By DDR Motorsports PR
Knoxville, Iowa—August 11, 2012 — David Gravel had one mission on Friday during the third night of the 52nd Annual Knoxville Nationals, which saw a new format this year, and that was to finish among the Top-Four in the 25-lap feature event, meaning he would be locked into the 50-lap $150,000-to-win A-Feature on Saturday night. The 20-year-old accomplished that, as he led a number of laps en route to a runner-up finish, which puts him on the outside of the ninth row on Saturday night for sprint car racing’s biggest event.
“I’m just happy to be in the show on Saturday night,” said Gravel. “This will be my first time in the main event in the three years that I’ve been coming here. I don’t even know what to say I’m so excited. I’m really looking forward to Saturday night.”
Gravel started on the pole for the 25-lapper on Friday and battled Cody Darrah in the early going for the top spot. The native of Watertown, Conn., took the lead on the fifth lap and would pace the next 17 circuits before eventual winner Justin Henderson got around him. Gravel would return to the point on the 22nd lap, with Henderson making the pass for the lead and ultimately the win on the following circuit.
Gravel opened the night on Friday as the fastest qualifier of the 67 drivers that took to the famed half-mile, which marked the 11th time this season he has been fastest in time trials, with six of those coming with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions and five with the World of Outlaws. Four cars were inverted in each of the seven heat races, with Gravel starting fourth in the first heat. He picked up the win in that eight-lap event to earn a spot in the 25-lap feature.
Gravel pulled double duty on Friday night, as he also raced in the 20-lap Speed Sport News Knoxville World Challenge, where he finished 12th after starting 18th.
Gravel began the 52nd Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals on Wednesday, August 8, as the sixth-fastest driver in qualifying of the 48 entrants that took to the legendary half-mile. An eight-car inversion in the heat races, put the East Coast racer seventh in the first heat race, where he finished eighth. He lined up fifth in the B-main and was sixth in that contest, which transferred four drivers to the preliminary A-Feature that night. The B-main on Wednesday night found eight of the Top-10 qualifiers taking the green flag in that 12-lap contest, with only four moving on to the preliminary feature.
The finale of the 52nd Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals on Saturday will be taped for broadcast on SPEED on Saturday, August 25 at Noon Eastern.
David Gravel and DDR Motorsports would like to thank: J&J Chassis, JRC Transportation, Kistler Engines, Musco Fuels and P&M Transportation for their continued support.
Keep up-to-date with David Gravel and DDR Motorsports by visiting www.DavidGravel89.com. Follow David on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DavidGravel89g. Like David on Facebook at http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ShortTrackRacingPR/878adf08aa/573ed91d45/68bbc984de
