Knoxville Friday night format change

- as entries near 115 -

Friday Night Format Change: No Time Trials At 1,200-Lb. Nationals

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (JULY 11, 2001) - "We never expected this kind of support from the teams, manufacturers and fans for the inaugural 1,200-Pound Nationals. We figured it was going to have to build over the next three- to five-years. Who would have thought that something like this was going to bring ex-World of Outlaws regular Joe Gaerte back into active competition?", said Knoxville director of racing Ralph "Cappy" Capitani as he changed the racing format for the Friday, July 27, show due to the unexpected number of entries.

The new Friday night format eliminates time trials, fully- inverted heats and the "Challenge of Champions" invitational feature, and replaces it with a draw for heats with passing points, two 'B' Mains and two 'A' Mains. The format of championship features (E, D, C, B, and A), including the $12,000- to-win 1,200-Pound Nationals, for Saturday, July 28, remains unchanged. According to Cappy, "We hate to eliminate the All Star-Knoxville-IRA-NCRA-Invader challenge on Friday, especially after the fans seemed to really pick up on the idea, but we needed to do something different with over 115 cars expected. The good news for fans is that the elimination of time trials should help preserve the track surface. The good news for the teams is that we'll now offer twin $3,000-to-win mains for everyone, instead of just one invitational."

The two-day 1,200-Pound Nationals, sponsored by the Newton Days Inn and Justice Brothers, will be co-sanctioned by Knoxville, ASCoC, NCRA and the Interstate Racing Association (IRA). Non- affiliated drivers, like entrant Joe Gaerte of Rochester, Ind., are also welcome to compete.

Fans wishing to monitor the growing entry list on-line are urged to click on the track's web-site, www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

-KS-