KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Carson McCarl emerged victorious with a last-lap pass in a race that saw five lead changes and plenty of excitement on Vermeer Night Saturday at the Knoxville Raceway.
The former 305 and 360 track champion’s win was his first in the 988 Lifeline 410 class and earned him $6,000 aboard his own No. 27 car.
Aaron Reutzel maneuvered lapped traffic well in a non-stop 360 main event, and Chase Young sneaked in a late pass to win his third career Pro Sprints main event.
The start of the 20-lap 410 feature got a slow start. Kelby Watt struggled to take off, collecting several cars, including Lynton Jeffrey, who had to retire. Once green, Tasker Phillips led Carson McCarl, Austin McCarl, Dusty Zomer and Zach Hampton. On lap four, Tyler Drueke spun, bringing out the caution.
Reutzel entered the top five once the race went green again, as the battle up front intensified. Phillips was riding the cushion on the high side, while Carson McCarl was cruising on the bottom. The latter shot into the lead on lap six. Two laps later, Phillips used the cushion to get back by McCarl as the two nearly came together. They avoided disaster and continued their battle.
Carson came back to the point low in turn four at the halfway point. Meanwhile, Zomer was on the move, gaining third from Austin McCarl on lap 12, and sliding by Phillips on lap 14 for the second spot. His car appeared to be fastest on the track as he gained quickly on the leader.
Unfortunately, in turn three, he spun. Phillips clipped him on the high side and tumbled into turn four, while Randall, who had moved into fourth performed a direct hit. Randall’s car flipped violently and burst into flames.
Once things were cleaned up, Carson McCarl led Austin McCarl, Kerry Madsen, Reutzel and Hampton back to green.
Austin used the middle of turn two to work by his brother for the point, and it looked like he would cruise to the win. However, on the last lap he got into the infield berm in turns one and two, and Carson worked back around him to shoot down the backstretch and lead the final two laps for his first win here. He joins grandfather Lenard, father Terry and brother Austin as 410 winners at Knoxville.
Carson was followed by his brother Austin, Madsen, Reutzel and Cole Macedo, who started 16th.
“I felt good the whole race,” said an emotional Carson McCarl. “I just thought the top was way too choppy and it wasn’t going to be the place to get the win. I went up there a couple of times and about dumped it. I just had to be patient. I was able to get my wing working and was able to get by Tasker. We came together here on the front straightaway early in the race, and I thought it was going to take us both out. With Austin behind me on that restart, I knew he was going to go to the top. I just thought it would be too choppy and if I hit my marks and could get to the exit that I’d be fine. He got around me there, and I had nothing to lose. I cranked the wing back and just started driving it as hard as I possibly could. All night, I just felt really good.”
Sawyer Phillips led lap one of the 18-lap 360 feature, but it was all Aaron Reutzel after that. Both Reutzel and Tasker Phillips moved by Sawyer on lap two. Jamie Ball moved into fourth and Terry McCarl in fifth.
Reutzel was into lapped traffic by the ninth circuit, and maneuvering well. Tasker Phillips reeled him in on a couple of occasions, but Reutzel was able to maneuver his Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 through. Phillips bobbled on the cushion with four laps to go, all but sealing the deal.
Reutzel and Tasker were followed to the line by Sawyer, Ball and McCarl.
Matt Allen led from the pole early in the 15-lap Pro Sprints feature. Mike Mayberry, A.J. Johnson, J Kinder and Chase Young trailed. On lap two, Young jumped from fifth to third, while Kinder moved into fourth.
Up front, it appeared to be a two-man race. Allen stayed glued to the bottom, while Mayberry was running his trademark middle line. Though Young gained on them, the two kept close. On lap thirteen, Mayberry got around to lead, but Allen jumped back by with a slim margin of .006 of a second on lap 14. Coming for the checkers, the two made contact in turn four. Allen suffered the biggest loss, tipping over and ending his night. He was unhurt, while Mayberry sustained minor damage.
The green, white, checker finish made it a 16-lap race. While Mayberry went back to the middle, Young, who restarted second, stuck the bottom of one and two and led the final two lap to gain his third career win here in his No. 26 car. Mayberry, Brandon Worthington, Kinder and Johnson followed.
The finish:
Feature (20 laps): 1. Carson McCarl (1); 2. Austin McCarl (6); 3. Kerry Madsen (9); 4. Aaron Reutzel (7); 5. Cole Macedo (16); 6. Zach Hampton (3); 7. Sawyer Phillips (20); 8. AJ Moeller (11); 9. JJ Hickle (8); 10. Jamie Ball (12); 11. Matt Juhl (14); 12. Josh Schneiderman (13); 13. Jace Park (22); 14. Scotty Johnson (24); 15. Tyler Drueke (23); 16. Brandon Wimmer (10); 17. Kyle Reinhardt (19); 18. Chris Martin (18); 19. Dustin Selvage (21); 20. Dusty Zomer (4); 21. Tasker Phillips (2); 22. Chase Randall (5); 23. Kelby Watt (15); 24. Lynton Jeffrey (17). Lap Leaders: T. Phillips 1-5, C. McCarl 6-7, T. Phillips 8-9, C. McCarl 10-14, A. McCarl 15-19, C. McCarl 20. Hard-charger: S. Phillips.
