The State of Pennsylvania rejoiced last night as one of their own got the win in night one of the 58th Annual 5 Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals. Greg Hodnett, who has had an inconsistent season in the Keystone State took home the checkered flag last night, with fellow Pennsylvanian Tim Shaffer coming home in second. In fact the top four starters Brock Zearfoss, Hodnett, Lucas Wolfe, and Shaffer all hale from Pennsylvania. Many drivers who come for the Nationals have not fared as well due to not having a track to run like Knoxville. However Hodnett said Knoxville just fits his driving style. Kyle Larson took third place and likely locked himself into the Saturday A-Main. He, by the way, does have the blessing of his NASCAR car owner Chip Ganassi to run Saturday is his starts well. Defending champion Donny Schatz failed to make the A out of his heat race and had to run the B. He roared all the way from 21st to fifth in the A, likely locking himself into Saturday’s big show. Larson leads the points after night one with 475, with Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Kerry Madsen, and Shaffer the top five. Tonight is night two, and the rest of the entrants will try to score enough points to land themselves in the top 16.
A main (started), 25 Laps, NT:
1. Greg Hodnett (2)
2. Tim Shaffer (4)
3. Kyle Larson (6)
4. Gio Scelzi (5)
5. Donny Schatz (21)
6. Ian Madsen (22)
7. Lucas Wolfe (3)
8. Aaron Reutzel (7)
9. Kerry Madsen (8)
10. Brock Zearfoss (1)
11. Daryn Pittman (23)
12. Willie Croft (13)
13. Sammy Walsh (10)
14. Brady Bacon (19)
15. Matt Juhl (12)
16. Roger Crockett (9)
17. Kevin Thomas Jr. (16)
18. Clint Garner (14)
19. Bobby Mincer (20)
20. Chase Wanner (18)
21. Dominic Scelzi (11)
22. Austin McCarl (24)
23. Clyde Knipp (17)
24. Jamie Ball (15)
Lap Leader: Hodnett 1-25. Hard-charger: Schatz.
Wednesday Point Totals
1 57 Kyle Larson 475
2 15 Donny Schatz 474
3 87 Aaron Reutzel 473
4 2M Kerry Madsen 473
5 49X Tim Shaffer 471
6 71 Gio Scelzi 468
7 18 Ian Madsen 467
8 27 Greg Hodnett 462
9 24W Lucas Wolfe 453
10 9 Daryn Pittman 452
11 4 Brock Zearfoss 444
12 5H Sammy Walsh 431
13 2KS Austin McCarl 429
14 09 Matt Juhl 423
15 11 Roger Crockett 421
16 41S Dominic Scelzi 416
17 29 Willie Croft 411
18 13X Paul McMahan 405
19 99 Brady Bacon 404
20 0 Lynton Jeffrey 404
21 40 Clint Garner 403
22 4K Kasey Kahne 401
23 3H James McFadden 400
24 1S Logan Schuchart 400
25 71X Kevin Thomas Jr. 398
26 5J Jamie Ball 392
27 10 Clyde Knipp 390
28 85 Chase Wanner 388
29 15M Bobby Mincer 382
30 17 Sheldon Haudenschild 382
31 56N Davey Heskin 371
32 7S Jason Sides 368
33 19 Brent Marks 367
34 17B Bill Balog 362
35 12N Cole Duncan 361
36 3P Sawyer Phillips 351
37 97G Hunter Schuerenberg 347
38 17WX Shane Golobic 342
39 28P Brian Paulus 319
40 9X Jake Bubak 314
41 68 Chase Johnson 312
42 2K Kevin Ingle 302
43 70S Jeff Swindell 298
44 20 AJ Moeller 294
45 7W Tasker Phillips 280
