Contact: World Racing Group Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director 704-254-7929 * [email protected][email protected]>
New York's Mike Knight Leads Battle For $10,000 Prize With Less Than Week Remaining In Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star Voting
CONCORD, NC - Sept. 3, 2008 - Young dirt Late Model driver Mike Knight is leading the pack heading down the homestretch of a $10,000-to-win race.
But this is one victory that the 21-year-old from Ripley, N.Y., can't secure with his talent alone. He'll need help from fans, family and friends to get him to the finish line first.
Knight is the current leader of the Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star contest, an on-line poll at www.AlltelAllStar.com<http://www.alltelallstar.com/> that ends on Tues., Sept. 9, at 11:59 p.m.
The top vote-getter at the close of the contest, which features the 15 drivers who scored a top-five finish during the four World of Outlaws Late Model Series Alltel Ohio Speedweek events in late July, will receive a $10,000 check from Alltel Wireless.
"It's going to be a nerve-racking week," said Knight, a rising star who punched his ticket to the Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star contest with a fifth-place finish in the July 27 event at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. "I'm really hoping that I can hold on and win the deal. We've been spreading the word about the contest the best we can because we sure could use that money."
As of Sept. 3, Knight is atop the Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star standings with 24 percent of the vote. He has slightly increased his lead in recent days over his good buddy Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., who sits second with 19 percent of the vote.
Fans can vote for their favorite driver once per day at www.AlltelAllStar.com<http://www.alltelallstar.com/>, so there's still time for Knight's pursuers to round up votes and make a last-ditch bid for the 10 grand.
And that's why Knight isn't letting up with his campaign. He continues to talk about the Alltel Ohio Speedweek All-Star contest at every opportunity, always mindful that he could win more votes.
For instance, during Sunday's WoO LMS Oil Region Labor Day Classic at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., Knight was a very willing participant in an autograph session held in front of the grandstand after time trials because it gave him a chance to "ask more fans to vote for me," he said with a smile.
A top dirt Late Model prospect who has dreams of heading out on the road to chase the WoO LMS Rookie of the Year award as soon as the 2009 season, Knight has mentioned that he would even letter his No. 9K with Alltel Wireless colors and logos for a special appearance if he's fortunate enough to win the contest.
"I'd do it to say thanks to Alltel for putting up some real good money for us dirt Late Model racers," said Knight, who stands to collect the biggest paycheck of his short racing career if he secures the $10,000 prize.
Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, currently is third in the contest standings with 13 percent of the vote, followed by former WoO LMS champions Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (11 percent), Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (7 percent) and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (7 percent).
Rounding out the standings is Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. (5 percent); Ricky Elliott of Seaford, Del. (4 percent); Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (2 percent each); and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va. (1 percent each).
Fans that log on to www.AlltelAllStar.com<http://www.alltelallstar.com/> to vote for their favorite driver through Sept. 9 at 11:59 p.m. will also be entered in a contest to win a $500 Alltel Wireless gift card.
The next action for the WoO LMS is a Midwest doubleheader - the Pepsi Nationals on Sat., Sept. 13, at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals on Sun., Sept. 14, at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com<http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/>.