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Enjoy. Another great week. Can't wait until the 56th.
1. Donny Schatz - World of Outlaws - (1) - What more can be said. His 9th Nationals title in the last 10 years and would likely have 10 consecutive without dropping a cylinder in 2010. Nearly untouchable at Knoxville at this point. Donny led all 50 laps.
2. Kerry Madsen - World of Outlaws - (2) - A strong qualifying night highlighted by an 8th to 1st run in his heat race landed him on the front row. Seemed to be the strongest candidate to pass the 15 but each time he closed in, Donny had another gear of speed to go to. Sharp looking car and while Kerry was frustrated with himself when he cashes the $75,000 check he received he should be proud of his efforts. Sharp looking car and a career high finish for the The Madman.
3. Brad Sweet - World of Outlaws - (5) - The addition of Lee Stauffer was noticeable as he set quick time on his qualifying night and had the runner up spot on Saturday on multiple occasions. Brad raced well and the 49 was fast as both Lee Stauffer and Brad Sweet scored career high finishes. The 2015 Front Row Challenge winner.
4. Shane Stewart - World of Outlaws - (12) - Came on strong towards the end of the feature from his 6th row starting spot. An average qualifying effort set him back a little in the starting position but he was able to run away with the qualifying night win and picked up yet another top 5 Nationals run.
5. Joey Saldana - World of Outlaws - (4) - Joey rounded out an all WoO top 5 driving hard in the feature without power steering for the majority of it. Joey is always a factor at Nationals and this year was no different. Never challenged for a podium finish but he put himself in the right position all week long and is rewarded with another top 5 finish.
6. Brian Brown - Knoxville Regular/NSL - (14) - A lackluster year by his standards was evident early on his qualifying night as he failed to qualify through his heat and was forced to battle hard for the final transfer spot in the B main. Following that, Brian Brown looked like the Brian Brown that ended up in the runner up spot the past few years charging from the rear to a top 5. +8 spots in the feature to a 6th place run is nothing to shake your head at and Brian continued to show why he is one of the most popular drivers in the country with his off-track performance with fans. The highest finishing non-WoO driver once again.
7. Daryn Pittman - World of Outlaws - (15) - The 2013 WoO champ backed up in the feature on his qualifying night barely hanging on to lock into the A main. But looked strong on Saturday coming forward in the feature besting his 2 previous Nationals starts in the KKR 9 that were identical 14th place runs.
8. Danny Lasoski - Knoxville Regular/NSL - (6) The 2015 Knoxville track champion and current NSL points leader had to be the favorite to knock of Donny coming into the weekend and at the halfway point continued to look like the leading contender driving up to the runner up spot. Something went array in the back half as he backed up and appeared to be hanging on in the late stages of the race. A top-10 for the Dude but after his success all year and flashes of brilliance throughout the week, 8th could be viewed as a little bit of a disappointment for the Muddy 2 team.
9. Lucas Wolfe - Pennsylvania Posse - (13) - Maybe a surprise to those at associate Lucas Wolfe to his WoO tour days, but the Zemco team and Lucas have been an elite Pennsylvania car all year (Current Port Royal Points Leader) and Lucas proved that he can still get around Knoxville. Backed up in his qualifying feature and was hit and miss throughout the 50 lap A main on Saturday but ended up 9th and was knocking on the door for more towards the end.
10. Greg Hodnett - Pennsylvania Posse - (23) - The hard charger advancing 13 spots from his B main transfer spot. Greg began 2015 as arguably the hottest driver in the country having double-digit wins in Pennsylvania and an All-Star win at Volusia but has slowed down recently. Got a huge confidence boost the Saturday before the Capitani at Port Royal worth upwards of $10,000. Following that he and his crew chief drove straight through to run the Capitani the following night. After consecutive years of just missing out in the feature through the B, the Williams Grove points leader proved that he belongs in the A main.
11. Terry McCarl - Knoxville Regular/NSL - (8) - McCarl was as high as 5th on Saturday but similar to Lasoski faded late. Started 9th on his qualifying night feature and drove his way through the field to the lead with a statement slidejob on the aforementioned Lasoski. Awarded the Jesse Hockett Mr. Sprint Car award. The 2015 360 Nationals champion.
12. Bryan Clauson - NSL - (16) - Clauson proved quickly that last year was no fluke as he stormed to the lead on the Friday night feature and never looked back. He was the 1st driver to not have the choice of running the B main and would have started 7th in the 'old' format. Clauson proved that he belonged in the feature for the 2nd consecutive year and has shown that he is more than formidable in a winged car.
13. David Gravel - World of Outlaws - (3) - Starting 3rd in the biggest sprint car race of the world had to have been a confidence boost for Gravel and the Destiny Motorsports team but he faded quickly in the feature. No shame in finishing the weekend in 1 piece and in the A but starting 3rd I'm guessing it was a little bit disappointing to come home 13th.
14. Sheldon Haudenschild - All Star - (10) - A breakout year for Sheldon highlighted by an outstanding Ohio Speedweek definitely made him an A main candidate this year and he delivered. His 1st career A main start further proves that he is one of the top young drivers in the country. Look for many more A main starts in his future.
15. Danny Dietrich - Pennsylvania Posse - (17) - Danny was one of the hottest drivers in the country coming into this week having won 6 of his 9 features including beating the WoO from 9th. He made the A through the tough Friday format and has shown throughout the year that he is one of the best young drivers in the country as he has double digit wins in Central Pennsylvania. His 1st Nationals A main in 3 attempts with both of his previous runs ending in the B.
16. Cody Darrah - All Star - (22) - The Pennsylvania Posse turned World of Outlaw turned All-Star has had a strong year with the New All-Stars sitting 2nd in points behind Ohio great Dale Blaney. Cody has been the victim of a lot of criticism in recent years but as always performed well at Knoxville and this year was no different transferring through the B main. Cody will continue to plug away on the All-Star tour in 2015.
17. Brent Marks - Pennsylvania Posse - (18) - Set quick time over 80 cars on Friday and transferred through the Friday format. The hardest part to believe about Brent's season is he has 0 wins this year in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. Confidence was pretty low for Brent coming into this weekend and it has definitely elevated following his 1st career A main start in 3 tries with both previous attempts ending in the C main. Brent is one of the top young drivers in the country and has proved he can be competitive anywhere. As he continues to improve, you'll want to remember the name.
18. Dale Blaney - All Star - (11) - The All-Star point leader and defending champion has admitted that Knoxville isn't his best track so an A main start is nothing to shake your head at but after starting 11th, I was thinking he would be in the mix for a top 10. Regardless, he made the A main and will continue to remain the prominent force on the All-Star tour and the favorite to win the championship yet again.
19. Sammy Swindell - True Outlaw - (21) - Has found a ride with CJB for the bigger shows. Ended up in smoke on his qualifying night and was forced to transfer through the always challenging B main. Under the microscope for his on the track antics furthering his controversial reception from the fans was all-irrelevant when he walked across the stage during driver introductions with the loudest ovation of all 25 starters. We all know what happened and we all wish the best on his son. A humbling amount of money was raised by the fans for Kevin's recovery fund. Amidst all the banter, it was a reminder that there are more important things than racing.
20. Billy Alley - Nebraska 360's - (19) - Running his 2nd 410 race in 5+ years, it's safe to say Billy and his team were happy to make the Knoxville Nationals. The former track champion and 360 Nationals winner knows his way around Knoxville and showed that on Friday night. Hope to see Billy at Nationals in future years.
21. Paul McMahan - World of Outlaws - (7) - Was running well hovering on the verge of a top 5 but hopped the cushion after being a victim of a slide job in turn 4 and ended up on his lid. Returned but by that point things were bent, the nose wing was damaged and no progress was made. Paul had a great car and has to be disappointed not having a finish to show that. Just 2 wins on the WoO tour this year and will be looking to heat it up on the west coast swing.
22. Jason Johnson - World of Outlaws - (9) - Jason Johnson looked like Jason Johnson from the past at Knoxville on his qualifying night. But didn't have the same fortunes on Saturday ending up with a flat tire. Returning from long hiatus just a month ago and making the Nationals isn't a bad weekend but anyone that starts in the top 10 wants to be competing for a top 10 at the end of the weekend.
23. Lynton Jeffrey - Knoxville Regular - (24) - The winner of the World Challenge ticket to the A main was scheduled to start mid-pack in the B and was clearly not in the same league as James McFadden in the WC but you have to be good to be lucky and Lynton was in the right place in the right time when McFadden's motor expired.
24. Wayne Johnson - ASCS National Tour - (20) - 3rd in ASCS points but has always been potent at Knoxville. The throwback Beaver 12x scheme made Wayne Johnson that much happier to put his car in the A main. Was unchallenged in the 22 lap B, but was never able to mount a charge in the feature.
25. Trevor Canales - (25) - The oft-talked about and debated driver of the "start and park" of the Abreu 24. My opinion on the situation is Rico is absolutely correct that his car deserves to be in the race because his team and crew worked their tail off to put the car in the A main. We do often forget that these teams are able to run as well as they do because of the people turning the wrenches and what not.
Biggest Overachiever - Tasker Phillips finishing 6th in the B. Known more for putting his car in poor places, Tasker raced a smart race and beat some very good cars. Also Lil Haud, Marks and Dietrich breaking through is up there.
Biggest Underachiever: The King of the West points leader Bud Kaeding starting in the transfer spot in the D and failing to transfer. Bud is much better in non-wing competition. Also B main finishers Justin Henderson, Stevie Smith and Ian Madsen I had in the A main and they all went backwards in the B. Wasn't expecting that.
Worst luck: James McFadden anyone that watched him on Friday/Saturday will know why. Blew up leading the Challenge, borrowed a motor from the 7 team and blew up in the B. Paige Polyak was much, much better than her E main starting finish.
As always, feel free to agree, disagree, comment, whatnot...
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