Cory Hedgecock earned $4,000 for his win on Saturday night at 411
Cory Hedgecock came into Saturday night’s NeSmith Dirt Late Models racing action at the 411 Motor Speedway with the lead in that series standings. And when the night was over, the Loudon, Tenn. driver had extended his lead after turning in a dominating performance on what could be considered his home track which earned him at $4,000 payday in the J.T. Kerr Memorial held each year on the Seymour, Tenn. track.
Hedgecock began the evening by setting fast time in Group A qualifying and overall when he turned a lap of 14.838 seconds around the 3/8 mile clay oval. Rusty Ballenger and Heath Hindman were also locked into the feature through time-trials in that session.
Tanner Works was fastest in Group B qualifying when he posted a time of 14.942 seconds. Ronnie Johnson and Brandon Williams also earned their way into the main event as a result of their efforts in time-trials.
Jason Manley beat out Jesse Lowe and Barry Goodman to win the fist heat race of the night while Jimmy Elliott won over Greg Martin and Scott Dedwylder in the second preliminary event of the night.
Hedgecock immediately bolted to the lead at the start of the 40-lap feature with Works, Ballenger, Johnson and Williams trailing. By the end of the second circuit, the No. 23 machine had built a lead of almost a full straightaway over the close battle for the second though fifth positions in the running order.
Johnson and Williams made an early move to take third and fourth when they passed by Ballenger on the second lap. Those moves then set up a tight battle for the runner-up spot between Works, Johnson and Williams while Hedgecock continued to motor away from the pack.
A lap 13 incident involving Ballenger and Brian Anderson brought out the first caution flag of the night. Johnson used the ensuing restart as an opportunity to wrest the second position away from Works but Works was able to regain the spot just three laps later.
A lap 17 yellow flag waved and erased another sizable lead for Hedgecock when Forrest Trent went for a spin in turn four.
On the lap 17 restart, Manley, Johnson and Williams went three-wide for third in turn one. However, Manley spun when the action reached turn four with Elliott and Martin getting caught up in the fray.
The race went caution free over the final 23 laps with Hedgecock controlling the pace. However, Johnson and Works staged an intense battle for the runner-up spot that saw them exchange the position on multiple occasions with the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame member ultimately taking the spot.
Feature Finish: 1. Cory Hedgecock, 2. Ronnie Johnson, 3. Tanner Works, 4. Brandon Williams, 5. Heath Hindman, 6. Scott Dedwylder, 7. Greg Martin, 8. Jason Cardwell, 9. Ross White, 10. Jimmy Elliott, 11. Connoer Meade, 12. Will Roland, 13. Marcus Minga, 14. Justin Summers, 15. Chase Edge, 16. Forrest Trent, 17. Barry Goodman, 18. Ryan King, 19. Barry Anderson, 20. Jason Manley, 21. Jesse Lowe, 22. Eric Hickerson, 23. Rusty Ballenger, 24. Jason Britton
