Taking the lead from local racer Cory Hedgecock on lap 31, Gray Court, South Carolina's Chris "Smokey" Madden (#44) picked up the $10,053 Friday at 411 Motor Speedway outside Gatlinburg, holding off Chickamauga's Dale McDowell.
Running anywhere he wanted on the track (high, low or middle) Madden scored his third win on the 12-race mini series Southern Nationals tour that wraps up Saturday night at the Tazewell (Tn.) Speedway just north of Knoxville near the Kentucky border.
Madden in the "Team Drydene, Millwood Plumbing, Competition Racing Equipment" sponsored race car is chasing series points leader and defending champion of the series Brandon Overton (#76) who finished fourth just behind Hedgecock Friday. Madden is a five-time Southern Nationals Series champion and between himself and Overton the pair have only been defeated once this season, by Hedgecock.
In Crate Late Model competition, Jesse Lowe (#5j) of Crossville won the $1,200 feature, making it two in a row, after winning his home track Thursday. The series finale Saturday night will be broadcast live on DirtonDirt.com for subscribers of the website.