Dale McDowell Takes Control Late to Win Scott Bloomquist Memorial Scorcher

Dale McDowell emerged victorious on Thursday night at Volunteer Speedway to win the 2026 edition of the ‘Scott Bloomquist Memorial Scorcher!’ The Chickamauga, Georgia Hall of Famer qualified third fastest overall during time trials before securing a heat race triumph. After starting third on the grid in the 50-lap Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series headliner, Dale pressured racelong leader Chris Madden throughout the contest before taking control on the 44th circuit. The popular driver known as the “MacDaddy,” who piloted a Team Zero entry that was built by the late Scott Bloomquist, led the final seven laps to pocket the $12,018 payday.

Finishing 0.942 of a second back at the unfurling of the checkered flag was runner-up and seventh-starting Jake O’Neil, of Tucson, Arizona. Garrett Smith improved two spots to round out the podium in third. Jimmy Owens passed a handful of competitors during the caution-plagued contest to land in the fourth spot, while outside polesitter Chris Madden held on to grab the final position inside of the top five after leading the first 43 laps.

“I hate it for Chris (Madden), as he had problems with the right front,” quoted McDowell in victory lane. “Me and him had a pretty equal car there, so you always hate to see that happen, but I had to take advantage of that. This race is for all of the Scott Bloomquist fans and the Bloomquist family and this is one of his cars. Volunteer Speedway was a special place to him and we worked together – him and (car owner) Shane (McDowell) worked really hard together on these things and he accomplished so much in his career. For us to be able to still run these cars and carry that legacy on, it’s pretty special.”

Dale McDowell captured his 46th career Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series victory aboard a Shane McDowell Racing #17m Team Zero racecar powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from Reece Monument Company, Cometic Gaskets, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging, Otterly Baths, Black Rock Enterprises, BSI Well Service, Mount Airy Polaris, Campbell Insulation, M&S Motors, Jason Wright Excavating, AAA General Contractors, RimTek, Go Lithium Batteries, Northeastern Fabrication, and Fox Racing Shox.

A total of 23 Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Showtime Properties competitors were in the pit area at Volunteer Speedway on Thursday for the ‘Scott Bloomquist Memorial Scorcher.’ Jimmy Owens was fast right off the trailer in laying down the quickest lap during MRP Fantasy Racing hot laps (12.522 seconds), while Benji Hicks picked up the pace during VP Racing Fuels qualifying to earn Fast Time honors (12.278 seconds). The trio of heat races were won by Carson Ferguson, Chris Madden, and Dale McDowell. Two drivers – Vic Hill and Camaron Marlar – scratched from the 50-lap feature after separate heat race incidents. Forrest Trent and Will Hicks were both disqualified after the race due to separate on and off the racetrack altercations.

Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Showtime Properties
Round 17 Race Summary
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Volunteer Speedway – Bulls Gap, Tennessee

American Racer Tires Feature Finish (50 Laps):
1. (3) Dale McDowell $12,018
2. (7) Jake O’Neil $6,000
3. (5) Garrett Smith $3,000
4. (9) Jimmy Owens $2,500
5. (2) Chris Madden $2,000
6. (8) Eli Johnson $1,200
7. (21) Mathew Porter $1,100
8. (10) Kaede Loudy $1,000
9. (15) Dillon Daves $950
10. (23) Tucker Anderson $900
11. (12) Kendall Franklin $850
12. (16) Josh Sneed $825
13. (4) Benji Hicks $800
14. (11) Billy Franklin $780
15. (1) Carson Ferguson $760
16. (18) Alex Vance $740
17. (13) Travis Fultz $720
18. (17) Brock Morris $700
19. (22) Dakota Smith $700
20. (19) Vic Hill DNS
21. (20) Camaron Marlar DNS
22. (6) Forrest Trent DQ
23. (14) Will Hicks DQ

Entries: 23
Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1-43), Dale McDowell (Laps 44-50)
Cautions: 9
Deatherage Opticians 4th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Jimmy Owens
Deatherage Opticians 13th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Benji Hicks

MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Jimmy Owens 12.522

VP Racing Fuels Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Benji Hicks 12.278

Full Qualifying Results: 1. 55-Benji Hicks, 12.278[18]; 2. 44-Chris Madden, 12.362[3]; 3. 17M-Dale McDowell, 12.453[10]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson, 12.582[17]; 5. 10-Garrett Smith, 12.606[11]; 6. 20-Jimmy Owens, 12.630[7]; 7. 0-Jake O’Neil, 12.642[15]; 8. 57M-Camaron Marlar, 12.650[23]; 9. 101-Forrest Trent, 12.758[6]; 10. 1-Vic Hill, 12.843[1]; 11. 55E-Eli Johnson, 12.903[12]; 12. 317-Kendall Franklin, 13.006[9]; 13. 79K-Kaede Loudy, 13.330[14]; 14. 17-Billy Franklin, 13.403[16]; 15. 35-Dillon Daves, 13.555[13]; 16. 79-Josh Sneed, 13.659[20]; 17. 17KN-Brock Morris, 13.694[22]; 18. 19P-Mathew Porter, 13.718[5]; 19. 3D-Dakota Smith, 13.783[8]; 20. 15-Will Hicks, 13.862[21]; 21. 95-Alex Vance, 14.334[4]; 22. 329-Travis Fultz, 14.595[2]; 23. 22-Tucker Anderson, 14.595[19]

J&J Construction Heat Race #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[2]; 2. 55-Benji Hicks[1]; 3. 0-Jake O’Neil[3]; 4. 79K-Kaede Loudy[5]; 5. 329-Travis Fultz[8]; 6. 79-Josh Sneed[6]; 7. 1-Vic Hill[4]; 8. 3D-Dakota Smith[7]

Showtime Properties Heat Race #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 10-Garrett Smith[2]; 3. 55E-Eli Johnson[4]; 4. 17-Billy Franklin[5]; 5. 15-Will Hicks[7]; 6. 17KN-Brock Morris[6]; 7. 57M-Camaron Marlar[3]; 8. 22-Tucker Anderson[8]

Delph Communications Heat Race #3 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 2. 101-Forrest Trent[3]; 3. 20-Jimmy Owens[2]; 4. 317-Kendall Franklin[4]; 5. 35-Dillon Daves[5]; 6. 95-Alex Vance[7]; 7. 19P-Mathew Porter[6]

Street Stocks
A Feature (20 Laps): 1. M2-Shannon Emery[3]; 2. 69-Gary Blanken[1]; 3. 10-Colby Long[4]; 4. 10H-Eric Hughes[6]; 5. 44-Clyde Overholt[14]; 6. 3-Tyler Meadows[5]; 7. 21-Robert Poole[8]; 8. J3-Chad McLemore[12]; 9. 04K-Zack Kidwell[13]; 10. 88-Josh Henry[2]; 11. 23-Ronald Rhodes[7]; 12. A13-Austin Byrd[10]; 13. 8M-Matthew Williams[15]; 14. 44M-McKenlee Hall[16]; 15. 19-Austin Helton[9]; 16. (DNS) 8-Kaleb Trent

Sportsman Late Models
A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 7-Heath Alvey[4]; 2. 28-Jesse Helton[1]; 3. 10B-Bradley Lewelling[3]; 4. 50-Adam Mitchell[6]; 5. 15-Bryson Dennis[7]; 6. 2B-Dale Ball[8]; 7. 10P-James Parrott[10]; 8. 33-Warren McMahan[13]; 9. 2-Mitchell Childress[12]; 10. 20-Kurt Owens[11]; 11. 14-Adam Ogle[9]; 12. 16-Chris Beeler[15]; 13. 727-Baillie Lowe[14]; 14. 777-Joseph Bishop[19]; 15. 31-Robbie Buchanan Jr[5]; 16. 57-Cody Ritenour[16]; 17. 281-Gambriel Carden[18]; 18. (DNS) 3S-Shane Starnes; 19. (DNS) 63-Josh Collins; DQ. 3-Tim Maupin[2]

Crown Vic
A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 9L-Chuck Sims[2]; 2. 81-Dylan Hannah[4]; 3. 22C-Logan Chambers[1]; 4. 15-Raymond Nelson[3]; 5. 54N-Chris Naillon[5]; 6. 95-Bart Vance[17]; 7. 40-Tommy Cameron[9]; 8. 77-Cole Fields[13]; 9. 1-Austin Brown[8]; 10. 2-Dakota Ramsey[14]; 11. 16-Preston Reagan[6]; 12. 17-James Shelton[10]; 13. 22-Eddie Hefner[15]; 14. 86-Brent Rice[16]; 15. 62-Brad Shelton[18]; 16. 16J-Wes Johnson[19]; 17. 777-Chris Johnson[20]; 18. (DNS) 82-Dewayne Worley; 19. (DNS) 18-Dennis Lowe; 20. (DNS) 24-Matthew Shetley

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