Knoxville report 97-08-13

Mark Kinser Takes Amoco Knoxville Nationals Opener By Richard Day KNOXVILLE, IA (August 13) - Defending champion Mark Kinser picked up where he left off last year when the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series opened the 37th Annual Amoco Knoxville Nationals Wednesday. Kinser paced the qualifying session, finished second in the First Heat Race and led the final 13 laps to win the Preliminary Feature. It was an almost-perfect night for the 1996 Nationals champion, but he wasn't counting the $100,000 prize money yet. "We struggled a little bit in our heat race and came up a little short, but the Wirtgen car worked really good," Kinser said. "All of our sponsors were here, and we're really happy right now." Mark and his father, crew chief and car owner, Karl Kinser, had to be happy to receive their 25th Channellock Fast-Time Award of the year. World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year candidate Donny Schatz' 15.980-second lap was the fastest in the 84-car field until Kinser sliced .379 seconds off that near the end of the qualifying session. Although 1991 Amoco Knoxville Nationals runner-up Kenny Jacobs was only the 15th-fastest qualifier, he received the luxury of starting the 20-lap feature on the pole when Schatz, Skip Jackson, Rocky Hodges, Dean Jacobs, Todd Shaffer and Randy Kinser failed to qualify for the feature. Jacobs and fellow Ohioan Dave Blaney raced wheel-to-wheel down the front straightaway as flagman Doug Clark threw the green flag in the 20-lap race. Jacobs surged ahead in turn one, but was unable to build comfortable advantage as Blaney steered his #10 Vivarin J&J all over Knoxville Raceway's semi-banked, 1/2-mile oval trying to pass him. Sammy Swindell, the leader in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series point standings, passed Garry Brazier, Johnny Herrera and Frankie Kerr during the first two laps to take over third place. Kinser, who started outside the fourth row, raced into fourth place within 2 1/2 laps and passed Swindell the next time around. "The Buckeye Bullet" took the lead with a high move past Jacobs in the second corner as the leaders entered lapped traffic early in lap seven. Mark beat Jacobs down the back straightaway, and caught Blaney at the flagstand seconds later. Kinser steered the #5M Wirtgen Maxim deep into the first corner to pass Blaney for first place early in the eighth lap. "The Buckeye Bullet" got a good run out of turn two and won their back-straightaway drag race, only to have Kinser surge ahead again in the third corner. Blaney, who collected $100,000 for winning "The Historic Big One" four days before, battled Mark for the lead throughout the race's middle stages. Jacobs and Swindell exchanged third place during the 12th and 13th laps while Andy Hillenburg raced into sixth place from his fifth-row starting position Kinser was increasing his advantage when Jeff Shepard stopped against the outside guard rail in the fourth corner with five laps remaining. Blaney kept pace with Mark and Hillenburg drove his #2 STP J&J past Kerr as the green flag replaced the yellow. Although "The Buckeye Bullet" battled him all the way to the checkered flag, Kinser kept the #5M out front throughout the final five laps. When asked how he felt about maintaining the lead after the 15th-lap yellow, Kinser said, "I was pretty worried about Dave. He was pretty fast. I caught him and Sammy when lapped traffic worked our way earlier, but when we were back in the open I think Dave might have been faster than us. Those last five laps, we just let it all hang out." Swindell held off Jacobs for third place while Hillenburg finished fifth. Kerr passed Herrera for sixth place with three laps remaining. Completing the top 10 in the Preliminary Feature were 15th-starting Keith Kauffman, Brazier and Stevie Smith. Schatz, who hasn't been able to buy a break the last few weeks, was hoping to change his luck at the Nationals. His luck remained sour, however. He was running second in the Second Heat Race when the right front wheel on the #15 Blue Beacon Gambler broke, sending him into the outside retaining wall between three and four. Although Donny was uninjured in the crash, he and his crew were unable to get the car ready for the "C" Feature. WoO 1997 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series 37th Annual Amoco Knoxville Nationals Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, IA Wednesday, August 13, Preliminary Program #1 Qualifications: 1. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 15.601; 2. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 15.980; 3. Skip Jackson, Hallet Enterprises 55, 16.012; 4. Tyler Walker, Walker 35, 16.039; 5. Sammy Swindell, Swindell 1, 16.064; 6. Garry Brazier, Brazier 1AU, 16.070; 7. Johnny Herrera, Sonner 47, 16.143; 8. Rocky Hodges, Holbrook 18H, 16.186; 9. Frankie Kerr, Shoff 23S, 16.295; 10. Dean Jacobs, Jacobs 1F, 16.311; 11. Joey Saldana, Gray 51, 16.318; 12. Todd Shaffer, Beam 88, 16.320; 13. Dave Blaney, Blaney/Hylton 10, 16.335; 14. Randy Kinser, Kinser 14, 16.354; 15. Kenny Jacobs, Ashworth 92, 16.379; 16. Andy Hillenburg, Hillenburg 2, 16.392; 17. Calvin Landis, Landis 70, 16.427; 18. Jeff Shepard, Stewart 4J, 16.427; 19. Mike Peters, Williams 0C, 16.479; 20. Tim Shaffer, J&M Motorsports 55J, 16.485; 21. Brooke Tatnell, RE Technology 7K, 16.496; 22. Brent Antill, Jordan Brothers 1B, 16.549; 23. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 16.566; 24. Kelly Kinser, Kinser 4K, 16.626; 25. Danny Smith, Smith 4, 16.651; 26. Bob Weuve, McCroskey 19W, 16.657; 27. Travis Whitney, Whitney 7S, 16.659; 28. Len Thompson, Thompson 10T, 16.675; 29. Tommie Estes, Jr., Threatt 29, 16.684; 30. Keith Kauffman, Johnson U2, 16.696; 31. Larry Neighbors, Neighbors 29N, 16.706; 32. Ryan Jamison, Jamison 51J, 16.795; 33. Billy Pauch, Zemaitis 1P, 16.833; 34. Tim Engler, Engler 73, 16.854; 35. Chris Walraven, Beahlers 56, 16.891; 36. Brent Kaeding, M&M Racing 12M, 16.900; 37. Dan Oswalt, Oswalt D1, 16.915; 38. Shane Carson, Helms 12$, 16.967; 39. Steve Coelho, Coelho 6C, 16.979; 40. Mark Smyser, Smyser 69, 16.983; 41. John Bankston, Bankston 8J, 16.983; 42. Bobby Allen, Allen 1a, 17.042; 43. Daniel Coggeshell, Coggeshell 3, 17.052; 44. Bob Adamson, Adamson 2B, 17.076; 45. Scott Whitworth, Whitworth 96, 17.103; 46. Jake Peters, P&D Racing 57P, 17.130; 47. Matt Moro, Moro 2M, 17.153; 48. Danny Wood, Bankston 8N, 17.158; 49. Joe Roe, Roe 61, 17.216; 50. Billy Veilhauer, Veilhauer 12x, 17.226; 51. Shane Stewart, Stewart 9S, 17.239; 52. Pat Bourke, B&B Excavating 27P, 17.260; 53. John Kearney, Kearney 86, 17.267; 54. Troy Parsons, Parsons 57C, 17.295; 55. Doran Doty, Morris 36, 17.301; 56. Judi Bates, Mourar 121, 17.305; 57. Brett Golik, Golik 5G, 17.343; 58. Ronald Laney, Laney 52, 17.370; 59. Greg Wilson, Lotz 7C, 17.386; 60. Tommy Scott, Scott 4S, 17.420; 61. Kevin Doty, Dereau 50, 17.518; 62. Tim Baker, Vandenheem 29V, 17.520; 63. Randy Hibbs, Hibbs 2A, 17.559; 64. Brad Furr, Furr 2F, 17.594; 65. Chadd Smith, Smith 17, 17.621; 66. John Hall, Hustler Racing 7H, 17.673; 67. Jason Statler, Statler/Rios 00J, 17.698; 68. Terry Reilly, Julius 69R, 17.704; 69. Pat Moore, Moore 2x, 17.776; 70. Kevin Frey, Trostle 20, 17.830; 71. David Fowler, Owens/Fowler 24, 17.832; 72. Trevor Green, Two Winners 4TW, 17.872; 73. Seth Brahmer, R&R Racing 26, 17.901; 74. Mallory Armfield, Armfield 5MA, 17.937; 75. Nick LoSasso, LoSasso 51x, 17.953; 76. Matt Wasmund, Wasmund 4W, 18.002; 77. John Lambertz, Lambertz 12L, 18.163; 78. Justin Henderson, Henderson 83JR, 18.163; 79. Lou Kennedy, Jr., Kennedy 21K, 18.234; 80. Ken Ratchford, Ratchford 5R, 18.273; 81. Steve Ballenger, Ballenger 1K, 18.322; 82. Tom Lenz, Lenz 8L, 18.558; 83. Keith Dempsey, Dempsey 9D, 20.913; 84. Jeff Rice, Rice 55R, 20.479. Last-Chance Race #1 (eight laps): 1. John Kearney ($50); 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Doran Doty, 4. Pat Moore, 5. Brett Golik ($100); 6. John Lambertz ($75); 7. Greg Wilson ($50); 8. Chadd Smith ($45); 9. Seth Brahmer ($40); 10. Steve Ballenger ($35); 11. Nick LoSasso ($30); 12. Jeff Rice ($25); 13. Randy Hibbs ($25); 14. Lou Kennedy, Jr. ($25); 15. David Fowler ($25); 16. Jason Statler ($25); 17. Kevin Doty ($25). (first four qualified for the "C" Feature) Last-Chance Race #2 (eight laps): 1. Ronald Laney, 2. Pat Bourke, 3. Troy Parsons, 4. Brad Furr, 5. Trevor Green ($100); 6. Tommy Scott ($75); 7. Matt Wasmund ($50); 8. Tim Baker ($45); 9. Justin Henderson ($40); 10. Kevin Frey ($35); 11. Tom Lenz ($30); 12. John Hall ($25); 13. Mallory Armfield ($25); 14. Judi Bates ($25); 15. Ken Ratchford ($25); 16. Keith Dempsey ($25). DNS - Terry Reilly. (first four qualified for the "C" Feature) First Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Andy Hillenburg, 2. Mark Kinser, 3. Jake Peters, 4. Garry Brazier, 5. Brooke Tatnell, 6. Brent Kaeding, 7. Joey Saldana, 8. Bob Weuve, 9. Mark Smyser, 10. Larry Neighbors ($50). 3:03.7 (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature) Second Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Johnny Herrera, 2. Brent Antill, 3. Matt Moro, 4. Calvin Landis, 5. Bobby Allen, 6. Travis Whitney, 7. Ryan Jamison, 8. Todd Shaffer, 9. Donny Schatz ($50); 10. Dan Oswalt. 3:05.0 (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature) Third Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Stevie Smith, 2. Dave Blaney, 3. Billy Pauch, 4. Jeff Shepard, 5. Daniel Coggeshell, 6. Danny Wood, 7. Skip Jackson, 8. Rocky Hodges, 9. Len Thompson, 10. Shane Carson. 3:03.9 (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature) Fourth Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Tyler Walker, 2. Joe Roe, 3. Tim Engler, 4. Frankie Kerr, 5. Steve Coelho, 6. Randy Kinser, 7. Bob Adamson, 8. Kelly Kinser, 9. Tommie Estes, Jr., 10. Mike Peters. (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature) Fifth Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Sammy Swindell, 2. Kenny Jacobs, 3. Keith Kauffman, 4. Danny Smith, 5. Dean Jacobs, 6. Tim Shaffer, 7. Chris Walraven, 8. Billy Veilhauer, 9. John Bankston, 10. Scott Whitworth. (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature) C Feature (eight laps): 1. Mike Peters, 2. Scott Whitworth, 3. Tommie Estes, Jr. ($250); 4. John Bankston ($225); 5. Shane Stewart ($250); 6. Len Thompson ($190); 7. Mark Smyser ($180); 8. Shane Carson ($170); 9. Pat Moore ($160); 10. Troy Parsons ($160); 11. Brad Furr ($140); 12. Doran Doty ($130); 13. Pat Bourke ($120); 14. Ronald Laney ($110); 15. Dan Oswalt ($100). DNS - Donny Schatz, Larry Neighbors, John Kearney. (first two qualified for the "B" Feature) B Feature (12 laps): 1. Joey Saldana, 2. Brooke Tatnell, 3. Dean Jacobs ($570); 4. Skip Jackson ($450); 5. Brent Kaeding ($410); 6. Kelly Kinser ($350); 7. Bob Weuve ($300); 8. Randy Kinser ($285); 9. Travis Whitney ($260); 10. Tim Shaffer ($235); 11. Steve Coelho ($220); 12. Todd Shaffer ($190); 13. Mike Peters ($1,100); 14. Chris Walraven ($175); 15. Scott Whitworth ($320); 16. Daniel Coggeshell ($185); 17. Danny Wood ($170); 18. Rocky Hodges ($155); 19. Billy Veilhauer ($150); 20. Bobby Allen ($165); 21. Bob Adamson ($140); 22. Ryan Jamison ($135). (first two qualified for the Preliminary Feature) Preliminary Feature (20 laps): 1. Mark Kinser ($6,100); 2. Dave Blaney ($4,100); 3. Sammy Swindell ($3,625); 4. Kenny Jacobs ($2,600); 5. Andy Hillenburg ($2,125); 6. Frankie Kerr ($1,830); 7. Johnny Herrera ($1,625); 8. Keith Kauffman ($1,490); 9. Garry Brazier ($1,380); 10. Stevie Smith ($1,325); 11. Danny Smith ($1,180); 12. Billy Pauch ($1,090); 13. Brent Antill ($1,000); 14. Jeff Shepard ($880); 15. Tyler Walker ($825); 16. Calvin Landis ($680); 17. Joey Saldana ($625); 18. Joe Roe ($500); 19. Tim Engler ($465); 20. Brooke Tatnell ($620); 21. Matt Moro ($415); 22. Jake Peters ($390). Lap leaders: Kenny Jacobs 1-6, Dave Blaney 7, Mark Kinser 8-20 Channellock Fast-Time Award winner: Mark Kinser WoO