Carson McCarl became the youngest sprint car feature winner ever at Knoxville Saturday in the 305 class (Dave Hill Photo)
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, April 30, 2011 - On what started as a night of first-time winners, Danny Lasoski proved that experience still counts at the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday's Pella Motors/Lions Club night opener at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World." The veteran from Dover, Missouri led the field wire to wire to increase his all-time record for wins at the famous half-mile to 94.
The eight-time track champion started on the pole of the 20-lap 410 main event on the basis of a new draw system. The twelve top qualifiers making it through the heats now draw in front of the fans during intermission for their starting spots in the feature. On a track that saw the bottom as a preferred line, Lasoski shot out to the lead in a familiar part of the track ahead of defending track champion Brian Brown. Dusty Zomer, who claimed last year's Season Championship feature win jumped into third on lap two.
Don Droud Jr. tumbled in turn two with four laps in the books, and Lasoski restarted ahead of Brown, Zomer, Robby Wolfgang and quick-timer, Brooke Tatnell, with a clear track ahead of him. It was clear sailing for the front-runners until a lap 16 spin by Kevin Swindell. Despite the bunching of the field, "The Dude" was unfazed in registering the win. "We always joke," said the winner when talking of his nephew (Brown) who finish second. "I taught him everything he knows, but not everything I know. This place has been really good to me. We couldn't do this without the old gang helping me out here. Right now, everything we have is borrowed. We're just racing night to night."
Following Lasoski and Brown were Zomer, Tatnell and Lynton Jeffrey. Wolfgang, Logan Forler, Austin McCarl, first heat winner, Terry McCarl, and 410 rookie and third heat winner, Dustin Selvage, rounded out the top ten. Bronson Maeschen suffered through a tough night as ignition problems sidelined him for his heat, and he blew a tire while leading the B main.
For Russ Hall, winning a feature at Knoxville has been a lifelong dream, and he accomplished it with a win in the 360 class. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa driver took off from his pole position starting spot and never looked back in his win. Behind Russ, Justyn Cox battled past Josh Higday for the runner-up spot after a lap six caution for a stopped Tony Norem. Defending 360 track champion, Clint Garner, suffered a flat tire under caution and restarted at the tail.
Hall drove the last nine laps smoothly and maneuvered through lap traffic for a popular win aboard the Mike Waddell Racing #45c. "This one has been a long time coming," he said with emotion in Victory Lane. "I want to dedicate this to my grandpa Burt (Sonner) who passed away here in 1974."
Cox, Higday, first heat winner, Tasker Phillips, and Russ's cousin, Dave Hall, rounded out the top five. Lee Grosz, Seth Bergman, third heat winner, Jon Agan, Randy Martin and Nate Van Haaften completed the top ten. Chad Heimbaugh took the B main, while Wayne Johnson, who suffered power steering problems and could not start the feature, set quick time.
Carson McCarl unofficially became the youngest winner in Knoxville Raceway history when he won the 305 feature in his first competition at the famous half-mile. He became the first driver to win in his first competition since Kenny Adams did it in a 360 Nationals preliminary feature in 2003. Carson turned 16 years of age on March 8.
McCarl showed a steady racecar in running the bottom and holding Jamie Ball at bay for the 12-lap distance. Only a lap four caution for a spun Casie Shilling slowed the event. "I knew if I hit my marks on the bottom, no one would pass me up high," said a practically speechless McCarl. "I have to thank the guys that help me. I can't even talk."
Ball ran a solid second, and Marty Stephenson, J Kinder, and Mitchell Alexander, who won heat one, rounded out the top five. Second heat winner, Matt Stephenson, Chris Mallicoat, Matthew Stelzer, Steve Palmer and Mike Mayberry rounded out the top ten.
The Lions Club donated a total of $1,050 to three lucky drivers tonight as well. Tenth place finishers Selvage ($450), Nate Van Haaften ($350) and Mayberry ($250) cashed in. Racing resumes next Saturday night with the IRA vs. Knoxville Challenge!
410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order): 1. 59, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (20) 16.154; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (5) 16.157; 3. 1s, Kevin Swindell, Charlotte, NC (19) 16.273; 4. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (22) 16.275; 5. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (25) 16.312; 6. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (8) 16.319; 7. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (23) 16.331; 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (2) 16.355; 9. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (18) 16.455; 10. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (3) 16.471; 11. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (17) 16.527; 12. 2L, Logan Forler, Lake Havasu City, AZ (7) 16.565; 13. 7K, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (14) 16.688; 14. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (24) 16.715; 15. 56JC, Johnn Cressman, Sioux Falls, SD (13) 16.784; 16. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (4) 16.786; 17. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (29) 16.871; 18. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (26) 16.980; 19. 21x, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (28) 17.019; 20. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (12) 17.107; 21. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (15) 17.133; 22. 45, Mark Johnson, Des Moines, IA (11) 17.197; 23. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (16) 17.217; 24. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN (1) 17.257; 25. 98, JD Johnson, Goddard, KS (21) 17.309; 26. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (27) 17.333; 27. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (10) 18.424; 28. 92, Mitchell Mack, Grand Forks, ND (6) 19.727; 29. 6, Danny Heskin, St. Michael, MN (9) NT.
Heat one (started), 8 laps, NT: 1. Terry McCarl (6) 2. Robby Wolfgang (4) 3. Lynton Jeffrey (5) 4. Joey Moughan (2) 5. Brooke Tatnell (8) 6. JD Johnson (7) / 7. Rob Kubli (3) 8. Mitchell Mack (9) 9. Mark Johnson (1) DNS - Bronson Maeschen
Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:18.2: 1. Mark Dobmeier (1) 2. Danny Lasoski (7) 3. Don Droud Jr. (5) 4. Rager Phillips (3) 5. Josh Schneider man (6) 6. Brian Brown (8) / 7. Davey Heskin (2) 8. Ryan Anderson (4) 9. Ryan Bunton (9) DNS - Danny Heskin
Heat three (stared), 8 laps, NT: 1. Dustin Selvage (3) 2. Kevin Swindell (8) 3. Dusty Zomer (7) 4. Johnn Cressman (4) 5. Austin McCarl (6) 6. Logan Forler (5) / 7. AJ Moeller (9) 8. Austin Johnson (1) 9. Mike Moore (2)
B main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Davey Heskin (4) 2. Ryan Bunton (8) 3. Ryan Anderson (2) 4. Austin Johnson (5) 5. Rob Kubli (3) 6. Mitchell Mack (10) / 7. AJ Moeller (7) 8. Bronson Maeschen (1) 9. Mark Johnson (6) 10. Danny Heskin (9) DNS - Mike Moore
A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Danny Lasoski (1) 2. Brian Brown (4) 3. Dusty Zomer (8) 4. Brooke Tatnell (9) 5. Lynton Jeffrey (7) 6. Robby Wolfgang (2) 7. Logan Forler (5) 8. Austin McCarl (6) 9. Terry McCarl (11) 10. Dustin Selvage (15) 11. Davey Heskin (19) 12. Johnn Cressman (13) 13. Mark Dobmeier (17) 14. Ryan Bunton (20) 15. JD Johnson (18) 16. Joey Moughan (16) 17. Rager Phillips (14) 18. Austin Johnson (22) 19. Rob Kubli (23) 20. Mitchell Mack (24) 21. Josh Schneiderman (3) 22. Kevin Swindell (12) 23. Ryan Anderson (21) 24. Don Droud Jr. (10). Lap Leader: Lasoski 1-20.
360 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 38, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA, 16.684; 2. 4J, Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND, 16.710; 3. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.805; 4. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.811; 5. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.866; 6. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.893; 7. 23, Seth Bergman, Snohomish, WA, 16.894; 8. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO, 16.907; 9. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.932; 10. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.970; 11. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.985; 12. 21c, Justyn Cox, Clarksburg, CA, 17.078; 13. 2, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA, 17.105; 14. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 17.142; 15. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 17.211; 16. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 17.380; 17. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 17.396; 18. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 17.399; 19. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 17.457; 20. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.497; 21. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 17.525; 22. 5, Dave Glennon, Casselton, ND, 17.627; 23. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 17.972; 24. 45, Tony Norem, Dassel MN, 18.085; 25. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 18.404; 26. 11c, Dakota Carroll, LaMonte, MO, 18.453; 27. DQ - 12x, Frank Rogers, Lucas, IA (scales).
Heat one (started), 7 laps, 2:07.3: 1. Tasker Phillips (3) 2. Josh Higday (2) 3. Wayne Johnson (6) 4. Matt Moro (5) 5. Seth Bergman (4) / 6. Jarrod Schneiderman (1) 7. Tom Lenz (9) 8. Dave Glennon (8) 9. Rod Richards (7)
Heat two (started), 7 laps, 2:08.3: 1. Russ Hall (2) 2. Randy Martin (4) 3. David Hall (1) 4. Clint Garner (3) 5. Lee Grosz (6) / 6. Tony Shilling (8) 7. Joe Beaver (5) 8. Casey Friedrichsen (7) 9. Dakota Carroll (9)
Heat three (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Jon Agan (1) 2. Chad Humston (6) 3. Justyn Cox (3) 4. Nate Van Haaften (5) 5. Tony Norem (8) / 6. Tyler Groenendyk (7) 7. Frank Rogers (9) 8. Larry Ball Jr. (2) 9. Chad Heimbaugh (4)
B main (started), 10 laps, NT: 1. Chad Heimbaugh (2) 2. Joe Beaver (1) 3. Tony Shilling (7) 4. Jarrod Schneiderman (4) 5. Dave Glennon (8) 6. Tyler Groenendyk (5) / 7. Rod Richards (5) 8. Tom Lenz (10) 9. Dakota Carroll (9) 10. Frank Rogers (11) 11. Casey Friedrichsen (6) DNS - Larry Ball Jr.
A main (started), 15 laps, NT: 1. Russ Hall (1) 2. Justyn Cox (3) 3. Josh Higday (2) 4. Tasker Phillips (5) 5. David Hall (13) 6. Lee Grosz (11) 7. Seth Bergman (7) 8. Jon Agan (12) 9. Randy Martin (6) 10. Nate Van Haaften (8) 11. Chad Humston (10) 12. Joe Beaver (17) 13. Jarrod Schneiderman (19) 14. Matt Moro (9) 15. Clint Garner (4) 16. Tyler Groenendyk (20) 17. Tony Shilling (16) 18. Chad Heimbaugh (14) 19. Tony Norem (15) 20. Dave Glennon (18) DNS - Wayne Johnson. Lap Leader: R. Hall 1-15.
305 Results
Heat one (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA (2) 2. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (1) 3. 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (7) 4. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE (5) 5. 22, Chris Mallicoat, Boone, IA (8) 6. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA (3) DQ - 29, Devin "Bart" Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA (scales) DQ - 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA (tire) DNS - X, Kevin Tanner, Russell, IA
Heat two (started), 6 laps, 1:56.6: 1. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA (3) 2. 36, Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville, IA (5) 3. 88, J Kinder, Holt's Summit, MO (4) 4. 16c, Casie Shilling, Knoxville, IA (6) 5. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (7) 6. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA (8) DQ - 33, Mark Van Haaften, Otley, IA (scales) 8. 21, Keith Carlberg, Webster City, IA (scales)
A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Carson McCarl (3) 2. Jamie Ball (5) 3. Marty Stephenson (4) 4. J Kinder (6) 5. Mitchell Alexander (1) 6. Matt Stephenson (2) 7. Chris Mallicoat (9) 8. Matthew Stelzer (7) 9. Steve Palmer (13) 10. Mike Mayberry (10) 11. Devin "Bart" Friedrichsen (11) 12. Mark Van Haaften (14) 13. Alan Ambers (12) 14. Casie Shilling (8) 15. Keith Carlberg (15) DNS - Cody Ambers. Lap Leader: C. McCarl 1-12.