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RECENT RESULTS

The Dude was back in the Lasoski Motorsports 33 to wrap up his
8th Knoxville Raceway Track Championship.
Photo by Bob Jones.

Danny Lasoski Wraps Up 8th Knoxville Track Championship, Heads West With Silva

By Bob Jones
September 3, 2008

Well, now it's official. Knoxville's winningest driver put the finishing touches on his record 8th Knoxville Raceway Track Championship. Truth be told, Lasoski and Forbrook had the title wrapped up weeks ago but that didn't stop The Dude from spending the last two weeks at the track.

"I think a lot of people expected me to go do something else after the Nationals since we had it wrapped up, but there was no place I'd rather be. The last ten years I've raced at Knoxville I've had a very small "set-up window". I didn't really feel comfortable doing much outside of that comfort zone as far as set-ups. I can't remember the last time I had two weeks at Knoxville to do whatever I wanted...and that's exactly what I did," Lasoski grinned.

The Dude threw his typical set-ups out the window and tried some things he'd been dying to try. "I'll be the first to admit...last week's testing worked just fine but this week's wasn't so good. The car was a handful to drive but that is how you learn. Throw things at the car you normally would never try and see how it reacts. Last week I was able to roll the car through the middle and I found some things I like. This week the car was completely different and I was out to lunch. But it was great to have the opportunity to try some things knowing if it bombed I wouldn't ruin my chances at a Championship," he said.

Lasoski timed in fourth quick, ran fourth in the Heat Race and second in the Feature. "I was actually lucky to run where I did. (Davey) Heskin and (Billy) Alley had some trouble and I was able to get by (Dusty) Zomer on a restart but really we had a fourth or fifth place car. It was a handful," he said.

"I think a lot of people were surprised to see me back at Knoxville, but to me it just made sense. It just takes so much money to run the Outlaws and unless you have the right funding, it is silly to try to compete night in and night out with the high dollar teams. Believe me, I've been on both sides of that fence. It was great to come back to Knoxville every week and run at my favorite track. I think I had more fun this year than I've had in a long time. I was able to race where I wanted, when I wanted and make my own schedule...just like the old days," he said.

Although the racing season at Knoxville has come to a close, Lasoski's racing season is far from over. The Dude flew out Sunday morning to team up with his buddy Paul Silva and the Doyle's Harley Davidson 1HD car. The 1HD team tuned up against the ASCS NW at Grays Harbor Speedway in Elma, WA before battling the Outlaws a second night in Elma and again at Cottage Grove Speedway. With three consecutive top five finishes, Lasoski couldn't be happier. "Paul and the Doyle's Harley Davidson team put together a really nice racecar. I'm just the lucky guy who they asked to drive it," he said. The Dude ran second against the ASCS and then recorded fourth and fifth place finishes against the Outlaws.

Lasoski and the Doyle's Harley Davidson will head to Silver Dollar Speedway at Chico, CA for the 55th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions. Lasoski was the 2000 Gold Cup Champion and looks to add a second Gold Cup to his already stellar resume. "The Gold Cup is one of those races everyone wants to win. Sure it pays good ($50,000), but more importantly it is one of a small handful of races that guys want to win because of the tradition and history behind it. I've was fortunate enough to win it once, but I'd love to back it up with another one," he said.

Stay tuned to www.dannylasoski.com for news and updates from the 55th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA.

Danny Lasoski pictured in the Lasoski Motorsports Arctic Cat 33 at the Knoxville Nationals.
Photo by Bob Jones.

Danny Lasoski straps into the Lasoski Motorsports Arctic Cat 33.
Photo by Bob Jones.

Lasoski Is Point Leader Through Nationals Qualifications, But Comes Home 4th in the End

By Bob Jones
August 12, 2008

Going into the Knoxville Nationals there is a list of critical elements for a driver to complete in order to qualify for the front row of the A Main. That check lists consists of:

--Put down a solid qualifying lap in Time Trials
--Transfer through the Heat Race from the back
--Run well in the Qualifying Night A Feature
--Move forward in the A Scramble

Danny Lasoski did exactly what needed to be done. He timed in second quick, went from tenth to fourth in his Heat Race, started eighth in the Qualifying Feature and ran second, and moved from ninth to second in the A Scramble. That series of events nailed down the pole position for Saturday night's Knoxville Nationals A Feature.

"The Team Arctic Cat, Lasoski Motorsports machine was bad fast all week. This is the first time I've ever ran my own car at the Nationals. It was an absolute honor to run my own deal with my dad's number on the car. We did exactly what it takes to put this thing on the front row. We moved forward every single time we hit the track and the car felt awesome. We definitely put ourselves in position to win number five," Lasoski explained.

With 30 laps around the famed half mile standing between Lasoski and his fifth title, the final preparations were made for the A Feature. "After studying the track conditions I really thought it was going to slick off. I made some calls to tightened up the car, thinking it would pay off late in the race. I was banking on the track slicking off and when the fuel load burnt off the car would have been an absolute rocket. Problem is, that never happened," Lasoski explained.

Race fans in attendance could feel the wind pick up during the intermission for driver introductions. There was weather approaching and the temperature seemed to drop 10-15° F during the intermission. "Instead of slicking off, the temperature drop brought the moisture out of the dirt and made the track better instead of worse. Going into Turn 1 on the first lap I knew I was in trouble," he said.

With his set-up gamble out the window, Lasoski was wrestling an ill handling racecar for the first half of the race. "The first ten laps that car was an absolute handful. I was fighting it through the turns just hoping it would get better. I had fallen from the pole to sixth and I knew I blew it. Luckily, as the fuel load burnt off the car got better and better and we were able to get back by Saldana and Kinser. We actually had Dollansky for third at the white flag but he made a great move to take away the bottom and we settled for fourth."

"Bottom line is I blew it. It was my call to tighten up the car and the track did the exact opposite of what I thought it would. My guys worked hard all week and did everything I asked them to do, and this one is on me. I can't say enough for Arctic Cat stepping up and making this deal possible. You can't do a deal like this without good sponsors and I really appreciate my sponsors staying behind me. I am just really disappointed to put ourselves in position to win and let it slip away. Unfortunately I have an entire year to think about this one until we get another shot. We'll be back," he said.

FINISH	TRACK
5th	Cottage Grove Speedway
4th	Grays Harbor Speedway
2nd	Grays Harbor Speedway
2nd	Knoxville Raceway
2nd	Knoxville Raceway
1st	State Fair Speedway

2008 VICTORIES

DATE	TRACK
8/17	State Fair Speedway
7/26	Knoxville Raceway
7/18	Grays Harbor Speedway
7/5	Knoxville Raceway
6/21	Knoxville Raceway
5/26	Husets Speedway
5/25	Husets Speedway
3/19	State Fair Speedway
2/10	Volusia Speedway Park
1/17	Parramatta City Raceway

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