Dirt on Dirt - McDowell tops Southern Nationals at Bulls Gap

July 14

Volunteer Speedway,

Bulls Gap, TN

Sanction: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals - $7,553

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 15, 10:00 am)

McDowell tops Southern Nationals at Bulls Gap

Dale McDowell
Chris Madden
Ricky Weiss
Cory Hedgecock
Brandon Overton
Donald McIntosh
Pierce McCarter
Austin Smith
Shane Clanton
Camaron Marlar
Travis Fultz
Benji Hicks
Mike Benedum
Jordon Horton
Luke Morey
Kaede Loudy
Rusty Ballenger
Stacy Boles
Gavin Cowan
Scott Bloomquist
Brandon Williams
Ethan Dotson

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Dale McDowell won his 14th Southern Nationals feature.

What won the race: Fast qualifier Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., led 40 laps from outside the front row Sunday at Volunteer Speedway for a $7,553 Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory, the 14th of his career. Sixth-starting Chris Madden was 1.553 seconds behind at the finish with polesitter Ricky Weiss settling for third.

Quotable: "I told them a while ago these are getting more special and more special because as I'm getting older, I don't know when it's gonna be the last one," the 58-year-old McDowell said. "I'm enjoying every one of them."

Key notes: McDowell wasn't seriously challenged in winning at what's one of his best tracks. He picked up $50,050 at Volunteer in June 29's unsanctioned Volunteer 50 celebrating the track's 50th anniversary ... Runner-up Chris Madden took the second spot from polesitter Ricky Weiss after a lap-24 restart. ... Madden and Cory Hedgecock brushed together in turns three and four at halfway, but neither lost control. ... Cautions appeared on lap 13 for Brandon Williams, who slowed exiting turn two, and lap 24 for Gavin Cowan, who slowed in turns one and two and retired. ... Hall of Famer Scott Bloomquist was running third when he lost his power steering after a bump with Weiss on a lap-12 restart. ... Fifteen drivers completed 40 laps in the 15-minute race.

On the move: Camaron Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., started 18th and finished 10th.

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, Shakleford Enterprises and Spring-Pro.

Points chase: After Volunteer: 1. Donald McIntosh (584); 2. Cory Hedgecock (556); 3. Chris Madden (554); 4. Benji Hicks (552); 5. Gavin Cowan (542).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 88°F

Car count: 24

Fast qualifier: Dale McDowell

Time: 13.241 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Weiss

Consolation race winners: Mike Benedum

Provisional starters: Ethan Dotson, Gavin Cowan

Next series race: July 16, I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) $7,553

Editor's note: Corrects details on Bloomquist's demise.

From staff reports

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (July 14) — Updates and results from the third round of the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals at Volunteer Speedway, an event highlighted by a $7,553-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Fast qualifier Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., led 40 laps from outside the front row Sunday at Volunteer Speedway for a $7,553 Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory, the 14th of his career. Sixth-starting Chris Madden was 1.553 seconds behind at the finish with polesitter Ricky Weiss settling for third.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Ricky Weiss, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Cory Hedgecock, Scott Bloomquist
Row 3: Travis Fultz, Chris Madden
Row 4: Pierce McCarter, Brandon Overton
Row 5: Kaede Loudy, Donald McIntosh
Row 6: Benji Hicks, Austin Smith
Row 7: Jordon Horton, Shane Clanton
Row 8: Brandon Williams, Luke Morey
Row 9: Mike Benedum, Camaron Marlar
Row 10: Stacy Boles, Rusty Ballenger
Row 11: Ethan Dotson, Gavin Cowan

Consolation race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

Consolation: Mike Benedum, Camaron Marlar, Stacy Boles, Rusty Ballenger, Ethan Dotson, Haiden Cowan, Noah Phillips. Scratched: Gavin Cowan.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

Ricky Weiss (7), Headingley, Manitoba, 13.345
Cory Hedgecock (36v), Loudon, Tenn., 13.374
Travis Fultz (329), Harrogate, Tenn., 13.428
Pierce McCarter (71), Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 13.508
Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 13.522
Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 13.597
Jordon Horton (56), Sneedville, Tenn., 13.641
Brandon Williams (95), Crossville, Tenn., 13.746
Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 13.795
Camaron Marlar (57), Winfield, Tenn., 13.815
Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.826
Noah Phillips (15), Sevierville, Tenn., 13.988

Group B

Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 13.241
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 13.338
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.342
Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.353
Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 13.429
Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 13.555
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 13.572
Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 13.697
Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 13.793
Rusty Ballenger (1G), Seymour, Tenn., 13.811
Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 13.901
Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 14.051

Sunday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Sportsman hot laps
- Street stock hot laps
- Front-wheel drive hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Sportsman time trials
- Street stock time trials
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Sportsman heats (8 laps)
- Street stock heats (8 laps)
- Front-wheel drive heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Sportsman feature (25 laps)
- Street stock feature (20 laps)
- Front-wheel drive feature (15 laps)
- Enduro (100 laps)