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The starting field for the 2020 360 Knoxville Nationals salute the fans on the parade lap. (Richard Bales Photo)
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360 Knoxville Nationals Finds Its Place

August 3, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The 31st annual My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals runs Thursday through Saturday this weekend at Knoxville Raceway.

While the event has become a premier attraction for sprint car racers and fans from coast to coast and the traditional lead-in to the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at the historic half-mile dirt track located at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

But it wasn’t always that way.

When it was first run in 1991, the event was known as the Limited Sprint Nationals and it was run the weekend following the Knoxville Nationals.

The inaugural event drew 58 cars — the same number as the first Supermodified Nationals (now known as the Knoxville Nationals) in 1961. A crowd estimated at 4,000 saw Knoxville regular David Hesmer come on strong during the second half of the 25-lap event and earn the victory and a $2,500 payday.

The event moved to May in 1992 and was run in September in 1993 when it was known as the Knoxville 360 Nationals for the first time. Garry Lee Maier won in ’92 and ’93.

Still, the 360 Nationals didn’t find its permanent home on the schedule for more than a decade. It was run at the end of August and mid-July and enjoyed a five-year stint in mid-June before it took it’s now-permanent date on the weekend prior to the Knoxville Nationals in 2004.

Five-time 360 Knoxville Nationals winner Shane Stewart is among the entrants in this year’s event, while other former winners Brian Brown, Terry McCarl, Sammy Swindell, Clint Garner and Kerry Madsen, who won last year, are expected to compete during this year’s 31st annual event that culminates with a $15,000-to-win feature on Saturday night.

Knoxville 360 Nationals Winners

1991    David Hesmer

1992    Garry Lee Maier

1993    Garry Lee Maier

1994    Lee Nelson

1995    Danny Lasoski

1996    Terry McCarl

1997    David Hesmer

1998    Gary Wright

1999    Dennis Moore Jr.

2000    Wayne Johnson

2001    Terry McCarl

2002    Jeff Swindell

2003    Dennis Moore Jr.

2004    Billy Alley

2005    Billy Alley

2006    Jesse Giannetto

2007    Shane Stewart

2008    Wayne Johnson

2009    Terry McCarl

2010    Shane Stewart

2011    Shane Stewart

2012    Shane Stewart

2013    Shane Stewart

2014    Brian Brown

2015    Terry McCarl

2016    Sammy Swindell

2017    Clint Garner

2018    Terry McCarl

2019    James McFadden

2020    Kerry Madsen