After taking the checkered flag for the Bud Light B Main back in 1986, little did 26 year old Dave McKnight, Jr. know what he had store in him for the next 25 years.  Turn ahead to this weekends 2010 International Classic, the very same Dave McKnight will buckle in for his 25th consecutive International Classic.

Even before strapping in for a start in the Classic, Dave was well respected in the pit area of Oswego Speedway as a chassis builder.  In his formative years, the McKnight kids were a familiar sight in the pit area of dad’s #6 car, with driver Warren Coniam at the controls.  It was thought back then that Dave would be the chassis builder, and brother Steve would be the driver.

Now, some 25 years later, Dave McKnight Jr is known as one of the top five Canadian drivers all time at Oswego Speedway. His numbers can be placed side by side with fellow Canadians Kenny Andrews, Warren Coniam, Norm Mackereth, and Johnny Spencer.

This weekend, Dave is one of the drivers that has a legitimate shot at winning the Budweiser International Classic.

“We’ll see what happens,” Dave said days leading up to the race.  “In the 2 ½ years we’ve run for Gary, we’ve progressed well, and shown a lot of promise.  We have further to go, but we’re doing ok.  We’ve been up front, and we feel good about our odds.”

Those odds became a little steeper after crashing the 08 in the last feature of the year in turn one.  The axel, wheels, radiator, push rod, right side header, injector, hood, nose, wing and front wing were all damaged.  It was a busy couple of weeks in the City Line Road garage. “But, Classic is a whole new race, and a whole new day,” Dave added.

Looking ahead to this year’s show, Dave has a couple of things that are paramount for success.  “Have a game plan, stick with it, and stay focused,” he said.  “That’s it.  Patience and a game plan.  I know what I need to do I just have to set it in motion and follow it.”

This will be Dave’s 25th Classic.  In the previous races, he's had some memorable rides and things he won’t soon forget.  “All the B Main wins, lot’s of them,” he laughed as he thought back through memory lane.  “We won a ton of them,” he laughed.  “We ran the Jeff Carson 27, never ran it before and had it up to third before being punted up on the guard rail.”

“We ran well for Ron Mucci,” Dave remembered.  “We got off to a bit of a slow start, but we always had a fast and well prepared car.  We won all over with them, its just a shame we couldn’t carry it out.”

“How about when I drove for Brad and did the 2 – 360’s and kept going?  People can’t tell you who won the race, but they can tell you all about those,” he laughed.  “Had a good run with Dave May.  Never saw the car until that day, and finished up front and led 60-70 laps, with Randy Ritskes.  We’ve had a lot of good runs.  And now with Gary’s team.  We’ve run well in the race, led many laps, just not the finishes to show for it.” 

“I had 14 years with Brad, and it’s not over,” he added.  “The economy put a damper on that, and simply there’s not enough money to run two cars.  The money just isn’t there.  I’m ok with it.  It is unfortunate, but that’s ok.”

His first Classic was in the Al and Janet Bush 6 car, but Dave even went back further in the memory bank.  “My first ride, was in the Bob and Ernie June #59” he reflected.  “1985, way back” he said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to race for and with a lot of good people” Dave said humbly.  “The Syrell's are a great family, and there is nothing more I would like than to win the race, and dedicate it to his father, who just passed away.  That would mean a lot to me,” Dave said. 

Dave McKnight, Jr. comes to Oswego to run his 25th Classic, and has made a lot of friends and won a lot of races along the way.  He’s had some very memorable rides in the past 25 years, and hopes to put the exclamation point on his 25th Classic start with a victory in the International Classic.