The 10th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals
(Knoxville coverage index)
Dates: Sept. 26-28 (complete $7,000-to-win programs Friday and Saturday; consolations and 100-lap main event Saturday).
Track: Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, slightly-banked half-mile black dirt oval.
Sanctioning body: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Purse: $271,510 ($40,000 to the winner of 100-lap finale with at least $2,500 to every starter)
Tickets: $85 for three-day general admission; $98 for reserved (visit knoxvilleraceway.com for other ticketing options).
Pay-per-view: Thursday and Friday at DirtonDirt.com; Saturday’s action will be taped for later telecast on NBC Sports and MavTV
On the web: knoxvilleraceway.com or lucasdirt.com
Track phone: (641) 842-5431
Last year’s winner: Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.
Notes: Iowa’s richest Dirt Late Model event. ... The Marion County Fairgrounds oval can seat more than 24,000 with 16,289 in the frontstretch grandstand. ... Last year’s winner Steve Francis is coming into the event off an injury suffered last weekend at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway; Francis, 46, has a cracked tailbone and two bulging disks in his lower back, but he’s been cleared to race. ... The event is part of the Lucas Oil tour’s ASi Crown Jewel Cup presented by DirtonDirt.com as well as the Sweet Mfg. TV Challenge presented by E3 Spark Plugs; both pay year-end bonuses. ... Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., leads Lucas Oil Series points heading to Knoxville. ... Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., won the previous Lucas Oil Series event in Brownstown, Ind. ... Iowa native Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., is the only two-time winner at Knoxville. ... Iowa native Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., is the only driver to sweep all three nights, pulling off the feat in 2010. ... Earl Pearson Jr. holds the Late Model track record (16.631 seconds, more than 2 seconds off the quickest sprint-car time).
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2012: Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
2011: Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2010: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2009: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2008: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2007: Brady Smith, Solon Springs, Wis.
2006: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
2005: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2004: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Weekend purses
Thursday and Friday features
1. $7,000
2. $4,000
3. $3,000
4. $2,000
5. $1,500
6. $1,000
7. $900
8. $800
9. $700
10. $600
11. $580
12. $560
13. $540
14. $520
15. $500
16. $490
17. $480
18. $470
19. $460
20. $450
21. $440
22. $430
23. $410
24. $400
(All non-qualifiers receive a mininum $100)
Saturday’s 100-lapper
1. $40,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $8,750
5. $7,500
6. $7,000
7. $6,500
8. $6,000
9. $5,500
10. $5,000
11. $4,500
12. $4,000
13. $3,500
14. $3,400
15. $3,300
16. $3,200
17. $3,100
18. $3,000
19. $2,900
20. $2,800
21. $2,700
22. $2,600
23. $2,500
24. $2,500
25. $2,500
26. $2,500
27. $2,500
28. $2,500
29. $2,500
30. $2,500
(C- and B-main starters receive at least $400; D-main non-transfers receive $200)
Point system
Points system used for Thursday and Friday’s program; a driver’s best total from a single night (not combined points) determines lineups for Saturday (top 24 in points locked into A-main; next 18 in B-Main, next 18 in C-main, others to D-main):
Time trials: 200 points for quick time, 198 for second, etc.
Heat races: 100 points for winner, 97 for second, etc.
D-main: 42 points for first non-transfer (fifth), then 40 points for sixth, etc.
C-main: 92 points for first non-transfer (fifth), then 90 points for sixth, etc.
B-main: 138 points for first non-transfer (fifth), then 136 points for sixth, etc.
A-main: 200 points for winner, 198 for second, etc.
Event schedule
Thursday
1-7 p.m.: Midway trade show
2 p.m. - Pit parking begins
2 p.m.: Stocksville Reunion at National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum with former Des Moines racer Don Hoffman.
6:45 p.m. - Hot laps
7:15 p.m. - Time trials
Heat races: Six heats, 12 laps, eight-car inversion with 1-3 transferring to the A-main, 4-6 transferring to B-main, 7-9 to C-main and other finishers to D-main.
D-main: 10 laps; top four transfer to C-main
C-main: 12 laps; top four transfer to B-main
B-main: 15 laps; top six transfer to A-main
A-main: 25 laps, 24 cars, top 18 lined up by qualifying time with eight-car inversion.
Friday
11:30 a.m.: VIP reception and interview with Billy Moyer by Dave Argabright at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum.
1-7 p.m.: Midway trade show
2 p.m.: Discussion of the book “The Ghosts of NASCAR: The Harlan Boys and the First Daytona 500” by author John Havick at the Hall of Fame.
6:45 p.m.: Hot laps
7:15 p.m.: Time trials
Heat races: Six heats, 12 laps, eight-car inversion with 1-3 transferring to the A-main, 4-6 transferring to B-main, 7-9 to C-main and other finishers to D-main.
D-main: 10 laps; top four transfer to C-main
C-main: 12 laps; top four transfer to B-main
B-main: 15 laps; top six transfer to A-main
A-main: 25 laps, 24 cars, top 18 lined up by qualifying time with eight-car inversion.
Saturday
Noon: Memorabilia auction at the Hall of Fame with proceeds going to the sprint and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fames.
1-7 p.m.: Midway trade show
3 p.m.: Forum of “Early Yankee Dirt Track Classics at Hawkeye Downs” hosted by historian Bob Markos and others. Drivers expected include Verlin Eaker, Ken Walter, Ed Sanger, Tom Heart, Gary Webb and Roger Dolan.
3 p.m. - Drivers autograph session in Dyer-Hudson Hall.
6:45 p.m.: Hot laps
D-main: 12 laps; top four transfer to C-main
C-main: 15 laps; top four transfer to B-main
B-main: 20 laps; top six transfer to A-main
A-main: 100 laps, 30 starters with top 24 lined up by points and remaining starters from B-main and provisionals.
