7/30/2022
Dale McDowell
McDowell grabs $10,053 payday in Southern Nationals finale at Tazewell
Dale McDowell pocketed $10,053 for his sixth win of the year, which came on Saturday night at Tazewell Speedway. (Michael Moats photo)
McDowell topped the 2022 Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals finale behind the wheel of his Shane McDowell Racing/ E-Z-GO No. 17m Cometic Gaskets/ Klotz Synthetic Lubricants / Team Zero Race Cars/ Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model.
The Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer took control of the lead late in the race, after the leader tangled with a lapped car.
“If it’s half as exciting for (spectators) as it is in the car, you guys are golden,” McDowell said in Victory Lane. “I felt like (Dakotah Knuckles) had a good short-run car and I hated to see that happen to him. The lapped traffic is … it sucks to lead these things, you know, because you don’t know where to go. I was able to kinda maneuver, and obviously if you’re running second, you have an advantage because you can go where they’re not.
“We’re headed back to the shop to get ready to go after our first North/South 100 title at Florence (Speedway) next week. I can’t say enough about this team, and everyone who supports it. I’m just blessed to get to drive this car.”
With team’s scheduled event for Friday evening at Boyd’s Speedway (Ringgold, Ga.) falling to Mother Nature, Dale McDowell returned to competition with the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals on Saturday afternoon for the tour finale at Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, Tenn.).
With 26 Late Models on the grounds for the Ray Varner Ford 53, Dale qualified fourth-fastest overall before placing second in his heat race.
Starting the feature in fourth, McDowell took possession of the lead with 13 laps remaining, when leader Dakotah Knuckles tangled with a lapped car, and turned back Mack McCarter late to secure his sixth win of the season and 10th-career series triumph.
He earned a $10,053 payday ahead of McCarter, Ricky Weiss, David Payne, and Forrest Trent.
Full results from the event are available at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.
Shane McDowell Racing will take the upcoming weekend off to prepare for next week’s 40th annual Sunoco North-South 100 at Florence Speedway (Union, Ky.). Twin $5,000-to-win features will be held on both Thursday and Friday with Saturday’s program paying a record-setting $75,000 to win.
The three-day mega event is once again sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
For more information on the weekend, please visit www.LucasDirt.com.
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