Brad Sweet Wins at Knoxville!

The World of Outlaws STP sprint cars came to Knoxville Raceway this past Saturday night with (48) 410 cars entered for the night. A great crowd was on hand, one of the biggest non-Nationals crowds that I can remember. This was the only chance fans have this season to see the WoO compete at Knoxville before the Nationals in August. There was also a large contingent of AMA motorcycle fans in attendance on this night as their big race was on Sunday afternoon, so some cross-over fan building was happening.

It was a rough day weather wise with warm sunny conditions, 18mph winds, and gusts of 35. It was nearly impossible to get moisture to hold in the track, and the wind never did die down. Track conditions were demanding.

WoO 410 Report
Top 10 Qualifying:  Shane Stewart set quick time going out 14th in the order of 48 cars with a lap of 15.642. Kerry Madsen was second quick followed by Cole Wood, Ian Madsen, Danny Lasoski, Brad Sweet, Steve Kinser, Jason Sides, Kraig Kinser, and Lynton Jeffrey rounded out the top ten. The draw was extremely important as the track widened out quickly and slowed down. Impressively Joey Saldana went out 38th and timed 11th.

Heat winners were Lynton Jeffrey, Paul McMahan, Clint Garner, and Terry McCarl, all winning from the front row. You have to win your heat race to make the Dash which locks you into the top eight spots for the feature. The four fastest cars in qualifying not winning their dash, but finishing in the top four of their heats are also locked into the dash.

Brad Sweet won the dash from the front row followed by Lasoski, Stewart, McCarl, Garner, McMahan, Jeffrey, and Wood.

The racetrack was reworked before the features and that made for a good race for about ten laps, but the track took rubber around the top groove and quickly locked down on the bottom as the race went non-stop for 25 laps. Sweet led every lap and pulled away. McCarl drove a heckuva race and made a great move to get by Stewart before the rubber was down. Daryn Pittman rallied from 16th to fourth, Brian Brown from 23rd to ninth, Dollansky 18th to tenth, and Schatz 21st to eleventh. There was still some great racing in the middle of the pack.

410 A-Main Finish (started): 1. Brad Sweet (1); 2. Terry McCarl (4); 3. Shane Stewart (3); 4. Daryn Pittman (16); 5. Kerry Madsen (9); 6. Danny Lasoski (2); 7. Paul McMahan (6); 8. Ian Madsen (10); 9. Brian Brown (23); 10. Craig Dollansky (18); 11. Donny Schatz (21); 12. Dusty Zomer (14); 13. Lynton Jeffrey (7); 14. Cody Darrah (20); 15. Kraig Kinser (12); 16. Justin Henderson (17); 17. Clint Garner (5); 18. Davey Heskin (22); 19. David Gravel (0); 20. Bronson Maeschen (19); 21. Sammy Swindell (15); 22. Steve Kinser (11); 23. AJ Moeller (24); 24. Cole Wood (8); 25. Joey Saldana (13); 26. Brooke Tatnell (26).

360 Report
Justin Henderson set quick time for the fifth time this season at 16.119 followed by Nate Van Haaften, Joe Beaver, Matt Moro, Ryan Roberts. Heat winners were Matt Moro (started 5th), Jarrod Schneiderman (1st), and Tony Shilling (3rd).

The track was perfect for this feature. Dylan Peterson led the first two laps before Jon Agan ran him down and pulled away. Henderson built up a head of steam on lap five and started reeling in the leaders and by lap seven he caught Agan and went by him to get his first win of the season in this non-stop 15-lap race. Henderson showed some muscle with the track fast and tacky on the bottom winning from the fourth row. Russ Hall timed horrible but rebounded by racing from 18th to fourth.

360 A Main Finish (started): 1. Justin Henderson (8); 2. Jon Agan (2); 3. Joe Beaver (6); 4. Russ Hall (18); 5. Jonathan Cornell (10); 6. Dylan Peterson (1); 7. Matt Moro (5); 8. Jamie Ball (3); 9. Matt Juhl (13); 10. Josh Higday (9); 11. Mike Houseman Jr. (15); 12. Tony Shilling (11); 13. Ryan Roberts (4); 14. Casey Friedrichsen (12); 15. Nate Van Haaften (7); 16. Jarrod Schneiderman (14); 17. Carson McCarl (20); 18. CJ Houseman (16); 19. Tom Lenz (23); 20. Sawyer Phillips (19); 21. Trevor Reynolds (22); 22. Mike Van Haaften (17); 23. Bart Friedrichsen (21); 24. Dave Getchell (24), Lap Leaders: Peterson 1-2, Agan 3-7, Henderson 8-15. Hard-charger: Hall.

Notes

Henderson is dominating the 360 class, and now that they have won a feature there, I think that spells doom for the rest of the field. Look for the Sundby #1 in victory lane more often.

Jon Agan has been close to win several times this season, but he leads the driver’s points and is having his most consistent season of his career. Eventually Agan has to win a race.

It was great to see Josh Higday back in the seat this week. Nothing better than a watching a Higday slide job.

As I said earlier the weather was decent for watching but the wind just took the moisture away. The Dunkin crew works hard and I feel for them. No one is more disappointed than they are with how the track turned out. But some positives out of this, we learned how long it takes to rework the track and have it ready to race (41 minutes) and if we need to later this season, we know what to expect and how to improve that time the next time. The track held up for 15 laps of the 360 feature, and 10 laps of the 410 feature. That was better than I expected.

Steve Kinser is on this farewell tour and he admitted he hasn’t decided if he will race at all next year or not.  I’m getting the feeling in my gut this could be the last time we see The King at Knoxville in August. The old man is tired but he did stick around until every last autograph seeker was taken care of this past Saturday, just as he has for years. The “Salute to Steve Kinser” display is now open in the NSCHoF&M. Be sure to check it out!

Brad Sweet, impressive win. This kid can drive. He is also one of only two men to win both a 410 sprint car race and a Midget race at Knoxville. The other… Kevin Swindell.

Terry McCarl was on his game this night. He is the best driver right now at Knoxville. He may not have the best car, but his experience makes up for what he lacks in equipment. I had a hunch he would do well on Saturday against the Outlaws. He has been competitive every time he has raced against them this season, so on his home turf he was ready,and he timed in the middle of the draw. McCarl is climbing in my Nationals power rankings.

Shane Stewart was impressive as well. He timed well and I think he has another chance to win the Nationals.  

Daryn Pittman impressed me coming from mid pack to a top five. DP has struggled at Knoxville off and on but he seems to be figuring it out. Look for him to be strong at Nationals.

Kerry Madsen might be the first Aussie to stand on the podium at the Nationals this year.

Donny Schatz finished eleventh. He drew 45th in qualifying.

Brian Brown drew 47th of 48 in qualifying and got a top ten out of it. Impressive considering the hand he was dealt.

Tim Kaeding was back racing with the World of Outlaws after leaving the Roth 83 car in April. He didn’t do too well in the Phoenix 59, but good to see him back on the track. This guy is talented.

Wayne Johnson... you are a helluva race car driver. Hang in there man. You haven't forgot how to drive and you are going to figure it out eventually. When you do and get some confidence in yourself, you're going to win. I believe in you and I'm praying for ya Wayne.

What have you thought of Knoxville Raceway: Dirt Dream on MavTV so far? Feedback appreciated. Be sure to watch each Thursday at 11:00am central time (noon eastern).

This Saturday is Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame night. More info on that on track website.  Nostalgia cars race on Friday, you can get in the stands or the pits for only $5.  

If you can, listen to my radio show on KBOE 104.9FM or at www.kboeradio.com on Thursday nights at 7:00pm central time. I am a rookie radio show host but it’s been going well so far.

We are running low on first edition copies of the book Knoxville Nationals: The First 50 Years. Order one today at www.knoxvillenationalsbook.com

Here it is…. Knoxville Nationals Power Rankings: 1. Schatz, 2. Brown, 3. Saldana, 4. McCarl, 5. Stewart, 6. Kerry Madsen, 7. Pittman, 8. McMahan, 9. Sweet, 10. Henderson, 11. Lasoski, 12. Dollansky, 13. Stevie Smith, 14. Ian Madsen, 15. Gravel, 16. Hodnett, 17. Abreu, 18. Darrah, 19. Heskin, 20. Kevin Swindell, 21. Dale Blaney, 22. Kemenah, 23. Zomer, 24. Jeffrey

First 5 out: Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Maeschen, Kraig Kinser, Sam Hafertepe Jr.

I’ll be back next week with more tidbits.