Special to the Progress

Saturday night's (April 1st) feature races at Tazewell Speedway were nothing short of "jaw-dropping," as the Super Late Model feature saw three different leaders within the first 12 laps and a surprising finish. After capturing the lead at the start of the Super Late Model feature, and losing it four laps later to pole sitter Vic Hill, Tommy Kerr of Maryville, had plenty of good luck on his side, as he benefited from others' misfortunes, and rolled onto his first victory of the 2006 racing season.

Vic Hill of Morristown set a blistering fast time during Super Late Model Qualifying, nearly breaking the current track record of 11.108 seconds, as he made his way around the high banks of "The Taz" in 11.128 seconds, which placed him on the pole of the 35 lap feature. Tommy Kerr toured the 1/3 mile dirt oval in 11.294 seconds placing him to the outside of Hill.

Hill and Kerr led the 14-car field to the green, as Kerr quickly jumped onto the point between turns one and two with a rearview mirror full of Hill and Steve Smith, as Brett Miller and Mike Smith battled for the fourth running position.

With a standing room only crowd on hand, Hill and Smith both went to the inside of Kerr for the lead in turn one on lap four, as the three came out of turn two, Kerr slipped up the race track letting Hill drive to the inside to overtake the lead, as Kerr and Smith both dropped behind in single file.

Kerr quickly reeled in race leader Hill on lap six, as Kerr was challenged yet again when Steve Smith drove to the bottom of the racing surface in turn one overtaking the runner-up position.

Smith quickly worked his way into Hill's comfort zone, and as lapped traffic caused Hill to back off of the throttle, Smith made a breathtaking move coming out of turn four to overtake the lead, but Hill didn't give up easily as the two went door-to-door coming back to the line to complete lap 11, with Smith winning the drag race into turn one.

Steve Smith continued to lead the next two laps with Hill all over his bumper, before Smith's night quickly turned hostile, as he slowed on the backstretch with a flat tire on lap 13 bringing out the first caution of the event handing the lead back over to Hill. The field was shown the caution yet again on the restart as Steve Smith slowed on racing surface in turn one.

The top five on the restart were Vic Hill, Tommy Kerr, Brett Miller, Michael Smith, and Terry Wolfenbarger. Michael Smith challenged Brett Miller for third as the two ran side-by-side the entire 15th lap with Michael Smith eventually overtaking the third running position.

With Hill setting sail out front, the third caution of the event was shown on lap 26 for debris on the race track in turn one. The restart saw another caution being shown as Brett Miller was placed on the tail of the field for running over the cone that indicates where the drivers can fire on the restart. Steve Smith returned to the pits to have his tire changed for a second time, and returned to the racing surface.

The top five running positions were filled by Vic Hill, Tommy Kerr, Michael Smith, Terry Wolfenbarger, and Bryan Hendrix on the restart. As the green flag waved, Tommy Kerr went to the inside of Vic Hill vying to overtake first, with Hill holding onto the position. Steve Smith worked his way from the tail of the field to sixth on lap 28.

Vic Hill held a comfortable four car-length lead over Kerr on lap 29, and continued to do so until Hill came out of turn four to see the white flag on lap 34, and made hard contact with the outside retaining wall of the race track letting Tommy Kerr maneuver his way around him to overtake the lead. Hill tried regaining momentum, but several other cars worked their way around his severely damaged ride.

Tommy Kerr went on to lead the most prestigious lap, the final one, as he went on to capture his first victory of the 2006 racing season aboard the Insurance Partners/ Cast Stone/ Murphy's Bobcat/ Custom Race Engines/ Stower's Cat/ No. 4T Pontiac Grand Prix followed by Michael Smith, Terry Wolfenbarger, Steve Smith, and Jeff Wolfenbarger.

Jason Trammell and Kip Pearson led the stellar 21-car field of Limited Late Models to the green flag with Pearson winning the drag race into turn one. Pearson continued to lead until lap 10 as he made his way into lap traffic, Trammell went to the inside of Pearson coming out turn four and overtook the lead. Pearson continued to have his hands full as Steve Carr challenged him for the runner-up position several times before prevailing on lap 16. Trammell went on to capture his second victory of the year followed by Steve Carr, Kip Pearson, Rex Coffey, and Eric Creech.

After setting first and second quick time during qualifying, Brad Davis and Jason Long sat on the front row of the Modified Street feature. Long jumped to the lead at the drop of the green as Davis stayed on his bumper the entire 20 laps of the feature, but could never get around Long as he went on to capture the victory followed by Brad Davis, Tony Trent, Tony Horton, and Billy Curl.

Richard Crosby set fast time during Pure Street time trials, with Phillip Nichols setting second quick time placing him on the outside of the front row with Crosby. Nichols took over the lead at the drop of the green, and led every lap of the 20-lap Pure Street feature going on to capture his first win of 2006 followed by Richard Crosby, Clyde Overholt, Dwight Creech, and Larry Burke.

Scottie Thornton led wire-to-wire during the Four-Cylinder feature as he went on to capture his second victory this year followed by Kurt Owens, Allen Holloway, Allen Wright, and Rick King.

At the end of the 2006 racing season, the top three drivers in every divisions point standings name will be placed into a drawing and the name drawn will win a Harley Davidson Sportster. Also, every driver's worst finish will be dropped from the final point standings.

Tazewell Speedway will hold the second points race of the season Saturday, April 8th. The pit gate will open at 4 p.m. with admission being $20. The Grandstand gate will open at 5 p.m., and General Admission will be $8 with all children under the age of nine admitted free.

For more information visit Tazewell Speedway online at www.TazewellSpeedway.net or call (423) 626-2222.

Race Results

Super Late Models Feature

Pos Driver (Car)

1 Tommy Kerr (4T)

2 Michael Smith (4)

3 Terry Wolfenbarger (14)

4 Steve Smith (3)

5 Jeff Wolfenbarger (28)

6 Bryan Hendrix (5)

7 Brian Smith (7)

8 Troy Eads (52)

9 Vic Hill (1)

10 Brett Miller (25)

11 Corey Cable (23)

12 Michael Rutherford (18)

13 Jason Sizemore (22)

14 Jason Trammell (91) DNS

Limited Late Models Feature

Pos Driver (Car)

1 Jason Trammell (90)

2 Steve Carr (77)

3 Kip Pearson (00)

4 Rex Coffey (3)

5 Eric Creech (N30)

6 Marlin Bull (8)

7 Keith Chapman (97C)

8 Adam Beeler (66)

9 Richie Carey (04J)

10 Brandon Lyons (28)

11 Robbie Buchanan (29)

12 Hank Hall (117)

13 Pug Hodges (H2)

14 Kelly Gloss (01)

15 Randy English (02)

16 Freddie Brock (0)

17 Danny Gibson (7)

18 James England (2E)

19 Robert Perry (21)

20 Andy Wilder (24)

21 Paul Lampkin, Jr. (33)

22 Scott Standifer (515) DNS

Modified Street Feature

Pos Driver (Car)

1 Jason Long (15)

2 Brad Davis (88)

3 Tony Trent (18)

4 Tony Horton (56)

5 Billy Curl (5)

6 Tim Hatfield (3)

7 Leonard Bray (17)

8 Jonathan Miracle (22)

9 Craigg Moore (90)

10 John Buis (26)

11 Jessie Atkins (38)

12 Scottie Atkins (11)

13 James Hodges (2) DNS

Pure Street Feature

Pos Driver (Car)

1 Phillip Nichols (33)

2 Richard Crosby (92)

3 Clyde Overholt (4)

4 Dwight Creech (N30)

5 Larry Burke (54)

6 Steve Smith (2)

7 Roy Bailey (04)

8 Jack England (55)

9 Tim Stevens (11)

10 Justin Mitchell (7)

11 Dusty Lay (21)

12 Michael England (26)

13 Gary Harville (27)

14 Steve Wilder (W74)

15 Kenny Phillips (5)

16 Emery Harvey, Jr. (74)

17 Travis Helton (12H)

18 Chris Hickman (05)

19 Neil Lee (L8)

20 Dusty Harville (15)

21 Travis Cody (29) DNS

22 Billy Brock (10) DNS

23 Elmer Kennard (33K) DNS

24 James Letterman (49) DNS

25 Jerry Hurst (1) DQ

26 Gary Sanders (14) DQ

Four-Cylinders Feature

Pos Driver (Car)

1 Scott Thorton (T15)

2 Kurt Owens (7UP)

3 Allen Holloway (A27)

4 Allen Wright (27)

5 Rick King (5)

6 Justin Duncan (9)

7 Michael Shelton (34)

8 Chuck McMhan (99)

9 Timmy Seay (7)

10 Jeff Weaver (75)

11 Bill Curtis Jones (56)

12 Josh Henry (1)

13 Jimmie Seay (6)

14 Paul Dunlap, Jr. (33) DQ

15 Jeffery Neese (73) DQ

16 Greg Smitt (1S) DQ