Zack Mitchell Powers Past McIntosh At Toccoa To Win Second-Straight Southern Nationals Event
Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – TOCCOA, GA – It didn’t take long for Zack Mitchell to become a two-time Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco winner.
Three days exactly.
Following his dominating performance in the ‘Rebel Yell’ on Saturday night at Screven (GA) Motor Speedway to capture his first career series triumph, Zack backed it up on Tuesday evening at the historic Toccoa Raceway. The Enoree, South Carolina ace timed in second quickest in Group B during the qualifying session to lock himself into the outside of the second row for the start of the 40-lap main event.
Utilizing the outside groove of the Toccoa, Georgia oval, Zack took advantage of a pair of mid-race restarts to advance from fourth to the lead. He powered past racelong leader Donald McIntosh on a lap 25 restart and never looked back en route to capturing the $7,553 winner’s spoils. Fast timer and polesitter McIntosh, who paced the field for the first 24 circuits, finished in the runner-up spot – 1.106 seconds behind Mitchell. Kenny Collins hung around the front all night and rounded out the podium in third. David McCoy, who has a lot of laps around Toccoa, enjoyed his best run on tour this year with his fourth place effort, while series point leader Jimmy Owens started and finished in the fifth position.
“Man I kind of found something (on the outside line) passing one of them lapped cars,” Mitchell said in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “You know I got in there and got up top and man it gripped-up. Then we had that restart and I was like ‘please let me go on the outside’ and you know I got around Sam (Seawright) and Kenny (Collins) also. I knew right then I might have something for (McIntosh) if I could line up there on that second row.”
Zack Mitchell’s potent #57 Longhorn Chassis was powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carried sponsorship – in part – from Eubanks Oil, Clary Hood, Inc., SoCar Chemical, Charles West Grading, Rolling Pines Lawn & Landscaping, Hoosier Tire, Fox Racing Shocks, and DirtCarLift.
At Toccoa Raceway on Tuesday, 23 competitors signed into the pit area to do battle in round five of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series. Carson Ferguson topped the field in Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Hot Laps with his fast lap of 12.111 seconds, while Donald McIntosh laid down a quick lap of 11.877 seconds during Group A/B qualifying to earn Fast Time honors. Canadian Ricky Weiss and Joey Tanner, who hails from Portland, Oregon, won the pair of B-Mains.
A total of four caution flags slowed the action tonight at Toccoa Raceway. Joey Tanner slowed on the racetrack on lap 8 to draw the first yellow of the evening. Brenden Smith then spun on lap 23 prior to top five running Sam Seawright slowing with a flat left rear tire on lap 24. David Payne then stopped with left front issues on lap 37 to draw the final caution flag, which set up a three lap dash to the checkers.
Following their final day off on Wednesday, the cars and stars racing with the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series will invade Ray Cook’s Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, North Carolina on Thursday night, July 27. Benji Cole (’05), Casey Roberts (’06), Chris Madden (’07), Casey Roberts (’15), Shanon Buckingham (’16), Brandon Overton (’17), Jake Knowles (’19), Chris Madden (’20), Kenny Collins (’21), and David Payne (’22) have collected series wins at the “Tiger Pit” throughout the years. A $7,553 winner’s check will be up for grabs in what will be the sixth round of the 2023 tour.
Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 5 Race Summary
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Toccoa Raceway – Toccoa, Georgia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (4) Zack Mitchell $7,553
2. (1) Donald McIntosh $3,500
3. (2) Kenny Collins $2,000
4. (7) David McCoy $1,500
5. (5) Jimmy Owens $1,200
6. (11) Ricky Weiss $900
7. (8) Carson Ferguson $700
8. (14) Tyler Clem $650
9. (15) Brent Dixon $600
10. (13) Jordan Koehler $575
11. (10) Cla Knight $550
12. (17) Mitch Fulford $540
13. (21) Mike Benedum $530
14. (19) Ty Giles $520
15. (16) Drew Benfield $510
16. (6) David Payne $500
17. (3) Sam Seawright $500
18. (18) Brenden Smith $500
19. (20) Gavin Cowan $500
20. (9) Payton Freeman $500
21. (12) Joey Tanner $500
22. (22) John Llewellyn $500
23. (23) Mark Wilbanks DNS
Entries: 23
Lap Leaders: Donald McIntosh (Laps 1-24), Zack Mitchell (Laps 25-40)
Cautions: 4 (Joey Tanner Slowed on Lap 8, Brenden Smith Spun on Lap 23, Sam Seawright Slowed with Flat Tire on Lap 24, David Payne Stopped on Lap 37)
Hot Laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award: Carson Ferguson 12.111
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Donald McIntosh 11.877
Qualifying – Group A (Top Five Locked In): 1. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:11.877[3]; 2. 16-Sam Seawright, 00:11.885[4]; 3. 20-Jimmy Owens, 00:11.941[11]; 4. 187-David McCoy, 00:11.960[10]; 5. F1-Payton Freeman, 00:11.961[12]; 6. 114-Jordan Koehler, 00:11.990[8]; 7. 7-Ricky Weiss, 00:12.080[7]; 8. 1D-Brent Dixon, 00:12.332[5]; 9. 15-Mitch Fulford, 00:12.522[9]; 10. 10-Ty Giles, 00:12.527[1]; 11. 6-Mark Wilbanks, 00:13.949[2]; 12. 25-Mike Benedum[6]
Qualifying – Group B (Top Five Locked In): 1. 1C-Kenny Collins, 00:11.923[2]; 2. 57-Zack Mitchell, 00:12.043[5]; 3. 8-David Payne, 00:12.065[3]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson, 00:12.125[7]; 5. 42K-Cla Knight, 00:12.136[11]; 6. 2-John Llewellyn, 00:12.220[4]; 7. 58-Tyler Clem, 00:12.300[1]; 8. 46-Joey Tanner, 00:12.369[10]; 9. 371-Drew Benfield, 00:12.478[8]; 10. 19-Gavin Cowan, 00:12.485[9]; 11. 17SS-Brenden Smith, 00:12.841[6]
Sunoco Race Fuels B-Main #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 7-Ricky Weiss[2]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[1]; 3. 1D-Brent Dixon[3]; 4. 15-Mitch Fulford[4]; 5. 10-Ty Giles[5]; 6. 25-Mike Benedum[7]; 7. 6-Mark Wilbanks[6]
American Racer South B-Main #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 46-Joey Tanner[3]; 2. 58-Tyler Clem[2]; 3. 371-Drew Benfield[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[6]; 5. 19-Gavin Cowan[5]; 6. 2-John Llewellyn[1]
