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 Keneric Racing Continues To Impress

by Daniel Beard PR - May 22, 2011

After a whirlwind opening month of racing, the Keneric Racing outfit again continued to impress throughout April and May as it chased a number of events, all the while trying to dodge the rain that continued to plague many events across the United States of America.

Upon returning from California, the team had planned to again saddle up with the World of Outlaws at back-to-back races at Paducah International Raceway in Kansas and the super fast, highly banked I-55 Raceway in Missouri, but unfortunately both these events succumbed to the rain.

The following weekend the World of Outlaws yet again had to reschedule their race at the Salina High Banks in Oklahoma due to rain, but with the meeting cancelled in the morning, it gave Kerry and the team time to haul back to their home state of Iowa to race with the Midwest Open Wheel Association at 34 Raceway in Burlington.

With a stout field in attendance, Kerry timed in fourth quick of 39 cars, bettered only by Danny Lasoski, Josh Schneidermann and Craig Dollansky.

Madsen then proceeded to put on a clinic winning his heat from position six.

“The Madman” started from position three in the feature, and despite some damage to the car from contact early on with “The Crowd Pleaser” Craig Dollansky was extremely quick and took the race lead from Danny Lasoski on lap ten. Madsen was clearing out at mid race distance when a cut down tyre forced him to yet again retire from the race.

The official results credited the team with an 18th place finish, but the team again left the raceway full of confidence knowing they were the car to beat.

“The car was again very fast.” explained Madsen.

“We would have won it no doubt if it wasn’t for the flat tyre.”

With the freedom to choose their own direction, the Keneric Racing team then loaded their hauler and headed for the hotbed of Sprintcar racing that is Pennsylvannia with a planned three nights of racing with the All Star Sprint Series.

Pennsylvannia plays host to the most feared domestic competition in the United States and whenever a touring series comes to the State it becomes the Posse versus the world.

The first night of racing was at the famed Williams Grove Speedway, a unique, paperclip shaped racetrack with long high speed straightaways.

This track is steeped in tradition and takes even the best Sprintcar racers years to get a handle on.

Kerry by his own admission was “not so great tonight”, due mostly in part to drawing a late qualifying spot and “not cutting a great lap” and therefore spending the night trying to make up the lost ground.

He finished third in his heat and battled throughout the feature race with some extremely strong company in Tim Shaffer, Tyler Walker, Daryn Pittman, Doug Esh, Todd Shaffer, Justin Henderson, Jessica Zemken and David Gravel to eventually finish in 23rd place.

“The track was very slick with the top groove gone and a hint of rubber around the bottom.”

“It is a little disappointing but its good to get a run here at Williams Grove before we return in a couple of weeks with the World of Outlaws.”

The following night the team pulled into the super fast Port Royal Speedway and the #92 Keneric Racing entry was back on the pace timing in a strong 11th position, only a mere 0.3 seconds off the quick time set by Greg Hodnett.

Kerry then transferred directly to the feature race with a second place finish in his heat holding off two of Pennsylvania’s toughest in Keith Kauffmen and Fred Rahmer.

Disaster struck in the feature event with eight laps remaining when another car coming off turn two moved up alongside Kerry with contact sending Madsen into a series of flips, eventually vaulting over the back stretch guard rail coming to a stop some 60 yards outside the confines of the track.

Kerry was able to walk away, but the violent ride left a lasting impression on the plucky native of Sydney, Australia.

“That was BIG! Easily the biggest crash of my life!”

Whilst lucky to escape with only a sore right knee, the pristine KPC chassis was destroyed and with the full support of team owner Bob Gavranich elected to bypass the next night’s race, instead putting together the spare car kit upstairs in the trailer in readiness for the two night World of Outlaws race at Eldora Speedway the following weekend.

The Eldora race was one Kerry was eagerly looking forward to as the famous high speed, high banked facility owned by NASCAR star Tony Stewart was the scene last season for Madsen’s career defining run when he did everything but win the $50,000 to win Kings Royal, only to be jumped ( many say dubiously ) on a late restart by ‘The King’ Steve Kinser.

The new car, much like the first one, was again a bullet straight out of the box, and it says a lot for the quality of the Steve Kent engineered KPC Chassis.

Kerry timed in tenth quick from 39 cars and finished second to the Joey Saldana in his heat to qualify for the night’s Dash.

Madsen finished the dash in 6th place.

“The Madman” ran the cushion throughout the early part of the race and had worked his way to third when again an unlikely mechanical failure halted his run.

This time a side panel was pushed in from banging the cushion and in doing so kinked the fuel lines.

“We have had some weird luck so far this year, but yet again it is hard to get upset because we were running so fast!”

“When your running bad you tear your hair out and get all upset about things, but we have been a bullet nearly every night out.”

“This package is awesome.”

The Saturday night’s event at Eldora unfortunately fell to rain.

To round out another hectic month of racing, the Keneric Racing outfit then headed back to Pennsylvania to not only battle the World of Outlaws, but also that feared band of PA Posse competitors.

Kerry timed in with a 17.449, only .2 seconds of the lead time set by Brian Leppo which credited him with eleventh quick from the 41 cars in attendance.

Madsen then proceeded to win his heat from the pole, holding off Stevie Smith,Sammy Swindell, Paul McMahan and Greg Hodnett in the process.

After starting and finishing at the rear of the dash, Kerry lined up amongst one of the strongest fields you could imagine for the 25 lap A-Main.

Kerry spun the car on the opening circuit and after re-firing at the rear of the field worked his way up to 18th place by the drop of the chequered flag.

In the all too common thread, the Saturday night’s racing at the Grove was again cancelled due to rain.

The team now leave Pennsylvania and head back to the Central states with World of Outlaws races slated for Attica Raceway Park in Ohio and I-96 Speedway in Michigan.

With two months of operation under their belts, the entire team from owner Bob Gavranich down to crew Sonny Kratzer, Kyle Kenoyer and Lester Groves, is providing the pilot Kerry Madsen with nothing but the best possible chance to succeed and Madsen is looking forward to some exciting times ahead.

“I can’t thank Bob Gavranich enough for making this team happen.”

“The package we have in place is first class.”

Not only are the Keneric Racing team kicking goals with its speed on the track, but it also looks forward to moving into a new race facility in Knoxville, Iowa in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned on www.kerrymadsen.com as the schedule will be constantly changing to suit the teams progression.

Kerry Madsen and Keneric Racing thanks the following list of partners for their support :

PIHA
EarthEX Logistics Pty Ltd
Kincrome Tools
Ricochet Transport
Kendrick Racing
Morrison Racing Engines
Goodyear
VRP Shocks
Shadow Graphix
Speedway Motors
F&K Rod Ends
Aerodyne Composites ... read more

 Strong Start For Newly Formed Keneric Racing Outfit

by Daniel Beard PR - Apr 22, 2011

If you were to simply scroll through the results for the opening to the 2011 season, you would be misled into thinking the newly formed Keneric Racing team has made a so-so start to its maiden season.

However, if you break it down, you soon realise why pilot Kerry Madsen is like a kid in a candy store when he talks about the speed that the #92 Keneric Racing KPC Sprintcar has shown thus far.

You only have to look at the team’s results on their very first night out timing 5th quick out of 25 cars coming at a World Of Outlaws show mind you, at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford California.

This brand new operation, out-timed the likes of Jason Meyers, Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Jac Haudenschild, Time Kaideding, Cody Darah and Kraig Kinser!

Kerry, who is dubbed “The Madman” then transferred through his heat before trailing Jason Meyers to the checkers to give the team a front row start in the feature in there first night together – staggering!

Unfortunately the heavens opened up and the officials had no option but to cancel the feature.

“The car is awesome.” was Kerry’s frank assessment of his package.

“I cannot thank Bob Gavranich enough for the equipment he has given us to run with.”

Kerry and Sonny along with the other two crew members in Kyle Kenoyer and Lester Groves then headed down the road the following night to again do battle with the world’s best at another World Of Outlaws sanctioned event at Thunderbowl Racing in Hanford California.

In a near mirror image, Madsen timed 7th quick, before running second in his heat and again finishing the all important dash in second place, this time on the heels of the “Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild.

Unlike the previous night, there was no threat of rain and “The Madman” would this time get to greet the green flag aboard his new ride.

The Sprintcar community instantly became aware of what this outfit was capable of as Madsen pulled away to lead the opening twelve circulations before a broken throttle linkage forced him to retire to the infield.

Whilst an immediate reaction of utter disappointment would be quite understandable, it was simply not the case for Australian hard charger.

“I am just so excited for the rest of the year after these two nights of racing!” exclaimed Madsen.

“This car is a bullet. The package is unbelievable.”

In an unfortunate development, the planned re-running of the Kings Speedway feature race at the end of March was finally cancelled stripping the chance for the team to capatalise on the front row start they had worked for.

The Keneric Racing team continued to race with the World of Outlaws the at the beginning of April with races in California at Merced and Calistoga Speedways.

At Merced, it was more of the same with another strong qualifying lap inside of the top ten, a heat transfer and a front row start in the dash.

Madsen then led the dash before being almost crashed out by a game passing attempt which caused him to lose a number of spots. He managed to hold it together and bring the car home in fifth place.

Madsen then by his own admission threw away a top five finish after spinning on a restart on a track which was providing very little help for cars trying to work their way forward.

After restarting at the tail he too tried valiantly to move forward, but with little reward, and was eventually credited with a 22nd place finish.

“It should have been a top five finish, but the results will show it as a 22nd.”

“However, we know the car was a top five car, and that is what matters the most.”

The following night’s racing at Calistoga rounded out the World Of Outlaws California Swing and the results will show that when your racing against the best, it’s tough to be at the pointy end every single night.

After a tough night where he failed to make the transfer out of the heat, Kerry was eventually credited with a 22nd place finish after starting from the seventh row on the grid.

So the results will show the team has finished near the back of the back, however the reality is that the Keneric Racing team have hit the ground running and really stamped themselves as a team watch out in the coming months.

The KPC Chassis and Morrison Racing Engines package is no doubt a strong combination and with the ability to move about and pick and choose their upcoming schedule, the driver is in arguably the best frame of mind he has ever been in.

Much of this had to do with the enormous opportunity that he has been gifted via Keneric Racing principal Bob Gavranich and his loyal band of supporting partners and sponsors.

Stay tuned to www.kerrymadsen.com as the schedule will be constantly changing to suit the teams progression.

Kerry Madsen and Keneric Racing thanks the following list of partners for their support :

PIHA
EarthEX Logistics Pty Ltd
Kincrome Tools
Ricochet Transport
Kendrick Racing
Morrison Racing Engines
Goodyear
VRP Shocks
Shadow Graphix
Speedway Motors
F&K Rod Ends
Aerodyne Composites ... read more

 Ian Madsen Vermeer 55 Debut

by Ian Madsen Racing - May 19, 2010

After completing the first 3 weeks of racing Ian Madsen and the TK concrete racing team have had some up and down results. After the 2 practice nights were cancelled due to rain Ian and the team headed straight into the opening night at Knoxville without any expectations. The night started out well qualifying 5th out of the 24 car field and transferring through the heat, This would place the team out of position 2 for the feature and they were hopeful of a good result however it was not to be when the motor lost a cylinder early in the race and they were involved in a crash which destroyed the car.

With help from Bill Mann the team returned next week for the IRA vs Knoxville challenge, Debuting a new car purchased from Eagle Motorsports and posted a satisfying 9th Place result amongst the 39 car field.

Last weekend was Slideways Karting night at Knoxville and Ian and Crew Chief Matthew Barbara got some practice laps on the track the night prior with the new Eagle,and were confident they were headed in the right direction.

The night started excellent with Ian setting Quick time over the 31 car field and progessing through his heat. Drawing a 10 Pill for the feature the team knew they would have there work cut out for the them, Ian ran around the 12th mark for most of the race before losing 2 spots on the last lap ending with a 14th place result.

Ian feels that he Matthew Barbara and the entire TK concrete team are starting to work together really well and that some good results are just around the corner.
Ian would like to take this oppurtunity to thank all the sponsors and everyone who has made this possible.
Tony and Kelly Vermeer, TK Concrete, Maxim Trucking, Tulip City, Tonys Auto Parts, Van Maanen Electric, Qaulity Traffic Control, Logan Contractors, Butler Built , VRP Shocks, Don Ott Racing Engines and Eagle Motorsports.

For all his fans interested they can the follow the progress of Ian and team on there Twitter account ( vermeer 55 ). ... read more

 Kerry Madsen And Halls Motorsport Debut

by Halls Motorsport - May 13, 2010


After two weekends of racing with some of the toughest competition in sprintcar racing, Kerry Madsen and Halls Motorsport couldn’t be more excited about the direction of the newly formed team. With starting the team just a mere 7 weeks ago, Kerry Madsen and Halls Motorsport debuted at Williams Grove Speedway with veteran crew chief Sonny Kratzer for the April 30 All Star show. The team had an awesome run and ended up with a third place finish, an outstanding start considering the tough competition the Grove is known for.

The next night the team headed to Lincoln speedway, also a hotbed for the central PA posse. Kerry took the lead in the feature at one point only to be relegated back to second after a yellow flag and then ran second until lap 26 and in a rare mistake, got too high in turns 3 & 4 and spun to a stop, costing him a possible win and ending up with a 17th place finish.

Last weekend the team headed to the famed Eldora Speedway, for their first World of Outlaws race of the year. Friday night ending with a ninth place finish and Saturday an eighth place. Friday night they qualified 15th and ran second in the heat, then started 10th in the A-main line up. Saturday night the team qualified 10th, and started 14th in the A-main. An impressive 2 weeks considering the team didn’t exist 7 weeks ago and was able to build new cars and motors in such a short time frame.

A special thank you goes out to Brian Morrison of Morrison Engines for getting new motors done in such a short time period and the team is very happy with their performance as well. Also special thanks to Steve Kent of KPC Chassis for working with the team in such a short amount of time. Big thanks to Vince at VRP shocks, Goodyear Tires and Halls Haulage.

This weekend will see the team back at Williams Grove, Thursday, Friday and Virginia Saturday for the World of Outlaws Pennsylvania swing.



... read more

 Ian Madsen Signs With Vermeer Motorsport For 2010

by Ian Madsen Racing - Apr 9, 2010

Ian Madsen,the driver out of St Marys N.S.W Australia will be teaming up with the Vermeer Motorsport 55 for the 2010 Knoxville season. The team is owned by Tony and Kelly Vermeer,Also highly regarded Matthew Barbara will be returning as the crew chief for the TK concrete Maxim.

" I am really looking forward to this year with the Vermeer motorsport team Tony and Matt have always been great mates and i cant wait to get out there and start racing" said Madsen.

Madsen will fly out shortly after competing the season here just in time for the Knoxville opening practice night, Where they will run some laps and try to get everything dialled in for the season opener on May 1st.

Ian would like to this chance to thank Tony and whole team for the opportunity he has been given for 2010 and hopes he can reward them with some strong results through out the 2010 season. ... read more

 Madman Signs With Halls Motorsport For 2010 Season

by Coty Mallicoat - Mar 24, 2010

KNOXVILLE, IA – Kerry Madsen, the former driver of the VerMeer Motorsports 55 sprinter will be in new colors for the 2010 season. Madsen, who is a native of the land down under in Australia; has teamed up with some others from down under. Madsen has teamed up this year with Halls Motorsport out of Albany Western Australia. The team is owned by Brian Hall, who also owns Halls Haulage. Madsen will be accompanied by veteran crew chief Sonny Kratzer as the team is slated to run around 60 races in the States.

“I’m really excited we could put something together with Halls Motorsport and Brian,” said Madsen. “We are looking forward to running some of the big shows around the states and hit as many World of Outlaw shows as we can.”

Along with Halls Haulage the team is excited to have the support of Goodyear Tires, VRP Shocks and will be running KPC Chassis this season. The first race for the team will be sometime at the end of the month of April. The team will be picking up a truck and trailer in Grand Forks, ND shortly before the season and then it will be all systems go for the Halls Motorsport / Madsen partnership.

For More info on the Halls Motorsport team, please visit www.hallsmotorsport.com.au or www.kerrymadsen.com.

... read more

 Madsen Lurks As Speedweek Draws Near

by Daniel Beard - Dec 3, 2009

Kerry Madsen was always going to be on a hiding to nothing should his report card show anything but straight wins upon returning to race Down Under this summer. After all, he raced with the World Of Outlaws last year in America and was joining the potent Geoff Kendrick stable, one of the most professional outfits in the land.

Add to that a record of three wins and a third in feature races in the past two seasons at the Perth Motorplex alone, many pundits thought it a mere formality ‘The Madman’ would clean up all and sundry on the West Coast.

Despite not having straight A’s to date, Madsen hasn’t exactly been underachieving to the level that some murmurs circulating would suggest.

“It’s kind of weird. Whilst we have copped a bit of flack for not winning everything like some people think we should be, we have two wins and two podiums out of six starts with the other two results DNF’s.” explained Madsen.

“I don’t think we have got 100% out of the 92.9FM/Melville Holden Maxim just yet.”

Madsen has also been privy to his fair share of bad luck so far, and he knows full well the sport of Sprintcar racing is often a cruel sport.

“I put two shocking laps together at Brisbane and that was totally my fault and I wasn’t happy timing in 11th quick.”

“Then we had a wreck in the second heat when someone spun out in front of us before getting tangled up in another crash at the start of the feature.”

“We broke a drag link and that was our night.”

Returning to Perth last weekend, Madsen felt the intensity of the team lift that little bit ahead of the 48th running of the Western Australia Sprintcar Title at the Motorplex.

“Geoff puts in a big effort each week we go racing and he wants to win every week as much as I do!”

“We would have dearly loved to have added the WA Championship to the team portfolio no doubt.”

Things ran to plan right up until the Shootout, which was a World Series Sprintcars style time trial shootout to lineup the top ten cars in the nights feature race.

“They gave us two hotlaps to warm up the tyres, then they threw the yellows, before returning to green for our two timed laps.”

“Under the yellows I had a tyre go down and all I could do was simply hang on as tight as I could and just make a lap.”

“We qualified last in the shootout and that put us well back on the grid for the main race.”

Madsen would eventually soldier forward on a heavy track to claim third place behind David Priolo and Jamie Maiolo.

“David done a great job and thoroughly deserved the win. He started in the right spot and made no mistakes and got through traffic very well.”

As much as the wise pundits would assume that Madsen would be extremely disappointed with his start thus far, the truth is vastly different.

“I am pretty happy with how we are going.”

“We are not running for points or anything so those DNF’s don’t mean anything and apart from those two nights we haven’t been off the podium yet.”

“Obviously we haven’t won everything, but I never think I am simply going to do that, I never have been like that in my life.”

“If we had of started like that we would be sitting here with beers in our hands thinking it's all going to be easy.”

Madsen is certainly not sitting back enjoying the high life on the West Coast.

He lives a mere two kilometres from the world famous beaches but as yet has spent little more than 20 minutes enjoying the sunshine and sand.

“I have spent pretty much every day at either the track or the race shop!”

The team look forward to another run this weekend at Northam and one more shakedown before heading East for the grueling ‘SpeedWeek’ competition of World Series Sprintcars.

“I am reasonably confident and think we have as good a shot as anyone at Speedweek.”

“I believe I am driving as good as I have in my career right now and I am as fit as I have ever been.”

“We have the motor program, we have the car program and if we get it nailed in the next two weeks lookout!”

That warning from Madsen is an ominous one, because a hungry MadMan is one that sends shivers through the ranks of Sprintcar racing anywhere. ... read more

 Mad Monday : Mondays With Kerry Madsen

by Daniel Beard - Nov 18, 2009

Welcome to the inaugural 'Mad Monday' where we catch up with the MadMan Kerry Madsen for an informal chat on how things are progressing in his break neck career in Sprintcar racing.

To open the series we caught up with Kerry soon after his first win in the seat of the Geoff Kendrick owned Melville Holden / 92.9PM #92 Maxim at the Manjimup Speedway in Perth.

The chat includes a look back, some briefs on life with the Outlaws and also touches on the upcoming World Series Sprintcars event at Brisbane International Speedway this weekend.

Click Here to listen to the opening Mad Monday with Kerry Madsen

Note : The audio of Kerry is a little hard to make out but we will ensure that the future editions of 'Mad Monday' will be fully audible. ... read more

 Madsen Starts Strongly Down Under

by Daniel Beard - Nov 3, 2009

Former World Of Outlaws driver Kerry Madsen has wasted no time settling into racing rythym back home in Australia. The Iowa domiciled Madsen started his summer campaign driving for team owner Geoff Kendrick in the opening round of the AHG Sprintcar series at the Perth Motorplex in Western Australia.

Kendrick operates one of the most professional outfits in the country which in recent years has seen the likes of Mark Dobmeier, Chad Blonde and Tim Shaffer behind the wheel of the potent 92.9FM #W92 Maxim.

Whilst the decision by Vermeer Motorsports to leave the World Of Outlaws trail mid year was tough for 'The Madman' to swallow, it has paved the way for Madsen to commit to a fully fledged summer of racing across Australia.

"Geoff and I started talking after we pulled off the Outlaws deal and things just fell into place from there." explained Madsen.

"I have been impressed with everything so far."

"Geoff is a lot like me in that he just wants to go racing and he wants to win."

"No-one puts more pressure on me winning than I do myself so we should work out pretty well together I think!"

In the majority of his recent whirlwind trips Down Under, Madsen has had to not only race, but put together the deal himself which comes with it the added financial burden.

"When you run your own deal you know your only that one night away from disaster."

That fear factor involved in that situation is now long forgotten as Madsen peruses the inventory at his disposal under Kendrick.

"Geoff has plenty of equipment and plenty of motors."

Whilst the equipment and financial concerns were considered, the major attraction for Madsen to join the Kendrick Racing Team was the schedule that was put forward.

"Geoff wanted to run pretty much everywhere that I have been running including all the big shows over East so to me it was a no-brainer!" announced Madsen.

The team immediately sent an omminous warning to the rest of the country when after only a handful of hotlaps went quick time amongst a field of 25 stout competitors stopping the clock at 14.130 seconds around the Perth Motorplex.

In the heats the Madman was again dialled in moving from 8th to 4th in Heat 1 and from 9th to 3rd in his second heat.

Madsen started the feature on the front row alongside local hotshot Ryan Farrell and led for most of the race before eventually being overtaken late by the current West Australian champion.

"We ran second on our opening night and we were both pretty happy to start out with that."

"We missed the setup pretty badly in the feature and to still lead for a large portion of the race and finish second is pretty encouraging for the team!"

With a weekend off following the opening meeting, a chance post race conversation with journeyman Todd Wanless led to the offer to pedal one of the Wanless owned cars this past weekend on the East Coast at Queensland's Brisbane Speedway.

"I said you bet. At the end of the day I just want to race and the chance to drive another good car was one you just can't say no to." explained Madsen.

A deal was then struck between Wanless and track owner John Kelly and Madsen was on the plane to fly the breadth of Australia to run at B.I.S.

"I hadn't raced at Brisbane for 6 years and if anything it felt like that place had gotten even smaller!" joked Madsen.

Not that it had any effect as once again Kerry's Outlaws experience in adapting to new tracks shone immediately as he moved from position four to take victory in the first heat race of the night.

Madsen repeated the effort in the nights A-Feature race as he powered the #Q2 machine straight to victory lane after starting from position four on the grid.

"It was a really fun race actually."

"The track was a bit rough and got quite sticky but I ended up actually enjoying it!"

The victory, coupled with the opening night's runner up, has Kerry chock full of confidence of a massive summer ahead.

Madsen, who is backed by VRP Shocks and GoodYear Tyres, now returns to Perth and will concentrate his immediate attention on meetings up and down the West Coast over the next few weeks.

Please stay tuned to www.kerrymadsen.com for all the latest schedule changes as well as news and information about 'The MadMan'.

** photo courtesy of Jason Sutton. ... read more

 Madsen Lands Plum West Aussie Seat

by Kendrick PR - Oct 8, 2009

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Oct 06) - Kendrick Racing has confirmed that Kerry Madsen will be driving for the high-profile WA outfit this summer.
Team principal Geoff Kendrick has struck a deal with the former national champion that will see him compete in most of the WA meetings along with select big races on the east coast.

"I am pleased to confirm that Kerry will be driving with us in a pretty busy schedule that starts with the opening meeting of the AHG Sprintcar Series at the Perth Motorplex on October 24," Kendrick said.

"As well as an all-out assault on the WA rounds we will also be going on the road together and doing 15 shows in the east including Speedweek and other World Series Sprintcars rounds, some big shows at Parramatta City Raceway and the Warrnambool Classic."
The reason behind the Madsen deal was pretty simple.

"I was looking at bringing over another American and we were talking to a few of them, but figured that Kerry was the best option at the end of the day.

"He is an Aussie and I believe he is the best Australian driver going around at the moment.

"He lives in America and races against the Outlaws and he obviously wins a lot of shows."

Going in their favour is the fact that Madsen has previously won some of the big races on offer.

Apart from having success with the Mad Man Kendrick believes the new deal will also help the development of his son and second team driver Jason.

"They already know each other so that is a bonus and his knowledge and experience will help Jason with the third year of his five-year apprenticeship."

The young Kendrick has been sharpening his skills in the off-season with practice sessions at Northam and he competed in the Bonza Bradford Memorial at Pithara on Saturday night where he put in a very impressive performance and finished second.

"With the driver line-up locked in and the cars and spares package ready to go the team and our corporate partners are looking to having a successful season both on and off the track. ... read more