Published: April 23, 2008 11:21 am         

ON PIT ROAD: Crossville's Jesse Lowe wins first at local raceway

With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series off this weekend, attention turns to local dirt track racing. Jessie Lowe captured his first ever win in the Pro Street class on opening night at Crossville Raceway.

Crossville’s planned season opener was rained out last week, but after a week of great weather, the first night program was a hit with fans and drivers alike. In the Cruiser Cars it was Hannah Proffitt of Crossville edging out Michael Cantrell. Next up was the Pure Mini class (formerly the Front Wheel Drive class) where Robert Stone fought hard to hold off Cody and J.D. Rector to take the checkered flag in an exciting race.

In the UMP Open Wheel Modifieds it was Crossville’s Michael Asberry taking the lead from flag to flag. 2007 season champion Billy Palmer gave Asberry some early competition but mechanical woes would leave him to finish fourth behind Steve Mullinax and Darren Duncan.

When the Late Model Sportsman made their way to the feature it was a familiar name behind the wheel of the #0 car as fan favorite Brandon Williams claimed another victory at his home track. Following Williams to the line were Lynn Selby and Robert Edwards.

The big show of the night was the new class this year, the Pro Street cars. Young Jessie Lowe was truly the class of the field, starting on the outside of the front row, next to the #20X car of Mike Selby.

But Friday night was special for the Lowe family as Jesse’s dad, Duke Lowe, was filling in for Selby, making it an all Lowe front row. Jesse made short work of dad and jumped to a commanding lead, never looking back. As the race ended, Chris Croinex of Crossville finished second, followed by Raymond Shepard of Kingston, Ricky Tinch of Jamestown and Duke Lowe in fifth.

In the Mod Mini class, another class that is drawing new faces to the track it was an early battle between Derrick Hutchings of Sparta and Herman Radke third. In the end Hutchings would take home the winnings with Radke second, followed by Bradley Hamilton, Randy Gibson and Dyllis Devaney rounding out the top five.

In other local racing action:

•Wartburg Speedway winners from Friday night were SLM — Anthony White; Sportsman — Darrick York; Mini Stock — Rocky McNabb; Street Stock — Reagan Williams: and Pure Mini — Andrew Green.

•Spring City winners from Saturday night were LLM — Andy Standridge; Mod Street —Taylor Sutton; Super Street — Sam Johnson; Street Stock — Charlie Godsey; Pony Stock — Michael Roberts; and FWD — Chad Pugh.

•411 Speedway winners from Saturday night were Late Model — Mark Rosner; Classics — Bart Baxter; Mod Street — Jody Horton; Pure Mini — Robert Burris; Street Stock — Craig Powell; and Mini Stock — Joey Allen.

•Both The Mountain Raceway and Volunteer Speedway called off their Saturday night programs due to rain.

•Tazewell Speedway was rained out again Saturday night, but rescheduled and ran the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series, “Thaw 50” on Sunday afternoon.

The winner of the Thaw 50 was John Gill, with Jimmy Owens, Mike Weeks, Vic Hill and Steve Smith rounding out the top five.

Series defending 2007 champion Anthony White finished 17th.

Joe Dunn is a Chronicle correspondent, and his column appears weekly.