Passionate Sprint Car fans won’t have to wait long to hear the roar of motors and get their next dirt-track racing fix.
Terry McCarl was the first to roll the dice and hold an event, when he promoted the Open Wheel Nationals at South Dakota’s Park Jefferson International Speedway. It left fans wanting more and wondering when they would see their next race.
Don’t worry, it will only be a little less than two weeks, as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Knoxville Raceway have stepped up.
Sprint Car racing’s biggest series will hold an event at the famed Knoxville Raceway on May 8. The announcement comes on the heels of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation stating that racetracks could reopen on a limited capacity on May 1. The rain date for the Friday event will be May 9.
“It’s been a long road to just get to a point where we have a date,” World Racing Group Chief Executive Officer Brian Carter said. “For over 40 years, we’ve known when the next day was, and for this period of time, we haven’t known when the next race is.
“It’s been very, very challenging emotionally and from a business perspective to get planned and prepared. So, yes, to have a date finite, with support from local authorities and the governor, the partnership and Knoxville and all of our race teams … we have a date. Thank, God.”
This event is made possible because of a partnership between the World of Outlaws and Knoxville Raceway. It is in addition to the regular Knoxville Raceway schedule, which is slated to have its opener the following week.
The event will feature 48 invited teams. The participants will be determined systematically based on points with the World of Outlaws and Knoxville Raceway. A roster of eligible teams will be put out by the Outlaws with drivers added if spots come open. Teams will have 48 hours to confirm they are attending.
The winner of the event will receive $10,000, and it will be the standard $800 to start the A-Main. According to Carter, the regular 48-car format will be used throughout the event. There will also be standard World of Outlaw provisionals for the A-Main.
“With this year and last year, it’s kind of mixed and matched,” said Carter when asked how the field will be selected. “So, a lot of teams who participated in Florida this year will be eligible.
“We will cycle through systematically so there are no favorites. We will have a couple of promoter choices for Knoxville and the World of Outlaws, so we will get the field stacked that way and be as fair as we can.”
There will be no fans in the stands for this race, but it will be televised Live on DIRTVision. According to Carter, the race at Knoxville will be part of the Fast Pass option that features every race with the World of Outlaws.
One driver who won’t have to watch or worry about getting an invitation is Donny Schatz. The 10-time series champion has been in contact with Outlaws officials throughout the shutdown and can’t wait to get back to the track.
“I’m excited to get back racing,” Schatz said. “It’s probably the perfect scenario, and they figured out a way to do it.
“When you talk about the World of Outlaws, you’ve got to think past next week. It’s not one day at a time. Obviously, we’ve got to figure out how to get racing, but we’ve got to get one race in first and go from there. I’m excited, and I think it’s a good call. It’s time.”