by Bill Wright

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, June 18, 2011 – Dusty Zomer assumed the lead with four laps to go, when leader, Wayne Johnson, had an oil filter blow off, causing an oil fire.  The win at the Knoxville Raceway was Zomer’s second of the season and seventh in his career.  It was worth $3,500 and came at Farm Bureau Mid-Season Championship night.  A healthy crowd saw three sensational features, as Matt Moro picked up the win in the 360 class, and Carson McCarl picked up the win with the 305 class.

Five cars were eliminated from the 410 feature before a lap could be completed.  The incident sidelined third heat race winner, Johnn Cressman, B main victor, Kaley Gharst, Josh Higday, Mike Houseman Jr., and Jon Corbin, who tipped over.  No drivers were injured.

Ryan Anderson shot out from his front row outside starting spot at the outset of the 25-lap event and set a torrid early pace.  Pole-sitter, Josh Schneiderman, settled into second, and Austin McCarl and Wayne Johnson moved into third an dfourth on the second go-around.

Rookie AJ Moeller, who took one of the three heat races, got into the turn four wall with eight laps in the books bringing out the first caution of the event.  Anderson led Schneiderman, Austin McCarl, Wayne Johnson and Terry McCarl back to green.  Johnson shot into third after the restart, and on lap nine put away Schneiderman for the runner-up spot.  He continued his charge by taking the lead on the next lap.

It was point leader and quick timer, Danny Lasoski’s turn on laps 11 and 12 as he moved into third and then second.  At the halfway mark, it was Johnson leading Lasoski, Anderson, Schneiderman, and a charging Zomer.  Rager Phillips blew a left rear tire with fifteen laps down to slow things again.

On the restart, Johnson shot out to another big lead, and Lasoski had company in Zomer.  The two waged a torrid battle for the second spot over five laps.  On lap 20, Zomer performed what would prove to be the winning pass.  On the next go-around, with 21 laps in the books, Johnson’s oil filter blew off in turn one, causing a fire that was put out quickly.

Zomer, who also won the first heat, dominated the last four laps, as Lasoski chased him to the checkers.  Schneiderman held on for a solid third, ahead of Terry McCarl, and hard-charger, Davey Heskin.  Don Droud Jr., Austin McCarl, Bronson Maeschen, Johnny Herrera and Dustin Selvage rounded out the top ten.

Zomer ran out of fuel after crossing the finish line and was eight pounds over the minimum 1400 pound rule.  “I heard it blubber the last lap,” he said.  “I just wanted to make it one more corner.  We were eight pounds over, and I’m just a little guy, so I didn’t like that they added 25 pounds to the weight limit this year.  This is the best the racetrack has been all year.  It allowed us to get here from the fifth row, and it put on a great show for the fans.  I hope you all come back next Saturday night!”

The 360 feature event was no less entertaining.  After a crash at the outset claimed B main winner, Ryan Roberts (he was uninjured), David Hall shot out from the pole to lead the 20-lap event early.  Joe Beaver sized him up to take the lead on lap three.  The previous week’s feature winner, Dennis Moore Jr. moved into the runner-up spot a lap later, and Matt Moro and quick timer, Chad Humston, joined the top four by lap seven.

At the halfway point, Beaver led Moore Jr., Moro, Humston and third heat race winner, Clint Garner.  Soon, it was a three-way battle for the lead.  Moro moved into second on lap 13 and took the point on the next go-around.

With six laps to go, heat winner, Tasker Phillips came to a stop on the frontstretch, slowing things.  The yellow negated a Moore Jr. pass of Beaver for second.  A lap later, Casey Friedrichsen brought the yellow again when he stopped.  Garner used the restart to move into third, and two laps later took second from Beaver.

Meanwhile, Moro pulled away to record 360 win #7 at the famous half-mile oval.  Garner was second, Humston claimed third on the last lap, Beaver was fourth and Moore Jr. was fifth.  Russ Hall, heat winner Jon Agan, David Hall, hard-charger, Nate Van Haaften, and Larry Ball Jr. rounded out the top ten.

“This feels so good,” said Moro, who was paid $1,500 for his win.  “Last year, after two bad years, I felt like a washed up racecar driver.  We have the ‘Bad News Bears’ for a crew, but these guys are awesome!  It felt good getting by Dennis (Moore Jr.) after last week.  You get that carrot dangling out front…you run that much harder.”

Twelve exciting laps saw sixteen year old Carson McCarl take his second career feature win.  Heat one winner, Jamie Ball, shot out to an early lead over fellow front row starter and heat winner, Chris Mallicoat, but all eyes were on the battle that was for second.  McCarl and Tasker Phillips were going back and forth, as the teenagers looked like veterans.  The pair exchanged second four times in four laps before heat winner, Travis Cram, flipped in turn three after contact from another car with five laps down.  He was unhurt.

The restart saw Phillips shoot by Ball into the lead.  McCarl followed suit shortly thereafter and a three-way battle for the lead ensued over the last five laps.  With two laps to go, McCarl used the low side to slide in front of Phillip in turn one to take the lead for good.  Phillips was second ahead of Ball, Matt Stephenson and Mark Widmar.  Fast-timer, Matt Stelzer, Matt Krieger, Alan Ambers, Mitchell Alexander and Bart Friedrichsen rounded out the top ten.

“It was really a lot of fun,” said McCarl of his battles with Phillips.  “I could put the car anywhere I want.  I have to thank all my guys, especially Brad (Goebel).  I have to thank Aaron Berryhill and Gary Dean back home to.”

Next Friday night will be “Nostalgia at Knoxville” and Hot Rod Reunion Night presented by the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce.  On Saturday night, all three divisions are back in action on “Earl Wagner Mural” Night at Knoxville.  For more details visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

410 Results

Time Trials (Qualifying Order, 1 lap): 1. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (9) 15.327; 2. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (3) 15.434; 3. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (6) 15.662; 4. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (20) 15.685; 5. 38, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA (16) 15.777; 6. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (12) 15.788; 7. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (11) 15.816; 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (15) 15.837; 9. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (19) 15.837; 10. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (21) 15.849; 11. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (7) 15.853; 12. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (17) 15.917; 13. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (1) 15.921; 14. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (23) 15.931; 15. 45x, Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM (4) 15.952; 16. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (25) 15.966; 17. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (5) 16.097; 18. 56JC, Johnn Cressman, Sioux Falls, SD (2) 16.125; 19. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN (14) 16.162; 20. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (13) 16.163; 21. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (8) 16.278; 22. 2, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (22) 16.413; 23. 4, Jon Corbin, Carrollton, MO (18) 16.417; 24. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (24) 16.535; 25. 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (10) 16.554; 26. 19K, Todd King, Sheboygan Falls, WI (26) 16.585.

Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:08.3: 1. Dusty Zomer (5) 2. Danny Lasoski (6) 3. Davey Heskin (1) 4. Ryan Anderson (3) 5. Mike Moore (2) 6. Bob Weuve (4) / 7. Mike Houseman Jr. (8) 8. Austin Johnson (7) DNS – Josh Higday

Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:10.2: 1. AJ Moeller (1) 2. Rager Phillips (3) 3. Wayne Johnson (5) 4. Josh Schneiderman (4) 5. Terry McCarl (6) 6. Lynton Jeffrey (2) / 7. Kaley Gharst (7) 8. Jon Corbin (8) 9. Todd King (9)

Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:11.6: 1. Johnn Cressman (1) 2. Dustin Selvage (5) 3. Johnny Herrera (2) 4. Austin McCarl (4) 5. Don Droud Jr. (6) 6. Bronson Maeschen (3) / 7. Rob Kubli (8) 8. Ryan Bunton (7)

B main (started), 6 laps, 1:49.9: 1. Kaley Gharst (2) 2. Josh Higday (4) 3. Rob Kubli (6) 4. Jon Corbin (3) 5. Austin Johnson (1) 6. Mike Houseman Jr. (5) / 7. Todd King (7)

A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Dusty Zomer (9) 2. Danny Lasoski (10) 3. Josh Schneiderman (1) 4. Terry McCarl (6) 5. Davey Heskin (16) 6. Don Droud Jr. (7) 7. Austin McCarl (4) 8. Bronson Maeschen (12) 9. Johnny Herrera (13) 10. Dustin Selvage (5) 11. Lynton Jeffrey (14) 12. Rob Kubli (19) 13. Mike Moore (11) 14. Austin Johnson (21) 15. Wayne Johnson (8) 16. Ryan Anderson (2) 17. Rager Phillips (23) 18. Bob Weuve (3) 19. AJ Moeller (15) 20. Josh Higday (20) 21. Johnn Cressman (18) 22. Kaley Gharst (17) 23. Jon Corbin (22) 24. Mike Houseman Jr. (24). Lap Leaders: Anderson 1-9, W. Johnson 10-21, Zomer 22-25. Hard-charger: Heskin.

360 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.425; 2. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.493; 3. 18, Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE, 16.496; 4. D12, Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell, IA, 16.499; 5. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.549; 6. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.576; 7. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 16.593; 8. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.634; 9. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 16.728; 10. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 16.730; 11. 9m, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO, 16.769; 12. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.779; 13. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.815; 14. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 16.829; 15. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 16.861; 16. 98, JD Johnson, Wichita, KS, 16.921; 17. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.967; 18. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.983; 19. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.090; 20. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 17.145; 21. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA, 17.153; 22. 71, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 17.154; 23. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 17.191; 24. 4JP, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL, 17.341; 25. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL, 17.662.

Heat one (started), 7 laps, 1:57.2: 1. Jon Agan (1) 2. Joe Beaver (4) 3. Chad Humston (6) 4. Larry Ball Jr. (3) 5. Ricky Montgomery (2) / 6. Casey Friedrichsen (7) 7. Ryan Roberts (5) 8. Jimmy Davies (9) 9. Tom Lenz (8)

Heat two (started), 7 laps, 1:58.9: 1. Tasker Phillips (2) 2. Jarrod Schneiderman (1) 3. David Hall (4) 4. Dennis Moore Jr. (5) 5. Tyler Groenendyk (3) / 6. Nate Van Haaften (6) 7. RJ Johnson (7) 8. Rod Richards (8)

Heat three (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Clint Garner (4) 2. JD Johnson (1) 3. Tony Shilling (2) 4. Russ Hall (6) 5. Matt Moro (5) / 6. Chad Heimbaugh (3) 7. Alan Zoutte (7) 8. Justin Parrish (8)

B main (started), 10 laps, 2:51.6: 1. Ryan Roberts (2) 2. Nate Van Haaften (1) 3. Casey Friedrichsen (4) 4. Tom Lenz (7) 5. Chad Heimbaugh (3) / 6. RJ Johnson (5) 7. Justin Parrish (9) 8. Alan Zoutte (6) 9. Rod Richards (8) 10. Jimmy Davies (10)

A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Matt Moro (3) 2. Clint Garner (7) 3. Chad Humston (6) 4. Joe Beaver (2) 5. Dennis Moore Jr. (4) 6. Russ Hall (5) 6. Jon Agan (13) 8. David Hall (1) 9. Nate Van Haaften (17) 10. Larry Ball Jr. (8) 11. Ricky Montgomery (10) 12. Tony Shilling (12) 13. Jarrod Schneiderman (14) 14. Casey Friedrichsen (18) 15. JD Johnson (15) 16. Tyler Groenendyk (9) 17. Chad Heimbaugh (20) 18. Tasker Phillips (11) 19. Tom Lenz (19) 20. Ryan Roberts (16). Lap Leaders: D. Hall 1-2, Beaver 3-13, Moro 14-20. Hard-charger: Van Haaften.

305 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE, 17.524; 2. 66, Travis Cram, Snohomish, WA, 17.563; 3. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 17.765; 4. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.825; 5. 87, Cale Hutchings, Bloomfield, IA, 17.847; 6. 7w, Mark Widmar, Ottumwa, IA, 17.884; 7. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 18.112; 8. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA, 18.130; 9. 22, Chris Mallicoat, Boone, IA, 18.161; 10. 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 18.177; 11. 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA, 18.213; 12. 29, Bart Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 18.283; 13. 55KC, Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls, IA, 18.449; 14. 7s, Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines, IA, 18.515; 15. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA, 18.651; 16. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 19.179; 17. 21, Keith Carlberg, Webster City, IA, 20.661; 18. 12, TJ Peterson, Des Moines IA, NT; 19. 6D, Don Dawson II, Indianola, IA, NT; 20. 00, Matt McBride, Runnells, IA, NT; 21. 4c, Chris Horton, Indianola, IA, NT;  DQ (Illegal Tire), 44, Matt Krieger, Burlington, IA.

Heat one (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. Jamie Ball (1) 2. Tasker Phillips (2) 3. Matthew Stelzer (4) 4. Cody Ambers (6) 5. Bob Hildreth (5) 6. Alan Ambers (3) 7. TJ Peterson (7)

Heat two (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. Travis Cram (4) 2. Matt Krieger (6) 3. Matt Stephenson (2) 4. Steve Palmer (1) 5. Tim St. Arnold (5) 6. Cale Hutchings (3) 7. Chris Horton (7)

Heat three (started), 6 laps, 1:48.2: 1. Chris Mallicoat (2) 2. Carson McCarl (4) 3. Mark Widmar (3) 4. Mitchell Alexander (5) 5. Bart Friedrichsen (1) 6. Don Dawson II (6) DNS – Keith Carlberg, Matt McBride

A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Carson McCarl (6) 2. Tasker Phillips (4) 3. Jamie Ball (1) 4. Matt Stephenson (3) 5. Mark Widmar (5) 6. Matthew Stelzer (8) 7. Matt Krieger (15) 8. Alan Ambers (14) 9. Mitchell Alexander (12) 10. Bart Friedrichsen (10) 11. Cody Ambers (13) 12. Bob Hildreth (16) 13. Chris Mallicoat (2) 14. Steve Palmer (9) 15. Tim St. Arnold (11) 16. Travis Cram (7) 17. Don Dawson II (17) DNS – Cale Hutchings, TJ Peterson, Chris Horton, Matt McBride, Keith Carlberg. Lap Leaders: Ball 1-5, Phillips 6-9, C. McCarl 10-12.