(July 13, 2024) Rural Retreat, VA – Chris Madden returned to victory lane in the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco for the 29th time on Saturday night at Wythe Raceway. The Gray Court, South Carolina driver took advantage of leader Dale McDowell’s flat tire on lap 18 to lead the remaining laps and secure the win by over five seconds.
A Race of Challenges and Triumphs
Madden, who started second, initially dropped back after a tight start but capitalized on McDowell’s misfortune to inherit the lead. Despite the challenges, Madden held firm to win the 53-lap feature, earning the $10,053 top prize.
“We were a little bit tight right there,” Madden said. “Dale (McDowell) had a very maneuverable car before he had the flat tire. We just kind of inherited the lead there after that. We were too tight and were probably going to run second, but we got the win. Thanks to all of my great sponsors, my hard-working crew, and everyone associated with our team!”
Notable Performances
- Donald McIntosh: The series point leader, who had to switch to a backup car due to a broken power steering pump, rallied from the tail to finish second.
- Benji Hicks: Starting tenth, Hicks made his way up to finish third, securing a spot on the podium.
- Dale McDowell: After leading the first 17 laps, McDowell finished fourth following his flat tire.
- Mike Benedum: Starting eleventh, Benedum rounded out the top five.
Event Highlights
- Fast Time in Qualifying: Dale McDowell clocked the fastest lap in FK Rod Ends qualifying with a time of 16.316 seconds.
- Heat Race Winners: McDowell and Madden each won their heat races.
- Cautions: Four DirtCarLift.com caution flags slowed the race. The most significant was a red flag on lap 9 for Brandon Overton’s rollover, which relegated him to a disappointing fourteenth-place finish.
Upcoming Race
The Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Series continues on Sunday, July 14, at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. A $7,553 winner’s check is up for grabs in the series’ twelfth-ever visit to “The Gap.” For more details, visit Volunteer Speedway’s website.
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (53 Laps)
- Chris Madden [2]
- Donald McIntosh [6]
- Benji Hicks [10]
- Dale McDowell [1]
- Mike Benedum [11]
- Gavin Cowan [5]
- Stacy Boles [8]
- Cory Hedgecock [3]
- Tim Vance [9]
- Kaede Loudy [7]
- Chris Chandler [14]
- Luke Morey [13]
- Chris Ferguson [15]
- Brandon Overton [4]
- Doug Sanders [DNS]
- Haiden Cowan [DNS]
