TAZEWELL, Tenn. – Dakotah Knuckles came out on top of Saturday’s Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series finale at Tazewell Speedway, earning a $10,053 payday in the process.
Meanwhile, Brandon Overton finished fifth to secure the series championship.
Flat tires proved to be the game changer during Saturday’s 53-lap race, with multiple drivers falling to the wayside due to tire issues.
Knuckles initially chased Dale McDowell and Ross Bailes during the feature. On lap 18 Overton slowed with a flat tire to bring out the caution flag. During the same caution, Bailes hit pit road to change a flat tire as well on his car.
That moved Knuckles up to second behind McDowell. Two laps later the caution waved again, this time for Kyle Hardy slow on track with a flat tire. Much like the last caution period, a car in front of Knuckles hit the pits with a flat. This time it was McDowell, which left Knuckles in the race lead.
Knuckles would lead the rest of the way to pick up the victory, his first with the series.
Michael Chilton came home in second, followed by Ryan King, Vic Hill and Overton.
The finish:
Dakotah Knuckles, Michael Chilton, Ryan King, Vic Hill, Brandon Overton, Pearson Lee Williams, Kyle Hardy, Dale McDowell, Chris Madden, David Payne, Jason Trammell, Ross Bailes, Tyler Millwood, Donald McIntosh, John Baker, Colten Burdette, Brian Shockley, Heath Hindman, Danny Helton, Lynn Leach, Brian Smith, Jake Knowles.Â