National series Knoxville Nationals preview

20th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals This Weekend!

TULSA, Okla. (August 3, 2010) -- The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series finishes off a five consecutive weekend stretch of competition in a big way with the 20th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals atop the storied Marion County Fairgrounds 0x00bd-mile clay oval in Knoxville, IA, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

With the series championship battle taking place at the midway point of the season, this weekend's focus will be on the approximately $100,000 that will be doled out over the course of three nights including $10,000 for Saturday night's winner.

And a total of 111 entries from a total of 23 different states as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been submitted as of Monday afternoon.

This weekend's event marks the second of four events on the 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National slate that will offer up $10K or more to win. Current series points leader Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, captured the first five-figure check with a $10,092 score in the July 17 Fred Brownfield Memorial at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA.

Other hefty Lucas Oil ASCS paydays include the 23rd Annual Short Track Nationals $15,000 to-win-finale on October 30 at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway and USA Raceway's $15,000-to-win 43rd Annual Western World Championships finale in Tucson on November 20.

Among the current 111 entries for the 20th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals are all 16 drivers that have competed in each Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series event thus far in 2010, including current points leader Johnson and reigning series champion Shane Stewart of Bixby, OK.

Johnson, the lone representative from Louisiana, is seeking a first ASCS Knoxville Nationals crown while Stewart will try to add a second after reaching the top of the podium in 2007.

Other Lucas Oil Sprint Car title contenders include Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Tim Crawley (Benton, AR), Danny Wood (Norman, OK), Kyle Hirst (Loomis, CA), Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR), Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK), Darren Long (Elida, OH), Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK), Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX), Austen Wheatley (Lake Stevens, WA) and Justyn Cox (Clarksburg, CA).

A half-dozen past ASCS Knoxville Nationals winners will be among this year's contenders, including Stewart, Jesse Giannetto, Billy Alley, Dennis Moore, Jr., Gary Wright and Garry Lee Maier.

Currently sidelined by injuries, Terry McCarl captured his third ASCS Knoxville Nationals title last year by besting a field of 111 competitors.

The Series: Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters

When & Where: 20th Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals:

Thursday, August 5 at 7:15 p.m. -- Qualifying Night #1
Friday, August 6 at 7:15 p.m. -- Qualifying Night #2
Saturday, August 7 at 7:15 p.m. -- ASCS Knoxville Nationals Championship Features

Track Information:

Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) -- 0x00bd-mile, semi-banked dirt oval located at the north edge of Knoxville, IA on SR 14 at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Track phone: 641-842-5431.

-source: ascs