STORY BY: Gaye Carmichael
(Knoxville, IA, 8/12/09) Welcome to the opening night of
the Super Clean 49th Knoxville Nationals with Tim Shaffer of
Aliquippa,PA, driving from a fourth place start in the first
Nationals 410 Sprint qualifying night of this four day
event, to score the victory of the twenty-five lap "A"
feature on this famous Knoxville Raceway, half-mile dirt
oval in Iowa.
"It's been a long night. I have to thank all of my guys they
did a good job. I also want to thank all of my sponsors."
said Shaffer, after winning his second career feature at
Knoxville.
Shaffer posted a 14.973 second lap for twenty-third quick in
qualifying and raced in the third heat to a fourth place
finish.
Yes it was a long night, that started right on time but then
Mother Nature wanted to steal some of the headline with a
sudden burst of rain early on. Once the rain stopped, it
took a tremendous effort and time (approximately three
hours) to work the track back in to condition for racing. A
rousing cheer from everyone went out as Sammy Swindell of
Germantown, TN, was first to be pushed off for warm-up laps
prior to qualifying.
There were fifty plus sprint cars on hand this night and it
was Cody Darrah of Red Line, PA, who drove his #89 sprint to
a 14.547 second, 123.74 mph lap. to set fast time.
When the initial green flag flew out, Jason Johnson of
Eunice, LA, reeled in the lead from his pole start with
Lucas Wolfe (PA), Shaffer, Danny Smith (IN) and Craig
Dollansky (MN), the front five setting the pace. Johnson
would lead until there was only six laps to go. Shaffer had
raced by Johnson just before the only flag to mar this race,
was thrown. It was a red one for a melee of cars racing
into the fourth turn. With the front runners mixed in with
lapped cars, the action was tough and it was Dollansky who
found out just how tough it was when a spin-out collecting
various sprints with John Lambertz along with Greg Wilson,
stopped right in front of Dollansky, who had to where to go.
In a blink of an eye Dollansky was upside down. Dollansky
had raced the top five throughout the race thus far and was
in third, when the red flag flew. Fortunately, all the
drivers were okay.
When the race went back to green, Shaffer had the lead and
Johnson raced second the final laps, to finish in that
order.
Johnson's qualifying time was 15.029 for twenty-eighth quick
and made the "A" feature after having scored a third
place in the third heat race.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. of Sunnyvale, TX followed Johnson across
the line to a third place podium finish. Sam said, "We've
changed tires, motors, etc., to improve our car. Things are
looking good for us now. Hafertepe, Jr. was fourteenth quick
in qualifying with a 14.848 second lap, then went on to
finish fourth in the fourth heat race to get his transfer
into the feature.
For top qualifiers of the night, it then became a huge job,
to follow up on their quick times they set. With the
inversion number for the Heat Races being an eight, the
thirteen top qualifiers had to transfer out of the "B" main
or even worse, the "C" Main, to get into the feature. The
top thirteen qualifiers included, Darrah, Cale Conley (WV),
Donnie Schatz (ND), Paul McMahan (TN), Jonathan Allard (CA),
Lee Sowell (MS), Shane Stewart (OK), Erin Crocker (MA),
Danny Lasoski (MO), Jason Meyers (CA), Randy Hannagan (IN),
Ed Lynch, Jr. (PA) and Mark Dobmeier (ND). Out these top
thirteen qualifiers, most of them had to earn a transfer out
of the "B" with a few needing to come from the "C".
Only four could gain a transfer to the "A" and the drivers
to achieve that were, Schatz, Stewart, Allard and McMahan.
As earning points is the key to winning the Nationals, you
have to do well in qualifying, in the heat races and of
course the features. In qualifying, you earn points of 200
for setting the fastest time, with points dropping two
points, for each car on down. In the Heat Races, the points
start at 100, dropping down three for each car and the "A"
features also starts at 200 points for the winner and drops
down by two, per finish. Fourth place finish in the "B" main
starts for non transferring driver at 142 points, less two
points per finishing car and then in the "C" main, the
points for third place, non transferring car starts 96
points dropping by two.
With this first qualifying race in the books, Schatz is
leading in the points followed by Hafertepe,Jr., Shaffer,
McMahan, Allard, Stewart, Wolfe, Dollansky, Johnson and Greg
Wilson (OH), rounding out the top ten. With the second
night of qualifying tomorrow, it will be how the new group
of qualifiers finish in this second night of the series, to
establish a blended roster of the two nights of racing, to
determine actual points of this event.
Talking with some of the drivers in the pits prior to this
opening night, McMahan mentioned that this would be only his
second time in the #71 car. Allard said, "We're ready".
Allard races in the 410 sprint series at Silver Dollar
Speedway in Chico, CA as well as the Golden State Challenge
in his #0 white sprint. Erin Crocker (MA) driving the #59
sprint, just recently returned to sprint car racing. Erin
said, "It's great to be back in a sprint car. We've only
raced sprints three times before tonight. We hope to race
perhaps twenty more sprint events before the end of the
season." Talking with Stewart, he was ready to go. Stewart,
along with Jesse Hockett (MO) and Tony Bruce, Jr. (KS) made
a rare visit to Placerville Speedway, CA and competed in the
Civil War Series 360 Sprint event. It was quite a race with
Hockett leading the majority of the laps and seeing Stewart
grab the lead in the ending laps to win.
A great run by Chad Kemenah (OH) had Kemenah finishing in
fourth, behind Shaffer, Johnson and Hafertepe,Jr. Fifth
place went to Lucas Wolfe (PA), followed by, Danny Smith
(IN), Schatz, Greg Wilson (OH), Jack Dover (NE), Calvin
Landis (IA), Skip Jackson (NSW), Stewart, Dollansky, Johnny
Herrera, Allard. Justin Henderson (SD), Brandon Wimmer (IN),
Daron Clayton (MO), McMahan, Garry Brazier (NSW), Matthew
Reed (Aust), Austin McCarl (IA), Lambertz, Greg Hall
(Aust.).
Heat Race finishes, "B" and "C" Main finishes are as
follows: All finishes posted are unofficial.
Heat #1: Brazier, Jackson, Smith, Wilson, Hannagan, Jason
Sides (TN), Lee Sowell (MS). Brian Ellenberger (PA), Davey
Heskin (MN), Darrah.
Heat #2: Landis, Wimmer, Herrera, Reed, Brad Sweet (CA), Ed
Lynch, Jr. (PA), Josh Schneiderman (IA), Stewart, Conley,
John VanDenBerg (IA).
Heat #3: Clayton, McCarl, Johnson, Shaffer, Dobmeier,
TyBartz (WI), Schatz, Rob Chaney (OH), Crocker, Justin Berg
(ND).
Heat #4: Henderson, Wolfe, Lambertz, Hafertepe, Jr.,
McMahan, Don Droud, Jr. (NE), Danny Lasoski (MO), Bill Balog
(WI), Chris Schmelzle (CAN). Kevin Ingle (SD)
Heat #5: Dover, Hall, Dollansky, Kemenah, Meyers, Sammy
Swindell (TN), Allard, Daryn Pittman (OK), Marlon Jones
(SD).
"B" Main: Schatz, McMahan, Allard, Stewart, Meyers,
Dobmeier, Lynch, Jr., Lasoski, Pittman, Droud, Jr., Sweet,
Sides, Sowell, Conley, Balog, Swindell, Crocker, Chaney,
Bartz, Ellenberger, Hannagan, Schneiderman. (Top four
transferred to the "A" Feature)
"C" Main: Crocker, Conley, Schmeizle, Ingle, Darrah, Heskin,
Jones, VanDenBerg, Berg. (Crocker earned a track record, six
laps in 1:30.0 in the "C" Main, the only woman driver to
hold a track record at Knoxville)
(Top two transferred to "B" Main)
####
By: Gaye Carmichael
Tim Kaeding in Victory Lane after wining Night
#2 of the Knoxville Nationals.
Photo by
www.campbellphoto.com (Knoxville, IA, 8/13/09) A California sprint car driver attacked the second
qualifying night of competition at the Super Clean, 49th Knoxville Nationals
, racing from a third place start Tim Kaeding of San Jose, CA, driving the
Dennis Roth #83 sprint was heavy on the gas as he raced out to take the
initial green flag and was in second place when the first lap was scored.
Kaeding hammered around the half mile dirt oval, for about a dozen laps
before chasing down South Dakota's Dusty Zomer to power into the lead.
Kaeding led the remaining laps to earn the victory.
"I made it through this weekend without a crew chief. We had a great race
car all night. We did everything we were suppose to do tonight. I have to
keep clean lines and don't do anything stupid, (to have a chance to win the
Nationals). Tonight the track was really racey. If they can keep the track
the same for Saturday night (the final night of this four day event with the
big race on tap) it will be great racing." said Kaeding. Kaeding qualified
ninth quick and finished third in his heat race.
Second place went to Kraig Kinser of Bloomington, IN, driving the Tony
Stewart Bass Pro Shops #20 sprint. K. Kinser returning to sprint car racing
after spending some time racing the NASCAR circuit, said. "I've been
adjusting getting back into sprint car racing, but I'm looking to get even
more adjusted. The track was pretty good and the top was pretty smooth." K.
Kinser qualified fifth fast and finished fourth in his heat race.
Brownsburg, Indiana's Joey Saldana, racing the Kasey Kahne #9 Budweiser
Sprint, was fast all night, setting second fast time in qualifying, racing
from an eighth starting berth in the second heat race to finish fourth and
earn a transfer into the "A" Feature. Saldana started in seventh when the
green flag flew out for the twenty-five lap event, moved into fifth place
with approximately ten laps to go and when the last lap scored, Saldana
claimed third place to fill out the podium finishes.
"It was pretty good. I made a body adjustment on the car and I moved up. I
was pretty strong for twenty-five laps, so I feel pretty good about that. I
want to thank Kasey Kahne and all of my crew." said Saldana.
Stevie Smith of Broken Arrow, OK, was amazing, racing the #1z to qualify
fourth quick, then from an eighth place starting berth in the fourth heat
race, Smith reeled in the win then followed it up with a fourth place finish
in the "A" Feature. A major number in Smith's racing equation was a four,
but when all was said and done, Smith had moved to the top of the pile, to
be the top qualifier, earning 488 points, after two nights of qualifying
among the 107 drivers that are here representing twenty-five different
states of America and two additional countries, Canada and Australia.
There isn't any way to know from what direction all of the racing fans came
from, but you can be sure that it really doesn't matter because when it
comes to racing, it's just one big family.
Dale Blaney of Fowler, OH, posted a 15.056 second lap to be the top
qualifier of the race. Blaney went on to finish in third in his heat race
and had a ninth place finish in the "A".
It was South Dakota's Dusty Zomer who led out the "A" feature, setting the
pace in the early laps. Kaeding was in second followed by K. Kinser and
Tyler Walker (CA), the front four when the first lap scored. Zomer held off
Kaeding the with all that he had. Kaeding raced by Zomer on the eleventh
lap, to take the lead and that was the winning move of the race. With only
one very minor caution on the opening lap, this race was virtually free of
obstacles, with the leaders lapping almost half of the field.
At the checkered, finishing behind Kaeding, K. Kinser, Saldana and Smith,
were Walker, Terry McCarl (IA), Zomer, Jason Solwold (WA), Blaney, Brian
Brown (MO), Bronson Maeschen (IA), Dean Jacobs (OH), Greg Hodnett (PA),
Ricky Logan (AR), Steve Kinser (IN), Fred Rahmer (PA), Jac Haudenschild
(OH), Lynton Jeffery (IA), Ryan Anderson (IA), Toni Lutar (Can), Garry Lee
Maier (KS), Jesse Giannetto (IA), Chad Meyer (SD) and Billy Alley (NE).
Heat Races, "B" and "C" Main, finishes, are as follows: (All finishes are
unofficial)
Heat: #1: Brown, Solwold, Blaney, Maier, Lance Dewease (PA), Jordan
Goldesberrry (IL), Jesse Hockett (MO), Josh Higday (IA), Kenny Jacobs (OH),
Greg Nikitenko.
Heat #2: Logan, McCarl, Rahmer, Saldana, Ragar Phillips (IA), Kerry Madsen (Aust),
Ricky Montgomery (CO), S. Kinser, Dennis Moore, Jr. (IA), Eric Baldaccini
(TX).
Heat #3: C. Meyer, Zomer, Walker, Anderson, Giannetto, Bob Weuve (IA),
Hodnett, Travis Rilat (TX), Tony Bruce, Jr. (KS), Pete Crall (KS).
Heat #4: Smith, Lutar, Kaeding, Alley, Clint Garner (SD), Caleb Griffith
(OH), Joey Moughan, (IL), Ben Gregg (AZ), Mike Benson (CA), Kaley Gharst
(IL).
Heat #5: Jeffrey, Jacobs, Maeschen, K. Kinser, Haudenschild, Mike Moore
(IA), Wayne Johnson (IA), Scott Winters (MN), Geoff Dodge, (IN), Bill Rose
(IN).
"B" Main: S. Kinserm Hodnett, Haudenschild, Giannetto, W. Johnson, Dewease,
Madsen, Hockett, Rilat, Phillips, Weuve, Garner, Bruce, Jr., Gharst,
Montgomery M. Moore, Goldesberry, Moughan, Higday, Gregg, Griffith.
"C" Main: Bruce, Jr., Gharst, K. Jacobs, D. Moore, Jr., Nikitenko, Crall,
Dodge, Scott Uttech (WI), Matt Wasum (MN), Patrick Bourke (CO), Ryan Pickett
(SD), Rose, Levi Jones (IL), Robert Bell (IA), Baldaccini, Brant OBanion
(NE).
By: Gaye Carmichael
(Knoxville, IA, 8/14/09) Here it is, the third night of the Super Clean
49TH Knoxville Nationals and it was Lynton Jeffreys who claimed the
victory of the 16TH Annual World Challenge and Sammy Swindell who poured
on the speed to collect the victory of the non-qualifiers
"A" feature event, to fulfill yet another night of exciting racing on
the Knoxville Raceway's half-mile dirt track in Iowa.
Jeffrey, a former Australian, who now lives in Prairie City, (IA) raced
out into the lead and led all twenty laps of the $10,000 to win,
feature. The field for the World Challenge included drivers from
Australia, Canada and the United States of America.
"This is amazing. All these great drivers. It's a dream come true. This
is a huge accomplishment for us. I've won only one feature race and I
turned twenty-six this week. Realistically, I can only race according to
my racing budget. We can't begin to compare with the bigger teams. This
is such a big win. I haven't won in two years and you begin to wonder.
Yes, this win restores some of my confidence. It just a dream. I want to
thank my wife, Mindy and my kids, Dakota and Kailee." said Jeffrey.
Jeffrey has an eighteenth starting berth in the "C" main, in the final
night of the Nationals and will be there to be part of the intense
racing ahead as the huge turn out of talented 410 sprint car drivers all
vie for the crowning victory of the 2009 Knoxville Nationals.
Congratulations to Jeffrey who drove a really great race. Jeffrey drove
a very smooth line and stayed totally focused. It seemed at times, to
me, that Jeffrey almost looked like he was on a Sunday drive, but one
look around him and you saw everyone was racing hard to catch him. Shane
Stewart of Bixby,OK, raced past Kerry Madsen of Sydney, NSW,Aust. on the
last lap to score in the second spot.
"My team worked very hard. I had a really good start but wasn't sure
where I was (in the scoring line up). I enjoyed sharing the podium with
an Australia, as an American. When ever we race in Australia, they treat
all of the Americans well. I am happy to finish, second." said
Stewart.
Madsen held in there to take a third place finish. Madsen raced strong
throughout the race and there were lots of fans wondering how he could
do it. Why, because yesterday Madsen played in a Baseball Tournament and
along the way around the bases, Madsen slid into second base and broke
his ankle. Madsen has on a walking cast, but has crutches as well.
Madsen said the doctor wanted to put on a hard cast but Madsen said that
he told the doctor he wouldn't be able to do his job with a hard cast.
Terry McCarl (IA) finished in fourth followed by Garry Brazier, (Aust),
Ricky Logan (AR), Danny Smith (IN), Wayne Johnson (IA), Randy Hannagan
(IN), Paul McMahan (TN), Jason Johnson (LA), Skip Jackson (Aust.),
Jonathan Allard (CA), Toni Lutar (Can), Bill Rose (IN), Greg Hall (Aust),
Joey Saldana (IN), Chris Sshmelzle (Can), Craig Dollansky (MN) and Rob
Chaney (OH).
Swindell of Germantown, TN, a veteran sprint car driver, definitely put
on a show as he raced in the twenty lap feature to secure a berth, mid
pack of the "C" Main in the final night of the Nationals. This "A"
feature event secured a new track record, getting it done in 5;26.3
minutes and it was $5,000. to win.
"We're happy to have won this race. I don't know how far I'll get but
I'll run the hell out of it. The car is really good. If anything, it
will be hard on me." said Swindell
Second place was picked up by Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, CA. For Sweet,
this was his first time to race at Knoxville with a winged sprint.
Sweet's one and only other time on this speedway was in a wingless
sprint. Randy Hannagan of Pittsboro, IN, came back from his qualifying
night problems to take third place at the checkered. Daryn Pittman (OK)
finished fourth, followed by Don Droud, Jr.(NE), Lance Dewease (PA),
Cody Darrah (PA), Jeffrey, Jason Sides (TN), Tony Bruce, Jr., (KS),
Kaley Gharst (IL), Toni Lutar (CAN), Josh Schneiderman (IA), Josh Higday
(IA), Bill Balog (WI), Rob Chaney (OH), John Lambertz (SD), Austin
McCarl (IA), Chad Meyer (SD), Kenny Jacobs (OH), Matthew Reed (AUST),
Erin Crocker (MA), Travis Rilat (TX) and Jesse Hockett (MO). On
the opening lap, Crocker racing out of the first turn spun with Rilat
and McCarl catching a piece of the action. Crocker and Rilat ended up,
rolled over. All the drivers were okay, though Crocker and Rilat both
had their sprints on the hook, ending the night for them.
The big "Scramble" ten lap race for the "A", "B" and "C" mains, allows
the top ten drivers in each of these mains a last chance to perhaps
improve their starting positions, in their race for the big money on
Saturday night by earning additional points.
Finishes for the "A" Scramble, were, Donny Schatz (ND), Sam Hafertepe,
Jr. (TX), Dale Blaney (OH), Tim Kaeding (CA), Joey Saldana (IN), Stevie
Smith (OK), Tyler Walker (CA), Kraig Kinser (IN), Jason Solwold (WA),
Dusty Zomer(SD).
Top ten starters in the "A" Feature tomorrow night, are: S. Smith,
Saldana, Blaney, Kaeding, Walker, Schatz, K. Kinser, Hafertepe, Jr.,
Solwold, Zomer.
Finishes for the "B" Feature, were, Skip Jackson (AUST), Chad Kemenah
(OH), Jac Haudenschild (OH), Dean Jacobs (OH), Jason Johnson (LA),
Johnny Herrera (NM), Danny Smith (IN), Bronson Maeschen (IA), Greg
Wilson (OH), Calvin Landis (IA).
Top ten starters in ther "B" Feature tomorrow night, are, Haudenschild,
J. Johnson, Kemenah, D. Smith, Maeschen, D. Jacobs, Wilson, Jackson,
Herrera, Landis.
Finishes for the "C" Feature, were, Ryan Anderson (IA), Garry Brazier
(AUST), Wayne Johnson (IA), Kerry Madsen (AUST), Billy Alley (NE), Cale
Conley (WV), Brandonn Wimmer (IN), Ragar Phillips (IA), Lee Sowell (MS),
Garry Lee Maier (KS).
Top ten starters in the "C" Feature tomorrow night, are, Alley, W.
Johnson, Brazier, Anderson, Conley, Madsen, Phillips, Sowell, Wimmer,
Maier.
The "B", "C" and "D" non-qualifier semi-main finishes are as follows.
"B" Semi: Sweet, Darrah, Swindell, Higday, Dewease, Rilat, Gharst, C.
Meyer, Scott Meyers (MN), Dennis Moore, Jr.,(IA), Mike Moore (IA), Brian
Ellenberger (PA), Mike Benson (CA), Greg Nikitenko (ND), Joey Moughan
(IL), Ryan Bickett (SD), Robert Bell (IA).
"C" Semi: Bruce, Jr., Hannagan, Jeffrey, Lutar, McCarl, Sides, Balog,
Lambertz, Davey Heskin (MN), Ricky Montgomety (CO), Bill Rose (IN), Ty
Bartz (WI), Bob Weuve (IA)Peter Crall (KS), Scott Uttech (WI), Matt
Wasmund (MN).
"D" Semi: Pittman, Droud, Jr., Crocker, Reed, Schneiderman, K.
Jacobs, Chaney, Hockett, Caleb Griffith (OH), Ben Gregg (AZ), Geoff
Dodge (IN), Chris Schmelzle (CAN), Jordan Goldesberry (IL),
Patrick Bourke (CO), Kevin Ingle (SD).
####
STORY BY: Gaye Carmichael email address:
gayec@att.net
(Knoxville, IA, 8/16/09) Once more a hero, Donny Schatz of Fargo, ND,
scored his fourth victory in a row, at the Super Clean 49TH Knoxville
Nationals to win the $150,000. purse, racing in the forty lap historic "A"
Feature event, the longest Knoxville Nationals ever, racing the Tony Stewart
Motorsports #15 sprint.
"It was awesome. Thanks to all my guys. I did what I needed to do. I had to
be patient. Under the fuel flag, (because of the race increasing to a forty
lap event, the Knoxville Officials opted to throw in a fuel stop some time
during the race, the time to throw the flag was at the Officials
discretion.) I waited for my Dad to tell me what I was doing wrong. I went
down to race the bottom when the race started but I couldn't hold the car,
all the way around the track, down there. We were racing with the best
twenty-four sprint car drivers in the world. Joey (Saldana) never gave up.
Towards the end we needed lap traffic and we got it. Your only as good as
your last race." said Schatz.
Joey Saldana of Brownsburg, IN, racing the Kasey Kahne Racing Inc.,
Budweiser #9 sprint, started in second as the green flag ordered the
field to action. Saldana hit the throttle and flew into the lead. Racing the
top line of the track, Saldana drove a very hot and focused line, leading by
almost half of the track at times. It so looked like this race would be his
when the final lap scored. Saldana led all but the final five laps.
It had to be an unbelievable loss to Saldana, after scoring the second
highest points in qualifying, then to race a dominate lead with only a
handful of laps between Saldana and winning the coveted victory of the
Knoxville Nationals. Saldana has had an amazing race season, scoring
multiple feature victories in the World of Outlaw Sprint Series division and
truly is a great driver.
"My tires were good and we didn't have any issues there. It was a great
effort for our team. It was a good race." said Saldana, who had to be so
disappointed. Saldana's share of the $909,515. posted awards for the 2009
Knoxville Nationals, was $75,000. for finishing second.
Stevie Smith of Broken Arrow,OK, had earned the most qualifying points to
have the lead as the race started but ended up racing in second after that
first lap went to Saldana, S. Smith filled in behind him and they ran the
top two spots until Schatz passed S. Smith a couple of laps before taking
the lead. S. Smith finished in third for his podium run, though it was a
hard loss for this driver as well. S. Smith had a stellar run in the
Knoxville Nationals to be the lead car in the "A" Feature, there isn't any
doubt that S. Smith is also one of the best.
"Knoxville is known to have a great race track. They always prepare the
track well. The top groove of the track was really good and I didn't have
any issues with my car. I really wanted to win this race." said S. Smith.
Since winning the Knoxville Nationals looks really good on a race driver's
resume, losing, after coming so close, the great pay day
probably hasn't popped into their mind at that point, but when S. Smith
thinks of the purse he won, hopefully it will help take out some of the
sting they earned and S. Smith earned $37,500 for his third place finish.
Another awesome competitor looking to win this event was Tim Kaeding of San
Jose, CA. Kaeding racing the Dennis and Theresa Roth #83 sprint, won the
second qualifying night "A" Feature , qualified fourth over all and race
into third on the first lap. Kaeding scored around ten laps in third before
having Schatz get by him. Kaeding held off all other challengers to score a
fourth place finish and earned $26,000. for this race.
Schatz's has been on a roll the last four years or so of racing, seeming to
just know the who, what, where and when, in a race to make his move and
continues to be the man to beat. Saldana's run for the win was
incredible, having a fair piece of real estate between his car and second
place, held by S. Smith at times, controlling the lead with skill. At
the speeds these sprints were racing, they caught lapped traffic quickly
which made lapped traffic a definite player and was a force that did change
the complexion of the race. The fans were loving the excitement of this race
and are already thinking about the next big celebration of the 50th
Knoxville Nationals, on tap for 2010, when their favorite driver can take
their shot at victory once more.
If there was a hard luck award, I would think Jason Meyers of Clovis, CA,
Racing the Elite Racing Team LLC #14, would definitely fill the bill as a
contender for the award as this night of racing began. Meyers had to race
the "B" Main event and finish at least fourth to get into the "A" race this
night. Meyers' started the "B" in eleventh and at the end of the
twenty-two lap event Meyers crossed the line in second, making the "A" race.
When the green flag flew out to start the forty lap "A" feature, Meyers
raced out to score one lap before spinning out, coming out of the second
turn, for the first caution. Then topped that off with having a flat tire as
well. Meyers returned to action and raced five more laps before pulling a
second caution flag when his right rear tire shredded, this time racing into
the second turn. Meyers went to the work area and they discovered that the
tire had damaged the shock and they ran out of time trying to fix it,
ending the night for this team. It may have been a tie between Meyers and
Jason Solwold (WA) for this award, when Solwold, scheduled to start in ninth
of the "A" feature, had to pull off the track to the work area, prior to the
race start, the rumor was, that it was an electrical problem. This lost
Solwold his ninth place starting berth and he had to tag the rear of the
field, as the green flag fell.
If there was an award for the best "extra" racing stunt during a race, then
this one should go to the "King" of sprint car racing, Steve Kinser (IN).
S. Kinser racing from a twentieth starting berth, in the "A" Feature, had
raced up into the top ten when there was contact on the track and S. Kinser
went into a slide that had his car turning down on the track in front of on
coming traffic. S. Kinser, held onto that famous #11 sprint car,
straightened it, just before going into a tall wheel stand, then came
down on the track going full speed racing. S. Kinser's car never stopped on
the track so even though the yellow flag was thrown for the incident Kinser
was able to resume the race in the same position he was in before any of
this took place.
Congratulations to Daron Clayton of Sikeston, MO, racing the Clayton owned
#92, who was named the "Rookie" of the Knoxville Nationals, scoring in
thirteenth place of the "B" Main. Way to go Clayton.
Shane Stewart (OK) took the checkered in fifth place followed by Kraig
Kinser (IN), Tim Shaffer (PA), Dale Blaney (OH), Craig Dollansky (MN), Jac
Haudenschild (OH), Danny Lasoski (MO), S. Kinser, Dusty Zomer (SD), Tyler
Walker (CA), Jonathan Allard (CA), Greg Hodnett (PA), Terry McCarl (IA),
Lucas Wolfe (PA), Jason Johnson (LA), Paul McMahan (TN), Solwold, Sam
Hafertepe, Jr. (TX), Brian Brown (MO), and Meyers.
Racing the "B" Main, Haudenschild, from a pole start powered away from the
onset and lapped about half of the twenty-two car field, half way through
the twenty-two lap race, taking the win and the transfer into the "A" Main.
Meyers scored in second with Lasoski racing from a seventeenth start to
score a crowd cheering third and it was J. Johnson who reeled in the fourth
place finish, making up the four who were eligible to transfer in the "A",
big money race of the event.
Bronson Maecshen (IA) was fifth, followed by, Johnny Herrera (NM), Chad
Kemenah (OH), Danny Smith (IN), Dean Jacobs (OH), Skip Johnson (AUST), Jack
Dover (NE), Mark Dobmeier (ND), Clayton, Justin Henderson (SD), Ed Lynch,
Jr. (PA), Calvin Landis (IA), Greg Wilson (OH), Jesse Giannetto (IA), Fred
Rahmer (PA), Wayne Johnson (IA), Billy Alley (NE) and Ricky Logan (AR).
W. Johnson took the win of the "C" Main, with Alley finishing in second for
the two teams that transferred into the "B" Main. Third place went to Ryan
Anderson (IA), followed by, Garry Brazier (AUST), Ragar Phillips (IA), Kerry
Madsen (AUST), Sammy Swindell (TN), Cale Conley (WV), Brandon Wimmer (IN),
Lee Sowell (MS), Daryn Pittman (OK), Randy Hannagan (CA), Lance Dewease
(PA), Cody Darrah (PA), Don Droud, Jr. (NE), Jason Sides (TN), Garry Lee
Meier (KS), Toni Lutar (CAN), Kaley Gharst (IL), Tony Bruce, Jr. (KS), Josh
Schneiderman (IA) and Lynton Jeffrey (IA).
During the "D" Main, just out of the fifth lap, Ricky Montgomery of
Lakewood, CO, racing the Smith Motorsports #33 sprint, out of the first
turn, looked to have had his throttle stick and crashed head on, into the
wall. The crash was scary and the crowd filled stands all waited, hoping for
the best. It took a very long time to get Montgomery out of his car and into
the ambulance. Montgomery was transporter to the hospital. All best wishes
for a speedy recovery to Ricky Montgomery and his family.
Taking the win in the "D" Main was Gharst, followed by Lutar and
Schneiderman, the three who transferred into the "C" Main. Fourth went to
John Lambertz (SD) followed by Josh Higday (IA), Rob Chaney (OH), Kenny
Jacobs (OH), Bill Balog (WI), Austin McCarl (IA), Davey Heskin (MN), Chad
Meyer (SD), Caleb Griffith (OH), Bill Rose (IN), Scott Winters (MN), Mike
Moore (IA), Bob Weuve (IA), Geoff Dodge (IN), Erin Crocker (MA), Greg Hall
(AUST), Dwight Snodgrass (IA), Travis Rilat (TX) and Montgomery.
The "E" Main were able to transfer five drivers into the "D" Main, instead
of the schedule to transfer two. When it was time to run the "D" Main, they
were three cars short of a full field eligible to run.
The "E" Main victory was picked up by Rose, followed by Dodge, Moore, Weuve
and Hall, with all of them able to transfer up into the "D". Sixth place
went to Jordan Goldesberry (IL), with Chris Schmelzle (CAN), Ty Bartz (WI),
Greg Nikitenko (ND), Kevin Ingle (SD), Matt Wasmund (MN), Scott Uttech (WI),
Marlon Jones (SD), Robert Bell (IA) and Pete Crall (KS), finishing in this
order behind Goldesberry.
####
|
