BECKLEY, W.Va. (July 12) — Updates from the first round of the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals at Beckley Motor Speedway, an event highlighted by a $10,053-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Feature
Polesitter Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., slipped by fellow front-row starter Zack Dohm just before a lap-14 caution and led the rest of Friday's 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals event at Beckley Motor Speedway for a $10,053 victory in the tour opener. Chris Ferguson tried to challenge late, but McIntosh pulled away after a caution with five laps remaining for the victory.
Feature lineup
(53 laps)
Row 1: Donald McIntosh, Zack Dohm
Row 2: Chris Madden, Chris Meadows
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Benji Hicks
Row 4: Wayne Hughes, Jacob Hawkins
Row 5: Kyle Hardy, Matthew Nance
Row 6: Mike Benedum, Tyler Bare
Row 7: Caleb Fulp, Shane Greco
Row 8: Henry Hornsby III, Shane Bailey
Row 9: Doug Sanders, Stacy Boles
Row 10: Tim Vance, Gavin Cowan
Row 11: Cory Hedgecock, Kenny Rucker
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
Finish: Tim Vance, Gavin Cowan, Cory Hedgecock, Kenny Rucker, Rick Williams, Chris Chandler, Freddy Mooney, Jacob Wilbin.
Heat race recap
Pole-starting Donald McIntosh led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 2.175 seconds over fourth-starting Chris Meadows, with sixth-starting Wayne Hughes finishing third. The first caution flew on the opening lap when second-starting Cory Hedgecock made contact with McIntosh and spun, nosing into the backstretch wall, collecting Matthew Nance and Rick Williams. Hedgecock and Williams did not continue, while Nance placed fourth. The second stoppage came on the ensuing restart attempt when McIntosh never accelerated and Shane Bailey spun, nosing into the frontstretch wall. He continued and finished sixth. … Zack Dohm scored a flag-to-flag victory from the pole to win heat two by 1.509 seconds over Chris Ferguson, with fourth-starting Jacob Hawkins rounding out the podium. The lone yellow came on lap three when Tim Vance spun from sixth, collecting Doug Sanders and Chris Chandler. All three continued, with Sanders finishing sixth, Vance in seventh and Chandler placing eighth. … Chris Madden dominated the third and final heat race, leading the entire distance and winning by 2.123 seconds over Benji Hicks. Kyle Hardy repelled Tyler Bare to compete the podium finishers, while Henry Hornsby III and Stacy Boles held serve inside the top six, punching their ticket into Friday’s 53-lap, $10,053-to-win feature.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top six transfer)
First heat: Donald McIntosh, Chris Meadows, Wayne Hughes, Matthew Nance, Caleb Fulp, Shane Bailey, Kenny Rucker, Cory Hedgecock, Rick Williams.
Second heat: Zack Dohm, Chris Ferguson, Jacob Hawkins, Mike Benedum, Shane Greco, Doug Sanders, Tim Vance, Chris Chandler. Scratched: Gavin Cowan
Third heat: Chris Madden, Benji Hicks, Kyle Hardy, Tyler Bare, Henry Hornsby III, Stacy Boles, Freddy Mooney, Jacob Wilbin.
Time trials
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 12.782
2. Zack Dohm (17D), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 12.791
3. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 12.816
4. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 12.818
5. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 12.863
6. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 12.941
7. Matthew Nance (4n), Ronda, N.C., 12.957
8. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 13.043
9. Kyle Hardy (45), Stephens City, Va., 13.055
10. Chris Meadows (33), Crab Orchard, W.Va., 13.107
11. Jacob Hawkins (37), Fairmont, W.Va., 13.117
12. Tyler Bare (B8), Rockbridge Baths, Va., 13.146
13. Rick Williams (12), Beckley, W.Va., 13.183
14. Shane Greco (54k), Midway, W.Va., 13.199
15. Henry Hornsby III (39), Bradley, W.Va., 13.252
16. Wayne Hughes (1H), Ghent, W.Va., 13.294
17. Doug Sanders (42), Spartanburg, S.C., 13.317
18. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 13.333
19. Caleb Fulp (4), Danbury, N.C., 13.403
20. Tim Vance (17), Clover, S.C., 13.456
21. Freddy Mooney (6m), Bluefield, W.Va., 13.635
22. Shane Bailey (1), Grayson, Ky., 13.694
23. Chris Chandler (8), Weaverville, N.C., 13.701
24. Jacob Wiblin (64J), Charleston, W.Va., 14.071
25. Kenny Rucker (457), Pond Gap, W.Va., 14.345
26. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., no time
Friday’s schedule
(All times local)
4 p.m. - Pits open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:15 p.m. - Juice box feature
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Outlaw street hot laps
- 604 Crate hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Sport mod hot laps
- 604 Crate time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Sport mod time trials (1 lap)
Opening Ceremonies
- 604 Crate heats (6 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Outlaw street heats (5 laps)
- Sport mod heats (6 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Mini wedge feature (5 laps)
- 604 Crate feature (20 laps)
- Late Model feature (53 laps)
- Outlaw street feature (18 laps)
- Sport mod feature (18 laps)
- Enduro feature