The historic Knoxville Speedway held it's 2nd annual Shootout race on Sunday, and a beautiful day for racing it was. The crowd in the huge grandstand appeared to be small, but the pits were filled with 119 race cars per my count. The pre-entry list was limited to 50 cars per each of the four classes, Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stock, all running IMCA type rules. None of the classes however, made that 50 car limit. Nebraska wiped up in the Modified and Stock Car classes while Iowa took the SportMod and Hobby Stock wins.
The SportMods ran a 15-lap feature. Des Moines driver, Austin Kaplan would lead this one all but the first lap, pulling away for an easy win. Glenn Gladson, Jr. finished in second a distance behind the leader. He held off the charges of Carter Vandenberg in third, who had started back in ninth position. Fourth went to Jack Housley, Des Moines, and rounding out the top five was Norwalk, Iowa's Jared Timmerman.
The Hobby Stocks also ran a 15-lap feature. Avoca, Iowa driver Corey Madden and Oskaloosa's Mike Hughes drew the lucky #1 and #2 pills to start on the front row. Hughes took away the point spot from Madden on lap two, but it was veteran Bill Bonnett who came calling shortly, as he shot to the lead. Bonnett chose the low line of the race track as he lead through the halfway mark, but Hughes wasn't done. Hughes stuck his nose under the leader in turn three, and shot past him, taking over the top spot. Hughes then pulled away in the closing laps and scored the win. Two Avoca, Iowa drivers made their trip over from western Iowa pay off---Corey Madden beating Chuck Madden, Jr., second and third. Fourth place went to hometown driver Kevin Fee and fifth place Eric Stanton came from starting back in the sixth row.
The Stock Cars went 20-laps for their main event. Joe Zadina, Corning and David Brandies, Atalissa battled it out lap after lap in this one; often in a near dead heat at the flagstand. Brandies was finally able to make the pass for the lead and put distance between himself and Zadina. Meanwhile, Beatrice, Nebraska driver Lance Borgman battled his way past Randy Killen to take over third, and was soon reeling in second place Zadina. Borgman then put the heat on Zadina, quickly taking over that second position. Now his sights were set on the leader Brandies, and he was soon on his heels. In the closing laps, Borgman was able to take over that top spot and motored home to the win. A good battle ensued between Zadina and Brandies for the runner up spot, Zadina just nabbing second over Brandies in third. Fourth place went to Shelby, Iowa racer Keith Knop, who had started 20th on the field and Sigourney, Iowa's hot shoe, Nathan Wood completed the top five.
The final feature was the 25-lapper for the Modifieds. Jacob Murray, who had started outside front row, was looking strong from the get go in this one, pulling away from the field. No doubt, the last thing he wanted to see was the yellow that flew at lap ten, bunching up the field behind him on the restart. In second at that point, was former IMCA National Champion and last year's winner of the Knoxville Shoot Out, Dylan Smith, Osceola, Nebraska, and another Nebraskan, Jordan Grabouski, was sitting in third. The restart was just what the two Nebraska drivers were wanting, as Smith flew to the lead and Grabouski came along in second. But now, making their appearance into the fray, were Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood, Iowa racer who has been having a very successful start to the season after jumping up from the SportMod class, and Josh Foster, as they pressured Grabouski. With ten laps to go, Sobbing took over second spot, and Foster tagged along to take third. The holes that had appeared numerous places in the corners, especially noticeable low in turn one, didn't seem to bother leader Smith much, as he bounced through them time after time, managing to put a good deal of distance between himself and second place. At the finish line, Smith took the easy win, finishing well ahead of second place Sobbing and third place Foster. Fourth place went to Gilman, Iowa's Richie Gustin who had started back in row six, and Todd Shute who had started along side Gustin, rode out the rough track to garner fifth place. Grabouski fell back to finish in sixth.
Since fellow Positively Racing cohort Jeff Broeg was busy, up in the tower last night with line ups and results, he commented that he did not really get to watch much of the racing action, and was relying on me for a synopsis of the racing. I can only say that this is the way we saw it, and know that others may have seen things differently---as we all do. Hope that this gives you a glimpse of what took place.
According to the weather forecast, Mother Nature isn't done with us yet! This coming week is not sounding great for racing...midweek or the weekend. We all know how it can change at the drop of a hat though, so maybe we will be able to eek out a race or two. Check the Positively Racing calendar on the home page for racing in the area, both weekly racing, as most tracks are now open, as well as any specials scheduled. Happy racing!
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