Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (August 3, 2009) – A blockbuster field of well over 100 entries is set to converge upon Iowa's Knoxville Raceway for this weekend's running of the 19th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals featuring the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars, with a $10,000 payday awaiting the winner of Saturday night's championship main event.
The three-night Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters event, including full preliminary cards on Thursday and Friday followed by Saturday night's championship feature events, has already attracted 116 entries from 22 different states as well as Australia and Canada.
With nearly $100,000 in purse money to be doled out over the weekend, Saturday's $10,000 to win main event will be third of five Lucas Oil Sprint Car features to pony up $10K or more for the winner over the course of the 2009 season.
Jack Dover pocketed $10,000 at the Jetmore Motorplex' Steve King Memorial on May 24, while Travis Rilat collected $10,092 in the Third Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial at Washington's Grays Harbor Raceway on July 18.
After Saturday night's $10,000-to-win tilt at Knoxville, a season-high $15,000 awaits the winner of I-30 Speedway's 22nd Annual Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, AR, on October 31, with another $10,000 winner's share to complete the season at USA Raceway's 42nd Annual Western World Championships on November 21.
Among the current 116 entries for the 19th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals are all 17 drivers that have competed in each Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series event thus far in 2009, including current points leader and reigning champion Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA. The lone representative from Louisiana, an ASCS Knoxville Nationals title is about the only premier event missing from the "Ragin' Cajun's" resume.
Oklahoma's Shane Stewart, an ASCS Knoxville Nationals winner in 2007, is just 26 points off Johnson's lead pace in the $60,000 championship chase, with 1998 Knoxville winner Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, 54 points out of the lead in third.
Other Lucas Oil Sprint Car title contenders include Travis Rilat (Forney, TX), Tim Crawley (Benton, AR), Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Danny Wood (Norman, OK), Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK), Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA), Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK), Darren Long (Elida, OH), Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO), Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) and Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK).
A half-dozen past ASCS Knoxville Nationals winners are among the current entries, including two-time winners Wayne Johnson, Billy Alley, Dennis Moore, Jr., Terry McCarl and Garry Lee Maier along with Shane Stewart.
Wayne Johnson captured his second ASCS Knoxville Nationals title last year by besting a field of 111 competitors.
All three nights of the 19th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals competition will be taped for later broadcast on the VERSUS Network.
[b The Series:]
Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters
[b When & Where:]
19th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals:
Thursday, August 6 at 7:15 p.m. – Qualifying Night #1
Friday, August 7 at 7:15 p.m. – Qualifying Night #2
Saturday, August 8 at 7:15 p.m. – ASCS Knoxville Nationals Championship Features
[b Track Information:]
Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – ½-mile, semi-banked dirt oval located at the north edge of Knoxville, IA on SR 14 at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Track phone: 641-842-5431.
[u Past ASCS Knoxville Nationals Champions:]
2008 Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)
2007 Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK)
2006 Jesse Giannetto (Palo, IA)
2005 Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE)
2004 Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE)
2003 Dennis Moore, Jr. (Grinnell, IA)
2002 Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
2001 Terry McCarl (Altoona, IA)
2000 Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)
1999 Dennis Moore, Jr. (Grinnell, IA)
1998 Gary Wright (Hooks, TX)
1997 David Hesmer (Marshalltown, IA)
1996 Terry McCarl (Altoona, IA)
1995 Danny Lasoski (Dover, MO)
1994 Lee Nelson (Ames, IA)
1993 Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS)
1992 Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS)
1991 David Hesmer (Marshalltown, IA)
[u Pre-Entries:]
As of Monday afternoon, there are currently 116 Pre-Entries for the 19th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals according to www.knoxvilleraceway.com. Entries have been received from 22 different states as well as Australia and Canada. States represented include Iowa (23), South Dakota (11), Missouri (10), Oklahoma (10), Kansas (8), Texas (7), Ohio (5), Nebraska (5), Minnesota (4), Washington (4), Colorado (3), Illinois (3), New Mexico (3), Arkansas (2), Florida (2), North Dakota (2), Tennessee (2), Louisiana (1), Michigan (1), Mississippi (1), Montana (1), West Virginia (1). Also, the three Canadian provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba are represented along with Australian provinces of Victoria and New South Wales.
K9 Justin Zimmerman - Royse City, TX
W20 Greg Wilson - Benton Ridge, OH
X Chuck Swenson - Watertown, SD
0 Glenn Styres - Ohsweken, ONT, CAN
00 Brad Foster - Melbourne, VIC, AUS
04 Chad Heimbaugh - Pleasant Hill, IA
1 Bronson Maeschen - Knoxville, IA
1a Robby Wolfgang - Sioux Falls, SD
1PC Pete Crall - DeSoto, KS
1m Chad Humston - Giltner, NE
1s Sean McClelland - Tulsa, OK
1w Chad Meyer - Sioux Falls, SD
1X Garry Lee Maier - Dodge City, KS
2 Travis Rilat - Forney, TX
2a Johnny Anderson - Indianola, IA
2J Don Droud Jr. - Lincoln, NE
2K Kevin Ingle - Huron, SD
2m Matt Moro - Polk City, IA
2mx Dustin Daggett - Grand Ledge, MI
2w Kenneth Walker - Sapulpa, OK
3 Nate Van Haaften - Otley, IA
3c Cale Conley - Vienna, WV
3D Paul McMahan - Hendersonville, TN
4 Eric Baldaccini - Keller, TX
4c Tyler Godwin - Plant City, FL
4J Lee Grosz - Harwood, ND
4x Jon Corbin - Carrollton, MO
5 Kyle McCutcheon - Alamogordo, NM
5$ Danny Smith - Sapulpa, OK
6 Danny Heskin - St. Michael, MN
6B Dale Blaney - Fowler, OH
6K Kenny Jacobs - Holmesville, OH
07 Derek Anderson - Dolliver, IA
7 Dustin Selvage - Indianola, IA
7K Kaley Gharst - Decatur, IL
7L Darren Long - Elida, OH
7m Kevin Ramey - Ft. Worth, TX
7TAZ Tasker Phillips - Knoxville, IA
8K Butch Hanssen - Sioux Falls, SD
9 Brian Parker - Midlothian, TX
9k Brent Kronfuss - Bozeman, MT
9M Ricky Montgomery - Lakewood, CO
9N Wade Nygaard - Grand Forks, ND
9P Rager Phillips - Pleasantville, IA
9x Gary Wright - Hooks, TX
10 Bryan Dobesh - Sioux Falls, SD
10a Ricky Logan - Little Rock, AR
11 Chad Corken - Highlands Ranch, CO
11x Gregg Bakker - Sioux Falls, SD
12 Rod Richards - Runnells, IA
13 Jesse Hockett - Warsaw, MO
14 Randy Martin - California, MO
14AJ Wayne Johnson – Oklahoma City, OK
14B Brooke Tatnell – Sans Souci, NSW, AUS
14K Kyle Bellm - Nixa, MO
17 Austin McCarl - Altoona, IA
17B Ryan Bickett - Ramona, SD
17c Corey Moore - Wichita, KS
17G Dusty Zomer - Brandon, SD
18 Ryan Roberts - Aurora, NE
18T Tony Bruce Jr. - Liberal, KS
18v Tim Newman - Cameron, MO
18W Chris Walker - Oak Grove, MO
19 Joe McCarthy - Broomfield, CO
19s Steven Cross - Appleton City, MO
20 Dennis Moore Jr. - Grinnell, IA
20K Thomas Kennedy - Winnipeg, MB, CAN
20KS Kyle Sager - Alto, NM
21 Brian Brown - Grain Valley, MO
21K Lou Kennedy Jr. - Winnipeg, MB, CAN
21TX Brandon Schure - El Paso, TX
22 Billy Alley - Lincoln, NE
22N Nate Mosher - Prairie City, IA
23 Seth Bergman - Snohomish, WA
23m Henry Van Dam - Enumclaw, WA
23W Scott Winters - Butterfield, MN
24 Terry McCarl - Altoona, IA
26 Tayler Malsam - Monroe, WA
27 Jody Rosenboom - Rock Rapids, IA
28 Jonathan Cornell - Sedalia, MO
29 Russ Hall - Pleasant Hill, IA
31P Travis Porter - Rock Island, IL
33 Alan Zoutte - Knoxville, IA
33A Austin Alumbaugh - Higginsville, MO
34 Josh Padellford - Pleasantville, IA
34B Brad Barickman - Richfield, MN
35 Ron Blair - Troy, OH
40 Clint Garner - Sioux Falls, SD
41 Jason Johnson - Eunice, LA
43 AJ Selenke - Wichita, KS
45x Johnny Herrera - Albuquerque, NM
50Z Zach Chappell - Talala, OK
51 Dave Hall - Des Moines, IA
51s Lee Sowell - Nesbit, MS
53 Joe Beaver - Knoxville, IA
53D Jack Dover - Springfield, NE
54 Jon Agan - Knoxville, IA
56 Davey Heskin - St. Michael, MN
57 Shane Stewart - Bixby, OK
57c Chris Schmelzle - Victoria, BC, CAN
71 RJ Johnson - Land O'Lakes, FL
71R Ryan Anderson - Charter Oak, IA
72 Steven Richardson - Liberal, KS
75 Don Young - Bartlett, TN
76 Jay Russell - Elwood, KS
77x Ryan Hunsinger - Brantford, ONT, CAN
78 Joe Miller - Vail, IA
81AU Gavin Punch - Collinsville, OK
84 Ben Wagoner - Emden, IL
88 Tim Crawley - Benton, AR
91 Gary Taylor – Snohomish, WA
94 Danny Wood - Norman, OK
95 Matt Covington - Glenpool, OK
98 JD Johnson - Wichita, KS
99 Brady Bacon – Broken Arrow, OK
99jr Justin Henderson – Sioux Falls, SD
[b Current Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters Points:]
Top Twenty: 1. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 1,714, 2. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 1,688, 3. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,660, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,575, 5. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 1,559, 6. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 1,548, 7. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 1,547, 8. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 1,468, 9. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 1,467, 10. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 1,431, 11. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,294, 12. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 1,221, 13. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,150, 14. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,093, 15. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,075, 16. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,072, 17. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 1,019, 18. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 870, 19. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 757, 20. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 752.
Brodix Rookie of the Year Points (Top Five): 1. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 1,548, 2. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 1,467, 3. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,093, 4. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,075, 5. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,072.
[b 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car Feature Winners:]
Jason Johnson 3, Tim Crawley 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Roger Crockett 1, Jack Dover 1, Gary Wright 1. Non-point feature winners (Speedweek); Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Zach Chappell 1, Tim Crawley 1, Nick Smith 1, Gary Wright 1.
[b Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:]
September 26 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO)
[b Lucas Oil Sprint Cars on the Web:]
Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.
Also, the Lucas Oil ASCS Show airs on www.racinboys.com each Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET, recapping the previous week's events while also previewing upcoming action.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
[b Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series on TV:]
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network
[u Events to be aired on VERSUS include the following:]
Event Date – Track (Location) – Air Date & Re-Air Date (All Times Eastern)
Mar. 20 – Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/2/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 5/7/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 21 – Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/23/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 5/27/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 23 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/8/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/13/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 24 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/15/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/20/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 3 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 9/13/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 9/17/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 4 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 9/20/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 9/24/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 10/18/09 @ 6:00 p.m. & 10/22/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 7 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 11/1/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 11/5/09 @ 6:00 p.m.
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 11/22/09 @ 6:00 p.m. & 11/25/09 @ 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) – 11/29/09 @ 6:00 p.m. & 12/3/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for approximately 30 nights of racing action at 16 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country's top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.
The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.
- Lonnie Wheatley on Aug 04, 2009
- Article Date: 8/4/2009