Talladega Short Track
Madden buzzes to first Lucas Oil win at TST
By James Essex
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Chris Madden (44) battles for second with Shane Clanton (25). (mikessportsimages.com)
EASTABOGA, Ala. (June 14) — Taking the lead from Randy Weaver on the 13th lap, Chris Madden led the rest of the 50-lap feature at Talladega Short Track for his first career victory on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Madden fended off several challenges in a barnburner to earn $10,000 and become the 15th series winner in 20 races this season. "My wife just lost her father a few weeks back, and it's been really hard for us (with) tomorrow being Father's Day and all, so I'm just glad we were able to win it for her," the 33-year-old Madden said in victory lane. | Slideshow
Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., posted a second-place finish followed by fast qualifier Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who was never worse than third in the three-race series weekend at Duck River, North Georgia and Talladega. Weaver, of Crossville, Tenn., led the first 12 laps and ended up fourth while provisional starter Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., rallied from 24th to finish fifth at the third-mile oval tabbed "The Hornets' Nest." Earl Pearson Jr. finished sixth and cut Steve Casebolt's series points lead down to five.
Weaver and Madden started on the front row with Weaver grabbing the point early as Madden began working the high groove. Terry Casey stopped on the eighth lap to bring out a yellow, and the second of three total cautions appeared on the restart with Weaver, Madden and Clanton holding the top three spots. Madden and Clanton ran door-to-door for second, but Madden cleared that battle and blew by Weaver on the high side to take command on the 13th lap.
The Weaver-Clanton battle for second was waged through the race's midpoint and Clanton edged ahead, closing in on Madden amid lapped traffic by lap 28. Clanton continued to pressure the leader with Weaver, Cook and Tony Knowles holding the rest of the top-five spots. A lap-42 caution set up a shootout at the finish, but no one could catch Madden. Clanton slipped over the turn-four banking briefly with five laps remaining, dropping him back to fourth as Cook moved into the second spot in the waning laps.
Notes: Madden's Bloomquist Race Car has a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsorship from Cushman Paint and Body, Century Plastics, Swiftco, Freeman Plumbing Company, Henderson Amusement, Xtreme Custom Cycles, VP Racing Fuels and Hamrick's Clothing. ... The event will be televised later on Speed cable network. ... Shane Clanton set fast time for the second straight night on the three-race weekend. ... Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., finished 12th, and Kinzer's team has shuffled its crew members. Todd Moser, long-time crew chief for former Dirt Track World Champion Wendell Wallace, has joined Kinzer's team, replacing Gary Winger. Moser will work alongside Jimmy Cabral. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: James Cline, Shon Flanary, Tim Roszell, John Gill, Dingus Griffin and Terrance Nowell. ... The series heads to the Carolinas June 20-21 for the ninth annual Grassy Smith Memorial at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., along with a visit to Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Lucas Oil @ Talladega: (1) Chris Madden, (2) Ray Cook, (3) Shane Clanton, (4) Randy Weaver, (5) Jimmy Owens, (6) Earl Pearson Jr., (7) Billy Drake, (8) Tony Knowles, (9) Danny Peoples, (10) Terry Smith, (11) Clint Smith, (12) Brandon Kinzer, (13) Wayne Chinn, (14) Tim Busha, (15) Scott James, (16) Steve Casebolt, (17) Vic Hill, (18) Ronnie Johnson, (19) Freddy Smith, (20) Bart Hartman, (21) John Mason, (22) Dan Schlieper, (23) Ross Martin, (24) Justin Rattliff, (25) Terry Casey. Fast qualifier (among 50 cars): Clanton, 14.122 seconds. Heat race winners: Clanton, Weaver, Casebolt, Madden. Consolation winners: T. Smith, James. Provisional starters: F. Smith, Owens.
