Goodyear Racing Knoxville Nationals Thursday notes

SWINDELL WINS THURSDAY FEATURE AT 50TH GOODYEAR KNOXVILLE NATIONALS

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 13, 2010) -- When a race car driver enjoys a long and successful career, pundits call them 'ageless' or 'venerable.' Such a driver becomes popular with fans.

So it was no surprise that, when the ageless Sammy Swindell added another victory to his venerable sprint car racing career by winning the A Main event of Thursday's second night of the 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, it was a popular victory.

Goodyear is the exclusive rear tire provider for Knoxville Raceway's 410 sprint car class. The 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals is the annual renewal of the most prestigious event in sprint car racing.

The 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals continue with more qualifying events Friday before Saturday's final features.

"Right now, I've got one of the best cars I've had here," Swindell said.

Swindell started fourth in the A Main but led every lap of the 25-lap race around Knoxville's famous half-mile oval.

Brian Brown finished second, followed by Skip Jackson. Stevie Smith came home fourth after starting 11th and Donny Schatz was fifth. Steve Kinser, another ageless sprint car star, posted the best lap in qualifying.

"It's awfully good to be here," Jackson said in the Media Center after the race. "It's been a long time since I ran this good at the Nationals."

The four-night race culminates with a 50-lap feature race Saturday. Saturday's final feature typically runs 40 laps but was extended to 50 this year to mark the Golden Anniversary. The extra 10 laps have been a topic of conversation all week.

Brown echoed the thoughts of many drivers when he said, "It's not like the usual Knoxville Nationals and it shouldn't be because it's the 50th. I don't care if we have to run 600 laps. I'll add gas and tires and keep going."

Jackson grinned and said, "I ran out of gas after 25 (laps), so I'm in trouble."

The Nationals has a special point system for the event and Brown's performances in qualifying, his heat race and the feature put him on top of the point system with 484. Swindell is second with 482. Greg Hodnett and Donny Schatz are tied for third with 477.

More information about Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information about the 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals is available at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

-source: goodyear racing