For Kevin Thomas Jr., Knoxville Raceway provided the perfect setting for a transformation weekend for both himself and his Rock Steady Racing team. KTJ’s beginning to the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship season saw him finish no better than eighth in any of his first 10 series starts, and a point ranking of 11th entering this weekend’s Avanti Windows & Doors Corn Belt Clash. On Saturday night at the 1/2-mile dirt oval in Iowa, Thomas parlayed an inside second row starting position into victory. First, the Cullman, Alabama racer narrowly avoided a major catastrophe during the opening laps, then put a clamp on the top spot on a lap eight restart en route to his first USAC victory of the season and the first of his career at Knoxville, one that was worth a cool $15,000.