KNOXVILLE ANNOUNCES NAMES OF ‘360’ DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR
HOOSIER TIRE MIDWEST YOUNG GUNS INVITATIONAL
by: Thomas J Schmeh

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (May 22, 2006) - Knoxville Raceway is pleased to announce the names of the twenty-five (25) winged 360-cubic-inch sprint car drivers that are eligible to compete in the inaugural Hoosier Tire Midwest Young Guns Invitational. These ‘Young Guns’, if they submit a paid entry, will be able to participate on Friday, June 2, in an attempt to qualify for the 20-car, 15-lap, $1,000-to-win Young Guns Invitational. The top ten finishers from that race will then be able to race in the 20-car, 15-lap, $1,000-to-win Hoosier Tire Midwest ‘Masters’ vs. ‘Young Guns’ Challenge later that evening at Knoxville.

Those eligible, the top 25 in ‘360’ points at Knoxville, are: Jeff Mitrisin of Oskaloosa, Johnny Anderson of Indianola, Stacey Alexander of Lacona, John Kearney of Valley Falls (Kansas), Dustin Lindquist of Floodwood (Minnesota), Jake Peters of Sioux Falls (South Dakota), Josh Higday of Des Moines, Joe Beaver of Knoxville, Brett Mather of Ames, Frankie Heimbaugh of Des Moines, Jon Corbin of Carrollton (Missouri), Troy Meyer of Sioux Falls (South Dakota), Josh Schneiderman of West Burlington, Tom Lenz of Marion, Mike Houseman, Jr., of Des Moines, John Schulz of West Burlington, Rick Ideus of Silver City, Dustin Selvage of Indianola, Nate Mosher of Prairie City, Mitchell Alexander of Knoxville, Tim Newman of Cameron (Missouri), Pete Crall of DeSoto (Kansas), Alan Zoutte of Knoxville, David Hall of Des Moines, and Eric Mason of Knoxville. Stacey Alexander, Brett Mather and Dustin Selvage are officially entered as of May 22.

To date, entries for the Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic have been received from Ricky Weld of Kansas City (Missouri), Bobby Becker of Denton (Nebraska), Joe Kouba of Lino Lakes (Minnesota), Bill Smith of Worthington (Minnesota), A.J. Weaver of Houston (Texas), Dale McCarty of Eldorado Springs (Missouri), Randy Droescher of Larchwood (Iowa), Edd French of Justin (Texas), and Earnest Jennings of Norman (Oklahoma). Also expected to compete in this year’s Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters Classic are past champions and challengers such as Roger Rager, Jimmy Sills, Shane Carson, Jerry Crabb, Wally Pankratz, Tommy Scott, Terry Alexander and Jerry Potter. The top ten finishers in this year’s 15-lap, $1,000-to-win Masters Classic will then take on the top ten ‘Young Guns’ in the special challenge finale.

The format for the first-ever Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters vs. Young Guns Challenge is as follows: time trials for all Masters (age fifty and over) and Young Guns (Knoxville ‘top 25’, as of points on May 22) with the top 15 from each locked into their respective features; 8-lap consolation races for non-qualified Masters and Young Guns with five more drivers from each qualifying for their respective features; Masters Classic with the top 10 qualifying for the Challenge race; Young Guns Invitational with the top 10 qualifying for the Challenge race; and the Masters vs. Young Guns Challenge finale.

The Saturday, June 3, program will again feature the track’s weekly 410 c.i. sprint car division and the fifth annual USAC-sanctioned Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Nationals. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet will again be held on Saturday afternoon in the Dyer-Hudson Building on the Marion County Fairgrounds. Those seeking more information on the Hoosier Tire Midwest Masters vs. Young Guns Challenge are urged to visit the track’s web site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.