Race Week at a Glance – Cherokee and Lavonia

CONCORD, NC – April 29, 2019 – The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series kicks off a busy month of May this Friday and Saturday at Cherokee Speedway and Lavonia Speedway, with South Carolina-native Chris Madden hoping some home-cooking is what he needs to put himself in victory lane for the first time this season.

A two-time Series championship runner-up, Madden did a final tune-up last weekend to prepare for the busy month ahead, finishing second at Smoky Mountain Speedway on Friday and third at Dixie Speedway the very next night. This Friday, May 3, he’ll have what he would consider his best chance at getting his first World of Outlaws win this season at Cherokee Speedway – his home track.

“The biggest thing about racing around home, to me, is my fanbase,” said Madden, who’s race shop is located in Gaffney, not far from Cherokee. “That’s where I’m from, and it gives [my fans] an opportunity to come out and see not only me but the other guys that travel around with us. They get to see all of us race and it’s pretty exciting to have one of the ultimate, elite racing series come into our hometown. It’s a pretty big deal to me, and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”

The field will be extremely competitive. While veteran racers like Madden have been battling on the tour for a number of years, several rookies have been learning lessons quickly and applying them in local and regional competition when not on the road.

Showcasing how far they’ve come since joining the Series in February, the Rookie of the Year class just bagged a total of three wins in two days last weekend.

Ricky Weiss kicked things off last Friday night with a win at Smoky Mountain Speedway, while Cade Dillard picked up his second Super Late Model win of the year at his home track of ShowTime Speedway in Many, LA. Finally, Kyle Hardy scored a victory on Saturday night at the Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA – his first of the season for Viper Motorsports and Barry Wright Race Cars.

Earlier in April, several more of the Series veterans scored good finishes in preparation for this month’s action, too. Chase Junghans, who currently sits tied for third in Series points, picked up a win at the Davenport (IA) Speedway on April 19 – his first of the season aboard the ShopQuik #18. Championship leader Brandon Sheppard also continued his incredible hot streak by scoring another pair of back-to-back podium finishes at Atomic Speedway on April 11 and Hagerstown Speedway on April 13.

Friday at Cherokee and Saturday at Lavonia, Sheppard will lead the Outlaws back to the green flag and hopes to defend his Lavonia victory from last year. Can he get it done? Check out the action in person, or if you can’t be there tune into DIRTVision.com.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

WHEN & WHERE
Friday, May 3 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC
Saturday, May 4 at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA

Friday 
• Pit Gate Opens at 2 p.m.
• Front Gate opens 3 p.m.
• Hot Laps 7:15 p.m.

Saturday
• Pit Gate Opens at 2 p.m.
• Front Gate opens 3 p.m.
• Hot Laps 7:15 p.m.

ABOUT THE TRACKS
Cherokee Speedway is a 3/8-mile, banked dirt oval. The track record is 14.654, set by Chris Ferguson.
Online – www.cherokeespeedwaysc.com
Phone – (864) 489-1969

Lavonia Speedway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked clay oval. The track record is 14.996, set by Steve Francis in 2006.
Online – http://www.lavoniaspeedway.net
Phone – (706) 612-0893

TICKETS
Tickets will be available for purchase at the track on the day of the events.

3/8-MILE WINNERS 
There have been two races on 3/8-mile tracks so far this year, both at the Screven Motor Speedway. Brandon Overton won on February 8 and Shane Clanton won on February 9.

CHEROKEE SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Mike Marlar on May 4
2017 – Shane Clanton on May 5

LAVONIA SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Brandon Sheppard on May 3
2014 – Darrell Lanigan on May 3

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series – www.woolms.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/ WoOLateModels (@WoOLateModels)
Instagram – Instagram.com/ WoOLateModels (@WoOLateModels)
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Late Model Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month!
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision

DRIVER INFO
Follow full-time World of Outlaws drivers on Twitter:
Brandon Sheppard – @B_Sheppard_B5
Shane Clanton – @clanton25
Chris Madden – @chrismadden44
Darrell Lanigan – @DarrellLanigan
Chase Junghans – @ShopQuik18
Dennis Erb Jr. – @DennisErbJr
Brian Shirley – @BSR_3s
Boom Briggs – @boom99b
Brent Larson – @BrentLarsonB1
Ricky Weiss – @weissracing7
Kyle Hardy – @kylehardy9
Cade Dillard – @CDillard97
Blake Spencer – www.blakespencer.com (not on Twitter)

AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series next heads to Fayetteville Motor Speedway in Fayetteville, NC for the First in Flight 100 on May 10 and 11.

2019 STATS
There have been 10 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Feature events this season.

FEATURE WINNERS (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 6
2 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 1

QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 2
2 – Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1
– Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN – 1
– Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA – 1
– Jason Covert, York Haven, PA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1

HEAT RACE WINNERS (21 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 8
2 – Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC – 6
3 – Scott Bloomquist – Mooresburg, TN – 4 
4 – Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 3 
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 3
6 – Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 2 
– Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 2 
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 2
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 2
10 – Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1 
– Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL – 1
– Jason Covert, York Haven, PA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Ricky Weiss, Headingley, MB, Canada – 1
– Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, IL – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (21 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 2 
2 – Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 1 
– Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN – 1 
– Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Tyler Erb, New Waverly, TX – 1
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1
– John Ownbey, Cleveland, TN – 1
– Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, TN – 1
– Tommy Kerr, Maryville, TN – 1
– Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL – 1
– Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL – 1
– Bob Gardner, Washington, IL – 1
– Blake Spencer, St. Augustine, FL – 1

PODIUM FINISHES (17 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 8
2 – Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC – 3
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 3
4 – Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 2
– Don O’Neal, Martinsville, IN – 2
6 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Mooresville, TN – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Ricky Weiss, Headingley, MB, Canada – 1
– Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL – 1
– Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI – 1

HARD CHARGERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of merits
1 – Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 2
2 – Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA – 1
– Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, IL – 1
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX – 1
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1
– Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA – 1

TOTAL LAPS LED (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 233
2 – Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 60
3 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 50
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 50
5 – Tanner English, Benton, KY – 32
6 – Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 24
7 – Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 20
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 20
9 – Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC – 11

2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, GA / Brandon Overton (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, GA / Shane Clanton (1)
3. Wednesday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
4. Thursday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
5. Friday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (3)
6. Saturday, Feb. 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (4)
7. Friday, March 22 / Duck River Raceway Park / Lewisburg, TN / Brandon Sheppard (5)
8. Saturday, March 23 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Jimmy Owens (1)
9. Friday, April 4 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brian Shirley (1)
10. Saturday, April 5 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (6)

2019 World of Outlaws Championship Top 10 (Through Farmer City Raceway)