Dirt on Dirt - McDowell's flat helps Madden to Wythe victory

July 13

Wythe Raceway,

Rural Retreat, VA

Sanction: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals - $10,053

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 14, 8:11 am)

McDowell's flat helps Madden to Wythe victory

Chris Madden
Donald McIntosh
Benji Hicks
Dale McDowell
Mike Benedum
Gavin Cowan
Stacy Boles
Cory Hedgecock
Tim Vance
Kaede Loudy
Chris Chandler
Luke Morey
Chris Ferguson
Brandon Overton

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Chris Madden discusses his series victory at Wythe Raceway.

What won the race: Inheriting the lead when race-long leader Dale McDowell had a flat tire after leading 17 laps, Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led the rest of the way Saturday at Wythe Raceway for a $10,053 victory, his first with the Schaeffer's Southern Nationals since 2020. Tail-starting Donald McIntosh finished more than five seconds behind as the runner-up with Benji Hicks third, just ahead of a rallying McDowell.

Quotable: "We were a little bit tight right there. We pushed on the start and lost three or four positions and then Dale (McDowell) had to lead there. Dale had a very maneuverable car out there and he had a flat tire. We just kind of inherited the lead there," Madden said. "We were too tight. so you know, we probably would've run second there, but we got the win."

Key notes: Madden, a five-time series champion, notched his series-leading 29th career victory. ... He won for the fourth time on the series at Wythe; his previous victory came in 2013. ... He has focused mostly on the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series in recent seasons and hasn't won on Ray Cook's Southern Nationals since 2020 (Madden recently abandoned his 2024 WoO pursuit). ... Dale McDowell led the first 17 laps before heading to the infield to replace a flat left-rear tire; he rallied to finish fourth. ... Kaede Loudy ran second laps 18-25 and was third when he slowed and retired after 32 laps. ... Seven of 14 starters finished on the lead lap. ... A red flag appeared on the ninth lap when second-running Brandon Overton got upside down in turn two, his car landing on its roof; he wasn't hurt. ... Besides the McDowell caution, the first restart was called back when Madden didn't fire. ... A lap-25 caution appeared when Cory Hedgecock got into the fence in turns one and two, apparently caused by a flat right-front tire. ... Donald McIntosh went to his second car after breaking a power steering pump in heat action; he gave up the sixth starting spot for the tail and rallied into contention. ... Haiden Cowan scratched for the night when his team found a broken oil pump before hitting the track. ... Doug Sanders also scratched from the feature after slamming the turn-three wall in the second heat.

On the move: Tail-starting Donald McIntosh finished second.

Winner's sponsors: Madden’s Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Drydene, Franklin Enterprises, Millwood Plumbing, Henderson Amusement, Davis Diesel Service, Drydene Racing Formulas, Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service, Worley Monument, Pyramid Materials, DirtCarLift.com, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, VP Racing Fuels and Wrayz Wrapz.

Points chase: After Wythe: 1. Donald McIntosh (396); 2. Gavin Cowan (380); 3. Benji Hicks (376); 4. Chris Ferguson (370); 5. Cory Hedgecock (364).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 16

Fast qualifier: Dale McDowell

Time: 16.316 seconds

Polesitter: Dale McDowell

Heat race winners: Dale McDowell, Chris Madden

Next series race: July 14, Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) $7,553

Editor's note: Corrects lap of Overton's red flag to ninth lap sted third.

From staff reports

RURAL RETREAT, Va. (July 13) — Updates from the second round of the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway, an event highlighted by a $10,053-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Inheriting the lead when race-long leader Dale McDowell had a flat tire after leading 17 laps, Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led the rest of the way Saturday at Wythe Raceway for a $10,053 victory, his first with the Schaeffer's Southern Nationals since 2020. Tail-starting Donald McIntosh finished more than five seconds behind as the runner-up with Benji Hicks third, just ahead of a rallying McDowell.

Feature lineup

(53 laps)

Row 1: Dale McDowell, Chris Madden
Row 2: Cory Hedgecock, Brandon Overton
Row 3: Gavin Cowan, Donald McIntosh
Row 4: Kaede Loudy, Stacy Boles
Row 5: Tim Vance, Benji Hicks
Row 6: Mike Benedum, Doug Sanders
Row 7: Luke Morey, Chris Chandler
Row 8: Chris Ferguson, Haiden Cowan

Heat race recap

Dale McDowell outdueled Gavin Cowan in the opening laps, then pulled away from Cory Hedgecock on a late-race restart, winning the first heat race by 1.061 seconds over Hedgecock. Cowan officially led lap three before slipping and giving way to Hedgecock, settling for third. Chris Ferguson brought out the lone yellow when he blew a right-rear tire and made contact with the outside wall, ripping his spoiler off. He did not continue. … Chris Madden overcame an opening lap challenge from Brandon Overton and Donald McIntosh, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.189 seconds over Overton. McIntosh settled for third. Doug Sanders brought out the only caution when he pounded the turn-three wall and took a few minutes to exit his mangled car.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

First heat: Dale McDowell, Cory Hedgecock, Gavin Cowan, Kaede Loudy, Tim Vance, Mike Benedum, Luke Morey, Chris Ferguson.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Donald McIntosh, Stacy Boles, Benji Hicks, Doug Sanders. Scratched: Chris Chandler, Haiden Cowan

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.316
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 16.358
3. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 16.497
4. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.497
5. Cory Hedgecock (36v), Loudon, Tenn., 16.544
6. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 16.574
7. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.739
8. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.827
9. Tim Vance (17), Clover, S.C., 16.904
10. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.981
11. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 17.056
12. Doug Sanders (42), Spartanburg, S.C., 17.094
13. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 17.221
14. Chris Chandler (8), Weaverville, N.C., 17.355
15. Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 17.827
16. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., no time

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- UCAR hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Super street hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pro mini hot laps
- KCAR hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Modified feature (20 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super street feature (20 laps)
- UCAR feature (15 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (53 laps)
- Pro mini feature (15 laps)
- KCAR feature (10 laps)