KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Champions were crowned Saturday on McKay Insurance Group Season Championship Night at the Knoxville Raceway.
Emerson Axsom won his first career 410 feature at Knoxvillle, while Austin McCarl won his third track championship with the series.
Aaron Reutzel won his sixth 360 feature of the year Saturday, while Jamie Ball claimed his first season title. Ryan Navratil won for the second time in a row with the Pro Sprints, while Mike Mayberry claimed his second track championship in a row by 10 points.
Lynton Jeffrey led lap one in the 25-lap 988 Lifeline 410 main event, ahead of Carson McCarl, Axsom, Reutzel and Ryan Timms.
Entering the feature, Austin McCarl needed at least an 11th-place finish if Aaron Reutzel was victorious. Those plans were dashed for Reutzel when he broke a rear axle just one lap in.
Carson McCarl snuck by Jeffrey to lead lap two on the restart, but Jeffrey reclaimed the point on lap three. Carson didn’t go away, however, and as the pair entered traffic, clid by Jeffrey to take the lead back on lap seven. Axsom was moving as well, and got by Jeffrey for second on lap eight. Timms followed him into third on lap nine, and Tasker Phillips claimed fourth on lap ten. Kerry Madsen entered the top five on lap 11.
While Carson McCarl used the low side, Axsom started reeling him in on the cushion. On lap 14, he took the lead for good coming off of turn four. With ten laps to go, the final caution came out for Sawyer Phillips, who performed a 360 spin.
Axsom held on to the lead to grab his first 410 win at Knoxville. Madsen passed Timms on lap 17 and Carson with three to go to claim second. Carson was third, followed by Tasker Phillips and Austin McCarl.
“I honestly didn’t mind (the lapped traffic),” said Axsom. “I felt like where I was positioned, it helped me out. I was able to get a run on those guys. When you’re that bottled up, it’s best just to go where nobody’s at. I did just that and found a little bit of clean air. I felt good on the curb, and that’s about as good as I’ve felt all year. I’m really happy where our car’s at, and I really wish we could go back and restart the season, and start where we’re at now.”
“I have to thank everyone at Country Builders,” said Austin McCarl of his second championship in a row aboard the Country Builders Construction No. 88. “Thank you for everything (Weldon Offill). Nothing is possible without you and the whole Offill family. I felt like if I did get beat, I would think of the crash I had with Emerson and the DNF. Luckily, it all worked out.”
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Emerson Axsom (4); 2. Kerry Madsen (5); 3. Carson McCarl (1); 4. Tasker Phillips (8); 5. Austin McCarl (9); 6. Ryan Timms (3); 7. Zach Hampton (7); 8. Jace Park (20); 9. Lynton Jeffrey (2); 10. Sawyer Phillips (14); 11. Ayrton Gennetten (12); 12. JJ Hickle (13); 13. Matt Juhl (11); 14. Riley Goodno (19); 15. Hunter Schuerenberg (18); 16. Kelby Watt (17); 17. Brandon Wimmer (10); 18. Scotty Johnson (23); 19. Landon Hansen (22); 20. Cole Mincer (16); 21. Dustin Selvage (24); 22. Chris Martin (21); 23. Jamie Ball (15); 24. Aaron Reutzel (6) DNS – 25. Dusty Zomer.