Dietrich Ninth In Knoxville Nationals B-Main; All Star Weekend Ahead

Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / DANNY DIETRICH RACING – GETTYSBURG, PA – Despite ending the weekend shy of expectation, Danny Dietrich’s 2017 Knoxville (IA) Raceway campaign proved successful, qualifying for Saturday night’s 5-hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores B-main, bettering most of the 100-plus entries who gathered to compete at the Sprint Car Capital of the World on August 9-12.

The pilot of the Gary Kauffman Racing/Weikert’s Livestock/Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Pace Performance/Gsell’s Whitetails/Hickory Run Orchards/Carlisle Auto Salvage/CATS Used Truck Parts/Drop Of Ink Tattoo/Bowman Block & Head Repair/Sweeney Cars/Self Made/No. 29 finished ninth during his B-main run, just five spots shy of an A-main appearance. It was a second consecutive Knoxville Nationals B-main start for the Pennsylvania Posse representative.

“We were just a little short of where we needed to be on Thursday. Qualifying means everything,” Danny Dietrich said. “I wouldn’t say we are disappointed, but I think we were more than capable of being in the ‘A.’ We have a big weekend coming up, so we’ll work to earn four big pay days when the All Stars coming to town.”

“Double-D” kicked off his Knoxville Nationals campaign with an eighth place finish during preliminary A-main competition on Thursday, August 10. Despite his top-ten performance, it was Dietrich’s qualifying effort during the preliminary program that kept the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, native from getting “locked in” for Saturday night’s $150,000-to-win finale; 25th fastest overall.

Danny Dietrich will continue his 2017 campaign with four consecutive Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions events in Central Pennsylvania, joining “America’s Series” at Grandview Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, and Susquehanna Speedway on Thursday through Sunday, August 17-20, respectively. Dietrich will enter the weekend with one Arctic Cat All Star victory on the season, scoring $7,000 at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York. In addition to his Arctic Cat All Star triumph, Dietrich owns seven victories in Central Pennsylvania including six at the “Fabulous” Lincoln Speedway.

Dietrich’s upcoming All Star agenda will include a start in the Tom Buch-owned/Apex/Sweeney Cars/Pace Performance/DKW Transport/No. 13 at Grandview Speedway. All four All Star events will award a top prize equaling $5,000.