(Photo by Studio 92 Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (June 30, 2015) – White Lightning Motorsports had another great performance last Saturday at Knoxville Raceway, where Devin Kline captured his fourth 305ci feature victory and teammate Jamie Ball posted his first top 10 of the season at the famed half-mile oval.
Kline, who ranks second in the championship standings, opened the event by setting quick time during qualifying before he finished fifth in a heat race to make the feature inversion.
“We started off the night with quick time, which was our first of the year,” he said. “That set a good tone.”
Kline then drew the pole for the 15-lap main event during the feature redraw.
“It was a very wide and tricky track,” he said. “The bottom was pretty narrow. I could hit it pretty good on the restarts, but when we were up to speed it was hard to hit. Chris Walraven and Stacey Alexander went by me early so I went to the top.”
Kline raced in third place for the first few laps before Walraven brought out a caution. Kline took advantage of the restart on Lap 6 to power into the top spot.
“I knew I could hit turns one and two off the restart so I went down there and nailed it like I needed to,” he said. “We drag raced down the backstretch and I threw a slider in turns three and four to take the lead. I knew it was my one shot. I cruised around the top from there.”
It marked Kline’s sixth feature victory at Knoxville Raceway.
Ball also had a solid night in the 360ci class, beginning with a third-place qualifying run. He then maneuvered from sixth to win a heat race.
“Things started off well again,” he said. “We timed third quick for the fourth time this year. We’re right there when it comes to qualifying. We had a good heat race going from sixth to third, but got credited with the win due to the first and second-place drivers not stopping for a red.”
Ball made the feature redraw and pulled the No. 3 to start the main event on the inside of the second row.
“We fell back a little bit and we were racing for sixth place with another driver,” he said. “I tried to go around him on the outside of turn four. My car got a little into the cushion and his car slid up. We banged wheels, but I was able to save it. I lost two spots there, but it was just a racing deal.”
Ball ended with a ninth-place result.
“At the beginning of the year I wouldn’t have been too thrilled with ninth place, but with the bad luck and how much we’ve been struggling it’s little steps that are important,” he said.
Ball will return to action this Thursday at Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa, with the Sprint Invaders (which he leads the points in) and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway. Kline has the weekend off.
QUICK RESULTS –
JAMIE BALL:
June 27 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 1 (6); Feature: 9 (3).
DEVIN KLINE:
June 27 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 5 (6); Feature: 1 (1).
SEASON STATS –
JAMIE BALL – 13 races, 1 win, 2 top fives, 3 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 12 top 20s
DEVIN KLINE – 7 races, 4 wins, 4 top fives, 5 top 10s, 6 top 15s, 7 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday at Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa, with the Sprint Invaders and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Jamie Ball Website: http://www.JamieBall.com
Devin Kline Website: http://www.DevinKline.com
Jamie Ball Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JamieBall5j
Devin Kline Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DevinKline5j
VIDEO –
Here is a link to highlights of Kline’s first win of the season at Knoxville Raceway on May 9: https://youtu.be/ErMdMcbuxjQ
Here is a link to highlights of Kline’s second win of the season at Knoxville Raceway on May 23: https://youtu.be/3BbJfIPVbqc
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 – Bell Helmets
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world’s leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance. For more information, visit http://www.BellRacing.com.
“Since my dad started racing sprint cars in 1998 he’s been a Bell customer and I have been as well since I started,” Jamie Ball said. “We not only love their helmets, but we love how safe they are. I value their craftsmanship and how strong their helmets are. I want to say thanks for keeping us safe throughout the years.”
White Lightning Motorsports would also like to thank Matt Jones Trucking, Jerry & Kelly Johnston, Housby, JJ Kane Auctioneers, Ostrich Racing Engines, BCP Weddings, Timber Line Tree Service, The Hearing Clinic, Sweet Manufacturing, Iowa State Savings Bank, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Hoosier Tire, MPD Racing, Driver Websites, Champion Oil, Wingdance Graphics, 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 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.
- Shawn Miller on Jun 30, 2015
- Article Date: 6/30/2015 by Inside Line Promotions