Davey Heskin Finishes First in Thrilling 410 Showdown at Knoxville!
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, May 12, 2012 – Davey Heskin led every lap of the 410 main event, but the fans at Knoxville were treated to great racing Saturday night. The bad news for the St. Michael, Minnesota driver happened in post-race inspection. Officials determined that his mufflers needed further scrutiny so the winning check for $3,000 has been withheld until they can be sent to the manufacturer. The same is true for 360 feature winner, Wayne Johnson, and third place finisher, Tony Shilling. Confirmation of official finishes will be made later in the week.
Heskin edged Bronson Maeschen to lead lap one of the 20-lap feature event for the 410's. While Maeschen and Lynton Jeffrey chased the leader, Terry McCarl and Mark Dobmeier were waging a slide job battle for fourth. By lap eight, McCarl was by Jeffrey into third. Ian Madsen enterd the fray and briefly took fourth.
Great racing ensued between McCarl, Jeffrey, Madsen and Brian Brown, who entered the top three by passing McCarl and Maeschen in one fell swoop on lap 13. The lead trio became Heskin, Brown and McCarl and they exchanged moves with the crowd on the edge of their seat! With five laps to go, Heskin led Brown, McCarl, Jeffrey and Maeschen.
One lap later, ninth running Ryan Bunton tangled with the lapped machine of Wayne Modjeski, bringing the only slowdown of an intense event. Heskin would hold off all competitors with the open track in front of him. Brown held second, followed by McCarl, Jeffrey and Madsen. Dobmeier, Dustin Selvage, Robby Wolfgang, Maeschen and Tasker Phillips rounded out the top ten. Heats were won by Ryan Anderson, Jeffrey and Josh Schneiderman, while Madsen posted quick time of the night in qualifying.
"I don't think words can describe how I feel," said Heskin in Victory Lane. "I didn't know about the caution. I just tried to hit my marks, and pulled it off I guess. I just kept my foot in it down the chute, and that's all you can hope for, I guess."
Jon Agan shot out to an early lead in the 18-lap 360 feature from his front row starting position. Wayne Johnson moved into second on lap two and chased the leader. Agan maintained his advantage, and at the halfway point, he led Wayne Johnson, Tony Shilling, Clint Garner and Joe Beaver.
On the tenth lap, chaos ensued during a caution for a stalled Matt Covington in turn two. Agan hit the frontstretch wall hard, and had to retire. Johnson inherited the lead ahead of Shilling, Garner, Beaver, Tyler Groenendyk and Matt Moro. Two laps after the restart, Josh Higday and Carson McCarl contacted, and Nate Van Haaften spun. All three restarted. The clear track with six laps was what Johnson needed to cruise to his tenth 360 feature win at Knoxville.
Garner followed Johnson across the finish line. Shilling was third, ahead of Moro and Randy Martin. Beaver, Groenendyk, Jamie Ball, RJ Johnson and David Hall rounded out the top ten. Groenendyk, Logan Forler and Randy Martin won heat races, while Garner also copped quick time.
"I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good," said Wayne Johnson of Agan's misfortune that handed him the lead. "I had a really good car there that was good on the curb. I was hoping we'd get to traffic, and I'm not really sure what happened to him. He was going to be tough to beat. We were fortunate to start toward the front."
Larry Ball Jr. dominated the 305 feature from start to finish. Matthew Stelzer was the man on the move. He had moved into fourth by lap four from his eighth starting spot. The only slowdown of the event came when Ben Woods went up in smoke on lap six. At the time, Ball led Steve Breazeale, Matt Stephenson, Stelzer and J Kinder.
On lap nine, Stelzer moved by Breazeale into second where he would stay. Kinder would follow him into third a lap later. Behind the lead trio, were Breazeale and Alan Ambers. Stephenson, Mike Van Haaften, Mitchell Alexander, Mark Widmar and Bob Hildreth. Breazeale, Alan Ambers and Ball scored heat wins. Stelzer posted quick time of the night.
"I wasn't even sure if I'd be racing after my snowmobile accident last winter," said Ball in Victory Lane. "Randy Martin told me to win one for the old guys, and this is a good way to make my injuries feel better."
Next weekend, be here for McKay/Allied Insurance Night plus 360's! Dirt Trucks will also be on the card! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order, 1 lap): 1. 55, Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust. (14) 15.546; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (24) 15.569; 3. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (10) 15.649; 4. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (1) 15.721; 5. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (2) 15.760; 6. 24, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (25) 15.789; 7. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (16) 15.818; 8. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (4) 15.868; 9. 96, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (13) 15.879; 10. 2, Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls, SD (19) 15.930; 11. 7K, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (9) 16.006; 12. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (23) 16.010; 13. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA, 16.046; 14. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (5) 16.054; 15. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (20) 16.160; 16. 9, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (6) 16.167; 17. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (15) 16.168; 18. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (7) 16.264; 19. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (11) 16.289; 20. 10, Randy Anderson, Clarion, IA (17) 16.378; 21. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (12) 16.417; 22. 14AJ, Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek, WI (21) 16.641; 23. 75, Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW, Aust. (3) 16.719; 24. 34, Scott Broty, Prior Lake, MN (18) 18.785; 25. 12P, TJ Peterson, Des Moines, IA (22) NT.
Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:14.8: 1. Ryan Anderson (2) 2. Davey Heskin (4) 3. Rager Phillips (1) 4. Bryan Dobesh (3) 5. Ian Madsen (6) 6. Tasker Phillips (7) 7. AJ Moeller (5) 8. Wayne Modjeski (8) DNS – TJ Peterson
Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:12.8: 1. Lynton Jeffrey (2) 2. Brian Brown (4) 3. Dusty Zomer (8) 4. Rob Kubli (1) 5. Mark Dobmeier (5) 6. Robby Wolfgang (3) 7. Glen Saville (6) 8. Randy Anderson (7)
Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:16.4: 1. Josh Schneiderman (2) 2. Terry McCarl (5) 3. Don Droud Jr. (1) 4. Bronson Maeschen (4) 5. Ryan Bunton (6) 6. Dustin Selvage (3) 7. Jarrod Schneiderman (7) 8. Scott Broty (8)
A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Davey Heskin (3) 2. Brian Brown (7) 3. Terry McCarl (4) 4. Lynton Jeffrey (2) 5. Ian Madsen (8) 6. Mark Dobmeier (5) 7. Dustin Selvage (11) 8. Robby Wolfgang (10) 9. Bronson Maeschen (1) 10. Tasker Phillips (18) 11. Don Droud Jr. (17) 12. Bryan Dobesh (9) 13. Ryan Anderson (12) 14. Rager Phillips (15) 15. Dusty Zomer (13) 16. Glen Saville (23) 17. Josh Schneiderman (14) 18. AJ Moeller (19) 19. Jarrod Schneiderman (21) 20. Rob Kubli (16) 21. Scott Broty (24) 22. Randy Anderson (20) 23. Ryan Bunton (6) 24. Wayne Modjeski (22) 25. TJ Peterson (25). Lap Leader: Heskin 1-20. Hard Charger: T. Phillips.
360 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.134; 2. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.151; 3. 71, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 16.211; 4. 77x, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA, 16.243; 5. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.312; 6. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 16.367; 7. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.374; 8. 11c, Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK, 16.483; 9. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.483; 10. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 16.484; 11. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 16.490; 12. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 16.509; 13. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 16.560; 14. 18, Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE, 16.591; 15. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO, 16.640; 16. 4B, Jordan Boston, Crete, NE, 16.700; 17. 5H, Logan Forler, Lake Havasu City, AZ, 16.728; 18. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 16.779; 19. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.795; 20. 24, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA, 16.825; 21. 14J, Josh Riggins, Newton, IA, 16.859; 22. 98, JD Johnson, Wichita, KS, 16.860; 23. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.931; 24. 22N, Nate Mosher, Prairie City, IA, 16.936; 25. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN, 16.960; 26. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 16.989; 27. 9, Jared Goerges, East Gull Lake, MN, 17.184; 28. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA, 17.261.
Heat one (started), 7 laps, 1:58.3: 1. Tyler Groenendyk (2) 2. Wayne Johnson (5) 3. Jordan Boston (1) 4. Tony Shilling (4) 5. Clint Garner (6) 6. Jamie Ball (3) / 7. JD Johnson (8) 8. Chad Heimbaugh (7) 9. Austin Johnson (9) 10. Alan Zoutte (10)
Heat two (started), 7 laps, 2:00.6: 1. Logan Forler (1) 2. Ryan Roberts (2) 3. Joe Beaver (5) 4. Matt Covington (4) 5. David Hall (3) 6. Carson McCarl (9) / 7. Nate Van Haaften (6) 8. Josh Higday (7) 9. Russ Hall (8)
Heat three (started), 7 laps, 2:00.4: 1. Randy Martin (2) 2. Tom Lenz (1) 3. Matt Moro (4) 4. Jon Agan (5) 5. Casey Friedrichsen (3) 6. RJ Johnson (6) / 7. Nate Mosher (8) 8. Josh Riggins (7) 9. Jared Goerges (9)
B main (started), 10 laps, NT: 1. Josh Higday (3) 2. Nate Van Haaften (1) 3. Chad Heimbaugh (2) 4. JD Johnson (5) 5. Nate Mosher (7) 6. Russ Hall (6) / 7. Josh Riggins (4) 8. Austin Johnson (8) 9. Jared Goerges (9) 10. Alan Zoutte (10)
A main (started), 18 laps, NT: 1. Wayne Johnson (4) 2. Clint Garner (6) 3. Tony Shilling (1) 4. Matt Moro (8) 5. Randy Martin (14) 6. Joe Beaver (3) 7. Tyler Groenendyk (12) 8. Jamie Ball (9) 9. RJ Johnson (5) 10. David Hall (10) 11. Casey Friedrichsen (11) 12. JD Johnson (22) 13. Russ Hall (24) 14. Logan Forler (16) 15. Josh Higday (19) 16. Nate Mosher (23) 17. Chad Heimbaugh (21) 18. Ryan Roberts (13) 19. Jordan Boston (15) 20. Nate Van Haaften (20) 21. Carson McCarl (18) 22. Tom Lenz (17) 23. Jon Agan (2) 24. Matt Covington (7). Lap Leaders: Agan 1-10, W. Johnson 11-18. Hard Charger: R. Hall.
305 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE, 17.065; 2. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA, 17.090; 3. 7c, Chad Huston, Jamesport, MO, 17.103; 4. 88, J Kinder, Holt's Summit, MO, 17.302; 5. 7w, Mark Widmar, Ottumwa, IA, 17.379; 6. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA, 17.457; 7. 57, Steve Breazeale, Trenton, MO, 17.474; 8. 55KC, Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls, IA, 17.531; 9. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 17.681; 10. 29, Bart Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.719; 11. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.809; 12. 4, Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE, 17.930; 13. 33, Mike Van Haaften, Pella, IA, 17.983; 14. 4c, Chris Horton, Indianola, IA, 18.354; 15. 16c, Casie Vernon, Chariton, IA, 18.633; 16. X, Kevin Tanner, Russell, IA, 19.197; 17. 59KB, Mike Philben, Grimes, IA, 19.282; 18. 9H, Ben Woods, Newton, IA, 19.301; 19. 292, Chad Jarrett, Savannah, MO, 19.508; 20. 07, Derek Anderson, Estherville, IA, 19.815; 21. 71c, Andrew Shelton, Lacona, IA, 20.091; 22. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 20.112; 23. 19K, Sarena Paul, Monroe, IA, NT; 24. 35, Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, IL, NT; 25. 82, Lee Patterson, Des Moines, IA, NT.
Heat one (started), 6 laps, 1:46.9: 1. Steve Breazeale (2) 2. Matthew Stelzer (4) 3. J Kinder (3) 4. Mike Van Haaften (5) 5. Lee Patterson (6) 6. Bart Friedrichsen (1) DNS – Casie Vernon
Heat two (started), 6 laps, 1:45.5: 1. Alan Ambers (1) 2. Mitchell Alexander (4) 3. Mark Widmar (3) 4. Bob Hildreth (2) 5. Chris Horton (5) 6. Mike Philben (6) DNS – Kevin Tanner, Sarena Paul, Andrew Shelton
Heat three (started), 6 laps, 1:46.8: 1. Larry Ball Jr. (2) 2. Matt Stephenson (3) 3. Dakota Hendrickson (1) 4. Derek Anderson (8) 5. Chad Jarrett (7) 6. Ben Woods (5) 7. Chad Huston (4) 8. Kevin Hetrick (6) DNS – Cody Ambers
A main (started), 15 laps, NT: 1. Larry Ball Jr. (1) 2. Matthew Stelzer (8) 3. J Kinder (6) 4. Steve Breazeale (3) 5. Alan Ambers (10) 6. Matt Stephenson (4) 7. Mike Van Haaften (12) 8. Mitchell Alexander (7) 9. Mark Widmar (5) 10. Bob Hildreth (2) 11. Dakota Hendrickson (9) 12. Mike Philben (14) 13. Chris Horton (11) 14. Chad Jarrett (13) 15. Derek Anderson (15) 16. Ben Woods (16) 17. Lee Patterson (17) DNS – Bart Friedrichsen, Casie Vernon, Kevin Tanner, Sarena Paul, Andrew Shelton, Cody Ambers, Kevin Hetrick, Chad Huston. Lap Leader: Ball – 1-15. Hard Charger: Stelzer.
