There was plenty of action during Wednesday night’s preliminary feature that opened the 58th annual 5-hour Energy Knoxville Nationals, but not much of it was at the front of the field as Greg Hodnett sponsored by Champion Racing Oil led all 25 laps of historic Knoxville Raceway.

Clinton, MO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/09/2018 --Driving the familiar Heffner No. 27, the Central Pennsylvania regular grabbed the lead from pole sitter Brock Zearfoss on the opening lap and was up to the task on three-single file restarts, holding back 2010 Knoxville Nationals winner Tim Shaffer's last-lap charge for his second career victory at the half-mile track.

"I had no idea, I was holding on for dear life and trying not to make any mistakes," Hodnett said. "I didn't know anybody was there, I was just driving the wheels off of it."

Hodnett, who in recent years has only raced at Knoxville during the Nationals, said the track fits his driving style.

"I really like Knoxville. I like the way it races," said Hodnett, who was runner-up in the Knoxville Nationals in 1997. "You can drive pretty straight and drive pretty hard. It lends itself to my driving style. I always felt comfortable here and I love the atmosphere. It gets me, I won't say excited, but up in the seat."

Champion Oil, an industry leader in performance products, develops synthetic motor oils for the racing, diesel, classic, vintage, hot rod, muscle car, and the engine builder markets. They manufacture numerous multi-viscosity motor oils with high zinc and phosphorous formulas designed to deliver the correct balance of chemistry to protect vintage and high-performance engines, especially those using flat tappet roller cams operating at high RPMs and requiring high-pressure valve springs.

These "purpose-built" racing lubricant products contain Champion's proprietary TVS® (Thermal Viscosity Stabilizer) which extends oil film capacity for better protection at high temperatures. The Champion oils also contain special lubricity modifiers to reduce friction and unlock the full potential of any engine by providing increased compression, horsepower and torque.

About Champion Brands, LLC
Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 60 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, commercial and specialty markets.

For more information contact your nearest Champion Distributor, or call Champion at 800-821-5693 or 660-890-6231 Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, 64735 or go to http://www.championbrands.com.