Local drivers continue to thrive at Lonesome Pine

Keith Helton led a quartet of Tri-Cities based racers in wins during the special 4th of July program at Lonesome Pine Raceway. Helton, driving the No. 8 Kyle Busch-inspired Chevrolet, is now 3-for-3 in races at the 3/8-mile asphalt oval in Coeburn, Va. The Kingsport driver emerged victorious in a Limited Late Model feature which only a third of the field was still racing after 50 laps. Josh Gobble ran second with Tyler Smith third. Lance Gatlin finished fourth with Kingsport driver Hunter Morgan in fifth. Abingdon driver Chase Dixon, who prepares his No. 07 Toyota in his Blountville shop, outran Blayne Harrison to the finish line. Brian Blevins finished third with Kingsport driver Brad Housewright fourth and Joey Owens fifth. Two other Abingdon drivers — Josh Gobble and Kevin Canter — won in Super Street and Mod 4. Gobble, in the No. 08 Chevy, led fellow Virginians Michael Deskins and Brett Compton across the line in Super Street. It was a family affair in Mod 4 as Canter beat his father, Rocky Yates, at the finish. They were followed by three of the Amburgey family with Chris, Nathan and Jessie Jr. in the other top-five positions. The most exciting race of the night was Street Stock where Rob Austin from Castlewood, Va., outdueled Rusty Clendenin from Church Hill for the win. Joey Sykes, Tony Vance and Kingsport racer Clark Fitzwater rounded out the top five. Kingsport racers — John Ketron and Josh Collins — won in Pure 4 and Stock FWD. Ketron, the former NASCAR Division 3 National Champion, beat fellow Kingsport racer in Pure 4 with Brent Collins and David Trent other top finishers. Collins held off Tyler Swecker from Gate City with Eugene Perkins and Anthony Perry in the other positions. Daniel McMurray from Fall Branch took the Crown Vic trophy ahead of Trace Marshall and Brandon Deel. Racing returns to Lonesome Pine on July 18. MUDDY CREEK RACEWAY The 42nd annual AMA Tennessee State Motocross Championship presented by Toyota of Kingsport is coming to Muddy Creek Raceway this weekend. Friday is a practice day, followed by Thor Mega Series racing on Saturday. Sunday is the main event with the state championship races and the AMA Championship plates on the line. Yamaha riders — Ronald Johnson, Hayden Hefner and Ely Gross — were 1-2-3 finishers in last year's Pro 450 race. Gross won the 250 race ahead of Logan Forward on a KTM and Cory Cooper on a Honda. VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY Volunteer Speedway welcomes the Schaeffer's Oil Series to the 4/10-mile dirt track for the Scott Sexton Memorial on Monday, July 13. It features a $7,552-to-win Super Late Model race plus a $2,500-to-win, 100-lap Enduro. Sexton, a Pigeon Forge driver had the nickname "Superman" before it was bestowed on Jonathan Davenport. Sexton, who died in 2013, was a multi-time World Champion karting racer and a two-time track champion at Volunteer Speedway. The 52 at the end of the winner's purse is a tribute to the car number which Sexton ran. Chris Madden is the defending champion of the Scott Sexton Memorial. The South Carolina driver held off Mike Marlar and Camaron Marlar for the win.