By Bob Wilson: KNOXVILLE, Iowa – May3- Defending Knoxville Nationals Champion Donny Schatz picked up from where he left off in August as he captured the World of Outlaws Knoxville Raceway season opener on Saturday night. The win paid the driver of the Tony Stewart Racing J & J chassis $10,000 for his efforts.
The 25-lap feature was flagged to a halt twice before a lap was run as first Brian Brown and then Tim Shaffer struck the first turn fence. Neither driver was injured. Once the race finally went green it went non-stop for the distance.
Pole sitter Steve Kinser jumped to the immediate lead as fellow front row starter Jac Haudenschild filled in right behind him. Schatz was third and Joey Saldana was fourth. Only these four cars would be factors in the outcome of this feature event.
While leading, Kinser found the bottom of turns one and two and the high cushion in three and four to be the fastest route around this half-mile oval. Schatz grabbed the runner-up spot on the fifth circuit and began to chase Kinser at a distance. Lap eight saw the leaders head into lap traffic but Schatz was unable to make a run at Kinser despite the slower traffic.
Kinser was able to maintain a healthy ten car-length advantage until the sixteenth circuit when heavy lap traffic began to impede his progress and Schatz was able to close the gap to 5 car lengths. Coming out of turn four at the completion of lap 18, Schatz roared by Kinser on the high side and took the lead. By lap 20 he had put a ten-car length margin between himself and Kinser.
As the race roared toward its conclusion, Schatz again led the front runners into heavy traffic. He was able to keep his position but the positions behind him were changing. Lap 24 saw Haudenschild and Saldana get by Kinser at the flag stand. On the white flag lap Saldana passed Haudenschild to grab a second place finish.
With Haudenschild and Kinser taking third and fourth, Jason Meyers completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Danny Lasoski and Stevie Smith.
In the companion 360 sprint division, Gregg Baker guided his self-owned sprinter to a non-stop win as he garnered his initial feature event victory at this historic Central Iowa oval.
Baker jumped to an immediate lead from the pole as the majority of the drivers found their harder compound tires worked best on the cushion. The Sioux Falls driver was able to create a 15 car-length lead by lap five. On the next go around he slammed the turn four wall but continued to run with no apparent damage.
Baker’s battle with the wall enabled his nearest competitors, Jon Agan and Josh Higday, to close in on the leader as most eyes were on the Agan-Higday battle.
When Baker entered lap ten and lap traffic, he again had pulled away from his challengers. Lap traffic would play a role in this race as Agan did make headway on the leader while each driver worked his way through the backmarkers.
In the end, Baker took the 15 lap feature event with Agan trailing at the checkers. Higday finished a solid third while eighth starter Chuck Swenson was fourth. Joey Beaver, who started beside Swenson finished fifth. Dustin Selvage, Pete Crall, Brett Mather (from 16th), Ryan Roberts and Natalie Sather (from 20th) rounded out the top ten.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 3, 2008
410 RESULTS
Time Trial , 1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND, 14.778; 2. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA, 14.841; 3. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 14.909; 4. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN, 14.919; 5. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN, 14.919; 6. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 14.922; 7. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK, 15.013; 8. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX, 15.033; 9. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK, 15.082; 10. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN, 15.139; 11. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS, 15.167; 12. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD, 15.171; 13. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA, 15.184; 14. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA, 15.202; 15. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH, 15.204; 16. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH, 15.225; 17. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.228; 18. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 15.24; 19. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA, 15.273; 20. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK, 15.297; 21. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.298; 22. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA, 15.329; 23. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 15.373; 24. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.391; 25. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA, 15.407; 26. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD, 15.419; 27. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN, 15.438; 28. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA, 15.439; 29. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND, 15.477; 30. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN, 15.514; 31. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA, 15.532; 32. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA, 15.566; 33. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 15.583; 34. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR, 15.606; 35. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, 15.656; 36. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.689; 37. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE, 15.692; 38. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN, 15.722; 39. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA, 15.731; 40. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD, 15.731; 41. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.799; 42. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. , 15.815; 43. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ, 15.83; 44. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.873; 45. Bob Weuve, Newton IA, 16.213; 46. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. , No Time; 47. Travis Cram, Knoxville IA, No Time;
Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 2. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 3. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 4. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 5. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 6. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 7. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 9. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 10. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 11. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 12. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA;
Heat 2, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 2. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 3. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA; 5. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 6. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 7. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 8. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 10. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ; 11. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD;
Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 2. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 3. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 4. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 5. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA; 6. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 7. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 8. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 9. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ; 10. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA;
Heat 4, 8 laps, 2:08.6: 1. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 2. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 3. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 4. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 5. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK; 6. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 7. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 8. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 9. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 10. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 11. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA;
C Feature, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 2. Tony Shilling, Knoxville IA; 3. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 5. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 6. Kaylene Verville, (R) Avondale AZ; 7. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 8. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can. ;
Dash, 6 laps, 1:36.0 New Track Record: 1. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 2. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 3. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 4. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 5. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 6. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 7. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 8. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 9. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 10. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS;
B Feature, 10 laps, No Time: 1. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 2. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 3. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 4. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 6. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 7. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 9. Brandon Wimmer, (R) Fairmount IN; 10. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 11. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 12. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 13. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 14. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 15. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND;
A Feature, 25 laps, 7:18.0 New Track Record: 1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 2. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 3. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 4. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN; 5. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA; 6. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 7. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 8. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 9. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 10. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 11. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 12. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 13. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK; 14. Kraig Kinser, Bloomington IN; 15. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA; 16. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN; 17. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 18. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 19. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 20. Chad Hillier, Burlington WA; 21. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 22. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 23. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 24. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 25. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA; 26. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO. Lap Leaders: Kinser 1-17; Schatz 18-25
360 RESULTS
Heat 1, 7 laps, 1:56.9: 1. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 2. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 3. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 4. John Hall, Marion IA; 5. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 6. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 7. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 8. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 9. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA;
Heat 2, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 2. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 3. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 4. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 5. Jason Eckard, Okoboji IA; 6. Jake Leighty, Worthington MN; 7. Dan Thornburg, Des Moines IA; 8. Larry Pinegar II, Pleasant Hill IA; 9. Eric Jobe, Kansas City MO;
Heat 3, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Chuck Swenson, Watertown SD; 2. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 3. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 4. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 5. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 6. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 7. CJ Houseman, Norwalk IA; 8. Mark Pace, Lincoln NE;
Heat 4, 7 laps, 1:56.8: 1. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 2. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 3. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 4. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 6. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. RJ Johnson, (R) Tampa FL; 8. Jordan St. Arnold, Mitchellville IA;
B Feature, 10 laps, No Time: 1. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 2. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 3. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 4. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 5. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 6. Dan Thornburg, Des Moines IA; 7. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 8. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 9. Tyler Thompson, Des Moines IA; 10. RJ Johnson, (R) Tampa FL; 11. Jordan St. Arnold, Mitchellville IA; 12. Jason Eckard, Okoboji IA; 13. Mark Pace, Lincoln NE; 14. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 15. CJ Houseman, Norwalk IA; 16. Jake Leighty, Worthington MN; 17. Larry Pinegar II, Pleasant Hill IA;
A Feature, 15 laps, 4:32.5: 1. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 3. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 4. Chuck Swenson, Watertown SD; 5. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 6. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 7. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 8. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 9. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 10. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 11. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 12. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 13. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 14. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 15. Russ Hall, Des Moines IA; 16. Dave Hall, Des Moines IA; 17. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 18. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 19. John Hall, Marion IA; 20. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS. Lap Leaders: Baker 1-15