Brian Brown Captures Emotional Win in Knoxville Opener!
Brian Brown – Photo by Danny Howk
Ryan Giles Tops 360’s, Matthew Stelzer Wins in Pro Sprints
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (April 20, 2019) – An emotional couple of weeks for Brian Brown culminated in his 45th career win at the Knoxville Raceway, and his third triumph in a Season Opener here on Kraig Ford/PellaMotors.com/Town Crier Night. It was worth $4,000. The Grain Valley, Missouri native lost his grandmother recently, and dedicated the win to her. Ryan Giles led wire to wire to grab the 360 feature, and Matthew Stelzer won in the Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance.
Justin Henderson looked strong early in the 20-lap 410 feature ahead of defending track champ, Austin McCarl, Brown, Kerry Madsen and Parker Price-Miller. Brown worked by McCarl for second on third lap, while defending All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Aaron Reutzel had moved from outside row six to fifth on the multi-groove half-mile.
Reutzel continued his charge, battling Kerry Madsen back and forth before taking the spot at the halfway point. Meanwhile, the leaders were in traffic, and Brown used the cushion to shoot around Henderson to lead lap ten. Reutzel moved by McCarl for third on lap 13, and dueled Henderson for the second spot before sliding by with three to go.
Up front, Brown was on cruise control, beating the hard-charging Reutzel to the checkers. Madsen was third, ahead of Terry McCarl and Henderson. Austin McCarl, Ian Madsen, Price-Miller, Gio Scelzi and Christopher Bell rounded out the top ten. Brown set quick time over the 33-car field, while Cory Eliason, Terry McCarl, Mason Daniel and Brooke Tatnell won heat races. Davey Heskin claimed the B main.
“This is for my grandma, my grandpa, my mom, Danny (Lasoski) and my whole family,” said Brown in Victory Lane. “I sat up in section G, Row 19 for a lot of years. She was a big part of my life and career. I’m just proud of all of our guys. Winning here never gets old. The Dunkin’s did a wonderful job with the track. There were four or five lanes out there. I got to Justin there, and I couldn’t figure out how to get by him. I knew I had to attack. This is probably the toughest field we’ll face until the Outlaws get here. It’s fun.”
The 360’s had a stout 34-car field on hand. The start of the 18-lap main event was a ragged one. Rookie Kelby Watt washed up the track, taking Ryan Bickett with him, just short of the turn one wall. Bickett retired, but Watt continued with wing damage.
Giles took control early, ahead of Carson McCarl, Jon Agan, Lee Grosz and Jamie Ball. Agan cruised the low groove to pass McCarl for second before Christian Bowman spun with two laps down. It would be the last caution. Giles led Agan, McCarl, Grosz and Ball back to green.
McCarl got back by Agan, as did Grosz, who moved into third. A lap later, Agan would return the favor, and on lap six, he overtook McCarl for the runner-up spot. Up front, Giles was heading into lapped traffic on the eighth circuit. Grosz moved into third with seven laps to go, and Cory Eliason followed him into fourth a lap later.
Giles was never challenged, winning his eighth feature here. Agan was second, ahead of Grosz, Eliason and Ball. Clint Garner, Matt Moro, McCarl, Calvin Landis and Jack Dover completed the top ten. Ball set quick time, and Garner, Agan, Giles and Landis won heats. Josh Higday won the B main. Jayce Jenkins flipped in turn four in the B main, but walked away.
“This is great,” said Giles in Victory Lane. “We’re fortunate to be here. Last year was kind of a rebuilding year for us whether it seemed like it or not. Hopefully, we’ve got all the bumps behind us, and we’re looking forward to this year, taking it easy and having fun. I remember the last race we won was kind of boring starting up front, but the lapped traffic tonight made it fun.”
Matthew Stelzer stormed to his eighth career victory in the Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance. He took control early from outside row two, in front of Devin Wignall and Chris Walraven. Tyler Barrick spun with one lap down, bringing the only caution of the event.
Jeff Wilke was an early mover, shooting from eighth to fifth on the first lap, and then gaining third on the restart. Brandon Worthington battled back by him on the fifth lap before Wilke did a 360 spin, kept it going, and dropped to fifth.
Up front, Stelzer won the 12-lapper, ahead of Wignall, Mike Johnston, Mike Ayers, Chase Young, Wilke, Walraven, Mike Mayberry, Worthington and Barrick. Young set quick time, while Wilke won the heat race. Rookie Matt Johnson took a wild ride after something broke on his car in qualifying. He walked away.
“After the heat race, I was really down on myself,” said Stelzer afterwards. “I went to some of my mentor’s advice over the years back in Lincoln, Nebraska. I threw the ‘kitchen sink’ at the car and things went well. I got by Devin. I know he’s going to be a good driver. I knew tonight he wouldn’t be able to keep up with me on this type of track, since it was his first time here. Good job to him. I have to thank my guys.”
Join us for Petro-Canada Lubricants Night, next Saturday night, April 27. The 410, 360 and Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance will all be in action! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
410 Results
Time Trials, (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (14), 16.112; 2. 2KS, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (2), 16.188; 3. 71P, Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN (24), 16.192; 4. 2M, Kerry Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust. (29), 16.199; 5. 15H, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX (10), 16.203; 6. 7X, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD (30), 16.225; 7. 83, Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust. (3), 16.239; 8. 18, Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust. (32), 16.255; 9. 87, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX (7), 16.257; 10. 71, Gio Scelzi, Fresno, CA (33), 16.261; 11. 39, Christopher Bell, Norman, OK (13), 16.319; 12. 11, Dale Blaney, Hartford, OH (15), 16.329; 13. 7, Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN (18), 16.427; 14. 4, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (6), 16.459; 15. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD (19), 16.483; 16. 55, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (23), 16.483; 17. 26, Cory Eliason, Selma, CA (12), 16.508; 18. 44S, Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA (9), 16.526; 19. 33M, Mason Daniel, Springville, CA (25), 16.592; 20. 56N, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (11), 16.729; 21. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (1), 16.742; 22. 99, Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. (5), 16.756; 23. 70X, Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN (21), 16.758; 24. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (8), 16.769; 25. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (16), 16.830; 26. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (17), 16.888; 27. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (28), 17.121; 28. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (20), 17.137; 29. 85, Chase Wanner, Batavia, IA (4), 17.149; 30. 3P, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (22), 17.162; 31. 56, Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA (26), 17.667; 32. 7S, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA (31), NT; 33. 10, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (27), NT.
Heat one (started), 8 Laps, NT: 1. Cory Eliason (2); 2. Brian Brown (6); 3. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5); 4. Mark Dobmeier (7); 5. Aaron Reutzel (4); 6. Tasker Phillips (1); 7. Craig Dollansky (3); 8. Chase Wanner (8) DNS – RJ Johnson
Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:21.7: 1. Terry McCarl (3); 2. Gio Scelzi (4); 3. Justin Henderson (5); 4. Skylar Gee (1); 5. Trey Starks (2); 6. Austin McCarl (6); 7. Josh Schneiderman (7); 8. Sawyer Phillips (8)
Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 2:23.7: 1. Mason Daniel (2); 2. Matt Juhl (3); 3. Spencer Bayston (1); 4. Christopher Bell (4); 5. Parker Price-Miller (6); 6. Lynton Jeffrey (5); 7. Chris Martin (7); 8. Joe Simbro (8)
Heat four (started), 8 Laps, 2:26.1: 1. Brooke Tatnell (3); 2. Ian Madsen (5); 3. Kerry Madsen (6); 4. Dale Blaney (4); 5. Davey Heskin (2); 6. AJ Moeller (1); 7. Bobby Mincer (7); 8. Tyler Groenendyk (8)
B main (started), 12 Laps, 3:44.3: 1. Davey Heskin (1); 2. Tasker Phillips (2); 3. Mark Dobmeier (5); 4. Josh Schneiderman (6) / 5. Skylar Gee (3); 6. Chris Martin (7); 7. Chase Wanner (9); 8. Tyler Groenendyk (12); 9. Sawyer Phillips (10); 10. Joe Simbro (11); 11. AJ Moeller (4); 12. Bobby Mincer (8) DNS – RJ Johnson
A main (started), 20 Laps, 6:36.2: 1. Brian Brown (6); 2. Aaron Reutzel (12); 3. Kerry Madsen (5); 4. Terry McCarl (9); 5. Justin Henderson (2); 6. Austin McCarl (1); 7. Ian Madsen (7); 8. Parker Price-Miller (3); 9. Gio Scelzi (8); 10. Christopher Bell (14); 11. Dale Blaney (17); 12. Brooke Tatnell (11); 13. Davey Heskin (21); 14. Cory Eliason (13); 15. Lynton Jeffrey (10); 16. Matt Juhl (15); 17. Mark Dobmeier (23); 18. Mason Daniel (16); 19. Tasker Phillips (22); 20. Spencer Bayston (18); 21. Trey Starks (19); 22. Josh Schneiderman (24); 23. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4); 24. Craig Dollansky (20). Lap Leaders: Henderson 1-9, Brown 10-20. Hard-charger: Reutzel.
360 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (25), 17.023; 2. 26, Cory Eliason, Selma, CA (3), 17.036; 3. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (2), 17.147; 4. 2M, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA (13), 17.161; 5. 27, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (8), 17.177; 6. 55, McKenna Haase, Des Moines, IA (7), 17.305; 7. 17, Zeb Wise, Angola, IN (21), 17.338; 8. 4J, Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND (11), 17.351; 9. 53D, Jack Dover, Springfield, NE (33), 17.377; 10. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (14), 17.386; 11. 9, Ryan Giles, Grimes, IA (9), 17.390; 12. 70, Calvin Landis, Knoxville, IA (12), 17.425; 13. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (6), 17.427; 14. 40C, Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA (17), 17.564; 15. 1K, Kelby Watt, Adel, IA (24), 17.598; 16. 15, Christian Bowman, Altoona, IA (4), 17.607; 17. 17B, Ryan Bickett, Ramona, SD (27), 17.610; 18. 21, Robbie Price, Cobble Hill, BC, Can. (26), 17.618; 19. 22, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA (22), 17.750; 20. 83, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (5), 17.754; 21. 76, Brad Comegys, Bondurant, IA (16), 17.768; 22. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA (10), 17.830; 23. 2D, Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, SD (23), 17.837; 24. 35, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (31), 17.960; 25. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (19), 18.031; 26. 33J, Jayce Jenkins, Colfax, IA (1), 18.208; 27. 19, Rob Weuve, Oakland Acres, IA (15), 18.366; 28. 64C, Casey Greubel, Lacona, IA (18), 18.482; 29. 67, Jon Hughes, Knoxville, IA (29), 19.116; 30. 11B, Ben Woods, Newton, IA (28), 20.508; 31. 28, Rich Cerveny, Omaha, NE (34), NT; DQ (Illegal Tire) 77X, Alex Hill, Six Nations, ONT, Can. (20); DQ (Illegal Tire) 24N, Nathan Mills, Bondurant, IA (32); DQ (Illegal Tire) 68, Frank Rodgers III, Lucas, IA (30).
Heat one (started), 7 Laps, 2:07.2: 1. Clint Garner (3); 2. Ryan Bickett (2); 3. Jamie Ball (6); 4. Jack Dover (4); 5. Carson McCarl (5); 6. Brad Comegys (1); 7. Frank Rodgers III (7); 8. Tom Lenz (9); 9. Jon Hughes (8)
Heat two (started), 7 Laps, 2:06.9: 1. Jon Agan (4); 2. Cory Eliason (6); 3. Robbie Price (2); 4. Cody Wehrle (3); 5. McKenna Haase (5); 6. Jayce Jenkins (7); 7. Alan Zoutte (1); 8. Ben Woods (8); 9. Rich Cerveny (9)
Heat three (started), 7 Laps, 2:08.9: 1. Ryan Giles (4); 2. Ryan Leavitt (2); 3. Kelby Watt (3); 4. Dusty Ballenger (1); 5. Joe Beaver (6); 6. Zeb Wise (5); 7. Rob Weuve (7); 8. Alex Hill (8)
Heat four (started), 7 Laps, 2:07.9: 1. Calvin Landis (4); 2. Lee Grosz (5); 3. Christian Bowman (3); 4. Matt Moro (6); 5. Josh Higday (1); 6. Casey Greubel (7); 7. Nathan Mills (8); 8. Rob Kubli (2)
B main (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Josh Higday (4); 2. Brad Comegys (2); 3. Rob Kubli (1); 4. Tom Lenz (5) / 5. Nathan Mills (12); 6. Casey Greubel (8); 7. Alex Hill (11); 8. Alan Zoutte (3); 9. Jon Hughes (9); 10. Frank Rodgers III (13); 11. Rich Cerveny (14); 12. Rob Weuve (7); 13. Ben Woods (10); 14. Jayce Jenkins (6)
A main (started), 18 Laps, NT: 1. Ryan Giles (1); 2. Jon Agan (3); 3. Lee Grosz (4); 4. Cory Eliason (8); 5. Jamie Ball (7); 6. Clint Garner (11); 7. Matt Moro (6); 8. Carson McCarl (2); 9. Calvin Landis (10); 10. Jack Dover (12); 11. Joe Beaver (5); 12. McKenna Haase (9); 13. Ryan Leavitt (17); 14. Zeb Wise (13); 15. Josh Higday (21); 16. Dusty Ballenger (20); 17. Kelby Watt (15); 18. Rob Kubli (23); 19. Robbie Price (19); 20. Brad Comegys (22); 21. Christian Bowman (16); 22. Tom Lenz (24); 23. Cody Wehrle (18); 24. Ryan Bickett (14). Lap Leader: Giles 1-18. Hard-charger: Garner.
Pro Series Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 26, Chase Young, Des Moines, IA (3), 17.833; 2. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Papillion, NE (11), 18.109; 3. 41, Jeff Wilke, Genoa, IL (5), 18.248; 4. 50, Mike Ayers, Waukee, IA (8), 18.303; 5. 21X, Devin Wignall, Altoona, IA (4), 18.397; 6. 14J, Mike Johnston, Des Moines, IA (6), 18.659; 7. 56, Chris Walraven, Knoxville, IA (9), 18.764; 8. 71, Brandon Worthington, Indianola, IA (7), 18.978; 9. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (2), 18.981; 10. 2, Matt Johnson, Melcher-Dallas, IA (1), 19.052; 11. 11, Tyler Barrick, Slater, IA (10), 21.467.
Heat one (started), 6 Laps, 1:56.4: 1. Jeff Wilke (3); 2. Brandon Worthington (7); 3. Mike Johnston (1); 4. Mike Ayers (2); 5. Chase Young (5); 6. Matthew Stelzer (4); 7. Devin Wignall (9); 8. Mike Mayberry (8); 9. Chris Walraven (6); 10. Tyler Barrick (10) DNS – Matt Johnson
A main (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Matthew Stelzer (4); 2. Devin Wignall (2); 3. Mike Johnston (5); 4. Mike Ayers (6); 5. Chase Young (7); 6. Jeff Wilke (8); 7. Chris Walraven (1); 8. Mike Mayberry (9); 9. Brandon Worthington (3); 10. Tyler Barrick (10) DNS – Matt Johnson. Lap Leader: Stelzer. Hard-charger: Stelzer.
Category: Iowa
