It’s time for the 49th annual Super Clean Knoxville
Nationals.
Every year, this is the one that all top sprint car drivers look forward
to. Not only because it pays a cool $150,000 to win but just the
prestige to say you won the biggest sprint car show in the world.
As always, Central Pennsylvania will be well-represented at the
Nationals this year as Cody Darrah, Daryn Pittman, Stevie Smith, Lance
Dewease, Fred Rahmer and Greg Hodnett have all made the trek to Iowa. Of
course through in former hometown favorite Lucas Wolfe along with the
Jim Nace owned car to be piloted by Jason Solwold and Kenny Jacobs in
the Pete Postupack owned car and you have a good list of talent looking
for the big money.
Knoxville gets underway tonight with night number one of qualifying and
again on Thursday night. The 110 entries have been split for the two
nights of qualifying as drivers hope to earn as many points as possible
to put them into the big Dance on Saturday night.
Friday night is the World Challenge along with the Scramble races for
the top 10 point cars in the A, B and C Mains Saturday night. Also on
Friday is the non qualifiers night for teams lower in points.
And of course Saturday night is the big night at Knoxville with E, D, C
and B Mains leading up to the 40-lap A Main feature.
This will be the first year that the Nationals will go a 40 lap distance
and a fuel stop will be needed.
The winner of the Nationals takes home $150,000 with $75,000 going to
the runner-up and $37,500 to the third place finisher. A driver who
qualifies for the A-Main, will earn $7,000.
A purse of over $900,000 has been posted for the week.
Donny Schatz is the three time defending champion.
For those who are interested in listening to each night can do so at
www.hoseheadsradio.com
and of course, SPEED will televise the Nationals finale live beginning
at 10pm.
SAMMY WINS FRONT ROW CHALLENGE
Sammy Swindell had to wait out a three hour rain delay before taking
home the big $10,000 prize in Monday night’s All Star sanctioned Musco
Lighting Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway.
Swindell and front row starter Joey Saldana both declined the Front Row
Challenge and a chance for the $50,000 as track conditions were not
conducive for passing as show by the feature lineup and finish.
Swindell, Saldana, Craig Dollansky, Donny Schatz and Lance Dewease were
the top five finishers, all starting in the same spot. Daryn Pittman
started ninth and dropped out, thus moving the 10th and 11th
place starters up one spot in the feature finish.
Dewease did set a new one lap track record in time trials, breaking the
old mark set by Kasey Kahne. Fred Rahmer did not qualify for the event.
WHATS HAPPENING
It’s a big weekend for late model fans as the World of Oultlaws late
models are in town for Friday night racing at Bedford Speedway and
Saturday at Hagerstown Speedway,
Williams Grove is back Friday with a regular show of 410 and 358 Sprint
car action while the 358 late models are the headline Friday at
Trail-Way Speedway.
Lincoln Speedway will host the URC Sprints along with the 410 Sprints on
Saturday while Port Royal goes with 410 Sprints, Super Sportsman, late
models and the Deryl Stong Memorial for pro stocks. Selinsgrove has a
regular program of 358 sprints and late models while Susquehanna is back
with Stock Car Saturday.
PIT STOPS
With last Saturday’s rainout at Williams Grove, manager Justin Loh has
announced some changes to the schedule. Next Saturday, August 22, the
358 late models will have double features and the following week, the
4-cylinder cars have double features. Then on October 31st,
the track will run a special show featuring Twin 20s for Super Sportsman
and 358 late models. That show has been added to the schedule…
The World of Outlaws were at the I-55 Speedway in Pevely, Missouri last
weekend for the Ironman 55 and it was a great weekend for Kasey Kahne
Racing as Craig Dollansky won the Friday night show while teammate Jo ey
Saldana came back to win the longest race ever for the Outlaws and the
$20,000 payday on Saturday. Pittman finished sixth on Friday night while
Stevie Smith was 12th, Wolfe 15th, Rahmer 18th
and Dewease 20th. Saturday night, Smith was sixth, Wolfe 12th,
Rahmer 16th, Dewease 17th and Pittman 18th…
Keeping it somewhat short this week as we’re enjoying a nice week of
relaxation in Myrtle Beach, SC so there will be no racing columns this
weekend other than the Weekend Roundup…
