Dirt on Dirt - McDowell nabs $10,053 while cruising at Wythe

July 16

Wythe Raceway,

Rural Retreat, VA

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

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac and series reports (last updated July 17, 10:44 am)

McDowell nabs $10,053 while cruising at Wythe

Dale McDowell
Carson Ferguson
Chris Ferguson
Ross Bailes
Donald McIntosh
Logan Roberson
Ricky Weiss
Jensen Ford
Jimmy Owens
Mike Benedum
Tyler Clem
Will Roland
Jordan Koehler
Haiden Cowan
Cory Hedgecock
Cody Overton
David McCoy
Austin Neely
Brenden Smith
Kevin Wilson
Chris Chandler
John Llewellyn
Kenny Collins

presented by

Live video Photo slideshow Feature highlights

Austin Bumgarner

Winner Dale McDowell (17m) and Chris Ferguson (22) battle at Wythe.

What won the race: Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., fired off from the outside front row Sunday and never looked back, leading all 53 laps at Wythe Raceway and winning $10,053 on the Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals. Repating last year's tour victory at the half-mile oval, McDowell notched his 11th career Southern Nationals triumph.

Quotable: “Yeah (the car) was good, Shane (McDowell) and Landon (Hayes) got everything working, so it makes my job easier — and it needs to be too, I’m out of breath,” McDowell said. “I’ve actually had good luck here, so you got high expectations when you come, but it doesn’t make it any easier. The competition level is unbelievable and I’m just proud to be part of it.”

Key notes: Carson Ferguson moved into the runner-up position on lap three and trailed McDowell the rest of the way, finishing 2.350 seconds back. … Chris Ferguson followed his younger cousin and moved into third on lap three, rounding-out the podium. ... Making his first start in a brand-new Nichols Plumbing Barry Wright Race Car, pole-starting Ross Bailes faded as low as fifth before recovering to finish fourth. ... Now occupying the seat vacated by Bailes in the Billy Hicks-owned Double Nickel Chassis, Donald McIntosh advanced four positions and finished fifth. ... Ricky Weiss gained three spots and finished seventh. ... Sixteenth-starting Mike Benedum was the last driver to complete all 53 laps, finishing 10th. ... Jordan Koehler spun to draw the race's first caution on lap 16 before rebounding to finish 13th. ... After changing a transmission, Cory Hedgecock ran as high as sixth before pulling off under the race's final caution on lap 47, when Cody Overton slowed. ... Kenny Collins scratched for the night after discovering a broken rocker arm in his engine before hot laps. ... Sunday's feature lasted 22 minutes, with 14 drivers still running at the finish. ... With Volunteer Speedway’s recent promoter shuffle, Monday's scheduled visit to the Bulls Gap, Tenn., oval has been cancelled, giving competitors a day off before heading to I-75 Raceway on July 18.

On the move: Logan Roberson of Waynesboro, Va., started 11th and finished sixth.

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, Northeastern Fabrication, Fox Racing Shox, Campbell Insulation Specialists, Shackleford Enterprises and Spring-Pro.

Points chase: After Wythe: 1. Chris Ferguson (384); 2. Jimmy Owens (382); T3. Carson Ferguson (374); T3. Logan Roberson (374); 5. Ricky Weiss (370); 6. Donald McIntosh (364); 7. Will Roland (358); 8. Mike Benedum (352); 9. Cory Hedgecock (350); T10. Cody Overton (344); T10. Jordan Koehler (344).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Ross Bailes

Time: 17.011 seconds

Polesitter: Ross Bailes

Heat race winners: Ross Bailes, Dale McDowell, Carson Ferguson

Next series race: July 18, I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) $7,553

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

From staff reports

RURAL RETREAT, Va. (July 16) — Updates from the second round of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway, an event highlighted by a $10,053-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., fired off from the outside front row Sunday and never looked back in leading all 53 laps for a $10,053 Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals victory at Wythe Raceway. Repeating his series victory last year at the half-mile oval, McDowell notched his 11th career Southern Nationals triumph. Carson Ferguson moved into the runner-up position on lap three and trailed McDowell the rest of the way, finishing 2.350 seconds back.

Feature lineup

(53 laps)
Row 1: Ross Bailes, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Carson Ferguson, Jensen Ford
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Jimmy Owens
Row 4: David McCoy, Cory Hedgecock
Row 5: Donald McIntosh, Ricky Weiss
Row 6: Logan Roberson, Tyler Clem
Row 7: Cody Overton, Will Roland
Row 8: Haiden Cowan, Mike Benedum
Row 9: Austin Neely, Jordan Koehler
Row 10: John Llewellyn, Brenden Smith
Row 11: Kevin Wilson, Chris Chandler
Row 12: Kenny Collins

Heat race results

(8 laps)
First heat: Ross Bailes, Jensen Ford, David McCoy, Ricky Weiss, Cody Overton, Mike Benedum, John Llewellyn. Scratched: Kenny Collins

Second heat: Dale McDowell, Chris Ferguson, Cory Hedgecock, Logan Roberson, Will Roland, Austin Neely, Brenden Smith, Kevin Wilson.

Third heat: Carson Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Donald McIntosh, Tyler Clem, Haiden Cowan, Jordan Koehler. Scratched: Chris Chandler

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown, time
1. Ross Bailes (5), Clover, S.C., 17.011
2. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 17.017
3. Carson Ferguson (93), Concord, N.C., 17.046
4. Jensen Ford (83), Elizabethtown, N.C., 17.091
5. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 17.119
6. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 17.206
7. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 17.227
8. Brenden Smith (17SS), Dade City, Fla., 17.315
9. Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga., 17.340
10. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 17.355
11. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 17.372
12. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 17.403
13. Cody Overton (15K), Evans, Ga., 17.416
14. Austin Neely (3), New Tazewell, Tenn., 17.481
15. Logan Roberson (89), Waynesboro, Va., 17.557
16. Tyler Clem (58), St. Petersburg, Fla., 17.589
17. John Llewellyn (90), Knoxville, Tenn., 17.610
18. Will Roland (22R), Jasper, Ga., 17.763
19. Jordan Koehler (114) Mount Airy, N.C., 17.7634
20. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 17.781
21. Kevin Wilson (618), Stoneville, N.C., 18.353
22. Kenny Collins (1C), Colbert, Ga., no time
23. Chris Chandler (8), Weaverville, N.C., no time