MADSEN WINS AS WEBBER WATCHES ON AT KNOXVILLE

Kerry Madsen raced to victory and into the final field for the 2019 Knoxville Nationals – Photo: Richard Hathaway

In front of Australian Motorsport royalty, Kerry Madsen raced to victory and into the final field for the 2019 Knoxville Nationals.

By GEOFF ROUNDS

With Formula One ace Mark Webber watching on at the Iowa Speedway, Madsen reigned supreme from the front row to lead all 25 laps of the Preliminary night A-Main and defeat Logan Schuchart, Shane Stewart and Dominic Scelzi.

Which just happen to be the top four drivers to lock themselves onto the final two rows of the 24-car field tomorrow and the chance to win the $150,000 first prize.

The 25-lap feature saw Madsen shoot out to the lead, while Schuchart roared to second from his eighth starting spot as Scelzi overtook polesitter Hunter Schuerenberg for third on lap two and Stewart followed him into fourth two circuits later. Which remained the lead order until the flag, in what was Madsen’s 23rd career win at Knoxville.

Madsen has now qualified for the Nationals final 13 times and is the best finishing Australian with a second to Donny Schatz in 2015 and was third in 2014 and 2017.

“The car was a rocket-ship all night. We didn’t put it in the show on Wednesday night. I didn’t know how fast to go there, but I felt we had a good pace. I was actually liking the clean air.”

“I’m the biggest Mark Webber fan so I’m pretty pumped he’s here,” Madsen said.

Madsen who set the quickest time in his qualifying group will start from position 21 for the 50 lap, 59th Knoxville Nationals and joins his brother Ian who comes from grid position 14.

Aaron Reutzel is the polesitter with David Gravel then follows Joey Saldana, Tim Shaffer, Paker Price-Miller and defending champion Brad Sweet.

Positions 17-21 are yet to be determined and the top four from the very last chance B-Main will sort those starting positions for the feature race.

Warrnambool’s James McFadden and 10-times Knoxville Nationals winner Donny Schatz are just two of the must-watch drivers for the final night of competition and will be desperate to transfer.

In other results, Lynton Jeffrey was 23rd in the feature race, while Rusty Hickman finished ninth in the first B-Main while Marcus Dumesny was sixth in the second B-Main with Brooke Tatnell (13th), Glen Saville (20th) and Brodie Tulloch (21st). Reigning Australian Sprintcar champion Andrew Scheurele who was making his Knoxville debut was 19th in the C-Main.

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