Inclement
Weather Washes Out Weekend
(July 20, 2024)
The Topless Outlaws Late Model Series race presented by Stanley
Best Heating & Air scheduled for July 20 have been rained
out at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Overnight rain combined with an
uncertain forecast led to the decision to postpone the race.
The June 1st make up race scheduled for July 19 was also rained
out. Everyone is asked to continue to hold to their ticket stubs
and armbands from the June 1st race. Make up dates for both events
are being considered and announcements for both will be coming
soon.
Smoky
Mountain Speedway Announces HoF Inductees
(July
8, 2024) The Smoky Mountain Speedway Hall of Fame committee
has selected the 2024 inductees. The committee recently met to
discuss many candidates and narrowed it down to these five individuals.
Kevin Coffey, Gusty Christenberry, Sonny Huskey, David Bryant,
and Carson Branum have been selected for this year’s class.
Kevin Coffey was a multi-time track champion and won many features
during his career at Smoky Mountain Speedway, Atomic Motor Speedway,
and other tracks in the area. Coffey also revived Smoky Mountain
Speedway in 2007 after the track had been shut down for several
years.
Gusty Christenberry was another track champion and won numerous
races across the area. Christenberry also contended for wins in
the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series and the STARS racing series.
His father, Clayton Christenberry, is already in the hall of fame.
Sonny Huskey was a dominant force in the late 80’s and through
most of the 90’s with wins at numerous tracks in the area.
He was known for being one of the few drivers who ran, and won,
in a Ford power plant.
David “Fatboy” Bryant has been a successful crew
chief for over 30 years. Bryant was part of many wins, track championships,
and series championships for drivers such as Scott Sexton, Mark
Vineyard, Mark Douglas, Tommy Kerr, Billy Ogle Jr., and Donald
McIntosh. Carson Branum revitalized racing in East Tennessee during
his time as owner of Atomic Motor Speedway. Branum paid big purses,
put races on local TV, and promoted races that drew thousands
of race fans and attracted many drivers to race at Atomic. Branum
also owned Crossville Raceway and Smoky Mountain Speedway.
The new class of the hall of fame will be inducted at the speedway
on September 14 as part of the Hall of Fame Night and the 60th
anniversary celebration!
Overton
Banks $50k in Mountain Moonshine Classic!
(June
15, 2024) Brandon Overton cashed in by winning the Mountain
Moonshine Classic before a packed house at Smoky Mountain Speedway.
Overton held off Ricky Thornton Jr. on the final lap and collect
$50,000. (MRM Racing
Photos)
Overton took the lead over Ryan Gustin on the first lap of the
race. Gustin would later close up to the rear of Overton’s
car. Gustin dove under Overton in a bid for the lead. But Overton
maintain the spot using the outside line for momentum down the
back stretch.
Following a caution on lap 25, the field got reshuffled when
the race went back to green. Devin Moran shot past Dale McDowell
to take over third. A few laps later, Jonathan Davenport moved
by McDowell for fifth. |
full results
RTJ Dominates
Mountain Moonshine Classic Opener
(June
14, 2024) Ricky Thornton Jr. padded his points lead in
the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series by winning night one of the
Mountain Moonshine Classic. Thornton swept the night by setting
fast time in time trials, won his heat race, and led all 40 laps
to claim the $10,000 winner’s check. (MRM
Racing Photos)
Thornton seemed to be on cruise control until Dale McDowell
closed to gap by the race’s midway point. As Thornton encountered
slower traffic, McDowell moved to just a couple of car lengths
of the lead. A caution on lap 25 allowed everyone at another shot
to improve their positions. Tim McCreadie used the outside line
on the restart to take second place from McDowell. McDowell then
had to hold off Devin Moran for third. |
full results
Courtney
and Clark Claim Wins Before Rain Hits
(June
1, 2024) The next round of the Saturday Night Shootout
was to take place with racing in six divisions. The weather had
other plans. Michael Courtney won the modified mini feature. Courtney
battled Derik Duggan at the start of the race to take the lead.
Nathan Davis would take second from Duggan and Hayston Collett
charged from the 14th starting spot to finish third.
David Clark dominated the street stock feature in the Michael
Lewis owned #51. Bradley Lee came from 4th to finish second and
Greg Huskey came from 5th to finish third.
With off and on mist, followed by a more persistent rain, the
decision was made to postpone the remainder of the event with
4 divisions remaining and the curfew getting closer. A decision
will be made soon on when the remaining features will be completed.
Everyone is asked to hold on to their ticket stubs and armbands.
|
full results
Round
Two of Saturday Night Shootout Nixed by Rain
(May
25, 2024) Smoky Mountain Speedway officials have made
the disappointing decision to cancel tonight’s event scheduled
for Saturday, May 25. We’ve received an incredible amount
of rain in a short period of time and it’s made a mess of
everything. We assure you, we wanted to race just as badly as
you did, but it just isn’t meant to happen today.
We hope to see you NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 1 for another Saturday
Night Shootout PLUS the Cumberland Plateau Mod Mini's. More details
to come on that show later in the week!
Ryan Gustin
Reaps $15,000 Hunt the Front Win!
(April
27, 2024) Ryan Gustin held off a mid-race challenge from
Brandon Overton to win the Hunt The Front King of the Mountain
feature. Gustin drew the pole position for the heat race winner
to start the 50-lap race from the pole. Dale McDowell started
alongside Gustin on the front row. Gustin took the early lead
before a caution waved after the first lap when Scott Bloomquist
jumped the cushion in turn 3 and slide down the banking off the
track. The field went back to green with Overton getting second
from McDowell. The top 3 cars distanced themselves from the rest
of the field as the next 41 laps were run under green. (MRM
Racing Photo)
Overton challenged Gustin for the lead around the midway point
of the race as the leader dealt with slower traffic. Gustin fought
off the challenge and maintained the lead. Following a lap 42
caution, McDowell took second from Overton and tried to chase
down Gustin. But Gustin was too strong and won the race. McDowell
and Overton rounded out the top 3 with Chris Ferguson came from
11th to finish 4th and Donald McIntosh was fifth.
| full
results
Russell
Erwin Dominates for Steel Block Bandits Win
(April
13, 2024) Russell Erwin dominated the Rockin’ With
The Stars Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits race on Saturday night.
Erwin took the initial lead from pole sitter Blake Craft. Craft
gave chase to Erwin before Erwin pulled away for a sizeable lead.
Rusty Ballenger would take second from Craft past the halfway
point of the race. As the leader got into slower traffic, Ballenger
tracked down Erwin. Ballenger cut the lead to car lengths as Erwin
got caught behind two cars racing for position at the end of the
lead lap. Ballenger could not take advantage as Erwin stretched
the lead back out to five car lengths at the finish line. Craft
held off Tyler Bare for third and Tyler Arrington finished fifth.
(MRM Racing Photo)
The sportsman late model feature got off to a rowdy start. It
took three attempts to get the feature under way. One of the attempted
starts saw pole sitter Dustin Ward and Jake Whitehead made contact
on turn 2. Others were involved with Ward receiving significant
body damage. Both Ward and Whitehead were able to continue. Once
under way, Ward shot out to the lead over Whitehead. On a lap
5 restart, Whitehead made a bid for the lead only to see Ward
hold onto the lead on the back straightaway. Whitehead took advantage
of a lap 15 restart to finally pull alongside Ward for the lead.
Whitehead took the lead as the field raced into turn 3. Whitehead
went on for the win. Michael Courtney finished second, Tyler Price
rallied for 8th starting spot to finish third. Ward fell to fourth
and Chandler Hickman finished fifth.
| full
results
Skip Arp
Among Opening Night Winners
(March
30, 2024) Skip Arp came from the outside front row to
win the Mountain Late Model feature on opening night at Smoky
Mountain Speedway. Arp took the lead over Layne Clifton to win
the 25-lap feature. Terry Poore came from the 5th starting spot
to finish third. (Travis Haston Photo)
Michael Courtney got the lead over Colby Horner to win the sportsman
late model feature. Adam Mitchell would get by Horner to finish
second. Austin Atkins outdueled Robby Comer to get the street
stock win. Eric Hughes passed Comer to finish second. Comer finished
third.
Dustin Duncan dominated the front wheel drive feature. Travis
Weeks grabbed second while Travis Taylor could come home in third.
Johnny Grooms came from 4th starting spot to win the crown vic
feature. Grooms took the lead from Troy Davenport in getting the
win. Coby Scott was the third place finisher. The next race at
Smoky Mountain Speedway will be Saturday, April 13 when the Vision
Wheel Steel Block Bandits visit for the $3,000 to win race. Sportsman
late models, street stocks, and front wheel drives will also be
racing. | full
results
