What won the race: Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., fired off from the outside front row and was never seriously challenged in leading all 40 laps, capturing Friday's $7,553 Schaeffer's Spring Nationals season opener at Swainsboro Raceway. Madden beat Wil Herrington to the checkers by 1.786 seconds for his first victory of the young season and his first win since November's World Finals finale at Charlotte, worth $25,000.

Quotable: “We tried to not mess up there and get through lapped traffic the best we could and not leave the fastest lane open,” Madden said. “The bottom got pretty slick right there and we couldn’t leave the corner real good off of (turn) two anymore and I could see the line coming in at the top … I knew there were some top-rippers here and I knew it was gonna be a point there that I was gonna have to get up there and do it.”

Key notes: Chris Madden captured his sixth career Spring Nationals victory and his first since topping Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway's Lil' Bill Corum Memorial on April 16, 2022, worth $21,000. ... Eighth-starting Wil Herrington took second from Ethan Dotson on lap 38 and finished runner-up aboard Bruce Kane's No. 15k. ... Sixth-starting Trey Mills took third from Dotson as they came to take the white flag. ... The rim-riding Dotson, of Bakersfield, Calif., cut Madden's lead as low as 0.583 of a second on lap 33 before sliding to fourth. ... Dalton Cook battled with Mills in the closing laps before finishing fifth. ... Polesitter Drake Troutman faded to sixth after damaging his left-front nosepiece on an infield tractor tire, then slipping on a lap-23 restart. Troutman lowered the track record in qualifying and shared the front row with his Team 22 Inc. teammate. ... Ashton Winger ran as high as third in the early going before settling for 10th. ... Winger was involved in the night's lone caution after contact sent Garrett Smith spinning as they battled for fourth on lap 23. Smith's turn-four spin collected seventh-running Tanner English and Derek Dent's lapped machine; Smith and English did not continue. ... Cory Hedgecock worked his way as high as 15th before retiring on the 27th lap. ... The 40-lapper lasted 16 minutes, with 15 starters completing the distance. ... John Henderson spun on the opening lap of the second consolation and failed to transfer. ... Clay Harris also failed to qualify after a mechanical issue kept him from registering a time trial lap. ... The Peach State Doubleheader concludes with Saturday's $10,053-to-win stop at Senoia.

On the move: Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Ala., started 18th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Madden's Team 22 Inc. Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Engine and carries sponsorship from Drydene, Henderson Amusement, Millwood Plumbing, Franklin Enterprises, Mohawk Northeast, Victory Circle Auto Sales, Gambler Transport, Brickhouse Tavern, Armor Security, R.J.’s Excavating, Collins Signs, VP Racing Fuels & Lubricants, Bilstein Shocks, Hoosier Tire South and STAKT Products.

Points chase: After Swainsboro: 1. Chris Madden (200); 2. Wil Herrington (196); 3. Trey Mills (194); 4. Ethan Dotson (192); 5. Dalton Cook (190).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 30

Fast qualifier: Drake Troutman

Time: 14.216 seconds

Polesitter: Drake Troutman

Consolation race winners: Dalton Cook, Ben Watkins

Next series race: March 1, Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) $10,053