Knoxville Raceway
Encyclopedia
Knoxville Raceway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile dirt
oval raceway
located at the Marion County
Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa
, USA. Races at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" are held on Saturday nights though some special events may start as early as Wednesday and build up to Saturday. Regular events include 360 cubic inch and 410 cubic inch sprint car racing
. Each August, the Raceway holds the paramount sprint car event in the United States, the Knoxville Nationals
. The track is governed a 24-member fairboard.
was appointed as race promoter. During Robinson's tenure, the cars progressed from stock cars to modifieds
to supermodifieds to sprint cars. Robinson created what would become the Knoxville Nationals in 1961. The event took place over two days and featured a $5,000 purse. P. Ray Grimes took over in 1974, but when he was unable to perform his duties following a snowmobile accident in 1977, Ralph Capitani became the new and current race director. On September 28, 2011 it was announced that Toby Kruse would be replacing retiring promoter Ralph Capitani, starting in the 2012 season. Kruse's Official title will be General Manager and Promoter.
In 1983, the 360 cubic inch sprint cars started racing at Knoxville. In 1987, TNN
began tape-delayed coverage of the Nationals until 1994, when it began its live coverage. The infield was paved in 2002.
The current one-lap track record of 14.407 seconds was set by three-time Australian champion Brooke Tatnell on May 7, 2006. During that night, 31 cars timed in the 14-second range and 26 cars beat the old track record set by Terry McCarl during the 2005 Knoxville Nationals.
The driver with the most 410 feature wins at the Knoxville Raceway is Danny Lasoski
of Dover, Missouri
with 92 feature wins. The driver with the most 360 feature wins is David Hesmer of Marshalltown, Iowa
with 65 feature wins.
The 50th running of the Knoxville Nationals took place place August 11 to 14, 2010. The total purse was $1,000,435 with $150,000 going to Saturday night's feature winner. Tim Shaffer won the A-main event.
The 51st Goodyear Knoxville Nationals saw Donny Schatz taking home his 5th title in this prestigious event.
won his first 410 points championship in 2006 while Jake Peters of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
won his third consecutive 360 championship. The 2007 410 and 360 championships went to Brian Brown of Grain Valley, Missouri
and Josh Higday of Des Moines, Iowa respectively. In 2008, Danny Lasoski
took home his eighth championship in the 410 division over Billy Alley while Matt Moro of Polk City, Iowa
took home his first 360 championship over Jesse Gianetto. In 2009, the 1995 champion Johnny Herrera
of Albuquerque, New Mexico
picked up his second championship over Brian Brown as Clint Garner of Sioux Falls, South Dakota won his first 360 championship. In 2010, Brian Brown and Clint Garner won their second track championships (consecutively for Garner) in the 410 and 360 divisions respectively.
is located just outside of Turn 2 of the Knoxville Raceway. It features rotating exhibits to highlight the history of both winged and non-wing sprint cars.
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
oval raceway
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
located at the Marion County
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...
Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa
Knoxville, Iowa
Knoxville is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway.-History:The site for...
, USA. Races at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" are held on Saturday nights though some special events may start as early as Wednesday and build up to Saturday. Regular events include 360 cubic inch and 410 cubic inch sprint car racing
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
. Each August, the Raceway holds the paramount sprint car event in the United States, the Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Nationals
The Knoxville Nationals is an annual sprint car event held at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. An Associated Press writer called winning the event "sprint car racing’s premiere title". It is nicknamed "The Granddaddy of Them All."-History:...
. The track is governed a 24-member fairboard.
History
The first weekly races were held at the Knoxville Raceway in 1954. After internal issues with the sanctioning body—the Southern Iowa Stock Car Racing Association—in 1956, Marion Robinson of Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
was appointed as race promoter. During Robinson's tenure, the cars progressed from stock cars to modifieds
Modified racing
Modified stock car racing, also known as Modified racing or simply Modified, is one of the oldest types of racing in the United States, dating back to the days of the post-World War II coupes. The name for modified racing cars come from the fact that they are not stock but, rather, modified...
to supermodifieds to sprint cars. Robinson created what would become the Knoxville Nationals in 1961. The event took place over two days and featured a $5,000 purse. P. Ray Grimes took over in 1974, but when he was unable to perform his duties following a snowmobile accident in 1977, Ralph Capitani became the new and current race director. On September 28, 2011 it was announced that Toby Kruse would be replacing retiring promoter Ralph Capitani, starting in the 2012 season. Kruse's Official title will be General Manager and Promoter.
In 1983, the 360 cubic inch sprint cars started racing at Knoxville. In 1987, TNN
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
began tape-delayed coverage of the Nationals until 1994, when it began its live coverage. The infield was paved in 2002.
The current one-lap track record of 14.407 seconds was set by three-time Australian champion Brooke Tatnell on May 7, 2006. During that night, 31 cars timed in the 14-second range and 26 cars beat the old track record set by Terry McCarl during the 2005 Knoxville Nationals.
The driver with the most 410 feature wins at the Knoxville Raceway is Danny Lasoski
Danny Lasoski
Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is a race car driver from Dover, Missouri.Most of his experience is in the World of Outlaws series, winning the WoO championship in 2001, and finishing second four times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004. He won the premiere event in sprint car racing, the Knoxville...
of Dover, Missouri
Dover, Missouri
Dover is a village in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 108 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Dover is located at ....
with 92 feature wins. The driver with the most 360 feature wins is David Hesmer of Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
with 65 feature wins.
The 50th running of the Knoxville Nationals took place place August 11 to 14, 2010. The total purse was $1,000,435 with $150,000 going to Saturday night's feature winner. Tim Shaffer won the A-main event.
The 51st Goodyear Knoxville Nationals saw Donny Schatz taking home his 5th title in this prestigious event.
Points Championships Since 2006
Billy Alley of Lincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
won his first 410 points championship in 2006 while Jake Peters of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
won his third consecutive 360 championship. The 2007 410 and 360 championships went to Brian Brown of Grain Valley, Missouri
Grain Valley, Missouri
Grain Valley is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, in the United States . The population was 5,160 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Grain Valley is located at ....
and Josh Higday of Des Moines, Iowa respectively. In 2008, Danny Lasoski
Danny Lasoski
Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is a race car driver from Dover, Missouri.Most of his experience is in the World of Outlaws series, winning the WoO championship in 2001, and finishing second four times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004. He won the premiere event in sprint car racing, the Knoxville...
took home his eighth championship in the 410 division over Billy Alley while Matt Moro of Polk City, Iowa
Polk City, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,344 people, 826 households, and 645 families residing in the city. The population density was 862.4 people per square mile . There were 842 housing units at an average density of 309.8 per square mile...
took home his first 360 championship over Jesse Gianetto. In 2009, the 1995 champion Johnny Herrera
Johnny Herrera
Johnny P. Herrera is an American racecar driver. He is best known for racing in the World of Outlaws sprint car racing series. He was the series' Rookie of the Year in 1986. As of the end of the 2009 season, he has won 12 features in the series.-Racing career:Herrera began his sprint car racing...
of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
picked up his second championship over Brian Brown as Clint Garner of Sioux Falls, South Dakota won his first 360 championship. In 2010, Brian Brown and Clint Garner won their second track championships (consecutively for Garner) in the 410 and 360 divisions respectively.
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & MuseumNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is a Hall of Fame and museum for sprint car drivers, owners, mechanics, builders, manufacturers, promoters, sanctioning officials and media members....
is located just outside of Turn 2 of the Knoxville Raceway. It features rotating exhibits to highlight the history of both winged and non-wing sprint cars.