McDowell, Beets,
& Whitehead Close Out 2020 Season with Victories!
(October 17, 2020) Night number of two of the
King of the Mountain Championship Weekend saw champions crowned
in the Southern All-Stars, American Crate All-Stars, and sportsman
late models. Thirty-four drivers signed in for the $7,000 to win
Southern All-Stars finale. Dalton Cook and Dale McDowell were
the fastest qualifiers in each group heading into heat race action.
Ashton Winger, Dale McDowell, Zach Leonhardi, and Ricky Weiss
were heat race winners.
As the race went to green, McDowell grabbed the lead over Winger.
Sam Seawright moved up a row after Leonhardi elected to start
the race from the rear with technical issues. Seawright moved
around Weiss for third. Following a lap 21 caution, Winger opted
to restart on the outside in an effort to find a way around McDowell.
A lap later, Winger went into turn 1 too high and got into the
wall. Dakotah Knuckles and Austin Smith were also collected.
With Seawright now in second, Weiss began pressure for the spot.
Weiss eventually took the position and chased down McDowell. Weiss
had nothing as McDowell cruised to the win. Weiss finished second
and Seawright came home in third. Billy Franklin clinched the
Southern All-Stars championship for 2020 and Sam Seawright was
the series rookie of the year.
(MRM
Racing Photos)
SAS SUPER LATE MODELS
1. Dale McDowell # 17m
2. Ricky Weiss # 7
3. Sam Seawright # 16
4. Michael Page # 18x
5. Austin Kirkpatrick # 11
6. Jensen Ford # 83
7. Dalton Cook # 44d
8. Robby Moses # 21
9. Will Roland # 22
10. Riley Hickman # R1
11. Ben Watkins # 79
12. Cameron Marlar # 57m
13. Stacy Boles # 11b
14. Billy Franklin # 17
15. Travis Fultz # 329
16. Tommy Kerr # 4t
17. Ashton Winger # 12
18. Dakotah Knuckles # 21k
19. Austin Smith # 84
20. Cory Hedgecock # 23
21. Mark Dodson # 32
22. Jordan Rodabaugh # 66
23. Donald McIntosh # 7m
24. Zach Leonhardi # 24
DID NOT QUALIFY: David Crabtree (C5), Clay Coghlan (6), Dusty
Carver (9), Jeff Wolfenbarger (28), Gary McPherson (29m), Ellery
Leake (34), Mike Weeks (K37), Ray Cook (53), Jake Knowles (66),
Derek Ellis (99)
The youth movement was alive at the start of the American Crate
All-Stars Series race with three of the top four starters under
the age of 20. It was 16 year-old Eli Beets who took the lead
from the pole position over Cameron Weaver. The two paced the
field for the whole 40-lap race. Friday’s winner, Carder
Miller, battled Josh Henry for third.
As the lead twosome had their own race, Trevor Sise, Jake Teague,
and Logan Roberson began their marches forward. Action was intense
from positions three through ten for most of the race. Beets was
unchallenged in winning the biggest race of his young career.
Weaver was second and Teague came from ninth to finish third.
Sise was crowned series championship with his fourth place finish.
(MRM
Racing Photos)
AMERICAN CRATE ALL STARS SERIES
1. Eli Beets # 109
2. Cameron Weaver # 16
3. Jake Teague # 117
4. Trevor Sise # 73
5. Carder Miller # 69*
6. Logan Roberson # 17
7. Josh Henry # B00
8. Matt Long # 55
9. Tyler Arrington # 002
10. Bradley Lewelling # 10b
11. Ross White # 0
12. Jensen Ford # 83
13. Cory Hedgecock # 23
14. Matt Henderson # 22
15. Zach Sise # 9
16. Colton Proffitt # 617
17. Brett Wyatt # 17
18. Chris Chandler # 8
19. Tyler Collins # 11
20. Greg Martin # 24
21. Jesse Lowe # 5j
22. Brandon Miller # 89
23. Terry Poore # 2
24. Michael Bland # 2
DID NOT QUALIFY: Matt Glanden (01), Anthony White (2x), Mike
Smith (4), Josh Fields (11), Chris Raines (11), Shon Flanary (31),
Tyler Smith (32), William Blankenship (32), Shannon Emery (52),
Aaron Guinn (97)
The sportsman late model feature may have been the last race
of the night. But they provided the best show for the fans that
stayed to the end.
Brad Seagle was fastest in qualifying. But it was Tyler Price
that grabbed the lead at the wave of the green. Jake Whitehead
and Jed Emert eventually made their way past Seagle. Price looked
to be in control until slower traffic became a factor. Whitehead
moved into the lead, then Emert took second from Price a lap later.
Good friends on the track, Whitehead and Emert put on an intense
battle for the lead as the made their way through slower cars.
Emert dove under Whitehead on lap 24 until they touched wheels
and sent Emert spinning in turn 4. On the restart, Seagle and
Adam Mitchell got by Price. Whitehead would take his first sportsman
late model win at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Emert rallied to finish
second and claim the 2020 track championship. Seagle held on for
third.
SPORTSMAN LATE MODELS
1. Jake Whitehead # 116
2. Jed Emert # 98 * 2020 points champion *
3. Brad Seagle # 31
4. Adam Mitchell # 50
5. Austin Atkins # 14
6. Tyler Price # 7
7. Kip Sawyer # 44
8. Buster Moss # 23
9. Chris Johnston # C9
10. Warren McMahan # 22
11. Cody Gloyne # 32
12. Aaron Jones # 7
13. Chandler Hickman # 6c
14. Bryan Cooper # 15
15. Jason Wyres # 18
16. Joe Bray # 76
17. Mason Bare # 24
DID NOT START: Derek Blair (28)
