Dale McDowell Dominant in Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial at Tazewell to Close Out Spring Nationals
(TAZEWELL, TENNESSEE) Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Dale McDowell closed out the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series season by winning the final three races including Monday night’s 3rd Annual Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial at the bad-fast Tazewell Speedway! Dale dominated the evening in front of the jammed-packed hillside crowd, as he laid down the quickest time in hot laps, earned an extra $2,100 from Toyota Knoxville for his fast lap during qualifying, and secured a victory in his heat race. After rolling off from the pole position in the headliner at the storied Tazewell, Tennessee facility, Dale turned away each battle at the front of the field and led each of the 75 circuits en route to capturing the $21,000 first place prize money.
Jimmy Owens, of nearby Newport Tennessee, started fourth and advanced to second to finish a strong runner-up – only 1.143 seconds behind McDowell’s famed #17m at the checkers. Canadian invader Ricky Weiss, who swapped the second spot a few different times with Owens, settled for a strong third place podium effort. Two-time Spring Nationals Champion Donald McIntosh vaulted past two competitors to place fourth, while eleventh-starting Brandon Williams rounded out the top five.
“We did have some close calls in lapped traffic, but when you’ve got Jimmy (Owens), Ricky (Weiss), and those other guys behind you, you’ve got to make some quick choices,” stated McDowell, who now boasts 17 career Spring Nationals victories on his illustrious resume. “My brother Shane and everyone that works on this car did an awesome job adjusting on it, which made my job a little easier. I used to watch Lil’ Bill Corum when I was a kid, so I’m very honored to win this race. I’d go to places like Atomic (Speedway) and here (at Tazewell) and just watch him kick their ass you know, so I’m very honored to win it!”
A total of five yellow flags slowed the action during tonight’s 3rd Annual Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial, which was co-sanctioned with the Iron-Man Late Model Series. The first caution flag was displayed to the field for a multi-car tangle on lap 3. An incident involving Vic Hill and David Payne on the subsequent restart quickly drew another yellow. Brian Smith then lost a driveshaft on lap 12, while Josh Henry slowed with a flat left rear tire on lap 39. The final caution of the evening came on lap 57 when Dakotah Knuckles, who was running fifth, slowed on the track and ultimately retired from the contest.
Dale McDowell, who is the all-time winningest driver in Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series history, drove a Shane McDowell Racing Team Zero racecar with a Clements Racing Engine under the hood. Sponsorship on his familiar #17m came in part from E-Z-GO, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Connected Strategy Advisors, Northeastern Fabrication, S&H Systems, Fox Racing Shox, Campbell Insulation Specialists, and Shackleford Enterprises.
A contingent of 20 Super Late Model drivers converged on Tazewell Speedway for the non-point event, which was initially scheduled for April 8, but was postponed due to rain and inclement weather. Dale McDowell earned both the Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award for his quick lap during hot laps and an extra $2,100 for Fast Time in qualifying courtesy of Toyota Knoxville. McDowell, Ricky Weiss, and Austin Neely captured the victories in the trio of 10-lap heat races.
With the entire Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco schedule now officially in the books, focus will turn to the 19th edition of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series. The twelve race miniseries will once again be held in only sixteen days from July 14-29.
The barnstorming tour will start at Beckley Motor Speedway in Mount Hope, West Virginia before snaking through the Southeast to host events at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia, Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee, I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tennessee, Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia, East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Alabama, Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia, Swainsboro Raceway in Swainsboro, Georgia, Toccoa Raceway in Toccoa, Georgia, Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, North Carolina, North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia, and Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, Tennessee.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial Race Summary
Monday, July 3, 2023
Tazewell Speedway – Tazewell, Tennessee
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (75 Laps):
1. (1) Dale McDowell $21,000
2. (4) Jimmy Owens $10,000
3. (2) Ricky Weiss $6,000
4. (6) Donald McIntosh $4,000
5. (11) Brandon Williams $3,000
6. (9) Mack McCarter $2,000
7. (13) Jason Trammell $1,500
8. (3) Austin Neely $1,400
9. (14) Aaron Guinn $1,300
10. (18) Adam Ahl $1,200
11. (19) Josh Sneed $1,150
12. (7) Dakotah Knuckles $1,090
13. (10) Josh Henry $1,080
14. (17) Steve Smith $1,070
15. (15) Brian Shockley $1,060
16. (16) Brian Smith $1,050
17. (20) Matthew Holt $1,040
18. (12) John Llewellyn $1,030
19. (8) Vic Hill $1,020
20. (5) David Payne $1,010
Entries: 20
Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1-75)
Cautions: 5
Hot Laps:
Boyd Bilt Spring-Pro “Smashing the Clock” Award: Dale McDowell 11.238
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Dale McDowell 11.267
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Dakotah Knuckles, 4. Josh Henry, 5. Jason Trammell, 6. Brian Smith, 7. Josh Sneed
American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. Ricky Weiss, 2. David Payne, 3. Vic Hill, 4. Brandon Williams, 5. Aaron Guinn, 6. Steve Smith, DNS. Matthew Holt
E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. Austin Neely, 2. Donald McIntosh, 3. Mack McCarter, 4. John Llewellyn, 5. Brian Shockley, DNS. Adam Ahl
2023 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
Friday, March 3 | Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA | BRANDON OVERTON
Saturday, March 4 | Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA | WIL HERRINGTON
Friday, March 10 | North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA | PPD TO MAY 27
Saturday, March 11 | 411 Motor Speedway, Seymour, TN | CORY HEDGECOCK
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 OUT
Saturday, April 8 | Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN | PPD TO JULY 3
Thursday, April 27 | Crossville Speedway, Crossville, TN | RAINED OUT
Friday, April 28 | Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY | RAINED OUT
Saturday, April 29 | Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN | RAINED OUT
Friday, May 5 | Tri-County Race Track, Brasstown, NC | CARSON FERGUSON
Saturday, May 6 | Rome Speedway, Rome, GA | DALE MCDOWELL
Friday, May 26 | I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN | CARSON FERGUSON
Saturday, May 27 | North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA | DALE MCDOWELL
Sunday, May 28 | Duck River Raceway Park, Wheel, TN | DALE MCDOWELL
Monday, July 3 | Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN | DALE MCDOWELL **
** Non-Points Race
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms on facebook.com/southernnationalsseries and on Twitter @sonationals.
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, E-Z-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’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants:
Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants: synthetic motor oils, hydraulic fluids, and diesel fuel additives have achieved a world-class reputation for improving engine performance and fuel economy, but their diverse product line includes all types of industrial lubricants, industrial greases, and industrial oils as well as specialty items like their chain lubes and degreasers. Founded in 1839, their philosophy is to provide advanced lubricants for improved performance, reliability, and fuel economy. Learn more or find a rep near you at www.SchaefferOil.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications
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