Cory Hedgecock Defends Home Turf Once Again; Wins with Southern Nationals at I-75 Raceway

(July 15, 2025) Cory Hedgecock recorded his sixth career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco victory on Tuesday night at the nearby I-75 Raceway! Cory clicked off the second quickest time in Group B during FK Rod Ends qualifying and later started the 40-lap feature event from the outside of the second row. The Loudon, Tennessee ace survived a multi-car tangle on the initial start of the race that also collected Jensen Ford, got his spot back for the subsequent restart, and proved to have the car to beat at what he deems his home track.

After polesitter Garrett Smith paced the field for the first circuit, outside polesitter Chris Madden took command to lead laps two through six. Hedgecock then got things wound up following a lap six restart and blasted past Madden to grab the point on lap seven. From there, the #23V controlled the top spot for the remainder of the distance to reach the checkered flag first and Cory claimed the $7,553 payday for his third series win at the Sweetwater, Tennessee oval.

Finishing 1.129 seconds behind at the checkered flag was runner-up Chris Madden, who won the previous two series races at Wythe Raceway and Volunteer Speedway. Garrett Smith came home in the third spot and now sits second in series points, while Dale McDowell picked off a trio of competitors to nab a strong fourth place effort. Series point leader Jimmy Owens ran as high as fourth in the running order before placing fifth in the final finishing order aboard the Big Frog Motorsports #58V machine.

“Glad nothing got torn up in that deal at the initial start of the race,” quoted the winning Hedgecock in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “They were just racing and I just kinda got in the middle of it. Thankfully, I didn’t get much stuff torn up and was able to get my spot back. Chris Madden has been killing everybody on this deal, so happy I could outrun him. Even though it’s at my home place, we’ll still take the win either way!”

Hedgecock’s #23V BMF Race Car was powered by an Eagle Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from Best Plumber, Base Fuels, Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Circle H Services, CH Enterprises, Pro-Fabrication, Viper Motorsports, Arizona Sportswear, Majestic Mobile Detail, Winters Performance, Quickcar Racing Products, Top Notch Kustom Koncepts, Stakt, Wiles Driveshafts, Wieland, Wilwood Engineering, Allstar Performance, KRC, Delph Communications, Schaeffer's Oil, Hypercoils, XS Power, and Hoosier Racing Tire.

John Ownbey passed six competitors to finish eighth, which was good enough to earn himself Hard Charger honors and a $150.00 in-store credit courtesy of Knowles Race Parts and Bodies. Bobby Giffin was the highest finishing driver (14th place) to utilize a limited engine and was awarded an extra $400.00 bonus.

A total of 31 competitors were in the pit area on Tuesday at I-75 Raceway for the fourth round of Schaffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series competition. Cory Hedgecock went quickest in MRP Fantasy League Hot Laps, while Chris Madden topped the speed chart in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his fast time of 14.829 seconds. Michael Page and John Ownbey captured the wins in the pair of B-Mains, while Beckham Malone and Dillon Daves were awarded series provisionals. Jeff Neubert and Jordon Horton utilized emergency provisionals and started shotgun on the field in the 40-lapper.

Following a day off for the tour on Wednesday, the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco will venture south to Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia on Thursday, July 17 for the annual ‘Roscoe Smith Classic.’ The ground-pounding Super Late Models will vie for a $7,544 payday on Thursday in the Peach State. Jimmy Owens currently leads the point standings by twenty markers over Garrett Smith heading into Senoia with Kaede Loudy, Mike Benedum, and Beckham Malone rounding out the top five. More information on Thursday’s showdown can be found online at www.SenoiaRaceway1969.com.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 4 Race Summary
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
I-75 Raceway - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (4) Cory Hedgecock $7,553
2. (2) Chris Madden $3,500
3. (1) Garrett Smith $2,000
4. (7) Dale McDowell $1,500
5. (8) Jimmy Owens $1,200
6. (11) Kaede Loudy $900
7. (5) Cody Overton $700
8. (14) John Ownbey $650
9. (13) Michael Page $600
10. (10) David Crabtree $575
11. (12) Tucker Anderson $550
12. (9) Haiden Cowan $540
13. (3) Mike Benedum $530
14. (17) Bobby Giffin $520
15. (16) Jordan Rodabaugh $510
16. (21) Beckham Malone $500
17. (20) Stacy Boles $500
18. (23) Jeff Neubert $75
19. (22) Dillon Daves $500
20. (15) Jensen Ford $500
21. (24) Jordon Horton $75
22. (19) Noah Phillips $500
23. (6) Shane Clanton $500
24. (18) Josh Henry $500

Entries: 31
Lap Leaders: Garrett Smith (Lap 1), Chris Madden (Laps 2-6), Cory Hedgecock (Laps 7-40)
Caution Flags: 2
Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Hard Charger Award: John Ownbey (+6)
Highest Finishing 525/Limited Engine Bonus: Bobby Giffin

MRP Fantasy League Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Cory Hedgecock 14.606

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Chris Madden 14.829

Qualifying Results - Group A (Top Six Locked Into Feature): 1. 10-Garrett Smith, 00:14.861[14]; 2. 25-Mike Benedum, 00:14.973[1]; 3. 2-Cody Overton, 00:15.027[11]; 4. 17M-Dale McDowell, 00:15.209[6]; 5. 14-Haiden Cowan, 00:15.234[12]; 6. 126-Kaede Loudy, 00:15.265[5]; 7. 15-Noah Phillips, 00:15.331[7]; 8. 83-Jensen Ford, 00:15.403[4]; 9. 18X-Michael Page, 00:15.413[15]; 10. 29-Christian Hanger, 00:15.467[3]; 11. 97-Bobby Giffin, 00:15.473[2]; 12. 18P-Gray Parton, 00:15.486[9]; 13. 22T-Karl Tipton, 00:15.655[10]; 14. 3D-Dakota Smith, 00:15.996[8]; 15. 56H-Jordon Horton, 00:16.061[13]; 16. 35-Dillon Daves, 00:16.445[16]

Qualifying Results - Group B (Top Six Locked Into Feature): 1. 44-Chris Madden, 00:14.829[2]; 2. 23V-Cory Hedgecock, 00:15.045[3]; 3. 25C-Shane Clanton, 00:15.160[11]; 4. 58V-Jimmy Owens, 00:15.273[6]; 5. C5-David Crabtree, 00:15.281[8]; 6. 22-Tucker Anderson, 00:15.347[10]; 7. 44J-John Ownbey, 00:15.389[1]; 8. 23-Beckham Malone, 00:15.423[15]; 9. B00-Josh Henry, 00:15.467[12]; 10. 66-Jordan Rodabaugh, 00:15.493[13]; 11. 1G-Rusty Ballenger, 00:15.607[5]; 12. 71-Kane Newby, 00:15.661[7]; 13. 11B-Stacy Boles, 00:15.710[9]; 14. 95-Alex Vance, 00:15.945[4]; 15. 28-Jeff Neubert, 00:16.017[14]

Coltman Farms Racing B-Main #1 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 18X-Michael Page[3]; 2. 83-Jensen Ford[2]; 3. 97-Bobby Giffin[5]; 4. 15-Noah Phillips[1]; 5. 56H-Jordon Horton[9]; 6. 18P-Gray Parton[6]; 7. 22T-Karl Tipton[7]; 8. 3D-Dakota Smith[8]; 9. 35-Dillon Daves[10]; 10. (DNS) 29-Christian Hanger

Coltman Farms Racing B-Main #2 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 44J-John Ownbey[1]; 2. 66-Jordan Rodabaugh[4]; 3. B00-Josh Henry[3]; 4. 11B-Stacy Boles[7]; 5. 71-Kane Newby[6]; 6. 23-Beckham Malone[2]; 7. 1G-Rusty Ballenger[5]; 8. 95-Alex Vance[8]; 9. 28-Jeff Neubert[9]

Series Provisionals: Beckham Malone, Dillon Daves
Emergency Provisionals: Jeff Neubert, Jordon Horton

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Jimmy Owens - 764
2. Garrett Smith - 744
3. Kaede Loudy - 738
4. Mike Benedum - 718
5. Beckham Malone - 696
T-6. Jensen Ford - 676
T-6. Stacy Boles - 676
8. Dillon Daves - 638
9. Chris Madden - 596
10. Dale McDowell - 524

Current Coltman Farms Cup Point Standings (Spans Both Spring & Southern Nationals):
1. Garrett Smith - 1290
2. Jimmy Owens - 1124
3. Wil Herrington - 910
4. Cory Hedgecock - 908
5. Jensen Ford - 890
6. Mike Benedum - 878
7. Kaede Loudy - 710
8. Michael Leach - 698
9. Brandon Overton - 582
10. Ricky Weiss - 570

2025 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Schedule:
Friday, July 11 - Beckley Motor Speedway (Mount Hope, WV) - ROSS BAILES
Saturday, July 12 - Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) - CHRIS MADDEN
Monday, July 14 - Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) - CHRIS MADDEN
Tuesday, July 15 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Thursday, July 17 - Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) - $7,544 to win
Friday, July 18 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - $7,553 to win
Saturday, July 19 - Screven Motor Speedway (Sylvania, GA) - $10,053 to win
Tuesday, July 22 - Toccoa Raceway (Toccoa, GA) - $7,553 to win
Thursday, July 24 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $7,553 to win
Friday, July 25 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - $10,053 to win
Saturday, July 26 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $10,053 to win

For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco, 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 tour would like to thank all of our valued marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, American Racer South, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, MRP Fantasy League, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vinson Sims Construction, 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
www.DelphCommunications.com

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