Lavonia Speedway
Madden takes Georgia State Championship
By Gene Murphy
DirtonDirt.com contributor
Chris Madden heads for victory. (Gene Murphy)
LAVONIA, Ga. (Sept. 14) — Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., is still enjoying success with his new-look No. 44 mount. He earned $4,000 Saturday night in an Ultimate Super Late Model Series event at Lavonia Speedway.
Series points leader Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., finished second., with Dillon Wood of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., third. Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C., and Jeff Smith of Dallas, N.C. completed the top five. | Slideshow
The Super Late Model feature closed the book on the Georgia State Championship after two days of racing at the facility across many divisions.
Madden opted to start the 40-lap feature event from the outside of row one after earning fast time honors in qualifying. Roberts, a local fan-favorite, started to Madden’s inside.
At the drop of the green, Madden used outside momentum to his advantage and secured the lead exiting the second corner. From there his biggest obstacles were the lap cars he encountered after a couple of long green-flag runs en route to a dominating flag to flag victory.
“That’s the place to be here, on the outside”, said Madden, who debuted a new yellow graphics scheme in earning the Best Appearing Car Award at Eldora Speedway’s World 100 the previous weekend. “Getting to choose (inside or outside starting positions) and then running your race was key.”
Roberts withstood a furious assault in the early going for the second position. Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., was steadily pressuring Roberts before he spun his car in the fourth corner. Hickman’s machine did not sustain any damage, but after being sent to the rear for the spin, he was not able to make his way back to the front again and finished ninth.
Roberts protected the runner-up spot throughout but was not able to put himself in position to ever threaten Madden for the lead.
“We had a good car but my hat’s off to Chris and them,” Roberts said. “They were just a little bit better. Just whoever got out front on the starts was going to win the race. If you can’t win, you might as well run second, I guess.”
Madden and his team first debuted the yellow and black “World Domination”-themed car a little over a week ago. The first accolade it earned him was the Best Appearing Car award during the World 100 weekend at Eldora Speedway. The second dividend he acquired with it was a respectable 13th-place finish in the crown jewel event.
In the Fastrak Racing Series feature it was Hot Rod Lamance holding off David McCoy and Dale Timms to take the $3,000 win. Lamance, 61, showed off his veteran skills behind the wheel by keeping his machine out of the concrete as it lurched hard just short of the flagstand after blowing a right rear tire.
In the Southeastern Sportsman Series feature, it was Jimmy Johnson taking the win. Finishing second and third was David McCoy and Bubba Russell.
Notes: Madden’s Bloomquist Race Car is powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from Century Plastics, Hamricks of Gaffney, Cushman Paint and Body, Henderson Amusement, Hoosier and Ohlins Shocks. ... Madden donated the cash prize he earned for winning the pole to the family of a young cancer patient that the track held an auction to raise money for earlier in the evening. ... Madden earned his ninth victory of the season. ... An opening lap melee in the Fastrak feature that resulted in cars resting on top of one another took about 20 minutes to clear.
Georgia State Championship: (1) Chris Madden, (2) Casey Roberts, (3) Dillon Wood, (4) Chris Ferguson, (5) Jeff Smith, (6) Jordy Nipper, (7) Brandon Overton, (8) Brett Miller, (9) Riley Hickman, (10) Anthony Sanders, (11) Stephen Segars, (12) Dabs Potts, (13) Kenny Collins, (14) Bobby Sexton, (15) Clayton Turner, (16) Bubba Russell, (17) James Roulette, (18) Larry Timms, (19) Randy Dillard, (20) Frank Coates, (21) Gus Simpson, (22) Brent Dixon, (23) Benji Cole, (24) Wesley English, (25) Greg Ivenster. Fast qualifier (among 26 cars): Madden, 16.751 seconds.
