3/28/2026
Wythe Raceway
Chris Madde Wins at Cherokee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 21, 2026
Chris Madden Wins Rain-Shortened March Madness at Cherokee to Pocket $20,053
(GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA) Over the past twenty plus years, Chris Madden has racked up big win after big win at the nearby Cherokee Speedway and the Gray Court, South Carolina superstar added one more trophy to his collection on Saturday night, as he won his fifth career ‘March Madness’ title! Chris swept the racing program, as he earned fast time honors during the qualifying session, won his heat race, and later led all 41 circuits of the rain-shortened featured event. The 60-lap ‘March Madness’ headliner was halted twice by inclement weather before officials made the call to deem the race official.
The popular driver known as “Smokey” celebrated the $20,053 triumph in the rain, as the huge grandstand crowd exited the storied facility. Zack Mitchell moved up a spot to finish second in the contest and was awarded $10,000 in earnings. Tucker Anderson hung around the front throughout the race and ultimately rounded out the podium in third. Brandon Overton, who was victorious on Friday evening at Modoc Speedway, passed a pair of competitors to place fourth, while Ben Watkins started and finished fifth.
“We had a great car last weekend and me and Brandon (Overton) just had a freak deal that happened at the end of the race and took us both out,” said the winning Madden in victory lane on Saturday at Cherokee Speedway. “It took us out of a great run there (at Smoky Mountain Speedway), but we’re back here in victory lane tonight. That says a lot about our team and we’ll keep working hard. We’re going to get better and better throughout the year!”
Chris Madden netted his 53rd career Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series and 7th career Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series victory aboard a Wells & Sons Motorsports #44 Infinity Race Cars house car with sponsorship in part from Henderson Amusement, Millwood Plumbing, Convenient Lube, Velocity Manufacturing Group, Hardison Suspension Technologies, Penske Racing Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, STAKT Racing Products, Clements Racing Engines, and Topnotch Kustomz.
A strong field of 31 Super Late Model competitors were on hand at the Gaffney, South Carolina speedplant for Saturday’s annual running of ‘March Madness,’ which was co-sanctioned by the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Showtime Properties and the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco. Chris Ferguson started off the evening by laying down the quickest time in hot laps before Chris Madden stopped the clock fastest in qualifying.
The three heat races were won by Chris Madden, Tucker Anderson, and Zack Mitchell, while the lone consolation event was captured by Alex Vance. Series provisionals went to Payton Stevenson, Billy Franklin, Garrett Smith, and Dillon Daves, while emergency provisionals were granted to Cruz Skinner and Will Hicks.
Next up for the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series will be a big doubleheader on March 27-28 at Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tennessee. Following a practice night on Thursday, the grand reopening weekend for the Volunteer State venue will start on Friday with a $5,053 to win shootout. Saturday’s weekend headliner will then shell out a $15,053 first place prize for the ground-pounding Super Late Models. The tour has made one prior visit to the track, as Ross Bailes brought home a victory back in 2019.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 2 Race Summary
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Cherokee Speedway - Gaffney, South Carolina
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (41 Laps):
(1) Chris Madden $20,053
(3) Zack Mitchell $10,000
(2) Tucker Anderson $6,000
(6) Brandon Overton $4,000
(5) Ben Watkins $3,000
(8) Layton Sullivan $2,000
(12) Willie Milliken $1,500
(11) Kendall Franklin $1,400
(19) Alex Vance $1,300
(15) Benji Hicks $1,200
(14) Carson Ferguson $1,150
(17) Kale Green $1,090
(13) Gray Parton $1,080
(21) Payton Stevenson $1,070
(22) Billy Franklin $1,060
(9) Jeremy Steele $1,050
(23) Garrett Smith $1,040
(10) Dylan Thornton $1,030
(25) Cruz Skinner $95
(24) Dillon Daves $1,010
(26) Will Hicks $75
(7) Steve Banal $1,000
(4) Chris Ferguson $1,000
(18) Trent Ivey $1,000
(20) Jake Jackson $1,000
(16) Anthony Sanders $1,000
Entries: 31
Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1-41)
Caution Flags: 6
Deatherage Opticians 4th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Brandon Overton
Deatherage Opticians 13th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Gray Parton
MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Chris Ferguson 15.433
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Chris Madden 15.432
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat #1 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 22-Chris Ferguson[3]; 3. 8B-Steve Banal[4]; 4. 13-Dylan Thornton[5]; 5. 18P-Gray Parton[2]; 6. 421-Anthony Sanders[7]; 7. 95-Alex Vance[10]; 8. 11-Cruz Skinner[9]; 9. 10-Garrett Smith[6]; 10. (DNS) F1-Payton Freeman; 11. (DNS) 618-Kevin Wilson
American Racer South Heat #2 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 22-Tucker Anderson[1]; 2. 16-Ben Watkins[2]; 3. 2-Layton Sullivan[5]; 4. 317-Kendall Franklin[3]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 6. 4-Kale Green[7]; 7. J1-Jake Jackson[6]; 8. 21-Devon Morgan[8]; 9. 48-Hunter Kohn[9]; 10. 35-Dillon Daves[10]
E-Z-GO Heat #3 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 57-Zack Mitchell[2]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 3. 79-Jeremy Steele[5]; 4. 1-Willie Milliken[7]; 5. 55-Benji Hicks[4]; 6. 88-Trent Ivey[3]; 7. 24-Payton Stevenson[6]; 8. 17-Billy Franklin[9]; 9. 16B-Ross Bailes[8]; 10. 15-Will Hicks[10]
Coltman Farms Racing B-Main Finish (Top Two Transfer): 1. 95-Alex Vance[1]; 2. J1-Jake Jackson[2]; 3. 24-Payton Stevenson[3]; 4. 21-Devon Morgan[5]; 5. 17-Billy Franklin[6]; 6. 10-Garrett Smith[7]; 7. 16B-Ross Bailes[9]; 8. 11-Cruz Skinner[4]; 9. 48-Hunter Kohn[8]; 10. 15-Will Hicks[12]; 11. 35-Dillon Daves[11]; 12. (DNS) F1-Payton Freeman; 13. (DNS) 618-Kevin Wilson
Provisionals: Payton Stevenson, Billy Franklin, Garrett Smith, Dillon Daves
Emergency Provisionals: Cruz Skinner, Will Hicks
Current Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
Brandon Overton - 392
Zack Mitchell - 390
Tucker Anderson - 380
Carson Ferguson - 370
T-5. Garrett Smith - 356
T-5. Kendall Franklin - 356
Billy Franklin - 348
Ben Watkins - 342
Cruz Skinner - 338
T-10. Payton Stevenson - 334
T-10. Kale Green - 334
Dillon Daves - 330
Will Hicks - 322
Devon Morgan - 259
Payton Freeman - 235
2026 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
February 27 - Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) - RAINED OUT
February 28 - Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) - RAINED OUT
March 20 - Modoc Speedway (Modoc, SC) - BRANDON OVERTON
March 21 - Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) - CHRIS MADDEN
March 27 - Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) - $5,053 to win
March 28 - Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) - $15,053 to win
April 2 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $5,053 to win
April 3 - Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) - $10,053 to win
April 4 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $21,000 to win
May 7 - Hidden Hollow Speedway (Colson, KY) - $5,053 to win
May 8 - Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) - $7,553 to win
May 9 - Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - $10,053 to win
May 22 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $5,053 to win
May 23 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - $7,553 to win
May 24 - 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, Deatherage Opticians, 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, Vinson Sims Construction, and Wiles Driveshafts.
About Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants:
Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants: synthetic motor oils, hydraulic fluids, and diesel fuel additives have achieved a world-class reputation for improving engine performance and fuel economy, but their diverse product line includes all types of industrial lubricants, industrial greases, and industrial oils as well as specialty items like their chain lubes and degreasers. Founded in 1839, their philosophy is to provide advanced lubricants for improved performance, reliability, and fuel economy. Learn more or find a rep near you at www.SchaefferOil.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
Submitted By: Peery Brown