Hall of
Famer Skip Arp Wins on Hall of Fame Night
(September
23, 2023) Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn. cruised to his
third straight Topless Outlaws Dirt Late Model Series presented
by Stanley Best Heating & Air feature win in as many events
on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway. (MRM
Racing Photo)
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, the first day of fall - thirty-seven
Topless Late Models, representing five states checked in at Smoky
Mountain Speedway to compete for the $3,000 to win event. Thirty
two had previously checked in on the original date of July 8th
before heavy rains cancelled the show. Only twenty-three of those
original cars showed back up which means fourteen additional drivers
came to compete on Saturday.
Arp proved to be the fastest car in PPM Racing Products time
trials, Group-A with a blistering lap of 14.405 which would’ve
been the second overall fastest time in the Carolina Sprints (14.274)
which was also in action on Saturday at SMS. Riley Hickman of
Ooltewah, Tenn. clocked the fastest time in Group-B with a 14.821.
| full
results
Rain Date
for July 8 Show Announced
(July 13, 2023)
The Topless Outlaws event rained out on July 8 has been rescheduled
for Saturday, September 23. The Topless Outlaws Late Model Series,
Carolina Sprint Tour, and Tennessee Mini Late Models will all
return. Ticket stubs and arm bands from July 8 will be good for
the new date. Those must be presented at the time of entry. Since
the race is being rescheduled, there will be no refunds. Tickets
will still be available on September 23.
In addition to the racing program, it will be the track’s
annual Hall of Fame Night. Charles “Red” Farmer, Steve
Smith, Tony Stewart, Dave Bilbrey, Greg Collins, and B.J. Parker
will all be inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame during
the intermission. The new inductees will receive letters in the
coming weeks with information about the ceremony. An autograph
session is being planned and details will be announced closer
to the event.
The next scheduled event at Smoky Mountain Speedway will be the
TNT Truck and Tractor Pull. Details on that event will be posted
soon on the track’s web site www.SmokyMountainSpeedway.com
and the track’s Facebook page.
Ricky
Thornton, Jr. Shines in Dominant Performance
(June
17, 2023) Ricky Thornton Jr. showed why he has been the
hottest driver with a dominating performance in the Lucas Oil
Late Model Dirt Series Mountain Moonshine Classic presented by
FK Rod Ends and East Tennessee Auto Outlet. (MRM
Racing Photo)
Spencer Hughes started the 60-lap race from the pole position
after winning the fast car dash that featured the top 3 finishers
from Friday’s features. Chris Ferguson joined Hughes on
the front row. It was Ferguson that took the initial lead on the
opening lap. Hughes tucked in behind Ferguson. Thornton wasted
no time in taking over the third spot.
Ferguson looked dialed in as the early laps clicked off. When
Thornton got past Hughes for second, the driver of the 20RT machine
ran down Ferguson. Thornton looked under Ferguson for the lead
on lap 22, but Ferguson kept his momentum off turn 2 to maintain
the lead. As Ferguson hugged the bottom, Thornton looked to the
outside of Ferguson and eventually took the lead on lap 26. From
there, Thornton pulled away to finish over 6 seconds ahead of
Hudson O’Neal, who took second from Ferguson in the closing
laps. Thornton's win was worth $50,000. |
full results
Fergy
and RTJ Win Twin Mountain Moonshine Classic Prelims
(June
16, 2023) Ferguson started alongside his cousin, Carson
Ferguson, in the first feature. Ferguson sent his car deep into
turn 1 on the first lap to take the lead. Ferguson looked to be
in control of the 30-lap race until sustaining some nose damage
halfway through the race. Carson Ferguson began to knock on the
door for the lead until a caution on lap 17. Chris Ferguson pulled
away on the restart and held on for the win. (MRM
Racing Photo)
Feature 2 saw Kyle Strickler take the lead over Ricky Thorton
Jr. Those two were the class of the field as they pulled away
from third place runner Spencer Hughes. All things pointed in
Strickler favor until he got stuck behind a slower car on lap
18. Thorton Jr. seized the opportunity to take the lead and the
win.
Saturday will see a six-car, six-lap dash for the top 3 finishers
in both features to see the first 3 rows for the main event. The
remainder of the cars will compete in heat races and b-mains to
set the rest of the field. | full
results
Hayden
Cardwell Takes Mayhem in the Mountains
(May
27, 2023) Hayden Cardwell came from the third starting
spot to win Saturday’s Mayhem in the Mountains. Cardwell
collected $3,000 for the defending series champion in the American
All-Stars Pro Late Models. Bradley Lewelling captured the pole
for the 40-lap main event by winning the fast car dash. He was
joined on the front row by Phillip Thompson. (MRM
Racing Photo)
Lewelling quickly took the lead when the race started. Cardwell
and Thompson battled for second as the field completed lap 1.
Cardwell took the spot from Thompson and set his sights on Lewelling.
Following a quick caution on lap 6, Cardwell and Thompson resumed
their battle for second. Thompson took the position just before
another caution on lap 7.
When the race continued, Lewelling maintained the lead as Thompson
and Cardwell continued fighting for second. Thompson briefly held
second before overtaking Thompson. Cardwell chased down Lewelling
who was having trouble with slower traffic. Cardwell saw an opening
on lap 22 and got past Lewelling for the lead. Thompson would
take second following a restart on lap 28. Thompson could not
run down Cardwell who took the checkers for his first series win
of the season. | full
results
Skip Arp
Rides Away with Steel Block Bandits Win
(April
22, 2023) Hall of Famer Skip Arp added another series
win to his collection by winning Saturday’s Rockin' with
the Stars Steel Block Bandits race. Forty-seven cars signed in
vying for the $5,000 first place prize. (ZSK
Photography)
By winning his heat race, Arp started along side Jordan Roadabaugh
on the front row for the 50-lap main event. Arp quickly took the
lead and was never seriously challenged until the leader caught
slower traffic that were racing two-wide in front of the leaders.
Arp finally powered his way past the slower traffic to stretch
out to a comfortable lead. A caution on lap 47 slowed the field
to give Roadabaugh one last shot at Arp. But Arp was too strong
and easily picked up the win.
Mack McCarter was one of the big gainers finishing third after
starting seventh. McCarter made late race passes on Jason Manley
and and Ronnie Johnson to get the third place finish.
| full results
Price,
Clark, Lockhart, & Duncan Collect Local Joker Wins
(April
1, 2023) Smoky Mountain Speedway finally kicked off the
2023 season with the Local Joker on Saturday night. It was the
first time for competitive laps on the new 3/8-mile layout. (MRM
Racing Photos)
Thirty-five sportsman late models were on hand vying for the $1,000
first place prize. Tyler Price set fast time in qualifying with
a lap of 14.769 seconds. But it was Adam Mitchell that won the
first heat race to earn the pole for the feature. Wes Tilley won
the second heat race to earn the other front row starting spot.
Mitchell took the lead over Tilley going into the first turn of
the main event. Mitchell would maintain that lead through numerous
cautions that plagued the race. With only a handful of laps to
go, Mitchell’s car slow on a restart. Several cars collected
Mitchell in turn 2. Price would inherit the lead and hold off
a charging Darren Goins to take the win. |
full results
