Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Lasoski Adds Another As McCarl, Hall Notch First Wins!

by Bill Wright

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, April 30, 2011 - On what started as a night of first-time winners, Danny Lasoski proved that experience still counts at the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday's Pella Motors/Lions Club night opener at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World." The veteran from Dover, Missouri led the field wire to wire to increase his all-time record for wins at the famous half-mile to 94.

The eight-time track champion started on the pole of the 20-lap 410 main event on the basis of a new draw system. The twelve top qualifiers making it through the heats now draw in front of the fans during intermission for their starting spots in the feature. On a track that saw the bottom as a preferred line, Lasoski shot out to the lead in a familiar part of the track ahead of defending track champion Brian Brown. Dusty Zomer, who claimed last year's Season Championship feature win jumped into third on lap two.

Don Droud Jr. tumbled in turn two with four laps in the books, and Lasoski restarted ahead of Brown, Zomer, Robby Wolfgang and quick-timer, Brooke Tatnell, with a clear track ahead of him. It was clear sailing for the front-runners until a lap 16 spin by Kevin Swindell. Despite the bunching of the field, "The Dude" was unfazed in registering the win. "We always joke," said the winner when talking of his nephew (Brown) who finish second. "I taught him everything he knows, but not everything I know. This place has been really good to me. We couldn't do this without the old gang helping me out here. Right now, everything we have is borrowed. We're just racing night to night."

Following Lasoski and Brown were Zomer, Tatnell and Lynton Jeffrey. Wolfgang, Logan Forler, Austin McCarl, first heat winner, Terry McCarl, and 410 rookie and third heat winner, Dustin Selvage, rounded out the top ten. Bronson Maeschen suffered through a tough night as ignition problems sidelined him for his heat, and he blew a tire while leading the B main.

For Russ Hall, winning a feature at Knoxville has been a lifelong dream, and he accomplished it with a win in the 360 class. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa driver took off from his pole position starting spot and never looked back in his win. Behind Russ, Justyn Cox battled past Josh Higday for the runner-up spot after a lap six caution for a stopped Tony Norem. Defending 360 track champion, Clint Garner, suffered a flat tire under caution and restarted at the tail.

Hall drove the last nine laps smoothly and maneuvered through lap traffic for a popular win aboard the Mike Waddell Racing #45c. "This one has been a long time coming," he said with emotion in Victory Lane. "I want to dedicate this to my grandpa Burt (Sonner) who passed away here in 1974."

Cox, Higday, first heat winner, Tasker Phillips, and Russ's cousin, Dave Hall, rounded out the top five. Lee Grosz, Seth Bergman, third heat winner, Jon Agan, Randy Martin and Nate Van Haaften completed the top ten. Chad Heimbaugh took the B main, while Wayne Johnson, who suffered power steering problems and could not start the feature, set quick time.

Carson McCarl unofficially became the youngest winner in Knoxville Raceway history when he won the 305 feature in his first competition at the famous half-mile. He became the first driver to win in his first competition since Kenny Adams did it in a 360 Nationals preliminary feature in 2003. Carson turned 16 years of age on March 8.

McCarl showed a steady racecar in running the bottom and holding Jamie Ball at bay for the 12-lap distance. Only a lap four caution for a spun Casie Shilling slowed the event. "I knew if I hit my marks on the bottom, no one would pass me up high," said a practically speechless McCarl. "I have to thank the guys that help me. I can't even talk."

Ball ran a solid second, and Marty Stephenson, J Kinder, and Mitchell Alexander, who won heat one, rounded out the top five. Second heat winner, Matt Stephenson, Chris Mallicoat, Matthew Stelzer, Steve Palmer and Mike Mayberry rounded out the top ten.

The Lions Club donated a total of $1,050 to three lucky drivers tonight as well. Tenth place finishers Selvage ($450), Nate Van Haaften ($350) and Mayberry ($250) cashed in. Racing resumes next Saturday night with the IRA vs. Knoxville Challenge!

410 Results

Time Trials (Qualifying Order): 1. 59, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (20) 16.154; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (5) 16.157; 3. 1s, Kevin Swindell, Charlotte, NC (19) 16.273; 4. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (22) 16.275; 5. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (25) 16.312; 6. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (8) 16.319; 7. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (23) 16.331; 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (2) 16.355; 9. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (18) 16.455; 10. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (3) 16.471; 11. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (17) 16.527; 12. 2L, Logan Forler, Lake Havasu City, AZ (7) 16.565; 13. 7K, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (14) 16.688; 14. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (24) 16.715; 15. 56JC, Johnn Cressman, Sioux Falls, SD (13) 16.784; 16. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (4) 16.786; 17. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (29) 16.871; 18. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (26) 16.980; 19. 21x, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (28) 17.019; 20. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (12) 17.107; 21. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (15) 17.133; 22. 45, Mark Johnson, Des Moines, IA (11) 17.197; 23. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (16) 17.217; 24. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN (1) 17.257; 25. 98, JD Johnson, Goddard, KS (21) 17.309; 26. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (27) 17.333; 27. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (10) 18.424; 28. 92, Mitchell Mack, Grand Forks, ND (6) 19.727; 29. 6, Danny Heskin, St. Michael, MN (9) NT.

Heat one (started), 8 laps, NT: 1. Terry McCarl (6) 2. Robby Wolfgang (4) 3. Lynton Jeffrey (5) 4. Joey Moughan (2) 5. Brooke Tatnell (8) 6. JD Johnson (7) / 7. Rob Kubli (3) 8. Mitchell Mack (9) 9. Mark Johnson (1) DNS - Bronson Maeschen

Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:18.2: 1. Mark Dobmeier (1) 2. Danny Lasoski (7) 3. Don Droud Jr. (5) 4. Rager Phillips (3) 5. Josh Schneider man (6) 6. Brian Brown (8) / 7. Davey Heskin (2) 8. Ryan Anderson (4) 9. Ryan Bunton (9) DNS - Danny Heskin

Heat three (stared), 8 laps, NT: 1. Dustin Selvage (3) 2. Kevin Swindell (8) 3. Dusty Zomer (7) 4. Johnn Cressman (4) 5. Austin McCarl (6) 6. Logan Forler (5) / 7. AJ Moeller (9) 8. Austin Johnson (1) 9. Mike Moore (2)

B main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Davey Heskin (4) 2. Ryan Bunton (8) 3. Ryan Anderson (2) 4. Austin Johnson (5) 5. Rob Kubli (3) 6. Mitchell Mack (10) / 7. AJ Moeller (7) 8. Bronson Maeschen (1) 9. Mark Johnson (6) 10. Danny Heskin (9) DNS - Mike Moore

A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Danny Lasoski (1) 2. Brian Brown (4) 3. Dusty Zomer (8) 4. Brooke Tatnell (9) 5. Lynton Jeffrey (7) 6. Robby Wolfgang (2) 7. Logan Forler (5) 8. Austin McCarl (6) 9. Terry McCarl (11) 10. Dustin Selvage (15) 11. Davey Heskin (19) 12. Johnn Cressman (13) 13. Mark Dobmeier (17) 14. Ryan Bunton (20) 15. JD Johnson (18) 16. Joey Moughan (16) 17. Rager Phillips (14) 18. Austin Johnson (22) 19. Rob Kubli (23) 20. Mitchell Mack (24) 21. Josh Schneiderman (3) 22. Kevin Swindell (12) 23. Ryan Anderson (21) 24. Don Droud Jr. (10). Lap Leader: Lasoski 1-20.

360 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 38, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA, 16.684; 2. 4J, Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND, 16.710; 3. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.805; 4. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.811; 5. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.866; 6. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.893; 7. 23, Seth Bergman, Snohomish, WA, 16.894; 8. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO, 16.907; 9. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.932; 10. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.970; 11. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.985; 12. 21c, Justyn Cox, Clarksburg, CA, 17.078; 13. 2, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA, 17.105; 14. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 17.142; 15. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 17.211; 16. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 17.380; 17. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 17.396; 18. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 17.399; 19. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 17.457; 20. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.497; 21. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 17.525; 22. 5, Dave Glennon, Casselton, ND, 17.627; 23. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 17.972; 24. 45, Tony Norem, Dassel MN, 18.085; 25. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 18.404; 26. 11c, Dakota Carroll, LaMonte, MO, 18.453; 27. DQ - 12x, Frank Rogers, Lucas, IA (scales).

Heat one (started), 7 laps, 2:07.3: 1. Tasker Phillips (3) 2. Josh Higday (2) 3. Wayne Johnson (6) 4. Matt Moro (5) 5. Seth Bergman (4) / 6. Jarrod Schneiderman (1) 7. Tom Lenz (9) 8. Dave Glennon (8) 9. Rod Richards (7)

Heat two (started), 7 laps, 2:08.3: 1. Russ Hall (2) 2. Randy Martin (4) 3. David Hall (1) 4. Clint Garner (3) 5. Lee Grosz (6) / 6. Tony Shilling (8) 7. Joe Beaver (5) 8. Casey Friedrichsen (7) 9. Dakota Carroll (9)

Heat three (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Jon Agan (1) 2. Chad Humston (6) 3. Justyn Cox (3) 4. Nate Van Haaften (5) 5. Tony Norem (8) / 6. Tyler Groenendyk (7) 7. Frank Rogers (9) 8. Larry Ball Jr. (2) 9. Chad Heimbaugh (4)

B main (started), 10 laps, NT: 1. Chad Heimbaugh (2) 2. Joe Beaver (1) 3. Tony Shilling (7) 4. Jarrod Schneiderman (4) 5. Dave Glennon (8) 6. Tyler Groenendyk (5) / 7. Rod Richards (5) 8. Tom Lenz (10) 9. Dakota Carroll (9) 10. Frank Rogers (11) 11. Casey Friedrichsen (6) DNS - Larry Ball Jr.

A main (started), 15 laps, NT: 1. Russ Hall (1) 2. Justyn Cox (3) 3. Josh Higday (2) 4. Tasker Phillips (5) 5. David Hall (13) 6. Lee Grosz (11) 7. Seth Bergman (7) 8. Jon Agan (12) 9. Randy Martin (6) 10. Nate Van Haaften (8) 11. Chad Humston (10) 12. Joe Beaver (17) 13. Jarrod Schneiderman (19) 14. Matt Moro (9) 15. Clint Garner (4) 16. Tyler Groenendyk (20) 17. Tony Shilling (16) 18. Chad Heimbaugh (14) 19. Tony Norem (15) 20. Dave Glennon (18) DNS - Wayne Johnson. Lap Leader: R. Hall 1-15.

305 Results

Heat one (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA (2) 2. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (1) 3. 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (7) 4. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE (5) 5. 22, Chris Mallicoat, Boone, IA (8) 6. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA (3) DQ - 29, Devin "Bart" Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA (scales) DQ - 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA (tire) DNS - X, Kevin Tanner, Russell, IA

Heat two (started), 6 laps, 1:56.6: 1. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA (3) 2. 36, Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville, IA (5) 3. 88, J Kinder, Holt's Summit, MO (4) 4. 16c, Casie Shilling, Knoxville, IA (6) 5. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (7) 6. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA (8) DQ - 33, Mark Van Haaften, Otley, IA (scales) 8. 21, Keith Carlberg, Webster City, IA (scales)

A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Carson McCarl (3) 2. Jamie Ball (5) 3. Marty Stephenson (4) 4. J Kinder (6) 5. Mitchell Alexander (1) 6. Matt Stephenson (2) 7. Chris Mallicoat (9) 8. Matthew Stelzer (7) 9. Steve Palmer (13) 10. Mike Mayberry (10) 11. Devin "Bart" Friedrichsen (11) 12. Mark Van Haaften (14) 13. Alan Ambers (12) 14. Casie Shilling (8) 15. Keith Carlberg (15) DNS - Cody Ambers. Lap Leader: C. McCarl 1-12.

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

Rubber is always the preferred line. When Heskin would not even get off the bottom to lap a much slower car in the 410 B we all new it was rubber down.

I guess I didn't see or smell any rubber but down low next to the berm was the only fast way around. Not a good track for opening night but I did enjoy the races. It's been a long winter!!!!!!!!

Great start to the races as there were only a couple of cars damaged and no injuries.All three features were won from the front row.I thought the draw was fine as three contenders drew poorly but when the Dude got the pole on a track that the bottom was the preffered line most people knew barring a parts failure he would win .Russ Hall was the class of the field and if the 47 seat becomes available in the coming years he should be a candidate.The 305s put on a good show and had some nice cars.Personally they are better suited for smaller tracks and in my opinion short tracks give the drivers more passing chances to get better.Knoxville has the best safety crew and gives the drivers exsposure they wont get at stock car tracks.It was interesting to hear Danny say how everything was borrowed and think of the saying the best way to be a millionaire is start with two.

Carson started 3rd.

Please let us not have any more track surfaces like that this year.

What does everyone think of the new draw system? Will the drivers and fans both like it?

I think for the first night of the season it was smart for the track prep to have a dry, smooth, wide track that took rubber. I think it kept the usual first of the season yard sales from happening and provided a good tune up night. I just hope we dont see a track like that later this summer because I tell ya by feature time Indy Cars and Nascar could of took a few hot laps but I think it was a great night and good to see Russ Hall and Carson McCarl capture there first wins at Knox and um well I guess a good run by the Dude. But mark my words with this draw system which is fair and no way to cheat and with luck of the Draw starts Lasoski in the front of the field every weekend I think Knoxville will put there old formula to work of providing a format with the heroes and the villans Which will make for a little excitement in the stands as well as in the pits. But lets not get to harsh people In the end its still alot of money on the track and people risking there lives to entertain us so each person deserves our respect as fans and friends. But just like Ford vs Chevy or any team sport for that matter ya cant cheer for everyone that wins it would make it too boring. Rivalries are what makes racing more interesting. Cant wait for next week

Are these Hall boys related? Not too bad Russ Hall 1st. Dave Hall hard charger up to 5th. Biggest suprise of the night tho was Crashker Phillips finally not wrecking himself or anybody else.

Bad track. Guys spent much money on tires. 410's were bald when they were done. Surprised many more didn't blow or have flats. Pied Piper racing is never good.

Positive things from last night; 2 first time winners. it's always fun to see that. Knoxville is a feather in any drivers cap. Heat races were good also.

Negative; I could tell from the stands before the heat races were completed that it was going to lay rubber. Why don't the Duncan's learn to do a little track prep during the intermission? As a fan I wouldn't mind listening to a few more driver interviews and having time to go to the restroom while they work on the track.

We come to watch a good feature that is why they call it the MAIN event.

I think you will find in defense of Knoxville and the Dunkins they have done this long enough and have plenty of tricks up there sleeves and could make that track anyway they wanted. Im pretty sure they could still make Knoxville a tacky, wet track with a big deep cushion the type like back in the day that would almost pull your shoes off when you went into the pits after all the races had been run. Why do you think they stopped turning the track over about a foot and opening it up during the week for rains, etc. These days the most you see is a road grader blading it smooth. If they let that track breath and get the moisture

deep like they used to it would be interesting to see where track speeds would be But seems these days with the wings, the drivers and officials like em smooth, dry and a little wider for passing with the laps they are turning now a track rutting out or ridging would be pretty dangerous. I would almost bet they went a little cautious on the first night. Just think to yourself in august with the heat, and wind how they can keep the track moist and tacky during the nationals all week. Its been my experiance at a race track when they go into track prep during intermissions it can really make things worse. Everyone has to drive the same track. This isnt Boone and these surely arent stock cars

Lap times were slow,low 16' for 410's. Not much faster than the 360's.

Yes, they are cousins.

Rubber or not, most all passes were on the inside and those who got off the bottom went backwards.

Not complaining, this will happen once in a while. Worst night at the racetrack is better than the best night anywhere else.

What place was Kevin in when he spun on lap 16 ?

From listening on the net...about 12th.

www.teamwmotorsports.webs.com

I guess I'm fine with the rule change, but maybe changing the "pill" numbers would have been the best route instead of a complete redraw.

I do think there should be passing points involved into the championship points due to the complete draw, however. Two points per position advanced in the A is a nice incentive for a crappy draw.

BIG J

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Congrats to the www.EagleMotorsports.com gang for picking up chassis feature victories in all three divisions!

That may have been a perfectly prepared track, but by the time the push trucks got done running it in, it was ready to be raced on. By the time the 305, 410, and 360 time trialed hotlaps , and finally the 410 time trials, any chance of seeing great features was long gone.