The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series kicked off it 2020 tour on Friday night at the Smoky Mountain Speedway. Chris Madden, driving for the first time for Millwood Motorsports, was eventually flagged the feature winner in the first race of what is scheduled to be a twelve race series that will play out over a sixteen-day span. The Gray Court, SC driver took $10,053 away from the Maryville, TN track in a race broadcast live by DirtonDirt.com.
Donald McIntosh was fastest in Group A qualifying after he sailed around the 4/10 mile clay oval in 17.120 seconds to beat out Brandon Overton, Mark Whitener, Dale McDowell and Derek Ellis.
The leader of Group B time-trials was Ross Bailes as he turned a lap of 17.104 seconds to better the efforts of Pearson Lee Williams, Dakotah Knuckles, Ryan King and David Payne.
Ross Bailes took the first heat race of the night by outrunning Chris Madden, Cory Hedgecock and Kyle Hardy while it was Dale McDowell who scored the win in the second preliminary over Michael Chilton, Donald McIntosh and Mark Whitener.
Chris Ferguson was the victor in the third heat ahead of David Payne, Dakotah Knuckles and John Baker just before Tyler Millwood won the fourth and final heat race by topping Vic Hill, Ryan King and Jake Knowles.
Brandon Overton and Camaron Marlar won the two B-main races used to set the remainder of the starting lineup for the main event.
Chris Madden (44) pressures Ross Bailes (58) for the lead.
At the start of the 53-lap feature it was Bailes who bolted to the early lead ahead of Madden, McDowell, Ferguson and Millwood. However, a caution for the slowing car of Chilton just after the completion of the first lap.
On the restart, Ferguson moved by McDowell to claim third just before David Payne was involved in a crash that saw his No. 8 machine roll over in turn one to bring out a red flag.
Payne was reported to be uninjured in the incident.
On the ensuing restart Millwood slipped by Ferguson to take fourth while Madden applied pressure the lead car driven by Bailes. On lap 9 Madden put his No. 44 machine at the front of the field as he moved around Bailes with an outside move in turn four.
Madden, a five-time Southern Nationals champion, then began to pull away from the pack until he encountered slower traffic on lap 15. Further back, Hedgecock moved around Ferguson to take fifth on lap 17 while McDowell made a move around Bailes for second on lap 18.
The final 51 laps of the feature ran caution free with veteran stars Madden and McDowell pacing the field by almost a straightaway ahead their closest followers. Meanwhile, Hedgecock moved to fourth on lap 28 while Overton charged all the way from his 17th starting position to enter the top-5.
Hedgecock then took third away from Bailes on lap 35 which set off a tight scrap for that position between himself, Bailes and Overton.
Cory Hedgecock (23) battles Brandon Overton (76).
McDowell would close the gap on Madden as the laps ticked off but was never able to mount a serious challenge leaving Madden to sail under the checkered flag to earn the 25th Southern Nationals victory of his career.
Feature Finish: 1. Chris Madden, 2. Dale McDowell, 3. Cory Hedgecock, 4. Brandon Overton, 5. Ross Biales, 6. Chris Ferguson, 7. Mark Whitener. 8. Tyler Millwood, 9. Vic Hill, 10. Donald McIntosh, 11. John Baker, 12. Tommy Kerr, 13. Pearson Lee Williams, 14. G.R. Smith, 15. Ryan King, 16. Kyle Hardy, 17. Jake Knowles, 18. Camaron Marlar, 19. Dakotah Knuckles, 20. Craig Greer, 21. David Payne, 22. Michael Chilton, 23. Trent Ivey
Chris Madden and crew celebrate their win.
David Payne goes for a wild ride.
David Payne gets upside down.
