From Bill Wright
From Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville, IA — (May 28, 2011) — This Memorial Day weekend has been memorable for Danny Lasoski, and he notched career win #95 at the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday’s Pella Corporation night. The win paid him $3,000, which he also garnered on Friday night racing to a win in Nebraska. Jon Agan won the 360 feature, while veteran, Mitchell Alexander won for the first time ever at Knoxville in the 305 class.
Lasoski started outside the front row alongside Josh Schneiderman in the 20-lap event. The dry-slick track saw a number of cautions, and a number of chargers through the field. The yellow flag periods allowed little time in lap traffic for Lasoski, who led from flag to flag.
Rager Phillips, who turned over after contact from Mike Moore in his heat race, returned to qualify through the B main, but he spun on lap three, and later was collected when Lynton Jeffrey got sideways. He would be a “Hard Luck” Award winner, if it existed.
Dusty Zomer, who suffered motor ills in qualifying and made a change, stormed from 20th to 11th in the first three circuits. Lasoski led Dustin Selvage, Mark Dobmeier, Bronson Maeschen and Schneiderman at that point. Dobmeier moved by Selvage into second on lap five, before Selvage found himself backwards on the backstretch on the following lap. Ryan Bunton exited at the same time for a motor failure.
Lasoski led Dobmeier, Maeschen, a charging Shane Stewart and Davey Heskin on the lap six restart. One more lap was in the books, when John Cressman flipped inside of turn one. He was uninjured. Zomer, who won here on May 7, had worked his way up to sixth at that point. After the green fell again, Stewart tussled with Maeschen for the third spot, but could not gain it.
A stopped Mike Houseman Jr. slowed things with eleven laps down, bringing the final slowdown. The last nine laps were furious, but no one could contend with Lasoski. Dobmeier was a steady second, ahead of Maeschen and Stewart the rest of the way. Zomer moved into the top five, but a bobble with four laps to go, allowed a surging Brandon Wimmer to complete the top five.
Zomer, Heskin, Terry McCarl, Wayne Johnson and Mike Moore rounded out the top ten. McCarl set quick time over the field and won his heat. Logan Forler, Josh Higday and Wimmer took the other heats, while Phillips won the B.
“We’ve just been really fortunate to start up front,” said Lasoski. “As tough as the competition is here, being on the front row is an asset. One of these days, we’ll start twelfth, and we’ll see what we have then.”
Jon Agan started on the pole of the 15-lap 360 feature, and shot in front of fellow front row starter, Russ Hall, and Chad Humston at the drop of the green. By lap four, Dennis Moore Jr. had moved past Humston into third and that order stayed intact until a lap eight caution for wing debris from the mount of defending track champion, Clint Garner, who was running sixth. Garner went to the work area, where the crew removed the left side panel. He would restart at the tail.
Agan led Russ Hall, Moore, Humston and Matt Moro back to green flag racing. Moore made a move on Hall into second, but could do nothing with Agan, who picked up his fifth career Knoxville win. Hall held onto third, followed by Humston and Moro.
Billy Alley was sixth, followed by Jarrod Schneiderman, Larry Ball Jr., Nate Van Haaften and Joe Beaver. Alley, Van Haaften and Beaver all moved forward seven spots in the event. Garner set quick time over the field, while Humston, Tom Lenz and Randy Smith took the heat races.
“You never know where the cars around you are at,” Agan said. “You don’t know if they are lapped cars or what. You just try to keep it wound up, keep the momentum up, keep it straight and run as hard as you can. This is the same motor I had when I came back in ’08. It runs great come feature time. We destroyed our new car in the accident a few weeks back. Obviously, (this car) loves being back on the racetrack.”
Mitchell Alexander won his first ever feature at the Knoxville Raceway in the 305 class in a crazy event. Kevin Hetrick, making his initial appearance at the Knoxville Raceway, led the first lap before second row starter, Chad Huston took over on lap two. The 12-lap feature went non-stop until a lap eight tangle involving Mark Van Haaften and Marty Stephenson that resulted in both cars tumbling in turn one. No one was injured.
The restart with four laps to go, saw Hetrick briefly take the lead on the backstretch before Huston took command again. Tasker Phillips was making his way forward as well, having moved up to fourth behind Alexander. Keith Carlberg came to a stop in turn four on the white flag lap. That set up an unusual chain of events.
Huston was obviously having motor issues under caution, and when the green dropped, he had little power that resulted in a chain reaction accident at the cone. Hetrick lost his right front tire, while fourth running, Phillips made heavy contact with the infield wall. Both were unhurt. Somehow, Alexander escaped unscathed. He inherited the lead and led the green, white, checker finish to record the win over J Kinder, Jamie Ball, Carson McCarl and Alan Ambers.
Bart Friedrichsen, Bob Hildreth, Cody Ambers and Cale Hutchings rounded out the cars still running. Huston and Hetrick took the heats.
“I hate to win that way, but a win is a win,” said Alexander. “It’s been a long time, and I’m glad I finally got one here at Knoxville. We’ve changed a few things this year, and I hope we get a lot more of these.”
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum induction weekend is next week, and it’s a big week for the 360’s as well. They will run two point races including Friday night, June 3, in conjunction with the 19th Annual Masters Classic. On Saturday, June 4, all three sprint divisions will be in action for Koopman Roofing and Insulation Night. The 360 winner will receive $2,000 on Saturday.
410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order, 1 lap): 1. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (20) 15.298; 2. 38, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA (15) 15.383; 3. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (14) 15.440; 4. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (2) 15.481; 5. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (5) 15.610; 6. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (11) 15.614; 7. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (29) 15.640; 8. 13v, Seth Brahmer, Wisner, NE (10) 15.651; 9. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (9) 15.707; 10. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (19) 15.734; 11. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN (24) 15.761; 12. 7TW, Brandon Wimmer, Fairmount, IN (1) 15.762; 13. 57, Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK (12) 15.785; 14. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (18) 15.858; 15. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (17) 15.890; 16. 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (23) 15.935; 17. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (21) 15.946; 18. 2L, Logan Forler, Lake Havasu City, AZ (27) 15.965; 19. 2, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (31) 15.968; 20. 56JC, Johnn Cressman, Sioux Falls, SD (8) 15.973; 21. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (25) 15.998; 22. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (7) 16.012; 23. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (30) 16.029; 24. 4, Jon Corbin, Carrollton, MO (16) 16.047; 25. 6, Danny Heskin, St. Michael, MN (26) 16.093; 26. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (4) 16.140; 27. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (3) 16.168; 28. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (22) 16.174; 29. 7K, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (28) 16.265; 30. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (6) 16.376; 31. 98, JD Johnson, Goddard, KS (13) 16.509; 32. 45, Mark Johnson, Des Moines, IA (32) NT.
Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:08.6: 1. Terry McCarl (6) 2. Shane Stewart (3) 3. Mike Moore (1) 4. Dustin Selvage (5) 5. Bob Weuve (2) / 6. Danny Heskin (7) 7. Robby Wolfgang (8) 8. Rager Phillips (4)
Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:11.3: 1. Logan Forler (2) 2. Ryan Anderson (3) 3. Wayne Johnson (6) 4. Mark Dobmeier (5) 5. Josh Schneiderman (4) / 6. AJ Moeller (1) 7. Ryan Bunton (7) 8. Rob Kubli (8)
Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:12.4: 1. Josh Higday (2) 2. Davey Heskin (6) 3. Lynton Jeffrey (3) 4. Don Droud Jr. (1) 5. Danny Lasoski (5) / 6. Austin McCarl (7) 7. JD Johnson (8) 8. Austin Johnson (4)
Heat four (started), 8 laps, 2:14.0: 1. Brandon Wimmer (4) 2. Johnn Cressman (2) 3. Bronson Maeschen (6) 4. Dusty Zomer (7) 5. Jon Corbin (1) / 6. Seth Brahmer (5) 7. Mike Houseman Jr. (3)
B main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Rager Phillips (2) 2. Mike Houseman Jr. (4) 3. Austin McCarl (8) 4. Ryan Bunton (7) / 5. JD Johnson (9) 6. AJ Moeller (5) 7. Rob Kubli (10) 8. Austin Johnson (3) 9. Seth Brahmer (1) 10. Danny Heskin (6)
A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Danny Lasoski (2) 2. Mark Dobmeier (3) 3. Bronson Maeschen (5) 4. Shane Stewart (10) 5. Brandon Wimmer (9) 6. Dusty Zomer (20) 7. Davey Heskin (6) 8. Terry McCarl (8) 9. Wayne Johnson (7) 10. Mike Moore (17) 11. Austin McCarl (23) 12. Josh Schneiderman (1) 13. Ryan Anderson (11) 14. Don Droud Jr. (18) 15. Logan Forler (14) 16. Josh Higday (15) 17. Jon Corbin (19) 18. Dustin Selvage (4) 19. Mike Houseman Jr. (22) 20. Lynton Jeffrey (12) 21. Rager Phillips (21) 22. Johnn Cressman (16) 23. Ryan Bunton (24) 24. Bob Weuve (13). Lap Leader: Lasoski 1-20. Hard Charger: Zomer.
360 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 15.974; 2. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.038; 3. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.282; 4. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.344; 5. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 16.354; 6. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 16.416; 7. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.450; 8. D12, Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell, IA, 16.482; 9. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.550; 10. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 16.572; 11. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 16.579; 12. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 16.587; 13. 9m, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO, 16.722; 14. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 16.811; 15. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.819; 16. 22, Billy Alley, Bennett, NE, 16.829; 17. 5, Dave Glennon, Casselton, ND, 16.894; 18. 2, Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, IA, 16.932; 19. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 16.970; 20. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL, 16.986; 21. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.987; 22. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 17.020; 23. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 17.206; 24. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA, 17.246; 25. 7s, Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines, IA, NT.
Heat one (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Chad Humston (2) 2. Clint Garner (4) 3. Billy Alley (1) 4. Ricky Montgomery (8) 5. Rod Richards (7) / 6. Nate Van Haaften (4, penalized two spots for restart jump) 7. Casey Friedrichsen (3) 8. Tasker Phillips (6) DNS – Tim St. Arnold
Heat two (started), 7 laps, 1:57.1: 1. Tom Lenz (2) 2. Dennis Moore Jr. (4) 3. Matt Moro (6) 4. Jon Agan (3) 5. Larry Ball Jr. (5) / 6. Dave Glennon (1) 7. Tyler Groenendyk (8) 8. Jimmy Davies (7)
Heat three (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Randy Smith (1) 2. Russ Hall (4) 3. David Hall (5) 4. Chad Heimbaugh (2) 5. Jarrod Schneiderman (3) / 6. Joe Beaver (6) 7. Tony Shilling (7) 8. Alan Zoutte (8)
B main (started), 10 laps, 2:51.5: 1. Nate Van Haaften (2) 2. Joe Beaver (1) 3. Casey Friedrichsen (3) 4. Dave Glennon (4) 5. Tony Shilling (6) / 6. Tyler Groenendyk (8) 7. Alan Zoutte (7) 8. Jimmy Davies (5) DNS – Tasker Phillips.
A main (started), 15 laps, NT: 1. Jon Agan (1) 2. Dennis Moore Jr. (3) 3. Russ Hall (2) 4. Chad Humston (4) 5. Matt Moro (7) 6. Billy Alley (13) 7. Jarrod Schneiderman (9) 8. Larry Ball Jr. (6) 9. Nate Van Haaften (16) 10. Joe Beaver (17) 11. Chad Heimbaugh (12) 12. Ricky Montgomery (10) 13. Randy Smith (14) 14. Tony Shilling (20) 15. Dave Glennon (19) 16. Tom Lenz (11) 17. Clint Garner (8) 18. Casey Friedrichsen (18) 19. David Hall (5) 20. Rod Richards (15). Lap Leader: Agan 1-15. Hard-charger: Beaver.
305 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 17.135; 2. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 17.391; 3. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA, 17.409; 4. 33, Mark Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 17.467; 5. 7c, Chad Huston, Jamesport, MO, 17.655; 6. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.876; 7. 29, Bart Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.883; 8. 53, Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, IL, 17.884; 9. 87, Cale Hutchings, Bloomfield, IA, 17.901; 10. R99, Nick Ross, Oskaloosa, IA, 17.925; 11. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.951; 12. 88, J Kinder, Holt’s Summit, MO, 18.038; 13. 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA, 18.051; 14. 36, Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville, IA, 18.206; 15. 16c, Casie Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 18.233; 16. 55KC, Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls, IA, 18.391; 17. 21, Keith Carlberg, Webster City, IA, 18.705; 18. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA, 42.790; 19. 12, TJ Peterson, Des Moines, IA, NT; DQ (Weight), 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA.
Heat one (started), 6 laps, 1:46.2: 1. Chad Huston (2) 2. Tasker Phillips (4) 3. Bart Friedrichsen (1) 4. Mitchell Alexander (3) 5. Cody Ambers (6) 6. Steve Palmer (7) 7. Cale Hutchings (5) 8. Keith Carlberg (8) DNS – Casie Shilling, TJ Peterson
Heat two (started), 6 laps, 1:48.0: 1. Kevin Hetrick (1) 2. Carson McCarl (4) 3. Alan Ambers (2) 4. J Kinder (6) 5. Jamie Ball (7) 6. Mark Van Haaften (3) 7. Marty Stephenson (5) 8. Bob Hildreth (8) DNS – Nick Ross, Matt Stephenson
A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Mitchell Alexander (6) 2. J Kinder (11) 3. Jamie Ball (16) 4. Carson McCarl (7) 5. Alan Ambers (3) 6. Bart Friedrichsen (2) 7. Bob Hildreth (14) 8. Cody Ambers (10) 9. Cale Hutchings (9) 10. Chad Huston (4) 11. Kevin Hetrick (1) 12. Tasker Phillips (8) 13. Keith Carlberg (15) 14. Steve Palmer (12) 15. Marty Stephenson (13) 16. Mark Van Haaften (5) DNS – Nick Ross, Matt Stephenson, Casie Shilling, TJ Peterson. Lap Leaders: Hetrick 1, Huston 2-11, Alexander 12-13.