Stratton Tops Knoxville Midget Night One

By Bryan Gapinski
Knoxville, Iowa, June 3--Danny Stratton score an impressive victory in the 20-lap Mt. Dew/Pepsi King Doodlebug Classic feature Friday Night at Knoxville Raceway. The event was sanctioned by ARDC, Badger, Gateway, MARA, and RMMRA Midget Series, as night one of the Knoxville Midget National Championship.
Stratton quickly moved third on the opening lap, and one lap later entering turn two passed former event winner Chad DeSelle for the lead. Stratton began increasing his advantage each lap, over a tightly bunched field of cars behind him. The driver from Fontana, Calif., held a 3.3 second advantage over DeSell, and Scott Hatton at the midway point.
With four laps remaining Mike Miller stalled on the track erasing Stratton's four second-plus lead. On Stratton took advantage of four lapped cars between himself and second place. Hatton slowed on the 17th lap entering turn one running in third place, Don Lehmann avoiding Hatton made contact with fourth place Johnny Rodriguez sending Rodriguez into the path of fifth place Don Droud Jr. Rodriguez struck the first turn wall hard, while Droud flipped. Seventh place Kevin Doty retired during the red flag with fuel tank damage.
On the restart Stratton stretched his lead, over Deselle who hit the turn three wall and flipped with two laps remaining collecting third place Craig Carey. On the final restart Stratton driving the Hans Lein owned Spike/Esslinger again pulled away finishing 1.9 seconds ahead of Brad Kuhn, Eric Wilkins, Rick Mueller, Brad Loyet, and Ric Forbes. The top six driver earned automatic starting positions in Saturday Night's championship feature. 

BMARA POINTS STANDINGS AS OF 6/3/05
POSITION, DRIVER, POINTS, PASS PTS, CAR #, OWNER, POINTS

[Home] [2007 Results] [Rules] [Photos] [Classified]
[Past Results] [Timeline] [History] [Past Champions, Point Standings]
[Links] Contact Badger: bmara-AT-charter.net ( replace -AT- with @ )