The Spring Nationals mini-series kicked off its 2017 campaign on Friday night as competitors looked to earn starting positions for the $15,000-to-win Tennessee Tip-off feature race to be held on Saturday afternoon at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. Qualifying and heat race action took center stage on the Maryville, Tenn. track during the activities on the first of the two night event.
Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn. and Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC will start Saturday’s main event from the front after winning their respective heat races on a chilly night in the foothills of east Tennessee.
Jonathan Davenport began the night by leading Group A qualifying as he posted a lap of 15.913 seconds around the 4/10 mile clay oval. He was followed in that group by Donald McIntosh, Owens and Scott Bloomquist.
Madden was fastest in Group B and overall after he recorded a lap in 15.875 seconds. Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell and Skip Arp rounded out the top-4 in that group.
Jimmy Owens will start Saturday’s feature from the pole
Davenport beat the pack into turn one to start the first heat race but Owens roared by on his outside as the cars made their way down the backstretch during the first of 10 laps. From that point, the ‘Newport Nightmare’ pulled away from his pursuers to take the win in heat one and earn the pole for the feature. Davenport, Shanon Buckingham and Mike Marlar completed the list of drivers to be locked into the main event from this preliminary.
Donald McIntosh won the second heat
McIntosh got the jump on the field in the second heat race and pulled ahead by a comfortable margin that he would maintain throughout the duration of the race. The real battle was for the final transfer spot as Brandon Overton worked his way around David Payne to take the position on lap 7. McIntosh was the winner ahead of Bloomquist, Michael Chilton and Overton.
Chris Madden will start the main event from the front row
Madden would not be denied in the third heat as he immediately shot away from his pursuers and built up a big advantage that he would maintain over the course of the race. He was followed to the finish line by Dale McDowell, Robby Moses and Ricky Weiss.
Tim McCreadie had to earn his win in the fourth heat
The fourth and final heat belonged to McCreadie, but not until he had to earn it. After two failed attempts at a start to the preliminary, he and fellow front row starter Arp were moved back one row by race director Ray Cook. Once the race went green to stay, McCreadie took on the appearance of a man on a mission as he former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Joey Coulter to take second on lap 3 and then by early race leader Jason Croft to assume command on the sixth circuit. McCreadie went on to win over Croft, Arp and Coulter.
Saturday’s Feature Lineup- 1. Jimmy Owens, 2. Chris Madden, 3. Donald McIntosh, 4. Tim McCreadie, 5. Jonathan Davenport, 6. Dale McDowell, 7. Scott Bloomquist, 8. Jason Croft, 9. Shanon Buckingham, 10. Robby Moses, 11. Michael Chilton, 12. Skip Arp, 13. Mike Marlar, 14. Ricky Weiss, 15. Brandon Overton, 16. Joey Coulter
