Jed Emert
The NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series ventured to the 411 Motor Speedway on Saturday night to serve as the main attraction in the J.T. Kerr Memorial. Along with that race, the Mitch and Tanya McCarter owned facility located in Seymour, Tenn. offered up racing in other classes as well. Jed Emert proved to be the star in the Sportsman class as he scored the win and walked away with the $700 first prize.
Brad Seagle led the way in Sportsman qualifying when he posted a lap of 15.586 seconds around the 3/8 mile clay oval. Emert, Andy Ogle, Wayne Rader and Rex Coffey rounded out the top-5 from the time-trial session.
With no heat races being staged for this class, the starting lineup for the feature race was set entirely from qualifying results among the 17 cars that were signed in for competition.
Emert used his outside front row starting position to his advantage when the green flag waved on the feature race as the No. 98 car took the lead with Seagle, Ogle, Rader and Clyde Stanton following close behind. Seagle immediately began to apply pressure to Emert for the race lead on the second lap while Rader and Stanton and Rader contested the fourth spot during the early stages of the event.
A lap 5 caution for a spin by Coffey bunched the field once again. On the ensuing restart, the machine driven by Eric Weber came in contact with Stanton, sending both cars for a spin. Stanton was given his spot back by track officials in the running order after the incident.
Following the caution, Emert began to show his dominance by pulling away from the field. Meanwhile, Stanton and Rader engaged in a fierce battle for the fourth position. Eventually, Stanton’s car went for a spin as a result of the hard racing. Once again, the No. c11 machine was awarded his spot in the running order back while track officials sent Rader to the tail.
Following that final caution, Emert drove away from the pack to ultimately capture the checkered flag ahead of Seagle, Ogle, Stanton and Warren McMahan.
Driver Jed Emert and car owner Steve Ritchey in 411 victory lane
In other racing action on Saturday night at 411, Jeff Hamby beat out Amos Bunch and Ricky Tinch to win the Open Wheel Modified feature while Rocky Ogle bested Austin Neely and Chris Rickett in the Street Stock race. Lee Merritt was the winner in Classics ahead of Richie Overholser and Adam Engel.
