Dirt on Dirt - Madden draws Volusia's DIRTcar Nationals pole

February 12

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Federated DIRTcar Nationals) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated February 12, 9:40 pm)

Madden draws Volusia's DIRTcar Nationals pole

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Josh James/joshjamesartwork.com

Chris Madden (44) parlayed a heat race victory into drawing the pole position.

Key notes: Garrett Alberson and Max Blair made contact in the second heat race, as Alberson attempted to clear Blair with a turn-two slide job, the resulting contact sending Blair hard into the turn-two wall. He was OK but needed a tow back to the pits. ... Brandon Sheppard won his 50th career WoO heat race. ... Dan Ebert was scheduled to start third before scratching with motor trouble following time trials; Ebert's team has swapped the engine in preparation of Friday's fifth round. ... World of Outlaws Late Model Series sanction takes over the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals with Thursday’s 35-lap, $12,000-to-win feature at Volusia Speedway Park. … An identical 35-lap, $12,000-to-win program is scheduled Friday before Saturday’s 50-lap, $20,000-to-win finale. … Brandon Overton led all but the first lap in winning Monday’s $7,000 DIRTcar-sanctioned opener; it was his fourth win in four straight Georgia-Florida Speedweeks starts. … Hudson O’Neal dominated Tuesday’s second round, leading all 25 laps for the $7,000 payday. … Michael Leach of Sun River, Mont., Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, each claimed one of Wednesday’s 20-lap, $5,000 semifeatures. For Leach, it was his first career Super Late Model victory while Erb earned his first career Volusia triumph and Hoffman scored his third career DIRTcar Nationals victory, adding to wins in each of the last two seasons. … Tim McCreadie is fresh off a Jan. 24 $20,000 Sunshine Nationals victory at Volusia. … Watch live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., chases his second Volusia victory this week and his fifth win of the season.

Points chase: WoO before Volusia Thursday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (432); 2. Nick Hoffman (419); 3. Tim McCreadie (416); 4. Dennis Erb Jr. (408); 5. Bobby Pierce (401); 6. Tyler Erb (399); 7. Ryan Gustin (391); 8. Brandon Overton (386); 9. Chris Madden (383); 10. Hudson O’Neal (381). DIRTcar Nationals before Thursday: 1. Cody Overton (220); 2. Hudson O’Neal (205); 3. Brandon Overton (194); 4. Nick Hoffman (193); 5. Ryan Gustin (184).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 58

Fast qualifier: Cody Overton

Time: 15.567 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Madden

Heat race winners: Cody Overton, Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman

Consolation race winners: Josh Rice, Ethan Dotson

Provisional starters: Dennis Erb Jr., Jake Timm, Brent Larson, Logan Zarin, Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Next series race: February 13, Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) $12,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Live updates from Thursday’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals fourth round, featuring a 35-lap, $12,000-to-win main event for World of Outlaws Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature lineup

(35 laps)

Row 1: Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman
Row 2: Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard
Row 3: Tyler Erb, Cody Overton
Row 4: Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal
Row 5: Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce
Row 6: Tristan Chamberlain, Brenden Smith
Row 7: Kyle Strickler, Ryan Gustin
Row 8: Garrett Alberson, Tyler Bruening
Row 9: Mike Marlar, Ross Robinson
Row 10: Josh Rice, Ethan Dotson
Row 11: Dustin Sorensen, Tim McCreadie
Row 12: Dennis Erb Jr., Jake Timm
Row 13: Brent Larson, Logan Zarin
Row 14: Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Josh Rice, Dustin Sorensen, Cade Dillard, Carson Ferguson, Jackson Hise, Tyler Wyant, Todd Morrow, Luke Morey, Jake Timm, Preston Luckman, Jason Riggs, Beckham Malone, Evan Koehler, Matthew Larson, Brent Larson, Glenn Styres, Reid Millard, Frank Heckenast Jr. Scratched: Logan Zarin, Max Blair.

Second consolation: Ethan Dotson, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Devin Moran, Michael Leach, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Boom Briggs, Dennis Erb Jr., Dallon Murty, Austin Howes, Austin Smith, Eli Johnson, Tyler Millwood, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Jordan Koehler, Dan Ebert, John Garvin Jr.

Heat race recap

Cody Overton outdueled fourth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. in the early going then held him off on a late restart, winning the first heat race by 0.613 of a second. Second-starting Kyle Strickler held on for the third and final transfer spot into Thursday’s 35-lap main event. The night’s first caution flew on the sixth lap when Evan Koehler attempted to avoid contact with Jake Timm, spinning in the middle of turns one and two; Koehler continued but could only work his way back to ninth. … Chris Madden was unfazed by a mid-race restart, leading all eight laps and winning the second heat by 1.045 seconds over fourth-starting Daulton Wilson. Garrett Alberson finished third after his turn-two slide job narrowly cleared Max Blair, only for Blair to hit Alberson’s left-rear tire and hop the cushion before slamming the outside wall; Blair was OK but needed a tow back to the pits. … Nick Hoffman cruised to win the third heat, leading the entire distance and crossing the line 0.693 of a second ahead of fourth-starting Tristan Chamberlain. Mike Marlar held off race-long challenges from Dustin Sorensen for the third and final transfer position into the $12,000-to-win DIRTcar Nationals feature. … Tyler Erb earned a flag-to-flag victory in the fifth heat, beating Bobby Pierce to the checkers by 0.778 of a second. Tyler Bruening started and finished third, joining Erb and Pierce in punching his ticket into the night’s main event. … Second-starting Drake Troutman dominated the sixth and final heat race, leading all eight laps and crossing the line 2.512 seconds ahead of fourth-starting Brenden Smith. Fifth-starting Ross Robinson rounded out the top-three finishers as polesitter Michael Leach slipped to fourth. Dan Ebert was scheduled to start third before scratching with motor trouble following time trials; Ebert's team has swapped the engine in preparation of Friday's fifth round.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Cody Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Strickler, Josh Rice, Logan Zarin, Jake Timm, Jackson Hise, Jason Riggs, Evan Koehler, Glenn Styres.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Daulton Wilson, Garrett Alberson, Tyler Wyant, Cade Dillard, Preston Luckman, Beckham Malone, Matthew Larson, Reid Millard, Max Blair.

Third heat: Nick Hoffman, Tristan Chamberlain, Mike Marlar, Dustin Sorensen, Todd Morrow, Carson Ferguson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Luke Morey, Brent Larson.

Fourth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Ryan Gustin, Ethan Dotson, Sam Seawright, Chase Junghans, Devin Moran, Trey Mills, Austin Howes, Eli Johnson.

Fifth heat: Tyler Erb, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Bruening, Brandon Overton, Austin Smith, Boom Briggs, Dallon Murty, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Millwood, John Garvin Jr.

Sixth heat: Drake Troutman, Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson, Michael Leach, Tim McCreadie, Kyle Bronson, Jordan Koehler, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Dan Ebert.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 15.567
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.593
3. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.607
4. Kyle Strickler (8s), Mooresville, N.C., 15.659
5. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.702
6. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.773
7. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 15.776
8. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.777
9. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.830
10. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.856
11. Daulton Wilson (58v), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.860
12. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.911
13. Josh Rice (11R), Crittenden, Ky., 15.926
14. Cade Dillard (97D), Robeline, La., 15.935
15. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.954
16. Evan Koehler (114k), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.960
17. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 15.995
18. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 16.022
19. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.081
20. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.084
21. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.131
22. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.241
23. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.424
24. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 16.452
25. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 16.460
26. Preston Luckman (77), Coos Bay, Ore., 16.478
27. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.625
28. Glenn Styres (0), Ohsweken, Ontario, 16.982
29. Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 17.534
Group B
1. Brandon Sheppard (1s), New Berlin, Ill., 15.652
2. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.665
3. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.673
4. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.688
5. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.710
6. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.785
7. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.804
8. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.834
9. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.874
10. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.885
11. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 15.900
12. Brenden Smith (19m), Dade City, Fla., 15.906
13. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.932
14. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.940
15. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 15.942
16. Sam Seawright (16s), Rainsville, Ala., 15.980
17. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 15.992
18. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.021
19. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 16.058
20. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.136
21. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 16.152
22. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.227
23. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.227
24. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.249
25. Eli Johnson (55E), Clewiston, Fla., 16.272
26. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 16.389
27. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.452
28. Austin Howes (17), Lewistown, Mo., 16.659
29. John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.697

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
8 a.m. - Pits open
1 p.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales open
2 p.m. - Competitor registration opens
3 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3:45 p.m. - Grandstands, midway closed and cleared
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Modifieds (30 laps)
- Late Models (35 laps)