Gravel Earns Pole For Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals With ‘Perfect’ Prelim Night

Story By: ANTHONY CORINI / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – KNOXVILLE, IA – David Gravel became the seventh different driver, and first in 25 years, in the 57-year history of the 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals, to complete a perfect score by setting quick time, winning his heat race and winning the feature.

Gravel’s perfect night will earn him the pole of Saturday’s $150,000 to-win Feature alongside nine-time Knoxville Nationals Champion, Donny Schatz.

A first lap incident saw Dominic Scelzi and defending 5-Hour ENERGY Nationals Winner Jason Johnson get together, ultimately ending the latter’s evening.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, I stepped on the throttle and the car got way loose on me,” Johnson said following the evening. “We’re going to have to go to work tomorrow. It’s obviously not the position we want to be in, but we’re thankful for the way format is now to get to run tomorrow.”

The melee moved Gravel from his original eighth starting position up a row to sixth. Gravel rocketed off the top of turn two and was third by the completion of the opening circuit. Gravel worked his way to second before a caution for then third place running Brooke Tatnell on lap 10 bunched the field together.

Brian Brown, who fell as far back as seventh, restarted third and passed Gravel for the runner-up position, allowing race-long leader Mark Dobmeier to extend his lead. Gravel found moisture on the bottom of the speedway, passed Brown back and set his sights on the leader. Dobmeier stumbled a bit in lapped traffic and Gravel pounced and took the lead on lap 18 and never looked back. “Clean air is so important these days. It’s better to be running second in lapped traffic,” Gravel said about his pass for the race lead.

Gravel drove away and completed the perfect night by winning by 3.413 seconds. The perfect score for David Gravel was the first recorded since Steve Kinser did so in 1992, coincidentally the same year Gravel was born. “It’s surreal. We’re going to enjoy try and enjoy this tonight and end up with a solid finish Saturday,” a modest Gravel said in regard to his perfect evening.

Brown settled for second after an adventurous evening that saw him get crossed up on a couple of starts. “After being in the C-main here last year, I had some newfound respect for this place. I am thrilled to start fifth in the feature this year,” Brown said following his evening.

Following the qualifying nights, World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series drivers own the top three in points with Gravel, Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet. Daryn Pittman (7th), Shane Stewart (10th) and Paul McMahan (12th) are also locked into Saturday’s 50-lap finale.

Jason Sides will start third in the Last Chance Showdown on Saturday, while the rest of the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series drivers will re-qualify on Friday night to determine their fate for Saturday’s program.

RACE RESULTS FROM: Toyota Qualifying Night #2 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals

FEATURE (25 Laps): 1. 5 – David Gravel, 2. 21 – Brian Brown, 3. 13JT – Mark Dobmeier, 4. 18 – Ian Madsen, 5. 9 – Daryn Pittman, 6. 24. 41 – Jason Johnson, 7. 24 – Terry McCarl, 8. 29 – Danny Dietrich, 9. 39 – Spencer Bayston, 10. 24T – Rico Abreu, 11. 3K – Tim Kaeding, 12. 17X – Josh Baughman, 13. 44S – Dominic Scelzi, 15. 7S – Jason Sides, 16. 83 – Justin Henderson, 17. 54 – Jack Dover, 18. 10V – Kyle Reinhardt, 19. 1 – Thomas Kennedy, 20. 11K – Kraig Kinser, 21. 44 – Chris Martin, 22. 1Z – Dale Blaney, 23. 55 – Brooke Tatnell, 24. 41 – Jason Johnson.

Qualifying: 1. 5 – David Gravel, 15.072; 2. 83 – Justin Henderson, 15.185; 3. 24 – Terry McCarl, 15.291; 4. 21 – Brian Brown, 15.377; 5. 24R – Rico Abreu, 15.493; 6. 44S – Trey Starks, 15.500; 7. 9 – Daryn Pittman, 15.520; 8. 7S – Jason Sides, 15.543; 9. 41 – Jason Johnson, 15.566; 10. 55 – Brooke Tatnell, 15.575; 11. 81 – Lee Jacobs, 15.589; 12. 7W – Tasker Phillips, 15.606; 13. 2C – Wayne Johnson, 15.626; 14. 19P – Paige Polyak, 15.638; 15. 13JT – Mark Dobmeier, 15.640; 16. 18 – Ian Madsen, 15.649; 17. 3S – Sammy Swindell, 15.667; 18. 10H – Chad Kemenah, 15.721; 19. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 15.722; 20. 3 – James McFaden, 15.759; 21. 1A – Jacob Allen, 15.781; 22. 41S – Dominic Scelzi, 15.785; 23. 15H – Sam Hafertepe Jr. , 15.790; 24. 1X – Don Droud Jr. , 15.791; 25. 29 – Danny Dietrich, 15.795; 26. 39 – Spencer Bayston, 15.808; 27. 10V – Kyle Reinhardt, 15.811; 28. 49J – Josh Schneiderman, 15.832; 29. 12N – Cole Duncan, 15.850; 30. 9Z – Jared Goerges, 15.894; 31. 53 – Jack Dover, 15.906; 32. 17M – Max McGhee, 15.947; 33. 1 – Thomas Kennedy, 16.019; 34. 1Z – Dale Blaney, 16.022; 35. X1 – Mason Moore, 16.047; 36. 00 – Dane Lorenc, 16.057; 37. 44 – Chris Martin, 16.067; 38. 3K – Tim Kaeding, 16.112; 39. 11K – Kraig Kinser, 16.117; 40. 17X – Josh Baughman, 16.133; 41. 99G – Skylar Gee, 16.215; 42. 13V – Seth Brahmer, 16.280; 43. 9N – Wade Nygaard, 16.284; 44. 15M – Bobby Mincer, 16.288; 45. 5J – Jeremy Schultz, 16.325; 46. 23W – Scott Winters, 16.424; 47. 13 – Clyde Knipp, 16.470; 48. W20 – Greg Wilson, 16.496; 49. 19L – Todd King, 16.709; 50. 94 – Jeff Swindell, 17.190; 51. 9C – Roger Campbell, 17.346; 52. 19 – Brent Marks, DQ; 53. 71CC – Robert Bell, NT; 54. 35V – Jamie Veal, NT;

Heat #1 (10 Laps): 1. 5 – David Gravel, 2. 18 – Ian Madsen, 3. 53 – Jack Dover, 4. 1A – Jacob Allen, 5. 39 – Spencer Bayston, 6. 44S – Trey Starks, 7. 99G – Skylar Gee, 8. 00 – Dane Lorenc, 9. 81 – Lee Jacobs, 10. 23W – Scott Winters. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

Heat #2 (10 Laps): 1. 44 – Chris Martin, 2. 41S – Dominic Scelzi, 3. 9 – Daryn Pittman, 4. 10V – Kyle Reinhardt, 5. 3S – Sammy Swindell, 6. 83 – Justin Henderson, 7. 7W – Tasker Phillips, 8. 13V – Seth Brahmer, 9. 17M – Max McGhee, 10. 13 – Cylde Knipp. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

Heat #3 (10 Laps): 1. 1 – Thomas Kennedy, 2. 3K – Tim Kaeding, 3. 24 – Terry McCarl, 4. 2C- Wayne Nygaard, 5. 15H – Sam Hafertepe, 6. 7S – Jason Sides, 7. 10H – Chad Kemenah, 8. 49 – Josh Schneiderman, 9. W20 – Greg Wilson, 10. 9N – Wade Nygaard. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

Heat #4 (10 Laps): 1. 1Z – Dale Blaney, 2. 11K – Kraig Kinser, 3. 21 – Brian Brown, 4. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 5. 1X – Don Droud Jr, 6. 12N – Cole Duncan, 7. 15 – Bobby Mincer, 8. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 9. 19P – Paige Polyak, 10. 19L – Todd King. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

Heat #5 (10 Laps): 1. 17 – Josh Baughman, 2. 29 – Danny Dietrich, 3. 13JT – Mark Dobmeier, 4. 55 – Brooke Tatnell, 5. 24 – Rico Abreu, 6. 3 – James McFadden, 7. 1X – Mason Moore, 8. 5J – Jeremy Schultz, 9. 9Z – Jared Goerges. DNS: 94 – Jeff Swindell. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 24R – Rico Abreu, 2. 83 – Justin Henderson, 3. 44S – Trey Starks, 4. 7S – Jason Sides, 5. 3 – James McFadden, 6. 10H – Chad Kemenah, 7. 15H – Sam Hafertepe Jr, 8. 7W – Tasker Phillips, 9. 1X – Don Droud Jr, 10. 49J – Josh Schneiderman, 11. 12N – Cole Duncan, 12. 99G – Skylar Gee, 13. 19P – Paige Polyak, 14. 71A – R.J. Johnson, 15. 5J – Jeremy Schultz, 16. 81 – Lee Jacobs, 17. X1 – Mason Moore, 18. W20 – Greg Wilson, 19. 15M – Bobby Mincer, 20. 9N – Wade Nygaard, 21. 1A – Jacob Allen, 22. 13V – Seth Brahmer, 23. 00 – Dane Lorenc, 24. 3S – Sammy Swindell. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)

C-Main (10 Laps): 1. 81 – Lee Jacobs, 2. 19P – Paige Polyak, 3. W20 – Greg Wilson, 4. 9N – Wade Nygaard, 5. 19L – Todd King, 6. 13 – Clyde Knipp, 7. 9Z – Jared Goerges, 8. 9C – Roger Campbell, 9. 17M – Max McGhee. DNS: 23W – Scott Winters, 94 – Jeff Swindell, 19 – Brent Marks, 35V – Jamie Veal. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main

CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Jason Johnson; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): David Gravel; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Extended Stay America ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Craftsman/Sears: N/A; KSE Hard Charger: Brandon Hanks; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Daryn Pittman; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Brandon Hanks; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Shane Stewart.

5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals Points Standings (As of 8/10):

Pos No. Name Total points
1 5 DAVID GRAVEL 500
2 15 DONNY SCHATZ 492
3 49 BRAD SWEET 489
4 2M KERRY MADSEN 487
5 21 BRIAN BROWN 486
6 24 TERRY MCCARL 478
7 9 DARYN PITTMAN 474
8 27 GREG HODNETT 472
9 57 KYLE LARSON 469
10 2 SHANE STEWART 469
11 2KS AUSTIN MCCARL 466
12 4 PAUL MCMAHAN 463
13 13JT MARK DOBMEIER 462
14 24R RICO ABREU 462
15 18 IAN MADSEN 458
16 2C WAYNE JOHNSON 457
17 83 JUSTIN HENDERSON 453
18 44S TREY STARKS 448
19 7S JASON SIDES 443
20 82 DUSTY ZOMER 438
21 24W LUCAS WOLFE 438
22 14B CHRISTOPHER BELL 437
23 29 DANNY DIETRICH 435
24 49X TIM SHAFFER 435
25 O9 MATT JUHL 429
26 41S DOMINIC SCELZI 429
27 55 BROOKE TATNELL 429
28 41 JASON JOHNSON 429
29 68 CHASE JOHNSON 427
30 39 SPENCER BAYSTON 425
31 1M DANNY LASOSKI 424
32 2MM MATT MORO 416
33 71 KEVIN THOMAS JR 414
34 17B BILL BALOG 414
35 67X PARKER PRICE-MILLER 413
36 12 LYNTON JEFFREY 407
37 10V KYLE REINHARDT 405
38 53 JACK DOVER 405
39 3K TIM KAEDING 403
40 93 SHELDON HADENSCHILD 400
41 17 JAC HAUDENSCHILD 400
42 17X JOSH BAUGHMAN 400
43 1 THOMAS KENNEDY 400
44 7W TASKER PHILLIPS 396
45 1B DUSTIN SELVAGE 395
46 1Z DALE BLANEY 392
47 3 JAMES MCFADDEN 389
48 22 RAGER PHILLIPS 388
49 21AU JORDYN BRAZIER 388
50 10H CHAD KEMENAH 388
51 44 CHRIS MARTIN 388
52 3G CARSON MACEDO 387
53 56N DAVEY HESKIN 386
54 9X JAKE BUBAK 386
55 20 A.J. MOELLER 385
56 11K KRAIG KINSER 383
57 15H SAM HAFERTEPE 382
58 51 JOEY SALDANA 380
59 17W HARLI WHITE 380
60 81 LEE JACOBS 376
61 19P PAIGE POLYAK 376
62 1X DON DROUD JR. 376
63 5H CORY ELIASON 369
64 71A R.J. JOHNSON 367
65 99 BRADY BACON 363
66 70 CLINT GARNER 363
67 3S SAMMY SWINDELL 360
68 12N COLE DUNCAN 359
69 1A JACOB ALLEN 358
70 49J JOSH SCHNEIDERMAN 357
71 26 TAYLER MALSAM 338
72 8H JASON KENDRICK 335
73 95 MATT COVINGTON 332
74 X1 MASON MOORE 332
75 4X DAKOTA HENDRICKSON 330
76 87 AARON REUTZEL 328
77 99G SKYLAR GEE 327
78 3P SAWYER PHILLIPS 326
79 OO DANE LORENC 321
80 5J JEREMY SCHULTZ 313
81 15M BOBBY MINCER 310
82 84 SCOTT BOGUCKI 309
83 12W JOSH WALTER 309
84 1P CURTIS EVANS 306
85 9Z JARED GOERGES 306
86 13V SETH BRAHMER 305
87 83C ADAM CRUEA 302
88 9N WADE NYGAARD 301
89 17M MAX MCGHEE 298
90 W20 GREG WILSON 298
91 85 CHASE WANNER 293
92 1S LOGAN SCHUCHART 273
93 13 CLYDE KNIPP 271
94 10 TYLER BEAR 269
95 19L TODD KING 269
96 23W SCOTT WINTERS 265
97 94 Jeff Swindell 255
98 9C ROGER CAMPBELL 186
99 19 BRENT MARKS 176
100 35V JAMIE VEAL 172