Cory Hedgecock had to fight off a mid-race challenge to earn the win
As part of its annual Frostbuster event, the 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. staged racing in the Crate Late Model division along with Super Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds. As has so often been the case around east Tennessee, Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn. proved to be unbeatable as he grabbed the $1500 first prize for the feature win.
Jason Manley led a field of 35 cars that were signed in for competition in qualifying when he turned a lap in 14.743 seconds around the 3/8 mile clay oval. Hedgecock, Rusty Ballenger, Forrest Trent, Jesse Lowe and Josh Henry filled in the first three rows on a starting grid that saw the top-16 qualifiers locked in through their efforts in time-trials.
Remington Gill and Ronnie Johnson won the two B-main races used to set the remainder of the lineup for the main event in this division.
At the start of the 25-lap feature it was Hedgecock who emerged from a three-wide battle on the first lap to grab the early lead ahead of Manley, Ballenger, Trent and Lowe.
The racing intensity didn’t last long initially as a caution flag waved on the second circuit for a spin at the tail of the field. On the ensuing restart, it was Henry who attempted to move forward as he maneuvered his car inside of that driven by Trent in an attempt to wrest the fourth position away. At the same time, 11th starting Jason Welshan was on the move as he took sixth away from Lowe on lap 5.
Hedgecock began to feel the heat from Manley on lap 6 as the No. 32 car worked to the inside of the higher running No. 23. However, Hedgecock was able to maintain the lead of the race. Welshan continued his climb up the leader board as he moved around Henry to make an appearance in the top-5 on lap 7.
Manley again applied pressure to Hedgecock for the lead as the two cars battled among slower traffic just after lap 10. That slower traffic allowed the cars of Ballenger, Trent, Welshan and Lowe to close the gap on the lead duo as well.
Henry’s day ended on lap 19 when his No. B00 machine made significant contact with the outside wall in turn one to bring out the second and final caution of the day.
Hedgecock was able to keep his lead over the remaining six laps but there was plenty of action behind him as Lowe moved back around Welshan to claim fifth while Ballenger fought with Manley for the runner-up spot. But in the end, it was Hedgecock who would beat them all to the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Cory Hedgecock, 2. Jason Manley, 3. Rusty Ballenger, 4. Forrest Trent, 5. Jesse Lowe, 6. Jason Welshan, 7. Remington Gill, 8. Chris Barton, 9. Christian Hanger, 10. Mike Combs, 11. Drew Kennedy, 12. Logan Roberson, 13. Greg Huskey, 14. Ahnna Parkhurst, 15. Drew Deaver, 16. Jim Couch, 17. Adam Mitchell, 18. Michael Courtney, 19. Josh Henry, 20. Ronnie Johnson, 21. Zach Shannon, 22 .James Cole, 23. Connor Meade
