By Bob Wilson
Schatz wins Knoxville WoO Spring Opener
KNOXVILLE, IA (May2) – Defending Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz claimed the World of Outlaws (WoO) Spring Opener at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night at this central Iowa racing facility. It marked the 56th year of continuous weekly racing here.
The 25-lap feature event saw Knoxville regular Brian Brown shoot to the front when the race flagged green. Brown started on the pole but had to hold off the immediate challenge for the lead from his uncle, Danny Lasoski who started right beside him. Terry McCarl took that runner-up spot on the next lap as Schatz steered from seventh to fourth. It was evident that Schatz’s starting position would not be a factor in this 13 mile race.
Lap five saw the first of only two yellows which slowed the event as a car had come to a stop on the track. All eyes were on the first turn of the restart as Brown took to the high cushion and McCarl dove to the bottom. Brown managed to avoid the slider and keep the lead as Schatz kept a very close third.
As the early stages of this race played out, Brown continued to lead and in fact pulled to a 15 car-length lead over McCarl who was being hounded by Schatz. At this juncture too, Steve Kinser slid Lasoski to take fourth.
With a dozen laps in the books, Brown entered lap traffic. He tried to run the top when he could as did McCarl. Schatz, however, placed his J & J on the bottom to keep pace. As the laps counted down the top three runners began encountering more and more traffic and this played into the hands of McCarl as he finally made a pass of the Brown machine to take the lead on the 15th circuit.
Brown stayed close to the leader but he was eventually passed by Schatz on lap 17. This move then set up Schatz in his bid to run down McCarl as he tried unsuccessfully to get by the leader several times.
The magic lap occurred on the 21st go around as Schatz finally made the pass for the lead coming out of turn four on the high side after the lengthy battle with McCarl. Then, just as Schatz took the white flag, the final yellow or the race was displayed for a stopped car.
Again, all eyes focused on turns one and two on the restart but no positions changed for the top five runners. Eventually Kinser made a pass of Brown on the final lap, but Schatz had too much for everyone on this night and he carried home the $10,000 to win for the Tony Stewart owned sprinter.
Completing the top five were McCarl, Kinser, Brown and Haudenschild. Lasoski, Jason Johnson, Jason Sides, Craig Dollansky (from 22nd) and Jason Meyers formed the top ten finishers.
Seven cars broke into the 14 seconds bracket during qualifying time trials, fastest of which was Schatz at 14.592. That quick lap was only .185 off the one-lap track record here.
In the companion 360 sprint feature, a virtual unknown captured the 15-lap feature as 19-year-old Matt Covington led every circuit to claim the season opener in that division. It was his first feature win ever.
Covington, who started outside row two, took a chance and dove to the bottom in turn one as the race began and powered down the backstretch with the lead. With just two laps in the books, the red came out for Darren Long who took a tumble down the front chute.
Matt Sutton trailed the leader for the first eight laps until he was passed on lap nine in turns one and two by Clint Garner, a fifth row starter. Garner had staged a great battle with Gregg Bakker (last year’s season opener winner) through most of the front portion of the race. Garner’s heroics were too late as Covington had checked out on the field and by the end of the race had built a twenty car-length margin when he swept under the checkered flags. Garner kept second, Bakker took third, Ryan Roberts was fourth and Jon Agan rounded out the top five.
Forty-seven 410 teams contested the WoO events and fifty-seven cars faced-off in the 360 portion of the race card.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 2, 2009
410 RESULTS
Time Trial 1, 1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND, 14.592; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 14.67; 3. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN, 14.71; 4. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH, 14.847; 5. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA, 14.879; 6. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 14.972; 7. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN, 14.984; 8. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN, 15.009; 9. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA, 15.045; 10. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN, 15.046; 11. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD, 15.063; 12. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.088; 13. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA, 15.088; 14. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.125; 15. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA, 15.151; 16. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. , 15.157; 17. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.189; 18. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN, 15.192; 19. Chris Morgan, (R) Topeka KS, 15.197; 20. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA, 15.222; 21. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS, 15.226; 22. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA, 15.265; 23. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX, 15.278; 24. Bob Weuve, Newton IA, 15.294; 25. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 15.304; 26. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA, 15.328; 27. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.337; 28. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN, 15.344; 29. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN, 15.346; 30. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 15.379; 31. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE, 15.391; 32. Tim Kaeding, San Jose CA, 15.417; 33. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. , 15.432; 34. Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM, 15.459; 35. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND, 15.481; 36. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN, 15.525; 37. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.546; 38. Lou Kennedy Jr., Winnipeg, MB, Can. , 15.584; 39. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.617; 40. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA, 15.677; 41. Austin McCarl, (R) Altoona IA, 15.794; 42. Pete Crall, (R) DeSoto KS, 15.8; 43. Brad Greer, Coulterville IL, 15.838; 44. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington IA, 16.164; 45. Robert Bell, Colfax IA, 17.73; 46. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE, No Time; 47. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA, No Time;
Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 2. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA; 3. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 4. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 5. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 6. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 7. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 8. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 9. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 10. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 11. Austin McCarl, (R) Altoona IA; 12. Robert Bell, Colfax IA;
Heat 2, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 3. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 4. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 5. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA; 6. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 7. Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque NM; 8. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA; 9. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE; 10. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 11. Lou Kennedy Jr., Winnipeg, MB, Can. ; 12. Pete Crall, (R) DeSoto KS;
Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA; 2. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 3. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 4. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 5. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 6. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 7. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 8. Chris Morgan, (R) Topeka KS; 9. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 10. Brad Greer, Coulterville IL; 11. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 12. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE;
Heat 4, 8 laps, 2:08.5: 1. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 2. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 3. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 4. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 5. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 6. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 7. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN; 8. Tim Kaeding, San Jose CA; 9. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN; 10. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 11. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington IA;
C-Feature, 8 laps, 2:15.7: 1. Pete Crall, (R) DeSoto KS; 2. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington IA; 3. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 4. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE; 5. Austin McCarl, (R) Altoona IA; 6. Brad Greer, Coulterville IL; 7. Lou Kennedy Jr., Winnipeg, MB, Can. ; 8. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA;
Dash , 6 laps, 1:38.1: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 3. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 4. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 5. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 6. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 7. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 8. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA; 9. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 10. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN;
B Feature , 10 laps, No Time: 1. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 2. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 3. Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque NM; 4. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 5. Chris Morgan, (R) Topeka KS; 6. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 7. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 8. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN; 9. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 10. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA; 11. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 12. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 13. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 14. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 15. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington IA; 16. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN;
A Feature , 25 laps, No Time: 1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 2. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 3. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 5. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 6. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 7. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA; 8. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 9. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 10. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 11. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 12. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 13. Tim Kaeding, San Jose CA; 14. Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque NM; 15. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 16. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 17. Wayne Johnson, Knoxville IA; 18. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 19. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 20. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 21. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 22. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 23. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 24. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 25. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 26. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA; Lap Leaders: Brown 1-14; McCarl 15-20; Schatz 21-26.
360 RESULTS
Heat 1, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Chad Humston, Giltner NE; 2. Jon Corbin, Carrollton MO; 3. Jay Russell, (R) Elwood KS; 4. Mark Toews, Spirit Lake IA; 5. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 6. Josh Riggins, Lincoln NE; 7. Jeff Heffner, Denver CO; 8. Chad Heimbaugh, (R) Pleasant Hill IA; 9. Dakota Carroll, LaMonte MO; 10. Dan Thornburg, Des Moines IA;
Heat 2, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Matt Covington, Glenpool OK; 2. Ben Wagoner, Emden IL; 3. Matt Sutton, Macomb IL; 4. CJ Houseman, Norwalk IA; 5. Seth Bergman, Snohomish WA; 6. Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB, Can. ; 7. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 8. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 9. Cody Petersen, Hermosa SD; 10. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA;
Heat 3, 7 laps, 1:59.0: 1. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 2. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 3. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 4. Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow OK; 5. Jonathan Cornell, (R) Sedalia MO; 6. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 7. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 8. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 9. Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls SD; 10. Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield IL;
Heat 4, 7 laps, 1:57.8: 1. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 2. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids IA; 4. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 5. Jesse Giannetto, Cedar Rapids IA; 6. Randy Martin, California MO; 7. John Hall, Marion IA; 8. Ricky Montgomery, (R) Lakewood CO; 9. Glen Hunt, Knoxville IA;
Heat 5, 7 laps, 1:59.5: 1. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell IA; 3. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 4. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 5. RJ Johnson, Tampa FL; 6. Eric Baldaccini, Keller TX; 7. Jason Eckard, Okoboji IA; 8. Josh Padellford, (R) Pleasantville IA; 9. Brant OBanion, Norfolk NE;
Heat 6, 7 laps, 2:00.0No Time: 1. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 2. Darren Long, Elida OH; 3. Dustin Morgan, Owasso OK; 4. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 5. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 6. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 8. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 9. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD;
C-Feature, 6 laps, No Time: 1. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 2. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 3. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 4. Ricky Montgomery, (R) Lakewood CO; 5. Jason Eckard, Okoboji IA; 6. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 8. Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls SD; 9. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 10. Josh Padellford, (R) Pleasantville IA; 11. Brant OBanion, Norfolk NE; 12. Glen Hunt, Knoxville IA; 13. Jeff Heffner, Denver CO; 14. Chad Heimbaugh, (R) Pleasant Hill IA; 15. Dakota Carroll, LaMonte MO; 16. Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield IL; 17. John Hall, Marion IA; 18. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 19. Cody Petersen, Hermosa SD; 20. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA;
B Feature, 10 laps, 3:06.6: 1. Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow OK; 2. Jay Russell, (R) Elwood KS; 3. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids IA; 4. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 5. Jesse Giannetto, Cedar Rapids IA; 6. Dustin Morgan, Owasso OK; 7. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 8. Jonathan Cornell, (R) Sedalia MO; 9. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 10. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 11. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 12. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 13. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 14. Seth Bergman, Snohomish WA; 15. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 16. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 17. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 18. Josh Riggins, Lincoln NE; 19. Randy Martin, California MO; 20. RJ Johnson, Tampa FL; 21. Eric Baldaccini, Keller TX; 22. Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB, Can. ;
A Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. Matt Covington, Glenpool OK; 2. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 5. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 6. Chad Humston, Giltner NE; 7. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 8. Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell IA; 9. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 10. Jon Corbin, Carrollton MO; 11. Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow OK; 12. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids IA; 13. Matt Sutton, Macomb IL; 14. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 15. Mark Toews, Spirit Lake IA; 16. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 17. Ben Wagoner, Emden IL; 18. CJ Houseman, Norwalk IA; 19. Jay Russell, (R) Elwood KS; 20. Darren Long, Elida OH; Lap Leaders: Covington 1-15