By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (February 12, 2010) – In the words of famed Knoxville Nationals announcer and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Jack Miller, “Holy Cow!” That expresses the excitement that is building this week at the National Sprint Car Museum as more confirmations have been received for the 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.” Joining the previously announced Jerry Potter and Brad Doty are 1987 B-Main winner Shane Carson of Oklahoma, 1986 C-Main winner Rich Brahmer of Nebraska, 1988, 1999 and 2001 C-Main winner Kenny Jacobs of Ohio, 1983 B-Main winner Randy Smith of Iowa, 2004 B-Main winner Brian Paulus of Pennsylvania, 1996 E-Main winner Tommie Estes, Jr., of Oklahoma, and 1968 Knoxville Nationals champion Ray Lee Goodwin of Missouri..
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. Said museum executive director Bob Baker today, “This event has really caught the imagination of both drivers and fans. Today we received a call from 1968 Knoxville Nationals champion and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Ray Lee Goodwin, and he is very excited about coming back and being honored during the Golden Anniversary of the event. And we love the enthusiasm shown by National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Kenny Jacobs, who crossed off the word ‘tentatively’ on his RSVP and wrote in the word ‘WILL’ to indicate his definite intentions of being there. That kind of passion for the sport, its fans and its history is priceless!”
For more information on the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and its 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, can be found on the museum’s web site. Those indicating that they plan to attend, as of February 12, are as follows:
Ray Lee Goodwin (1968), Jerry Potter (1981), Randy Smith (1983), Brad Doty (1985), Rich Brahmer (1986), Shane Carson (1987), Kenny Jacobs (1988, 1999, 2001), Tommie Estes, Jr. (1996), Brian Paulus (2004).