Ross Bailes Leads Flag-To-Flag To Score Second Career Rebel Yell Title At Screven

Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – SYLVANIA, GA – Ross Bailes, of Clover, South Carolina, dominated the 22nd edition of the ‘Rebel Yell’ tonight, July 24 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia.

Ross, who stopped the clock third fastest in Group A during the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series qualifying session, picked up a heat race victory to earn the coveted pole position for the 53-lap headliner. He then outgunned fellow front row starter Steven Roberts at the drop of the green flag and was never seriously challenged throughout the distance in leading from flag-to-flag to bag the $10,053 top prize. Also a winner of the storied race back in 2019, Ross recorded his second career ‘Rebel Yell’ title tonight at the Peach State motorsports complex.

Steven Roberts, of Jesup, Georgia, was fast all evening and claimed a heat race triumph before knocking down the strong runner-up performance in the ‘Rebel Yell’ – 1.524 seconds behind Bailes’ #79 machine. Wil Herrington blasted from his seventh starting spot to land on the podium in third. Kenny Collins nabbed his second straight top five feature finish with the series, as he crossed underneath the checkers in the fourth position. Leading Dirt Draft Rookie of the Year contender and new Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series point leader Cody Overton moved past four competitors during the 53-lapper to wind up fifth in the final finishing order.

“The whole time out there I thought I was feeling the right-rear (tire) go down,” quoted Bailes following the race, which saw the top twelve finish on the lead lap. “I was just worried the whole time. I was paranoid really. It was unheard of how many flat tires we had on this deal last year. It started off the exact same way at Beckley (in the miniseries opener) and I was like, ‘You have got to be kidding me!’ But it worked out for us tonight. I hope we’ve broken the curse.”

Ross’ second career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals triumph now puts him tied for fourteenth on the all-time series win list. Both of his victories have come at Screven Motor Speedway (2019 & 2021). Ross also became the fourth different Southern Nationals winner in the four events that have escaped the wrath of Mother Nature so far this season. Bailes drove a Billy Hicks-owned #79 Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from H&H Auto Sales, Fred Caldwell Tractors, Bailes Construction, Felony Farms, and Hoosier Racing Tire.

Round seven of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series drew a 30 car field for the annual running of the ‘Rebel Yell’ at the James “Redd” Griffin-owned facility. Brent Dixon, of Elberton, Georgia, earned Fast Time honors during FK Rod Ends qualifying by laying down a fast lap of 14.567 seconds around Screven Motor Speedway. Heat race wins went to Ross Bailes, Cla Knight, Steven Roberts, and Kenny Collins, while Mark Whitener emerged victorious in the lone B-Main. Garrett Smith, who made hard contact with the wall in his heat race, and Benjamin Cranford were awarded series provisionals to gain access into the ‘Rebel Yell,’ while Ahnna Parkhurst and Chuck Southard opted to use an emergency provisional to make up the final row of the feature starting grid.

The action will shift to northern Georgia on Sunday, July 25, as the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series rolls into Rome Speedway in Rome, Georgia. Round eight of the miniseries will shell out a $4,053 payday tomorrow evening at the oval touted as the “World’s Fastest 1/2-Mile Clay Track.” Past Southern Nationals winners at Rome include: Chris Madden (’10), Jonathan Davenport (’11), Clint Smith (’12), William Thomas (’13), Randy Weaver (’14), Dale McDowell (’16), and Austin Horton (’18 & ’19).

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels
Event #7 of 12
Race Summary
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Screven Motor Speedway – Sylvania, Georgia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (1) Ross Bailes $10,053
2. (2) Steven Roberts $5,000
3. (7) Wil Herrington $2,500
4. (4) Kenny Collins $1,800
5. (9) Cody Overton $1,250
6. (10) Dale McDowell $900
7. (14) Michael Brown – $800
8. (13) Jordy Nipper $700
9. (3) Cla Knight $675
10. (6) Dalton Cook $650
11. (12) Donald McIntosh $625
12. (11) Jensen Ford $600
13. (8) Brian Nuttall, Jr. $575
14. (16) Cole Exum $550
15. (15) Ethan Wilson $525
16. (21) Garrett Smith $500
17. (22) Benjamin Cranford $500
18. (23) Ahnna Parkhurst $75
19. (19) Stacy Boles $500
20. (18) Payton Freeman $500
21. (17) Mark Whitener $500
22. (5) Brent Dixon $500
23. (20) Anthony Sanders $500
24. (24) Chuck Southard $75

Entries: 30
Lap Leaders: Ross Bailes (Laps 1-53)
Cautions: 2 (Lap 18 for debris, Lap 20 for a multi-car pileup)

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Brent Dixon 14.567
Group A: Brent Dixon 14.567
Group B: Steven Roberts 14.856

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. Ross Bailes, 2. Brent Dixon, 3. Cody Overton, 4. Jordy Nipper, 5. Payton Freeman, 6. Pearson Lee Williams, 7. Jimmy Sharpe, Jr., 8. Will Harris

American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. Cla Knight, 2. Wil Herrington, 3. Jensen Ford, 4. Ethan Wilson, 5. Nick Schlager, 6. Joshua Bishop, DNS. Jeff Neubert

E-Z GO Heat Race #3 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. Steven Roberts, 2. Dalton Cook, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. Michael Brown, 5. Mark Whitener, 6. Anthony Sanders, 7. Ahnna Parkhurst, 8. Chuck Southard

Delph Communications Heat Race #4 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. Kenny Collins, 2. Brian Nuttall, Jr., 3. Donald McIntosh, 4. Cole Exum, 5. Stacy Boles, 6. Benjamin Cranford, 7. Garrett Smith

Collins Signs B-Main Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. Mark Whitener, 2. Payton Freeman, 3. Stacy Boles, 4. Anthony Sanders, 5. Pearson Lee Williams, 6. Ahnna Parkhurst, 7. Nick Schlager, 8. Jimmy Sharpe, Jr., 9. Will Harris, 10. Chuck Southard, DNS. Garrett Smith, DNS. Joshua Bishop, DNS. Benjamin Cranford, DNS. Jeff Neubert

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