Knoxville, Tennessee -- The initial early entry list for the Cherokee Trails International Rally was released today, and the rally, first round of the United States Rally Championship, is shaping up to be a real battle.

Rally legend John Buffum is coming out of semi-retirement to pilot the Libra Racing Hyundai Tiburon, and perennial powerhouse Seamus Burke will do the honors in the second Libra Racing Tiburon. However, expect some serious competition from Peter Workum in the Autosport Engineering Subaru WRX STi, coming off of his recent win at the 2004 Ramada Express Rally. Thomas Lawless is throwing his Mitsubishi EVO VIII into the fray, which guarantees some exciting racing action.

The United States Rally Championship is made possible through the cooperative partnership of the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA).)For more information, contact Wilson von Kessler, (423) 265-2020, wilson@nasarallysport.com, or visit the United States Rally Championship website at www.usrallychampionship.com.