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Chaney disqualified; Ferguson captures third Kingsport Late Model Stock victory

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (July 19) – Robbie Ferguson of Jonesborough never led a lap Thursday night in the Shoney’s NASCAR Late Model Stock Car 50-lap feature, as Phil Bachman Toyota/Honda presented "Fun Fest Goes to the Races" in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Galaxy Kingsport Speedway. But when apparent winner Michael Chaney was disqualified in post race inspection – Ferguson was moved from the runner-up position into victory lane.

With a stellar field of 22 Late Model Stocks present, Ferguson set fast time in qualifying but was moved to the outside of the second row after the top-four qualifiers were inverted. At the drop of the green on the 50-lap main event, Kres VanDyke jumped into the lead over Chaney, with Ferguson and Wade Lopez running side-by-side for the third spot, and Mark Ketron holding down the fifth position to complete lap 1.

On lap 3 racing off the second corner, Ferguson settled into third place when Lopez momentarily got loose. Up front it was a battle between the "young guns" VanDyke and Chaney for the point and, on lap 4 at the start/finish line Chaney nosed into a lead he would carry to the checkered flag.

With Chaney driving under VanDyke to move into the lead, the door was opened for Ferguson to take over the runner-up spot on lap 5 racing into turn one, also bringing Lopez into third place and relegating VanDyke back to the fourth spot. Behind the leaders, Ketron had his hands full trying to hold off Jeff Berry for fifth place. On lap 6 between turns one and two, Berry dropped Ketron back to sixth.

By lap 15 it was a three-car breakaway up front with Chaney leading the way and Ferguson and Lopez in tow. Behind the lead trio it was a "battle royale" for positions four back to twelve, with two-wide, nose-to-tail action all around the track. The pace was slowed on lap 23 just prior to halfway in the 50-lapper when Rick Pannell spun on the front straightaway to bring out the caution.

Going back green the top five were Chaney, Ferguson, Lopez, Nate Monteith and Berry. Running sixth through 10th were VanDyke, Adam Dean, Reece Milton, Bill Lane and Bill Garrett.

Dean worked under VanDyke for sixth place in turn two on lap 25, and two laps later racing off (turn) four he passed Berry to move into the fifth spot. He was still on the gas into turn one on lap 28 to drive underneath Monteith to move into fourth place.

Milton got loose in turn two on lap 35, spinning to bring out the caution and ending the night for the one-time feature winner this season when his car sustained front-end damage after slight contact from Monteith. After going back green, only six laps were completed before a two-car tangle between turns one and two involving Butch Jarvis and R.J. Stanley set the stage for a nine-lap sprint to the finish.

Chaney had a rear view mirror full of Ferguson, Lopez, Dean, Berry and Monteith over the final laps. Ferguson was sneaking peeks under the race leader on both ends of the track racing off the turns, but the 19-year-old Chaney never made a bobble to allow Ferguson around. Berry worked under Dean to take over fourth place on lap 46 in turn four.

At the finish, Chaney took the checkers from flagman Robbie Williams, but in post-race technical inspection was disqualified, thus giving Ferguson his third victory of the season. Ferguson, driving the Race-Scan Communications/J & J Race Engines/Hedgecock Race Cars/No. 32 Monte Carlo was followed by Lopez, Berry, Dean and Monteith. Completing the top 10 finishers were VanDyke, Lane, Garrett, Wayne Hale and Paul Shull.

"I really don’t like to win a race like this, but we’ll take it tonight," said a smiling Ferguson after the race in the pits. "New tires really make a difference, and being we’re racing from week-to-week out of our own pockets, tonight we raced on four used tires. I felt like we were faster than Chaney but, not being able to get the grip coming off the corners I could never get around him.

"I’d really love to be able to race here at Kingsport every week, but we sure do need some sponsorship to come aboard to allow us to do so. We’ve got a great bunch of guys working on the car I really want to thank for all of their effort on race night, and at the shop during the week."

Galaxy Kingsport Speedway will host the "Jim Wolfe Memorial 100" for the NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars next Friday, July 27 sponsored by Fairway Ford. For more information, contact the track office at (423) 288-5992.

"SHONEY’S" NASCAR LATE MODEL STOCK CAR (50-laps)

   1.Robbie Ferguson #32-Jonesborough, TN 
   2.Wade Lopez #83-Abingdon, VA 
   3.Jeff Berry #61-Kingsport, TN 
   4.Adam Dean #23-Bristol, VA 
   5.Nate Monteith #44-Bluff City, TN 
   6.Kres VanDyke #15-Abingdon, VA 
   7.Bill Lane #14-Kingsport, TN 
   8.Bill Garrett #4-Johnson City, TN 
   9.Wayne Hale #19-Piney Flats, TN 
  10.Paul Shull #48-Clintwood, VA 
  11.Jeff Gilder #51-Kingsport, TN 
  12.Rick Pannell #33-Kingsport, TN 
  13.Butch Jarvis #53-Blountville, TN 
  14.Mark Ketron #26-Kingsport, TN 
  15.Mike Memmer #36-Fall Branch, TN 
  16.Clyde Jones #7-Kingsport, TN 
  17.R.J. Stanley #18-Bristol, TN 
  18.Reece Milton #16-Blountville, TN 
  19.Allen Hawkins #77-Kingsport, TN 
  20.Jeremy Pike #25-Church Hill, TN 
  21.Larry Utsman #81-Bristol, TN

DQed: Michael Chaney #24-Abingdon, VA