December 18, 2023 | By Knoxville Raceway

Mike Brooks, former Knoxville Raceway champ passes

KNOXVILLE, Ia. — Knoxville Raceway legend Mike Brooks passed away over the weekend.  Brooks was the 1980 Track Champion and a 14-time feature winner at Knoxville. He was also a member of the Marion County Fair Association and a local business owner.

The Knoxville native started racing stock cars in the early 1970's at the old Newton Speedway. Mike won his first feature at Knoxville on July 15, 1978.  In 1980 he won four consecutive features, including sweeping twin features night, on his way to nine wins, the track championship and becoming the second driver to score a perfect 500 points on their Nationals qualifying night, which put him on the pole position. 

In 1980 it is considered by most historians and race fans that the #12 Mickow team with car owner Harrold Annett and Brooks were the favorite to win the Knoxville Nationals. After setting the track record and earning the pole position, all signs pointed to that until that Saturday night when a thick fog rolled in which postponed the race to Sunday afternoon and brutal day-time track conditions.  Mike would lead laps 1-13 on Sunday before his tires gave way and Steve Kinser would drive to his first Nationals victory.

Mike would briefly retire from racing in 1986-1987 and was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1987.  He would return to the track in 1988 and qualify for the Knoxville Nationals A Main.  Brooks also won three 360 features in the 1997-1998 seasons.  He qualified for the Knoxville Nationals A Main five-times (1978, 1980, 1981, 1985 and 1988).  The only other drivers to win four or more features consecutively at Knoxville are Jerry Hayes (1960), Doug Wolfgang (1977) and Danny Lasoski (1992, 1993 and 1996).

All of us at Knoxville Raceway and the Marion County Fair Association extend our sympathies to his son Curt, daughters Melissa and Melanie, his wife Sharla and to his extended family and freinds.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  The family will announce service arrangements in the coming days.