Entry Forms Mailed For Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic
Thursday, February 3, 2005
The official entry forms have been mailed to prospective racers for the thirteenth annual Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic winged 360-cubic-inch sprint car race for drivers age fifty and over. The $3,000-to-win, $300-to-start Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic will take place on Friday, June 3, at the legendary Knoxville Raceway during the sixteenth annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend. The latest entry has arrived from former fifth place finisher Carl “Midge” Miller of Willingboro, New Jersey, who will wheel his wife Pat’s Jereco-powered Shaw chassis sprinter. Additionally, Rick England of Wichita, Kansas, and Jerry Potter of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, are searching for rides for this popular ‘Seniors Tour’-type sprint car event.
In the twelve year history of the event, National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Rick Ferkel of Ohio continues to be the ‘Master blaster’ as he has won three Classics (1993, ’94, ’95), led the most laps (71, versus 39 for runner-up Jimmy Sills), won the most heat races (3, tied with Archie Ergenbright and Roger Rager), and holds the Knoxville track record for the Classic’s unique 22-lap distance (7:54.8 minutes in 1995). Billy Engelhart of Wisconsin (1996, ’97), Roger Rager of Minnesota (1999, 2001), and Jimmy Sills of California (2003, ’04) have each won the race twice, while single victories have been scored by Jerry Crabb of Iowa (1998), Terry Pletch of Indiana (2000), and Mike Peters of Kansas (2002).
The Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic will again honor three-time fast-timer John Bankston of Texas, who lost his life racing sprint cars in Ohio, with the annual John Bankston Memorial Quick-Qualifier Award. Cliff “Woody” Woodward of Missouri has also set fast time for the event on three occasions, while National Sprint Car Hall of Famers Larry Dickson and Lloyd Beckman, Mother Nature, Terry Pletch, Jimmy Sills and Jerry Potter have been fastest in other years.
Former ‘Rookie of the Race’ honors have been awarded to Rick Ferkel (1993), Bob Anderson of Iowa (1994), Mike Brooks of Iowa (1995), Jerry Nemire of Ohio (1996), Clay Bontrager of Kansas (1997), Bobby Allen of Pennsylvania (1998), Roger Rager (1999), Terry Pletch (2000), Dan Oswalt of Kansas (2001), Jim Payne of Ohio (2002), Jimmy Sills of California (2003), and Keith Kauffman (2004). In all, 126 different participants from 23 states and two foreign countries (Australia, Canada) have run the Masters Classic in its history.
In addition to the Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic, the Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville King Doodlebug Midget Classic will be held on Friday night. The Kin Folks 410 c.i. Sprint Car Shootout and the Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Nationals, featuring the best midgeteers from the American (ARDC), Badger (BMARA), Gateway (GRI), Midwest (MARA), and Rocky Mountain (RMMRA) sanctions, will be staged on Saturday night. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held on Saturday afternoon on the Marion County Fairgrounds. For more information on the midget and sprint car racing, visit the track’s web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com. For more info on the induction weekend, visit www.sprintcarhof.com.
Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic entrants:
#8, Carl “Midge” Miller, Willingboro, New Jersey, Shaw/Jereco, 5th – 2001.
#12x, Jerry Crabb, Des Moines, Iowa, JohnBoy/McCuen, 1998 winner.
#67T, Wally Pankratz, Orange, California, Eagle/Thompson, rookie.
Needs car, Rick England, Wichita, Kansas, TBA/TBA, 12th – 2004.
Needs car, Jerry Potter, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, TBA/TBA, 23rd – 2004.
Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Nationals entrants:
#8, Wally Pankratz, Orange, California, Edmunds/Fontana, BMARA.
#15, Tim Siner, Waterloo, Illinois, Stealth/Gaerte, GRI.
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