Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – SYLVANIA, GA – Zack Mitchell, of Enoree, South Carolina, became a first time Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco feature winner in dominant fashion on Saturday night at Screven Motor Speedway.
After earning Fast Time honors in FK Rod Ends qualifying and winning the first heat race, Zack started from the pole position in the 53-lap ‘Rebel Yell’ headliner, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag, and never looked back. While he proved to be unstoppable at the front of the field, the action at the racy Sylvania, Georgia oval behind him was fast and furious including a three-wide battle for the runner-up position on multiple occasions.
Zack won by 3.652 seconds and was awarded a hefty $10,053 payday for his flag-to-flag performance. Coming home in the runner-up spot after a spirited battle and falling back to fifth at one point was Mount Holly, North Carolina ace Chris Ferguson. Seventh-starting Donald McIntosh moved up to third to round out the podium in the 24th edition of the ‘Rebel Yell.’ Outside polesitter Ross Bailes ran as high as second before settling for a solid fourth place effort, while a hard charging Kenny Collins nabbed the final position in the top five after rolling off twelfth on the feature grid.
“That’s exactly what happened last year,” exclaimed a jubilant Mitchell in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “I got out there to a big lead and was just trying to bide my time and Brandon (Overton) passed me with like nine laps to go. It just feels good to be standing up here (in victory lane) after the last couple months we’ve had. We’ve had a lot of bad luck, mechanical problems, and stuff. It feels good and I owe everything to my guys and my sponsors.”
Zack Mitchell’s potent #57 Longhorn Chassis was powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carried sponsorship – in part – from Eubanks Oil, Clary Hood, Inc., SoCar Chemical, Charles West Grading, Rolling Pines Lawn & Landscaping, Hoosier Tire, Fox Racing Shocks, and DirtCarLift.
A total of 27 Super Late Models converged on Screven Motor Speedway on Saturday for the ‘Rebel Yell,’ which has been a staple on the Southern Nationals Series schedule since 2006. Brent Dixon captured the Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award with his fast lap of 15.063 seconds, while Zack Mitchell topped the field in single group qualifying with his quick time of 14.860 seconds. Mitchell, Bailes, and Chris Ferguson all won heat races, while the lone B-Main went to Carson Ferguson who earlier in the evening smacked the wall and did not record an official lap during time trials.
Series provisionals were awarded to Mike Benedum, who was forced to a back-up car after damaging his primary ride during hot laps, and John Llewellyn. Only four caution flags slowed the event – the first of which came when the initial start of the race was called back. Fourth-starting Ricky Weiss then quickly slowed with a flat left rear tire on lap 3 before Jordan Koehler stopped the action only a circuit later by slowing on the track on lap 4. Following a long green flag run, the fourth and final yellow waved on lap 36 when Payton Freeman stopped on the racing surface.
Next up for the cars and stars racing with the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals tour will be a trip to Swainsboro Raceway in Swainsboro, Georgia on Sunday, July 23 for another $10,053 to win battle. Previous series winners at Swainsboro include Chris Madden (’08), Casey Roberts (’09), Bub McCool (’10), Chris Madden (’12), Jonathan Davenport (’13), Casey Roberts (’14 & ’15), Dennis Franklin (’16), Donald McIntosh (’17), Brandon Overton x2 (’18), and Carson Ferguson (’22). Newport, Tennessee superstar Jimmy Owens will bring the point lead into Swainsboro on Sunday, as he currently leads the heated standings by only two markers over Carson Ferguson.
Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 4 Race Summary
Saturday, July 22, 2023
Screven Motor Speedway – Sylvania, Georgia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (1) Zack Mitchell $10,053
2. (3) Chris Ferguson $5,000
3. (7) Donald McIntosh $3,000
4. (2) Ross Bailes $2,000
5. (12) Kenny Collins $1,500
6. (13) Jimmy Owens $1,000
7. (9) Gavin Cowan $800
8. (6) Haiden Cowan $700
9. (8) Cody Overton $675
10. (5) Jordy Nipper $650
11. (16) Carson Ferguson $625
12. (4) Ricky Weiss $600
13. (14) Trey Mills $575
14. (18) Tyler Clem $550
15. (10) Cla Knight $525
16. (19) Brenden Smith $500
17. (17) Jordan Koehler $500
18. (11) Payton Freeman $500
19. (21) Mike Benedum $500
20. (20) Joey Tanner $500
21. (15) Steven Roberts $500
22. (22) John Llewellyn $500
Entries: 27
Lap Leaders: Zack Mitchell (Laps 1-53)
Cautions: 4 (Initial Start, Ricky Weiss Flat Tire on Lap 3, Jordan Koehler Slowed on Lap 4, Payton Freeman Stopped on Lap 36)
Hot Laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award: Brent Dixon 15.063
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Zack Mitchell 14.860
1. 57-Zack Mitchell[1]; 2. 5-Ross Bailes[2]; 3. 22-Chris Ferguson[3]; 4. 7-Ricky Weiss[4]; 5. 20H-Bryson Harper[5]; 6. 214-Haiden Cowan[6]; 7. 42-Cla Knight[7]; 8. 15K-Cody Overton[8]; 9. 19-Gavin Cowan[9]; 10. 79-Donald McIntosh[10]; 11. 1N-Jordy Nipper[11]; 12. 111-Steven Roberts[12]; 13. 20-Jimmy Owens[13]; 14. 14-Trey Mills[14]; 15. 1C-Kenny Collins[15]; 16. 114-Jordan Koehler[16]; 17. 71K-Jim Rogers[17]; 18. 187-David McCoy[18]; 19. 58-Tyler Clem[19]; 20. F1-Payton Freeman[20]; 21. 46-Joey Tanner[21]; 22. 1-Brent Dixon[22]; 23. 17SS-Brenden Smith[23]; 24. 2-John Llewellyn[24]; 25. 25-Mike Benedum[25]; 26. 8-Ben Boyd[26]; 27. 93-Carson Ferguson[27]
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. 57-Zack Mitchell[1]; 2. 7-Ricky Weiss[2]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 4. 42-Cla Knight[3]; 5. 20-Jimmy Owens[5]; 6. 114-Jordan Koehler[6]; 7. 58-Tyler Clem[7]; 8. 1-Brent Dixon[8]; 9. 25-Mike Benedum[9]
American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. 5-Ross Bailes[1]; 2. 1N-Jordy Nipper[4]; 3. 15K-Cody Overton[3]; 4. F1-Payton Freeman[7]; 5. 14-Trey Mills[5]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[8]; 7. 8-Ben Boyd[9]; 8. 20H-Bryson Harper[2]; 9. 71K-Jim Rogers[6]
E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. 22-Chris Ferguson[1]; 2. 214-Haiden Cowan[2]; 3. 19-Gavin Cowan[3]; 4. 1C-Kenny Collins[5]; 5. 111-Steven Roberts[4]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[9]; 7. 187-David McCoy[6]; 8. 46-Joey Tanner[7]; 9. 2-John Llewellyn[8]
Delph Communications B-Main Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[1]; 3. 58-Tyler Clem[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[2]; 5. 46-Joey Tanner[9]; 6. 187-David McCoy[6]; 7. 1-Brent Dixon[7]; 8. 25-Mike Benedum[10]; 9. 8-Ben Boyd[5]; 10. 2-John Llewellyn[12]; 11. (DNS) 20H-Bryson Harper; 12. (DNS) 71K-Jim Rogers
Provisionals: Mike Benedum, John Llewellyn