Cory Hedgecock
Holds On for Summer Showdown Win
(August 7, 2021)
Smoky Mountain Speedway roared back into action by welcoming the
American Pro Late Model All-Stars for a $10,000 to win event.
Thirty-three drivers from across the region signed in.
Following a wild fast car dash, Cory Hedgecock earned the pole
position for the 60-lap race. Hedgecock would lead the field to
the green flag and quickly jumped to the lead over Matt Henderson.
Mack McCarter and Zach Sise would battle for third behind the
front duo.
Henderson stayed locked onto the rear of Hedgecock's machine.
Henderson eventually challenged Hedgecock for the lead. Hedgecock
used the momentum of the outside line to hold off Henderson until
a caution on lap 18.
On the restart, Henderson had to fight off McCarter to maintain
second. Hedgecock put some distance between himself and Henderson
until the pair caught heavy, slower traffic.
Following a caution on lap 40, Henderson again had to fight off
McCarter for second. McCarter made contact with the backstretch
wall that ended his night. This moved Eli Beets up to third. Beets
battled Henderson for second on the next restart, but Henderson
quickly maintained the spot and set his sights on Henderson.
In the closing laps, Henderson made several challenges for the
lead. Henderson could not get far enough even with Hedgecock to
wrestle away the lead. Hedgecock held on to win the Summer Showdown.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
AMERICAN PRO LATE MODEL ALL STARS
1. Cory Hedgecock # 23
2. Matt Henderson # 17
3. Eli Beets # 109
4. Zach Sise # 9
5. Dillon Brown # 6b
6. Randy Weaver # 16
7. Jake Teague # 117
8. Logan Roberson # 17
9. Josh Henry # B00
10. Rusty Ballenger # 29
11. Ben Watkins # 32
12. Chris Chandler # 8
13. Ricky Greene # 18
14. Layton Sullivan # 08
15. Parker Martin # 6jr
16. Michael Bland # 2
17. Mack McCarter # 51
18. Brandon Miller # 89
19. Jesse Lowe # D2
20. Trevor Sise # 9t
21. William Blankenship # 32
22. Kyle Courtney # 71
23. Justin Smith # 7
24. Tyler Arrington # 002
DID NOT QUALIFY: Carson Ferguson (00), Terry Poore (2), Tyler
Price (7), Bradley Lewelling (10b), Travis McDowell (28), Garrett
Mosley (38), John Cobb (40), Kaede Loudy (126), Mike Bargo (J317)
(MRM
Racing Photo)
Skip Arp lead flag-to-flag to win the limited late model feature.
Arp was never challenged for the lead that went caution free.
Taylor Puckett finished comfortably in second while Bobby Giffin
held off Jed Emert for third.
LIMITED LATE MODELS
1. Skip Arp # 31
2. Taylor Puckett # 28
3. Bobby Giffin # 97
4. Jed Emert # 51
5. Roger Best # 00
6. Kelvin White # X
7. Ryan Tims # 84
Jake Whitehead picked up his second straight sportsman late model
win at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Whitehead took the early lead
over Brad Seagle and never looked back in getting the win. Seagle
finished second and Kip Sawyer held off Hayden Cardwell for second.
SPORTSMAN LATE MODELS
1. Jake Whitehead # 116
2. Brad Seagle # 31
3. Kip Sawyer # 44
4. Hayden Cardwell # 07
5. Bryan Cooper # 15
6. Jed Emert # 98
7. Dustin Ratliff # 10
8. Sonny Huskey # 6
9. Mason Bare # 24
10. Bill Norwood # 7
11. Chris McKinney # 113
12. Dylan Cole # 426
13. Chris Johnston # C9
The front wheel drive race was drama-filled despite only 4 cars
making the call for the feature. Jacob Sharp grabbed the early
lead over Dusty Branstetter. All four cars run much of the race
nose-to-tail as none of the drivers could separate themselves
from the others. After Trey Floyd dropped out the race, Brandon
Crawford spun in turn 1 to leave Sharp and Branstetter to battle
it out for the win. As the lead pair was coming to take the white
flag, Sharp blew and engine and pulled into the infield. That
left Branstetter as the only car running and making him the winner.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVES
1. Dusty Branstetter # 25
2. Jacob Sharp # 1
3. Brandon Crawford # 00
4. Trey Floyd # 3kp
DID NOT START: Luke Thompson ( 3 )
NEXT EVENT:
Saturday, September 25th
King of the Mountain Fall Classic
Southern All Stars Super Late Models - $7,500 to win
Topless Outlaws Late Model Series - $3,000 to win
Front Wheel Drives - $500 to win
plus... 2021 Smoky Mountain Speedway Hall of Fame Inductions!
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