Hedgecock led all 40 laps of the feature
The United Crate Racing Alliance made its way to I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn. to stage its opening event of 2017 while the track kicked off its racing season as well. But while the season may have been new, the result was one that has been seen before as Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn. dominated all 40 laps of the feature event to take home the $2,500 first prize.
Hedgecock began his night of domination by setting fast time in qualifying with a lap of 13.356 seconds around the third-mile clay oval. Lining up behind the pole winner on the starting grid would be Jesse Lowe, Kyle Courtney, Chip Brindle, Jason Welshan, Justin French, Jason Manley, Ross White, defending series champion Rusty Ballenger and Andy Picklesimer.
With the threat of rain looming over the event, track and series officials opted to do away with the planned B-main races and start the 24 car feature solely based on time-trial results.
After a couple of mishaps on the first two attempts to get the race underway, Hedgecock then bolted to the front of the pack once the green flag remained in place with Lowe, Courtney, Brindle and Welshan trailing. Manley looked to move forward immediately as he went to work on White for the sixth position.
Hedgecock built a comfortable advantage quickly as he already held a lead of almost a full straightaway by the end of the fourth circuit. However, the No. 23 car’s lead was erased on lap 5 when the first of four caution flags waved over the speedway.
It would be on the restarts from those yellow flag periods in which the most action would occur. On the lap 5 return to green flag racing it was Courtney who moved forward as he moved around Lowe to seize the runner-up spot. At the same time, Brindle held back a charge from Welshan for fourth.
Again Hedgecock built a sizable lead and again it was negated when a caution flag flew on lap 19. on the ensuing restart, Lowe swept by Courtney to regain second while Welshan moved all the way from fifth to take the third position. But just one lap after returning to green flag conditions, the racing action was again slowed by caution.
As the cars took the green flag again at the halfway point, both Welshan and Courtney were able to get by Lowe to grab the second and third spots.
Meanwhile, the likes of Ballenger, Brindle, Greg Huskey and Anthony White fought for position just outside the top-5 while keeping pace behind the lead machines.
The battle became intense on the final restart following caution on lap 25. Hedgecock again bolted away from the pack but Welshan, Courtney and Manley went three-wide as the fought for second. Manley would eventually emerge from that fight with the spot but Hedgecock had already motored away from his pursuers by that time.
The race remained under green flag conditions with the field sorting itself out as they looked for the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Cory Hedgecock, 2. Jason Manley, 3. Kyle Courtney, 4. Jason Welshan, 5. Jesse Lowe, 6. Rusty Ballenger, 7. Chip Brindle, 8. Greg Huskey, 9. Anthony White, 10. Zach Shannon, 11. Ross White, 12. Kenny Ford, 13. Andy Standridge, 14. Ruben Mayfield, 15. Dustin Harris, 16. Andy Picklesimer, 17. Chase Walls, 18. Robert Gant, 19. Rod Carroll, 20. Justin French, 21. Kenny Kizzar, 22. Jerry Green, 23. Darren Goins, 24. John Ownbey
Hedgecock celebrates in victory lane with wife Katie
