Eriez Speedway
Knight wins at Eriez, grabs first IRS victory
From series reports
Knight celebrates at Eriez. (Todd Battin)
HAMMETT, Pa. (Aug. 17) — Reigning track champion Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., overtook Brent Rhebergen just past the halfway point of the 50-lap feature at Eriez Speedway to capture his first career victory on the Independent Racing Series. Knight, who won the previous Late Model event at Eriez on Aug. 3, earned a career-high $5,000 in a race slowed by two cautions. Scott Johnson of Wattsburg, Pa., finished second followed by hometown driver Chris Hackett, Doug Eck of Corry, Pa., and polesitter Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., IRS points leader Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., was ninth. | Slideshow
Notes: Knight’s Craiger-powered Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Mobilia Fruit Farms, Genesis Racing Shocks, MWB Graphics & Web Design, Ripley Machine & Tool, NYPENN Surveying, Ottaway’s Auto Body, and Tecdular Contracting. ... He's the 11th IRS winner in 18 races in 2008. ... Drivers failing to make the feature: Kirk Bradley, Steve Halpainy, Andy Kania, George LaBarbera, John Lobb, Dennis Lunger Jr., Jason Morrell, Ben Porter, Ryan Scott, Bob Vogt Jr. and John Volpe. ... Robbie Blair has 2,697 points to lead the series followed by Rick Aukland (2,505) and Duane Chamberlain (2,299), who didn't attend the event. ... The IRS tour returns to action Aug. 22 with a $5,000-to-win event at Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, Md.
IRS @ Eriez: 1. Mike Knight, 2. Scott Johnson, 3. Chris Hackett, 4. Doug Eck, 5. Dave Hess Jr., 6. Scott Gurdak, 7. Greg Oakes, 8. Brent Rhebergen, 9. Robbie Blair, 10. Dutch Davies, 11. Matt Urban, 12. Boom Briggs, 13. Rick Aukland, 14. Merle Terry, 15. Dick Barton, 16. Bump Hedman, 17. Andy Boozel, 18. Rich Gardner, 19. Mickey Wright, 20. Jason Dupont, 21. Dan Maxim, 22. Joe Harvey, 23. Bruce Hordusky, 24. David Scott. Fast qualifier (among 35 cars): Boozel, 16.970 seconds. Heat race winners: Knight, Gurdak, Hordusky, Aukland. Consolation winners: Briggs, Wright. Dash winner: Hess.
