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USAC: East Coast big block modified star Brett Hearn to make USAC debut

25 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

- Follows in the Footsteps of Tobias and Brightbill -

KNOXVILLE, IOWA - East Coast big block modified star Brett Hearn is set to make his debut at the legendary Knoxville Raceway driving Gary Stanton's Maplewood Dodge MOPAR-powered dirt champ car on June 2-3. By competing in the "NAPA Hawkeye Hundred" for the United States Auto Club (USAC) Coors Light Silver Bullet Series, Hearn will follow in the footsteps of past dirt modified superstars Kenny Brightbill and National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Dick "Toby" Tobias. Brightbill raced at Knoxville in a dirt late model in 1985, while Tobias won a USAC sprint car feature race at the historic Marion County Fairgrounds oval in 1971.

Hearn, who lives in Vernon, N.J., is a five-time Syracuse 300 winner with the Drivers Independent Race Tracks (DIRT) sanctioning body and a six-time Skoal Super DIRT Series champion. He has accumulated over 500 feature wins in his 24-year dirt modified stock car career. He is teaming with 1999 National Sprint Car Poll "Builder/Manufacturer of the Year" Gary Stanton of Nicholasville, Kty., for this prestigious event. Stanton is a champion USAC car owner and mechanic, as well as being an acclaimed engine builder of the new MOPAR motors.

In addition to the USAC Silver Bullet Series, the June 2-3 weekend features the Friday night Goodyear Masters Classic 360- cubic-inch winged sprint car program and the Saturday afternoon National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet. The track's regular 410 c.i. winged sprint cars will also compete on Saturday evening before the NAPA Hawkeye Hundred. Those seeking more information on the banquet should call the museum at 515-842-6176, and those wanting race ticket information should call Knoxville Raceway at 515-842-5431.

Text provided by THOMAS J. SCHMEH

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.