Earl Pearson, Jr. #1 Entry for Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals on Speed TV
Monday, March 21, 2005
Knoxville, IA – by Bruce Neimeth – As expected, Earl Pearson, Jr., driving the Lucas Oil sponsored Dunn-Benson Ford, is the first official entry for the 2nd Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. But the event sponsors name on the side of the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model is no guarantee of a starting spot in the 30 car line up on Saturday, October 1st, 2005.
According to Earl, “With no provisional starting spots, and 120 entries expected for the $220,000 purse, I’m going to have to drive my way in like every one else. The Knoxville Raceway qualifying points system gives every driver the same chance – as long as you can be consistently fast every time you’re on the track. 2004 was a great year for me and the team, including setting a new track record at Knoxville. The only thing missing was winning the Knoxville Late Model National Finals. I’m looking forward to changing that this year.”
Besides winning the 2004 Xtreme DirtCar National Series Championship and RPM Racing News ‘Driver of the Year’ Award, Earl won 11 feature events including the Cedar Lake Masters, Georgia Triple Crown, Carolina Clash, Jim Dunn Memorial and Burlington, IA Summer Nationals. He left his mark from Alabama to Wisconsin to Iowa. Earl went on to say, “For 2005, I’m focusing on the Lucas Oil NARA Series and wherever the competition is good and the purse is big."
The 3-day Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals will run two complete preliminary programs on Thursday, September 29th and Friday, September 30th. The 100-lap Feature on Saturday night, October 1st will be preceded by the “Last Chance” G through B Mains. The top six drivers from these events will start on the back of the 100-lap event. Speed Channel’s 2-hour broadcast on Saturday, October 8th will show the entire Saturday 100-lap event as well as highlights of each of the qualifying nights.
Knoxville Raceway, located 28 miles S.E. of Des Moines, Iowa, seats 25,800 as well as 52 16-seat Sky Boxes. Located outside turn two, the 4-story Nationals Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum has suites and group facilities for watching the races. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum will play host to the 2nd Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals Celebrity Waiters Luncheon and Auction.
For more information including the event Rule Book and Entry Form, please go to www.knoxvilleraceway.com or contact “Cappy” or Bruce at (641) 842-5431.
|