What won the race: Polesitter Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., overtook fellow front-row start Michael Brown on lap 11 and led the rest of Saturday night’s 50-lap Mike Duvall Memorial at Cherokee Speedway for a $10,000 Mid-East Super Late Models victory. McIntosh finished 0.827 seconds ahead of ninth-starting Casey Roberts.
Quotable: “I kind of knew it was pretty latched down,” McIntosh said. “I really needed to hit my marks, but I knew they were gonna be there. I was just trying to be smart and hit my marks and not miss the rubber.”
Key notes: McIntosh, who mentioned in his post-race interview that his first laps on dirt came when he attended Mike Duvall's racing school at the age of 14, captured his first-ever victory on the fledgling Mid-East Super Late Model Series. … The event honored Duvall, the first ballot National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame racer. … Casey Roberts moved by Ross Bailes for second following a late restart but said his soft tire-compound choice had him holding on in the final laps. ... Bailes settled for third place after his bid to overtake McIntosh on a late restart was dulled because he \"just lost the air or whatever\" entering turn one. ... Sixth-starting Jordan Koehler retired on lap 48 after suffering a flat right-rear tire. … Mid-East Series point leader Ben Watkins finished fourth.
On the move: Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., started 18th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: McIntosh drove a Billy Hicks-owned Double Nickel Race Car powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by H&H Auto Sales, Ultimate Towing & Recovery and Bilstein Shocks.
Points chase: After Cherokee: 1. Ben Watkins (150); 2. Benji Hicks (136); 3. Ross Bailes (122); 4. Donovan Jackson (105); 5. Brent Robinson (98).
Current weather: Clear, 64°F
Car count: 23
Fast qualifier: Donald McIntosh
Time: 15.730 seconds
Polesitter: Donald McIntosh
Heat race winners: Donald McIntosh, Michael Brown, Ben Watkins, , , , ,
Next series race: November 17, Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) $20,000