What’s happening in Knoxville, Iowa this week is a shockingly well-kept secret.
Any follower of sprint car racing knows about the Knoxville Nationals, of course. This is the 58th year, and many of the fans have been making an annual pilgrimage to the races here for 10 years or more.
But outside of the community, sprint car’s most prestigious and high-paying race doesn’t get the widespread attention it deserves.
The Nationals aren’t on TV; they can only been seen through a $49 internet pay-per-view. The media presence outside of the normal sprint car publications is practically nonexistent. Heck, most people hear “Knoxville Raceway” and assume it’s in Tennessee.
That all adds up to make Knoxville a hidden gem on the motorsports calendar, despite roughly 25,000 people descending on a sleepy country town that normally has a population of 7,300.
But here’s the thing: While people at Knoxville are extremely happy for newcomers to experience the event for the first time — and are very open to welcoming others — they’re not crying for attention.
Sprint car fans know the edge-of-your-seat, jaw-dropping racing at Knoxville is ridiculously good. They know the county fair atmosphere surrounding the track is a party-lover’s dream. They know the raceway itself is a top-notch dirt venue, complete with a new suites tower, paved infield and large Hall of Fame facility overlooking the track (not to mention what drivers say might be the best dirt in the country).
So if you come to Knoxville and see that for yourself, then great! People will be thrilled you discovered what they’ve already known for awhile. But if not, well…it’s your loss. They’re still going to soak up the joy and intensity of the most important week in sprint car racing and love every second of it anyway — while drinking their asses off, of course.
Interestingly enough, that attitude about the Knoxville Nationals is representative of sprint car racing in general these days.
Fan interest in sprint cars is growing. Drivers and community members all agree on that, because they can see the crowded stands and the car counts and the purses. It might be gradual, but they feel it’s going up.
But while that growth is positive, no one seems to have any interest in sprint car racing — even the World of Outlaws — going too big-time.
There’s a great hesitation toward anything that could “NASCAR-ize” sprint car racing. The community loves what it has and doesn’t want to lose any of what makes it special.
Right now, the sprint car experience is this: You get to the track before hot laps and walk around the various merchandise stands (with drivers often selling the shirts themselves when they aren’t at the car), then maybe grab some cheap food or a beer. Once hot laps start, the lack of a TV presence keeps everything moving quickly; from qualifying to the heats to the features, the show keeps rolling along.
At a World of Outlaws race, drivers are asked to stay at their cars for at least 30 minutes so fans can come down to the infield and get their autographs or a photo. And that’s if you haven’t met one of the drivers already while they’re just walking around the track (they don’t have PR people or handlers).
The racing seems pure — drivers are basically racing a seat strapped to rocket ship — but many formats around the country (even Knoxville) are twisted for entertainment purposes. There are inversions and bonus spots and all sorts of fan-focused rules, but that’s accepted because the show is an important part of what they do.
If it’s not good racing, people won’t come back. And if people don’t come back, the purse and merchandise sales will shrink.
Since most sprint car drivers make no base salary, that’s pretty important. They rely on race winnings (splitting the purse with the team owner) and profits from T-shirts (which go 100% to the driver since there’s no middle man).
Want to know why Knoxville is the center of the sprint car world? One reason is the promoter decided to put up a giant purse back in the day. It now pays $150,000 to win, whereas the average winner on the elite WoO tour might get around $10,000.
That’s a big deal for a no-frills sport like sprint car racing. The goal of this form of racing seems to be about two things: Providing an opportunity for these daredevils on wheels to eke out a living while making sure fans enjoy watching them compete at the same time.
That’s it.
No, the venues aren’t stadium-quality palaces. Yes, there’s dirt flying and lots of bugs and the bathrooms probably won’t be clean by the end of the night.
Oh, and the sport is quite dangerous — if you haven’t heard.
But damn if it isn’t fun, and plenty of people have already figured it out.
They’ll be thrilled to have you if you want to see for yourself. Just don’t come expecting to mess with a good thing.
Spot on Jeff. Glad you have been a part of it!
I have been to the Mid-Sept Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals at Knoxville Raceway 5 of the last 7 years. I will be there again this year….driving there from FL. Every year I have been, it has been the best live racing I see all year. Yes, I love my NASCAR and go to two NASCAR weekends a year, but Knoxville is always the best. I always sit in a suite at the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Turn 2. Of course I sit in one of the balcony seats so I get the full effort of sound and dirt flying. And, YES, they have the best dirt (muck) for racing I have ever seen. Glad we were able to provide enough funds to get you to both Chili Bowl and Knoxville Nationals this year. I will be listening online tonight.
Hey I totally agree with you I’ve been to the last 6 Knoxville late models in September we make a 900 mile 1 way trip always Fabulous racing the 4 mat is Great. I was wondering how you go about getting tickets to the suites in turn 2.Thankyou
Follow Knoxville’s social media team, especially Kendra Jacobs. She puts out if anything is available. Also try calling their ticket office. Good luck!
Contact Bob Baker at Sprint Car Hall of Fame about about getting seats in suites in turn 2. Usually priced at 2X a reserved grandstand seat. Have to bring your own food and drink which is actually a good thing.
I have been to the Mid-Sept Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals at Knoxville Raceway 5 of the last 7 years. I will be there again this year….driving there from FL. Every year I have been, it has been the best live racing I see all year. Yes, I love my NASCAR and go to two NASCAR weekends a year, but Knoxville is always the best. I always sit in a suite at the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Turn 2. Of course I sit in one of the balcony seats so I get the full effort of sound and dirt flying. And, YES, they have the best dirt (muck) for racing I have ever seen. Glad we were able to provide enough funds to get you to both Chili Bowl and Knoxville Nationals this year. I will be listening online tonight.
My first visit to the Knoxville Nationals was in 1969. I also went for the 50th anniversary with my brother to honor my late Father, who went just about every year since 1973. To me, it is like going home.
Great job Gluck! You get it, now…..Sprint Car racing is strapping into a pure race car with no frills, driving by the seat of your pants, direct drive so the power and torque is were it’s at. This is why guys like Khane, Larson and Smoke always come back to race them, it’s not about ????, it’s like bull riding, only in a car & FUN!
I used to go to Knoxville all the time when I lived in Illinois. I remember when they ran super modifies before they became sprint cars. The bleachers were wooden and drivers would camp out in the sale barns. I remember the stock yard across the street from the track next to Dingus and the Dunkin crew would winterize the track with manure.Great track and a better community.
Great article Jeff! Introduced to sprint car racing in 1989, not much has changed regarding the “big time” nature of it or lack thereof. I think us fans know and don’t care if people look at us perplexed when trying to describe the cars or racing. The relative small segment of sprint car fans are my people and I’d just soon leave it undiscovered by the masses.
Best kept secret in Auto Racing, hands down!
Believe me Knoxville is the best of the best. Went there many times watching my son who is now a great grandpa. We still all follow it religiously. And my family plus my husband’s have been involved in racing since it restarted after WWII. Brother-in-law drove Indianapolis at least two times if not three before his untimely demise in an Indy car in Calif in 1953. This article is spot on. Good job Jeff. And good job Knoxville Raceway.
I’m really spoiled living 1/4 mile from Williams Grove Speedway.
PA Posse puts on Outlaw quality shows each week!!
They certainly do, but usually not at Williams Grove!
It’s on my bucket list
I would say this is not only true of Knoxville, but of dirt track racing in general. Whether it’s Sprints or Late Models at Knoxville or Eldora, the PA Posse Sprints at Lincoln or Williams Grove or the DIRT Modifieds leaning on each other at Lebanon Valley or Fulton, or the SpeedSTR-type midgets and wingless 600 micro sprints at Action Track USA in Kutztown, PA, dirt track racing is thrilling, affordable and a sport that the average working class person can identify with. The Chili Bowl in Tulsa is the showcase for this style of racing because it hundreds of the best from across the country for a giant race party. And, as a whole, the people who love dirt track racing love it just the way it is and don’t want to see it change or compromise in order to “go big-time.”
I also live a fe w. Miles fromthe grove and lincoln where th e pa. Posse always gives the big boys a run for the money. Steve Kuhn Mount Holly Springs PA
Only unfortunately been there once… TOTALLY ALSOME EXPERIENCE. Wish could be each year.Just having enough time &$ stop us…Not that’s it expensive being there.You can’t beat the people you meet.. Seeing, meeting the drivers walking around,the museum interviews,( thou theEastern museum of motor racing is better) They also broadcast racing on radio (local l Go Pa. Posse
That sums it up pretty well.
I’ve been fortunate to attend the Nationals once and agree it is a great experience. Sprint car racing is alive and well and doesn’t have to constantly be looking over its shoulder like the big money racers.
Welcome! 🙂
Great observations Jeff! I have been going since 1983, missing only once, so this was my 35th. It is the whole package of being there that makes it so special, and the great racing is the cherry on top of the Sundae! And the best line of your article was, “the lack of a TV presence keeps everything moving quickly”. And I hope that doesn’t change.