August in Iowa means 90+ degree temperatures, 100% humidity, sweet corn, the Iowa State Fair, the start of school, and the Knoxville Nationals.
Sigh... I love living here.
The Knoxville Nationals is a four day winged sprint car extravaganza, which draws 40,000 fans to a normally sedate rural community in central Iowa.
During the rest of the year, Knoxville boasts a population of approximately 7,500 people. The Nationals brings every sprint car fan and his brother to watch the best dirt track racers try to win the $190,000 winner's prize.
Wednesday and Thursday are qualifying nights which set the field for Saturday's Finale. Friday night grants non-qualifiers a last chance to get into the Saturday Mains.
During the days, the crowds mingle at the trade show, or venture out to a go-kart track to race. Some drivers bring their young children to race in the local English Creek Speedway Nationals during the afternoons.
Food is plentiful, as venders hawk homemade pie a la mode, grilled turkey breast, gyros, pizza, brats, and beer.
My favorite events (aside from the racing) occur in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. Every year, the Museum hosts a racing personality in a discussion. This year the legendary Doug Wolfgang will be discussing his new book with Dave Argabright. The annual auction to raise funds for the museum will be held on Saturday. I try to volunteer as much time as I can to spend in the museum (and not just because it is air conditioned!). I enjoy talking to the "old timers" who watched Foyt, Kinser, Swindell and Wolfgang race back in the day. Plus, most of the teams, their families, and the fans cycled through.
Last year, I learned: that they race sprint cars in Hawaii (guess I hadn't thought about it); that the captains of industry like sprint cars; that Kasey Kahne looks just as cute in person (and no one recognizes him here) and that Tony Stewart shops at Walmart (who knew?).
What other week in the world would I have the chance to see Kasey Kahne race a winged sprint car on Monday, JJ Yeley race an open wheel sprint car on Tuesday, Tony Stewart "foyt" on a car for his driver Paul McMahon on Thursday, and top it off with a Lasoski-Kinser-Saldana-Schatz-McCarl battle to the checkered flag on Saturday?
So, I'm taking off next week to spend at the dirt track.
Yes, I love the Knoxville Nationals.
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