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

after years and years of wanting to go to Knoxville, I am going!!!  June 13th WoO and 360s.  My wife got us tickets(for my birthday).  I am excited.  Museum open on Saturday morning?  What is good to eat at the track?

Congratulations, it's everything you hope it'll be and then some! Spicy chicken bites are a must! Hope you have a great time!

The museum is open on Saturdays until 4 to 5 PM depending on attendance and whether the races are rained out or not. The museum staff are very knowledgable and curteous-you will definitely enjoy your visit. The Hyvee across the street has pretty good food.

Greatest place on earth--even if it is a bad night of racing!  I have been to the Nationals for 12 years in a row and to the Late Model Nationals a couple of times.  I am finally going to attend a weekly show at the end of the month for the 1st time!  (if it quits raining that is!)    Have fun! 

Po Folis for BBQ, PRok Tenderloin sandwiches are everywhere. Hyvee has decent food too. Ask the locals, they are friendly and helpful. Knoxville is the best dirt track in the country, PERIOD!

You're going to love Knoxville.  Neither of us "dirt" guys are lying to you!    As far as what to eat, I would grab a pork tenderloin sandwich at the track for sure.   

Your in for a treat!! I'm so far away I've never seen a regular show myself, but have only missed the Nationals once since 1991. I love the place. Have fun!!

   I do hope you have a great time ,  I suggest you check out the food stands outside the track , as you enter the main entrance  to  the right and over by the train tracks to the left of main entrance . If I can be of further help don't hesitate to call or write me at [email protected]  . I also suggest you  make all your plans early , get to the track early daily if possible and take in the  Iowa State Fair during the morning one day , it starts the Thursday of the week of the Nationals .

You must not have read the dates when he was coming to Knoxville Bob, there are not a whole lot of food stands during weekly shows or the WoO show in June....

having said that, I'd suggest a Tenderloin from the track or Mr. C's (both are from Northcote Meats).

I've heard that Manny's Diner isn't bad, but have never eaten there, so can't say.

I personally like Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant downtown.

Swamp Fox downtown always has good food.

IMO, the weekly races are better than the WoO show (and even the Nationals a lot of times).

Vande your usually right on point with your posts but that Casa Grande joint is bad. Been there twice to give it a chance and I have scratched that off my Kville list.

I love everything about Knoxville, so this is not intended to be a dig, but the amount of restaurants that have closed in the last few years near and around the track is kind of sad. It doesn't matter during Nationals week as there are plenty of vendors, but where do the locals go out to eat?

Rib Shack north of the racetrack would get my vote. Nothing like having a fresh cut brisket sandwich with fries while gazing at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum/backstretch stands. But thats my opinion and the others offered here were good too.

I'm excited for you.  You will be in awe when pulling up next to the track. I still get excited everytime I pull into town on regular Saturday night, and even more so when I walk through the tunnel and that wiff of dirt, and fuel hit you. 

+++++Where will you be traveling from? +++++

Concessions are the track are pretty good. Nachos, tenderloin and chicken bites are my favorite. There is a bbq stand under the west end of the grandstands that is good too. 

In town you have the Rib Shack and Mr Cs (get the big foot tenderloin), conveniently located just north of the track. 

Keep It Real

Haven't been downtown for several years. Is Taso's still open? I always thoight they had very good food. 

Sorry to double post, but I was also wondering if anyone knows whatever happened to the church group that used to come through the camping areas, during the Nationals, selling home cooked/baked goods. They had some amazing food, especially the homemade dinner rolls. I haven't seen them in years.

I agree.  I remember our first trip to Knoxville back in 98 .   If you get the chance to come into town from the north on 14 for your first time, there's nothing like seeing the lights to begin with, and then as you get closer, you're saying OMG..... there it is, right smack dab in the middle of town!  

Thanks for all the replies.  I'll be coming in from Nashville Tn on Friday.  We r staying at a casino close by.  Then staying in pella Saturday night.  

jaarsmas bakery !!!! Absolutely must stop In spells. Famous for "Dutch letters"but they have soooo much more! 

Crap I just drooled on my keyboard!

jaarsmas- pella sorry

Your only regret will be that you never came sooner. As someone said in an earlier post, I've been doing it now for 25 years and there is nothing like the feeling when you pull in to Knoxville on Race day. I always make sure I am an hour away from Knoxville at 5:00 so I can tune into KNIA and listen to the Race Report on the last hour drive, Just gets me that more fired up.. Enjoy