By T.J. Buffenbarger
Knoxville, IA — (August 8, 2014) — Shane Stewart won Friday night’s preliminary feature at the FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store in spectacular style Friday night at Knoxville Raceway. Stewart took the lead on the final lap from Kraig Kinser to claim the win during the racinjunk.com preliminary. For Stewart it capped off a day where his sponsor, the Jeff Gordon Kick-It for Cancer Foundation, raised over $111,296 through Friday at the Nationals. The victory was also Larson’s first Nationals win driving for Larson / Marks Racing.
“Sometimes when you are leading you don’t know where to go. Hats off to (Kraig Kinser), he drove a great race, he just left the bottom open for me coming for the white and I was able to capitalize on it.,” said Stewart in the post-race press conference. “I was thinking he was going to run the bottom and i was going to have to run the middle, and I was able to keep up with him in one and two and it just worked out for me.”
Mark Dobmeier and Kraig Kinser started on the front row for the 25-lap feature. Dobmeier led the opening lap before Kinser got a run under Dobmeier and took the lead off turn four on lap two. While working lap three Tim Shaffer slowed between turns one and two to bring out the caution flag. Schatz at that point had already moved into the fifth spot.
When the field returned to green flag conditions Kinser pulled away with Dobmeier while Gravel, Schatz, and Stewart raced for third. Stewart drove by Gravel on lap three for third spot while Schatz passed Gravel one lap later for fourth. As Schatz challenged Stewart for third position he jumped the cushion and came very close to hitting the wall while Stewart pulled away.
As the race wore on and Kinser approached slower traffic Dobmeier began to close in. On lap 12 Kinser hit the infield berm too hard and bobbled and allowed Dobmeier challenge for the lead. One lap later Jac Haudenschild brought out the caution flag after he spun off of turn two.
During the restart Stewart tried to drive under Dobmeier, but Dobmeier dove to the bottom to block in turns three and four and maintained the runner up position. Two laps later Dobmeier, Stewart, and Schatz were all racing for the second spot while Kinser actually increased his lead through lapped traffic.
With five laps to go Stewart finally got a run on Dobmeier as the pair exchanged slide jobs just inches from each other before Stewart took away the runner up spot for good. Stewart then was closing on Kinser but appeared to have too much ground to make up when Josh Hodges brought out the caution flag when he slowed off of turn two.
The caution setup a three lap sprint for the win. Kinser got the advantage at the start, but Stewart made up the ground and was able to dive off the top to the low side of the track to get under Kinser coming off turn two. Kinser and Stewart took the white flag side by side. Stewart was able to pull off of turn two and motor away for the victory. Kinser held on for second while Dobmeier rounded out the podium.
Craig Dollansky was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.934 seconds with an average speed of 120.534 miles per hour. Wayne Johnson, Schatz, Greg Wilson, Jac Haudenschild, and Davey Heskin won heat race events. Bronson Maeschen won the C-Main event while Tim Kaeding won the B-Main.
54th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores
RacingJunk.com Qualifying Night
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Thursday August 7th, 2014
Qualifications: 1. 7 – Craig Dollansky, 14.934; 2. 15 – Donny Schatz, 14.980; 3. 96 – Bronson Maeschen, 15.002; 4. 2 – Shane Stewart, 15.019; 5. 1 – Sammy Swindell, 15.043; 6. 1D – Justin Henderson, 15.065; 7. 83 – David Gravel, 15.132; 8. 45 – Tim Shaffer, 15.139; 9. 59 – Tim Kaeding, 15.197; 10. 53 – Andy Gregg, 15.214; 11. 9 – Daryn Pittman, 15.226; 12. 40H – Caleb Helms, 15.239; 13. 11K – Kraig Kinser, 15.262; 14. 13 – Mark Dobmeier, 15.274; 15. 7TAZ – Tasker Phillips, 15.279; 16. 4x – Dakota Hendrickson, 15.284; 17. 0 – Bud Kaeding, 15.290; 18. 49 – Brad Sweet, 15.297; 19. 7s – Jason Sides, 15.304; 20. 47 – Don Droud, Jr. , 15.313; 21. 28 – Brian Paulus, 15.318; 22. 12 – Lynton Jeffery, 15.324; 23. 81x – Lee Jacobs, 15.370; 24. 27 – Greg Hodnett, 15.385; 25. 5V – Colby Copeland, 15.386; 26. 55 – Brooke Tatnell, 15.409; 27. 20 – A.J. Moeller, 15.412; 28. 19 – Paige Polyak, 15.427; 29. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 15.428; 30. 29w – Danny Dietrich, 15.433; 31. 77x – Wayne Johnson, 15.439; 32. 11N – Randy Hannagan, 15.461; 33. w20 – Greg Wilson, 15.472; 34. 9W – Jac Haudenschild, 15.476; 35. 56 – Davey Heskin, 15.501; 36. 99 – Brady Bacon, 15.502; 37. 18 – Tony Bruce, Jr. , 15.509; 38. 1a – Jacob Allen, 15.550; 39. 19 – Bob Weuve, 15.557; 40. 74x – Josh Hodges, 15.571; 41. 44w – Austin Wheatley, 15.574; 42. 31B – Christopher Bell, 15.661; 43. 4S – Danny Smith, 15.712; 44. O5 – Brad Loyet, 15.712; 45. 12P – T.J. Peterson, 15.742; 46. 45x – Johnny Herrera, 15.809; 47. 75 – Glen Saville, 15.864; 48. 60 – Kory Crabtree, 15.916; 49. 45C – Dustin Clark, 15.942; 50. 19L – Jason Tostenson, 16.190; 51. 2K – Kevin Ingle, 16.369; 52. 49J – Josh Schneiderman, 99.000; 53. 7x – Critter Malone, 99.000;
Heat Race #1 (10 Laps): 1. Wayne Johnson, 2. Brooke Tatnell, 3. Justin Henderson, 4. Craig Dollansky, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Daryn Pittman, 7. Johnny Herrera, 8. Brian Paulus, 9. Austin Wheatley, 10. Dakota Hendrickson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #2 (10 Laps): 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Randy Hannagan, 3. Tony Bruce, 4. David Gravel, 5. Shane Helms, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Glenn Saville, 8. Christopher Bell, 9. Lynton Jeffrey, 10. A.J. Moeller (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #3 (10 Laps): 1. Greg Wilson, 2. Kraig Kinser, 3. Tim Shaffer, 4. Lee Jacos, (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main) Heat 3 Finish: Wilson, K.Kinser, Shaffer, Jacobs, Sweet, Allen, Smith, Polyak, Maeschen, Crabtree.
Heat Race #4 (10 Laps): 1. Jac Haudenschild, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Mark Dobmeier, 4. Greg Hodnett, 5. Jason Sides, 6. R.J. Johnson, 7. Tim Kaeding, 8. Brad Loyet, 9. Bob Weuve, 10. Dustin Clark. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #5 (10 Laps): 1. Davey Heskin, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Justin Hodges, 4. Don Droud, Jr., 5. Tasker Phillips, 6. Colby Copeland, 7. Andy Gregg, 8. Sammy Swindell, 9. Jason Tostenson, 10. T.J. Peterson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
C-Main (10 Laps): 1. Bronson Maeschen, 2. Dakota Hendrickson, 3. Lynton Jeffrey, 4. Josh Schneiderman, 5. Austin Wheatley, 6. Jason Tostenson, 7. Kevin Ingle, 8. Dustin Clark, 9. Bob Weuve, 10. T.J. Peterson, 11. Kory Cabtree, 12. A.J. Moeller, 13. Critter Malone. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
B-Main (12 Laps): 1. Tim Kaeding, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Brad Sweet, 5. Tasker Phillips, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Brady Bacon, 8. Brad Loyet, 9. Caleb Helms, 10. Andy Gregg, 11. Bronson Maeschen, 12. Colby Copeland, 13. Lynton Jeffrey, 14. Paige Polyak, 15. Josh Schneiderman, 16. Jacob Allen, 17. Danny Smith, 18. Johnny Herrera, 19. Glen Saville, 20. Christopher Bell, 21. Dakota Hendrickson, 22. Brian Paulus, 23. Jason Sides, 24. R.J. Johnson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
A-Main (25 Laps): 1. Shane Stewart, 2. Kraig Kinser, 3. Mark Dobmeier, 4. Donny Schatz, 5. David Gravel, 6. Craig Dollansky, 7. Justin Henderson, 8. Brooke Tatnell, 9. Lee Jacobs, 10. Danny Dietrich, 11. Don Droud, Jr., 12. Greg Hodnett, 13. Dayrn Pittman, 14. Davey Hesking, 15. Sammy Swindell, 16. Wayne Johnson, 17. Brad Sweet, 18. Randy Hannagan, 19. Tim Kaeding, 20. Tony Bruce, Jr., 21. Greg Wilson, 22. Josh Hodges, 23. Jac Haudenschild, 24. Tim Shaffer.
54th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores
RacingJunk.com Qualifying Night
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Thursday August 7th, 2014
Qualifications: 1. 7 – Craig Dollansky, 14.934; 2. 15 – Donny Schatz, 14.980; 3. 96 – Bronson Maeschen, 15.002; 4. 2 – Shane Stewart, 15.019; 5. 1 – Sammy Swindell, 15.043; 6. 1D – Justin Henderson, 15.065; 7. 83 – David Gravel, 15.132; 8. 45 – Tim Shaffer, 15.139; 9. 59 – Tim Kaeding, 15.197; 10. 53 – Andy Gregg, 15.214; 11. 9 – Daryn Pittman, 15.226; 12. 40H – Caleb Helms, 15.239; 13. 11K – Kraig Kinser, 15.262; 14. 13 – Mark Dobmeier, 15.274; 15. 7TAZ – Tasker Phillips, 15.279; 16. 4x – Dakota Hendrickson, 15.284; 17. 0 – Bud Kaeding, 15.290; 18. 49 – Brad Sweet, 15.297; 19. 7s – Jason Sides, 15.304; 20. 47 – Don Droud, Jr. , 15.313; 21. 28 – Brian Paulus, 15.318; 22. 12 – Lynton Jeffery, 15.324; 23. 81x – Lee Jacobs, 15.370; 24. 27 – Greg Hodnett, 15.385; 25. 5V – Colby Copeland, 15.386; 26. 55 – Brooke Tatnell, 15.409; 27. 20 – A.J. Moeller, 15.412; 28. 19 – Paige Polyak, 15.427; 29. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 15.428; 30. 29w – Danny Dietrich, 15.433; 31. 77x – Wayne Johnson, 15.439; 32. 11N – Randy Hannagan, 15.461; 33. w20 – Greg Wilson, 15.472; 34. 9W – Jac Haudenschild, 15.476; 35. 56 – Davey Heskin, 15.501; 36. 99 – Brady Bacon, 15.502; 37. 18 – Tony Bruce, Jr. , 15.509; 38. 1a – Jacob Allen, 15.550; 39. 19 – Bob Weuve, 15.557; 40. 74x – Josh Hodges, 15.571; 41. 44w – Austin Wheatley, 15.574; 42. 31B – Christopher Bell, 15.661; 43. 4S – Danny Smith, 15.712; 44. O5 – Brad Loyet, 15.712; 45. 12P – T.J. Peterson, 15.742; 46. 45x – Johnny Herrera, 15.809; 47. 75 – Glen Saville, 15.864; 48. 60 – Kory Crabtree, 15.916; 49. 45C – Dustin Clark, 15.942; 50. 19L – Jason Tostenson, 16.190; 51. 2K – Kevin Ingle, 16.369; 52. 49J – Josh Schneiderman, 99.000; 53. 7x – Critter Malone, 99.000;
Heat Race #1 (10 Laps): 1. Wayne Johnson, 2. Brooke Tatnell, 3. Justin Henderson, 4. Craig Dollansky, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Daryn Pittman, 7. Johnny Herrera, 8. Brian Paulus, 9. Austin Wheatley, 10. Dakota Hendrickson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #2 (10 Laps): 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Randy Hannagan, 3. Tony Bruce, 4. David Gravel, 5. Shane Helms, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Glenn Saville, 8. Christopher Bell, 9. Lynton Jeffrey, 10. A.J. Moeller (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #3 (10 Laps): 1. Greg Wilson, 2. Kraig Kinser, 3. Tim Shaffer, 4. Lee Jacos, (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main) Heat 3 Finish: Wilson, K.Kinser, Shaffer, Jacobs, Sweet, Allen, Smith, Polyak, Maeschen, Crabtree.
Heat Race #4 (10 Laps): 1. Jac Haudenschild, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Mark Dobmeier, 4. Greg Hodnett, 5. Jason Sides, 6. R.J. Johnson, 7. Tim Kaeding, 8. Brad Loyet, 9. Bob Weuve, 10. Dustin Clark. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #5 (10 Laps): 1. Davey Heskin, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Justin Hodges, 4. Don Droud, Jr., 5. Tasker Phillips, 6. Colby Copeland, 7. Andy Gregg, 8. Sammy Swindell, 9. Jason Tostenson, 10. T.J. Peterson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
C-Main (10 Laps): 1. Bronson Maeschen, 2. Dakota Hendrickson, 3. Lynton Jeffrey, 4. Josh Schneiderman, 5. Austin Wheatley, 6. Jason Tostenson, 7. Kevin Ingle, 8. Dustin Clark, 9. Bob Weuve, 10. T.J. Peterson, 11. Kory Cabtree, 12. A.J. Moeller, 13. Critter Malone. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
B-Main (12 Laps): 1. Tim Kaeding, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Brad Sweet, 5. Tasker Phillips, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Brady Bacon, 8. Brad Loyet, 9. Caleb Helms, 10. Andy Gregg, 11. Bronson Maeschen, 12. Colby Copeland, 13. Lynton Jeffrey, 14. Paige Polyak, 15. Josh Schneiderman, 16. Jacob Allen, 17. Danny Smith, 18. Johnny Herrera, 19. Glen Saville, 20. Christopher Bell, 21. Dakota Hendrickson, 22. Brian Paulus, 23. Jason Sides, 24. R.J. Johnson. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
A-Main (25 Laps): 1. Shane Stewart, 2. Kraig Kinser, 3. Mark Dobmeier, 4. Donny Schatz, 5. David Gravel, 6. Craig Dollansky, 7. Justin Henderson, 8. Brooke Tatnell, 9. Lee Jacobs, 10. Danny Dietrich, 11. Don Droud, Jr., 12. Greg Hodnett, 13. Dayrn Pittman, 14. Davey Hesking, 15. Sammy Swindell, 16. Wayne Johnson, 17. Brad Sweet, 18. Randy Hannagan, 19. Tim Kaeding, 20. Tony Bruce, Jr., 21. Greg Wilson, 22. Josh Hodges, 23. Jac Haudenschild, 24. Tim Shaffer.