Tim Kaeding Takes Knoxville Nationals by Storm on Night 2

Tim Kaeding wins at Knoxville

Outlaw Jason Johnson takes the night in points standings

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Aug. 11, 2016 – Night two of the 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores was more than a race to the finish on the A-Main; it was a race in time to beat the impending storms. And Tim Kaeding nailed it. “King of California” Kaeding took to Victory Lane just before severe thunderstorms storms descended on Knoxville.

“I’ve got to give this one to B.C.,” said Kaeding, dedicating his win to Bryan Clauson. “Here’s another one towards your 200. I grew up racing with his Dad. Just a great family and a hell of a racecar driver.” It was an emotional night with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leading the field under parade laps driving Bryan Clauson’s 17W.

Thursday’s 25-lap A-Main is Kaeding’s third career Knoxville Nationals preliminary feature. “It’s so unbelievable,” said Kaeding. “We’ve struggled so bad here at Knoxville the last few years, especially in this 3[K] car. We had a win taken away last year, because we had a muffler that was tampered with more than anything. You know, we’ve been fast. We just haven’t been as fast as we need to be, so for us to be able to come out tonight and win prelim night at Knoxville is a feat within itself.”

With 20 World of Outlaws Craftsman@ Sprint Car Series victories under his belt, Kaeding charged from fourth position to second at the wave of the green, tailing Dale Blaney and finally passing him in Lap 8.

A later caution for Justin Henderson, then in third, cleared the field for Outlaw Jason Johnson and last year’s Knoxville Nationals Night 2 winner Terry McCarl to pass Blaney and duke it out for second in the final laps. McCarl managed to take it for a moment in Lap 22, but couldn’t hold it, and Johnson shot forward, looking to Kaeding just a little too late.
Coming out of Heat 1, where McCarl scored the fourth spot, the Price Chopper No. 7x had a quick engine change. “We were kind of in a hurry there, and I didn’t get the car set up exactly the way I wanted to,”said McCarl. “I think we can definitely be a lot better come Saturday night.”
Meanwhile, it was a good night for the Outlaws in Time Trials with Brad Sweet making quicktime at 15.465 seconds (and winning the Last Chance Showdown), followed by Outlaws Joey Saldana and David Gravel, former Outlaw Kerry Madsen, and Outlaw Jason Johnson, who later scored his second place spot in the A-Main.
“It’s great confidence for my race team,” said Johnson. “To be part of the World of Outlaws category you’ve got to defend your territory. Obviously we wanted to win, but I felt like we had a really good run.”
Two Outlaws will lead the field to green on Saturday night, Daryn Pittman and Jason Johnson.
Going into Friday’s 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals, Daryn Pittman holds the lead in points standings with 485 points. Jason Johnson holds a close second with 481, followed by Kerry Madsen at 479, and Jamie Veal at 477. Donny Schatz and Chad Kemenah are tied for the fifth spot at 476.
The 56th 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores continues tomorrow night. To learn more or buy tickets, visit www.woosprint.com/knoxville-nationals.

2016 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals Night 2 Notebook:

RACE NOTES: Tim Kaeding took the lead on lap eight from Dale Blaney and never looked back to earn the win on qualifying night two of the 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. It was an emotional night with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leading the field under parade laps driving Bryan Clauson’s 17W. Jason Johnson finished second, with Terry McCarl rebounding from an engine change after his heat to finish third.

A Main – 1. Tim Kaeding (4); 2. Jason Johnson (7); 3. Terry McCarl (6); 4. Kerry Madsen (8); 5. Dale Blaney (1); 6. Brent Marks (11); 7. James McFadden (5); 8. Brad Sweet (21); 9. Mark Dobmeier (9); 10. Cap Henry (16); 11. David Gravel (22); 12. Jac Haudenschild (12); 13. Bill Balog (10); 14. Kyle Larson (23); 15. Dustin Selvage (13); 16. Brooke Tatnell (3); 17. Gary Taylor (24); 18. Clint Garner (17); 19. Chris Martin (18); 20. Jason Solwold (20); 21. Ryan Bunton (15); 22. Justin Henderson (2); 23. Rager Phillips (14); 24. RJ Johnson (19)

Qualifying – 1. 49, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA (3), 15.465; 2. 83, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN (56), 15.52; 3. 5, David Gravel, Watertown, CT (9), 15.527; 4. 1AUS, Kerry Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust (30), 15.541; 5. 41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA (54), 15.595; 6. 1ST, Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA (2), 15.626; 7. 57, Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA (21), 15.654; 8. 77X, Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN (26), 15.656; 9. 23C, Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN (1), 15.676; 10. 1Z, Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, PA (29), 15.678; 11. 7X, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (46), 15.68; 12. 3H, James McFadden, Ormeau, QLD, Aust. (59), 15.686; 13. 3K, Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA (28), 15.693; 14. 99, Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK (33), 15.695; 15. 55, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aus (19), 15.705; 16. 11K, Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN (7), 15.715; 17. 71M, Dave Blaney, Concord, NC (39), 15.729; 18. 55L, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX (24), 15.74; 19. 2, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (31), 15.749; 20. 51S, Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, OK (23), 15.763; 21. 1D, Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD (11), 15.771; 22. 1H, Dale Blaney, Hartford, OH (25), 15.799; 23. 15H, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX (43), 15.8; 24. 13JT, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (48), 15.8; 25. 17B, Bill Balog, Hartland, WI (38), 15.811; 26. 1XX, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (45), 15.811; 27. 23S, Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA (12), 15.831; 28. 19M, Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA (51), 15.841; 29. 22, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH (44), 15.853; 30. 7D, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (8), 15.857; 31. 10V, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (5), 15.87; 32. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (27), 15.873; 33. 21H, Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH (17), 15.877; 34. 1A, Jacob Allen, Hanover, PA (10), 15.916; 35. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (47), 15.944; 36. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (41), 15.957; 37. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (15), 15.979; 38. 71A, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (37), 15.985; 39. 18JS, Jason Solwold, Mount Vernon, WA (50), 15.991; 40. 7M, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (18), 16.043; 41. 88N, DJ Netto, Hanford, CA (34), 16.08; 42. W20, Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH (42), 16.114; 43. 20N, Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO (16), 16.135; 44. 00, Dane Lorenc, Lancaster, NY (4), 16.151; 45. 5H, Cory Eliason, Selma, CA (22), 16.176; 46. 5R, Byron Reed, Monclova, OH (35), 16.193; 47. 49X, Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA (52), 16.227; 48. 7J, Joe Swanson, Etna Green, IN (20), 16.28; 49. 3, Billy Alley, Bennet, NE (58), 16.304; 50. 31B, Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA (53), 16.332; 51. 21T, Ray Allen Kulhanek, Magnolia, TX (36), 16.352; 52. 13V, Seth Brahmer, Norfolk, NE (14), 16.395; 53. 28AM, Brian Paulus, Mooresville, IN (40), 16.427; 54. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (55), 16.435; 55. 23, Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA (57), 16.442; 56. 4K, Kody Kinser, Bloomington, IN (32), 16.487; 57. 13, Clyde Knipp, California, MO (60), 16.743; 58. 83C, Adam Cruea, Troy, OH (6), 16.757; 59. 15B, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (49), 16.849; 60. 71B, Robert Bell, Colfax, IA (13), 17.37

Heat 1 – 1. Rager Phillips (2); 2. Clint Garner (1); 3. Justin Henderson (4); 4. Terry McCarl (6); 5. Brad Sweet (8); 6. Don Droud Jr. (3); 7. Gary Taylor (7); 8. Kraig Kinser (5); 9. DJ Netto (9); 10. Byron Reed (10)

Heat 2 – 1. Ryan Bunton (2); 2. Dale Blaney (4); 3. Chris Martin (1); 4. James McFadden (6); 5. Dave Blaney (5); 6. Joey Saldana (8); 7. Kyle Larson (7); 8. Trey Starks (3); 9. Tim Shaffer (10); 10. Greg Wilson (9)

Heat 3 – 1. Brent Marks (3); 2. RJ Johnson (1); 3. Tim Kaeding (6); 4. Cap Henry (2); 5. David Gravel (8); 6. Aaron Reutzel (5); 7. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4); 8. Parker Price-Miller (7); 9. Joe Swanson (10); 10. Hunter Schuerenberg (9)

Heat 4 – 1. Jac Haudenschild (3); 2. Jason Solwold (1); 3. Mark Dobmeier (4); 4. Kerry Madsen (8); 5. Danny Lasoski (5); 6. Jacob Allen (2); 7. Brady Bacon (6); 8. Tyler Courtney (7); 9. Billy Alley (10); 10. Dane Lorenc (9)

Heat 5 – 1. Brooke Tatnell (6); 2. Bill Balog (4); 3. Dustin Selvage (3); 4. Jason Johnson (8); 5. Lucas Wolfe (7); 6. Kaley Gharst (1); 7. Stevie Smith (5); 8. Cory Eliason (9); 9. Jon Agan (2); 10. Shane Golobic (10)

C Main – 1. Jon Agan (1); 2. Tim Shaffer (7); 3. Greg Wilson (3); 4. DJ Netto (2); 5. Byron Reed (6); 6. Shane Golobic (10); 7. Brian Paulus (13); 8. Kody Kinser (16); 9. Seth Brahmer (12); 10. Bob Weuve (14); 11. Joe Swanson (8); 12. Bobby Mincer (19); 13. Clyde Knipp (17); 14. Jimmy Light (15); 15. Adam Cruea (18); 16. Hunter Schuerenberg (4); 17. Dane Lorenc (5); 18. Billy Alley (9); 19. Ray Allen Kulhanek (11); 20. Robert Bell (20)

Last Chance Showdown – 1. Brad Sweet (1); 2. David Gravel (3); 3. Kyle Larson (5); 4. Gary Taylor (4); 5. Danny Lasoski (13); 6. Joey Saldana (2); 7. Stevie Smith (14); 8. Tyler Courtney (7); 9. Aaron Reutzel (12); 10. Parker Price-Miller (6); 11. Trey Starks (17); 12. Jacob Allen (18); 13. Dave Blaney (11); 14. Tim Shaffer (22); 15. Greg Wilson (23); 16. Kraig Kinser (10); 17. Cory Eliason (20); 18. Kaley Gharst (19); 19. Brady Bacon (9); 20. DJ Netto (24); 21. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15); 22. Lucas Wolfe (8); 23. Don Droud Jr. (16); 24. Jon Agan (21)

The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Bad Boy Off Road (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, MSD, Penske Shocks, and Superflow Dynos; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.

Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, N.C., is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

Circular Insanity Tour Comes to the Louie Vermeil Classic in September

Louie Vermeil Classic 2016

Indy 500 Vet Clauson, USAC Champions Bacon and Ballou Headline Entries

by: Troy Hennig

ROSEVILLE, CA – (August 2, 2016)…Three-time Indy 500 veteran and two-time USAC National Sprint Car Champion Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, IN, leads an impressive list of sprint car drivers into the upcoming 9th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga Speedway.
On top of the local drivers, numerous USAC driving Sprint Car champions will be on hand trying to capture the $6500 in prize money offered to each night’s main event winner.

The 9th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic is scheduled to take place September 3rd and 4th at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Calistoga. The scenic half-mile dirt oval race track will also host the Honda USAC Western Midget Series along with the Amsoil USAC/CRA sprint cars. The Midget main events will pay each night’s winner a staggering $10,000.

Clauson, originally from nearby Carmichael, CA, is in the midst of his “Chasing 200 Circular Insanity Tour.” Clauson is trying to become the first driver to enter 200 racing events in one calendar year. As of this press release, Clauson has competed in 113 races. He currently has 26 wins, 51 top five and 71 top ten feature finishes. During this season Clauson has raced a diverse line-up of open wheel vehicles including the Dale Coyne/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing No. 88 at this year’s 100th running of the INDY 500, wing Sprint Car, non-winged Sprint Car, Midget, and Silver Crown divisions. During his “Circular Insanity” Clauson has competed at 53 different racetracks throughout 15 states as well as New Zealand.

Current USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car leader Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK is scheduled to compete at the Louie Vermeil Classic. Bacon, the 2014 USAC National Sprint Car Champion, is also in the midst of a long season. By the time Bacon sets foot in Calistoga he will have competed in over 80 events.

The Madman Robert Ballou is booked for both nights of racing at the Louie Vermeil Classic. The 2015 USAC National Sprint Car Champion is currently residing in Indiana but grew up in Rocklin, CA and is still beloved by the locals who only get to see him race at Calistoga.

Other top notch sprint car drivers scheduled to appear include Minden, Nevada Tanner Thorson driving the famed Clyde and Marian Lamar #3c, defending Louie Vermeil Sunday night winner Ryan Bernal of Hollister, CA, and the 2015 King of the West Sprint Car Champion Carson Macedo of Lemoore, CA driving the Tarlton Racing #21t.

Along with a stellar line up of Amsoil USAC/CRA southern California regulars Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd currently holds a six point lead over Anaheim’s Jake Swanson and a seven point cushion over Concord’s Damion Gardner. Expect these top three along with Temecula’s Mike Spencer and Yorba Linda’s Austin, Cody and Logan Williams. In all, nearly 30 sprint car drivers are expected to compete during the Labor Day weekend of races.

For Tickets and information on the Louie Vermeil Classic please call 916-773-7223.

Check out this video about the Louie Vermeil Classic.