July 3
Tazewell Speedway,
Tazewell, TN
Sanction: Valvoline Iron-Man Southern Series (Firecracker 40) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series reports (last updated July 4, 10:55 am)
Weiss tames Taz to score Firecracker 40 victory
Firecracker 40
- Ricky Weiss
- Michael Chilton
- Vic Hill
- Eli Beets
- Matt Tharp
- Stacy Boles
- Steve Smith
- Terry Wolfenbarger
- Matthew Holt
- Ryan Winchester
- Troy Eads
- Joseph Joiner
- Dakotah Knuckles
- Brian Shockley
- Jason Trammell
- Austin Neely
Ricky Weiss (7) outran Michael Chilton (97) at Tazewell.
What won the race: Second-starting Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, overtook upstart hometown driver Austin Neely on the 23rd lap and raced to his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Racing Series victory in Tazewell Speedway's Firecracker 40. Weiss took the checkers 1.941 seconds ahead of Michael Chilton to pick up a $5,000 payday while Neely's race ended against the wall after a lap-32 scrape with Chilton.
Key notes: Weiss ran third the first half of the way but went around Chilton on the frontstretch, then one lap later dove under Neely in turn one and cruised the rest of the way. ... Weiss earned his first Iron-Man Series victory since July 1, 2016 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. ... Officials and security had to calm things down after the Austin Neely-Chilton tangle that also sent Vic Hill spinning (Chilton and Hill maintained their positions). ... Polesitter Dakotah Knuckles of Ewing, Va., got into the turn-three wall on the first lap after brake failure . ... Six cars completed 40 laps in the 30-minute race. ... Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., won Friday's race at Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Ga., and Eli Beets of Knoxville, Tenn., won Saturday's stop at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Ky.
On the move: Matt Tharp of Luttrell, Tenn., started 10th and finished fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Weiss drives a Sniper Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by J&C Properties, G-Style Transport, Turk Enterprises, Collins Brothers Towing, Derrick’s Sandblasting, Drydene Performance Products, Keewatin Truck Service, Wiesner Trucking and RWD Recycling.
Points chase: Entering the weekend: 1. Michael Chilton (488); 2. Stacy Boles (420); 3. Ricky Weiss (404); 4. Christian Hanger (400); 5. Eli Beets (372).
Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 75°F
Car count: 17
Fast qualifier: Ricky Weiss
Time: 10.866 seconds
Polesitter: Dakotah Knuckles
Consolation race winners: Joseph Joiner
Next series race: July 8, Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) $10,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.