Two-lap shootout sees Richie Gustin win 2010 Harris Clash at Knoxville

A two-day rain delay didn’t dampen the competition at Knoxville Thursday night. I think it ranks up there as one of the best, and most competitive versions of the Harris Clash ever, topped off by a two-lap scramble for the win. Seventy modifieds towed into the Knoxville Raceway, and they were intent on racing.

The heat races may have seem some of the winners make easy runs, but the racing from second on back was intense. The top three cars in the six heats qualified for the A main, and the transfer spots were hotly contested. Heat race wins went to Jay Schmidt, Kyle Strickler, Jay Noteboom, Mark Elliott, Chris Abelson and Bill Davis, Jr. Strickler may not be a familiar name to some of you, and with good reason. He made the tow in from North Carolina to run the Clash, and was towing back home to race at his local track tomorrow night – talk about a road trip.

With 18 cars qualifying from the heats, three B mains were run, with four cars from each making the big show, for a total of 30 cars taking the green at feature time.

That feature saw Mark Elliott jump from outside the front row to take a convincing lead. Only two cautions slowed the event – one for debris with six laps complete, and one for an incident with two laps to go. The incident was a hard charging David Murray making contact with the turn one fence after jumping the cushion. His car came to a stop coming out of turn two, and that set up a two-lap shootout.

On the restart, Elliott’s car faltered, and the gates opened around him. Richie Gustin and Jordan Grabouski battled it out for the win, with Gustin taking the top spot ahead of Grabouski. Jeremy Mills was third, Josh Foster fourth and Johnny Saathoff fifth. Gustin started the feature in the 20^th spot after winning the second B main, so you’d have to say the track was very racy, and so was Gustin. Grabouski started seventh, Mills 17th, Foster 13^th and Saathoff 21^st. There was a lot to watch in this one!

It was definitely heart breaking for Elliott and his ailing car as he finished 15^th after dominating much of the race.

I’d like to thank Bob Harris for his hospitality, as he rolled out the red carpet for the Positively Racing team and we were treated to a great show. Be sure to check out the rest of the PR team blogs on this one. Hopefully you were there to see the race, if not, get 2011 on your schedule as the Harris Clash won’t disappoint.

Harris Clash Champ - Richie Gustin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the 2010 Harris Clash Thursday night at Knoxville. - BWJ photo

Winning car - Richie Gustin's 19G runs through turn one in the feature. - BWJ photo

Congratulations - Bob Harris greets Richie Gustin with congratulations, and the giant check, for winning this year's Harris Clash. - BWJ photo

Looking - Johnny Saathoff (96J) looks underneath Todd Shute (5). - BWJ photo

Side by side - Eric Dailey (7) and Jay Schmidt (19JS) race through the first turn. - BWJ photo

In turn one - Bill Davis, Jr. (1) and Cory Wray (69N) work to gain on Vern Jackson (64). -BWJ photo

Almost - Mark Elliott led 23 laps of the 25-lap main event. A restart with two laps to go saw his car falter and he ended with a 15th place finish. - BWJ photo

Feature action - Todd Inman (5) and Jordan Grabouski (30) race through turn one at the start of the main event. - BWJ photo