Gharst Holds Off Lasoski to Take First Knoxville Win
By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, Ia - (May 13, 2006) - Kaley Gharst, The 2005 Knoxville Rookie of the Year, The 2005 Knoxville Nationals Rookie. Kaley Gharst from Decatur, Illinois held off Danny Lasoski, the all-time leading feature event winner at Knoxville Raceway, and captured his first feature event win at this storied Central Iowa fairgrounds.

On a night that featured unseasonably cold weather, Gharst out-dueled fellow front row starter Mike Moore to take the first lap of the 20-lap feature race. A quick yellow just after the completion of lap three for a stopped car on the track bunched the field of 24 sprinters and slowed the otherwise blistering pace.

When the race resumed, Gharst held the point as 2005 Knoxville points champion Kerry Madsen gave chase around the big half mile oval. Through the next several laps Madsen was pestered by fellow Aussie Skip Jackson. While those two ran the bottom of the track Gharst led them from a line following the cushion.

By the ninth circuit Madsen had also moved to the cushion as one lap later Jackson surprised everyone by diving into his low line in turns one and two and temporarily taking the lead. When Jackson and Gharst came flying by the flag stand on that tenth lap, it was Gharst in the lead by inches. The following lap was much the same as neither drive was willing to change lines to find an advantage.

With half the race in the books, Gharst kept his father's Maxim on the cushion and let the Ott engine power the car away from the two chasing Aussies. Lap twelve saw him enter into heavy lap traffic but he maneuvered masterfully and in fact extended his lead. Three laps later he could count a twelve car advantage between himself and Jackson.

Behind them Madsen had his hands full with Lasoski, who had passed the Sydneysider only to get re-passed on the next go around. The Madsen-Lasoski battle was a classic to watch but it all came to an end on lap 17 when Madsen slowed and dropped from the race with mechanical ills. One lap later all hell broke loose on the backstretch when second running Jackson seemed to loose control of his sprinter while working his way uncharacteristically on the high side in lap traffic. Jackson struck the fence and barrel rolled several times bringing the race to a halt.

With the restart scheduled to go green/white/checkered, all Gharst had to do is hold off second running Lasoski. And that is what he did when the single-file field restarted, but that was all negated when Tim St. Arnold stopped on the track. The new 2006 rule added over the winter then came into effect. That rule states that additional restarts will be started on the white flag and checkered the next time by the flag stand.

And so, the final restart saw Gharst once again hold off Lasoski in the final half mile to sail past the finish line by a mere two car-length and a $3,000 win. Trailing "the Dude" was his nephew Brian Brown. Fourth went to Jesse Giannetto, fifth was taken by Lynton Jeffrey and sixth went to B-Main winner Billy Alley who started twenty-first. Completing the top ten were Matt Moro, Mike Reinke, Ryan Anderson and Clint Garner who started right behind Alley.

In the companion 360 division, John Kearney picked up his milestone 20th feature event win. Kearney powered the K & R Racing Maxim/Wesmar to an 8-10 car-length win over a field of 20 qualifiers.

Though Kearney's name will appear in the win column, it was Jake Peters, the 2005 track champion in this division who provided the fireworks. Peters took the lead on lap one and simply ran away from the rest of the field. By lap five he had already developed a lead of nearly the entire front chute. He was so quick on this night that he had come upon lap traffic during the seventh go around.

Lap 10 found Peters coming into very heavy lap traffic and he was able to clear those cars with ease. It was the 13th circuit which saw the undoing of the current points leader as a broken rear axle caused the powerful sprinter to tumble hard into turn number one. Few people saw the mishap as most were watching a fierce battle taking place between Kearney and Jeff Mitrisin. Peters exited the event and his "wadded up" sprinter seemingly unhurt.

On the restart Kearney was able to get by Mitrisin in turn four as he rode the cushion past the low-running leader and roared down the front chute. In the end he picked up the $1,250 pay check as Mitrisin had to settle for second. Johnny Anderson, Stacey Alexander and Joe Beaver formed the top five finishers. Josh Higday, Dustin Linquist from 18th, John Schulz, Nate Mosher and Frankie Heimbaugh completed the top ten finishers.

A total of fifty-one 410s and forty-two 360s crowded the pits on this annual Interstate Racing Association (IRA) vs Knoxville 410 Shootout.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
May 13, 2006
410 RESULTS

Time Trial: 1. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK, 14.878; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 14.926; 3. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 14.988; 4. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.116; 5. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.139; 6. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA, 15.178; 7. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.239; 8. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 15.374; 9. Jerrel Slinkard, Melcher-Dallas IA, 15.377; 10. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD, 15.383; 11. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.39; 12. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.408; 13. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA, 15.424; 14. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA, 15.428; 15. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN, 15.44; 16. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD, 15.499; 17. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA, 15.51; 18. John Sernett, Prior Lake MN, 15.543; 19. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI, 15.545; 20. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, 15.587; 21. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.606; 22. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA, 15.654; 23. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA, 15.7; 24. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA, 15.736; 25. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA, 15.736; 26. Scott Young, Union Grove WI, 15.775; 27. Tim Sernett, Burnsville MN, 15.785; 28. Mike Stefka, Racine WI, 15.795; 29. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI, 15.808; 30. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI, 15.818; 31. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI, 15.822; 32. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI, 15.835; 33. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA, 15.92; 34. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI, 15.934; 35. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. , 15.945; 36. Ryan Irwin, McHenry IL, 15.964; 37. Donny Goeden, Kewaskum WI, 16.037; 38. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI, 16.061; 39. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA, 16.09; 40. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI, 16.123; 41. Dave Saffell, (R) Pleasantville IA, 16.193; 42. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington MN, 16.235; 43. Greg Jones, Earlham IA, 16.287; 44. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI, 16.361; 45. Andy Hunt, Randolph WI, 16.45; 46. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA, 16.536; 47. Howie Gleason, East Troy WI, 17.307; 48. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI, 17.88; 49. Alex Bliesner, Adell WI, 18.18; 50. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI, No Time; 51. Ty Bartz, Howards Grove WI, No Time;

Heat 1, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 2. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 3. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 4. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 5. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 6. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI; 7. Ryan Irwin, McHenry IL; 8. Dave Saffell, (R) Pleasantville IA; 9. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA; 10. Scott Young, Union Grove WI;

Heat 2, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 3. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 5. (Car Number Not On File); 6. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI; 7. Tim Sernett, Burnsville MN; 8. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington MN; 9. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA;

Heat 3, 8 laps, 2:04.5: 1. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 2. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA; 3. Mike Stefka, Racine WI; 4. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI; 5. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 6. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 7. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI; 8. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 9. John Sernett, Prior Lake MN; 10. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA;

Heat 4, 8 laps,2:06.2: 1. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 2. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI; 3. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 4. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI; 5. Jerrel Slinkard, Melcher-Dallas IA; 6. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI; 7. Alex Bliesner, Adell WI; 8. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI; 9. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 10. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE;

Heat 5, 8 laps, 2:07.0: 1. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 2. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 3. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 4. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI; 5. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 6. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. ; 7. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN; 8. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI; 9. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI; 10. Andy Hunt, Randolph WI;

C Feature , 8 laps, 2:46.1: 1. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 2. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI; 3. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI; 4. Dave Saffell, (R) Pleasantville IA; 5. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA; 6. Scott Uttech, New Berlin WI; 7. Andy Hunt, Randolph WI; 8. Alex Bliesner, Adell WI; 9. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek WI;

B Feature , 12 laps, No Time: 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 2. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 5. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 6. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN; 7. Jerrel Slinkard, Melcher-Dallas IA; 8. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls WI; 9. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust. ; 10. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA; 11. Tim Sernett, Burnsville MN; 12. John Sernett, Prior Lake MN; 13. Dave Uttech, Kenosha WI; 14. Scott Biertzer, West Bend WI; 15. KJ Skelton, Cascade WI; 16. Ryan Irwin, McHenry IL; 17. Todd King, Sheboygan Falls WI; 18. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA;

A Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 3. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 4. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 5. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 6. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 7. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 8. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove WI; 9. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 10. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 11. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 12. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI; 13. Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam WI; 14. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 15. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 16. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA; 17. Bill Warren, Beaver Dam WI; 18. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 19. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 20. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 21. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 22. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 23. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA; 24. Mike Stefka, Racine WI.



360 RESULTS

Heat 1, 7 laps, 1:59.2: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 2. Rick Ideus, (R) Silver City IA; 3. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 4. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 5. Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville IA; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 8. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 9. Tyler Thompson, (R) Cape Girardeau MO; 10. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 11. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA;

Heat 2, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Tim Newman, Cameron MO; 2. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 4. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 6. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 7. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN; 8. Eric Schrock, Lake Ozark MO; 9. David Langford, (R) Kearney MO; 10. Rod Richards, Runnells IA; 11. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO;

Heat 3, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 2. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 3. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 4. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 5. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 6. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 7. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 8. Jerry Crabb, Chariton IA; 9. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 10. Dale McCarty, Eldorado Springs MO;

Heat 4, 7 laps, 1:52.9: 1. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 2. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 3. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 4. John Schulz, West Burlington IA; 5. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 6. Randy Martin, California MO; 7. Stevie Walsh, North Shore City, NI, NZ ; 8. Alan Gilbertson, Kasson MN; 9. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 10. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO;

C Feature , 7 laps, No Time: 1. Alan Gilbertson, Kasson MN; 2. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 3. David Langford, (R) Kearney MO; 4. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 5. Dr. Christopher Sloan, Imperial MO; 6. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 7. Dale McCarty, Eldorado Springs MO; 8. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 9. Rod Richards, Runnells IA;

B Feature , 10 laps, 2:47.1: 1. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 2. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 4. Randy Martin, California MO; 5. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 6. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 7. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 8. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 9. Stevie Walsh, North Shore City, NI, NZ ; 10. Terry Alexander, Knoxville IA; 11. Alan Gilbertson, Kasson MN; 12. Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville IA; 13. Eric Schrock, Lake Ozark MO; 14. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 15. Jerry Crabb, Chariton IA; 16. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 17. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN; 18. Tyler Thompson, (R) Cape Girardeau MO;

A Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 2. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 3. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 4. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 5. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 6. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 7. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 8. John Schulz, West Burlington IA; 9. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 10. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 11. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 12. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 13. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 14. Rick Ideus, (R) Silver City IA; 15. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 16. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 17. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 18. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 19. Tim Newman, Cameron MO; 20. Randy Martin, California MO.

Lap Leaders: Peters 1-12; Kearney 13-15