Tennessee National Raceway
Dacus claims first SRRS win since 2010
By Connie Putnam
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Dane Dacus heads for his first SRRS victory since 2010. (photobyconnie.com)
HOHENWALD, Tenn. (May 25) — Dane Dacus of Lakeland, Tenn., claimed a $3,000 victory at Saturday’s Southern Regional Racing Series event at Tennessee National Raceway on a wild night that was dampened by a heat race wreck that sent Ryan King of Seymour, Tenn., to the hospital. King escaped major injury, but suffered a mild concussion, sprained ankle and significant bruising. | Slideshow
Reigning SRRS champion Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., finished second with Mark Fields of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., third with Brad Skinner of Spring Hill, Tenn., and Jason Welshan of Maryville, Tenn., rounding out the top five.
The cautions continued into the main event, beginning with a yellow flag on the first attempt to start the 40-lap race. Fields took the lead once the race finally went green, but by the halfway mark, Dacus was knocking hard on Fields' back door.
Dacus worked his way by Fields for the top spot just after the halfway mark, while more action was brewing behind him. Hickman moved into third and later took second from Brad Skinner on lap 33.
But that was as far as Hickman advanced as Dacus kept the lead for the remainder of the race to score his fifth-career SRRS victory and first since 2010.
King’s hard crash occurred on the start of the second heat race. The polesitting King and outside polesitter Cale Finley made contact on the front straightaway, turning King into the concrete wall going into the first turn. King’s car hit driver's side first with the impact sending his car barrel rolling until coming to a stop on its roof. It took officials several minutes to remove King from the car. King's mother tried to come to his attention and she passed out, collapsing on the track; she was OK.
Notes: Dacus’ sponsors include O.H. Hendricks, Fair Oaks Ranch, RPM Racing, PROTEC Fire Systems, Taylormade Performance and Integra Shocks. ... Dacus’ most recent SRRS victory came at Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tenn., on Sept. 17, 2010. ... Fast qualifier Josh Putnam was forced to drive a borrowed car from Limited Late Model driver AJ Ferguson in the main after discovering a broken axle tube on his car after his heat race. Putnam advanced from the tail of the field to finish eighth. ... The race was the second leg of a weekend doubleheader for SRRS competitors. Hickman won Friday’s weekend opener at Thunderhill Raceway. ... The tour’s next event is scheduled for June 1 at Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Fyffe, Ala.
SRRS @ Tennessee National Raceway: (1) Dane Dacus, (2) Riley Hickman, (3) Mark Fields, (4) Brad Skinner, (5) Jason Welshan, (6) David Seibers, (7) Carnell Parker, (8) Josh Putnam, (9) Joey Tucker, (10) Scott Cook, (11) Derrick White, (12) Richard Smith, (13) Wesley Shelton, (14) Tony Morris, (15) Jeff Walker, (16) Cale Finley, (17) Donald Jones, (18) Steve Holcomb, (19) Mark Green, (20) Dakota Cheek, (21) Jimmy Tucker, (22) Ryan King, (23) Jamie Williams. Fast qualifier: Putnam, 13.66 seconds. Heat winners: Skinner, Dacus, Fields.
Correction: Fixes King's hometown to Seymour, Tenn., sted Russellville, Ala.
