TAZEWELL, Tenn. - For several years, David Payne has been awaiting the chance to drive into victory lane at Tennessee’s Tazewell Speedway.
After race-leader Vic Hill slowed with a flat tire on the 17th lap, Payne led the remaining distance, only challenged once by Billy Ogle Jr. in the later stages of the 44-lap Buddy Rogers Memorial to capture his first-career Southern Nationals Bonus Series victory.
Payne became the seventh different winner in seven races, scoring a $4,400 for his efforts. He also became the 21st different winner in the series’ 28 race history.
Payne led the final 25 laps en route to the victory and crossed the line 00.686 seconds ahead of Ogle, Jr. Chad Ogle finished in third, with Dawsonville, Georgia’s Donald McIntosh in fourth and Ross White in fifth.
Dakotah Knuckles, Terry Wolfenbarger, Vic Hill, Steve Smith and Jeff Wolfenbarger rounded out the top ten.
Four yellow flags slowed the feature event. The first came out on lap two as the field was slowed on the front stretch and emergency personnel was called to the grandstand area to attend to a race fan in need. The second yellow flag flew on lap 17 as race-leader Vic Hill slowed with a flat right rear tire. On lap 32, a spin by Phil Helton drew another yellow flag. The caution period came on the 37th lap when Chris Combs slowed on the frontstretch.
The next Southern Nationals Bonus Series event will be on Saturday, September 17 at Kentucky’s Richmond Raceway for the 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial, paying $10,059-to-win.
For more information on the Southern Nationals Bonus Series, visit SouthernNationalsSeries.com.
Southern Nationals Bonus Series
Tazewell Speedway – Tazewell, TN
Buddy Rogers Memorial – Sept. 4, 2016
1. David Payne – Murphy, NC
2. Billy Ogle Jr. – Knoxville, TN
3. Chad Ogle – Sevierville, TN
4. Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA
5. Ross White – Knoxville, TN
6. Dakotah Knuckles – Ewing, VA
7. Terry Wolfenbarger – Powell, TN
8. Vic Hill – Mosheim, TN
9. Steve Smith – Powell, TN
10. Jeff Wolfenbarger – Clinton, TN
11. Brian Smith – Barbourville, KY
12. Chris Barton – Middlesboro, KY
13. Josh Collins – New Tazewell, TN
14. Doug Smith – Harriman, TN
15. Chris Combs – Isom, KY
16. Phil Helton – Clinton, TN
17. Steve Stollings – Hazard, KY
18. Jody Horton – Sneedville, TN
19. Lee Branscum – Nancy, KY
