David Payne led all 50 laps at Tazewell
The Schaeffer’s Oil Iron-Man Late Model Series and the Southern Nationals Series co-sanctioned an event at Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night for Super Late Model cars. At the end of the night it was David Payne who left upper east Tennessee with the $10,000 first prize and the bigest win of his racing career in front of a huge crowd.
Tyler Millwood was fastest in Group A qualifying with a lap of 11.710 seconds around the third-mile speed plant to beat out Jimmy Owens, Michael Chilton and Ryan King.
David Payne led the way in Group B qualifying with a lap of 11.733 seconds to better the efforts of Dale McDowell, Brian Smith and Donald McIntosh.
Tyler Millwood was the victor in the first heat of the night as he bested Michael Chilton, Dakotah Knuckles and Forrest Trent while Jimmy Owens took the second preliminary ahead of Ryan King, Travis Fultz and Kyle Strickler.
David Payne beat out Donald McIntosh, Pearson Lee Williams and Vic Hill in the third heat of the night just before Brandon Overton won the fourth and final heat race over Brian Smith, Jeff Wolfenbarger and Dustin Nobbe.
Kenny Collins won the lone B-main of the evening.
David Payne and Tyler Millwood(31) battle at the start of the feature
Payne bolted to the lead from his outside front row starting position when the green flag waved over the 50-lap main event with Millwood, Overton, Owens and McIntosh following in his tire tracks. Owens moved by Overton to take third on lap 3 while Payne began to slip away from his pursuers.
As is often the case on the tight and fast Tazewell Speedway, slower traffic came into play. By lap 10 the top-4 of Payne, Millwood, Overton and Owens ran in tight formation as they worked among the lapped machines. On lap 17 Overton found an opening and took the runner-up spot away from Millwood. However, a slip by the No, 76 machine one lap later allowed by Millwood and Owens to get by.
Owens went around Millwood to grab second on lap 19. Later, Overton would also pass Millwood.
The first caution of the feature came on lap 30 with Jordon Horton slowed. On the restart, Owens made a bid to wrest the lead away from Payne but the attempt failed, and again, the No, 8 car began to get away from the pack.
Jimmy Owens(20) briefly challenged for the lead
Payne controlled the race’s second half as he led Owens and Overton around the high speed facility. But Owens would find bad luck on lap 44 when his second running machine slowed with a flat tire.
Over the closing laps, Payne went largely unchallenged and eventually sailed under the checkered flag to claim the victory.
Feature Finish: 1. David Payne, 2. Michael Chilton, 3. Kyle Strickler, 4. Brandon Overton, 5. Tyler Millwood, 6. Ryan King, 7. Pearson Lee Williams, 8. Forrest Trent, 9. Dale McDowell, 10. Jimmy Owens, 11. Jake Knowles, 12. Dakotah Knuckles, 13. Kenny Collins, 14. Joey Standridge, 15. Travis Fultz, 16. Brian Smith, 17. Jeff Wolfenbarger, 18. Donald McIntosh, 19. Jordon Horton, 20. Vic Hill, 21. David Crabtree, 22. Dustin Nobbe
