By Bob Wilson: KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Billy Alley and Josh Higday, both former track champions, captured feature events at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. The wins catapulted each driver into contention for Knoxville Championship Cup titles at the end of the season.
Alley, who started the 20-lap feature alongside Randy Anderson, took lap one in a blanket finish over Anderson. Anderson was not done as he grabbed the lead back on the second go around and held it through lap seven.
Heading into turn one of the 8th circuit, Alley was right on Anderson’s rear nerf bar and when the leader slid up to the cushion in turn two, Alley took advantage and the lead as he headed out of turn two and down the backstretch. By the half-way point, Alley headed into lap traffic and began to pull away.
Lap 12 saw Dusty Zomer get by Anderson in the same location and one lap later Brian Brown did the same. Two laps later the lone slowdown yellow flag was displayed for a stopped car on the track.
The restart again saw Alley take the point as Zomer tried in vain to find a way to get around him. It was all for naught as the Alley SA Racing JEI/Wesmar began to pull away once again.
The win marked the fourth 410 feature victory of the Lincoln, Nebraska youngster who garnered $3,000 for his efforts. Trailing were Zomer and Danny Lasoski who settled a race-long battle with fourth place Brian Brown on the last lap. Ricky Logan was fifth. Completing the top ten were Justin Henderson, Jake Peters, Mark Dobmeier (from 18th), Calvin Landis, and Anderson.
In the 360 feature event, front row starter Tom Lenz held the point on the first two laps. Fourth starting Josh Higday found the bottom to his liking and dove low in turn one of the third lap and had the lead as he roared into turn two and down the backstretch. Though he fell back in his pacing of the Higday Maxim/Wesmar, Lenz held down that second spot through a lap seven yellow and the ensuing restart.
As the race moved on and Higday began to pull away for the twenty-car field, Lenz found himself being hard pressed by Matt Moro. Also coming forward at this point was last week’s winner John Kearney who was gaining positions by running the top groove.
Finally on the 13th go around, Moro got by Lenz who began to fade rapidly allowing car after car to pass him on the track.
In the end, it was Higday taking his 15th career win here for owner Dwight Snodgrass and a $1,250 check for his efforts. It was Moro, Travis Rilat, Jesse Giannetto and Brett Mather completing the top five. Kearney (from 17th) David Hall, Russ Hall, Lenz, and Natalie Sather from the tail formed the top ten finishers.
In ceremonies on the fairgrounds during the day, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum inducted 12 new members into its Hall of Fame. New Inductees in this 16th annual affair were Kramer Williamson (driver), Brent Kaeding (driver), Doug Howells (owner), Glenn Fitzcharles (driver), Dick Jordan (media), Louis “Rusty” Espinoza , Earl Wagner (driver), Bob Hampshire (owner), Johnnie Parsons (driver), Tony Bettenhausen (driver), Gordon Schroeder (manufacturer) and John Padjen (promoter).
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 31, 2008
410 RESULTS
Time Trial, 1. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 14.849; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 14.868; 3. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA, 14.917; 4. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD, 14.945; 5. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.02; 6. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.088; 7. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA, 15.123; 8. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.164; 9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR, 15.207; 10. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.213; 11. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD, 15.216; 12. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM, 15.228; 13. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.232; 14. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD, 15.247; 15. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA, 15.27; 16. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA, 15.321; 17. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN, 15.355; 18. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA, 15.357; 19. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.36; 20. Bob Weuve, Newton IA, 15.465; 21. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE, 15.475; 22. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. , 15.476; 23. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND, 15.498; 24. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA, 15.5; 25. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, 15.527; 26. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA, 15.589; 27. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. , 15.596; 28. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 15.664; 29. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA, 15.721; 30. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ, 16.108;
Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 2. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 3. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 4. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 5. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 6. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 7. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 8. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 9. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 10. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ;
Heat 2, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 3. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 5. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 6. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 7. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 8. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 9. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 10. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA;
Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA; 2. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA; 3. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM; 4. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 5. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 6. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 7. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 8. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 9. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 10. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ;
B Feature, 15 laps, No Time: 1. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 2. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 3. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 4. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 5. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 6. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 7. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA; 9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 10. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ; 11. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 12. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA;
A Feature, 20 laps, No Time: 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 2. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 3. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 5. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 6. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 7. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 8. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 9. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 10. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 11. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 12. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA; 13. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 14. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 15. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA; 16. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM; 17. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 18. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 19. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 20. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 21. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 22. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 23. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 24. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN. Lap Leaders: Alley 1; Randy Anderson 2-7; Alley 8-20
360 RESULTS
Heat 1, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 2. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 3. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 4. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 5. Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood CO; 6. Mark Amenda, Streator IL; 7. Kramer Williamson, Palmyra PA; 8. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 9. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND;
Heat 2, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 2. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 3. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Mike Peters, Wichita KS; 6. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 7. RJ Johnson, (R) Tampa FL; 8. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 9. Joe McCarthy, Broomfield CO;
Heat 3, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 2. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 3. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 4. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 5. Carl “Midge” Miller, Willingboro NJ; 6. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 7. Cody Petersen, (R) Hermosa SD; 8. Don Stoutner, Brighton CO;
Heat 4, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Travis Rilat, Forney TX; 2. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 3. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 4. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 5. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 6. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 7. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 8. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA;
B Feature, 10 laps, No Time: 1. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 2. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 3. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 4. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 5. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 6. Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood CO; 7. RJ Johnson, (R) Tampa FL; 8. Cody Petersen, (R) Hermosa SD; 9. Mark Amenda, Streator IL; 10. Don Stoutner, Brighton CO; 11. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 12. Carl “Midge” Miller, Willingboro NJ;
A Feature, 15 laps, No Time: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 2. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 3. Travis Rilat, Forney TX; 4. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 5. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 6. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 7. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 8. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 9. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 10. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 11. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 12. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 13. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 14. Mike Peters, Wichita KS; 15. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 16. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 17. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 18. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 19. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA. Lap Leaders: Lenz 1-2; Higday 3-15