Knoxville Raceway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile dirt oval raceway located in Knoxville, Iowa. The dirt on the track is black river bottom gumbo and is located on the Marion County (Iowa) Fairgrounds. Races are held on Saturday nights and regular events 360 and 410 sprint cars. Races have been held at the Knoxville Raceway since 1954. The driver with the most feature wins at the Knoxville Raceway is Danny Lasoski from Dover Mo. with 88 feature wins. Since the 1980s the Knoxville Raceway has added a second class with the most recent the 360 cubic inch class. Since 1981 the driver with the most 360 Sprint wins is David Hesmer of Marshalltown, Ia. with 65 feature wins. Each August, the Knoxville Raceway holds the paramount sprint car event in the United States, the Knoxville Nationals. The idea of the Knoxville Nationals was the brainchild of Marion Robinson. The Knoxville Nationals was originally scheduled as a one day event for Super Modifieds and was later expanded to two, three, and finally four days of racing for Sprint Cars. The first Knoxville Nationals was held in 1961 with Roy Robbins taking the win. Robbins' car was equiped with an "air scoop" which was later banned in future Knoxville Nationals. In later years the "air scoops" would not only be allowed but be mandatory equipment. The most winning driver in Knoxville Nationals history is Steve Kinser of Bloomington Indiana with 12 wins. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is located just outside of turn 2 of the Knoxville Raceway. It features exhibits to highlight the history of both winged and non-wing sprint cars. |