Brandon Overton scored the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory on Saturday night at Deer Creek Speedway. Photo: LOLMDS Media
Brandon Overton held off Chris Madden to win the Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota on Saturday night.
The Evans, Georgia racer earned $50,000 for his victory in the co-sanctioned Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series/Lucas Oil MLRA Series event.
When Overton took the race lead on lap 23, he had to hold off both Madden and Tim McCreadie as both of those drivers were breathing down his neck when a caution flag came out with three laps to go. McCreadie and Mike Marlar also led laps during the race.
On the restart, Overton held his line to score his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the year and first big payday of 2022, winning by 0.514 seconds over Madden.
McCreadie finished in third, and took the series point lead. Brandon Sheppard, who entered the event as the series points leader. finished 20th and now trails McCreadie by 50 points.
Both front row starters for the richest race ever at Deer Creek, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Georgia and Madden, accepted the money challenge of a $25,000 bonus if they would give up their front starting positions and start 11th and 12th. If one of those two drivers would have won the race, they would have earned a $75,000 payday for winning the race.
Marlar finished in fourth with Ricky Weiss in fifth.
“I probably just got lucky there at the end,” said Overton after recording his 14th career series win. “You have heard of the phrase ‘sittin’ duck’ that’s what I felt out there. I know Madden had come from a ways back. I tried to not slip the tires there on that last restart. He (Madden) has been awfully good. Like I said, what an unbelievable feeling to get us one at Deer Creek. I am as happy as I could be.”
With the win Overton now joins Chris Ferguson (Show-Me 100), Davenport (Historic 100), Madden (Mountain Moonshine Classic), Tim McCreadie (Firecracker 100), and Sheppard (Freedom 60) as crown-jewel cup winners in 2022.
Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Daulton Wilson, Davenport, and Brent Larson rounded out the top 10.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Deer Creek Speedway – Spring Valley, MN
Gopher 50 – July 9, 2022
1. 76-Brandon Overton
2. 44M-Chris Madden
3. 39-Tim McCreadie
4. 157-Mike Marlar
5. 7W-Ricky Weiss
6. 1T-Tyler Erb
7. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
8. 18D-Daulton Wilson
9. 49-Jonathan Davenport
10. B1-Brent Larson
11. 71-Hudson O’Neal
12. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
13. 58-Garrett Alberson
14. 25C-Shane Clanton
15. 16-Tyler Bruening
16. 20-Jimmy Owens
17. 2S-Stormy Scott
18. 1ST-Johnny Scott
19. 25-Chad Simpson
20. 1-Brandon Sheppard
21. 11-Spencer Hughes
22. 15V-Kolby Vandenbergh
23. 22H-Daniel Hilsabeck
24. 78S-Steve Stultz
25. 8-Kyle Strickler-DNF
26. 19R-Ryan Gustin-DNF
27. 7-Ross Robinson-DNF
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