Ford captures Sportsman win at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP — Jensen Ford roared to the Sportsman Late Model victory during the Scott Sexton Memorial at Volunteer Speedway late Monday night. Ford, driving the No. 8 TNT Race Cars Late Model, rallied from a fourth-place starting spot to win the 20-lap race. He was one of two Johnson City drivers to finish in the top three spots at the high-banked, 4/10-mile dirt track. Second-place went to Shaun Sise, a Knoxville driver who won the last Sportsman Late Model race at Bulls Gap. Johnson City driver Tim Maupin finished third after charging from a seventh-place starting spot. Knoxville drivers Kyle Courtney and Addison Cardwell rounded out the top five. Polesitter Heath Alvey finished eighth. Arizona racer Jake O'Neil held off longtime competitor Dale McDowell to win the $7,552-to-win Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals feature. O'Neil started on the outside pole, but got past Allen Styck for the race lead. He went on to capture the 52-lap feature, which was the same number of the car which the late Sexton won so many races. McDowell moved up from fifth for the runner-up spot. Zack Mitchell, a South Carolina racer and former winner on the World of Outlaws tour at Volunteer Speedway, finished third. North Carolina driver Benji Hicks was fourth, while Newport's Josh Henry made the biggest move forward, picking up 10 positions to finish fifth. Eric Hughes from Soddy Daisy ended Gary Blanken's undefeated run this season in Street Stocks. Blanken, who started on the pole, finished second. The rest of the top five consisted of Colby Long, Bobbie Petty and Shannon Emery. Johnson City driver Marcus Mays finished eighth. Chris Meinders survived the chaos of a 100-lap Enduro to win a $2,500 winner's purse. NASCAR LOCAL SERIES It's a big weekend for local paved short track racing with programs at both Kingsport Speedway and Lonesome Pine Raceway. Kingsport Speedway has a full slate for Friday night at the 3/8-mile oval nicknamed the "Concrete Jungle." It is headlined by the Late Model class. Super Street, Street Stocks, Mod 4, Pure 4 and Crown Vic are also on tap. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with practice and qualifying. Racing is scheduled to start around 8 p.m. The Grand National Super Series returns to Lonesome Pine Raceway on Saturday. The program at the 3/8-mile asphalt track also includes the Limited Late Models, Super Street, Street Stocks, Mod 4, Pure 4, Stock FWD, Crown Vic and Bandeloros. Newport Speedway had to cancel its scheduled races last Saturday. The ASA Stars National Tour is scheduled to come to the high-banked, 4/10-mile asphalt oval on Saturday, July 25. Keelan Harvick is one of the drivers scheduled to compete with his NASCAR Hall of Fame father, Kevin Harvick, serving as grand marshal. TENNESSEE INDYCAR It's the only chance for open wheel racing fans to see the IndyCar Series in the state of Tennessee with the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. Practice and qualifying for the IndyCar Series and the Indy NXT Series, along with a race for the Vintage Indy Series are on the Saturday slate. The Sunday schedule includes an autograph session in the Fan Zone as well as two races. The Indy NXT Series races at noon, followed by a FOX Sports World Cup watch part at 2 p.m. The Music City Grand Prix begins at 4:30 p.m. Josef Newgarden, a driver from nearby Hendersonville, Tenn., is the defending race champion.