Chris Madden Masterful in Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Opener at Swainsboro
Photo by Kevin Ritchie
SWAINSBORO, Ga. — The Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco kicked off their twelfth season on Friday night at Swainsboro Raceway and Chris Madden emerged victorious to bag the $7,553 first place prize money! Chris, who laid down the fastest lap in Group B during FK Rod Ends qualifying, started the 40-lap main event from the outside of the front row and grabbed the point from Team 22 Inc. teammate Drake Troutman on the opening circuit. The veteran driver known as “Smokey” kept his #44 Longhorn Chassis out front throughout the contest and worked lapped traffic to perfection in the waning laps to secure his sixth career Spring Nationals triumph. (Kevin Ritchie Photo)
Eighth-starting Wil Herrington made a late charge to finish in the runner-up spot - 1.786 seconds behind Madden. Youngster Trey Mills, who started in the sixth position, rounded out the podium in third after making a last lap pass on Ethan Dotson. The rim-riding Dotson vaulted up to as high as second in the running order before fading to a fourth place effort. Eleventh-starting Dalton Cook methodically worked his way forward and ultimately nabbed the final spot inside of the top five. Polesitter and new track record holder Drake Troutman was hampered by left front damage from a bout with an infield tractor tire and slipped back to sixth at the unfurling of the checkered flag.
“We tried not to mess up there and get through lapped traffic the best we could and not leave the fastest lane open,” quoted Madden in Schaeffer’s Oil Victory Lane following the flag-to-flag win. “The bottom of the track got pretty slick and we couldn’t leave the corner real good off of turn two anymore. I could see the line coming in on the top and I knew there were some top-rippers here in the field. I knew there was going to be a point in the race that I was going to have to get up there and do it. Thanks to G.R. Smith and Team 22 Inc., I couldn’t do it without everyone’s support on this racecar!”
The Gray Court, South Carolina star drove a Team 22 Inc.-owned Longhorn Chassis that was powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. Sponsorship on his #44 comes in part from Victory Circle Auto Sales, Gambler Transport, Brick House Tavern, Henderson Amusement, Millwood Plumbing, VP Racing Fuels & Lubricants, Dirt King Apparel, Bilstein Shocks, and Collins Signs.
A total of 30 competitors - from ten different states - signed into the pit area at Swainsboro Raceway for the season opener for the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals tour. Ashton Winger started off the evening by laying down the quickest time in MyRacePass Fantasy Racing Hot Laps before Drake Troutman set a New Track Record during FK Rod Ends qualifying with his fast lap of 14.216 seconds. The pair of consolation races were won by Dalton Cook and Ben Watkins, who each advanced up inside of the top ten during the feature.
Only one caution flag slowed the pace tonight at the Swainsboro, Georgia oval. Contact from another competitor sent fourth-running Garrett Smith spinning in turn four on lap 23. The incident collected a couple of more cars including Tanner English, who was running solidly inside of the top ten. Both Smith and English retired from the 40-lapper before the race went back to green flag conditions.
About a three-hour trek awaits the cars and stars racing with the Spring Nationals tour, as round two of the miniseries will take place on Saturday, March 1 at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. The pit gates will swing open at 2:00pm tomorrow, the grandstands will allow patrons into the historic facility at 4:00pm, and racing will start at approximately 7:00pm. Adult grandstand admission will be $30.00, while kids ages 12 and under will be allowed into the stands for FREE. Pit admission will be $40.00 for adults, $20.00 for kids ages 6-12, and FREE for those children 5 and under.
In addition to the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series headlining the racing card with a $10,053 to win program, the Red Clay 602 Late Model Series ($2,500 to win), Enduro ($2,500 to win), and Charger divisions will also be in action on the gray gumbo. The Spring Nationals has visited Senoia on nine different occasions with the winner’s list consisting of Jonathan Davenport ('16), Chris Madden ('16), Michael Page ('17), Donald McIntosh ('17), Scott Bloomquist ('18), Dale McDowell ('18), Chris Madden ('19), Shane Clanton ('22), and Wil Herrington ('23).
Senoia Raceway is located at 171 Brown Road in Senoia, GA 30276. More information can be found by calling 770-599-6161 or by logging onto www.senoiaraceway1969.com.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 1 Race Summary
Friday, February 28, 2025
Swainsboro Raceway - Swainsboro, Georgia
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (2) Chris Madden $7,553
2. (8) Wil Herrington $3,500
3. (6) Trey Mills $2,000
4. (4) Ethan Dotson $1,500
5. (11) Dalton Cook $1,200
6. (1) Drake Troutman $900
7. (18) Sam Seawright $700
8. (9) Carson Ferguson $650
9. (12) Ben Watkins $600
10. (3) Ashton Winger $575
11. (15) Zack Mitchell $550
12. (13) Ches Chester $540
13. (10) Beckham Malone $530
14. (14) Jackson Hise $520
15. (19) Michael Leach $510
16. (20) Derek Dent $500
17. (22) Jordy Nipper $500
18. (21) Cody Overton $500
19. (16) Michael Brown $500
20. (17) Cory Hedgecock $500
21. (5) Garrett Smith $500
22. (7) Tanner English $500
Entries: 30
Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 1 (Multicar Tangle on Lap 23)
MyRacePass Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fast Lap: Ashton Winger
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Drake Troutman 14.216 - NEW TRACK RECORD
Qualifying - Group A (Top Five Locked Into Feature): 1. 22*-Drake Troutman, 00:14.216[4]; 2. 12-Ashton Winger, 00:14.345[1]; 3. 10-Garrett Smith, 00:14.410[14]; 4. 96-Tanner English, 00:14.539[15]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson, 00:14.539[10]; 6. 44D-Dalton Cook, 00:14.681[12]; 7. 23V-Cory Hedgecock, 00:14.685[9]; 8. 9-Ches Chester, 00:14.752[13]; 9. 1-Cameron Tribble, 00:14.805[2]; 10. 57-Zack Mitchell, 00:14.821[5]; 11. 4-Kale Green, 00:14.874[3]; 12. 09-Michael Leach, 00:15.021[11]; 13. (DQ) 14-Haiden Cowan, 00:15.133[7]; 14. (DNS) 6-Clay Harris; 15. (DNS) 2-Cody Overton
Qualifying - Group B (Top Five Locked Into Feature): 1. 44-Chris Madden, 00:14.700[2]; 2. 74X-Ethan Dotson, 00:14.771[7]; 3. 14JR-Trey Mills, 00:14.955[8]; 4. 15K-Wil Herrington, 00:15.007[6]; 5. 23-Beckham Malone, 00:15.023[11]; 6. 2X-John Henderson, 00:15.117[1]; 7. 16W-Ben Watkins, 00:15.118[15]; 8. 18-Derek Dent, 00:15.127[10]; 9. 24D-Michael Brown, 00:15.218[13]; 10. 388-Jackson Hise, 00:15.259[3]; 11. 16-Sam Seawright, 00:15.466[14]; 12. 11-Allen Styck, 00:15.686[12]; 13. 42K-Cla Knight, 00:15.756[5]; 14. 1N-Jordy Nipper, 00:15.760[9]; 15. (DQ) 618-Kevin Wilson, 00:16.188[4]
Coltman Farms Racing B-Main #1 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 44D-Dalton Cook[1]; 2. 9-Ches Chester[3]; 3. 57-Zack Mitchell[5]; 4. 23V-Cory Hedgecock[2]; 5. 09-Michael Leach[7]; 6. 2-Cody Overton[10]; 7. 14-Haiden Cowan[8]; 8. 1-Cameron Tribble[4]; 9. 6-Clay Harris[9]; 10. 4-Kale Green[6]
Coltman Farms Racing B-Main #2 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 16W-Ben Watkins[2]; 2. 388-Jackson Hise[5]; 3. 24D-Michael Brown[4]; 4. 16-Sam Seawright[6]; 5. 18-Derek Dent[3]; 6. 1N-Jordy Nipper[9]; 7. 11-Allen Styck[7]; 8. 42K-Cla Knight[8]; 9. 618-Kevin Wilson[10]; 10. 2X-John Henderson[1]
Current Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Chris Madden - 200
2. Wil Herrington - 196
3. Trey Mills - 194
4. Ethan Dotson - 192
5. Dalton Cook - 190
6. Drake Troutman - 188
7. Sam Seawright - 186
8. Carson Ferguson - 184
9. Ben Watkins - 182
10. Ashton Winger - 180
11. Zack Mitchell - 178
12. Ches Chester - 176
13. Beckham Malone - 174
14. Jackson Hise - 172
15. Michael Leach - 170
2025 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
Friday, February 28 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - CHRIS MADDEN
Saturday, March 1 - Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) - $10,053 to win
Friday, March 28 - Buckshot Speedway (Clanton, AL) - $7,553 to win
Saturday, March 29 - East AL Motor Speedway (Phenix City, AL) - $10,053 to win
Friday, April 18 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $10,053 to win
Saturday, April 19 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $21,000 to win
Friday, April 25 - Beckley Motor Speedway (Mount Hope, WV) - $4,053 to win
Saturday, April 26 - Beckley Motor Speedway (Mount Hope, WV) - $15,053 to win
Friday, May 2 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $7,553 to win
Saturday, May 3 - Dixie Speedway (Woodstock, GA) - $10,053 to win
Friday, May 9 - Rockcastle Speedway (Mount Vernon, KY) - $7,553 to win
Saturday, May 10 - Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - $10,053 to win
Saturday, May 24 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - $10,053 to win
Sunday, May 25 - Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, TN) - $10,053 to win
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or feel free to call/text series promoter Ray Cook at 828-360-5353. You can also follow us across social media platforms on facebook.com/southernnationalsseries and on Twitter @sonationals.
The tour would like to thank all of our valued marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, American Racer South, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, MyRacePass Fantasy Racing, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vidalia Powersports, Vinson Sims Construction, and Wiles Driveshafts.
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