Dirt on Dirt - McDowell goes back-back on Southern Nationals

July 16

I-75 Raceway,

Sweetwater, TN

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

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 18, 4:50 pm)

McDowell goes back-back on Southern Nationals

Dale McDowell
Donald McIntosh
Cory Hedgecock
Gavin Cowan
Austin Smith
Ethan Dotson
Matt Dooley
Ricky Weiss
Brandon Overton
Heath Hindman
Ethan Hunter
Tanner English
Chris Madden
Noah Phillips
Caleb Gay
Payton Freeman
Benji Hicks
Bubba Pollard
Kenny Collins
Kaede Loudy
Dalton Cook
Stacy Boles
Haiden Cowan

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Dale McDowell emerges in victory lane at I-75 Raceway.

What won the race: Saved by a mid-race caution as Donald McIntosh appeared to take control, pole-starting Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., officially led all 40 laps Tuesday at I-75 Raceway for his second straight Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory. McDowell held off McIntosh on the lap-17 restart and cruised to win $7,553 by 3.386 seconds for his 15th career tour victory.

Quotable: “Well I really don’t know was going on behind me (on the lap-17 caution), but I tell ya what, this old guy is tired,” McDowell said. “You had to get up on the wheel, it was a little choppy, but I think we had on a little bit harder tires, so it look us a little bit longer to get going than those guys. I just tried to keep it between the lanes and every now and then, it’d yank the wheel right outta my hands, so I was doing the best I can.”

Key notes: McDowell also won on the series at I-75 three years ago. ... The second-starting McIntosh appeared to drive around the outside of McDowell when Benji Hicks got sideways and slowed suddenly in turn four, just as he was about to be lapped. McDowell swerved to avoid Hicks as McIntosh sped past, only for the move to be erased by the third and final caution. ... Hicks, who also slowed with a flat for a lap-four stoppage, finished two laps down in 17th. ... Cory Hedgecock, a two-time series winner at I-75, gained seven spots and finished third. ... Brandon Overton improved nine positions and placed ninth. ... Fifth-starting Kaede Loudy advanced to second and trailed McDowell from laps 4-13 before giving way to McIntosh and retiring a few laps later. ... The feature lasted 19 minutes, with 12 drivers completing 40 laps and 18 running at the finish. ... Will Roland and Rusty Ballenger scratched before time trials.

On the move: Gavin Cowan, 17, of Rincon, Ga., started 14th and finished fourth.

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 I-75: 1. Donald McIntosh (780); 2. Cory Hedgecock (750); 3. Gavin Cowan (734); 4. Chris Madden (728); 5. Benji Hicks (718).

Current weather: Overcast, 79°F

Car count: 29

Fast qualifier: Dale McDowell

Time: 13.478 seconds

Polesitter: Dale McDowell

Consolation race winners: Ethan Hunter, Heath Hindman

Provisional starters: Stacy Boles

Next series race: July 18, Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) $7,544

Editor's note: Clarifies details of Benji Hicks's half-spin on lap 16

From staff reports

SWEETWATER, Tenn. (July 16) — Updates and results from the fourth round of the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals at I-75 Raceway, an event highlighted by a 40-lap, $7,553-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Saved by a mid-race caution as Donald McIntosh appeared to take control, pole-starting Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., officially led all 40 laps Tuesday at I-75 Raceway for his second straight Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory. McDowell held off McIntosh on the lap-17 restart and cruised to win $7,553 by 3.386 seconds for his 15th career tour victory. The second-starting McIntosh appeared to drive around the outside of McDowell when Benji Hicks slowed suddenly out of turn four, just as he was about to be lapped. McDowell swerved to avoid Hicks, as McIntosh sped past, only for the third and final caution to erase the move.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Dale McDowell, Donald McIntosh
Row 2: Ricky Weiss, Chris Madden
Row 3: Kaede Loudy, Benji Hicks
Row 4: Tanner English, Noah Phillips
Row 5: Ethan Dotson, Cory Hedgecock
Row 6: Matt Dooley, Haiden Cowan
Row 7: Austin Smith, Gavin Cowan
Row 8: Ethan Hunter, Heath Hindman
Row 9: Caleb Gay, Brandon Overton
Row 10: Payton Freeman, Kenny Collins
Row 11: Dalton Cook, Bubba Pollard
Row 12: Stacy Boles

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

First consolatioon: Ethan Hunter, Caleb Gay, Payton Freeman, Dalton Cook, Chase Oliver, Andy Picklesimer, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Rusty Ballenger

Second consolation: Heath Hindman, Brandon Overton, Kenny Collins, Bubba Pollard, Jack Franklin, Steve Smith. Scratched: Will Roland

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 13.478
2. Ricky Weiss (7), Headingley, Manitoba, 13.771
3. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 13.787
4. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.868
5. Ethan Dotson (2x), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.873
6. Matt Dooley (18), Brooks, Ga., 13.887
7. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 13.907
8. Ethan Hunter (15H), Harrison, Tenn., 13.986
9. Caleb Gay (17G), Dublin, Ga., 14.028
10. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 14.075
11. Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 14.140
12. Dalton Cook (44D), Columbus, Ga., 14.287
13. Andy Picklesimer (1p), Ooltewah, Tenn., 14.346
14. Chase Oliver (5), Crossville, Ala., 14.361
15. Rusty Ballenger (1G), Seymour, Tenn., no time
Group B
1. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 13.672
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.710
3. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 13.789
4. Noah Phillips (15), Sevierville, Tenn., 13.906
5. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 13.917
6. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 13.969
7. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 13.988
8. Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 14.068
9. Heath Hindman (91), Signal Mountain, Tenn., 14.073
10. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.084
11. Bubba Pollard (26), Senoia, Ga., 14.088
12. Jack Franklin (12), Murfreesboro, Tenn., 14.308
13. Steve Smith (3), Powell, Tenn., 15.021
14. Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga., no time

Tuesday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits and tier gates open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- 604 Crate hot laps
- 602 Crate hot laps
- Sportsman hot laps
- Front-wheel drive hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 604 Crate time trials
- 602 Crate time trials
- Sportsman time trials
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- 604 Crate feature (25 laps)
- 602 Crate feature (20 laps)
- Sportsman feature (20 laps)
- Front-wheel drive feature (15 laps)