For the 22nd straight year, the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels concluded the points portion of the miniseries at Tazewell Speedway and it was Garrett Smith who took home the checkers on Saturday, July 25 in front of a packed hillside crowd! The Madison, Georgia ace swept the night’s program, as he earned Fast Time honors during qualifying, won his heat race, and later led all 53 circuits in the headliner. Garrett beat sixth-starting Donald McIntosh by a scant 0.278 of second margin to collect his third career Southern Nationals victory and the $10,053 winner’s check.
With the strong runner-up effort, McIntosh officially secured his third career Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series point title (2021, 2024, 2026). Cody Overton charged past five competitors and passed Joseph Joiner on the last lap to claim the final spot on the podium. Joiner, who ran as high as second in the contest, slipped to fourth at the finish, while Dale McDowell, who has won the Tazewell finale on four different occasions, finished a quiet fifth.
“Man, it’s been so hard not to be down on myself with these last couple races that we’ve had,” quoted Smith in Schaeffer’s Oil victory lane at the storied Tazewell, Tennessee venue. “We’ve never really struggled like that before, especially at these racetracks that I grew up racing at. I don’t know how the race was behind me, but our car was absolutely amazing tonight. Again, I just want to thank the Lord and all of my family back at home!”
Garrett Smith wheeled a #10 Longhorn Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from The World Famous Cadillac Ranch, Atlanta Paving & Concrete Construction, Chase Motorsports Coach & Trailers, Stanley Painting, Will Moseley Music, SS Enterprises, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, JM Custom Laser, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, and Slicker Graphics.
A 22-car field was in the pit area on Saturday at Tazewell Speedway for the points-paying finale for the Southern Nationals Series. Joseph Joiner started the night out on a quick note by laying down the fastest lap during MRP Fantasy Racing hot laps with a time of 11.066 seconds. Garrett Smith then topped the speed chart during FK Rod Ends qualifying with a quick time of 11.199 seconds. The trio of heat races were won by Smith, Luke Morey, and David Payne. The 53-lap feature, which was slowed by only three caution flags, lasted just shy of 22 minutes with 12 starters completing the entire distance.
Although he was not able to win on tour this year, Donald McIntosh rode a wave of consistency throughout the eight completed races to claim the 2026 Schaffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels championship. McIntosh, who racked up a trio of runner-up finishes and seven Top Fives aboard the Billy Hicks Racing #79, was awarded a $10,053 check following the event. After each driver’s worst race was dropped, Cody Overton, Joseph Joiner, Garrett Smith, and Allen Styck completed the top five in points. Styck also captured Rookie of the Year honors, which was worth an additional $1,000.
One more race remains on the 2026 Southern Nationals Series slate, as the tour will roll into Toccoa Raceway in Toccoa, Georgia on Thursday, August 20 for a make-up event. The track’s 71st Anniversary race will shell out a $7,571 top prize next month. More information on Toccoa can be found online by clicking on www.toccoaraceway.org.
Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 8 Race Summary
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Tazewell Speedway - Tazewell, Tennessee
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (1) Garrett Smith $10,353
2. (6) Donald McIntosh $5,500
3. (8) Cody Overton $3,000
4. (5) Joseph Joiner $2,500
5. (7) Dale McDowell $1,500
6. (3) David Payne $1,000
7. (4) Mike Benedum $800
8. (9) Josh Henry $700
9. (10) Allen Styck $1,175
10. (12) Alex Vance $650
11. (13) Kyle Courtney $625
12. (15) Odie Overholt $600
13. (19) Landen Zakalowski $575
14. (16) Joshua Sneed $550
15. (11) Stacy Boles $825
16. (18) Cody Courtney $500
17. (17) Daniel Boles $800
18. (14) Dakota Smith $500
19. (21) Jay Cardy $500
20. (22) Steve Smith $500
21. (20) Brad Dyer $500
22. (2) Luke Morey $500
Entries: 22
Lap Leaders: Garrett Smith (Laps 1-53)
Caution Flags: 3
Deatherage Opticians 4th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Joseph Joiner
Deatherage Opticians 13th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Landen Zakalowski
MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Joseph Joiner 11.066
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Garrett Smith 11.199
Full Qualifying Results: 1. 10-Garrett Smith, 11.199[10]; 2. 10J-Joseph Joiner, 11.201[16]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh, 11.253[7]; 4. 25-Mike Benedum, 11.278[5]; 5. 97-Cody Overton, 11.349[12]; 6. 8-David Payne, 11.353[6]; 7. 17M-Dale McDowell, 11.384[20]; 8. 49-Luke Morey, 11.426[9]; 9. 95-Alex Vance, 11.503[11]; 10. 11-Allen Styck, 11.505[2]; 11. 11B-Stacy Boles, 11.577[18]; 12. B00-Josh Henry, 11.586[3]; 13. 171-Kyle Courtney, 11.665[4]; 14. 20-Daniel Boles, 11.689[15]; 15. 11C-Cody Courtney, 11.795[8]; 16. 79J-Joshua Sneed, 11.830[17]; 17. 3D-Dakota Smith, 12.077[19]; 18. 14-Odie Overholt, 12.446[1]; 19. 3-Steve Smith, 12.592[22]; 20. 18-Brad Dyer, 13.062[14]; 21. 66-Jay Cardy, 14.839[13]; 22. (DQ) 57-Landen Zakalowski, 11.779[21]
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat #1 Finish (All Transfer): 1. 10-Garrett Smith[1]; 2. 25-Mike Benedum[2]; 3. 17M-Dale McDowell[3]; 4. 11-Allen Styck[4]; 5. 171-Kyle Courtney[5]; 6. 79J-Joshua Sneed[6]; 7. 57-Landen Zakalowski[8]; 8. 3-Steve Smith[7]
Coltman Farms Racing Heat #2 Finish (All Transfer): 1. 49-Luke Morey[3]; 2. 10J-Joseph Joiner[1]; 3. 97-Cody Overton[2]; 4. 11B-Stacy Boles[4]; 5. 3D-Dakota Smith[6]; 6. 20-Daniel Boles[5]; 7. 18-Brad Dyer[7]
American Racer South Heat #3 Finish (All Transfer): 1. 8-David Payne[2]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[1]; 3. B00-Josh Henry[4]; 4. 95-Alex Vance[3]; 5. 14-Odie Overholt[6]; 6. 11C-Cody Courtney[5]; 7. 66-Jay Cardy[7]
Final Southern Nationals Series Point Standings (with worst race dropped):
1. Donald McIntosh - 1358 ($10,053)
2. Cody Overton - 1346 ($5,053)
3. Joseph Joiner - 1344 ($2,553)
4. Garrett Smith - 1296 ($2,053)
5. Allen Styck (R) - 1284 ($1,553 + $1,000 for Rookie of the Year)
6. Stacy Boles - 1196 ($1,053)
7. Daniel Boles (R) - 1174 ($1,053 + $500 for 2nd in Rookie Points)
8. Landen Zakalowski (R) - 1166 ($1,053)
9. Mathew Porter (R) - 982
10. Benji Hicks - 886
2026 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Schedule:
July 12 - Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) - RAINED OUT
July 13 - Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) - JAKE O’NEIL
July 14 - Harris Speedway (Rutherfordton, NC) - GARRETT SMITH
July 16 - Modoc Speedway (Modoc, SC) - CODY OVERTON
July 17 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - PPD TO JULY 19
July 18 - Cochran Motor Speedway (Cochran, GA) - CODY OVERTON
July 19 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - CODY OVERTON
July 21 - Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) - ASHTON WINGER
July 23 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - CASEY ROBERTS
July 24 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - RAINED OUT
July 25 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - GARRETT SMITH
August 20 - Toccoa Raceway (Toccoa, GA) - $7,571 to win (non-points)
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call/text series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms on facebook.com/southernnationalsseries and on Twitter @sonationals.
The tour would like to thank all of our valued marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, American Racer South, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, Deatherage Opticians, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Mark 4 Honda, MasterSbilt Race Cars, MyRacePass Fantasy Racing, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vinson Sims Construction, and Wiles Driveshafts.
About Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants:
Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants: synthetic motor oils, hydraulic fluids, and diesel fuel additives have achieved a world-class reputation for improving engine performance and fuel economy, but their diverse product line includes all types of industrial lubricants, industrial greases, and industrial oils as well as specialty items like their chain lubes and degreasers. Founded in 1839, their philosophy is to provide advanced lubricants for improved performance, reliability, and fuel economy. Learn more or find a rep near you at www.SchaefferOil.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com
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