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Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Announced!

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (June 8, 2025) – The 2025 Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame inductees have been announced by our Hall of Fame Committee. These individuals will be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments to Knoxville Raceway.

Those being inducted in this year’s class will be Jerry Beyer, Steve Breazeale, Kerry Madsen, Jeff Mitrisin, Mike Proffitt, Dick & Doris Seidenkranz and Dick Stoneking.

This year marks the 47th class of inductees. The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame was established in 1979 and there are currently 236 inductees.

The annual induction banquet will be held on Saturday, July 5 at Noon in Dyer-Hudson Hall. This event is open to the public and meal tickets are $10 per person. Inductees are encouraged to call ahead to reserve seating by calling the ticket office at 641-842-5431, but tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

Jerry Beyer (Fair Board) - Knoxville, IA
Jerry has been a cornerstone of the Marion County Fair Association with 45 years of continuous service on the Board of Directors, and still active today. His impact around these fairgrounds is both visible and lasting. Drawing from a lifelong well of construction expertise, his hands-on involvement and leadership has ensured that the facilities remain in top condition for both world-class racing events and County Fair traditions. Quietly committed, Jerry has never sought the spotlight, but his work is seen and appreciated by all. His legacy is written in the strong foundations that surround us, making him a true Hall of Famer.

Steve Breazeale (Driver) - Pleasantville, IA
Steve Breazeale made his mark at Knoxville Raceway with 11 career feature wins in the 360 class, earning his first victory on May 6, 1989, behind the wheel of his own #57. He capped off a strong 360 campaign with a runner-up finish in the season standings in 1995. Breazeale also found success in the 305 class, collecting six feature wins and making history as the first-ever 305 Track Champion in 2010. He continued to add to his win total in the division, later piloting the #66 for owners Denny Vrban and Bruce Clark. Steve’s long-standing presence and success across multiple classes have earned him a well-deserved place among Knoxville’s greats.

Kerry Madsen (Driver) – St. Mary’s, NSW, AUS / Knoxville, IA
The “Mad Man,” Kerry Madsen made an immediate impact on the American sprint car scene by winning a feature in just his third night at Knoxville Raceway on June 27, 1998. Since then, he has amassed 27 career feature wins at Knoxville and captured the 2005 Track Championship driving for car owner Tony Vermeer. Madsen has also built an impressive Knoxville Nationals resume, including four top-five finishes and seven top-ten performances, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2015. His accomplishments extend well beyond Knoxville: 25 career World of Outlaws victories, three wins in the prestigious Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Australia, a 2014 Kings Royal title, and a victory in the 2020 360 Knoxville Nationals. Kerry has firmly cemented his place among the sport’s elite drivers.

Jeff Mitrisin (Driver) – Oskaloosa, IA
Jeff Mitrisin grew up around racing and after finding success in dirt modifieds he made the jump to sprint cars in 1996. He quickly found success by winning his first 410 feature in his rookie season on August 11, 1996, a few days just before the Knoxville Nationals. Though his sprint car career spanned just 13 years, Mitrisin built an impressive resume with seven career 410 feature wins and two 360 feature wins here. His standout season came in 2000, when he claimed three victories and finished second in the point standings. Over nine seasons, he earned four top ten finishes in the 410-point standings, along with a runner-up finish in the 360 standings in 2006. Jeff would hang up the helmet after the 2008 season.

Mike Proffitt (Driver/Track Official) - Pleasantville, IA
Mike Proffitt began his racing career behind the wheel in 1980 as a local kid who worked hard to scrape together what he could to compete and earned several top-ten feature finishes. His best seasons came in 1985 and 1986, when he qualified for a pair of B Mains at the Knoxville Nationals. After retiring from driving in 1994, Proffitt returned to the sport in 2000 as a track official. He has worn the official uniform ever since and has served as Competition Director since 2011. Known for his quiet demeanor and deep passion for racing, Proffitt has been a steady voice of reason in the infield for 26 seasons and is widely respected by his peers.

Dick & Doris Seidenkranz (Owner) - Des Moines, IA
The D & D Racing team (aka Family Affair Racing) dates back to the 1976 season when Dick and Doris Seidenkranz arrived at Knoxville Raceway with Hall of Fame driver Mackie Heimbaugh. Operating on a modest budget, they were always eager to support up-and-coming drivers, giving opportunities to talents such as Rocky Hodges and Kenny Potter. Even Knoxville Raceway’s own John McCoy drove for them in 1986. Though both Dick and Doris have passed, their legacy lives on through their children, their grandson, Brad Comegys, and great-grandson, Nathan Mills, who have enjoyed success over the years. Distant cousins, Paul and Rick Seidenkranz from Minnesota, currently field the #64 360 sprint car.

Richard “Dick” Stoneking (Driver) – Oquawka, IL
Following in the footsteps of his father, Duane, Dick began his racing career in 1974 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington. He went on to earn feature wins there during the 1975, 1976, and 1977 seasons. Dick began competing at Knoxville Raceway during the 1978 and 1979 seasons. Tragically, on July 21, 1979, Dick was involved in a fatal accident when his non-wing sprint car struck the flag stand. He was 26 years old. Dick’s spirit lives on through the continued involvement of family and friends, many of whom are still active in racing today.

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