Justin Grant Tames Knoxville on First Night of Corn Belt Clash

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 31, 2024) – Justin Grant of Ione, California netted $8,000 for his win in Night #1 of the Corn Belt Clash Friday at the Knoxville Raceway. The driver of the TOPP Motorsports #4 had to outduel Brady Bacon and a series of cautions and red flags to net his second career win at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World.” In 360 action, Jamie Ball won for the tenth time in his career, but for the first time since 2021.

Grant led Mitchel Moles, Bacon, CJ Leary, and Daison Pursley early in the 25-lap USAC main event. Bacon quickly moved into the second spot, while Pursley moved into fourth, setting the top five for the first ten laps, when Grant entered lapped traffic.

Bacon reeled the leader in, and on lap 14, used a slidejob in turns one and two to take the point. The perennial Knoxville favorite looked to be on his way before Leary slowed to a stop, surrendering the fourth spot with ten to go. That restart saw Wesley Smith tumble in turn two. He was o.k.

On the second try at green, Grant shot across turns one and two, sliding in front of Bacon to take back the lead. Meanwhile, Pursley followed in third, while Chase Johnson and Moles completed the top five. Chase Stockon slowed with five laps to go to bring another caution.

With the field jumbled again on the restart, Johnson shot the low side of turn two to jump from fourth to second. Bacon battled back by Johnson, but that was negated when Dakota Earls flipped in turn two with three to go, bringing the final slowdown. He was uninjured.

Grant was able to stay out front, while Bacon slid by Johnson again for second coming for the white flag. A last-ditch effort at Grant fell short by .247 of a second at the line. Pursley surged to third, followed by Jake Swanson and Johnson. Xavier Doney, Moles, Logan Seavey, Kyle Cummins, and hard-charger JJ Yeley rounded out the top ten. Leary set quick time over the field, while Johnson, Matt Westfall, and Seavey won heats. AJ Johnson took a wicked ride, destroying his sprinter in heat three. He was unhurt.

“It feels very good to get back in Victory Lane,” said Grant of his fifth USAC win of the year and the 50th in his career. “We have a rocket ship of a racecar. I was good early. I felt really comfortable. It got slicked and curbed up. It’s scary here at Knoxville. It’s fast and you’re up there on the curb. There were holes up in the cushion and I kind of got sitting back down in the seat trying not to crash the thing. Brady slid me, and I had a lap or two of the mopes. We got a yellow, and I was able to slide him there on the restart. If you come to Knoxville and you beat Brady Bacon, I feel like you’ve done something.”

Tyler Groenendyk led from the pole early in the 18-lap 360 main event. Clint Garner, Jamie Ball, Carson McCarl, and a surging Chase Randall followed. Blake Hahn broke something hitting the turn two cushion one lap in to bring the only caution of the event.

Great racing ensued back in fourth, fifth, and sixth between Aaron Reutzel, Brian Brown, and Randall. Up front, Groenendyk entered lapped traffic on the tenth circuit. Groenendyk had to change from the low groove to a treacherous cushion in traffic, and on lap 13, he hit the top of turn two awkwardly, and Ball saw the opportunity to strike for the lead.

Reutzel was a late mover, gaining third from Garner with three to go, and getting by Groenendyk for second on the white flag lap. Both passes came on the high side of turn two.

Ball’s tenth career win came ahead of Reutzel, Groenendyk, Garner, and Carson McCarl. Austin McCarl, Randall, Brown, Kaleb Johnson, and Tony Rost completed the top ten. The 42-car field saw Randall and Carson McCarl set quick time in their respective groups, while Kade Higday, Ryan Leavitt, Reutzel, and Hahn won heat races. Ryan Giles and Chase Johnson claimed the B mains.

“These don’t come easy,” said an excited Ball in Victory Lane. “I don’t know why, but I felt tonight was the night. All my guys have worked so hard. We’ve raced Reutzel, Randall, and (Garet) Williamson and they’re the best in the country. We’ve really had to raise our game and this was the toughest of those ten wins. It’s pedal to the medal one hundred percent of the time. Tyler is a great competitor and he’s going to get one of these one of these days. He is probably the top guy to not get a win here.”

Join us Saturday, June 1 for the finale of the Avanti Windows & Doors Cornbelt Clash featuring the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series!  The 988 Lifeline 410s will also be in action!  For more information on the Knoxville Raceway, visit us online at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps:, 1. 15X, CJ Leary, Greenfield, IN (24), 18.807; 2. 21AZ, Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (3), 18.976; 3. 69, Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK (20), 19.034; 4. 5S, Chase Stockon, Fort Branch, IN (2), 19.086; 5. 4, Justin Grant, Ione, CA (15), 19.090; 6. 19AZ, Mitchel Moles, Raisin City, CA (4), 19.102; 7. 74, Xavier Doney, Odessa, MO (6), 19.138; 8. 44, Wesley Smith, Nixa, MO (13), 19.163; 9. 3R, Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL (8), 19.195; 10. 4J, Chase Johnson, Penngrove, CA (10), 19.265; 11. 2B, Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA (27), 19.389; 12. 88J, Joey Amantea, Mt. Pocono, PA (7), 19.405; 13. 12, Robert Ballou, Rocklin, CA (16), 19.432; 14. 17GP, Jadon Rogers, Worthington, IN (9), 19.485; 15. 57, Logan Seavey, Sutter, CA (25), 19.489; 16. 3P, Kyle Cummins, Princeton, IN (5), 19.571; 17. 33M, Matt Westfall, Pleasant Hill, OH (17), 19.620; 18. 73, Logan Calderwood, Goodyear, AZ (1), 19.652; 19. 1H, Korbyn Hayslett, Troy, OH (19), 19.716; 20. 24M, Hunter Maddox, Bloomington, IN (11), 19.805; 21. 21K, Kobe Simpson, Bonham, TX (22), 19.921; 22. 47, Charles Davis Jr., Buckeye, AZ (26), 19.986; 23. 2, JJ Yeley, Phoenix, AZ (23), 20.013; 24. 93, AJ Johnson, Oskaloosa, IA (14), 20.061; 25. 15E, Dakota Earls, Independence, MO (18), 20.207; 26. 38, Eric Schulz, Sioux Falls, SD (21), 20.332; DQ (Tire) 15, Carson Garrett, Littleton, CO (12)

Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 2:41.4: 1. Chase Johnson (3); 2. Chase Stockon (5); 3. Xavier Doney (4); 4. Robert Ballou (2); 5. CJ Leary (6); 6. Kyle Cummins (1); 7. Charles Davis Jr. (8); 8. Korbyn Hayslett (7); 9. Dakota Earls (9)

Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:45.0: 1. Matt Westfall (1); 2. Wesley Smith (4); 3. Daison Pursley (6); 4. Jadon Rogers (2); 5. Justin Grant (5); 6. Jake Swanson (3); 7. JJ Yeley (8); 8. Eric Schulz (9); 9. Hunter Maddox (7)

Heat three (started), 8 Laps, NT: 1. Logan Seavey (2); 2. Joey Amantea (3); 3. Brady Bacon (6); 4. Carson Garrett (9); 5. Mitchel Moles (5); 6. Kevin Thomas Jr. (4); 7. Kobe Simpson (7); 8. Logan Calderwood (1); 9. AJ Johnson (8)

A main (started), 25 Laps, NT: 1. Justin Grant (2); 2. Brady Bacon (4); 3. Daison Pursley (5); 4. Jake Swanson (13); 5. Chase Johnson (7); 6. Xavier Doney (10); 7. Mitchel Moles (1); 8. Logan Seavey (8); 9. Kyle Cummins (17); 10. JJ Yeley (23); 11. Robert Ballou (15); 12. Matt Westfall (9); 13. CJ Leary (6); 14. Carson Garrett (26); 15. Kevin Thomas Jr. (12); 16. Hunter Maddox (20); 17. Jadon Rogers (16); 18. Joey Amantea (14); 19. Chase Stockon (3); 20. Charles Davis Jr. (22); 21. Korbyn Hayslett (19); 22. Kobe Simpson (21); 23. Logan Calderwood (18); 24. Eric Schulz (25); 25. Dakota Earls (24); 26. Wesley Smith (11) DNS – AJ Johnson. Lap Leaders: Grant 1-13, Bacon 14-15, Grant 16-25. Hard-charger: Yeley.

Time Trial Group 1 (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 2KS, Chase Randall, Waco, TX (3), 15.976; 2. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (1), 16.004; 3. 99, Tony Rost, Omaha, NE (18), 16.126; 4. 3P, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (13), 16.193; 5. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (9), 16.221; 6. 01, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (6), 16.260; 7. 27B, Jake Bubak, Arvada, CO (8), 16.264; 8. 7B, Ben Brown, Marshall, MO (10), 16.309; 9. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD (15), 16.311; 10. 7A, Jack Anderson, Newton, IA (7), 16.313; 11. 24, Kade Higday, Pleasant Hill, IA (16), 16.329; 12. 22, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA (12), 16.370; 13. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (4), 16.381; 14. 6AJ, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (17), 16.392; 15. 2M, Ryan Giles, Grimes, IA (19), 16.447; 16. 86, Timothy Smith, Rocheport, MO (5), 16.453; 17. 5A, Alex Vande Voort, Knoxville, IA (11), 16.884; 18. 38, Logan Alexander, Lacona, IA (14), 17.095; 19. 1A, John Anderson, Des Moines, IA (20), 17.153; 20. T4, Tyler Graves, Chariton, IA (21), 17.209; 21. 14, Aidan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA (2), NT

Time Trial Group 2 (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 27, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (1), 16.145; 2. 24N, Nathan Mills, Bondurant, IA (7), 16.167; 3. 4W, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (10), 16.178; 4. 6N, Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD (4), 16.209; 5. 87, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX (14), 16.231; 6. 17, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA (5), 16.254; 7. 27W, Emerson Axsom, Franklin, IN (8), 16.299; 8. 88, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (12), 16.405; 9. 4, Cam Martin, Ankeny, IA (16), 16.434; 10. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (17), 16.463; 11. 22M, Rees Moran, Tulsa, OK (2), 16.565; 12. 52, Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK (18), 16.584; 13. 1TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (11), 16.611; 14. 4J, Chase Johnson, Penngrove, CA (6), 16.652; 15. 4G, Cole Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (3), 16.653; 16. 77X, Alex Hill, Six Nations, ONT, Ca (21), 16.725; 17. 4C, Tuesday Calderwood, Goodyear, AZ (20), 16.740; 18. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA (13), 16.809; 19. 20T, Corey Timmerman, Burlington, IA (9), 16.931; 20. 3R, Russell Potter, Boonville, MO (19), 17.330; 21. 12S, Adyn Schmidt, Haubstadt, IN (15), NT

Heat one (started), 7 Laps, NT: 1. Kade Higday (1); 2. Jake Bubak (3); 3. Chase Randall (6); 4. Clint Garner (4); 5. Ryan Giles (8); 6. Tony Rost (5); 7. Chris Martin (7); 8. Alex Vande Voort (9); 9. John Anderson (10); 10. Matt Juhl (2) DNS – Aidan Zoutte

Heat two (started), 7 Laps, 2:00.1: 1. Ryan Leavitt (1); 2. Jack Anderson (2); 3. Ben Brown (3); 4. Brian Brown (6); 5. Terry McCarl (4); 6. Sawyer Phillips (5); 7. AJ Moeller (7); 8. Timothy Smith (8); 9. Logan Alexander (9); 10. Tyler Graves (10)

Heat three (started), 7 Laps, 1:59.7: 1. Aaron Reutzel (4); 2. Cam Martin (2); 3. Jamie Ball (5); 4. Rees Moran (1); 5. Emerson Axsom (3); 6. Carson McCarl (6); 7. Tasker Phillips (7); 8. Cole Garner (8); 9. Adyn Schmidt (11); 10. Corey Timmerman (10); 11. Tuesday Calderwood (9)

Heat four (started), 7 Laps, 2:02.0: 1. Blake Hahn (1); 2. Austin McCarl (3); 3. Tyler Groenendyk (4); 4. Joe Beaver (2); 5. Kaleb Johnson (5); 6. Chase Johnson (7); 7. Nathan Mills (6); 8. Alex Hill (8); 9. Russell Potter (10); 10. Alan Zoutte (9)

B main one (started), 8 Laps, 2:23.4: 1. Ryan Giles (1); 2. Ryan Leavitt (2) / 3. Chris Martin (3); 4. Timothy Smith (4); 5. Alex Vande Voort (5); 6. John Anderson (7); 7. Tyler Graves (8); 8. Logan Alexander (6) DNS – Matt Juhl, AJ Moeller, Aidan Zoutte

B main two (started), 10 Laps, 3:04.1: 1. Chase Johnson (3); 2. Tasker Phillips (4) / 3. Alex Hill (6); 4. Joe Beaver (1); 5. Rees Moran (2); 6. Cole Garner (5); 7. Adyn Schmidt (9); 8. Russell Potter (7); 9. Tuesday Calderwood (11); 10. Alan Zoutte (8); 11. Corey Timmerman (10)

A main (started), 18 Laps, NT: 1. Jamie Ball (5); 2. Aaron Reutzel (7); 3. Tyler Groenendyk (1); 4. Clint Garner (2); 5. Carson McCarl (3); 6. Austin McCarl (10); 7. Chase Randall (8); 8. Brian Brown (6); 9. Kaleb Johnson (12); 10. Tony Rost (9); 11. Jake Bubak (4); 12. Emerson Axsom (20); 13. Ben Brown (11); 14. Terry McCarl (19); 15. Jack Anderson (17); 16. Kade Higday (13); 17. Chase Johnson (22); 18. Ryan Giles (21); 19. Sawyer Phillips (15); 20. Ryan Leavitt (23); 21. Nathan Mills (16); 22. Tasker Phillips (24); 23. Cam Martin (14); 24. Blake Hahn (18). Lap Leaders: Groenendyk 1-12, Ball 13-18. Hard-charger: Axsom.

Sources: Bill Wright /Knoxville Raceway PR