5.23.20 Southern All Star Late Models Results
SUMMERTOWN, TN—The Southen All Stars finally made it to the track after 83 days and Victory Lane had a familiar face back in it. Dale McDowell from Chickamauga, GA is has been perfect in the season opener March Madness in Cherokee Speedway in Gafnee, SC and now at Thunderhill Raceway Park’s Whooping the WuHan Flu 50.
In both events Dale has set fast time led all laps.
In Victory Lane Dale paid honor to two Southern All Star employees B. J. Parker and Lynn Acklin. Parker was the series founder in 1983 and passed away in 2011. Acklin was the long time series director and passed away this past March. He also had shout out to all the fans that were in attendance. “I came up to watch the B-mains and could not find a seat. It was good to reminisce and took me back when I went to the races as a kid.”
The battle for second was contested several times during the 50 lap feature as outside front row starter Scott James on lap 7 had mechanical problems that ended his night. For the next 43 laps Jason Hiett and Tyler Millwood exchanged the position with Hiett bringing 2nd home. Donald McIntosh wound up with a solid 4th place finish. Rookie of the Year leader Sam Seawright had a very impressive 5th place finish as him, Hiett and Millwood all were making the first trip to the high bank oval.
Rounding out the top ten was sprinkled with a couple of former Southern All Stars Champions. 6th went to Chad Thrash, 2018 champ Jay Scott 7th, 4 time champion Riley Hickman 8th , Caleb Ashby 9th and local track favorite Eric Hickerson rounding out the top 10.
RACE TIDBITS: Drivers from 6 state were represented in the 35 cars signed in at the All Stars Trailers. Many of the drivers had never been to Thunderhill. The states of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio were in attendance.
Statesboro, GA driver Jim Rogers was in attendance at the track. Jim finished in the top 5 in points in the 2017 and says he plans on joining the series for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Several drivers have made some adjustments to their schedules planned at the first of the year to run more All Star events in the 2020 season.
After watching Jason Hiett and Tyler Millwood and Sam Seawright take on the high banks, you would have been hard pressed to believe all 3 had never beem to this track.
Car Count: 35
SUNOCO RACE FUELS GROUP QUALIFYING:
Group A: Dale McDowell 12.402
Group B: Scott James 12.758
Knowles Race Parts Fast Qualifier: Dale McDowell
PPM Race Products B Mains:
Race 1. Josh Putnam
Race 2. Riley Hickman
Race 3. Eric Hickerson
AR Bodies Last Car Lead Lap: RILEY HICKMAN
COR Suspensions 10th Place Finisher: Eric Hickerson
36 Racing & Fabrication Hard Charger: Dane Dacus
BrakeOMeter 4th Place Finisher Award: Donald McIntosh
Rugged Radios Communications Award: Sam Seawright
Results Pending Tire Test: 1. Dale McDowell 2. Jason Hiett 3. Tyler Millwood 4. Donald McIntosh 5. Sam Seawright 6. Chad Thrash 7. Jay Scott 8. Riley Hickman 9. Caleb Ashley 10. Eric Hickerson 11. Dane Dacus .12. Billy Franklin 13. Bob Gardner 14. Josh Putnam 15. Dewayne Keifer 16. Scott Cook 17. Forrest Trent 18. Rodney Melvin 19. Mark Dodson 20. Tommy Taylor 21. Jim Rogers 22. Jake Knowles 23. Greg Love 24. David Siebers 25. Scott James
DNS: Travis Smith, Richard Smith, Larry Greer, Farrell, SkeltonBen, Bracato, , Oakley Johns, Brayton Laster, Steven Holcomb, Chris Harris