2007 Knoxville Nationals Purse breaks through $900,000
Friday, February 16, 2007
Knoxville, IA - by Bruce Neimeth - With the 50th Anniversary Knoxville Nationals coming in 2010, the target of a million dollar purse looks more realistic as drivers in the 47th Annual SuperClean Knoxville Nationals in August will divide up over $909,000 in prize money. The 4-day event will reward the 2007 Knoxville Nationals Champion with a record $150,000 for taking the checkered flag on Saturday night in front of a packed house of 25,000 fans, and a live Speed Channel audience across North America.
With this week’s racing focus on Daytona, the purse for the Craftsman Truck GM 250 on Friday is $730,000, with $88,850 going to winner Mark Martin. The Speed Channel live broadcast in 2006 drew about the same audience as the Knoxville Nationals in 2006. It will be interesting to compare the GM 250 ratings in 2007 with the return to a single national touring sprint car series supporting the Nationals.
Since 1997 the 4-day Nationals purse has grown from $559,530 to $909,515. In fact, the 2007 Saturday Championship night itself will pay out over $582,275. Dave Blaney, the 1997 Champion took home $100,000. Dave moved on to NASCAR racing in the Cup Series, most recently racing for Bill Davis Racing.
Other interesting comparisons of 1997 to the present find Wednesday night’s A main winner, Mark Kinser still in “rest” after winning the 1999 and 2000 Nationals. Thursday nights winner, Jac Haudenschild is still competing and winning, and will try again in 2007 to get to the 2007 Nationals Victory Stage on Saturday night. Gary Wright took the Friday night win, and continues to take checkered flags where ever he goes. Sarah Fischer made it to the B Main in 1997, moving on shortly after that to the IRL where she was the first female driver to win a pole position. For 2007 she is returning to the IRL and the Indy 500.
For the 2007, Southern Iowa Speed Weeks total prize monies at Knoxville Raceway will exceed $1,000,000, including the 3-day 360 Nationals and the Brodix Tournament of Champions
For more information about the events, purchasing tickets and camping, please contact:
www.knoxvilleraceway.com or calling (641) 842-5431.
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