Tri-County Race Track
July 30, 2015
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Casey Roberts Takes Southern Nationals Point Lead with Third Series Victory

Southern Nationals PR
BRASSTOWN, NC (July 30) - Casey Roberts and Billy Ogle Jr. are now neck-and-neck going into the final two Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals Series point races after Roberts' $3,500 victory on Thursday Night during Round 7 at Tri-County Race Track.

Roberts drove the Cushman Motorsports, Cushman Paint & Body, M & S Concrete, Allstar Performance, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, VP Racing Fuels and Hoosier Racing Tire-sponsored Custom powered Longhorn Chassis to his eleventh career Southern Nationals Series victory.

Roberts and Austin Smith brought the field of 22 to the green flag for the start of the 35-lapper with Roberts going to the point early. Smith would go to work on Roberts for the lead several times in the first couple of laps and by lap five take the lead away as the field worked closely around the lapped traffic.

By lap 13, tenth starting Craig Vosbergen had worked his way into the top-five by doing a slider on Vic Hill to take the position meanwhile Dennis Franklin was working his way from sixth to a podium finish by taking the third spot away from Billy Ogle Jr. on lap 17.

On lap 20, Roberts had begun to move up the track and make his presence known on this high side and by lap 21 was back around Smith for the lead spot. Roberts would stretch out his lead to over a second towards the end and go on to victory lane at a track that he had not lost in competition since 2013. Trailing Roberts at the line was Smith, Franklin, Donald McIntosh and Ogle.

Four cautions slowed the event. The first yellow flag fell on lap 12 as Bo Eaton came to a rest on the bottom of the front-chute. The next yellow flag came on lap 16 as Eaton pun in turn four, ending his night. The next yellow flag would come on lap 21 as Rob Mayea spun his mount in turn four and on the restart, four cars got together bringing out the final yellow flag.

The Series moves to Smoky Mountain (Tenn.) Speedway on Friday Night for the 100th series event paying $5,300-to-win.

For the latest information, please log on to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.

Feature Results of Southern Nationals Series Round # 7 at Tri-County Race Track:
1. Casey Roberts-Toccoa, Ga.
2. Austin Smith-Cedartown, Ga.
3. Dennis Franklin-Gaffney, S.C.
4. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
5. Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, Tenn.
6. Craig Vosbergen-Perth, Western Australia
7. Mark Whitener-Middleburg, Fla.
8. Kenny Collins-Colbert, Ga.
9. Shawn Chastain-Murphy, N.C.
10. Vic Hill-Mosheim, Tenn.
11. Mark Dotson-Cameron, Mo.
12. George Mashburn-Murphy, N.C
13. Charlie Parker-Hayesville, N.C.
14. Danny Ledford-Warne, N.C.
15. Rodney Weeks-Blue Ridge, Ga.
16. Chuck Padgett-Jasper, Ga.
17. David Conley-Franklin, N.C.
18. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
19. Rob Mayea-Bend, Oreg.
20. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
21. Bo Eaton-Blue Ridge, Ga.
22. Anthony Rymer-Copperhill, Tenn.

Time of Race: 23 minutes, 22 seconds
Margin of Victory: 01.651 seconds
Yellow Flags: Four (laps 12, 16, 21, 21 RS)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Roberts (1-4), A. Smith (5-20), Roberts (21-35)
Entries: 25
Overall Fast Qualifier: Austin Smith-12.742 seconds
Series Provisionals: Bo Eaton and Chuck Padgett

Dash for Cash ($100 to winner): Casey Roberts, Austin Smith, Billy Ogle Jr., Vic Hill

Last Chance Race One Finish (10 Laps/Top-8 advance): Shawn Chastain, Stacy Boles, David Payne, Mark Dotson, Rob Mayea, Charlie Parker, David Conley, Rodney Weeks, Chuck Padgett, D.J. Hayes, Jamie Oliver.

Last Chance Race Two Finish (10 Laps/Top-8 advance): Dennis Franklin, Donald McIntosh, Craig Vosbergen, Kenny Collins, Mark Whitener, George Mashburn, Anthony Rymer, Danny Ledford, Mason Massey, Bo Eaton.

Current Series Points (after July 30):
1. Casey Roberts-1,224
2. Billy Ogle Jr.-1,214
3. Donald McIntosh-1,197
4. Austin Smith-1,193
5. Vic Hill-1,173
6. Craig Vosbergen-1,169
7. Mark Dotson-1,151 ®
8. Stacy Boles-1,105
9. Dennis Franklin-665
10. Mark Whitener-615