Jimmy Owens took the lead just before halfway
The 411 Motor Speedway closed out the Memorial Day weekend racing schedule with the 9th annual Scott Sexton Memorial on Monday night. At the end of the night, Jimmy Owens received the accolades as the winner of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals and Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series co-sanctioned event at the Seymour, TN track. The Newport, TN driver earned $10,053 for his efforts.
Dale McDowell was crowned as the Spring Nationals Series champion for 2021. It was his second title after having also won in 2019.
Randy Weaver was fastest in Group A qualifying with a lap of 15.309 seconds around the 3/8 mile clay oval beating out Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Pierce McCarter, and Kyle Bronson.
Group B time-trials were led by Chase King who toured the track in 15.431 seconds to top Dale McDowell, Ashton Winger, Jensen Ford, and Dustin Linville.
Randy Weaver won the first heat race of the night with Mike Marlar and Donald McIntosh transferring to the feature along with him then Jimmy Owens took the second preliminary over Pierce McCarter and Tyler Erb.
It was Ashton Winger who emerged victorious in the third heat ahead of Dustin Linville and Chase King while Dale McDowell claimed the victory in the fourth and final heat over Ricky Weiss and Jensen Ford.
Heath Hindman, Cory Hedgecock, and Kyle Bronson transferred to the main event out of the first B-main just before Hudson O’Neal, Michael Chilton and Robby Moses moved on to the feature out of the second last chance race.
At the start of the 52-lap feature it was Weaver who would take the early lead ahead of Owens, Winger, Marlar and McDowell. On the second circuit, McDowell made his way around Marlar for the fourth spot as Weaver and Owens began to separate from the pack.
Owens began to apply pressure to Weaver by lap 11 as the lead duo began to encounter slower traffic in a race that would run its full distance caution free. Owens continued to apply pressure, even looking inside the No. 85 machine on lap 18. At the same time, McDowell began to move in on Winger in hopes of gaining the third position.
Owens’ efforts finally paid off on lap 25 when he was able to move around Weaver to claim the lead of the race. From that point, the “Newport Nightmare’s” biggest concern was slower traffic. However, the veteran driver was able to maneuver through the lapped cars.
The No. 20 Rocket Chassis would eventually sail under the checkered flag to give its driver his second win in the Scott Sexton Memorial.
Dale McDowell claimed his second Spring Nationals championship
Feature Finish: 1. Jimmy Owens, 2. Randy Weaver, 3. Ashton Winger, 4. Dale McDowell, 5. Mike Marlar, 6. Pierce McCarter, 7. Ricky Weiss, 8. Dustin Linville, 9.Chase King, 10. Hudson O’Neal, 11. Jensen Ford, 12. Cory Hedgecock, 13. Heath Hindman, 14. Michael Chilton, 15. David Payne, 16. Jeff Neubert, 17. Donald McIntosh, 18. Robby Moses, 19. Kyle Bronson, 20. Tyler Erb, 21. Steve Smith, 22. Dustin Nobbe
