p Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director 704-254-7929 * [email protected][email protected]>
Rising Star Mike Knight Anxiously Awaiting Sunday Night's World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event At Eriez Speedway
HAMMET, PA - July 26, 2008 - Mike Knight has visions of traveling with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series dancing in his head.
That would explain why the rising young star from Ripley, N.Y., is so excited about the national tour's visit to Eriez Speedway on Sunday night (July 27) as part of Alltel Ohio Speedweek.
"We definitely would like to work toward running on the road with the Outlaws in a few years," said Knight, a 21-year-old who ranks among the brightest talents to hit the dirt Late Model scene in recent years. "Our goal is to build our Late Model program to where we can race on a fulltime basis."
Coming off a 2007 campaign that saw him win his first career Super Late Model points championship at the one-third-mile Eriez Speedway, Knight has increased his family-owned team's traveling schedule this season. He's gotten a taste of adapting to different tracks by following most of the Independent Racing Series (IRS).
Knight has turned some roads with his efforts away from home - and the experience has certainly made him even tougher on his own turf. He enters Sunday's 50-lap, $10,000-to-win WoO LMS program with victories in two of the last three features at Eriez, stamping him as arguably the top local challenger for the invading Outlaws stars.
"Everybody here from around town has been stopping by our shop and talking about the Outlaw show at Eriez," said Knight, who lives just a short drive from the Northeast Pennsylvania track. "They all keep telling us that with the way we've been running at Eriez, we just might be able to win on Sunday.
"I don't know if we'll be able to pull it off against all those great Outlaw drivers, but I'm pretty confident about how our car has been running at Eriez. We've been able to run a (high) line that nobody else has been running, so hopefully the track will be the way I like it.
"We're gonna give it our best shot, I can tell you that."
Knight, who is known as 'Hollywood' among his buddies, has developed a close relationship with WoO LMS star Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. He's met several other Outlaws while making selected tour appearances this season - and he hopes that a strong performance on Sunday night will help him earn recognition from all of the traveling stars.
"I think some of the Outlaw guys are starting to realize who we are," said Knight, who drives a Rocket Chassis machine sponsored by Arrowhead Wine Cellars and Mobilia Fruit Farm. "If we can keep running well and maybe get a real good finish in the Outlaw show at Eriez, hopefully all those guys will say, 'He's not too bad.'"
Frank, who counts Eriez as one of the tracks that launched his spectacular career, will lead the WoO LMS contingent into Sunday's action. Joining him will be 20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who won last year's WoO LMS event at Eriez; defending tour champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; 2007 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; and 2008 Rookie of the Year contenders Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., and Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y.
With the addition of many other well-known national and regional names drawn to Eriez by Alltel Ohio Speedweek, Sunday's program promises to feature one of the most talented dirt Late Model fields ever assembled at the track.
Adding more luster to the event, the top-five finishers in Sundays A-Main will become eligible for the 'Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star' honor. They will join the top-five finishers from the other Speedweek events in a battle for a $10,000 top prize, which goes to the driver who receives the most votes in on-line polling that begins following Sunday's event.
On-track action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit www.eriez-speedway.com<http://www.eriez-speedway.com/> or call 814-434-4370 or 814-440-2859.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.