KNOXVILLE, Iowa — With the 360 Knoxville Nationals in the book, the Avanti Capitani Classic takes center stage Sunday night at Knoxville Raceway.
First run in 2012 to honor longtime Knoxville Raceway promoter Ralph Capitani, the event has become the traditional kick off to Knoxville Nationals week at the half-mile track at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
The event carries a $66,650 purse, with $13,000 earmarked to the winner of the main event and $1,000 to start the 24-car, 25-lap feature.
The program includes time trials, heats and a pole shuffle that will pay $2,500 to win.
Rico Abreu, who won Saturday’s 360 Knoxville Nationals, is the defending winner of the Capitani Classic.
Bronson Maeschen won the first Capitani Classic in 2012 and other winners of the event are Kevin Swindell, Ian Madsen, Shane Stewart, Brian Brown, Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Kyle Larson and Logan Schuchart.
Gravel is the only two-time winner of the Capitani Classic.
Last year’s Capitani Classic drew a record car count of 82.
