Volunteer Speedway
Hill outruns Madden for $3,500 Volunteer victory
Vic Hill heads to victory at Volunteer. (Chad Wells)
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (July 16) — Former track champion Vic Hill of Mosheim, Tenn., led all 35 laps Tuesday at Volunteer Speedway to capture the second leg of the Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals, earning $3,500 for his fourth career victory on the minitour. | Video | Slideshow
Hill turned back a last-lap challenge from runner-up Chris Madden in turn three to wrap up the victory at the high-banked, 4/10-mile oval in east Tennessee.
“It’s been a day or two coming for a win,” Hill said. “We’ve had a few we thought was in the bag ... actually tonight, with about 15 (laps) to go, we got a vibration, and I thought 'Surely to God it can’t be another rear end.' ”
While Hill led all the way, Madden slid nearly alongside on the final lap as Hill dealt with a slower car.
“I knew Madden was there. I thought, 'Man, on that last lap there, I’ve gotta get by this guy and get some clearance here.' ”
Madden, the four-time champion leading the series points once again, accepted second place but thought thinks would’ve turned out different if he didn’t draw the fourth and worst spot for a dash among the top four qualifers.
“I still feel like we had the dominant race car tonight,” the Gray Cour, S.C.d,� said. “Hat’s off to Vic for winning the race, but (if) you put the fastest car behind, and it is hard to make it up sometimes on certain surfaces, and tonight was definitely one-groove dominant, and if you got off of that top, you couldn’t get going.”
Outside front-row starter Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., was third while Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., and Josh Henry of Newport, Tenn., completed the top five.
Five cautions slowed the acction, all for single-car slowdowns except when Eric Jacobsen and Chad Ogle tangled on the ninth lap. Jacobsen recovered to finishe seconc.
Notes: Hill’s Warrior Race Car is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Landair Transport, Orthopaedic Institute of Western Kentucky, Pilot Travel Centers and American Racing Tire. ... Hill also won $300 for his PRC Dash victory. ... Chris Madden picked up the $100 FK Rod Ends award for fast time. ... Sixth-place finisher Jeff Wolfenbarger of Clinton, Tenn., advanced six positions. ... NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Joey Coulter was 11th. ... Next up for the 10race series is a July 18 stop at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City.
Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals @ Volunteer: (1) Vic Hill, (2) Chris Madden, (3) Jonathan Davenport, (4) Billy Ogle Jr., (5) Josh Henry, (6) Jeff Wolfenbarger, (7) Eric Jacobsen, (8) Mark Douglas, (9) Stacy Boles, (10) Mark Vineyard, (11) Joey Coulter, (12) Doug Smith, (13) Steve Csebolt, (14) Chad Ogle, (15) Bubba Russell, (16) Travis Greer, (17) Heath Alvey, (18) Forrest Trent, (19) Bryan Hendrix. Fast qualifier (among 19 cars): Madden, 12.120 seconds. Consolation race winners: B. Ogle, C. Ogle. Dash winner: Hill.
