Billy Ogle, Jr. drove this Stacy Boles owned Rocket to victory.
The World of Outlaws Late Models Series made its annual trek to the Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night and staged an unforgettable show that saw a crowd favorite execute a last lap pass to score a very popular victory over the touring series regulars. Billy Ogle, Jr. emerged as the winner after he moved by three-time series champion Josh Richards on the last turn of the last lap to collect the $10,000 first prize.
Red hot Shane Clanton got the night started off on a fast note when he led the way in qualifying by posting a lap of 11.506 seconds around the third-mile clay oval that features some of the steepest banking in all of racing. The Georgia veteran was followed by a pair of young drivers with strong ties to the east Tennessee area in Donald McIntosh(who drives for east Tennessee based Blount Motorsports) and Mack McCarter(who is a native of Gatlinburg, Tenn). Clanton and Ogle earned the right to participate in the redraw for starting positions 1-6 after they finished first and second in the first heat race of the evening. McIntosh beat out Jimmy Owens in the second heat while Richards won the third heat just ahead of McCarter. The redraw placed McIntosh on the pole ahead of Richards, Clanton, Ogle, McCarter and Owens. Brandon Overton won the sole Last Chance Showdown race.
It was McIntosh who got the initial jump on the start of the 50-lap feature. However, the Dawsonville, Georgia driver’s time at the front of the field would be short-lived as Richards roared to the lead on the second circuit, leaving McIntosh to fight with Clanton for the runner-up spot. McIntosh’s race would end on lap 6 when his car suffered mechanical issues. Richards controlled most of the race as he and Clanton fought for position while at the same time battling the slower traffic that so often plays a role in determining the outcomes of races at Tazewell. Clanton, who entered the race with the WoO Late Models points lead, kept almost constant pressure on Richards during the times of green flag competition.
There were a total of three yellow flags, each for cars slowing on track with mechanical troubles, to slow the action briefly. As the race neared its conclusion, Clanton intensified the pressure on the leader. However, Ogle, Owens and Lanigan joined the fray during some tense moments for the leaders as they worked around slower cars while fighting for position. On lap 41, Clanton slipped high in turn four and was passed by both Ogle and Owens. Then over the remaining nine circuits, those two drivers took on the task of hounding Richards. Finally, as the field made its way through turns three and four for the final time, Ogle was able to get underneath Richards and wrest the lead away with the checkered flag in sight. Owens was also able to dart by Richards as the two drag raced down the front straightaway.
Feature Finish: 1. Billy Ogle, Jr., 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Josh Richards, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Darrell Lanigan, 6. Rick Eckert, 7. Chub Frank, 8. Vic Hill, 9. Brad Neat, 10. Steve Smith, 11. Eric Wells, 12. Chase Junghans, 13. Morgan Bagley, 14. Stacy Boles, 15. Brandon Overton, 16. Jordan Yaggy, 17. Chad Ogle, 18. Boom Briggs, 19 Jeff Neubert, 20. Frank Heckenast, Jr., 21. Dakotah Knuckles, 22. Tim McCreadie, 23. Mack McCarter, 24. Donald McIntosh
Three-way battle for the lead on lap 2.
Another three-wide battle mid pack.
Billy Ogle Jr. passes Josh Richards for the lead on the last lap.
Ogle and supporter in Victory Lane at Tazewell
