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Ferguson captures NASCAR Late Model Stock points opener at Kingsport

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (April 6) - Robbie Ferguson grabbed the lead on lap 2 from Wayne Hale in the 50-lap Late Model Stock feature, and at the finish held off a hard-charging Mark Ketron in winning the 2001 NASCAR points opener Friday night at Galaxy Kingsport Speedway. Ferguson, of Jonesborough, visited victory lane at the 3/8-mile concrete oval for the first time since the 1998 season, when he rolled to a division-leading 10 Late Model Stock wins.

Ferguson paced the 17-car Late Model Stock field in qualifying with a fast-lap of 15:504 seconds, but with the top four qualifiers inverted for the feature event, Wade Lopez and Hale occupied the front row, with Ketron and Ferguson starting in row two.

The first attempt to start the feature saw the caution flag wave before the opening lap was completed when Bill Lane slammed into the outside frontstretch wall after contact with another car, with Ferguson and Reece Milton also tangling and spinning between turns one and two.

Lined back up for a double-file start Lopez and Hale raced off into the first turn door-to-door, but exiting (turn) two Lopez got a little loose allowing Hale to grab the lead, while Ferguson was riding the high-line around the outside to take second place. At the stripe to complete the first lap Hale was riding on the point followed by Ferguson, with Lopez and Jeff Berry side-by-side battling for the third spot, and Ketron in fifth.

Hale had a rear view mirror full of Ferguson's Race-Scan Communications/Hedgecock Race Cars/No. 32 Monte Carlo, and on lap 2 Ferguson flexed his muscle in powering around the outside of Hale racing off turn two to roar into a lead he would never relinquish. While Ferguson was grabbing the lead, Berry was shuffling Lopez from third back to fourth in the running order on lap 3. The slide continued for Lopez, as Ketron relegated him back to the fifth spot on lap 5.

Ketron was knocking on the door trying to take over third place from Berry, and on the seventh circuit between turns three and four, he dropped to the inside to take the position. As the race reached the mid-point Ferguson, Hale and Ketron had pulled out to an eight car-length advantage over Berry and Lopez, who were riding in fourth and fifth.

During the second half of the 50-lap main, Ferguson was leading a three-car breakaway out front and by lap 35, he had established a little bit of breathing room by pulling out to a five car-length lead over Hale and Ketron. With Ketron applying the heat to Hale in the battle for the runner-up position, on lap 41 between turns one and two he dropped Hale back to third, setting his sights on the race leader Ferguson.

Ketron began closing the distance to Ferguson's rear bumper, but the veteran campaigner who has won Late Model feature events at Kingsport on both dirt, and the current concrete surface, would not be denied a victory lap before a good "Friday Night Thunder" crowd at the track. Ferguson held off Ketron by two car-lengths at the checkers with Hale, Lopez and Berry rounding out the top five. Completing the top-10 finishers were Jeff Gilder, R. J. Stanley, Kres Vandyke, Boyd Sult and Adam Dean.

"Man, this sure is a good feeling to come back here to Kingsport and get the win over a strong field of competitors," said the personable Ferguson after climbing from his car. "After the '98 season, even though we had won 10 races that year, I kind of wanted to change directions with my racing career and I sold my Late Model Stock and bought a NASCAR All-Pro Series car. During the 1999 and 2000 racing seasons we ran selected All-Pro events, and even though we had a few good runs - the lack of funds really hurt us in trying to race against those guys who had good financial backing. After being used to running up front and winning races, I decided last fall to sell the All-Pro car and get another Late Model Stock. Knowing we run well here at Kingsport and are capable of winning races, I would like to run full-time this year, but right now we really need some sponsorship to come onboard to allow us to do so.

"I owe this win here tonight to several people, including Bill Garrett at Race-Scan Communications for providing our radios, but I really want to thank Les Stallard because he's stood by me through the good, and the bad these past several years in my racing. The rest of the guys on the crew who have been so instrumental in helping us reach Victory Lane tonight include my dad, Len, my brother, Todd, Ed Morgan, Kevin Morgan, Miles Cox, Jeff Herron and John Bays. And I also have to thank my wife, Kim, and my daughters Niki and Tiffany, for standing by me in my racing and all the time it takes me away from them. We can't forget my mom, Sissy, because she is probably my number one fan."

Bill Garrett, of Johnson City, rolled to his second straight 30-lap Sportsman feature victory. Garrett passed Paul Shull for the lead on lap 5 and never looked back, with Shull, Caleb Holman, Bruce Blessing and Roger Neece rounding out the top five finishers.

Chuck Crigger, of Surgoinsville, grabbed the lead on lap 10 of the 25-lap Street Stock feature and at the finish held off Duke Bare, Stacey Castle, Billy Babb and Scott Robinson for the victory.

Greeneville's Jeff Maupin roared to victory in the 25-lap UMP Modified feature over Alton Satterfield, Randy Bethea, Chap Slaughter and Luke Boles.

Bill Coleman, of Kingsport, captured the 20-lap Charger feature win over Scotty McMurray, Linton Perry, Larry McKnight Jr. and Terry McMurray.

Sevierville's Nancy Hardwick held off Garland Worley, Jimmy Acito, James Worley and Raymond Williams Jr. in winning the 20-lap Pro Challenge feature.

Darrell Gillespie, of Kingsport, captured his second straight 20-lap Legends feature victory by holding off Nancy Hardwick, Greg Turner, Rusty Sarver and Ronnie McCarty.

Blountville's Kelly Glass raced to the checkers in the 20-lap Mod Lites feature over Randy English, James Worley, Chris Manning and Cargus Worley.

Another exciting eight-division race program is scheduled at Galaxy Kingsport Speedway next Friday, April 13. Don Gray Trucking/White's Tire Distributors Night at the Races will feature the "Spring Street Stock Shootout," along with a special appearance by the Easter Bunny for the kids.

LATE MODEL STOCK (50-laps)

  1.. Robbie Ferguson #32-Jonesborough,TN
  2.. Mark Ketron #26-Kingsport, TN
  3.. Wayne Hale #19-Piney Flats, TN
  4.. Wade Lopez #83-Abingdon, VA
  5.. Jeff Berry #61-Kingsport, TN
  6.. Jeff Gilder #51-Kingsport, TN
  7.. R. J. Stanley #18-Bristol, TN
  8.. Kres Vandyke #15-Abingdon, VA
  9.. Boyd Sult #2-Wytheville, VA
  10.. Adam Dean #81-Bristol, VA
  11.. Bill Garrett #4-Johnson City, TN
  12.. Buddy Talbert #00-Blountville, TN
  13.. Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN
  14.. Clyde Jones #7-Kingsport, TN
  15.. Allen Hawkins #77-Kingsport, TN
  16.. Reece Milton #16-Kingsport, TN
  17.. Bill Lane #14-Kingsport, TN