KNOXVILLE, Iowa — In a wild, crazy night at Knoxville Raceway, two championships came down to the last lap in a night full of drama and excitement on Iowa Corn Growers Districts 5 & 9 Season Championship Night.
Brian Brown did what he had to do in winning the 410 feature, but in the end, he fell 15 points short of a championship, as all eyes were on Davey Heskin, who ended up having to climb from row seven to finish in the top five.
A pair of incidents happened before the 25-lap 410 feature could fire off. A Ben Brown spin slowed things. Once green, front row starters, Sawyer Phillips and Justin Henderson, who came in second in points, collided in turn three, ending both their nights.
The incident moved pole-sitter Gio Scelzi and Brown to the front row. With Heskin now starting eleventh, Brown needed to beat him by five spots. Scelzi stormed out to the lead, but shortly after entering lapped traffic, he broke a rear axle six laps in.
Brown assumed the lead ahead of Ayrton Gennetten, Don Droud Jr., Matt Juhl and Sam Hafertepe Jr. One eye was on Heskin, who restarted ninth. Juhl moved into third, and Terry McCarl entered the top five on the restart. McCarl continued his climb by grabbing fourth on lap eight.
Brown entered lapped traffic on the thirteenth circuit, and Heskin was moving up. Using the low side of the track, he moved his was up to sixth, just one spot from his goal. On lap 17, the crowd erupted when he shot under Sam Hafertepe Jr. for fifth.
Up front, Brown was flawless before Droud stopped in turn four with four to go. Heskin would gain an insurance spot, driving by Juhl for fourth, and winning his first track championship.
Brown’s 56th win paid him $5,000 and put him just one victory behind Steve Kinser for fourth on the all-time win list at Knoxville.
Gennetten ran a strong second, ahead of McCarl, Heskin and Juhl. Roger Crockett, Austin McCarl, Josh Schneiderman, Dylan Westbrook and Tasker Phillips rounded out the top 10.
“This car was good all night long,” said Brown. “It’s good to be back home. I was hoping it was going to be pretty exciting there with me and Justin trying to race for a championship. He just got racing hard, and I luckily snuck by there. Congratulations to (Davey) and his team. They did a phenomenal job. They are what sprint car racing is. He, his brother, and grandpa. Anytime you can win at Knoxville, it’s always good. No one can say they won the last one until April again. It’s an honor to race here, and be a part of Knoxville.”
“There’s just no words,” said an emotional Heskin addressing his track championship. “I thought we were goners after the time trial (he entered with a 78-point lead on Henderson and 86 point lead on Brown, who registered quick time and second quick, respectively). I really thought I cut a good lap. When I got up to fifth and got past Sam, I thought ‘Alright, let’s get the wing back and let’s go!’ I can’t thank my family and friends enough. I still don’t know what to say, it’s so special. I just can’t believe it. This is why we travel five hours to race here. We earned that one!”
The 360 class saw heartbreak for Ryan Giles, who appeared on his way to a crown before mechanical failure set in. Jamie Ball was in position to take a title, but Clint Garner did what he had to do to advance to his ninth championship. Scott Bogucki would take his second win here.
Tyler Groenendyk had it easiest of all as all he had to do was show up to win his Pace Performance Pro Sprints title. He put the icing on the cake with his fourth feature victory of the year.