(Photo by Studio 92 Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 4, 2014) – White Lightning Motorsports had an epic performance last weekend at Knoxville Raceway.
Jamie Ball advanced into the 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals main event and teammate Devin Kline charged from eighth to capture his second straight 305ci feature win on Saturday.
“The goal going into the weekend was definitely to put it in the show,” Ball said. “That was accomplished. Our qualifying night went pretty good.”
Ball timed in 18th quickest during qualifying to kick off his preliminary night last Thursday.
“We qualified 18th quickest, which was a little disappointing,” he said. “We rebounded with a second-place finish in the heat race.”
After starting on the outside of the fifth row in the main event, Ball advanced to a seventh-place result. It was good enough to lock him into Saturday’s $10,000-to-win feature for the first time in his career.
“It was pretty cool to be locked in with those guys,” Ball said. “When we were looking at the lineups everyone else had a lot of experience. We have five years of racing sprint cars while I think everyone else had at least 10 years.”
Based on having the 15th-most points out of the 103 entries during qualifying action, Ball lined up on the inside of the eighth row for Saturday’s main event.
“I had intentions and goals of getting a top 10,” he said. I had a pretty decent start and I got up to about 13th and then I slowly fell back. The car went away a little. I struggled hitting the top and wasn’t as good on the bottom as I’d like to be. It was one of those moments when I was thrilled to make it, but as a competitor I was disappointed to move backward.”
Ball finished with a 19th-place result.
Kline had another standout night, which started when he set quick time in 305ci qualifying for the first time in his career. After advancing from sixth to fifth place in his heat race, he started on the outside of the fourth row for the main event.
“My goal was to get through turn one in survival mode and then we’d go from there,” he said. “Once I found my way to the bottom it all started clicking.”
Kline dropped a couple of positions in the opening turns before he began to rally toward the front. By focusing on the bottom groove, Kline advanced into fourth place before a caution with five laps remaining bunched the field together.
“There were a few guys trying to run down there, but nobody was holding it like I could,” he said. “We tightened it up a bit to do that.”
Kline shot to second place on the restart and he took the lead the following lap en route to the triumph.
“I’m still in shock,” he said. “I’m doing the best I can. I just feel like I have a pretty strong desire to win. I want to say thanks again to Larry, Jody and Jamie for the support and opportunity.”
White Lightning Motorsports will be off for the next two weekends until the season finale at Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 23.
However, Ball is scheduled to compete today and Tuesday at English Creek Speedway during the 9th annual Outlaw DIRT KART Nationals.
QUICK RESULTS –
JAMIE BALL – July 31 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 7 (10).
Aug. 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Feature: 19 (15).
DEVIN KLINE – Aug. 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 5 (6); Feature: 1 (8).
SEASON STATS –
JAMIE BALL – 13 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 10 top 10s, 10 top 15s, 11 top 20s
LARRY BALL JR. – 8 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 3 top 20s
DEVIN KLINE – 7 races, 2 wins, 2 top fives, 3 top 10s, 3 top 15s, 3 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Aug. 23 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Jamie Ball Website: http://www.JamieBall.com
Larry Ball Jr. Website: http://www.LarryBallJr.com
Devin Kline Website: http://www.DevinKline.com
Jamie Ball Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JamieBall5j
Larry Ball Jr. Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LarryBallJr5j
Devin Kline Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DevinKline5j
VIDEO –
Here is a link to highlights from Ball’s first career 360 victory at Knoxville Raceway on June 21: http://youtu.be/sJxnb-gK1nY
Here is a link to highlights of Kline’s first-ever 305 win at Knoxville Raceway on July 19: http://youtu.be/cu2F34pQISg
Here is a link to highlights from Kline’s triumph at Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 2: http://youtu.be/wHeFsGhah6I
APPAREL –
White Lightning Motorsports has t-shirts and hoodies available for purchase at their race trailers in the infield of each sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – L & J Automotive
L & J Automotive was founded by Larry Ball Jr. and Jody Hegwood in 2010. Since then L & J has been providing excellent service and offering outstanding value to neighbors throughout Marion County. Bring your car in today for a free 25-point inspection and see what L & J Automotive is all about. It is located in Knoxville, Iowa, just two blocks south of “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” Knoxville Raceway.
“L & J Automotive is your one-stop shop in Knoxville, Iowa,” Jamie Ball said. “There is no job too big or too small for them. L & J also employees and sponsors mechanic/305/360 sprint car driver Mitchell Alexander. Not only are they good guys, but they’re big supporters of sprint car racing.”
White Lightning Motorsports would also like to thank AIB College of Business, JJ Kane Auctioneers, Ostrich Racing Engines, Van Gorp Construction, The Hearing Clinic, Timber Line Tree Service, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Matt Jones Trucking, Bell Helmets, Driver Websites, Sweet Manufacturing, Vocon Auctioneers, Iowa State Savings Bank, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Hoosier Tire, MPD Racing, Champion Oil, Wingdance Graphics, Replay XD, Shell Shock and Hooker Harness 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 and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Aug 04, 2014
- Article Date: 8/4/2014 by Inside Line Promotions