MARA prepared to defend Knoxville title

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (May 9, 2003) - The Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA) is prepared to defend it's Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship title against all comers. MARA-affiliated entries rolled into the track office this week from defending race champion Mike Hess, Knoxville 410-cubic-inch sprint car standout Don Droud, Jr., midget car rising star Ryan Durst, and veteran Wally McDuffey. To date, nine entrants for the May 30-31 national championship show at the fabled Knoxville Raceway have indicated their affiliation with the Illinois/Missouri-based sanction which proudly proclaims, "Where Legends Are Made." Entries received prior to May 15th can take advantage of a reduced fee.

Hess' victory last year in the $4,000-to-win classic will guarantee him a starting spot in this year's inaugural fifteen-car, fifteen-lap "King Doodlebug" invitational feature to be run on Friday night, May 30. The race will feature the top point-getters from the event's five sanctions: American (ARDC), Badger (BMARA), Midwest (MARA), North American (NAMARS) and Rocky Mountain (RMMRA). In addition, the five Friday night heat winners will race themselves into the $1,000-to-win title show, joining the top finishers from the following five events: 2002 Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship, 2002 Belleville Midget Nationals, 2002 Sun Prairie Fireman Nationals, 2003 Tulsa Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, and 2002 National Midget Driver of the Year rankings.

The first night of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend will also feature the eleventh annual $3,000-to-win Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic 360-cubic-inch sprint car show for drivers age fifty and over. The Saturday night, May 31, program will showcase two midget car consolations, a dash, and the thirty-car, 25-lap Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship feature. In addition, a regular show of 410 c.i. sprint car racing will culminate in the $3,000-to-win Kin Folks/Magic Muffler Shootout on Saturday night.

Fans seeking further information on the Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship are urged to visit Knoxville's web-site, www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

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