By DEAN REYNOLDS
Kerry Madsen has a knack for getting the job done at Eldora when the track is what they call “Elbows Up”. After heats started 5 hours past scheduled time due to some haeavy rain storms, the track also turned up “Heavy”. That didn’t deter the Australian from picking up the win in convincing fashion to kick off Kings Royal Weekend 2017. The victory in the Jokers Wild event was worth $10,000 fifth on the World of Outlaw tour this year and his third in a week by sweeping the events at Cedar Lake as well…
As mentioned, heavy rain moved through Rossburg, Ohio delaying the start. Thunder and a what can be described as an awesome light show was part of the pre-game festivities. But, with the guaranteed crowd on hand (Camping spaces nearl sold out again), the track crew soldiered on. When the first equipment hit the track (With track owner Tony Stewart helping), cars were on the track with heat in the engines in just one hour…
Heats started at 11:53 PM, when Madsen saw his checkered it was 1:35 AM.
Brad Sweet summed it up the best after his runner-up finish and it was a distant second.
“I just wish Kerry would just go home, I am tired of finishing second to him!”
The aforementioned Cedar Lake sweep, Sweet took second to Madsen in the finale.
Despite a vibration in his machine, Brian Brown took the last spot on the podium. The Missouri star has always been regarded as a talent that could easily be on the WoO but a win in one of the marquee events has always eluded him. Brown will be in the field come Saturday looking for the $50,000 top prize…
Tim Shaffer was one of the fastest cars all night but when the dash redraw went to six he know it would be an uphill climb.
“I think I might have had the best car tonight but the redraw got me and with the track the way it was passing was so hard.”
David Gravel also noted one of the aspects of a 12 second a lap Eldora.
“You run the car so hard when the track is like this that you basically have to strip everything to make sure nothing is stressed or broken.”
The World of Outlaw point runner-up took fifth…
A total of 48 cars took time with six cars timing in the 12 second bracket which was approved but a loud roar each time from the sizable crowd…
Sammy Swindell was aboard the AG Rains No. 3 looking for his what could be his fourth Kings Royal title but his engine expired during his time trail run as was done for the night…
James McFadden was on the Highlands #3 and they had an interesting night. A bad miss in the engine during heat in the engines was followed by a flash fire in the pits that saw McFadden climb from the cockpit in a hurry. The team did get the motor issue under control but no track time hurt their effort for the entied night, after taking second in the C-Main they decided that was enough…
Even with the scary fast speeds and times, only Brady Bacon found his way on his wing which came on the original start of the 30 lap A-Main. He was fine and after they had the car stripped which included a damaged rear-end in hopes to return on Friday…
Logan Schuchart was the only other slowing of the A-Main when he was sitting sideways in turn four. Heavy damage to the #1s which included several pounds of mud. Damage was to the top and front wings as well as a replacement of the front axle…
Ryan Smith was in the field once again behind the wheel of the Mark Coldren #07 subbing for Doug Esh who was injured on vacation…
Christopher Bell is abaord the Tony Stewart owned #14 for the weekend…
Dale Blaney picked up a ride in the Gene Jenkins wrenched, J&M Motorsports #55 at Attica on Tuesday and they carried over to Kings Royal weekend…
Among notable DNQ’s for the 30 lap A-Main were Cale Conley, who missed transferring by one spot, Jason Sides, Bell, Smith, Trey Starks, Blaney, Parker Price-Miller, Rob Chaney among others…
No Outlaw Tour regular took a provisional starting spots…
A surprise entrant was Dominic Scelzi who runs one of the Roth Motorsports cars out in California. The son of NHRA Top Fuel start Gary Scelzi always shows good speed no matter what track he is at…
DJ Foos had a scare coming down for the green flag in his time trial lap when his hood flew up causing him to hit the brakes rather quickly. He came back to time just one lap but was also a DNQ…
Rico Abreu was gained 10 spots but Brent Marks was the hard charger in the A-Main advancing from 24th up to 12th…
With the long-time tradition of Eldora and fans with their favorites, the loudest cheer from the crowd continues to be for Jac Haundenschild.
