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Zomer Zooms for $3,500 at Knoxville Mid-Season Championships!

by Bill Wright

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, June 18, 2011 – Dusty Zomer assumed the lead with four laps to go, when leader, Wayne Johnson, had an oil filter blow off, causing an oil fire. The win at the Knoxville Raceway was Zomer's second of the season and seventh in his career. It was worth $3,500 and came at Farm Bureau Mid-Season Championship night. A healthy crowd saw three sensational features, as Matt Moro picked up the win in the 360 class, and Carson McCarl picked up the win with the 305 class.

Five cars were eliminated from the 410 feature before a lap could be completed. The incident sidelined third heat race winner, Johnn Cressman, B main victor, Kaley Gharst, Josh Higday, Mike Houseman Jr., and Jon Corbin, who tipped over. No drivers were injured.

Ryan Anderson shot out from his front row outside starting spot at the outset of the 25-lap event and set a torrid early pace. Pole-sitter, Josh Schneiderman, settled into second, and Austin McCarl and Wayne Johnson moved into third an dfourth on the second go-around.

Rookie AJ Moeller, who took one of the three heat races, got into the turn four wall with eight laps in the books bringing out the first caution of the event. Anderson led Schneiderman, Austin McCarl, Wayne Johnson and Terry McCarl back to green. Johnson shot into third after the restart, and on lap nine put away Schneiderman for the runner-up spot. He continued his charge by taking the lead on the next lap.

It was point leader and quick timer, Danny Lasoski's turn on laps 11 and 12 as he moved into third and then second. At the halfway mark, it was Johnson leading Lasoski, Anderson, Schneiderman, and a charging Zomer. Rager Phillips blew a left rear tire with fifteen laps down to slow things again.

On the restart, Johnson shot out to another big lead, and Lasoski had company in Zomer. The two waged a torrid battle for the second spot over five laps. On lap 20, Zomer performed what would prove to be the winning pass. On the next go-around, with 21 laps in the books, Johnson's oil filter blew off in turn one, causing a fire that was put out quickly.

Zomer, who also won the first heat, dominated the last four laps, as Lasoski chased him to the checkers. Schneiderman held on for a solid third, ahead of Terry McCarl, and hard-charger, Davey Heskin. Don Droud Jr., Austin McCarl, Bronson Maeschen, Johnny Herrera and Dustin Selvage rounded out the top ten.

Zomer ran out of fuel after crossing the finish line and was eight pounds over the minimum 1400 pound rule. "I heard it blubber the last lap," he said. "I just wanted to make it one more corner. We were eight pounds over, and I'm just a little guy, so I didn't like that they added 25 pounds to the weight limit this year. This is the best the racetrack has been all year. It allowed us to get here from the fifth row, and it put on a great show for the fans. I hope you all come back next Saturday night!"

The 360 feature event was no less entertaining. After a crash at the outset claimed B main winner, Ryan Roberts (he was uninjured), David Hall shot out from the pole to lead the 20-lap event early. Joe Beaver sized him up to take the lead on lap three. The previous week's feature winner, Dennis Moore Jr. moved into the runner-up spot a lap later, and Matt Moro and quick timer, Chad Humston, joined the top four by lap seven.

At the halfway point, Beaver led Moore Jr., Moro, Humston and third heat race winner, Clint Garner. Soon, it was a three-way battle for the lead. Moro moved into second on lap 13 and took the point on the next go-around.

With six laps to go, heat winner, Tasker Phillips came to a stop on the frontstretch, slowing things. The yellow negated a Moore Jr. pass of Beaver for second. A lap later, Casey Friedrichsen brought the yellow again when he stopped. Garner used the restart to move into third, and two laps later took second from Beaver.

Meanwhile, Moro pulled away to record 360 win #7 at the famous half-mile oval. Garner was second, Humston claimed third on the last lap, Beaver was fourth and Moore Jr. was fifth. Russ Hall, heat winner Jon Agan, David Hall, hard-charger, Nate Van Haaften, and Larry Ball Jr. rounded out the top ten.

"This feels so good," said Moro, who was paid $1,500 for his win. "Last year, after two bad years, I felt like a washed up racecar driver. We have the 'Bad News Bears' for a crew, but these guys are awesome! It felt good getting by Dennis (Moore Jr.) after last week. You get that carrot dangling out front…you run that much harder."

Twelve exciting laps saw sixteen year old Carson McCarl take his second career feature win. Heat one winner, Jamie Ball, shot out to an early lead over fellow front row starter and heat winner, Chris Mallicoat, but all eyes were on the battle that was for second. McCarl and Tasker Phillips were going back and forth, as the teenagers looked like veterans. The pair exchanged second four times in four laps before heat winner, Travis Cram, flipped in turn three after contact from another car with five laps down. He was unhurt.

The restart saw Phillips shoot by Ball into the lead. McCarl followed suit shortly thereafter and a three-way battle for the lead ensued over the last five laps. With two laps to go, McCarl used the low side to slide in front of Phillip in turn one to take the lead for good. Phillips was second ahead of Ball, Matt Stephenson and Mark Widmar. Fast-timer, Matt Stelzer, Matt Krieger, Alan Ambers, Mitchell Alexander and Bart Friedrichsen rounded out the top ten.

"It was really a lot of fun," said McCarl of his battles with Phillips. "I could put the car anywhere I want. I have to thank all my guys, especially Brad (Goebel). I have to thank Aaron Berryhill and Gary Dean back home to."

Next Friday night will be "Nostalgia at Knoxville" and Hot Rod Reunion Night presented by the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce. On Saturday night, all three divisions are back in action on "Earl Wagner Mural" Night at Knoxville. For more details visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

410 Results

Time Trials (Qualifying Order, 1 lap): 1. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (9) 15.327; 2. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (3) 15.434; 3. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (6) 15.662; 4. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (20) 15.685; 5. 38, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA (16) 15.777; 6. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (12) 15.788; 7. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (11) 15.816; 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (15) 15.837; 9. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (19) 15.837; 10. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (21) 15.849; 11. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (7) 15.853; 12. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (17) 15.917; 13. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (1) 15.921; 14. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (23) 15.931; 15. 45x, Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM (4) 15.952; 16. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (25) 15.966; 17. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (5) 16.097; 18. 56JC, Johnn Cressman, Sioux Falls, SD (2) 16.125; 19. 81, Austin Johnson, Shakopee, MN (14) 16.162; 20. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (13) 16.163; 21. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (8) 16.278; 22. 2, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (22) 16.413; 23. 4, Jon Corbin, Carrollton, MO (18) 16.417; 24. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (24) 16.535; 25. 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (10) 16.554; 26. 19K, Todd King, Sheboygan Falls, WI (26) 16.585.

Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:08.3: 1. Dusty Zomer (5) 2. Danny Lasoski (6) 3. Davey Heskin (1) 4. Ryan Anderson (3) 5. Mike Moore (2) 6. Bob Weuve (4) / 7. Mike Houseman Jr. (8) 8. Austin Johnson (7) DNS – Josh Higday

Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:10.2: 1. AJ Moeller (1) 2. Rager Phillips (3) 3. Wayne Johnson (5) 4. Josh Schneiderman (4) 5. Terry McCarl (6) 6. Lynton Jeffrey (2) / 7. Kaley Gharst (7) 8. Jon Corbin (8) 9. Todd King (9)

Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:11.6: 1. Johnn Cressman (1) 2. Dustin Selvage (5) 3. Johnny Herrera (2) 4. Austin McCarl (4) 5. Don Droud Jr. (6) 6. Bronson Maeschen (3) / 7. Rob Kubli (8) 8. Ryan Bunton (7)

B main (started), 6 laps, 1:49.9: 1. Kaley Gharst (2) 2. Josh Higday (4) 3. Rob Kubli (6) 4. Jon Corbin (3) 5. Austin Johnson (1) 6. Mike Houseman Jr. (5) / 7. Todd King (7)

A main (started), 25 laps, NT: 1. Dusty Zomer (9) 2. Danny Lasoski (10) 3. Josh Schneiderman (1) 4. Terry McCarl (6) 5. Davey Heskin (16) 6. Don Droud Jr. (7) 7. Austin McCarl (4) 8. Bronson Maeschen (12) 9. Johnny Herrera (13) 10. Dustin Selvage (5) 11. Lynton Jeffrey (14) 12. Rob Kubli (19) 13. Mike Moore (11) 14. Austin Johnson (21) 15. Wayne Johnson (8) 16. Ryan Anderson (2) 17. Rager Phillips (23) 18. Bob Weuve (3) 19. AJ Moeller (15) 20. Josh Higday (20) 21. Johnn Cressman (18) 22. Kaley Gharst (17) 23. Jon Corbin (22) 24. Mike Houseman Jr. (24). Lap Leaders: Anderson 1-9, W. Johnson 10-21, Zomer 22-25. Hard-charger: Heskin.

360 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.425; 2. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.493; 3. 18, Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE, 16.496; 4. D12, Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell, IA, 16.499; 5. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.549; 6. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.576; 7. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 16.593; 8. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.634; 9. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 16.728; 10. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 16.730; 11. 9m, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO, 16.769; 12. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.779; 13. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.815; 14. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 16.829; 15. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 16.861; 16. 98, JD Johnson, Wichita, KS, 16.921; 17. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.967; 18. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.983; 19. 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.090; 20. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 17.145; 21. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA, 17.153; 22. 71, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 17.154; 23. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 17.191; 24. 4JP, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL, 17.341; 25. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL, 17.662.

Heat one (started), 7 laps, 1:57.2: 1. Jon Agan (1) 2. Joe Beaver (4) 3. Chad Humston (6) 4. Larry Ball Jr. (3) 5. Ricky Montgomery (2) / 6. Casey Friedrichsen (7) 7. Ryan Roberts (5) 8. Jimmy Davies (9) 9. Tom Lenz (8)

Heat two (started), 7 laps, 1:58.9: 1. Tasker Phillips (2) 2. Jarrod Schneiderman (1) 3. David Hall (4) 4. Dennis Moore Jr. (5) 5. Tyler Groenendyk (3) / 6. Nate Van Haaften (6) 7. RJ Johnson (7) 8. Rod Richards (8)

Heat three (started), 7 laps, NT: 1. Clint Garner (4) 2. JD Johnson (1) 3. Tony Shilling (2) 4. Russ Hall (6) 5. Matt Moro (5) / 6. Chad Heimbaugh (3) 7. Alan Zoutte (7) 8. Justin Parrish (8)

B main (started), 10 laps, 2:51.6: 1. Ryan Roberts (2) 2. Nate Van Haaften (1) 3. Casey Friedrichsen (4) 4. Tom Lenz (7) 5. Chad Heimbaugh (3) / 6. RJ Johnson (5) 7. Justin Parrish (9) 8. Alan Zoutte (6) 9. Rod Richards (8) 10. Jimmy Davies (10)

A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Matt Moro (3) 2. Clint Garner (7) 3. Chad Humston (6) 4. Joe Beaver (2) 5. Dennis Moore Jr. (4) 6. Russ Hall (5) 6. Jon Agan (13) 8. David Hall (1) 9. Nate Van Haaften (17) 10. Larry Ball Jr. (8) 11. Ricky Montgomery (10) 12. Tony Shilling (12) 13. Jarrod Schneiderman (14) 14. Casey Friedrichsen (18) 15. JD Johnson (15) 16. Tyler Groenendyk (9) 17. Chad Heimbaugh (20) 18. Tasker Phillips (11) 19. Tom Lenz (19) 20. Ryan Roberts (16). Lap Leaders: D. Hall 1-2, Beaver 3-13, Moro 14-20. Hard-charger: Van Haaften.

305 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE, 17.524; 2. 66, Travis Cram, Snohomish, WA, 17.563; 3. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 17.765; 4. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.825; 5. 87, Cale Hutchings, Bloomfield, IA, 17.847; 6. 7w, Mark Widmar, Ottumwa, IA, 17.884; 7. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 18.112; 8. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA, 18.130; 9. 22, Chris Mallicoat, Boone, IA, 18.161; 10. 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 18.177; 11. 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA, 18.213; 12. 29, Bart Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 18.283; 13. 55KC, Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls, IA, 18.449; 14. 7s, Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines, IA, 18.515; 15. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA, 18.651; 16. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 19.179; 17. 21, Keith Carlberg, Webster City, IA, 20.661; 18. 12, TJ Peterson, Des Moines IA, NT; 19. 6D, Don Dawson II, Indianola, IA, NT; 20. 00, Matt McBride, Runnells, IA, NT; 21. 4c, Chris Horton, Indianola, IA, NT; DQ (Illegal Tire), 44, Matt Krieger, Burlington, IA.

Heat one (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. Jamie Ball (1) 2. Tasker Phillips (2) 3. Matthew Stelzer (4) 4. Cody Ambers (6) 5. Bob Hildreth (5) 6. Alan Ambers (3) 7. TJ Peterson (7)

Heat two (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. Travis Cram (4) 2. Matt Krieger (6) 3. Matt Stephenson (2) 4. Steve Palmer (1) 5. Tim St. Arnold (5) 6. Cale Hutchings (3) 7. Chris Horton (7)

Heat three (started), 6 laps, 1:48.2: 1. Chris Mallicoat (2) 2. Carson McCarl (4) 3. Mark Widmar (3) 4. Mitchell Alexander (5) 5. Bart Friedrichsen (1) 6. Don Dawson II (6) DNS – Keith Carlberg, Matt McBride

A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Carson McCarl (6) 2. Tasker Phillips (4) 3. Jamie Ball (1) 4. Matt Stephenson (3) 5. Mark Widmar (5) 6. Matthew Stelzer (8) 7. Matt Krieger (15) 8. Alan Ambers (14) 9. Mitchell Alexander (12) 10. Bart Friedrichsen (10) 11. Cody Ambers (13) 12. Bob Hildreth (16) 13. Chris Mallicoat (2) 14. Steve Palmer (9) 15. Tim St. Arnold (11) 16. Travis Cram (7) 17. Don Dawson II (17) DNS – Cale Hutchings, TJ Peterson, Chris Horton, Matt McBride, Keith Carlberg. Lap Leaders: Ball 1-5, Phillips 6-9, C. McCarl 10-12.

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
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@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

Dusty has been the faster car all year - great job Wood, Christie, and crew. Nice work!!! I thought we had you covered Funny part was Dusty playing with Dude, chop, chop, chop, see ya!!!

Great report Bill, as always. I think that was some of the best racing tonight that I've seen in years. Gotta feel bad for Wayne Johnson. He had 'em covered. Certainly deserves a hard luck award of some kind.

So he should move over and let everyone pass him that would be fun to watch. It is called a race any time when you are in the lead you can take-the fast line . Why would that make people not like you. They both came from deep in the pack .

Hard to block with out a rear view mirror you are only guessing

Do not understand your coments unless you just don't like him .

I thought great race and neither one had anything for WJ till he blew

Maybe you'd prefer drag racing. In sprint car racing they use the entire track and try to take the best line to gain an advantage over the other competitors. It's very exciting if you understand the concept.

Congrats to Zomer. Always fun to watch.

With Wayne Johnson jumping every start like he does, it felt like a little karma working with that motor blowing after leaving the field. Great Great night of racing, weather, announcing, etc..

He should wait and let everyone else get to one and then go right.

His half a lap lead he got on the start?

Watch the flag the green means go and go fast no cone on the start

Restarts lead car sets the pace how do you jump

You'll have to ask the flag men and the spotters what officially a jump is, they've already flagged him a couple times this year. It also looked like they were throwing the yellow for him jumping in the A, and that's what caused the pile up in one with the drivers in the back.

I think Wayne may have jumped the start a little bit, but that could also be a result of many of the slower cars starting up front, which was actually pretty cool by Knoxville. That is something I can deal with because everybody tries it and very few get caught. My problem is watching him bounce off of cars for the first couple laps to try to get a few positions. Him and Terry would both be putting new cars together today if Terry wasn't so good. (For the record I'm not a McCarl fan, although I really like watching him race) There was 25 laps last night, plenty of time on the big half mile to get to the front with a car as bad fast as he had.

Next, watching Zomer and Lasoski was worth the admission. Danny didn't want to give up the lead but Dusty wanted it more. I wouldn't expect either one to do anything different. Danny blocked because he is a former Outlaw champion that knows how to win, and Zomer is a young gun that always ends up front.

Sorry for rambling but I also want to commend Bill W for all he does for sprint car racing. I know Bill, he has a lot on his plate with work and being a huge asset for our community, but has a love for racing that not many people can't match. I never take reading his releases for granted because I know all of the hard work he puts into it, and not many people could do it as well.

LESS THAN 2 MONTHS UNTIL THE BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!!!

McCarl absolutely saved a bunch of carnage last night. Also congrats to Matt Moro and to Casey's. Casey's is such a great IOWA company, and an exceptional sponsor of racing(especially sprints). I do all my gassing and convenience needs there just due to their sprint car involvement. I sure hope Ol man Lamberti has set up an endowment to keep up their racing involvement, so his son can't waste it on his fantasies.

410 A was a great show .... where are all the conspiracy theorists about Cappy and Knoxville setting the platter for Lasoski?

Drew the 2 pill and got the 10 pill ... oh the track added 5 laps so he would have the time to work his way to the front ....that was the track's trick last night of putting Lasoski in the winners circle except the extra laps worked to Zomer's benefit ...

Cappy WANTS Zomer to win every night since the extra laps worked in his favor ....(JK)

The fans in the stands LOVED the pill swap excitement ....

Kudos to whomever's idea that was and getting it implemented.

Caveat: I am not a huge Lasoski fan ... but he is the ALL TIME 410 A feature winner @ Knoxville (by a huge margin) and that is saying something.

S.H.S.

Speaking of extra laps, it was mid-season championship and the (5) extra laps was announced at the pit meeting before any draw happened although I'm sure you're just taking a jab at the conspiracy gurus.

We sanctioned an NMRA 410 race at Jackson, MN (7) years ago and along with the promoter Jon McCorkell, came up with this goofy idea of having the drivers draw a pill and they had to give it to another driver. Jon gave it the name of "Revenge Redraw" and the crowd absolutely loved it. I don't think it would be fair to do it every night.

You could even take it one step further, have the drivers draw a pill, don't let them see the number and then make them give it to another driver without anybody knowing the number. Just another little twist.

I want to put my vote in for the extra (5) laps for all of their weekly shows. Those extra laps under green won't add more than a couple of minutes to the over all program and it just seems to make the race more exciting in the latter stages. I think (20) laps for the 410's and (15) for the 360's just ain't quite enough on that track. Just one old man's opinion.

And for all the unwarranted abuse that Chris and the gang get for track prep, last night was as good as it can get. GREAT JOB!

Can't wait to go back to work next week at Knoxville...CZ

If I'm not mistaken I believe on Mid Season night they always run 5 extra laps.

Not sure what you were watching but I didn't really see the track slicking off. Looked like a top, bottom, and some made it work thru the middle. Zomer was turning off the top at apex across the bottom on exit, never seen that work well on a slick track. Congradulations to Zomer and crew, always fun to watch!!

Last night was an epic night of racing. From the heats throughout every feature it was nonstop action. The track was absolutely perfect and provided for the best show this year.

Also I never saw The Dude do any blocking, he did have a bit of a close call with Zomer going low into one, but he was just taking away Zomer's line which is something that occurs at all sprint car races and before you ask I'm not a big fan of The Dude. Let it be known that it is always exciting to see him (Zomer, Heskin, and McCarl too) starting in the middle of the pack or lower at Knoxville because he can put on a fantastic show.

Ask Frank

80 ... I actually knew that  ... I was being scarcastic referring to the posters early this season complaining that Cappy and Knoxville were in some kind of conspiricy to help Lasoski win another championship and A features (as he lucked out and was drawing or inverting on the first row or two.)

Personally .... I will post again: the crowd Saturday night seemed much larger than (other than WoO last week) we've seen this year, that pill shake up was a great move to bring those first timers back.

Moving the pill swap action into the stands was a good idea too.

S.H.S.

You can hear them at speed that far back and tell right where they are going to block them right.

If you could do that no one would be able to pass

So you can block at slow speed then ,just not high speed