Brian Brown (Ken Berry photo)
KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Brian Brown won for the 57th time in 410 action at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night, matching Steve Kinser’s illustrious win total in the famous half mile.
The driver from Grain Valley, Missouri pocketed $5,000 for his win aboard the #21 Brian Brown Racing.
Terry McCarl, who will race in the 360 Class this season, started in spectacular fashion with a win and Tyler Groenendyk claimed his fifth career win in the Pace Performance presented Pro Sprints on a cold, windy night at the Sprint Car Capital of the world.
Matt Juhl started from his starting position on pole to lead early in the 20-lap 410 feature. With one lap in the books, AJ Moeller climbed onto the right rear of a competitor and took a wild ride through turns one and two.
Juhl led Brown, Justin Henderson, Davey Heskin and Carson McCarl back to green. McCarl quickly went fourth before Tasker Phillips, riding in the top ten, had an attempted slider that landed in the turn two wall.
The restart was Brown’s chance and he took advantage, slipping in front of Juhl to take the point. Engine problems for Josh Higday slowed things down again two laps later. That nullified a pass Don Droud Jr. made to get into the top five, but it didn’t deter the veteran as he shot from sixth to fourth as the green dropped again.
Jordan Goldesberry was the next to struggle with 11 to go. On the next restart, Carson McCarl wiped out the cone, costing him a spot. Brown then led Juhl, Henderson, Droud and Austin McCarl, who started 17th. Droud was third from Henderson and Austin McCarl followed in fourth place. The good fight also saw Carson McCarl get back into the fight before Lynton Jeffrey ran out of fuel with nine to go.
An open red flag time for fuel only was introduced. In the final nine laps, Brown drove away getting his just desserts in Victory Lane. Juhl maintained his second spot while the hardened Austin McCarl completed the podium. Henderson, Droud, Carson McCarl, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Heskin, Chris Martin (from 23rd) and Ayrton Gennetten completed the top 10.
“One doesn’t deserve to be in the same sentence as the other, and that’s Steve Kinser,” Brown said of his historic victory. “He paved the way for people like us. He’s one of my heroes. Having my name here alongside his as a feature winner is pretty awesome. I’m proud of all my boys. We’ve probably had the toughest week we’ve ever had. We had a few things happening in the store and we just had to keep working and working. These guys never give up.”
The end:
Feature (20 laps): 1st Brian Brown (3); 2. Matt Juhl (1); 3.Austin McCarl (17); 4.Justin Henderson (4); 5. Don Droud Jr (10); 6.Carson McCarl (7); 7. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15); 8. Davey Heskin (2); 9. Chris Martin (23); 10. Ayrton Gennetten (8); 11.Riley Goodno (11); 12.Brandon Wimmer (20); 13.Roger Crockett (9); 14.Josh Schneiderman (14); 15. Lynton Jeffrey (6); 16.Ryan Giles (18); 17. Tyler Drueke (21); 18. Nathan Mills (19); 19.Caleb Johnson (22); 20. Jordan Goldberry (24); 21.Josh Highday (16); 22. Sawyer Phillips (12); 23.Tasker Phillips (13); 24. AJ Moller (5). Lap leaders: Juhl 1-4, Brown 5-20. Hard Charger: A. McCarl.
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