By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (February 9, 2010) – 1981 Knoxville Nationals C-Main winner Jerry Potter of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and 1985 C- and B-Main winner Brad Doty of Apple Creek, Ohio, are the first sprint car drivers to commit to being a part of the National Sprint Car Museum’s special reception on Friday, August 13, entitled “Nationals Soup Line-Up: Honoring the Winners of the ‘Alphabet Soup’ Championship Features at the Knoxville Nationals, 1961 – 2009.” The two-hour reception, to be held on the museum’s air-conditioned second floor beginning at 12 Noon, is open to the public and will cost just five dollars per person to attend. The reception is just one of many museum-benefit special events being scheduled during the 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, presented by Lucas Oil, on August 11-14.
According to museum curator Tom Schmeh, “This event has been in the planning stages for quite awhile now. I’d like to thank Knoxville Raceway historian Bob Wilson for his research efforts and former Knoxville Nationals announcer Jack Herwehe for agreeing to be the emcee. This week we sent out 101 invitations to drivers that won the championship mains on the final night of the sport’s National Championships since 1961 and we are very pleased that both Jerry Potter and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Brad Doty have responded in the affirmative so quickly. This is going to be a great opportunity for sprint car fans to meet and greet past Nationals winners in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. And, if anyone knows the whereabouts of 1976 C-Main winner Rick Goade of California, please let us know; he is the only past winner for which we don’t currently have an address.”
For more information on the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and it’s museum-benefit special events, individuals are encouraged to visit the non-profit foundation’s web site at www.sprintcarhof.com. For more information on the 50th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, presented by Lucas Oil, fans are encouraged to visit www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
The list of Knoxville Nationals alphabet-soup feature winners, living and deceased, is as follows:
1961 Roy Robbins
1962 Jerry Richert Sr.
1963 Greg Weld, B “Bud” McCune
1964 Kenny Weld, B Jim Jenkins
1965 Kenny Weld, B Ted Jones
1966 Jay Woodside, B Marvin Gibson
1967 Thad Dosher, B Jerry Blundy
1968 Ray Lee Goodwin, B Kenny Gritz
1969 Kenny Gritz, B Thad Dosher
1970 Joe Saldana, B Jon Backlund
1971 Jan Opperman, Bill Utz
1972 Kenny Weld, B Roger Larson
1973 Kenny Weld, B Ronald “Doc” Dawson
1974 Dick Gaines, B Larry Kirkpatrick
1975 Eddie Leavitt, B Ralph Quarterson, C Sammy Swindell
1976 Eddie Leavitt, B1 Rick Ferkel, B2 Larry Kirkpatrick C Rick Goade
1977 Doug Wolfgang, B Sammy Swindell, C Eddie Leavitt
1978 Doug Wolfgang, B Bobby Allen, C Paul Pitzer
1979 Ron Shuman, B Sammy Swindell, C Mike Pinckney
1980 Steve Kinser, B Gary Patterson, C Don Spieker
1981 Steve Kinser, B Joe Saldana, C Jerry Potter
1982 Steve Kinser, B Tim Gee, C Mike Pinckney
1983 Sammy Swindell, B Randy Smith, C Jeff Swindell
1984 Doug Wolfgang, B Tim Gee, C John Eskuri, D Ken Chapman
1985 Doug Wolfgang, B Brad Doty, C Brad Doty, D Tommy Johnson, E Gary “Gabby” Lusk
1986 Steve Kinser, B Danny Smith, C Rich Brahmer, D Terry McCarl
1987 Steve Kinser, B Shane Carson, C “Oklahoma” Andy Hillenburg, D Bobby Houseman
1988 Steve Kinser, B Doug Wolfgang, C Kenny Jacobs, D Marlon Jones, E Tim Deaver
1989 Doug Wolfgang, B Jac Haudenschild, C Jason McMillen, D Randi Turner, E Bobby Marcum
1990 Bobby Allen, B Doug Wolfgang, C Keith Kauffman, D Doug Wolfgang, E Dave Hollamon, F Bruce Young
1991 Steve Kinser, B Frankie Kerr, C Kenny Hansen, D Kenny McCarl, E Brooke Tatnell
1992 Steve Kinser, B Frankie Kerr, C Fred Rahmer, D Dennis Moore Jr., E Craig Eshenaur
1993 Steve Kinser, B Jac Haudenschild, C Sammy Swindell, D Peter Murphy, E Chad Mellenberndt
1994 Steve Kinser, B Johnny Herrera, C Mike Peters, D Troy Parsons, E Rich Bubak
1995 Steve Kinser, B Dave Blaney, C Jac Haudenschild, D Max Dumesny, E Scott “Breezy” Whitworth
1996 Mark Kinser, B Dave Blaney, C Travis Cram, D Donny Schatz, E Tommie Estes Jr.
1997 Dave Blaney, B Jeff Swindell, C Ed Lynch Jr., D Steve Beitler, E Billy Vielhauer
1998 Danny Lasoski, B Mark Kinser, C Scott “Breezy” Whitworth, D Mike Reinke, E Randy Anderson
1999 Mark Kinser, B Jeff Swindell, C Kenny Jacobs, D Blake Robertson, E Chris Walraven
2000 Mark Kinser, B Randy Hannagan, C Jerrod Hull, D Mike Goodman, E Dion Hindi
2001 Danny Lasoski, B Greg Hodnett, C Kenny Jacobs, D Matt Moro, E Steve King
2002 Steve Kinser, B Brad Furr, C Jeff Swindell, D Randy Martin, E Scott Neitzel
2003 Steve Kinser, B Chad Kemenah, C Tim Kaeding, D Jerrod Hull, E Troy Little
2004 Danny Lasoski, B Brian Paulus, C Steve Kinser, D Cameron Dodson, E Kim Mock
2005 Kraig Kinser, B Jason Solwold, C Clint Garner, D Danny Smith, E Greg Jones
2006 Donny Schatz, B Jeff Shepard, C Jac Haudenschild, D Brock Mayes, E John Lambertz
2007 Donny Schatz, B Randy Hannagan, C Lance Dewease, D Ryan Farrell, E Chris Schmelzle
2008 Donny Schatz, B Daryn Pittman, C Jesse Hockett, D Rob Chaney, E J.J. Hickle
2009 Donny Schatz, B Jac Haudenschild, C Wayne Johnson, D Kaley Gharst, E Bill Rose
NOTE 1: Bold indicates living and first-time winner.
NOTE 2: Italics indicates living and repeat winner.
NOTE 3: Underline indicates deceased.