Dale McDowell has been the dominant driver in super late model competition at Tazewell Speedway. He was the favorite to win the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals Ray Varner Ford 75. McDowell had to work harder for the $20,053 win.
Dakotah Knuckles, David Payne, and Donald McIntosh won the three heat races. McDowell was a bit off in qualifying and finished third in his heat race to earn the 7th starting spot for the 75-lap race.
At the start of the race, Knuckles washed up in front of Payne in turn 2 and lost control of his car. Payne bounced off Knuckles as Zack Mitchell and Ricky Weiss were also caught up in the mele. Everyone was able to continue except for Weiss. The race restarted and Payne zipped to the lead over Knuckles. McIntosh was battling Mike Benedum for third. Knuckles remained close behind Payne as the leaders caught slower traffic. Benedum was able to get by Knuckles for second.
On lap 11, Payne slowed coming out of turn 2 with a broken driveshaft. Benedum inherited the lead over Knuckles and McIntosh. McDowell moved into 4th place on the restart.
McIntosh got by Knuckles on the restart and hounded Benedum for the lead. McDowell would get past Knuckles for third a few laps later. On lap 33, McIntosh slowed with mechanical issues. Benedum remained in the lead with McDowell now in second.
As the race returned to green, McDowell stalked Benedum for the lead. McDowell tried several lines to get around the leader. On lap 51, McDowell used a power move in turn 1 to dive under and past Benedum for the lead. McDowell checked out and won the race over Benedum and Knuckles.
McIntosh was able to secure the 2024 Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals championship.
Ray Varner Ford 75: 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[7]; 2. 25-Mike Benedum[4]; 3. 21K-Dakotah Knuckles[1]; 4. 57-Zack Mitchell[10]; 5. 36-Cory Hedgecock[8]; 6. 71-Pierce McCarter[5]; 7. 0-Scott Bloomquist[11]; 8. 329-Travis Fultz[14]; 9. 3N-Austin Neely[15]; 10. 1C-Kenny Collins[16]; 11. 55-Benji Hicks[13]; 12. 7B-Brian Smith[21]; 13. 219-Gavin Cowan[20]; 14. 95-Brandon Williams[19]; 15. B00-Josh Henry[9]; 16. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 17. 83-Jensen Ford[6]; 18. 3-Steve Smith[22]; 19. 11B-Stacy Boles[18]; 20. 8-David Payne[2]; 21. 17-Brian Shockley[17]; 22. 7-Ricky Weiss[12]
