Anderson Opens Knoxville 360 Nationals with Win
By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA. (August 3, 2006) - Knoxville regular Johnny Anderson captured the opening night feature event of the 16th annual 360 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway Thursday night. The win paid the Indianola (Iowa) driver $2,000 and assured him of a starting nod in Saturday's championship feature.

The opening lap saw pole-sitter Gary Wright take the point but shortly after he completed that tour of the half-mile oval Tyler Thompson rode the fence through turns one and two bringing out the yellow flag. He did not restart.

When the race resumed, Wright again led the field with Anderson following. Larry Pinegar II made a huge jump to garner third and Ian Madsen held down fourth. Wright found the bottom to be the fast way around on this night as Anderson trailed patiently behind him.

At the five lap mark, Wright could claim an eight car-length lead over Anderson as they began to pull away from Pinegar. Madsen was still in fourth but Larry Ball, Jr. was right on his rear nerf bar ready to take that spot.

It was lap nine that saw Wright edge into lap traffic with a 15 car-length lead over Anderson. At first the slower cars did not seem to make any difference as Wright hit the turns where he could run on the bottom and keep his lead, but as he advanced things began to change.

Lap twelve saw Anderson begin to make a dent in the Wright lead. Two laps later he had pulled almost even with the Texan. Wright, who had made his living on the bottom during this race, made the mistake of following a backmarker into turn one on the low route. Anderson went to the cushion and as they roared out of turn two on the fifteenth circuit, he had the lead while Wright languished behind him.

Wright was not about to give up as the veteran picked up the chase of the new leader. Fortunately for Anderson, it seemed that every circuit to the end found a lap car between them. In the end, Anderson forged his father's Eagle/Ostrich to a ten car-length win over Wright. For Anderson, it was his fourth win at this speedway this season.

Pinegar claimed third at a distance while Clint Garner, who started 12th, came home fourth. Ball, Jr. completed the top five. Forming the top ten finishers were Jonathan Allard (who started beside Garner), Madsen, Jesse Hockett, a ninth row starter, Jeff Mitrisin (who started in front of Hockett and Scott Winters.

Qualifying heat races went to Danny Jennings, Pinegar, Jake Peters, Wade Nygaard and Garner. Jan Howard won the Last Chance heat. Randy Martin took the C Main and Bryan Howland was the victor in the B Main.

Sixty-seven cars went through qualifying time trials. During that event Pete Crall set a new one-lap track record of 16.136 for 360 c.i. sprint cars eclipsing the mark set in 2001 by Cliff Woodward.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
August 3, 2006


360 RESULTS

Time Trials, 1 lap, 1. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS, 16.136 (New Track Record, old track record 16.191 Cliff Woodward, June 1, 2001; 2. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA, 16.283; 3. Bryan Howland, Auburn NY, 16.31; 4. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN, 16.335; 5. Eric Jobe, Kansas City MO, 16.353; 6. Roger Crockett, Eugene OR, 16.358; 7. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA, 16.413; 8. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA, 16.414; 9. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS, 16.418; 10. Lance Yonge, Penn Yan NY, 16.419; 11. Ian Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 16.466; 12. Ron Blair, Troy OH, 16.502; 13. Gary Wright, Hooks TX, 16.51; 14. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA, 16.573; 15. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS, 16.589; 16. Toby Brown, Carthage MO, 16.62; 17. Jonathan Allard, Chico CA, 16.623; 18. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA, 16.636; 19. Ray Allen Kulhanek, Danbury TX, 16.64; 20. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 16.645; 21. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA, 16.664; 22. Randy Martin, California MO, 16.696; 23. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD, 16.7; 24. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA, 16.767; 25. JD Johnson, Goddard KS, 16.777; 26. John Carney II, El Paso TX, 16.788; 27. Cory Seeling, Beaverdam OH, 16.81; 28. Jesse Hockett, Warsaw MO, 16.847; 29. Wade Nygaard, Fargo ND, 16.857; 30. Mark Pace, Lincoln NE, 16.866; 31. Danny Jennings, Norman OK, 16.943; 32. Brian Thomas, Auburn GA, 16.944; 33. Cameron McGahan, Kenai AK, 16.957; 34. Eric Baldaccini, Keller TX, 16.965; 35. Brandon Harkness, Sedro Woolley WA, 16.993; 36. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS, 17.009; 37. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 17.017; 38. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA, 17.02; 39. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO, 17.043; 40. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA, 17.057; 41. Curt Michael, Ocean View DE, 17.076; 42. Chris Morgan, Topeka KS, 17.077; 43. Chad Hillier, Sedro Woolley WA, 17.135; 44. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO, 17.153; 45. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND, 17.17; 46. Foster Landon, Collinsville OK, 17.174; 47. Chad Meinholdt, Topeka KS, 17.208; 48. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN, 17.227; 49. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA, 17.235; 50. Brett Golik, Newton IA, 17.241; 51. Jimmy Martin III, Felton DE, 17.259; 52. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis IA, 17.278; 53. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA, 17.328; 54. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS, 17.366; 55. AJ Selenke, Wichita KS, 17.396; 56. Ken Mackey, Manitou Beach MI, 17.4; 57. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX, 17.462; 58. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 17.481; 59. Bubba Clem, St. Petersburg FL, 17.493; 60. Darren Stewart, Bixby OK, 17.556; 61. Nick Mulheim, Navarre OH, 17.575; 62. Matthew Fox, Sedalia MO, 17.784; 63. Ryan Grubaugh, St. Johns MI, 17.862; 64. Louie Carufel, Port Huron MI, 18.311; 65. Garry Chippindall, Warragul, VIC, Aust. , 18.663; 66. Tim Newman, Cameron MO, 21.63; 67. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA, 25.222;
 

Last Chance Heat, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS; 2. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis IA; 3. Ken Mackey, Manitou Beach MI; 4. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 5. Darren Stewart, Bixby OK; 6. AJ Selenke, Wichita KS; 7. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 8. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 9. Jimmy Martin III, Felton DE; 10. Nick Mulheim, Navarre OH; 11. Ryan Grubaugh, St. Johns MI; 12. Matthew Fox, Sedalia MO; 13. Louie Carufel, Port Huron MI; 14. Bubba Clem, St. Petersburg FL; 15. Garry Chippindall, Warragul, VIC, Aust. ; 16. Tim Newman, Cameron MO; 17. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA;
 

Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Danny Jennings, Norman OK; 2. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 3. John Carney II, El Paso TX; 4. Ian Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 5. Curt Michael, Ocean View DE; 6. Toby Brown, Carthage MO; 7. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS; 8. Roger Crockett, Eugene OR; 9. Foster Landon, Collinsville OK; 10. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS;
 

Heat 2, 8 laps, 2:19.4: 1. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 2. Jonathan Allard, Chico CA; 3. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA; 4. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 5. Chad Meinholdt, Topeka KS; 6. Chris Morgan, Topeka KS; 7. Cory Seeling, Beaverdam OH; 8. Brian Thomas, Auburn GA; 9. Randy Martin, California MO; 10. Ron Blair, Troy OH;
 

Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 2. Gary Wright, Hooks TX; 3. Jesse Hockett, Warsaw MO; 4. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 5. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 6. Chad Hillier, Sedro Woolley WA; 7. Bryan Howland, Auburn NY; 8. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 9. Cameron McGahan, Kenai AK; 10. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN;
 

Heat 4, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Wade Nygaard, Fargo ND; 2. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 3. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA; 4. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN; 5. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 6. Ray Allen Kulhanek, Danbury TX; 7. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO; 8. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO; 9. Eric Baldaccini, Keller TX; 10. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA;
Heat 5, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 2. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 3. Eric Jobe, Kansas City MO; 4. Lance Yonge, Penn Yan NY; 5. JD Johnson, Goddard KS; 6. Brett Golik, Newton IA; 7. Brandon Harkness, Sedro Woolley WA; 8. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 9. Mark Pace, Lincoln NE; 10. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA;
 

C-Feature , 10 laps, 3:00.1: 1. Randy Martin, California MO; 2. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS; 3. Foster Landon, Collinsville OK; 4. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis IA; 5. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 6. Mark Pace, Lincoln NE; 7. Eric Baldaccini, Keller TX; 8. Jimmy Martin III, Felton DE; 9. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 10. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 11. Cameron McGahan, Kenai AK; 12. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 13. Darren Stewart, Bixby OK; 14. AJ Selenke, Wichita KS; 15. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale TX; 16. Nick Mulheim, Navarre OH; 17. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 18. Ron Blair, Troy OH; 19. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN; 20. Ken Mackey, Manitou Beach MI;
 

B Feature , 12 laps, 3:41.0: 1. Bryan Howland, Auburn NY; 2. Roger Crockett, Eugene OR; 3. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS; 4. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO; 5. Curt Michael, Ocean View DE; 6. Chad Meinholdt, Topeka KS; 7. JD Johnson, Goddard KS; 8. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS; 9. Chris Morgan, Topeka KS; 10. Chad Hillier, Sedro Woolley WA; 11. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 12. Ray Allen Kulhanek, Danbury TX; 13. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 14. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 15. Brandon Harkness, Sedro Woolley WA; 16. Brett Golik, Newton IA; 17. Cory Seeling, Beaverdam OH; 18. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO; 19. Brian Thomas, Auburn GA; 20. Toby Brown, Carthage MO; 21. Randy Martin, California MO; 22. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA;
 

A Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 2. Gary Wright, Hooks TX; 3. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 4. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA; 6. Jonathan Allard, Chico CA; 7. Ian Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 8. Jesse Hockett, Warsaw MO; 9. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 10. Scott Winters, Butterfield MN; 11. Danny Jennings, Norman OK; 12. Lance Yonge, Penn Yan NY; 13. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 14. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 15. Eric Jobe, Kansas City MO; 16. Bryan Howland, Auburn NY; 17. Roger Crockett, Eugene OR; 18. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO; 19. Wade Nygaard, Fargo ND; 20. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS; 21. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 22. John Carney II, El Paso TX; 23. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 24. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA. Lap Leaders: Wright 1-14; Anderson 15-20