By Brian Stickel
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – NASCAR stars, small town fun and the best racing anywhere in the world starts today. The 10-day Sprint Car race fans dream is here. The 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store will run August 6th through August 9th. Kicking off the events is the 360 Arnold Motor Supply Nationals. The 360’s get underway tonight and will run through Saturday evening. Sunday night the 410’s will take to the track for the 3rd annual Capitani Classic. The best drivers are expected to turn out for the final tune up preparing for the Nationals later next week.
Before the 54th edition of the Nationals can kick off there will be a Speed Sport
Knoxville World Challenge Picnic at Noon on Tuesday. This event will help showcase the growing international impact of Sprint Car Racing by “Uniting Nations Through Motorsports.” More than 2,000 Knoxville Nationals fans are expected to come from just Australia over the next 10 days.
Tuesday night the Knoxville Nationals Queen Contest will be held at 7pm on at Dyer Hudson Hall on the Marion County Fairgrounds.
Day one of the Knoxville Nationals will see fans go wheel to wheel with their NASCAR heroes in the Weld Racing Go-Kart Spectactular held at Slideways Karting Center. The Go Kart Spectacular on Wednesday, August 6 will feature NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Larson taking on more than 50 of sprint car racing’s biggest fans at Slideways Karting Center from 2pm until 4pm all to raise money for children’s cancer research. Later Wednesday night half of the 110 car field will take to the track for their qualifying night. The other half will qualify Thursday night.
Friday the Jeff Gordon “Kick It” event will take place. A kickball game “kicks off”
at noon featuring Sprint Car racing’s best drivers playing a 7-inning game of grassroots kickball to claim the “Tony Stewart Kick-It Cup” trophy!
A live auction will take place throughout the event with event tickets, hot passes,
autographed racing memorabilia and more! All proceeds go to Kick-It for Children’s Cancer, a partner of Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation.
Friday night racing includes the Speed Sport Knoxville World Challenge where drivers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada compete against American drivers in one of the only international motorsports events. Also a full night of action as drivers race to fill the final four spots of Saturday night’s prestigious A-main event.
Saturday morning the Knoxville Nationals parade begins at 10am in Downtown Knoxville. Fans can get up close with their favorite drivers and sponsors each day at Fan Fest on the Marion County Fairgrounds.
The 25 best drivers will compete Saturday night, August 9th for their chance at
becoming a Knoxville Nationals champion. Nearly 1-million dollars in prize money
will be awarded over the event.
Over the ten day period points from every event will be calculated to award the
Cox Design & Metal Fabrication Iowa Speed Week Champion – Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car”
For tickets or more information visit knoxvilleraceway.com or call 641-842-5431.