JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (Oct. 10) — Just a month after returning to full-time racing following a nearly four-month absence, Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., made his way to victory lane for the third time this season, capturing a $25,000 victory in the Southern Nationals Bonus Series-sanctioned Fall Classic at Ponderosa Speedway.
Charging to the front of the 22-car field at the drop of the green flag, second-starting Madden led the entire 100-lap distance, fighting back challenges from polesitter Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., to make his way to Ponderosa Speedway’s victory lane in his first ever visit to the Junction City oval.
“We had a great race car tonight,” Madden said after the race. “I want to thank all these guys that work so hard on this thing … they gave me a race car that I couldn’t help but win a race with. This thing was super fast.”
Successfully navigating lapped traffic throughout the 100-lapper, Madden survived two late-race cautions, holding off Bloomquist at the race’s final restart on lap 91.
“I was worried we wasn’t going to get the win,” Madden said. “We run about the last 75 laps with the thing blowing fuel in my face. That’s why I couldn’t take off on the starts and (Bloomquist) was able to get up beside me a few times there. But congratulations to Scott for a runner-up run. Any time you can run with that guy, it’s a blessing to me.”
Bloomquist, who finished runner-up in the Ultimate series-sanctioned John Bradshaw Memorial at Ponderosa, settled for a second-place finish, with August race winner Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., running third. Current Ponderosa points leader Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky., finished fourth, with former Ponderosa track champion Dustin Linville of Bryantsville, Ky., rounding out the top five.
“(Madden) did a good job,” Bloomquist said. “The way the track was tonight, getting the jump on the start … the outside was the better place to be. We just got in tow there, hoped we might get a break in traffic. But it’s pretty tough to pass a good car out here. Let’s just say we’ve been consistent. Maybe we can pick it up a notch next time.”
After a hard-fought battle with Jason Jameson of Lawrenceburg, Ind., Marlar grabbed the third-place spot on lap 64 and began reeling in the race leaders. A lap-90 yellow ended his charge.
“It hurt me,” Marlar said. “But you don’t know how much Chris (Madden) was driving hard either. I was definitely driving hard and he could have been up there conserving. So it’s hard to say those statements, that you could have or would have. But I’m just glad (promoter) Jerry (Denson) got the race in with the inclement weather we had this week. We tried to put on the best race that we could.”
Notes: The race was slowed by five cautions. ... A yellow flag waved for Ray Cook on lap 10 when he lost a drive shaft. ... Steve Casebolt slowed on the frontstretch to draw a caution on lap 21. ... Another yellow waved on lap 49 when Kent Robinson slowed with a flat right-rear tire. ... Jason Jameson slowed in turns one and two to draw a caution on lap 90. ... The final yellow flew for Justin Rattliff on lap 91. ... Third-place finisher Mike Marlar lowered the track record in Friday's time trials. ... Darrell Lanigan was among drivers in attendance for Thursday's practice session, but scratched from the weekend's action after injuring his thumb.
Preliminary results:
Consolation results:
First consolation (top two transfer): Steve Casebolt, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brandon Fouts, David Payne, Donnie Sullivan, Charlie Jude, Johnny Wheeler, Skylar Marlar
Second consolation (top two transfer): Paul Wilmoth, Jr., Brandon Kinzer, Wayne Chinn, Daniel Williams, Jeff Rawlings, Jerry Rutherford, Daniel Dial, Bo Eaton, Jason Wagner
Heat race results
First heat (top four transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Mike Marlar, Justin Rattliff, Ray Cook, Eddie Carrier, Jr., David Payne, Brandon Fouts, Johnny Wheeler, Donnie Sullivan
Second heat (top four transfer): Chris Madden, Eric Wells, Jimmy Owens, Mason Zeigler, Steve Casebolt, Josh Hall, Skylar Marlar, Charlie Jude, Timmy Taylor
Third heat (top four transfer): Jason Jameson, Dustin Linville, Josh Rice, Tommy Bailey, Paul Wilmoth, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Joe Janowski, Jeff Rawlings, Bo Eaton
Fourth heat (top four transfer): Michael Chilton, Greg Johnson, Kent Robinson, Cody Mahoney, Brandon Kinzer, Daniel Williams, Jason Wagner, Jerry Rutherford, Daniel Dial
Time trial results
Driver (car no.), hometown, time
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 12.605
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 12.641
Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 12.712
Michael Chilton (97), Salvisa, Ky., 12.742
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 12.763
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 12.776
Dustin Linville (D8), Bryantsville, Ky., 12.797
Greg Johnson (88), Bedford, Ind., 12.800
Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 12.834
Steve Casebolt (c9), Richmond, Ind., 12.839
Tommy Bailey (11), Corbin, Ky., 12.840
Cody Mahoney (4), Madison, Ind., 12.904
David Payne (8), Murphy, N.C., 12.967
Mason Zeigler (25Z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 12.973
Paul Wilmoth Jr. (B1), Clarksburg, W.Va., 13.003
Kent Robinson (7R), Bloomington, Ind., 13.005
Justin Rattliff (16), Campbellsville, Ky., 13.066
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 13.141
Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 13.159
Brandon Kinzer (18), Allen, Ky., 13.204
Eddie Carrier Jr. (28), Salt Rock, W.Va., 13.305
Skylar Marlar (11M), Winfield, Tenn., 13.385
Joe Janowski (16v), Carmel, Ind., 13.422
Jason Wagner (J12), Deer Creek, Ill., 13.468
Brandon Fouts (81), Kite, Ky. 13.476
Josh Hall (26), Tomahawk, Ky., 13.523
Wayne Chinn (15), Bradford, Ohio, 13.611
Jerry Rutherford (7J), Lawrenceburg, Ky., 13.785
Johnny Wheeler (17J), Campbellsville, Ky., 13.788
Charlie Jude (CJ1), Inez, Ky., 13.925
Jeff Rawlings (15), Harrodsburg, Ky., 13.944
Daniel Dial (11D), Lawrenceburg, Ky., 14.020
Donnie Sullivan (1), Stanford, Ky., 14.304
Timmy Taylor (5), Harrodsburg, Ky., 14.599
Bo Eaton (3x), Blue Ridge, Ga., 14.657
Daniel Williams (12d), West Liberty, Ky., 14.996
Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., no time
