Cory Hedgecock was the big winner at I-75 on Saturday.
*Story submitted by Daniel Watkins
On Saturday night, I-75 Raceway hosted its biggest event since the track re-opened late in the 2014 season. In the end, it was Cory Hedgecock who drove to a flag-to-flag $2,000 Limited Late Model win on the Sweetwater, Tenn. facility.
Jesse Lowe set the fast time in qualifying when he clicked off a lap of 12.713 seconds around the clay oval to beat out a field of 18 drivers who signed in for competition. John Owenby joined Lowe by locking himself onto a front row starting spot for the main event when turned a lap of 13.213 seconds in time-trials.
Hedgecock and Jason Cardwell scored starting spots in the second row by winning the two heat races used to establish the full starting lineup behind the top-2 starters.
Lowe suffered mechanical issues during the warm up laps prior to the feature and was forced to retire from the event before it even got underway. Hedgecock was then moved to the inside front row starting position as a result of Lowe’s misfortune and that proved to be the break that would provide the winning edge for the Loudon, Tenn. driver.
Hedgecock’s #23 Rocket by Brucebilt got out to a sizable lead before a series of cautions during the 25-lap affair would erase his advantage. Ultimately, however, Hedgecock was able to hold off the advances of a charging Jason Welshan to score the lucrative victory. John Owenby, Aaron Ridley and Ruben Mayfield would round out the top-5 finishing order.
In the Sportsman class, Patrick Duggan and Andy Standridge started the feature from out front after achieving heat race wins. Duggan took the lead in the 20-lap feature from the outset and never looked back as he beat out Standridge, Darren Goins and Nick Bowling.
Dustin Lankford and Kyle Courtney began the Mod Mini race from the front row as a result of their heat race wins. Courtney dominated the 15-lap event to finish ahead of Michael Fitzgerald, Woody Shelby and Ronnie Shelton.
Michael Millsaps took the early lead in the B-Hobby feature but was forced to pull off track when his car suffered mechanical troubles. David Price then assumed the lead and drove on to the feature win over Randall Addison and Justin Best.
Allen Walker won the Thunder feature over Robert Russell while Thomas Harrill beat Chris Hunt in the Front Wheel Drive race.
