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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 16, 2023

Dale McDowell Wires Wythe Raceway Field for 11th Career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Victory

(RURAL RETREAT, VIRGINIA) Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Dale McDowell and his Shane McDowell Racing (SMR) team were brimming with confidence and had high expectations coming into Sunday’s Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series contest at Wythe Raceway and with very good reason. Heading into the daytime affair, Dale had recorded three of his ten career series victories at the sprawling Rural Retreat, Virginia speedplant. Now you can make that four Wythe wins following a dominating performance today in front of a nice hillside crowd.

Dale, who timed in second fastest overall during FK Rod Ends qualifying, won his heat race in preliminary action and later started the 53-lap main event from the outside of the front row. The popular driver known as the “MacDaddy” then led each and every circuit of the race to pick up the $10,053 top prize. Finishing behind winner McDowell at the checkers was Spring Nationals Champion Carson Ferguson, new series point leader Chris Ferguson, polesitter Ross Bailes, and ninth-starting Donald McIntosh.

“Yeah the car was good - Shane and Landon got everything working, so it makes my job easier,” exclaimed McDowell in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “And it needs to be because I’m out of breath. I’ve actually had good luck here (at Wythe), so you’ve got high expectations when you come, but it doesn’t make it any easier. The competition level is unbelievable and I’m just glad to be a part of it!”

Dale McDowell, who now has eleven career Southern Nationals Series triumphs on his illustrious resume, drove a Shane McDowell Racing Team Zero racecar with a Clements Racing Engine under the hood. Sponsorship on his familiar #17m comes in part from E-Z-GO, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Connected Strategy Advisors, Northeastern Fabrication, S&H Systems, Fox Racing Shox, Campbell Insulation Specialists, and Shackleford Enterprises.

A total of 23 Super Late Model competitors signed into Wythe Raceway today for the second leg of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series grind. Only 22 cars started the headliner; however, as series regular Kenny Collins scratched from the program early with an engine issue. Canadian invader Ricky Weiss claimed the Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro "Smashing the Clock" Award with his quick time of 16.752 seconds during hot laps. Ross Bailes, who was making his first start in a Nichols Plumbing #5 Barry Wright racecar, then earned Fast Time honors in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his fast lap of 17.011 seconds.

Bailes, McDowell, and Carson Ferguson won the three heat races, which set the lineup for the 53-lap feature. A total of 14 of the 22 starters were around at the finish of the event, while 10 of them were on the lead lap. Only two cautions slowed the action, as Jordan Koehler spun in turn four on lap 16 to draw the first yellow and Cody Overton slowed with mechanical trouble on lap 47 to bring out the final caution flag.

The competitors racing with the Schaffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series will enjoy an off-day on Monday before returning to action on Tuesday, July 18 at I-75 Raceway near Sweetwater, Tennessee. Round three of the miniseries will shell out a $7,553 payday on Tuesday evening in the Volunteer State. It will mark the fourth visit by the series to I-75 Raceway, as Cory Hedgecock ('20), Dale McDowell ('21), and Cory Hedgecock ('22) have taken home the previous checkered flags. Additional information can be found online by visiting www.i75raceway.com.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 2 Race Summary
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Wythe Raceway - Rural Retreat, Virginia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (2) Dale McDowell $10,053
2. (3) Carson Ferguson $5,000
3. (5) Chris Ferguson $3,000
4. (1) Ross Bailes $2,000
5. (9) Donald McIntosh $1,500
6. (11) Logan Roberson $1,000
7. (10) Ricky Weiss $800
8. (4) Jensen Ford $700
9. (6) Jimmy Owens $675
10. (16) Mike Benedum $650
11. (12) Tyler Clem $625
12. (14) Will Roland $600
13. (18) Jordan Koehler $575
14. (15) Haiden Cowan $550
15. (8) Cory Hedgecock $525
16. (13) Cody Overton $500
17. (7) David McCoy $500
18. (17) Austin Neely $500
19. (20) Brenden Smith $500
20. (21) Kevin Wilson $500
21. (22) Chris Chandler $500
22. (19) John Llewellyn $500
23. (DNS) Kenny Collins

Entries: 23
Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1-53)
Cautions: 2 (Jordan Koehler Spun on Lap 16, Cody Overton Slowed on Lap 47)

Hot Laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro "Smashing the Clock" Award: Ricky Weiss 16.752

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Ross Bailes 17.011

1. 5-Ross Bailes, 00:17.011[19]; 2. 17M-Dale McDowell, 00:17.017[18]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson, 00:17.046[10]; 4. 83-Jensen Ford, 00:17.091[13]; 5. 22F-Chris Ferguson, 00:17.119[17]; 6. 20-Jimmy Owens, 00:17.201[21]; 7. 187-David McCoy, 00:17.206[11]; 8. 89-Logan Roberson, 00:17.222[22]; 9. 214-Haiden Cowan, 00:17.340[7]; 10. 7-Ricky Weiss, 00:17.355[6]; 11. 23-Cory Hedgecock, 00:17.372[16]; 12. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:17.403[3]; 13. 15K-Cody Overton, 00:17.416[1]; 14. 3-Austin Neely, 00:17.481[12]; 15. 58-Tyler Clem, 00:17.589[23]; 16. 90-John Llewellyn, 00:17.610[15]; 17. 22-Will Roland, 00:17.763[5]; 18. 114-Jordan Koehler, 00:17.764[8]; 19. 25-Mike Benedum, 00:17.781[9]; 20. 618-Kevin Wilson, 00:18.353[14]; 21. 8-Chris Chandler[4]; 22. 1C-Kenny Collins[20]; 23. (DQ) 17SS-Brenden Smith[2]

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 5-Ross Bailes[1]; 2. 83-Jensen Ford[2]; 3. 187-David McCoy[3]; 4. 7-Ricky Weiss[4]; 5. 15K-Cody Overton[5]; 6. 25-Mike Benedum[7]; 7. 90-John Llewellyn[6]; 8. (DNS) 1C-Kenny Collins

American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 2. 22F-Chris Ferguson[2]; 3. 23-Cory Hedgecock[4]; 4. 89-Logan Roberson[3]; 5. 22-Will Roland[6]; 6. 3-Austin Neely[5]; 7. 17SS-Brenden Smith[8]; 8. 618-Kevin Wilson[7]

E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 20-Jimmy Owens[2]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 4. 58-Tyler Clem[5]; 5. 214-Haiden Cowan[3]; 6. 114-Jordan Koehler[6]; 7. (DNS) 8-Chris Chandler

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Chris Ferguson - 384
2. Jimmy Owens - 382
3. Logan Roberson - 374
3. Carson Ferguson - 374
5. Ricky Weiss - 370
6. Donald McIntosh - 364
7. Will Roland - 358
8. Mike Benedum - 352
9. Cory Hedgecock - 350
10. Cody Overton - 344
10. Jordan Koehler - 344
12. Haiden Cowan - 336
13. Brenden Smith - 330
14. David McCoy - 326
15. John Llewellyn - 322

For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms on facebook.com/southernnationalsseries and on Twitter @sonationals.

The Southern Nationals Series would like to thank all of our marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Vidalia Powersports, Arizona Sport Shirts, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, and Wiles Driveshafts.

About Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants:
Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants: synthetic motor oils, hydraulic fluids, and diesel fuel additives have achieved a world-class reputation for improving engine performance and fuel economy, but their diverse product line includes all types of industrial lubricants, industrial greases, and industrial oils as well as specialty items like their chain lubes and degreasers. Founded in 1839, their philosophy is to provide advanced lubricants for improved performance, reliability, and fuel economy. Learn more or find a rep near you at www.SchaefferOil.com.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications

www.DelphCommunications.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 14, 2023

Jimmy Owens a Nightmare for Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Competitors in Beckley Win

(MOUNT HOPE, WEST VIRGINIA) At an early morning hour when most people in the Eastern Time Zone were fast asleep, Jimmy Owens was giving his competition a Nightmare by sweeping the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series lid lifter at Beckley Motor Speedway in Mount Hope, West Virginia! After a several hour rain delay pushed the start of the program to around 10:15pm local time, Jimmy not only laid down the quickest times in hot laps and qualifying, but he also emerged victorious in his heat race and the 53-lap headliner. The popular driver known as the “Newport Nightmare” was well in command for most of the early morning main event, but was forced to hold on late after a caution bunched up the field with a handful of circuits remaining in the contest.

Jimmy, who hails from Newport, Tennessee, repelled eighth starting Henry Hornsby III and beat the hometown Beckley driver to the checkered flag by 0.201 of a second to bag the $10,053 first place prize money. Hornsby came up just shy in pulling off the upset at his home track, but was awarded a $5,000 payday for his impressive runner-up performance. Kyle Hardy pitted from third for a new right rear tire on lap 27, but rallied back through the stout field to round out the podium. Tyler Carpenter improved eight positions to finish in the fourth spot, while Chris Ferguson hung around the top five throughout the distance to eventually land a fifth place effort.

“I want to thank all of these fans for sticking it out through all this rain and stuff,” commented Owens in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “It is such a late night and it’s great to see such a big crowd here. It is a tough field of cars - a bunch of great guys out there and they raced us clean. I was afraid that the bottom was going to come in there towards the end because the middle and the top just kept getting a little blacker. The 39 car was right there at the end of the race and I was expecting a big slider, but he ran me clean and I thank him for that!”

Jimmy Owens, who now has six career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series wins to his credit, piloted a Koehler Motorsports #20 XR1 Rocket Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine. Sponsorship on his ride comes in part from Reece Monument Company, Ultimate Towing & Recovery, Tim Short Auto Group, Capital Waste, Five Star Metal Buildings, Boomtest Well Service, Red Line Oil, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Sybesma Graphics, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Capital Electric TN.

A total of 32 Super Late Model competitors piled into the pit area at Beckley Motor Speedway tonight for the first round of Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series action. Jimmy Owens won the Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro "Smashing the Clock" Award with his quick lap of 12.931 seconds in hot laps and also picked up Fast Time honors during FK Rod Ends qualifying with a 13.173 circuit around the 3/8-mile dirt oval. The four heat races were captured by Carson Ferguson, Kyle Hardy, Owens, and Chris Ferguson, while the single B-Main was won by Jeff Smith. A series provisional based off last year's points was awarded to Will Roland and Haiden Cowan utilized a series emergency provisional to start shotgun on the feature field.

Most of the same competitors will make the trek to Wythe Raceway tomorrow for the second leg of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series. Another $10,053 top prize will be up for grabs on Saturday, July 15 at the picturesque Rural Retreat, Virginia speedplant. The series has been a fixture at Wythe since 2006 with Dennis Franklin ('06), Chris Madden ('07 & '08), Vic Hill ('09), Mother Nature ('10), Austin Dillon ('11), Vic Hill ('12), Chris Madden ('13), Jonathan Davenport ('14), Billy Ogle, Jr. ('15), Dale McDowell ('16), Vic Hill ('17), Dale McDowell ('18), Brandon Overton ('19 & '20), Mother Nature ('21), Dale McDowell ('22) taking home the victories. Additional information can be found online by clicking on www.WytheRaceway.com.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 1 Race Summary
Friday, July 14, 2023
Beckley Motor Speedway - Mount Hope, West Virginia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (2) Jimmy Owens $10,053
2. (8) Henry Hornsby III $5,000
3. (3) Kyle Hardy $3,000
4. (12) Tyler Carpenter $2,000
5. (4) Chris Ferguson $1,500
6. (13) Kenny Collins $1,000
7. (7) Logan Roberson $800
8. (5) Ricky Weiss $700
9. (22) Will Roland $675
10. (16) Cory Hedgecock $650
11. (1) Carson Ferguson $625
12. (9) Cody Overton $600
13. (18) Donald McIntosh $575
14. (10) Mike Benedum $550
15. (6) Jordan Koehler $525
16. (15) Brenden Smith $500
17. (19) John Llewellyn $500
18. (23) Haiden Cowan $75
19. (14) Payton Freeman $500
20. (21) David McCoy $500
21. (20) Chris Meadows $500
22. (11) Kaede Loudy $500
23. (17) Jeff Smith $500

Entries: 32
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1-53)
Cautions: 6

Hot Laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro "Smashing the Clock" Award: Jimmy Owens 12.931

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Jimmy Owens 13.173

Group A: 1. 93-Carson Ferguson, 00:13.210[11]; 2. 00H-Kyle Hardy, 00:13.290[3]; 3. 58-Tyler Clem, 00:13.317[7]; 4. 89-Logan Roberson, 00:13.383[13]; 5. 15K-Cody Overton, 00:13.451[6]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith, 00:13.470[12]; 7. 7-Ricky Weiss, 00:13.489[2]; 8. 126-Kaede Loudy, 00:13.521[10]; 9. 33-Chris Meadows, 00:13.523[14]; 10. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:13.530[4]; 11. 1C-Kenny Collins, 00:13.542[1]; 12. 214-Haiden Cowan, 00:13.586[8]; 13. 12W-Rick Williams, 00:13.695[9]; 14. 22-Will Roland, 00:13.895[15]; 15. 60H-Shane Greco, 00:14.514[16]; 16. 457-Kenny Rucker, 00:14.970[5]

Group B: 1. 20-Jimmy Owens, 00:13.173[5]; 2. 39-Henry Hornsby III, 00:13.292[3]; 3. 114-Jordan Koehler, 00:13.363[2]; 4. 22F-Chris Ferguson, 00:13.403[6]; 5. F1-Payton Freeman, 00:13.425[4]; 6. 28-Tyler Carpenter, 00:13.473[9]; 7. 25-Mike Benedum, 00:13.485[13]; 8. 23-Cory Hedgecock, 00:13.507[14]; 9. 70-Jeff Smith, 00:13.726[15]; 10. 90-John Llewellyn, 00:13.784[12]; 11. 187-David McCoy, 00:13.919[11]; 12. 1S-Rick Strattis, 00:16.216[1]; 13. 46-Joey Tanner, 00:46.595[16]; 14. (DNS) 83-Jensen Ford; 15. (DNS) 119-Bryan Bernheisel; 16. (DNS) 6T-Zack Dohm

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 7-Ricky Weiss[4]; 3. 15K-Cody Overton[3]; 4. 1C-Kenny Collins[6]; 5. 58-Tyler Clem[2]; 6. 33-Chris Meadows[5]; 7. 60H-Shane Greco[8]; 8. (DNS) 12W-Rick Williams

American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 00H-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 89-Logan Roberson[2]; 3. 126-Kaede Loudy[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 5. 79-Donald McIntosh[5]; 6. 214-Haiden Cowan[6]; 7. 22-Will Roland[7]; 8. 457-Kenny Rucker[8]

E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 20-Jimmy Owens[1]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[2]; 3. 25-Mike Benedum[4]; 4. F1-Payton Freeman[3]; 5. 70-Jeff Smith[5]; 6. 187-David McCoy[6]; 7. (DNS) 46-Joey Tanner; 8. (DNS) 119-Bryan Bernheisel

Delph Communications Heat Race #4 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 22F-Chris Ferguson[2]; 2. 39-Henry Hornsby III[1]; 3. 28-Tyler Carpenter[3]; 4. 23-Cory Hedgecock[4]; 5. 90-John Llewellyn[5]; 6. 1S-Rick Strattis[6]; 7. (DNS) 83-Jensen Ford[7]; 8. (DNS) 6T-Zack Dohm[8]

American Racer Tires B-Main #1 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. 70-Jeff Smith[2]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 3. 90-John Llewellyn[4]; 4. 33-Chris Meadows[5]; 5. 187-David McCoy[6]; 6. 22-Will Roland[10]; 7. 60H-Shane Greco[9]; 8. 214-Haiden Cowan[7]; 9. 1S-Rick Strattis[8]; 10. 58-Tyler Clem[1]; 11. (DNS) 457-Kenny Rucker; 12. (DNS) 119-Bryan Bernheisel; 13. (DNS) 83-Jensen Ford; 14. (DNS) 6T-Zack Dohm; 15. (DNS) 46-Joey Tanner; 16. (DNS) 12W-Rick Williams

Provisionals: Will Roland (Series Provisional), Haiden Cowan (Emergency Provisional)

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Jimmy Owens - 200
2. Henry Hornsby III - 196
3. Kyle Hardy - 194
4. Tyler Carpenter - 192
5. Chris Ferguson - 190
6. Kenny Collins - 188
7. Logan Roberson - 186
8. Ricky Weiss - 184
9. Will Roland - 182
10. Cory Hedgecock - 180
11. Carson Ferguson - 178
12. Cody Overton - 176
13. Donald McIntosh - 174
14. Mike Benedum - 172
15. Jordan Koehler - 170

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com