Chris Madden will be teaming up with G.R. Smith’s Team22 INC for a part-time schedule in 2025 where they will be chasing premiere events. The partnership begins this week at the World Finals.
Chris Madden via World of Outlaws Late Models on X
That partnership begins this week with Madden announcing he’s racing alongside McLaughlin for Smith at the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. Madden’s team shared on Facebook, “Chris is looking very forward and excited to be back behind the wheel this week at the World Finals. Please come by souvenir row and pick up a Chris Madden racing shirt, these can purchased from the GR Smith Merch trailer.”
“Looking forward to seeing all our fans/friends that we haven’t seen in a while. You can personally shopteam22.com to purchase merchandise if you aren’t able to attend this weekends event,” his team continued. “Chris has his own driver collection that’s everything he has full stock in plus he has shirts from this year that are misc sizes that will be available in the merch trailer and various trinkets.”
“Thanks GR Smith for this opportunity,” the post concluded.
Chris Madden Racing on Facebook
The partnership is already off to a good start as Madden topped qualifying for Thursday’s event with a time of 14.785 seconds on Wednesday.
Madden told the World of Outlaws, “We’re just out here having fun. It feels good to start off well, it feels good to have fun with it. We’re coming to a place that I love to race at. I got a huge fanbase here, so it’s exciting to be able to go out and get a Quick Time in front of my family and fans that come to support me.”
Chris Madden wins the Simpson Racing Quick Time Award for the World of Outlaws at the 2024 World Finals
As for his plans for next year, DirtonDirt.com’s Kyle McFadden reported that Madden “will run a partial 2025 schedule with G.R. Smith’s Team 22Inc. of Cornelius, N.C. focused on Dirt Late Model racing’s major events.”
Madden plans to compete at Volusia Speedway Park during the Florida-Georgia Speedweeks as well as the premiere events at Eldora Speedway including the Dream and World 100. In fact, Madden informed the outlet, “I’ll be racing at Eldora until my legs fall off.”
Team 22INC on Facebook
As for what other races Madden and the team plan to compete in, Smith said, “We’re going to race anything that makes sense.”
He added, “The good thing is we have good sponsors. … Our goal is to be prepared like this. It means a lot when you go out and give 100 percent and not just going to the next one. To clear that up, we’re ready and rolling. We have the resources, cars, equipment and drive to show up at any place and get it done.”
“I want to go back to Eldora and win, he wants to go to Eldora and win, so it started with that conversation. Then we talked about other places we like going to. We’re really confident about what we put together. We’ll race together in 2025 and beyond, and whatever makes most sense to us,” Smith shared.
Of note, Smith does plan to replace McLaughlin and find a full-time driver for the No. 22 for the 2025 season.
Max McLaughlin via DirtVision.com
Madden will not be competing with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series nor the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series in 2025 explaining, “There’s a lot [of] money and opportunity out there to be better prepared racing on a limited schedule. It shows here.”
He added, “I’d just like to thank G.R. and his family, and everyone on his side. Over the winter we’ll get our sponsors hammered out. I’m sure he has people who are staying and I have people who are coming. We can’t do it without them.”
Following the World Finals, Madden does plan on competing in the Castrol FloRacing Night in America season finale event at Senoia Raceway between November 15 and 16th. He will then head to Cherokee Speedway for the Blue-Gray 100 on November 17th.
Chris Madden via World of Outlaws Late Models on X
What do you make of Madden running a part-time schedule with Smith and Team 22INC?