Alley Cruises to Win at Knoxville's Friday 360 Nationals Prelim
By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA (Aug. 4, 2006) - Billy Alley 'rocked and rolled' 'em at Knoxville Raceway Friday as he soared to a feature event win at the 16th annual 360 Knoxville Nationals. The Nebraska driver matched his preliminary win of one year ago and is the defending champion.

Alley had a fortunate starting nod for the twenty-lap race as he began on the front row of the feature event. Right away he took control and made a run away from the 24-car field. His nearest opponent was Dale Howard from the Gulf Coast state of Mississippi. Howard was no match for Alley on this night as the leader roared away to an entire chute margin by lap five. By lap seven Alley hit lap traffic and he negotiated it with superb skill. At the half-way point of the race he was fully a half lap in front of the second place running car.

Lap thirteen saw the first of two red flags for the event. Jon Corbin, who was running sixth at the time, went high into turn one, hit the loose soil and struck the fence. The force caused him to flip several times. He walked away from his wrecked sprinter.

At this juncture the rundown showed Brian Brown running seventh. Brown had been disqualified from his second place finish in his qualifying heat race for running too large a tire. That debacle would force the Missouri driver to run the C Main on this qualifying night.

In the C Main, Brown simply destroyed the field and then transferred to the tail of the 22-car B-Main field. Again, Brown put on a show for the fans as he wound up finishing second and transfered to the twenty-second starting spot in the A Main. Now, just after the half-way point of the A Main, Brown had plowed his way to within striking of the leaders.

When the race went green again, Alley went to the front running the cushion of the big half-mile oval. Behind him, Brown had already disposed of two cars and had placed his sprinter in fourth. One lap later the red was again displayed when Brett Mather struck the turn four fence very hard. Mather had been battling with Howard and Travis Rilat for seventh place when he and Howard collided and with Mather receiving the worst of it.

On the restart, Brown disposed of second running Dustin Lindquist, but by the time that had occurred Alley had taken off again. In the remaining laps Alley kept Brown at bay by at least fifteen car lengths and placed his Mark Burch WolfWeld in victory lane. Lindquist settled for third, Jason Johnson was fourth and Jesse Giannetto came across the stripe in fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Travis Rilat, a ninth row starter, Josh Higday, Howard, Steve King, also a ninth row starter and Don Droud, Jr.

In qualifying time trials, Josh Higday established a new one-lap track record as he became the first 360 driver at Knoxville to drop below the sixteen second barrier with a run of 15.991. That time eclipsed the mark set twenty-four hours earlier by Pete Crall on the first night of qualifications.

Heat races were won by Skip Jackson, Rager Phillips, Dustin Daggett, Chuck Swenson and Dave Glennon. Two Last Chance heats were contested and they were captured by Ricky Logan and Nick Smith. The victor in the C Main was of course Brown while David Hall paced the field in the B Main.

Seventy 360 sprinters took to the track for qualifying time trials.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
August 4, 2006
360 RESULTS

Time Trials: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA, 15.991(New Track Record, old track record 16.136, Pete Crall, August 3, 2006; 2. Brian Brown, Higginsville MO, 16.153; 3. Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City OK, 16.162; 4. David Hall, Des Moines IA, 16.237; 5. Luke Hall, Troy OH, 16.281; 6. Sean McClelland, Collinsville OK, 16.361; 7. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA, 16.393; 8. Rick Ideus, (R) Silver City IA, 16.397; 9. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN, 16.422; 10. Brett Mather, Ames IA, 16.423; 11. Justin Zimmerman, Royce City TX, 16.428; 12. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD, 16.461; 13. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO, 16.466; 14. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 16.472; 15. Dale Howard, Byhalia MS, 16.539; 16. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA, 16.62; 17. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 16.643; 18. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE, 16.648; 19. Chuck Swenson, Watertown SD, 16.648; 20. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA, 16.68; 21. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 16.771; 22. Preston Peebles II, Lubbock TX, 16.787; 23. Dustin Daggett, Portland MI, 16.824; 24. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA, 16.825; 25. Dave Glennon, Casselton ND, 16.84; 26. Steve King, Jetmore KS, 16.84; 27. Travis Rilat, Forney TX, 16.854; 28. Matt Harms, Morton IL, 16.856; 29. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA, 16.864; 30. Gene Lasker, Tampa FL, 16.875; 31. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA, 16.883; 32. Kevin Welsh, Far Hills NJ, 16.888; 33. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD, 16.939; 34. Joe Wood Jr., Oklahoma City OK, 16.956; 35. Mike Chadd, Lincoln NE, 16.999; 36. Tom "TJ" Winegardner Jr., Pierson FL, 17.001; 37. Danny Martin Jr., Sarasota FL, 17.005; 38. Matt Tiffany, Daytona Beach FL, 17.017; 39. Lee Sowell, Nesbit MS, 17.025; 40. Josh Riggins, Lincoln NE, 17.036; 41. Toby Chapman, Lincoln NE, 17.042; 42. Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth TX, 17.059; 43. Jake Martens, Fairview OK, 17.076; 44. Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron KS, 17.098; 45. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE, 17.128; 46. Danny Horner, Cottage Grove OR, 17.142; 47. Mike Brecht, Leipsic OH, 17.149; 48. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD, 17.195; 49. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND, 17.211; 50. Ben Rutan, Somerset MI, 17.222; 51. Tyler Thompson, Cape Girardeau MO, 17.227; 52. Nick Smith, Broken Arrow OK, 17.246; 53. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR, 17.28; 54. Tim Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. , 17.284; 55. Brook Weibley, York Springs PA, 17.289; 56. Chris Schmelzle, Victoria, BC, Can. , 17.304; 57. BJ Fay, Claremore OK, 17.345; 58. Ryan Voss, Okoboji IA, 17.353; 59. Eric Lutz, Sioux Falls SD, 17.389; 60. Gary Fast, Kalkaska MI, 17.421; 61. Abe Sherwood, Tulsa OK, 17.436; 62. Mike Sitzmann Jr., Tappen ND, 17.472; 63. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA, 17.548; 64. Robert Ballou, Rocklin CA, 17.576; 65. Herman Klein, Sacramento CA, 17.655; 66. Jerry Brey, Billings MT, 17.914; 67. Sye Anderson, Brainerd MN, 17.935; 68. Jessica Zemken, Sprakers NY, 18.517; 69. Brett Geldner, St. Peter MN, 18.838; 70. Sean Walden, Bentonville AR, No Time;

Heat 1, 8 laps, 2:18.1: 1. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 2. Steve King, Jetmore KS; 3. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA; 4. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 5. Justin Zimmerman, Royce City TX; 6. Sean McClelland, Collinsville OK; 7. Tom "TJ" Winegardner Jr., Pierson FL; 8. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 9. Danny Horner, Cottage Grove OR; 10. Toby Chapman, Lincoln NE;

Heat 2, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 2. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 3. Travis Rilat, Forney TX; 4. Kevin Welsh, Far Hills NJ; 5. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 6. Preston Peebles II, Lubbock TX; 7. Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth TX; 8. Mike Brecht, Leipsic OH; 9. Danny Martin Jr., Sarasota FL; 10. Brian Brown, Higginsville MO;

Heat 3, 8 laps, 2:17.0: 1. Dustin Daggett, Portland MI; 2. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 3. Rick Ideus, (R) Silver City IA; 4. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE; 5. Matt Tiffany, Daytona Beach FL; 6. Jake Martens, Fairview OK; 7. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 8. Matt Harms, Morton IL; 9. Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City OK; 10. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD;

Heat 4, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Chuck Swenson, Watertown SD; 2. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 3. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 4. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 5. Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron KS; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Joe Wood Jr., Oklahoma City OK; 8. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 9. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 10. Lee Sowell, Nesbit MS;

Heat 5, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Dave Glennon, Casselton ND; 2. Dale Howard, Byhalia MS; 3. Mike Chadd, Lincoln NE; 4. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 5. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 6. Luke Hall, Troy OH; 7. Josh Riggins, Lincoln NE; 8. Gene Lasker, Tampa FL; 9. Ben Rutan, Somerset MI; 10. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA;

Last Chance Heat 1, 8 laps, 2:19.8: 1. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 2. Brook Weibley, York Springs PA; 3. Tyler Thompson, Cape Girardeau MO; 4. BJ Fay, Claremore OK; 5. Herman Klein, Sacramento CA; 6. Sye Anderson, Brainerd MN; 7. Brett Geldner, St. Peter MN; 8. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 9. Abe Sherwood, Tulsa OK; 10. Eric Lutz, Sioux Falls SD;

Last Chance Heat 2, 8 laps, 2:23.5: 1. Nick Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 2. Tim Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. ; 3. Gary Fast, Kalkaska MI; 4. Robert Ballou, Rocklin CA; 5. Jessica Zemken, Sprakers NY; 6. Ryan Voss, Okoboji IA; 7. Mike Sitzmann Jr., Tappen ND; 8. Jerry Brey, Billings MT; 9. Chris Schmelzle, Victoria, BC, Can. ; 10. Sean Walden, Bentonville AR;

C- Feature , 10 laps, 3:01.8: 1. Brian Brown, Higginsville MO; 2. Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City OK; 3. Lee Sowell, Nesbit MS; 4. Danny Horner, Cottage Grove OR; 5. Nick Smith, Broken Arrow OK; 6. Tim Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. ; 7. Toby Chapman, Lincoln NE; 8. Brook Weibley, York Springs PA; 9. Robert Ballou, Rocklin CA; 10. Gary Fast, Kalkaska MI; 11. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 12. Natalie Sather, Fargo ND; 13. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR; 14. Danny Martin Jr., Sarasota FL; 15. Herman Klein, Sacramento CA; 16. BJ Fay, Claremore OK; 17. Jessica Zemken, Sprakers NY; 18. Tyler Thompson, Cape Girardeau MO; 19. Dusty Zomer, Brandon SD; 20. Ben Rutan, Somerset MI;

B Feature , 12 laps, No Time: 1. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 2. Brian Brown, Higginsville MO; 3. Luke Hall, Troy OH; 4. Sean McClelland, Collinsville OK; 5. Justin Zimmerman, Royce City TX; 6. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 7. Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron KS; 8. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 9. Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth TX; 10. Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City OK; 11. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 12. Matt Tiffany, Daytona Beach FL; 13. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 14. Preston Peebles II, Lubbock TX; 15. Jake Martens, Fairview OK; 16. Matt Harms, Morton IL; 17. Joe Wood Jr., Oklahoma City OK; 18. Seth Brahmer, Wisner NE; 19. Josh Riggins, Lincoln NE; 20. Mike Brecht, Leipsic OH; 21. Tom "TJ" Winegardner Jr., Pierson FL; 22. Gene Lasker, Tampa FL;

A Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 2. Brian Brown, Higginsville MO; 3. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 4. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA; 5. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 6. Travis Rilat, Forney TX; 7. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 8. Dale Howard, Byhalia MS; 9. Steve King, Jetmore KS; 10. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE; 11. Rick Ideus, (R) Silver City IA; 12. Chuck Swenson, Watertown SD; 13. Dave Glennon, Casselton ND; 14. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 15. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 16. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 17. Luke Hall, Troy OH; 18. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 19. Mike Chadd, Lincoln NE; 20. Sean McClelland, Collinsville OK; 21. Kevin Welsh, Far Hills NJ; 22. Dustin Daggett, Portland MI; 23. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 24. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO. Lap Leaders: Alley 1-20