What won the race: Dominating the action from start-to-finish, Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., romped to victory in Friday night’s 40-lap Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals feature at Swainsboro Raceway. The 2022 tour champion beat Ashton Winger to the finish line by 1.805 seconds for a $7,553 payday and his second win in as many series starts this season.

Quotable: “Dad was giving me some good signal sticks,” Hedgecock said. “This place has chewed me up and spit me out several times, but, you know, just super tickled to death to get it done. Dad's been working his tail off and everything.”

Key notes: Hedgecock started from the pole position and was never seriously challenged in the caution-free feature as he recorded his seventh career Southern Nationals triumph. … Hedgecock’s other 2025 Southern Nationals start was also a victory Tuesday night at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn. … Coming off a series victory the previous night at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway, Winger came from the sixth starting spot to finish second. His hard tires came on late in the distance to carry him past Dalton Cook for third on lap 30 and Wil Herrington for second on lap 35. … Cook went to the outside lane on the final lap to pass Herrington for a third-place finish. … Herrington settled for fourth after running second for the first 34 laps while Austin Yarbrough was fifth for a career-best Southern Nationals finish. … Jimmy Owens and Garrett Smith — the top two drivers in series points — were never factors. Owens finished 16th as the last driver on the lead lap while Smith was lapped on the 12th circuit and placed 19th. ... Hot laps were pushed back to 8 p.m. local time because of extreme heat.

On the move: Jackson Hise of Ocala, Fla., started 12th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Hedgecock’s BMF Race Car is powered by an Eagle Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Best Plumber, K&P Used Cars, Base Fuels, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, SFP Performance, Currin Construction, Circle H Services, CH Enterprises, Pro-Fabrication, Viper Motorsports, Arizona Sportswear, CDE Electric, Majestic Mobile Detail, Hoosier Tire, Winters Performance, Quickcar Racing Products, Brucebilt Performance and Schaeffer's Racing Oil.

Points chase: After Swainsboro: 1. Jimmy Owens (1,118); 2. Kaede Loudy (1,108); 3. Garrett Smith (1,094); T4. Mike Benedum (1,050); T4. Beckham Malone (1,050); 6. Chris Madden (756).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Cory Hedgecock

Time: 15.949 seconds

Polesitter: Cory Hedgecock

Consolation race winners: Cody Overton, Austin Smith

Provisional starters: Jimmy Owens, Mike Benedum, Haiden Cowan

Next series race: July 19, Screven Motor Speedway (Sylvania, GA) $10,053