Smoky Mountain Speedway
Wood claims first Ultimate win at Smoky Mountain
By Gene Murphy
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Dillon Wood heads for victory at Smoky Mountain. (mrmracing.net)
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (May 25) — Dillon Wood traveled to the Tennessee mountains loaded for bear and left with a trophy for the wall. The New Smyrna Beach, Fla., driver led flag to flag at Smoky Mountain Speedway Saturday night, earning $4,000 for his first-career Ultimate Super Late Model Series victory.
Wood was quick to thank his benefactors after the win.
“Mark and Josh Richards (at Rocket Chassis) have really helped me a lot,” Wood said. “Also, Gary Winger with the (Integra) shocks and Scott Keyser with Keyser Manufacturing and my dad and Derek Gahring. All those people really make it happen for me. Even Gerald at Gotta Race in Arizona. You have to have a good team and I have a good team.” | Slideshow | Video
Billy Ogle Jr., of Knoxville, Tenn., claimed the runner-up finish followed by Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., who rallied through the field after winning a consolation race to make the feature lineup.
Fourth-place finisher Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., battled early for the lead from his front-row starting position before sliding back to fourth at the finish, and reigning series champ and current points leader Casey Roberts, of Toccoa, Ga., brought home a solid fifth-place finish.
Getting the jump on Ferguson at the wave of the green flag, Wood used the high line in the early laps and left the low groove open to Ferguson. Although able to match Wood’s laps down low and able to pull the nose of his car ahead at times, Ferguson could never complete a pass to take over the top spot.
In the latter stages of the event Ferguson battled hard with Ogle. Jr., at times pulling off matching slidejobs on each other while battling for the second position.
Cook showed the strength of his machine late, sliding by Ferguson for third with less than 15 laps to go.
A caution with two laps to go for Jeff Smith’s machine that pulled up lame on the frontstretch gave Ogle one more shot at Wood. But, as Wood had been able to do throughout the event, he simply drove away and opened up a sizable margin.
Wood crossed the finish line with about a seven car-length advantage over Ogle.
Notes: Wood drives a Clements-powered Rocket with sponsorship from Keyser Manufacturing, gottarace, GW Performance and All-Star Graphics. ... Wood became the second first-time winner on the series this season; Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., earned his first series victory in the season opener March 10 at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway. ... The Ultimate Super Late Model Series is next in action June 1 with a $5,000-to-win race at I-77 Raceway Park in Ripley, W.Va.
Ultimate @ Smoky Mountain Speedway: (1) Dillon Wood, (2) Billy Ogle Jr., (3) Ray Cook, (4) Chris Ferguson, (5) Casey Roberts, (6) Brett Miller, (7) David Watts (8) Mike Gault, (9) Jeff Wolfenberger, (10) Mark Rosner, (11) Jeff Franklin, (12) Jeff Smith, (13) Tommy Kerr, (14) Josh Collins, (15) Chuck Laney, (16) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (17) Skylar Marlar, (18) Terry Wolfenberger, (19) Sammie Russell, (20) Chad Ogle, (21) Vic Hill, (22) Mark Vineyard, (23) Stacy Boles, (24) Zack Mitchell. Fast qualifier (among 30 cars): Wood, 15.192 seconds. Consolation winners: Collins, Cook.
Correction: Fixes spelling of Derek Garhing's name.
