Madsen Guides Big Game Motorsports To Two Straight Podiums At Bubba Raceway Park With All Stars

Story By: SHAWN MILLER / BIG GAME MOTORSPORTS – OCALA, FL – Kerry Madsen posted a pair of runner-up results during his opening weekend of the season with Big Game Motorsports.

The Muddy backed team rebounded from a DNF during the first round of the Bubba Army Winter Nationals last Thursday at Bubba Raceway Park to record back-to-back podium finishes to cap the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions tripleheader.

“The first night we missed it a bit, but the second two nights were right where we were left off last year,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”

The three-race weekend began on Thursday with Madsen qualifying fifth quickest overall and second fastest in his group. He advanced from third to second place in a heat race to lock into a dash. Unfortunately, he pulled the highest number – five – to start the dash last.

Madsen gained a position to finish fourth and start the A Main on the inside of the fourth row.

“We just weren’t very good,” he said. “I’m not sure why. We ran around where we started and last in the race I made contact with another driver and got a flat right rear.”

Madsen was unable to resume the race and he was credited with a 13th-place finish.

The following two nights were smoother as Madsen kicked off Friday’s program by setting quick time during qualifying. He advanced from fourth to second place in a heat race and from fifth to third place in a dash to start the main event on the inside of the third row.

“The first five laps I wasn’t on the right part of the track,” he said. “After that I got a rhythm going and started marking progress through the field. A couple of times I was right behind (Tim) Shaffer for the lead, but it just never quite opened up.”

Madsen powered to a second-place finish and the Muddy sponsored team continued the momentum on Saturday during the event finale.

Madsen established quick time during qualifying, placed third in a heat race and rallied from fifth to third place in a dash. It marked the third straight night he started last in a dash.

“You can’t let it worry you,” he said. “You just have to try to get a row. You’d like to get at least one car and go forward.”

Madsen moved forward in every heat race and dash all weekend, and he continued to charge toward the front in Saturday’s A Main.

“I found a really good line in turns one and two,” he said. “It was working really well. We finally got to second, but we had a bleeder issue at the end. The left rear tire went up (in air pressure) so we couldn’t contend for the win. No excuses though. It was still a good night.”

Madsen scored his second straight second-place result to close the weekend.

The Muddy backed team is slated to return to action this Wednesday through Sunday at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., for the DIRTcar Nationals with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.

Madsen has earned four top fives and 13 top 10s in his last 18 main events at the event since 2014.