KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 18) – Kyle Strickler needed a last-lap pass at Knoxville Raceway to win the 2012 Harris Clash.

No such late-race heroics were necessary Thursday night as the North Carolina driver dominated the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature from start to finish and picked up a $2,000 check.

The first driver to win back-to-back Clash main events, Strickler started outside Jesse Sobbing on the front row for the 25-lapper. “B” qualifier and hard charger Richie Gustin advanced 16 positions to second but couldn’t reel in Strickler, who had a comfortable advantage when the checkers flew.

Sobbing, Randy Havlik and Todd Shute rounded out the top five.

Mike Van Genderen also moved up 16 spots to finish sixth; Eric Dailey took the former race winner’s provisional, started last in the field of 25 and ended in 11th.

Strickler was already qualified for the 2013 fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.

Doug Smith was the $750 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature winner.

Paul Nagle, Jared Timmerman, Austin Kaplan and defending race winner Matt Lettow were next across the stripe.

Sixty-nine Modifieds from seven states and 45 Northern SportMods from five states competed in the 22nd annual Clash.

Feature Results

Modifieds – 1. Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.; 2. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 3. Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood; 4. Randy Havlik, Madrid; 5. Todd Shute, Des Moines; 6. Mike Van Genderen, Newton; 7. Luke Wanninger, Jefferson; 8. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 9. Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb.; 10. Scott Dickey, Packwood; 11. Eric Dailey, Armstrong; 12. Josh Gilman, Earlham; 13. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 14. Taimon Wehr, Harlan; 15. Mitch McGrath, Waukesha, Wis.; 16. Nate Caruth, Ames; 17. Bill Davis Jr., Des Moines; 18. Greg Cox, Altoona; 19. Brian Foote, Essex; 20. Jeremy Mills, Garner; 21. Colt Mather, Webster; 22. Jon Snyder, Ames; 23. Josh Most, Red Oak; 24. Josh Foster, Fort Madison; 25. Kevin Stoa, Albert Lea, Minn.

1st heat (top two) – 1. Davis; 2. Havlik.

2nd heat – 1. Mills; 2. Snyder.

3rd heat – 1. Sobbing; 2. Foote.

4th heat – 1. Strickler; 2. Mather.

5th heat – 1. Stoa; 2. Caruth.

6th heat – 1. Smith; 2. Cox.

7th heat – 1. Shute; 2. Elliott.

8th heat – 1. Wehr; 2. Wanninger.

1st “B” feature (top two) – 1. Gustin; 2. Gilman. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Dickey; 2. Van Genderen.

3rd “B” feature – 1. McGrath; 2. Most. 4th “B” feature – 1. Foster; 2. Carter.

Provisional – Dailey.

Northern SportMods – 1. Doug Smith, Lake City; 2. Paul Nagle, Nevada; 3. Jared Timmerman, Norwalk; 4. Austin Kaplan, Des Moines; 5. Matt Lettow, Roland; 6. Tyler Gross, Bondurant; 7. Kyle Prauner, Norfolk, Neb.; 8. Eric Elliott, Boone; 9. Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa; 10. Ben Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.; 11. Jarod Weston, Red Oak; 12. Ty Luellen, Minburn; 13. Allan Hopp, Harlan; 14. Jerry Hoffman, Joplin, Mo.; 15. Cole Ferguson, Dexter; 16. Joshua Pfeifer, St. Paul, Neb.; 17. Nick Roberts, Des Moines; 18. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk; 19. Brett Lowry, Montezuma; 20. Josh Sink, Stanton; 21. Austin Schrage, Cresco; 22. Brandon Brinton, Nevada; 23. Austin Paul, Monroe; 24. Brad Iverson, Grinnell.

1st heat (top three) – 1. Smith; 2. Kates; 3. Schrage.

2nd heat – 1. Nagle. 2. Timmerman; 3. Luellen.

3rd heat – 1. Lowry; 2. VanDenberg; 3. Sink.

4th heat – 1. Kaplan; 2. Ferguson; 3. Iverson.

5th heat – 1. Lettow; 2. Pfeifer; 3. Gross.

6th heat – 1. Prauner; 2. Gillenwater; 3. Roberts.

1st “B” feature (top two) – 1. Hopp; 2. Hoffman. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Weston; 2. Paul. 3rd “B” feature – 1. Elliott; 2. Brinton.