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

Racing came to a halt in the early 1940s due to the war, and returned late in the decade with hot rod racing. Soon after, midget and stock car racing became common.

In 1954, weekly racing began at the Knoxville Raceway. By this time, lighting was added to the track, along with new fencing. Stock car racing was the primary attraction, which were passenger cars stripped of glass, innards and extra metal. Roll cages were often constructed inside the car as a safety precaution.

Events at the Knoxville Raceway were promoted by the Southern Iowa Stock Car Racing Association until 1956, when Marion Robinson took over as promoter. During Robinson's tenure, "modifieds", (a stock car with modifications made to the engine), and "supermodifieds" (modifieds with the car bodies cut away to eliminate weight), were the rage. Eventually, tubing replaced the car frames, giving way to the sprint car as we know it today. Under Robinson's leadership, the Knoxville Nationals were born.

P. Ray Grimes came into leadership at the Knoxville Raceway in 1974, promoting races until 1977. Grimes' legacy includes extending the length of the Knoxville Nationals to four days.

1977 brought about a new Race Director, Ralph Capitani. Capitani continued to build on the growth of his predecessors, increasing the payoff for the 4-day Knoxville Nationals event to $100,000. The first tape-delayed broadcast of the Nationals was in 1987, with the first live broadcast in 1993.

Knoxville Raceway is the Sprint Car Capital of the World!

In 1977 Knoxville Brought on a new race director, Ralph Capitni. He has done a awsome job Promoting sprint car racing for many years at the knoxville speedway, from the weekly show's to the 360-410 nationals! Now someone with alittle $$ buy's Huset's speedway and decides to go up against Knoxville.  Well I say good luck with your racing and rock concerts.   Knoxville is and will always be the sprint car capital!!!

oh boy, more butthurt. 340 miles apart is not far enough? so knoxville may have 3 or 4 less cars per night. knoxville will be fine without them. if badlands was not paying $5000 you think knoxville and NSL would be? I love knoxville but Badlands is in my backyard.

Yeah no shit. There really weren't a whole lot of Knoxville guys coming to Husets on a weekly basis either so I really don't see why you wouldn't run Saturday. Are there any other tracks in the country that run on Sunday? If so how are they doing? Sunday night's a tough sell to get people to go to the races, the crowds have been declining at Husets for a while now so I am glad they are trying something different. 

So here's what pisses me off about the whole thing, Chuck Brennan is putting a bunch of money into the track, improving the facilities, increasing purses and everybody bitches about it non-stop. Yes, he ran his mouth off about Knoxville and is competing against them but competition is good. Has anybody else noticed the crowds at the nationals have been declining? Hopefully this is the kick in the ass that Knoxville has needed for a while now. Hopefully the sport gains some new fans. Hopefully both tracks are successful and more teams emerge. Hopefully going forward Tod, Chuck, the NSL, Jackson, Badlands, and Knoxville all work together. And finally, hopefully you negative mother fuckers shut the fuck up and quit bitching about everything and actually support the people that invest money into racing. I don't know why anyone would want to be a car owner, promoter, or driver with the "fans" we have. I apologize for the language and the rant.

"And finally, hopefully you negative mother fuckers shut the fuck up and quit bitching about everything and actually support the people that invest money into racing. "

This was may favorite part.

+1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+ 2

Always go racin' to win, however check the payout
for 10th in case you miss the set up.

I am really surprised within all the genius posts that the name Paul Stanley has not been mentioned - it would seem to me that he may be another big dog in this fight - I wish all the tracks survival and I am sure Knoxville will, but I have to give Chuck credit for trying something different and that maybe has never been tried before.  Big Game has deep pockets and I do hope to visit the Motorplex when it opens - all sprint show at Jackson other than their nationals or specials = awesome.  Another thrill for me is building $1 Tri-Boxes at Prairie Meadows (three Year-Olds only) - some of you should try it - may be just a cure for bashing your brains out on message boards.