Brandon Overton picked up $15,000 at SMS
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series made its way to the Smoky Mountain Speedway on Saturday night to complete a two-race weekend. When all was said and done it was Brandon Overton who left the Maryville, TN track with a winner’s check valued at $15,000 and all the accolades that come along with victory.
On Friday night Overton seemingly had the Lucas Oil feature at the Cherokee Speedway wrapped up until a flat tire on the last lap ruined his chances and allowed Ross Bailes to get by and claim the victory. The No. 76 team earned redemption on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain as the Evans, GA driver beat back late races threats to get the win.
Brandon Sheppard proved to be the fastest in Group A qualifying by touring the 4/10 mile clay oval in 16.459 seconds to top Brandon Overton, Josh Richards, Ricky Weiss, and Cory Hedgecock.
It was Jimmy Owens who led the way in Group B time-trials with a lap of 16.418 seconds which bested Tim McCreadie, Kyle Hardy, Chris Ferguson and Earl Person, Jr.
Brandon Sheppard earned the pole position for the feature for the feature by beating out Josh Richards, Cory Hedgecock and Kyle Bronson in the first heat race of the night while Brandon Overton took the second preliminary over Donald McIntosh, Ricky Weiss and Billy Moyer, Jr.
Jimmy Owens would start the feature from the outside of the front row after he outran Earl Pearson, Jr., Kyle Strickler and Kyle Hardy in the night’s third heat just before Tim McCreadie earned the win in the fourth and final heat ahead of Dale McDowell, Tanner English and Hudson O’Neal.
Tommy Kerr and Tyler Erb were the winners of the two B-main races used to set the remainder of the starting lineup for the main event.
Three wide action between Shane Clanton (25), Jay Scott (27), and Devin Moran (9).
At the start of the 60-lap feature it was Sheppard who would go to the early lead followed by Owens, Overton, Richards and McCreadie. Richards looked like an early contender for the win as he moved around Overton to claim third on the third lap. Further back, McCreadie, McIntosh and Hedgecock engaged in a fierce battle for positions 5-7 before McIntosh emerged with a spot in the top-5.
For the second night in a row, McCreadie experienced a flat tire that potentially robbed him of a top-10 finish when his No. 39 machine slowed on the seventh circuit. On the ensuing restart, Overton grabbed third away from Richards and set off in search of the lead duo of Sheppard and Owens.
Overton continued his march toward the front when he wrested second away from Owens on lap 9. At the same time, Hedgecock moved into the fifth position by passing McIntosh.
Overton mounted a challenge for the lead on lap 20 when he pulled to the inside of Sheppard. That battle continued for multiple laps with Owens and Richards also joining the fray.
On lap 25, Overton briefly moved around Sheppard for the top spot but Sheppard quickly regained first in the next set of turns. However, Overton would finally assert himself as the front runner when he passed by Sheppard in heavy traffic on lap 27.
Brandon Overton (76) takes the lead from Brandon Sheppard (1).
A lap 29 caution for a flat tire on the Clanton machine slowed the action. On the restart, Owens moved into the runner-up spot around Sheppard but the Rocket house car regained the position four laps later.
Overton controlled the second half of the feature for the most part but Sheppard did issue a challenge on the race leader in the closing laps while Owens and Richards also pulled up on the fight as the top-4 cars worked though slower traffic.
In the end, it was Overton who would eventually sail under the checkered flag for the victory.
Brandon Overton in victory lane.
Feature Finish: 1. Brandon Overton, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Jimmy Owens, 4. Josh Richards, 5. Earl Pearson, Jr. 6. Dale McDowell, 7. Ricky Weiss, 8. Cory Hedgecock, 9. Tyler Erb, 10. Kyle Hardy, 11. Shanon Buckingham, 12. Tim McCreadie, 13. Jonathan Davenport, 14. Donald McIntosh, 15. Kyle Bronson, 16. Billy Moyer, Jr., 17. Kyle Strickler, 18. Tanner English, 19. Tyler Bruening, 20. Stormy Scott, 21. Shane Clanton, 22. Tommy Kerr, 23. Devin Moran, 24. Jay Scott, 25. Robby Moses, 26. Hudson O’Neal
Cory Hedgecock (23) battles Josh Richards (14).
Brandon Sheppard (1) and Jimmy Owens (20) battle for second.
