From Brian Liskai
Ocala, FL — (February 10, 2014) — Kerry Madsen put on a dominating performance at Bubba Raceway Park, winning the second night of racing Monday for his third career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions feature.
Madsen, aboard the Keneric Racing, American Racing Custom Wheels backed #29, lead all 30 laps for the $5,000 win. Former four-time All Star Champion Chad Kemenah would come home second while Pennsylvania Posse driver Danny Dietrich would edge 2013 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year David Gravel for third with four time and defending All Star champion Dale Blaney rounding out the top five.
“I know it’s only February, but to come down here not expecting much and to come away with a win is awesome. It gives this team the confidence that what we are doing things the right way,” said Madsen, who hails from Australia but now calls Knoxville, Iowa home.
“I have to thank Bob and Peter Gavranich for giving us everything we need to win. Tyler Swank my crew chief and all the crew have worked their tails off over the past couple of months and I’m happy I could reward them with this win,” continued Madsen.
Kerry “The Mad Man” Madsen and Jac “The Wild Child” Haudenschild would bring the field to the green in a race that would go the first 15 laps caution-free. Unfortunately for “The Wild Child” he would become the first race stoppage. Haudenschild would make contact with the turn three wall and get upside down while trying to chase down Madsen in lapped traffic. Jac was uninjured but done for the night.
Unlike the previous night when the track was challenging because of several days of rain, the crew at Bubba Raceway Park had the racing surface in perfect shape and the dicing among the top five throughout the last half of the race was proof.
At the half-way mark the running order was Madsen, Kemenah, Dietrich, Dale Blaney, Gravel, Greg Hodnett, Tim Shaffer (who had to start 11th after having to change a tire due to cutting one down in the dash), Rico Abreu, Steve Buckwalter and Sunday’s winner Dave Blaney.
When the green flew again, Madsen would rocket away from Kemenah as a tremendous battle ensued for third between Dietrich, Dale Blaney, Gravel and Hodnett.
With seven laps to go Mark Coldren would stop on the track to bring out the caution. The running order was Madsen, Kemenah, Dietrich, Dale Blaney and Hodnett. When the green reappeared, Madsen would again pull away with Kemenah comfortably in second with that war for third again heating up.
With just two laps to go, Dave Blaney would spin, wiping out Madsen’s big lead. But, with a clear track, Madsen would power away for the victory with Kemenah coming home a solid second with Dietrich barely nipping Gravel for third.
“Track position is huge in this sport. We had a great car and in clean air I was confident no one was going to catch me. When we got into traffic, I made a mistake and went to the top of turn three to get around lapped cars and Jac was there. When the high side is there you always know Jac will be coming. When that caution flew with two to go I was very confident we were okay…I had clean air,” said Madsen.
For Kemenah, who has committed to running with the UNOH All Stars in 2014, the second place run is a great way to start the season for a team he funds out of his own pocket.
“First I want to give a big shout out to the track crew here. They worked their butts off the past three days and took a lot of heat. They could have thrown in the towel but they rolled up their sleeves and gave us a great track tonight,” said Kemenah beside his Hampshire Engines/Radio Hospital/Lima Auto Mall backed #63.
“Kerry was just too good in clean air. My only hope was we would get long green flag runs and get into traffic but the last half of the race we didn’t get that. We’ll take second…it gives us a lot of confidence heading to Volusia where we usually run pretty good. I have to thank my nephew A.J. (Havens) for all the hard work,” continued Kemenah.
Dietrich was also pleased with his third place run.
“That was close at the end…I’m not really sure who got third. We had a heck of a race there with Gravel and Blaney and Hodnett. I was just holding on there at the end. We were way too tight and there was a hole in turn 3 and if I didn’t catch it right I’d bounce up the track,” said Dietrich beside his Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Weikert’s Livestock/Hickory Run Orchards backed #48.
“Our plan is to stay down here and run Volusia this week. We’re suppose to head home to race in Pennsylvania next week but with all the snow and cold I don’t know if we’ll get to,” added Dietrich of his Gary Kauffman Racing Team.
The UNOH All Stars will be back in competition Wednesday and Thursday at Volusia Speedway Park. With two events in for 2014, the battle for the series national and Eastern Region titles certainly looks to be very entertaining throughout the season.
For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com
Bubba Raceway Park – 2/10/2014
UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 98-Dave Blaney, 11.856; 2. 27-Greg Hodnett, 12.059; 3. 45-Tim Shaffer, 12.081; 4. 9W-Jac Haudenschild, 12.118; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.269; 6. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.289; 7. 59-David Gravel, 12.292; 8. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 12.357; 9. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 12.375; 10. 14K-Dale Blaney, 12.389; 11. 63-Chad Kemanah, 12.421; 12. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.425; 13. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.494; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.524; 15. 19-Klint Angelette, 12.572; 16. 57X-Andrew Palker, 12.670; 17. 10H-Danny Holtgraver, 12.692; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.742; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.833; 20. 83-Christopher Bell , 12.890; 21. 77X-Wayne Johnson, 12.936; 22. 59P-Christopher Jones, 12.959; 23. O7-Mark Coldren, 13.005; 24. 10-Terry Gray, 13.626
Heat 1 – Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 14K-Dale Blaney[1] ; 2. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[3] ; 3. 40-Caleb Helms[5] ; 4. 59-David Gravel[2] ; 5. 98-Dave Blaney[4] ; 6. 57X-Andrew Palker[6] ; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[7] ; 8. 59P-Christopher Jones[8]
Heat 2 – All Pro Aluminum Heads (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Kerry Madsen[3] ; 2. 63-Chad Kemanah[1] ; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett[4] ; 4. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[6] ; 5. 83-Christopher Bell [7] ; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[5] ; 7. O7-Mark Coldren[8] ; 8. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[2]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuel (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 48-Danny Dietrich[1] ; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 3. 17B-Steve Buckwalter[2] ; 4. 24-Rico Abreu[3] ; 5. 19-Klint Angelette[5] ; 6. 77X-Wayne Johnson[7] ; 7. 10-Terry Gray[8] ; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]
Dash – Computer Man Inc. (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 29-Kerry Madsen[1] ; 2. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[4] ; 3. 63-Chad Kemanah[5] ; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich[3] ; 5. 14K-Dale Blaney[6] ; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[2]
A-Main – University of Northwestern Ohio (30 Laps)
1. 29-Kerry Madsen[1]; 2. 63-Chad Kemanah[3]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich[4]; 4. 59-David Gravel[9]; 5. 14K-Dale Blaney[5]; 6. 27-Greg Hodnett[7]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu[8]; 8. 83-Christopher Bell [19]; 9. 40-Caleb Helms[12]; 10. 45-Tim Shaffer[11]; 11. 17B-Steve Buckwalter[10]; 12. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[16]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart[17]; 14. W20-Greg Wilson[13]; 15. 77X-Wayne Johnson[20]; 16. 57X-Andrew Palker[15]; 17. 98-Dave Blaney[6]; 18. O7-Mark Coldren[22]; 19. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[2]; 20. 59P-Christopher Jones[21]; 21. 19-Klint Angelette[14]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen[18]; 23. 10-Terry Gray[23]
Hard Charger: 83-Christopher Bell [+11]