Hartwell Speedway
Madden leads flag to flag for victory at Hartwell
From series reports
Chris Madden earned $3,500. (George "Big Mack" Missta)
HARTWELL, Ga. (July 17) — Reigning series champion Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., led all 35 laps to capture the third leg of the O'Reilly Southern Nationals at Hartwell Speedway for his second 2008 victory in three starts. Madden, who started on the pole and earned $3,500 for his series-leading eighth career victory, outran seventh-starting Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., who won the previous Southern Nationals event at Cherokee Speedway two nights earlier. Franklin maintained the series points lead over Madden, 442-440.
Third-starting Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., was third at the 3/8-mile oval followed by hometown driver Frankie Beard and Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., who started outside the front row and has finished no worse than sixth in 2008's three series events. Michael Akeson of Augusta, Ga., started 21st in the 22-car field and rallied to finish ninth in a race slowed by two cautions and a red flag on the initial start.
The series heads to Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway for a $3,500-to-win event on Friday, July 18.
Southern Nationals @ Hartwell: (1) Chris Madden, (2) Dennis Franklin, (3) Casey Roberts (4) Frankie Beard, (5) Brandon Kinzer, (6) Tony Knowles, (7) Keith Freeman, (8) Brian Booze, (9) Michael Akeson, (10) Tommy Gandy, (11) Daniel Baggerly, (12) John Henderson, (13) Kip Cochran, (14) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (15) Jason Fitzgerald, (16) Scott Jones, (17) Danny Ledford, (18) Shon Flanary, (19) Benji Cole, (20) Brent Dixon, (21) Bob Robertson, (22) Ethan Hunter. Fast qualifier (among 22 cars): Madden, 16.515 seconds.
