What won the race: Inheriting the lead when race-long leader Chris Ferguson blew a right rear tire with three laps remaining, Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led the final three laps to win Sunday’s 20th March Madness at Cherokee Speedway. The third-starting Madden finished 0.619 of a second ahead of fourth-starting Mike Marlar for a $10,000 payday in the Southern All Stars-sanctioned event.

Key notes: Madden survived late as a number of contenders fell by the wayside, many during four cautions that slowed action on lap 48. ... After Ferguson’s demise, then runner-up Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., suffered a right front flat. Lap-48 cautions also flew for Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., who stopped in turn three just after returning to the track, and for Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., who spun out of fifth place in turn four on a restart. … Madden earned his 52nd career Southern All Stars victory and first in four years. He last won March 4, 2018 in Cherokee’s 16th March Madness. He has four March Madness wins and nine SAS victories at Cherokee. … Only 10 cars were running at the finish, all on the lead lap. … Ferguson, Overton, Strickler and Cody Overton all pitted on lap 48 and did not return. … The race was slowed by 10 cautions. The longest green flag stretch was laps 13-29 as cautions flew on laps 12, 29, 34, 42 (three times) and 48 (four times). … Third-finishing Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., rebounded after a first lap tangle with Ferguson. The two made contact in turns one and two, with Davenport losing ground. He fell as far as sixth before rallying thanks to others’ tire issues. … Bailes, who won the SAS season-opener at Georgia’s Screven Motor Speedway, finished ninth. … Sunday’s race was renamed the Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness in 2020, honoring longtime scorer Ginger Owens, who lost her battle with cancer. ... The SAS tour made its lone stop at Cherokee on the 2022 season.

On the move: After a scrape in his heat race, Charlotte, N.C., transplant Austin Kirkpatrick started 17th and finished sixth.

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: Entering Cherokee, Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., was the points leader.

Expected entrants:

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Chris Ferguson

Time: 15.359 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Ferguson

Heat race winners: Chris Ferguson, Jonathan Davenport, Chris Madden, Mike Marlar

Next series race: March 18, Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) $3,000