'Down Under' Parramatta prelim two report

Madsen Sweeps Outlaws 'Down Under' Preliminaries

GRANVILLE, NSW, AU (January 9) -- Kerry Madsen thrilled his fellow Australians again Friday, winning another Preliminary Feature as the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series ran the second preliminary program at Parramatta City Raceway.

The "Mad Man," who also won the Preliminary Feature on opening night, received thunderous applause from the capacity crowd as he performed a wing dance atop the #A1 Bikebiz Yamaha Cool.

"I came in here after last night hoping to just lock in a top-five and -- hey -- we have done a little more than that," Madsen said in victory lane. "I have to thank my crew and the whole Bikebiz Yamaha team and this racetrack was awesome -- you could run anywhere."

Joey Saldana, who finished second in last week's $50,000-to-win International Event at Parramatta and won Thursday's Fourth Heat Race, almost caught Madsen at the end of the Preliminary Feature.

"The car just got better and better, and another 10 laps like we will have tomorrow night would have been real handy," Saldana said. "But hey, this guy (Madsen) can sure race and is easily the best Australian driver right now and genuinely one of the best in the world."

Pole-sitter Paul McMahan won the Third Heat Race from outside the third row before following Madsen and Saldana under the checkered flag in the evening's main event.

"We were too good too early and full credit to Kerry and Joey out there," McMahan said. "That was great racing all night long. I think we might have to get Kerry drunk tonight because he is going to awful hard to beat here tomorrow otherwise."

The smooth Paramatta racing surface that featured a perfect cushion in the high groove produced intense racing and not a spec of dust.

Sammy Swindell raced past five cars to win the Second Heat Race, then finished fourth in the Preliminary Feature despite suffering a broken left front shock absorber early.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Jason Sides earned the nickname Jason "Slides" while executing breathtaking slide-job moves during the Fourth Heat Race and Second Dash Race.

Craig Dollansky finished in fifth place, ahead of fast qualifier Max Dumesny, First Heat Race winner Daryn Pittman, Sides and Steve Kinser. International Event champion Donny Schatz finished last in the First Heat Race, then won the "B" Feature and raced into 10th place from inside the 10th row in the main event. Adam Clarke drove past seven cars to finish 16th.

Madsen, Swindell, McMahan and Sides earned the first four starting positions in Saturday's Dash Race by scoring the most points in the preliminary programs.

-WoO-