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Mack edges Hedgecock in thriller at SMS

Mack McCarter scored his first 2021 victory in thrilling fashion on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway. The Tennessee racer won the inaugural Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge event in a photo finish over Cory Hedgecock.

In fact, McCarter’s win came by a scant 0.006 seconds at the finish line in his McCarter Brothers Racing No. 51 Tennessee Homemade Wines/ Hidden Valley Cattle Ranch/ CVR Race Cars / Phantom Racing Engine Late Model.

“My car tightened up quite a bit,” McCarter said. “When that tire finally fired, I was just so tight. It took all the guts I had just to finish that race. It was a heck of a race. I mean, we were pulling sliders and everything else. (The top of the track) is really good. It’s come in. Roger (Sellers) and his crew really did a great job on the track. A big thank you goes out to my team and all of my supporters for giving me a great car.”

On Saturday afternoon McCarter Racing pilots, Mack and Pierce were in action at Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, Tenn.) for the Rockin’ with the Stars event.

1Drawing 27 Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge entries, Mack qualified sixth-fastest overall before picking up an eight-lap heat race victory. Taking part in a heated battle for the lead with Cory Hedgecock throughout the 40-lap feature, McCarter fended off Hedgecock’s late-race charge in the waning laps to pick up the $5,000 victory in the series’ debut. He finished 0.006 seconds ahead of Hedgecock to claim his first win of the season. Jason Manley, Matt Henderson, and Russell Erwin completed the Top-5 finishers. (Michael Moats photo)

1For the Southern All Star Series sanctioned program, Piece secured his spot into the $5,000-to-win A-Main with the third-fastest time in his qualifying group. Losing one spot in the 40-lap feature, McCarter recorded a seventh-place finish in the No. 71 Mastersbilt House Car.

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