Madsen outlasts Grosz to win NSL Tri-State event at Fairmont

Ian Madsen in victory lane following his NSL 360 Sprint Car Series victory. (Image courtesy of the NSL)

Ian Madsen in victory lane following his NSL 360 Sprint Car Series victory. (Image courtesy of the NSL)
Ian Madsen in victory lane following his NSL 360 Sprint Car Series victory. (Image courtesy of the NSL)
From Inside Line Promotions

Fairmont, MN — (June 2, 2016) — Ian Madsen led all 20 laps on Thursday at Fairmont Raceway to capture his third consecutive GoMuddy.com National Sprint League 360 Tri-State Region victory.

Madsen opened the night by finishing second in a heat race before he charged from sixth to win the dash, which put him on the pole for the $3,000-to-win 3 rd annual Danny Williams Memorial main event.

While he led from green flag to checkered flag the race was anything but easy for Madsen, who faced an early challenge from Brian Brown before Brown brought out the lone caution on Lap 9 while running second.

Madsen then prevailed after a close battle with Lee Grosz in the final laps. Grosz maintained about a half-second deficit to Madsen during the first handful of laps following the caution before gradually reeling in the leader. With three laps remaining the duo was side by side at the finish line with Madsen leading by less than four hundredths of a second before a bid for the lead came up short for Grosz.

“I was being a touch conservative,” Madsen said. “When the track is like that you don’t know how hard to go because of tire wear and other variables. After I saw Lee I had to get up on the wheel and get the job done.”

Grosz finished second, which was his fourth podium finish during four races this season with the GoMuddy.com NSL 360 Tri-State Region. Tim Kaeding earned a third-place result and a $50 bonus from J.R. Huntley. Skylar Prochaska was fourth with Scott Winters rounding out the top five.

Kaeding and Brown were the heat race winners.

The next GoMuddy.com NSL 360 Tri-State Region race is Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. The pits are slated to open at 4:30 p.m. with the front gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps will begin around 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adult general admission, $17 for seniors ages 65 and older, $10 for students ages 13 to 18 and free for children ages 12 and younger. Pit passes are $35.

Speed Shift TV is offering live Pay-Per-View video at http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com for fans unable to attend the race.

GoMuddy.com National Sprint League 360 Tri-State Region Race Report: Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minn., on June 2, 2016 –

Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 3-Tim Kaeding (4); 2. 35-Skylar Prochaska (1); 3. 2-Derrik Lusk (3); 4. 7d-Dave Becker (2); 5. 13mj-Brandon Halverson (7); 6. 29-Brandon Stevenson (5); 7. 14m-Jordon Mallett (DNS).

Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown (1); 2. 18-Ian Madsen (2); 3. 23w-Scott Winters (4); 4. 4j-Lee Grosz (3); 5. 7-Kaley Gharst (5); 6. 97-Alan Gilbertson (6).

Dash (6 Laps): 1. 18-Ian Madsen (6); 2. 4j-Lee Grosz (2); 3. 21-Brian Brown (7); 4. 3-Tim Kaeding (8); 5. 2-Derrik Lusk (3); 6. 35-Skylar Prochaska (5); 7. 13mj-Brandon Halverson (1); 8. 23w-Scott Winters (4).

A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 18-Ian Madsen (1); 2. 4j-Lee Grosz (2); 3. 3-Tim Kaeding (4); 4. 35-Skylar Prochaska (6); 5. 23w-Scott Winters (8); 6. 2-Derrik Lusk (5); 7. 14m-Jordon Mallett (13); 8. 9-Alan Gilbertson (11); 9. 13mj-Brandon Halverson (7); 10. 7d-Dave Becker (9); 11. 29-Brandon Stevenson (12); 12. 7-Kaley Gharst (10); 13. 21-Brian Brown (3).