Tazewell Speedway
Gill repels Owens, earns $3,000 at Tazewell
From series reports
John Gill changes a tire. (dt52photos.com)
TAZEWELL, Tenn. (April 20) — Repelling a last-ditch charge from Jimmy Owens at Tazewell Speedway, John Gill of Mitchell, Ind., grabbed his first 2008 victory in the Warrior Race Cars house car for a $3,000 payday on the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series. Gill, showing damage from a collision with a lapped car late in the race, led all the way but had to survive a final charge from the fast-qualifying Owens, who took second from Mike Weeks on the 48th lap and took a crack at the lead on lap 49. | April recaps | Slideshow
Owens, of Newport, Tenn., settled for second ahead of Weeks of Friendsville, Tenn., Vic Hill of Greeneville, Tenn., and Steve Smith of Powell, Tenn., in the third annual Thunder Thaw 50, an event postponed six times before finally running on a Sunday afternoon
Notes: Gill's Warrior is sponsored by Curtis Equipment Sales and Goddard Performance Parts. ... Gill made his second career start at Tazewell. ... Five states were represented among 27 entrants. ... The feature lasted 41 minutes and was slowed seven times, including for Brian Smith's flip in turn four after he ran over the nose of Shannon Thornsberry's spun car. Smith wasn't injured. ... Dan Tipton started 21st and finished 12th to earn the Phoenix Conversions Hard Charger award. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Shon Flanary, Luke Crass and Dewayne Pesterfield. ... The next series event is April 26 at Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway.
AAPTS @ Tazewell: (1) John Gill, (2) Jimmy Owens, (3) Mike Weeks, (4) Vic Hill, (5) Steve Smith, (6) Stacy Boles, (7) David Payne, (8) Tommy Kerr, (9) Billy Ogle Jr., (10) Rick Rogers, (11) Jeff Neubert, (12) Dan Tipton, (13) Richard Smith, (14) Chad Ogle, (15) April Farmer, (16) Jeff Wolfenbarger, (17) Anthony White, (18) Bobby Mays, (19) Kerry Jones, (20) Shannon Thornsberry, (21) Brian Smith, (22) Shane Roberts, (23) Joe Armes, (24) Marty Calloway. Fast qualifier (among 27 cars): Owens, 12.819 seconds. Dash winners: Weeks, Payne. Consolation winners: Thornsberry, Boles. Provisional starters: Calloway, Farmer.
