Volunteer Speedway
Douglas outruns Hill for $3,000 at the Gap
By Robert Walden
Volunteer Speedway
Mark Douglas waves to the Volunteer Speedway crowd in victory lane. (mrmracing.net)
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Aug. 6) — Two-time track champion Mark Douglas led all 40 laps Saturday at Volunteer Speedway for his first victory on the STARS Volunteer Racing Series. The pole-starting Douglas pocketed $3,000 in topping a 13-car field for the first series visit to the 4/10-mile oval. | Slideshow
Douglas kept runner-up Vic Hill of Mosheim, Tenn., in check in the second half of the race in securing the victory. Eric Jacobsen of Seacliff Beach, Calif., was third followed by Chad Ogle of Sevierville, Tenn., and Ross White of Knoxville, Tenn.
Among cautions was for a slowing Kerry Jones on the second lap and for Jeff Maupin on lap 36 when he jumped the cushion between turns one and two, making slight contact with the wall and setting up a four-lap dash to the checkers.
Douglas had a couple of scares. With 11 laps remaining, the slower car of John Tweed briefly got out of shape in front of the leader in turn four, and Hill nearly pulled alongside the lead on the next lap. Then just before the lap-36 caution, it appeared Hill had a great opportunity to make a pass exiting turn two, but the yellow flag erased the move and reset the field with Douglas out front.
Notes: Douglas drives a Rocket Chassis with a Vic Hill Race Engine and sponsorship from C. Laney & Sons Construction, Allen & Cathy Bryant Enterprises, FSR Performance Parts & Fabrication, Team David Bryant Motorsports and Fastlane Signs & Graphics. .... Douglas won his Volunteer track championships in 2002 and '03. ... The track hosted Fan Appreciation Night. ... Dale Ball won the track's 25-lap feature for Crate Late Models over Jerry Broyles, topping a 16-car field. ... Next up for Volunteer Racing Series competitors is a Sept. 3 event at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway.
Back to School Bash 40: (1) Mark Douglas, (2) Vic Hill, (3) Eric Jacobsen, (4) Chad Ogle, (5) Ross White, (6) Brett Miller, (7) John Tweed, (8) Hunter Best, (9) Jeff Maupin, (10) Bryan Hendrix, (11) Doug Smith, (12) J. Allan, (13) Kerry Jones. Scratched: Travis Greer. Fast qualifier (among 14 cars): Douglas.
