KNOXVILLE, IOWA (March 11, 2012) - Just two races into the season, some people were already counting VLR_18 out of the title hunt. Two races and two wins later, he has everyones attention.

Just one week after dominating the Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway, the Brookfield, Wisconsin driver was at it again by holding off the largest crowd in VLR history to win at the legendary Knoxville Speedway for his second straight VLR win.

VLR_18 battled side by side with teammate VLR_JW of West Point, Mississippi for the first five laps until JFR_17 got into the corner too hot and pushed up into JW, nearly causing the points leader to spin out. By the time the Mississippi Missle gathered his car, 18 had sprinted out to a four car length lead over VLR_JW. VLR_18 managed to hold off the advances of JW and VLR_Shock for the rest of the fifty lap event to score his 49th career VLR win.

“That's the most intense race I've ever been in,” said VLR_18, who's lead seemed to sit around four car lengths the whole race. “They were right there at me and anytime I didn't hit the line perfect I got scared they would catch me. One mistake and it would've been over.”

VLR_JW maintained second for almost the whole race, but the early contact between he and JFR_17 ultimately proved to be what cost him a shot at the win. The 28-year-old drove across the line a half-second behind VLR_18.

VLR_Shock won the B Main and started the feature in seventh. The Crossville, Tennessee driver hung right with teammate VLR_JW for the entire race before diving under him to pass in turn four and coming up just short at the checkered flag to finish a strong third.

The win was VLR_18's second Knoxville National title at VLR, and was perhaps the biggest victory of his career. It didn't come easy, however, as the 17-year-old had to run a perfect race as VLR_JW, VLR_Shock, and BLS_Jason were all teamed up behind him single file waiting for the veteran driver to slip up. It didn't happen.

“I usually don't get nervous like that when I'm in the lead,” said VLR_18. “I just knew if I got in the corner wrong one time they would catch me and I'd be done for. I'd run a lot of .38's and then I'd look up and hit a .41 and I thought for sure they were going to catch me.

“It was a heck of a race and they definitely kept me honest out front. This is big for us to get back in the title hunt, though..”

VLR_18 credited his NOS Energy MasterSbilt chassis for being able to handle the slick corners that are famous here at the Knoxville Speedway as he kept his car glued to the bottom lap after lap.

“The car was great tonight and just real smooth. Probably wasn't the fastest overall but it got the job done," said VLR_18 in victory lane. “I think we're starting to find our groove now and get in a rhythm. Everybody knows they need to watch out for us now."

While VLR_18 didn't exactly dominate the race like he did last week at Deer Creek when he won by over four seconds, he still put together an unwavering race and stayed just ahead of VLR_JW's draft for most of the distance. VLR_JW spend much of the race trying to catch 18 while simultaneously holding off teammate VLR_Shock for second.

“I had something for Wheel tonight but JFR_17 got into me and that's all it took,” said the Mississippi driver who's finished in the top three every race this season. “If that didn't happen I figure me and Wheel would've settled it at the end but we'll never know.

"It was still a good run but we can't keep finishing behind him if we're gonna win a championship."

VLR_Shock once again found himself battling near the front of the field after starting in the back, and for the third time this season Shock would cross the line less than a tenth behind teammate VLR_JW.

The superfast tandem has finished next to each other in all three races they were in together this season, with JW winning all those battles despite the action coming down to the final corner in each race.

“It's almost like JW and I have a chain hooked together because we can't seem to get away from each other,” third-finishing VLR_Shock joked. "He's gotta start letting me pass him on the last lap so I can catch back up with him in points.

"Next week we're going to Kokomo which is one of my favorite tracks so maybe I'll have something for 'em there."

BLS_Jason and VLR_McGee both earned their first top 5's of the season at VLR as the two friends showed they had fast cars after starting in the back of the field. BLS_Jason was knocking on the top three but couldn't quite finish the deal and beat VLR_Shock in the final laps.

"We're always fast here at Knoxville and today was no different," The Valvoline sponsored driver BLS_Jason said. "It's a little frustrating when you feel like you could challenge for the win but get stuck behind other cars with nowhere to pass, but I'll take a 4th out of 45 cars anyday, especially after starting in the back."

VLR_McGee was also pleased with his strong run after starting ninth and coming home with a fifth place finish.

"Good racin' out here tonight. Me and JFR_17 had a real good battle back there for fifth and I thought he was gonna get me but I got to the line first somehow," said Spartanburg, South Carolina's VLR_McGee, who stopped short of saying he was elated with joy. "I'd like to thank Mama Tiger and little Ryno for lettin' me race and spottin' for me."

JFR_17 of Independence, Kansas finished sixth as his last corner pass attempt on VLR_McGee came up a little short. Starnes77 of Houston, Texas made his third straight VLR A Main and came away with a strong seventh place finish, IFRT_8x of Cumberland, Maryland made the feature and picked up an eight place result. WFO_Stealth and Doit 3 rounded out the finishers as Doit 3 was unable to make the starting grid due to engine failure.

The VLR points battle tightened after the event from first to third, with VLR_JW's lead over VLR_Shock now at four points, and his lead over third place  VLR_18 is down to nine points.

VLR_18 earned the biggest pole of his career by topping the 39 drivers who made a qualifying attempt in the tiebreaker with VLR_McGee, as both drivers registered a 13.38 but 18's total time was better.

VLR had to run a record six heat races due to the 46 cars that filled the pits. Heats were won by VLR_18(by inches over VLR_Shock), JFR_17, IFRT_8x, VLR_JW, Doit 3, and WFO_Stealth (who started dead last). The D Mains were won by BLS_43 and BLS_Kevin. Jon and IFRT_OCF brought home the two C Mains and VLR_Shock took home the B Main victory.

The VLR tour heads back east next week for a greuling 70 lap feature at the Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana for the 'Kokomo Klash' in what is sure to be an exciting race. We hope to see everyone back in action for this race and for the rest of the season!


Pos    Driver
1    VLR_18
2    VLR_JW
3    VLR_Shock
4    BLS Jsn!
5    VLR_McGee
6    JFR_17
7    Starnes
8    IFRT_8x
9    WFO_Stealth
10    Doit 3
11    Doit 45
12    IFRT_OCF
13    JFR*Woods
14    BLS_BW43
15    XCR_Evan
16    jon
17    BLS_END
18    JFR_Jim
19    67r
20    BLS_34
21    Tony
22    Dirtracer29
23    DS5
24    XCR_T92
25    ERL_J-MAC
26    Geisler
27    Squirrel
28    BLS_Kevin42
29    IFRT_14
30    ErL_Turbo
31    JFR*A2D
32    ErL_Goat
33    JFR_4H
34    BMS
35    hOoTs
36    JFR_lastplace
37    McFly34
38    S&S_22
39    smok3y69
40    BLS_ICE
41    IFRT_Rac
42    WtF
43    WFO Rainman
44    BLS_Lazy3
45    XCR_b58
46    VLR_911


Heat 1 (12 laps - Winner transfer): VLR_18, VLR_Shock, Jon, IFRT_End, Tony, WFO 69, WtF

Heat 2 (12 laps - Winner transfer): JFR_17, VLR_McGee, XCR_Geisler, SRF_DIrt, IFRT_OCF, 67r, WFO_Rainman, ERL_Turbo

Heat 3 (12 laps - Winner transfer): IFRT_8x, BLS_Jason, JFR*A2D, XCR_T92, JFR_Jim, BLS_Kevin, Squirrel, McFly34

Heat 4 (12 laps - Winner transfer): VLR_JW, Starnes, JFR*Woods, IFRT_14, ERL_J-Mac, S&S_22

Heat 5 (12 laps - Winner transfer): Doit 3, IFRT_Mav, HoOts, JFR*16, BLS_34, JFR*LP

Heat 6 (12 laps - Winner transfer): WFO_Stealth, XCR_SB, DS5, ERL_Goat, BLS_BW43, IFRT_Rac, smok3y69

D Main 1 (10 laps - Top 2 transfer): BLS_43, 67r, USRA_Squirrel, JFR*LP, S&S_22, BLS_ICE

D Main 2 (10 laps - Top 2 transfer): BLS_Kevin, ERL_Turbo, WFO*69, McFly34, smok3y69

C Main 1 (12 laps - Top 2 transfer): Jon, BLS_43, IFRT_END, 67r, Tony, DS5, ERL_Jmac, Squirrel, IFRT_14, JFR_A2D

C Main 2 (12 laps - Top 2 transfer): IFRT_OCF, JFR_Woods, JFR_Jim, BLS_34, SRF*Dirt, XCR_T92, XCR*Geisler, BLS_Kevin, ERL_Turbo, ERL_Goat

B Main 1 (20 laps - Top 4 transfer): VLR_Shock, BLS_Jason, VLR_McGee, Starnes, IFRT*Mav, IFRT_OCF, JFR*Woods, BLS_BW43, XCR_SB, Jon