It’s about Knoxville Nationals time again!

 Next week at this time, the 47th annual Super Clean Knoxville Nationals will be in full swing at the Knoxville Raceway with over 100 of the top drivers in the world pre-entered for the biggest sprint car race in the world.

 But there is more than just the Nationals that make the Cox Design Southern Iowa Sprintweek something special to race car drivers, teams and fans. Aside from Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek, this is the other week of racing that I look forward to every year.  And so do many others across the country.

 “We are very excited about the Cox Design Southern Iowa SprintWeek this year on August 2-11,” said Tom Schmeh, executive director of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, located off the second turn at the Knoxville Raceway. “The three-day 360 Nationals, followed by the Sunday night Brodix Tournament of champions, will feature over 100 off the best winged 360 sprint car teams representing eighteen sanctions in the U.S., Australia and Canada. Then promoters Terry McCarl and Bill McCroskey host the winged Front Row Challenge, with Kasey Kahne and the Ultimate Challenge on Monday and Tuesday nights. And finally, it’s the Grand-Daddy of them all, the $150,000 to win SuperClean Knoxville Nationals with over 100 of the best 410 sprint car drivers in the world. After four years of being a bridesmaid and then winning last year’s Nationals, and with the season he is having this year, it is clear that Donny Schatz is again the man to beat for the 47th running of our sport’s National Championship.”

 Beginning tonight (Thursday), the Sprintweek kicks off with the 17th annual Knoxville “360 Sprint” Nationals presented by Vermeer.
 Over 100 of the top 360 sprint car drivers in the country  are entered for the big event that was won by Knoxville regular Jesse Gianetto a year ago.

 Sanctioned by the ASCS, the 360 Nationals preliminary nights are tonight and tomorrow with Saturday serving as the $10,000 to win 360 National finale. The Knoxville 410 Sprints also join the program on Saturday.

 Sunday night, it’s all 360 Sprint car racing with the annual running of the Brodix Tournament of Champions taking center stage on the fast half mile oval. Eighteen sanctions will send 62 drivers to the $5,000 to win event on Sunday night.

 Gears switch on Monday night when the 12th annual Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa takes center stage in the battle for the “Mr. Sprintweek” title.

 The Front Row Challenge offers a driver on the front row $50,000 should he take the challenge and win the race from the last row. If someone other than the challenge driver wins, he will earn $5,000.

 Many product giveaways for the Front Row Challenge are up for grabs for the racers in competition with this year’s big prize being heat race winners winning a new chassis courtesy of the big four chassis companies in the country, including Carlisle’s JEI Performance.
 Tuesday night will be the Searsboro Telephone Ultimate Challenge for non winged 410 sprints paying $30,000 to win.

 Then it’s back to Knoxville for the granddaddy of them all-the Knoxville Nationals.

 It’s a race that all sprint car drivers want to win but very few ever will. Not only does the winner get the prestige of winning the biggest race in the world, but a nice $150,000 paycheck goes along with it.

 Wednesday and Thursday serve as qualifying nights for the over 100 410 Sprints entered for the Nationals. Points are earned every time a driver competes on the track, with hopes of earning enough points to make it into the big dance on Saturday night.

 Next Friday during the Nationals is Non Qualifiers night as well as the $10,000 to win Factory Value Parts  World Challenge invitational race for drivers from the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

 Saturday night’s Nationals will be show live on the SPEED Channel.

  But racing isn’t the only action during Southern Iowa Sprintweek. There is always something to do including many events at the Hall of Fame and Museum.

 “The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum is trying something different this year, by moving our “Fan Fair” from the trade show into the first floor museum itself,” Schmeh added. “On each day of the Knoxville Nationals, we will have three different moderated forums at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. I am very excited about the Fan Fair, as we have some great moderators lined up in Tony Elliott, Johnny Gibson, Bruce Ellis, Dave Van Patten, Jon Evans and others. Then, when you add in their special guests like Diane Schatz, Mike Arthur, Lori McCarl, Steve Green, Natalie Sather, Earl Wagner and more, it’s going to be a fantastic time for the fans.”

 Pennsylvania drivers entered for the 410 Nationals include Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett, Fred Rahmer, TJ Stutts, Sean Michael, Mark Smith, Bob Bennett, Stevie Smith, Jeff Shepard, Lucas Wolfe and Kenny Jacobs will be in the JEI Performance house car.
 It’s still not to late to book a trip to Knoxville. For information on any of the events, visit www.knoxvilleraceway.com, www.cox-design.com, or call 515-957-0020 for info on the Oskaloosa events.

  I will be flying out Sunday for another week in Knoxville and plan to bring all of the results from the Nationals next week.


DREAM RACE EXTREME UP NEXT
 The much anticipated Dream Race Extreme $30,000 to win 410 Sprint car event at Port Royal Speedway is up front and center Saturday night.

 Sue Pontius is putting the final touches on the big event which will also feature a craft show, professional wrestling, a quilt auction and more on Saturday.

 Port Royal will also be in action tonight with a $3,000 to win Dream Race qualifier.

 Williams Grove will also have a Dream Race qualifier Friday night for the 410 Sprints as well as the makeup URC Shot Drop Nationals paying $4,000 to win. Lucas Wolfe set fast time before the rains came during the June show. The time trials will stand from that night.
 Selinsgrove Speedway will have a 410 Sprint and Late Model program on Sunday night.

 All other area tracks will be back in action this weekend with 358 Sprints headlining cards at Lincoln and Selinsgrove on Saturday as well as Trail-Way on Friday night.

 The Super Sportsman return to Williams Grove on Saturday night.


PIT STOPS
 Jason Sides won the first ever World of Outlaws event at Canada’s Oshweken Speedway last Wednesday night over Donny Schatz, Jac Haudenschild, Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski. Craig Dollansky picked up the WoO win Friday night at I-96 Speedway over Lasoski, Jason Meyers, Jason Solwold and Rob Chaney while Terry McCarl was the WoO winner Saturday at K-C Speedway over Schatz, Chad Kemenah, Chaney and Daryn Pittman. The Outlaws return to action Friday and Saturday night at Charter Raceway Park in Wisconsin… 

 Look for Becca Anderson to make her return to sprint car racing this weekend in a second Bars Leaks No. 17 sprint car with the URC tour. She will be a teammate to Jimmy Martin at Williams Grove and Delaware International Speedway. Becca’s World of Outlaw ride with Mike Woodring fell off the tour this season due to lack of funding and Becca has been nursing an injured shoulder…

 The Highlands Tire sprint car driven by Pat Cannon was pumped Saturday following Cannon’s win at Lincoln Speedway. The motor teched legal…