NARA & WDRL Drivers Support Lucas Oil L.M. Nationals
Saturday, April 23, 2005
The second annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway, September 29-30-October 1, has gained some valuable support from several top drivers from the North American Racing Association (NARA) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Polydome World Dirt Racing League (WDRL). Amongst the latest Knoxville entries are WDRL’s Denny Eckrich of Iowa, Dave Eckrich of Iowa, Kyle Berck of Nebraska, and Darren Miller of Illinois, and NARA’s Steve Shaver of West Virginia, Scott James of Indiana, and Jimmy Mars of Wisconsin. In addition, Knoxville entrant Brady Smith of Wisconsin, the defending WDRL champion, is in the ‘top twenty’ in points in both NARA and WDRL.
According to Knoxville director of racing Ralph ‘Cappy’ Capitani, “I really want to thank Spencer Wilson of NARA, Jim Wilson of WDRL, and the teams for their support of our $35,000-to-win open competition event. At this early date, we already have entries from six of the ‘top ten’ drivers from the WDRL and five of the ‘top twenty’ in NARA points. Obviously their support of our three-day Speed-televised national championship event won’t go unnoticed.”
Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is currently third in the NARA Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points. Earl Pearson Jr., of Jacksonville, Florida, is sixth in NARA points, while Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is tenth. In addition, Wisconsinites Jimmy Mars (Menomonie) and Brady Smith (Solon Springs) are sixteenth and nineteenth in the 2005 Lexington, Kentucky-based point standings, respectively. Pearson set fast time and a new track record at the inaugural Knoxville Late Model Nationals (Xtreme Finals) in 2004.
Defending Knoxville L.M. Nationals champion Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, leads the Polydome WDRL point standings this year. Brothers Denny and Dave Eckrich of Oxford, Iowa, sit second and fifth, respectively, in the points. Kyle Berck of Marquette, Nebraska, is seventh, while Brady Smith is ninth, in the Blue Springs, Missouri-based points. Darren Miller of Chadwick, Illinois, who along with Jimmy Mars won the two Knoxville preliminary night features in 2004, is currently ninth in the WDRL.
Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa, is also pre-entered for the 2005 edition of Knoxville dirt late model national championship event. He hopes to repeat the success at Knoxville of past ‘Keokuk Gang’ members Ramo Stott (1963, ’66, ’73), Dick Hutcherson (1964), Ernie Derr (1965), and Don White (1969, ’70).
Those seeking more information on the second annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway, September 29-30-October 1, are encouraged to visit the track’s newly-redesigned web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY - History of Late Model Stock Car Championships
championship criteria: minimum 30 laps distance or $3,000-to-win
01., 08/22/54, Don Rosenburger, Des Moines, IA, SISCRA, 100L
02., 08/07/59, Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, IA, IMCA, 50L
03., 05/27/62, Jule "Chub" Liebe, Oelwein, IA, IMCA, 200L
04., 05/18/63, Ramo Stott, Keokuk, IA, IMCA, 200L
05., 05/02/64, Dick Hutcherson, Keokuk, IA, IMCA, 200L
06., 05/01/65, Ernie Derr, Keokuk, IA, IMCA, 200L
07., 05/14/66, Ramo Stott, Keokuk, IA, IMCA, 200L
08., 06/07/69, Don White, Keokuk, IA, USAC, 100L
09., 06/06/70, Don White, Keokuk, IA, USAC, 100L
10., 05/01/71, Larry “Butch” Hartman, Zanesville, OH, USAC, 100L
11., 06/11/72, Chuck McWilliams, Walton, KY, USAC, 100L
12., 04/28/73, Ramo Stott, Keokuk, IA, USAC, 100L
13., 05/24/74, Larry “Butch” Hartman, Zanesville, OH, USAC, 100L
14., 09/13/75, Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, IA, open comp.
15., 09/11/76, Joe Wallace, Kansas City, KS, open comp.
16., 09/10/77, Curt Hansen, Dike, IA, open comp.
17., 04/25/82, Jack Boggs, Webbville, KY, open comp., 50L
18., 09/12/82, Steve Kosiski, Omaha, NE, open comp., 50L
19., 07/25/85, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, NDRA, 100L
20., 07/29/88, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, WoO/ALMA, 30L
21., 09/10/94, Steve Kosiski, Omaha, NE, IMCA, 40L
22., 07/18/95, Willy Kraft, Lakefield, MN, NASCAR, 100L
23., 09/09/95, Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, IA, IMCA, 40L
24., 09/07/96, Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, IA, IMCA, 40L
25., 09/06/97, Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA, IMCA, 40L
26., 07/13/99, Rick Aukland, Fargo, ND, UMP, 50L
27., 06/27/00, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, HAT/UDTRA, 60L
28., 07/11/00, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR, UMP, 100L
29., 10/14/04, Darren Miller, Chadwick, IL, XDCS, 30L
30., 10/15/04, Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, WI, XDCS, 30L
31., 10/16/04, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA, XDCS, 100L
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