Carson Ferguson Stretches Current Spring Nationals Point Lead by Conquering Crossville

(CROSSVILLE, TENNESSEE)  Current Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals point leader Carson Ferguson broke through in a big way on Friday night by picking up his first career series victory in a wild contest at Crossville Speedway!  Carson stopped the clock third fastest during FK Rod Ends time trials at the Crossville, Tennessee oval to earn the inside of the second row for the start of the 40-lap headliner.  After racing hard all over the top five for the first half of the distance, the Lincolnton, North Carolina ace turned up the wick on the competition and eventually muscled past leader Josh Putnam to nab the point with a slidejob on lap 31.  Carson then led the remaining circuits to claim the $4,053 top prize, which also stretched his series point lead to sixteen markers over Cla Knight.

Fast qualifier Josh Putnam, who started from the pole position and led laps 10-30 of the feature, came home in the runner-up position.  Payton Freeman experienced mechanical trouble during qualifying and did not record an official time, but stormed from the back of the field in the 40-lapper to round out the podium in third.  Last night’s winner Garrett Smith vaulted to as high as second in the running order, but had to survive a melee with Cory Hedgecock on lap 22 to finish in the fourth spot.  Kyle Beard was able to quietly move past six competitors during the course of the race to place fifth in the final rundown of the action-packed show.

A total of five caution flags halted the action tonight at the Volunteer State oval.  Illinois standout Brian Shirley slowed with mechanical woes on the first circuit to trigger an early yellow.  Outside polesitter Dakotah Knuckles, who led the first nine circuits, went for a spin while negotiating lapped traffic on lap 10.  Series regular Cla Knight then suffered a flat right rear tire on lap 17.  The fourth yellow flag was attributed to Austin Neely, who went for a spin on the backstretch in the midst of the Hedgecock/Smith melee on lap 22.  A final caution flag then waved on lap 37 when Kyle Beard and Christian Hanger were briefly hung up together, but quickly untangled.

“Man I’m tickled,” Ferguson said in Crossville Speedway victory lane in an interview conducted by series announcer Cody Earley.  “I usually like the track slow and slick, but it was pretty hammer down out there tonight.  I’ve got to thank all of my crew guys, my girlfriend, and my dad.  I didn’t know what tire to put on and we talked to Mr. Randy Weaver and he guided us in the right direction.  I really want to thank him for that.  Me and Josh (Putnam) ran good there for awhile and as you can probably tell, I’ve never thrown a slider in my life.  But I made it work and did it when it counted!”

Carson Ferguson piloted a Longhorn Chassis by Wesley Page, which was powered by a Cornett Racing Engine.  Sponsorship on his Paylor Motorsports #93 machine comes in part from WP Racing Shocks, Hoopaugh Grading Company, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, New Point Lighting & Design, Night Owl National Contractors, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Superior Trailer, Dunwellz Custom Kitchen, Live Oak Family Dentistry, and Pro Fabrication.

A field of 21 competitors signed into the pit area at Crossville Speedway for round six of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series.  Florence, Alabama native Josh Putnam earned Fast Time honors during FK Rod Ends qualifying with his quick lap of 11.977 seconds.  The feature was lined up solely from the time trial session and all entrants were eligible to start the contest, but three drivers were unable to cross underneath the green flag at the initial start of the race.  Both Clay Coghlan and Kenny Cobble scratched from the event, while Dakota Smith pulled his racecar into the infield during the parade laps.

The third and final shootout of the weekend for the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series will take place on Saturday, April 23 at Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, Tennessee and a $10,053 payday will be on the line for the ground-pounding Super Late Models.  The tour made their debut at Clarksville last year and Tanner English walked away with the five-figure windfall ahead of a top five that included runner-up Jadon Frame, Donald McIntosh, Dale McDowell, and David Seibers.  More information about tomorrow’s program at Clarksville can be found online at www.ClarksvilleSpeedway.com. 

Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels
Round 6 Race Summary
Friday, April 22, 2022
Crossville Speedway - Crossville, Tennessee

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (3) Carson Ferguson $4,053
2. (1) Josh Putnam $2,000
3. (21) Payton Freeman $1,400
4. (4) Garrett Smith $1,000
5. (11) Kyle Beard $800
6. (9) Christian Hanger $700
7. (8) Cla Knight $600
8. (14) Joe Denby $550 
9. (15) Drew Kennedy $525
10. (7) Heath Hindman $500
11. (2) Dakotah Knuckles $480
12. (5) Cory Hedgecock $470
13. (6) Austin Neely $460
14. (18) Jadon Frame $450
15. (17) Steve Smith $440
16. (10) Brandon Williams $430
17. (12) Cameron Weaver $420
18. (20) Brian Shirley $410
19. (19) Dakota Smith $400
DNS. (13) Clay Coghlan Scratch
DNS. (16) Kenny Cobble Scratch

Entries:  21
Lap Leaders:  Dakotah Knuckles (Laps 1-9), Josh Putnam (Laps 10-30), Carson Ferguson (Laps 31-40)
Cautions:  5 (Brian Shirley Slows on First Lap, Dakotah Knuckles Spins in Lapped Traffic on Lap 10, Cla Knight Suffers Flat Right Rear Tire on Lap 17, Austin Neely Spins in Midst of Hedgecock/Smith Melee on Lap 22, Kyle Beard and Christian Hanger Hung Together Briefly on Lap 37)

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall:  Josh Putnam 11.977
1. Josh Putnam, 2. Dakotah Knuckles, 3. Carson Ferguson, 4. Garrett Smith, 5. Cory Hedgecock, 6. Austin Neely, 7. Heath Hindman, 8. Cla Knight, 9. Christian Hanger, 10. Brandon Williams, 11. Kyle Beard, 12. Cameron Weaver, 13. Clay Coghlan, 14. Joe Denby, 15. Drew Kennedy, 16. Kenny Cobble, 17. Steve Smith, 18. Jadon Frame, 19. Dakota Smith, 20. Brian Shirley, 21. Payton Freeman

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Carson Ferguson - 1102
2. Cla Knight - 1086
3. Payton Freeman - 1084
4. Jensen Ford - 868
5. Brandon Overton - 570
6. Jamie Oliver - 528
7. Heath Hindman - 528
8. Chris Madden - 522
9. Brandon Williams - 496
10. Garrett Smith - 392
11. Michael Page - 388
12. Mark Whitener - 388
13. Dale McDowell - 384
14. Jonathan Davenport - 380
15. Josh Putnam - 378