8.27.17 World of Outlaws Late Models Results
LAKE CITY, MI— Aug. 27, 2017— Chris Madden found his way to Victory Lane and a $15,000 payday at Merritt Speedway on Sunday night claiming his fifth World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series win after dodging an almost repeat performance by Shane Clanton from one night prior.
The Keyser Manufacturing Great Lakes Shootout at the Michigan dirt track unfolded like a two-part episode staring Clanton and Madden who took both feature events down to the wire.
On Saturday night, Series Veteran, Clanton, made a last lap pass by race long leader Madden which made for a heart wrenching defeat. On Sunday, Clanton hoped to repeat his success while Madden was looking for a shot at redemption.
To set the stage for the Integra Shocks 75, Clanton and Madden joined the redraw after winning their heats. Coincidentally, Clanton pulled the No. 1 and Madden pulled the No. 2 Craftsman wrench from the toolbox placing the pair on the front row for the feature.
With the drop of the green flag, Clanton held on to the lead until lap 11 when current Series Points Leader, Brandon Sheppard appeared on the scene. Sheppard’s run was short lived as Clanton regained control on lap 18. Madden was next to make his move and on lap 51 he found his way to front of the pack.
As the race boiled down to the final five laps, Madden’s steady lead of more than one-second began to wavier as Clanton began to slice through lapped traffic. While Clanton was gaining ground, the Gray Court, S.C. native was trying every which way to escape.
“I had got in three and four a little hot there,” said Madden. “The guy I was trying to lap, I thought he was going to the top and he decided he was going to the bottom. I had to get on the binders hard so it left the door wide open for Shane. If he would’ve been right there he would’ve been able to make the pass again.”
Luckily for Smokey, Clanton was unable to capitalize on this mistake despite his best efforts.
“He would’ve been mad if I passed him on the last lap again,” said Clanton. “Overall, we had a good car and it was a good race. It was just whoever could get through lapped traffic the best.”
The 75-lap feature went caution free which spread the 24-car field across every lane on the 3/8-mile track.
Sheppard settled for a third-place finish at Merritt Speedway, the same position in which he started the feature.
“We had a pretty good car but I don’t think we were tightened up enough for the circumstances,” said Sheppard. “We kind of expected the track to stay wet longer than it did. We got the lead there at the beginning but once the bottom went away there we just got a little bit free and them guys got around me and I lost sight of it.”
Sheppard sits with 14 Series wins so far in the 2017 season, while Clanton and Madden both leave the Michigan swing tied with five wins.
Craftsman Club Feature (75 laps): 1. 44- Chris Madden[2]; 2. 25- Shane Clanton[1]; 3. 1- Brandon Sheppard[3]; 4. 7- Rick Eckert[7]; 5. 9- Devin Moran[9]; 6. M14- Brandon Thirlby[11]; 7. B1- Brent Larson[4]; 8. 14m- Morgan Bagley[5]; 9. 6m- Dona Marcoullier[6]; 10. 1*- Chub Frank[21]; 11. 27- Eric Spangler[13]; 12. 91- Tyler Erb[15]; 13. 12- Chad Foster[10]; 14. 18- Eric Wells[14]; 15. 2- Travis Stemler[8]; 16. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[16]; 17. 51- Chad Finley[12]; 18. 1won- Michael Luberda[25]; 19. 87- Rich Neiser[19]; 20. 31- Paul Stubber[18]; 21. 4T- Andrew Terrill[23]; 22. 16- Mike Staszak[22]; 23. 25B- Chris Brindley[20]; 24. 21H- Bob Hammar[24]
Last Chance Showdown: 1. 1*- Chub Frank[2]; 2. 25B- Chris Brindley[1]; 3. 4T- Andrew Terrill[7]; 4. 16- Mike Staszak[3]; 5. 52- Brad Harden[5]; 6. 21H- Bob Hammar[4]; 7. 23- Craig Foster[6]; DNS. 1won- Michael Luberda; DNS. 1L- Jeff Liggett; DNS. 1r- Jeep Van Wormer
Heat 1: 1. 44- Chris Madden[1]; 2. 6m- Dona Marcoullier[3]; 3. 7- Rick Eckert[2]; 4. 12- Chad Foster[5]; 5. 27- Eric Spangler[4]; 6. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[7]; 7. 25B- Chris Brindley[9]; 8. 21H- Bob Hammar[10]; 9. 4T- Andrew Terrill[6]; 10. 1r- Jeep Van Wormer[8]
Heat 2: 1. 1- Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. B1- Brent Larson[2]; 3. 2- Travis Stemler[4]; 4. M14- Brandon Thirlby[3]; 5. 18- Eric Wells[6]; 6. 87- Rich Neiser[5]; 7. 1*- Chub Frank[7]; 8. 52- Brad Harden[9]; 9. 23- Craig Foster[8]
Heat 3: 1. 25- Shane Clanton[1]; 2. 14m- Morgan Bagley[3]; 3. 9- Devin Moran[2]; 4. 51- Chad Finley[6]; 5. 91- Tyler Erb[4]; 6. 31- Paul Stubber[5]; 7. 16- Mike Staszak[7]; 8. 1won- Michael Luberda[8]; 9. 1L- Jeff Liggett[9]
Qualifying: 1. 44- Chris Madden, 13.174; 2. 1- Brandon Sheppard, 13.223; 3. 25- Shane Clanton, 13.236; 4. 7- Rick Eckert, 13.376; 5. B1- Brent Larson, 13.43;6. 9- Devin Moran, 13.439; 7. 6m- Dona Marcoullier, 13.464; 8. M14- Brandon Thirlby, 13.473; 9. 14m- Morgan Bagley, 13.476; 10. 27- Eric Spangler, 13.505; 11. 2- Travis Stemler, 13.513; 12. 91- Tyler Erb, 13.528; 13. 12- Chad Foster, 13.543; 14. 87- Rich Neiser, 13.607; 15. 31- Paul Stubber, 13.622; 16. 4T- Andrew Terrill, 13.644; 17. 18- Eric Wells, 13.646; 18. 51- Chad Finley, 13.725; 19. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr, 13.731; 20. 1*- Chub Frank, 13.843; 21. 16- Mike Staszak, 13.845; 22. 1r- Jeep Van Wormer, 13.872; 23. 23- Craig Foster, 13.873; 24. 1won- Michael Luberda, 13.975; 25. 25B- Chris Brindley, 14.144; 26. 52- Brad Harden, 14.148; 27. 1L- Jeff Liggett, 15.07; 28. 21H- Bob Hammar, 15.079
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: Craftsman/Sears ($200 Cash): Chris Madden, Shane Clanton, Brandon Sheppard, Rick Eckert, Devin Moran; Craftsman/Sears ($100 Cash): Brandon Thirlby; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Chris Madden; MSD Ignition ($50 Cash): Shane Clanton; Quarter Master ($100 Product Certificate): Chris Madden; Wrisco (Three Sheets of aluminum): Shane Clanton; Penske Racing Shocks ($50 Product Certificate): Shane Clanton; JE Pistons ($50 Cash): Devin Moran; VP Racing Fuels ($50 Cash): Morgan Bagley; Edelbrock ($50 Cash): Chub Frank; Comp Cams ($50 Cash): Chub Frank; Extended Stay America ($50 Cash): Eric Spangler; Cometic ($50 Cash): Tyler Erb; JRI Shocks ($50 Cash): Chad Finley; Superflow Dyno’s ($50 Cash): Eric Wells; Quartermaster ($25 Product Certificate): Travis Stemler; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Chad Finley; Quartermaster ($50 Product Certificate): Paul Stubber; Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 Product Certificate): Mike Staszak; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Mike Staszak; MSD Ignition ($25 Cash): Shane Clanton; QA-1 ($50 Cash): Shane Clanton; Rookie Bonus: Devin Moran; Bonus Bucks: Brandon Thirlby
SEASON WINNERS:
Brandon Sheppard- 14 (Whynot Motorsports Park on March 24, Farmer City Raceway on April 1, Fayetteville Motor Speedway on May 6, Wayne County Speedway on May 27, Senoia Raceway on June 3, Brighton Speedway on June 17, Lernerville Speedway on June 25, Federated Auto Part Raceway at I-55 on July 1, Hibbing Raceway on July 13, Fayette County Speedway on July 26, Fairbury American Legion Speedway on July 30, Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway on Aug. 1, Port Royal Speedway on Aug. 19, Eriez Speedway on Aug. 20)
Shane Clanton- 5 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 24, Cherokee Speedway on May 6, Tazewell Speedway on June 3, River Cities Speedway on June 14, Merritt Speedway on Aug. 26)
Chris Madden– 5 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 18, Deer Creek Speedway on July 8, Ogilvie Raceway on July 12, Cedar Lake Speedway on Aug. 5, Merritt Speedway on Aug. 27)
Brandon Overton- 2 (Smoky Mountain Speedway on May 13, Lernerville Speedway on June 24)
Rick Eckert– 2 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 17, Shawano Speedway on Aug. 2)
Devin Moran- 2 (Atomic Speedway on May 26, Georgetown Speedway on Aug. 18)
Don O’Neal- 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 25)
Timothy Culp- 1 (LoneStar Speedway on March 26)
Brian Shirley-1 (Farmer City Raceway on April 2)
Mike Marlar- 1 (Duck River Raceway Park on May 14)
Max Blair- 1 (McKean County Raceway on June 20)