By Chris Tilley, Series P.R. Coordinator
SWAINSBORO, GA (July 24, 2015)-Casey Roberts led flag-to-flag for the $5,300 payday at Swainsboro Raceway in the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series-sanctioned race, the ninth of his career which brought him up to tie with Jonathan Davenport for second on the all-time winners list.
The Toccoa, Ga. driver drove the Cushman Motorsports, Cushman Paint & Body, M & S Concrete, Allstar Performance, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, VP Racing Fuels and Hoosier Racing Tire-sponsored Custom powered Longhorn Chassis to the victory which finished shortly before 3:00 am after a heavy late afternoon rain shower just before hot laps put the entire show nearly three hours behind.
Fast Qualifier and New Track Record holder Donald McIntosh and former series winner at Swainsboro Casey Roberts brought the field to life shortly after 2:00 am and Roberts took to the early lead.
By lap 18, Roberts had already worked his way into lapped traffic and was passing the slower cars of Ashton Winger and Brandon Carpenter.
Roberts crossed the line for the win nearly a full second ahead of runner-up Dennis Franklin who started sixth, Ross Bailes who passed McIntosh for the third spot on the final lap and Ivedent Lloyd who finished in the fifth spot.
Four cautions slowed the event. The first yellow flag would wave on lap-one as Mark Whitener went over the embankment in turn one. The second yellow flag came out on the restart as three cars piled up in turn four including Steven Roberts, Mack McCarter and Stacy Boles. The lap 11 yellow saw Ashton Winger spinning in turn two and the final yellow of the race came on lap 21 as Vic Hill and Brandon Carpenter got hooked together in turn two.
The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series will be back in action for Round 4 on Saturday Night as the tour sanctions the 16th Annual Rebel Yell event paying $5,300-to-win at Screven Motorsports Complex in Sylvania, Ga.
For the latest information on the Southern Nationals, please log on to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com .
Feature Results of Southern Nationals Series Round # 3 at Swainsboro Raceway:
1. Casey Roberts-Toccoa, Ga.
2. Dennis Franklin-Gaffney, S.C.
3. Ross Bailes-Clover, S.C.
4. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
5. Ivedent Lloyd Jr.-Ocala, Fla.
6. Craig Vosbergen-Perth, Western Australia
7. Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, Tenn.
8. Kenny Collins-Colbert, Ga.
9. Brent Dixon-Elberton, Ga.
10. Austin Smith-Cedartown, Ga.
11. Kelly Guy-Thomson, Ga.
12. Scott Shirey-Gaston, S.C.
13. Johnny Pursley-Clover, S.C.
14. Mark Dotson-Cameron, Mo.
15. Mark Whitener-Middleburg, Fla.
16. Vic Hill-Mosheim, Tenn.
17. Brandon Carpenter-Grovetown, Ga.
18. Casey Barrow-Savannah, Ga.
19. Steven Roberts-Jesup, Ga.
20. Ashton Winger-Senoia, Ga.
21. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
22. Mack McCarter-Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Time of Race: 46 minutes, 49 seconds
Margin of Victory: 07.315 seconds
Yellow Flags: Four (laps 1, 1RS, 11, 21)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Roberts (1-53)
Entries: 29
Overall Fast Qualifier: Donald McIntosh-13.832 (New Track Record)
Arizona Sport Shirts Last Chance Race One Finish (10 Laps/Top-6 advance): Stacy Boles, Mark Whitener, Ashton Winger, Brandon Carpenter, Vic Hill, Casey Barrow, Rob Mayea, Michael Barnett, Jim Manka, Did Not Start: Chesley Dixon, Richie Corley, Jim Rogers
Southern Nationals Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
FK Rod Ends ($100 certificate to fast qualifier): Donald McIntosh
Ocala (FL) Restaurant Supply ($100 cash to Fast Qualifier): Donald McIntosh
Willwood Engineering Tough Brake Award ($100 certificate): Vic Hill
GW Performance ($50 certificate to 12th place finisher in A-Main): Scott Shirey
Fast Shafts ($50 certificate to Hard Charger in A-Main): Dennis Franklin
Barry Wright Race Cars ($100 certificate to highest finishing BWRC in A-Main): Kelly Guy
Southern Nationals Series ($200 cash to highest finishing CT525 in A-Main): None
Southern Nationals Series ($200 cash to highest finishing Steel Head/SPEC in A-Main): None
The Joie of Seating “Winners Award” ($200 Certificate): Donald McIntosh
Current Series Points (after July 24):
1. Donald McIntosh-663
2. Billy Ogle Jr.-653
3. Casey Roberts-651
4. Vic Hill-636
5. Craig Vosbergen-627
6. Austin Smith-615
7. Mark Dotson-611
8. Mack McCarter-604
9. Stacy Boles-601
10. Kenny Howell-334