What won the race: Taking advantage of race-long leader Jonathan Davenport's misfourtune on the 30th circuit, pole-starting Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., reclaimed command and paced the remainder of Friday's 50-lap Gauntlet prelim at Volunteer Speedway. Madden repeled a series of challenges from runner-up Zack Mitchell in the closing circuits, beating the fellow Palmetto State-native the checkers by 0.314 of a second to collect $20,000.

Key notes: Madden notched his third victory of the season and fifth at Volunteer since 2020, taking home over $56,000 from the Bulls Gap, Tenn. oval during that span. ... Runner-up Zack Mitchell overtook Brandon Overton on the final restart and attempted to dethrone Madden in the closing laps, but settled for second after a series of side-by-side battles. ... A night removed from winning Wednesday’s $10,000 second round, Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., rounded out the podium in third. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. climbed from ninth to finish fourth. ... Chris Ferguson rallied from 17th-to-eighth, returning to his family-owned No. 22 Stinger Race Car after piloting a Terry Wolfenbarger-owned entry on Wednesday. ... 10th-starting Sam Seawright faded from fifth and later retired while running ninth on the 36th circuit. ... Second-starting Jonathan Davenport zoomed past Madden for the lead on the opening circuit and led until suffering a flat right-rear tire on the 30th circuit. The Blairsville, Ga., native, who was victorious in Tuesday's $7,500 opener, did not continue and was credited with 19th. ... Sixth-starting Jake O'Neal slowed with a flat right-rear tire on the eighth lap to draw the race's first of three cautions. ... Cory Hedgecock pulled to the infield during the opening stoppage as the first retiree. ... The 50-lapper lasted 20 minutes with 16 starters completing the distance. ... The Gauntlet concludes on Saturday with Madden joining Davenport and Overton as eligible for a $100,000 bonus should they top Volunteer's 60-lap, $30,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C., started 17th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Madden’s Wells & Sons Motorsports Infinity Race Cars house car is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Henderson Amusement, Milwood Plumbing, Velocity Manufacturing Group, Convenient Lube, Hardison Suspension Technologies, Eibach Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, STAKT Racing Products, VP Racing Lubricants, VP Racing Fuels and Topnotch Kustomz.

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 68°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 12.580 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Madden

Heat race winners: Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Zack Mitchell

Consolation race winners: Chris Ferguson

Next series race: April 18, Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) $30,000