(BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA) Young upstart driver Garrett Smith, of Eatonton, Georgia, captured his first career Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series victory on Thursday evening in an attrition-filled battle at Tri-County Race Track! Garrett stopped the clock second quickest overall during the FK Rod Ends qualifying session at the Brasstown, North Carolina oval, which locked him into the outside of the front row for the 40-lap headliner. Garrett got the jump at the outset of the race over polesitter Payton Freeman and survived nine caution flags – five coming in the final seven circuits – to bag the $4,053 winner’s check.
Freeman, who earlier in the night set a New Track Record in qualifying at the “Tiger Pit” with his quick lap of 12.069 seconds, slipped back to as far as fourth in the running order before making a late charge to a strong runner-up performance. New #SpringNationals point leader Carson Ferguson moved up three spots to finish in the third position to round out the podium. Local favorite Jamie Oliver was steady in advancing past four racecars to nab a fourth place effort, while Kenny Collins debuted a new car to a fifth place showing despite an unfortunate spin on lap 33.
Nine caution flags slowed round five of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals miniseries tonight at Tri-County Race Track. A slowing Levi Hicks brought out the first yellow flag on lap 7 and a spinning Cory Hedgecock was the cause of the second yellow on lap 12. On that restart, a spinning Kip Cochran slowed the action before once again drawing a caution on lap 16 when he stopped on the track. A slowing Galen Robinson then brought out a yellow on lap 33 before Kenny Collins spun out of the third spot driving hard on that following restart. Danny Ledford then went for a spin on lap 35 before Heath Hindman joined him in the spin cycle on the restart. The ninth and final yellow was brought out for second running Josh Putnam on lap 38 when a flat tire dropped him to ninth in the final finishing order.
“I had a really good car all night,” quoted Smith in victory lane after leading flag-to-flag. I got the jump on the initial start of the race and took the lead early. The top of the track was cleaning off up there and I figured those guys behind me were coming at the end. It was starting to dust off and clean up to where you could run around the whole corner. I just have to thank all of my great sponsors and my crew for all of their hard work!”
Garrett drove a Garrett Smith Performance #10 XR1 Rocket Chassis to victory tonight with sponsorship from Atlanta Paving & Concrete, Terminal Maintenance & Construction, Davis Tire, Senior Life Insurance Company, World Famous Cadillac Ranch, Base Racing Fuel, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Swift Springs, and Fox Racing Shox.
A total of 22 competitors signed into the pit area at Tri-County Race Track for tonight’s festivities. The feature lineup was set solely by FK Rod Ends qualifying. Payton Freeman set the quickest time with a New Track Record during qualifying and picked up an extra $260 courtesy of Memory Lane Classic Cars, while eventual winner Garrett Smith knocked down the second fastest time. Kenny Collins, David Payne, and Cory Hedgecock rounded out the top five in time trials. Before the A-Main even went green, local drivers David Payne and Glenn Barnett pulled pitside with mechanical troubles, which shrank the starting field to twenty.
Another $4,053 top prize will be up for grabs for the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series competitors on Friday, April 22 in round six at Crossville Speedway in Crossville, Tennessee. The Volunteer State oval has hosted four past series shows, which were won by Ricky Weiss (’17), Michael Chilton (’18), Donald McIntosh (’19), and Dale McDowell (’21). The third and final contest of the weekend will take place on Saturday, April 23 at Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, Tennessee and a $10,053 payday will be on the line for the ground-pounding Super Late Models. The Spring Nationals tour made their debut at Clarksville last year and Tanner English walked away with the five-figure windfall ahead of a top five that included runner-up Jadon Frame, Donald McIntosh, Dale McDowell, and David Seibers. More information can be found online at www.CrossvilleSpeedway.net and www.ClarksvilleSpeedway.com.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels
Round 5 Race Summary
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Tri-County Race Track – Brasstown, North Carolina
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
- (2) Garrett Smith $4,053
- (1) Payton Freeman $2,000
- (6) Carson Ferguson $1,400
- (8) Jamie Oliver $1,000
- (3) Kenny Collins $800
- (13) Joe Denby $700
- (9) Cla Knight $600
- (15) Shawn Chastain $550
- (7) Josh Putnam $525
- (12) Danny Ledford $500
- (11) Heath Hindman $480
- (16) Galen Robinson $470
- (14) Will Harris $460
- (21) Craig Greer $450
- (18) Kip Cochran $440
- (17) Levi Hicks $430
- (5) Cory Hedgecock $420
- (10) Jensen Ford $410
- (19) Jonathon Cope $400
- (20) Jacob Hamby $400
- (4) David Payne $400
- (22) Glenn Barnett $400
Entries: 22
Lap Leaders: Garrett Smith (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 9 (Slowing Levi Hicks on Lap 7, Spinning Cory Hedgecock on Lap 12, Spinning Kip Cochran on Lap 12 Restart, Slowing Kip Cochran on Lap 16, Slowing Galen Robinson on Lap 33, Spinning Kenny Collins on Lap 33 Restart, Spinning Danny Ledford on Lap 35, Spinning Heath Hindman on Lap 35 Restart, and Flat Tire for Josh Putnam on Lap 38)
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Payton Freeman 12.069 NTR
- Payton Freeman, 2. Garrett Smith, 3. Kenny Collins, 4. David Payne, 5. Cory Hedgecock, 6. Carson Ferguson, 7. Josh Putnam, 8. Jamie Oliver, 9. Cla Knight, 10. Jensen Ford, 11. Heath Hindman, 12. Danny Ledford, 13. Joe Denby, 14. Will Harris, 15. Shawn Chastain, 16. Galen Robinson, 17. Levi Hicks, 18. Kip Cochran, 19. Jonathon Cope, 20. Jacob Hamby, 21. Craig Greer, 22. Glenn Barnett
Current Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
- Carson Ferguson – 902
- Cla Knight – 900
- Payton Freeman – 890
- Jensen Ford – 868
- Brandon Overton – 570
- Jamie Oliver – 528
- Chris Madden – 522
- Michael Page – 388
- Mark Whitener – 388
- Dale McDowell – 384
- Jonathan Davenport – 380
- Ross Bailes – 378
- Kyle Strickler – 376
- Dalton Cook – 366
- Kenny Collins – 364
2022 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
Friday, March 4 | Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA | BRANDON OVERTON
Saturday, March 5 | Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA | SHANE CLANTON
Friday, April 15 | Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat, VA | BRANDON OVERTON
Saturday, April 16 | Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN | CHRIS MADDEN
Thursday, April 21 | Tri-County Race Track, Brasstown, NC | GARRETT SMITH
Friday, April 22 | Crossville Speedway, Crossville, TN | $4,053 to win
Saturday, April 23 | Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN | $10,053 to win
Friday, May 6 | Boyd’s Speedway, Ringgold, GA | $5,053 to win
Saturday, May 7 | East AL Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL | $10,053 to win
Friday, May 27 | Lavonia Speedway, Lavonia, GA | $4,053 to win
Saturday, May 28 | Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, GA | $4,053 to win
Sunday, May 29 | Rome Speedway, Rome, GA | $5,053 to win
* All races to be shown LIVE on FloRacing