He's recognized more for his sponsorship efforts but this weekend, Evan Knoll was known as a Top Fuel driver. The former Top Alcohol Dragster driver first licensed at the same event two years ago and was sidelined when he suffered a severe concussion just months later in a non-racing automobile accident.

Knoll test fired his dragster for the first time on Friday afternoon to the approval of crewchief Jimmy Walsh and a loud cheer from onlooking fans. He operated over the course of the weekend utilizing the J.R. Todd crew with a mix of Dale Creasy team members.

A last minute discovery of a problem with the clutch prevented a Friday run.

He's recognized more for his sponsorship efforts but this weekend, Evan Knoll was known as a Top Fuel driver. The former Top Alcohol Dragster driver first licensed at the same event two years ago and was sidelined when he suffered a severe concussion just months later in a non-racing automobile accident.

Knoll test fired his dragster for the first time on Friday afternoon to the approval of crewchief Jimmy Walsh and a loud cheer from onlooking fans. He operated over the course of the weekend utilizing the J.R. Todd crew with a mix of Dale Creasy team members.

A last minute discovery of a problem with the clutch prevented a Friday run.

"I didn't mind it at all," Knoll said. "I was a little bit disappointed, but when you look at the big picture, it was probably for the best. I'm not a big fan of night time driving since my accident. On my first run down the drag strip I would have preferred to do it during the day."

Knoll made his first run Saturday afternoon and lifted early when the car began to drift toward the centerline. He was on a single and lifted 1,000 feet into the run. As it turned out, a parachute malfunction prevented them from launching but Knoll brought the car to a safe stop.