By: Ron Burt
Kyle Larson picked up his 2nd Knoxville Nationals win for Outlaw winged 410 sprint cars. This year was the 62nd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. Larson led all 50 laps and pocketed $185,000.00 in the prestigious race. Some would say that’s an amazing victory. No, David Gravel was amazing. Gravel started 22nd in the feature and by lap-50 worked his way through the field to finish 2nd. It was an unbelievable performance. I’m not in any way taking anything away from Larson, he’s a natural in the sport of racing. Many times, even racing against the best in the sport, he makes it look easy weaving his way through traffic and working his way to the front. Donny Schatz came in 3rd followed by Gio Scelzi, Carson Macedo and Brad Sweet. Twenty-four cars started the feature in the grand daddy of all sprint car races. Teams make the annual trip to Knoxville every year to spend a week of racing as the number of cars are weeded down to the best after a series of races. Chase Randall Won the JETCO Rookie of the Year with his 13th place finish in the A Main, he started outside row 7. Winners of the Preliminary Events for the 62nd annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s were, E Main: Brooke Tatnell, D Main: Lachlan McHugh, C Main: Lynton Jeffrey, and B Main: Justin Peck. 78 cars from 3 countries entered this year’s Knoxville Nationals.
It was announced Saturday night at Waynesfield, this show replaced the original Aug. 26 date. There were many thoughts behind the move, including the local fairs, etc. The next event will be September 16.
Indianapolis Speedrome won over mother nature and “Big C” Cory Harmon a Louisville driver won Saturday’s Brown’s Oil Service 50-lap Late Model Figure 8. It was his second straight weekend winning. He captured the Outlaw Figure 8 victory the previous week at the Sportsdrome Speedway. Rounding out the top 5, 2nd Doug Greig, 3rd Ben Tunny, 4th Mike Riddle Jr, and 5th. Tim Logue. 21 cars started the feature.
In Wauseon, four-time Oakshade Raceway UMP Late Model track champion Devin Shiels has been on top of the points standings the past few weeks but had yet to find the checkered flag this season. Saturday night, that changed. Shiels finally earned his first feature win of the season and increased his point lead with only two weeks before season championship night. It wasn’t easy Joel Morton led the first eight laps. Shiels took the lead on lap 9. He then pulled out to a big lead until a couple of late cautions that tightened the field back up. The last came out with five laps to go and Rusty Schlenk restarted second. Schlenk couldn’t challenge for the lead and Shiels went on to pick up the checkered flag. Schlenk settled for second followed by Terry Rushlow, Colin Shipley, and Rusty Smith. In Sportsman action the feature was won by Defiance’s Josh Robertson his fifth feature win of the season and increased his point advantage over Carter Schlenk to 21. For the second week in a row, the Dominator Super Stock A Main has produced another first-time winner. John Lonabarger from Pioneer. In the Compacts Eric Carr, from Wauseon, increased his point lead in the Compact division after picking up his third A Main win of the season.
Last Tuesday in the High Limit Sprint Car Series, Rico Abreu won the A-Main in Huset’s Speedway as the series visited Brandon SD. Micheal Kofoid took 2nd and Robbie Price was 3rd. Next up $50,000.00 on the line as the series heads to Lernerville Speedway PA.
Remember to keep your wheels down. Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
