Dirt on Dirt - Mitchell repels Joiner to win $15,000 at Cherokee

March 2

Cherokee Speedway,

Gaffney, SC

Sanction: Unsanctioned Supers (Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness) - $15,000

Information provided by: Track reports (last updated March 3, 4:57 pm)

Mitchell repels Joiner to win $15,000 at Cherokee

Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness

Zack Mitchell
Joseph Joiner
Chris Ferguson
Carson Ferguson
Donald McIntosh
Daulton Wilson
Benji Hicks
John Henderson
Steve Banal
Cory Hedgecock
Beckham Malone
Gray Parton
Ross Bailes
Trent Ivey
Dalton Peavy
John Price
Brent Robinson
Ben Watkins
Luke Morey
Michael Brown
Taylor Puckett
Keaton Smith
Michael Leach
Layton Sullivan

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Zack Kloosterman/zskphotography.com

Zack Mitchell (57) holds off Joseph Joiner (10) to win $15,000.

What won the race: Second-starting Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., repelled a late-race surge from Joseph Joiner to lead all 50 laps in Sunday's Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness feature at Cherokee Speedway. Mitchell beat Joiner to the line by 0.322 of a second for the $15,000 top prize, his first career March Madness triumph and his first 2025 victory.

Quotable: "I knew (Joiner) was pretty close," Mitchell said. "I knew there probably wasn’t gonna be much of a chance that he was gonna get around me on the outside cause it was dirtying up a lot, but I was just trying to keep my tires up under me and just keep it good and straight and in the shiny part.”

Key notes: Zack Mitchell overcame hitting the turn-one wall on his second qualifying lap after setting fast time with his first lap. ... Mitchell captured his sixth Cherokee triumph, all of them coming since Aug. 11, 2018, boosting his total winnings to more than $66,000 in that span. ... It's his first win since Oct. 5 in Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series action at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.. ... The fifth-starting Joiner grabbed the runner-up spot on a lap-15 restart and pressured Mitchell the rest of the way. ... Chris Ferguson finished third in his season debut, just ahead of cousin Carson Ferguson. ... Daulton Wilson overcame right-front damage on a lap-30 restart attempt for a sixth-place finish. ... The incident involving Wilson drew the race's fifth and final caution when fifth-running Benji Hicks didn't get going, causing Wilson's right-front to ramp up Hicks's left-rear. Officials repaired the resulting damage with Hicks coming home seventh. ... Beckham Malone overcame a heat race rollover to finish 11th. The teenager hopped out and appeared emotional after his opening-lap heat spin sent him into the turn-one wall, then up and over one time before landing on his wheels. ... Eighth-running Ross Bailes had a flat right-rear under the lap-30 caution. ... Last year's winner Trent Ivey drew two yellow flags (from third on lap 11 and lap 30) and pitting for a new right-rear tire each time. ... The most serioius incident came on the second lap-30 restart attempt and required a 10-minute red flag after Ben Watkins spun while battling Hicks for fifth, collecting Michael Brown, Taylor Puckett and Keaton Smith. ... Watkins placed 18th, the final starter to complete 50 laps. ... Polesitter Layton Sullivan trailed Mitchell the opening 14 laps before slowing with water pressure issues. Sullivan made his Super Late Model debut aboard Dennis "Rambo" Fanklin's No. 2 entry as Franklin battles health issues. ... The race lasted 41 minutes.

On the move: Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., started 11th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell's Brett Coltman-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Coltman Farms Racing, Autism Awareness, Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, MPM Marketing, SoCar Chemical, DirtCarLift.com, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, SRI Performance, Bayea Headers, Swift Springs and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: It's the season opener.

Current weather: Clear, 49°F

Car count: 29

Fast qualifier: Zack Mitchell

Time: 15.701 seconds

Polesitter: Layton Sullivan

Heat race winners: Layton Sullivan, Ross Bailes, Zack Mitchell, Chris Ferguson

Consolation race winners: Michael Brown

Editor's note: Adds Mitchell's engine manufacturer in sponsor list.

From staff reports

GAFFNEY, S.C. — Updates from Sunday’s Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness at Cherokee Speedway, highlighted by a 50-lap main event for unsanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Second-starting Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., repelled a late-race surge from Joseph Joiner to lead all 50 laps in winning Sunday's Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness at Cherokee Speedway. Mitchell beat Joiner to the line by 0.322 of a second for the $15,000 top prize, his first career March Madness triumph and his first victory of the 2025 season. The event was the first of the HTF-officiated Cherokee Chief Super Late Model events.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Layton Sullivan, Zack Mitchell
Row 2: Ross Bailes, Chris Ferguson
Row 3: Joseph Joiner, Trent Ivey
Row 4: Ben Watkins, Donald McIntosh
Row 5: John Henderson, Daulton Wilson
Row 6: Carson Ferguson, Cory Hedgecock
Row 7: Benji Hicks, John Price
Row 8: Steve Banal, Brent Robinson
Row 9: Dalton Peavy, Michael Leach
Row 10: Luke Morey, Taylor Puckett
Row 11: Michael Brown, Keaton Smith
Row 12: Gray Parton, Beckham Malone

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

Results: Michael Brown, Keaton Smith, Gray Parton, Beckham Malone, Hunter Kohn, Kale Green, Kevin Wilson. Scratched: William McDaniels, Donovan Jackson.

Heat race recap

Layton Sullivan led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 2.228 seconds over third-starting Joseph Joiner, who took the runner-up spot from John Henderson on the opening lap. Benji Hicks and Dalton Peavy transferred and will join them in Sunday’s 50-lap main event. … Ross Bailes inherited control after Beckham Malone spun and backed into the turn-two wall on the opening lap, with Bailes leading the entire distance and winning heat two by 2.842 seconds over third-starting Ben Watkins. Watkins inadvertently pinched Carson Ferguson into the backstretch wall on the final lap, as Ferguson carried a head of steam off of turn two. Sixth-starting Steve Banal finished fourth. The teenage Malone, of Rock Hill, S.C., lazily rolled over onto his roof after backing into the turn-two wall, before landing on his wheels. He appeared OK, though extremely emotional and upset. … Zack Mitchell dominated the third heat, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.891 seconds over third-starting Trent Ivey, who trailed Mitchell all eight laps. Sixth-starting John Price placed fourth. … Third-starting Chris Ferguson used an opening-lap slider by Donald McIntosh and led all eight laps to claim the fourth and final heat race, beating McIntosh to the checkers by 0.459 of a second. Cory Hedgecock held off sixth-starting Brent Robinson for third, with Robinson settling for fourth.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Layton Sullivan, Joseph Joiner, John Henderson, Benji Hicks, Dalton Peavy, Keaton Smith, Kale Green, Kevin Wilson.

Second heat: Ross Bailes, Ben Watkins, Carson Ferguson, Steve Banal, Luke Morey, William McDaniels, Beckham Malone.

Third heat: Zack Mitchell, Trent Ivey, Daulton Wilson, John Price, Michael Leach, Gray Parton, Hunter Kohn.

Fourth heat: Chris Ferguson, Donald McIntosh, Cory Hedgecock, Brent Robinson, Taylor Puckett, Michael Brown. Scratched: Donavan Jackson.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Layton Sullivan (2), Gaffney, S.C., 16.131
2. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.142
3. John Henderson (2x), Aiken, S.C., 16.167
4. Ross Bailes (99), Clover, S.C., 16.319
5. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 16.367
6. Ben Watkins (16), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.374
7. Dalton Peavy (9), Mooresboro, N.C., 16.375
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.385
9. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.425
10. Luke Morey (49), Zeeland, Mich., 16.473
11. Kale Green (4), Pelion, S.C., 16.534
12. Steve Banal (8B), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.722
13. Keaton Smith (k7), Clinton, S.C., 17.104
14. Kevin Wilson (618), Soneville, N.C., 17.160
15. William McDaniels (m1), Mullins, S.C., 17.908
Group B
1. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.701
2. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.937
3. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 16.015
4. Michael Brown (24D), Pageland, S.C., 16.051
5. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 16.074
6. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.103
7. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 16.285
8. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 16.446
9. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 16.484
10. Taylor Puckett (17), Greer, S.C., 16.545
11. John Price (p4), Mill Spring, N.C., 16.633
12. Brent Robinson (3), Smithfield, Va., 16.738
13. Hunter Kohn (48), Mooresville, N.C., 17.346
14. Donovan Jackson (93J), Hope Mills, N.C., no time

Sunday’s schedule 

(All times local)
11 a.m. - Pits open
1 p.m. - Grandstands open
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
2:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- 602 Crate hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Thunder bomber group qualifying
- Extreme 4 group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 602 Crate time trials (2 laps)
- Crown vic group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Thunder bomber feature (20 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Extreme 4 feature (20 laps)
- Late Model feature (50 laps)
- 602 Crate feature (25 laps)
- Crown vic feature (20 laps)