Dirt on Dirt - Hedgecock tops Beckley after leaders flattened

July 15

Beckley Motor Speedway,

Beckley, WV

Sanction: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals (Black Gold 53) - $10,053

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden and series reports (last updated July 16, 7:02 am)

Hedgecock tops Beckley after leaders flattened

Black Gold 53

Cory Hedgecock
Jensen Ford
Zack Mitchell
Will Roland
Jacob Hawkins
Dale McDowell
Zack Dohm
Matthew Nance
Henry Hornsby III
Camaron Marlar
Carson Ferguson
Michael Brown
John Henderson
Brenden Smith
Ashton Winger
Dalton Cook
Kenny Collins
Mike Benedum
Parker Martin
Clay Coghlan
Mason Zeigler
Tyler Cox

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Winner Cory Hedgecock (right) and Schaeffer Oil rep Ed Lowe (left) in Beckley's victory lane.

What won the race: Inheriting the lead on lap 18 when frontrunners fell by the wayside, Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., cruised the rest of Friday's 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals opener at Beckley Motor Speedway for a $10,053 victory. The fifth-starting Hedgecock took the checkers 3.157 seconds ahead of Jensen Ford for his fourth career tour victory. Front-row starters Ashton Winger and Carson Ferguson had a lead-swapping duel the first 17 laps, but both had flat right-rear tires during a caution period and fell from contention.

Key notes: Hedgecock's previous series victories came in his home state (twice at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn., and once at I-75 Speedway in Sweetwater, Tenn.). ... The feature was slowed by two cautions, both on the 18th lap. ... Clay Coghlan spun in turn two and on the ensuing restart, several cars tangled in turn one. ... Fifteen of 22 starters finished on the lead lap. ... In prelims, Jeff Smith got the worst of turn-one scramble at the start of the third heat. Smith's car rolled and came back down on its wheels amid contact with an out-of-shape John Henderson and Mason Zeigler; Smith was OK but a red flag was required for the cleanup.

On the move: Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., started 11th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Hedgecock’s Black Diamond Chassis is powered by an Eagle Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from E-Z-Go, Budget Transmissions, Pace Performance, K&P Used Cars, W.E. Hardscapes & Masonry, Circle H Services, Hickory Hardscapes, Noble Knights Construction Services, I-75 Raceway and Timeless Memories Photography.

Points chase: After Beckley: 1. Cory Hedgecock (200); 2. Jensen Ford (196); 3. Zack Mitchell (194): 4. Will Roland (192); 5. Jacob Hawkins (190); 6. Dale McDowell (188); 7. Zack Dohm (186); 8. Matthew Nance (184); 9. Henry Hornsby III (182); 10. Camaron Marlar (180).

Current weather: Clear, 66°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Ashton Winger

Time: 13.462 seconds

Polesitter: Ashton Winger

Heat race winners: Ashton Winger, Will Roland, Carson Ferguson, Jensen Ford

Consolation race winners: Dalton Cook, Brenden Smith

Next series race: July 16, Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) $10,053

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff and series reports

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Updates from the opening round of the Ray Cook-promoted Schaeffer's Southern Nationals at Beckley Motor Speedway, highlighted by a $10,053-to-win event for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Inheriting the lead on lap 18 when frontrunners fell by the wayside, Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., cruised the rest of Friday's 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals opener at Beckley Motor Speedway for a $10,053 victory. The fifth-starting Hedgecock took the checkers 3.157 seconds ahead of Jensen Ford for his fourth career tour victory. Front-row starters Ashton Winger and Carson Ferguson had a lead-swapping duel the first 17 laps, but both had flat right-rear tires during a caution period and fell from contention.

Feature lineup

(53 laps)

Row 1: Ashton Winger, Ca. Ferguson
Row 2: Will Roland, Jensen Ford
Row 3: Cory Hedgecock, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Jacob Hawkins, Parker Martin
Row 5: Matthew Nance, John Henderson
Row 6: Zack Mitchell, Kenny Collins
Row 7: Henry Hornsby III, Michael Brown
Row 8: Zack Dohm, Camaron Marlar
Row 9: Dalton Cook, Brenden Smith
Row 10: Mike Benedum, Mason Zeigler
Row 11: Tyler Cox, Clay Coghlan

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Dalton Cook, Mike Benedum, Tyler Cox, Samuel Bryant, Tim Vance, Aaron Carter, Kenny Rucker, Rick Strattis.

Second consolation: Brenden Smith, Mason Zeigler, Clay Coghlan, Teddy Richardson. Scratched: Jeff Smith, Chris Meadows, Freddy Mooney.

Heat race results

(Eight laps)

First heat: Ashton Winger, Cory Hedgecock, Matthew Nance, Henry Hornsby III, Dalton Cook, Tim Vance, Kenny Rucker.

Second heat: Will Roland, Jacob Hawkins, Zack Dohm, Tyler Cox, Mike Benedum, Samuel Bryant, Aaron Carter, Rick Strattis.

Third heat: Carson Ferguson, Dale McDowell, Michael Brown, Clay Coghlan, Mason Zeigler, Freddy Mooney, Jeff Smith.

Fourth heat: Jensen Ford, Parker Martin, Kenny Collins, Cameron Marlar, Rick Williams, Brenden Smith, Chris Meadows, Teddy Richardson.

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown
Group A
Ashton Winger (22*), Hampton, Ga., 13.462
Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga., 13.720
Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 13.812
Zack Dohm (17), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 13.816
Matthew Nance (2), Ronda, N.C., 13.857
Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 13.972
Henry Hornsby III (39), Beckley, W.Va., 14.044
Jacob Hawkins (37), Fairmont. W.Va., 14.120
Dalton Cook (44D), Smiths Station, Ala., 14.144
Tyler Cox (68), Beckley, W.Va., 14.185
Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 14.338
Aaron Carter (57), Beckley, W.Va., 14.430
Tim Vance (17T), Clover, S.C., 14.459
Samuel Bryant (92), Fairfeld, Va., 14.775
Kenny Rucker (457), Pond Gap, W.Va., 14.882
Rick Strattis (1), Beckley, W.Va., 16.126
Group B
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.000
Jensen Ford (83), Johnson City, Tenn., 14.089
Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.129
Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 14.149
John Henderson (2x), North Augusta, S.C., 14.163
Parker Martin (6jr), Milledgeville, Ga., 14.192
Michael Brown (24-D), Pageland, S.C., 14.193
Rick Williams (12), Beckley, W.Va., 14.201
Clay Coghlan (6), Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 14.266
Chris Meadows (33), Crab Orchard, W.Va., 14.274
Jeff Smith (70), Dallas, N.C., 14.282
Camaron Marlar (99), Winfield, Tenn. , 14.415
Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 14.512
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.571
Freddy Mooney (6m), Bluefield, W.Va., 14.663
Teddy Richardson (0), Crab Orchard, W.Va., 15.114

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)

6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ registration closes
6:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
Hot laps
- Sport mods
- Super Late Models
- Crate Late Models
- Stock 4s
- Outlaw streets
Time trials
- Sport mods (1 lap)
- Super Late Models (2 laps)
- Crate Late Models (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Sport mod heats (8 laps)
- Stock 4 heats (6 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Outlaw street heats (6 laps)
- Crate Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Feature races
- Sport mods (15 laps)
- Stock 4s (12 laps)
- Super Late Models (53 laps)
- Outlaw streets (15 laps)
- Crate Late Models (20 laps)
- Enduros (30 laps)