KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Knoxville Raceway has increased the purse for the 17th Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by BRANDT Professional Agriculture to more than $287,000.
For the first time, the winner of the 100-lap finale on Saturday, Sept. 18 will earn $50,000, while the runner-up will take home $25,000.
“We may be the Sprint Car Capital of the World, but our Late Model Nationals has grown into a premier event at Knoxville Raceway and deserves a bigger purse,” said John McCoy, Race Director at Knoxville Raceway. “The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series puts on a great show here year-after-year. We enjoy working with the Lucas Oil team to put on a great show and appreciate how well they work with other series to make this a truly special event. This event is a great way for Knoxville Raceway to end its season each year.”
“For over a decade, the Late Model Knoxville Nationals has stood out as one of the most lucrative in Dirt Late Model racing,” said Rick Schwallie, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director. “As the prestige of the Late Model Knoxville Nationals grows, the stakes continue to rise. A huge thanks to Knoxville Raceway for continuing to invest in what has become one of the most coveted events in Dirt Late Model racing. Lucas Oil Products is proud to have been a partner of Knoxville Raceway since 2005 and we look forward to continuing our great working relationship for years to come.”
The three-day event is Knoxville Raceway’s sole late model event each season. The race dates back to 2004 when Iowa native Brian Birkhofer took home the win in the inaugural Late Model Knoxville Nationals. In 16 events, there have been 12 different winners. Only Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, and Scott Bloomquist have recorded multiple wins.