Madsen Claims Inaugural World of Outlaws Race at Willamette Speedway

Kerry Madsen. - Mike Campbell/campbellphoto.com
Kerry Madsen. - Mike Campbell/campbellphoto.com

From Shawn Miller

LEBANON, Ore. – Sept. 3, 2012 – Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!

For the second time in the last three World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events, Australian Kerry Madsen emerged in Victory Lane with a big smile on his face. On Monday, Madsen led all 30 laps to claim the inaugural Outlaws race at Willamette Speedway.

“We’re definitely clicking and we’re taking advantage of our opportunities,” he said. “We’ve had some great draws. It looks easy when guys do that, but it’s hard. You have to have everything right and get the opportunity, and then when the opportunity presents itself you have to seize it. It’s hard to do with the World of Outlaws.”

In the only World of Outlaws event this season in Oregon, Madsen outlasted Donny Schatz in a race that featured only two cautions, tough traffic and one angry Sammy Swindell.

After driving around polesitter Jonathan Allard for the lead to complete the first lap, Madsen entered traffic as he exited turn two on the sixth lap. However, by the time he was in turn three, the red flag was out following a collision between Allard and Swindell.

Battling for the runner-up position as they were going down the backstretch, Allard moved up the track and ran into Swindell’s left front tire. It buckled and dug into the track, which forced a series of violent flips for Swindell.

“I was behind Kerry and didn’t know Sammy was on the top,” Allard said. “I went to go around the top because Kerry dropped to the bottom. (A) lapped car was in the middle. I made a move down the straightaway to go to the top to get some more speed up and Sammy was there.”

While Swindell escaped the crash without injury, he was less than pleased and showed his frustration in what ended with a loud thud.

“He hit me with a rock when I was rolling around after that red (flag) right in the head, so a pretty poor sport,” Allard said.

Madsen and Allard continued to run in the top two spots and they entered traffic on lap 12. However, Brenton Nugent’s spin in turn three on the ensuing lap brought out the final caution of the race.

Schatz shot to second on the restart and Joey Saldana advanced from seventh to fourth in the first two turns. Traffic again began to play a role at lap 19 and Schatz chipped away at Madsen’s advantage.

“We just wore the race track out on the bottom and it was too fast on the top,” Schatz said. “I tried the bottom and it was so hard to do you couldn’t really stick down there. It was just a narrow strip. It was just so good on the cushion.”

Madsen was able to hold off Schatz in the closing laps and a slide job in turn three to lap Henry Van Dam on the final lap was enough to secure Madsen’s fifth victory of the season.

“When you know the World of Outlaws are behind you, you’ve just got to be on your game the whole way,” Madsen said. “Mentally, they’re tough races to win. To bring it home is fantastic.”

Tim Kaeding passed Saldana for fourth place on lap 22 and Saldana held off Chad Kemenah for fifth. World of Outlaws points leader Craig Dollansky placed seventh, Cody Darrah ended eighth, Jac Haudenschild was ninth and Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10.

Trey Starks earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after piloting from 20th to 12th. Swindell was credited with a 22nd-place result and Kraig Kinser, who ended in the wall in turn three on the final lap, finished 14th after running in the top 10 most of the feature.

Willamette Speedway Notebook

NOTES – Willamette Speedway is the third track that the World of Outlaws has competed at for the first time ever this season. … Joey Saldana established a new track record and his ninth quick time of the season. … Lucas Wolfe claimed his fourth heat race win, Sammy Swindell his series-leading 17 th and Tim Kaeding his sixth of the season. … Jonathan Allard won his first dash of the year.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Jac Haudenschild; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Kerry Madsen; Armor All (case of product): Jonathan Allard; STP ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; UNOH ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): Lucas Wolfe; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Superflow ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Bill Rose; JE Pistons (set of rings): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Travis Jacobson; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Kevin Smith.

WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 11 (Grays Harbor Raceway on Aug. 29, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 25, River Cities Speedway on Aug. 17, Autodrome Granby on July 27, Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky – 7 (Castrol Raceway on Aug. 24, Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 22, Lernerville Speedway on July 17, I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Donny Schatz – 7 (Nodak Speedway on Aug. 19, Junction Motor Speedway on Aug. 14, Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 11, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 29, Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Kerry Madsen – 5 (Willamette Speedway on Sept. 3, Skagit Speedway on Aug. 31, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Joey Saldana – 5 (Autodrome Drummond on July 28, Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Kraig Kinser – 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Tim Kaeding – 3 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Steve Kinser – 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Chad Kemenah – 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Tony Stewart – 2 (Ohsweken Speedway on July 31 and Lernerville Speedway on July 17); Cody Darrah – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21); Danny Dietrich – 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier – 1 (Huset’s Speedway on July 3); Travis Jacobson – 1 (Skagit Speedway on Sept. 1); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Paul McMahan – 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet – 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8) and Lucas Wolfe – 1 (Bloomington Speedway on Aug. 3).

TIME TRIALS – Joey Saldana was the fastest qualifier around the third-mile oval with a track-record time of 12.101 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Sammy Swindell (4 points), Travis Jacobson (3), Donny Schatz (2) and Kraig Kinser (1).

WE’RE ONLINE – Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .

Willamette Speedway Statistical Report; Lebanon, Ore.; Sept. 3, 2012

A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 29-Kerry Madsen [2] [$6,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [5] [$3,500]; 3. O-Jonathan Allard [1] [$2,000]; 4. 83-Tim Kaeding [8] [$1,800]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana [7] [$1,500]; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah [6] [$1,400]; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky [12] [$1,350]; 8. 4-Cody Darrah [13] [$1,300]; 9. 18H-Jac Haudenschild [14] [$1,250]; 10. 11-Steve Kinser [10] [$1,200]; 11. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [9] [$900]; 12. 55-Trey Starks [20] [$800]; 13. 11C-Roger Crockett [18] [$700]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4] [$650]; 15. 33V-Henry Van Dam [16] [$600]; 16. 6-Bill Rose [19] [$550]; 17. 21S-Zack Spaulding [22] [$500]; 18. 88-Jesse Whitney [21] [$500]; 19. 7X-Kevin Smith [15] [$500]; 20. 26F-Shane Forte [23] [$500]; 21. 98M-Mitch Olson [17] [$500]; 22. 1-Sammy Swindell [3] [$500]; 23. 18-Travis Jacobson [11] [$500]; 24. 28-Brenton Nugent [24] [$500]. Lap Leaders: Kerry Madsen 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 55-Trey Starks [+8].

Qualifying – 1. 9-Joey Saldana, 12.101; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.126; 3. 18-Travis Jacobson, 12.186; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.194; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.212; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.258; 7. O-Jonathan Allard, 12.281; 8. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.292; 9. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.318; 10. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 12.383; 11. 7-Craig Dollansky, 12.392; 12. 83-Tim Kaeding, 12.492; 13. 4-Cody Darrah, 12.499; 14. 18H-Jac Haudenschild, 12.508; 15. 7X-Kevin Smith, 12.534; 16. 33V-Henry Van Dam, 12.579; 17. 98M-Mitch Olson, 12.655; 18. 11C-Roger Crockett, 12.702; 19. 6-Bill Rose, 12.757; 20. 55-Trey Starks, 12.784; 21. 88-Jesse Whitney, 12.876; 22. 21S-Zack Spaulding, 13.263; 23. 26F-Shane Forte, 13.370; 24. 28-Brenton Nugent, 13.793.

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [1]; 2. O-Jonathan Allard [2]; 3. 4-Cody Darrah [5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana [4]; 6. 33V-Henry Van Dam [6]; 7. 6-Bill Rose [7]; 8. 21S-Zack Spaulding [8].

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah [2]; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky [1]; 4. 98M-Mitch Olson [6]; 5. 55-Trey Starks [7]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 7. 18H-Jac Haudenschild [5]; 8. 26F-Shane Forte [8].

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 83-Tim Kaeding [1]; 2. 29-Kerry Madsen [3]; 3. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 4. 11C-Roger Crockett [6]; 5. 88-Jesse Whitney [7]; 6. 7X-Kevin Smith [5]; 7. 18-Travis Jacobson [4]; 8. 28-Brenton Nugent [8].

Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. O-Jonathan Allard [1]; 2. 29-Kerry Madsen [2]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [5]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah [7]; 7. 9-Joey Saldana [6]; 8. 83-Tim Kaeding [10]; 9. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [9]; 10. 11-Steve Kinser [8].

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Top 20 Championship Standings

Pos. Driver

Total

Diff

Wins

T5

T10

QT

1 Craig Dollansky

7713

0

7

31

44

8

2 Donny Schatz

7681

-32

7

26

46

2

3 Sammy Swindell

7642

-71

11

25

38

11

4 Joey Saldana

7607

-106

5

20

42

9

5 Steve Kinser

7580

-133

3

24

40

0

6 Kraig Kinser

7371

-342

4

18

35

5

7 Cody Darrah

7195

-518

1

18

30

2

8 Kerry Madsen

7161

-552

5

12

31

1

9 Chad Kemenah

7053

-660

2

9

28

2

10 Lucas Wolfe

6747

-966

1

7

18

1

11 Bill Rose

6154

-1559

0

0

9

0

12 Jason Sides

4747

-2966

0

13

22

1

13 Jac Haudenschild

2922

-4791

0

2

7

0

14 Tim Kaeding

2863

-4850

3

6

13

0

15 Daryn Pittman

2537

-5176

0

6

13

1

16 Sam Hafertepe Jr.

2454

-5259

0

3

7

0

17 Danny Lasoski

2431

-5282

1

5

8

0

18 David Gravel

2385

-5328

0

7

9

4

19 Paul McMahan

2296

-5417

1

2

3

0

20 Stevie Smith

2276

-5437

0

3

11

1