Zack Mitchell Masterful at Sugar Creek Raceway for Second Straight Southern Nationals Win

(July 24, 2025) For the second straight Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco event, it was the Zack Mitchell show out front on Thursday night at Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Georgia! Zack laid down the quickest lap in FK Rod Ends qualifying, which earned him an extra $200.00 courtesy of Hayesville Trailer Sales and CM Truck Beds, and later started the 40-lap main event from the pole position. The Enoree, South Carolina ace then survived a rash of caution flags and a green-white-checkered finish to lead every circuit en route to capturing his fourth career tour victory.

At the stripe, Zack was 0.808 of a second ahead of runner-up Casey Roberts to secure the $7,753 payday, which included an extra $200.00 courtesy of Hughes Home Improvement. Casey, who flipped his familiar #101 machine on Tuesday at Toccoa Raceway, wheeled a Gus Simpson-owned #11 car at Sugar Creek Raceway and advanced past a trio of competitors to the second place performance. Eighth-starting Tucker Anderson picked off five racecars during the 40-lapper to round out the podium in third.

David Payne was strong throughout the race to place fourth at the unfurling of the checkered flag, while series regular Mike Benedum recorded his second-straight fifth place effort. Devon Morgan followed closely behind the top five and was declared the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Hard Charger with his 14th-to-6th place run.

Aside from Benedum’s top five effort, the other series regulars encountered trouble during the course of the headliner. Garrett Smith and Beckham Malone were both caught up in a turn-four melee on lap three, while second-running Kaede Loudy slowed with a flat left rear tire on lap eleven. Jimmy Owens then inherited the second spot and would also wind up with a flat left rear tire of his own on lap twenty-seven. All four drivers soldiered on in the contest with Loudy salvaging the best finish out of the group in placing seventh at the finish.

Mitchell piloted a #57 Brett Coltman-owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from Coltman Farms Racing, Autism Awareness, Special Needs School of Gwinnett, MPM Marketing, Bilstein Shocks, SoCar Chemical, VP Racing Fuels, and DirtCarLift.com.

A field of 21 Southern Nationals Series competitors unloaded in the Sugar Creek Raceway pit area on Thursday for round nine of the miniseries. Kaede Loudy clicked off the quickest time in MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps, while Zack Mitchell topped the speed chart in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his fast lap of 14.820 seconds. The feature event was slowed by seven caution flags and lasted just shy of forty minutes in length. Both Jordy Nipper and Jensen Ford ran into trouble during preliminary action and scratched from the A-Main.

The penultimate event of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco will take competitors to North Georgia Speedway on Friday evening, July 25. A $10,053 first place prize will be up for grabs at the Chatsworth, Georgia oval. Garrett Smith and Jimmy Owens are currently tied for the top spot in the series point standings with Kaede Loudy only twelve markers behind in third. More information can be found online by clicking on www.northgeorgiaspeedway.net.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 9 Race Summary
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Sugar Creek Raceway - Blue Ridge, Georgia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (1) Zack Mitchell $7,753
2. (5) Casey Roberts $3,500
3. (8) Tucker Anderson $2,000
4. (3) David Payne $1,500
5. (6) Mike Benedum $1,200
6. (14) Devon Morgan $900
7. (2) Kaede Loudy $700
8. (10) Garrett Smith $650
9. (9) Payton Freeman $600
10. (12) Beckham Malone $575
11. (4) Jimmy Owens $550
12. (16) Jamie Oliver $540
13. (7) Alex Vance $530
14. (17) Dillon Daves $520
15. (20) Will Hicks $510
16. (11) Kenny Collins $500
17. (15) Justin Hammett $500
18. (19) Shawn Chastain $500
19. (18) Daven Dilbeck $500
20. (13) Jordy Nipper DNS
21. (21) Jensen Ford DNS

Entries: 21
Lap Leaders: Zack Mitchell (Laps 1-40)
Caution Flags: 7
Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Hard Charger Award: Devon Morgan (+8)

MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Kaede Loudy 14.642

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Zack Mitchell 14.820 - Received an extra $200.00 courtesy of Hayesville Trailer Sales and CM Truck Beds, of Hayesville, NC

Qualifying Results - Group A: 1. 57-Zack Mitchell, 00:14.820[1]; 2. 8-David Payne, 00:14.839[6]; 3. 11-Casey Roberts, 00:14.926[7]; 4. 95-Alex Vance, 00:14.951[4]; 5. F1-Payton Freeman, 00:15.162[5]; 6. 1C-Kenny Collins, 00:15.226[11]; 7. 1N-Jordy Nipper, 00:15.265[3]; 8. 17-Justin Hammett, 00:15.640[8]; 9. 35-Dillon Daves, 00:15.740[2]; 10. 12-Shawn Chastain, 00:15.775[9]; 11. 15-Will Hicks, 00:16.055[10]

Qualifying Results - Group B: 1. 126-Kaede Loudy, 00:14.949[7]; 2. 58V-Jimmy Owens, 00:14.963[8]; 3. 25-Mike Benedum, 00:15.057[4]; 4. 22-Tucker Anderson, 00:15.063[10]; 5. 10-Garrett Smith, 00:15.075[6]; 6. 23-Beckham Malone, 00:15.257[1]; 7. 21-Devon Morgan, 00:15.321[5]; 8. 38-Jamie Oliver, 00:15.348[9]; 9. 30-Daven Dilbeck, 00:15.800[2]; 10. (DNS) 83-Jensen Ford

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Point Standings:
T-1. Garrett Smith - 1674
T-1. Jimmy Owens - 1674
3. Kaede Loudy - 1662
4. Mike Benedum - 1606
5. Beckham Malone - 1590
6. Dillon Daves - 982
7. Cody Overton - 872
8. Haiden Cowan - 836
9. Chris Madden - 756
10. Jensen Ford - 751

Current Coltman Farms Cup Point Standings (Spans Both Spring & Southern Nationals):
1. Garrett Smith - 1490
2. Jimmy Owens - 1308
3. Wil Herrington - 1084
4. Cory Hedgecock - 1080
5. Mike Benedum - 1054
T-6. Jensen Ford - 890
T-6. Kaede Loudy - 890
8. Michael Leach - 698
9. Beckham Malone - 615
10. Brandon Overton - 582

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) - ASHTON WINGER
Friday, July 18 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Saturday, July 19 - Screven Motor Speedway (Sylvania, GA) - GARRETT SMITH
Tuesday, July 22 - Toccoa Raceway (Toccoa, GA) - ZACK MITCHELL
Thursday, July 24 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - ZACK MITCHELL
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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