KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Early on a sunny Sunday morning, RVs and campers were bumper-to-bumper on Iowa Highway 14, inching toward Highway 92. Pathways that were filled with boisterous people just a few hours ago were now silent.
Dingus Lounge – lacking people, music and spirits – was dark and empty.
It’s the annual hangover from the Knoxville Nationals, where for the 63rd time a massive throng gathered to witness and celebrate sprint car nirvana.
Much has changed in our world. Tracks that were once vibrant and bustling have disappeared. People who once filled the grandstands are now watching from their living rooms. Formerly robust and loyal fans continue to gray, while younger people have different ideas and different tastes than the prior generation.
Yet, in the midst of constant evolution, the Knoxville Nationals remains oblivious to the forces of change. As much as racing has evolved, the Nationals is a rock-solid institution that continues to bring great hope for the future of racing.
Not that the people at Knoxville have been lax; quite the opposite. The Marion County Fair Board has reinvested millions of dollars in the facility and the fan experience to keep pace with ever-growing expectations.
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, located outside turn two of the half-mile dirt track, has greatly expanded and enhanced its presence. The city of Knoxville, after previous regimes were less than enthralled with the gem on the southwest corner of town, seems to be embracing sprint car racing once again as something important and worth having.
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