Jason Welshan collected $1,500 for his Crate Late Model victory.
Jason Welshan won 34 Late Model feature races in 2014, and a good number of those wins came in the Crate Late Model class at Smoky Mountain Speedway. But in a previous race for this division earlier this year, the Maryville, Tenn. driver placed third at the finish. On Saturday night, he proved that he had not lost his touch on his hometown track after taking the checkered flag and earning a $1,500 payday.
However, it was no easy victory for Welshan as the No. 29 machine had to pass by a number of good cars on his way to the win.
Brett Wyatt began the night in a fast way as he earned the pole for the feature by turning the fastest lap among the 15 cars signed in for competition when he toured the 4/10 clay oval in 17.508 seconds. Following the fast qualifier were Greg Martin, Ethan Hunter, Anthony White, Welshan and Matt Henderson.
There were no heat races for this class as the entire starting grid was set through time-trials.
Wyatt bolted to the early lead in the 25-lap feature with Martin and Hunter in his tire tracks. Welshan moved up one spot on the initial start to place himself in fourth ahead of White and Henderson.
Welshan then moved to the third spot in the running order when he passed by Hunter on the third circuit around the big oval. All the while, Martin stalked Wyatt as he ran right up to the rear spoiler of the lead car.
A lap 5 caution flag waved when Wyatt spun on the front straightaway while racing in close quarters with Martin for the lead. Race officials determined that the caution had been called on Wyatt so he was sent to the rear for the restart while Martin’s No. 24 machine would lead the way at the drop of the green flag.
On that restart, then second running Welshan made a strong bid for the top spot as he got underneath and alongside Martin. But the driver known as “Skinny” fought back and re-assumed the lead from the top side of the track.
A potential contender for the win was eliminated on lap 12 when the third running Hunter found the turn two wall after possibly suffering a radiator failure. But it would be on the restart from this caution that the race would be decided.
When the green flag waved once more, Welshan moved under Martin and drove to the lead of the race. Once again, however, Martin fought back on the outside. This time, the former leader slipped up into the turn two wall on the thirteenth circuit of the race.
White then took up the pursuit of Welshan during the closing laps but the No. 29 car built a somewhat comfortable lead and cruised to the finish.
Welshan returned to Victory Lane at SMS.
At the finish of the Crate Late Model race, it was Jason Welshan winning out over Anthony White, Brian Ownby, Matt Henderson, Chase King, Josh Fields, Robby Moses, Brett Wyatt, Warren McMahan and Bryson Dennis.
Wesley Lester was the winner in the Street Stock division.
In other racing action on Saturday night, Wesley Lester passed Gary Blanken on the last lap to earn the win in the Street Stock class with Tony Horton and Ty Crisp finish third and fourth respectively.
