IOWA SPEEDWAY TO HONOR KNOXVILLE RACEWAY’S ‘50TH ANNIVERSARY KNOXVILLE NATIONALS’
Jul 29, 2010
IOWA SPEEDWAY TO HONOR KNOXVILLE RACEWAY’S ‘50TH ANNIVERSARY KNOXVILLE NATIONALS’
Iowa Speedway will recognize one of the greatest moments in racing history, the 50th anniversary of the Knoxville Nationals, during opening ceremonies for the Newton track’s USARacing Pro Cup event on Friday night, July 30.
Officials at Knoxville Raceway and Iowa Speedway have combined efforts to promote the two tracks during the next few weeks, with Knoxville Raceway’s grand event recognized as the presenting sponsor of Friday’s Pro Cup stock car race at Iowa Speedway, now know as the ‘Blue Ox 150 presented by the 50th Anniversary of the Knoxville Nationals’.
“We are thrilled to partner with one of the most renowned and revered dirt track facilities in the world,” said Iowa Speedway Vice President of Promotions and Communications, Craig Armstrong. “Knoxville Raceway is a literal shrine for sprint car fans and racers alike, and we are very proud to have them aboard for one of our biggest weekends of the year while they prepare for their 50th Anniversary Knoxville Nationals next month.”
During pre-race ceremonies for the 150-lap USARacing event on Iowa Speedway’s 7/8-mile oval, two of the most admired figures in sprint car racing will be recognized: Knoxville Raceway promoter Ralph “Cappy” Capitani and legendary driver Doug Wolfgang.
Capitani, Race Director at Knoxville Raceway since 1977, was instrumental in the rapid growth of the Knoxville Nationals. During the inaugural year of the storied sprint car race in 1961, the two-day show brought in a few thousand fans and paid a total purse of $5,000. Under Capitani’s supervision, the event grew to a four-day show with many sell-out crowds of 25,000 race fans on the final night. Over 100 drivers will compete during this year’s Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, slated for August 11-14, competing for their part of the $1 million purse.
One racer who shines above the rest is five-time Knoxville Nationals Champion Doug Wolfgang. Wolfgang hales from South Dakota, and brought home the Knoxville Nationals title in 1977, 1978, 1984, 1985 and 1989. He not only is among the leaders in feature wins at Knoxville but also is multi-time track champion since beginning his racing career there in 1975 in sprint cars.
Iowa Speedway gates will open at 3 pm on Friday, July 30 for, with qualifying for the USAR Pro Cup stock cars at 3:15 and a green flag for the ‘Blue Ox 150 presented by the 50th Anniversary of the Knoxville Nationals’ at 8 pm. A concert featuring country music recording artist Easton Corbin will follow the race on the Grinnell Mutual Stage.
Iowa Speedway is located 30 miles east of Des Moines on Interstate 80, just south of Exit 168 in Newton. Ticketing information and complete event schedules are available at the track’s official website, www.iowaspeedway.com
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