Gravel Has It His Way On Night One
David Gravel
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
By Mike Kerchner
KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Everything went David Gravel’s way on the opening night of the 53rd annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Wednesday at Knoxville Raceway.
Gravel blew an engine during his heat race and ran out of gas on the final lap of the feature, but still stood in victory lane with his first win at the historic half-mile black dirt oval.
Starting fourth in the 25-lap event, Gravel took the lead from Greg Hodnett on the third circuit and endured five restarts along the way, crossing the finish line on fumes and making weight at the scales despite a dry fuel tank.
“It was a very stressful night,” said the Connecticut driver, who wheeled Bill Rose’s No. 6 to his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series triumph of the season. “I was nervous that was our best engine that we blew up. This was our little motor, but with the track slicking off like this, it was just perfect for us. Then we ran out of fuel at the end and I was afraid we wouldn’t make weight, but we made weight just barely and this is just unbelievable.”
Earlier in the night, Gravel lost power during his heat but still coasted across the finish line with a transfer position.
“I’ve been close to winning a race here before and to finally get one and lock us in is great,” said Gravel.
Kings Royal winner Brad Sweet finished a distant second in his Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49.
“He surprised me a little, but he had a good car,” said Sweet. “Good for him. I was really good on the bottom, but the bottom fizzled out there at the end of the race. It was a great points night for the Ollie’s car. We had a good night.”
Tim Kaeding romped from 12th on the grid to finish third.
“I drove the living wheels off of that thing. I am thankful to be up here,” Kaeding said. “We qualified horrible. It was sheer determination and driving the crap out of my car that got us here. Wherever my car would take me, I would go. Top or bottom, it didn’t matter.”
Greg Hodnett, who started on the pole, finished fourth, while Daryn Pittman blasted through the field from 24th starting position to finish fifth.
Donny Schatz, who has won the Knoxville Nationals six of the past seven years, had to run the B main along with Pittman, and finished 10th after starting 23rd.
Kyle Larson, Sammy Swindell and Dale Blaney were among the drivers who failed to qualify for the feature.
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