Garner wins 305 Mid-States Championship
Sunday, September 28, 2008
By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (September 27) Clint Garner took the lead just after the half-way point to capture the 2008 Mid-States Championship at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. The race and events for the 305s were in conjunction with the 5th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.
The opening lap was wild as Chad Huston hit the fence between turns one and two and burst into flames from the impact. The video replay showed that he had run up over Casey Fredrichsen's right rear tire catapulting him into the fence with flames as his tail tank flew off from the impact.
Front row starter, Johnny Anderson was relegated to the tail after his car failed to go into gear. He came into the pit area, his crew fixed the problem and he did start at the rear.
When the feature finally took the green for good, John Kearney took the lead and it became a two car race between himself and Garner. At the end of five laps Kearney could only manage an eight car-length advantage.
On lap seven the top duo headed into heavy lap traffic and Garner closed quickly on the leader. The traffic would make a difference as Garner made a pass for the top spot on lap 13 when a lap car impeded Kearney on the low side in turn three. Garner, on the top, then took the lead for good.
One additional yellow slowed the race but the cards were in Garner's favor on this night as he came across the finish line for the win and the $1,500 that went with it. His win was by 20 car lengths. Kearney held for second, Justin Giannetto was third, Austin Alumbaugh took fourth and Tim St. Arnold crossed the line for fifth.
This even marked the end of the 55th season of weekly racing for Knoxville Raceway.
Our website has the results for you to read all the final rundowns.
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