BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates and results from the third semifeature of the third round of the 52nd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, highlighted by three $5,000-to-win Super Late Model feature events (results unofficial):
Feature
Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., survived a race not kind on tires to win Wednesday's third and final Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals semifeature at Volusia Speedway Park in Barbersville, Fla. Madden inherited the lead on lap 15 and led the final six laps after leader Hudson O'Neal and second-running Blair Nothdurft both suffered flat tires during the same caution period.
Pre-race notes
Wednesday brings the warmest day of the week so far with mostly sunny skies and an afternoon high reaching into the 80s. … Fifty-two cars are signed in to compete in the unique Wednesday program, which includes triple 20-lap features each paying $5,000-to-win. Drivers were divided into their respective feature by a blind draw and qualify in their groups. … The final driver to qualify in each group will draw a chip numbering 1, 2, 3 or 4 to determine the inversion for that feature. … With the first feature scheduled to kick off Wednesday’s racing right at the completion of opening ceremonies around 7 p.m., Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., was among the entrants hoping to pick a number that put him in Race No. 1. Why did Briggs want that race? So he could make an early exit from the pits to enjoy a night at the Ocean Deck bar and restaurant in Daytona Beach. (Alas, Briggs has to stick around because he’s in the third feature.) … Making their first starts of the week are Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, Gordy Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo., Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., and Colton Flinner of Allison Park, Pa., whose arrival to Volusia was delayed two days because his truck broke down in South Carolina on Sunday night and he had to wait until Tuesday for parts to repair the hauler’s wheel bearings. … With Johnny Scott competing, his twin brother and teammate, Stormy, is sitting out the action. Stormy said he likely won’t race for the remainder of the week so the team’s focus can be put on Johnny’s WoO Rookie of the Year chase. … Another pair of two-car teams is fielding only one entry on Wednesday: Trevor Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo., will carry Millard Racing’s torch (Reid Millard of Jefferson City, Mo., isn’t racing) and Payton Freeman of Commerce, Ga., will be the lone Team 22 Inc. entrant (Austin Kirkpatrick of Concord, N.C., is sitting out but likely to return for WoO action). … Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., pulled into the pit area with his Double L Motorsports hauler late Wednesday afternoon but won’t race for a third straight night; he said a misunderstanding led him to incorrectly believe he was ineligible to compete in the triple 20s because he didn’t enter one of the week’s first two events so he didn’t rush to get to the track. … Mike Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., and David Breazeale of Four Corners, Miss., are racing after changing motors following Tuesday’s program. … Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., has relocated his pit spot for Wednesday’s action, moving from his stall in the upper pit area to the back end of the lower Gator Pond to park near Longhorn house car driver Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.
Third feature time trials
1. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.587
2. Hudson O'Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind.,15.599
3. Blair Nothdurft (76), Sioux Falls, S.D., 15.612
4. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.634
5. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.758
6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.832
7. Payton Freeman (22*), Commerce, Ga., 15.833
8. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.910
9. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.936
10. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.963
11. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.965
12. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.972
13. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.014
14. Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa, 16.092
15. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.146
16. Brian Booze (B2), Greencastle, Pa., 16.217
17. David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 16.494
Wednesday’s schedule
(All times local)
1 p.m.: Pits open
4:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
5 p.m. Grandstands open
5:30 p.m.: Hot laps
- Super Late Models
- Big-block modifieds
Qualifying
- Super Late Models
- Big-block modifieds
6:50 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
7 p.m.: Racing
- First Super Late Model feature (20 laps)
- Big-block modified heats (8 laps)
- Second Super Late Model (20 laps)
- Big-block modified redraw
- Big-block modified consolations
- Third Super Late Model feature (20 laps)
- Big-block modified feature (30 laps)