Danny Lasoski owner/driver dominated the Lucas Oil KCCS (Knoxville Championship Cup Series) by winning three features and had an average finish of 3.5. In 13 regular races The Dude finished in the top ten in every feature, and was in the top five 11 times. Nine track championships is an astonishing number and surely will be a record tough to ever match.
Dusty Zomer in the Derek Ingalls owned 91 finished second in points to Lasoski but racked up four feature wins, more than anyone else. With four wins, 11 top tens, 8 top fives, that would be enough to win a championship some years. After finishing ninth in points a year ago it’s hard not to pick Zomer, Ingalls, and crew chief Jeff Woodruff as the most improved driver/team of the year.
Kevin Swindell in the Big Game Treestands 1s car was a surprise to have at Knoxville this season. After finishing 22nd on opening night and only making three of the first five nights of racing, he completed the rest of the season finishing in the top ten in 8 of his last 9 features including two wins, one of which was against the All-Stars. He didn’t have a strong showing at the Nationals but managed to find his way to win the Friday non-qualifying for a third victory. Although it had been a couple of years since Kevin raced a sprint car with a wing, he quickly reacquainted himself with the machine and showed he could hang with the best in the country as the two time Chili Bowl Midget Nationals winner earned Knoxville Rookie of the Year honors.
Terry McCarl drove the Vermeer 55 to 2 wins, 5 top fives, 10 top tens, and finished fifth in points. The six time track champion had a sub average season by his standards. T-Mac is the Joe Frazier of Knoxville, and Lasoski is Ali. These two men are two of the greatest to ever drive a car at Knoxville and their rivalry dates back to 1985.
Mark Dobmeier in the Lunstra 13 sprinter finished fifth in points, down one spot from a year ago. After two wins last season Mark managed two wins again this year, one of them on his prelim night during the Nationals. He had 11 top ten’s in 12 starts, but the one week he missed cost him valuable points. Definitely one of the fastest cars on the track all season.
Austin McCarl in the family owned 17a car climbed from tenth last year to sixth in points this season. He nearly pulled off the win on twin features night but was passed by his old man in the closing laps. 2 top fives, 8 top ten’s, and he made all 13 features. I’m continually impressed with this young man and he gets better, faster, smoother every week it seems. It’s a matter of time before he wins.
Don Droud Jr. in the Gil Sonner 47 has to be disappointed with his season after finishing second in points in 2010 and winning two races, his 2011 stats are seventh in points, no wins, only 2 top fives, 6 top ten’s, but made all 13 features. Droud is a very underrated driver but they seemed a bit slower this year compared to their competition. Hope they can rebound in 2012.
Davey Heskin in Grandpa Maxwell’s 56 has a rough start to his season. Davey was eleventh in points in 2010 and finishes eight this year, but oh how this season could have been better if the luck came their way. He started all ten features he was at the track for, but with no motor they missed twin features night and the week before to cost them valuable points and probably a top five in points. He finished with 4 top fives, 7 top ten’s, and nearly won his Nationals qualifying night feature but came up short to Sammy due to a late restart. Good season for Heskin and his team and if there is one driver at Knoxville I would buy stock in, it’s this kid.
Lynton Jeffrey owner/driver took his number 12 to victory lane once this year, and made 12 of the 13 features. After finishing sixth in points last season and seemed to have momentum going his way, Jeffrey was only able to come up with 5 top ten’s in 2011, and 3 finishes of 20th or worse. It was a disappointing season over all after a couple of successful seasons previously.
Dustin Selvage owner/driver made the jump from 360’s to 410’s this year and he was able to put together a top ten points finish in his rookie season. Normally this would be plenty to earn rookie of the year honors, but he has nothing to hang his head about. 6 top 10’s and made 12 of the 13 features. Good solid season to build off of.
Bronson Maeschen fell from fifth to 11th in points.
Josh Schneiderman fell from eight to 12th in points.
Rager Phillips 14th to 13th.
Mike Moore 12th to 14th.
Robby Wolfgang 13th to 15th.
My personal awards:
410 Driver of the Year: Dusty Zomer (more wins and more entertaining)
410 Most Improved Driver: Dusty Zomer (9th to 2nd in points, 4 wins)
Goody’s Headache Powder Award: Davey Heskin (no motor for twin features cost him a top five in points)
Race of the Year: Midseason Championship June 18th “Revenge Draw”. Zomer and Lasoski are given the 9th and 10th starting spots. Underdog Ryan Anderson gets the front row and is pulling away early, but a caution allows Wayne Johnson to catch him and as Johnson is pulling away his engine leaks a ton of oil and it had some huge flames. Anderson’s engine fails and he goes pit side as well. Zomer inherits the lead after a fierce battle with Lasoski as they climbed their way up to the front of the field, and Zomer held off Lasoski to the finish line.
I’ll put together my 360 and 305 season recap later…. Go Hawkeyes!
