Story By: RYAN DELPH / SPRING NATIONALS SERIES – BLUE RIDGE, GA – Will Roland, of Jasper, Georgia, recorded his first career Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco victory on Friday night at Sugar Creek Raceway! The former Southern Nationals Series Rookie of the Year laid down the second quickest lap overall during time trials, which locked him into the outside of the front row for the start of the 40-lap main event. Will then jumped to the lead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back in leading every circuit around the Blue Ridge, Georgia oval. At the checkered flag, his #22 machine was 2.026 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor and Will was celebrating the $7,553 triumph.
Finishing behind Roland in the inaugural Spring Nationals visit to Sugar Creek Raceway was Murphy, North Carolina hotshoe David Payne, who started on the pole and ran in second the entire feature distance. Palmetto State driver Dale Timms made a rare appearance with the series and rounded out the podium in third. New series point leader Donald McIntosh started fourth and finished fourth, while Spring Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award winner Kenny Collins came home in the fifth position.
“Man it feels so good – I just live 45 minutes down the road,” quoted Roland in Schaeffer’s Oil Victory Lane when asked about his first series win coming at Sugar Creek Raceway. “In front of all of these great fans. I’m glad we got to race (with the weather), you know it’s been awhile. We’ve struggled a little bit here recently in this car, but I hope we got things turned around. This is a big confidence booster for me and I have to thank all of my great sponsors and supporters for making this all possible!”
Will Roland’s #22 BMF Race Car carries sponsorship in part from Roland Tire, Mountain Ridge Realty, Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service, Mason Tractor Company, Slicker Graphics, Base Racing Fuel, and Hoosier Racing Tires.
With an unsettling weather forecast on Friday, a total of 16 teams made the trip to Sugar Creek Raceway to do battle in round seven of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals tour. The feature lineup for the 40-lapper was set entirely through FK Rod Ends qualifying and 13 competitors started the race. Only two caution flags slowed the contest. Danny Ledford drew the first yellow on the initial start of the race when he slowed in turns one and two. The final caution came on lap eleven when a tangle involving Shawn Chastain and Bill Mahan necessitated a red flag to separate the two cars. Both drivers continued and finished sixth and seventh respectively.
Following the first seven races of the Spring Nationals season, there have been no repeat winners on the tour. Ethan Dotson, Brandon Overton, Dale McDowell, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Camaron Marlar, and now Will Roland have secured triumphs with the miniseries so far in 2024. Leaving Sugar Creek, Donald McIntosh has wrestled away the top spot in the point standings from Pearson Lee Williams, who experienced terminal motor problems in his #121 machine during hot laps tonight and finished out the evening in George Mashburn’s #4-Sale racecar.
The penultimate event of the 2024 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series schedule will take place on Saturday, May 25 at North Georgia Speedway. A $10,053 payday will be up for grabs in the running of the ‘Biddle Ridley Memorial.’ Dale McDowell is the defending race winner at the Chatsworth, Georgia venue, as he picked up the checkered flag last year over a top five that included runner-up Ross Bailes, Carson Ferguson, Benji Hicks, and Sam Seawright. Joining the Super Late Models will be the 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Beginner, and Front Wheel Drives.
Adult admission will be $25.00 into the grandstands and $45.00 into the pit area. Children ages 5-11 will be admitted into the stands for $15.00 and into the pits for $20.00. Kids ages 4 and under will be allowed onto the grounds for FREE. The pit gates will open at 3:00pm, the grandstands will open at 3:30pm, the Drivers Meeting is set for 6:30pm, and Hot Laps are slated for 7:00pm.
North Georgia Speedway is located at 300 North Georgia Raceway Road in Chatsworth, GA 30705. The track phone number is 762-231-9550.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 7 Race Summary
Friday, May 24, 2024
Sugar Creek Raceway – Blue Ridge, Georgia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (2) Will Roland $7,553
2. (1) David Payne $3,500
3. (3) Dale Timms $2,000
4. (4) Donald McIntosh $1,500
5. (5) Kenny Collins $1,200
6. (6) Shawn Chastain $900
7. (10) Bill Mahan $700
8. (7) Dante Curtis $650
9. (8) Danny Ledford $600
10. (9) Colton Berrong $575
11. (14) Pearson Lee Williams $550
12. (13) Bo Eaton $540
13. (11) Jason Deal $530
DNS. (12) Billy Denby $75
DNS. (15) George Mashburn $75
DNS. (16) Jamie Oliver $75
Entries: 16
Lap Leaders: Will Roland (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 2 (Danny Ledford Slowed on Initial Start, Multi-Car Tangle Involving Bill Mahan and Shawn Chastain on Lap 11)
Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:
Smashing the Clock Award: Kenny Collins 14.193
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: David Payne 14.069
Qualifying: 1. 8-David Payne, 00:14.069[2]; 2. 22-Will Roland, 00:14.083[3]; 3. 07-Dale Timms, 00:14.178[1]; 4. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:14.338[9]; 5. 1C-Kenny Collins, 00:14.493[13]; 6. 00-Shawn Chastain, 00:14.767[12]; 7. 03-Dante Curtis, 00:14.796[5]; 8. 4L-Danny Ledford, 00:14.844[7]; 9. 56-Colton Berrong, 00:14.965[10]; 10. M1-Bill Mahan, 00:15.131[6]; 11. 7-Jason Deal, 00:15.185[14]; 12. 121-Pearson Williams, 00:15.542[8]; 13. 45-Billy Denby, 00:15.758[4]; 14. 3X-Bo Eaton, 00:16.840[11]