BULLS GAP -- With the weather finally beginning to feel like spring in the East Tennessee region, Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown, a four-time (1997, '98, 2000 and '05) track champion, used the Pizza Plus "Spring Fling" Saturday night at Volunteer Speedway for what he hopes will be a springboard to several other race wins this season.

Hill, after clocking fast-time during qualifying by running a quick lap of 12.385-seconds to earn the pole position for the Super Late Model feature, launched into the lead on the opening lap over fellow front-row starter Jeff Maupin. Once out front, it was all clear sailing for Hill as he set a blistering pace en route to leading from green-to-checkers, never seriously being challenged for the lead during the race.

With Hill on cruise control out front in the lead over Maupin, Bryan Hendrix was feeling pressure from Bobby Mays for the third position. Fifth-running Mike Smith had a rearview mirror full of Shane Roberts and Dale Ball. On the ninth lap, both Roberts and Ball got around Smith between the third and fourth turns to settle into the fifth and sixth spots, relegating Smith back to seventh in the running order. Ball passed Roberts to move into fifth place on lap 13 racing off turn two.

With Hill holding a three-quarters straightaway advantage over Maupin, the event's first caution waved on lap 24 when John Tweed spun. Using the Delaware Double-File restart, Hill was all alone out front going back green, with Maupin and Hendrix side-by-side behind the race leader. Back up to speed, Mays got under Hendrix in turn two to take over third. The yellow waved once again on lap 26 when Brian Smith slowed after breaking a driveshaft on the high-side of turn two.

With the field lining up single-file during the last 10 laps of the main event, Hill sped away from Maupin, Mays, Hendrix and Roberts to capture the $1,500 victory. Finishing sixth through tenth, respectively, were Michael Jackson, Smith, Tweed, Dempsey Harold Jr. and Ball.

"Finally, it's about time we got us a win," said a smiling Hill after climbing from his car in victory lane. "Not just here at Volunteer Speedway, but I've run strong every time out so far this year in events we've competed in, but we've not been around at the finish to seal the deal and get a victory."

For the second straight week lapped traffic hurt Dale Ball's chances of winning a Crate Late Model feature. Ball jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature over Greeneville's Jeff Maupin, Jensen Ford, Steve Jones and Vic Chandler.

Divisional points leader Jones was looking to the inside of Ford between turns one and two on lap 7, trying to take over third in the running order, when slight contact was made and Jones dropped back losing two positions. Just one circuit later, Jones ran hard off into the first turn and looped his mount to bring the caution out.

Ford later headed into the infield pits parking his ride with mechanical problems to end his race prematurely.

Back under green and with Ball still riding out front in the lead, trailed by Maupin, Chandler, Kelly Glass and R.J. Mayes, the action quickly heated up as Maupin was pressuring Ball for the point, while Glass was riding in Chandler's rearview mirror. Glass made quick work of Chandler to move into third place, while Maupin kept looking to the low-side of Ball for the lead while Ball chose to run the high groove around the corners on both ends of the track.

The duo raced side-by-side for three and a half laps before Ball momentarily pulled back ahead. Then on lap 18, while working lapped traffic, Ball got trapped behind slower cars and Maupin made what proved to be the race-winning move for the lead.

Maupin avoided making any mistakes over the remaining laps as he recorded his second Crate Late Model feature win of the season, with Glass getting around Ball in the last five laps of the race to finish in the runner-up position and Ball coming home in third. Fourth and fifth, respectively, were Chandler and Mayes.

Riding out front in a Hobby Stock feature is a position Mike Hodges is quite familiar with, as he's already visited victory lane three times this year. But the trouble is, you've got to lead all 20 laps before you can win the race.

With Hodges leading and Jonesborough's Jon Cook in hot pursuit, while the leaders were working slower traffic on lap 14 as they raced off into the first turn Cook got into the rear of Hodges, spinning the leader to bring the caution out. With a clear track ahead and only six circuits remaining to the finish, Cook would not be denied his first victory of the season as he held off a hard-charging Dustin Shaver, Chuck Johnson, Roger Hunter and Dale Reed.

Stanley Donahoo of White Pine withstood early challenges for the lead in the IMCA Open Wheel Modified feature from Chris Brady to eventually pull away for the victory. Donahoo was chased to the checkers by Brady, Jimmy Dalton, Jerry Broyles and Aaron Ogle.

To say the 2008 racing season to date has been nothing but tough luck for Kevin Atwell of Rural Retreat, Va., would be an understatement. Even though he's been a consistent front-runner, his problem has been finishing races. Finally solving engine problems that have sidelined him on three previous occasions, Atwell captured his first Mini Stock feature win over Shawn Henry, Ernie Stubblefield, Runah Henry and Terry Dean.