Hale, Monteith split late model stock car wins at Lonesome Pine Raceway

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Wayne Hale and Nate Monteith set the tune Saturday’s race honoring the late Dr. Ralph Stanley.

Hale qualified on point for the first 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car feature and Nate Monteith on the outside pole.

Hale and Monteith would battle on the start with Hale clearing Monteith for the lead on lap three.

Hale would begin to pull away, while Kres VanDyke began to pressure Monteith at the 20-lap mark. Monteith would overcome the pressure, holding onto second with Hale continuing to pull away.

Hale would lead the remaining 32 laps for his third win of the season.

“The car was really good tonight,” said Hale on his first place result. “We carried momentum from our run at Kingsport Speedway last night [were we] finished second.”

“We were much better in the first race,” added the 2015 Late Model Stock Car track champion. “The adjustments we made between the two races just weren’t enough.”

With a roll of one on the invert dice following the first 35-lap feature, Hale and Monteith were on the front row to start the second twin race. Monteith would race to the lead with the green flag waving, while VanDyke began pressing Hale hard for second place and take over the position on the third lap.

Monteith would continue to lead at lap 20, while VanDyke found himself under fire from Hale for the second position. The two would battle with Hale eventually taking over the spot and setting his sights on Monteith for the lead.

Hale would get near Monteith’s rear bumper, even making slight contact but Monteith would continue to show the way as the race closed in on the final laps.

The only yellow flag period of the race waved with five laps remaining for debris on the backstretch entering turn three. Working the restart, Monteith would retake the lead and capture his third win of the season.

“This makes three wins in the last four Late Model Stock races here at Lonesome Pine [Raceway],” said Monteith. “That’s a pretty good record in my book.”

The two-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Tennessee state champion also spoke on the handling of his car Saturday night.

“Our car was tight in the first race, so we made some adjustments ahead of the second race and it made it much better,” added Monteith. “I certainly have to once again thank the Nances for the opportunity to drive this car.”

Elby Harrison and Emma Stiltner led the Modified Street field to the green for their 30-lap race.

Stiltner would go to the lead on the first circuit over Harrison. Chris Tunnell would make his way into second on lap six and attempt to chase down Stiltner.

Tunnell’s run would not be enough, as Stiltner would pull away and lead all 30 laps for her first career victory.

A Ketron front row got the 25-lap Pure 4 race underway, having father and son Jason and John Ketron starting first and second, respectively.

The first caution of the race would wave just as the field completed the first lap, as Bruce Crumbley tagged William Hale, sending Hale spinning in turn one.

Jason Ketron would regain the lead on the restart and show the way until another caution waved on lap nine for a spin on the frontstretch involving Hale and Tom Hodges.

Back under green, Jason Ketron would lead the way once again and take command of the remainder of the race in route to the victory.

Pole sitter Rocky Yates jumped to the lead as the green flag waved when second place Carey Brown missed a shift in the Mod 4 race.

Freddie Taylor Jr. would make his way into second on lap two, with Yates pulling away out front. The race would go caution free and Yates would record his fourth win of the season.   

Jamie Meadows took the lead on the opening lap of the Pure Street race over Doug Austin.

Meadows would pace the field for the entire race, claiming the win over Austin and Marty Tunnell.

Blaine Harrison continued his dominance in Bandeleros, winning the 10-lap feature.

LPR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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