Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – MOUNT HOPE, WV – Seeking his second career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco Championship, Donald McIntosh got off to a hot start on Friday night in the miniseries opener at Beckley Motor Speedway.
The boxscore may read that Donald swept the evening by earning Fast Time honors in qualifying, winning his heat race, and emerging victorious in the 53-lap main event, but the Dawsonville, Georgia ace had to work for it and the action behind him was fast and furious.
Donald hounded early race leader Zack Dohm for the point before slipping past Dohm’s #17 machine to officially lead lap thirteen. A caution flag then quickly emerged for a spinning Shane Greco on the fourteenth circuit and McIntosh pulled away from the talented field on the restart. He then kept his Billy Hicks Racing #79 entry out front for the remainder of the ‘Black Gold 53’ to pocket the $10,053 first place prize money in front of the big Beckley crowd.
Chris Ferguson, of Mt. Holly, North Carolina, vaulted past a trio of racecars to finish in the runner-up position, while twelfth-starting Tyler Bare, of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, rounded out the podium in third. Youngster Gavin Cowan got into the wall during qualifying, but passed six cars during the B-Main to advance into the feature before blasting past sixteen more competitors to come home in the fourth spot. Outside polesitter Zack Dohm, who led the first twelve circuits, faded a bit as the race progressed and was officially placed fifth in the final finishing order.
“What an awesome racecar, this thing was such a pleasure to drive,” exclaimed the winning McIntosh in Schaeffer’s Oil Victory Lane. “I’ve got to thank Billy Hicks, the crew, and all of our great sponsors, but man that was fun. I hope we can keep it rolling. We’ve had a really good car lately; just needed some luck and we found it tonight!”
Donald McIntosh’s fifth career Southern Nationals Series triumph came aboard a Billy Hicks Racing #79 Double Nickel Race Car with sponsorship in part from H&H Auto Sales, Coltman Farms Racing, Clements Racing Engines, Bilstein Shocks, and Big A’s Custom Graphics.
There were a total of 26 Super Late Model drivers in the pit area tonight at Beckley Motor Speedway for the opening leg of the 12-race miniseries. Zack Dohm picked up the Spring Pro Precision Equipment Smashing the Clock Award in Hot Laps with his fast lap of 12.470 seconds, while Donald McIntosh tripped the clock fastest in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his quick time of 12.782 seconds. McIntosh, Dohm, and Chris Madden won their respective heat races, while Tim Vance reached the checkered flag first in the lone B-Main.
There were four DirtCarLift.com caution flags that slowed the heated racing action at the Mount Hope, West Virginia oval tonight, but none for serious incidents. Shane Greco spun on lap 14, Caleb Fulp went for a spin on lap 24, Matthew Nance slowed on lap 29, and Kenny Rucker stopped on the track after contact with second-running Chris Ferguson on lap 49. Five-time Southern Nationals Series Champion and all-time winningest driver Chris Madden retired under the lap 14 yellow flag and was relegated to a twenty-first place showing.
Round two of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco schedule will take competitors to the picturesque Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia on Saturday, July 13 for another $10,053 to win throwdown. Fred Brown’s facility has been a mainstay on the series slate and previous winners include Dennis Franklin (’06), Chris Madden (’07 & ’08), Vic Hill (’09), 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), and Dale McDowell (’22 & ’23).
Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 1 Race Summary
Friday, July 12, 2024
Beckley Motor Speedway – Mount Hope, West Virginia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (1) Donald McIntosh $10,053
2. (5) Chris Ferguson $5,000
3. (12) Tyler Bare $3,000
4. (20) Gavin Cowan $2,000
5. (2) Zack Dohm $1,500
6. (9) Kyle Hardy $1,000
7. (8) Jacob Hawkins $800
8. (15) Henry Hornsby III $700
9. (6) Benji Hicks $675
10. (21) Cory Hedgecock $650
11. (7) Wayne Hughes $625
12. (18) Stacy Boles $600
13. (19) Tim Vance $575
14. (16) Shane Bailey $550
15. (11) Mike Benedum $525
16. (22) Kenny Rucker $500
17. (13) Caleb Fulp $500
18. (10) Matthew Nance $500
19. (4) Chris Meadows $500
20. (17) Doug Sanders $500
21. (3) Chris Madden $500
22. (14) Shane Greco $500
Entries: 26
Lap Leaders: Zack Dohm (Laps 1-12), Donald McIntosh (Laps 13-53)
20th Anniversary Lap 20 Leader: Donald McIntosh ($200 Bonus)
DirtCarLift.com Caution Flags: 4
Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:
Smashing the Clock Award: Zack Dohm 12.470
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Donald McIntosh 12.782
Qualifying: 1: 1. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:12.782[15]; 2. 17D-Zack Dohm, 00:12.791[25]; 3. 44-Chris Madden, 00:12.816[24]; 4. 23-Cory Hedgecock, 00:12.818[4]; 5. 22-Chris Ferguson, 00:12.863[10]; 6. 55-Benji Hicks, 00:12.941[9]; 7. 4N-Matthew Nance, 00:12.957[26]; 8. 25-Mike Benedum, 00:13.043[2]; 9. 45-Kyle Hardy, 00:13.055[18]; 10. 33-Chris Meadows, 00:13.107[1]; 11. 37-Jacob Hawkins, 00:13.117[23]; 12. B8-Tyler Bare, 00:13.146[14]; 13. 12-Rick Williams, 00:13.183[16]; 14. 54K-Shane Greco, 00:13.199[5]; 15. 39-Henry Hornsby III, 00:13.252[22]; 16. 1H-Wayne Hughes, 00:13.294[11]; 17. 42-Doug Sanders, 00:13.317[12]; 18. 11B-Stacy Boles, 00:13.333[13]; 19. 4-Caleb Fulp, 00:13.403[3]; 20. 17-Tim Vance, 00:13.456[21]; 21. 6M-Freddy Mooney, 00:13.635[17]; 22. 1-Shane Bailey, 00:13.694[19]; 23. 8-Chris Chandler, 00:13.701[8]; 24. 64J-Jacob Wiblin, 00:14.071[6]; 25. 457-Kenny Rucker, 00:14.345[20]; 26. 219-Gavin Cowan, 01:39.763[7]
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 79-Donald McIntosh[1]; 2. 33-Chris Meadows[4]; 3. 1H-Wayne Hughes[6]; 4. 4N-Matthew Nance[3]; 5. 4-Caleb Fulp[7]; 6. 1-Shane Bailey[8]; 7. 457-Kenny Rucker[9]; 8. 23-Cory Hedgecock[2]; 9. 12-Rick Williams[5]
American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 17D-Zack Dohm[1]; 2. 22-Chris Ferguson[2]; 3. 37-Jacob Hawkins[4]; 4. 25-Mike Benedum[3]; 5. 54K-Shane Greco[5]; 6. 42-Doug Sanders[6]; 7. 17-Tim Vance[7]; 8. 8-Chris Chandler[8]; 9. (DNS) 219-Gavin Cowan
E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 55-Benji Hicks[2]; 3. 45-Kyle Hardy[3]; 4. B8-Tyler Bare[4]; 5. 39-Henry Hornsby III[5]; 6. 11B-Stacy Boles[6]; 7. 6M-Freddy Mooney[7]; 8. 64J-Jacob Wiblin[8]
Earnhardt Technologies Group B-Main Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 17-Tim Vance[2]; 2. 219-Gavin Cowan[8]; 3. 23-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 4. 457-Kenny Rucker[1]; 5. 12-Rick Williams[4]; 6. 8-Chris Chandler[5]; 7. 6M-Freddy Mooney[3]; 8. 64J-Jacob Wiblin[6]