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McMahan Tops Opening Night of 50th annual National Open

Hodnett second for his fourth podium in as many Outlaws races at Williams Grove

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Sept. 28, 2012 - Paul McMahan is not an Outlaw, nor is he Posse.

"I'm just a kid from California making a living," he said.

McMahan did just that on a cool Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, where he claimed the opening night of the 50th annual National Open. The victory was his second World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season and sends him into Saturday's $50,000-to-win event as a favorite.

"It's just a phenomenal night for me," he said. "To win at Williams Grove is the coolest thing ever."

While McMahan was strong from the first lap, polesitter Kerry Madsen was the driver to beat. Madsen powered to the lead with McMahan working from fourth to second before the backstretch on lap two.

Stevie Smith passed McMahan for the runner-up position in turn four on lap seven before they entered traffic on lap 11. One lap later, McMahan returned the pass with a slide job for second place in turn four. Greg Hodnett maneuvered past Smith for third place on the ensuing lap.

With Madsen in control, McMahan and Hodnett appeared to touch as they exited turn two on lap 15 in a tight battle for second. McMahan maintained the position as Hodnett swerved toward the inside guard rail.

The only caution came on lap 17 as Doug Esh stopped in turn three, setting up a double-file restart with nine laps remaining. Madsen chose the inside lane and was soon engulfed by McMahan and Hodnett in a three-way battle for the lead.

As the trio exited turn two, the drivers were three-wide with McMahan's momentum propelling him into the lead down the backstretch.

"I made a mistake," Madsen said. "I was running a line in (turns) one and two and I should have adjusted the exit. I think if I would have adjusted the exit we might have had a chance.

"Paul was probably a better car there at the end anyway, but maybe if I'd done the right things we could have held on."

Hodnett drove by Madsen for the runner-up position two laps later and set his sights on McMahan, who had built a sizeable advantage. Hodnett chipped away at the lead and McMahan encountered traffic in turns three and four on the final lap, which allowed Hodnett to close within a car length at the checkered flag.

"We just needed a little bit more or track position would have helped a great deal," Hodnett said. "Lapped cars slowed him down so it made me look faster. It was nothing special. It might have looked good, but he got caught up in traffic is the only reason we caught him."

Hodnett became the only driver to record a podium finish in each of the four World of Outlaws races at Williams Grove Speedway this season.

Tim Shaffer finished fourth and Lucas Wolfe ended fifth. Smith was sixth, Kraig Kinser seventh and World of Outlaws points leader Donny Schatz placed eighth, which snapped his top-five streak at 11 races. Steve Kinser charged from 20th to ninth and Jac Haudenschild rounded out the top 10.

Danny Dietrich, who started last - 26th - while utilizing a track provisional, earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after finishing 13th .

50th annual National Open Night 1 Notebook

NOTES - The car count - 55 - was the highest at any event this season, excluding the 52nd annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals. … Stevie Smith established quick time for the second race this season. … Craig Dollansky claimed his 15th heat race victory, Donny Schatz his 11 th, Greg Hodnett his third, Tim Shaffer his first and Paul McMahan his fourth. … Kerry Madsen earned his seventh dash win. … Brent Marks became the 42nd different Last Chance Showdown winner. ... McMahan became the 12th different winner in 23 events on a half-mile track this season.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Kerry Madsen; Armor All (case of product): Stevie Smith; STP ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; UNOH ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; JE Pistons (set of rings): Chad Kemenah; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Superflow ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Jason Sides; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Doug Esh; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah.

WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 12 (Eagle Raceway on Sept. 19, Grays Harbor Raceway on Aug. 29, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 25, River Cities Speedway on Aug. 17, Autodrome Granby on July 27, Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Donny Schatz - 10 (Clay County Fair Speedway on Sept. 14, Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 9, Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 6, Nodak Speedway on Aug. 19, Junction Motor Speedway on Aug. 14, Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 11, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 29, Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Craig Dollansky - 8 (Deer Creek Speedway on Sept. 15, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 24, Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 22, Lernerville Speedway on July 17, I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Kerry Madsen - 5 (Willamette Speedway on Sept. 3, Skagit Speedway on Aug. 31, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Joey Saldana - 5 (Autodrome Drummond on July 28, Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Tim Kaeding - 4 (Antioch Speedway on Sept. 10, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Kraig Kinser - 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Steve Kinser - 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Chad Kemenah - 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Paul McMahan - 2 (Williams Grove Speedway on Sept. 28 and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Tony Stewart - 2 (Ohsweken Speedway on July 31 and Lernerville Speedway on July 17); Sean Becker - 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 7); Dale Blaney - 1 (Lernerville Speedway on Sept. 22); Cody Darrah - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier - 1 (Huset's Speedway on July 3); Travis Jacobson - 1 (Skagit Speedway on Sept. 1); Kyle Larson - 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 8); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet - 1 (Clay County Fair Speedway on June 8) and Lucas Wolfe - 1 (Bloomington Speedway on Aug. 3).

TIME TRIALS - Stevie Smith was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 17.162 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Joey Saldana (4 points), Danny Dietrich (3), Kerry Madsen (2) and Lucas Wolfe (1).

WE'RE ONLINE - Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .

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