Fine Crop of 410 Rookies Set for 2010!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Fine Crop of 410 Rookies Set for 2010
(Bill W) A trio of rookies will make things interesting in the 410 class this season at Knoxville Raceway. The rookie crop could increase in the next couple of weeks, stay tuned to the “Drivers” page at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
Three drivers who have confirmed that they will be chasing Rookie of the Year honors are:
Ryan Bunton
Ryan will run for Rookie of the Year honors at the Knoxville Raceway this season, after spending a year with the All Star Circuit of Champions. Teamed with crew chief Mike Deavers (who will also return to weekly 410 action at Knoxville in 2010), Ryan scored eight top tens with the tough series. He would finish fourth in the points race and second in contention for Rookie of the Year. He also set quick time during the All Stars "Thunder through the Plains" at the famous Belleville (KS) High Banks.
Ryan started in the sprint cars in 2002 where he was named Rookie of the Year at Jacksonville (IL) Speedway. He has four wins to his credit including the 2007 Herb Barlow Memorial in Jacksonville. That season, he was fourth in Midwest All Star Series points, and followed that up with a runner-up finish in 2008.
Before getting into the sprints, Ryan was a success in Quarter Midgets and Micro-Sprints. In 1997, he was the ALQMA Indoor Dirt Champion. He was the National NMMA Point champion in 1999, and the Jacksonville Speedway Micro-Sprint track champion in 2001.
Lenard McCarl will be Ryan’s crew chief.
Ian Madsen
Though he has competed in a handful of Knoxville events, Ian Madsen has spent the majority of his nights with wrench in hand for brother, Kerry, and other competitors here. Now he will get an opportunity to showcase his talents behind the wheel of the potent Vermeer Motorsports #55 in a quest for 2010 410 Rookie of the Year honors.
Ian has been one of the best “Down Under” the past two winters. He grabbed his first sprint car victory at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway near Sydney, New South Wales in January of 2009. He has won two more times since then at the facility, including December 29, 2009, when he held off none other than Donny Schatz for the win.
Showing his versatility, Ian has tasted victory in other venues including Dubbo (NSW) Speedway and a February 2010 weekend two-race sweep at the Perth (WA) Motorplex.
Robby Wolfgang
After competing across the U.S. against the best amateur motocross riders, and collecting numerous titles and over 150 victories along the way, Robby made the transition to sprint cars in 2008. In 2010, Robby jumps into the 410 class, and will drive for Bruce Williams at Knoxville.
With just 15 races under his belt, he won his first sprint car race at the Huset's Speedway on July 27, 2008. Robby added four more wins in 2009 in the 360 class at three different race tracks.
Robby is a second generation sprint car driver and is the son of 5-time Knoxville Nationals champion, Doug Wolfgang. Doug is five-time Knoxville Nationals champion and is also second all-time on the Knoxville feature winners list with 60.
(Pictured): Robby Wolfgang
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