HISTORIC ALL AMERICAN 400 RACE TO HAVE NEW HOME

01/24/10

Bill Desmond, Media Director

Montgomery, Al. (January 25 2010) – When Bobby and Mark Knox purchased Montgomery Motor Speedway they promised competitors and race fans a premier racing arena where good hard competitive competition would take place.  They did that and then some by bringing the best in short-track competition to the track, building new cement grandstands, resurfacing the ½-mile oval for the first time since 1991 and painting all walls and the scoreboard.

     By all standards the 2009 season was a success with top competition in four “Show Me The Money” events paying the winner $5,000, three Southern Superstar touring series events, one ASA touring series event and one GAS touring series event.  Six divisions competed in 2009 after the track sat idle for two and one-half years under the previous owner.

     “We thought racing was done in Montgomery,” commented Marty Bean, long time track competitor and supporter.  “We were given promises by the previous owner which were not fulfilled.  The Knox’s came along, gave everyone a positive attitude, and they delivered on their promises.  We know they will take 2010 to a new racing level in this area, continued Bean, and people are ecstatic over what has taken place in just their first year of operation.”

     Now, the Knox’s are making another major announcement which will bring more race teams and financial remuneration to the Montgomery area.  The All American 400, billed by the late Bob Harmon as “The Greatest Short Track Race In America,” has been trademarked by Bobby Knox and Montgomery Motor Speedway.  The 400-lap Super Late Model race will bring the greatest asphalt racing venue ever to the track once owned by Harmon from 1959 – 1973.  A Pro Late Model event, on Friday, will precede the All American 400 on Saturday. 

     “With all the uncertainty over where the previous events were held, we didn’t want to see the name All American 400 fall by the wayside,” said Knox.  “We felt if only right, since Harmon considered Montgomery his home track when he started the All Pro Super Series in 1980, to bring the name to Alabama and honor his legacy by trade marking his dream event.  With Bill Desmond, Harmon’s PR honcho when the All American was born, on our staff, this will be a crown jewel event for Montgomery.”

     The first All American 400 was held in Nashville, Tn. in 1981 because it was central to drivers from the American Speed Association in Pendleton, In. together with the stars of the All Pro Super Series from the South.  The race was billed by Harmon, as “North vs South.  In the second season, Harmon spiced up his advertising by calling the event, “Civil War On Wheels”.

     The first winner was the late Butch Lindley of Greenville, S. C., with Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tn. the only three time winner. Through the years this event attracted the “crème de la crème” of short-track racing plus many NASCAR drivers.  The first All American 400 saw 97 different drivers from across the United States and Canada attempt to compete for 40 starting positions.  Names like Sterling Marlin, Darrell Waltrip, the late Bobby Hamilton, Bill Elliott, Kyle Petty, Bobby Allison, the late Davey Allison, David Pearson, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, Butch Miller, Bob Senneker, Freddie Query, Mike Alexander, Freddy Fryar, Jody Ridley, Eddie Mercer and many many more have competed in this event.

     “It is only fitting that “Uncle Bob’s dream event be held at the track he called home,” said Knox.  The New All American 400 is scheduled for September 16, 17, 18 at Montgomery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Montgomery Motor Speedway, 334-262-6101 or Bill Desmond, allprocars@knology.net or 334-361-0307.