An event record setting 82 of the greatest winged sprint car drivers in the world gathered at the Knoxville Raceway to kick off the 2024 “Nationals Week” on Sunday night. The Capitani Classic, honoring the late Ralph Capitani, provided an exciting preview for what’s to transpire in the coming days.
After the field shook the hot and humid Iowa air during engine heat and hot laps, Buddy Kofoid of Penngrove, CA set the overall fastest time in qualifying in Flight A, while Higginsville, MO native and Knoxville regular Brian Brown posted the fastest time in Flight B.
The recently crowned Knoxville 360 Nationals champion Tyler Courtney suffered an early-evening exit from the event after contact with Tasker Phillips during heat race action. The six heat races scintillated on the already hot and heavy Knoxville Raceway, with Scott Bogucki, Aaron Reutzel, Sam Hafertepe Jr., 360 Nationals runner-up Emerson Axsom, Rico Abreu and Spencer Bayston picking up wins.
Other preliminary events also entertained, with Cory Eliason and Kraig Kinser grabbing C Feature wins, while Kofoid and Justin Peck took the evening’s extremely stout 24-car strong B Features. The unique “Pole Shuffle” was won by Daryn Pittman aboard the iconic Kreitz #69K machine.
Pittman and Brown led the 25-lap Capitani Classic to the green, with Pittman jumping out to a strong early advantage. The fourth starting #24 of Abreu quickly moved to 2nd and began chasing down Pittman as the front-runners closed in on lapped traffic. On lap 6, Abreu closed to within striking distance of the #69K and the St. Helena, CA ace dove low on the speedway, slid up in front of Pittman and kicked off a 4-5 lap war for the lead. After the top spot changed hands several times, Abreu solidified himself and the #24 at the front on lap 10 and began to pull away.
The battle at the front allowed third place running Giovanni Scelzi of Fresno, CA to close in on Pittman, and the bright-orange #18 made the move for the runner-up spot on lap 12. Pittman would have another fight on his hands later in the race, as yet another California driver, this time it was Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing #41, closed in and overtook the Oklahoman on lap 22.
The entire race ran green to checkered, and Abreu was surgical in lapped traffic. The special red wine themed livery on the #24 paying tribute to Abreu’s family business crossed the line first in its debut, as Abreu led the final 15 laps of the Ralph Capitani Classic and earned his first win at the Knoxville Raceway since an All Star Circuit of Champions event on July 29th of 2023.
Scelzi and Macedo rounded out the Top 3 to complete a sweep of the podium for the state of California, while Pittman and another Californian, reigning World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet, completed the top 5 runners.
Tomorrow “Nationals Week” continues at the Southern Iowa Speedway with the Sage Fruit Front Row Challenge. Tickets are available by calling 515-957-0020 or at the track on race day. The night’s racing will be broadcast live on FloRacing.
Action returns to the Knoxville Raceway on Wednesday, August 7th when Brandt Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night officially kicks off the 2024 NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals.
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