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Volunteer Speedway

The Story of Volunteer Speedway

check below for 1999 points and driver roster

Website: www.bullsgap.com

Wendell Wallace, of Batesville, Ark., is the current Late Model track record holder at "The Gap," having toured the track at 12:00-seconds, March 6, 1998. The overall track qualifying record was set in 1994 when the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars visited the track. Steve Siegel, of New Oxford, Pa., turned a fast-lap of 11:84-seconds.

Volunteer Speedway was built by Hugh & Louise Goan, with construction work beginning in 1973 and the track opened for half a season in mid-1974. Danny Burks, of Richlands, Va., was the winner of the first-ever Late Model race at "The Gap," driving a ’73 Chevy Laguna to the checkered flag. Even today, the Burks’ family name is still recognized at the track, with younger brother, Dave, one of the top Late Model competitors.

In 1975, the first full season of racing at "The Gap," Knoxville-driver Herman Collins, captured the Late Model track points championship. When you look at the different drivers who have won track titles over the years, you’re looking at a "Who’s Who" list of legendary East Tennessee racing names.

Here’s a list of the various Late Model track champions over the years: Herman Collins, of Knoxville, in 1975; Red Ledford, of Morristown in 1976; Walter Ball, of Johnson City, in 1977; H.E. Vineyard, of Knoxville, in 1978, ’79, ’81, and ’84 (the only 4-time champion in the track’s history); Tootle Estes, of Knoxville, in 1980; "Little" Bill Corum, of Maynardville, in 1982; Bill Morton, of Church Hill, in 1983; Howard "Buzz" Collins, of Greeneville, in 1985; J.T. Kerr, of Rockford, in 1989.

Here’s a look at the Late Model track champions during the 1990s: Herman Goddard, of Knoxville, in 1990; Scott Sexton, of Pigeon Forge, in 1991 and ’95; Gary Myers, of Greeneville, in 1992; John A. Utsman, of Bluff City, in 1993; Dave Burks, of Abingdon, Va., in 1994; Randy Ford, of Johnson City, in 1996; Vic "The Thrill" Hill, of Knoxville, in 1997 and ’98, and Dale Ball, of Johnson City, in 1999.

Besides the track champions above, here’s a partial listing of other Late Model drivers who have won feature races at "The Gap" over the years: Steve Smith, Billy Ogle Jr., Tim Frye, Louis Hickey, Bobby Edens, Mike Clonce, Rusty Goddard, Brett Miller, Buddy Rogers, Frankie Barnes, Roger Best, David Bundren, Brian Ball, Joey McGaha, Rick Norris, Charles Byrd, Bryan Hendrix, Tommy Kerr, David Crabtree, Clay Kelley, Mark Vineyard, Doug Carpenter, Johnny Carr, Steve Best, Bob Street, Arnold Cinnamon, plus many more.

Volunteer Speedway is proud of its position in the world of dirt racing, recognized by the fans/drivers as one of the country’s top racing venues. Through the years, all the top racing sanctioning bodies have visited "The Gap."

The track hosted several events during the heyday of what was then the nation’s top dirt Late Model sanctioning organization, the National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA), during the late ‘70s and ‘80s. The Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series, Short Track Auto Racing Stars (STARS) DirtCar Racing League, Southern All-Stars, and the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars, have thrilled the race fans at "The Gap" on many occasions.

In 1999, Volunteer Speedway they featured a 5-division, action-packed weekly racing program. The classes are Super Late Model, UMP (Open-Wheel) Modified, Super Stock, Street Stock, and Stock 4-Cylinder.

We hope you enjoyed your ride around the "World’s Fastest Dirt Track," and we look forward to seeing you every Saturday night at "The Gap!"

1999 Points

Late Model Driver Roster

All information provided by Robert Walden