New entries for Midwest Masters Classic

Kauffman & Rager Enter Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (May 16, 2004) - Two-time Masters Classic winner Roger Rager of Pequot Lakes, Minn., and 2004 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) inductee Keith Kauffman of Mifflintown, Penna., are the two latest entrants for the Friday, June 4, Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic at the Knoxville Raceway. The $3,000-to-win, $300-to-start winged 360-cubic-inch sprint car race is open to drivers age fifty and over, and it is staged during the annual NSCHoF induction weekend.

Roger Rager, winner in 1999 and 2001, will be wheeling the "Butch" Donahue Harley-Davidson/Delano Sports Center-sponsored Schnee/Weseman sprint car number 6R. The Indianapolis 500 veteran has also entered the $4,000-to-win Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Championship that weekend, and is expected to wheel a 410-cubic-inch sprinter in the track's $3,000-to-win regular show on Saturday, June 5.

Keith Kauffman, a 12-time Port Royal Speedway track champion in central Pennsylvania, will be piloting Jon Agan's Dee Zee Truck Accessories/United Trailers-sponsored Eagle/Ostrich number 4 sprinter. The ageless Kauffman, who is a candidate for the 'Rookie of the Race' honors, will be formally inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, June 5. Keith is also expected to race in the track's '410' class on Saturday evening, a race in which 2003 NSCHoF inductee/car owner Al Hamilton won with his 'Pennsy Posse' driver Lance Dewease.

Other recent entrants in the Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic include Rick England of Wichita, Kansas, and Gerry Robison of Dublin, Penna. England will be competing in his own England-powered Eagle, while Robison will be driving the Danny Hutchins-owned Avenger/Moyle sprint car. England will also be doing double duty in the mighty midgets, hoping to race his way into Friday night's $1,000-to-win "King Doodlebug Invitational" by winning one of the five midget car heat races.

For more information on the Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic, fans are encouraged to visit the track's web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com. For more info on the June 4-5 NSCHoF induction weekend, fans can visit www.sprintcarhof.com.

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