By Chris Tilley & Michael Despain

BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA (July 21, 2020)-Chris Madden claimed his third victory of the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series by Sunoco Race Fuels at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, N.C. on Tuesday night.

The Gray Court, S.C. driver earned $3,500 for his 27th-career victory on the tour while driving the Millwood Motorsports, Millwood Plumbing, Drydene, Competition Race Equipment, Machine Construction Company, On-Time Hauling, Penske Shocks and Derek Gahring Enterprises-sponsored Rocket Chassis with a Clements Racing Engine underneath the hood.

After a false start on the first attempt, the second attempted start would be a go, with Ross Bailes taking the race lead, with Brandon Overton taking second from David Payne on the opening lap, with Chris Madden and Tyler Millwood completing the top five at this point. Madden would work past Payne for third on lap three as Overton would pressure Bailes for the lead. Danny Ledford would draw the caution on lap four when his machine would lose a right-rear wheel and tire assembly and the restart would see Mark Whitener and Dalton Polston tangle in turn four prior to another full lap being completed. Bailes would maintain the lead at the restart, with Overton and Madden in pursuit as the front trio would put some distance on the rest of the field. Bailes would maintain a slight advantage while Overton and Madden would dog him for the lead, with Overton and Madden trading the second position on laps ten and eleven, with Madden winning the battle for the spot as Bailes, Madden, and Overton would begin to work in lapped traffic. The trifecta would race three-wide for the lead on lap thirteen, with Bailes maintaining a slight advantage, however, disaster would strike Bailes on lap fifteen when he would tangle with a slower car he was attempting to put a lap down in turn three, with then sixth-place running Donald McIntosh making contact with the incident as well, ending his night.

This turn of events would put Madden in the lead, with Overton now second, Payne third, Millwood fourth, and 12th place starting Brent Dixon fifth. Fourteenth place starter Jake Knowles would get a great restart and make his way by Dixon into the top five on lap sixteen as Madden, Overton, and Payne would slowly distance themselves from fourth place Millwood by lap twenty. Madden would maintain a comfortable lead, while Payne appeared to close a bit on Overton as the final caution of the race appeared on lap twenty-seven for a turn one spin by Jamie Oliver. The restart would see Madden hold the lead, with Overton closing in on Madden with two circuits remaining, but it would be Madden’s night as he would score the victory, with Overton and Payne finishing second and third, while Millwood and Knowles completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Dixon, Payton Freeman, Bailes, Pearson Lee Williams, and Polston.

The next event for the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series will be Thursday July 23, 2020 at Crossville Speedway in Crossville, Tenn. paying $3,500-to-win.

For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, please log on to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or call promoter Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353.

Sponsors of the Southern Nationals Series include: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keyser Manufacturing, MasterSbilt Race Cars, RockAuto.com, Wiles Driveshafts, Vic Hill Racing Engines, The Steering Buddy, Knowles Race Parts & Bodies, Coosa Heating & Air, Dirt Scenes, The Joie of Seating, and DirtCarLift.com.

Official Summary of Results

Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels

Tri-County Race Track-Brasstown, N.C.

July 21, 2020

Feature Finish:

1. Chris Madden-Gray Court, S.C.
2. Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.
3. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
4. Tyler Millwood-Kingston, Ga.
5. Jake Knowles-Rome, Ga.
6. Brent Dixon-Elberton, Ga.
7. Payton Freeman-Commerce, Ga.
8. Ross Bailes-Clover, S.C.
9. Pearson Lee Williams-Dublin, Ga.
10. Dalton Polston-Lithia Springs, Ga.
11. Joe Denby-Tullahoma, Tenn.
12. Jamie Oliver-Murphy, N.C.
13. Jadon Frame-Winchester, Tenn.
14. Kurt English-Murphy, N.C.
15. Craig Greer-Cleveland, Tenn.
16. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
17. Mark Whitener-Middleburg, Fla.
18. Shawn Chastain-Murphy, N.C.
19. Danny Ledford-Warne, N.C.
20. John Baker-Norman park, Ga.
21. Chuck Southard-Franklin, N.C.
22. Kenny Collins-Colbert, Ga.

Time of Race: 30 minutes, 3 seconds

Margin of Victory: 0.710 seconds

Yellow Flags: Five (laps 1, 4, 4, 15, 27)

Red Flags: None

Lap Leaders: Bailes (1-14), Madden (15-35)

Entries: 26

Overall Fast Qualifier: Ross Bailes-12.767 seconds

Highest Finishing CT525 Engine ($200): None

Highest Finishing Steel Head/SPEC Engine ($200): None

Provisional Starters: John Baker & Craig Greer

Heat One Finish: Shawn Chastain, Payton Freeman, Kurt English, Joe Denby, Danny Ledford, Craig Greer, Gary McPherson (DNS), Trevor Parker (DNS).

Heat Two Finish: Brent Dixon, Jake Knowles, Jadon Frame, Dalton Polston, Chuck Southard, Tim Rucker, John Baker, Cody King (DNS).

Current Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Points (after 7/21/20)

1. Brandon Overton-1,778
2. Chris Madden-1,762
3. Ross Bailes-1,688
4. Donald McIntosh-1,664
5. Tyler Millwood-1,604
6. Pearson Lee Williams-1,596
7. Jake Knowles-1,550
8. Mark Whitener-1,262
9. John Baker-1,155
10. Cory Hegecock-940

2020 Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series Schedule:

Friday July 10-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-CHRIS MADDEN

Saturday July 11-Wythe Raceway-Rural Retreat, VA-BRANDON OVERTON

Monday July 13-Volunteer Speedway-Bulls Gap, TN-CHRIS MADDEN

Tuesday July 14-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-CORY HEDGECOCK

Thursday July 16-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA-BRANDON OVERTON

Friday July 17-Needmore Speedway-Norman Park, GA-BRANDON OVERTON

Saturday July 18-Screven Motor Speedway-Sylvania, GA-BRANDON OVERTON

Sunday July 19-Cochran Motor Speedway-Cochran, GA-BRANDON OVERTON

Tuesday July 21-Tri-County Race Track-Brasstown, NC-CHRIS MADDEN

Thursday July 23-Crossville Speedway-Crossville, TN-$3,500 to win

Friday July 24-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$10,053 to win

Saturday July 25-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$10,053 to win