Gumout Series at Volunteer Speedway Report 2000-06-07

McMahan Conquers High-Banks of Volunteer Speedway
By Kendra Jacobs

Bulls Gap, TN (June 7)-Paul McMahan has been a force to reckon with throughout the 2000 Gumout Racing Series. However, he had not posted a Gumout Racing Series victory up until last night. On lap 28, McMahan ducked to the low side to pass race-long leader Jason Meyers for his first win of the 2000 season.

"Jason got way out there in front before the red," McMahan stated in victory lane. "Unfortunately for him [Meyers] it worked out for me."

McMahan was also quick to to point out his connection to Meyers. "It's kind of neat being out here in first and second. We're both from California and raced hard together out there. Now we're both moving up in the big leagues."

Ricky Logan grabbed the pole of the 30-lap "A" Main event by winning the Weld Race Components dash. Logan jumped out into the lead, only to be passed in turn four by Meyers. McMahan raced past Craig Dollansky and Shane Stewart to take over third position. McMahan ducked to the bottom in an attempt to take over second from Logan, but to no avail.

On lap three, Dollansky began to spin in turn one. The Karavan/Polydome sponsored sprinter jumped the cushion and flipped upside down, collecting both the 9H of Shane Stewart and the 2F of Brad Furr. Furr's broken machine punctured the oil tank, ending his night. Dollansky was also finished for the night. Stewart and his crew worked throughout the red flag to repair the Holbrook owned sprinter and re-start at the tail. By lap six, Meyers had pulled out into a seven car-lengths lead. Butch Schroeder in the Daugherty owned 7S passed McMahan to take over third. McMahan retaliated out of turn four to re-claim the position.

As the cushion moved further up the track, Meyers began bouncing the right rear tire of his red and white #14M off of turns one and four. After moving to the middle of the racetrack for a few laps, Meyers drove his sprinter back up against the wall to pull out into a straightaway lead.

Lap 18, saw the top wing of Stewart's machine begin to collapse. Stewart continued to compete, running in sixth position.

Schroeder began his battle with McMahan for the third position on lap 20. The two consistently switched positions for three laps, with McMahan holding onto the spot. Meyers now led the field by ½ a lap.

McMahan began to close in on the #4 of Logan on lap 24. Logan held strong, until lap 25 when McMahan passed him to take over the position turn two.

Lap 27 brought out the second red of the night when third running Ricky Logan turned his Avenger upside down in turn three. Schroeder was forced to change his right rear tire during the red, causing him to restart on the tail.

As the cars re-lined in single file, McMahan started directly behind race-leader Meyers. McMahan ducked low to pass Meyers at the re-start. However, Meyers reclaimed the position coming out of turn four. On lap 28, McMahan again took over the lead. Meyers tried to get by the United Expressline #U2, but McMahan held him off.

McMahan took the checkered five car-lengths ahead of second finishing Jason Meyers. Randy Kinser finished in third, followed by 11th starting Ronald Laney, and Stewart.

Brian Carlson suffered ignition problems at the start of the feature, causing him to restart the feature four-laps down.

Brad Furr earned his first Huggins fast time of the season with a time of 12.022. Craig Dollansky earned the Frankland Hard Luck Award as his night finished on lap three. Ronald Laney passed eight cars in the Gumout Racing Series "A" Main to be named the KSE Hard Charger.