KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Racing in a substitute role for one of sprint car racing’s most successful teams, Kerry Madsen is in perhaps his best position to at long last win the Knoxville Nationals.
Not knowing how many chances he could have left, how does the 49-year-old Australian treat the opportunity in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14?
“I’m going to drive the shit out of it,” said Madsen, who takes those words to Knoxville Raceway this evening for his qualifying night.
The driver from Saint Mary’s, New South Wales, Australia calls Knoxville, Iowa, home, having moved to the area many years ago. But the track’s 25-time winner, tied for 11th in Knoxville Raceway history, could become the first Aussie to win sprint car racing’s most prestigious race in its 60th running.
It very well could happen.
With six wins already, Madsen is on pace for his winningest year in more than a decade. He won eight races in 2017 and ’18 before sporadic years in ‘19, ‘20, and even the first part of this year.
He was released from Big Game Motorsports last November and replaced by David Gravel. He started this year with Michael Barshinger Racing in Central Pennsylvania but didn’t feel comfortable racing so far from his Iowa home, so the two sides mutually split.
Now, with two victories each with the World of Outlaws and the All Star Circuit of Champions, including one at Knoxville, Madsen is perhaps in the most advantageous position of tonight’s qualifiers.
“No pressure,” Madsen said. “I mean, my teammate is Donny Schatz and my owner is Tony Stewart. You aren’t taking their positions. That’s why it’s a no pressure gig.
“I just feel like we have a good chance to do good,” he added. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. But I really think if we put ourselves in a good position Thursday night, we have a really good chance on Saturday. Qualifying nights, stuff happens. You have to keep your nose clean and go from there.”
Madsen won the 410 track championship at Knoxville in 2005, won the 360 Nationals last year and is two wins away from cracking the top 10 in 410 victories at the track.
He finished second to Schatz at the Nationals in 2015 driving Keneric Racing’s No. 29 and in ‘16 he looked strong enough to win until an engine failure foiled those chances.
Madsen finished on the podium with Big Game Motorsports in 2017, crashed out of the final night in ’18 and finished 11th from the 21st starting position in ’19.
“Everyone wants to talk about the Knoxville Nationals, but you never put the cart before the horse,” Madsen said about his lessons learned in the event over the years. “You just worry about what your job is. It’s really simple. Shit, just don’t get too carried away.”
Madsen doesn’t even know if he’ll be in the No. 14 beyond this weekend.
He’s merely a substitute that has no timetable, taking team owner Stewart’s place for the time being.
“We’ll get through this week and I’m not sure of the long-term strategy,” Madsen said. “It’s sprint car racing. You don’t get too far down the road.
“Here’s a true story,” he started. “They can’t kick you out if you’re winning.”