Austin Horton Wires Southern Nationals Field In First-Ever West Georgia Speedway Visit

Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – WHITESBURG, GA – In the first-ever sanctioned Super Late Model event in the history of West Georgia Speedway, it was nearby racer Austin Horton, of Newnan, Georgia, that stole the show and etched his name into the record books for winning on Thursday night, July 22.

Austin earned Fast Time honors overall during the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series qualifying session and later rolled off from the pole position in the 40-lap headliner.

With a large crowd on hand at the Whitesburg, Georgia facility, Austin controlled the field from green to checkers and survived a restart with only three circuits remaining to lay claim to the $4,053 winner’s check.

Outside polesitter Brent Dixon, who paced Group B during time trials, chased Horton throughout the contest, but never managed a serious bid for the top spot. The Elberton, Georgia ace finished 1.775 seconds behind in the runner-up position. Pearson Lee Williams improved one spot during the course of the race to grab the final position on the podium in third. Dirt Draft Rookie of the Year contender Garrett Smith brought his #10 machine home in fourth while Kenny Collins moved up to fifth to complete an all-Georgia top five.

“It feels great to win here at West Georgia,” exclaimed Horton in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. “I made my first laps here. I cut my teeth here in a street stock. We’ve came a long way in a short time. Man, I don’t even know what to say … just glad to do it at the hometown track and get us another win. After a rough hot laps, it couldn’t have went any better after that!”

Austin’s third career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series victory moved him into a tie for eleventh all-time on the miniseries win list with Mike Marlar and Clint Smith. His triumph came aboard a #16 XR1 Rocket Chassis by Clint Smith Racing with sponsorship from Super K Express, Orr’s Towing, GW Performance, Franklin Enterprises, Top Notch Graphics, and Horton’s Inc.

Round five of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series drew a 27 car field for the first-ever visit to West Georgia Speedway. Eventual winner Austin Horton stopped the clock quickest in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his fast time of 14.090 seconds. Michael Page secured the win in Sunoco Race Fuels B-Main #1, while Jordy Nipper was victorious in American Racer South B-Main #2. Ahnna Parkhurst and Jeff Neubert utilized series provisionals to gain access into the A-Main, while Benjamin Cranford and Chuck Southard both took use of their emergency provisional.

Next up on the 12-race miniseries will be a trip to Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Georgia for a Friday night showdown on July 23. A $5,053 top prize will be on the line in round six of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals, while each feature starter will receive at least $450 to start. Brandon Overton won the lone series stop to Needmore last year, as he beat a top five that included runner-up Donald McIntosh, John Baker, Michael Page, and Pearson Lee Williams.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels
Event #5 of 12
Race Summary
Thursday, July 22, 2021
West Georgia Speedway – Whitesburg, Georgia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (1) Austin Horton $4,053
2. (2) Brent Dixon $2,000
3. (4) Pearson Lee Williams $1,400
4. (3) Garrett Smith $1,000
5. (6) Kenny Collins $800
6. (10) Mark Whitener $700
7. (8) Dalton Cook $600
8. (7) Donald McIntosh $550
9. (5) Cody Overton $525
10. (13) Wil Herrington $500
11. (9) Jensen Ford $480
12. (23) Benjamin Cranford $70
13. (15) Stacy Boles $460
14. (22) Jeff Neubert $450
15. (18) Michael Brown $440
16. (24) Chuck Southard $30
17. (21) Ahnna Parkhurst $420
18. (14) Dale McDowell $410
19. (16) Tyler Millwood $400
20. (11) Michael Page $400
21. (19) Joey Armistead $400
22. (20) Todd Morrow $400
23. (17) Will Harris $400
24. (12) Jordy Nipper $400

Entries: 27
Lap Leaders: Austin Horton (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 4 (Lap 3 for Jordy Nipper slowing with a flat tire, Lap 6 for a spinning Jordy Nipper, Lap 8 for Dale McDowell slowing with a flat tire, Lap 38 for a slowing Chuck Southard)

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Austin Horton 14.090 seconds
Group A (Top Five Locked In): Austin Horton, Garrett Smith, Cody Overton, Donald McIntosh, Jensen Ford
Group B (Top Five Locked In): Brent Dixon, Pearson Lee Williams, Kenny Collins, Dalton Cook, Mark Whitener

Sunoco Race Fuels B-Main #1 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. Michael Page, 2. Wil Herrington, 3. Stacy Boles, 4. Will Harris, 5. Joey Armistead, 6. Benjamin Cranford, 7. Ahnna Parkhurst, 8. Sam Seawright, 9. Billy Franklin

American Racer South B-Main #2 Finish (Top Five Transfer): 1. Jordy Nipper, 2. Dale McDowell, 3. Tyler Millwood, 4. Michael Brown, 5. Todd Morrow, 6. Chuck Southard, 7. Jeff Neubert, DNS. Joe Denby

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Provisionals: Ahnna Parkhurst, Jeff Neubert
Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Emergency Provisionals: Benjamin Cranford, Chuck Southard