HomeDirt Late Model NewsMadden Makes Haste, Defends Home Track, Wins Cherokee

Madden Makes Haste, Defends Home Track, Wins Cherokee

Published on

- Advertisement -

Lucas Oil Late Model SeriesGAFFNEY, SC (June 21, 2013) – Hometown driver Chris Madden led all the way on Friday night to win the Grassy Smith Memorial at Cherokee Speedway. Madden took home $10,000 for his third career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Madden had tough competition early from Brent Dixon and Chris Ferguson until those two drivers experienced problems. The defending race winner, Steve Francis finished second followed by Dennis Erb Jr., Don O’Neal, and Dale McDowell.

“It feels great to win here at Cherokee, it has been a while. The car was super tonight, we had a few problems there in traffic, but overall, after that last caution, I could drive it anywhere on the track. I have a lot of friends here tonight. My wife and kids left for vacation, I will join them tomorrow,” said the winner afterwards.

Madden battled with Ferguson and Dixon for the first several circuits. Dixon got by Ferguson on lap 16 and then pursued Madden for the lead. Dixon and Ferguson were able to stay close to Madden as the race for the lead began to heat up as the trio got into lapped traffic.

Dixon nearly took the lead from Madden before a caution came out as the two split a lapped car. Madden then slipped in turn two drifting up the track on the restart and again Dixon nearly gained the lead. Dixon held second until three laps remained when he slowed suddenly bringing out the final caution of the race.

Madden then cruised on for the victory after Dixon was through for the night. “I have to thank Clements Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars, Hamrick’s of Gaffney, Henderson Amusement, KC Transport and all of my other great sponsors for making this possible, the track was real good tonight it had two distinct grooves and I hope the fans enjoyed the show.”

Francis and Erb, who battled for fourth and fifth for most of the last half of the race, were the beneficiaries after Dixon left the race, but neither driver had anything for Madden in the final laps. Last year’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year, Jonathan Davenport was running third when he lost his fuel cell on lap 42 bringing out a red flag.

Completing the top ten were Jared Landers, Earl Pearson Jr., John Blankenship, Jimmy Owens and Chris Ferguson.

In preliminary action, Steve Shaver set the overall time (Group A) amongst the 27 entrants, with a lap of 15.021 seconds. Casey Roberts set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.073 seconds. Chris Madden, Chris Ferguson, and Brent Dixon won their respective heat races. Tim Allen won the B-Main.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will round out the weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, VA on Saturday, June 22nd. The event will feature RED BUCK Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 50-Lap $10,000-to-win “Blue Ridge 50”. For more information, visit www.wytheraceway.com.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, June 21st, 2013
15th Annual “Grassy Smith Memorial”
Cherokee Speedway – Gaffney, SC

Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Steve Shaver / 15.021 seconds
Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Casey Roberts / 15.073 seconds

Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Chris Madden, Dennis Franklin, Earl Pearson Jr., Dale McDowell, Craig Vosbergen, Billy Moyer Jr., Tim Allen, Kevin Wilson, Steve Shaver
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Chris Ferguson, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier Jr., Ricky Weeks, Johnny Pursley, Jimmy Owens, Jerry Lierly, Joe Ramey

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Brent Dixon, Casey Roberts, Dennis Erb Jr., Jonathan Davenport, John Blankenship, Jared Landers, Zack Mitchell, Ty Dillon, Jeff Smith

CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tim Allen, Steve Shaver, Jeff Smith, Ty Dillon, Kevin Wilson, Joe Ramey, Jimmy Owens-DNS, Jerry Lierly-DNS, Zack Mitchell-DNS

Feature Finish (50 Laps):
FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 1 44m Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
2 8 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 9 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
4 5 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
5 10 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
6 18 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
7 7 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL
8 15 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 23 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
10 2 21 Chris Ferguson Mount Holly, NC
11 11 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV
12 13 8 Craig Vosbergen Western Australia
13 16 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
14 14 1w Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC
15 19 17 Tim Allen Kannapolis, NC
16 24 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
17 3 1d Brent Dixon Elberton, GA
18 12 49 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
19 22 41 Ty Dillon Lexington, NC
20 4 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC
21 20 6s Steve Shaver Vienna, WV
22 21 70 Jeff Smith Gastonia, NC
23 17 09 Johnny Pursley Clover, SC
24 6 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA

Race Statistics

Entrants: 27
Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1 – 50)
Caution Flags: Dennis Franklin (Lap 15); Ty Dillon (Lap 41); Debris (Laps 42); Brent Dixon (Lap 47)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Jerry Lierly
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
RED BUCK Fast Time Provisionals: none
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jimmy Owens (Started: 23rd, Finished: 9th, Advanced: 14 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Steve Francis
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Earl Pearson Jr.
JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Kuntz Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Heather Lyne (Dennis Erb Jr.)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Chris Madden (Lap# 17;15.801 seconds)
Time of Race: 30 minutes 50 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 2745
2 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 2620
3 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 2600
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 2570
5 28e Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 2545
6 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL 2460
7 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 2390
8 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 2270
9 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 2055
10 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 2005
11 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL 1850

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*

Related Links

2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tour Schedule

2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series TV Schedule

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products

MAVTV

ProtectTheHarvest.com

2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

GEICO – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

iON Cameras -The lightest, fastest, fully-waterproof HD action camera on the market
Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
MAVTV “American Real”- “The Official TV Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Optima Batteries – “The Official Battery” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
ProtectTheHarvest.com- “The Official Protect the Harvest Campaign of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Serie
RED BUCK- “The Official Fast Time Sponor” of the Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series
Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
2013 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:
Allstar Performance, AR Bodies, Banshee Graphics, Barry Wright Race Cars, Bloomquist Race Cars, Borrowed Blue, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, C&R Racing, Crawford Supply, CV Products, Dart Machinery, DirtonDirt.com, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dyers Top Rods, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Fuel Safe Fuel Cells, FK Rod Ends, Gaerte Engines, Georgia Boot, Hawk Performance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Kuntz Race Engines, Longhorn Chassis, Mann Merchant Processing, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Performance Rod and Custom, Pro Power Racing, Race Engine Design, Rayburn Race Cars, RED BUCK, Rick Schwallie Photography, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Parts, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Mfg, Traeger Grills, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

POWRi 410 Wing & Non-Wing Sprints to Headline 2024 Hockett/McMillin Memorial

Belleville, IL. (3/22/2024) Ushering in a new era of excitement and...

Brandon Sheppard Eager to Hunt For Fourth Illini 100 Win at Farmer City 

B-Shepp is currently tied with Billy Moyer for the most Illini...

Chris Simpson Seeking A Fast Start To 2024 With Lucas Oil MLRA

Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) – Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway...

Howard Moore Opens ’24 in Victory Lane at Farmington Empire Speedway

WoO at Arrowhead Speedway Up Next MEMPHIS, Tenn. (03/27/24) – Howard Moore...

Jeffery Pahule Victorious in POWRi Outlaw Micro KKM Challenge Prelim Night One

Visalia, CA. (3/20/24) Local talent Jeffrey Pahule would show speed and...

Steven Snyder Jr Earns $10K in POWRi Outlaw Micro KKM Challenge Championship Night Thrilling Win

Visalia, CA. (3/22/24) Steven Snyder Jr would thrill the capacity crowd...

Appeals Commission Upholds Findings and Process in Tire Penalties

Board adjusts impact to penalized drivers, all three eligible to race...

Farmington Empire Speedway Results – 3/23/24

12 entries 410 SPRINTS - WINGED A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 3-Howard...

RELATED ARTICLES

Appeals Commission Upholds Findings and Process in Tire Penalties

Board adjusts impact to penalized drivers, all three eligible to race pending fines CONCORD, NC...

Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Visit Headlines Two-Day Show at I-75 Raceway

(SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE)  Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled...

Davenport Sweeps Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Action at Atomic

CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 24, 2024) – Jonathan Davenport was the driver to beat on Sunday...

Devin Moran Earns First Career Brownstown Victory

BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 23, 2024) – After 10 years of trying to make it to...

Chris Simpson Seeking A Fast Start To 2024 With Lucas Oil MLRA

Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) – Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway after the season...