BULLS GAP, Tenn. — Scott Bloomquist and his boys shined once again in a major dirt late-model event Thursday night at Volunteer Speedway.
But this time, Bloomquist didn’t lead the charge of his Team Zero chassis across the finish line.
Chris Madden stepped up to win the fourth annual Scorcher 100 Presented by Young Oil Co., pacing a memorable sweep of the top-four finishing positions by Bloomquist-built cars.
After finishing second to Bloomquist in several special shows over the past two years — including the 2006 Scorcher 100 and two big-money races this season — Madden broke through for a huge victory worth $20,225.
He overtook his mentor for second on a lap-41 restart and passed fellow Team Zero driver Jimmy Owens for the lead on lap 95 en route to his second World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season.
“Jimmy just got caught up in that lapped traffic,” said Madden. “He chose the wrong line and pushed up off of two, and I was able to capitalize on it.”
Owens, who led laps 14-94, settled for the $7,625 runner-up money, just ahead of Bloomquist and Brady Smith. Rick Eckert, who started 21st, finished fifth and was the best-finishing race not wheeling a Bloomquist machine.
“If these guys keep beating me,” Bloomquist smiled during the post-race ceremonies, “I’m gonna have to stop building cars.”
The finish:
Chris Madden, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Brady Smith, Rick Eckert, Chub Frank, Ray Cook, Donnie Moran, Steve Francis, Steve Smith, Shane Clanton, Josh Richards, Austin Dillon, Darrell Lanigan, Michael England, Tim Fuller, Shannon Buckingham, Brian Birkhofer, Clint Smith, Jeep VanWormer, Brad Neat, Mark Douglas, Damon Eller, Dan Schlieper, Dale McDowell.