Madden leads flag-to-flag for $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ‘Scorcher’ victory at Volunteer Speedway

Madden leads flag-to-flag for $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ‘Scorcher’ victory at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Aug. 22, 2013) — Before a packed house Thursday night at Volunteer Speedway, Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C., led all 50 laps to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 10th annual Scorcher presented by Reece Monument Co. and Patriot Mining, a victory worth $10,000.

Madden held off defending event winner Billy Ogle Jr. for the win, his second series victory of the season and fourth career series win. Ogle stayed within striking distance of the 38-year-old Madden over the last half of the race, but Madden proved to be too strong and would not be denied his second Scorcher victory.

For the third consecutive series event, Dale McDowell finished third. Scott Bloomquist came home fourth, followed by five-time track champion Vic Hill.

“That was a demanding 50 laps we just finished,” said Madden after climbing from his car in victory lane on the front straightaway. “Joe Loven (track owner) really gave us a heck of a racetrack tonight, and this place was definitely hooked up. I thought it (track) was in better shape tonight than it has been in a long time. The speeds we’re running around these high banks, everything happens quickly and you’d better be focused. I slowed up for a couple laps or so there after the race restarted following that lap 27 caution. I couldn’t figure out why I was so loose getting into the corners, and that allowed Billy Ogle Jr. to really close in on our rear bumper and pressure us for the lead.

“I had a great race car tonight and we were fast in practice and backed it up in qualifying. After the heat race we made a few adjustments on the car and for the main event, we were really good. I have to thank Century Plastics, Hamrick’s of Gaffney, Cushman Paint and Body, Henderson Amusement, Hoosier Racing Tires, Ohlins, Clements Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars and everybody else who helps out.”

The most serious incident in the race happened when point leader Jimmy Owens slowed on the front straightaway with a flat tire on lap 11 and several drivers piled-up between turns one and two. Don O’Neal got upside down and tumbled down the track with Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Casebolt, David Crabtree and Jay Brunson also involved. Emergency and track personnel were quickly on the scene and O’Neal was checked out as a precautionary measure.

Michael Asberry spun NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Wood Brothers Racing) and Nationwide Series (Roush Fenway Racing) driver Trevor Bayne racing off turn two down the backstretch on lap 12 to bring the caution out just one circuit back under green, with Joe Ramey also involved. Bayne did a masterful job keeping his spinning ride from making contact with the concrete retaining wall and was able to continue in the race, while both Asberry and Ramey wound up parked in the pits.

Ogle made the move for second when he passed McDowell on lap 24 and then hounded Madden the rest of the distance.

“I tried to cut the corners on him (Madden), but he was just too strong tonight,” said the multi-time East Tennessee track champion Ogle. “I thought maybe starting on the front row, we could win this race two years in a row, but it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations to Madden on the win.”

McDowell had to fight off Bloomquist over the last part of the race to finish third.

“I had a good race with Scott tonight and it’s good to hold him off for third. We had a really solid effort tonight and we’ll just keep digging and get us a victory soon.”

Completing the top 10 finishers were Eddie Carrier Jr., John Blankenship, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, and Dennis Erb Jr.

In preliminary action, Chris Madden set the overall time (Group A) amongst the 33 entrants, with a lap of 12.438 seconds. Billy Ogle Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.488 seconds. Chris Madden, Scott Bloomquist, Billy Ogle Jr., and Dale McDowell won their respective heat races. Steve Casebolt and Mark Douglas won their respective B-Mains.

Warren McMahan led the Modified Hobby “Havoc 25” until lap 16 when he suddenly slowed racing off turn two and dropped to the bottom of the track and  coasted around and pulled into the turn four pit entrance, thus ending his hopes of winning. Gary Blanken of Russellville moved into the lead, and once out front he would not be denied a visit to victory lane. Robbie Woods recorded a strong runner-up finish, followed by Ray Jarnigan, Mike Mays and Josh Chesney.

VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – AUGUST 22, 2013

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – $10,000 TO WIN 10TH ANNUAL SCORCHER – PRESENTED BY REECE MONUMENT CO. & PATRIOT MINING

Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown, Money Earned, Laps Completed In Parentheses

1. (1) Chris Madden #44-Gaffney, SC $10,000 (50)
2. (2) Billy Ogle Jr. #201-Knoxville, TN $5,500 (50)
3. (4) Dale McDowell #41-Chickamauga, GA $3,500 (50)
4. (3) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN $2,750 (50)
5. (7) Vic Hill #1-Mosheim, TN $2,250 (50)
6. (6) Eddie Carrier Jr. #28-Salt Rock, WV $1,800 (50)
7. (9) John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV $1,500 (50)
8. (10) Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN $1,300 (50)
9. (11) Steve Francis #15-Ashland, KY $1,200 (50)
10. (15) Dennis Erb Jr. #28-Carpentersville, IL $1,100 (50)
11. (21) Eric Jacobsen #5j-Watsonville, CA $1,075 (50)
12. (12) Trevor Bayne #6-Knoxville, TN $1,050 (49)
13. (24) Billy Moyer Jr. #21-Batesville, AR $1,025 (49)
14. (20) Jay Brunson #23-Dubberly, LA $1,000 (36)
15. (8) Randy Weaver #116-Crossville, TN $950 (27)
16. (5) Jared Landers #5-Batesville, AR $925 (12)
17. (14) Michael Asberry #360-Crossville, TN $900 (12)
18. (22) Joe Ramey #2-Ironton, OH $875 (12)
19. (13) Don O’Neal #71-Martinsville, IN $850 (11)
20. (17) Steve Casebolt #c9-Richmond, IN $825 (11)
21. (16) David Crabtree #c5-Maryville, TN $800 (11)
22. (23) Earl Pearson Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL $800 (11)
23. (18) Mark Douglas #52D-Knoxville, TN $800 (9)
24. (19) Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN $800 (7)

Race Statistics

Entrants: 33
Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1 – 50)
Caution Flags: Chad Ogle (Lap 8); Jimmy Owens (Lap 11); Trevor Bayne, Michael Asberry, Joe Ramey (Lap 12); Randy Weaver (Lap 27)
Red Flags: One (Lap 11)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Earl Pearson Jr., Billy Moyer Jr.
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Eric Jacobsen (Started: 21st, Finished 11th, Advanced 10 positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens
Allstar Performer of the Race: Billy Ogle Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yates Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Michael Martin, Michael Rinehart (Chris Madden)

Red Buck Fast Time Group A: Chris Madden / 12.438 seconds
Red Buck Fast Time Group B: Billy Ogle Jr. / 12.488 seconds

Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1) Chris Madden #44, 2) Jared Landers #5, 3) John Blankenship #23, 4) Don O’Neal #71, 5) Jeff Wolfenbarger #28, 6) Eric Jacobsen #5j, 7) Billy Moyer Jr. #21, 8) Kayne Hickman #H3, 9) Earl Pearson Jr. #44

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1) Scott Bloomquist #0, 2) Vic Hill #1, 3) Steve Francis #15, 4) Dennis Erb Jr. #28, 5) Steve Casebolt #c9, 6) Chad Ogle #10, 7) Bobby Giffin #97, 8) Ryan King #30

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1) Billy Ogle Jr. #201, 2) Eddie Carrier Jr. #28, 3) Jimmy Owens #20, 4) Michael Asberry #360, 5) Joe Ramey #2, 6) Mark Douglas #52D, 7) Andrew Gordon #18, 8) Josh Henry #25

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1) Dale McDowell #41, 2) Randy Weaver #116, 3) Trevor Bayne #6, 4) David Crabtree #c5, 5) Bryan Hendrix #5, 6) Jay Brunson #23, 7) Jeff Maupin – Did Not Start: Jason Witherite #24

CV Products B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1) Steve Casebolt #c9, 2) Chad Ogle #10, 3) Eric Jacobsen #5j, 4) Jeff Wolfenbarger #28, 5) Billy Moyer Jr. #21, 6) Bobby Giffin #97, 7) Kayne Hickman #H3, 8) Ryan King #30 – Did Not Start: Earl Pearson Jr. #44

Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1) Mark Douglas #52D, 2) Jay Brunson #23, 3) Joe Ramey #2, 4) Andrew Gordon #18, 5) Bryan Hendrix #5, 6) Josh Henry #25 – Did Not Start: Jeff Maupin #0, Jason Witherite #24

MODIFIED HOBBY “HAVOC 25”

1) Gary Blanken #05; 2) Robbie Woods #2; 3) Ray Jarnigan #77; 4) Mike Mays #30; 5) Josh Chesney #j1; 6) Charlie Bates #27; 7) Clynis Phillips #46; 8) Landon Williams #25; 9) Eddie Adams #9; 10) Jamie Whitt #1; 11) David Bullington #20; 12) Jesse Helton #28; 13) Austin Atkins #14; 14) Warren McMahan #33; 15) Shorty Ledford #41; 16) Eddie Morris #2x