Last weekend was a roller coaster for Kaleb Johnson.

The Team DGRD driver invaded I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo., on Friday for the opening night of a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series doubleheader.

Johnson was 13th quickest in his group and he advanced one position to finish sixth in a heat race. That lined him up on the outside of the second row in the Last Chance Showdown.

“We didn’t qualify real great, but moved forward in the heat race,” he said. “I felt we were in a good spot to transfer through the Last Chance Showdown. On the start I didn’t see anybody next to me and went to the bottom, but the next thing I knew somebody climbed my left rear and we got smoked.”

The opening-lap collision resulted in a DNF.

“We went to go eat after we got the car fixed and we had a bearing blow out on the rear axle of our trailer,” he said. “A wheel and hub flew off the trailer. I wanted to race on Saturday, but I thought that might have been a sign we should go home.”

The team skipped Saturday’s Ironman 55 finale and prepared for Sunday’s Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank at Knoxville Raceway.

“We brought out a brand new motor that I thought ran well, but we missed it on the setup in qualifying,” he said. “We figured if we were going to try some stuff last night was the night to try. I just wasn’t comfortable.”

Johnson timed in 35th quickest in his group. He rebounded with a charge from 12th to seventh in a heat race and from 11th to fifth in a B Main, ending only two spots shy of making the main event out of a field of more than 70 drivers.

“We went back to stuff we known works at Knoxville and were much better in the heat race and B Main,” he said. “It was nice to get by some cars in the heat race to put ourselves in a decent position for the B Main. I felt like I could get by cars when I needed. I wish we had a late-race yellow because I think we were good enough to contend for a transfer.”

Johnson will return to Knoxville Raceway this week for the 64th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. His preliminary night is Wednesday.

QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 1 – I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo. – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: DNF (4).

Aug. 3 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 35; Heat race: 7 (12); B Main: 5 (11).

SEASON STATS –

38 races, 3 wins, 13 top fives, 20 top 10s, 22 top 15s, 26 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 64th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s

ILP PR