Dirt on Dirt - Freeman inherits Southern Nat'ls cash at EAMS

August 2

East Alabama Motor Speedway,

Phenix City, AL

Sanction: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals - $7,553

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated August 5, 12:47 pm)

Freeman inherits Southern Nat'ls cash at EAMS

Payton Freeman
Dalton Cook
Kenny Collins
Spencer Hughes
David Breazeale
Dylan Knowles
Mark Whitener
Dennis Hale
Jordy Nipper
Haiden Cowan
Bo Slay
Gavin Cowan
Allen Styck
Hadley Greene
Wesley Scott
Austin Horton
Will Roland
J.R. Moseley
Montana Dudley
Dillon Tidmore
Mark Clifton
Jake Rainey

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What won the race: Fifth-starting Payton Freeman of Commerce, Ga., took Friday's Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory at East Alabama Motor Speedway after race-long leader Austin Horton slowed out of the lead following contact with a lapped car. Freeman led the final seven of 40 laps to grab the $7,553 payday by 0.833 of a second over Dalton Cook.

Quotable: “Man we really needed this more than a lot of people know,” Freeman said. “We haven’t gotten to race a ton this year, but every time I feel like we’ve raced, we’ve been really competitive and in contention to win races. These Ray Cook races man, they’re hard to win .. it’s hard to believe this is my first one, but hopefully it’s the first of many.”

Key notes: Austin Horton of Whitesburg, Ga., led a race-high 23 laps — laps 11 through 33 — before slowing out of the lead on lap 34 after contact with a lapped car broke his right-front wheel. … Freeman’s triumph marked his first career Southern Nationals victory and first Ray Cook-promoted win of any kind. … Kenny Collins of Colbert, Ga., led the opening 10 laps before being passed by Horton on lap 11. Horton worked around Collins for the lead when he landed a slider through turns one and two. … Two cautions slowed the 40-lap feature that lasted 18 minutes: Lap 17 for 18th-running Mark Clifton and then lap 33 for Horton, who slowed out of the lead. … Thirteen drivers finished on the lead lap.

On the move: Haiden Cowan of Rincon, Ga., started 19th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Freeman’s Coltman Farms Racing Rocket Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine (Ford) and sponsored by Freeman Plumbing, Price’s Septic, Madison County Auto Parts, Dave Gordon Auto Supply, Rod Roberts Trucking, Chatham & Son Tile, Shelton Trucking, Collins Signs, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Integra Racing Shocks, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels, DirtCarLift.com and McAllister Precision Marketing.

Points chase: Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., was crowned series champion on July 27 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 86°F

Car count: 22

Fast qualifier: Montana Dudley

Time: 14.166 seconds

Polesitter: Montana Dudley

Editor's note: Corrects Freeman's chassis to Rocket and shocks to Integra

From staff reports

PHENIX CITY, Ala. — Updates from Friday’s eighth round of the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals at East Alabama Motor Speedway, an event highlighted by a 40-lap, $7,553-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Payton Freeman of Commerce, Ga., took Friday's Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala., after race-long leader Austin Horton slowed out of the lead after contact with a lapped car with seven laps left. Freeman led the final seven of 40 laps for the $7,553 payday over Dalton Cook.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Montana Dudley, Kenny Collins
Row 2: Dalton Cook, Austin Horton
Row 3: Payton Freeman, Spencer Hughes
Row 4: Dennis Hale, David Breazeale
Row 5: Mark Whitener, Gavin Cowan
Row 6: Dylan Knowles, Allen Styck
Row 7: Dillon Tidmore, Jordy Nipper
Row 8: Bo Slay, Will Roland
Row 9: J.R. Moseley, Mark Clifton
Row 10: Haiden Cowan, Jake Rainey
Row 11: Hadley Greene, Wesley Scott

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Montana Dudley (55), Phenix City, Ala., 14.166
2. Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 14.429
3. Dalton Cook (44D), Columbus, Ga., 14.501
4. Austin Horton (16H), Whitesburg, Ga., 14.526
5. Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 14.550
6. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 14.595
7. Dennis Hale (888), LaGrange, Ga., 14.618
8. David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 14.697
9. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 14.709
10. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 14.711
11. Dylan Knowles (66k), Lanett, Ala., 14.715
12. Allen Styck (11), Americus, Ga., 14.799
13. Dillon Tidmore (38T), Gadsden, Ala., 14.829
14. Jordy Nipper (1n), Gray, Ga., 14.870
15. Bo Slay (2s), Milton, Fla., 14.941
16. Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga., 14.958
17. J.R. Moseley (99), Columbus, Ga., 15.125
18. Mark Clifton (11c), Brewton, Ala., 15.164
19. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 15.449
20. Jake Rainey (87), Powder Springs, Ga., 15.598
21. Hadley Greene (2), Ellaville, Ga., 15.976
22. Wesley Scott (16s), Dallas, Ga., 16.648

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- 602 Crate hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- 604 Crate hot laps
- Hobby stock hot lap qualifying
- Road warrior hot lap qualifying
- Hot shot hot lap qualifying
- Charger hot lap qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 604 Crate time trials
- 602 Crate time trials
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
- 602 Crate feature (20 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Road warrior feature (20 laps)
- 604 Crate feature (25 laps)
- Hobby stock feature (15 laps)
- Hot shot feature (15 laps)
- Chargers feature (12 laps)