7/20: KINGSPORT, T.N. - The Southeast Super Truck Series Presented by City Chevrolet made the trek up the mountains of Tennessee on Saturday July 20th. This was the first of two visits at Kingsport Speedway otherwise
known as the "Concrete Jungle". This track has produced some of the best short track racing in the past
due to the high banked concrete surface. The teams took to the track to dial their race trucks in, Clint
King from Thomasville, NC topped the speed charts for the first round. The final practice seen Marietta,
South Carolina's Jimmy Roberts climb to the top of the charts.
For the qualifying format the first lap set the pole for the first Twin 50, and the second lap for the second
Twin 50. Young phenomenal Ashton Higgins captured the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award for the first
race, and veteran short track driver Ralp Carnes claimed the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award for the
second race. Higgins rolled a five on the invert dice, which now placed three time Super Truck Champion
Kenneth Headen starting in the top spot with another short track veteran Ed Surrett starting on his
outside. As the field went into turn one, Surrett had the advantage over Headen and pulled out front. He
went on to lead the first lap, bringing Carnes with him.
The first caution flew as King dove to the inside of Headen battling it out for third. The pair raced side by
side putting on a show for the fans, as they went into turn three on lap seven Headen got loose and spun
sideways but managed to save it from going completely around and off the wall. On the restart, Surrett
being the restart leader wasn't able to over power Carnes as he took over the top spot. Surrett fell back
in line behind Carnes and was trying his best to hold off hard charging Clint King. Toby Hollifield had his
hands running in fourth, as it turned into a four way battle for the position. Jimmy Roberts was all over
the rear bumper of the #5 Big Ivy Guns machine. Roberts ducked back in behind Hollifield and began to
catch heat from Rookie driver Brett Suggs. Suggs took over the fifth position from Roberts and set his
sights on the top four.
Ed was determined to get the lead back away from Carnes, as he stayed right in the tire tracks of the
#49 Toyota. Carnes would go onto capture the first Twin 50, making it his first ever Southeast Super
Truck Series win. He was followed by Ed Surrett, Clint King, Brett Suggs, and Jimmy Roberts rounding
out the top five. Carnes who claimed the pole award for the second race would roll a four on the invert
dice. This now set Ed Surrett on the top spot with Jimmy Roberts on the outside.
As Ed took the green flag, the field went into turn one for the first time of the second race. King who
started back in third had a great run going, he dove to the inside of the #8 Oakwood Homes Silverado
making it three wide going down the back straight away. Surrett having the veteran experience backed
down not trying to risk anything. Clint took over the lead, Roberts fell back into second. Carnes quickly
went to work, making his way towards the front of the field as he battle with Suggs for fourth before
taking over the position. Surrett caught back up to rear bumper of Roberts and waited until the right time
to take back over second bringing Carnes with him.
Headen and Suggs began reeling down the front runners, as Headen made a move under Roberts to
take over the third position, Suggs followed the veterans moves and now found himself in fourth. Carnes
finally caught up to Surretts rear tailgate and dove under him. They raced side by side for a couple laps
before Carnes had the advantage and took over second. Headen now set his sights on Surrett as he got
up beside of him. They raced beside each other until they started running into some slower traffic in turn
three. As they began to clear the traffic a electrical issue and slowed down and began creeping around
the speedway, trying to get to the aide of his crew. The team went under the hood of the #8 Silverado
and got it refired back up. Ed was able to get back out on the track and the race would get back
under way.
Clint knew he had to his marks as he was chasing down his second win of the season and led the most
laps so far, however he had Carnes restarting on his outside. Carnes was slow through the gears as
Clint was able to pull back out front of the field. The laps were winding down to the final few, Carnes
slowly began to catch back up to the rear bumper of the #07 Warehouse Design of King. The second
caution flew as Jimmy Roberts had came to rest up against the front stretch wall. As the field lined back
up for the restart with King on top, Carnes knew he couldn't make the same mistake as he did earlier in
the race. He didn't give an inch and held onto the high side of King. The pair raced side by side for two
laps putting on a fantastic short track battle for the fans. Carnes was finally able to overpower King and
take over the lead.
Brett Suggs only having a few truck races under his belt, was racing with determination as he battled
with the reigning champion Headen for third. Suggs took over the position and now only had two more
trucks in front of him. Surrett who had restarted at the tail end of the lead on the restart began picking off
the drivers one by one and now found himself battling Jamie Barbrey for fifth. Carnes clicked off the final
laps and went on to bring home the second victory of the night. He became the first repeat winner of the
2019 season. "Lee McCallister sets the cars and trucks up, my brother and all of us work so hard on
these things. Im just so thankful to have so many friends that helps me. Im very fortunate to be 60 years
old and still doing this and I give all the praise to God" stated a very excited Ralph Carnes in victory lane.
Clint King, Brett Suggs (who had his best finish of the year), Kenneth Headen, and Ed Surrett rounded
out the top five. The series will head back to Tri-County Speedway on July 27th for another round of
short track racing.
1st Twin 50 Official Results
1. 49 Ralph Carnes
2. 8 Ed Surrett
3. 07 Clint King
4. 33 Brett Suggs
5. 20 Jimmy Roberts
6. 21 Jamie Barbrey
7. 95 Jacob Owens
8. 5 Toby Hollifield
9. 9 Ashton Higgins
10. 11 Jack Galunke
11. 66 Bennie Davis
12. 00 Tanner Carter
13. 99 Kenneth Headen
14. 2 Troy Burgess
2nd Twin 50 Official Results
1. 49 Ralph Carnes
2. 07 Clint King
3. 33 Brett Suggs
4. 99 Kenneth Headen
5. 8 Ed Surrett
6. 21 Jamie Barbrey
7. 95 Jacob Owens
8. 5 Toby Hollifield
9. 20 Jimmy Roberts
10. 11 Jack Galunke
11. 00 Tanner Carter
12. 66 Bennie Davis
13. 9 Ashton Higgins
known as the "Concrete Jungle". This track has produced some of the best short track racing in the past
due to the high banked concrete surface. The teams took to the track to dial their race trucks in, Clint
King from Thomasville, NC topped the speed charts for the first round. The final practice seen Marietta,
South Carolina's Jimmy Roberts climb to the top of the charts.
For the qualifying format the first lap set the pole for the first Twin 50, and the second lap for the second
Twin 50. Young phenomenal Ashton Higgins captured the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award for the first
race, and veteran short track driver Ralp Carnes claimed the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award for the
second race. Higgins rolled a five on the invert dice, which now placed three time Super Truck Champion
Kenneth Headen starting in the top spot with another short track veteran Ed Surrett starting on his
outside. As the field went into turn one, Surrett had the advantage over Headen and pulled out front. He
went on to lead the first lap, bringing Carnes with him.
The first caution flew as King dove to the inside of Headen battling it out for third. The pair raced side by
side putting on a show for the fans, as they went into turn three on lap seven Headen got loose and spun
sideways but managed to save it from going completely around and off the wall. On the restart, Surrett
being the restart leader wasn't able to over power Carnes as he took over the top spot. Surrett fell back
in line behind Carnes and was trying his best to hold off hard charging Clint King. Toby Hollifield had his
hands running in fourth, as it turned into a four way battle for the position. Jimmy Roberts was all over
the rear bumper of the #5 Big Ivy Guns machine. Roberts ducked back in behind Hollifield and began to
catch heat from Rookie driver Brett Suggs. Suggs took over the fifth position from Roberts and set his
sights on the top four.
Ed was determined to get the lead back away from Carnes, as he stayed right in the tire tracks of the
#49 Toyota. Carnes would go onto capture the first Twin 50, making it his first ever Southeast Super
Truck Series win. He was followed by Ed Surrett, Clint King, Brett Suggs, and Jimmy Roberts rounding
out the top five. Carnes who claimed the pole award for the second race would roll a four on the invert
dice. This now set Ed Surrett on the top spot with Jimmy Roberts on the outside.
As Ed took the green flag, the field went into turn one for the first time of the second race. King who
started back in third had a great run going, he dove to the inside of the #8 Oakwood Homes Silverado
making it three wide going down the back straight away. Surrett having the veteran experience backed
down not trying to risk anything. Clint took over the lead, Roberts fell back into second. Carnes quickly
went to work, making his way towards the front of the field as he battle with Suggs for fourth before
taking over the position. Surrett caught back up to rear bumper of Roberts and waited until the right time
to take back over second bringing Carnes with him.
Headen and Suggs began reeling down the front runners, as Headen made a move under Roberts to
take over the third position, Suggs followed the veterans moves and now found himself in fourth. Carnes
finally caught up to Surretts rear tailgate and dove under him. They raced side by side for a couple laps
before Carnes had the advantage and took over second. Headen now set his sights on Surrett as he got
up beside of him. They raced beside each other until they started running into some slower traffic in turn
three. As they began to clear the traffic a electrical issue and slowed down and began creeping around
the speedway, trying to get to the aide of his crew. The team went under the hood of the #8 Silverado
and got it refired back up. Ed was able to get back out on the track and the race would get back
under way.
Clint knew he had to his marks as he was chasing down his second win of the season and led the most
laps so far, however he had Carnes restarting on his outside. Carnes was slow through the gears as
Clint was able to pull back out front of the field. The laps were winding down to the final few, Carnes
slowly began to catch back up to the rear bumper of the #07 Warehouse Design of King. The second
caution flew as Jimmy Roberts had came to rest up against the front stretch wall. As the field lined back
up for the restart with King on top, Carnes knew he couldn't make the same mistake as he did earlier in
the race. He didn't give an inch and held onto the high side of King. The pair raced side by side for two
laps putting on a fantastic short track battle for the fans. Carnes was finally able to overpower King and
take over the lead.
Brett Suggs only having a few truck races under his belt, was racing with determination as he battled
with the reigning champion Headen for third. Suggs took over the position and now only had two more
trucks in front of him. Surrett who had restarted at the tail end of the lead on the restart began picking off
the drivers one by one and now found himself battling Jamie Barbrey for fifth. Carnes clicked off the final
laps and went on to bring home the second victory of the night. He became the first repeat winner of the
2019 season. "Lee McCallister sets the cars and trucks up, my brother and all of us work so hard on
these things. Im just so thankful to have so many friends that helps me. Im very fortunate to be 60 years
old and still doing this and I give all the praise to God" stated a very excited Ralph Carnes in victory lane.
Clint King, Brett Suggs (who had his best finish of the year), Kenneth Headen, and Ed Surrett rounded
out the top five. The series will head back to Tri-County Speedway on July 27th for another round of
short track racing.
1st Twin 50 Official Results
1. 49 Ralph Carnes
2. 8 Ed Surrett
3. 07 Clint King
4. 33 Brett Suggs
5. 20 Jimmy Roberts
6. 21 Jamie Barbrey
7. 95 Jacob Owens
8. 5 Toby Hollifield
9. 9 Ashton Higgins
10. 11 Jack Galunke
11. 66 Bennie Davis
12. 00 Tanner Carter
13. 99 Kenneth Headen
14. 2 Troy Burgess
2nd Twin 50 Official Results
1. 49 Ralph Carnes
2. 07 Clint King
3. 33 Brett Suggs
4. 99 Kenneth Headen
5. 8 Ed Surrett
6. 21 Jamie Barbrey
7. 95 Jacob Owens
8. 5 Toby Hollifield
9. 20 Jimmy Roberts
10. 11 Jack Galunke
11. 00 Tanner Carter
12. 66 Bennie Davis
13. 9 Ashton Higgins