Story By: RYAN DELPH / SPRING NATIONALS SERIES – WHEEL, TN – In a wild Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco point finale on Sunday night at Duck River Raceway Park, which saw three different leaders and comers-and-goers throughout the field, fourteenth-starting Josh Putnam emerged victorious to claim his second career series victory! Josh timed in seventh quickest in Group B during FK Rod Ends qualifying and locked himself into the outside of the seventh row for the start of the 53-lap headliner. The Florence, Alabama ace then took advantage of the misfortune of several drivers near the top of the running order, pounced on leader Dillon Tidmore on a lap 22 restart, and never looked back on his way to collecting the $10,053 first place prize money.
Dalton Cook, of Salem, Alabama, advanced ten positions during the caution-plagued race to land in the runner-up spot, which was good for a $5,000 payday. Dawsonville, Georgia native Donald McIntosh improved thirteen positions to round out the podium in third and secured his third career Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Championship. Tenth-starting Camaron Marlar came home in fourth, while eighteenth-starting Josh Henry charged to fifth on Sunday at the Wheel, Tennessee venue.
“I knew when we fired up that we had a good racecar, but I just didn’t know about our tire choice,” Putnam said while standing in Schaeffer’s Oil Victory Lane. “I saw Sam (Seawright) having problems out there and I thought he would be the one to beat because he has been stellar at this place. Then some others up front fell out too and I hate they had some misfortune, but I feel like we had the car to pass those guys. We’ve had some bad luck this year as well, so we’ll take this win any way we can get it!”
Josh Putnam’s #212 Rocket Chassis carried sponsorship in part from Morris Brothers Construction, Thornton Iron & Metal, Horne Towing & Salvage, Sin City Bail Bonds, Brown Equipment Company, CFR Performance Parts & Fabrication, Silver Creek Sales, TD Wash, North Alabama Ink, Quarters Bus and RV, J&J Land Services, Fox Racing Shox by Coondog, Base Racing Fuel, and 441 Race Wraps.
A total of 33 competitors were in attendance on Sunday at Duck River Raceway Park to wrap up the Memorial Day racing weekend. Sam Seawright won the Spring Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award with his quick lap during Hot Laps, while Dillon Tidmore clicked off the fastest time overall during FK Rod Ends qualifying with his lap of 13.589 seconds. Jay Scott and Donald McIntosh won the pair of consolation events, while Pearson Lee Williams – driving a Christian Hanger #29P backup car – received a provisional to start shotgun on the feature field. In a race that saw 8 caution flags and lasted 41 minutes, Jadon Frame (Laps 1-12), Dillon Tidmore (Laps 13-21), and Josh Putnam (Laps 22-53) all spent time out front.
Following the eight point races of the Spring Nationals season that escaped the wrath of Mother Nature, there were no repeat winners on the tour. Ethan Dotson, Brandon Overton, Dale McDowell, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Camaron Marlar, Will Roland, and now Josh Putnam secured triumphs with the miniseries in 2024.
Donald McIntosh, who also won the point title with the series back in 2015 and 2016, was awarded an extra $10,053 in point money following the contest. Pearson Lee Williams, who finished only eight markers behind McIntosh after dropping their worst two races, received $5,053 after the feature. Christian Hanger rounded out the top three in final points, which was worth an extra $2,553. In the eight point races contested in the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, a total of 141 different drivers entered at least one series event.
Even though the point season with the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series wrapped up on Sunday at Duck River Raceway Park, the miniseries has just added a pair of non-points races to the schedule for May 31 and June 1. The Spring Nationals will sanction $10,000 to win events next Friday night at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky and next Saturday evening at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Kentucky. Both shows next weekend in the Bluegrass State will pay $1,000 just to start the A-Main.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 8 Race Summary
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Duck River Raceway Park – Wheel, Tennessee
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (14) Josh Putnam $10,053
2. (12) Dalton Cook $5,000
3. (16) Donald McIntosh $3,000
4. (10) Camaron Marlar $2,000
5. (18) Josh Henry $1,500
6. (22) Pearson Lee Williams $1,000
7. (2) Dillon Tidmore $800
8. (7) Dillard Hatchett $700
9. (17) Chris Jones $675
10. (4) Jack Riggs $650
11. (13) Matthew Brocato $625
12. (8) Chase Walls $600
13. (21) David Breazeale $575
14. (5) Sam Seawright $550
15. (20) Oakley Johns $525
16. (15) Jay Scott $500
17. (9) Christian Hanger $500
18. (1) Jadon Frame $500
19. (11) Brad Skinner $500
20. (3) Clay Harris $500
21. (6) Scott Cook $500
22. (19) Brayden Skinner $500
Entries: 33
Lap Leaders: Jadon Frame (Laps 1-12), Dillon Tidmore (Laps 13-21), Josh Putnam (Laps 22-53)
Cautions: 8
Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:
Smashing the Clock Award: Sam Seawright
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Dillon Tidmore 13.589
Qualifying – Group A (Top Seven Locked into Feature): 1. 818-Jadon Frame, 00:14.014[15]; 2. 6-Clay Harris, 00:14.218[13]; 3. 16-Sam Seawright, 00:14.259[8]; 4. 59-Dillard Hatchett, 00:14.373[10]; 5. 29-Christian Hanger, 00:14.443[4]; 6. 17R-Brad Skinner, 00:14.510[12]; 7. 78-Matthew Brocato, 00:14.564[9]; 8. J27-Jay Scott, 00:14.593[7]; 9. 15-Brayden Skinner, 00:14.618[6]; 10. 46-Chris Jones, 00:14.641[14]; 11. 12-Jack Franklin, 00:14.645[11]; 12. 54-David Breazeale, 00:14.674[5]; 13. 71-Matt Odeneal, 00:14.865[3]; 14. 7-Ricky Weiss, 00:14.902[1]; 15. 10C-Ronnie Cooper, 00:15.140[16]; 16. 45-Billy Denby, 00:16.261[2]
Qualifying – Group B (Top Seven Locked into Feature): 1. 38-Dillon Tidmore, 00:13.589[7]; 2. 81J-Jack Riggs, 00:13.651[13]; 3. 13-Scott Cook, 00:13.683[10]; 4. 25-Chase Walls, 00:13.688[12]; 5. 57-Camaron Marlar, 00:13.745[2]; 6. 44D-Dalton Cook, 00:13.769[9]; 7. 212-Josh Putnam, 00:13.773[15]; 8. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:13.804[14]; 9. B00-Josh Henry, 00:13.857[16]; 10. C6-Oakley Johns, 00:13.957[5]; 11. 29P-Pearson Williams, 00:14.009[1]; 12. 18C-Matt Cooper, 00:14.010[8]; 13. 91-Heath Hindman, 00:14.020[4]; 14. 10-Tommy Taylor, 00:14.058[3]; 15. 27-Joe Denby, 00:14.317[11]; 16. 4-Ryan Wilson, 00:14.460[6]; 17. 76-Joe Bray, 00:14.510[17]
Arizona Sport Shirts B-Main #1 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. J27-Jay Scott[1]; 2. 46-Chris Jones[3]; 3. 15-Brayden Skinner[2]; 4. 54-David Breazeale[5]; 5. 12-Jack Franklin[4]; 6. 71-Matt Odeneal[6]; 7. 10C-Ronnie Cooper[8]; 8. 45-Billy Denby[9]; 9. (DNS) 7-Ricky Weiss
Collins Signs B-Main #2 Finish (Top Three Transfer): 1. 79-Donald McIntosh[1]; 2. B00-Josh Henry[2]; 3. C6-Oakley Johns[3]; 4. 18C-Matt Cooper[5]; 5. 91-Heath Hindman[6]; 6. 29P-Pearson Williams[4]; 7. 4-Ryan Wilson[9]; 8. 10-Tommy Taylor[7]; 9. 27-Joe Denby[8]; 10. (DNS) 76-Joe Bray
Provisional: Pearson Lee Williams