May 8
Cherokee Speedway,
Gaffney, SC
Sanction: Ultimate Southeast Series (Big Chief 40) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 11, 11:25 am)
Anthony Sanders inherits $5,000 at Cherokee
Big Chief 40
- Anthony Sanders
- Ben Watkins
- Ross Bailes
- Dillon Brown
- Dennis Franklin
- Trent Ivey
- Dustin Mitchell
- Zack Mitchell
- Jeff Smith
- Brent Dixon
- Matthew Nance
- Chris Ferguson
- Adam Yarbrough
- Dean Bowen
- Bryson Harper
- Cla Knight
- Nick Schlager
- Brian Ledbetter
- Will Harris
- Corey Gordon
- Chris Blackwell
- Justin Hudspeth
- Tim Vance
- Ron Parker
- Doug Sanders
presented by
Kevin Ritchie
Anthony Sanders enjoys victory lane at Cherokee Speedway.
What won the race: Grabbing the lead after race-long pacesetter Chris Ferguson cut down a tire heading for the white flag, Anthony Sanders of Spartanburg, S.C., scored his first career Ultimate Southeast Series victory Saturday at Cherokee Speedway. Sanders made an outside pass of the slowing Ferguson and a held-up Ross Bailes exiting turn four on lap 39 and raced to the checkers in the Big Chief 40 to claim $5,000.
Quotable: "Finally. It's took me seven years to get here. We lost some races leading. I lost to Ross (Bailes) down here two years ago and I've been wanting that one back so bad," Sanders said. "I always run good here and it doesn't feel any better than to win right here at my hometown track. I hate that for Chris — he had the best car. ... we came off turn two and I saw his right-rear go down. I was like, man. I didn't know which way Ross was going to go. When he went to the bottom, I said, just stay at the bottom, stay at the bottom. I went to the outside and it worked out great."
Key notes: Sanders became the fifth different winner in five Ultimate Series races this season. ... Ferguson, who led laps 1-39 limped across the line in 14th with a flat right-rear tire. … Sanders finished 1.480 seconds ahead of third-starting Ben Watkins while Ross Bailes ended up third. … Nineteen cars completed 40 laps.
On the move: Brent Dixon of Elberton, Ga., started 15th and finished 10th.
Winner's sponsors: Sanders drives a Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from M&W Transport, C&D Properties, Sanders Headliners, Bailes Construction, Fat Daddy Baggers, MAR Supply, Terry Worley Enterprises, Big A’s Custom Graphics and Cruise with the Champions.
Points chase: Heading to Cherokee, Anthony Sanders (124 points) led Dustin Mitchell (116), Cla Knight (116), Matthew Nance (116) and Jeff Smith (113).
Current weather: Broken Clouds, 64°F
Car count: 27
Fast qualifier: Chris Ferguson
Time: 15.132 seconds
Polesitter: Chris Ferguson
Consolation race winners: Dustin Mitchell, Dean Bowen
Next series race: May 14, Natural Bridge Speedway (Natural Bridge, VA) $5,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
