July 29
Tennessee National Raceway,
Hohenwald, TN
Sanction: Southern All Star Series (Clay Smith Memorial) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 31, 3:31 pm)
Hohenwald delivers hometown victory for Johns
Clay Smith Memorial
- Oakley Johns
- Christian Hanger
- Pearson Lee Williams
- Chase Oliver
- Josh Putnam
- Camaron Marlar
- Jay Scott
- Matt Cooper
- Dillon Tidmore
- Dalton Cook
- Rob Mayea
- Steven Holcomb
- Caleb Gay
- Daniel Miller
- Cale Finley
- Billy Franklin
- Tyler Wood
- Freddie Smith
- Grayson Brewer
- Matthew Brocato
- Brad Skinner
- Donald Johns
- David Breazeale
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Oakley Johns won his first Southern All Star feature.
What won the race: Overtaking Matthew Brocato on the fifth lap, second-starting Oakley Johns led the final 36 laps Saturday at Tennessee National Raceway to capture his first career Southern All Star Series victory. He earned $5,000 in the Clay Smith Memorial for a home-track victory in taking the checkers two seconds ahead of runner-up Christian Hanger.
Quotable: “It feels really good, we’ve been working hard week in and week out,” Johns said. “We kinda let one slip away from us last weekend, so I’m glad we could capitalize here tonight and in front of our hometown crowd and everything. I hope it was a good show.”
Key notes: Johns became the fifth first-time series winner this season, joining Billy Franklin, Dillon Tidmore, Josh Rice and Austin Neely. ... Sixth-starting Christian Hanger moved into the runner-up position on a lap-eight restart and trailed Johns the rest of the way, finishing 2.097 seconds back. ... Pearson Lee Williams pressured Hanger in the closing laps before settling for third. ... Chase Oliver started and finished fourth. ... Camaron Marlar advanced five positions and finished sixth. ... Matthew Brocato led the first four laps from the pole before tangling with Oliver while battling for third, spinning with a flat right rear and backing into the turn-three wall, collecting Brad Skinner; Brocato completed nine more laps after changing the flat before pulling off while Skinner was unable to continue. ... Fifth-running Donald Johns drew the race's final caution on an ensuing restart attempt when he made heavy contact with the car ahead of him, ending his night. ... Saturday's feature, the first Southern All Star Series race at Tennessee National since 2015, honors Clay Smith, a dear friend who put so much time into the track until he died. … The 17-minute race was slowed by two cautions with 11 competitors completing 40 laps and 16 running at the finish.
On the move: Josh Putnam of Florence, Ala., started 17th and finished fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Johns’ Rocket Chassis carries sponsorship from Johns Timber, Skelton Trucking, King Farms, Hoosier Racing Tire South, Tammy Hinson Bail Bonds and Topnotch Kustom Koncepts.
Points chase: Before Tennessee National: 1. Caleb Gay (652); 2. Billy Franklin (472); 3. Dan Cox (464); 4. Dalton Cook (388); 5. Parker Martin (294).
Current weather: Clear, 81°F
Car count: 28
Fast qualifier: Matthew Brocato
Time: 13.719 seconds
Polesitter: Matthew Brocato
Consolation race winners: Camaron Marlar, Dillon Tidmore
Provisional starters: Billy Franklin
Next series race: August 5, Beckley Motor Speedway (Beckley, WV) $20,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.