Chris Madden back in Victory Lane at the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway – St. Louis Racing

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(RURAL RETREAT, VIRGINIA) For the 29th time, but first since the 2020 season, Chris Madden was back in the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and powered by Sunoco Victory Track at scenic Wythe Raceway on Saturday night! Chris stopped the clock second fastest during the qualifying round and won his preliminary race, but was later favored in the 53-lap main race by leader Dale McDowell’s flat left-rear tire on lap 18. After taking over the point, it was the Madden show at the front as the Gray Court, South Carolina star led the remaining laps and won by over five seconds.

Chris took home the $10,053 top prize for his fourth 1/2-mile Speedplant Series win, while series points leader Donald McIntosh finished second. McIntosh had to switch to a backup car due to a faulty power steering pump and fought back from the end of the race to secure second place behind Madden. Benji Hicks, who started tenth, rounded out the podium in third. Dale McDowell, who led the field for the first seventeen laps until his flat tire, fought back to finish fourth, while Mike Benedum, who started eleventh, secured the final top-five spot.

“We were a little tight there,” Madden said calmly after his impressive win in round two of the mini-series. “We pushed on the first start and lost three or four positions. Dale (McDowell) had a very maneuverable car out there before he got the flat tire. After that we basically took the lead. We were too tight and probably would have been second, but we won. Thanks to all my great sponsors, my hard-working crew and everyone associated with our team!”

The winning Madden’s #44 Longhorn chassis was sponsored in part by 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.

Sixteen cars converged on Wythe Raceway on Saturday, and Brandon Overton started off with the fastest lap of the Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps at 16.656 seconds. Unfortunately, that was also the highlight of the evening for Brandon, as a tire blowout on lap nine of the feature race – while running second – contributed to his No. 76 machine ending up on its roof. The standout driver from Evans, Georgia, emerged unscathed from the rollover accident, but finished a disappointing fourteenth. Dale McDowell secured the fastest time in qualifying for FK Rod Ends with his fast time of 16.316 seconds, while McDowell and Madden won the two heats.

A total of four caution flags from DirtCarLift.com slowed the pace, including the first on the first start of the race when it looked like Madden hadn’t fired up. A red flag was then shown on lap 9 for Overton rolling over before another yellow flag was shown on lap 18 when leader McDowell had an untimely flat tire. The fourth and final stoppage came on lap 25 when top-five runner Cory Hedgecock had a flat right front tire.

The third race of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and powered by Sunoco will take place Sunday, July 14, at the ultra-fast Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. A winner’s check for $7,553 is on the line in the series’ 12th visit to “The Gap.” Past 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). More information is available online at www.VolunteerSpeedway.com.

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing

Race summary round 2

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 USD
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 Round 20 Leader: Chris Madden ($200 Bonus)

DirtCarLift.com Warnings: 4

Spring Pro Precision Equipment Hot Laps:

Price for the watch smasher: Brandon Overton 16,656

FK rod ends – time trial:

Fastest overall time: Dale McDowell 16.316

Qualification: 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 carry over): 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 No. 2, Finish (all cars carried over): 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

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series points standings:

1. Donald McIntosh – 396
2. Gavin Cowan – 380
3. Benji Hicks – 376
4. Chris Ferguson – 370
5. Cory Hedgecock – 364
6. Stacy Boles – 362
7. Mike Benedum – 360
8. Chris Madden – 358
9. Tim Vance – 356
10. Doug Sanders – 330

* The drivers will lose their worst race after the points finale in Tazewell

2024 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Schedule:

Friday, July 12 – Beckley Motor Speedway, Mount Hope, WV – DONALD MCINTOSH

Saturday, July 13 – Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat, VA – CHRIS MADDEN

Sunday, July 14 – Volunteer Speedway, Bulls Gap, TN – $7,553 to be won

Tuesday, July 16 – I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN – $7,553 to be won

Thursday, July 18 – Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA – $7,544 to be won

Friday, July 19 – East Alabama Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL – $7,553 to be won

Saturday, July 20 – Screven Motor Speedway, Sylvania, GA – $10,053 to be won

Sunday, July 21 – Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA – $10,053 to be won

Tuesday, July 23 – Cherokee Speedway, Gaffney, SC – $7,553 to be won

Thursday, July 25 – Toccoa Raceway, Toccoa, GA – $7,553 to be won

Friday, July 26 – North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA – $10,053 to win

Saturday, July 27 – Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN – $20,053 to win

* All events will be broadcast LIVE to FloRacing subscribers.

For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and supported by Sunoco, visit www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or call series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us on social media platforms 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, EZ-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Vidalia Powersports, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vinson Sims Construction and Wiles Driveshafts.

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