Chris Madden Finds Way Back To Southern Nationals Series Victory Lane At Wythe Raceway

Story By: RYAN DELPH / SOUTHERN NATIONALS SERIES – RURAL RETREAT, VA – For the 29th time, but first since the 2020 season, Chris Madden was back in Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco victory lane on Saturday night at the picturesque Wythe Raceway.

Chris stopped the clock second quickest during the qualifying session and won his heat race, but was later aided in the 53-lap feature by leader Dale McDowell’s flat left rear tire on lap eighteen. After inheriting the point, it was the Madden show out front, as the Gray Court, South Carolina star led the remaining circuits to win by over five seconds.

Chris was awarded the $10,053 top prize for his fourth career series win at the 1/2-mile speedplant with series point leader Donald McIntosh coming home in the runner-up position. McIntosh was forced to a back-up car due to a broken power steering pump and rallied from the tail to grab the second place finish behind Madden. Tenth-starting Benji Hicks rounded out the podium in third. Dale McDowell, who paced the field for the first seventeen circuits until his flat tire, fought back to finish fourth, while eleventh-starting Mike Benedum grabbed the final spot inside of the top five.

“We were a little bit tight right there,” Madden calmly stated following his impressive victory in round two of the miniseries. “We pushed on the initial start and lost three or four positions. Dale (McDowell) had a very maneuverable car out there before he had the flat tire. We just kind of inherited the lead there after that. We were too tight and were probably going to run second, but we got the win. Thanks to all of my great sponsors, my hard working crew, and everyone associated with our team!”

The winning Madden’s #44 Longhorn Chassis carried sponsorship in part from Drydene, Franklin Enterprises, Millwood Plumbing, Henderson Amusement, Classic Trucking, Davis Diesel Service, Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service, Worley Monument, IBS Machine & MFG., Penske Racing Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, Durham Racing Engines, and Wrayz Wrapz.

A 16-car field converged at Wythe Raceway on Saturday and Brandon Overton started things off by laying down the quickest lap overall in Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps with his fast lap of 16.656 seconds. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of Brandon’s evening, as a blown tire on the ninth lap of the feature – while running second – helped contribute to his #76 machine getting upside down on his roof. While the Evans, Georgia standout emerged unscathed from the rollover incident, he was relegated to a disappointing fourteenth place effort. Dale McDowell earned Fast Time honors in FK Rod Ends qualifying with his quick time of 16.316 seconds, while McDowell and Madden were victorious in the pair of heat races.

A total of four DirtCarLift.com caution flags slowed the pace including the first one on the initial start of the race when it appeared Madden didn’t fire. A red flag then appeared on lap 9 for Overton’s rollover before another yellow was waved on lap 18 when leader McDowell suffered his untimely flat tire. The fourth and final stoppage occurred on lap 25 when top five runner Cory Hedgecock suffered a flat right front tire.

The third leg of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco will take place on Sunday, July 14 at the ultra-fast Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. A $7,553 winner’s check will be on the line in the series’ twelfth-ever visit to “The Gap.” Previous winners of this race include Jimmy Owens (’06 & ’07), Tommy Kerr (’08 & ’09), Jonathan Davenport (’10), Chris Madden (’11), Casey Roberts (’12), Vic Hill (’13), Chris Madden (’20), and Dale McDowell (’21 & ’22).

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 2 Race Summary
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Wythe Raceway – Rural Retreat, Virginia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps):

1. (2) Chris Madden $10,053
2. (6) Donald McIntosh $5,000
3. (10) Benji Hicks $3,000
4. (1) Dale McDowell $2,000
5. (11) Mike Benedum $1,500
6. (5) Gavin Cowan $1,000
7. (8) Stacy Boles $800
8. (3) Cory Hedgecock $700
9. (9) Tim Vance $675
10. (7) Kaede Loudy $650
11. (14) Chris Chandler $625
12. (13) Luke Morey $600
13. (15) Chris Ferguson $575
14. (4) Brandon Overton $550
15. (DNS) Doug Sanders $525
16. (DNS) Haiden Cowan

Entries: 16
Lap Leaders: Dale McDowell (Laps 1-17), Chris Madden (Laps 18-53)
20th Anniversary Lap 20 Leader: Chris Madden ($200 Bonus)
DirtCarLift.com Caution Flags: 4
Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:
Smashing the Clock Award: Brandon Overton 16.656
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Dale McDowell 16.316

Qualifying: 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[11]; 2. 44-Chris Madden[8]; 3. 219-Gavin Cowan[9]; 4. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 5. 36-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 6. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 7. 22-Chris Ferguson[10]; 8. 11B-Stacy Boles[16]; 9. 17-Tim Vance[1]; 10. 55-Benji Hicks[12]; 11. 126-Kaede Loudy[6]; 12. 42-Doug Sanders[13]; 13. 25-Mike Benedum[14]; 14. 8-Chris Chandler[15]; 15. 49-Luke Morey[4]; 16. (DNS) 14-Haiden Cowan

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 2. 36-Cory Hedgecock[3]; 3. 219-Gavin Cowan[2]; 4. 126-Kaede Loudy[6]; 5. 17-Tim Vance[5]; 6. 25-Mike Benedum[7]; 7. 49-Luke Morey[8]; 8. 22-Chris Ferguson[4]

American Racer South Heat Race #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[2]; 4. 11B-Stacy Boles[4]; 5. 55-Benji Hicks[5]; 6. 42-Doug Sanders[6]; 7. (DNS) 8-Chris Chandler; 8. (DNS) 14-Haiden Cowan