NEWPORT-Winning races is nothing new for Nate Monteith of Blountville as he has captured 44 Late Model Stock feature wins over the years, nor is winning track championships as he recorded back-to-back Late Model Stock titles in 2008 and '09 at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Va.

Monteith also has starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) to his credit, having raced at "The World Center of Speed" at Daytona International Speedway and at Talladega Superspeedway, along with competing on the high banks at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The 28-year-old Monteith began racing go-karts in 1993 and made the move to full-bodied Late Model Stock cars in 1998 where he earned Rookie of the Year honors at Kingsport Speedway, and one year later he earned the same title at Lonesome Pine Raceway.

Monteith added to his racing resume Saturday night at Newport Speedway as he made his Super Late Model debut one for the record books. He established a new track record (12.53 seconds) in qualifying, and went on to capture the victory in impressive fashion, moving his career total to 45 victories.

"Oh man, this is just an awesome deal to have the kind of night we did, winning the race and also setting a new track record while making our Super Late Model debut," said Monteith after celebrating with crew, family and friends in victory lane. "This type car is so much different to drive from the Late Model Stocks I've driven throughout my career. But I really do like how these cars drive and also race.

"We practiced the car here at Newport yesterday (Friday), basically just shaking it down and getting a feel for driving it," said Monteith. "And then back at the shop we changed the shocks and springs and put a set-up under the car to what we hoped would be a good package when we came back on race day. When we unloaded Saturday afternoon for practice, right off in the hot heat of the sun and with worn tires with several laps on them, we were pretty quick, running a 12.75. Back in the pits my crew and I talked and we knew we would be some better once we bolted new tires on the car to qualify on, and sure enough we picked up considerably. We ran a 12.61 our first lap of qualifying and then ran the 12.53 on our second lap."

With an invert-three for the 100-lap main event Monteith found himself starting inside of row two, with Mart Nesbitt and Keith Rankin leading the field to green from the front row. Nesbitt grabbed the lead over Rankin at the start and, Monteith wasted no time in moving up to the runner-up position as he disposed of Rankin for second place on lap 3 and set his sights on Nesbitt. Working on Nesbitt for a few circuits, Monteith got to the inside of him racing into the first turn on lap 9, and racing off (turn) two Monteith grabbed a lead he would never relinquish.

Monteith, driving the Mountain Dew/AMP Energy/Colonial Loan Assoc. Inc./Baker's Wrecker Service/Chamber's Market & Grill/Breeden Paving/JRI Shocks/WD Performance/Robbie White Racing Engines/Port City Race Cars/Teddy Jones Racing/No. 80 Chevrolet Impala, recorded the Super Late Model feature win over Nesbitt, David Flynn, Jeff Myers and Scott Patton. Finishing in sixth was Stephen Leicht, a former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver for Robert Yates Racing who captured his only series victory in 2007 at Kentucky Speedway. Since driving for Yates, Leicht has also run some events for Richard Childress Racing as teammates to Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer.

Leading Monteith from the pits on race day was crew chief Kirby Gobble, car chief Larry Collins, and tire specialist Jessica Melton.

"Our car drove really well in the race," Monteith said. "We quickly got around (Keith) Rankin for second and then I rode behind Mart (Nesbitt) there for a few laps, seeing where he was good at and where I was good at. We were all over his rear bumper and I got a good run going into the first turn to get to inside of him, and then we just powered our way past him racing off the corner to get the lead. We had a fast car, that's for sure. Even thought this was my first-ever start in a Super Late Model, I really felt comfortable driving the car."

The opportunity to drive the Super Late Model for Sevierville's Teddy Jones began when Monteith struck up a friendship with Jones and his son Blake back earlier in the season at Lonesome Pine Raceway, where Blake, a 13-year-old, is a rookie competitor in the Late Model Stock ranks. Young Blake began receiving some coaching from the veteran racer Monteith, a longtime friend of Wade Day, who oversees the day-to-day operations for Blake Jones Racing. Before venturing out from Lonesome Pine Raceway to compete at other tracks recently, Monteith captured four Late Model Stock feature wins at "The Pine."

"I guess you could say one thing led to another after Teddy bought the Super Late Model back in the spring, a Port City Race Car that was originally built for legendary NASCAR racer Mark Martin," Monteith said. "I'm really appreciative of the opportunity that Teddy's given me to drive the Super Late Model, it's a really good car. Teddy and also Wade (Day) want Blake to get experience in the Late Model Stock before putting him behind the wheel of the Super Late Model.

"The boy's a real talent, there's no doubt about it, and with seat-time he's just going to continue improving. He's already won in the Late Model Stock and also Charger divisions this season at Lonesome Pine Raceway, and prior to moving into the Late Model Stock this year Blake had won in go-karts, Bandoleros and Legends divisions. I know eventually Blake will drive the Super Late Model, but for the time being I'm just going to make the most of the opportunity Teddy's giving me to race the car."

Attention now for Monteith and the Teddy Jones-owned race team focuses on the upcoming Pro All Stars Series South touring event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7 at Newport Speedway.

"Yeah, we're really looking forward to running the PASS South race at Newport next month, because we know we've got a really good car and feel our chance of having a strong run is very good," stated Monteith. "There's no question we've got a fast car, and it's also a very good handling car too. Those PASS South races are more laps than what we ran tonight, but we learned some things racing tonight that we'll file away in our notes and use when we next run the car. You've got some really good competitors with the PASS guys, and we know there will probably be at least 25-30 cars present. You'll have to bring your 'A-game' for that show, or you'll be left behind."

Chances are very good that Monteith won't be left behind, as he's been a "winner" since he started racing.

Besides Monteith winning Saturday night in Super Late Model, other Newport Speedway winners were Darrell Williams in Limited Sportsman; T.J. Williams in Street Stock; Kirby Gobble in Modified Four; Cameron Gunter in Front Wheel Drive; and Chad Deckrow in Road Hog.

 

TAZEWELL SPEEDWAY

At Tazewell Speedway on Saturday, the final race of the night was the Four-Cylinders. Newport's Joey Allen did not make the initial start, but thanks to an early caution the race was not officially started. On the start Chuck McMahan had the lead, but by the end of the third lap Allen had drove into second with Newport's Kurt Owens third. McMahan was able to stay in front of Allen and Kurt Owens to take the win. Owens, by the way, is Jimmy Owens' older brother.

Allen still leads the series with 1,670 points, followed by Bybby Braden (1,625), and McMahan (1,525). Newport's Scottie Frazier is currently 8th (390) while Owens is 9th (380).
LUCAS OIL SERIES

WHEATLAND, MO-Jimmy Owens of Newport held off a late-race charge from Chris Wall of Springfield, LA to win the Fourth Annual CMH "Diamond Nationals" on Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Speedway. Owens took home $10,000 for his seventh Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season.

Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, Fl finished third, followed by Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI. The event was co-sanctioned with the Lucas Oil MLRA.

"I want to thank the fans for coming out tonight, it was hot today and I hope they saw a great show; the cautions killed us, we would get a big lead and a yellow would come out," said the 38-year-old Owens. "I want to thank my car owner, Mike Reece, Reece Monument Company, Gantte Appraisals, Cornett Racing Engines, and Bloomquist Race Cars, and all of my product sponsors."

Owens led all 50 laps and was in control for most of the event. He was challenged by Pearson mid-way through the race and by Wall in the waning laps. Wall managed to close to within a car length of the leader when he bobbled on the white flag lap. Owens managed to recover and hold off the last lap charge from Wall.