Looking back at my pre-season predictions, I am dumbfounded that my pick to win Dusty Zomer is seventh in points and only has one top five finish. It’s obvious the Ingalls 91 team is down on horsepower in qualifying and that has hurt them having to start in the back of the features. Zomer’s qualifying average is 13.0 in five races this year with a best of sixth, and his average feature finish is 8.8.
Danny Lasoski will likely pick up Knoxville career wins 99 and 100 this season. When I was kid I never dreamed anyone would crush Earl Wagner's record of 43 wins and now Wagner is sixth on the all-time wins list. 98 or 100 wins is mind blowing and surely a record I will never see broken, along with David Hesmer's 65 wins in the 360 class. Lasoski is 53 years old and shows no signs of slowing down. He has had horrible luck at the Nationals the past two years running 13th in the B-Main in 2010, and a humiliating fifth in the D-Main in 2011. Look for the Dude to be strong in August.
I'm really happy to see Bronson Maeschen in the top five of Knoxville points. He has one quick time and three top fives. His average feature finish is 9.6 and average qualifying position is 4.6. He had a win taken away from him a couple of weeks ago as he led the distance until a late yellow gave Lasoski the opportunity to steal it with a pass on the high side. Maeschen is still looking for his first 410 feature win at Knoxville and he is knocking on the door.
360 Class:
Clint Garner is dominating this class. two wins, five top fives in six starts, three quick times. It's not even close as he has over a 200 point lead over second.
The race for second in points is a good one with Nate Van Haafton, Matt Moro, Joe Beaver, Russ Hall, Jon Agan, Casey Fredrichson and Carson McCarl all separated by roughly 100 points. But Garner is headed to win his fourth consecutive 360 championship. He is so fast he catches up to some cars and he doesn't have time to react. Just ask Jamie Ball. I seriously think Garner could run in the top ten in the 410 class looking at my stop watch during the features.305 Class:
This has turned into a good race with Mike Van Haafton, Matthew Stelzer, Mitchell Alexander, and LarryBall Jr. I expected Ball to run away with this points battle, but I'm pleasantly surprised it's turning into a competitive field of cars, and that the flag man is throwing the black flag to some of the slower cars finally.
Kudos to the Dunkin's for great track prep this season, and the drivers for giving the safety teams and Doug Clark's red flag a rest for three consecutive weeks.
I went to the Natty Light Knoxville Shootout on Sunday... day shows stink. And there was maybe 200 fans there.
Never a good sign when more people are on the inside of the fences than outside. That modified and stock car crowd just isn't going to pay $15 to see a show, not when they're accustomed to paying $10 or less.Marshalltown Speedway:
I've had a couple of good experiences at the Marshalltown Speedway this season and this last week (June 1) was simply the best racing I have ever seen there. The track conditions were tacky and fast, but wide and great racing. The SportMod feature went non stop and Gaitlin Leytham took the win, but watching Jake Strayer and Janae Gustin work their way through traffic was a lot of fun to watch.
The Stock Car feature Trent Murphy lead early but broke and Damon Murty would hold off Brian Irvine for several laps and then Jay Schmidt was able to sneak by Irvine at the line for second. Lots of side by side and rubbin in that feature.
The Modified feature Josh Truman grabbed the early lead and held off Tim Stevens and Kyle Brown. As the race went on Luke Wanninger and Jimmy Gustin drove their way up from mid pack and Wanninger took the lead on lap 13. A caution came out late but Wanninger was able to hold off Gustin for the win with Truman third and a great race between father and son as Kyle Brown edged father David for fourth. If you haven't been to Marshalltown this year, plan a trip.
Bloomfield Speedway:
I found my way to Bloomfield on Memorial Day for a day show of Modifieds and Stock Cars. It was a decent show as far as day racing. Better than sitting at home on the couch for sure as it was a nice day. But the racing wasn't anything spectacular except for Carter Vandenberg passing several cars on high side to win a makeup feature from a few weeks before that was rained out. Nathan wood nearly had a car destroyed as he tried to cross the track to the pit area and was waived by the official to go that he was clear but he was tagged by a Modified as he went across the track. Bad deal.
Des Moines-Iowa State Fairgrounds:
I've also made it to the State Fairgrounds two Friday nights this season. The racing there hasn't been the best either as that hairpin track is fast and hard on equipment. Although Shannon Anderson put on a clinic in the Hobby Stock feature on May 18 when I was there. The dirt trucks tore up so many cars that night they weren't able to field enough cars the next night at Knoxville when they were scheduled and again on Tuesday at the Marshalltown Deery Bros special.
I'm headed to Osky, Spencer WoO, and Knoxville WoO this weekend. Even missing my 20 year class reunion on Saturday. Priorities.... See you in the stands!
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