Knoxville Nationals: Finally Checking It Off the List
For years, I had been told that I needed to get to Knoxville, Iowa, for the 360 or 410 Nationals along with the Capitani Classic. Knoxville Raceway is home to some of the biggest weekends in sprint car racing, and somehow, despite being only about four hours down the road, I had never made the trip.
People thought I was nuts.
“How do you miss a week of racing that big?”
Well, I finally got to check Knoxville off the list.
And honestly, you can’t even put the experience into words.
Knoxville Is a World of Its Own
The first thing that hits you when you get to Knoxville Raceway is just how massive the place is.
A half-mile dirt track is already a big track in the racing world, but Knoxville takes everything to another level. The grandstands on both the frontstretch and backstretch are enormous. There are merch trailers packed into Turn 1, massive suite towers overlooking the track, and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame sitting in Turn 2.
Then there are the campers.
They are everywhere.
Around town, you see race fans cruising around on scooters, electric bikes and mopeds. There are campers and race haulers packed into parking lots and campgrounds, and the entire town seems to transform into one giant racing community.
It’s something you really won’t see at many other racing events.
Race teams are working on their cars in parking lots at stores and gas stations in the mornings. Fans are everywhere. Some stay right in Knoxville, while others spread out into the surrounding communities.
I stayed the weekend in Pella, just north of Knoxville, and that ended up being a great place to stay.
Pella is a unique Dutch community with plenty to see and do. I definitely recommend checking out the bakeries in town. Some of the desserts and pastries are worth the trip by themselves.
There are also plenty of things to do around the area when you aren't at the track. Hit up a local golf course, test your skills at the go-kart track, play a round of mini golf at Slideways just north of town, or head out to the lake and check out the dam.
There are many good places to eat in town as well. From delicious Mexican food at restaurants like Casa Grande or grab one of the best burgers in the state of Iowa at Smash and Grab Burger Co. You also can't go wrong with the fan favorite Rib Shack just to the north of the racetrack.
There is a lot more to the Knoxville area than just the racetrack.
But, of course, the reason everyone is there is Knoxville Raceway.
The track is huge.
One of the things that blew my mind was seeing how many race car haulers can fit into the infield. Somewhere around 80 to 100 haulers can pack into that space, putting the race teams incredibly close together and giving fans a unique look at the operation behind the scenes.
You can walk around and see teams working on their cars, preparing for the next round, and getting everything ready for one of the biggest races of the year.
And then there is the track preparation.
That might have been one of the most impressive parts of the entire weekend.
From the time the green flag dropped Wednesday until the final checkered flag Sunday, I never saw the track get worked during the races.
The track would be wet and muddy during hot laps. By halfway through qualifying, it would be drying out. During qualifying, it would continue to change. Then, toward the end of the heat races and into the feature, moisture would start coming back into the surface.
Watching the track change throughout the night without constantly having to stop and rework it was incredible.
Coming from just north and west of Knoxville by a few hours, I'm used to seeing tracks have to rework, pack, rewater and repair different sections of the surface throughout a race night.
Knoxville's track crew seemed to have the surface dialed in.
It was impressive to watch.
The Racing Was Just as Good
Of course, the racing itself lived up to the hype.
The big names came out and won features. Local and Midwestern drivers raced their butts off and continued building their names. Young drivers from the West Coast made the trip across the country to race against some of the best in the business and they showed exactly why they are considered the next generation of sprint car stars.
There were big moves, hard racing and plenty of moments that reminded you why Knoxville is considered one of the most important places in sprint car racing.
You could feel the importance of every lap.
I'll Be Back
Overall, the Knoxville experience was everything I had heard it would be and then some.
I still don't think I can fully put it into words.
There is something different about being at Knoxville during Nationals week. The size of the facility, the number of race teams and fans, the atmosphere around town and the quality of racing all come together to create something that is difficult to compare to anything else.
After finally making the trip, I can understand why people have been telling me for years that I needed to go.
And now that I've checked it off the list, there is no question that I'll be back.
The 410 Nationals are officially on my calendar.
If you've never been to Knoxville Raceway, do yourself a favor and get it on your calendar for next year.
You won't regret it.
Meet the photographer
Hi, I'm Carter Hibma
I’m a 21-year-old sports creative who turned a shooting a single basketball game for fun into a passion for storytelling through the lens. From racetracks to gyms, I capture the moments that matter. FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot. Off camera, you’ll find me on the farm, the golf course, or with family and friends.
