Dirt on Dirt - Carson Ferguson tops $8,022 Blue-Gray prelim

October 10

Cherokee Speedway,

Gaffney, SC

Sanction: Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series (Blue-Gray prelim) - $8,022

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated October 13, 8:14 am)

Carson Ferguson tops $8,022 Blue-Gray prelim

Blue-Gray prelim

Carson Ferguson
Hudson O'Neal
Chris Ferguson
Jimmy Owens
Sam Seawright
Daulton Wilson
Ben Watkins
Trent Ivey
Zack Mitchell
Jordan Koehler
Layton Sullivan
Ross Bailes
Clay Harris
Michael Leach
Steve Banal
Joseph Joiner
Beckham Malone
Luke Morey
Cory Hedgecock
Dalton Cook
Christian Thomas
Dillard Hatchett
Josh Putnam
Oakley Johns
Mario Gresham
Kaede Loudy
Banjo Duke
Jeff Smith
Brent Dixon

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Carson Ferguson celebrates his first victory in more than a year.

What won the race: Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., led all but the opening lap for a commanding opening night performance in the 35th annual Blue-Gray 100, earning $8,022 in Friday's Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series action at Cherokee Speedway. Ferguson beat seventh-starting Hudson O'Neal by 0.490 of a second for his first win of the season and first special event score in more than a year.

Quotable: “I knew the start was gonna be everything. I don’t really know what I did getting into (turn) three the first time, I totally overshot that, but I knew it was important to get the lead there,” Ferguson said. “I heard somebody keep blasting the top or middle, or something, behind me. I knew if I could just keep beating the wall down on the straightaway, trying to use the whole track, trying to enter (the corners) as late as I could — yeah, just track position.”

Key notes: Ferguson, now a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular, grabbed his fourth career Hunt the Front Series victory and his first since last April 12's Southbound Throwdown opener at Florida's All-Tech Raceway, worth $5,000. ... Ferguson also swept 2023's series visits to Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway. ... Fellow Lucas Oil regular, Hudson O'Neal, grabbed second on lap 25 and trailed Ferguson the final handful of laps but never truly challenged. The seventh-starting O'Neal moved from fifth to second between laps 11 and 25. ... Chris Ferguson, the race winner's older cousin, grabbed third on the 25th lap and rounded out the podium finishers. ... Points leader Jimmy Owens ran as high as third in the early going before settling for fourth to pad his points lead. ... Sam Seawright led the opening lap from the pole before hopping the turn-one cushion at the start of the 25th lap, dropping him to fifth in the final rundown. ... Daulton Wilson faded three spots for a sixth-place finish aboard Augie Burttram's No. 58 Big Frog Motorsports entry. ... The race was slowed by just one caution when Kaede Loudy lost a driveshaft on the 11th lap. He was credited with 26th. ... The 30-lap Blue-Gray 100 prelim lasted 11 minutes with 24 starters completing the distance. ... The two-day event concludes with Saturday's $35,000-to-win 35th annual Blue-Gray 100. ... Brandon Overton and the Cowan brothers were among notable non-qualifiers.

On the move: Runner up Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., started seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Ferguson’s Paylor Motorsports Longhorn is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Coltman Farms, Hoopaugh Grading Company, Franklin Enterprises, Tribble Electric, Night Owl National Contractors, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, John Page Racing, Baker-Mitchell Company, Brad Benton Trucking, VG Performance Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Lucas Oil, ArmsList.com, DirtCarLift.com, Pro Fabrication and Indocil Art.

Points chase: After Cherokee Friday: 1. Jimmy Owens (1,110); 2. Cory Hedgecock (1,048); 3. Joseph Joiner (1,032); 4. Dalton Cook (1,010); 5. Zack Mitchell (996).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 57°F

Car count: 42

Fast qualifier: Daulton Wilson

Time: 15.330 seconds

Polesitter: Sam Seawright

Heat race winners: Carson Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Daulton Wilson, Sam Seawright

Consolation race winners: Cory Hedgecock, Banjo Duke

Provisional starters: Dalton Cook, Josh Putnam, Brent Dixon, Luke Morey, Dillard Hatchett, Mario Gresham

Next series race: January 30, Needmore Speedway (Norman Park, GA) $10,000

Editor's note: Corrects race distance to 30 laps (sted 40); removes WP from winner's sponsors; corrects 21st-place finisher to Christian Thomas (sted Hanger).

From staff reports

GAFFNEY, S.C. — Updates from Friday’s 35th annual Blue-Gray 100 preliminary night, highlighted by a 30-lap, $8,022-to-win main event for Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., led all but the opening lap for a dominating opening night performance in the 35th annual Blue-Gray 100, earning $8,022 in Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series action at Cherokee Speedway. Ferguson beat seventh-starting Hudson O'Neal by 0.490 of a second for his first win of the season and first special event in more than a year.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Sam Seawright, Carson Ferguson
Row 2: Daulton Wilson, Jimmy Owens
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Ben Watkins
Row 4: Hudson O'Neal, Zack Mitchell
Row 5: Trent Ivey, Jordan Koehler
Row 6: Layton Sullivan, Joseph Joiner
Row 7: Clay Harris, Michael Leach
Row 8: Ross Bailes, Steve Banal
Row 9: Cory Hedgecock, Banjo Duke
Row 10: Beckham Malone, Oakley Johns
Row 11: Christian Thomas, Jeff Smith
Row 12: Dalton Cook, Josh Putnam
Row 13: Brent Dixon, Luke Morey
Row 14: Dillard Hatchett, Mario Gresham
Row 15: Kaede Loudy

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Cory Hedgecock, Beckham Malone, Christian Thomas, Haiden Cowan, Gavin Cowan, Brandon Overton, Jake Jackson, Dalton Cook, Evan Koehler, Bayley Currey, Braden Jones, Landen Zakalowski. Scratched: Anthony Sanders.

Second consolation: Banjo Duke, Oakley Johns, Jeff Smith, Luke Morey, Mario Gresham, Kaede Loudy, Josh Putnam, Kevin Wilson, Dillard Hatchett, Kale Green, Tegan Evans. Scratched: Brent Dixon, Gray Parton.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Carson Ferguson, Chris Ferguson, Trent Ivey, Clay Harris, Cory Hedgecock, Christian Thomas, Brandon Overton, Dalton Cook, Jake Jackson, Anthony Sanders, Landen Zakalowski.

Second heat: Jimmy Owens, Hudson O'Neal, Layton Sullivan, Ross Bailes, Beckham Malone, Gavin Cowan, Haiden Cowan, Braden Jones, Bayley Currey, Evan Koehler.

Third heat: Daulton Wilson, Ben Watkins, Jordan Koehler, Michael Leach, Banjo Duke, Jeff Smith, Luke Morey, Brent Dixon, Kaede Loudy, Dillard Hatchett, Tegan Evans.

Fourth heat: Sam Seawright, Zack Mitchell, Joseph Joiner, Steve Banal, Oakley Johns, Josh Putnam, Kale Green, Gray Parton, Mario Gresham, Kevin Wilson.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.418
2. Layton Sullivan (2), Gaffney, S.C., 15.442
3. Christian Thomas (06), Wake Forest, N.C., 15.484
4. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.527
5. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 15.561
6. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.603
7. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.607
8. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 15.686
9. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 15.698
10. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 15.789
11. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.807
12. Ross Bailes (16B), Clover, S.C., 15.807
13. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.872
14. Gavin Cowan (19), Rincon, Ga., 15.983
15. Dalton Cook (44), Smiths Station, Ala., 15.986
16. Evan Koehler (11), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.990
17. Jake Jackson (J1), Gilkey, N.C., 15.990
18. Bayley Currey (Zero), Driftwood, Texas, 16.118
19. Anthony Sanders (421), Spartanburg, S.C., 16.159
20. Braden Jones (5J), Cherryville, N.C., 16.191
21. Landen Zakalowski (57z), Wexahachie, Texas, 16.964
Group B
1. Daulton Wilson (58), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.330
2. Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 15.378
3. Ben Watkins (16w), Rock Hill, S.C., 15.485
4. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.552
5. Banjo Duke (33), Manning, S.C., 15.644
6. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.655
7. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.669
8. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 15.738
9. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.746
10. Josh Putnam (212), Florence, Ala., 15.767
11. Jeff Smith (70), Dallas, N.C., 15.773
12. Oakley Johns (c6), Hohenwald, Tenn., 15.807
13. Dillard Hatchett (59), Cornersville, Tenn., 15.935
14. Kale Green (4), Pelion, S.C., 15.948
15. Luke Morey (49), Zeeland, Mich., 15.963
16. Steve Banal (8B), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.999
17. Brent Dixon (1D), Elberton, Ga., 16.000
18. Mario Gresham (21), Rome, Ga., 16.154
19. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 16.244
20. Kevin Wilson (618), Stoneville, N.C., 16.744
21. Tegan Evans (T22), Clinton, Iowa, 17.014

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Front-wheel drive hot laps
- Thunder bomber hot laps
- Young gun hot laps
- Front-wheel drive time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Young gun time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Thunder bomber heats (6 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Front-wheel drive feature (22 laps)
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Thunder bomber feature (15 laps)
- Young gun feature (12 laps)