Evan Knoll, the one time drag racing super sponsor, who has been undergoing a pre-trial mental evaluation at the behest of both the government and his own attorney since June is slated to be in court next week. This appearance was delayed slightly due to the fact that Knoll, citing his ruined financial state, request a court appointed lawyer. That attorney does not appear to have been publically named at this point.

Interestingly, the departing legal counsel, Paul Vlachos told the US magistrate that among other debts, Knoll owes $13 million dollars to Chemical Bank. The government is claiming that Knoll scammed them out of some $80 to $100 million dollars in fuel taxes that he was reimbused for after filing paperwork that stated he was refining vast quantities of racing fuel. 

The former owner of Torco Race Fuels, Knoll rose to fame by sponsoring dozens of teams in virtually all classes of drag racing, both professional and sportsman. His companies were also the title sponsors of events and even the entire IHRA drag racing series at one point. 

When Knoll appears in court on November 9, we will learn the results of his months long phychological evaluation, he will be arraigned, and there will be a pretrial conference. Knoll is facing up to 30 years in prison if convited of bank fraud charges. 

If this comes to trial, it will be pretty sensational in the world of drag racing. We expect many high level people involved with the sport to be called as witnesses and there are sure to be some big bombshells dropped when the full weight of the investigation done by the government is revealed. 

Stay tuned kids, this could get REAL interesting!

Knoll to appear in court 11/9 – requests public defender