Herrera takes IRA Knoxville sprints; Logan wins in 360s
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Herrera takes IRA Knoxville sprints; Logan wins in 360s
by Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa - May 9 - Johnny Herrera led the way for the “hometown boys” during the annual IRA (Interstate Racing Association) vs. Knoxville sprints at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. Ricky Logan had the field covered as he captured the 360 sprint feature.
For Herrera, the win marked his 11th career win here for the 1995 track champion who started on the pole of the 20-lap event. Right away he took the Larry Woodward Maxim to the high cushion with third row starter Skip Jackson in tow. Soon his sprint mount began smoking but that fact never became an issue during the 10-mile sprint.
Just as Herrera began pulling away from his pursuers on lap five, Mike Moore struck the first turn fence violently bringing out the red. He was not injured but his car was in no shape to continue.
On the restart, Herrera again held the point with Jackson and Don Droud, Jr in pursuit. One lap later, Droud passed Jackson for the runner-up spot. At the halfway point, Droud was keeping pace with the lead car as Brian Brown was now in third. When they entered lap traffic with twelve laps down, the distance began to shorten between the three top cars. Lap fourteen saw heavy traffic and it also saw Herrera begin to extend his lead as he was able to play the back markers to his liking.
Now, with Herrera pulling away from his closest challengers, the question was who would claim the runner-up spot as Brown had come within striking distance of Droud. Close behind them were Bronson Maeschen and twentieth starter Billy Alley in fifth.
Tonight would be claimed by Herrera who came across the stripe as Droud and Brown exited turn four. Maeschen finished fourth and Alley claimed an excellent fifth after having ignition problems early in the night and thus the twentieth position start. Completing the top ten finishers were Jackson, Dusty Zomer, Lynton Jeffrey, Mark Dobmeier and Bob Weuve.
In the companion 360 sprint feature, second row starter Ricky Logan led the entire 15-lap distance to claim win number four for himself and the L & S Racing team. Logan was positioned in a near-runaway of the race until a red was displayed at the close of lap six. Lee Grosz struck the turn two fence bringing the race to a halt and erasing Logan’s huge advantage.
On the restart, second place runner Johnny Anderson tried to stay close but Logan was too stout on this night and began to pull away. Anderson then had his hands full with third runner Randy Martin. Martin finally slid Anderson to take the runner-up position which he held to the end as Anderson seemed to lose focus for a lap.
In the end, it was Logan, Martin and last week’s winner Clint Garner finishing in that order. Anderson was fourth and Chad Humston took fifth. Tom Lenz, Nate VanHaaften, Russ Hall, Brett Mather (from 20th) and Gregg Bakker completed the top ten finishers.
On this night, 42 cars competed in the 360 division and 41 cars showed in the 410 division.
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