5.28.17 Spring Nationals Late Models Results
ROME, GA – May 28, 2017 – The Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuel and Tennessee RV would conclude its 2017 campaign and crown a series champion at Rome Speedway on Sunday evening with Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA scoring the $6,000 payday in the tour’s finale, while Brandon Overton of Evans, GA would claim the 2017 Spring Nationals Series title.
McDowell’s victory would be his second-consecutive win on the tour and would come behind the wheel of the Shane McDowell Racing owned Textron Off Road/Will Kinzer Foundation for Autism Research/Kinzer Drilling Company/Quality Natural Gas/New Era Recycling Solutions/Cometic Gaskets/Klotz Lubricants sponsored #17m Sweet-Bloomquist Race Car, Clements Race Engine powered entry.
Donald McIntosh would take the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the fifty lap affair, with Dale McDowell, Derek Ellis, Brandon Overton, and Ricky Weiss in pursuit. Buster Goss would stop on the topside of turn four on lap three to slow the action, but once action resumed, Weiss would take the fourth position from Overton, but Overton would return the favor and retake the position one circuit later. McIntosh would hold a comfortable as he was set to start working slower traffic on lap ten, but the caution would wave on the same lap as Buddy George stopped on the track in turn three. The restart would again McIntosh maintain the lead, with McDowell giving chase, while Overton would pressure Ellis for third. Overton would take the third position from Ellis on lap thirteen, while McIntosh continued strong up front. McIntosh would start working slower traffic on lap twenty and it would be at this point that McDowell would begin to chop away at McIntosh’s lead.
As the halfway signal was displayed, McDowell would close right in on McIntosh’s rear bumper and the pair would duel side-by-side for the lead on lap thirty, with McDowell taking the lead one trip later on lap thirty-one. McDowell would stretch his lead at this point, only to see his advantage erased by a caution flag on lap thirty-seven for Todd Murphy’s stopped machine in turn three. Overton was challenging McIntosh for the second position prior to the caution and on the restart, would take the runner-up slot, with Weiss scooting past Ellis for the fourth position on same lap. McDowell would hold a comfortable lead until encountering heavy traffic on lap forty-six, allowing Overton to close in on the leader. As the field saw the white flag, Overton would make one final run on McDowell for the win, however, McDowell would see the checkered flag first, with Overton trailing in second, and McIntosh settling for the third position. Weiss and Ellis would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers were Austin Horton, fourteenth place starter Brandon Kinzer, Ronnie Johnson, Jason Croft, and Brent Dixon.
The next event for the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals family of series will be for the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Bonus Spring Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuel and Tennessee RV at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC on Monday May 29 for the Memorial Day Championship, paying $3,000 to win.
Further information on the Spring Nationals, Southern Nationals, and Southern Nationals Bonus Series can be obtained by calling Promoter Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353 or Series P.R. Coordinator Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or by visiting the official website located at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.
Official Summary of Results
Feature Results for Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals at Rome Speedway in Rome, GA on May 28, 2017
1. Dale McDowell-Chickamauga, Ga.
2. Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.
3. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
4. Ricky Weiss-Headingly, Manitoba, Canada
5. Derek Ellis-Chatsworth, Ga.
6. Austin Horton-Whitesburg, Ga.
7. Brandon Kinzer-Lexington, Ky.
8. Ronnie Johnson-Chattanooga, Tenn.
9. Jason Croft-Woodstock, Ga.
10. Brent Dixon-Elberton, Ga.
11. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
12. Steven Roberts-Jesup, Ga.
13. Cody King-McDonough, Ga.
14. Landon Bagby-Winston, Ga.
15. Tyler Millwood-Kingston, Ga.
16. Robby Moses-Maryville, Tenn.
17. Shanon Buckingham-Morristown, Tenn.
18. Todd Murphy-Rome, Ga.
19. Jake Knowles-Rome, Ga.
20. Buddy George-Ragland, Ala.
21. Buster Goss-Rome, Ga.
Time of Race: 23 minutes, 38 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.487 seconds
Yellow Flags: 3 (lap 3, 10, 37)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Donald McIntosh (1-30), Dale McDowell (31-50)
Entries: 21
Overall Top Qualifier: Donald McIntosh (Group A) 13.415 seconds
Keyser Manufacturing 11th Place Award: Michael Chilton
Highest Finishing CT525 Engine ($200): Landon Bagby
Highest Finishing Steel/SPEC Engine ($200): None
Provisional Starters: None
Heat One Finish (10 laps/all transfer)- Ricky Weiss, Austin Horton, Jason Croft, Ronnie Johnson, Steven Roberts, Robby Moses, Buddy George, Cody King, Todd Murphy
Heat Two Finish (10 laps/all transfer)- Shanon Buchingham, Michael Chilton, Brent Dixon, Tyler Millwood, Brandon Kinzer, Jake Knowles, Landon Bagby, Buster Goss
Final 2017 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Points
1. Brandon Overton (Evans, GA)- 1,730
2. Donald McIntosh (Dawsonville, GA)- 1,716
3. Ricky Weiss (Headingly, Manitoba, Canada)- 1,636
4. Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)- 1,630
5. Shanon Buckingham (Morristown, TN)- 1,622
6. Robby Moses (Maryville, TN)- 1,403
7. Jason Croft (Woodstock, GA)- 1,398
8. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA)- 984
9. Michael Page (Douglasville, GA)- 918
10. Austin Horton (Whitesburg, GA)- 898