SWEETWATER, Tenn. – Cory Hedgecock earned the biggest payday of his career Saturday night at I-75 Raceway.
Hedgecock conquered the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Valvoline Tennessee Fall Nationals, earning $12,000 for the victory and an additional $3,000 bonus for setting fast time, winning his heat and winning the feature.
The win by the 29-year old Hedgecock was his fifth Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and his second of the season.
Hedgecock would jump to the race lead at the start of the 50-lap main event, followed by Stacy Boles, Chris Ferguson, Eli Beets and Jensen Ford.  Hedgecock would quickly put some distance on the field, while Beets would get a two-for-one deal when he would go from fourth to second on lap three, working past Boles and Ferguson.Â
 Hedgecock would maintain a rapid pace out front and would begin to work slower traffic on lap 10, with Ferguson working past Boles for third one tour later on lap 11.  The front three would remain the same in Hedgecock, Beets, and Ferguson as Hedgecock would work lapped traffic perfectly, with Ford challenging Boles for the fourth position and getting the spot on lap 22. Â
The first caution would wave on lap 24 when Robby Moses would slow on the frontchute after shredding a right-rear tire.  The restart would also not see a lap completed as Ryan King and Eddie King would tangle on the backchute, with Eddie King being done for the night.  The next restart would see action resume, with Hedgecock still on the point, with Ferguson working past Beets for second, followed by Ford and Boles. Â
Ford would challenge Beets for third and would take the position on lap 25, while Bailes would pressure Boles for fifth spot and the duo would trade the spot until Bailes claimed it on lap 27.  The final caution flag of the event waved on lap 33 for debris in turn four.Â
Hedgecock would again get a great restart and maintain the lead, trailed by Ferguson, Ford, Beets, while Boles took fifth from Bailes, only to see Bailes reclaim the spot on lap 34.  Hedgecock would maintain a 1.5 to 2.0 second lead over Ferguson and Hedgecock would again begin to work slower traffic on lap 42 and would again work through traffic smoothly and score the win by 2.239 seconds over Ferguson, while Ford would complete the podium finishers in third. Â
Beets and Bailes would round out the top five. Â
The finish:
Cory Hedgecock, Chris Ferguson, Jensen Ford, Eli Beets, Ross Bailes, Stacy Boles, Ray Cook, Skip Arp, Ryan King, Jordan Rodabaugh, David Payne, Jed Emert, Ruben Mayfield, Ryan Winchester, Jeff Neubert, Phil Helton, Larry Greer, Eddie King, Robby Moses, Joseph Faulkner, Jaden Frame, Christian Hanger.Â