ALLSTAR: Erin Crocker to race at K-C and Fremont

CHILLICOTHE, OH (9/3/03) -- Knoxville Nationals Rookie-of-the-year Erin Crocker will be in competition with the Haulmark All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars this weekend Friday and Saturday Sept. 5 and 6 at K-C Raceway and Fremont Speedway. Crocker, aboard the Mike Woodring No. 16c, made her All Star debut last weekend at Lernerville Speedway and put her machine solidly in the field for the rain-delayed feature. The Massachusetts driver, fast becoming a fan favorite, will challenge the All Star regulars on the high banks of K-C Raceway Friday and go for the big $10,000 prize at Fremont Saturday.

A total of $5,000 to win is on the line Friday, September 5 for the stars and cars of the Haulmark All Star sprint car series. Action returns to Jim Nier's K-C Raceway near Chillicothe, OH for a Friday night Sept. 5 kick-off to a two-day Ohio racing weekend as K-C honors a fallen hero, Portsmouth, Ohio driver Sam Erwin who was fatally injured at the track thirty years ago in 1973. Additionally, former sprint car great and now TNN racing analyst Brad Doty will appear at K-C Friday for an autograph session.

Saturday's action moves north to the Fremont Speedway for a special 50 lap race paying $10,000 to win. K-C's event is a standard $5,000 to win All Star winner's share.

Sam Erwin was one of the first drivers at the track and one of the last ones to leave, always flashing a smile and offering an autograph to racing fans who came to the track early or left the track late. Erwin won many races at the then Atomic Speedway (now K-C Raceway) and at Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio.

Driving the #710 Supermodified open wheeler, the jovial and personable driver also raced at many other tracks across the United States. A dirt track specialist, Erwin was not afraid to try the asphalt as well, racing at paved Speedways as New Bremen, Ohio and Heidleberg, Pennsylvania.

In his last couple seasons, Erwin traded in his supermodified "White Lightnin' Express" for a state-of-the-art Bobby Allen sprinter also numbered 710. Using a white suburban panel truck as a tow rig and an open trailer, Erwin's racing days seem far removed from today's fancy transporters, yet Erwin is close to many racing fans hearts still today.

Friday night K-C Raceway will pay tribute to this likeable, talented driver.

KC will have a special guest, Brad Doty. Brad will be signing autographs for the fans along with the top 5 All Star drivers in points. The autograph session will be at the front gate from 4:30 to 5:30. Brad will also be at Ricart Ford of Chillicothe Thursday September 4, 2003 from 3pm to 6pm.

K-C has managed to defeat Mother Nature once to get a single All Star show in the books this season, with Dale Blaney winning the July Ohio Speedweek event. All-Star regular Jason Johnson of Shreve, Louisiana also won a non-sanctioned race this spring.

"America's Series, The All Star Circuit of Champions" will present a slate of 50 sprint car race dates in 2003 from February to October in action at 31 speedways in 17 states. America's favorite dirt track series has presented fans with the largest average car count and greatest number of different race winners in the United States since 1980.

K-C Raceway is south of Chillicothe on SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway at Alma. For further track information, call 740-663-4141 or visit the K-C website at www.kc-raceway.com.

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