Chris Madden Marches to Second Straight Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Win



LOLMDS PR
WOODSTOCK, GA (October 4) - Chris Madden went to victory lane for the second year in a row in the Southeast's most prestigious race on Saturday Night at Dixie Speedway. Madden, who was the third and final leader of the race took the lead on lap 33 from Dale McDowell and went on for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event. The event was held before one of the largest crowds in the 24-year history of the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout.

Scott Bloomquist started from the pole and dominated the first 15 laps of the race before spinning in heavy traffic. McDowell then inherited the top spot and led until Madden passed him with 17 laps remaining. A caution with seven laps to go bunched the field up but Madden prevailed for his seventh career LOLMDS win.

McDowell finished second followed by current series points leader, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis and Jimmy Owens rounded out the top five. O'Neal now leads Owens by 60 points in the chase for the series championship heading into the next series event which is tomorrow, Sunday Night, in Rome, GA.

"To win this race two years in a row is great," said Madden in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season. "This is a brand new Sweet-Bloomquist car; it was like driving a Cadillac all night long. I don't know exactly what happened to Scott [Bloomquist] there in traffic. Next thing I knew he was spun around and had to go to the tail. He [Bloomquist] has been so good to me. He and Randy build a super-fast race car. We had a good race with Dale [McDowell] there for a while, and he left the door open enough on the bottom heading into turn-one and I was able to get the lead."



"To race in front of this huge crowd tonight it is such a thrill. There were people everywhere in the grandstands, pits, and all over the place. The track was in pretty good shape. I should have won this race three times now; we had one a few years ago where we lead until the final lap. To win this again with this type of competition, I just don't know what to say. I have to thank the Cushman's; they are here tonight to see this. Thanks to Century Plastics, Henderson Amusement, East Coast Entertainment, Xtreme Customs Cycles, Hamrick's of Gaffney, Allstar Performance, Penske Shocks, VP, and Clements Race Engines."

McDowell was looking for his third Dixie Shootout win and was satisfied with his runner-up finish. "He [Madden] had the best car. I couldn't hold him off. He drove me clean going into turn one. I was hoping the race would stay green, because my best chance was to catch him in traffic. Once that caution came out, it was pretty much over. He was so much better in clean air, and I did my best to stay in second. We have had such a good year and I have to thank everyone with Team Dillon, Warrior Race Cars, ECR Engines, and everybody else who is on the car."

O'Neal was running sixth on a restart after a lap 33 caution, but he was able to slip by several cars when Jason Papich, Owens and John Blankenship all got together in turn four. O'Neal snuck by on the bottom to gain three spots as he ended up third in the final running order. "We got a break tonight. I don't know how I slipped by those cars. They were wrecking everywhere. Our car got better as the race wore on. I don't know if we will change much for Rome tomorrow night. But with 2 more points race to go we just need to keep finishing ahead of him [Owens]. I am proud of this Clint Bowyer Team, Lance, Barry, Jeremy and Tony all do a great job. Thanks to Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Crawford Supply/Traeger Grills and everyone else with the CBR Team."



Completing the top ten were Jason Papich, Randy Weaver, John Blankenship, Shane Clanton, and Casey Roberts.

In preliminary action, Scott Bloomquist set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 45 entrants, with a lap of 14.408 seconds. John Blankenship set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.656 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell and Chris Madden won their respective heat races. Austin Kirkpatrick and Rick Eckert won their respective B-Mains.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, October 4th, 2014
Dixie Speedway - Woodstock, GA

A-Main    
1 4 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC
2 2 17m Dale McDowell Chickmauga, GA
3 9 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 8 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
6 5 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
7 13 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
8 6 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
9 10 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA
10 12 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
11 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
12 15 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
13 18 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
14 22 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
15 14 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
16 23 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
17 21 x15 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC
18 7 5E Eric Jacobsen Del Rio, CA
19 25 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
20 11 25x Clint Smith Senoia, GA
21 17 11k Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL
22 24 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
23 26 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
24 16 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA
25 19 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
26 20 5e Brandon Overton Appling, GA

B-Main #1    
1 2 11k Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL
2 3 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
3 1 x15 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC
4 4 99 Derek Ellis Chatsworth, GA
5 5 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
6 6 17w Ricky Williams Fayetteville, GA
7 8 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA
8 10 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
9 9 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, GA
10 7 18c Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
11 11 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
12 12 19 Wayne Echols Cumming, GA
13 14 9 Dusty Carver Englewood, TN
14 13 311 Scott Groves Canton, GA
15 15 18 Michael Page Douglasville, GA

B-Main #2    
1 2 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
2 1 5e Brandon Overton Appling, GA
3 3 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
4 4 7 Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA
5 5 9j Jason Croft Woodstock, GA
6 9 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN
7 8 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
8 6 00c Johnny Chastain Murphy, NC
9 13 98 Casey Barrow Savannah, GA
10 11 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA
11 12 G9 Eric Granger Woodstock, GA
12 7 9 Cass Fowler Acworth, GA
13 10 11 Jerry Bradley Dalton, GA
14 14 119 Mike McConnell Ballgrand, GA

Heat #1    
1 1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
2 3 91p Jason Papich Arroyo Grande, CA
3 4 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
4 2 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
5 7 x15 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC
6 5 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
7 6 28 Eddie Carrier Jr Salt Rock, WV
8 9 18c Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS
9 8 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, GA
10 11 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
11 10 311 Scott Groves Canton, GA
dns 18 Michael Page Douglasville, GA

Heat #2    
1 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
2 3 5E Eric Jacobsen Del Rio, CA
3 5 25x Clint Smith Senoia, GA
4 4 44 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
5 7 11k Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL
6 6 99 Derek Ellis Chatsworth, GA
7 2 17w Ricky Williams Fayetteville, GA
8 8 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA
9 11 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
10 9 19 Wayne Echols Cumming, GA
11 10 9 Dusty Carver Englewood, TN

Heat #3    
1 2 17m Dale McDowell Chickmauga, GA
2 1 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 3 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA
4 5 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
5 4 5e Brandon Overton Appling, GA
6 8 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
7 6 9j Jason Croft Woodstock, GA
8 7 9 Cass Fowler Acworth, GA
9 9 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN
10 10 11 Jerry Bradley Dalton, GA
dns G9 Eric Granger Woodstock, GA

Heat #4    
1 1 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC
2 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
3 2 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
4 4 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA
5 6 24 Rick Eckert York, PA
6 5 7 Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA
7 7 00c Johnny Chastain Murphy, NC
8 9 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK
9 10 119 Mike McConnell Ballgrand, GA
10 8 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA
11 11 98 Casey Barrow Savannah, GA

Qualifying Results

Group A    
1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 14.408

Group B    
1 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 14.656
2 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC 14.659
3 17m Dale McDowell Chickmauga, GA 14.751
4 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA 14.781
5 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA 14.861
6 5e Brandon Overton Appling, GA 14.963
7 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA 14.976
8 8 David Payne Murphy, NC 14.977
9 7 Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA 14.979
10 9j Jason Croft Woodstock, GA 15.018
11 24 Rick Eckert York, PA 15.035
12 9 Cass Fowler Acworth, GA 15.106
13 00c Johnny Chastain Murphy, NC 15.126
14 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 15.154
15 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA 15.164
16 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN 15.173
17 12 Jason Hughes Westville, OK 15.174
18 G9 Eric Granger Woodstock, GA 15.422
19 119 Mike McConnell Ballgrand, GA 15.435