Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 16, 1987, edition 1 / Page 20
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? / I ) $ Page 6s Winston-Sakm Ch i Mark Knc By RANDY PETTITT Chronicle Sports Editor A lot of stock car legends have raced around the football field at Bowman Gray Stadium over the years. And as the birthplace of NASCAR celebrates its 600th weekly gathering this Saturday, a new name is emerging in the snotlioht at the nn?rt#?r-mi1*? frarW -- Mark Knott. The 24-year old, who many think will someday be a superstar in the sport, has moved through the ranks with uncanny ease. He quickly became a crowd favorite June 6 by pulling off a stunning upset, winning?the Sportsman division's prize race - the Coors 100. The event was the longest of the season for the Sportsman cars and gained the new kid on the block instant respect* from his peers. "I was leading with 10 laps to go and the caution flag came out," Knott recalled. just kept telling myself not to miss a gear on the restart -- and 1 did anyway.** "I gathered it back together ?_?? though and hung on. I was pretty nervous.? Despite the thrill of his first big time win, last week was perhaps more memorable for Knott, of. fering the birth of his son Zachary Steven, his 24th birthday and a third victory of the season. And to top it all off, Fifteen > thousand fans joined in a chorus of "Happy Birthday" Tor the proud new father. He responded by outdueling father-in-law, Carl "Dink" Osboume, for his third win of the year. It was Osbourne, a two-time champion at Bowman Gray, who first saw the potential of Knott while he was racing go-carts. 441 watched him race those carts and knew right then that he^ _ had potential to be a winner over h^r#? " ricKnnrnp caiH V f VtiWWI IIV JUIUi After two years and three wins in the novice Blunderbust division, Osbourne provided Knott with an opportunity to make a name for himself by letting him drive his second car in the Sportsman division. 44I think I've trained him too well," Osbourne joked after finishing second to Knott last Saturday. "He has all the tools to become a great race car driver. Mark should go a long ways in this sport." Knott admits racing against his father-in-law isastrange twistTbut one he enjoys, "It was interesting, but I just treated him like I would anyone else," Knott said. "It was fun beating him though. I guess I've got something to kid him about now," he laughed. But others in the sportsman division think Knott's success is no laughing matter. "He'll be a superstar in this division -- he really will," said Jimmy Johnson, a five-time champion and 12-year veteran of the Sportsman division. "Mark has good equipment under him and a level head to be ! - able to use it. He has had some good luck too. Better than mine," he joked. "No, really, he's a good kid and a damn good race car driver." Ralph Brinkley, the stadium's winningest active driver, agrees. "He's at the right aae and w w ~ headed in the right direction," said Brinkley, who won his 50th Modified division race Saturday. "Go-carts were how I got into racing. I played with go-carts, then raced them, and finally wound up over here. Mark's " I | Need a speaker for your organization or church arouo? I Give the Chronicle a call at 723-8448 \ * v / romch Thursday, July 16, 1987 itt: Bowrru - \ done pretty much the same thing. 4M\e_yron 50 races. Hell, he might win a 100. You never know. Richard Childress started over here the same time 1 did. He's now the owner of the (Dale Earnhardt) Winston Cup Championship team,*' he said. 4tI don't know Mark all that well, but he definitely is going the right way/' Terry King, another competitor in the Sportsman division, says Knott could become another famous graduate of the Stadium. 44He is very marketable,'* King t?TO T DOW BUY/ SALE PRICF GOOD SELE CAVALIER S $8995 SALE PRICE $9495 LESS REBATE -$500 Jb nNVTH ? jm* * Bennie M JSU ff I 1986 I ROC X-28 Rad,auto.,air.nfca, taa < 10 m. '12/ I 6875A 4 MA CAVALIER 4-dr., m, cruise, AM/FM, 4* charcoal. Q* M62A 19M MONTI CARLO T-tops. cassette, loaded, ii* 12 m. Mif 8412A 1984 CAMARO 2 28 Auto., red, sharp, 45 m. *8 I113A 19M CAMARO V8, AT, AC. cassette. 33 m, *0 white. 7521A 1M6 CAMARO V8. AT. AC. stereo. 14 m, black. t ' 7M7A IMS CAMARO V8, AT. AC, citMtte. t f A 22 m, red. I Vj I 722-4191 <r ? an Gray's said. ''Mark is a clean cut guy with a good attitude. That's what it takes to get into the big time these days." "1 think he's proved he can drive a race car already. The hard part will be leaving Bowman Gray Stadium. This is just a hobby for us, but 1 think Mark has a chance to turn it into something more than that." Tough Odds Despite being in the racing (I'LL I HE HI TTTOV l NEW g 6785 i 15^^^ CTION OF? EDAN Availa 'cBride Tim V\ Bver Fina I M ? ? * we uan He* " FIRST SAVE MON "Signature and 12 months 8599A 1987 IROC 2-28 PW, PS. cassette, T-top. aa* 1900 miles, red. I / ?7 7528 19*6 IROC Z-28 T-top, loaded, 12m, t * black '13*775 8839A doc 19M SPECTRUM Ft9 2-dr., AT. cassette. 11 m, tfJAE white. 8553A AOK 1985 SPECTRUM W3 4-dr., AT, AC. cassette. 21 i|**? m, red. f 9779 %% 8092A HOC 1985 CHEVETTE 7t9 . 2-dr., 4-speed, cassette. 33 m, blue. '907) 8637A mqr 1985 CELEBRITY 4-dr.. AT, AC. d. blue. *7495 8104A 1996 CELEBRITY 495 4-dr., V?. AT. AC. 19 m, |#w5 8527A 1987 CELEBRITY KUftOtPOftT 4-dr., 4 cyl., 10 m. white <10,500 S73U 1984 CADILLAC CIMARRON ,500 ^ io?a?<) >7995 ^CHEV . next super business since 1949, Bowman .Gray Stadium has produced a lot of high hopes, but only one real mainstay on the NASCAR circuit -- Richard Childress. Others, such as local businessman Ernie Shaw's career on the Grand American circuit, have came close to making it to the bigtime, but Childress* rags to riches success as a car owner easily tops the list. And perched in the corner of the dimly lit pit area, Mark Knott expressed a desire to add his JKET ? IGOOE CHEV _ $8J ? SALE PRICE jf4HS*31 LESS REBATE s?gB> L0^eo -W" ["&&? , a.? t * wyoWB!ftii ^gjf^ /ilks Thomas need A C !p! Ask us about G TIME BUYER S PROC EY&BUYV i Series" 140-point U /12,000 miles warra B593A 7i 1986 CAVALIER 1 4-dr., AT. AC, FM, cloth, 18 u aqf VI m, whits. #0TT? 7j 8594 A 1 1986 CAVALIER I 4-<Jr.. AT, AC. FM. cloth. 17 |?.II6K ?, m, white *0tt5 ? 8596A J 1086 CAVALIER " 4-dr.., AT, AC, FM. cloth. 19 '* 8597A VI 1986 CAVALIER * 4-dr, AT, AC. FM. doth, 19 74 m. blue.. *OtY3 j 8526A V! 1986 CAVALIER 4-dr., AT, AC. FM. cloth, 37 8< m. bias 1 8S33A 1986 CAVALIER 1 2-dr., AT, AC, cloth. 31 m, 7495 1 1986 CAVALIER WAGON * 1 AT, AC. FM. 24 m. whits. *7495 1 8636A ^ 1666 CAVALIER WAQON '<j AT. AC. FM, 34 m. blue. '7495 4 8528A - 82 1986 CAPRICE 1 4-dr . V6. AC. FM stsrso. <ia ?aa > -19 m. whte 110/500 V mifi * * * - . _ i . \ V /? ? star driver name to the "My goal is to ultimately drive hNK a car cm the Grand National cir- g J^jHT "I know you have to be a Dale Earnhardt or Tim Richmond to "* ir^^Ekgfl make it these days, but that's ML what Td like to accomplish some ^ But instead of sitting around talking racing, Knott rushed home to be with his new son and *. 7 wife. M mA Mark Knott was headed in the right direction. V^B J& '^^7- ' \ *4 HE WAY "1 BEATS nS WEEK! ON EXPRESS I With Si 000 uses and tags down 6 9% APR with approved Bp credit 48 ?nonth tarm Total . payment* $6 656 48 Stock ?8707 6706 > SELECTION OF yNOVAS ?95. ^trov^ ^ y H ^^B1 * jh| \H gflj >4mos Willie Guess tar Before? - _ IMAC's new ._. 9 RAM". IftTH CONFIDENCE I sed Car Checklist nty at no extra charge. I02A (371A 986 CAPRICE WAGON 1988 COUGAR COUPC ?, b.*. * 10,900 &AT'AC'41 m' <1495 983 MONTI CARLO IMS ISCORT L^VjB. AC. split Mats, 48 m. *6495 2jdr, AT, 14 m, *983 MONTI CARLO 7^88 ISCORT ..... ?AT.AC.FM.43m. $6Wj 2-dr4-?pssd, 7 m, aqua. *5495 JO l A | ap|K 984 MONTI CARLO LTD umj B, AT, AC. t-tops. 26 m. |iAAK 7232A Sf' #TO 1988 THUNDIRSIRD 988 MONTI CARLO V-AT.ac.32m.m*. *7995 B. AC. cassstts. 12 m, t a CAA *<* ,rv '10,500 1988 MUSTANG ..... '?* ?f. II.. - _ 4eyl.. AT, 28m. Mack. MM 988 MONTI CARLO *? 8, t-tops. 25 m. black. *11*500 C968IIT M8M WMMI 986 PONTIAC SUN8IRD ?n.^nM AT ir ^ UQOI 1M7 PLYMOUTH HORIZON dr.. AT, AC. 20 m. whits OTT# 154A 4-dr., AT, AC, 20 m, d. rsd. * 5 988 PONTIAC FIIRO ? m#u_1 STOOC 1999 PLYMOUTH MUAMT cy?. 5-spssd. csssstts. 0/YY9 _ _ uaak >31A 4-dr., AT. AC, 26 m, wttits. 95t79 986 CUTLASS C^AI8 ^984 NISSAN 900 SX I jooa AC c,mttt*27 m> Wu# 5-sposd. AC. 37 m, black. *7495 I fl ass MNM AO* AAIIM ?*' 8 cruiw,CM.n..Mm,. *9995 <69*5 | Euv <*|Mlot JtMt off l-4? at ??t 4th * Imii BbM BroxU im rifht ? Moclw. A
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 16, 1987, edition 1
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