O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions returns to legendary Knoxville Raceway

All Star Circuit of Champions

By Brian Liskai

Camargo, IL (7-2-11) – Sprint Car racers who have competed
under the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions banner have
done very well at the legendary Knoxville Raceway In Knoxville, Iowa over
the years – including in 2010 when two-time and defending All Star champion
Tim Shaffer shocked the racing world by winning the 50th Annual Knoxville
Nationals presented by Goodyear.

The talented All Star drivers will once again get to showcase their talents
on the black, river-bottom clay at “The Dirt Racing Capital of the World”
on Aug. 6. The $5,000 to win event will be a companion race with the
Knoxville 360 Sprint Nationals.

“We are excited and proud for our race teams to compete at Knoxville
Raceway once again. It will be a fun event for the fans to see our drivers
take on the tough Knoxville teams like Danny Lasoski, Terry McCarl, Brian
Brown, Don Droud, Dusty Zomer, Wayne Johnson, Austin McCarl, Lynton Jeffrey
and all the teams who will be there to get laps in before the Nationals,”
said Guy Webb, of the All Stars.

Besides Shaffer winning the Nationals, David Gravel, who finished third in
the All Stars final point standings in 2010, was named the Rookie of the
Year at the event.

The Knoxville race will be one of eight in the All Stars’ new Great Plains
Region – known over the years as the “Thunder Through the Plains” – which
will reward the points champion $10,000. Included in the Great Plains
Region will be:

July 26 – Estevan Motor Speedway, Estevan, SK – $5,000 (rain date of July
27)

July 28 – Red River Co-Op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB – $5,000 (rain date of
July 29)

Aug. 2 – Husets Speedway, Brandon, S.D. – $5,000

Aug. 3 – Red River Valley Speedway, Fargo, N.D. – $5,000 (rain date of Aug.
4)

Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, Iowa – $5,000

Aug. 8 – Southern Iowa Speedway – Front Row Challenge, Oskaloosa, Iowa,
$10,000

Aug. 14 – Husets Speedway, Brandon, S.D., $5,000

Aug. 17 – Red River Valley Speedway, Fargo, N.D., $12,000

“Our regional concept (Eastern, Ohio and Great Plains) has been
well-received by the teams and fans. It has reinvigorated 410 sprint car
racing in the Midwest and has put more money in the hands of more racers
and exposed more talented drivers to more fans,” said Webb. “Knoxville
gives us a huge shot-in-the-arm in what we are trying to do and we’re
excited to be a part of the tradition of the Cox Design and Fabrication
Southern Iowa Sprintweek.”