What won the race: Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., kicked off the Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals Series in fine fashion at Wythe Raceway, scoring a $10,000 victory in a 53-lap feature that ended in the wee hours of Sunday morning after the start of the program was delayed several hours by rain. He overtook race-long pacesetter Donald Bradsher of Burlington, N.C., for the lead on lap 49 en route to his first-ever triumph on the Ray Cook-promoted tour.

Key notes: McDowell was victorious for the second straight week; he captured a Lucas Oil Series event on July 9 at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. ... Bradsher chased McDowell under the checkered flag after leading laps 1-48 in a strong performance. ... Texan Chris Brown finished third as he began his first attempt at the Southern Nationals. ... Eight caution flags slowed the feature, which took just under one hour to complete. ... Five-time series champ Chris Madden was absent after announcing that he will have to sit out the tour while recovering from a concussion suffered in a July 9 accident at Smoky Mountain.

Winner's sponsors: McDowell's Team Dillon Racing Sweet-Bloomquist Chassis is sponsored by ECR Engines, Clements Race Engines, Boydbilt Fabrication, Bad Boy Off Road, University of Northwestern Ohio, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Cometic Gaskets, Keyser, Manufacturing and Mark IV ATV's.

Points chase: The event opens the Southern Nationals campaign.

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Donald Bradsher

Time: 16.075 seconds

Polesitter: Donald Bradsher