Austin McCarl won Saturday at Knoxville (Chuck Stowe Photo)
(Bill W) April 28, 2021, Monroe, IA – The weekend in sprint cars was an eventful one! At Knoxville, the 360 class ballooned to 37 with several ASCS National visitors. Scott Bogucki vied for the win, but bowed out with mechanical problems. Josh Higday had it going, however, and drove the Hetrick Motorsports #35 to its first Knoxville 360 victory. It was the 2007 360 track champ’s first win at Knoxville since 2010, and his 18th overall, tying him with Dean Chadd for fifth on the all-time win list.
Lee Grosz came home second and is atop the point race. Sixteen year old Chase Randall impressed again, this time with a third place finish. He will take his talents back to his focus this weekend, the USAC National midgets who visit Kokomo. Carson McCarl found a ride in the Hills Racing #77x for the night. The defending track champ ended sixth, and was 13th in the 410 feature.
ASCS regulars JJ Hickle, the series point leader, and Matt Covington made charges in the main event, going from 16th to eighth, and 21st to 11th, respectively. Jack Dover made his first appearance of the season, driving from 23rd to thirteenth.
Brian Brown was quick time by almost four-tenths of a second in the 410’s, won his heat convincingly from outside row three, then drew a “zero” for inversion in the feature. What seemed like a walk-off turned into disaster for Brian, who had mechanical issues. Austin McCarl capitalized on the opportunity. After driving from the tail to third in the season opener, he won Saturday over Ian Madsen, who was making his first 2021 visit with the All Stars off, and Lynton Jeffrey.
Hunter Schuerenberg practiced at the track Friday night, and reportedly timed in at 14.5 seconds, one-tenth off the track record. He was speedy Saturday as well, finishing fourth. Brooke Tatnell is looking strong in the DeWall #16 and scored a top five. He and Davey Heskin are tied for second behind Austin in the point race. Terry McCarl overcame tough time trials and his heat to register hard-charger honors, going from 16th to sixth.
Cole Duncan was a surprise entrant from Ohio, and registered a top ten of his own. Indiana’s Brinton Marvel was also getting laps in, and his number will be #21BP this year in honor of a classmate who passed this past year.
This Saturday may be an opportunity for more visitors to make some hay, as a few cars will be lost to the World of Outlaws show at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri.
The Pro Series saw Matt Stelzer return to the top step. His thirteenth win ties him with Devin Kline for the most all-time in the class. Kade Higday was contacted by another car and flipped for the second week in a row. He says he may need time to regroup, but he is a Higday! What an up and down night for the family.
The WoO at Bristol had all the fanfare you could want. Fortunately, all the fears of the big accidents with big speeds never materialized. It definitely looked drier than 20 years ago. Hopefully, they can continue to race in such a unique venue. David Gravel swept the weekend.
USAC had some great sprint shows in Pennsylvania this weekend on their Keystone Invasion. Brady Bacon had them covered at Grandview (as usual), Tanner Thorson took two (Big Diamond and Path Valley), and CJ Leary won at BAPS (Susquehanna). Check out the video highlights here at www.OpenWheel101.com.
Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by OpenWheel101.com have busy week ahead…
MOWA action at Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois was rained out, so Knoxville was the only point action. That will change big time this week as the World of Outlaws come back in the area. They’ll hit Jacksonville Thursday, before two nights at I-70. Of course, Knoxville will be back in action Saturday as well.
We’d like to thank race fan Jim Harris of Omaha, Nebraska, and The Dirt Racing Podcast for coming on as sponsors of the point fund again! If you’d like to help sprint car drivers in the Midwest, drop me a line…
Austin McCarl’s win at Knoxville launched him up into the top five in points. Gio Scelzi still leads heading into this weekend, followed by Sam Hafertepe Jr., Ayrton Gennetten, Brian Brown, Austin and Rico Abreu.
Sponsors are being sought to grow the point fund for the series fifth season! Whether you are a fan like all of us, or a business that would like advertising through the series and OpenWheel101.com, join us!
Thousands of fans visit OpenWheel101.com each week to get the latest results, stories, video highlights, interviews and more. You can also search there for old results and stories. It’s a great place to advertise, and know that your contributions go straight to the drivers! E-mail Bill Wright at sprntcar@hotmail.com to set up your deal! Any amount is welcome!
Up Next…
Thur, April 29 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) WoO
Fri, April 30 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO
Sat, May 1 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, May 1 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO
2021 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Gio Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 165
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX, 120
3. Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO, 104 (1)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 99
5. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 90
(tie) Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 90 (1)
7. Clinton Boyles, Greenwood, MO, 76
8. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 70
9. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 57
10. Tucker Klaasmeyer, Paola, KS, 51
(tie) Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA, 51
12. Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 50
(tie) Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 50
14. Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 48
15. Zach Hampton, Mooresville, IN, 45
16. Cory Eliason, Visalia, CA, 40
17. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 38
18. Carson Short, Marion, IL, 36
19. Joe B. Miller, Millerstown, MO, 35
20. Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO, 30
(tie) Brandon Hanks, Burlison, TN, 30
(tie) Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO, 30
23. Noah Gass, Mounds, OK, 26
(tie) Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 26
25. Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN, 25
26. Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 22
27. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 20
(tie) Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 20
29. Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL, 18
30. Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 16
31. Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL, 14
(tie) Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 14
(tie) Cole Duncan, Lockbourne, OH, 14
34. McKenna Haase, Des Moines, IA, 12
35. Brayton Lynch, Springfield, MO, 10
(tie) Dustin Barks, Farmington, MO, 10
(tie) Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 10
38. Ben Brown, Marshall, MO, 8
(tie) Kyle Schuett, Philo, IL, 8
40. Garret Williamson, Columbia, MO, 6
(tie) Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL, 6
(tie) Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA, 6
43. Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 4
(tie) Mitchell Davis, Auburn, IL, 4
45. Jacob Patton, Bethalto, IL, 2
(tie) AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 2
Platinum WoO Member Wins
3, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
1, Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH
Tentative 2021 Races that will be counted for points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by OpenWheel101.com
Sat, March 27 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, April 2 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, April 3 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, April 16 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO)
Sat, April 17 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH)
Sat, April 24 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Thur, April 29 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) WoO
Fri, April 30 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO
Sat, May 1 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, May 1 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO
Sat, May 8 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 9 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Fri, May 14 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) NOSA
Fri, May 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, May 15 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 16 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sat, May 22 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 23 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, May 28 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, May 29 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 30 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Mon, May 31 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Thur, June 3 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) All Stars/IRA
Fri, June 4 – Lee County Speedway (IA) MOWA
Fri, June 4 – Wilmot Raceway (WI) All Stars/IRA
Fri, June 4 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, June 5 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, June 5 – Granite City Speedway (MN) WoO
Sat, June 5 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) All Stars/IRA
Sun, June 6 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, June 6 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) All Stars/IRA
Sun, June 6 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, June 11 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO
Fri, June 11 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, June 12 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO
Sun, June 13 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Thur, June 17 – 34 Raceway (IA) WoO
Fri, June 18 – Dubuque Speedway (IA) WoO
Sat, June 19 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, June 19 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) WoO
Sun, June 20 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Mon, June 21 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Tue, June 22 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Thur, June 24 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO
Fri, June 25 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO
Sat, June 26 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO Jackson Nationals
Sun, June 27 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Thur, July 1 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Fri, July 2 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO
Sat, July 3 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 3 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO
Sat, July 10 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, July 11 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, July 16 – Lincoln Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, July 17 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, July 18 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, July 23 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) All Stars
Fri, July 23 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, July 24 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 24 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) All Stars
Sun, July 25 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, July 25 – Humboldt Speedway (KS) All Stars
Tue, July 27 – I-70 Speedway (MO) All Stars
Thur, July 29 – Missouri State Fair Speedway All Stars
Fri, July 30 – 34 Raceway (IA) All Stars
Fri, July 30 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, July 31 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) All Stars
Sun, Aug 1 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, Aug 1 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Aug 6 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sat, Aug 7 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sun, Aug 8 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Capitani Classic
Mon, Aug 9 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge
Wed, Aug 11 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Thur, Aug 12 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Fri, Aug 13 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Sat, Aug 14 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Fri, Aug 20 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 21 – Wilmot Raceway (WI) IRA
Sat, Aug 21 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO
Sun, Aug 22 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Sun, Aug 22 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Aug 27 – I-80 Speedway (NE) WoO
Fri, Aug 27 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Aug 28 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, Aug 29 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Sun, Aug 29 – Route 66 Raceway (IL) IRA/MOWA
Fri, Sept 3 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Fri, Sept 3 – Dodge Co. Fairgrounds (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 4 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Sun, Sept 5 – 141 Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 10 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Sept 10 – Outagamie Speedway (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 11 – Spoon River Speedway (IL) MOWA Tom Knowles Memorial
Sat, Sept 11 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) IRA Jerry Richert Memorial
Fri, Sept 17 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, Sept 18 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 24 – Dodge Co. Fairgrounds (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 25 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sat, Sept 25 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Sun, Sept 26 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, Oct 8 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Oct 22 – Lakeside Speedway (KS) WoO
2020 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 766
2. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 667 (9)
3. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 660 (11)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 587 (3)
5. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 479 (3)
6. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 440
7. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 419
8. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 413
9. Tim Kaeding, Campbell, CA, 402
10. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 385 (1)
2019 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 954 (2)
2. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 947 (7)
3. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 731 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 713 (2)
5. James McFadden, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 592 (2)
6. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 505 (1)
7. Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 484 (1)
8. Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 471 (3)
9. Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 427 (5)
10. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 400 (2)
2018 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 866 (7)
2. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 686 (7)
3. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 602 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 565
5. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 420 (1)
6. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 398 (4)
(tie) Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 398
8. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 390 (2)
9. Cory Eliason, Selma, CA, 386 (1)
10. Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 365 (1)
2017 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1086 (5)
2. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1031 (7)
3. Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 800 (6)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 760 (6)
5. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 760 (2)
6. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 533 (1)
7. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 529 (2)
8. David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 481 (3)
9. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 437 (1)
10. Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 425 (2)