AUS: Down Under II opening night report

Australian Kerry Madsen Dominates Opening Night of Outlaws Down Under II

Granville, NSW, Australia -- January 13, 2005 -- By WoO Sprint PR

In a star-studded opener to Outlaws Down Under II, Australian Kerry Madsen stole the show and the victory.

After a fierce back-and-forth duel through lapped traffic with Outlaws ace Danny Lasoski, Madsen dove to the inside groove and drove off with the win at Parramatta City Raceway in Granville, NSW, Australia. It marks the second year in a row the Mad Man captured the checkered flag on the first of three nights of racing that features the World of Outlaws Sprint Series against the top racers from Down Under.

Lasoski, a former Outlaws champion, held on for second, and was followed by series mates Paul McMahan, Shane Stewart and Steve Kinser, the defending series and Outlaws Down Under champion.

In all, seven Australians reached the A-Main in a field that started with 70 cars in time trials. Erin Crocker, who last season became the first woman in Outlaws history to win an A-Main, finished ninth while series legend Sammy Swindell was 14th.

"We put a new car together and I'm just so proud of my guys," said Madsen, who moved to Knoxville, Iowa, to learn to race.

The scariest moment of the night came in the final dash when Outlaws racer Randy Hannagan and Aussie Adrian Maher crashed in the third turn. Maher flipped end over end several times before walking away and going to a hospital to be checked out.

"Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're the windshield," Hannagan said.

Follow all the action from Australia by listening to live audio broadcasts at www.sprintcarworld.com.au. The action continues overnight Thursday and Friday, with races beginning about 11 p.m. Eastern.

-woo-