(ROME, GEORGIA) A night after a strong runner-up finish at Tri-County Race Track, veteran Dale McDowell dominated at Rome Speedway on Saturday to secure his first Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals presented by Coltman Farms Racing and powered by Sunoco’s 2023 season win! Dale stopped the clock third fastest out of 22 entrants during the qualifying session at Speedplant in Rome, Georgia and later took a convincing win in his heat race. After rolling from the inside of the second row in the 53-lap headliner, the popular driver known as “MacDaddy” turned on leader Sam Seawright for the point on the seventeenth circuit.
From there, Dale navigated the “World’s Fastest 1/2 Mile Clay Track” to lead the rest of the feature distance to pocket the $10,053 payday for the his fourteenth win in the series of his career. He finished 3.763 seconds behind Chickamauga, Georgia superstar in the ladies, runner-up and polesitter Seawright, who cruised through the talented field from laps 2-16. Austin Horton moved up two places to finish third, while Michael Page did the same to record a fourth-place finish. Ross Bailes rounded out the top five and gained some valuable points over current series leader Carson Ferguson, who led the opening circuit but suffered a flat on lap 33 and was forced to pit to tenth place
“The car was really good,” the Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer was quoted as saying in Schaeffer’s oil victory lane. “We struggled a little bit early on, the car didn’t feel great, and eventually in the longer runs feature, it was better. Still a bit tight, but definitely a lot better and more maneuverable in traffic. It was a good night for our EZ-GO hotrod and to win in front of such a great Roman crowd, we sure appreciate it!”
Dale McDowell, who is the all-time winningest driver in Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series history, drove a Shane McDowell Racing Team Zero race car with a Clements Racing Engine under the hood. Sponsorship for his well-known number 17m came in part from EZ-GO, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Connected Strategy Advisors, Northeastern Fabrication, Fox Racing Shox, Campbell Insulation Specialists and Shackleford Enterprises.
Four caution flags halted the action in the Super Late Model’s return to Rome Speedway. Jordan Koehler slowed to draw a yellow flag on lap four before Scott Hall stopped on the track on lap 18. Benji Hicks then slowed with a flat tire on lap 32, while the defending miniseries champion Carson Ferguson did the same just one circuit later to draw the final yellow on lap 33.
A strong field of 22 Super Late Model drivers gathered at Rome Speedway tonight for the seventh round of the rain-plagued Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals tour. Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Alabama not only won the Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” award for his fastest lap in hot laps, but he also set a fast time in the FK Rod Ends standings. All three heat races were won by Seawright, Carson Ferguson and Dale McDowell.
The points portion of the 10th edition of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series schedule will culminate during a busy Memorial Day holiday weekend at a trio of high-profile races in the states of Tennessee and Georgia. On Friday, May 26, there will be a $7,553 winner’s check to start the triple header at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tennessee. The action will quickly move to North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia on Saturday, May 27 for the penultimate event of the series, which will award a top prize of $10,053. Another $10,053 to win program will close out the season and crown a champion on Sunday, May 28 at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tennessee.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 7 Race Summary
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Rome Speedway – Rome, Georgia
Completion of Schaeffer’s Oil Feature (53 laps):
- (3) Dale McDowell $10,053
- (1) Sam Seawright $5,000
- (5) Austin Horton $3,000
- (6) Michael Page $2,000
- (7) Ross Bailes $1,500
- (12) Will Roland $1,000
- (10) Tyler Millwood $800
- (9) Kenny Collins $700
- (11) Mack McCarter $675
- (2) Carson Ferguson $650
- (13) Jason Croft $625
- (4) Benji Hicks $600
- (14) Heath Hindman $575
- (15) David McCoy $550
- (16) Caden Mullinax $525
- (22) Haiden Cowan $500
- (18) Jake Rainey $500
- (19) Brian Nuttall, Jr., $500
- (21) Scott Hall $500
- (8) Jordan Koehler $500
- (17) Cla Knight $500
DNS. (20) Payton Freeman $500
Tickets: 22
Lap leaders: Carson Ferguson (lap 1), Sam Seawright (laps 2-16), Dale McDowell (laps 17-53)
Precautions: 4
Hot laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award: Sam Seawright
Rating:
FK Rod Ends Fast Time Award: Sam Seawright 14.380
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (All Car Transfer): 1. Sam Seawright, 2. Benji Hicks, 3. Ross Bailes, 4. Tyler Millwood, 5. Jason Croft, 6. Caden Mullinax, 7. Brian Nuttall , Jr. ., 8. Scott Hall
American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (All Car Transfer): 1. Carson Ferguson, 2. Austin Horton, 3. Jordan Koehler, 4. Mack McCarter, 5. Heath Hindman, 6. Cla Knight, 7. Haiden Cowan
EZ-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (All Car Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Michael Page, 3. Kenny Collins, 4. Will Roland, 5. David McCoy, 6. Jake Rainey, 7. Payton Freeman
Current Schaeffer Oil Spring Nationals Series Points Standings:
- Carson Ferguson – 1318
- Ross Bailes – 1298
- Kenny Collins – 1262
- Hayden Cowan – 1228
- Caden Mullinax – 1115
- David McCoy – 1107
- Will Roland – 963
- Sam Seawright – 821
- Clan Knight – 751
- Austin Horton – 748
- Ashton Winger – 726
- Dalton Cook – 706
- Brandon Overton – 665
- Mike Marlar – 613
- Dale McDowell – 588
* Each driver will leave his two worst results after the final
Schaeffer National Oil Spring Series 2023 Schedule:
Friday, March 3 | Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA | BRANDON OVERTON
Saturday, March 4 | Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA | WILL HERRINGTON
Friday, March 10 | North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA | PPD until May 27
Saturday, March 11 | 411 Motor Speedway, Seymour, TN | CORY BERÇA
Friday, March 31 | Buckshot Speedway, Clanton, AL | JOSEPH JOINER
Saturday, April 1 | East AL Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL | BRANDON OVERTON
Friday, April 7 | Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat, VA | RAINED
Saturday, April 8 | Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN | PPD ON JULY 3
Thursday, April 27 | Crossville Speedway, Crossville, TN | RAINED
Friday, April 28 | Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY | RAINED
Saturday, April 29 | Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN | RAINED
Friday, May 5 | Tri-County Speedway, Brasstown, NC | CARSON FERGUSON
Saturday, May 6 | Rome Speedway, Rome, GA | DALE MCDOWELL
Friday, May 26 | I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN | $7,553 to win
Saturday, May 27 | North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA | $10,053 to win
Sunday, May 28 | Duck River Raceway Park, Wheel, TN | $10,053 to win
Monday, July 3 | Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN | $21,000 to win **
* All races will be shown LIVE on FloRacing
** Race without points
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and powered by Sunoco Race Fuels, please direct your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call the series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms at facebook.com/southernnationalseries and on Twitter @sonnationals.
The Spring Nationals Series would like to thank all of our marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, Delph Communications, EZ-GO, Vidalia Powersports, Arizona Sport Shirts, Boyd Bilt Fabrication , Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, MasterSbilt Race Cars, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Vic Hill Racing Engines and Wiles Driveshafts.
About Schaeffer Oil and Specialty Lubricants:
Schaeffer Specialty Lubricants – Synthetic motor oils, hydraulic fluids and diesel additives have earned a world-class reputation for improving engine performance and fuel economy, but their diverse product line also includes all types of industrial lubricants , industrial fats and industrial oils. as specialty items such as their chain lubricants and degreasers. Founded in 1839, its philosophy is to provide advanced lubricants to improve performance, reliability and fuel economy. Learn more or find a representative near you at www.SchaefferOil.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com
