namars: Knoxville 2002 season includes Midgets

First time at Knoxville in nearly 23 years for midget cars BADGER, MARA & NAMARS to Sanction "Pepsi Knoxville Midget Championship"

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (OCT. 11, 2001) - Knoxville Raceway's 2002 season schedule just got that much more exciting with the news today that midget cars will be competing in a one-day, $4,000-to-win "Pepsi Knoxville Midget Car Championship" on Saturday, June 1, after an absence of nearly 23 years at the legendary half-mile dirt track. The $23,000+ plus will be tri-sanctioned by the Wisconsin-based Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA), the Illinois/Missouri-based Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA), and the Indiana-based North American Midget Auto Racing Series (NAMARS), although all midget cars which meet the rules will be eligible to compete in this 'Road-to-Belleville' event. It is possible that a fourth sanction will be added to this event within the next month.

The Pepsi Knoxville Midget Car Championship will take place on Saturday night, June 1, during the thirteenth annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend. The track will host an open practice for all divisions on Thursday night, May 30. The Friday night, May 31, program on the Marion County Fairgrounds will consist of four sets of midget car hot laps and the tenth annual Goodyear Masters Classic winged 360-cubic-inch sprint car races for drivers age fifty and over. The Saturday, June 1, program will consist of a full winged 410 c.i. sprint car show, plus five heats, two B-mains, and the 30-car, 25-lap Pepsi Knoxville Midget Car Championship. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet will take place on Saturday afternoon on the museum's second floor.

According to track records, Jon Backlund of Missouri won the last midget car feature race at Knoxville on August 5, 1979. He also is credited with a 1978 midget win at the track. The June 1 Pepsi Knoxville Midget Car Championship will only be the tenth time midget cars have competed at the big oval known for its wide, sweeping corners.

Those seeking more information on the Pepsi Knoxville Midget Car Championship are urged to call Knoxville director of racing Ralph Capitani at 641-842-5431. Those seeking more information on the Goodyear Masters Classic or the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet are urged to call museum director Tom Schmeh at 641-842-6176.

-KR-