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Droud Jr. Captures Knoxville’s 57th Season Opener
By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, IA (May 1) Three veterans captured feature events at Knoxville
Raceway’s 57th Season Opener. Don Droud Jr. led flag to flag in capturing
his 12th career win at this half-mile oval while Josh Higday and Steve
Breazeale were victorious in 360 and 305 sprints respectively.
Droud, who started in the second row, led the ten-mile distance through
three yellows and two red flag conditions with the first yellow flying for
third running Brian Brown on lap three. Brown was unable to continue as his
engine was not running as it should.
By lap five Droud led Austin McCarl, Tony Bruce Jr., Ian Madsen and Josh
Schniederman across the line. Rookie contender Robbie Wolfgang dropped at
this point and when these same runners completed lap eight a red flag was
displayed for a Rager Phillips spin and flip.
Opening night woes continued as second running McCarl exploded a left-rear
tire in turn four of the tenth lap. Schniederman then ran over some of the
debris and he was sidelined while McCarl was able to restart.
On each restart Droud truly had control of the event. The stoppages allowed
drivers who had started further back in the field to make fruitful gains.
Lap fourteen saw second place Mark Dobmeier, who had been moving steadily
forward, also lose a tire and exit the race.
The final red of the night was thrown for Madsen who flipped violently down
the front chute after he and another car made contact on lap eighteen. Droud,
in the Gilbert Sonner-owned Maxim, again was fully prepared for the final
restart and sailed across the finish line ten car lengths ahead of second
place. It was noted that the victory gave “Gilly” Sonner a feature event win
in each of the last five decades. The win was worth $3,000 to Droud.
Trialing at the finish were Skip Jackson who started ninth, Davey Heskin who
started 11th and Bronson Maeschen, a sixth row starter beside Heskin.
Rounding out the top ten were Bruce, Lynton Jeffrey, Mike Moore, Kaley
Gharst (from 15th), McCarl and Bob Weuve.
Higday’s 360 sprint feature win was his 16th career victory in that division
but he did not lead the distance as Droud had done. The initial laps went to
fellow front row starter Dennis Moore Jr. Lap 4 saw a red thrown for a Matt
Covington wreck and on the restart Higday took the lead with a slider in
turns one and two. Moore tried to repay Higday in the next turns but was not
successful.
In the end Higday captured the event by 15 car lengths in the VanderEcken
Maxim ahead of Moore with tenth position starter Jonathan Cornell in third.
Clint Garner and Johnny Anderson completed the top five.
Steve Breazeale led the distance while taking his feature win in the 305
division. He was hard pressed nearly all the way by Austin Johnson who
eventually settled for third. Runner-up laurels went to Tim St. Arnold. Chad
Huston and Steve Palmer completed the top five finishers.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 1, 2010
410 RESULTS
Time Trials, 1 laps, 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.405; 2. Mark
Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND, 15.545; 3. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE, 15.55; 4.
Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS, 15.584; 5. Ian Madsen, (R) St. Marys, NSW, Aust.
, 15.598; 6. Austin McCarl, Altoona IA, 15.612; 7. Josh Schneiderman, West
Burlington IA, 15.634; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City IA, 15.669; 9. Skip
Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.685; 10. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.72;
11. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN, 15.732; 12. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville
IA, 15.78; 13. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA, 15.861; 14. Robby Wolfgang,
(R) Sioux Falls SD, 15.923; 15. Mike Deavers, Normal IL, 15.955; 16. Bob
Weuve, Newton IA, 16.087; 17. Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls SD, 16.521; 18. Rob
Kubli, (R) Milo IA, 16.689; 19. Jake Ossenfort, Rapid City SD, 16.893; 20.
Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, No Time; 21. Ryan Bunton, (R) Morton IL, No Time;
22. Kyle Hirst, Loomis CA, No Time;
Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 2. Bob Weuve,
Newton IA; 3. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 4. Josh Schneiderman, West
Burlington IA; 5. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 6. Jake Ossenfort, Rapid City
SD; 7. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville IA;
Heat 2, 8 laps, 2:07.7: 1. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 2. Lynton Jeffrey,
Prairie City IA; 3. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND; 4. Ian Madsen, (R) St.
Marys, NSW, Aust. ; 5. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 6. Robby Wolfgang, (R)
Sioux Falls SD; 7. Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls SD;
Heat 3, 8 laps, 2:10.1: 1. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 2. Don Droud
Jr., Lincoln NE; 3. Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 4. Mike Deavers, Normal
IL; 5. Austin McCarl, Altoona IA; 6. Ryan Bunton, (R) Morton IL; 7. Rob
Kubli, (R) Milo IA;
A Feature 1, 20 laps, No Time: 1. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE; 2. Skip
Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 3. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 4. Bronson
Maeschen, Knoxville IA; 5. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS; 6. Lynton Jeffrey,
Prairie City IA; 7. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 8. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL;
9. Austin McCarl, Altoona IA; 10. Bob Weuve, Newton IA; 11. Ryan Bunton, (R)
Morton IL; 12. Jake Ossenfort, Rapid City SD; 13. Mike Deavers, Normal IL;
14. Ian Madsen, (R) St. Marys, NSW, Aust. ; 15. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks
ND; 16. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington IA; 17. Rager Phillips,
Pleasantville IA; 18. Robby Wolfgang, (R) Sioux Falls SD; 19. Brian Brown,
Grain Valley MO; 20. Rob Kubli, (R) Milo IA; 21. Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls
SD; Lap Leaders: Droud Jr. 1-20
360 RESULTS
Time Trials, 1 laps, 1. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE, 16.019; 2. Clint Garner,
Sioux Falls SD, 16.044; 3. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA, 16.048; 4. Matt
Covington, Glenpool OK, 16.066; 5. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD, 16.089; 6.
Matt Moro, Polk City IA, 16.17; 7. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA,
16.205; 8. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND, 16.212; 9. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA,
16.243; 10. David Hall, Des Moines IA, 16.246; 11. Dennis Moore Jr.,
Grinnell IA, 16.299; 12. Bobby Mincer, Burlington IA, 16.362; 13. Jon Agan,
Knoxville IA, 16.39; 14. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA, 16.398; 15. Jonathan
Cornell, Sedalia MO, 16.412; 16. Dustin Morgan, Owasso OK, 16.417; 17. Nate
Van Haaften, Otley IA, 16.472; 18. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD, 16.486; 19.
Chad Humston, Giltner NE, 16.52; 20. Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill IA,
16.557; 21. Jay Russell, Elwood KS, 16.576; 22. Brett Mather, Ames IA,
16.576; 23. Tom Lenz, Marion IA, 16.581; 24. Jamie Ball, (R) Knoxville IA,
16.634; 25. Ryan Bickett, (R) Ramona SD, 16.654; 26. Danny Heskin, St.
Michael MN, 16.657; 27. Rod Richards, Van Meter IA, 16.738; 28. Joe Beaver,
Knoxville IA, 16.747; 29. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA, 16.864; 30. Mike
Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA, 16.904; 31. Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood CO,
16.966; 32. Dakota Carroll, LaMonte MO, 16.993; 33. Tyler Trainor, Streator
IL, 20.118;
Heat 1, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Jay Russell, Elwood KS; 2. Johnny Anderson,
Indianola IA; 3. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 4. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls
SD; 5. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 6. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 7. Ryan Bickett,
(R) Ramona SD; 8. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 9. Tyler Trainor, Streator IL;
Heat 2, 7 laps, 2:00.1: 1. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 2. Josh Higday, Des Moines
IA; 3. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls SD; 5.
Matt Moro, Polk City IA; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Danny Heskin, St.
Michael MN; 8. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA;
Heat 3, 7 laps, 1:56.7: 1. Chad Humston, Giltner NE; 2. Dennis Moore Jr.,
Grinnell IA; 3. Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia MO; 4. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 5.
Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 6. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 7. Ricky
Montgomery, Lakewood CO; 8. Rod Richards, Van Meter IA;
Heat 4, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Dustin Morgan, Owasso OK; 2. Joe Beaver,
Knoxville IA; 3. Bobby Mincer, Burlington IA; 4. Matt Covington, Glenpool
OK; 5. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 6. Jamie Ball, (R) Knoxville IA; 7. Dakota
Carroll, LaMonte MO; 8. Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill IA;
B Feature , 10 laps, 2:51.6: 1. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 2. Ryan Roberts,
Aurora NE; 3. Matt Moro, Polk City IA; 4. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA;
5. Lee Grosz, Harwood ND; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Ricky Montgomery,
Lakewood CO; 8. Ryan Bickett, (R) Ramona SD; 9. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA;
10. Danny Heskin, St. Michael MN; 11. Rod Richards, Van Meter IA; 12. Chad
Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill IA; 13. Dakota Carroll, LaMonte MO; 14. Jamie Ball,
(R) Knoxville IA; 15. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 16. Tyler Trainor,
Streator IL;
A Feature, 15 laps, No Time: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 2. Dennis Moore
Jr., Grinnell IA; 3. Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia MO; 4. Clint Garner, Sioux
Falls SD; 5. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 6. Chad Humston, Giltner NE; 7.
Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 8. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 9. Dustin
Morgan, Owasso OK; 10. Jon Agan, Knoxville IA; 11. Matt Moro, Polk City IA;
12. Ryan Roberts, Aurora NE; 13. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 14. Bryan Dobesh,
Sioux Falls SD; 15. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 16. Nate Van Haaften, Otley
IA; 17. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 18. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville IA; 19.
Bobby Mincer, Burlington IA; 20. Matt Covington, Glenpool OK; Lap Leaders:
Moore Jr.1-4; Higday 5-15
305 RESULTS
Heat 1, 6 laps, No Time: 1. Steve Palmer, Des Moines IA; 2. Austin Johnson,
Minneapolis MN; 3. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa IA; 4. Nick Ross, Oskaloosa IA; 5.
Casie Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 6. Matt Hasara, Lakefield MN; 7. Matthew
Stelzer, Omaha NE; 8. Earl Tice, Ames IA; 9. Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville
IA;
Heat 2, 6 laps, No Time: 1. Steve Breazeale, Trenton MO; 2. Tim St. Arnold,
Des Moines IA; 3. Chad Huston, Jamesport MO; 4. Matt Stephenson, Altoona IA;
5. Jamie Ball, Knoxville IA; 6. Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville IA; 7. Chris
Maurer, Colfax IA; 8. Mike Van Haaften, Pella IA; 9. Chris Coleman, Marshall
MO;
A Feature 1, No Time: 1. Steve Breazeale, Trenton MO; 2. Tim St. Arnold, Des
Moines IA; 3. Austin Johnson, Minneapolis MN; 4. Chad Huston, Jamesport MO;
5. Steve Palmer, Des Moines IA; 6. Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville IA; 7.
Nick Ross, Oskaloosa IA; 8. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa IA; 9. Chris Maurer, Colfax
IA; 10. Alan Ambers, Knoxville IA; 11. Casie Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 12.
Mike Van Haaften, Pella IA; 13. Jamie Ball, Knoxville IA; 14. Matt
Stephenson, Altoona IA; 15. Matthew Stelzer, Omaha NE; 16. Matt Hasara,
Lakefield MN; Lap Leaders: Breazeale 1-12
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