Ethan Dotson Dominates Spring Nationals Opener at Waycross for First Series Win
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 29, 2024
Ethan Dotson Dominates Spring Nationals Opener at Waycross for First Series Win
(WAYCROSS, GEORGIA) On a night when the lights went out in Georgia, Ethan Dotson dominated the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco season opener on Thursday at Waycross Motor Speedway! After the action at the Waycross, Georgia oval was delayed by more than two hours due to a power outage from a mobile home moving incident nearby, Ethan proved to be the class of the 22-car field. The Bakersfield, California native won the Spring Pro Precision Equipment “Smashing the Clock” Award in hot laps with his quick lap of 16.251 and later backed it up by earning Fast Time honors in FK Rod Ends qualifying.
Ethan then grabbed the point at the drop of the green flag in the 40-lap main event from the pole position and held off all challenges in the inaugural Spring Nationals stop at Waycross. The driver of the Coltman Farms Racing #174 Longhorn Chassis captured his first series win and the $7,553 payday by 0.325 seconds ahead of third-starting Ryan Gustin. Donald McIntosh surged from his ninth starting spot to round out the podium in third. Pearson Lee Williams picked off six competitors to land in the fourth spot, while Clay Harris moved past three racecars to earn the final position inside of the top five.
“We went soft on tires and I figured the track would get one lane, so I just wanted to get the lead early and then maintain it,” quoted Dotson in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane. We got lucky, as those late cautions fell just at the right time for us. I was just too tight to circle around the bottom - I couldn’t keep it coming off of turn four and I was melting my tires off. I could feel them going away, so I was praying for that checkered flag.”
Ethan Dotson also thanked his car owner Brett Coltman in victory lane along with his sponsors including Coltman Farms Racing, Autism Awareness, Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, MPM Marketing, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein Shocks, ProFabrication, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, SRI Performance, Swift Springs, Strange Oval, K1 Race Gear, Miller Welders, KRC Power Steering, and DirtCarLift.com.
A total of 22 Spring Nationals competitors were on hand at Waycross Motor Speedway for the season opener. Due to time constraints from the power outage, the feature lineup was set solely from FK Rod Ends qualifying. Ethan Dotson topped Group A to earn the pole position, while Mark Fleischer went quickest in Group B to land the outside of the front row for the 40-lapper.
A total of four yellow flags slowed the action at Waycross. Jeff Baggett hit the turn one wall hard on lap 10 to draw the first caution flag, while Chad Tuten spun out of the fifth position on lap 28. On the subsequent lap 28 restart, a multi-car incident in turn two turned into a brief red flag situation to clean up the tangle. The fourth and final caution came on lap 32 when second place runner Brandon Overton suffered apparent ignition problems and slowed in front of the field.
Round two of the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series was slated to take place on Friday, March 1 at Swainsboro Raceway in Swainsboro, Georgia. However, the $10,053 to win event has already been canceled due to inclement weather and will not be rescheduled. The cars and stars racing with the spring miniseries will now turn their focus to another $10,053 to win program at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia on Saturday, March 2.
On Saturday at Senoia Raceway, the pit gates will swing open at 2:00pm, the grandstands will allow patrons into the historic facility at 4:00pm, the Drivers Meeting is at 6:30pm, and Hot Laps for the Super Late Models will start at 7:00pm. Adult grandstand admission will be $30.00, while kids ages 12 and under will be allowed into the stands for FREE. Pit admission will be $40.00 for adults, $20.00 for kids ages 6-12, and FREE for those children 5 and under.
In addition to the Super Late Models headlining the racing card, the 604 Late Model, 602 Late Model, Charger, and Bomber divisions will also be in action on the gray gumbo. The Spring Nationals has visited Senoia on nine different occasions with the winner’s list consisting of Jonathan Davenport ('16), Chris Madden ('16), Michael Page ('17), Donald McIntosh ('17), Scott Bloomquist ('18), Dale McDowell ('18), Chris Madden ('19), Shane Clanton ('22), and Wil Herrington ('23). Senoia Raceway is located at 171 Brown Road in Senoia, GA 30276. More information can be found by calling 770-599-6161 or by accessing www.senoiaraceway1969.com.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 1 Race Summary
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Waycross Motor Speedway - Waycross, Georgia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (1) Ethan Dotson $7,553
2. (3) Ryan Gustin $3,500
3. (9) Donald McIntosh $2,000
4. (10) Pearson Lee Williams $1,500
5. (8) Clay Harris $1,200
6. (13) Caleb Gay $900
7. (5) Brandon Overton $700
8. (7) Dalton Cook $650
9. (12) David McCoy $600
10. (11) Payton Freeman $575
11. (15) Christian Hanger $550
12. (17) Jim Rogers $540
13. (4) Chad Tuten $530
14. (2) Mark Fleischer $520
15. (6) Caden Mullinax $510
16. (14) Royce Bray $500
17. (16) Todd Cooney $500
18. (19) JR Moseley $500
19. (18) Jeff Baggett $500
20. (20) Gus Simpson $500
21. (21) Mark Whitener $500
DNS. (22) Morrie West
Entries: 22
Lap Leaders: Ethan Dotson (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 4 (Jeff Baggett hit the turn one wall on lap 10, Chad Tuten spun out of the fifth spot on lap 28, Multi-car wreck in turn two on the subsequent lap 28 restart, and Brandon Overton slowed with apparent ignition woes while in the second spot on lap 32)
Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:
Smashing the Clock Award: Ethan Dotson 16.251
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Ethan Dotson 16.568
Qualifying - Group A: 1. 174-Ethan Dotson, 00:16.568[11]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin, 00:16.591[9]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton, 00:16.644[7]; 4. 44D-Dalton Cook, 00:16.665[10]; 5. 79-Donald McIntosh, 00:16.856[1]; 6. F1-Payton Freeman, 00:16.955[8]; 7. 17G-Caleb Gay, 00:17.016[3]; 8. 29-Christian Hanger, 00:17.117[6]; 9. 71K-Jim Rogers, 00:17.261[4]; 10. 99-JR Moseley, 00:17.743[5]; 11. (DNF) 5-Mark Whitener, 00:17.743[2]
Qualifying - Group B: 1. 18B-Mark Fleischer, 00:16.887[7]; 2. 51-Chad Tuten, 00:16.995[6]; 3. M2-Caden Mullinax, 00:17.024[2]; 4. 6-Clay Harris, 00:17.055[5]; 5. 121-Pearson Williams, 00:17.105[4]; 6. 187-David McCoy, 00:17.204[8]; 7. 11B-Royce Bray, 00:17.402[9]; 8. 30-Todd Cooney, 00:17.646[1]; 9. 44-Jeff Baggett, 00:17.779[3]; 10. 11S-Gus Simpson, 00:17.891[11]; 11. (DNS) 03-Morrie West, 00:17.891
Current Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Ethan Dotson - 200
2. Ryan Gustin - 196
3. Donald McIntosh - 194
4. Pearson Lee Williams - 192
5. Clay Harris - 190
6. Caleb Gay - 188
7. Brandon Overton - 186
8. Dalton Cook - 184
9. David McCoy - 182
10. Payton Freeman - 180
11. Christian Hanger - 178
12. Jim Rogers - 176
13. Chad Tuten - 174
14. Mark Fleischer - 172
15. Caden Mullinax - 170
2024 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
Thursday, February 29 - Waycross Motor Speedway, Waycross, GA - ETHAN DOTSON
Friday, March 1 - Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA - RAINED OUT
Saturday, March 2 - Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA - $10,053 to win
Friday, March 29 - I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN - $10,053 to win
Saturday, March 30 - Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN - $21,000 to win
Friday, April 5 - Buckshot Speedway, Clanton, AL - $7,553 to win
Saturday, April 6 - East Alabama Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL - $10,053 to win
Friday, April 19 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $7,553 to win
Saturday, April 20 - Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $10,053 to win
Friday, May 3 - Sugar Creek Raceway, Blue Ridge, GA - $7,553 to win
Saturday, May 4 - Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, GA - $10,053 to win
Friday, May 10 - Natural Bridge Speedway, Natural Bridge, VA - $10,053 to win
Saturday, May 11 - Beckley Motor Speedway, Mount Hope, WV - $20,053 to win
Friday, May 24 - Rain Date / To Be Announced
Saturday, May 25 - North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA - $10,053 to win
Sunday, May 26 - Duck River Raceway Park, Wheel, TN - $10,053 to win
* All events to be broadcast LIVE to subscribers of FloRacing
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms on facebook.com/southernnationalsseries and on Twitter @sonationals.
The tour would like to thank all of their marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, American Racer South, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Vidalia Powersports, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtonDirt.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vinson Sims Construction, and Wiles Driveshafts.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com
