6.14.13 Southern All Star Late Models Results
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 14) — The Southern All Star Racing Series made its first visit since 2004 to Volunteer Speedway two weeks ago for running of the inaugural Scott Sexton Memorial 52, an event to honor one of East Tennessee’s best to ever wheel a dirt late model.
Back on June 1, rain stopped the racing with only 17 laps complete. With the Southern All Star Racing Series already scheduled to be back in East Tennessee over Father’s Day weekend, the decision was made to complete the Scott Sexton Memorial 52 on Friday, June 14, before moving the next night on to Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville.
With a strong field of 27 competitors’ present for time trials on the original date, the top eight locked into the $5,200-to-win main event. Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., was fastest in Group A qualifying and overall with a time of 12.332 seconds, followed by Billy Ogle Jr., Jimmy Owens and Vic Hill. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., was fastest in Group B, followed by Mark Douglas, Bret Holmes and Riley Hickman.
The remainder of the 24-car starting field would be determined through two PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdowns, which would transfer the top seven finishers from each. Chad Ogle won the first LCS over Josh Collins, Mike Weeks, Stacy Boles, Josh Henry, Dusty Carver and Jeff Neubert. Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., won the second LCS over Michael Asberry, Bryan Hendrix, Zack Mitchell, Mark Rosner, Skylar Marlar and Ellery Leake. Using series provisional starting berths in 23rd and 24th, respectively, were Mark Vineyard and Kayne Hickman.
Madden grabbed the lead at drop of the green flag over McDowell racing down the front straightaway, and back around at the start-finish line to complete the opening lap Billy Ogle Jr., Owens and Douglas rounded out top five in the running order. Hill got around Douglas for the fifth spot on lap 8 racing off turn two.
Caution waved on lap 17 with Madden leading McDowell, Ogle Jr., Owens and Hill when rain began to at first fall lightly, but quickly turned into a red flag situation when the skies opened and rain came pouring down.
Twenty of the original 24 starters returned on Friday, and the event resumed with a Delaware double-file restart on lap 17, with 35 laps remaining to decide the race winner. With the field already determined, only those locked-in cars that were present on June 1 were permitted to complete running of the Southern All Star Racing Series $5,200-to-win show.
Madden was all alone out front for the restart Friday night, and directly behind him side-by-side were McDowell and Ogle Jr. Only one lap back green the caution waved when Douglas slowed on high-side between turns one and two.
On the ensuing restart before one lap was completed, the yellow flag waved once again when Ellery Leake, Carver and Neubert tangled in turn two, which was triggered when Casebolt and Ogle Jr. got together between turns one and two while racing each other hard for position.
On a hooked-up tacky surface the speeds were blistering fast around the high banks at “The Gap,” and leader Madden setting sail out front and being pursued by McDowell, Ogle Jr., Casebolt and Hill.
Madden caught slower cars at tail of the field on lap 25, while holding about an eight-car length advantage over McDowell. The race leader had difficulty getting past Rosner and Holmes who were running side-by-side. Not wanting to be passed by McDowell, Madden took matters into his own hands on lap 27 and put the front nosepiece to the back of Holmes, spinning the Alabama driver to bring out the caution.
Back up to speed, Madden once again began to put some real estate between his No. 44 Bloomquist Race Car and McDowell and Ogle Jr. Casebolt rode to the high side of turns one and two on lap 33 to drive around Ogle Jr. into the third spot.
With 40 laps complete, Madden was working lap traffic and seeing McDowell chop into his advantage and get within striking distance. The event’s final caution waved on lap 48, when Riley Hickman wrecked between turns three and four.
When the green flag waved, Madden launched down the front straightaway and with a clear track ahead he never allowed McDowell to make a challenge. Madden took the $5,200 win over McDowell, Casebolt, Ogle Jr. and Hill.
Completing the top 10 finishers were Chad Ogle, Asberry, Boles, Hendrix and Weeks.
SOUTHERN ALL STAR RACING SERIES – “SCOTT SEXTON MEMORIAL 52” – $5,200 TO WIN
1. Chris Madden #44-Gray Court, SC $5,200
2. Dale McDowell #17m-Chickamauga, GA $2,500
3. Steve Casebolt #c9-Richmond, IN $1,200
4. Billy Ogle Jr. #201-Knoxville, TN $1,000
5. Vic Hill #1-Morristown, TN $800
6. Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN $700
7. Michael Asberry #360-Crossville, TN $600
8. Stacy Boles #11B-Clinton, TN $550
9. Bryan Hendrix #5-Knoxville, TN $500
10. Mike Weeks #22-Friendsville, TN $475
11. Josh Henry #25-Newport, TN $450
12. Mark Rosner #17-Rockford, TN $400
13. Bret Holmes #H2-Munford, AL $350
14. Ellery Leake #34-Knoxville, TN $300
15. Riley Hickman #r1-Chattanooga, TN $300
16. Jeff Neubert #86-Rockford, TN $300
17. Josh Collins #63-Knoxville, TN $300
18. Dusty Carver #9-Englewood, TN $300
19. Mark Douglas #52D-Knoxville, TN $300
20. Mark Vineyard #4-Powell, TN $300
21. Zack Mitchell #57-Enoree, SC $300
22. Skylar Marlar #257-Winfield, TN $300
23. Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN $300
24. Kayne Hickman #H3-Soddy Daisy, TN $300
Overall Top Qualifier: Chris Madden 12.332
Group A Top Four Locked-In: Chris Madden, Billy Ogle, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Vic Hill
Group B Top Four Locked-In: Dale McDowell, Mark Douglas, Bret Holmes, Riley Hickman
Series Provisionals: Mark Vineyard, Kayne Hickman
Entries: 27
PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdown #1 Finish (Top 7 Finishers Transfer): 1) Chad Ogle #10; 2) Josh Collins #63; 3) Mike Weeks #22; 4) Stacy Boles #11B; 5) Josh Henry #25; 6) Dusty Carver #9; 7) Jeff Neubert #86; 8) Ross White #0; (Did Not Start – Mark Vineyard #4)
PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdown #2 Finish (Top 7 Finishers Transfer): 1) Steve Casebolt #c9; 2) Michael Asberry #360; 3) Bryan Hendrix #5; 4) Zack Mitchell #57; 5) Mark Rosner #17; 6) Skylar Marlar #257; 7) Ellery Leake #34; 8) Travis Greer #11g; 9) Kayne Hickman #H3; 10) Jay Brunson #23