Shane Stewart celebrates his prelim win at the Knoxville Nationals (Mike Campbell Photo)
by Bryan Hulbert/Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, August 8, 2014 – The long wait by fans for the races originally scheduled for Wednesday night was well worth it as Shane Stewart worked past Kraig Kinser on the final lap to claim the Racingjunk.com Qualifying Night victory on Friday night of the 54th running of the FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores.
"Man, my car was just so good from the get-go," said Stewart of his Larson/Marks No. 2. "These races are pretty short, so you can't really bide your time like you do on Saturday; especially with Dollansky, and of course the No. 15. Everyone knows how darn good he is here."
Pocketing $12,000, the win counts as Stewart's sixth Knoxville Raceway triumph.
Taking the lead from the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 11k on the white flag lap by 0.005 seconds, Shane opened his advantage to 0.750 seconds at the checkered flag.
"I honestly didn't think he was going to leave the bottom open for me like that. He ran a great race, and sometimes when you're leading, it's just hard to know where to go," said Stewart. "My car, once I got to the bottom, stuck really well so I just can't thank my guys enough."
Working into the top five on the opening lap, Stewart gave chase as Mark Dobmeier and Kraig Kinser battled for the lead with the No. 13 leading the first two rounds before giving up the point to Kinser with a low-line pass exiting turn-four as the caution waved.
Underway, leaders hit slower traffic by the tenth round with Kinser holding just under a second advantage as the race from second through fourth came into focus with Stewart having to hold off Donny Schatz for third before the caution waved on Lap 12 for Jac Haudenschild.
Trying for second, Stewart was quickly joined by Schatz to make it a three way race for the runner up spot. Distancing away from the STP No. 15, the race for second was close as Stewart and Dobmeier banged wheels with the No. 2 taking the runner-up spot.
Slowing on Lap 22 for Joshua Hodges, Shane Stewart was completely focused on Kinser at the green.
Coming to the tip of the green, Stewart swung high into turns one and two. Even for a moment, Kinser powered back to the lead, moving up the track entering three as Stewart seized the chance and stuck the berm to grab the win.
"We have some great points, and I hope I have a better finish than last year," said Stewart. Asked about the track, Shane replied, "The track stayed pretty good all night. I don't really see it being this good on Saturday, but if you were patient enough, you could run the bottom with a little bit of speed; and if it was free enough. It had to be free to run all the way around."
Kraig Kinser's runner-up finish put the MVT No. 11K ninth in Saturday's A-Feature.
"I knew the laps were counting down. I didn't know it was actually down to three until after the yellow fell," commented Kinser when asked about the final restart. "When I got into lapped traffic, I was rolling pretty good around them, but I just got a little free in the last handful of laps. I just made a bad choice going down the back straight-a-way and thought I heard Shane coming on the top and just didn't really know where to run because the car felt good everywhere."
After battling for the lead early on, Mark Dobmeier completed the podium; having to hold off Schatz in the closing laps, "You know I hear he's pretty good here and that last yellow kind of saved us. He actually got underneath us, but the yellow came out and we got out spot back. We were running hard the entire race, I just gave up the bottom too quick, and Kraig took it over and then I stayed on the top too long, but overall it's a great run for our team."
Donny Schatz crossed fourth from seventh with David Gravel slipping back one for fifth.
Craig Dollansky was sixth with Justin Henderson seventh. Brooke Tatnell came to eighth from twelfth with Lee Jacobs ninth. Danny Dietrich came from thirteenth to make up the top-ten.
After two qualifying nights, Donny Schatz has earned the pole in Saturday's A-Feature with 492 points. Shane Stewart will start second with 491 points. Kerry Madsen tied but with Stewart's win, Madsen will start third with Brian Brown fourth at 485 and Paul McMahan fifth at 484 points.
Saturday will begin with the qualifier originally slated for Friday night with Hot Laps beginning at 11:00 A.M. (CT).
410 RESULTS
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 7, Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN (9), 14.934; 2. 15, Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND (2), 14.980; 3. 96, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (23), 15.002; 4. 2, Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK (4), 15.019; 5. 1, Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN (30), 15.043; 6. 1D, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD (39), 15.065; 7. 83, David Gravel, Watertown, CT (29), 15.132; 8. 45, Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA (40), 15.139; 9. 59, Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA (10), 15.197; 10. 53, Andy Gregg, Placerville, CA (41), 15.214; 11. 9, Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK (35), 15.226; 12. 40H, Caleb Helms, Findlay, OH (7), 15.239; 13. 11K, Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN (50), 15.262; 14. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (22), 15.274; 15. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (49), 15.279; 16. 4X, Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE (15), 15.284; 17. 0, Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA (14), 15.290; 18. 49, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA (44), 15.297; 19. 7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN (26), 15.304; 20. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (43), 15.313; 21. 28, Brian Paulus, Mooresville, IN (3), 15.318; 22. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (38), 15.324; 23. 81X, Lee Jacobs, Dalton, OH (33), 15.370; 24. 27, Greg Hodnett, Spring Grove, PA (31), 15.385; 25. 5V, Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA (12), 15.386; 26. 55, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aus (11), 15.409; 27. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (6), 15.412; 28. 19P, Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH (1), 15.427; 29. 71A, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (34), 15.428; 30. 29W, Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA (45), 15.433; 31. 77X, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA (37), 15.439; 32. 11N, Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN (32), 15.461; 33. W20, Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH (36), 15.472; 34. 9W, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH (53), 15.476; 35. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (52), 15.501; 36. 99, Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK (16), 15.502; 37. 18, Tony Bruce Jr., Owasso, OK (47), 15.509; 38. 1A, Jacob Allen, Hanover, PA (8), 15.550; 39. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (20), 15.557; 40. 74X, Josh Hodges, Tijeras, NM (28), 15.571; 41. 44W, Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA (46), 15.574; 42. 31B, Christopher Bell, Norman, OK (48), 15.661; 43. 4S, Danny Smith, Chillicothe, OH (21), 15.711; 44. 05, Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO (25), 15.712; 45. 12P, TJ Peterson, Des Moines, IA (5), 15.742; 46. 45X, Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM (42), 15.809; 47. 75, Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW, Aust (51), 15.864; 48. 60, Kory Crabtree, West Jefferson, OH (24), 15.916; 49. 45C, Dustin Clark, Agency, IA (13), 15.942; 50. 19L, Jason Tostenson, Glencoe, MN (17), 16.190; 51. 2K, Kevin Ingle, Huron, SD (27), 16.369; 52. 7X, Critter Malone, Pittsboro, IN (18), NT; 53. 49J, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (19), NT.
Heat one (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Wayne Johnson (2); 2. Brooke Tatnell (3); 3. Justin Henderson (7); 4. Craig Dollansky (8) / 5. Brady Bacon (1); 6. Daryn Pittman (6); 7. Johnny Herrera (10); 8. Brian Paulus (4) / 9. Austen Wheatley (9); 10. Dakota Hendrickson (5)
Heat two (started), 10 Laps, 2:36.4: 1. Donny Schatz (8); 2. Randy Hannagan (2); 3. Tony Bruce Jr. (1); 4. David Gravel (7) / 5. Caleb Helms (6); 6. Bud Kaeding (5); 7. Glen Saville (10); 8. Christopher Bell (9) / 9. AJ Moeller (3); 10. Lynton Jeffrey (4)
Heat three (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Greg Wilson (2); 2. Kraig Kinser (6); 3. Tim Shaffer (7); 4. Lee Jacobs (4) / 5. Brad Sweet (5); 6. Jacob Allen (1); 7. Danny Smith (9); 8. Paige Polyak (3) / 9. Bronson Maeschen (8); 10. Kory Crabtree (10)
Heat four (started), 10 Laps, 2:38.1: 1. Jac Haudenschild (2); 2. Shane Stewart (8); 3. Mark Dobmeier (6); 4. Greg Hodnett (4) / 5. Jason Sides (5); 6. RJ Johnson (3); 7. Tim Kaeding (7); 8. Brad Loyet (9) / 9. Bob Weuve (1); 10. Dustin Clark (10)
Heat five (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Davey Heskin (2); 2. Danny Dietrich (3); 3. Josh Hodges (1); 4. Don Droud Jr. (5) / 5. Tasker Phillips (6); 6. Colby Copeland (4); 7. Andy Gregg (7); 8. Sammy Swindell (8) / 9. Jason Tostenson (10); 10. TJ Peterson (9)
C main (started), 10 Laps, 2:39.6: 1. Bronson Maeschen (1); 2. Dakota Hendrickson (2); 3. Lynton Jeffrey (3); 4. Josh Schneiderman (10) / 5. Austen Wheatley (4); 6. Jason Tostenson (8); 7. Kevin Ingle (11); 8. Dustin Clark (9); 9. Bob Weuve (5); 10. TJ Peterson (7); 11. Kory Crabtree (6); DNS - 12. AJ Moeller (4); DNS - 13. Critter Malone (12)
B main (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Tim Kaeding (2); 2. Daryn Pittman (4); 3. Sammy Swindell (1); 4. Brad Sweet (8) / 5. Tasker Phillips (6); 6. Bud Kaeding (7); 7. Brady Bacon (14); 8. Brad Loyet (18); 9. Caleb Helms (5); 10. Andy Gregg (3); 11. Bronson Maeschen (21); 12. Colby Copeland (11); 13. Lynton Jeffrey (23); 14. Paige Polyak (12); 15. Josh Schneiderman (24); 16. Jacob Allen (15); 17. Danny Smith (17); 18. Johnny Herrera (19); 19. Glen Saville (20); 20. Christopher Bell (16); 21. Dakota Hendrickson (22); 22. Brian Paulus (10); 23. Jason Sides (9); 24. RJ Johnson (13)
A main (started), 25 Laps, NT: 1. Shane Stewart (6); 2. Kraig Kinser (2); 3. Mark Dobmeier (1); 4. Donny Schatz (7); 5. David Gravel (4); 6. Craig Dollansky (8); 7. Justin Henderson (5); 8. Brooke Tatnell (12); 9. Lee Jacobs (10); 10. Danny Dietrich (13); 11. Don Droud Jr. (9); 12. Greg Hodnett (11); 13. Daryn Pittman (22); 14. Davey Heskin (18); 15. Sammy Swindell (23); 16. Wayne Johnson (14); 17. Brad Sweet (24); 18. Randy Hannagan (15); 19. Tim Kaeding (21); 20. Tony Bruce Jr. (19); 21. Greg Wilson (16); 22. Josh Hodges (20); 23. Jac Haudenschild (17); 24. Tim Shaffer (3). Lap Leaders: Dobmeier 1, K. Kinser 2-24, Stewart 25. Hard-charger: Pittman.
Lineups for the 54th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores
A main
1. 15, Donny Schatz 492
2. 2, Shane Stewart 491
3. 29, Kerry Madsen 491
4. 21, Brian Brown 485
5. 51, Paul McMahan 484
6. 24, Terry McCarl 481
7. 7, Craig Dollansky 481
8. 1D, Justin Henderson 472
9. 11K, Kraig Kinser 471
10. 83, David Gravel 471
11. 13, Mark Dobmeier 464
12. 15H, Sam Hafertepe Jr. 457
13. 71m, Joey Saldana 454
14. 82, Bryan Clauson 444
15. 1, Sammy Swindell 443
16. 6R, Ryan Bunton 443
17. 9, Daryn Pittman 441
18. 4, Cody Darrah 437
19. 51s, Stevie Smith 434
20. 45, Tim Shaffer 434
B main
1. 55, Brooke Tatnell 433
2. 47, Don Droud Jr. 433
3. 81x, Lee Jacobs 431
4. 40, Clint Garner 430
5. 59, Tim Kaeding 430
6. 1B, Sheldon Haudenschild 428
7. 94, Jeff Swindell 427
8. 41, Jason Johnson 426
9. 10, Matt Moro 424
10. 27, Greg Hodnett 423
11. 49, Brad Sweet 422
12. 29w, Danny Dietrich 421
13. 4A, Jon Agan 420
14. 17B, Bill Balog 416
15. 55J, Ian Madsen 414
16. 77x, Wayne Johnson 410
17. 1z, Lucas Wolfe 409
18. 56, Davey Heskin 406
19. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips 402
20. 96, Bronson Maeschen 402
C main
1. 17w, Cole Wood 401
2. 11N, Randy Hannagan 401
3. 1st, Gary Taylor 401
4. 40H, Caleb Helms 400
5. 24R, Rico Abreu 399
6. W20, Greg Wilson 396
7. 53, Andy Gregg 396
8. 14K, Dale Blaney 394
9. 19M, Brent Marks 394
10. 0, Bud Kaeding 393
Non-qualifiers
51. 53D, Jack Dover 392
52. 71, Kevin Swindell 390
53. 9w, Jac Haudenschild 390
54. 18, Tony Bruce Jr. 384
55. 11, Steve Kinser 383
56. 24H, Brandon Wimmer 381
57. 63, Chad Kemenah 381
58. 33, Danny Lasoski 380
59. 3G, James McFadden 379
60. 10H, Danny Holtgraver 377
61. 74x, Josh Hodges 374
62. 13v, Seth Brahmer 367
63. 91, Dusty Zomer 366
64. 5v, Colby Copeland 365
65. 55x, Trey Starks 365
66. 81, Austin Johnson 361
67. 83x, Jason Meyers 360
68. 7s, Jason Sides 358
69. 12, Lynton Jeffrey 357
70. 99, Brady Bacon 356
71. 4x, Dakota Hendrickson 354
72. 19P, Paige Polyak 349
73. 28, Brian Paulus 347
74. 1s, Logan Schuchart 344
75. 71A, RJ Johnson 333
76. 1a, Jacob Allen 331
77. o5, Brad Loyet 329
78. 1K, Chris Shirek 326
79. 4s, Danny Smith 316
80. 7G, Kaley Gharst 310
81. 31B, Christopher Bell 309
82. 45x, Johnny Herrera 308
83. 7K, Dustin Selvage 308
84. 75, Glen Saville 304
85. 2L, Ed Lynch Jr. 302
86. 20, AJ Moeller 302
87. 44, Chris Martin 301
88. 69, Mike Moore 299
89. 23K, Rob Kubli 298
90. 44w, Austen Wheatley 288
91. 19, Bob Weuve 284
92. 21x, Joey Moughan 274
93. 1x, Cap Henry 271
94. 4K, Kody Kinser 271
95. 19L, Jason Tostenson 268
96. 12P, TJ Peterson 267
97. 23, Jimmy Light 265
98. 45c, Dustin Clark 263
99. 49J, Josh Schneiderman 262
100. 1P, Curtis Evans 261
101. 60, Kory Crabtree 259
102. 2K, Kevin Ingle 238
103. 4c, Tyler Courtney 230
104. 35, Skylar Prochaska 223
105. 7x, Critter Malone 221