NEW RICHMOND, Wis. —  Paul McMahan spent more time on the track Sunday night in hot laps, time trials and the third heat than he did in winning the World of Outlaws 30-lap feature at Cedar Lake Speedway.
The event, which went nonstop on the three-eighths-mile oval, was completed in just more than six and a half minutes.
McMahan found himself at the head of the field, as he claimed his second victory of the season and collected the $10,000 top prize.
“I can’t say enough for Jimmy Carr and Mike Kuemper, busting their butts and believing in me,” McMahan said. “They give me a race car that is capable of winning every night. We haven’t been able to prove that every night, but we know we can do it.”
The race began with Justin Henderson using a strong start to take the initial lead. Henderson charged into the first turn, with polesitter Kerry Madsen in tow. McMahan started fourth, passed Joey Saldana on the opening circuit and then drove around Madsen.
McMahan patiently ran second, with Henderson leading. As traffic began to become more prevalent, McMahan began to reel in Henderson. On the 20th lap, he dove to the inside and took the lead exiting the second turn.
With lapped traffic encompassing the field for the last eight laps, McMahan was able to put a distance between himself and Henderson and later Jason Meyers.
“You are always in a better spot when you are in lapped traffic and in second,” the winner said. “I’ve been here enough to know that once they rework the race track that the bottom is usually the fastest way around. Justin had a good lead on me, and I was able to get the wing back and start gaining on him. I kept the car on the bottom and came away with the victory.”
Meyers was able to slip around Henderson with just three laps remaining to finish second.
“We set up for the end of the race,” Meyers said. “Normally it’s a 40-lap race here, and we set up for a 30-lap one, but if it would have been 40 laps, I think the car would have been even better.”
Henderson earned his best World of Outlaws finish with his third-place effort. Joey Saldana and Madsen rounded out the top five.