What won the race: Collecting the richest payday of his career while leading 50 laps, outside front-row starter Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., bagged the $15,000 Valvoline Iron-Man Southern Series victory in Saturday’s Fall Nationals at I-75 Raceway. He finished 2.239 seconds ahead of third-starting Chris Ferguson.

Quotable: “I’m happy to run in front of them guys. I consider Chris a national guy and I’m ticked to death to run in front of him,” Hedgecock said. “Car was good, a little skatey on restarts. I struggled on right-rear 1600 (compound tire) sometimes just because. But I know we’re really good through lapped traffic sometimes and tonight we were. It was very maneuverable. I could enter in high and leave low. Whatever I needed to do I could make it work.”

Key notes: The winning purse paid $12,000 but Hedgecock collected a $3,000 bonus by sweeping fast time, a heat race and winning the main event. ... The win marked Hedgecock's fifth of the season at I-75 and 12th overall of 2021 campaign. ... Eli Beets moved from fourth to second early in the 50-lap race before eventually finishing fourth. ... The race opened with a long green-flag run, going nearly to the halfway point before a Robby Moses flat tire brought out the first caution. ... Ferguson used a series of late restarts to climb from fourth to second. ... Michael Courtney of Knoxville, Tenn., captured $1,200 for winning the 602 Crate Late Model feature.

On the move: Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., started 11th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Hedgecock’s Black Diamond Chassis is powered by an Eagle Race Engine with sponsorship from E-Z-Go, Green’s Recycling, Brucebilt Performance Parts, I-75 Raceway, Budget Transmission, Cobb’s Auto Parts, Ohlins and Pro Fabrication.

Points chase: After I-75: 1. Jensen Ford (836); 2. Michael Chilton (502); 3. Donald McIntosh (482); 4. Dustin Nobbe (423); 5. Tristan Chamberlain (349).

Current weather: Overcast, 59°F

Car count: 28

Fast qualifier: Cory Hedgecock

Time: 14.529 seconds

Polesitter: Stacy Boles

Heat race winners: Stacy Boles, Chris Ferguson, Cory Hedgecock, Eli Beets

Consolation race winners: David Payne

Next series race: November 27, 411 Motor Speedway (Seymour, TN) $5,000