Cory Hedgecock took over the lead with six laps remaining
The Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series opened its 2016 season at the 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. with local standout Cory Hedgecock capturing the $3,000 victory. However, the Loudon, Tenn. pilot’s win was aided when fellow east Tennessean Ryan King, who dominated much of the event, spun while racing among slower traffic with less than ten laps remaining.
Hedgecock set the pace early in the night when he posted the fastest lap in qualifying as he toured the 3/8 mile clay oval in 14.525 seconds. With the 19 car field being set entirely from time-trial results, King, Ronnie Johnson, Tyler Crowder, Tim Busha, Jake Knowles, Colby Kilgore, Mario Gresham, Ross Martin and Oliver Gentry in the top-10 of the starting grid for the feature race.
At the start of the 50-lap, King used his outside front row starting spot to seize the early lead with Hedgecock, Crowder, Johnson and Busha trailing. Soon, Busha would be the first to make an early move when he slipped by Johnson to grab fourth on the second circuit as King pulled away from the pack to a lead of several car lengths.
Just as the lead cars were about to catch slower traffic, the yellow flag waved to slow the field on lap 7. On the ensuing restart, Hedgecock and Crowder were able to stay closer and apply pressure on King. Meanwhile, Knowles moved forward as he swept by Johnson to assume a top-5 position on lap 12. However, a caution flag on lap 16 again slowed the pace.
Another restart on lap 20 provided an opportunity for Knowles to take another position as he moved by Busha for fourth.
The race’s defining moment cam on lap 44 when King found himself racing in heavy lapped traffic. The No. 30 machine was sent for a spin on the front stretch before slamming hard into a tire barrier set to defend the track’s scales. With the previous leader then eliminated, Hedgecock assumed command and would lead the rest of the way to claim the top prize.
Feature Finish: 1. Cory Hedgecock, 2. Tyler Crowder, 3. Jake Knowles, 4. Tim Busha, 5. Ronnie Johnson, 6. Adam Martin, 7. Ross Martin, 8. Oliver Gentry, 9. Jadon Frame, 10. Rusty Ballenger, 11. Ross White, 12. Austin Smith, 13. Ryan King(Alabama), 14. Mario Gresham, 15. Barry Goodman, 16. Barry Anderson, 17. Ryan King(Tennessee), 18. Chad Wallace, 19. Colby Kilgore
