Ray Cook’s Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series paid a visit to the I-75 Raceway just outside Sweetwater, TN Friday night, which saw Lincolnton, NC native Carson Ferguson run away from the field and collect his third series win.
Mike Benedum was fastest in Boyd Bilt hot laps, while Benji Hicks was fastest among the 34 cars that signed in for qualifying and the night’s 40-lap feature.
The first of two consolation races saw Corey Hedgecock take the win over Austin Horton, Skip Arp, John Llewllyn and Eli Beets, all of whom transferred to the feature.
Garrett Smith took the second consolation race over Jadon Frame, Sam Seawright, Heath Hindman and Kenny Collins. Each of those five drivers also transferred directly to the feature.
Before the 40-lap contest got underway, pole sitter Hicks had a flat right rear and had to start at the tail of the field for the start. That moved Ferguson to the pole position as the feature got underway. Ferguson stepped out with the lead at the drop of the green flag and began pulling away from Gavin Cowan and Mike Benedum.
Jadon Frame pulled into the infield just two laps in after slowing off turn two. The only caution flag of the evening came out on lap 14 when Skip Arp suddenly slowed In turn one due to a flat tire.
On the restart Ferguson once again pulled away from Cowan and Ross Bailes as they battled for the second position, with Dale McDowell closing from third. As Ferguson began to stretch out his lead, Bailes pulled around Cowan for second and McDowell followed suit. Both Benedum and Cown faded thru the field as McDowell, Hedgecock and Bailes moved forward.
From there is was all Ferguson as he ran away from Bailes and McDowell, leading all forty laps and taking the checkered flag 3.06 seconds in front of Bailes who wound up in the runner up spot.
The Southern Nationals Series shifts its focus to the North Georgia Speedway tomorrow night for a $10,053 to-win show for the “Biddle Ridley Memorial”.
Feature Finish: 1. Carson Ferguson, 2. Ross Bailes, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. Cory Hedgecock, 5. Garrett Smith, 6. Haden Cowan, 7. Gavin Cowan, 8. Eli Beets, 9. Mike Benedum, 10. Sam Seawright, 11. Kenny Collins, 12. Kaede Loudy, 13. David McCoy, 14. Austin Horton, 15. Jed Emert, 16. Caden Mullinax, 17. John Llewellyn, 18. Chase Oliver, 19. Skip Arp, 20. Heath Hindman, 21. Benji Hicks
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