KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Lynton Jeffrey scored a popular victory on Jersey Freeze/Dennison Racing Tees Night Saturday at the Knoxville Raceway.
The Australian now making his home in Prairie City, Iowa, took home $4,000 for his win aboard the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 83.
Sawyer Phillips led the 20-lap 410 feature early on ahead of Jeffrey, Davey Heskin, Don Droud Jr. and Terry McCarl. A.J. Moeller slowed with suspension problems two laps in while running sixth.
Jeffrey slid under Phillips in turn four on the restart, taking the lead. On lap four, Justin Henderson moved by Terry McCarl to enter the top five.
Austin Miller slowed with a flat left rear tire eight laps in, bringing out another yellow. Jeffrey led the field back to green, ahead of Phillips, Heskin, Droud and Henderson.
Henderson shot from fifth to third before Carson McCarl tagged the turn one fence. After changing a tire in the work area, he rejoined the field.
Henderson capped another good restart by taking second from Phillips, while McCarl moved up into the top four. Jeffrey opened up a 2.3-second lead through traffic, only to have it erased when seventh-running Tasker Phillips stopped in turn four. Eighth running Don Droud Jr. also stopped with mechanical ills.
Jeffrey stretched the lead for his fifth career 410 win and first since the World Challenge in 2015. Henderson nailed down second, followed by Sawyer Phillips, Heskin and McCarl.
“You’re always nervous for a yellow when you’re leading,” said Jeffrey of the late caution. “The track started taking a little rubber and got slicked off there on the bottom. I didn’t know that. I was up on the curb. I was getting a little reckless up there, and nervous. The laps were ticking down…I’m sure they were coming on me. I’m just really happy for these guys and all the effort they put in.”
Clint Garner led wire to wire to record career 360 win No. 41, and Matthew Stelzer won for the second week in a row in the Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance. He now sits atop the all-time win list in that class with 14n.
The finish:
Feature (20 laps): 1. Lynton Jeffrey (2); 2. Justin Henderson (6); 3. Sawyer Phillips (1); 4. Davey Heskin (3); 5. Terry McCarl (7); 6. Matt Juhl (9); 7. Riley Goodno (13); 8. Chris Martin (10); 9. Josh Schneiderman (11); 10. Cody Ledger (14); 11. Carson McCarl (12); 12. Skylar Prochaska (15); 13. Bobby Mincer (16); 14. Presley Truedson (17); 15. Austin Miller (18); 16. Bob Weuve (20); 17. Joe Simbro (19); 18. Don Droud Jr. (5); 19. Tasker Phillips (8); 20. AJ Moeller (4) DNS – Austin McCarl. Lap Leaders: S. Phillips 1-2, Jeffrey 3-20.