It looked for all the world like Jacob Allen and Shark Racing would grab another NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals preliminary night victory on Wednesday evening in Knoxville, IA.
The newly re-designed KCP #18 machine, now in a striking black and gold livery, had other ideas.
With less than five circuits remaining, California’s Giovanni Scelzi threaded the needle between Allen and the lapped car of Matt Juhl and pulled away over the closing laps to take the win on Brandt Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night at the Knoxville Raceway.
Allen took the lead early over Monrovia, PA’s Justin Peck and checked out at the front. The lone caution of the race flew on lap 9 for a slowing Jamie Ball in the Victory Fuel #4.
On the ensuing restart, Allen once again pulled away but behind the Shark Racing #1a Scelzi was methodically picking his way through the front-runners and passed Peck for 2nd on lap 17.
Scelzi began to close in on Allen at the front when the Hanover, PA driver found himself caught in traffic behind the night’s Seafoam QuickTime award winner Juhl. As the #09 slid up the racetrack entering turn one, Scelzi somehow found a lane between Juhl and Allen to sneak through and steal the win away from the High Limit full-timer. Peck, Chase Randall and Brent Marks rounded out the top 5 runners.
Tomorrow the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals continues with Toyota Qualifying night. Tickets are available at KnoxvilleRaceway.com or at the track on race day. The night’s racing will be broadcast live on DIRTVision.
HW Designs Photos
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