Best of Nextel Cup and Late Model Worlds Collide at Knoxville!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Best of Nextel Cup and Late Model Worlds Collide at Knoxville!
by Bill Wright (www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com) – The field for Knoxville Raceway’s 3rd Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals promises to be the stoutest yet, as the best in the Late Model business will collide with a couple of Nextel Cup legends on September 28-30. Sweeping three nights of the program could net a driver $47,000.
2002 and 2005 Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart heads the pre-entry list for the three-day event. Fellow Nextel Cup veteran, Ken Schrader, is also expected to return to his old open wheel Knoxville haunt, to compete for the $35,000 top prize that will be handed out to this year’s champion.
Defending Late Model Nationals champion and 2006 Eldora Dream winner, Scott Bloomquist, will attempt to defend his title in a return to his Iowa roots. Other Iowa natives expected to compete are 2004 inaugural Late Model Nationals champion, Brian Birkhofer, and World of Outlaws legend, Billy Moyer.
Eight of the top ten World of Outlaws Late Model pilots are expected to sling Iowa gumbo at the end of September. Moyer will be joined by Chub Frank, Darrell Lanigan, “The Kentucky Colonel” Steve Francis, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, “Kid Rocket” Josh Richards and Clint Smith.
The WoO’s leading Rookie of the Year contender, West Virginia’s Eddie Carrier Jr., is expected to bring his cushion slamming style to Knoxville, as is the late model one lap track record holder at this historic half-mile, Justin Fegers. Fegers circled the half-mile in 17.673 seconds in last year’s event. The “Million Dollar Man”, Donnie Moran, is also expected.
Jimmy Mars, Jeep Van Wormer, Brady Smith, Mike Marlar, Shannon Babb and a cast of others will make this the most competitive Late Model Nationals field in the brief history of the event.
The event will comprise three nights of racing, and drivers will be allowed to compete all three nights. Thursday and Friday night will be qualifying nights, with points awarded for a full program of qualifying, heats and features. Each driver will be allowed to keep his “highest scoring” night, and that is how Saturday’s events will be lined up. Preliminary features will pay $6,000 to win.
An exciting opportunity for fans will allow pit access from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, free of charge! See the high-powered machines and the drivers who wheel them close up and in person! Other events include the popular Knoxville Late Model Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Auction. The event takes place at noon on Saturday at the Nationals Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum off of turn two at the Knoxville Raceway. Tickets are just $15 and can be reserved by calling the museum at 1-800-874-4488. Speed Channel's Jeff Hammond, and young Illinois driver, Justin Allgaier, were the 'Celebrity Waiters of the Year' in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Josh Richards is among the waiters expected this year!
You can order your Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals tickets online right now by clicking the “Online Tickets” link at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com, by visiting the Knoxville Raceway ticket office, or by calling 641 842-5431.
Saturday’s main event will be aired on SpeedTV on October 7. The rain date for the 100 lap finale will be Sunday, October 1. Driver sign-in will be open at 2 p.m. on Thursday, and 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information on the 3rd Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com, or call 641 842-5431.
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