Kerry Madsen is looking to add his name to the list of season-opening winners at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" this weekend. Weather permitting, the famed Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA, will kick off its 2017 schedule on Saturday, April 15.

In a sense, Madsen will be defending the past two season openers at the track.

In 2016, his car and sponsor won opening night with Danny Lasoski behind the wheel. 

However, Madsen may be more focused on returning his family name to the top of the race results. In 2014, Madsen's brother, Ian, was the first sprinter to go home with the checkers at Knoxville.

Over the past decade, opening night has been lost to weather five times. The most recent rainout came in 2015, with previous cancelations in 2012 and 2013. 

"I've always enjoyed bigger tracks," Kerry Madsen said. "I think Knoxville is a pretty tricky track. It has its own intricacies. Once you learn what you need, the secrets to the track so to speak. Then you've always got it."

Madsen was the 2005 track champion at the half-mile oval and has scored 19 career wins at Knoxville Raceway. Two of those victories came in 2016.

The threat of inclement weather will not dull sprint car fans' enthusiasm, because opening-night action on this track is always notable.

Last year, Lasoski won his 107th career feature at Knoxville aboard the Muddy.com No. 2 after leading much of the race. Bryan Clauson, who would lose his life in a sprint car accident at the Belleville High Banks Speedway later in the year, grabbed the early advantage. Lasoski took the lead following a lap-four caution.

Lasoski's victory came in a 410 sprint, and it was the seventh time that he stood in Victory Lane on opening night. 



Clauson would not go away empty-handed. He won the 360 sprint race later that evening.

Ian Madsen recorded the opening-night 410 sprint victory in 2014 in another show of domination. Brooke Tatnell jumped out to an early advantage, but the start was waved off when Cole Wood spun. Having learned a lesson on the abortive start, Madsen rocketed to the lead and the win. 

"The lapped cars were pretty hairy," Madsen said after his win. "I didn't want to slide across and give someone the opportunity to gain some ground on me."

Joe Beaver claimed the 15-lap, 360 sprint feature later that evening, and as with the 410 race, the yellow rag played a significant role. Beaver lost the lead to Jon Agan on lap four, but a caution reset the field to the last completed lap. Beaver did not allow Agan around him on the restart and led the remainder of the race. 

Previous Opening Nights 

2016: Danny Lasoski (410s), Bryan Clauson (360s)
2015: Rained Out
2014: Ian Madsen (410s), Joe Beaver (360s)
2013: Rained Out
2012: Rained Out
2011: Danny Lasoski (410s), Russ Hall (360s)
2010: Dan Droud (410s), Josh Higday (360s)
2009: Rained Out
2008: Rained Out
2007: Brian Brown (410s), Josh Higday (360s)