KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Knoxville Raceway will not host weekly racing until the track is able to do so with fans in the stands.
“At this time, the state of Iowa has allowed motorsports events to occur without spectators,” track officials said in a statement. “However, after great deliberation and discussion, Knoxville Raceway does not plan to host any of its weekly championship series events without fans. Our fans are an integral part of everything we do and racing without fans is not what made Knoxville Raceway what it is today.
“When we do receive the green light from the state of Iowa, we will be ready to work with spectators and participants on any safety and health guidelines that will be implemented.”
As a result of the decision not to race without fans, Knoxville Raceway has moved the weekly event scheduled for May 16 to Sept. 25. The weekly racing event scheduled for May 23 has also been rescheduled for Sept. 26.
If any other weekly events are stopped as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent track closure, they will not be rescheduled.
Knoxville Raceway will come to life on Friday by hosting the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in a spectator-free event.
The series will return to Knoxville on June 12-13 for the Brownells Big Guns Bash, which may or may not be run without fans, depending on regulations at the time.