Getting back as the season starts to heat up - I'm still thinking about the Knoxville Nationals

I have been away from this a little too long. A combination of nature, back-to-school and laziness has occupied my time, but the season is starting to run down, and there are a lot of big shows to go – I think I’m ready.

Last year lightning slowed me down as it blasted my old computer into oblivion. This year, the element of choice was flood, not at my house, but at my parents. I spent some time during Nationals week and the week after at the old homestead helping them dry out, and throw out. A large part of my archives still exist at their house, and fortunately, I didn’t lose much in the foot of rain water in their basement. Unfortunately for them, their recently redone family room was a washout, as were quite a few other items. In nearly 42 years at this location, this is the most water they have ever seen, even the garage was flooded. Fortunately things have dried out a bit here lately, but they are looking to clear out none-the-less.

Me, I’m happy here in Pella, especially since I am so close to the Knoxville Raceway. The Nationals are the most recent races I have attended this season, but I have enjoyed reminiscing in my time off. Honestly, if finals night were to be my last night of racing in 2010, I wouldn’t complain. The 50^th anniversary finale was a good one, but it begs to ask, how do they top it in 2011? A fair question; and one I am glad I don’t have to try and answer.

So please, hang in there with me as I catch up and get back to speed as we fly into September.

Between the 360 Nationals, the Non-Wing Nationals, the Osky Challenges, and the Nationals themselves, there were plenty of sprint car drivers on hand; yet the 10 days of actions comes down to a handful of drivers: Shane Stewart, Brian Brown, Sammy Swindell, Bud Kaeding, and Tim Shaffer.

Stewart won the 360 Nationals, the first night of Nationals qualifying, and finished third in the main event. Brian Brown won the opening night of qualifying at the 360 Nationals, and was the top point getter at the Nationals. Swindell was a top finisher in the 360 Nationals, won the Front Row Challenge at Oskaloosa, won the second night of qualifying at the Nationals, and put on a show in Saturday’s main event until a flat tire ended his night. Kaeding was the king of the USAC sprinters winning at both Knoxville and Oskaloosa in what were two of the most entertaining nights of the whole ten days. And of course, Shaffer had everyone up and screaming as he battled Donny Schatz for the Nationals title. Be sure to have your recorders running this weekend as Speed replays the event, you’ll want to see it again, or maybe even for the first time.

Whether you want to or not, you have to admire Donny Schatz and his team for another solid effort at Knoxville. He came within a lap of winning another one, and still brought home a pile of cash by finishing second. Most of the joint seemed to be against Schatz as they wanted to see a new face in victory lane, but he was a most gracious runner-up in the post race interview. He pointed out that his motor was smoking and was on its way out in the final laps, but he took nothing away from Shaffer and his team. Schatz acknowledged

that Shaffer’s team had the best game plan, used their motor and tires the best, and deserved and earned the win. For his remarks, and effort in his second place finish, Schatz received a round of applause in the media center, as did Shaffer and Stewart for the show they provided on that Saturday night.

I liked the 50-lap format. They were raced flat-out, and moved along fast. Swindell and Schatz pounded the track in the first 25 laps, and it is no wonder Schatz motor gave up the ghost in the end as he definitely used it up. Standing in turn two, it was amazing to watch.

In addition to Brown’s top point total, locals showed well as Davey Heskin turned a lot of heads finishing in the top ten, while Josh Schneiderman came from the B main to finish in the top 15. They carried the Knoxville colors very well.

Other than sweating like there was no tomorrow due to the “cool” temperatures, I would say that the 50^th Nationals ranks right up there as one of my favorites. Maybe because it is fresher in my mind, or maybe I’ve gotten old enough I’ve started to forget things, but I enjoyed this year’s show. You can’t beat a nearly packed house standing and screaming their lungs out on the final laps, it is what you hope for every year, and in 2010, that is what we got.

Some side notes:

- The Budweiser Clydesdales are amazing, and I thought they made a nice addition to the program.

- Not sure about legend cars or motorcycles being on the card, though I am looking forward to the AMA show at Knoxville on September 18.

- The Front Row and Ultimate Challenges continue to amaze. It seems every year Terry McCarl and crew face some kind of weather obstacle, but they conquer it and the show goes on. Both nights saw teams pit on the street, but a full grandstand had a good time. Thanks to an incident at Huset’s, McCarl sported a well-wrapped leg that has enough hardware in it that he’ll never pass airport security. Still, he was seen a lot, supporting his son Austin on his race nights, and greeting race fans on souvenir row several times during the week. The man is an internet lightning rod, be he has a huge following – which he always seems to treat top notch.

- I was disappointed that on the occasion of the 50^th Nationals, only one former winner was on the float that went around the track on the final night. Granted former champs Steve Kinser, Swindell and Schatz were a little busy, but Dave Blaney, Doug Wolfgang, Danny Lasoski and Kraig Kinser were on hand among others, it would have been nice to see them recognized. Hopefully riding on a hay wagon didn’t scare them off.

- Speaking of Swindell and Wolfgang, prior to racing starting on Saturday night, the duo could be found shooting the breeze in the pit area. The conversation lasted at least 30 minutes, allowing every photographer a good shot or two.

- Karl Kinser showed up and was very popular. It was good to see him back at Knoxville.

- The number of Australians appearing at the Nationals grows each year, and it exploded this year as the drivers from Down Under are big supporters of our racing over here – good deal. I’ve enjoyed watching Jamie Veal this season and he has greatly improved as he has turned more laps at Knoxville. He has had some good runs, but also had some of us running on Saturday afternoon as he lost it turn two, headed straight to the infield, but then regained control and motored on. He lost a couple of positions, but he saved the car.

- Speaking of Saturday afternoon, I’m not a fan of day racing, but if you look at a lot of the old Nationals pics, you see a lot of sunshine. This year, with only four races on the card, the track wasn’t too used up, and it made for a past-paced and halfway entertaining show.