Chad Ogle earned his first Super Late Model win on a track other than Volunteer Speedway
There has been a lot of talk this week about things being deflated but Billy Ogle, Jr. no doubt wishes one thing had kept air in it for just a few more minutes. The Knoxville driver looked to be on his way to yet another feature win at the Tazewell Speedway on Sunday night until his right rear tire went flat with just five laps remaining in the Buddy Rogers Memorial race sanctioned by the Southern Nationals Bonus Series.
Of course, one driver’s misfortune in racing often proves to be good fortune for another driver. That was the case for Sevierville’s Chad Ogle(no relation to Billy) as he inherited the top spot after the former leader’s demise and drove on to collect a $4,400 pay check in the race that served as the finale for the Iron Man Speedweek mini-series.
Billy Ogle, Jr. began the night by setting fast time in qualifying with a lap of 11.455 seconds around the high-banked third-mile track. David Payne, Chad Ogle, Mack McCarter, Ross White and Dakotah Knuckles followed to earn front row starting spots in their respective heat races.
Billy Ogle, Jr. earned the pole for the feature event by winning the first heat race over McCarter and Brad Hall.
Payne would start the feature from the outside of the front row by virtue of his victory in the second heat ahead of White and Tommy Bailey.
Chad Ogle was the victor in the third heat over Knuckles and Jeff Neubert.
The two Ogles surged to the lead at the start of the 44-lap main event with Billy leading Chad followed by McCarter, Hall and Knuckles. However, it wouldn’t take long for a significant moment to occur when the outside front row starting Payne slowed dramatically just following the start of the race and ultimately drew a caution after the completion of the first circuit with right front suspension damage.
Payne had entered the event leading the season long standings for the Southern Nationals Bonus Series.
Once the race restarted, it was McCarter who looked as if he might play the role of spoiler in what had appeared to be an all Ogle party at the front of the field. For several laps McCarter hounded Chad Ogle for the runner-up spot while Billy Ogle, Jr. set a lightning fast pace just ahead of his closest pursuers.
Chad Ogle(10) and Billy Ogle, Jr. race side-by-side at Tazewell
Behind the top-3, who separated themselves from the pack, the battle was waged between Hall, Neubert and Knuckles for positions 4 through 6 during the early laps.
Just one lap shy of halfway, Neubert appeared to suffered suspension damage to the rear of his car and slowed suddenly on the front straightaway. Josh Collins was unable to avoid the ailing machine and tagged the back of Neubert. Both car spun into the inside wall bringing out the second yellow flag of the night.
That caution erased a lead of almost a full straightaway by Billy Ogle, Jr. and set up a dramatic finish. Under that caution, McCarter pulled off track from his third position with mechanical troubles.
After the restart, Chad Ogle kept Billy Ogle, Jr. in his sights as the two bolted away from Hall, Knuckles and Tommy Bailey. With less than ten laps remaining, Chad’s No. 10 had closed right to the rear spoiler of Billy’s No. 201 and was applying heavy pressure for the lead.
On lap 39, Billy’s right rear tire gave way. The slowing No. 201 brought out the final caution of the night.
Chad Ogle pulled away over the final five laps to claim the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Chad Ogle, 2. Brad Hall, 3. Dakotah Knuckles, 4. Tommy Bailey, 5. Billy Ogle, Jr., 6. Michael Chilton, 7. Victor Lee, 8. Bobby Mays
As a result of his 6th place finish, Michael Chilton was crowned the Iron Man Speedweek Late Model champion. He had had to overcome a transmission failure during hot laps that prevented him from qualifying. As a result, he was forced to start at the rear of his heat race.
Team Ogle celebrates in Victory Lane
