The 2022 race season is back in full swing, and this includes one of the the most popular dirt racing series on track today. At one of the most popular race weekends of the season for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Models two drivers would race their way to more than just a checkered flag. While DIRTCar Nationals weekend would begin with race victories from Brandon Overton, Dale McDowell, and Dennis Erb the final 40 Lap feature on Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park, would give the 2021 World of Outlaws Cinderella champion the opportunity to get his new season started off in a BIG WAY.
Chris Madden knew he could not play it safe Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park as the Gray Court, SC driver’s chances to win dwindled. Starting this race inside the top five, Madden played it safe during the first 10 laps before taking a risk that led to reward. He thundered to the top of the Volusia clay, picking off Mike Marlar and Max Blair to get to second. That is when he set his sights on leader Dale McDowell.
As the Chickamauga, GA driver moved to the middle to pass a slower car, he would find a way to switch lanes through Turns 3 and 4, powering under McDowell to take control of the lead en route to winning the DIRTcar Nationals finale. Thanks to this victory the driver who had to relinquish the 2021 World of Outlaws championship crown to Brandon Sheppard, heads into the month of March with a 16-point lead over the remainder of the field.
“We have had a great car all week,” said Madden. “I have made some bad calls on restarts, picking the wrong line, and took myself out of a couple of wins this week. Overall, we have had a great week, my guys worked their tail off doing a great job, and I appreciate them.”
Although Madden drove himself to the top of the leader board and to a place in DIRTCar Nationals history this weekend, there was one driver who stopped him from taking the one victory and trophy that every team and driver wanted. Despite not finding Victory Lane this weekend, Devan Moran won the overall Big Gator Championship. Despite not finding Victory Lane, Moran still made his way to the podium four times during the race weekend at Volusia, which capped off the end to a successful Speedweeks for the Dresden, OH driver and allowed him to win the most coveted trophies of the weekend for the second year in a row.
“This is pretty cool,” said Moran. “We wanted to win so bad here this week, and we had the car to do so. To come out here and get the big gator two years in a row after not racing a whole lot is a lot of fun, and I can’t thank my crew chief and brother Wylie enough for making this happen.”
Both of these legendary dirt late model drivers will be back to making history at The Rev in Monroe, LA, March 11-12. Stay tuned to RacingJunk.com for the latest straight from the dirt.
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