Dale McDowell took over on lap 17
With one race in the books and two others rained out, the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals made its way to the I-75 Raceway on Tuesday night for a continuation of the midsummer mini-tour. After a night of racing that saw a veteran driver outduel a rising star, it was Dale McDowell who claimed the checkered flag. The Chickamauga, Georigia racer collected a check valued at $4,043 for his efforts.
A total of 27 cars were signed in for competition.
Cody Overton set the pace in Group A qualifying with a lap of 14.481 seconds around the third-mile clay oval to top John Ownbey, Colton Proffitt, Kenny Collins and Jensen Ford.
David Crabtree led the way in Group B time-trials with an effort of 14.377 seconds to better Dale McDowell, Michael Brown, Donald McIntosh and Ryan King.
The top-5 from each qualifying group were locked into the feature lineup.
Stacy Boles beat out Garrett Smith, Dusty Carver, Chuck Southard and Craig Greer in the first B-main of the night.
The second B-main was won by Cory Hedgecock over Daulton Wilson, Bobby Giffin, Chase Oliver and Jordy Nipper.
At the start of the 40-lap feature it was Overton who bolted to the early lead with Ownbey, McDowell, Crabtree and Brown giving chase. On the second circuit, Brown moved around Crabtree to take fourth.
By lap 3, Overton looked to have things under control as he began to pull away from those in pursuit of his No. 2 machine. At the same time, Collins moved up by wresting the fifth position away from Crabtree. But soon afterwards, McDowell began to make his presence felt as he closed in on Ownbey to challenge for the runner-up spot.
Ahead of the second-place fight, Overton began to encounter slower traffic. However, he would be given a reprieve when a caution flag waved on lap 10.
It was on the lap 10 restart that McDowell made it known that he would be the most serious threat to Overton’s lead. The No. 17m car moved into second when the green flag waved leaving Ownbey to battle with Brown for third, which Brown would take on lap 11.
King then began to show strength as he worked his way through the top-5. After moving to fifth on the lap 10 restart, he went by Ownbey to take fourth on lap 14. In the meantime, McDowell was not allowing Overton to get away as he had done during the first green flag run. As a matter of fact, McDowell began to close in on the front runner on lap 16.
McDowell then jumped to the top side of the track and sailed by Overton on lap 17. Just behind the fight for the lead, King was continuing his climb by taking third away from Brown on lap 18. On lap 25, King drew alongside and then around Overton for second.
A lap 31 caution provided the field with a last chance to challenge McDowell. However, the veteran driver got the jump on the pack when the green flag waved with King and a rising Ford in his tire tracks. But in the end, it was McDowell who would sail under the checker flag to earn the victory.
McDowell and the Shane McDowell Racing team in victory lane
Feature Finish: 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Ryan King, 3. Jensen Ford, 4. Cory Hedgecock, 5. John Ownbey, 6. Cody Overton, 7. Michael Brown, 8. Kenny Collins, 9. Daulton Wilson, 10. Donald McIntosh, 11. Colton Proffitt, 12. Garrett Smith, 13. Stacy Boles, 14. Bobby Giffin, 15. Jeff Neubert, 16. Jordy Nipper, 17. Chase Oliver, 18. Craig Greer, 19. Dusty Carver, 20. Chuck Southard, 21. David Crabtree, 22. Andy Standrige, 23. Ahnna Parkhurst
