KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Good morning from Iowa, the origination point for this week’s Friday Morning Heat Race as we attend the 62nd Knoxville Nationals. Here’s what’s on our mind:
Hot Laps: How Much Water?
After nearly a lifetime of watching sprint car racing, it still fascinates me to watch the track watering and cultivating process. How do they know how much to water on a given night, given the temperature, humidity and other conditions. It’s an art.
Qualifying: Home Cooking
A home cooked meal while on the road is always appreciated and the SPEED SPORT team enjoyed a good one on Thursday thanks to racing’s Herrera family. Much appreciated folks.
First Heat: The Hall
Want to get lost in your own little world for a couple of hours?
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum can do just that to a person. The collection of famous race cars and other memorabilia is like none other. It’s well worth the trip, and if you support preserving the history of sprint car racing, log on to www.sprintcarhof.com and learn how to donate.
Second Heat: Living Legends
One of the great things about the Knoxville Nationals is seeing the legends of the sport all in one place.
In one stroll from the Hall of Fame and the turn three pit area, we bumped into or saw Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Bobby Allen, Van May, Brad Doty, Shane Carson, Danny Lasoski and Johnny Herrera. And there were so many others over the course of four days.
Third Heat: People
Within a span of 30 minutes Wednesday at the Sprint Car Hall of Fame, one longtime SPEED SPORT customer glowed when telling me that the highlight of his week is receiving the SPEED SPORT Insider newsletter and another former print subscriber told me to F-off (and he didn’t say it that nicely) when I explained why we discontinued the magazine.
People!
Fourth Heat: Summer In Indy
The Knoxville Nationals is not the only big race going on this weekend.
It’s Brickyard weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a unique tripleheader featuring the NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series. It sure would be nice to see a driver do double duty in an Indy car and in one of the NASCAR races.
Dash: Twelve
With Donny Schatz in great position to win his 12th Knoxville Nationals and tie Steve Kinser for the most Knoxville Nationals victories, it generated a lot of bench racing conversation as to which is better. Many of the discussions were spirited, all of them were fun.
My two cents, briefly.
Kinser is the best driver of all time, but if Schatz wins on Saturday night, he’s the best Knoxville Nationals driver.
B Main: Welcome Fans
Knoxville Raceway officials have moved post-race press conferences to the Fan Pavilion, a fair barn located outside of turn four at the Marion County Fairgrounds track and it’s a great addition.
With a huge stage in front and chairs for the media, the crowd fills in around the outside.
While the crowd was excited and loud about Kyle Larson’s appearance on the stage Thursday, behavior was respectful and professional once the official proceedings began. Should be wild on Saturday night!
Feature: Cool Carson
Carson Macedo is one cool customer.
Macedo received minor burns in a crash at Knoxville Raceway in June when he was trapped in the car until freed by safety personnel. Not only did Macedo and his Phil Dietz-led Jason Johnson Racing team bring a car painted in green-and-yellow flames to the Nationals, but they won Thursday’s preliminary feature.
Cool as a cucumber.