Australian Kerry Madsen has again performed brilliantly on Sprintcar racing’s biggest stage by finishing second in the A-main final at the Knoxville Nationals meeting.
Madsen, who finished third last year, said he hoped to go one better next year after finishing runner-up to Donny Schatz who scored his ninth nationals win in 10 years.
“I kind of made my bed that I was going to run the top,” Madsen said.
“We freed the race car up to run the top in the second sector and we had a fast car but the problem was Donny’s pace was hindering my pace a little bit.
“I would make a move and you would get tucked up, lose air, bounce around so that would always give Brad (Sweet) a run… I was hoping we could get Donny to make a bit of a wiggle here and there and pounce but it didn’t quite work out that way.”
His effort remains the best result by an Australian at the ‘Olympics’ of the sport.
Schatz was the leading points scorer going into the feature before holding firm from pole to win the 50-lapper.
“The minute I took that checkered flag I was teary-eyed,” Schatz said.
“To see the race team, to see the excitement in their eyes, the manufacturers, all the people we get to work with, that makes this so much more special than me just getting the biggest check and the biggest trophy and the most prestigious race of the year.
“It’s the people that get to go along with you… when you can get them all in one spot and enjoy something like that it makes it worth living.”
During proceedings Danny Lasoski surged into third then set his sights on Madsen.
With Schatz in the lead, Madsen saw Lasoski go by two laps before the scheduled halfway stop.
In the second half of the race Madsen came under fire but fought back to reclaim second spot as Lasoski started to fall back.
Brad Sweet eventually took third spot from Shane Stewart and Joey Saldana while the once charging Lasoski was eighth.
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