Cory Hedgecock dominated the Crate Late Model feature at Boyd’s
Along with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA also staged action in the Crate Late Model division on Friday night. As has been the case so often in the east Tennessee region over the past few years, Cory Hedgecock ended his night with a dominating performance that netted his team a $1,500 payday.
Hedgecock led the way in qualifying for the division by posting a lap of 14.897 seconds around the third-mile oval. That lap beat out Chip Brindle, Ethan Hunter, Ahnna Parkhurst, Andy Picklesimer, Josh Henry, Riley Hickman, Chase Walls, Rick Hixson and Kyle Courtney.
At the start of the 25-lap feature Hedgecock wasted little time asserting himself as he bolted to the lead on the first lap with Brindle, Parkhurst, Hunter and Henry following. Picklesimer quickly issued a challenge against Henry for the fifth spot but the B00 car held onto the position.
Hickman set about trying to grab sixth on lap 5 when he began to pressure Picklesimer for the spot. Two laps later, Hunter made an effort to move forward as he took on Parkhurst for third. All the while, Hedgecock had moved out to a big lead as those behind him fought for position.
Hunter was finally able to take third from Parkhurst on lap 9. At the same time, Hedgecock found himself in the midst of heavy race traffic which allowed Brindle to cut into his lead. Further back, Henry, Picklesimer and Hickman continued to fight over positions 5-7.
A lap 16 yellow flag for debris on the track slowed the pace and allowed the front runners to gather back together. However, Hedgecock again shot away from the field on the ensuing restart until another caution for a spin by Ross White and T.J. Brittain once again brought the field in check on lap 18.
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On that restart, Hunter, Parkhurst and Hickman contested positions 3-5 with Hickman eventually getting around Parkurst for fourth. Soon afterward, Hunter moved in and offered a challenge on Brindle for second that would ultimately end with him taking the spot with two laps remaining.
But it was Cory Hedgecock who won the race to the checkered flag with Ethan Hunter, Chip Brindle, Riley Hickman, Ahnna Parkhurst, Josh Henry, Andy Picklesimer and Seth Wimpey trailing in his wake.
