Reminiscing on Dirt Late Model Racing’s Past at Volunteer Speedway ahead of WoO Doubleheader

Volunteer Speedway

Volunteer Speedway has hosted 17 national touring events since 2004, when the World of Outlaws unveiled the “Dirty Dozen” and kickstarted a new era of Dirt Late Model Racing. In that time, fans have grown accustomed to the high-speed, high-octane action that Volunteer offers when the best of the best roll onto the high-banked, red-clay oval.

While the Newport Nightmare Jimmy Owens owns the distinction for most wins at four (two with World of Outlaws, two with Lucas Oil), it’s Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. who has been the most consistent force at the front of the field. The National Dirt Late Model Racing Hall of Fame inductee has two wins to go along with his unmatched 11 top five finishes and 14 top ten results at Bulls Gap, which is located about a half-hour away from his Team Zero shop in Mooresburg.

Along with the O-Show and Bloomer, Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. are the most notable performers on the 4/10th-mile speed plant. Both drivers own two victories at Volunteer and share 12 top ten finishes while Madden (8) bests McDowell (7) in top fives, but McDowell tops all in laps led with 195 circuits commanded.

Other national touring winners at Volunteer Speedway include Billy Ogle Jr. (2012), Ray Cook (2010), Tim McCreadie (2009), Shane Clanton (2008), Earl Pearson Jr. (2008), Steve Francis (2007) and Brian Birkhofer (2004).

TOP PERFORMERS AT VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY

DRIVERWINSTOP 5’STOP 10’SLAPS LED
Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN)2111476
Chris Madden (Gray Court, SC)2812144
Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA)2712195
Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN)4711177
Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC)15946
Steve Francis (Ashland, KY)11779
Vic Hill (Mosheim, TN)0260
Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN)0150
Shane Clanton (Zebulon, GA)12457
Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN)03466

Most recently, the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series attended Volunteer on June 2, 2018. The Tennessee faithful were treated to a thrilling 50-lapper that concluded with Jimmy Owens making a late-race move to overtake Chris Madden and score the $10,000 triumph.

Among the full-time Outlaws, there’s no doubt at all that the Drydene Performance Products backed duo of Bloomquist and Madden bring in the most impressive Bulls Gap resumes. On that note, the teammates will enter this weekend on opposite ends of the spectrum. Bloomquist is searching for a big rebound after a lackluster 13-race opening stint has him sitting eighth in points with just two top fives. Madden on the other hand, who runs fourth in points, is starting to make it click after he finished on the podium at Davenport Speedway and then earned the pole of the Dirt Late Model Stream at Eldora.

As always, Brandon Sheppard and the Rocket1 Racing, Valvoline No. 1 enter every event as a heavy contender for the win. The New Berlin, Ill. native got his groove back with a weekend sweep at Davenport Speedway on May 29-30, then led a majority of Eldora’s Dirt Late Model Stream before finishing fourth, and is now fresh off a pair of runner-up results with Lucas Oil this weekend at Cherokee (S.C.) and Smoky Mountain (TN). B-Shepp brings in a 74-point lead over Ricky Weiss, who will make his first World of Outlaws start at Volunteer Speedway this weekend.

Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kans., and Dennis Erb Jr.of Carpentersville, Ill. will all return to Bulls Gap this weekend in aim of adding to their previous top ten efforts at the track. The tight rookie of the year race will take Ashton WingerKody Evans and Matt Cosner to the 4/10th-mile for their first Outlaws appearance at Volunteer. Cade DillardBrent Larson and Boom Briggs round out the lineup of 13 full-time World of Outlaws Late Model drivers that will face the Tennessee locals this weekend.

The pit gates will open at 2:00pm, grandstands open at 4:00pm and hot laps start at 7:00pm both nights this weekend. You can buy your tickets HERE or watch online from home with DIRTVision, the official streaming partner of the World of Outlaws.

PODIUM FINISHERS AT VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY

SERIESDATEWINNERSECONDTHIRD
World of Outlaws6.2.18Jimmy OwensChris MaddenDale McDowell
Lucas Oil8.21.14Dale McDowellMike MarlarJohn Blankeship
Lucas Oil8.22.13Chris MaddenBilly Ogle Jr.Dale McDowell
Lucas Oil8.23.12Billy Ogle Jr.Scott BloomquistDon O’Neal
Lucas Oil8.25.11Jimmy OwensDale McDowellDon O’Neal
Lucas Oil6.19.10Scott BloomquistChris MaddenJonathan Davenport
Lucas Oil6.18.10Jimmy OwensDan SchlieperJonathan Davenport
Lucas Oil3.6.10Ray CookChris MaddenSkip Arp
Lucas Oil8.20.09Tim McCreadieScott BloomquistJimmy Owens
Lucas Oil7.4.09Dale McDowellJimmy OwensDon O’Neal
World of Outlaws8.21.08Shane ClantonBrady SmithTim Fuller
World of Outlaws8.20.08Jimmy OwensTim McCreadieShane Clanton
Lucas Oil7.5.08Earl Pearson Jr.Dale McDowellChad Ogle
World of Outlaws10.13.07Steve FrancisRay CookRandy Weaver
World of Outlaws8.23.07Chris MaddenJimmy OwensScott Bloomquist
Lucas Oil7.7.07Scott BloomquistBrady SmithBrandon Kinzer
World of Outlaws3.27.04Brian BirkhoferGreg JohnsonRandle Chupp

World Racing Group PR

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