Chris Madden
For years, Chris Madden has established himself as one of the top regional Dirt Late Model racers in the country. As a result, fans of the Gray Court, SC star have long wished for their favorite to take on one of the national touring series to test his abilities on the biggest of stages in the sport. Now, those fans are getting their wish as the driver embarks on the World of Outlaws Late Models tour for the 2017 season.
So what is it about this season that prompted the popular 42-year-old to step away from his regional schedule and onto a national series.
“I just feel like I’m better equipped this year than I have been in a while,” Madden explained in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “I’ve got some full-time employees in place that are really good at doing their job.”
But Madden’s reasoning goes beyond employees and equipment.
“My little boy will be 10 this year and he’s big into baseball and extremely good at it,” he continued. “I figured if I was going to miss a year with him in his sports that I probably need to do it now. I know that over the next few years I’m going to be tied up with him running from camp to camp and just doing whatever he wants to do. I don’t want to miss out on his life so I decided that this year would be a good year to do it.”
After taking a bit of a break following Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, the World of Outlaws Late Models tour will be back in action this weekend with stops in Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. Madden says that getting away from the southeast region where he has done most of his racing is one of the things that intrigues him most about this new adventure.
“Just getting to tour the world and see different places is going to be different,” the driver declared. “Race tracks are race tracks, they’re all round and they all have dirt on them. We’ve been fortunate to be able to adapt to different situations so I don’t foresee travelling around being a problem. We’ve been able to go to new places in the past and be competitive and win. I’m excited about running with different people. Obviously being on a national tour is a big deal to some people, but I’m just a racer so I like to race and I don’t care if it pays $500,000 or $500. I love racing.”
Madden began the 2017 campaign with strong results. He earned a win and a runner-up finish in the series’ opening weekend at Screven Motor Speedway. However, mechanical issues resulted in a poor finish in the first points-paying event held at Volusia Raceway Park. He then followed that up with another top-5 the next day. The No. 44 Longhorn has found its way to victory lane on two other occasions so far this season with a UMP sanction triumph at Volusia and an unsanctioned win at Dixie Speedway.
Madden’s No. 44
Currently, Madden sits fifth in the WoO Late Models standings, just 28 markers behind leader Brandon Sheppard.
Madden has developed a habit of getting off to fast starts, much as he did last season. But that effort was hampered by an injury suffered at Smoky Mountain Speedway in July that resulted in the driver missing just over a month of racing action.
“We started out strong last year then we had that injury then we came back strong,” Madden recalled. “Now we’re back strong again at the beginning of this season so I don’t see that we were ever really weak. We just had some issues that set us back. As far as speed and being prepared, we feel like we’re prepared and we’re good enough to do it.”
A potential challenge for the driver known as ‘Smokey’ is that he will be visiting tracks that he has never competed on before.
“It really don’t bother me like it used to because I think I’ve gotten to an age now where it doesn’t affect me,” Madden explained. “I don’t let my mind get too far out of line from where I need to focus. Basically, you just pay attention to some of the other guys who have been there, and even your local divisions, and learn off of those guys.”
As far as his goal for 2017, only one result will suffice for the driver in search of his first national touring championship.
“We’re going to win it. That’s my goal. Second and third and fourth don’t pay enough money. Winning it is the only goal we’ve got.”
