2006 Knoxville Nationals Preview

There is no bigger sprint car race than the Knoxville Nationals. A four-night extravaganza in Iowa annually pays out the most cash ($894,000) and also generates the largest headlines. This year the competition (August 9-12) is intriguing for many reasons but mostly because there were less opportunities for the National touring series' to race at Knoxville prior to the unsanctioned Nationals. The World of Outlaws were scheduled for two nights at Knoxville but weather reduced their stay to one preliminary night. The National Sprint Tour had no Knoxville dates. As a result some of the biggest National Sprint Tour names will hit Knoxville's 1/2-mile clay oval for the first time in 2006 at the Nationals.

The four-wide parade lap from 2005 saw (from inside to outside) Kraig Kinser, Donny Schatz, Chad Kemenah, and Brian Paulus. (Doug Johnson photo)

The common wisdom is that a local team that has been running Knoxville each Saturday night should have a bigger advantage than in years past when the Outlaws would have raced four or five times at Knoxville before the Nationals came around. Does that mean a local team will win? We doubt it.

Website predictions are about as useful as a bicycle is to a fish - but a Knoxville Preview wouldn't be a Knoxville Preview without trying to pick the winner. ... Donny Schatz. The North Dakota driver has finished second at the Nationals four times. This might be the year he brings home the big trophy.

The truth is - there are several guys I could envision winning - so Schatz will certainly not have an easy path to glory. Danny Lasoski has more wins than anyone at Knoxville Raceway and I think he will contend for the win as well. There is no doubt that Steve Kinser, Tim Kaeding, Terry McCarl, and Joey Saldana all have to be given serious consideration as potential 2006 winners.

Kinser and Kaeding have yet to race at Knoxville this season but no one is doubting their speed. Kinser didn't have too many laps at the 'home of the Nationals' in 1995 either. That year - when he dabbled in NASCAR before returning to sprint cars - he won the Nationals A-Main. Kaeding - who drives a second Steve Kinser Racing Maxim - has been cleaning house in the National Sprint Tour.

Saldana won the Knoxville WoO race June 23rd and also took home the Kings Royal at Eldora - the biggest race to date in 2006. McCarl missed races earlier this year after suffering a broken leg. But "T-Mac" is too good at Knoxville to think that he won't be in the mix. Craig Dollansky honed his racing chops at Knoxville Raceway and he should never be counted out. Daryn Pittman is shining in big events this season. He proved his half-mile skills with an unpredictable win in the Williams Grove Summer Nationals.

Tim Kaeding leads the National Sprint Tour in feature wins entering the 2006 Nationals (John's Racing Photos)

Daryn Pittman is performing well in the BIG races this season (Doug Johnson photo)

If forced to pick 24 who will make the A-Main: Schatz, Lasoski, McCarl, Kaeding, Saldana, Dollansky, Jason Solwold, Brian Brown, Brooke Tatnell, Pittman, S. Kinser, Jason Meyers, Chad Kemenah, Jac Haudenschild, Fred Rahmer, Jason Sides, Billy Alley, Lance Dewease, Stevie Smith, Tyler Walker, Kerry Madsen, Paul McMahan, Sammy Swindell, Skip Jackson.

That leaves out... Brian Paulus, Randy Hannagan, Shane Stewart, Jason Johnson, Kevin Swindell, Jon Allard, Jeff Shepard, Clint Garner, Greg Wilson, Lynton Jeffrey, Ricky Logan, Calvin Landis, Chad Layton, Kenny Jacobs, Dean Jacobs, Travis Rilat, Ed Lynch Jr. Kraig Kinser, Jeremy Campbell, Justin Henderson, Wayne Johnson, Kaley Gharst, Tony Bruce Jr., Dusty Zomer, Don Droud Jr.

Two drivers that might make the A-Main are Clint Garner and Kevin Swindell. (Doug Johnson photo)

Past Knoxville winners that are entered in `06: Kraig Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Steve Kinser, and Sammy Swindell. Said Lasoski to Craig Murphy, "I really don't know," when asked to explain his success at Knoxville. "I watched races there as a kid. Knoxville has the greatest fans in the world, and it's the greatest facility in the world." "Experience plays a factor at every track," Lasoski said. "Just look at the Pennsylvania races with guys like Lance Dewease and Fred Rahmer. But Knoxville has a tire rule, so there's no real advantage."

Purse: Wednesday and Thursday: Quick time overall: $1,000

Top Point Getter: $3,000 x 2 nights = $6,000

Last Chance Heats: 1. $50.00 2. $50.00 3. $50.00 4. $50.00 5. $100.00 6. $100.00 7. $100.00 8. $100.00 9. $100.00 10. $100.00 11. $100.00 12. $100.00 Total LC Heat Purse: $1,000 x 2 heats = $2,000 x 2 nights = $4,000

Heats: 1. $150.00 2. $125.00 3. $100.00 4. $90.00 5. $80.00 6. $70.00 7. $60.00 8. $50.00 9. $50.00 10. $50.00

Total Heat Purse: $825 x 5 heats = $4,125 x 2 nights = $8,250

C Feature: 1. $150.00 2. $150.00 3. $250.00 4. $200.00 5. $175.00 6. $150.00 7. $140.00 8. $130.00 9. $120.00 10. $110.00 11. $110.00 12. $100.00 13. $100.00 14. $90.00 15. $80.00 16. $70.00 17. $60.00 18. $50.00 19. $45.00 20. $40.00 Total C Feature Purse: $2,320 x 2 nights = $4,640

B Feature: 1. $200.00 2. $200.00 3. $200.00 4. $200.00 5. $600.00 6. $550.00 7. $500.00 8. $475.00 9. $450.00 10. $425.00 11. $400.00 12. $375.00 13. $350.00 14. $325.00 15. $300.00 16. $275.00 17. $260.00 18. $250.00 19. $240.00 20. $225.00 21. $200.00 22. $200.00 Total B Feature Purse: $7,600 x 2 nights = $15,200

A Feature: 1. $12,000.00 2. $10,000.00 3. $7,000.00 4. $6,000.00 5. $5,000.00 6. $4,000.00 7. $3,500.00 8. $2,500.00 9. $2,000.00 10. $1,750.00 11. $1,500.00 12. $1,400.00 13. $1,300.00 14. $1,250.00 15. $1,200.00 16. $1,150.00 17. $1,100.00 18. $1,050.00 19. $1,000.00 20. $1,000.00 21. $1,000.00 22. $1,000.00 23. $1,000.00 24. 1,000.00 Total A Feature Purse: $69,700 x 2 nights = $139,400

Total Wednesday and Thursday Purse: $178,490

Fred Rahmer won the opening night preliminary feature at the 2005 Nationals. (Chris Dolack)

Friday: Heats: 1. $150.00 2. $125.00 3. $100.00 4. $90.00 5. $80.00 6. $70.00 7. $60.00 8. $50.00 9. $50.00 10. $50.00 Total Heat Purse: $825 x 5 heats = $4,125

C Feature: 1. $50.00 2. $50.00 3. $200.00 4. $175.00 5. $150.00 6. $125.00 7. $100.00 8. $95.00 9. $90.00 10. $85.00 11. $80.00 12. $75.00 Total C Feature Purse: $1,275

B Feature: 1. $300.00 2. $300.00 3. $600.00 4. $500.00 5. $475.00 6. $450.00 7. $425.00 8. $400.00 9. $375.00 10. $350.00 11. $325.00 12. $300.00 13. $285.00 14. $275.00 15. $265.00 16. $250.00 17. $235.00 18. $225.00 19. $215.00 20. $200.00 21. $175.00 22. $150.00 23. $125.00 24. $125.00 Total B Feature Purse: $7,325

A Feature: 1. $5,000.00 2. $4,000.00 3. $3,500.00 4. $3,000.00 5. $2,500.00 6. $2,250.00 7. $2,000.00 8. $1,750.00 9. $1,500.00 10. $1,250.00 11. $1,000.00 12. $900.00 13. $850.00 14. $825.00 15. $800.00 16. $750.00 17. $700.00 18. $650.00 19. $625.00 20. $600.00 21. $575.00 22. $550.00 23. $525.00 24. $500.00 Total A Feature Purse: $36,600

Knoxville World Challenge: 1. $10,000.00 2. $5,000.00 3. $3,000.00 4. $2,500.00 5. $2,000.00 6. $1,800.00 7. $1,700.00 8. $1,600.00 9. $1,500.00 10. $1,400.00 11. $1,300.00 12. $1,200.00 13. $1,100.00 14. $1,000.00 15. $1,000.00 16. $1,000.00 17. $625.00 18. $600.00 19. $600.00 20. $600.00 Total International World Challenge Purse: $39,525

C Scramble: 1. $3,000.00 2. $2,000.00 3. $1,000.00 4. $900.00 5. $800.00 6. $700.00 7. $600.00 8. $500.00 9. $400.00 10. $300.00 Total C Scramble Purse: $10,200

B Scramble: 1. $5,000.00 2. $4,000.00 3. $3,000.00 4. $2,000.00 5. $1,000.00 6. $900.00 7. $800.00 8. $700.00 9. $600.00 10. $500.00 Total B Scramble Purse: $18,500

A Scramble: 1. $7,000.00 2. $6,000.00 3. $5,000.00 4. $4,000.00 5. $3,000.00 6. $2,000.00 7. $1,500.00 8. $1,000.00 9. $900.00 10. $800.00 Total A Scramble Purse: $31,200

Total Friday Purse: $148,750

No one has taken more of Ralph Capitani's money than Steve Kinser.

Saturday: Best Appearing Crew: 1. $1,000 2. $500 3. $300 Total Purse for Best Appearing Crew: $1,800

E Feature: 1. $600.00 2. $600.00 3. $800.00 4. $775.00 5. $750.00 6. $725.00 7. $700.00 8. $675.00 9. $650.00 10. $625.00 11. $600.00 12. $575.00 13. $550.00 14. $475.00 15. $450.00 16. $425.00 17. $400.00 18. $375.00 19. $350.00 20. $325.00 21. $300.00 22. $300.00 E Feature Total Purse: $12,025

D Feature: 1. $800.00 2. $800.00 3. $1,200.00 4. $1,100.00 5. $1,000.00 6. $950.00 7. $900.00 8. $850.00 9. $825.00 10. $800.00 11. $775.00 12. $750.00 13. $725.00 14. $700.00 15. $675.00 16. $650.00 17. $625.00 18. $600.00 19. $575.00 20. $550.00 21. $525.00 22. $500.00 D Feature Total Purse: $16,875

C Feature: 1. $1,000.00 2. $1,000.00 3. $2,000.00 4. $1,750.00 5. $1,500.00 6. $1,400.00 7. $1,300.00 8. $1,250.00 9. $1,225.00 10. $1,200.00 11. $1,175.00 12. $1,150.00 13. $1,125.00 14. $1,100.00 15. $1,050.00 16. $1,000.00 17. $950.00 18. $900.00 19. $850.00 20. $825.00 21. $800.00 22. $775.00 C Feature Total Purse: $29,325

B Feature: 1. $1,000.00 2. $1,000.00 3. $1,000.00 4. $1,000.00 5. $7,000.00 6. $6,000.00 7. $5,000.00 8. $4,000.00 9. $3,500.00 10. $3,000.00 11. $2,500.00 12. $2,250.00 13. $2,000.00 14. $1,750.00 15. $1,500.00 16. $1,450.00 17. $1,400.00 18. $1,350.00 19. $1,300.00 20. $1,250.00 21. $1,200.00 22. $1,150.00 23. $1,100.00 24. $1,050.00 B Feature Total Purse: $53,750

A Feature: 1. $140,000.00 2. $70,000.00 3. $35,000.00 4. $25,000.00 5. $20,000.00 6. $15,000.00 7. $12,000.00 8. $10,000.00 9. $9,500.00 10. $9,000.00 11. $8,750.00 12. $8,500.00 13. $8,250.00 14. $8,000.00 15. $7,900.00 16. $7,800.00 17. $7,700.00 18. $7,600.00 19. $7,500.00 20. $7,400.00 21. $7,300.00 22. $7,200.00 23. $7,100.00 24. $7,000.00 Total A Feature Purse: $453,500

Total Saturday Purse: $567,275

Total 4-day Purse: $894,515

Joey Saldana is looking to take home more loot to go with his Kings Royal bounty. (John's Racing Photos)

Former winners:

California will be represented by: Kyle Hirst, Jon Allard, Robert Ballou, Jason Meyers, Randy Hannagan, Selma Shell Racing, Roth MotorSports, Tim Kaeding, Paul McMahan, Tyler Walker, and adopted son Dennis Moore Jr..

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Knoxville preview by Bobby Gerould