Jensen
Ford Powers to Southern All-Stars Victory!
(April 17, 2021)
Jensen Ford picked up his first Southern All-Stars victory by
fending off some of the best dirt late model drivers in the sport.
Ford began the night by capturing the pole position for the 40-lap
race by setting fast time in group A qualifying. He was joined
on the front row by Dale McDowell who lead group B qualifying.
Ford and McDowell battled for the lead on the opening lap. Ford
was able to wrestle away the lead and the field went into turn
3. Ricky Weiss grabbed the third spot over Sam Seawright. As the
leaders caught slower traffic, Ford stretched out his lead over
McDowell. Cory Hedgecock took fourth from Seawright.
A caution on lap 14 slowed the field for a restart. Ford maintained
his lead when the race went back to green. Weiss would use the
outside line to take second away from McDowell. Weiss would close
in on Ford in the closing laps. Ford had no problem in negotiating
lapped traffic to take the win over Weiss. Hedgecock finished
third. McDowell edged Seawright for fourth.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
SOUTHERN ALL STARS SUPER LATE MODELS
1. Jensen Ford # 83
2. Ricky Weiss # 7
3. Cory Hedgecock # 23
4. Dale McDowell # 17m
5. Sam Seawright # 16
6. Chase King # 44
7. Pierce McCarter # 71
8. Jadon Frame # J8
9. Payton Freeman # F1
10. Dalton Cook # 44d
11. Robby Moses # 21
12. Tommy Kerr # 4t
13. Manny Falcon # 995
14. Jay Scott # J27
15. Tyler Millwood # 31
16. Ellery Leake # 34
17. Austin Franklin # 22
18. Austin Kirkpatrick # 11
19. Will Roland # 22
20. Donald McIntosh # 7m
21. David Crabtree # C5
22. Josh Putnam # 212
23. Dean Bowen # 15
DISQUALIFIED: Billy Franklin # 17
DID NOT QUALIFY: Steve Smith (3), Casey Turman (18), Phil Helton
(24h), Mark Dodson (32), Tim Rucker (47), Ryan Winchester (51)
The Steel Block Bandits made their debut at Smoky Mountain Speedway
with 26 cars on hand vying for the $5,000 top prize. Willie Milliken,
Jason Manley, and Mack McCarter won their respective heat races
to earn the top 3 starting spots for the 40-lap race. As the green
waved the start the race, Milliken blasted to the lead over Manley.
Kyle Courtney came from the fifth starting spot to quickly move
into third. Cory Hedgecock took fourth from McCarter as the first
caution waved on lap 2.
Milliken continued to hold the lead when the race resumed. Courtney,
Manley, and Hedgecock started a big battle for second. Courtney
eventually wrestled the spot away from Manley, then Hedgecock
would move into third over Manley. Hedgecock would late take second
from Courtney. McCarter claimed fourth over Manley.
The race took a dramatic turn on lap 10 when Milliken slowed
for a flat tire. This handed the lead to Hedgecock with Courtney
and McCarter in tow when the race continued. McCarter got the
lead from Hedgecock on lap 12. The two would fight for the lead
throughout the remainder of the race. McCarter appeared to have
the race in hand until Hedgecock got under McCarter on the last
lap. As the duo raced into turns 3 and 4, the pair ran side-by-side
heading to the checkers. McCarter narrowly nipped Hedgecock at
the line to take the win.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
STEEL BLOCK BANDITS LIMITED LATE MODELS
1. Mack McCarter # 51
2. Cory Hedgecock # 23
3. Jason Manley # 32
4. Matt Henderson # 00
5. Russell Erwin # 22
6. Austin Neely # 3
7. Robbie Emory # 9e
8. Derick Quade # 74
9. Kyle Courtney # 171
10. Jason Cardwell # 07
11. Shaun Harrell # 3
12. Bobby Giffin # 97
13. Roger Best # 007
14. Willie Milliken # 1
15. Mitchell Burke # 54
16. Ruben Mayfield # 00
17. Clint Hodges # 83h
18. Chuck Southard # 108
19. Chris Lewis # 09
20. Michael Dotson # 55d
21. Taylor Puckett # 28
22. Ross White # 2
23. Sammie Russell # F4
24. Kelvin White # X
25. Jordan Horton # 56h
DID NOT QUALIFY: Blake Craft (121)
Jake Whitehead was the class of the field in the sportsman late
model race. Whitehead set fast time and took the early lead over
Addison Cardwell. Kip Sawyer, Dustin Ratliff, and Brad Seagle
spent much of the race battling for third. Whitehead had smooth
sailing to take the win.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
SPORTSMAN LATE MODELS
1. Jake Whitehead # 116
2. Addison Cardwell # 07a
3. Kip Sawyer # 44
4. Dustin Ratliff # 10
5. Tyler Price # 7
6. Hunter Kerr # 40h
7. Brad Seagle # 31
8. Adam Mitchell # 50
9. Chris McKinney # 113
10. Isaac Dotson # 67d
11. Joe Bray # 76
12. Isaac Boring # 00
13. Billy Branch # 71
14. Bryan Cooper # 15
15. Warren McMahan # 33
16. Robert Koons # 79
17. Dustin Bunch # 9
18. Troy Eads # 52
19. Dakota James Smith # 3d
20. Jacob Kelso # 4
Jacob Sharp and Cody Rector put on a show in the front wheel
drive race. The two battled for the lead for much of the race
until Rector spun. Sharp looked to have things in hand until Rector
worked his way back into second. Rector made a last lap bid for
the lead, but could not pull off the pass as Sharp held on for
the win.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
FRONT WHEEL DRIVES
1. Jacob Sharp # 1
2. Cody Rector # 46
3. Anthony Singleton # 45
4. Dylan Johnson # 24
5. Zach Roderick # R13
6. Marvin Sauls # 8
7. Josh Davis # 506
NEXT EVENT:
Saturday, May 8th
Smoky Mountain Spring Shootout
Spring Nationals Super Late Models - $10,053 to win
604 Late Models
602 Late Models
Open Wheel Modifieds
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