Brian Birkhofer Commits to Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Defending champion Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, is the latest dirt track racer to officially enter the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway, September 29-30-October 1. According to Knoxville director of racing Ralph ‘Cappy’ Capitani, “After his win here in October last year against the best-of-the-best from the United States and Canada, we consider Brian to be the leader of the ‘Knoxville 99’. He’s a hard charger and a fine young Iowan, and we’re proud to have him represent the Knoxville Late Model Nationals as it’s initial champion!”
Birkhofer, who won the prestigious World 100 at Earl Baltes’ Eldora Speedway in 2002, had an even dozen feature wins in 2004, besting the Stacker2 Xtreme DirtCar Series (XDCS), Sunoco American Late Model Series (ALMS), World of Outlaws (WoO), and the PolyDome World Dirt Racing League (WDRL). Brian won $35,000 by triumphing over the 99-car field in the three-day XDCS finale last year. The 100-lapper was televised on the Speed Channel, as will this year’s open-competition event.
Brian Birkhofer, who finished second to Jeff Aikey in 1996 at an International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Deery Brothers Summer Series event at Knoxville, joins 2004 Stacker2 XDCS champion Earl Pearson, Jr., of Jacksonville, Florida, on the 2005 Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals entry list. Pearson set a new track record at Knoxville at the 2004 show with a time of 18.401 seconds around the big half-mile oval. Said ‘Cappy’ today, “With winner Birkhofer and runner-up Pearson from last year already entered, we feel we have two of the nation’s finest racers committed to our $220,000 Lucas Oil-sponsored affair. Hopefully ‘Mother Nature’ will smile on us this year and give us ‘Indian Summer’ weather in which to enjoy the end-of-the-season classic.”
According to www.brianbirkhoferracing.com, Birkhofer’s sponsors on his #15B dirt late model in 2005 include Daufeldt Transport, J&J Steel, Simon Trucking, and the Community Bank of Muscatine. According to www.dunnbensonfordmotorsports.com, Pearson’s sponsors on the #1 machine include Dunn-Benson Ford and Lucas Oil Products. Those seeking ticket information or an entry form for this year’s second annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals on September 29-30-October 1 are encouraged to visit the track’s web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
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