Dirt on Dirt - Madden dominates USA Nat'ls prelim at Cedar Lake

August 4

Cedar Lake Speedway,

New Richmond, WI

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (USA Nationals second prelim) - $6,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 5, 11:45 am)

Madden dominates USA Nat'ls prelim at Cedar Lake

USA Nationals second prelim

Chris Madden
Hudson O'Neal
Tanner English
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Brian Shirley
Dennis Erb Jr.
Brandon Sheppard
Nick Hoffman
Daulton Wilson
Bobby Pierce
Brent Larson
Shannon Babb
Ryan Gustin
Cade Dillard
Johnny Scott
Tyler Erb
Drake Troutman
Shane Clanton
Kyle Bronson
Dustin Sorensen
Ethan Dotson
Kyle Strickler
Jonathan Davenport
Ashton Winger
Nick Anvelink
Gordy Gundaker
Todd Cooney
Dillon McCowan

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Chris Madden topped Hudson O'Neal (right) and Tanner English (left) Friday at Cedar Lake.

What won the race: Holding off a late charge from pole-starting Hudson O’Neal, outside front-row starter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led all 25 laps of Friday’s USA Nationals preliminary feature at Cedar Lake Speedway. Madden earned $6,000 for his third World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory of 2023 and the 36th of his career.

Quotable: “We had a real good race car all night,” Madden said. “We were just a tick free in qualifying and I wasn’t able to get off of (turn) four to get a better lap. We had a great car in the heat race in traffic, and then we had a great race car in the race tonight. We’ve been down a little bit, but my guys have been working extremely hard. I want to thank my whole team and all my sponsors for sticking behind us.”

Key notes: The 48-year-old Madden beat O’Neal, 22, to the finish line by 0.752 of a second. … O’Neal lost second to Tanner English on lap 14 but regained the position using the top side of turns one and two on a lap-21 restart. … English settled for a third-place finish after the inside line he used to draw within striking distance just after the halfway mark went away in the late stages. … Ricky Thornton Jr.’s steady fourth-place finish made him the overall top points earner in the two preliminary programs, giving him the pole position for Saturday’s 100-lap, $50,000-to-win finale. … Brian Shirley nosed past Thornton for fourth on laps 20-21 but ceded the spot on the restart and finished fifth. … Fourth-starter Shannon Babb faded steadily through the race and finished 12th. … Bobby Pierce, who won Thursday’s 25-lapper, was never a factor in finishing 10th. … The feature’s only caution flag flew on lap 21 when Jonathan Davenport spun between turns one and two after contact with Babb. … The top 16 drivers in event points after Friday’s program locked into Saturday’s 36th annual USA Nationals; the remainder of the drivers will compete in B-mains and a last-chance race.

On the move: Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, Minn., started 22nd and finished 11th.

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, Classic Trucking, White Oak Mountain Wedding Venue, Davis Diesel Service, Worley Monument, VP Racing Fuels, Penske Racing Shocks, Swift Springs, Earnhardt Technologies Group and Hoosier Racing Tire.

Points chase: After Cedar Lake Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (3,868); 2. Chris Madden (3,776); 3. Ryan Gustin (3,738); 4. Brandon Sheppard (3,734); 5. Nick Hoffman (3,708); 6. Brian Shirley (3,704); 7. Tanner English (3,676); 8. Kyle Bronson (3,670); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,620); 10. Shane Clanton (3,510); 11. Cade Dillard (3,432); 12. Gordy Gundaker (3,420).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 72°F

Car count: 48

Fast qualifier: Dennis Erb Jr.

Time: 13.692 seconds

Polesitter: Hudson O'Neal

Heat race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Tanner English, Daulton Wilson, Shannon Babb, Ricky Thornton Jr., Chris Madden

Consolation race winners: Dustin Sorensen, Ryan Gustin, Dillon McCowan

Provisional starters: Kyle Bronson, Shane Clanton, Gordy Gundaker, Todd Cooney

Next series race: August 5, Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) $50,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (Aug. 4) — Updates from Friday's World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series second preliminary at the 36th annual USA Nationals, highlighted by a $6,000-to-win program for the national tour (results unofficial):

Feature

Holding off a late charge from pole-starting Hudson O’Neal, outside front-row starter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led all 25 laps of Friday’s USA Nationals preliminary feature at Cedar Lake Speedway. Madden earned $6,000 for his third World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory of 2023 and the 36th of his career. Ricky Thornton Jr., who finished fourth, ended the two preliminary nights sitting atop the event points standings to earn the pole position for Saturday's 100-lap, $50,000-to-win finale.

USA Nationals points

(Top 16 locked into Saturday’s 100-lapper)

1. Ricky Thornton Jr. - 1,462
2. Hudson O’Neal - 1,458
3. Tanner English - 1,455
4. Brandon Sheppard - 1,445
5. Bobby Pierce - 1,435
6. Brian Shirley - 1,432
7. Shannon Babb - 1,418
8. Dennis Erb Jr. - 1,410
9. Chris Madden - 1,395
10. Cade Dillard - 1,394
11. Daulton Wilson - 1,362
12. Jonathan Davenport - 1,361
13. Johnny Scott - 1,346
14. Tyler Erb - 1,335
15. Shane Clanton - 1,334
16. Nick Hoffman - 1,325
17. Ryan Gustin - 1,323
18. Kyle Bronson - 1,321
19. Brent Larson - 1,308
20. Ethan Dotson - 1,303
21. Drake Troutman - 1,294
22. Kye Blight - 1,281
23. Gordy Gundaker - 1,251
24. Ashton Winger - 1,244
25. Kyle Strickler - 1,237
26. Dustin Sorensen - 1,234
27. Todd Cooney - 1,228
28. Chad Mahder - 1,223
29. Jake Timm - 1,220
30. Daniel Hilsabeck - 1,212
31. Dillon McCowan - 1,200
32. Nick Anvelink - 1,196
33. Trevor Gundaker - 1,188
34. Ricky Weiss - 1,181
35. A.J. Diemel - 1,170
36. Jason Feger - 1,164
37. Dustin Walker - 1,164
38. Lance Matthees - 1,153
39. James Giossi - 1,152
40. Jesse Glenz - 1,151
41. Harry Hanson - 1,147
42. Paul Parker - 1,145
43. Thomas Hunziker - 1,142
44. Danny Vang - 1,137
45. Sawyer Specht - 1,137
46. Terry Casey - 1,134
47. Jeff Massengill - 1,109
48. Kaede Loudy - 566
49. Don Shaw - 558

Feature lineup

Row 1: Hudson O'Neal, Chris Madden
Row 2: Tanner English, Shannon Babb
Row 3: Daulton Wilson, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 5: Ethan Dotson, Bobby Pierce
Row 6: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman
Row 7: Cade Dillard, Jonathan Davenport
Row 8: Tyler Erb, Johnny Scott
Row 9: Drake Troutman, Kyle Strickler
Row 10: Dustin Sorensen, Ryan Gustin
Row 11: Dillon McCowan, Brent Larson
Row 12: Ashton Winger, Nick Anvelink
Row 13: Kyle Bronson, Shane Clanton
Row 14: Gordy Gundaker, Todd Cooney

Consolation results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation finish: Dustin Sorensen, Brent Larson, Trevor Gundaker, Gordy Gundaker, Chad Mahder, Ricky Weiss, Sawyer Specht, Jason Feger, Dustin Walker (DNS) Don Shaw.

Second consolation finish: Ryan Gustin, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Jake Timm, Jesse Glen, Todd Cooney, James Giossi, Shane Clanton, Paul Parker, Harry Hanson.

Third consolation finish: Dillon McCowan, Nick Anvelink, Daniel Hilsabeck, A.J. Diemel, Lance Matthees, Kye Blight, Danny Vang, Thomas Hunziker, Terry Casey (DNS) Jeff Massingill.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat finish: Hudson O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Cade Dillard, Dustin Sorensen, Trevor Gundaker, Jason Feger, Chad Mahder (DNS) Don Shaw.

Second heat finish: Tanner English, Ethan Dotson, Tyler Erb, Brent Larson, Ricky Weiss, Gordy Gundaker, Dustin Walker, Sawyer Specht.

Third heat finish: Daulton Wilson, Brandon Sheppard, Drake Troutman, Ryan Gustin, Jake Timm, James Giossi, Jesse Glenz, Todd Cooney.

Fourth heat finish: Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Jonathan Davenport, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Harry Hanson, Shane Clanton, Paul Parker.

Fifth heat finish: Ricky Thornton Jr., Bobby Pierce, Johnny Scott, Terry Casey, A.J. Diemel, Nick Anvelink, Lance Matthees (DNS) Jeff Massingill.

Sixth heat finish: Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Strickler, Dillon McCowan, Daniel Hilsabeck, Kye Blight, Danny Vang, Thomas Hunziker.

Time trials

First group
1. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.692
2. Tanner English (96V), Benton, Ky., 13.757
3. Drake Troutman (7D), Hyndman, Pa., 13.820
4. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.908
5. Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.949
6. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 13.981
7. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 14.010
8. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.062
9. Brandon Sheppard (b5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.075
10. Dustin Sorenson (28), Rochester, Minn., 14.110
11. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 14.139
12. Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa, 14.237
13. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 14.259
14. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.262
15. Gordy Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 14.262
16. Trevor Gundaker (14G), St. Charles, Mo., 14.289
17. Sawyer Specht (99), Sheboygan Falls, Wis., 14.330
18. Jake Timm (49T), Winona, Minn., 14.339
19. Chad Mahder (55C), Eau Claire, Wis., 14.342
20. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 14.369
21. James Giossi (11G), Hudson, Wis., 14.376
22. Don Shaw (42S), Ham Lake, Minn., 14.445
23. Dustin Walker (14W), Peculiar, Mo., 14.467
24. Jesse Glenz (7x), Chippewa Falls, Wis., 14.689
Second group
1. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.784
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20RT), Chandler, Ariz., 13.814
3. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 13.880
4. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 13.882
5. Johnny Scott (1ST), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.900
6. Kye Blight (31AUS), Katanning, W. Australia, 13.910
7. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.917
8. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.954
9. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.962
10. Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 14.081
11. Nick Anvelink (15A), Bonduel, Wis., 14.090
12. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.107
13. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.111
14. Terry Casey (42), New London, Wis., 14.180
15. Daniel Hilsabeck (22H), Adel, Iowa, 14.265
16. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 14.332
17. A.J. Diemel (58), Elk Mound, Wis., 14.387
18. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.450
19. Harry Hanson (7H), Eveleth, Minn., 14.607
20. Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 14.632
21. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.688
22. Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 14.721
23. Jeff Massingill (6M), Keewatin, Minn., 14.823
24. Danny Vang (47), Deerwood, Minn., 15.059

Friday's schedule

(All times local)

8:30 a.m. - Breakfast served in both restaurants
Noon - Tubing on Apple River
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- WoO Late Model hot laps
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- WoO Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heat races
- WoO Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolation races
- WoO Late Model consolation races (10 laps)
Track prep and fireworks show
- Limited Late Model feature (30 laps)
- WoO Late Model feature (25 laps)
Postrace party in the Cedar Lake Arena