KNOXVILLE, Iowa — After two weekends of rain, Knoxville Raceway kicked off its 71st weekly season Saturday with Kraig Ford/Pella Motors Night.
Aaron Reutzel was the big winner, taking his 10th career 410 victory here and $6,000. The Clute, Texas, native held off defending champion Austin McCarl for that win in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87.
Chase Randall won by nearly half a lap in the 360 class, and Matt Allen scored his first career win in the Pro Sprints class.
Lynton Jeffrey led the 20-lap 410 A main early on, ahead of Reutzel, Austin McCarl, Carson McCarl and Matt Juhl. Reutzel used the low side of turn two to pass Jeffrey for the lead on lap three.
Meanwhile, Randall moved into the top five on lap four, as Reutzel was gingerly negotiating lapped traffic. Randall passed Carson McCarl for fourth on lap five, but Carson battled back to reclaim that spot two laps later.
Austin McCarl began to hit his stride in the middle stages, using the low side of four to pass Jeffrey for second on lap nine. He slowly reeled in Reutzel in heavy traffic and pulled beside him on a few occasions. Reutzel maneuvered traffic well until the only caution of the race flew for a spun Paul Nienhiser with three to go.
Reutzel pulled away from there, with Austin McCarl finishing second. Dusty Zomer blasted from fifth to third in the final corner, while Jeffrey and Randall completed the top five.
“We had two phenomenal race cars tonight,” said Reutzel, referring to his 360 mount. “Our motor ripped. It was a pretty good night for the first race here. The night went smooth. It played out really well. I’m super happy to be racing back at Knoxville. It makes racing fun again. Thanks to the fans for coming out and sticking out the cold weather.”
The 18-lap 360 feature got off to a ragged start. Sawyer Phillips and A.J. Moeller flipped hard before a lap could be completed. Both were unhurt. The restart saw Chase Randall and Cam Martin make contact, sending the latter spinning hard and off on the hook.
Once finally green, Joe Beaver took the lead over Ryan Giles and Aaron Reutzel. Reutzel shot by Giles on lap two, while Randall moved up to fourth. A spin by Tony Rost on lap three negated a pass for the lead by Reutzel. Instead, Beaver led Reutzel, Giles, Randall and Calvin Landis back to green.
Randall quickly took third and set his sights on Reutzel, passing him for second on lap six. At that point, a three-wide battle for the lead ensued. Randall shot by Beaver for the lead on lap eight, while something broke in the suspension of Reutzel’s machine, sending him into a tip-over. He was unhurt. Alex Vande Voort tipped over on that restart, bringing another red.
Giles passed Beaver for the second spot on the restart, but Randall began pulling away. Clint Garner climbed from fifth up to third, and Terry McCarl entered the top five. Garner took second from Giles with eight to go. Randall opened up a huge lead and was lapping cars with five to go.
Giles moved back by Garner for second with three to go, while McCarl claimed fourth. Randall won by almost a half lap over Giles, McCarl who passed Garner in the last corner, and Jamie Ball.
The finish:
Feature (20 Laps): 1. Aaron Reutzel (4); 2. Austin McCarl (2); 3. Dusty Zomer (10); 4. Lynton Jeffrey (1); 5. Chase Randall (5); 6. Carson McCarl (3); 7. Matt Juhl (6); 8. Kerry Madsen (16); 9. Jamie Ball (7); 10. Scott Bogucki (8); 11. Tasker Phillips (12); 12. JJ Hickle (9); 13. Kelby Watt (13); 14. Sawyer Phillips (11); 15. Zach Hampton (14); 16. Josh Schneiderman (15); 17. Paul Nienhiser (19); 18. Cole Mincer (18); 19. Jack Potter (21); 20. Dustin Selvage (17); 21. Jacob Peterson (20); 22. Landon Hansen (23); 23. Scotty Johnson (22).