KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The 32nd annual 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank 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.
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.
This year’s Knoxville 360 Nationals could pay the winner as much as $30,000. The winner’s prize is $15,000, plus $500 for every lap led during the 30-lap main event on Saturday night.
More than 100 cars are entered for the three-night event, including defending race winner Giovanni Scelzi. The total purse for the event is $119,270.
Knoxville 360 Nationals Winners
1991Â Â Â David Hesmer
1992Â Â Â Garry Lee Maier
1993Â Â Â Garry Lee Maier
1994Â Â Â Lee Nelson
1995Â Â Â Danny Lasoski
1996Â Â Â Terry McCarl
1997Â Â Â David Hesmer
1998Â Â Â Gary Wright
1999Â Â Â Dennis Moore Jr.
2000Â Â Â Wayne Johnson
2001Â Â Â Terry McCarl
2002Â Â Â Jeff Swindell
2003Â Â Â Dennis Moore Jr.
2004Â Â Â Billy Alley
2005Â Â Â Billy Alley
2006Â Â Â Jesse Giannetto
2007Â Â Â Shane Stewart
2008Â Â Â Wayne Johnson
2009Â Â Â Terry McCarl
2010Â Â Â Shane Stewart
2011Â Â Â Shane Stewart
2012Â Â Â Shane Stewart
2013Â Â Â Shane Stewart
2014Â Â Â Brian Brown
2015Â Â Â Terry McCarl
2016Â Â Â Sammy Swindell
2017Â Â Â Clint Garner
2018Â Â Â Terry McCarl
2019Â Â Â James McFadden
2020Â Â Â Kerry Madsen
2021Â Â Â Giovanni Scelzi
