John Ownbey
Outside pole-sitter Lil' John Ownbey of Cleveland led all 30 laps of Friday's Chevrolet Super Late Model Series event at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater for a $2,000 victory.
Local racer Ruben Mayfield and series points leader Tyler Crowder of Lamont, Fla. chased him across the finish line. The victory was Ownbey's first Chevy 525 Series win of the season and his second career series victory.
Ownbey successfully defended his 2015 victory which was his first career series win. The tour has not had a repeat winner in its last seven events.
Friday's feature was slowed by two caution flags on laps three (for Jadon Frame's power steering failure) and lap 15 (for Randy Dillard's solo spin). Pole-sitter Cory Hedgecock jumped the cushion on a lap-three restart while running second, costing him several positions.
Ownbey's #J0 "Sam's Restaurant Equipment, A+ Moving & Storage, M&S Motors, Denton's Wrecker Service, Stealth Carburetor and Austin Trucking" sponsored Phantom Race Engine's, Longhorn chassis is owned by Sam Durham. Ownbey is a former two time track champion of the currently defunct Cleveland Speedway.
Fast qualifier Hedgecock clock a lap time of 13.245 seconds around I-75 Raceway. The series moves up the state to Seymour, Tn. on Saturday night near Gatlinburg for an event at 411 Motor Speedway.
1. John Ownbey 2. Ruben Mayfield 3. Tyler Crowder 4. Jake Knowles 5. Tim Busha 6. Riley Hickman 7. Cory Hedgecock 8. Austin Smith 9. Zac Pilcher 10. Ryan King 11. Trey Wood 12. Ronnie Johnson 13. Pierce McCarter 14. J.R. Moseley 15. Doug Smith 16. Oliver Gentry 17. Randy Dillard 18. Doug King 19. Tony Thompson 20. Barry Goodman 21. Jadon Frame