Northland Products to Sponsor 45th Annual Knoxville Nationals Friday Night Qualifying
Monday, February 7, 2005
KNOXVILLE, IOWA – Northland Products, an Iowa based producer and marketer of Motor oils and lubricants since 1908, has agreed to a multi-year contract to sponsor the Friday night qualifying program starting with the 45th Annual Knoxville Nationals presented by Midwest Ford Dealers this August.
The Friday, August 12th races feature the non-qualifiers show with heats, a B feature and the A main. The evening also includes the C, B and A Scrambles for the Pole races that set the line up for the first 5-rows of the Saturday C, B and the A mains. It is capped off by the Clean-O World Challenge, presented by www.fleetbuyinggroup.com, which is an international invitational for some of the world’s best sprint car drivers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.A. The total purse for this night should exceed $130,000.
According to Eric Petersen, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, of Northland Products, “This is an exciting move for us into the national racing scene with the biggest short track race in the world. Over the years we have supported regional track championships as well as individual race teams and the results have been very good for our customers. We have many customers who are avid race fans; it is nice to support them and their interests”. Northland’s line of bulk and packaged lubricants are used by automotive new car dealers, fleet operators, locomotive companies, and independent garages in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Northland Products joins Factory Motorparts and Weld Wheel Industries as long-term sponsors of the three exciting preliminary nights leading up to the Saturday, August 13th live broadcast of the $140,000-to-win 45th Annual Knoxville Nationals presented by Midwest Ford Dealers on Speed Channel. The 4-hour show is hosted by Ralph Sheheen, Brad Doty, Dave Argabright and Tony Bokhoven.
Knoxville Raceway has been operated by the Marion County Fair Association continuously for 51 years. For 2005 fans will enjoy 35 nights of racing from April to early October featuring 360 and 410 sprint cars and drivers from across the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Special events highlighted by the Knoxville “360” Nationals and Knoxville Late Model Nationals will also feature the Knoxville Midget Nationals and the Harris Clash for modifieds.
The racetrack hosts over 250,000 visitors annually with contemporary seating for over 25,000, 52 luxury suites, and the 4-storyNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum outside of turn two. The new electronic scoreboard and JumboTron TV located between turns 3 and 4 allow fans to see live closed circuit on-track action, replays and highlights of every lap all season. On-track timing, running order and other information is supported by real-time state-of-the-art systems built around the transponders provided for every car each night. During the Speed Channel events fans can check the JumboTron to see and hear the interviews and special segments that fans at home are watching.
The racetrack main grandstand midway, outdoor “tent” hospitality area, inside exhibit space and 7000 square foot climate controlled Dyer-Hudson Hall plays host to over 100,000 attendees during the 4-day Knoxville Nationals in mid-August. Attendees get to enjoy racing displays and exhibits ranging from 10’ X 10’ booths to 80’ x 40’ interactive traveling displays from Ford Racing, Weld, Goodyear, Stacker2 and the Splash of Energy. Spotted throughout the grounds are licensed memorabilia and collectable vendors along with cold beverages and hot food.
For more information please contact Ralph Capitani at (641) 842-5431 or go to www.knoxvilleraceway.com
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