Hudson O'Neal Powers his
Way to Iron-Man Classic Victory
(June 19, 2021)
Hudson O’Neal used a slide job on a restart to win Saturday’s
Iron Man Classic for the Valvoline Iron Man Late Models. O’Neal
joins his father, Don, as an Iron Man Classic winner.
Ross Bailes set fast time in group A qualifying to win the pole
position for the 40-lap race. He was joined on the front how by
Spencer Hughes who was the fastest qualifier in group B. As the
green flag waved, Hughes used the outside line to quickly grab
the lead. Bailes was immediately under fire from Mike Marlar in
a battle for second. A series of quick cautions in the first 7
laps slowed the pace of the field. After each restart, Hughes
would maintain his lead as a battle for second took place between
Marlar, Bailes, and O’Neal. Bailes eventually fell out of
the race and left the battle for second to be fought between Marlar
and O’Neal.
Following a caution on lap 12, Marlar chose the outside line
which put O’Neal on the inside line for the restart. When
the green waved, O’Neal dove to the bottom of the track
and pulled his huge slide job in front of Hughes and Marlar. Hughes
tried to power back up to retake the lead, but O’Neal was
already on the gas and maintained the lead.
Meanwhile, Dakotah Knuckles, Randy Weaver, Cory Hedgecock, and
Zack Mitchell had their own battle behind the lead duo. Knuckles
was able to grab third late in the race after Marlar pulled off
the track while Mitchell and Hedgecock battled for fourth.
O’Neal was able to seal the deal and led the remainder
of the race with Hughes finishing second in this first trip to
Smoky Mountain.
(MRM
Racing Photo)
IRON-MAN SUPER LATE MODELS
1. Hudson O'Neal # 71
2. Spencer Hughes # 11
3. Dakotah Knuckles # 21k
4. Zack Mitchell # 57
5. Cory Hedgecock # 13
6. Tommy Kerr # 4t
7. Jensen Ford # 83
8. Skip Arp # 31
9. Robby Moses # 21
10. Matthew Nance # 2
11. Mike Marlar # 157
12. Michael Chilton # 97
13. Dusty Carver # 9
14. Randy Weaver # 85
15. David Payne # 8
16. Vic Hill # 1
17. Brett Wyatt # 17
18. Ross Bailes # 79
19. Donald McIntosh # 7m
20. Ray Cook # 53
21. David Crabtree # C5
22. Joey Coulter # 2
DID NOT QUALIFY: Kenny Cobble (31), Tim Rucker (47), Pierce McCarter
(71)
The Brucebilt Iron Man Modified Series saw Blake Brown pick up
his first win at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Brown was the fast qualifier
and started the race from the pole position. Ryan Ayers started
on the outside front row. Brown took the early lead over Ayers
as Clayton Miller and Ricky Tinch battled for third. Miller eventually
took the spot and moved in on Ayers. Miller set his sights on
Ayers and finally took over second with a few laps remaining.
Brown seemed to be in total control before getting out of shape
against the cushion in the closing laps. That allowed Miller to
close in and tighten up the race for the lead. Brown stayed in
control and held of Miller to secure the win.
IRON-MAN OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS
1. Blake Brown # 99
2. Clayton Miller # 15
3. Josh Harris # 22
4. Ricky Tinch # 327
5. Amos Bunch # 50
6. David Clark # 13
7. Ryan Ayers # 6
8. Wayne James # 4
9. Larry James # J2
10. Austin Holcombe # 8
The limited late model feature saw drama before the race started.
Pole sitter Matt Henderson had a mechanical failure before the
race went to green. Henderson’s car had to be towed off
the track. That moved Jason Trammell to the pole position with
Mack McCarter starting alongside. Trammell zipped to the early
lead and McCarter and Cameron Weaver battled for second. Trammell
maintained a several car-length advantage of McCarter. Around
the halfway point of the race, Trammell developed some handling
issues on his #90. Trammell nearly tagged the wall in turn 1 and
that allowed McCarter to scoot by for the lead. Weaver would later
take second from Trammell. Ronnie Johnson, who hit the wall in
qualifying and started at the rear, was slicing his way through
the field and joined the battle for a top five spot. Johnson would
take fourth from Trammell and battled Jesse Lowe for third. McCarter
took the win over Weaver as the final 8 laps of the race went
caution free.
LIMITED LATE MODELS
1. Mack McCarter # 51
2. Cameron Weaver # 16
3. Jesse Lowe # D2
4. Ronnie Johnson # 5
5. Jordan Horton # 56h
6. Jason Trammell # 90j
7. Jed Emert # 51
8. Bobby Giffin # 97
9. Roger Best # 007
10. Kelvin White # X
11. Matt Melton # 17
12. Mario Gresham # 21
13. Matt Henderson # 00
Baily Cardwell put another with the Cardwell name in the record
books as a race winner in the 602 late model race. Cardwell’s
only challenge during the 20-lap race was when Josh Keeble spun
in front of Cardwell on lap 17. Cardwell cleared the spinning
car and went on to a decisive win once the race resumed. Tucker
Anderson finished comfortably in second and Curtis Thomas took
third when Dane Curtis dropped out with a few laps to go.
602 LATE MODELS
1. Baily Cardwell # 07
2. Tucker Anderson # 6
3. Curtis Thomas # 5
4. Josh Keeble # 36
5. Dante Curtis # 03
6. Dustin Bunch # 9
7. Dylan Cole # 426
NEXT EVENTS:
Mountain Moonshine Classic
FRIDAY, JULY 9th
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series - $12,000 to win
604 Late Models - $1,500 to win
Sportsman Late Models - $1,000 to win
SATURDAY, JULY 10th
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series - $20,000 to win
604 Late Models - $1,500 to win
Red Clay 602 Series - $1,500 to win
###
