Dirt on Dirt - Ninth-starting McDowell wins Wythe's $10,053

July 16

Wythe Raceway,

Rural Retreat, VA

Sanction: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals - $10,053

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden and series reports (last updated July 17, 8:10 am)

Ninth-starting McDowell wins Wythe's $10,053

Dale McDowell
Cory Hedgecock
Michael Brown
Vic Hill
Camaron Marlar
Matthew Nance
John Henderson
Will Roland
Ross Bailes
Parker Martin
Tim Vance
Ashton Winger
Kenny Collins
Mason Zeigler
Clay Coghlan
Brenden Smith
Zack Mitchell
Forrest Trent
Travis Greer
Jensen Ford
Dalton Cook
Carson Ferguson

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The Shane McDowell Racing team in victory lane at Wythe.

What won the race: Ninth-starting Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., powered past Cory Hedgecock in turn one on the 37th lap Saturday and led the rest of the 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals feature at Wythe Raceway. McDowell took the checkers 2.808 seconds ahead of Hedgecock while first-half race leader Vic Hill faded to finish fourth.

Quotable: "We really kind of gave up — or I didn't give up — but we really was lost and didn't know exactly what to do," McDowell said. "We made some mistakes in the heat and was a little bit off qualifying. And so (Dale's brother) Shane (McDowell) kept digging, kept digging, kept digging, and made some adjustments, and the car drove right up through there so it was really good."

Key notes: McDowell earned his eighth career series victory. His previous triumph came in last season's finale at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. (where the series heads Sunday). ... Runner-up Cory Hedgecock, who led laps 30-36, was trying to become the first driver to win the first two series races since Chris Madden in '07. ... Third-finishing Vic Hill, who led the first 29 laps, was gunning for his fourth series victory at Wythe. ... The feature's most exciting moment came on the 30th lap when Hill bobbled exiting turn two. Hedgecock grabbed the lead down the backstretch and McDowell immediately dropped Hill to third. ... Nine drivers completed 53 laps. ... Four cautions slowed the action (Jensen Ford's left-front flat on the third lap; second-running Carson Ferguson's ignition failure on the second lap; a slowing Parker Martin on lap 16; and a slowing Kenny Collins on lap 44) ... Wythe hosted the series for the 15th time.

On the move: Winner Dale McDowell started ninth.

Winner's sponsors: McDowell’s Shane McDowell Racing Team Zero Race Car has a Clements Chevrolet engine and sponsorship from E-Z-Go, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Connected Strategy Advisors, Fox Racing Shox, Waddell Transfer, ShearWorx, Shackelford Enterprizes, Spring Pro, Northeastern Fabrication and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

Points chase: After Wythe: 1. Cory Hedgecock (396); 2. Dale McDowell (388); 3. Will Roland (376); 4. Matthew Nance (372); 5. Michael Brown (370); 6. Camaron Marlar (370): 7. John Henderson (360); 8. Zack Mitchell (360); 9. Jensen Ford (356); 10. Ashton Winger (346).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 22

Fast qualifier: Vic Hill

Time: 15.972 seconds

Polesitter: Vic Hill

Heat race winners: Vic Hill, Carson Ferguson, Michael Brown

Next series race: July 17, Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) $10,053

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

From staff and series reports

RURAL RETREAT, Va. — Updates from Saturday's second round of the Schaeffer's Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway, highlighted by a $10,053-to-win event for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Ninth-starting Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., powered past Cory Hedgecock in turn one on the 37th lap Saturday and led the rest of the 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway. McDowell took the checkers 2.808 seconds ahead of Hedgecock while first-half race leader Vic Hill faded to finish fourth.

Feature lineup

(53 laps)

Row 1: Vic Hill, Carson Ferguson
Row 2: Michael Brown, Will Roland
Row 3: Jensen Ford, Kenny Collins
Row 4: Cory Hedgecock, Camaron Marlar
Row 5: Dale McDowell, John Henderson
Row 6: Matthew Nance, Ashton Winger
Row 7: Clay Coghlan, Ross Bailes
Row 8: Zack Mitchell, Forrest Trent
Row 9: Parker Martin, Mason Zeigler
Row 10: Tim Vance, Travis Greer
Row 11: Brenden Smith, Dalton Cook

Heat race results

(Six laps; all transfer)

First heat: Vic Hill, Will Roland, Cory Hedgecock, John Henderson, Clay Coghlan, Forrest Trent, Tim Vance, Dalton Cook.

Second heat: Carson Ferguson, Jensen Ford, Camaron Marlar, Matthew Nance, Ross Bailes, Parker Martin, Travis Greer.

Third heat: Michael Brown, Kenny Collins, Dale McDowell, Ashton Winger, Zack Mitchell, Mason Zeigler, Brenden Smith.

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown

Vic Hill (1), Mosheim, Tenn., 15.972
Jensen Ford (83), Johnson City, Tenn., 16.070
Michael Brown (24-D), Pageland, S.C., 16.071
Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga., 16.072
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.114
Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.117
Clay Coghlan (6), Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 16.156
Camaron Marlar (99), Winfield, Tenn. , 16.157
Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 16.209
Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 16.214
Matthew Nance (2), Ronda, N.C., 16.233
Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 16.235
John Henderson (2x), North Augusta, S.C., 16.242
Ross Bailes (79), Clover, S.C., 16.253
Ashton Winger (22), Hampton, Ga., 16.266
Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 16.342
Parker Martin (6jr), Milledgeville, Ga., 16.538
Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.832
Tim Vance (17T), Clover, S.C., 16.851
Travis Greer (11G), Marion, Va., 17.040
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 17.339
Dalton Cook (44D), Smiths Station, Ala., 17.357

Saturday's schedule

(All times local)

6:30 p.m. - Drivers' meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Pro mini hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- K-car hot laps
- Super street hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- U-car hot laps
- Pro mini feature (15 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (6 laps)
- Super street feature (20 laps)
- U-car feature (15 laps)
- Super Late Model feature (53 laps)
- Modified feature (20 laps)
- K-car feature (10 laps)