By T.J. Buffenbarger
Every year I vote in one of our local elections before heading out to Iowa. In the spirit of the day here are my candidates to win the 2014 FVP Knoxville Nationals.
- Donny Schatz: Schatz is in the incumbent looking for an eighth term as Knoxville Nationals champion. Last year was proof to never count Schatz out by winning the feature after transferring from the B-Main. Schatz also has three wins in the last five World of Outlaws events. Until Schatz is not on the race track for Saturday’s A-Main he is still my pick to win.
- Brian Brown: Brown is the people’s champion of Knoxville Raceway. Coming into last year as the favorite to win, Brown led more than half of the race before Schatz motored by. Brown’s year got off to a rough start with a big crash at Tulare, Calfornia and general bad luck. Lately that luck has turned around winning the Knoxville 360 Nationals and the Front Row Challenge last night.
- Kerry Madsen: Madsen’s campaign headquarters is located in Knoxville, Iowa (Keneric Racing Shop) and so far this year Madsen has already picked up some high profile victories at the Kings Royal and the Ironman 55. Madsen has to be considered a serious contender going into this week.
- Daryn Pittman: With 11 wins this year in World of Outlaws competition and the top flight Kasey Kahne Racing team behind him this could be Pittman’s year. Can Pittman and KKR put together 50 good laps on Saturday?
- David Gravel: Since stepping into the Roth Motorsports car Gravel has performed well. With four wins this year Gravel has done well on the big stage. Gravel had a great Nationals in 2014 should be a contender to win the feature on Saturday.
- Ian Madsen is leading the point standings at Knoxville and won Sunday’s Capitani Classic. Will Madsen’s weekly success at Knoxville Raceway translate into Saturday success?
- Justin Henderson has been doing double duty with the 410 and 360 sprint car divisions all season at Knoxville. Will all of those laps help translate into Henderson moving up two spots on the podium this year. Henderson is an under rated talent nationally and was one of the biggest surprises at last year’s Nationals.
- Paul McMahan has only two wins this year, but led the World of Outlaws point standings for a good portion of the season and has been consistent. Recently picking up his second Outlaw win of the year the night before the Ironman 55, the CJB Motorsports team in my opinion is still one of the top contenders to win on Saturday.