Aussie Jeffrey Takes First; East Des Moines' Higday Takes Eleventh
by: By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA (July 22, 2006) - A very happy and joyful Lynton Jeffrey captured his initial 410 feature event at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night to become one of the few to ever win here at this historic oval. Josh Higday took the 360 feature, the 11th of his career.

Jeffrey's win adds a good deal of salve to his runner-up finish of three weeks ago when a yellow flag on the white flag lap cost him his lead and probably the win. On this night, the state-side Aussie who lives no more 25 miles from this track, was not to be denied the $5,000 victory in his family-owned sprinter.

Starting in the front row after a random draw of the top sixteen starters, Jeffrey utilized the cushion to roar to the lead heading out of turn two and down the backstretch. He was closely chased by Wayne Johnson and Eric Vanderploeg at this point. His quick line around this big half mile was the low route and it soon paid dividends as he roared to a full straight away lead at the two-mile mark. Second running Johnson drove on the cushion in turns one and two and placed his sprinter on the bottom in three and four.

It was lap eight that Jeffrey entered heavy lap traffic and all bets were no doubt on Johnson to catch the Jeffrey J & J. But that really didn't happen as Jeffrey was able to thread his way past the backmarkers and was in no danger of being caught and passed. It was also during this time that fourth running Rager Phillips slowed and pulled into the pit area. And, at this time, Brian Brown, who started fifteenth, had guided his mount to third.

Lap 15 was a pivotal time in the race as Eric Vanderploeg slowed dramatically as he took the flag and stopped at the entrance of turn on in the middle of the track, the victim of a broken transmission. Some would say that Johnson had indeed made up a bit of the distance in which he had trailed Jeffrey when both entered lap traffic.

On the restart, Jeffrey again went to the bottom and began to pull away from Brown, who had taken second from Johnson. Within four laps the leader had built a 10-15 car length advantage over the runner-up.

For whatever reason, the 22nd lap saw Jeffrey slow or Brown soar, but, the Missouri driver was suddenly on the bottom only four car lengths from catching the eventual winner. On the next round Brown was running nose to tail and as they took the white flag, Brown, who raced to the bottom of turn one, took a momentary lead.

What Brown may not have known was that Jeffrey shot to the top of the track because the lap car ahead of them was running the bottom line. As the two front runners exited turn two, Jeffrey again took the top spot as Brown was impeded and the Aussie roared by on the outside. Immediately Brown steered to the outside as Jeffrey dove low in turn three. As the top duo came out of turn four, one could see it would be close at the finish.

Jeffrey nipped Brown by half a car length at the stripe (.1 of a second according to the transponder on the Brown sprinter). Following those two were Jesse Giannetto and Clint Garner, both of whom came on strong in the waning laps. Johnson slipped to fifth. Completing the top ten finishers were Skip Jackson, Billy Alley, Bronson Maeschen from twentieth, Ricky Logan and Trevor Green.

51 sprinter competed during this Iowa Telecom Interstate Racing Association (IRA) vs Knoxville Summer classic.

In the companion 360 sprint feature, Stacy Alexander led the first lap only to drop from the event on the next lap. That is when fellow front row starter Josh Higday picked up the lead. Higday led Nate Mosher and Joe Beaver around the big half-mile oval as all three placed their right rears on the cushion.

Lap four saw the only slowdown of the event as third running Beaver banged the backstretch fence and then took a tumble in turn three, apparently the victim of something breaking on his sprinter due to the fence encounter.

When the race resumed, Higday again took the point with Mosher and now Larry Ball, Jr. in tow. Wasting no time was the defending track champ Jake Peters who passed both Mosher and Ball on the next circuit. From this point to the end, the race to watch was for first place as Higday would have his hands full.

At the lap ten juncture, Higday could claim only a five car-length advantage. Soon after this, Higday began to realize he was being tracked down by Peters and slammed the door on him as they headed into turn one. Peters, not willing to give up, experimented with several different lines on the track as Higday had now closed off any passes by Peters on the bottom.

On the final two laps, Higday continued to drive his self-owned Eagle on the bottom while Peters continued to look for ways around him. In the end it would be a close one as Higday collected his third win of the season by no more than one-car length as he pocketed $2,000 in the process. Although second, Peters extended his points lead in the 360 division.

Third in this race was eleventh starting Jeff Mitrisin as Mosher held for fourth. Fifth went to Johnny Anderson who started right behind Mitrisin. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Ball, Jr., John Kearney, Dustin Lindquist, a sixteenth position starter, Bret Golik and Jon Corbin who transferred out of the B Main and started in the final row of the twenty-car field.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
July 22, 2006
410 RESULTS

Time Trials, 1 lap, 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.194; 2. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA, 15.266; 3. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD, 15.322; 4. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.361; 5. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA, 15.396; 6. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.405; 7. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.409; 8. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA, 15.421; 9. Brent Antill, Ankeny IA, 15.426; 10. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. , 15.436; 11. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA, 15.437; 12. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK, 15.487; 13. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 15.555; 14. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD, 15.596; 15. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR, 15.596; 16. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN, 15.602; 17. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA, 15.646; 18. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA, 15.778; 19. John Haeni, Lomira WI, 15.89; 20. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA, 15.906; 21. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA, 15.954; 22. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI, 15.996; 23. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 16.029; 24. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI, 16.034; 25. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA, 16.076; 26. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI, 16.085; 27. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA, 16.133; 28. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA, 16.166; 29. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI, 16.338; 30. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI, 16.417; 31. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI, 16.475; 32. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI, 16.481; 33. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 16.525; 34. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA, 16.541; 35. Mike Stefka, Racine WI, 16.564; 36. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI, 16.6; 37. Greg Jones, Earlham IA, 16.655; 38. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM, 16.69; 39. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI, 16.753; 40. Billy Balog, Cameron WI, 16.757; 41. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI, 16.807; 42. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI, 16.853; 43. Ryan Irwin, McHenry IL, 16.94; 44. Bill Wirth, Cudhay WI, 17.241; 45. Michael Strader, Rock Island IL, 18.018; 46. Robert Bell, Colfax IA, 18.033; 47. Howie Gleason, East Troy WI, 19.203; 48. Joe Symoens, Yorkville WI, No Time; 49. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA, No Time; 50. Ty Bartz, Howards Grove WI, No Time; 51. Dave Saffell, (R) Pleasantville IA, No Time;

Heat 1, 8 laps, 2:11.7: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 2. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 3. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI; 4. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN; 5. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 6. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 7. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI; 8. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI; 9. Robert Bell, Colfax IA; 10. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI;

Heat 2, 8 laps, 2;12.2: 1. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 2. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA; 3. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 5. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA; 6. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI; 7. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI; 8. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 9. Howie Gleason, East Troy WI; 10. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI;

Heat 3, 8 laps, 2;11.8: 1. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 3. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 4. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 5. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 6. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 7. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 8. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM; 9. Ryan Irwin, McHenry IL;

Heat 4, 8 laps, 2:13.2: 1. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI; 2. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 3. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 4. Brent Antill, Ankeny IA; 5. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI; 6. John Haeni, Lomira WI; 7. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 8. Bill Wirth, Cudhay WI; 9. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI;

Heat 5, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 2. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 3. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 4. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. ; 5. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI; 6. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 7. Billy Balog, Cameron WI; 8. Michael Strader, Rock Island IL; 9. Mike Stefka, Racine WI;

C Feature, 8 laps, No Time: 1. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM; 2. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI; 3. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 4. Bill Wirth, Cudhay WI; 5. Ty Bartz, Howards Grove WI; 6. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI; 7. Howie Gleason, East Troy WI; 8. Robert Bell, Colfax IA; 9. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI; 10. Michael Strader, Rock Island IL;

B Feature, 12 laps, 3:03.4: 1. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 3. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 4. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 5. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 6. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI; 7. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI; 8. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 9. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 10. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI; 11. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI; 12. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 13. Mike Stefka, Racine WI; 14. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI; 15. John Haeni, Lomira WI; 16. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI; 17. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM; 18. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI;

A Feature , 25 laps, No Time: 1. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 2. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 3. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 4. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 6. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 7. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 8. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 10. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. ; 11. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 12. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 13. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 14. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 15. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 16. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 17. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN; 18. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI; 19. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI; 20. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 21. Brent Antill, Ankeny IA; 22. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 23. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 24. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA. Lap Leaders: Jeffrey 1-25


360 RESULTS

Heat 1, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 2. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 4. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA; 6. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 7. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 8. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 9. Chad Meinholdt, Topeka KS; 10. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA;

Heat 2, 7 laps, 2:02.2: 1. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 2. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 3. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 4. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 5. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis IA; 8. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 9. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 10. John Hall, Marion IA;

Heat 3, 7 laps, 2:00.9: 1. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA; 2. Brett Golik, Newton IA; 3. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 4. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 5. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 6. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 7. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA; 8. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO; 9. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 10. Matt Harms, Morton IL;

Heat 4, 7 laps, 2:01.1: 1. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 2. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 3. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 4. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 5. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 6. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 7. Matt Stephenson, Des Moines IA; 8. Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington IA; 9. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN;

B Feature, 10 laps, 3:03.4: 1. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 2. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 3. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 4. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 5. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 8. Chad Meinholdt, Topeka KS; 9. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis IA; 10. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 11. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 12. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA; 13. Matt Stephenson, Des Moines IA; 14. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 15. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 16. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 17. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO; 18. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA; 19. John Hall, Marion IA; 20. Matt Harms, Morton IL; 21. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN;

A Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 2. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 4. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 5. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 6. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA; 7. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 8. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 9. Brett Golik, Newton IA; 10. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 11. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 12. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 13. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 14. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 15. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 16. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 17. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 18. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 19. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 20. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA. Lap Leaders: Alexander 1: Higday 2-15