Ball captures emotional victory

After death of father, son captures triumphant Late Model win news@theheraldnewspapers.com A little over a month ago, East Tennessee racing legend Walter Ball (over 400 career Late Model wins in his illustrious career) suffered a massive heart attack while at the track serving as crew chief for his son, Dale Ball, at the 2006 season opener at Volunteer Speedway, and passed away later that night at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital. Saturday night at “The Gap,” Dale captured an emotional victory as he led the 35-lap “Gateway Ford” Super Late Model feature flag-to-flag. “It’s just hard to put into words what this win tonight means to me,” said a teary-eyed Ball after he climbed from his car in victory lane. “Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to win several races and even a championship here at Volunteer Speedway. But this win tonight means more to me than any other race I’ve ever won. This one’s for my dad. “Ever since I first started racing as a teenager, dad was always at the track with me and was my No. 1 supporter. He and my uncle, those two worked hard all this past winter building this new Warrior race car. We all knew that we had a good car and would win some races this year, and dad was probably more excited about racing this year than I can ever remember.” From the outside of the front row, Ball and Vic Chandler drove into the first turn side-by-side at the drop of the green. But riding up high and getting a strong run racing off turn two down the backstretch, Ball rolled into a lead he would never relinquish. When the event’s first caution waved on lap 4 when Mike Smith spun in the fourth turn, Ball had already powered out to a quarter-straightaway lead over Chandler. Back under green, Ball quickly began to distance himself from his challengers. With Ball cruising out front, Chandler, Michael Jackson, Kerry Jones, Roger Best, and Steve Jones were left to race amongst themselves. Steve Jones, starting shotgun on the field following a post-qualifying rules infraction, was on a mission working his way forward. He moved into fifth on lap 7, and one circuit later racing off the fourth turn, he drove around the outside of Kerry Jones to take over fourth in the running order. “Without a doubt, I know dad was looking down on us tonight with a big smile on his face,” said Ball. “As good as the car was those last few laps I was just hoping nothing would happen to keep us from winning. This win is not only special to me, but to my whole family. Growing up as a young boy, being at racetracks watching dad race, it was just a way of life for me and my two sisters and our mother. “I need to thank my car owner Alan Poyner, and my uncle, Robert Ball, Steve Williams, Jason Smith and Jim Schweitzer for all of their help on the car. I have to also give thanks to my wife (Phyllis) and our twin daughters, Dolly and Dotty, for the support they’ve given to me in my racing over the years.” “GATEWAY FORD” SUPER LATE MODEL (35 laps) 1) Dale Ball #7; 2) Vic Chandler #88; 3) Mike Smith #4; 4) Michael Jackson #Q3; 5) Steve Jones #j3; 6) Kerry Jones #6; 7) Dennis Stiles #00; 8) Terry Owens #83; 9) Dempsey Harold Jr. #09; 10) Dwight Sams #54; 11) Roger Best #007 “RAMEY FORD” LIMITED (CRATE) LATE MODEL (25 laps) 1) Bobby Mays #19; 2) Logan Hickey #16; 3) Warren McMahan #33; 4) Brad Partin #1; 5) Shane Roberts #17s; 6) Chris Ritchey #11; 7) Kelly Glass #01; 8) Stephen Martin #46; 9) Lee Tipton #2; 10) Harry T. Cadmus Jr. #88; 11) Chris Chandler #8; 12) Brad Kenyon #98; 13) Sammy Fugate #00; 14) Chris Manning #03; 15) Terry Starnes #53; 16) Todd Brooks #48; 17) Ricky Moore #75; 18) Chris Smith #5; 19) Shannon Buckingham #44; 20) O’Dell Atkins #69; 21) Larry Rowe #R0; 22) Allen Champ #11c – Did Not Start: Matt Childress #9 “LAWSON CHEVROLET” OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED (25 laps) 1) Chad Ogle #10; 2) Matt Barrett #34; 3) Wayne James #4; 4) Shannon Emery #95; 5) Aaron Ogle #181; 6) B.J. Nelson #13; 7) Mike Weston #50; 8) Scott Helton #27; 9) Danny James #j4; 10) Chris Brady #77; 11) Larry James #j2 – Did Not Pass Post Race Inspection: Jason Smelcer #1 “BACHMAN BARNARD” HOBBY STOCK (20 laps) 1) Mike Mays #30; 2) R.J. Mayes #6m; 3) Dustin Shaver #7; 4) Jamie Whitt #1; 5) Mike Hodges #m2; 6) Dale Reed #52; 7) Robbie Jones #29; 8) Jim Canning Jr. #31; 9) Matt Letterman #49; 10) Chuck Johnson #17; 11) Jesse Helton #H28; 12) Patrick Flannery #38; 13) Emery Harvey Jr. #74; 14) Gary Sanders #14; 15) Jon Cook #0z; 16) Everett Cobb #13; 17) Thomas Williams #59; 18) Rick Fillers #2; 19) Terry Stone #34; 20) Chris Gregg #9 MINI STOCK (20 laps) 1) Kurt Owens #7up; 2) Josh Henry #b00; 3) Chuck McMahan #99; 4) Brent Hensley #70; 5) Allen Carrier #B1; 6) Rick King #5k; 7) Kenny Absher #11; 8) Mike Shelton #34; 9) Jeffery Nease #73; 10) Runah Henry #39; 11) Ernie Stubblefield #21; 12) Terry Dean #15; 13) James Feathers #27; 14) Scottie Thornton #T15; 15) Brad Dyer #17 – DNPPRI: Randy Lane #5 “RENEGADE” FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (15 laps) 1) Scotty McMurray #18; 2) Josh Driskell #d00; 3) Kevin Darnell #11; 4) Linton Perry #1; 5) Keith Helton #6; 6) Eddie Smith #8; 7) Steve Skeen #16; 8) Tony Breeden #55; 9) Robert Darnell #38