Knoxville USAC
 

Anyone know what’s goin on at Knoxvil le? I’m just getting the banner, “we will begin shortly,” and some commercials!!!!

Rain

Rained out. Just called it.

Rained out

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Not a big entry list for this show. Something needs to change.

Knoxville is not the "Capital of the Sprint Car World". It is the place where we have a wonderful Hall of Fame. By the way before I am flamed I saw a sprint car race there for 2 consecutive decades and a few more intermittently. It like so many events it has outgrown some of its raw appeal. Because of what the venue has become IMHO it is the worst place for a non-wing Nationals event. Hello Lawrenceburg? Get the surface in order, promote. Hell you have such a great facility and things to do in the area I might actually bring couple of newbies who could turn into returnees.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

31 cars is a heck of a good turnout with the radar showing what it has for the last 24hrs

Hate that the guys have to spend four times their tow money to get there and back though.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Great effort by USAC and WAR to try and draw attention to non wing quality of racing entertainment we all love, but only 10 or 11 USAC travelers. Not a "Nationals" in cars/drivers but $$$ is quite an impressive step up in my book. A long haul for a one off race with no rain date scheduled might play a role. A fast sprint car is expensive and the have not racers may have more economical and competitive ROI options at home. Rooting for a packed Smackdown and Husets. I wish it was better AND I do not have an answer or solution. Just keep trying and don't ever give up.

Keep USAC Friday and Saturday and move the trucks to Du Quoin or Springfield. Or add non-wing 410’s to the 410 nationals Wednesday-Friday. Run half the field Wednesday the other half Thursday and championship features Friday along with winged last chance race. Bring back Ultimate Challenge at Osky Tuesday which gives the non-wing cars 3 nights each to run.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Maybe get some races along the way out to Knoxville and couple on way home .

Until a track can exceed the weekly purse posted below and the nationals paying $150,000 to win with a 4 night nationals payout of $1,064,855 it will be the "Sprint Car Capital of the World".



410 PURSE ON REGULAR RACE NIGHTS - 2021
B Main:
1-4 Transfer 5. $400 6. $300 7. 200 8.-end $150.
If 1-6 transfer 7. $300 8. $200 9-End $150

A Main:
1. $4,000 2. $3,000 3. $2,500 4. $2,200 5. $1,500 6. $1,100 7. $1,000 8. $950
9. $900 10. $850 11. $800 12. $750 13. $700 14. $650 15. $625 16-24. $600

April 17, May 29, June 5, July 3, July 24, August 28 Feature Purse:
1. $5,000 2. $3,000 3. $2,750 4. $2,500 5. $1,750 6. $1,500 7. $1,400 8. $1,300
9. $1,200 10. $1,000 11. $900 12. $875 13. $850 14. $825 15. $800 16. $775 17. $750 18. $725 19. $700 20. $650 21-24. $600

360 PURSE ON REGULAR RACE NIGHTS - 2021
B Main:
1-4 Transfer 5. $300 6. $200 7 to End $100

A Main:
1. $1,700 2. $1,300 3. $1,000 4. $750 5. $650 6. $600 7. $575 8. $550 9. $525 10. $500 11. $475 14.. $400 15. $375 16. $350 17. $325 18-24.. $300

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

After seeing the track while the trucks ran on it I was not expecting much..... I thought USAC dropped paved racing :-)

It really bad that the effort was put in by the teams showing up. That alone is not cheap.

If the cost of driving 6-7 hours one way to race for TRIPLE what a normal Usac show pays, let alone some local shows, is too much for non-winged drivers, then stop having it.

If it’s not worth the hassle of taking a weekend to go drive for a purse these guys might see one other time a year; so be it. Go back to running for peanuts.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Which team did you donate travel money to for a race that was obviously going to rain out?

This is partially valid if the main measure is only economic.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

So what would you do different with a race that was obviously going to rain out?

Lot’s of good points made on the thread. Myself and Oppweld were waiting for USAC to schedule a Friday race since the announcement of the trucks taking the the date. I think we all can agree that 2 days would’ve been more enticing for racers and fans. I know myself I decided to opt out once I heard it was a one day show. I have no desire to watch the trucks on Knoxville or any other track for that matter. I’m not proud of myself because I’m one of the crowd that wants to see big non wing racing, and tip of the cap to Knoxville for doing it, and I hope it continues. But honestly there’s really only one track that should host a big wingless race and that’s Terre Haute. I know it’s doubtful it would ever happen, I mean we can’t even get a Saturday race there, but one can dream

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Not sure if it's true but Im told Knoxville loses money on every race but the Nationals.

The Truck show had the back grandstand open which is only ever open during the Nationals and it looked like there was a heck of a crowd, (AKA another profitable event)

We wine and complain about fenders, wings, etc. But the fact is that without those fans growing the sport of NW fan base, We're destined to run for under ten thou and under one hundred thou purses.

We are at a pivot point and I see a lot of good things like Flo/Mav and crossover racing from NW, To Wing, To Fender and Vice Versa with fans attending all and growing attendance and purses, Or fall flat on it's face due to rising cost of racing and less car counts.

I commend Knoxville for attempting to put on this race as they have. Combined with another show or two it would be a trip to remember Osky, Jackson? something else along the way or return?

Purse or no purse except for a dozen points running teams. The reason to race at Knoxville for most teams is, BECAUSE IT'S KNOXVILLE

This was doomed from the start. The loss of Friday night coupled with inability to secure shows on either side of Saturday night eliminates lower budget teams from traveling. Having a local wing show does little to promote ideal track conditions. Next year they should return it to a two day show Hall of Fame weekend. Sprints and Midget both nights. Most importantly get all non wing and midget organizations to Co sanction or agree to not run against this event. Weekly tracks run non point races if they have to run. Cooperation one weekend of the year is not going to hurt any organization or track but could significantly help jump start the NonWing Nation back to its proper place of prominence!

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

We went to the Corn Belt Nationals in 2019 and that year it was a 2 day show, Friday night and Saturday night. If I remember correctly, they had about 48 cars for the weekend. Knoxville ran their 360 winged sprints with the USAC cars on Friday night and their 410 winged cars as support on Saturday night. I will give the track crew credit....they provided a real good track for the USAC cars. It had a top groove and a bottom groove and sliders were the norm for every place but first, where Brady Bacon ran off and hid from the pack both nights. Overall, I felt like the racing was very good, and it was a fun weekend. The crowd was hard to judge, as the Knoxville grandstands seat close to 15,000 on the frontstretch side, and I felt like they were about 1/2 full. Locals said that the crowd was about double what they usually get for a weekly show.

We have attended the Knoxville Nationals off and on for over 30 years, and yearly for the last 10 years (2020 the exception). I would like to think the Corn Belt Nationals could eventually become a non wing version of the Knoxville Nationals, but I just don't see it happening.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

I went to the 1st one and hope I can go again. On the Friday portion, I was fortunate walking up to buy a ticket when I was given one to a suite above turn 2. After the 360 wing feature most in the suite left. They were not interested in the usac cars. 40 years of a wing culture at Knoxville. Not much respect for the sprint cars of usac there. Evident in them running the wing portion 1st.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

I knew there was a good chance for it to rain out but made the 300 mile each way trip anyway. Had a great time hanging out at Dingus all night and am glad I made the trip. Even got to turn some laps at Slideways which was packed after the rain out.

I was hoping that Sweet Springs was a go for tonight but no luck.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

We already have a big "event" in Indiana, the Smackdown at Kokomo Speedway. Thursday & Friday (USAC sprints only) paying at least $5,000 to win & $500 to start. Then the finale on Saturday with USAC sprints paying $15,000 to win & $1,500 to start (plus USAC regional midgets).

We can't even get all the tracks in Indiana to take sprints off their schedule for that weekend. No way they would do it for a race 300+ miles away.

Before I get bashed I completely understand that some teams may feel that they do not want to race at the Smackdown as it is not the right fit for them. But every sprint fan that chooses to go watch sprints somewhere other than Kokomo that weekend is potentially one less ticket sold at the Smackdown. That possible lost revenue is one more reason for Kokomo to keep the Smackdown from being an even higher paying event in future years.

Oppweld your last sentence is spot on:

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

And they loose about $5.000 on there reguarl show or more. From a good sorce

I think you guys hit it spot on. If no other options were available some might leave the car in the garage and go as a fan if they choose not to race. Being in NWI which is/was basically Late Model country, a lot of racers who raced locally never missed a World 100 as a fan or participant. It was so important that the local tracks didn’t even run LM against it, or shut down for that weekend, and while it’s not 300 miles away it’s 200 from here.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

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Re: Knoxville USAC
 

So how come the NWWC died? Calling Ron Shuman........................

I have don’t know why it died, but I’m guessing it had little to do with the venue. Why don’t you tell us? And speaking of Terre Haute I was on their website this morning and see we can mail armbands for the Sumar back to them for refund. Most of you might know this but I missed it. I’m also guessing that means no chance of rescheduling?

Not sure if it's still in effect but the PA tracks used to run non points races the week of the Knoxville Nationals so the Posse could go without being penalized point wise. I don't understand myself why everybody doesn't wants to compete at the Smackdown. Hopefully Husets will be a big success.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

did it pay 3X the normal start money?

Double. $1,000 minimum to start.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

I heard that the CRA and USAC got togather to form USAC WEST with races only in CA and AZ, no cross county trips. Not many people can take off work for 3 4 weeks at once

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

I dona"t want to argue BUT I don"t think that would cover fuel cost for out and back. Then add on hotel meals, parts for race car etc etc.

Re: Knoxville USAC
 

Only Lincoln Speedway has a 410 Sprint race on their schedule during the Knoxville Nationals this year.