WOODSTOCK, GA (October 4, 2014) – 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.
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday Night, October 4th, 2014
Dixie Speedway – Woodstock, GA
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Scott Bloomquist / 14.408 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: John Blankenship / 14.656 seconds
Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Jason Papich, Don O’Neal, Randy Weaver, Shawn Chastain, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chase Junghans, Tony Knowles, Jared Landers, Scott Groves, Michael Page-DNS
Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Eric Jacobsen, Clint Smith, Earl Pearson, Jr., Austin Kirkpatrick, Derek Ellis, Ricky Williams, Austin Smith, Dennis Erb, Jr., Wayne Echols, Dusty Carver
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dale McDowell, John Blankenship, Shane Clanton, David Payne, Brandon Overton, Ray Cook, Jason Croft, Cass Fowler, Billy Ogle Jr., Jerry Bradley, Eric Granger
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chris Madden, Steve Francis, Casey Roberts, Frank Ingram, Rick Eckert, Donald McIntosh, Johnny Chastain, Jason Hughes, Mike McConnell, Aaron Ridley, Casey Barrow
JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Austin Kirkpatrick, Mike Marlar, Shawn Chastain, Derek Ellis, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Ricky Williams, Austin Smith, Dennis Erb, Jr., Tony Knowles, Chase Junghans, Jared Landers, Wayne Echols, Dusty Carver, Scott Groves, Michael Page-DNS
CV Products B-Main #2 (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer) Finish: Rick Eckert, Brandon Overton, Ray Cook, Donald McIntosh, Jason Croft, Billy Ogle, Jr., Jason Hughes, Johnny Chastain, Casey Barrow, Aaron Ridley, Eric Granger, Cass Fowler, Jerry Bradley
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN |
| 1 | 4 | 44m | Chris Madden | Gaffney, SC |
| 2 | 2 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, 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 | Nipomo, CA |
| 7 | 13 | 116 | Randy Weaver | Crossville, TN |
| 8 | 6 | 23 | John Blankenship | Williamson, WV |
| 9 | 10 | 25c | Shane Clanton | Zabulon, 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 | 5J | Eric Jacobsen | Watsonville, CA |
| 19 | 25 | 28e | 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 | Watts, OK |
| 24 | 16 | F9 | Frank Ingram | Woodstock, GA |
| 25 | 19 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN |
| 26 | 20 | 5X | Brandon Overton | Appling, GA |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 45
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1 – 15); Dale McDowell (Laps 16 – 32); Chris Madden (Laps 33 – 50)
Cautions: Scott Bloomquist (Lap 15); Brandon Overton (Lap 33); Frank Ingram (Lap 43)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Eddie Carrier Jr., Jared Landers
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Hughes
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Chris Madden
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Ray Cook (Started: 22nd; Finished: 14th; Advanced 8 Positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Don O’Neal
Allstar Performer of the Race: Jason Papich
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Don O’Neal
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Jason Papich
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: Jason Papich
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Bloomquist Race Cars
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Tony Allen (Jason Papich)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (Lap # 4 – 15.481 seconds)
Time of Race: 20 minutes 27 seconds