In Lapped Traffic
Sunday, May 22, 2005
by Kathy Bell (Knoxville, Iowa) I have the feeling Knoxville weekly 410 racers are going to keep us on the edge of our seats all season. Oklahoma racer Wayne Johnson pulled off his second win of the season in the #14AJ sprinter just edging out Des Moines' Matt Moro in Gil and Donnie Sonner's #47 car. Johnson now has four Knoxville wins to his credit and that "look" in his eyes showing he wants more. Things are certainly "cookin" in their pit area and I'm sure Wayne would be the first to credit his team of Erin,Woody, Jeremy and Curt for their efforts.
Kerry Madsen, the Aussie who drives the #55 TK Concrete sprinter is the only other weekly 410 racer to win at Knoxville this year. The Knoxville season, so far, has gone like this, Johnson, Danny Lasoski (Outlaw show) Steve Kinser (Outlaw show), Madsen, Madsen (back-to-back) and Johnson. Although they are the early leaders, Johnson and Madsen do not have it "made in the shade" as they have a handful of other talented drivers knocking on their back door.
I look for Brian Brown, Skip Jackson, Matt Moro, Justin Henderson, Ricky Logan and Calvin Landis, to name a few and I'm sure I've left one or two more out, to step up and claim a feature pretty soon.
Recapping the 360 class, thus far, former Knoxville champion John Kearney won the opener, then Larry Ball Jr. claimed the feature the following week racing above his financial means in his family owned #5J car. John Schulz won his first Knoxville feature the following week in his sister and brother-in-law's sprinter, Ball Jr. picked up his second win of the season last weekend and Johnny Anderson from Indianola, claimed his first ever, Knoxville feature win, last night in the family owned 7a sprinter. Kudos to Johnny and Jenny, his parents Jack and Nickie, sister Kelly, his best friend and crewman, Tyler Derrickson and Glenn Freeland. Johnny also credited Lee Nelson, Ostrich Racing Engines and his sponsors who he said stepped up to the plate, financially, to assist the team. I love interviewing a first time winner as they say the coolest things. Johnny said
this after his first Knoxville win, "This is unbelievable. If life ends tomorrow, I will now die a happy man!" It's been a lot of fun being back in the pits again, this year. I have to
admit, I've been pretty proud of our 360 guys. As a Knoxville scorer last year, the 360 drivers and crew came to my window to sign in for their wristbands. I felt like I bonded with them and got to know several of them. So I feel pretty much at home walking around the 360 pit area at Knoxville, visiting "my boys."
Speaking of 360 drivers, we learned about the heckuva week Josh Higday had as the story of their difficulties were told. In summary, Josh came home from work, found the race car truck and trailer missing. He called Dawn; she was at their daughter's softball game. She didn't know where it was. They called Steve Green, from their crew who owns the truck and trailer; he wasn't even in the state. The Higday's soon found out not only was their sprint car gone, their house had also been broken into. Dawn called 911, the police became involved, friend's and fellow racers, Johnny Anderson, Billy Allen and Josh's dad, Bill, came to help. After searching the entire East side of Des Moines and with help from Lou Sipolt from KGGO radio station and Billy Allen making several phone calls, the truck and trailer were located and eventually the car was found, in a Des
Moines woman's backyard. The trailer had been pretty much stripped but at least the car was basically in one piece.
When Josh had trouble in Saturday's A-Main, he didn't have any spare parts to replace or tack on to the car. But, as racers take care of each other, many came out of the dirt to attempt to help him get back in the game. He didn't make it back out on the track but it wasn't due to lack of effort on the parts of many.
Just a reminder for those of you making vacation plans in June. The weekend of June 3-4 is a big one at Knoxville. It's the Pepsi/Mt Dew Midget Championship, Master's Classic and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend. Let's start with the racing. I look forward to seeing a new venue at the track with the influx of midget racers from the ARDC, BMARA, GRI, MARA and RMMRA sanctioning series. I haven't had a chance to ask, but usually a few of our regular Knoxville racers find a midget car to compete in.
The midget qualifying will be on Friday with the crowning of "King Doodlebug" and a complete show for the Master's Classic, (360 cars with drivers over 50), an event worthy on it's own accord. They may be racers over 50 years old but they're still out for blood and to get their names in the record books at Knoxville.
On Saturday night we complete the midget championship features and will also have a complete 410 sprint show. During the day, 13 will be inducted into the NSCHoF during its 16th annual induction ceremonies. Leading this year's list of inductees is none other than the man himself, Steve Kinser, who is going to try to attend a small part of the ceremony before flying back to Eldora to race with the Outlaws. Other inductees include, Don Brown, Steve Butler, John Mahoney, Ray Tilley and Kenny Woodruff. Deceased inductees being honored are Jim Raper, Elmer George, Robbie Stanley, Dick Simonek, Bob Carey, Bill Holland and Norm Witte.
The NSCHoF induction ceremonies will take place at the Dyer-Hudson Building on the Marion County Fairgrounds, from noon to 3:30. If you would like to attend you may call the NSCHoF&M at 800-874-4488.
At the end of the month, "the boys are back in town" as the World of Outlaws drivers head back to thrill the fans while forcing our weekly racers to step up their game another notch, on the weekend of June 24-25. Hope to see you there. Until next time, stay safe and keep on turning left.
|