Contact: Kevin Kovac

World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR Director

kkovac@dirtcar.com | 704-254-7929

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Wrapping Up The Inaugural 'Commonwealth 100' At Virginia Motor Speedway

JAMAICA, VA - April 19, 2010 -

SOUTHERN STAR: Chris Madden thoroughly enjoyed the unique post-race reception he received from a group of costumed Civil War reenactors after his triumph in Saturday night's inaugural 'Commonwealth 100' at Virginia Motor Speedway.

The standout from Gary Court, S.C., didn't even mind the soldiers' celebratory burst of revolver fire that left his ears ringing.

"This is the second year in a row I've been to Victory Lane here (after a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event) and I can't hear again," joked Madden, who also won last year's WoO LMS show at VMS that featured the debut appearance of the reenactors dressed in Confederates grays and Union blues.

Madden, 34, once again donned a Civil War general's hat and was surrounded by the reenactors for the post-race photos. This time, however, he also was handed a revolver to fire off a few shots of his own – and, of course, his $25,000 paycheck was a lot bigger.

"For my season, it means a lot," Madden said of his Commonwealth 100 earnings, the second-highest of his career after the $30,000 he picked up for winning the 2007 National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway. "It keeps us going and racing through the year. I kinda pay my way – my racing pays for my racing. I can make $25,000 go a long way."

The checkered ranks high on Madden's list of career accomplishments, largely because the expectations surrounding him last weekend were so high. He had scored wins in his only two previous starts at VMS, so he was clearly a favorite entering the Commonwealth 100.

"This is one of my top ones," said Madden. "To come to this place – there was more pressure coming here than there was racing, just being we won the last two. That's a lot of pressure, to come back and win another one because everybody's expecting you to do it, but we did it."

Madden has never been a WoO LMS regular for a full season – he followed the tour through early June in 2007 before dropping off due to the premature birth of his son (now a healthy toddler approaching the age of three) and other team issues – but he now owns an impressive six career victories on the series. The only driver with more WoO LMS victories than Madden despite never being a tour regular is Brian Birkhofer, with seven.

SNAKEBIT: Darrell Lanigan just can't nail down the signature WoO LMS victory that he craves.

After finishing second in three 100-lap tour events in 2009 – the Lone Star 100 (he charged from the rear after being knocked from the lead by a flat), Colossal 100 (another rally from the rear due to an early flat) and Firecracker 100 (he led most of the distance before being passed late by a hooked-up Jimmy Mars) – the '08 WoO LMS champion appeared primed to break through at VMS. He grabbed the lead from Earl Pearson Jr. on lap four and held firm control as the race wound down.

But on a lap-91 restart Lanigan slowed with a right-rear flat tire, dashing his hopes again. He returned after a pit stop but could only manage a 14th-place finish.

What does Lanigan need to do to snap his hex in 100-lappers?

"Put a little harder tire on, I guess," the disappointed Lanigan said while discussing the race afterward with Josh and Mark Richards, Chub Frank, Clint Smith and Mars. "We actually decided we were gonna put a softer one on, then after that last race (the Non-Qualifiers' 30) we came back in and put a little harder one on. We just didn't go hard enough.

"With about 15 to go the car started getting loose. Then it just blew on the front chute. What are you gonna do?"

Lanigan knew the Commonwealth 100 had slipped through his fingers.

"I think our car was pretty good – it looked pretty good, right?" he asked rhetorically to those standing around him, a wry smile on his face.

STILL SEARCHING: Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards saw his quest for the first long-distance, major-event victory of his young-but-already-impressive career march on after a worn-out right-rear tire doomed his bid in the Commonwealth 100.

Richards, 22, was forced pit side for a tire change on a lap-87 restart, two laps after inheriting second place from Brian Birkhofer. He had started 10th but reached the top five by lap 18.