Penton Raceway
Knowles stays perfect with victory at Penton
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Scott Knowles celebrates at Penton. (Brian McLeod)
PENTON, Ala. (May 29) — Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala., remained undefeated at Penton Raceway in 2009 by winning the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Stars and Stripes 40.
Knowles, the 2008 Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year, took the lead on a lap-14 restart from fast qualifier Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga. Knowles got to the inside of Rainey in turn one, and grabbed the lead coming off the second turn. | Slideshow
“I’ve got to thank Derrick Rainey for racing me clean,” Knowles said. “I tried a couple of times earlier on the race to get under him, but on that restart, he pushed up just enough for me to get under him to take the lead. I also want to thank the lapped cars for staying up high late in the race, and giving us plenty of room.”
Knowles, the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region points leader, crossed the finish line ahead of Larry Boutwell of Baker, Fla., while Aaron Ridley of Chatsworth, Ga., was third. Eric Cooley of Fulton, Miss., and Jay Blair of Angie, La., rounded out the top five. Series points leader David Gentry of Lewisburg, Tenn., was ninth and Rainey ended up 18th.
Notes: Knowles drives a Warrior Race Car sponsored by All-Star Graphics. ... Knowles can get a $1,000 bonus if he can sweep the series weekend in Saturday's feature at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City. ... Fifteen drivers completed 40 laps and 17 were running at the finish. ... Provisional starter Jason Wilson won the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger honors with his 23rd-to-15th run.
NeSmith @ Penton: (1) Scott Knowles, (2) Larry Boutwell, (3) Aaron Ridley, (4) Eric Cooley, (5) Jay Blair, (6) Jeff Landrum, (7) Ben McCreary, (8) David Gentry, (9) Chase Washington, (10) Matthew Turner, (11) Steven Roberts, (12) Chad Wallace, (13) Chase Edge, (14) Anthony Meadows, (15) Jason Wilson, (16) Randy Hester, (17) Michael Keener, (18) Derrick Rainey, (19) Rodgerick Dykes, (20) Danny Peoples, (21) Marc Gooden, (22) Shane Stodgill, (23) Jake Sanders, (24) Mike Parkerson. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Rainey, 14.418 seconds. Consolation race winners: Ridley, Dykes, Blair. Provisional starter: Wilson.
