Dale McDowell and Chris Madden were victorious over the weekend in a pair of Peach State races for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
McDowell drove to the win on Saturday night at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia, while Madden took the victory on Sunday at Georgia’s Rome Speedway.
On Saturday night, McDowell dominated the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout at Dixie Speedway. The Chickamauga, Georgia native set the overall fast time, won his heat, and led all 50-laps to score his fourth-career win in the annual event.
Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport finished second after making several charges at McDowell throughout the main event. Josh Richards finished in third after yielding second to Davenport on lap 18. Brandon Overton came across the finish line in fourth. Tim McCreadie notched his second-straight top five finish with his fifth-place run.
“It was a great night for us, McDowell said. “We qualified well and started up front. Thanks to Shane [McDowell] and everybody with the team. They all worked extremely hard on this car and it paid off tonight. I was thinking of Mike (Swims) when I came around for the checkered flag. I felt like he was talking to me and saying good job buddy or something like that.
“Thanks to all of the Swims family, this place has remained such a solid piece of racing history for years and years. Thanks to all of you race fans, without you, we couldn’t do this.”
Casey Roberts, Tyler Millwood, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal and Earl Pearson, Jr. rounded out the top ten.
Local division winners on the night included Oliver Gentry in SteelHead/525, Booger Brooks in Crate Late Models, Alan Brewer in 602 Sportsman, Dylan Armstrong in Economy Bombers and Kenny Clark in Street Stingers.
Chris Madden found his way to Victory Lane on Sunday night at Rome Speedway to become the 20th different winner in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition this season.
Madden held off a charging Tim McCreadie to win the Lucas Oil Rome Showdown. Davenport finished third, with Millwood in fourth and McDowell in fifth.
Madden made a daring move around Jimmy Owens and race leader Scott Bloomquist after a lap eight restart to take control of the race. The Gray Court, South Carolina native then had to withstand not only a number of caution flags, but a hard-charging from McCreadie, who came from his tenth starting spot to challenge Madden for the top spot.
A restart with two laps to go setup a dramatic finish, with Madden holding off McCreadie to score his first series victory of the year.
Madden, in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the ninth-time in his career, commented
“With about 20-23 laps to go I developed a skip in the motor,” Madden said. “It was down just a little bit, but it worked out for us. I knew we had to get the lead pretty early if we were going to have a shot at the win. I was trying to set my own pace, but that is so difficult now in our sport because the competition is so stout.”
Davenport leaves the race with a 300-point stranglehold on the championship standings.
“I was just points racing tonight,” Davenport said. “I tried to stay off the cushion. I was just biding my time tonight. I got caught behind one car there and on the restarts, he would get passed me and then I would pass him back. I finally got clear of him and got to rolling pretty decent on the bottom.
“Congrats to Chris, Barry and Lance on the win. This is probably one of the best group of drivers ever assembled on a touring series. I hate it for Josh tonight, he was up on the wheel doing what he had to do. We are close to our ultimate goal of winning the championship.”
Michael Page, Jason Hiett, Dennis Erb, Jr., Clint Smith and Gregg Satterlee rounded out the top ten.
Local division winners on the night included Ronnie Johnson in SteelHead/525, Christina Hanger in Crate Late Models, Alan Brewer in 602 Sportsman, Eric Hamby in Economy Bombers and Casey Creighton in Street Stingers.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Dixie Speedway – Woodstock, GA
Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout – September 29, 2018
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 1 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | $12,000 |
| 2 | 4 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $6,400 |
| 3 | 3 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $4,500 |
| 4 | 11 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $2,750 |
| 5 | 8 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $2,950 |
| 6 | 7 | 101 | Casey Roberts | Toccoa, GA | $1,800 |
| 7 | 2 | 31T | Tyler Millwood | Kingston, GA | $1,500 |
| 8 | 6 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $2,100 |
| 9 | 16 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,000 |
| 10 | 12 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $1,900 |
| 11 | 14 | 06 | Clint Smith | Senoia, GA | $1,075 |
| 12 | 10 | 16 | Austin Horton | Whitesburg, GA | $1,050 |
| 13 | 21 | F9 | Frank Ingram | Woodstock, GA | $1,025 |
| 14 | 23 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $1,800 |
| 15 | 18 | 1J | Jason Hiett | Oxford, AL | $1,000 |
| 16 | 25 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $800 |
| 17 | 17 | 53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | $1,000 |
| 18 | 9 | 79 | Michael Brown | Lancaster, SC | $1,000 |
| 19 | 20 | 28 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $1,700 |
| 20 | 24 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $1,700 |
| 21 | 22 | 9J | Jason Croft | Woodstock, GA | $1,000 |
| 22 | 26 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | $800 |
| 23 | 19 | 24 | Zach Leonhardi | Cartersville, GA | $1,000 |
| 24 | 5 | 42 | Cla Knight | N. Augusta, SC | $1,000 |
| 25 | 13 | 08 | Justin Shipley | Douglasville, GA | $1,000 |
| 26 | 15 | 7 | Donald McIntosh | Dawsonville, GA | $1,000 |
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Rome Speedway – Rome, GA
Lucas Oil Rome Showdown – September 30, 2018
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 3 | 44 | Chris Madden | Gray Court, SC | $10,000 |
| 2 | 10 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $6,200 |
| 3 | 11 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $4,400 |
| 4 | 6 | 31T | Tyler Millwood | Kingston, GA | $2,750 |
| 5 | 16 | 17m | Dale McDowell | Chickamauga, GA | $2,250 |
| 6 | 13 | 18x | Michael Page | Villa Rica, GA | $1,800 |
| 7 | 17 | 1J | Jason Hiett | Oxford, AL | $1,500 |
| 8 | 12 | 28 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $2,000 |
| 9 | 22 | 06 | Clint Smith | Senoia, GA | $1,200 |
| 10 | 15 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | $1,800 |
| 11 | 2 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $1,875 |
| 12 | 23 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $1,750 |
| 13 | 9 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $1,725 |
| 14 | 5 | 25C | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $1,000 |
| 15 | 14 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $950 |
| 16 | 1 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $1,825 |
| 17 | 8 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $1,900 |
| 18 | 19 | 2x | John Henderson | North Augusta, SC | $875 |
| 19 | 21 | 08 | Justin Shipley | Douglasville, GA | $850 |
| 20 | 24 | 6X | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $925 |
| 21 | 18 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,600 |
| 22 | 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $1,600 |
| 23 | 20 | 25Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA | $1,500 |
| 24 | 7 | 101 | Casey Roberts | Toccoa, GA | $800 |
