Jason Welshan on his way to victory in the Crate Late Model class.
Smoky Mountain Speedway hosted the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for the first time in its history on Saturday night. At the same time, the track also staged races for the Crate Late Model and Street Stock classes with Jason Welshan and Robby Buchanan emerging as the feature race winners.
Welshan set the pace in Crate Late Model qualifying when he posted a lap of 16.71 seconds around the 4/10 mile oval. With the feature lineup being set entirely through time-trials, he was joined at the front of the starting grid by Jake Teague, Forrest Trent, Brett Wyatt and Justin Summers.
From the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature, it was Welshan who would lead the way. However, the race would take a dramatic turn just after the completion of the first lap. A multiple car crash claimed several would be contenders, including top-10 qualifiers Bryson Dennis and Chase McWhorter.
There would be some intense racing just behind the lead car as Teague and Wyatt jostled for the runner-up spot in the early going. At the same time, Trent and Summers battled so hard for the 4th spot that the two cars came together at one point and sent the Summers car briefly airborne. However, both continued on.
At lap 12, one of the top-5 runners would experience disaster when Teague’s car went up in smoke. That brought out the second and final caution period of the race.
From that point, Jason Welshan drove away for the win with Brett Wyatt, Robby Moses, Brad Coffey and Forrest Trent trailing. The winner collected $1,500 for his efforts.
In the Street Stocks, Charles Devine and Brady Lee started from the front row of the 17 car field after scoring heat race wins. But the story of the race would be the battle between Kurt Owens and Robby Buchanan in the late stages for the win.
As the 15-lap feature drew toward its conclusion, Owens and Buchanan found themselves running in a tight nose-to-tail formation with bumpers banging. On the last lap, Buchanan banged into Owens’ rear bumper in turns three and four and then dove to the low side of the track to draw alongside the leader. But the brother of LOLMDS star Jimmy Owens held his line to just edge his rival at the finish line.
However, the race’s finish was not yet determined as Owens was ruled to have illegal aluminum heads on his engine and the victory was disallowed. Buchanan ultimately claimed the win.
