryman, you say? Didn’t he win the heat race? Well, yes, he did, but Hood was the fast qualifier, and while the 6 did show its nose under the 08X a few times, there never seemed to be quite enough ooomph for Travis to pull off the move. Donold Webb Jr was not far behind the top two and ended up scoring a third, followed by Michael Williams, and Shane Jackson endured for fifth after Ronnie Upchurch and Brandon Ladd drew up lame late in the going.

Pure Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
2. Travis Ryman (6) 30 laps
3. Donold Webb Jr (27) 30 laps
4. Michael Williams (91) 30 laps
5. Shane Jackson (33) 29 laps
Other finishers: 6. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 26 laps, 7. Brandon Ladd (40) 24 laps

Pure Stocks Heat Race Top Five
1. Travis Ryman (6) 10 laps
2. Josh Hood (08X) 10 laps
3. Donold Webb Jr (27) 10 laps
4. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 10 laps
5. Brandon Ladd (40) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Josh Hood (08X) 14.817 60.741 mph

Josh Hood and Travis Ryman were never much more than this far apart throughout the Pure Stock feature.

ROAD WARRIORS

In the prerace interviews, Jaclyn Barnett scored the best quote of the night…she was asked if she had her mind set on the $800 cash prize—actually NINE hundred after a late donation courtesy of Lynn Newcomb!—and she replied, “My mind is set on that ‘no seventeen second rule’…I’m ready to race.” And race she did, looking as if she was about to take home $900 and the guitar, especially after the 411 of Josh Harrell experienced problems with a duff fuel line after completely dominating the first half of the event. That pretty much opened up the competition, with Barnett, heat race winner and early leader Lance “The Man Of” Steele, David Ray Bates, Tony Chambers, Jerry Langston, Kasey Williams, Steve Akey (who brought out the first yellow)…and at this point, pretty much half of the field looked to still be in contention! In the end though it looked like it was going to be a shootout between Barnett and ten race winner David Lassiter…and then the two made hard contact in turn four as “Scrumpy” tried to make a dive inside and didn’t quite clear the 17. They slid high, Lassiter with a cut tire, and sailing by on the inside went…Steve Akey! He held on for the remaining six laps and just managed to hold off a charging Lance Steele to claim the guitar, the cash, and his first ever feature win. Barnett recovered for a disappointed third, David Ray Bates was fourth, and Tony Chambers took fifth. Josh Harrell was comforted somewhat in the aftermath by being presented with the “Stinger” award for the hard luck driver of the night.

The front half of the Moonshiner 50 field lined up for driver intros.

Road Warriors “Moonshiner 50” Feature Race Results
1. Steve Akey (99) 50 laps
2. Lance Steele (10) 50 laps
3. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 50 laps
4. David Ray Bates (88) 50 laps
5. Tony Chambers (43) 50 laps
Other finishers: 6. Jerry Langston (3) 50 laps, 7. Kasey Williams (K3) 50 laps, 8. Jason Jarvis (11) 50 laps, 9. David Lassiter (6) 44 laps, 10. Josh Harrell (411) 36 laps, 11. Shane Jackson (19) 30 laps, 12. Wayne Williams (01) 27 laps, 13. Austin Jacobs (95) 26 laps, 14. Matt Hamlett (2) 25 laps, 15. Justin Doney (7) 13 laps, 16. Chase Allen (07) 8 laps, 17. Aaron Porter (04) 8 laps, 18. Tim Shannon (05) 5 laps, 19. Michael Meadows (12) 2 laps, 20. Dawson Wooten (75) 1 lap. DNS: Cameron Choate (82), Lynn Newcomb (55).

The instant everything changed in the Moonshiner 50: Jaclyn Barnett (17) and David Lassiter (6) skate up toward the wall as Steve Akey (99) darts underneath. Barnett endured for third, Lassiter pitted with a cut tire, and Akey collected $900 and a guitar!

Road Warriors Heat Race Top Five
1. Lance Steele (10) 10 laps
2. David Lassiter (6) 10 laps
3. Matt Hamlett (2) 10 laps
4. Kasey Williams (K3) 10 laps
5. Tony Chambers (43) 10 laps

Fast qualifier: Josh Harrell (411) 16.028 56.152 mph

Josh Harrell acknowledges the cheers of the fans. He looked like he had the Moonshiner 50 in his back pocket till fuel line trouble sidelined him.

THIS WEEKEND: It’s the FALL CLASSIC! 100 exciting laps for the HEAVY METAL THUNDER of the SUPER STOCKS! The Pest Doctor Ridge Runners will be back! Pure Stocks! Road Warriors! All of this and and MORE, at your home for FAST, FUN, FAMILY THRILLS…VETERANS MOTORPLEX AT THE RIM…where Action is the Attraction!
#MyTrackMyRoots

Race To Include Night At The Rim … Oct 5th

Enter to Win the BIG TRUCK RAFFLE RACE OFF this weekend.
All proceeds to benefit the ‪Oct 5th‬ Down Syndrome fund raiser and auction
Win 5 laps Ride along in the Mack Vador Big Rig Truck of 88 Mike Morgan

Everyone come on out ‪Oct 5th‬ as Mike Displays the Mack Vador and signs autographs.
Get your photo taken with Mike Morgan and Mack Vador at the BIG Down Syndrome Race to Include night.

This is the same 88 Mike Morgan BIG Rig that made national news when he went out of the Race Track a few years ago coming off turn 4 taking out several feet of catch fence, a catch cable and a couple telephone poles on his way out before the remaining cables and catch fence did its job stopping him only feet from the crowd.. Mike Won won the first event and he is not afraid to put the pedal to the metal… Now the question is… are you man or woman enough to ride 5 laps with him in the Mack Vador.

Only $1 per raffle ticket 100% of all ticket sales will go to the Down Syndrome.

Come on out and thank Mike Morgan for doing this to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee.

Thanks Jerry

All proceeds from this as well as the auction and a portion of the front gate sales will go directly to DSAMT … Down Syndrome Association Middle Tennessee.

Please come on out and Support this Great cause.

Link To Auction : https://www.32auctions.com/race2include

Race To Include … Oct 5th

Coming Oct 5th …

Together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in these folks lives. …..
Hello Everyone

Musical Artist / Singer/Songwriter Charlotte Medley will be here to sign autographs and sing in memory of her son Elijah.

We all likely know of some individual with Down Syndrome. I have a single father that works for me that has a son named Jeremy that loves racing that has Down Syndrome. I have a family member Lucas Williams who is only two years old that is featured on this flyer on the right that has Down Syndrome. He is an absolutely awesome young man. I would like for the Veterans Motorplex nation to help raise awareness to include these individuals in our everyday activities.

Oct 5th is the night at Veterans Motorplex.. We plan to have a big race night along with fund raising auctions etc… There will be several things here for the children to do especially the individuals with Downs. We are going to have Darrell Waltrip show cars here to give the children rides around the track.

We will be giving a percentage of the front gate ticket sales to the Down Syndrome association “Dsamt “ and 100% of all the money raised from the auctioned items will go directly to Dsamt and it is 100% Tax deductible.

We need your HELP PLEASE. All of you work for someone that may possibly be interested in donating to this great cause. Anything of Value that we can auction off or raffle off.. We will auction and or raffle about anything a car, van, paint job, lettering job, we will auction anything off as long as it does not eat and poop. The Dsamt has a signed Guitar from Luke Bryan that will be auctioned off.

We would love to get some local singing artists involved with donating signed guitars or coming to meet people and or sing the national anthem etc.. Even T-shirts and apparel will auction off. A set of Tires, New Washer or Dryer, Refrigerator, guitars, etc.. Car Washes, Detailing jobs, $100 to $500 certificate off of a service etc.. Certificate for $100 off your next tow, tune up, front end alignment. Autographed Helmets, footballs, hockey sticks etc… If you have an idea of something or more importantly a contact you can hook us up with please just email me at arpbodies@bellsouth.net or call or text me at 615-430-3135. Thanks Jerry Criswell

The Down syndrome has set up some advertising opportunities for all size companies and individuals that I will be able to share with you next week once I receive it.

We are setting ourselves a lofty goal for Veterans Motorplex of raising a minimum of $10,000 for the Down Syndrome on Oct. 5th. PLEASE HELP US help them.

If you know of a person or company in Middle Tennessee that has a good heart and willing to help individuals with Down Syndrome we need your HELP. If you have a good go to contact just give us the name and their contact info and we will gladly do the rest. We will contact them and or send someone to see them about this opportunity.

We are also in need of media contacts for a possible Media Race that night to help draw attention to this much needed cause… If you have any MEDIA CONTACTS please pass them along.. We got some GREAT people involved at Veterans Motorplex and for one night lets focus on doing something good for someone else and being pleased with just putting a smile on their face… We want this to be one AWESOME night for Dsamt.

Thank you Veteran Motorplex Nation!

RACE TO INCLUDE!

Together we can make a difference

Jerry Criswell

Link To Auction : https://www.32auctions.com/race2include