July 3
Talladega Short Track,
Eastaboga, AL
Sanction: Crate Racin’ USA (Salute to America Nationals) - $2,500
Information provided by: Series reports (last updated July 4, 7:46 pm)
Knowles outruns Hedgecock at Talladega
Salute to America Nationals
- Jake Knowles
- Cory Hedgecock
- Chase Walls
- Sam Seawright
- Will Roland
- Cruz Skinner
- Ashton Winger
- Michael Page
- John Ownbey
- David Kay
- Todd Morrow
- Andy Picklesimer
- Ahnna Parkhurst
- Cody Smith
- Jake Rainey
- Oakley Johns
- Tyler Wood
- Matt Henderson
- Bryant Marsh
- Heath Carr
- Jamey Boland
- Marcus Minga
- T.J. Brittain
- Brad Berry
- Jason Britton
Mitchell Jenkins
Jake Knowles raced to a midweek victory at Talladega Short Track.
What won the race: Continuing his strong showings since debuting a Longhorn Chassis, Jake Knowles of Rome, Ga., raced to a 50-lap victory worth $2,500 in Saturday night's Durrance Layne Chevrolet Series stop at Talladega Short Track. He grabbed the lead from Sam Seawright on lap 15 and went on to beat series points leader Cory Hedgecock to the checkers by 0.508 of a second.
Quotable: "My dad (Wade) came here and won a lot of races through the years, and I practically grew up here,” Knowles said. “I’m running a red and white No. 66 to honor my Dad’s racing legacy, so it’s special to come here and win with that car. He and my mom have been very supportive of my career and I can’t thank them enough."
Key notes: Knowles's second DLCS triumph of 2018 came in what was scheduled to be the third race of the holiday week's Salute to America Nationals for Crate Late Model racers. After Knowles finished fifth in Saturday's race at Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Ga., and Sunday's show at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway was rained out, he earned the miniseries points crown and $500 Bonus Bucks from Mike Vaughn’s Auto Exchange on a tie-breaker with Hedgecock. ... Cruz Skinner won Saturday's A-main at Boyd's and was eligible to earn a $1,000 bonus if he was able complete a sweep of miniseries, but he finished sixth at TST. ... Michael Page subbed for three-time DLCS national champion Ronnie Johnson midway through the program after Johnson started feeling under the weather following qualifying. Page finished eighth. ... The 14-year-old Seawright finished fourth after setting fast time and leading laps 1-14. ... Two cautions slowed the feature. ... Jason Hiett won the evening's 30-lap Super Late Model feature. ... The track mourned the death of former announcer Eddie Davis, who died at 60 in his Alabaster, Ala., home last week.
On the move: Todd Morrow of LaFayette, Ala., started 21st and finished 11th.
Winner's sponsors: Knowles drives a Longhorn Chassis sponsored by Buster Goss Body Shop, Knowles Race Parts & Bodies, Josh Roberts Trucking, Curbow Logging, Shorty's Motorsports, Martins Wrecker Service, AG Calf Ranch and JW Motorsports.
Points chase: Loudon, Tenn.'s Hedgecock maintained his lead in the standings, leaving Talladega with 752 points to top Ashton Winger (698) and Jake Knowles (662).
Car count: 44
Fast qualifier: Sam Seawright
Time: 15.011 seconds
Heat race winners: Ashton Winger, Oakley Johns, Ahnna Parkhurst, T.J. Brittain
Next series race: July 27, Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, TN) $2,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.