Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I've made the trip to Knoxville for the Nationals in August every single year since 2002.  (including the 2020 One and Only)   I have also made quite a few trips in June for the 2-day Outlaw show, and have been to the Late Model Nationals twice.  However, in all of those years, with the 4-hour drive, I've never made the trip for a regular, weekly show.  

I made my first show on Saturday night.  I told my son not to get too optimistic.  It was early in the season (car counts could be low), the air was very cool, they had some decent rain earlier in the day, and I wasn't sure how the racing would be in these conditions.  Many times these conditions lead to fast lap times, but not necessarily good racing.  Not knowing what to expect, we were blown away by the car count-----76 total sprinters I believe?  One observation I made was how the track, the safety crew, and the push trucks are run.  Being completely oblivious to the regular season at Knoxville, since I usually plop my rear in the stands later in the year, I've never witnessed it from the start of the season.  The officials and safety crew took right off where they left off last year------looked like they had been doing it on a daily basis and not like they had an 8-month break!  I spent a lot of time watching the staging area during qualifying and it's run like they have a bunch of full time employees practicing all week.  I have supervised 20 employees before, and sometimes it can be like herding cats.  It looked like a well oiled machine, which many casual observers probably don't notice.  

Anyways, the way that track operates, having now witnessing a regular weekly show, is second to none.  Oh ya, and the racing surface was fantastic with multiple lanes, and some great racing from the heats to the features.  

Knoxville is the best weekly sprint car track in the country.  From the way it's ran, to the racing, to the way they treat drivers and teams.  I know PA and Cali both have great drivers and racing.  But from a total package standpoint no place is better than Knoxville. 

Agree with all you said... Knoxville is 2-1/2 hours away from me and I go each and every week. 

You should try and hit the Non-Wing show at the end of May (They will include Winged 360s on Fri & 410's on Sat)

or the June WoO race, High Limit has not scheduled against it so I'm assuming most of them will be there as well since Knoxville is a fairly minor detour from Eagle Raceway to their next stop at Lake of Ozarks. 

Agreed 100% 

I've taken some friends who are sprint car fans and who usually watch from DirtVision, and they notice the same thing. They commented on how effecient the push trucks and 4 wheelers are, after watching the line of  4 -  wheelers waiting to push the cars to the scale or push off area. 

Knoxville is a well oiled machine. 

I've said this many times before but for those who get to attend Knoxville on a regular basis, we are all spoiled. IDK how many times I've been to other tracks and thought "These are all the push trucks", or thought, where in the hell is the push truck at when a car is sitting on the track for (2) laps. 

From the time you step on the hallowed fairgrounds it's special . Ticket office, Ticket handlers, concessions, safety crew, restrooms, announcing, the facility, lighting, racing surface, flagman, everything is top notch. This is excluding all the racing and (3) classes of nothing but sprints. 

And yes, this happens on a weekly basis and has for a loooooong time. I really started appreciating this more in my 30s, and realized this is not normal. 

Keep It Real

I am unable to attend the non-wing show.  However, I will definitely be at the June Outlaw race.  I make it on average about every other year to that one.  And yes, I believe there will be a HUGE field of cars as most of the HL guys were either at Knoxville, or on their way there for the show 10 days ago before it was called.  I would guess car counts in the 50-60 range for the 410's those 2 nights as it is normally in the mid to upper-40's.  

The closest I ever came to a regular show at Knoxville was when the 410s were the undercard at the 360 Nationals.  I've attended a few events outside of August but they were WoO events. After taking last year off I'm really looking forward to the Nationals this year. Knoxville has always felt like a home away from home for me. 

I have made the 9hr/562  mile ride from sw Ohio for opening night a couple times as well as some others. I didn't make it this year  and it's likely the 2day show this month will be my first trip out this year, then back for the WoO in June and of cours the nationals, I've missed. 1 year since 87.   It truly is a special place. 

KIng of the Road Warriors!

Knoxville is without question ran very well and being a pusher or safety crew member is an honor.Dont forget the Dunkins for track prep non better. The point payout with money and mechadise makes for some loyal racers. Brown is tough when He races but likes the better paying races so actually it helps the local racers.

Ha!  I'm not even close!!  I met a guy about 5 years ag, he was 79 and riding a 4yo Honda gold wing that already had 417,000 miles on it!!