Knoxville Nationals

About Knoxville Nationals

The Knoxville Nationals is an annual sprint car event held at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. The event is considered the premier event in sprint car racing, and is nicknamed "The Granddaddy of Them All."

The idea of the Knoxville Nationals was the brainchild of promoter 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 equipped with an "air scoop" which was later banned in future Knoxville Nationals. In later years the "air scoops", now called wings, would not only be allowed but be mandatory equipment.

Steve Kinser has won the event twelve times, and owner Karl Kinser has graced victory lane fourteen times with three different drivers (Dick Gaines, Steve Kinser and Mark Kinser). In 2005 Steve's son Kraig Kinser won this event, making Steve and Kraig the first father and son to win the Knoxville Nationals.