Ross Bailes Wins Southern Nationals Series Opener at Beckley for $10,053 Payday

(July 11, 2025) The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco kicked off the 2025 edition of the tour on Friday night in front of a great crowd at Beckley Motor Speedway and Ross Bailes, of Clover, South Carolina, secured the $10,053 first place prize money! Ross knocked down the sixth fastest time overall during the qualifying session prior to claiming a victory in the third heat race of the evening. After rolling off from the inside of the second row in the 53-lap feature, Ross came out on top of a spirited, three-car battle for the lead around the halfway mark and raced to his third career Southern Nationals triumph.

Youngster Luke Morey led the first 25 circuits from the outside of the front row before Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Champion Garrett Smith took command to lead laps 26-28. Ross Bailes then made the winning pass on lap 29 and held off a hard charging Chris Ferguson, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, in the waning laps to win by 0.521 of a second at the checkered flag.

It was almost “Fergy Time” at the Mount Hope, West Virginia venue, but his rally from the fifth starting spot came up just shy and Chris was forced to settle for a $5,000 payday for the runner-up effort. Zack Dohm, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, was right there with the leaders at the checkers and was awarded $3,000 for his third place podium performance. Luke Morey came home in the fourth spot after leading early, while Jimmy Owens steered the Big Frog Motorsports #58V entry past six competitors to grab the final position inside of the top five.

“I knew when I got behind lapped traffic in the closing laps that I slowed way down,” quoted Bailes, who was making only his second start aboard Brian Nuttall’s Double Nickel racecar. “I just couldn’t charge the corner as hard and Brian was telling me they were pretty close. I knew I better hit my marks and try to get around the lapped cars as fast as I could.”

The driver nicknamed “The Boss” won in Brian Nuttall’s #16 Double Nickel Race Car powered by a Cornett Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from Elite Marine Team, Morning Wood Lumber & Hardware, Bailes Construction, Shamrock Plus Visual Solutions, FK Rod Ends, BHR Fabrication, and American Racer Tires.

A total of 26 competitors were in the pit area at Beckley Motor Speedway for the first round of the 11-race Schaeffer’s Oil Southern National Series season. Garrett Smith topped the speed charts in both MRP Fantasy League Hot Laps and FK Rod Ends qualifying. The three heat races were won by Garrett Smith, Luke Morey, and Ross Bailes. The lone consolation event was captured by Jensen Ford.

Only two caution flags slowed the pace in the 53-lapper at Beckley Motor Speedway. The first came on lap 15 when Layton Sullivan and Jensen Ford tangled on the front stretch. The final yellow flag flew on lap 32 when Garrett Smith slowed with a flat left rear tire shortly after losing the lead to eventual victor Ross Bailes. The feature contest lasted 24 minutes with 15 starters completing the entire distance.

Round two of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco will take the cars and stars of the tour to the picturesque Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia on Saturday, July 12. Another $10,053 payday will be on the line at the 1/2-mile speedplant. Previous winners at Wythe include Dennis Franklin ('06), Chris Madden ('07 & '08), Vic Hill ('09), Austin Dillon ('11), Vic Hill ('12), Chris Madden ('13), Jonathan Davenport ('14), Billy Ogle, Jr. ('15), Dale McDowell ('16), Vic Hill ('17), Dale McDowell ('18), Brandon Overton ('19 & '20), Dale McDowell ('22 & '23), and Chris Madden ('24). More information can be found online by clicking on www.WytheRaceway.com.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 1 Race Summary
Friday, July 11, 2025
Beckley Motor Speedway - Mount Hope, West Virginia

Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):
1. (3) Ross Bailes $10,053
2. (5) Chris Ferguson $5,000
3. (4) Zack Dohm $3,000
4. (2) Luke Morey $2,000
5. (11) Jimmy Owens $1,500
6. (7) Kaede Loudy $1,000
7. (13) Mike Benedum $800
8. (8) Jacob Hawkins $700
9. (14) Kenny Compton $675
10. (17) Henry Hornsby III $650
11. (6) Trent Ivey $625
12. (9) Shane Greco $600
13. (19) Jensen Ford $575
14. (18) Zach Hill $550
15. (12) Beckham Malone $525
16. (1) Garrett Smith $500
17. (15) Stacy Boles $500
18. (21) Kody Frame $500
19. (22) Dillon Daves $500
20. (16) Willie Milliken $500
21. (10) Layton Sullivan $500
22. (20) Jamison McBride $500

Entries: 26
Lap Leaders: Luke Morey (Laps 1-25), Garrett Smith (Laps 26-28), Ross Bailes (Laps 29-53)
Caution Flags: 2
Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Hard Charger Award: Henry Hornsby III (+7)

MRP Fantasy League Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Garrett Smith 13.275

FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Garrett Smith 13.423

GoSunoco Heat Race #1 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 10-Garrett Smith[1]; 2. 17-Zack Dohm[2]; 3. 126-Kaede Loudy[3]; 4. 2-Layton Sullivan[5]; 5. 25-Mike Benedum[4]; 6. 1-Willie Milliken[6]; 7. 83-Jensen Ford[7]; 8. 97-Kody Frame[9]; 9. 35-Dillon Daves[8]

American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 49-Luke Morey[1]; 2. 22-Chris Ferguson[2]; 3. 37-Jacob Hawkins[4]; 4. 58V-Jimmy Owens[3]; 5. 10C-Kenny Compton[6]; 6. 39-Henry Hornsby III[5]; 7. 215-Jamison McBride[7]; 8. 17K-Kenny Newhouse[8]; 9. K54-Kenny Rucker[9]

E-Z-GO Heat Race #3 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 16-Ross Bailes[2]; 2. 88-Trent Ivey[1]; 3. R54-Shane Greco[3]; 4. 23-Beckham Malone[4]; 5. 11B-Stacy Boles[5]; 6. 7H-Zach Hill[6]; 7. 618-Kevin Wilson[8]; 8. 17KN-Brock Morris[7]

Coltman Farms Racing B-Main Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 83-Jensen Ford[1]; 2. 215-Jamison McBride[2]; 3. 97-Kody Frame[4]; 4. 35-Dillon Daves[7]; 5. 618-Kevin Wilson[3]; 6. 17KN-Brock Morris[6]; 7. 17K-Kenny Newhouse[5]; 8. K54-Kenny Rucker[8]

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Ross Bailes - 200
2. Chris Ferguson - 196
3. Zack Dohm - 194
4. Luke Morey - 192
5. Jimmy Owens - 190
6. Kaede Loudy - 188
7. Mike Benedum - 186
8. Jacob Hawkins - 184
9. Kenny Compton - 182
10. Henry Hornsby III - 180

2025 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Schedule:
Friday, July 11 - Beckley Motor Speedway (Mount Hope, WV) - ROSS BAILES
Saturday, July 12 - Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) - $10,053 to win
Monday, July 14 - Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) - $7,552 to win
Tuesday, July 15 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $7,553 to win
Thursday, July 17 - Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) - $7,544 to win
Friday, July 18 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - $7,553 to win
Saturday, July 19 - Screven Motor Speedway (Sylvania, GA) - $10,053 to win
Tuesday, July 22 - Toccoa Raceway (Toccoa, GA) - $7,553 to win
Thursday, July 24 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $7,553 to win
Friday, July 25 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - $10,053 to win
Saturday, July 26 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $10,053 to win

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 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, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, MRP Fantasy League, 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

###