Knoxville Raceway avoided disaster in the area last night, and the Dynamic Driveline Dirt Duel went on as scheduled. The IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Northern SportMods were in action with 49 Modifieds and 33 SportMods taking to the track.
The IMCA Northern SportMods ran 20 laps for their main event, and by that time the track was rubbered over and pretty much a one-lane around the bottom deal. Cory VanZante, the Sully, Iowa racer started on the pole spot, while last year's winner, Curtis VanDerWal began right behind him. Three cars ran at the front of the pack the entire race, VanZante leading, and Curtis VanDerWal and Omaha, Nebraska driver Cody Olsen swapping the #2 position during the race.
The race went green to checkered, and Cory VanZante led all circuits to claim the victory. VanDerWal took back the second place with just four laps remaining, and it was Cody Olsen in third. Fourth was seventh place starter Cory Rose, and Dusty Masolini started ninth, and finished in fifth.
VanZante had claimed his first career SportMod feature win earlier this year at the Marshalltown Speedway, and last night, his second came at of all places, the Knoxville Raceway....something that many a racer only dreams of. We spoke with VanZante after his win, and he said he was a bundle of nerves when he learned he had drawn the pole starting spot. But he was one happy camper at the end of the night!
The Modifieds ran a 25 laps feature for a $2,000 to win pay off. A passing point format through the heats, saw the top twelve redraw for starting spots, and Jacob Murray and hot shoe Ricky Thornton, Jr. were the lucky recipients of the front row.
Thornton laid claim to the lead immediately, and then, as we've often seen him do, pulled away from the pack. Cayden Carter started sixth, and with just a handful of laps in the books, had made his way to run second. As Thornton motored happily around the track, Carter began to reel in the leader but even after a restart situation that bunched the field with six laps to go, Thornton once again motored off. Carter hung close to Thornton, but really never threatened him seriously, Thornton taking the checkers with Carter finishing as the runner up. Richie Gustin took a distant third after starting in seventh place, pole sitter Jacob Murray took fourth, and last year's winner, Chris Abelson was fifth.
The program clicked off efficiently last evening with the first heat taking to the track at 7:14 and the final checkers flying at 9:30 p.m.
As mentioned earlier, Knoxville Raceway escaped the turbulent Iowa weather yesterday. We were saddened to hear of the tornado hitting close by Pella, the most destruction being at the Vermeer plant location. And then our friends to the north of us in Marshalltown, had a devastating wedge shaped tornado hit the downtown area....causing extensive damage to the downtown business area and the historic courthouse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.
The Marshalltown Speedway has cancelled its regular Friday night racing. Though the speedway itself was not touched by the tornado, they have decided to let the racetrack fall silent in light of the town's devastation.
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