1/2 - One half mile is the size of Knoxville Raceway and one half second faster would have given Bookout a top 10 in the time trials.
1 - The first season for Bookout to compete in the ASCS series and to compete in the Knoxville 360 Nationals
5 - The "Nationals" was the 5th injected race of Bookout's career (and season).
16.886 - The number of seconds that Bookout was scored in his time trials.
28 - The number of drivers Bookout beat in the time trials at the "Nationals"
93 - The number of competitors at the "Nationals" representing many of the best in the world.
106 - Average speed in miles per hour of Bookout's time trial lap and his approximate speed at impact into the wall in the "B" Feature for the qualifying night.
The last few years saw Michael Bookout and his dad attending and watching the Knoxville 360 and 410 Nationals. In only his first year and fifth race (injected) of his career, Bookout entered competition at the 360 Nationals. After a downpour prior to the Thursday night time trials, the track was primed and ready for speeds at over 100mph.
Bookout turned in two laps under 17 seconds with his fastest at 16.886. As a note of comparison, this was faster than fellow Oklahoma driver and former ASCS National Champion of Zach Chappell, faster than current Top 10 National Tour ASCS drivers of Blake Hahn and Kyle Bellm, and faster than 25 other drivers.
Starting 7th in his heat, Bookout finished 7th in his heat. In the "B" Feature for the qualifying night, Bookout took a HARD hit into the wall of turns 1 and 2 of the first lap when something apparently broke on the car. The damage was significant enough that it was the end of the night and of the "Nationals" for this year. He was credited with a 20th place finish in the "B" Feature for the qualifying night.
- Robert Bookout on Aug 27, 2016
- Article Date: 8/6/2016