Ryan Newman Sets Quick Time at Knoxville
Thursday, April 7, 2005
by Bill Wright - Alright, it was a Silver Crown race in 2000, but it still happened. You can now look up the complete results from the year 2000 in our “Results” section.
No one knew much about Ryan Newman around the Knoxville area at the time, but he was here along with fellow NASCAR pilot Kasey Kahne, the legendary Jack Hewitt, IRL pilot Ed Carpenter, Craftsman Truck racer Tracy Hines, Busch series driver JJ Yeley and Jimmy Sills doing battle in the Hawkeye Hundred which was televised live on ESPN2. Jay Drake took the win in that one, as well as the Non-wing World Championship in June.
Wayne Johnson was the popular winner of the 360 Nationals over 97 competitors, while Mark Kinser won the Knoxville Nationals, which carried a field of 129. Billy Moyer won in his latest appearance to date at Knoxville in Hav-a-Tampa late model action. A few winners were disqualified as the new weight limit went into effect for 410 and 360 action. The car counts were beginning to rise as a result of the new rule.
Terry McCarl, driving the Serace 55, out-dueled Jeff Mitrisin, who missed the final night of racing action for his second 410 title, while John Kearney posted six wins on his way to the 360 championship over David Hesmer.
As always, the year’s winners are listed at the top. Point standings, complete with feature wins, laps led and primary cars driven are at the bottom of the document. To search for something in particular, click Edit at the top of your browser, and then Find. A box should open up on the right side of your browser. Type what you want to search, be it a specific date or driver, and when it is done searching, click on it. It should take you to what you are looking for.
Knoxville drivers are starting to shake down their equipment in other venues. Wayne Johnson, Jeff Mitrisin, Tim St. Arnold and Jason Solwold were all in World of Outlaw competition last weekend. Brian Brown, Scott Winters, Bobby Mincer, Dusty Zomer, Jake Peters, Johnson and Frankie Heimbaugh participated in the 360 ASCS National Opener at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas on March 18 and 19. Heimbaugh returned to compete in Tulsa in ASCS Sooner racing action last weekend. Look for a few teams to travel to Eldora Speedway this weekend to compete with the World of Outlaws again.
The season will open in central Iowa on Friday, April 15 with practice night at Knoxville. Admission is free and there may be quite a contingent of drivers practicing as a few will be warming up for racing action. Oskaloosa’s Searsboro Telephone “Spring Challenge” will be on Saturday, April 16. Many of our local drivers will compete with the IRA in thawing out this racing season. Look for a few 360 drivers to compete as well, as there is a bonus of $300 for the highest finishing 360.
The following weekend, April 23, is Knoxville’s season opener and Pizza Hut night.
|