Dirt on Dirt - McDowell back in Lucas victory lane at Smoky

June 20

Smoky Mountain Speedway,

Maryville, TN

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Mountain Moonshine Classic) - $30,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 21, 1:06 am)

McDowell back in Lucas victory lane at Smoky

Mountain Moonshine Classic

Dale McDowell
Devin Moran
Brandon Sheppard
Jake O'Neil
Chris Madden
Carson Ferguson
Max Blair
Kyle Bronson
Sam Seawright
Dillon McCowan
Clay Harris
Hudson O'Neal
Brenden Smith
Brandon Overton
Daniel Hilsabeck
Dan Ebert
Brian Shirley
Cory Lawler
Josh Rice
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Noah Phillips
Donald McIntosh
Chris Ferguson
Garrett Alberson
Michael Page
Mike Marlar

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Live video

Heath Lawson/heathlawsonphotos.com

Smoky Mountain Speedway hosts this weekend's Mountain Moonshine Classic.

What won the race: Dispatching polesitter Brandon Sheppard on the opening lap and navigating two rounds of lapped traffic without incident, Dale McDowell returned to Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory lane at Smoky Mountain Speedway for the first time since 2016 on Saturday in Maryville, Tenn. The 60-year-old from Chickamauga, Ga., led all 60 laps and took the checkers 1.113 seconds ahead of Devin Moran for the $30,000 payday.

Quotable: "It was an awesome night to run here at home. Like Kyle Busch said, you never know when the last one's gonna be. I sure am glad to win one close to him," McDowell said in victory lane before adding that "when I got to lapped traffic, the car was good enough. (Brother) Shane had made it balanced. He made a few changes from last night and had it balanced really good. I was able to kind of enter up and come back across. Credit to him. I had to guide it without hitting too much stuff."

Key notes: The victory marked McDowell’s first Lucas Oil triumph since his stirring 2023 Topless 100 victory at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark., that Aug. 19. It’s also McDowell’s 13th special-event triumph at Smoky Mountain going back to May 2008, combining for more than $122,000 over that span. … McDowell’s first round of lapped traffic spanned from laps 9-40 while his second occurred over the final five laps, the decisive stretch where Moran ran down the 60-year-old and drew within two car lengths with six laps to go. McDowell put multiple lapped cars between he and Moran, though, after the Double Down Motorsports driver erased his lead, creating enough of a cushion to hold on. McDowell led by as much as 2.525 seconds on lap 29 over Brandon Sheppard. … Jake O’Neil of Tucson, Ariz., finished fourth for his his career-best result on the Lucas Oil tour. … Friday’s Smoky Mountain winner, Sheppard, held on to finish third after starting from the pole. … Lucas Oil points leader Hudson O'Neal relinquished his fourth starting spot after pulling into the hot pit during the pace laps. FloRacing pit reporter Chris Moore speculated the issue was related to the car's fuel pickup, though nothing was confirmed. O'Neal returned to the hot pit under the opening-lap caution before rejoining the field before finishing 12th. … Ricky Thornton Jr.’s feature ended prematurely on lap 44 as he slowed running sixth to draw the race’s third caution. FloRacing’s Chris Moore reported engine troubles forced Thornton’s exit. … An opening-lap pileup involving Garrett Alberson, Dan Ebert, Daniel Hilsabeck, Mike Marlar and Michael Page brought early drama to the 60-lap feature. The incident began when contact between Dillon McCowan and Page sent Page spinning in front of the field. Thornton Jr. clipped Page as his car slid down the track, but escaped with only minor damage and continued before retiring on lap 44. Marlar didn’t continue because of a hole in the radiator of his brand-new No. 157 XR2 Rocket Chassis. Page also didn’t continue. … Cory Lawler brought out the second caution on lap 40 as the Hanover, Pa., driver spun running 20th. … Alberson finished 24th after scratching from time trials after resorting to a backup car following hot laps. The Las Cruces, N.M., driver retired from the feature on lap 11. … Jimmy Owens scratched for the night after time trials aboard the McCarter Family No. 20 MasterSbilt Race Car. ... Nineteen drivers were running at the finish, with 14 on the lead lap.

On the move: Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., started 21st and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: McDowell’s Shane McDowell Racing Team Zero Race Car is powered by a Clements Racing engine and sponsored by Reece Monument Company, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Ace Doran Trucking & Rigging, Otterly Baths, Black Rock Enterprises, BSI Well Service, Mount Airy Polaris, Campbell Insulation, M&S Motors, Jason Wright Excavating, AAA General Contractors, RimTek, Go Lithium Batteries, Northeastern Fabrication and Fox Racing Shox.

Points chase: Before Smoky Mountain Saturday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (3,750); 2. Brandon Sheppard (3,670); 3. Devin Moran (3,510); 4. Brandon Overton (3,395); 5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (3,365); 6. Max Blair (3,290); 7. Garrett Alberson (3,200); 8. Brian Shirley (3,115); 9. Josh Rice (3,090); 10. Kyle Bronson (3,015).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 77°F

Car count: 37

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 14.284 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Heat race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Dale McDowell, Hudson O'Neal

Consolation race winners: Clay Harris, Mike Marlar

Provisional starters: Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley, Josh Rice, Cory Lawler

Next series race: June 25, Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) $5,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Live updates from Saturday’s Mountain Moonshine Classic finale at Smoky Mountain Speedway, highlighted by a 60-lap, $30,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Dispatching polesitter Brandon Sheppard on the opening lap and navigating through two rounds of lapped traffic without incident, Dale McDowell returned to Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory lane at Smoky Mountain Speedway for the first time since 2016 on Saturday in Maryville, Tenn. The 60-year-old from Chickamauga, Ga., led all 60 laps and took the checkers 1.113 seconds ahead of Devin Moran for the $30,000 payday.

Feature lineup

(60 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Sheppard, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Kyle Bronson, Hudson O'Neal
Row 3: Chris Madden, Jake O'Neil
Row 4: Devin Moran, Michael Page
Row 5: Chris Ferguson, Carson Ferguson
Row 6: Dillon McCowan, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 7: Donald McIntosh, Brenden Smith
Row 8: Sam Seawright, Dan Ebert
Row 9: Clay Harris, Mike Marlar
Row 10: Daniel Hilsabeck, Brandon Overton
Row 11: Max Blair, Noah Phillips
Row 12: Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley
Row 13: Josh Rice, Cory Lawler

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Clay Harris, Daniel Hilsabeck, Max Blair, Todd Morrow, Ben Watkins, Garrett Alberson, Justin Smith, Heath Hindman, Donovan Jackson, J.T. Seawright, Jack Franklin.

Second consolation: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Noah Phillips, Casey Roberts, Josh Rice, Brian Shirley, Cory Lawler, Gray Parton, Dylan Barrow. Scratched: Jimmy Owens.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden, Chris Ferguson, Donald McIntosh, Todd Morrow, Ben Watkins, Heath Hindman, Justin Smith, J.T. Seawright.

Second heat: Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Dillon McCowan, Sam Seawright, Clay Harris, Daniel Hilsabeck, Max Blair, Donovan Jackson, Garrett Alberson, Jack Franklin.

Third heat: Dale McDowell, Jake O'Neil, Carson Ferguson, Brenden Smith, Mike Marlar, Noah Phillips, Josh Rice, Brian Shirley. Scratched: Jimmy Owens.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Michael Page, Ricky Thornton Jr., Dan Ebert, Brandon Overton, Casey Roberts, Dylan Barrow, Gray Parton, Cory Lawler.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.284
2. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.368
3. Chris Madden (44m), Gray Court, S.C., 14.566
4. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.580
5. Donald McIntosh (7m), Dawsonville, Ga., 14.620
6. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.630
7. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 14.824
8. Sam Seawright (16s), Rainsville, Ala., 14.850
9. Justin Smith (7s), Barbourville, Ky., 14.873
10. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.874
11. Chris Ferguson (22F), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.893
12. Donovan Jackson (93J), Hope Mills, N.C., 14.909
13. Ben Watkins (16w), Rock Hill, S.C., 14.986
14. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.061
15. Heath Hindman (91), Signal Mountain, Tenn., 15.164
16. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.194
17. J.T. Seawright (1x), Fort Payne, Ala., 15.245
18. Jack Franklin (12), Murfreesboro, Tenn., 15.622
19. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., no time
Group B
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.419
2. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.601
3. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 14.710
4. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.753
5. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.765
6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.855
7. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.857
8. Michael Page (18x), Douglasville, Ga., 14.905
9. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.919
10. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.008
11. Noah Phillips (15), Sevierville, Tenn., 15.023
12. Dylan Barrow (17au), Morristown, Tenn., 15.079
13. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.097
14. Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 15.174
15. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.187
16. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 15.270
17. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 15.449
18. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 15.952

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - All gates open
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration open
3:30 p.m. - Church outreach service
5:30 p.m. - Driver autograph session
6:15 p.m. - Tech and registration close
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Street stock group qualifying
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Sportsman group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Crown Vic hot laps
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Street stocks (20 laps)
- Late Models (60 laps)
- Sportsman (20 laps)
- Crown Vics (15 laps)