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Kingsport Late Model finish held up pending ruling from NASCAR

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (May 4) - Mark Ketron of Kingsport narrowly held off Jeff Berry and Wayne Hale at the finish in the 50-lap Shoney's NASCAR Late Model Stock Car feature Friday night at Galaxy Kingsport Speedway on "General Shale Brick Contractors Night at the Races." However, the "official finish" is being held up until the first of next week pending a ruling from NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., regarding an alleged rules violation on Ketron's apparent race-winning car.

Abingdon, Va.'s Kres VanDyke set fast-time over the 16-car field of Late Model Stocks in qualifying turning a lap of 15:590-seconds, with Kingsport's Reece Milton second-quickest at 15:624. However, after the roll of the inversion-dice Ketron and Berry led the field to the start from the first row.

Ketron and Berry set the tone at the drop of the green as the duo engaged in a side-by-side battle for the lead, with Wayne Hale, Milton and VanDyke settling into positions three through five after lap 1. Ketron, driving the McDonald's-Chafin Enterprises/IBEW Local 934/Ketron Electric/Smoky Mountain Rod & Custom/Joey Robinson Race Engines/Townsend Race Cars/No. 26 Monte Carlo, assumed a lead which he would carry the distance en route to receiving the checkered flag, when he powered into the lead over last week's winner Berry on lap 3 racing off Turn 2.

Fifth-running VanDyke made his move on Milton racing into Turn 1 on lap 8 in taking over the fourth spot, while Wade Lopez followed the hole VanDyke opened racing off the second turn to move into fifth. The slide backward continued for Milton as Bill Garrett completed the pass for the sixth spot on lap 9. However, Garrett's strong run ended on lap 18 when he spun exiting Turn 4, coming to rest against the inside front-straightaway concrete retaining wall to bring out the event's only caution flag.

Back under green, the trio of Ketron, Berry and Hale were running nose-to-tail halfway into the 50-lapper, holding a 10 car-length advantage over fourth and fifth-running Lopez and VanDyke.

Berry, driving the Pizza Plus/Quality Heating & Air/Branson Trailer Sales/Custom Race Engines/Townsend-Berry Race Cars/No. 61 Monte Carlo, stayed glued to Ketron's rear bumper throughout the final 25 laps, with Hale occupying Berry's rear view mirror. Berry sneaked a peek under Ketron racing off Turn 4 on lap 46, racing into the first turn on the bottom of the track alongside Ketron. However, the race was Ketron's when Berry's mount slipped coming off the second corner, forcing Berry to drop back in behind Ketron to protect the runner-up spot from Hale.

Unofficially, Ketron would take the checkered flag ahead of Berry, Hale, Lopez and VanDyke. Running sixth through tenth were Milton, R.J. Stanley, Adam Dean, Danny O'Quinn and Bill Lane. But, until NASCAR officials make their decision regarding the alleged rules violation found on Ketron's car, the "official finish" is being held up until the first of the week.

Caleb Holman of Abingdon, Va., held off Bill Garrett and Paul Shull in a spirited battle to the checkers in the 30-lap Allied Mortgage Sportsman feature for his second victory of the season. Bruce Blessing and Rod Collins finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Billy Babb of Kingsport captured his first 25-lap Street Stock feature win of the season when first and second place runners Chuck Crigger and Stacey Castle tangled in Turn 4 en route to the checkers. Babb was trailed by Steve Canter, Kenny Holder, Wayne Gibson and Mike Hayes.

Jeff Maupin of Greenville continued his winning ways in holding off Robby Perkins at the finish in the 15-lap UMP Modified feature for his division-leading fifth victory in six races on the season. Finishing third through fifth were Alton Satterfield, Randy Bethea and Luke Boles.

Kingsport's Brad Housewright visited GKS victory lane in the 20-lap Pro Challenge feature for the first time in 2001, with Barry Shelton, Brett Shelton, Garland Worley and Trevor Richardson following.

After winning three-straight 20-lap Legends features earlier in the season, Kingsport's Darrel Gillespie made a late-race pass of Janice Humble en route to winning number four on the season Friday night. Finishing third through fifth were Ronnie McCarty, Adam Sarver and Rusty Sarver.

Clintwood, Va.'s "Iron" Will McKnight won the battle over Elmar Nicely, Linton Perry, Larry McKnight and Larry McKnight Jr. in winning the 15-lap Charger feature.

Tom Buckingham of Morristown won for the second straight week in taking the checkers in the 12-lap Modified Lite feature over Kelly Glass, Sam Couch, James Worley and K.D. Knoedler.

Another eight-division racing program is scheduled at Galaxy Kingsport Speedway next Friday, May 11, on "McDonald's/Speedo The Clown Night at the Races." For more information, contact the track at (423) 288-5992.