Knoxville's Lucas Oil L.M. Show Truly A 'Nationals'
Saturday, April 30, 2005
“You can’t have a national championship (show) without having champions from all over the nation!” With that simple-yet-strong statement, Knoxville Raceway’s director of racing Ralph Capitani officially accepted the pre-entry of John Duty of Portland, Oregon. The 2003 Pacific Coast Xtreme DirtCar Series (PCXDCS) point champion is the latest driver to enter the second annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals, September 29-30-October 1. Earl Pearson, Jr., of Jacksonville, Florida, the 2004 Stacker2 Xtreme DirtCar Series champion, has already submitted the first entry for the $35,000-to-win Speed Channel-televised event.
Last season, Knoxville’s inaugural season-ending three-day dirt late model national championship show drew 99 teams from the United States and Canada. Twenty-two (22) came from Iowa, twenty-six (26) from the surrounding states (Minn., S.D., Neb., Mo., Ill., and Wisc.), twenty-six (26) from the states east of the Mississippi, and twenty-four (24) from the western states. Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, carried the Canadian colors proudly. Last fall, Oregon sent a record eleven (11) teams to Knoxville, including John Duty and 2004 PCXDCS champion Jeremy Shank. California and Washington sent three teams each. PCXDCS series coordinator Doug Walters and Knoxville Raceway’s Ralph “Cappy” Capitani were extremely pleased with the representation by the ‘best from the West’ in 2004 and hope to repeat it in ’05.
John Duty’s number 5 Rocket-chassis Pontiac Grand Prix-bodied dirt late model is wrenched by Craig Cassel and is sponsored by Don Frank Floor Covering, Mohawk Color Center, Colonial Building Service and Oregon Motorsports. Other recent entries for the Lucas Oil Knoxville L.M. Nationals have come from John Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska, Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri, Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Michigan, and veteran Johnny Johnson of West Burlington, Iowa. Smyser is the son of former Knoxville Raceway sprint car racer Payton “Sonny” Smyser.
To date, Knoxville Raceway has received sixteen (16) entries from eleven (11) different states for the 100-lap national championship event, which will start 30 cars on Saturday, October 1. 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 new web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
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