By Bob Wilson: KNOXVILLE, Iowa (June 6) Shane Stewart came on late in the 25-lap main event to capture the World of Outlaws feature race at Knoxville Raceway Friday night. The win paid the Oklahoma native $10,000 for his efforts.
The race immediately went red as soon as it was flagged green when Brian Paulus flipped in turn two while driving in heavy traffic. He was not injured.
When the race began again, pole sitter Brooke Tatnell shot into the lead using the low line around Knoxville’s big half mile with Tony Bruce in second. Terry McCarl shot to the top of the track to take third. For McCarl the night would be short as on the next go around he slowed in turn three and came to a stop in the fourth turn, the victim of his car popping out of gear. He was unable to restart.
With two laps in the book, another yellow was displayed for Dusty Zomer who had slowed and stopped. Zomer was able to make it back on the track.
On the restart, Tatnell again took the point but this time third-running Donny Schatz roared around Bruce to grab the runner-up spot as they dove into turn three. Stewart was fourth. By lap five, Stewart also made a pass of Bruce to register third.
Tatnell was making quick work of Knoxville’s half mile oval by running the cushion in turns one and two and running the bottom in three and four. The only time Schatz seemed able to make a bid on him was in the first and second turns when the defending Nationals champ drove the bottom line. By lap 10, Schatz continued to hound Tatnell with Stewart a good 10 car-lengths behind.
As the race edged past the mid-way point, Schatz began to challenge Tatnell. Both drivers continued to use their same lines as lap traffic loomed ahead of them. Meanwhile Stewart changed his line and was running the cushion in all four turns. Heavy rains during the past 48 hours had made for a very fast but narrow track forcing the cushion to be only half-way up the wide sweeping turns.
Now, with seventeen laps down, the race had turned into a 3-car battle with Tatnell leading Schatz and Stewart. As those three cars roared out of turn two and down the back chute, Schatz pulled to the inside of Tatnell. Suddenly Tatnell slowed allowing both Schatz and Stewart to pass him. As his car further slowed, it was evident that mechanical ills were plaguing the Australian driver based out of Minnesota.
The caution flag finally came out for Tatnell after he came to a stop on the track. He did not restart.
With eight laps to go, Schatz found his hands full with Stewart when the race went green again. Both cars were immediately nose to tail and Schatz found himself blocking the faster car behind him as the race proceeded. Another yellow on lap 21 slowed the race but when it went green again it was all Schatz could do to keep Stewart at bay.
It was lap 23 that saw Stewart take the lead as he and Schatz rushed down the backstretch side by side. When they hit the third turn, Stewart shot like a bullet into the lead in his Roth/JEI. Once he had the top spot there was no one to challenge him the rest of the way. The win marked Stewart’s third feature event victory on Knoxville soil.
Schatz collected the runner-up spot, Jason Meyers came from the seventh starting nod to grab third, Bruce stayed for fourth and Jac Haudenschild took fifth. Rounding out the top ten on this first night of a two-day show were Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski, Sam Hafertepe (from 16th), Tim Shaffer and Craig Dollansky.
A companion program of dirt trucks saw Tony Moro take the 12-lap feature event. He was followed by Carl Moyer, Matt Moro, Lou Sipolt and Ed Nelson.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
June 6, 2008
410 RESULTS
Time Trials, 1 laps, 1. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA, 14.969; 2. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND, 15.005; 3. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN, 15.048; 4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 15.076; 5. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN, 15.087; 6. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA, 15.115; 7. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD, 15.117; 8. Jason Johnson, Greenville TX, 15.126; 9. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 15.15; 10. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA, 15.17; 11. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK, 15.177; 12. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. , 15.197; 13. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH, 15.202; 14. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN, 15.209; 15. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX, 15.235; 16. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS, 15.247; 17. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.247; 18. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA, 15.248; 19. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK, 15.249; 20. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA, 15.259; 21. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA, 15.275; 22. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH, 15.29; 23. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA, 15.291; 24. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 15.295; 25. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM, 15.298; 26. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK, 15.309; 27. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.329; 28. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN, 15.33; 29. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN, 15.337; 30. Jack Dover, Springfield NE, 15.347; 31. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD, 15.365; 32. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR, 15.37; 33. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA, 15.383; 34. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA, 15.384; 35. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.401; 36. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.408; 37. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD, 15.422; 38. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN, 15.446; 39. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE, 15.473; 40. Bob Weuve, Newton IA, 15.51; 41. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. , 15.519; 42. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN, 15.531; 43. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.544; 44. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA, 15.568; 45. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA, 15.57; 46. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.608; 47. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, 15.659; 48. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND, 15.676; 49. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.699; 50. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA, 15.777; 51. Derek Ingalls, (R) Snohomish WA, 15.811; 52. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA, 15.868; 53. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND, 15.946;
Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 2. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 3. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 4. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 5. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 6. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 7. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM; 8. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA; 9. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 10. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA; 11. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 12. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 13. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 14. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA;
Heat 2, 8 laps, 2:03.8: 1. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 2. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 3. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 4. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 5. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 6. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 7. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA; 8. Jack Dover, Springfield NE; 9. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 10. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 11. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 12. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 13. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA;
Heat 3, 8 laps, 2:00.4 New Track Record: 1. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK; 2. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 3. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 4. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 5. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 6. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 7. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA; 8. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 9. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 10. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 11. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 12. Derek Ingalls, (R) Snohomish WA; 13. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK;
Heat 4, 8 laps, 2:02.6: 1. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 2. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 3. Jason Johnson, Greenville TX; 4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 5. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 6. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 7. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA; 9. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 10. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 11. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 12. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 13. Bob Weuve, Newton IA;
C Feature, 9 laps, 2:27.9 Track Record: 1. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 2. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 3. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 4. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 5. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 6. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 7. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 8. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 9. Derek Ingalls, (R) Snohomish WA; 10. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 11. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 12. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 13. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 14. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 15. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 16. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA;
Dash , 6 laps, 1:32.2 New Track Record: 1. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 2. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 3. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 4. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 5. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK; 6. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 7. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 8. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 9. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 10. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO;
B Feature , 12 laps, 3:09.2 New Track Record: 1. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA; 2. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA; 3. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 4. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA; 5. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 6. Dion Hindi, (R) Albuquerque NM; 7. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 8. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 9. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 10. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 11. Jack Dover, Springfield NE; 12. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 13. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 14. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 15. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 16. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA; 17. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 18. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA;
A Feature , 25 laps, No Time: 1. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK; 2. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 3. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 4. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 5. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 6. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 7. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 8. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 9. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA; 10. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 11. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 12. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 13. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 14. Jason Johnson, Greenville TX; 15. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 16. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 17. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA; 18. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 19. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 20. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 21. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 22. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 23. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 24. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA. Lap Leaders: Tatnell 1-17; Schatz 18-22; Stewart 23-15
Dirt Trucks RESULTS
Heat 1, 6 laps, 2:27.8: 1. Bob Murray, Des Moines IA; 2. Ed Nelson, Van Meter IA; 3. Carl Moyer, Ankeny IA; 4. Tony Moro, Des Moines IA; 5. Josh Hull, Mitchellville IA; 6. Matt Moro, Des Moines IA; 7. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 8. Bryan Nevins Jr., Des Moines IA;
Heat 2, 6 laps, 2:26.1: 1. Lou Sipolt, Altoona IA; 2. Brian Murray, Altoona IA; 3. Rick Clark, Des Moines IA; 4. Mike Todd, Pleasant Hill IA; 5. Tim Murray, Van Meter IA; 6. Bret Moyer, Polk City IA; 7. Patrick Fagen, Des Moines IA;
A Feature , 12 laps, No Time: 1. Lou Sipolt, Altoona IA; 2. Carl Moyer, Ankeny IA; 3. Mike Todd, Pleasant Hill IA; 4. Tony Moro, Des Moines IA; 5. Bob Murray, Des Moines IA; 6. Brian Murray, Altoona IA; 7. Josh Hull, Mitchellville IA; 8. Rick Clark, Des Moines IA; 9. Matt Moro, Des Moines IA; 10. Tim Murray, Van Meter IA; 11. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 12. Bret Moyer, Polk City IA; 13. Bryan Nevins Jr., Des Moines IA; 14. Patrick Fagen, Des Moines IA