|
Jason Johnson, Danny Smith and Toni Lutar the Latest to
Enter $10,000-to-win Knoxville World Challenge
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (June 26, 2009) - Americans Danny Smith and Jason Johnson
and Canadian Toni Lutar have become the latest three entrants for the
$10,000-to-win Knoxville World Challenge at Knoxville Raceway on Friday,
August 14, during the 49th annual SuperClean Knoxville Nationals presented
by Lucas Oil. Danny Smith won the World Challenge back in 1996 when it was
known as the Australian/American Challenge Cup. Jason Johnson’s and Toni
Lutar’s best efforts came last year with fourth and eleventh place finishes,
respectively, in the World Challenge dash.
According to Knoxville’s director of racing Ralph Capitani, “Danny Smith
hasn’t competed in the World Challenge since 2003, so we’re delighted that
the six-time Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic winner at Warrnambool, Victoria,
Australia, will be back competing in this year’s international invitational
at Knoxville. He is a class act and a great ambassador for our sport. I’m
sure Jason Johnson, the 2006 “Mr. Sprint Car” titlist, will be gunning for
the 2009 Cox Design Iowa SpeedWeeks championship, which includes the World
Challenge. And we’re also excited to have former track regular Toni Lutar
back in the Friday night finale. He remains the highest placed Canadian in
the 15-year history of the World Challenge and I’m sure he’ll be looking to
better his mark.”
Smith will be wheeling his own J&D Performance-powered, Maxim-chassis sprint
car number 4, which is sponsored by Kiger Signs & Graphics and J&D
Performance. Lutar will be piloting his own Capetta-powered, KPC-chassis
sprint car number 4X, which is sponsored by Northwest Auto Parts, Red Devil
Brakes and Weld Racing. Johnson will be behind the wheel of Lanny Row’s Ott-powered,
Eagle chassis sprint car number 41, which is sponsored by Pope
Transportation, GT Bobcat, CCR, and The Shop Diesel Service. Since Jason
Johnson and Danny Smith competed in the 2009 Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic
at Warrnambool, both are inversion-eligible for the ’09 Knoxville World
Challenge on Friday, August 14. Toni Lutar did not compete in either of the
Canadian qualifiers at Ohsweken, Ontario, nor Edmonton, Alberta, and thus
will have to start the Knoxville World Challenge behind those that are
inversion-eligible.
The 2009 Knoxville World Challenge entries to date are as follows:
4, Danny Smith, Chillicothe, OH, USA, J&D/Maxim
4X, Toni Lutar, Richmond, BC, CAN, Capetta/KPC
21AU, Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, AUS, Ott/Maxim
24, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, USA, Ott/Maxim
41, Jason Johnson, Thomasville, PA, USA, Ott/Eagle
For more information on the Knoxville Raceway and its World Challenge, fans
are urged to visit
www.knoxvilleraceway.com .
 |
