Kingsport Speedway hosted a pair of Late Model Stock Car feature races on Friday night as part of its ‘Back to School’ special event filled with giveaways and activities for kids. Zeke Shell and Nik Williams took the checkered flags in a pair of thrilling twin main events at the place known as “The Concrete Jungle”.
Zeke Shell won the night’s first Late Model feature event
Shell came into the night as the leader of the track’s LMSC standings and he proved to be the fastest in qualifying for that division as he turned a lap of 14.490 seconds around the concrete oval to beat out Hayden Woods, Nik Williams, Kres VanDyke, Robbie Ferguson, Wayne Hale, Trey Bayne, Dillon Hodge, Trey Lane and Joey Trent.
At the start of the first 35-lap feature it was Shell going to the early lead with Woods, VanDyke, Williams and Ferguson trailing. Williams, who had won five consecutive LMSC features at Kingsport during the summer, immediately went to work as he challenged VanDyke for third but the No. 15 machine held the spot for the time being.
The top-5 of Shell, Woods, VanDyke, Williams and Ferguson continued to run in tight formation during the early laps with Williams offering a constant challenge to VanDyke.
Further back in the top-10, Hale, Lane and Trent wrestled for position within shouting distance of the lead pack.
Williams again went to work on VanDyke for the third position on lap 15 and finally seized the spot after two laps of side-by-side racing between the two regulars at the track located in upper east Tennessee. Ferguson quickly took advantage of the opening made by Williams and passed by VanDyke to claim fourth.
A pair of caution flags on laps 20 and 21 for multi-car mishaps set up a final dash to the finish.
Shell continued to show the way but Williams would not give up as he took the runner-up spot from Woods on lap 31. However, Shell was too far in front by that time and roared on to the checked flag for the win in the first feature of the night.
Feature Finish: 1. Zeke Shell, 2. Nik Williams, 3. Hayden Woods, 4. Robbie Ferguson, 5. Kres VanDyke, 6. Trey Bayne, 7. Joey Trent, 8. Derek Lane, 9. Dillon Hodge, 10. Kyle Barnes, 11. Trey Lane, 12. Darin Silver, 13. Bryson Dennis, 14. Wayne Hale, 15. Rick Panell, 16. Greg Bohannon, 17. Dale Cline, 18. Kyle Lockrow, 19. Marty Roberts
Nik Williams was the runner-up in the first feature and won the second feature
The top-8 finishers from the first feature were inverted to set the starting lineup for the second race which put Lane and Trent on the front row with Bayne and VanDyke rolling to the green flag just behind them. At the start of the second 35-lap feature it was Lane who went to the early lead ahead of Trent, VanDyke, Woods and Bayne.
Bayne attempted an early charge as he took on Woods in an attempt to gain the third. At the same time, Williams began his march to the front as he fought with Ferguson for seventh.
A lap 3 caution allowed VanDyke an opportunity to make a run at Trent for second. The two cars raced side-by-side for three laps until VanDyke finally claimed the position. Further back, Willliams was at it again as he moved by Bayne to grab sixth while the feature #1 winner Shell also got by Bayne to move up in the running order.
Lap 10 saw two separate battles taking place as Woods went after Trent for third just in front of a contest for fifth involving Williams and Ferguson. Woods grabbed third while Williams jumped all the way to fourth as he bypassed both Ferguson and Trent.
Williams took third away from Woods on lap 13 and that set up a three-way tussle as he quickly closed the gap on the leading duo of Lane and VanDyke. A tight battle ensued between the three until VanDyke took the lead on lap 18 with Williams also bouncing Lane back in the running order.
Shell climbed into the top-5 by moving around Trent on lap 20 but all eyes were focused on the front of the pack from that point.
Williams rode in the tire tracks of VanDyke as he put his No. 32 car right on the rear bumper of the No. 15 as the laps clicked off. Finally, as the cars took the white flag Williams muscled his way under VanDyke. When VanDyke’s machine slid high Williams seized the spot and outran his rival back to the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Nik Wlliams, 2. Kres VanDyke, 3. Zeke Shell, 4. Hayden Woods, 5. Robbie Ferguson, 6. Trey Bayne, 7. Joey Trent, 8. Kyle Barnes, 9. Dillon Hodge, 10. Wayne Hale, 11. Bryson Dennis, 12. Trey Lane, 13. Darin Silver, 14. Derek Lane, 15. Rick Panell, 16. Dale Cline, 17. Greg Bohannon, 18. Marty Roberts