KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Kres VanDyke made two trips to victory lane at Tennessee’s Kingsport Speedway on Friday night, as the Abdington, Virginia driver swept both Late Model Stock Car features at the raceway.
VanDyke not only got to celebrate twice, but the two wins allowed him to pad his division points lead.
“We race to win, and we compete to hopefully win a track championship – it’s just that plain and simple,” said VanDyke. “We want to take home trophies and for bragging rights, get the feature winner’s sticker to place on the car.
“Our focus during the week back at the race shop preparing the car for the next event is, pay very close attention to making sure you’ve checked every key component of the car. That’s really the whole deal, if you’re going to contend for race wins. Don’t overlook anything in your maintenance program, and then come race night just give it your total best effort.”
VanDyke set fast-time in pole qualifying at 15.162 seconds, with Zeke Shell timing-in at 15.178.
On the start Shell got advantage over VanDyke, but caution waved on lap 4 when Adam Gray got loose in the corner turning sideways. With nowhere to go, Austin Peters ran up over left-front of Gray’s car, getting airtime. Gray’s race ended prematurely, while Peters was able to continue.
On the ensuing restart, Shell and VanDyke raced hard for the lead before Shell moved ahead. VanDyke would give chase, looking to the inside of the leader several times. As the race entred the final laps, VanDyke stepped up the pressure. As the two battled for the lead with three laps to go, Shell spun out to bring out the caution.
VanDyke went on to capture the victory, with Nik Williams in second, Robbie Ferguson in third, Joey Trent in fourth and Nate Monteith in fifth.
The top eight finishers from the first race were inverted for the second 35-lap feature, placing Shell and Derek Lane on the front row. Shell powered out into the lead at start over Lane, while VanDyke began charging through the field. As the race reached the lap 17 mark, VanDyke had worked his way to second, and began working to reel in Shell.
With Shell holding a seven car length advantage over the hard-charging VanDyke, the last thing he wanted to see was a late race caution. Unfortunately for Shell, that’s what happened when David Strong spun between turns three and four with five laps to go.
On the restart, Shell and VanDyke race side-by-side for two laps before VanDyke made the pass for the lead. From there, eh went on to hold off Shell by a .582 second margin for the victory. Trent, Lane and Ferguson rounded out the top five.
In other action, Royce Peters scored the victory in the Modified Street feature, with Jared Broadbent in second, Kevin Wolfe in third, David Brown in fourth and Rusty Clendenin in fifth.
John Ketron took the win in the Pure 4 feature, followed by Billy Ketron in second, Kenny Absher in third, Billy Byington in fourth and Jason Ketron in fifth.
David Brown took the win in the Mod 4 feature, with Kevin Canter second, Kirby Gobble third, Billy Duty fourth and Jerry Miller fifth.
Doug Austin was flagged the winner of the Pure Street feature, but failed to pass post-race tech, moving Jamie Meadows to victory lane. Jay Swecker, Peter Alley, Bobby Talbert and Jeremy Draughn rounded out the top five.
Kingsport Speedway returns to action on June 16 with Racers Reunion Night, when several drivers from the past will gather to meet fans.
For more information, visit NewKingsportSpeedway.com.
Kingsport Speedway – Kingsport, TN
Race Results – June 2, 2017
Late Model Stock Race 1
1. Kres VanDyke #15-Abingdon, VA
2. Nik Williams #32-Greeneville, TN
3. Robbie Ferguson #40-Jonesborough, TN
4. Joey Trent #26-Gray, TN
5. Nate Monteith #44-Bluff City, TN
6. Austin Peters #66-Kingsport, TN
7. Derek Lane #28-Kingsport, TN
8. Zeke Shell #50-Johnson City, TN
9. Darin Silver #12-Spruce Pine, NC
10. David Strong #53-Weber City, VA
11. Jamie Harrison #76-Church Hill, TN
12. Billy Light #8-Bluff City, TN
13. Mardy Roberts #4-Kingsport, TN
14. Wayne Hale #19-Bluff City, TN
15. Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN
16. Danny Casteel #41-Johnson City, TN
17. Allen Hawkins #14-Kingsport, TN
18. Adam Gray #37-Kingsport, TN
19. Sam Hurd #44-Kingsport, TN
Late Model Stock Race 2
1. Kres VanDyke #15-Abingdon, VA
2. Zeke Shell #50-Johnson City, TN
3. Joey Trent #26-Gray, TN
4. Derek Lane #28-Kingsport, TN
5. Robbie Ferguson #40-Jonesborough, TN
6. Nik Williams #32-Greeneville, TN
7. Nate Monteith #44-Bluff City, TN
8. Wayne Hale #19-Bluff City, TN
9. Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN
10. Adam Gray #37-Kingsport, TN
11. Darin Silver #12-Spruce Pine, NC
12. David Strong #53-Weber City, VA
13. Billy Light #8-Bluff City, TN
14. Austin Peters #66-Kingsport, TN
15. Allen Hawkins #14-Kingsport, TN
16. Jamie Harrison #76-Church Hill, TN
17. Mardy Roberts #4-Kingsport, TN
18. Danny Casteel #41-Johnson City, TN
19. Sam Hurd #44-Kingsport, TN
Modified Street
1. Royce Peters #42
2. Jared Broadbent #74
3. Kevin Wolfe #17
4. David Brown #88
5. Rusty Clendenin #40
6. Paul Shull #48
7. Sam Hurd #11
8. Dennis Deese #24
9. Alan Rich #03
DNS: Chris Tunnell #6
DNS: Bruce Crumbley #33
Pure 4
1. John Ketron #27
2. Billy Ketron #26
3. Kenny Absher #11
4. Billy Byington #11
5. Jason Ketron #28
6. Brandon Sutherland #5
7. William Hale #47
8. Ben Barker #54
9. Levi Cox #1
10. Chad Jeffers #38
11. Craig Phelps #00
12. Jimmy Thomas #14
13. Larry Stapleton #15
14. Bobby Dublin #7
15. Josh Collins #77
16. Alexcia Ray #99
17. Michael Blair #84
18. Bucky Smith #99
19. Kevin Darnell #4
20. Cody Curtis #18
Mod 4
1. David Brown #88
2. Kevin Canter #3
3. Kirby Gobble #77
4. Billy Duty #1
5. Jerry Miller #01
6. Hershell Robinette #9
7. Larry Bowens #18
8. Chris Amburgey #17
9. Jessie Amburgey #7
10. Ted Glover Jr. #03
DNS: Dennis Arnold #7
Pure Street
1. Jamie Meadows #11
2. Jay Swecker #77
3. Peter Alley #7
4. Bobby Talbert #67
5. Jeremy Draughn #7
6. Stacey Castle #11
7. Dustin Smith #5
8. Sam Hurd #11
DQ: Doug Austin #18
