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Daily Dirt 03/28/2024 11:32:15

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February 19
Volusia Speedway Park,
Barberville, FL
Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (DIRTcar Nationals) - $10,000
Information provided by: Kevin Kovac (last updated February 20, 4:15 am)
Timing right as Madden captures Volusia finale
DIRTcar Nationals
  1. Chris Madden
  2. Mike Marlar
  3. Dale McDowell
  4. Max Blair
  5. Kyle Hammer
  6. Ricky Thornton Jr.
  7. Kyle Strickler
  8. Dennis Erb Jr.
  9. Tim McCreadie
  10. Earl Pearson Jr.
  11. Tyler Bruening
  12. Devin Moran
  13. Brandon Overton
  14. Spencer Hughes
  15. Tanner English
  16. Chase Osterhoff
  17. Cade Dillard
  18. Brandon Sheppard
  19. Brent Larson
  20. Kyle Bronson
  21. Gordy Gundaker
  22. Boom Briggs
  23. Tyler Erb
  24. Josh Richards
  25. Ashton Winger
  26. Michael Norris
  27. Ryan Gustin
  28. Chris Simpson
  29. Brian Shirley
presented by
Rick Neff
Chris Madden shows off his Gator trophy and the checkered flag.
What won the race: Chris Madden slid under polesitter Dale McDowell on the 13th lap Saturday at Volusia Speedway Park and wrapped up the 51st annual DIRTcar Nationals with a $10,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series. The series points leader took the checkers 1.261 seconds ahead of Mike Marlar for his first WoO victory since May 22, 2021.
Key notes: Chris Madden has 33 career WoO victories. ... Madden has two career DIRTcar Nationals victories; the first came Feb. 2017, in the week's opener. ... Devin Moran won the DIRTcar Nationals Gator Championship. ... The DIRTcar Nationals had six winners in six races (and a seventh different winner in the Sunshine Nationals makeup). ... Max Blair held second virtually all race long before slipping to fourth on the final lap. ... Dale McDowell, chasing his second victory of the week, led the first 12 laps. ... A lap-18 caution appeared when Brian Shirley stopped atop turn four. … Chris Simpson slowed for a lap-26 yellow and Ryan Gustin slowed on lap 32.
On the move: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, started 20th and finished 12th.
Winner's sponsors: The Chris Madden Racing Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Drydene Performance Products, Franklin Enterprises, Henderson Amusement, Millwood Plumbing, Petroff Towing, Century Plastics, Davis Diesel Service, Worley Monument, VP Racing Fuels, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Racing Tire and Cole Perkins Media & Promotions.
Points chase: After Volusia Saturday: 1. Chris Madden (854); 2. Dale McDowell (838); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (816); 4. Brandon Sheppard (802) 5. Devin Moran (796); 6. Tyler Bruening (782); 7. Max Blair (764) 8. Tanner English (754); 9. Darrell Lanigan (750); 10. Hudson O’Neal (736).
Current weather: Clear, 55°F
Car count: 57
Fast qualifier: Shane Clanton
Time: 16.922 seconds
Polesitter: Dale McDowell
Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Chris Madden, Mike Marlar, Max Blair, Kyle Strickler, Dale McDowell
Consolation race winners: Chase Osterhoff, Devin Moran, Tyler Erb
Provisional starters: Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin, Josh Richards, Boom Briggs, Gordy Gundaker
Next series race: March 11, Revolution Park (Monroe, LA) $20,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Entering Saturday's 51st annual DIRTcar Nationals finale without a victory, time was running out on Chris Madden at Volusia Speedway Park.

But the 46-year-old Gray Court, S.C., driver's timing couldn't have been better at the D-shaped half-mile as he took command at a key moment and led the rest of the 40-lap World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series main event.

"It was just timing, you know?" said Madden, who swept under polesitter Dale McDowell on the 13th lap exiting turn four and raced to a $10,000 payday that solidified his series points lead. "We've had a great car all week. You know, I've made some bad calls on restarts, picking the wrong line, and I took myself out a couple of wins this week. But overall, we've had a great week and my guys worked their tails off and they've done a great job and I appreciate 'em."

Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., finished 1.261 seconds behind Madden at the checkers after taking the second spot on the final lap while Chickamauga, Ga.'s McDowell, Thursday's winner at Volusia, settled for third after leading the first 12 laps. Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., held the second spot most of the race but slipped back to fourth at the finish, edging fellow WoO rookie candidate Kyle Hammer of Clinton, Ill.

Madden, who captured his second career DIRTcar Nationals victory and first since the 2017 opener, started third in the 29-car field but wasn't initially confident of his chances on a reworked track surface.

"I thought we had messed up there," Madden said. "We made an adjustment (on the car before the race) and they dropped a green flag and I can't keep up. I was like, 'Oh boy, I'm in trouble.' But the racetrack finally slowed down enough to where we were pretty good and Dale and them caught lapped traffic.

"We had nothing to lose but step out there and we found a groove and happened to get by right in time, you know, before (the surface) started rubbering. So it was a big deal to do the move at that point."

Madden went to the outside to grab the second spot from Blair and experimented with that groove on McDowell before dropping back to the bottom for the winning pass. McDowell said he was a "sitting duck" in trying to figure out which groove he should pick while leading.

"I didn't know where to go," McDowell said. "I went to the middle and that's where I should've been, but (the slower cars) kind of moved out a little bit, and when I moved out a little bit, Chris and them shot by me. And then a couple laps later, (the track) single-laned. Some days are your days and some days aren't."

Marlar, who was battling Madden for the third spot early in the race, took some credit for Madden's success.

"We were actually really good tonight, but Chris was good, too," Marlar said. "Early in the race, he was a little better. I think I got him motivated. I passed him and (then) he moved out and passed the leaders. So it was fun race while it lasted and congratulations to (Madden) and a fun week."

While Madden captured the finale, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, made a 20th-to-12th charge that was good enough for the week-long DIRTcar Nationals title. In picking up the Gator Championship trophy for the second straight season, Moran edged Madden in the miniseries points.

Three cautions slowed the action, the first on the 18th lap when Brian Shirley stopped atop turn four. Another yellow fell on lap 26 for a slowing Chris Simpson and finally on lap 32 when Ryan Gustin slowed and pulled to the infield pits.

Notes: Chris Madden has 33 career WoO victories. ... His previous WoO victory came May 22, 2021, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. ... The DIRTcar Nationals had six winners in six races (and a seventh different winner in the Sunshine Nationals makeup. ... Officials took breaks before the Late Model consolation races and again before the Late Model feature to rework the racing surface. ... Brandon Sheppard, whose Rocket Chassis house car team rarely takes provisional starting spots, started with his second provisional of the week. He finished 18th.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Dale McDowell, Max Blair
Row 2: Chris Madden, Kyle Strickler
Row 3: Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Kyle Hammer, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 5: Dennis Erb Jr., Chris Simpson
Row 6: Tim McCreadie, Spencer Hughes
Row 7: Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton
Row 8: Brian Shirley, Michael Norris
Row 9: Tyler Bruening, Ashton Winger
Row 10: Chase Osterhoff, Devin Moran
Row 11: Tyler Erb, Tanner English
Row 12: Cade Dillard, Brent Larson
Row 13: Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin
Row 14: Josh Richards, Boom Briggs
Row 15: Gordy Gundaker

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Chase Osterhoff, Tanner English, Tyler Millwood, Mike Benedum, Donny Schatz, Blair Nothdurft, Garrett Mosely, Deshawn Gingerich, Dan Stone, Jacob Ulrich. Scratched: Garrett Smith, Jason Miller, Blake Spencer, Morgan Bagley.

Second consolation: Devin Moran, Cade Dillard, Darrell Lanigan, Frank Heckenast Jr., Shane Clanton, Josh Richards, Stacy Boles, Cody Overton, Ryan Gustin, Gordy Gundaker, Reid Millard. Scratched: Nick Hoffman, Mark Whitener.

Third consolation: Tyler Erb, Brent Larson, Brandon Sheppard, Logan Martin, Dylan Thompson, Colten Burdette, Todd Cooney, Boom Briggs, Daulton Wilson, Trey Mills. Scratched: Hudson O'Neal, Chase Junghans.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Hammer, Kyle Bronson, Chase Osterhoff, Donny Schatz, Tyler Millwood, Blair Nothdurft, Deshawn Gingerich, Jason Miller, Jacob Ulrich.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley, Tanner English, Garrett Smith, Mike Benedum, Garrett Mosley, Dan Stone, Blake Spencer. Scratched: Morgan Bagley.

Third heat: Mike Marlar, Tim McCreadie, Tyler Bruening, Josh Richards, Cade Dillard, Darrell Lanigan, Gordy Gundaker, Reid Millard. Scratched: Mark Whitener.

Fourth heat: Max Blair, Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Overton, Devin Moran, Frank Heckenast Jr., Shane Clanton, Ryan Gustin, Nick Hoffman, Stacy Boles, Cody Overton.

Fifth heat: Kyle Strickler, Chris Simpson, Michael Norris, Tyler Erb, Brent Larson, Trey Mills, Hudson O’Neal, Boom Briggs, Chase Junghans.

Sixth heat: Dale McDowell, Spencer Hughes, Ashton Winger, Brandon Sheppard, Logan Martin, Todd Cooney, Colten Burdette, Dylan Thompson, Daulton Wilson.

Time trials

First group   

  1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 16.958
  2. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 16.996
  3. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 17.022
  4. Kyle Hammer (45), Clinton, Ill., 17.048
  5. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 17.059
  6. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 17.139
  7. Blair Nothdurft (76), Sioux Falls, S.D., 17.143
  8. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 17.213
  9. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 17.215
  10. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 17.355
  11. Garrett Mosley (38), Lawley, Fla., 17.358
  12. Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., 17.366
  13. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 17.370
  14. Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 17.374
  15. Josh Richards (14), Shinnston, W.Va., 17.391
  16. Jason Miller (94), Winchester, Va., 17.433
  17. Tanner English (81E), Benton, Ky., 17.441
  18. Gordy Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 17.451
  19. Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 17.489
  20. Morgan Bagley (14m), Gladewater, Texas, 17.512
  21. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 17.551
  22. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 17.569
  23. Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 17.641
  24. Blake Spencer (6S), St. Augustine, Fla., 17.669
  25. Mark Whitener (58), Middleburg, Fla., 17.675
  26. DeShawn Gingerich (0g), Dover, Pa., 18.015
  27. Dan Stone (2d), Thompson, Pa., 18.151
  28. Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 18.969
  29. Jacob Ulrich (22AD), Sand Springs, Okla., 19.208

Second group   

  1. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 16.922
  2. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 17.023
  3. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 17.115
  4. Devin Moran (9), Dresden, Ohio, 17.202
  5. Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 17.235
  6. Spencer Hughes (11H), Meridian, Miss., 17.267
  7. Max Blair (111V), Centerville, Pa., 17.295
  8. Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 17.297
  9. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 17.324
  10. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 17.353
  11. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 17.403
  12. Ashton Winger (89), Hampton, Ga., 17.409
  13. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 17.413
  14. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 17.425
  15. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 17.464
  16. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 17.497
  17. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 17.555
  18. Logan Martin (36), West Plains, Mo., 17.610
  19. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 17.613
  20. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 17.657
  21. Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa, 17.665
  22. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 17.670
  23. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 17.690
  24. Colten Burdette (44), Parkersburg, W.Va., 17.867
  25. Nick Hoffman (6), Mooresville, N.C., 17.924
  26. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 17.931
  27. Dylan Thompson (99), Paducah, Ky., 18.005
  28. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 18.066

Saturday's schedule

10 a.m. - Pit gates open
3 p.m. - Pit areas secured
3:30 p.m. - Draw opens
4:45 p.m. - Late Model drivers' meeting
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Big-block modified hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Big-block modified time trials
- Super Late Model time trials
- Big-block modified heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Big-block modified consolations (10 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Big-block modified main event (50 laps)
- Super Late Model main event (40 laps)

Feature lineup

Row 1: McDowell, Blair
Row 2: Madden, Strickler
Row 3: Marlar, Thornton
Row 4: Hammer, Pearson
Row 5: D. Erb, Simpson
Row 6: McCreadie, Hughes
Row 7: Bronson, B. Overton
Row 8: Shirley, Norris
Row 9: Bruening, Winger
Row 10: Osterhoff, Moran
Row 11: T. Erb, English
Row 12: Dillard, B. Larson
Row 13: Sheppard, Gustin
Row 14: Richards, Briggs
Row 15: Gundaker

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