Donny Schatz Wins Knoxville Nationals as Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by Open Wheel 101 Heads North!

Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Donny Schatz has won ten of twelve Knoxville Nationals (DB3 Imaging)Donny Schatz has won ten of twelve Knoxville Nationals (DB3 Imaging) Associate Sponsors: Hoseheads.com, TheCushion.com, Buckeye Threads. Front Row Challenge
Product Sponsor: EMi
 
(Bill W) August 15, 2017 – Daryn Pittman and Jason Johnson were new winners with the Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by www.OpenWheel101.com, as the action was hot and heavy over two weeks, culminating with the Knoxville Nationals.  Daryn Pittman won the opener of the “Ironman 55” at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri before rains postponed the finale to a later date.  Brian Brown won his fifth feature with the series by winning his first Capitani Classic at Knoxville a week ago Sunday.  Shane Stewart won his first ever Front Row Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, before Kyle Larson, David Gravel and Jason Johnson won preliminaries at the Knoxville Nationals.  In the end, it was Donny Schatz prevailing for the tenth time in twelve years in the “Granddaddy of the them all”!

Three-point eligible races in North Dakota sanctioned by the World of Outlaws are on the docket for this weekend.  On Friday, River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks will play host, followed by Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo Saturday, and Nodak Speedway in Minot Sunday.

The schedule has seen 23 different winners in the 42 events contested.  Kerry Madsen leads the standings over Ian Madsen, Brian Brown, Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz. Brooke Tatnell, David Gravel, Shane Stewart, Tim Kaeding and Daryn Pittman round out the top ten.

Join us in supporting sprint car racing in the Midwest!

So far, Hoseheads.com, Buckeye Threads, TheCushion.com and the Front Row Challenge have jumped on board as associate sponsors for the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by Open Wheel 101. 

EMi is providing a $500 gift certificate to the highest finishing EMi driver in the season point race, as well.

Whether you are just wanting to chip in or become a title sponsor for the series, there are several options for you.  Visit www.OpenWheel101.com or e-mail Bill Wright at sprntcar@hotmail.com for more details!

Stay tuned to Open Wheel 101 all season long for point and race updates!

Next Up!
 
Fri, Aug 18 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 19 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 19 - Jackson Motorplex (MN)
Sun, Aug 20 – Nodak Speedway (ND) WoO

Current Point Standings (Through 8/12/17)
 
Driver, Hometown, Points (Wins)

Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 806 (3)
Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 758 (5)
Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 675 (5)
Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 618 (2)
Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 610 (5)
Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 434
David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 399 (2)
Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 398 (2)
Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 387 (2)
Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK, 362 (1)
Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND, 359 (1)
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 318
Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 308 (1)
Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO, 270 (1)
Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD, 269 (1)
Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA, 265 (1)
Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City, IA, 218
Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 190 (2)
Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 190 (1)
Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 187 (1)
Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 179
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 178 (1)
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN, 175
Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 175 (2)
Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN, 150
Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO, 144 (1)
Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH, 144 (1)
Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 142
Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 125
Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN, 124
Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 122
Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN, 121
Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 107
Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA, 106
Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH, 104
Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 88 (1)
Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 86
Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA, 81
Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL, 75
Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE, 74
Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 74
Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN, 70
Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH, 68
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 68
Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD, 68
Greg Hodnett, Spring Grove, PA, 65
Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH, 64 (1)
Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN, 63
Jim Moughan, Springfield, IL, 61
Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN, 59
Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL, 58
Jacob Patton, Bethalto, IL, 54
Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 53
Cory Eliason, Selma, CA, 46
AJ Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 43
Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 40
Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 40
Travis Whitney, Blaine, MN, 39
Mike Terry Jr., Plainfield, IN, 35
Jamie Veal, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 35
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 34
Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL, 32
Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK, 32
Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA, 32
Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 30
Terry Babb, Decatur, IL, 28
Austin Johnson, Pleasant Hill, IA, 26
RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 22
Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL, 22
Tayler Malsam, Sammamish, WA, 22
Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA, 22
Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO, 20
Kyle Marten, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 20
Jimmy Hurley, Springfield, IL, 20
Jacob Allen, Hanover, PA, 20
James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust., 20
Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 18
Scott Bogucki, McLaren, SA, Aust., 18
Logan Faucon, Elkhart, IL, 18
Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL, 18
Kody Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 18
Josh Baughman, Odessa, TX, 18
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN, 16
Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA, 16
Matt Wasmund, Jackson, MN, 16
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN, 16
Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL, 14
Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL, 14
Mike Reinke, Howards Grove, WI, 14
Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL, 14
Andrew Andruskevitch, Riverton, IL, 14
Christopher Bell, Norman, OK, 14
Andy McElhannon, Nesbit, MS, 12
Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL, 12
Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam, WI, 12
Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 12
Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 10
Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA, 10
Robbie Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Eric Schulz, Sioux Falls, SD, 8
Justin Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA, 8
Howard Moore, Memphis, TN, 6
Blake Nimee, Oswego, IL, 6
Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN, 6
Bill Boles, Harris, IA, 6
AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 6
Cory Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 6
Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA, 6
Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA, 4
Tyler Bear, Elliottsville, PA, 4
Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek, WI, 4
Brandon Spithaler, Evans City, PA, 4
Austin Pierce, Grand Forks, ND, 4
Ryan Bickett, Ramona, SD, 4
Dean Brown, Springfield, MN, 4
Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL, 4
Matt Vandervere, Zion, IL, 2
Max Stambaugh, Lima, OH, 2
John Lambertz, Sioux Falls, SD, 2
Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA, 2
Trevor Serbus, Olivia, MN, 2
Bob Weuve, Newton, IA, 2
Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2

Tentative Races that will be counted for Points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com (Winners)
 
Fri, April 7 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO)
Sat, April 8 – 34 Raceway (IA) IRA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Sat, April 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sat, April 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, April 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Fri, May 5 – Missouri State Fair Speedway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sat, May 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, May 12 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, May 13 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 20 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sun, May 21 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) All Stars/IRA (Rain)
Fri, May 26 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 27 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, June 1 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, June 2 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, June 3 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Thur, June 8 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA (Bill Balog, Hartland, WI)
Fri, June 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, June 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sun, June 11 – 34 Raceway (IA) All Stars (Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH)
Tue, June 13 – Eagle Raceway (NE) WoO (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Fri, June 16 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Sat, June 17 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD)
Sat, June 17 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO (Rain)
Tue, June 20 – Granite City Speedway (MN) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Fri, June 23 – West Liberty (IA) Speedway WoO (Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK)
Fri, June 23 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH)
Sat, June 24 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO)
Tue, June 27 – The Dirt Oval at Route 66 (IL) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Thur, June 29 – Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Rain)
Fri, June 30 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 1 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, July 6 - Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN)
Fri, July 7 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, July 8 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, July 14 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND)
Sat, July 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Wed, July 26 – Peoria Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Thur, July 27 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Fri, July 28 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX)
Fri, July 28 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA)
Sat, July 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Sat, July 29 – Macon Speedway (IL) MOWA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Fri, Aug 4 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK)
Sat, Aug 5 – I-55 Raceway “Ironman 55” (MO) WoO (Rain)
Sun, Aug 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Cappy Classic (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Mon, Aug 7 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge (Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK)
Wed, Aug 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Thur, Aug 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Fri, Aug 11 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Friday feature only) (Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA)
Sat, Aug 12 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Fri, Aug 18 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 19 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 19 - Jackson Motorplex (MN)
Sun, Aug 20 – Nodak Speedway (ND) WoO
Fri, Aug 25 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Sat, Aug 26 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway
Fri,  Sept 1 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Sat, Sept 2 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Fri, Sept 8 – Superior Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 8 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Sept 9 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) Jerry Richert Memorial
Sat, Sept 9 – Spoon River Speedway (IL) Tom Knowles Memorial
Fri, Sept 15 – Clay County Fair Speedway (IA) IRA
Sat, Sept 16 – Deer Creek Sp,keedway (MN) IRA
Sat, Sept 30 – St. Francois County Raceway (MO) Queen’s Royale
Fri, Oct 6 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Sat, Oct 7 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Fri, Oct 13 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Oct 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Oct 20 – Lakeside Speedway (KS) WoO
Sat, Oct 21 – Salina Highbanks Speedway (OK) WoO

Point System
 
The top fifteen finishers in the feature event each night receive points:

Winner - 50 2. 40 3. 35 4. 30 5. 25 6. 20 7. 18 8. 16 9. 14 10. 12 11. 10 12. 8 13. 6  14. 4 15. 2

Associate Sponsors
 
Hoseheads.com
 
For over twenty years, Hoseheads.com has been your source for “All the News That’s Fit to Sprint”.  From the latest results and photos, to some of the greatest columnists in the sport, check in every day at Hoseheads!

The Cushion
 
T2 Digital, Inc./The Cushion has been involved in LIVE video broadcasting over the internet since early 2007.  The Cushion has covered some of the most prestigious events at some of the greatest facilities in racing over the years.  They are currently enjoying their eighth full year in partnership with “The Sprint Car Capital of the World”, Knoxville Raceway.  Join them for Pay Per View coverage of Knoxville’s events all year long!

Visiting www.TheCushion.com is not only your ticket to LIVE events at the Knoxville Raceway and other great venues, it also provides access to nearly 1,000 On Demand Videos from sanctions like the World of Outlaws, All Stars, USAC, King of the West Series, ASCS, regional tracks and much more!  Also catch live audio from the All Stars, “Cushion Originals” not found anywhere else!

Buckeye Threads

BOLTS • NUTS • SCREWS • WASHERS • RODS • ANCHORS • CUTTING TOOLS

• Standard & special threaded fasteners
• Next day delivery on hard-to-find sizes
• Specials made to your print
• Quality manual conforming to ISO 9001:2000
• A Veteran-owned family business
• Celebrating 32 years of service in 2016
• E-mail, call or fax us your requirements

Visit them online at www.BuckeyeThreads.com!

Front Row Challenge
 
The Price Chopper Front Row Challenge presented by Musco Lighting and Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone Company will again pay $20,000 to the winner!  It will be held Monday, August 7 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.  The 410 sprints will be supported by the IMCA Racesaver sprint cars.  For more information, visit www.OskyChallenges.com!

Product Sponsor
 
EMi
 
It goes without saying that the open wheel industry is constantly evolving and ever-changing. Customers often measure a company in two different ways. The first is by the products that are offered, and the second is by the service.

EMI has excelled at both since the beginning. Here at EMI, the goal is to exceed the customer’s expectations with emphasis on quality and safety. Our technical support combined with our ongoing commitment to product safety sets us apart.
Product research and development focused on your current and future requirements will continue to position EMI at the forefront of the sprint car industry.

EMI continues to value the relationships built with each and every customer. EMI's reaching dealer network, both domestically and internationally, ensures product and support at a moments notice.

New alignments with Speedway Motors, Schnee Chassis, Stallard Chassis, and Henchcraft Chassis forms a foundation for future success. EMI's team of industry experts is poised to assist you with your every need. Please contact us toll free for sales, service, and technical support for your racing endeavors at 855-525-1941 or 402-438-0392.  Visit EMi online at www.EagleMotorsports.com.

Photo: Donny Schatz has won ten of twelve Knoxville Nationals (DB3 Imaging)

Bill Wright
Bill W Media
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia

Website: www.OpenWheel101.com