Stats Tell The Tale At Knoxville

Roy Robbins, the 1961 Knoxville Nationals winner. (NSSN Archives Photo)

Editor’s Note: This is the 21st installment in National Speed Sport News’ 30 Days of Knoxville countdown to the 52nd annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals. During the coming days we will revisit past races, drivers and statistics, while previewing this year’s event.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The Knoxville Nationals has one of the most storied histories of an event in auto racing history.

Thus, in its 52nd season, the statistics are among the most interesting of those of an of the prestigious racing events.

Here are a sampling of those statistics:

Past Knoxville Nationals Winners

Year – Driver, Number, Owner

1961 – Roy Robbins, 37, O. J. Huffman

1962 – Jerry Richert Sr., 69, Ted Ready

1963 – Greg Weld, 92, Taylor “Pappy” Weld

1964 – Kenny Weld, 94, Taylor “Pappy” Weld

1965 – Kenny Weld, 94, Taylor “Pappy” Weld

1966 – Jay Woodside, 9, Ted Hall

1967 – Thad Dosher, 74, Jack Cunningham

1968 – Ray Lee Goodwin, 24, Swenson/Williams

1969 – Ken Gritz, 12, Larry Snyder

1970 – Joe Saldana, 2, C&L Racing

1971 – Jan Opperman, 6, Cahill Racing

1972 – Kenny Weld, 29, Bob Weikert

1973 – Kenny Weld, 29, Bob Weikert

1974 – Dick Gaines, 71, Karl Kinser

1975 – Eddie Leavitt, 40, Ricke/Hill

1976 – Eddie Leavitt, 4J, Galden Inc.

1977 – Doug Wolfgang, 20, Bob Trostle

1978 – Doug Wolfgang, 4x, Speedway Motors

1979 – Ron Shuman, 75A, Gary Stanton

1980 – Steve Kinser, 20, Bob Trostle/Karl Kinser

1981 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1982 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1983 – Sammy Swindell, 1, Raymond Beadle

1984 – Doug Wolfgang, 29, Bob Weikert

1985 – Doug Wolfgang, 29, Bob Weikert

1986 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1987 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1988 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1989 – Doug Wolfgang, 8D, D.P. Motorsports

1990 – Bobby Allen, 1a, Allen Enterprises

1991 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1992 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1993 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1994 – Steve Kinser, 11, Karl Kinser

1995 – Steve Kinser, 11, Steve Kinser

1996 – Mark Kinser, 5m, Karl Kinser

1997 – Dave Blaney, 10, Blaney/Hylton

1998 – Danny Lasoski, 83, Dennis Roth

1999 – Mark Kinser, 5m, Karl Kinser

2000 – Mark Kinser, 5m, Karl Kinser

2001 – Danny Lasoski, 20L, Tony Stewart

2002 – Steve Kinser, 11, Steve Kinser

2003 – Danny Lasoski, 20, Tony Stewart

2004 – Danny Lasoski, 20, Tony Stewart

2005 – Kraig Kinser, 11K, Steve Kinser

2006 – Donny Schatz, 15, Schatz Motorsports

2007 – Donny Schatz, 15, Schatz Motorsports

2008 – Donny Schatz, 15, Tony Stewart

2009 – Donny Schatz, 15, Tony Stewart

2010 – Tim Shaffer, 83, Call/Holbrook Motorsports

2011 – Donny Schatz, 15, Tony Stewart

Led From Start to Finish

1963 Greg Weld

1970 Joe Saldana

1971 Jan Opperman

1973 Kenny Weld

1975 Eddie Leavitt

1978 Doug Wolfgang

1982 Steve Kinser

1985 Doug Wolfgang

1986 Steve Kinser

1987 Steve Kinser

1989 Doug Wolfgang

1991 Steve Kinser

1992 Steve Kinser

1996 Mark Kinser

2001 Danny Lasoski

2002 Steve Kinser

2007 Donny Schatz

A Main Lineup Qualifiers (Most Times)

34…Steve Kinser

31…Sammy Swindell

23…Danny Lasoski

19…Mark Kinser

18…Stevie Smith

17…Jeff Swindell

17…Jac Haudenschild

17…Terry McCarl

16…Craig Dollansky

15…Doug Wolfgang

15…Dave Blaney

14…Bobby Davis Jr.

14…Joey Saldana

14…Donny Schatz

13…Danny Smith

13…Greg Hodnett

13…Paul McMahan

12…Randy Smith

12…Johnny Herrera

12…Kenny Jacobs

12…Tim Shaffer

11…RonShuman

11…Shane Carson

11…Bobby Allen

11…Andy Hillenburg

11…Jeff Shepard

11…Shane Stewart

10…Earl Wagner

10…Dick Sutcliffe

10…Eddie Leavitt

10…Jimmy Sills

10…Randy Hannagan

9…..Ray Lee Goodwin

9…..Kenny Weld

9…..Tim Green

9…..Frankie Kerr

9…..Daryn Pittman

Nationals Lap Leaders

302…Steve Kinser

152…Doug Wolfgang

131…Donny Schatz

103…Danny Lasoski

97…..Mark Kinser

85…..Sammy Swindell

75…..Jan Opperman

74…..Kenny Weld

70…..Joey Saldana

50…..Eddie Leavitt

44…..Dave Blaney

42…..Joe Saldana

37…..Ray Lee Goodwin

33…..Roy Robbins

30…..Kraig Kinser

25…..Greg Weld

24…..Jason Meyers

19…..Jerry Blundy

17…..Jim Nelson

16…..Ron Shuman

15…..Bob Williams

15…..Terry McCarl

14…..Tim Green

13……Thad Dosher

13…..Mike Brooks

10…..Gary Dunkle

9……Audie Swartz

9……Jerry Richert

9……Stevie Smith

7……Jeff Swindell

6……Lloyd Beckman

6……Bobby Allen

5……Jay Woodside

4……Ken Gritz

4……Brad Sweet

2……Billy Shuman

2……Tim Shaffer

1……Earl Wagner

1……Dick Gaines

1……Daryn Pittman

Most Top 10 Finishes

26…Steve Kinser

20…Sammy Swindell

16…Danny Lasoski

13…Mark Kinser

13…Stevie Smith

12…Doug Wolfgang

12…Donny Schatz

12…Craig Dollansky

11…Jeff Swindell

10…Jac Haudenschild

9…..Bobby Davis Jr.

9…..Dave Blaney

8…..Kenny Weld

8…..Ron Shuman

8…..Andy Hillenburg

8…..Kenny Jacobs

7…..Earl Wagner

7…..Jerry Weld

7…..Bob Williams

7…..Eddie Leavitt

7…..Johnny Herrera

7….Joey Saldana

“Rookies of the Nationals”

1980…Bobby Davis Jr., Memphis, TN

…Duane Feduska, Ceritos, CA

1981…Eddie Polich, Great Falls, MT

1982…Brad Doty, Kittanning, PA

1983…Keith Kauffman, Mifflintown, PA

1984…Kenny Jacobs, Holmesville, OH

1985…Chuck Gurney, Livermore, CA

1986…Ted Lee, El Paso, TX

1987…Steve Butler, Kokomo, IN

1988…Joey Allen, Hanover, PA

1989…Stevie Smith, New Oxford, PA

1990…Joey Kuhn, Newville, PA

1991…Paul Lotier, Lebanon, PA

1992…Dale Blaney, Hartford, OH

1993…Lance Dewease, Waynesboro, PA

1994…Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA

1995…Larry Pinegar II, Des Moines, IA

1996…Tyler Walker, Santa Clarita, CA

1997…Randy Anderson, Clarion, IA

1998…Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK

1999…PJ Chesson, Far Hills, NJ

2000…Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA

2001…Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN

2002…Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA

2003…Erin Crocker, Wilbraham, MA

2004…Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA

2005…Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL

2006…Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, KS

2007…Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX

2008…Doug Esh, Lancaster, PA

2009…Daron Clayton, Sikeston, MO

2010…David Gravel, Watertown, CT

2011…Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK

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