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Randy Smith Claims 16th Masters Classic at Knoxville
By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA (May 30) – Randy Smith, a six-time Knoxville Raceway track champion returned to his home track to capture the 16th annual Masters Classic at this central Iowa raceway Friday night. The Classic is an event presented by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in conjunction with its weekend of hall of fame induction ceremonies and features drivers who have reached age 50 or more.

Smith, driving a car owned by Dwight Snodgrass and normally entered in the weekly 360 division at this track, started in the sixth spot. The race however was controlled in the beginning by the defending Masters Classic champion, A.J. Weaver.
Weaver, who had the pole, shot to the lead at the outset with Judy Bates chasing the Texan on the big Knoxville half mile. On lap five the center broke out of Weaver’s right rear wheel and he smacked the third turn fence and rolled several times. He exited the car complaining of shoulder pain but no report was available at press time concerning his condition.

The restart saw Bates in the lead followed by Kramer Williamson. Mike Peters grabbed third from Tony Moro on that restart as Smith filled in behind. Bates found the bottom to her liking and let the field of twenty-one 360 sprinters through the six laps as Smith began to make a run at the field.

Lap ten of the 22-lap feature saw Bates enter into lap traffic and Smith edge closer to her. Finally after a nose to tail run, Smith made a dive low in turn one of the 13th lap and took the lead as he began to pull away as he took his Maxim/Wesmar to the cushion and checked out.

Only a yellow on lap 16 could slow the Smith assault on the Knoxville oval after the Iowa native had been away from competition for eleven years. Once the race went green again it was all Smith the rest of the way to take the $3,000 to win check. Bates, who had lost her brakes on lap two, claimed $2,000 for the runner-up position. Third went to Peters, fourth to Williamson and fifth went to Bobby Becker, Jr., who started tenth. Completing the top ten were Ron Rosenboom (from 16th), Moro, Joe McCarthy, Greg Rilat (from 14th) and Shane Carson.

The companion program of 305 winged sprints found Justin Giannetto in the winner’s circle at the end of the 12-lap feature event. The win was the first time Giannetto had scratched Knoxville soil. He took the lead half-way through the event and won going away. Tom Lenz, Johnny Anderson, Matt Stevenson and Mitch Alexander formed the top five finishers.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 30, 2008


360 RESULTS

Time Trials, 1 lap, 1. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr IA, 16.004 (new Classic record); 2. Mike Peters, Wichita KS, 16.093; 3. Kramer Williamson, Palmyra PA, 16.145; 4. Judi Bates, Barto PA, 16.201; 5. Tony Moro, Polk City IA, 16.263; 6. AJ Weaver, Houston TX, 16.275; 7. Joe McCarthy, Broomfield CO, 16.314; 8. TJ Giddings, Irving TX, 16.48; 9. Rick Weld, Kansas City MO, 16.535; 10. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls SD, 16.572; 11. Shane Carson, Yukon OK, 16.673; 12. Bobby Becker Jr., Denton NE, 16.682; 13. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln NE, 16.703; 14. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA, 16.79; 15. Dan Oswalt, Iola KS, 16.8; 16. Greg Rilat, Texas City TX, 16.849; 17. David Brown, Marshall MO, 16.923; 18. Ron Rosenboom, Sturgis SD, 17.029; 19. Earnest Jennings, Norman OK, 17.111; 20. Bill Smith, Worthington MN, 17.569; 21. Randy Droescher, Larchwood IA, 17.612; 22. Carl "Midge" Miller, Willingboro NJ, 17.693; 23. Don Stoutner, Brighton CO, 18.768; 24. Mark Amenda, Streator IL, 18.955;

Heat 1, 7 laps, 2:04.7: 1. Earnest Jennings, Norman OK; 2. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln NE; 3. Greg Rilat, Texas City TX; 4. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr IA; 5. Judi Bates, Barto PA; 6. Joe McCarthy, Broomfield CO; 7. Don Stoutner, Brighton CO; 8. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls SD;

Heat 2, 7 laps, 2:03.6: 1. David Brown, Marshall MO; 2. Mike Peters, Wichita KS; 3. Shane Carson, Yukon OK; 4. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 5. Tony Moro, Polk City IA; 6. Bill Smith, Worthington MN; 7. Randy Droescher, Larchwood IA; 8. TJ Giddings, Irving TX;

Heat 3, 7 laps, 2:06.1: 1. Ron Rosenboom, Sturgis SD; 2. AJ Weaver, Houston TX; 3. Bobby Becker Jr., Denton NE; 4. Kramer Williamson, Palmyra PA; 5. Dan Oswalt, Iola KS; 6. Rick Weld, Kansas City MO; 7. Carl "Midge" Miller, Willingboro NJ; 8. Mark Amenda, Streator IL;

A Feature , 22 laps, No Time: 1. Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr IA; 2. Judi Bates, Barto PA; 3. Mike Peters, Wichita KS; 4. Kramer Williamson, Palmyra PA; 5. Bobby Becker Jr., Denton NE; 6. Ron Rosenboom, Sturgis SD; 7. Tony Moro, Polk City IA; 8. Joe McCarthy, Broomfield CO; 9. Greg Rilat, Texas City TX; 10. Shane Carson, Yukon OK; 11. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 12. TJ Giddings, Irving TX; 13. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln NE; 14. Rick Weld, Kansas City MO; 15. Randy Droescher, Larchwood IA; 16. David Brown, Marshall MO; 17. Bill Smith, Worthington MN; 18. Earnest Jennings, Norman OK; 19. Mark Amenda, Streator IL; 20. Dan Oswalt, Iola KS; 21. Carl "Midge" Miller, Willingboro NJ; 22. AJ Weaver, Houston TX; 23. Don Stoutner, Brighton CO; 24. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls SD. Lap Leaders: Weaver 1-4; Bates 5-12; Smith 13-22



305 RESULTS


Heat 1, 6 laps, No Time: 1. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 2. Mike Mayberry, Fremont IA; 3. Matt Stephenson, Altoona IA; 4. Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville IA; 5. Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur IA; 6. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa IA;

Heat 2, 6 laps, 1:50.4: 1. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 2. (Car Number Not On File); 3. Chad Huston, Jamesport MO; 4. Josh Padellford, Pleasantville IA; 5. Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls IA; 6. Keith Carlberg, Stratford IA;

Heat 3, 6 laps, 1:49.3: 1. Bob Lamb, Mitchellville IA; 2. Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville IA; 3. Wayne Redmond, Fort Dodge IA; 4. Patrick Long, Hedrick IA; 5. Earl Tice, Ames IA;

A Feature, 12 laps, No Time: 1. Justin Giannetto, Cedar Rapids IA; 2. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 3. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 4. Matt Stephenson, Altoona IA; 5. Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville IA; 6. Bob Lamb, Mitchellville IA; 7. Josh Padellford, Pleasantville IA; 8. Wayne Redmond, Fort Dodge IA; 9. Matthew Stelzer, Omaha NE; 10. Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls IA; 11. Patrick Long, Hedrick IA; 12. Mike Mayberry, Fremont IA; 13. Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville IA; 14. Keith Carlberg, Stratford IA; 15. Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur IA; 16. Earl Tice, Ames IA; 17. Chad Huston, Jamesport MO. Lap Leaders: Lenz 1-4; Giannetto 5-12