Saldana Takes WoO Prelim at Knoxville Summer Meet
By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA (June 23, 2006) - Joey Saldana drove the Kahne-Curb JEI to a convincing preliminary victory during the World of Outlaws (WoO) Knoxville Summer Meet at Knoxville Raceway Friday night. The win was Saldana's fourth win here and paid the Indiana driver $5,000 for his efforts.

The race went red right off the bat when 19th starter Tim Shaffer bicycled his car in turn one, lost the wing early and did a series of endos. The Knoxville Raceway rescue crew took considerable time extracting Shaffer from the wrecked sprinter. He was then transferred to Knoxville Area Community Hospital for observation. No news of his condition was known at press time.

When the race finally went green, Knoxville regular Billy Alley utilized his pole position start to roar into turn one with the lead as he successfully blocked Saldana in turn two to take the lead on lap one. A yellow for Craig Dollansky's stop on the track on the second lap brought the field of 24 to a single file alignment. Dollansky was unable to make repairs quickly enough to re-enter the race.

Alley again used a blocking maneuver on the restart and kept Saldana at bay. Alley ran the cushion while Saldana sprinted on the bottom. To mix lines around, Alley drove the bottom in three and four on several laps and held the lead when Daryn Pittman's right-rear tire exploded shortly after the leaders had completed lap eight. Pittman was able to restart on the tail.

With one lapped car between himself and Saldana, Alley was able to get a tremendous restart and lay claim to lap nine. The tenth go around would be Saldana's, however, as he made use of the low line around the half mile oval and exit turn four with the lead. It was close at the flag stand, but Saldana had the top spot, a position he would keep the rest of the way in this ten-mile sprint.

Once in the lead, Saldana began to pull away from the Alley machine. The final slow down of the event happened on lap thirteen when debris was spotted on the track.

Saldana again set sail when the race resumed. Alley tried a maneuver in turn two in an attempt to catch Saldan and block Donny Schatz. The move nearly cost him dearly as he jumped the cushion and came close to striking the turn two fence. This allowed Donny Schatz to get by him. The Lincoln, Nebraska youngster regrouped quickly but the damage was done and on the next circuit Brooke Tatnell made a pass of him too.

With the laps winding down, Saldana pulled out to a considerable advantage and was never seriously challenged. When he took the checkered flag he was 25 car-lengths ahead of second place finisher Schatz. Tatnell claimed third and Alley remained in fourth. Those four cars would be locked in to the feature event for Saturday night. Fifth went to Jason Solwold.

Rounding out the top ten on this preliminary night were Randy Hannagan, Danny Lasoski from a 23rd starting spot, Jac Haudenschild, Kerry Madsen who started just in front of Lasoski and Justin Henderson. Forthy-six 410 sprinters pulled through the pit gate on this night

In a companion 360 sprint program, Jake Peters showed his form of 2005 in leading the distance to capture the 15-lap feature event. It was Peters' sixth career win here.

Starting on the front row enabled Peters to jump to a quick lead over fellow front row starter Davey Heskin. Heskin stayed close in the opening laps but he could not match the skill of the defending track champion.

Peters had found a fast line around this historic fairgrounds oval which saw him run on the top in turns one and two and the bottom in turns three and four. That line enabled him to pull out to a near straight away lead by lap six.

A yellow flag flew on lap eight for a stopped car and when the race resumed Peters again was in command of the race. This time, however, he was chased by David Hall, the driver who started right behind him for the initial green. Hall could not keep pace with Peters either as the Sioux Falls driver continued to set a blistering pace. Also getting by Heskin was Troy Meyer who held down the third place spot.

With ten laps in the books, Peters had again built a substantial lead. And, that's the way it would finish when he took the checkers for the $1,750 win as Hall exited out of turn four. Meyer remained in third while Jeff Mitrisin drove all the way from a 12th place start to take fourth. Josh Higday, a B Main transfer who started 17th, finished fifth. Completing the top ten were John Kearney, Heskin, Johnny Anderson, Joe Beaver, an eighth row starter and John Schulz. Thirty-seven 360 sprinters competed on the night.


KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
June 23, 2006


410 RESULTS

Time Trials, 1 lap, 1. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA, 14.973; 2. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND, 15.074; 3. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH, 15.081; 4. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN, 15.124; 5. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN, 15.135; 6. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK, 15.149; 7. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.211; 8. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO, 15.215; 9. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 15.232; 10. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE, 15.24; 11. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN, 15.253; 12. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. , 15.253; 13. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA, 15.285; 14. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI, 15.29; 15. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD, 15.306; 16. Dion Hindi, Albuquerque NM, 15.307; 17. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA, 15.317; 18. Kevin Swindell, Germantown TN, 15.333; 19. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA, 15.334; 20. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 15.337; 21. Tyler Walker, Los Angeles CA, 15.341; 22. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA, 15.358; 23. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL, 15.36; 24. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA, 15.372; 25. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. , 15.39; 26. Jason Martin, Liberal KS, 15.403; 27. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA, 15.409; 28. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA, 15.432; 29. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA, 15.434; 30. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO, 15.467; 31. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA, 15.469; 32. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH, 15.48; 33. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA, 15.49; 34. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK, 15.522; 35. Bill Rose, Plainfield IN, 15.531; 36. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA, 15.536; 37. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD, 15.554; 38. Becca Anderson, Houston DE, 15.572; 39. Jerrel Slinkard, Melcher-Dallas IA, 15.58; 40. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA, 15.66; 41. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA, 15.667; 42. Randy Anderson, Clarion IA, 15.711; 43. Brian Carlson, Linden IN, 15.789; 44. Greg Jones, Earlham IA, 16.05; 45. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA, 16.227; 46. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA, 16.427;

Heat 1, 8 laps, 2:06.9: 1. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 2. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA; 3. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA; 4. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 5. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 6. Dion Hindi, Albuquerque NM; 7. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 8. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 9. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 10. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 11. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 12. (Car Number Not On File);

Heat 2, 8 laps, 2:07.0: 1. Kevin Swindell, Germantown TN; 2. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 3. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 5. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 6. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 7. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 8. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 9. Jason Martin, Liberal KS; 10. Becca Anderson, Houston DE; 11. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA;

Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 2. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 3. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 4. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 5. (Car Number Not On File); 6. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI; 7. Brian Carlson, Linden IN; 8. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 9. Bill Rose, Plainfield IN; 10. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA; 11. Jerrel Slinkard, Melcher-Dallas IA;

Heat 4, 8 laps, 2:08.4: 1. Tyler Walker, Los Angeles CA; 2. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 3. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 5. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 6. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 7. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA; 8. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 9. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA; 10. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 11. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA;

C Feature, 10 laps, 2:10.6: 1. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 2. Becca Anderson, Houston DE; 3. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA; 4. Tony Shilling, (R) Knoxville IA; 5. Greg Jones, Earlham IA; 6. Tyler Houseman, Runnells IA; 7. Brian Carlson, Linden IN;
Dash , 6 laps, 1:36.8: 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 2. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 4. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 5. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 6. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 7. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 8. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA; 9. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 10. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ;

B Feature , 12 laps, 3:20.8: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 2. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 3. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI; 5. Dion Hindi, Albuquerque NM; 6. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA; 7. Bronson Maeschen, (R) Knoxville IA; 8. Jason Martin, Liberal KS; 9. Jesse Giannetto, Palo IA; 10. Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines IA; 11. Becca Anderson, Houston DE; 12. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD; 13. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA; 14. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA; 15. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK; 16. Bill Rose, Plainfield IN; 17. Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville IA; 18. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA;

A Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN; 2. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND; 3. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust. ; 4. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE; 5. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA; 6. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN; 7. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO; 8. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH; 9. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 10. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD; 11. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD; 12. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO; 13. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI; 14. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH; 15. Kevin Swindell, Germantown TN; 16. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL; 17. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA; 18. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK; 19. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust. ; 20. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA; 21. Tyler Walker, Los Angeles CA; 22. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA; 23. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN; 24. Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa PA. Lap Leaders: Alley 1-9; Saldana 10-20


360 RESULTS

Heat 1, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 2. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Brett Golik, Newton IA; 4. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 5. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 6. Ryan Bickett, Ramona SD; 7. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls MN; 8. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 9. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 10. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN;

Heat 2, 7 laps, No Time: 1. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 2. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 3. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 4. Stevie Walsh, North Shore City, NI, NZ ; 5. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 6. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 7. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 8. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 9. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA;

Heat 3, 7 laps, 1:59.0: 1. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA; 2. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 3. John Schulz, West Burlington IA; 4. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 5. Mike Houseman, Norwalk IA; 6. Scott Winters, (R) Butterfield MN; 7. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 8. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 9. Tyler Thompson, (R) Cape Girardeau MO;

Heat 4, 7 laps, 1:57.9: 1. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 2. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 3. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 4. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 5. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 6. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 7. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 8. Dave Glennon, Casselton ND; 9. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN;

B Feature , 10 laps, 2:58.3: 1. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 2. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 3. Scott Winters, (R) Butterfield MN; 4. Stevie Walsh, North Shore City, NI, NZ ; 5. Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls SD; 6. Nate Mosher, Prairie City IA; 7. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 8. Dustin Selvage, Indianola IA; 9. Josh Schneiderman, (R) West Burlington IA; 10. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls MN; 11. Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines IA; 12. Pete Crall, DeSoto KS; 13. Alan Zoutte, Knoxville IA; 14. Dave Glennon, Casselton ND; 15. Tom Lenz, Marion IA; 16. John Anderson, (R) Des Moines IA; 17. Nate Van Haaften, Otley IA; 18. Danny Heskin, (R) St. Michael MN; 19. Jon Corbin, (R) Carrollton MO; 20. Dustin Lindquist, (R) Floodwood MN; 21. Tyler Thompson, (R) Cape Girardeau MO;

A Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls SD; 2. David Hall, Des Moines IA; 3. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls SD; 4. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa IA; 5. Josh Higday, Des Moines IA; 6. John Kearney, Valley Falls KS; 7. Davey Heskin, St. Michael MN; 8. Johnny Anderson, Indianola IA; 9. Joe Beaver, Knoxville IA; 10. John Schulz, West Burlington IA; 11. Brett Mather, Ames IA; 12. Frankie Heimbaugh, Des Moines IA; 13. Stacey Alexander, Lacona IA; 14. Eric Mason, Knoxville IA; 15. Tyler Thompson, (R) Des Moines IA; 16. Stevie Walsh, North Shore City, NI, NZ ; 17. Ryan Bickett, Ramona SD; 18. Scott Winters, (R) Butterfield MN; 19. Eric Vanderploeg, Altoona IA; 20. Brett Golik, Newton IA. Lap Leaders: Peters 1-15