(Photo by Paul Arch)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 9, 2021) – Roger Crockett highlighted a trio of races at Knoxville Raceway last weekend with a solid outing during the 10th annual Fatheadz Eyewear Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank on Sunday.
Crockett qualified eighth quickest and won a heat race to lock into the A Main during only his second 410ci winged sprint car start of the season.
“The car felt really, really good in hot laps,” he said. “We qualified really well for where we went out. The heat race was really good other than a stumble in the motor. We made few changes for the feature, but they were wrong and the car was way too tight. If you started up front it was different story, but racing mid-pack it was tough to be that tight.”
Crockett recorded an 18th-place result, but more importantly he built confidence entering the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores this week at Knoxville Raceway. His preliminary night is Wednesday.
“Our racing early in the night is really good,” he said. “I have to study what we did and make the car not do what it did in the main event on Sunday. That’s part of not racing 410s very often. We have to capitalize on a good start to the night and get in a good position, but you have to race 410s to do that. Sometimes you have to figure out what not to do before you figure out what to do.
“I feel if we get a good draw and have a couple things go our way we can run well at the Knoxville Nationals. You can be a tiny bit off and be a D Main car. Or you could be really good and be an A Main or B Main car. It’d be really nice to not have to race Friday, but it’s not always bad if you have to run Friday.”
Crockett also competed at the half-mile oval last weekend during the 31st annual My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank. He qualified 18th quickest and finished fourth in a heat race during preliminary action on Thursday. Crockett then finished 12th in the A Main.
“We didn’t qualify in a good spot,” he said. “We weren’t way off on time. The times are really, really close and we were just a tiny bit off. That’s all it takes.
“We got a decent start in the feature. The track was so narrow in turns three and four. We ran right behind Justin Henderson and Cory Eliason early. Then I got hit by a giant boulder so that got me fouled up for a few laps.”
Crockett lined up on the outside of the fifth row in the B Main on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, a guy spun in front of me the first corner of the first lap,” he said. “It knocked the nose wing off. It was all askew. Even with the nose wing post broke I think we still gained a position, but there was a restart and it fell a different way and we couldn’t drive it. At the end of the day we weren’t going to transfer with the nose wing not in a proper position so we pulled off to save equipment.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 5 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 4 (3); Feature: 12 (11).
Aug. 7 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – B Main: DNF (10).
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 18 (11).
SEASON STATS –
15 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 8 top 10s, 10 top 15s, 12 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_Rocket_11
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roger.crockett.11/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therocket11/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Rocket Designs
Rocket Designs is a graphics and embroidery business based in Broken Arrow, Okla. Sprint car driver Roger Crockett established the business in 2006 with an emphasis on competitive pricing, quality service and quick turn-around times. For more information, visit https://www.rocketdesignsllc.com/.
“We continue to grow Rocket Designs and are very thankful to have the customers that we do,” Crockett said. “We’re proud to be able to supply people with hats in a time it’s hard to do that.”
Crockett would also like to thank Tracker Native Tobacco, Theodore Concrete Construction, BC Motorsports, RR Bounds Trucking, FK Rod Ends, Champion Racing Oil, Olson Custom Designs, Maxim Chassis, Factory Kahne, Smith Titanium, Moose Blocks, KW Motorsports, Blaine’s Motor Supply, K1 RaceGear, TJ Forged, Indy Race Parts, Bell Helmets, AL Driveline, Newlin Bar Service, Rider Racing Engines and KSE Racing Products for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.