IAN’S SPRINTCAR GROUNDHOG DAY

By Wade Aunger

December 22, 2014

On either side of the globe, it’s a kind of Groundhog Day situation for St. Mary’s Sprintcar driver Ian Madsen.

The main difference between his life and that of Bill Murray’s in the movie is that Ian’s day reaches speeds of over 200kph and it’s an ongoing reality that he’s very happy to continue.

Each day the focus is the same – he has to beat the Americans.

Be that on their home soil in Knoxville (Iowa-USA) where he races during our Australian winter or back here at home in Parramatta for the next four weeks, Ian is compelled to compete against the best.

And this Friday night, that ongoing battle continues as American legend Jac Haudenschild and rising superstars Brad Sweet and Tim Kaeding converge on Ian’s ‘house’ – Valvoline Raceway for the prestigious Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix.

55-year-old Haudenschild flew into Sydney today for the first of eight nights of competition against over 50 Australians and numerous fellow countrymen in addition to Sweet and Kaeding.

He’ll need to be wary of many of the sport’s big names, but he needs to pay special attention to Madsen.

Ian just wrapped up the iconic Knoxville Track Championship and in doing so became only the third Australian ever to achieve that – his elder brother Kerry and also Skip Jackson laid claim to that mantle.

“It’s a huge honour to be the Knoxville Track Champion,” Ian explains, “and it’s really special to achieve that because my brother won it too. It didn’t come easy though, we have a great team and we had to work really hard to get the championship. Racing week in and week out against the Americans is what I live for. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

Rather than enjoy the break and race only fellow Australians however Madsen is keen to take on the visiting Americans who come in to avoid the snow back in their homeland and to keep themselves ‘race sharp’ for the coming American season.

“We’ll have some of the best drivers in the world here over Christmas and the New Year,” Ian explains, “it’s no Christmas holiday if you’re in a racecar I assure you.”

Ian’s elder brother Kerry will join him at Valvoline Raceway from January 1 to help tackle the growing band of USA stars and over 50 cars from all over Australia.

Race dates for Ian and the huge field of Australian and American Sprintcar drivers at Valvoline Raceway include:

Friday, December 26 Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix
Saturday, December 27 Sprintcar Summer Cup

Tuesday, December 30 NSW Sprintcar Championship

Thursday, January 1 50 LAP Firecracker main event

Saturday, January 3 Peter Murphy Appreciation race

Monday, January 5 Sprintcar Showdown

Friday, January 16 Night One: Scott Darley Challenge

Saturday, January 17 Night Two: Scott Darley Challenge

Gates open this Friday at 2pm; hot laps start from 5.30pm and Qualifying from 6pm.

Prices:

Adults $35

Pension $25