Hunter Wright recorded his first career Pro Late Model victory in competition at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday night. Photo: Hunter Wright/Facebook
Hunter Wright got the best Easter egg he could hope for on Saturday night at Tennessee’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
The Gladeville, Tennessee native survived last lap contact with Stacey Crain to score his first Pro Late Model feature victory at the famed 5/8-mile raceway.
Chase Johnson and William Hale led the field to the green flag, with Hale jumping out to the lead down the backstretch. Then, as the field was exiting turn four, Hale and Johnson made contact sending Hale spinning into the turn four wall. The spin collected Cole Williams, Steven Chunn, and Bennie Hamlett. The crash brought an end to the night for Hale and Chunn.
On the restart, Johnson brought the field back to the green flag, now alongside Dylan Fetcho. Johnson led for the first 25 laps until the second caution of the night flew when Jim Wall spun in turns three and four.
On the restart, Wright found his way around Johnson and took the lead officially on lap 26.
The race stayed green for just shy of 20 laps before another caution flew on lap 41, when Michael Bolden got into the wall and collected Jackson Boone. Boone’s car rolled to a stop in turn four, bringing out the caution before going to the garage. Bolden was able to continue.
The race resumed but was quickly slowed again when Jake Bollman spun in turn two following the restart.
After the lap 41 restart, the race remained green the rest of the way. Initially it appeared as though Wright would have to earn his first career Nashville Pro Late Model win by holding off Johnson and 12th place starting Brent Crews – but that narrative quickly changed when Crain worked his way through the field. Crain all but erased an over 2.5 second deficit, and came from outside the top 10 to within striking distance of Wright with 10 laps to go.
With two laps remaining, Crain looked to the inside of Wright going into turn one, but Wright defended the move, keeping Crain behind him for another lap. Then, with the white flag in the air, Crain was able to put a fender to the inside of Wright going into turn one. The pair met in the middle of the corner, sending Wright sideways up the hill, nearly spinning off turn two. Crain rolled out of the gas and let Wright save the racecar, and the pair raced back into turn three. Crain had nothing left for Wright, who cruised across the line for his first career Nashville Pro Late Model Feature win.
Crain finished in second, with Crews in third, Johnson in fourth, and Austin Brawley in fifth.
The Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Super Trucks unloaded for their first race of the season on Saturday night. Tanner Arms rolled from the grid in third behind Jeremy Burns and Joseph Myers. On the start, Myers appeared to miss a shift, stacking up the outside line allowing Jeremy Burns and Arms to slip up to the lead. Once Myers got rolling, he and John Burns quickly tracked down the lead duo.
Exiting turn two, Jeremy Burns got tight and had to check up to keep from hitting the backstretch wall, allowing Arms to take the lead.
Arms seemed to be on his way to another fairly easy win until he made contact with the slower truck of Brittany Climer on the frontstretch on lap 11, sending Climer spinning down to the inside wall. The incident ended Climer’s night, but Arms was able to continue.
Arm’s truck appeared no worse for the wear, as he raced on for the final 14 laps holding off father-in-law John Burns to pick up his first win of the 2022 season.
Jeremy Burns, Michael Crafton, and Frank Bauer rounded out the top five.
The next event at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is the North/South Super Late Model Challenge on Saturday, May 7. For more information, visit NashvilleFairgroundsSpeedway.racing.
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway – Nashville, TN
Race Results* – April 16, 2022
Pro Late Models
1. 29 Hunter Wright
2. 11 Stacey Crain
3. 24C Brent Crews
4. 20 Chase Johnson
5. 16 Austin Brawley
6. 95 Bennie Hamlett
7. 26 Cole Williams
8. 89 Dylan Fetcho
9. 12 Bryson Shaffer
10. 91 Jim Wall
11. 4 Katie Hettinger
12. 41 Dylan Jones
13. 2 Michael Pruitt
14. O9 Daniel Bolden
15. 88 Boston Oliver
16. 9 Michael Bolden – DNF – Mechanical
17. 25 Jake Bollman – DNF – Damage
18. 7 Jackson Boone – DNF – Damage
19. O1 Austin Wilson – DNF – Mechanical
20. 27 Garrett Dies – DNF – Damage
21. 71 Johnny Brazier – DNF – Mechanical
22. 103 Tandy Marlin – DNF – Handling
23. 8 Mark Day – DNF – Handling
24. 19 Peyton Hamlett – DNF – Overheating
25. 48 Mike Murray III – DNF – Handling
26. 62 William Hale – DNF – Accident
27. 84 Steven Chunn – DNF – Accident
Pro Trucks
1. 8 Tanner Arms
2. 87 John Burns
3. 7 Jeremy Burns
4. 3 Michael Crafton
5. 9 Frank Bauer
6. 121 Joseph Meyer
7. 52 Dwayne Hudson
8. O5 Brittany Climer – DNF – Accident
*Unofficial Results
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