Russ Hall won the Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance feature Saturday at Knoxville (Chuck Stowe Image) (Highlight Video from DirtVision.com)
410 and 360 Features Postponed Due to Rain
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (June 22, 2019) – Russ Hall picked up his first ever Pro Sprint Series presented by Pace Performance win at the Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. The native of Pleasant Hill, Iowa held off the charge of veteran Chris Walraven to take the win aboard the Skillz Motorsports #29. The Knoxville Raceway could not hold off the charge of Mother Nature, however. Despite hard work all day by track crews and a quick program underway, persistent rains fell just after 8:30 p.m. bringing a halt to the action as the 360 sprint feature was ready to take the green. Track officials will discuss the make-up of both the 360 and 410 features. Stay tuned for an announcement.
Rookie Mike Johnston was the early leader in the 15-lap Pro Sprints feature. Second row starter Russ Hall trailed him, but took the lead coming to the completion of lap two. Chris Walraven made a move by Jeff Wilke on the same circuit to take third. On lap four, Walraven took the high side around Johnston for second and set his sights on the leader.
The last half of the race saw Walraven all over Hall for the lead. On lap 11, he was just one-tenth of a second behind, and on the white flag lap was just ninety-five thousands of a second in arears. Hall hit his marks on the low sides of turns two and four to carry his mount to the win
Following Hall across the line were Walraven, Johnston, Matthew Stelzer and Devin Wignall. Chase Young, Mike Mayberry, Jeff Wilke, Brandon Worthington and Evan Epperson rounded out the top ten. Walraven set quick time, while Johnston and Mayberry were heat winners.
“We put on junk tires to start with,” said Hall in Victory Lane. “We had a hard time finding a used one in the pits. It’s good to be back in Victory Lane (Hall has three career 360 wins). I’m glad to be racing! I’m excited! We had a good race there with Walraven. I heard him there the whole time. I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I had a hard time getting off the corner.”
Lynton Jeffrey set his first quick time of the season in the 410 class, while Tasker Phillips, Sawyer Phillips and Josh Schneiderman won heat races. Carson McCarl set quick time in the 360 class and won a heat, while Tasker Phillips and Josh Higday took the others.
Saturday, June 29, will be an open date at Knoxville Raceway as the AGCO Jackson Nationals commence at Jackson Motorplex that weekend. The next action at the track will be the inaugural BRANDT Professional Agriculture Corn Belt Nationals featuring the USAC National Sprint Cars and the POWRi WAR Sprints Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6. Saturday night’s finale will pay $20,000 to the winner! The 360 sprints will accompany the non-wing sprints Friday, while the 410 sprints will be in action on Saturday! For tickets and other information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 83, Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust. (11), 15.900; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (17), 15.936; 3. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD (2), 16.157; 4. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (1), 16.204; 5. 4, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (4), 16.258; 6. 7S, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (20), 16.259; 7. 2KS, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (14), 16.274; 8. 17, Josh Baughman, Odessa, TX (3), 16.301; 9. 55, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (13), 16.303; 10. 56N, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (16), 16.321; 11. 7X, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD (15), 16.356; 12. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (8), 16.377; 13. 33M, Mason Daniel, Springville, CA (12), 16.423; 14. 3P, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (22), 16.453; 15. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (9), 16.471; 16. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (18), 16.489; 17. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (10), 16.493; 18. 44S, Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA (21), 16.6; 19. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (6), 16.762; 20. 56, Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA (5), 17.374; 21. 75, Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW, Aust. (19), 17.63; 22. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (7), NT.
Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 2:23.3: 1. Tasker Phillips (1); 2. Davey Heskin (3); 3. Lynton Jeffrey (6); 4. Austin McCarl (4); 5. Mason Daniel (2); 6. AJ Moeller (5); 7. Bobby Mincer (7); 8. Bob Weuve (8)
Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:22.4: 1. Sawyer Phillips (2); 2. Justin Henderson (3); 3. Brian Brown (6); 4. Terry McCarl (5); 5. Jamie Ball (1); 6. Josh Baughman (4); 7. Joe Simbro (7)
Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 2:23.4: 1. Josh Schneiderman (2); 2. Trey Starks (1); 3. Brooke Tatnell (4); 4. Matt Juhl (6); 5. Chris Martin (3); 6. RJ Johnson (5) DNS – Glen Saville
A main Scheduled lineup (PPD): 1. Lynton Jeffrey (1); 2. Brian Brown (2); 3. Matt Juhl (3); 4. Terry McCarl (4); 5. AJ Moeller (5); 6. Austin McCarl (6); 7. Davey Heskin (7); 8. Brooke Tatnell (8); 9. Justin Henderson (9); 10. RJ Johnson (10); 11. Sawyer Phillips (11); 12. Josh Schneiderman (12); 13. Tasker Phillips (13); 14. Josh Baughman (14); 15. Trey Starks (15); 16. Chris Martin (16); 17. Mason Daniel (17); 18. Jamie Ball (18); 19. Bobby Mincer (19); 20. Joe Simbro (20); 21. Bob Weuve (21); 22. Glen Saville (22).
360 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 27, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (6), 16.854; 2. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (13), 16.985; 3. 55, McKenna Haase, Des Moines, IA (22), 17.001; 4. 70, Calvin Landis, Knoxville, IA (17), 17.003; 5. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (10), 17.080; 6. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (15), 17.103; 7. 9, Ryan Giles, Grimes, IA (2), 17.191; 8. 66, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO (20), 17.214; 9. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (21), 17.258; 10. 22, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA (12), 17.299; 11. 2M, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA (16), 17.307; 12. 76, Brad Comegys, Bondurant, IA (19), 17.337; 13. 40C, Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA (8), 17.396; 14. 23S, Stu Snyder, Waverly, NE (7), 17.422; 15. 35, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (24), 17.458; 16. 1K, Kelby Watt, Adel, IA (9), 17.534; 17. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (18), 17.561; 18. 24N, Nathan Mills, Bondurant, IA (4), 17.578; 19. 83, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (25), 17.623; 20. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (1), 17.634; 21. 81E, Eric Bridger, Winterset, IA (27), 17.650; 22. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA (23), 17.770; 23. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA (11), 17.804; 24. 99, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (3), 17.919; 25. 19, Rob Weuve, Oakland Acres, IA (26), 18; 26. 67, Jon Hughes, Knoxville, IA (14), 18.438; 27. 64C, Casey Greubel, Lacona, IA (5), 18.556.
Heat one (started), 7 Laps, 2:07.7: 1. Carson McCarl (6); 2. Kelby Watt (1); 3. Ryan Giles (4); 4. Ryan Leavitt (3); 5. Calvin Landis (5); 6. Cody Wehrle (2); 7. Rob Kubli (7); 8. Mitchell Alexander (8); 9. Rob Weuve (9)
Heat two (started), 7 Laps, 2:08.3: 1. Tasker Phillips (1); 2. Matt Moro (3); 3. Clint Garner (6); 4. Stu Snyder (2); 5. Ricky Montgomery (4); 6. Joe Beaver (5); 7. Jon Agan (7); 8. Alan Zoutte (8); 9. Jon Hughes (9)
Heat three (started), 7 Laps, NT: 1. Josh Higday (2); 2. Jamie Ball (5); 3. Tom Lenz (4); 4. Austin McCarl (8); 5. Brad Comegys (3); 6. McKenna Haase (6); 7. Eric Bridger (7); 8. Nathan Mills (1); 9. Casey Greubel (9)
A Scheduled Lineup (PPD): 1. Calvin Landis (1); 2. Jamie Ball (2); 3. Clint Garner (3); 4. Carson McCarl (4); 5. Ryan Giles (5); 6. McKenna Haase (6); 7. Tom Lenz (7); 8. Joe Beaver (8); 9. Matt Moro (9); 10. Ricky Montgomery (10); 11. Josh Higday (11); 12. Ryan Leavitt (12); 13. Tasker Phillips (13); 14. Kelby Watt (14); 15. Brad Comegys (15); 16. Stu Snyder (16); 17. Cody Wehrle (17); 18. Austin McCarl (18); 19. Rob Kubli (19); 20. Jon Agan (20); 21. Nathan Mills (21); 22. Eric Bridger (22); 23. Mitchell Alexander (23); 24. Alan Zoutte (24); 25. Rob Weuve (25); 26. Jon Hughes (26); 27. Casey Greubel (27)
Pro Series Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 56, Chris Walraven, Knoxville, IA (10), 17.876; 2. 29, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA (14), 18.022; 3. 50, Mike Ayers, Waukee, IA (12), 18.024; 4. 41, Jeff Wilke, Genoa, IL (1), 18.155; 5. 71, Brandon Worthington, Indianola, IA (2), 18.201; 6. 21, Evan Epperson, Muscatine, IA (5), 18.228; 7. 14J, Mike Johnston, Des Moines, IA (6), 18.332; 8. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (11), 18.364; 9. 11, Tyler Barrick, Slater, IA (9), 18.423; 10. B29, Adam Mason, Knoxville, IA (8), 18.471; 11. 21X, Devin Wignall, Altoona, IA (4), 18.483; 12. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Papillion, NE (3), 18.498; 13. 2, Matt Johnson, Melcher-Dallas, IA (13), 18.650; 14. 26, Chase Young, Des Moines, IA (7), 21.826.
Heat one (started), 6 Laps, 1:54.5: 1. Mike Johnston (3); 2. Devin Wignall (1); 3. Brandon Worthington (4); 4. Chris Walraven (6); 5. Tyler Barrick (2); 6. Mike Ayers (5); 7. Matt Johnson (7)
Heat two (started), 6 Laps, NT: 1. Mike Mayberry (3); 2. Matthew Stelzer (1); 3. Jeff Wilke (5); 4. Russ Hall (6); 5. Adam Mason (2); 6. Evan Epperson (4); 7. Chase Young (7)
A main (started), 15 Laps, 5:00.1: 1. Russ Hall (3); 2. Chris Walraven (4); 3. Mike Johnston (1); 4. Matthew Stelzer (10); 5. Devin Wignall (8); 6. Chase Young (14); 7. Mike Mayberry (6); 8. Jeff Wilke (2); 9. Brandon Worthington (5); 10. Evan Epperson (9); 11. Mike Ayers (7); 12. Tyler Barrick (11); 13. Matt Johnson (13); 14. Adam Mason (12). Lap Leaders: Johnston 1, Hall 2-15. Hard-charger: Young.