By T.J. Buffenbarger
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 8, 2020) — Kerry Madsen from St. Mary’s NSW Australia was able to take advantage starting on the pole position to dominate Saturday night’s finale of the 30th Annual MyPlace Hotels Knoxville 360 Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank at Knoxville Raceway. The win was Madsen’s first Knoxville 360 Nationals championship.
Madsen and Joey Saldana started on the front row for the 25-lap feature. Madsen led the initial start before the red flag appeared for a flip by Matt Juhl in turn three. During the second attempt to start the main Madsen motored away as Saldana raced with Shane Golobic for the second position. Golobic’s persistence paid off in turns three and four diving under Saldana to take the position on lap three.
After a caution on lap five for Lynton Jeffrey slowing on track Madsen pulled away as Brian Brown made his presence felt from seventh starting spot moving up to third around Saldana and challenging Golobic for second. Saldana then found himself in a tussle with Tim Shaffer and Brock Zearfoss for position. Zearfoss was making his own charge through the field from 9th to pass Shaffer and Saldana to move up to fourth position by lap 12.
While Madsen pulled away Brown tried to make up ground, eventually passing Golobic on lap 19 for the second position. Further back in the field Cory Eliason was another driver making moves from deep in the field after starting 15th moving into fourth with five laps to go.
Even with all of the drivers coming from deep in the field nobody had anything for Madsen as he drove away to the victory. On the final lap Brian Brown had mechanical issues and slowed, allowing Golobic to capture the second position. Eliason, Zearfoss, and Austin McCarl rounded out the top five. After driving up to second position Brown crossed the line in 10th after his mechanical issue.
30th Annual MyPlace Hotels Knoxville 360 Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank
Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville, Iowa
Saturday August 8, 2020
A-Main (25 Laps)
1. 2-Kerry Madsen
2. 17WX-Shane Golobic
3. 26-Cory Eliason
4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss
5. 17A-Austin McCarl
6. 12N-Joey Saldana
7. 14-Tim Shaffer
8. 87-Aaron Reutzel
9. 41S-Dominic Scelzi
10. 21-Brian Brown
11. 27-Carson McCarl
12. 83M-Justin Henderson
13. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
14. 28-Scott Bogucki
15. 3P-Sawyer Phillips
16. 14T-Brooke Tatnell
17. 47X-Dylan Westbrook
18. 4-Terry McCarl
19. 3-Ayrton Gennetten
20. 70-Calvin Landis
21. 35M-Tim Kaeding
22. 63-J.J. Hickle
23. 83J-Lynton Jeffrey
24. 09-Matt Juhl