Chris Madden led all 50 laps on his way to the win
After a rain-plagued early spring season, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series made its way to Smoky Mountain Speedway to contest a $10,000-to-win event on a beautiful Friday night. South Carolina’s Chris Madden came away as the big winner from the Maryville, Tenn. track after turning in a dominating performance that ultimately netted him the lead in the series standings as well as the winner’s trophy.
Madden began the night by laying down the fastest lap in qualifying as he toured the 4/10 mile clay oval in 16.104 seconds to beat out Brandon Sheppard, Chris Ferguson, Dale McDowell, Mike Marlar and Devin Moran.
Madden earned his way into the WoO Late Models redraw by winning the first heat race of the night ahead of Shane Clanton, McDowell, Michael Chilton, Brent Larson and Chase Junghans.
Sheppard would join Madden in the redraw by virtue of his win in the second preliminary of the night ahead of Marlar, Shanon Buckingham, Tyler Erb, Vic Hill and Stacy Boles.
Moran was the third heat winner and also a participant in the redraw as he bested Ferguson, Casey Roberts, Rick Eckert, David Breazeale and Tommy Kerr.
Brandon Overton won the lone Last Chance Showdown over Dakotah Knuckles, Morgan Bagley and Chub Frank.
The redraw placed Moran on the pole with Madden, Sheppard, Clanton, Ferguson and Marlar starting just behind.
Madden bolted from the outside of the front row to take the lead at the drop of the green flag. From that point, the race was essentially for second as the No. 44 car would hardly be challenged over the course of the 50-lap main event. Clanton, Moran, Sheppard and Marlar trailed the leader in the early going.
The first caution flag of the night waved just two laps into the main event when a piece of debris flew into the car of Timothy Culp and struck the driver’s helmet. He slowed on the track and ultimately pulled into the pit area and received medical attention. He walked from his car to the ambulance under his own power.
Just one lap after that restart, the third running Sheppard brushed the outside wall in turn two the had smoke belch from his car. What was eventually diagnosed as an engine issue ended the night for the driver who entered the evening as the series points leader.
On the lap 3 restart, Madden quickly broke away while Moran took second away from Clanton and Buckingham battled with Marlar for fourth in the running order. In just three laps, Madden had built his lead to the length of one of Smoky Mountain’s long straightaways.
Devin Moran(9) and Shane Clanton battle early on in the feature
Further back in the top-10 Chilton challenged Ferguson for seventh while Madden quickly caught up with the tail of the field and found himself in slower traffic. That did little to hinder the No. 44 car as the lead remained significant throughout a green flag run of 31 laps during the middle stages of the race. During that time, Moran fought with Clanton and Buckingham for the right to serve as Madden’s closest pursuer.
On lap 19, Clanton succeeded in wresting the runner-up spot away from Moran, who then fell back into the clutches of Buckingham as those two racers battled for several laps for the final position on the podium.
Shanon Buckingham(50) and Mike Marlar fight for position
The final caution of the night came out on lap 34 when McDowell’s top-10 running car suffered a mechanical malfunction. On the ensuing restart, Roberts took fourth away from Buckingham but no one would challenge Madden during the race’s latter stages.
The Barry Wright Race Cars house car cruised under the checkered flag to give the veteran driver his 16th career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory.
Feature Finish: 1. Chris Madden, 2. Shane Clanton, 3. Devin Moran, 4. Casey Roberts, 5. Shanon Buckingham, 6. Michael Chilton, 7. Tyler Erb, 8. Brandon Overton, 9. Mike Marlar, 10. Chris Ferguson, 11. Chase Junghans, 12. Rick Eckert, 13. David Breazeale, 14. Chub Frank, 15. Dakotah Knuckles, 16. Stacy Boles, 17. Morgan Bagley, 18. Dale McDowell, 19. Tommy Kerr, 20. Blake Spencer, 21. Vic Hill, 22. Brandon Sheppard, 23. Brent Larson, 24. Timothy Culp
Madden showered with confetti as he emerges from his car
