Austin McCarl Breaks Brian Brown’s Streak at Knoxville!
Austin McCarl
Brown Charges to 360 Feature Win; Ryan Leavitt Wins in 305’s
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 26, 2018) – Austin McCarl won for the third time this season Saturday night, and broke Brian Brown’s bid for four consecutive victories here at the Knoxville Raceway. Brown made a late charge, but McCarl maneuvered through traffic to win $4,000 for the TKS Motorsports #2KS team. Brown recovered from a rough start to win an exciting 360 feature from his eighth starting spot. Ryan Leavitt used a good start to win his second career 305 main event.
Davey Heskin won the early battle with McCarl to take the early lead in the 20-lap 410 A main. Brooke Tatnell moved into the third spot on the second lap, and Brown followed him into fourth on lap three. Heskin used the low side, but missed his spot a bit on lap four, and McCarl cruised by into the lead.
Five laps in, Scott Bogucki spun to the inside of turn two to bring out the caution. McCarl led Heskin, Tatnell, Brown and Kerry Madsen back to the green. On lap seven, Heskin and Tatnell made contact in turn two, opening the door for Brown and Madsen to move into third and fourth. On lap eight, Brown would ride around Heskin for the second spot.
McCarl entered lapped traffic on lap eleven. Kerry Madsen won a fierce battle with Heskin for third on lap thirteen. Meanwhile, Brown seemed determined to take his fourth win in a row here as he slowly reeled McCarl in. McCarl maneuvered well, but on the white flag lap, a lapped car almost got sideways in front of him, slowing his progress.
He was able to hold his lead, winning by six-tenths of a second over Brown, Kerry Madsen, Ian Madsen and Tatnell. Heskin, Justin Henderson, Matt Juhl, Mark Dobmeier and Hard-charger Josh Schneiderman. Ian Madsen set quick time over the 29-car field and also won his heat race. Brown and Heskin were also heat winners.
“(Brown) is obviously one of the baddest hombres here and one of the best to ever drive here,” said McCarl in Victory Lane. “I definitely saw him (late), but traffic was so hairy. That was by far the most treacherous cushion I have run by far here. Traffic got insane, and I saw the white flag and traffic really got insane in one and two. My hat goes off to my team. Troy (Renfro) and I are really clicking now, and hopefully, come August, we’ll have something for these guys.”
Matt Juhl led early in an 18-lap 360 thriller. Robbie Price, Matt Moro, Clint Garner and Jon Agan settled in behind him, while a trip over the cushion and almost into the wall saw Brian Brown lose several spots from his eighth place starting position.
Garner jetted from fourth to second on the second lap, while Brown rebounded to get back into the top five. Brown would take fourth on lap four, before Christian Bowman spun in turn one while running seventh. Juhl led Garner, Moro, Brown and Agan back to green on the race’s only restart.
Brown worked by Moro to take third on lap six, and did the same to take second from Garner on lap eight. Juhl entered lapped traffic on lap ten with Brown in hot pursuit. Brown was gaining, but Juhl had other issues when his car slowed on the back chute on lap 13.
Brown would go on to pull away for his sixteenth career 360 win here worth $1,500. Garner was second, ahead of Moro, Nate Van Haaften and hard-charger Sawyer Phillips. Agan, Price, Thomas Kennedy, Dylan Peterson and Joe Beaver completed the top ten. Van Haaften posted quick time, while Ball, Brown and Agan were heat race winners.
“It was a taller cushion and I got off the gas (on the start in turn one),” said Brown in Victory Lane. “It made it a little bit harder. This 360 class at Knoxville…there are no slouches here. We’ve had an issue with our (360) car the last month or so, so we decided to run it here tonight and it did well. It’s Memorial Day weekend, and without the soldiers past and present that have given…we wouldn’t be here now.”
Ryan Leavitt got a good start from outside row two to lead the 15-lap 305 feature early over Josh Jones, Matthew Stelzer, Eric Bridger and Devin Kline. Stelzer passed Jones for second on lap three, while Kline moved into fourth. Kline would then take third on lap four, while Bridger passed for fourth on lap six.
Meanwhile, up front, Leavitt was cruising into lapped traffic by lap eight with a four and a half second lead. Kline was the driver on the move the last half of the race after starting in row four. He used the low side to pass Stelzer with six to go. Dan Henning stopped in turn four to bring the yellow flag on lap ten.
Leavitt led Kline, Stelzer, Bridger and Kevin Hetrick back to green. Leavitt entered turn one high with two to go, and Kline shot under him to take the lead on the backstretch. However, Dallas Mendenhall came to a stop in turn four at the same time, negating the pass.
Leavitt learned his lesson and kept it low the final two laps to win his second career feature here ahead of Kline, Stelzer, Bridger and Mike Mayberry. Mike Ayers, Jones, Hetrick, Chase Young and Casey Greubel rounded out the top ten. Bridger set quick time for the fourth time this season, while Rob Kubli and Kline won heats.
“I saw Devin there,” said Leavitt in Victory Lane. “I know he’s a tough competitor. He kind of showed me that bottom line down in one and two (before the last caution). I wanted to make sure I blocked him down there. I want to thank everyone who makes this possible for us, and thank you fans for coming out and supporting us.”
Join us next week, Saturday, June 2, for McKay Insurance Agency/Nationwide Night for the Knoxville Championship Cup Series 410, 360 (also including the Nebraska 360 Series) and 305 sprint cars! It will also be National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend. For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com
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410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 18, Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust. (14), 15.869; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (3), 15.905; 3. 55, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (1), 15.940; 4. 2M, Kerry Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust. (25), 16.084; 5. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD (24), 16.138; 6. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust. (8), 16.141; 7. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (19), 16.188; 8. 83, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD (5), 16.204; 9. 2KS, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (20), 16.212; 10. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (11), 16.237; 11. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (13), 16.242; 12. 56N, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (27), 16.287; 13. 71A, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (28), 16.297; 14. 24, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (21), 16.322; 15. 97G, Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO (4), 16.352; 16. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (12), 16.450; 17. 9, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (18), 16.478; 18. 7, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (7), 16.534; 19. 7W, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (2), 16.575; 20. 4, Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE (15), 16.765; 21. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (23), 16.778; 22. 28, Scott Bogucki, McLaren Vale, SA, Aust. (10), 16.916; 23. 75, Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW, Aust. (6), 17.013; 24. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (17), 17.077; 25. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (29), 17.090; 26. 85, Chase Wanner, Agency, IA (16), 17.424; 27. 35, Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN (9), NT; 28. 10, Chris Walraven, Knoxville, IA (22), NT; 29. 66M, Max Grogan, Basehor, KS (26), NT.
Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 2:19.4: 1. Ian Madsen (4); 2. Mark Dobmeier (1); 3. Kerry Madsen (5); 4. Scott Bogucki (6); 5. Tasker Phillips (7); 6. AJ Moeller (2); 7. Bobby Mincer (8); 8. Josh Schneiderman (3) DNS – RJ Johnson, Chris Walraven
Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:20.0: 1. Brian Brown (6); 2. Terry McCarl (2); 3. Justin Henderson (4); 4. Matt Juhl (5); 5. Jamie Ball (3); 6. Rager Phillips (1); 7. Glen Saville (8); 8. Dakota Hendrickson (7); 9. Chase Wanner (9) DNS – Max Grogan
Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 2:21.1: 1. Davey Heskin (3); 2. Austin McCarl (4); 3. Carson McCarl (1); 4. Brooke Tatnell (6); 5. Hunter Schuerenberg (2); 6. Lynton Jeffrey (5); 7. Chris Martin (7); 8. Bob Weuve (8) DNS – Skylar Prochaska
A main (started), 20 Laps, NT: 1. Austin McCarl (3); 2. Brian Brown (7); 3. Kerry Madsen (6); 4. Ian Madsen (8); 5. Brooke Tatnell (5); 6. Davey Heskin (1); 7. Justin Henderson (2); 8. Matt Juhl (4); 9. Mark Dobmeier (12); 10. Josh Schneiderman (16); 11. Terry McCarl (11); 12. Lynton Jeffrey (9); 13. AJ Moeller (10); 14. Jamie Ball (13); 15. Tasker Phillips (17); 16. Carson McCarl (14); 17. Chris Martin (20); 18. Hunter Schuerenberg (15); 19. Glen Saville (22); 20. Rager Phillips (19); 21. Bobby Mincer (23); 22. Chase Wanner (25); 23. Bob Weuve (24); 24. Scott Bogucki (18); 25. Dakota Hendrickson (21) DNS – RJ Johnson, Skylar Prochaska, Chris Walraven, Max Grogan. Lap Leaders: Heskin 1-3, A. McCarl 4-20. Hard-charger: Schneiderman.
360 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA (8), 16.804; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (5), 16.853; 3. 15, Christian Bowman, Altoona, IA (21), 16.855; 4. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (15), 16.871; 5. 2M, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA (16), 16.881; 6. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (18), 16.939; 7. 21P, Robbie Price, Cobble Hill, BC, Can. (10), 16.950; 8. 9, Ryan Giles, Grimes, IA (27), 17.044; 9. 70, Calvin Landis, Knoxville, IA (26), 17.052; 10. 18, Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE (2), 17.059; 11. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD (22), 17.068; 12. 21K, Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB, Can. (3), 17.079; 13. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (24), 17.084; 14. 3P, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (7), 17.188; 15. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (6), 17.192; 16. 76, Brad Comegys, Bondurant, IA (17), 17.245; 17. 40C, Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA (23), 17.258; 18. 99, Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. (13), 17.292; 19. 25, Dylan Peterson, Hartford, SD (9), 17.310; 20. 33M, Mason Daniel, Springville, CA (20), 17.329; 21. 6, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA (4), 17.354; 22. 24N, Nathan Mills, Bondurant, IA (25), 17.390; 23. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (14), 17.437; 24. 55, McKenna Haase, Des Moines, IA (19), 17.491; 25. 28AU, Allan Woods, Brisbane, QLD, Aust. (11), 18.002; 26. 81, Tanner Gebhart, Burlington, IA (12), 18.293; 27. 17, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA (1), NT.
Heat one (started), 7 Laps, 2:03.7: 1. Jamie Ball (2); 2. Nate Van Haaften (4); 3. Ryan Roberts (3); 4. Clint Garner (5); 5. Robbie Price (6); 6. Dylan Peterson (7); 7. Brad Comegys (1); 8. Allan Woods (9); 9. Nathan Mills (8)
Heat two (started), 7 Laps, 2:04.1: 1. Brian Brown (6); 2. Matt Juhl (3); 3. Cody Wehrle (1); 4. Sawyer Phillips (2); 5. Ryan Giles (4); 6. Matt Moro (5); 7. Mason Daniel (7); 8. Tom Lenz (8); 9. Tanner Gebhart (9)
Heat three (started), 7 Laps, 2:05.1: 1. Jon Agan (5); 2. Skylar Gee (1); 3. Thomas Kennedy (3); 4. Joe Beaver (2); 5. Calvin Landis (4); 6. Tony Shilling (7); 7. Christian Bowman (6); 8. McKenna Haase (8) DNS – Tyler Groenendyk
A main (started), 18 Laps, NT: 1. Brian Brown (8); 2. Clint Garner (5); 3. Matt Moro (3); 4. Nate Van Haaften (7); 5. Sawyer Phillips (15); 6. Jon Agan (6); 7. Robbie Price (1); 8. Thomas Kennedy (13); 9. Dylan Peterson (19); 10. Joe Beaver (17); 11. Skylar Gee (14); 12. Ryan Giles (11); 13. Cody Wehrle (16); 14. Ryan Roberts (9); 15. Jamie Ball (10); 16. Calvin Landis (12); 17. McKenna Haase (23); 18. Mason Daniel (21); 19. Christian Bowman (4); 20. Nathan Mills (24); 21. Allan Woods (25); 22. Tanner Gebhart (26); 23. Brad Comegys (18); 24. Tom Lenz (22); 25. Tony Shilling (20); 26. Matt Juhl (2) DNS – Tyler Groenendyk. Lap Leaders: Juhl 1-12, Brown 13-18. Hard-charger: Phillips.
305 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 81E, Eric Bridger, Winterset, IA (9), 17.710; 2. 35, Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, IL (1), 17.785; 3. 02S, Josh Jones, Knoxville, IA (10), 17.796; 4. 22, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA (13), 17.842; 5. 26, Chase Young, Des Moines, IA (4), 17.897; 6. 56, Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA (2), 17.903; 7. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (12), 18.011; 8. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Papillion, NE (17), 18.044; 9. 33, Jayce Jenkins, Colfax, IA (11), 18.083; 10. 21, Evan Epperson, Muscatine, IA (6), 18.158; 11. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (7), 18.288; 12. 5C, Devin Kline, Knoxville, IA (16), 18.295; 13. 50, Mike Ayers, Waukee, IA (18), 18.307; 14. 4, Chris Horton, Indianola, IA (15), 18.322; 15. 48D, Dallas Mendenhall, Unionville, MO (3), 18.409; 16. 41D, Dan Henning, Columbia, IA (5), 18.762; 17. 67, Jon Hughes, Knoxville, IA (14), 18.765; 18. 64C, Casey Greubel, Lacona, IA (8), NT.
Heat one (started), 6 Laps, 1:52.8: 1. Rob Kubli (1); 2. Mike Mayberry (3); 3. Jayce Jenkins (2); 4. Josh Jones (5); 5. Eric Bridger (6); 6. Chase Young (4); 7. Mike Ayers (7); 8. Jon Hughes (9); 9. Dallas Mendenhall (8)
Heat two (started), 6 Laps, 1:52.3: 1. Devin Kline (1); 2. Matthew Stelzer (3); 3. Evan Epperson (2); 4. Ryan Leavitt (5); 5. Kevin Hetrick (6); 6. Joe Simbro (4); 7. Chris Horton (7); 8. Casey Greubel (9); 9. Dan Henning (8)
A main (started), 15 Laps, NT: 1. Ryan Leavitt (4); 2. Devin Kline (7); 3. Matthew Stelzer (6); 4. Eric Bridger (1); 5. Mike Mayberry (5); 6. Mike Ayers (11); 7. Josh Jones (2); 8. Kevin Hetrick (3); 9. Chase Young (10); 10. Casey Greubel (15); 11. Joe Simbro (12); 12. Jon Hughes (13); 13. Evan Epperson (9); 14. Dallas Mendenhall (16); 15. Jayce Jenkins (8); 16. Chris Horton (14); 17. Dan Henning (17) DNS – Rob Kubli. Lap Leader: Leavitt 1-15. Hard-charger: Kline.
Category: Iowa
