KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Lynton Jeffrey took an emotional victory Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway.
Jeffrey’s win came in record time aboard the JW Motorsports No. 2 and was worth $5,000. In a 410 make-up feature from April 23, Aaron Reutzel outdueled Brian Brown to the checkers for his second win of the year in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 8.
The Terry McCarl/Clint Garner duel recorded another chapter in the 360 series, with McCarl emerging victorious, and Scotty Johnson blistered the Pro Sprints presented by Pace Performance field in yet another track record time.
After heats were complete, a rain delay lasting over one hour set up a heavy track surface. In the 20-lap 410 feature, Austin McCarl got a bit off kilter in turn four, collecting Justin Henderson. Henderson’s car got into the wall and was unrepairable, while McCarl’s crew was able to make repairs after a second red flag for a flipped Matt Juhl. No one was injured.
Once underway, pole-sitter Josh Higday led Jeffrey, Brown, Rico Abreu and Kerry Madsen. Jeffrey pressured the leader on the high side in the early stages. The two battled fiercely, with Jeffrey taking the lead on lap three, surrendering it back to Higday on lap four, and claiming it for good on the following circuit.
Meanwhile, Abreu took advantage of a Brown bobble to claim third. The leaders entered traffic on lap eight. On lap twelve, Madsen slid in front of Brown to claim fourth. With five laps to go, Jeffrey had opened up a wide 4.6-second margin.
The Sydney, New South Wales, Australia native now living in Prairie City, Iowa would cover the 20 laps in 5:25.2 setting a track standard, breaking Henderson’s 14-year-old mark, and claiming his sixth career 410 win here.
Higday would finish a strong second, ahead of Abreu, Madsen and Brown.
“Everyone held their line (in traffic),” said Jeffrey. “There are a lot of great drivers here at Knoxville, and that shows. We had an incredibly fast race car. It just shows what this team’s made of. This is for my boys. It’s my son Dakota’s birthday today. It’s also for my son Keenan…he died on this day in 2000. There’s a lot of emotions today. I’m just proud to win for my boys.”
The make-up 410 feature saw Reutzel get an incredible start from outside row two to take the early advantage, ahead of Austin McCarl, Jeffrey, Brown and Madsen. Brown would shoot by Jeffrey for third on lap two and slide in front of McCarl for second on lap three.
Up front, Reutzel was rolling into lapped traffic by the seventh circuit. Jeffrey and Madsen moved into third and fourth at that point. Brown was in hot pursuit of the leader when the eighth place car of J.J. Hickle got sideways, but kept it going, bringing the caution. Madsen would move into a podium spot on that restart, but more problems emerged for Hickle, who had climbed back to seventh, when a wing side panel came loose with nine to go. Ryan Giles also pulled in at that point.
Reutzel shot back out front, while Jeffrey and Madsen exchanged the third spot. Reutzel was back in traffic with three to go, and Brown was challenging, when Nathan Mills spun in turn three.
Reutzel held off Brown in a classic duel, keeping his car wide entering and exiting the turns. He held on for his fourth 410 win here, worth $5,000. Brown would chase him to the checkers, ahead of Madsen, Jeffrey and Austin McCarl.
“We were great early,” said Reutzel. “We were really falling apart late. I didn’t want to see those yellows, because I was struggling through the middle at the end. It felt good to race the 21 that way, because that’s the way he’s been racing me. It was good to race each other that way for the win. I’m glad I came out on top this time. This is a big win for our race team.”
Clint Garner led early in the 18-lap 360 main event, but Terry McCarl was a rocket on the start from his eighth place starting position. Kaleb Johnson, Calvin Landis and Jamie Ball rounded out the early top five before Ricky Montgomery came to a stop on lap three.
On the restart, Chase Randall entered the top five from seventh. Garner was into lapped traffic on the ninth lap, with McCarl following closely. Another caution opened up the track for the leader with four to go. Cam Martin’s right rear tire was in shreds.
On the restart, McCarl went to the cushion high in two and shot by Garner to take the point for good. Garet Williamson also took advantage moving up to the third spot.
While McCarl earned $2,000 for his 10th career 360 feature, Garner had his hands full holding off Williamson. Johnson and Joe Beaver followed.
Scotty Johnson dominated the Pro Sprints feature, leading wire to wire with a 15-lap track record of 4:19.1, eclipsing a 2018 mark held by Eric Bridger.