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Kelly Carlton
GAFFNEY, S.C. (October 18) - Coming in to the 24th Annual Stick Elliott Memorial, Gray Court, South Carolina's Chris Madden had not yet etched his name on the list of greats with a win in the October classic at Gaffney, South Carolina's Cherokee Speedway. However on Saturday night Madden did it in electrifying fashion by making worst to first rally to take the $4000 pay day. Madden won the battle but lost the war as he wound up two points shy of the O'Reilly Southern All Stars East title which fell to Casey Roberts after his runner-up finish in the forty lapper.
Roberts bested the thirty-one cars on hand in Bearden Oil Company Race for the Pole Qualifying. Roberts' 15.277 lap bettered Madden's quick time by only two one hundredths of a second. Ricky Weeks, driving the K&L Rumley Enterprises' Rocket timed in third quick. Brent Dixon of Elberton, Georgia was fourth quick with G.R. Smith and Anthony Sanders rounding out the top six qualifiers. "We just tried to lay down the best lap we could and not leave anything on the table. We just panned to do our best and let things fall where they will (for the championship)." Roberts said during his pre-race interview.
A pair of last chance qualifying heats was a small glimpse of things to come, with door to door racing and late race charges. Chris Ferguson charged to the lead from his fourth place starting spot to take the victory in the first heat. Ferguson was followed by Steve Blackburn, Jay Sessoms and Douglas Davis. Brian Moody took the win in heat number two with Mike Duvall, Monk Gulledge and Dean Bowen in tow. Newly crowned OSAS-East Rookie of the Year Johnny Pursley had to take a provisional after being involved in an early heat two crash. Daniel Baggerly filled the remaining provisional starting spot to complete the twenty-four car field.
The feature rolled to the green beneath Bruce Coyle's green flag at 11:08 PM with Roberts and Madden in a dead heat into turn one. Roberts was able to jump ahead exiting turn two but Madden fought back on the outside entering turn three. But Madden's hard charge sent his machine up and over the cushion. Madden averted disaster and recovered but rolled to a stop on the front straightaway. With one lap in the books, Madden was forced to the tail for the restart. Madden restarted twenty second after two drivers yielded to him.
Roberts held the point alone in the Dixie Double File Restart formation with Weeks to the outside and Dixon to the inside behind the leader. When the green waved again Roberts held the point but entering turn one the leader had to deal with a hard charge from five-time Carolina Clash champion Weeks. But Roberts quickly quelled the attempt as Weeks had to deal with a challenge from Jeff Cooke. Just one lap later the caution flag waved once again to slow the action when Furman Parton got into the outside wall of turn four.
Madden was already making a charge back through the field. After just one lap of green flag racing, Madden had moved from twenty-second to fifteenth. And Madden wasted no time when the green reappeared again. Madden sliced and diced his way from the top to the bottom and splitting drivers for position at times. Madden was a man on a mission and when the caution flag fell on lap number seven he found himself up to the seventh position on the restart grid. Madden picked up another spot when Chris Ferguson retired from fifth with steering problems.
Up front, Roberts continued to maintain the point. Weeks was once again able to take a peak beneath Roberts on the restarts but just couldn't muster the pass. But all eyes were on Madden as he continued to make passes for position. By lap nine Madden moved to Weeks' rear deck. The two veterans raced door to door down the back straightaway with Madden throwing the slider at Weeks though three and four. Weeks honked the chrome horn and Madden had to pedal his machine to maintain the spot. But maintain he did as he set after Roberts.
Roberts had opened up a ten car length advantage while Madden and Weeks were racing each other. But as Roberts began to reach backmarker traffic Madden began to draw to the leader. Madden had caught Roberts by the seventeenth circuit and, after a spirited battle between the two, Madden took the point as the field took the crossed flags at the halfway point. Roberts continued to hound Madden and pulled even with the leader through turns one and two. But Madden was able to get away again through the third and fourth turns.
A late race caution inside of ten laps to go gave Roberts once last unencumbered shot at Madden and the lead. But when the green flag waved for the final time Madden was able to open up a four car length advantage while Roberts had to hold off the resurgence of Weeks. Madden flashed across the line to claim his seventh O'Reilly Southern All Stars East victory and a $4000 pay day. Roberts followed in second and secured his second consecutive O'Reilly Southern All Stars East Championship. Weeks was third with Petey Ivey and Jeff Cooke completing the top five finishers.
"Man we had just a great race car. I knew we had a car good enough to get back to the front but I just had to stay out of trouble to do it. Casey's line into turn four on the first lap caused me to get in a little too high and I jumped the cushion and nearly spun out. But I just stayed in the fuel and hoped for the best there. I came to a stop and brought out the caution and had to go to the tail. My hats off to Casey and his crew they did a good job and did what they had to do to win the championship so congratulations to him. We are just proud to finally get the win in the Stick Elliott Memorial." Madden said in victory lane.
Madden's Bloomquist Race Car is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and has sponsorship from Hamrick's of Gaffney, Xtreme Customs and Cycles, Century Plastics, Cushman Paint and Body, Freeman Plumbing, Henderson Amusement, Big A's Custom Graphics, Allstar Performance, Swiftco, Pancake House, Time Out Family Restaurant, Henderson Motor Company, Hoosier Race Tires, VP Race Fuels, CV Products and Eibach Springs.
Roberts championship winning Victory Circle M1 by Moyer machines are powered by Randy Clary Racing Engines and are sponsored by Cushman Paint and Body, Starrette Trucking, Sid's Trim and Fit, Concept Graphics, Hoosier Race Tires, Dirt Face Race Wear, PPM Racing Products, Simpson, SHY Suspension, CV Products, VP Racing Fuel, Schaeffer Racing Oil and Wa-Don Bert Transmission.
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