PAST CHAMPIONS SHANE CARSON & MIKE PETERS ENTER KNOXVILLE MASTERS CLASSIC ON JUNE 1
by: Thomas J Schmeh

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (May 6, 2007) - Former champions Mike Peters of Wichita, Kansas, and Shane Carson of Yukon, Oklahoma, have officially entered the fifteenth annual Knoxville Masters Classic, set to be run on Friday, June 1, at the legendary Knoxville Raceway. Peters won the event in 2001, while Carson, who will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame on the next afternoon, is the defending champion. The Masters Classic, open to drivers age fifty and over in winged 360-cubic-inch sprint cars, will again pay $3,000 to win and $300 to start.

Peters will wheel the Ojar Peters-owned, Ott-powered Eagle sprinter number 51, which is sponsored by Mid-America Millwright, Arma Coatings, Advance Auto Parts and Goodyear. Carson will again be aboard the Larry Weeks-owned, Ostrich-powered J&J sprinter number 00, which is sponsored by Brownells, Inc., Ostrich Engines, and Wright Welding Supply.

In addition to Carson and Peters, entries were received recently from A.J. Weaver of Houston, Texas, Randy Droescher of Larchwood, Iowa, Jim Bevan of Valley Falls, Kansas, and Joe Kouba of Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Weaver, who finished third in 2006, will be steering his own Wells-powered J&J sprinter number 55, which is sponsored by Precision Flange, Plasma Systems, and Laser Masters. Droescher will be racing his own Triple X chassis sprinter number 24, sponsored by EPIC, Ethanol, Bruns Machine, Laser Engraving, Scotty’s Paint & Body, A&S Sanitation, Sauer’s Painting, Keizer Wheels, Designing Performance & Auto Repair, and Autografx Sign & Design.

Bevan wheels his own Simpson-powered Schnee sprinter number X, which is sponsored by Rod End Supply, Royal Purple, Jim-The-Machinist, and J&J Motorsports. Kouba will handle his own L.L. Woodke-powered Maxim number 55 sprinter, which is sponsored by North Country Builders, Dolphy’s Automotive, Gillund Enterprises/Justice Brothers, and Cap Carpet & Flooring.

In addition to Shane Carson (2006) and Mike Peters (2001), other past winners of the Knoxville Masters Classic include Rick Ferkel (1993, ’94, ’95), Billy Engelhart (1996, ’97), Jerry Crabb (1998), Roger Rager (1999, 2001, ‘05), Terry Pletch (2000), and Jimmy Sills (2003, ’04).

For more information on the June 1-2 weekend of winged 305-, 360- and 410-cubic-inch sprint car racing at Knoxville, visit the track’s ever-changing web site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com. For more info on that weekend’s National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet, visit www.sprintcarhof.com .