MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Jake Knowles padded his Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point lead with his third victory of the season Friday at Smoky Mountain Speedway.
Knowles led all 30 laps of the race, but it wasn’t easy.
Knowles held off strong challenges from Brandon Williams and Cory Hedgecock in the last 10 laps of the race. A Dixie-Style double-file restart on lap 21 brought the crowd to their feet as Knowles, Williams and Hedgecock battled into turn one three-wide.
“Brandon drove under me on the inside, but I was able to drive back around him coming off the corner, and then towards the end of the race, Cory was right there with me,” Knowles said. “I have to hand it to both of them that they drove me clean, as close as we were, and it was some good racing.”
Hedgecock got by Williams for second with four laps to go, throwing a big slide job pass to take the spot away. Williams finished third in the Jeff Woods Construction Special.
Wil Herrington drove the Middle Georgia Roofing CVR to a fourth-place finish. Michael Courtney took the fifth spot in the Big Momma’s Concrete CVR.
The finish:
Jake Knowles, Cory Hedgecock, Brandon Williams, Wil Herrington, Michael Courtney, Grant Garrison, Cruz Skinner, Riley Hickman, Tyler Wood, T.J. Brittain, Seth Wimpey, Zach Pilcher, Zach Sise, Marcus Minga, Terry Poore, Jordan Hedger, Donald Johns, Ross White, Jake Rainey, Deke Waters, Joe Denby, Jadon Frame, Oakley Johns.