Carson Ferguson (left), and Dale McDowell (right) scored wins on the final points paying weekend of the 2023 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series season. Photo: MRM Racing (left), Tyler Carr (right)
Carson Ferguson and Dale McDowell wrapped up the 2023 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series points season with victories over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Ferguson opened the weekend with a win at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tennessee on Friday, while McDowell closed the season with back-to-back wins on Saturday at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia and on Sunday at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Ferguson carried home the big prize – the 2023 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series championship.
On Friday night, Ferguson dominated the 40-lap feature at I-75 Raceway after inheriting the pole when fast qualifier Benji Hicks suffered a flat tire during pace laps.
Ferguson was never seriously challenged during the race, leading flag-to-flag to record the $7,553 victory. The Lincolnton, North Carolina river won by 3.064 seconds to claim his second series triumph of 2023.
“I really hate that for Benji (Hicks),” said Ferguson. “He has put his heart and soul into building his own chassis and he’s really come out here and performed well. He’s been running really good and I hate that he got that flat tire. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, but I think we were both tonight. I have to thank all of my great sponsors, Wesley Page, Donald and Gena Bradsher, and everyone associated with our program.”
Ross Bailes finished in second, with Dale McDowell in third, Cory Hedgecock in fourth and Garrett Smith in fifth.
On Saturday, Dale McDowell scored a home-state win, as he led all 53 laps to win the Biddle Ridely Memorial at North Georgia Speedway.
“Shane (McDowell) and the boys made all the right adjustments tonight, but qualifying was key,” the Chickamauga, Georgia native said. “What a cool night. I got to watch Biddle Ridley race down here when I was a kid and watched him and Jody (Ridley), got to talk to Jody tonight and Bill Elliott came over by the truck too. Just a lot of my childhood heroes, so it was just a cool night. It was awesome to win – an honor to all the Ridley family and everything they did for racing back in the day, it’s totally amazing. I’m very honored to win their event.”
Ross Bailes, Carson Ferguson, Benji Hick, and Sam Seawright rounded out the top five.
That led to the season finale on Sunday night, where Dale McDowell put on another clinic, leading every lap en route to the win at Duck River Raceway Park.
“It is important to start up front in these races, it really is,” stated McDowell, who now has 16 career Spring Nationals victories to his credit. “Qualifying is everything – everybody is so close. The competition level is unbelievable, just a lot of talent out there. All these guys, I mean it is just tough and if your night doesn’t go well throughout the night, then it is tough to get up through there. It’s been a great weekend for us with a pair of victories and I just have to thank everyone associated with our Shane McDowell Racing team.”
Carson Ferguson secured his second straight Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Championship with a strong runner-up effort behind McDowell.
Benji Hicks came home in third, followed by Sam Seawright in fourth, and Caden Mullinax in fifth.
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series, visit https://www.southernnationalsseries.com.
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