The Knoxville Raceway got off to a very early start, but that did not mean racing was not as good as three track champions were crowned in four A-Mains. Saturday night’s winners were Eric Bridger in the Pro Sprints as he led every lap in a dominating win, Terry McCarl took home the 360 finale, and Ayerton Gennetten won the 410 scheduled feature, his first career win at Knoxville. Meanwhile Brian Brown won the makeup 410 feature that was rained out on July 23rd. Track champions for 2022 were also crowned as Mike Mayberry on the heels of a consistent season won his first career Pro Sprints title. He told KNIA/KRLS Sports winning more races would have been nice, but consistency was what made him a champion.
Mayberry: “We definitely would have liked to get a few more wins, but we definitely did better than last year, and we probably had the highest average starting position this year, so just be consistent.”
Terry McCarl, who won seven 410 track titles, now has one in the 360s as he not only won the A-Main but clinched the title about halfway through the feature race as Clint Garner was involved in a crash and was unable to finish. McCarl told KNIA/KRLS Sports a technical track was what he was looking for.
McCarl: “It played into my hands because older guys like me we like those slick tracks that you have to set your car up and not go flat out all the time.”
Brian Brown was not planning to run for points at the Knoxville Raceway this season, but with a couple of nights left, he found himself within striking distance and came in trailing Aaron Reutzel by 85 points. He made up the deficit by the A-Mains when Reutzel had a mid-pack finish. With his win in the second feature, Brown now ties Doug Wolfgang for 2nd all-time in wins at the Knoxville Raceway with 60. Brown said for not planning to win a track title, number five felt good.
Brown: “I told Danny what we needed on the car, and he did a good job. I didn’t come here in April not thinking I’m going to win the track championship, but number five feels real good.”
The racing season is not over at the Knoxville Raceway as the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals will be September 15th-17th.
Photo from Ryan Northcote