GRAVEL SWEEPS KNOXVILLE
David Gravel sweeps second night of the 59th Knoxville Nationals – Photo: Richard Hathaway
It was a tough night for the Australians at the 59th Knoxville Nationals as Connecticut’s David Gravel stood high in Victory Lane and will start the $150,000 50-lap feature on the front row next to highest points driver Aaron Reutzel.
By GEOFF ROUNDS
Scott Bogucki of South Australia was the best finishing Aussie in 17th with veteran Brooke Tatnell right behind at the conclusion of the 25-lap A-Main.
Marcus Dumesny, making his debut at the venue, was 14th in the B-Main. While current Australian Sprintcar champion Andrew Scheuerle was sixth in the C-Main also on his debut.
Earlier in the night, Shane Stewart set the fastest time before a scary crash in Heat 1 which he would walk away from. Leaving him a tough run to the finals and will compete in tomorrow’s racing.
At the finish end of the nights A-Main it would be Gravel holding out defending Nationals champion Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, Corey Eliason, Rico Abreu, Joey Saldana and 2010 winner Tim Shaffer blasted from the back and the B-Main to grab seventh in an eye-catcher.
“This is the car we ran in the Capitani, and it ran just as good,” Gravel said.
“I really feel good about where we’re at. I was nervous drawing a 71 out of 75 (for qualifying), but we’ve been able to qualify well all year, and were able to capitalize on that. It’s an awesome night. It can’t get any better than this. I felt like my last five laps were terrible. We’re happy to win, and happy to have a good points night.”
Scott Bogucki was the best of the Australians – Photo: Richard Hathaway
Sweet lamented his start but was again eyeing off Saturday’s feature.
“We just didn’t do a good job at the beginning of the race,” Sweet said.
“I was kind of searching around trying to find a spot that my car liked…just a little bit off. I think we learned some stuff tonight. I thought we were going to have a run at him late. We got close, but he covered his lines. I honestly missed my marks a few times. It’s all about Saturday night. I think we’re locked in now with a decent starting spot.”
Regular Australian visitor Macedo paid credit to the legendary Joe Gaerte for his efforts on the car.
“I knew there was going to be a long way to come,” Macedo said.
“My car was really good. Late in these races, to be good like that, and be able to come up through the field and finish on the podium is a testament to my mechanic (Joe Gaerte). We didn’t qualify the best, but hopefully, we can do well on Saturday.”
After two nights of racing Aaron Reutzel leads the points with 487 and has secured pole position for the 2019 Knoxville Nationals A-Main on Saturday night (Sunday afternoon AEST). Alongside him will be Gravel (481) then follows Saldana (479), Shaffer (474), Price-Miller (473) and Sweet (470),
Australia has two drivers locked in already with Ian Madsen set to start in 14th and James McFadden from 17th.
Multiple Nationals winner Donny Schatz sits in 20th position and in 22nd is Bogucki with Tatnell (32nd), Lynton Jeffrey (45th) and Kerry Madsen (49th).
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