Brooke Tatnell has dominated the preliminary night of the 22nd annual Knoxville 360 Nationals at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, leading home Tim Kaeding and Dusty Zomer.
Starting from third placing, Tatnell took until the 11th circulation to take the lead in the 20 lap affair. Once in the lead, the Australian Champion set about pulling a lead over the field until they hit lapped traffic.
Weaving through the traffic worked well for Tatnell who was able to extend his lead despite contending with the backmarkers in the stellar field.
Kaeding was able to make short work of third placing late in the race to advance to second, but he was no match for Tatnell who took an easy win in the end.
It was Tatnell's first win in the ASCS 360 cubic inch (6 litre) division and he took the win in a field that included 360 specialists and former Australian tourists Shane Stewart (7th), Jason Meyers (9th) and Jason Johnson (10th). 2010 Knoxville Nationals winner, Tim Shaffer was sixth.
Young Victorian, Jamie Veal bowed out in the B-Main, finishing sixth. He used the 360 Nationals as a warmup for next weekend's Knoxville Nationals.
The traditional warm-up event to next week's unofficial World Championship of Sprintcar racing – the Knoxville Nationals has seen the Speedweek begin well for the Australian contingent – which will number 11 at next week's event.
Tatnell lines up in eighth for tomorrow night's A-Main, whilst Veal will start from sixth in the C-Main.