Shirley, Stewart, Moran to Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Monday, March 5, 2007
Knoxville, IA – by Bruce Neimeth - Brian Shirley, Tony Stewart and Donnie Moran, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 2006 Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals are entered for the 4th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals on September 27 – 29, 2007. The trio started the 2006 Championship 100-lap event in mid-pack (14th, 17th & 15th) with Shirley spinning his way back to 30th before he moved to the front late in the race. There he held off a steady charge by 2-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart who used the wall in turn 2 as the cushion to close within 5 car lengths at the checkered flag.
Donnie Moran, the Eldora Million Dollar Man in 2001, with over 25 years of winning championships and big events, used this event to put a positive spin on a rough 2006 as he got up on the wheel in the last 20 laps and was closing on Stewart. But past accomplishments meant little on the Victory Stage. From being overcome with emotion at “beating the best of the best”, to “just making the 100 lap Championship event at Knoxville Raceway” to a look that said “I’m back”, each of the trio had their own spin on the night.
For the 2007 event, Brian Shirley will be back in the Jayco Construction, Petroff Towing J&J Steel GM powered #3s C.J. Rayburn Chassis, while Tony Stewart will be in the Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats Rocket Chassis, GM powered #20. Donnie Moran will sport a new look for his Chevy powered, Masterbilt chassis #99 sponsored again by Custom Cutters and PBM.
The trio will run a complete show on Thursday night, September 27th against the rest of the 66 car field, with Time Trials, heats, C, B and A Features. They’ll be racing for over $27,000, $6,000 to win, and qualifying points to lock in to the Saturday 100-lap Championship event for the top 24 in points. Everyone will have the opportunity to run a complete program again on Friday night, trying and move up in the points for Saturday. Other than Stewart, who will run the NASCAR Busch race at Kansas Speedway on Friday, we expect most others to again race for the $27,000, $6,000 to win, and a chance to dial the cars in.
Saturday will start with the C and B features for all drivers outside the top 24, with 6 transferring to the $152,000, $35,000 to win 100-lap Championship A feature. In 2006 over 60 drivers ran again on Friday, with the only changes in points coming in the last 6 spots.
Reserved seats are available now online at www.knoxvilleraceway.com or by calling Knoxville Raceway at (641) 842-5431 from 9-5 pm Monday – Friday and 10-2pm on Saturday. For more information, contact:
Bruce Neimeth, Director, Business/Event Development, brucen@knoxvilleraceway.com.
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