FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knowles Takes Point Lead with Thrilling Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Win at Tri-County Race Track

By Michael Despain

BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA (July 23, 2019)– The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels would return to action at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC on Tuesday evening and second-generation racer Jake Knowles of Rome, GA would win a thrilling battle with Kenny Collins in the late stages of the event to claim the $3,500 payday. Knowles win made him the fifth different winner in six series so far in 2019.

The win for Knowles would be his first career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels victory and would make him the 40th different driver in tour history to visit victory lane. Knowles winning entry carries sponsorship from Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Buster Goss Body Shop, Coosa Heating and Cooling, Josh Roberts Trucking, Curbow Logging, Martin’s Wrecker Service, AG Golf Ranch, Knowles Trucking, JW Motorsports, Cruise with the Champions sponsored #66 Longhorn Chassis.

Jake Knowles would take the lead at the start of the event, trailed by Kenny Collins, Tanner English, Brandon Overton, and David Payne. Overton would drive past English on lap two for the third position, but disaster would strike Overton two laps later when he pulled his machine to the infield with a broken quick-change rear-end gear. The only caution of the event would wave on lap six when Kip Cochran would make contact with the outside guardrail on the backchute. Back underway, Knowles would maintain the top spot, followed by Collins and English, while Michael Chilton would take fourth from Payne on lap seven and Casey Roberts would take the fifth position on lap nine. Knowles would start the process of working slower traffic on lap twelve and would hold a comfortable advantage with twenty laps complete. Knowles would catch some more traffic at this point and Collins would close in on Knowles to challenge for the lead and by lap twenty-five, Knowles and Collins would begin to battle for the race lead and the pair would go back and forth, with Collins momentarily taking the lead after a slidejob pass of Knowles in turn four on lap thirty, but Knowles would reclaim the lead as the pair crossed the start/finish line. The final five circuits would see the duo continue to battle side-by-side around the track, but Knowles would use the top groove of the track to perfection in the final laps to claim the victory, with Collins settling for the second position. Chilton would finish in the third position, with Roberts and Tanner English completing the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Payne, Donald McIntosh, Shawn Chastain, Kurt English, and Jamie Oliver.    

The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels next event will be Thursday July 25 at Crossville Speedway in Crossville, TN, paying $3,500 to win.  

Further information about the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels can be obtained by calling Promoter Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353 or Public Relations Director Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or (606) 219-1723 or by visiting the official series website located at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.

The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners: Schaeffer’s Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, GottaRace.com, American Racer Tires, AR Bodies, Arizona Sport Shirts, Barry Wright Race Cars, Capital Race Cars, Chizmark and Larson Insurance Agency, Collins Signs, DirtonDirt.com, Delph Communications, DirtCarLift.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, EZ-GO, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keyser Manufacturing, MasterSbilt Race Cars, RockAuto.com, Wiles Driveshafts, Vic Hill Race Engines, and VP Racing Fuels. 

Official Summary of Results

Feature Results for Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC on July 23, 2019
1. Jake Knowles-Rome, Ga.
2. Kenny Collins-Colbert, Ga.
3. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
4. Casey Roberts-Toccoa, Ga.
5. Tanner English-Benton, Ky.
6. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
7. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
8. Shawn Chastain-Murphy, N.C.
9. Kurt English-Murphy, N.C.
10. Jamie Oliver-Murphy, N.C.
11. Tyler Clem-Ocala, Fla.
12. Jacob Anderson-Murphy, N.C.
13. Levi Hicks-Murphy, N.C.
14. Cody King-McDonough, Ga.
15. Cla Knight-North Augusta, S.C.
16. Rusty Jordan-Cannon, Ga.
17. Craig Greer-Cleveland, Tenn.
18. Hot Rod Lamance-Six Mile, S.C.
19. Kip Cochran-Franklin, N.C.
20. Danny Ledford-Warren, N.C.
21. Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.
22. Glenn Barnett-Murphy, N.C.

Time of Race: 13 minutes, 2 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.374 seconds
Yellow Flags: One (lap 6)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Jake Knowles 1-35
Entries: 22
Overall Top Qualifier: Kenny Collins (Group A) 12.953 seconds
Highest Finishing CT525 Engine ($200): None
Highest Finishing Steel Head/SPEC Engine ($200): None
Provisional Starters: None

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Points (after 7/23/19)
1. Jake Knowles-1,146
2. Brandon Overton-1,114
3. Donald McIntosh-1,106
4. Tanner English-1,088
5. Cla Knight-1,066
6. Michael Page-720
7. Aaron Ridley-654
8. Tyler Clem-579
9. Ross Bailes-544
10. Dennis Franklin-542
10. Casey Roberts-542

2019 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Schedule/Results
July 13-Wythe Raceway-Rural Retreat, VA-$10,000 to win-Brandon Overton
July 14-Cherokee Speedway-Gaffney, SC-$10,000 to win-Trent Ivey
July 16-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-$3,500 to win-Brandon Overton
July 18-Toccoa Raceway-Toccoa, GA-$3,500 to win-Rainout
July 19-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA-$5,025 to win-Rainout
July 20-Screven Motor Speedway-Sylvania, GA-$10,000 to win-Ross Bailes
July 21-Rome Speedway-Rome, GA-$5,300 to win-Austin Horton
July 23-Tri County Race Track-Brasstown, NC-$3,500 to win-Jake Knowles
July 25-Crossville Speedway-Crossville, TN-$3,500 to win
July 26-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-10,000 to win
July 27-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$10,053 to win