---

Ian Madsen Holds Off Brother Kerry to Win $4,000 at Knoxville!

On Pizza Hut/Knoxville Hospitals and Clinics Night, Ian Madsen put on a clinic of his own, leading all 20 laps to record his tenth career feature win at the Knoxville Raceway in the 410 class Saturday. The St. Mary’s, New South Wales, Australia native earned $4,000 and kept his position on top of a competitive point race. Calvin Landis stormed to his third career 360 win, over a 40-car field that included representatives of the Nebraska 360 Sprint Series and the Upper Midwest Sprint Series (UMSS). Rookie Eric Bridger won an emotional 305 feature, his first here.

Justin Henderson stormed from the pole in the 20-lap 410 feature, but Ian Madsen crossed under him in turn two to take command. Two laps in, contact from another car sent Tasker Phillips into a spin in turn three, bringing the only caution of the event.

Madsen led Henderson, Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown and Terry McCarl back to the green. Kerry quickly picked up second, and began pursuing his brother. Brown shot under Henderson to take over third.

By lap eight, Ian was entering lapped traffic. He guided the KCP Racing #18 high and low, but faltered a bit on the 14th lap. Kerry shot to the low side of turn one on lap 15 to take the lead briefly. Ian would shoot off the bottom of turn two and storm back by.

Ian would pull away to the checkers for his third 410 feature win here this year, ahead of Kerry, Brown, Henderson and Terry McCarl. Austin McCarl gained a few spots late for sixth, and Brooke Tatnell, Danny Lasoski, Dakota Hendrickson and Lynton Jeffrey rounded out the top ten. Brown posted quick time and won his heat race. Terry McCarl and Josh Schneiderman were other heat winners.

“I knew Kerry and Brian were going to be coming,” said Ian in Victory Lane. “It’s tough sometimes when you’re leading in lapped traffic. You don’t get to move around as much. Kerry got by me and I just had to get up on the wheel and run the top as hard as I could. I got some good breaks in lapped traffic and was lucky enough to hold on to win. It’s awesome to get another win here at Knoxville this year, and I can’t thank my team enough.”

With two sanctions joining the 360 regulars at Knoxville the car count swelled to 40. McKenna Haase flipped several times when the main event began after contact with Chris Martin sent her careening into turn one. Fortunately, she was o.k.

Brooke Tatnell started on the pole of the 20-lap feature and led lap one. Calvin Landis was right beside him, however, and had the lead by the first turn of the second lap. Devin Kline followed Landis into second, but spun in turn four with two laps in the books.

Landis led Tatnell, Jon Agan, Matt Moro and Ryan Giles back to green after Joe Beaver was sent into the turn one wall on the initial restart. He was uninjured. Moro and Agan exchanged third, before Agan asserted himself and shot by Tatnell for second on lap five.

At the halfway point, Landis had a 3.4 second lead and was entering lapped traffic. He continued to pull away, with Agan trailing him. Disaster came for Agan on lap 18, however, when he went up in smoke.

A green, white, checker finish saw Landis hold on for his third career 360 win here, ahead of Moro, Tatnell, Giles and Cody Ledger. Clint Garner, Jason Martin, Nebraska 360 Sprint Series Speedway Motors $200 Hard-charger Sawyer Phillips, Jamie Ball and Nate Van Haaften completed the top ten. Giles and Agan set the standard in qualifying over their respective groups, while Josh Riggins, Christian Bowman, Garner and Ledger were heat winners. Sawyer Phillips also won the B.

“Does this feel good!” said Landis in Victory Lane. “Three times in the last year we’ve led the most laps, and somehow, I’ve managed to let it go with two laps to go. This is win #47 in my sprint car career, and it’s taken a long time to get to that. In the 1990’s, the wins came and came, and when you get on a down streak, it’s hard to get back up. My crew stuck with me, and they stuck behind me.”

Brandon Worthington spun at the start of the 15-lap 305 feature. Tyler Glass was the only one to make contact with him, but he continued. Eric Bridger started on the pole. The rookie has suffered some bad luck this season, but he’d turn it around on Saturday.

Bridger shot out to a lead early over Brad Comegys and Mike Mayberry. Chris Walraven moved into the top three on lap two, while Rob Kubli made some moves into fourth. Bridger had built a 3.7 second lead by the eighth circuit. Behind him Kubli had a run, taking third from Walraven on lap nine, and second from Comegys on lap 11.

Ryan Leavitt and Kelby Watt contacted on lap 13, sending Leavitt upside down in turn two. He was unhurt. The red flag erased a 4.7 second lead for Bridger, but it didn’t matter. He would coast the last two laps to victory over Kubli, Walraven, Matthew Stelzer and Kade Higday. Comegys, Kevin Hetrick, hard-charger Glass, Mayberry and Corey Kautz rounded out the top ten. Higday time in quickest, while Stelzer and Kubli won the heats.

“I felt like I was struggling in lapped traffic a lot,” said Bridger afterwards. “But I don’t know. I was driving as hard as I could. We were really good in clean air, and we got the job done. This feels like 200 pounds just got lifted off. This is unbelievable. Some people bash these crate motors, but you know what, we’re standing here in Victory Lane!”

Next Saturday night, July 8 is Dennison Racing Tees/Jersey Freeze Night! All three sprint car classes will again be in action! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

Back to News