By Chris Tilley – Southern Nationals Bonus Series
BRASSTOWN, NC (October 3, 2014)-Casey Roberts has been Mr. Domination at Tri-County Race Track during Southern Nationals Bonus Series races.
The Toccoa, Ga. driver took the lead away from Eric Jacobsen on the 14th lap and never looked back in route to his third-career Tarheel 50 on Friday Night October 3rd at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, N.C. This was also Roberts’ second Southern Nationals Bonus Series victory of the season. Both wins came at Tri-County.
Roberts picked up $4,053 for the victory at the end of the 53 lapper while driving the Jim & Ann Cushman-owned, Cushman Paint & Body, M & S Concrete, Schaeffer’s Oil and Starette Trucking sponsored, Custom Racing Engines powered Longhorn Chassis.
Pole-sitter and Bonus Series points leader Austin Smith and Eric Jacobsen brought the field to life just after 9:30 pm for the start of the main event.
Smith took the early lead on the field and Jacobsen would work his way around Smith to take the point on the fourth lap with Smith getting shuffled back after getting stuck behind slower lapped traffic. Roberts would make his move on Jacobsen to take the lead on lap 14 after getting Jacobsen got caught behind the slower car of Tyler Adams. Jacobsen would hold on to take the victory over Rick Eckert, who made his first-ever Tri-County Race Track visit, then Donald McIntosh who finished third, 2014 track champion Shawn Chastain fourth and Smith rounded out the top-five.
Six yellow flags slowed the main event. The first yellow on lap 10 would wave as Tyler Adams came to rest on the back straightaway. The next yellow flag came on lap 19 as Eric Jacobsen would spin in turn three while almost collecting Kenny Collins. The third yellow would be on lap 24 as Kenny Collins spun in turn one collecting Jamie Oliver and Steve Casebolt. The next lap the caution would come out as Kevin Sutton spun his mount in turn four. The lap-29 yellow was for Charlie Parker spinning in between turns three and four. The final yellow would wave on the 36th circuit as David Payne came to a rest in turn two after working from his tenth starting spot. Payne left the track with radiator troubles.
The Southern Nationals Bonus Series will be back in action on Friday/Saturday October 10 & 11 at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY for a huge double header weekend in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. The “Friday Night Rumble” on October 10th will pay $2,500-to-win while Saturday’s “24th Annual Fall Classic” will pay $7,500-to-win.
Further information on the Southern Nationals can be obtained by visiting www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com .
Official Summary of Results
Southern Nationals Bonus Series Race # 7
Tri-County Race Track-Brasstown, NC
Friday Night October 3, 2014
A-Main Finish:
1. Casey Roberts-Toccoa, Ga.
2. Rick Eckert-York, Pa.
3. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
4. Shawn Chastain-Murphy, N.C.
5. Austin Smith-Cedartown, Ga.
6. Randy Nichols-Young Harris, Ga.
7. Bobby Panter-Morganton, Ga.
8. Mario Gresham-Rome, Ga.
9. Anthony Rymer-Copperhill, Tenn.
10. Charlie Parker-Hayesville, N.C.
11. Travis Armes-Petros, Tenn.
12. Kevin Sutton-Morganton, Ga.
13. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
14. Kenny Collins-Colbert, Ga.
15. Jamie Oliver-Murphy, N.C.
16. Steve Casebolt-Richmond, Ind.
17. George Mashburn-Murphy, N.C.
18. Eric Jacobsen-Rio Del Mar, Ca.
19. Tyler Adams-Chattanooga, Tenn.
20. Bo Eaton-Blue Ridge, Ga.
21. Ronnie Payne-Murphy, N.C.
Yellow Flags: Six (laps 10, 19, 24, 25, 29, 36)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Smith (1-3); Jacobsen (4-13): Roberts (14-53)
Provisional Starters: None
Entries: 21
Finish Line Automotive Fastest Qualifier ($100): Austin Smith-12.630
Dash for Cash Finish (4 laps): Austin Smith ($300), Eric Jacobsen, Steve Casebolt, Casey Roberts.
Southern Nationals Bonus Race Winners:
March 1-Jason Hiett (Cherokee Speedway) $3,000
March 2-Jonathan Davenport (Cherokee Speedway) $10,000
May 25-Mike Marlar (Duck River Raceway Park) $5,000
July 4-Casey Roberts (Tri-County Race Track) $3,000
July 5-Ray Cook (Tazewell Speedway) $5,000
August 16- Chris Madden (Smoky Mountain Speedway) $5,010
October 3-Casey Roberts (Tri-County Race Track) $4,053
Southern Nationals Bonus Races/Upcoming Events:
Friday October 10- Ponderosa Speedway- Junction City, KY- $2,500 to win/35 laps
Saturday October 11- Ponderosa Speedway- Junction City, KY- $7,500 to win/60 laps
Friday October 24-Cherokee Speedway-Gaffney, SC-$5,000 to win/35 laps
Saturday October 25-Cherokee Speedway-Gaffney, SC-$10,000 to win/100 laps
Fri/Sat Nov. 14/15-Duck River Raceway Park-Wheel, TN-$11,000 to win/75 laps