Eric Knudtson on a Mission at SAS

[tqj3]

Release: April 1, 2005

 

Boerne’s Knudtson on a Mission at San Antonio Speedway

 

San Antonio – Eric Knudtson of Boerne, Texas was both fast and consistent at San Antonio Speedway in 2004, winning twice in the Sportsman Class, posting 12 top-five finishes in 17 races and adding two other finishes in the top ten. He also drove to second place in the annual post-season “OktoberFast” race, which didn’t count in the series but attracted 24 entries from all over South Texas. Still, Eric fell just 24 points short of the season championship in the battle among 33 cars and drivers at SAS as Justin Oates of La Vernia took the title.

 

This year, things will be different. Between the rain showers during practice at SAS last Saturday Knudtson’s Chevrolet Camaro was running times faster than the lap record. This Saturday night, Eric starts the season with another non-points race, the “American Classified Sportsman 25” at the fast half-mile oval out on Highway 16 south of the city. He’ll get the first of several more shots at Oates as well, as Oates will race several times in the Sportsman class this season, including Saturday’s American Classified event, while he concentrates on the late model series.

 

These two have obviously had some tough battles and fans at SAS expect to see more action from the two this season, whether or not Oates runs the full Sportsman series. Eric doesn’t mind that. He doesn’t mind close finishes, or tight races. But this year, he plans to be one spot higher in the standings when it’s over.

 

“We had some on-track confrontations that didn’t always have to do with racing, but which are always going to be part of it,” Knudtson noted recently without naming names or getting into specifics, “and we had some bad luck, also always a part of racing. But we’re coming out strong this year, and I’m feeling good.”

 

Which, of course, is a bad sign for the other Sportsman drivers. The spectator gates at San Antonio Speedway open at 4:00 pm on Saturday, with racing starting at 6:50 pm. The American Classified Sportsman 25 is up first, so fans won’t want to be late. It just might be the start of the best season yet.

 

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T. Q. Jones P. O. Box 91346 Austin, TX 78709-1346

 

PH: (512) 261-5236 Email: tqj@mindspring.com