World of Outlaws Late Model Series Makes Much Anticipated Stop At Famed Knoxville Raceway For Friday Night’s Mediacom Late Model Shootout
by: Kevin Kovac

KNOXVILLE, IA – June 11, 2007 – Knoxville Raceway might be known as the ‘Sprint Car Capital of the World,’ but dirt Late Models are growing larger and larger on the half-mile track’s radar screen.

Full-fender action at the famed oval takes another step forward this Friday night (June 15) with the Mediacom Late Model Shootout, which features a much anticipated Knoxville appearance by the renowned World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

Technically, Friday night’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Main won’t be the first-ever visit to Knoxville by the WoO LMS, which ran a race there won by Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., on July 29, 1988, during the tour’s original incarnation (1988-89). But it will be the series’s first stop of its modern era (2004-present) at the dirt-track racing Mecca.

And Friday’s program will also kick off a unique ‘All World of Outlaws Weekend’ doubleheader at Knoxville, which hosts the Mediacom Sprint Shootout for the winged warriors of the World of Outlaws on Saturday night (June 16).

Race fans will have the best of both Outlaws ‘worlds’ this weekend – further evidence that dirt Late Model competition is taking hold at Knoxville.

With the fall’s three-day Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals continuing to grow since its inception in 2004 and the addition of a marquee WoO LMS event on the track’s mid-season schedule, it’s clear that Knoxville Raceway isn’t just for Sprint Cars anymore.

No one knows that more than 2005 Knoxville Late Model Nationals champion Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who is thrilled that he gets to practice his racing discipline at his homestate’s most famous track.

“I’m from Iowa, so I’m partial to the place,” said Birkhofer, who owns four career WoO LMS victories. “But I know that if anybody misses a race at Knoxville, they’re missing something great. They do an awesome job of track preparation there. The place is just plain racy.”

Birkhofer sees the dirt Late Model division becoming a major part of Knoxville’s future.

“I think they’re convincing a few Sprint Car people that they can go watch the ‘taxi cabs’ go around there and actually enjoy it,” joked Birkhofer, who has raced in 10 of this season’s 16 WoO LMS A-Mains, with a top finish of second on May 9 at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway. “They don’t have to convince people in Iowa about Late Model racing, but you gotta convince some Sprint Car people in Iowa about Late Model racing.

“I think it’s happening. I’ve seen an increase in crowds (for the Late Model Nationals) for three straight years, and it’s only going to get better.”

All the stars of the WoO LMS will be ready for action Friday night at Knoxville, led by Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., the two drivers who have been swapping the points lead in recent weeks. Babb’s familiar No. 18 car is owned by Des Moines, Iowa, native Billy Moyer Sr., whose Car City business in Des Moines is prominently displayed on the machine’s flanks.

Other drivers ready for battle include Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who won a Knoxville LM Nationals prelim feature in 2005; Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who has won two of the last three WoO LMS events; 19-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.

Among the drivers who will take on the Outlaws regulars are Birkhofer, three-time WoO LMS champ Billy Moyer, 2006 Knoxville Late Model Nationals champ Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., and a host of other Midwestern talents who will use the event as a chance to tune up for the $220,000 Knoxville Late Model Nationals on Sept. 27-29.

A group of WoO LMS standouts will meet fans outside the track’s front gate for a pre-race autograph session beginning at 5 p.m.

Gates are scheduled to open at 6 p.m. on Friday.

General admission is $25 for adults and $12.50 for children. Reserved seats are available for $27 (adults) and $13.50 (children), and pit passes are $35.

For further information, visit www.knoxvilleraceway.com  or call the track office at 641-842-5431.

More info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com .