March 29, 2024 – On Friday night at I-75 Raceway, it came down to a late race battle between the two winningest drivers in Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series history and the duel wasn’t decided until the final turn when eighth-starting Brandon Overton overtook outside polesitter Dale McDowell to claim the dramatic victory! Brandon, who timed in fourth quickest in Group B during the qualifying session prior to finishing second in his heat race, vaulted up to the second spot in the middle stages of the 53-lap contest and spent the second half of the race tracking down leader McDowell in and out of lapped traffic.

The Evans, Georgia star eventually ran the #17m down in the waning laps and was able to pull even down the backstretch on the final circuit before making the inside pass for the win stick in turns three and four. Brandon bagged the $10,053 first place prize money for his tenth career series triumph and his second Spring Nationals win at the Sweetwater, Tennessee-area facility.

Finishing a close runner-up was the Hall of Famer Dale McDowell, who was looking for a clean sweep of the evening after smashing the clock in hot laps, earning Fast Time honors in qualifying, and securing a victory in his heat race. Dale, who has seventeen career Spring Nationals wins on his illustrious resume, officially led laps 3-52 before trailing Overton’s #76 at the checkers by a scant 0.296 second margin. Tenth-starting Sam Seawright blasted all the way up to third to round out the podium. Ricky Weiss was able to pick off a couple of competitors to place fourth, while young gun Trey Mills led the first two circuits from the pole prior to finishing in the fifth position.

“Honestly, I was just going to have to go wherever Dale didn’t go,” quoted the winning Overton when asked about his late race strategy to pull off the exciting win in front of the huge crowd at I-75 Raceway. “I caught him, but I knew I had my tires way too hot, so I just rode around there for a few laps to let them cool down. Then I moved back to the top and the (American Racer) tires were sticking again and I knew it was my last chance to go get him. A huge thanks to all of my sponsors and I’m looking forward to racing at Tazewell Speedway tomorrow night!”

The winning car is owned by Wells & Sons Motorsports and carries sponsorship in part from Garnto Southern, Muscle Factory, Coltman Farms Racing, Big Dog Stump & Tree, Victory Fuel, Convenient Lube, Hurst Construction, E-Z-GO, Boswell Oil Company, VP Racing Fuels, R.W. Powell Construction, Clements Racing Engines, Penske Racing Shocks, Dirt Mafia, Impact Race Gear, and Midwest Sheet Metal.

A total of 39 Super Late Model competitors piled into the pit area tonight at I-75 Raceway to do battle in the second Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco event of the season. Dale McDowell won the Smashing the Clock Award in Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps with his quick lap of 14.681 seconds. The Chickamauga, Georgia veteran then backed that up by earning Fast Time honors during FK Rod Ends qualifying with a time of 14.993 seconds, which also gifted him an extra $200 courtesy of Howard’s Premium Auto Detailing in Cleveland, Tennessee.

The four heat races were won by Trey Mills, Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell, and Stormy Scott, while the pair of consolation event victories went to Brad Dyer and Rusty Ballenger. Donald McIntosh was awarded the lone series provisional to start shotgun on the field in the 53-lapper, but made the most of it by passing fourteen competitors to salvage a solid eighth place showing.

Only one caution flag halted the high-speed action tonight at the Volunteer State oval, as Stormy Scott slowed to draw a yellow on lap fourteen. Another item of note, heat race winner Jimmy Owens was scheduled to start third on the grid in the A-Main, but was forced to a back-up car due to mechanical trouble and retired after only four laps.

The third round of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series takes place on Saturday, March 30 at the bad-fast Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, Tennessee. The 4th edition of the Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial will be held at “The Taz” tomorrow and a $21,000 paycheck once again awaits the winner. In the three previous versions of the contest, Jonathan Davenport (’21), Chris Madden (’22), and Dale McDowell (’23) emerged victorious to collect the victor spoils.

The pit gates will swing open at 2:00pm on Saturday, while the hillside grandstands will allow patrons into Tazewell Speedway starting at 5:00pm. The Drivers Meeting is set for 6:00pm and Hot Laps are scheduled for 6:45pm. Adult admission into the grandstands is $30.00, while children ages nine and under will be admitted for FREE. Pit admission will be $45.00 for adults and $35.00 for kids ages twelve and under.

Joining the Super Late Models tomorrow will be the Sportsman ($1,000 to win), Street Stock ($600 to win), and Classic Car ($600 to win) divisions. Tazewell Speedway is located at 1400 Bacchus Road in Tazewell, Tennessee 37879. More information can be found by calling 423-626-2222 or by accessing www.TazewellSpeedway.net.

Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 2 Race Summary
Friday, March 29, 2024
I-75 Raceway – Sweetwater, Tennessee

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):