KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Clint Garner has won a lot of races at Knoxville Raceway through the years, but his triumph in Saturday’s 360 sprint car main event at the legendary half-mile oval meant a lot to a lot of people.
On the night Jeff Swindell and Greg Hodnett were inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Garner drove a sprint car that was dedicated to the two drivers who were teammates with the Two Winners Racing team during the early 1990s.
The car featured a split paint scheme with Swindell’s No. 7tw on one side and Hodnett’s No. 8tw on the other. The Two Winners team was co-owned by Tom Wimmer and Bob Kramer.
The tribute car was organized by Kramer’s son, J.D. Kramer, with the help of Roger Johnson, who was a longtime sponsor of Hodnett through his company Kele & Associates.
Robert Hubbard, who was crew chief for Hodnett for two years with the Two Winners operation, helped the Garner crew prepare the car and more than 20 of Hodnett’s family and friends were in attendance.
Garner said he felt like he had a co-pilot aboard his ride after starting on the pole and leading all 18 laps.
“Greg (Hodnett) was with me,” said Garner. “I thought about it earlier today, and I thought, ‘I have a guest with me tonight.’ I’m out there leading the race and I’m saying, ‘C’mon Greg, let’s do this.’ (Robert) Hubbard’s in town and he’s the reason I knew Greg Hodnett. He’s been flying into town keeping an eye on us and he and my brother (Matt Garner) tag-teamed it. The car was perfect.”
Swindell was on hand to accept his induction into the Hall of Fame, while Hodnett’s widow, Sherry, accepted Hall of Fame induction on her late husband’s behalf.
The induction ceremony was held Saturday afternoon with Bill Cummings, Walt Dyer, Don Lamberti, Paul Leffler, Spencer Riggs and Tim Shaffer also enshrined.