4.4.15 Carolina Clash Late Models Results
Bulls Gap, Tenn. (April 4, 2015) – Volunteer Speedway opened its 42nd year of exciting dirt-track racing by hosting the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series for the first of five scheduled visits by the series in 2015 to the legendary East Tennessee high-banked oval.
Chad Ogle of Sevierville proved to be class of the field in earning bragging rights for the Volunteer State, with a very impressive flag-to-flag run to the $4,000 “Carolinas vs. Tennessee Border Wars at The Gap” victory.
Ogle set the standard in pole qualifying with a fast-lap at 13.435 seconds among the 20 cars present, with five-time Volunteer Speedway Super Late Model champion Vic Hill second-quickest.
Ogle grabbed the lead over Hill, Chris Madden, Mark Douglas and Mack McCarter at the start. Setting a blistering pace out front in the early going, Ogle pulled out to a full-straightaway advantage over Hill and Madden by lap 10. Bobby Mays spun in the fourth turn on lap 13 to bring out the event’s first caution.
With Ogle showing the way out front on the restart, behind him Madden quickly got around Hill to take over second spot in the running order. Just behind the front-running trio, Douglas, McCarter, Riley Hickman, Jensen Ford and Mark Vineyard were battling three-wide at times jockeying for real estate.
Madden closed in behind leader Ogle and appeared to possibly be biding his time, just waiting to make a move at the opportune moment while they negotiated lapped traffic. However, Madden took several looks under Ogle on both ends of the track in the corners but couldn’t pull the trigger to complete the pass.
The scenario of the race took a dramatic turn on lap 28, when a good run for Douglas ended as he suddenly began to slow just past the start-finish line entering the first turn, before finally coming to a stop high in the banking at exit of turn two to bring the caution out. While the field slowly circled the track, second-running Madden pulled into the pits off turn four to attention from his crew. They removed the hood and looked underneath and shook their heads, their race prematurely had also come to an end.
Just one lap back under green the caution quickly waved once again, when Donald McIntosh looped his mount in turn four.
On the ensuing restart Hickman got around Hill for second place and set his sights ahead on leader Ogle. But there would be no catching Ogle, driving the GEO Services, Geotechnical & Materials Engineers/Ogle’s Neighborhood Service & Towing/Brooks Malone/Hoosier Racing Tire/Matlock Decal Co./Custom Race Engines/Rocket Chassis/No. 10 Chevrolet Corvette, as he won by right at a two-second margin over Hickman, Hill, McCarter and Vineyard.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Ford, Austin Smith, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor Joey Coulter, McIntosh and Kyle Pierce.
“We had a really strong car tonight,” said a smiling Ogle in victory lane. “This is really a great win for our team, just a good boost overall for our confidence. Bad luck, it seems like all we had last year was bad luck. We’d be having a good run and either have motor issues or get caught up in a wreck. It was kind of like we just couldn’t catch a lucky break or something.
“We switched car (chassis) brands for this year, getting us a Rocket Chassis. And if tonight’s any indication, we definitely made the right decision. We haven’t won a race since back in 2013 when we won that Southern Regional Racing Series show here. That’s what it’s all about – winning races. With this new car we’ve got and how good it’s performing, I’m excited about racing and can’t wait until the next race. Hopefully we’re really going to have us a good season racing.”
The Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series will make its next visit to Volunteer Speedway in just two short weeks on Saturday, April 18 for running of the 14th annual Spring Thaw paying $6,000-to-win. With NASCAR race fans in the region attending racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, round two of Border Wars at The Gap promises to be a must-see event.
Volunteer Speedway Race #3 Results
1. Chad Ogle #10
2. Riley Hickman #r1
3. Vic Hill #1
4. Mack McCarter #51
5. Mark Vineyard #4
6. Jensen Ford #83
7. Austin Smith #11
8. Joey Coulter #2
9. Donald McIntosh #7
10. Kyle Pierce #281
11. Ben Watkins #16
12. Forrest Trent #101
13. Bobby Mays #25
14. Doug Sanders #42
15. Kevin Wilson #618
16. Chris Madden #44
17. Mark Douglas #52D
18. Roger Best #007
19. Travis Greer #11g
20. Arthur Walker #87