Madden and Clanton Round Out Podium

MARYVILLE, T.N. –  May 13, 2017- Brandon Overton claimed his second-ever World of Outlaw Craftsman® Late Model Series win at Smoky Mountain Speedway. For the redraw six kids from the crowd were selected to draw the drivers starting positions. Luckily for Overton the Craftsman wrench that was picked was a number two, putting him outside of pole-sitter, Brandon Sheppard.

Sheppard held on to the lead for the first 19 laps of the race, despite two cautions which reset the field giving Overton the chance to jump the chain. On lap 19 Overton maneuvered to the top of the track between turns three and four which gave him the much-needed momentum to finally pass the Rocket 1 machine. By lap 30 Overton was able to create nearly a three second lead over Sheppard and the rest of the field.

The battle then ensued for second between Sheppard, Shane Clanton and Chris Madden who ran bumper-to-bumper and door-to-door for the remaining laps. It was ultimately Madden and Clanton who found their way to the podium.

“I knew Sheppard had that thing rolling there at the beginning and I was just trying not to burn my tires up,” said Overton. “I waited until an opportunity came right there in
lap traffic. I knew we had a good car, I just didn’t want to abuse it early.”

Overton’s first-ever Outlaw win was during his sophomore season with the Series at Lernerville Speedway for the first night of the Firecracker 100. He was emotional in Victory Lane as he gave thanks to his father for helping support his dreams. This time around, Overton was all smiles as he drove Randy Weaver’s 116 Dream Ride into Victory Lane after he was able to outrun the Outlaws.

World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Statistical Report; Smoky Mountain Speedway on May 13, 2017:

Feature: 1. 116- Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 44- Chris Madden[5]; 3. 25- Shane Clanton[6]; 4. 101- Casey Roberts[7]; 5. 1- Brandon Sheppard[1]; 6. 7- Rick Eckert[8]; 7. 49- Jonathan Davenport[4]; 8. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[13]; 9. 91 -Tyler Erb[16]; 10. 18- Eric Wells[19]; 11. 1*- Chub Frank[9]; 12. 50- Shanon Buckingham[14]; 13. 9- Devin Moran[18]; 14. 14m- Morgan Bagley[22]; 15. 31- Skip Arp[24]; 16. 15- Steve Francis[15]; 17. 2c- Joey Coulter[11]; 18. 93- Donald Bradsher[12]; 19. 21- Robby Moses[20]; 20. 201- Billy Ogle Jr[23]; 21. 97- Bobby Giffin[21]; 22. 7M- Donald McIntosh[10]; 23. 3s- Brian Shirley[25]; 24. 17M- Dale McDowell[3]; 25. 4T- Tommy Kerr[17]

Heat 1: 1. 49- Jonathan Davenport[2]; 2. 25- Shane Clanton[1]; 3. 101- Casey Roberts[3]; 4. 7M- Donald McIntosh[4]; 5. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[7]; 6. 91- Tyler Erb[6]; 7. 18- Eric Wells[8]; 8. 14m- Morgan Bagley[9]; 9. 3s- Brian Shirley[5]

Heat 2: 1. 1- Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 116- Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 7- Rick Eckert[6]; 4. 2c- Joey Coulter[2]; 5. 50- Shanon Buckingham[5]; 6. 4T- Tommy Kerr[7]; 7. 21- Robby Moses[4]; 8. 201- Billy Ogle Jr[8];

Heat 3: 1. 44- Chris Madden[1]; 2. 17M- Dale McDowell[2]; 3. 1*- Chub Frank[5]; 4. 93- Donald Bradsher[4]; 5. 15- Steve Francis[6]; 6. 9- Devin Moran[3]; 7. 97- Bobby Griffin[8]; 8. 31- Skip Arp[7]

Qualifying:  1. 25- Shane Clanton, 15.614; 2. 1- Brandon Sheppard, 15.691; 3. 44- Chris Madden, 15.764; 4. 49- Jonathan Davenport, 15.782; 5. 2c- Joey Coulter, 15.858; 6. 17M- Dale McDowell, 15.859; 7. 101- Casey Roberts, 15.974; 8. 116- Brandon Overton, 15.982; 9. 9- Devin Moran, 15.989; 10. 7M- Donald McIntosh, 16.042; 11. 21- Robby Moses, 16.07; 12. 93- Donald Bradsher, 16.126; 13. 3s- Brian Shirley, 16.147; 14. 50- Shanon Buckingham, 16.155; 15. 1*- Chub Frank, 16.166; 16. 91- Tyler Erb, 16.205; 17. 7- Rick Eckert, 16.21; 18. 15- Steve Francis, 16.211; 19. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr, 16.241; 20. 4T- Tommy Kerr, 16.245; 21. 31- Skip Arp, 16.304; 22. 18- Eric Wells, 16.32; 23. 201- Billy Ogle Jr, 16.375; 24. 97- Bobby Giffin, 16.409; 25. 14m- Morgan Bagley, 16.596

CONTINGENCY WINNERS: 

Craftsman/Sears ($200 Cash): Chris Madden; Shane Clanton; Brandon Sheppard; Rick Eckert; Frank Heckenast Jr.; Craftsman/Sears ($100 Cash): Brandon Overton; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate):Chris Madden; MSD Ignition ($50 Cash):Chris Madden; Quarter Master ($100 Product Certificate): Chris Madden; Wrisco (Three Sheets of aluminum): Shane Clanton;  Penske Racing Shocks ($50 Product Certificate): Chris Madden; JE Pistons ($50 Cash): Brandon Sheppard; VP Racing Fuels ($50 Cash): Chub Frank; Edelbrock ($50 Cash): Chub Frank; Comp Cams ($50 Cash): Eric Wells; Extended Stay America ($50 Cash): Chub Frank; Cometic ($50 Cash): Morgan Bagley; JRI Shocks ($50 Cash): Donald Bradsher; Superflow Dyno’s ($50 Cash): Steve Francis; Quartermaster ($25 Product Certificate): Joey Coulter; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Steve Francis; Quartermaster ($50 Product Certificate): Billy Ogle Jr.; Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 Product Certificate): Billy Ogle Jr.; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Donald McIntosh; MSD Ignition ($25 Cash): Chris Madden; QA-1 ($50 Cash): Shane Clanton; Rookie Bonus: Donald Bradsher; Bonus Bucks: Shanon Buckingham

SEASON WINNERS: 

Brandon Sheppard- 3 (Whynot Motorsports Park on March 24, Farmer City Raceway on April 1, Fayetteville Motor Speedway on May 6)
Shane Clanton- 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 24, Cherokee Speedway on May 6)
Rick Eckert- 1 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 17)
Chris Madden- 1 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 18)
Don O’Neal- 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 25)
Timothy Culp- 1 (LoneStar Speedway on March 26)
Brian Shirley-1 (Farmer City Raceway on April 2)
Brandon Overton- 1 (Smoky Mountain Speedway on May 14)

Unofficial World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Championship Standing