Where Is The National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame & Museum?
Situated by the famous Knoxville Raceway and Sprint Car Capital of the World is the National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame & Museum.
This unique museum is devoted to the history of one of automobile racing’s most fascinating sections: sprint cars.
Sprint cars are open-wheel race cars designed primarily for short oval, circular dirt, or paved tracks. And the origins of the modern Sprint car can be traced back to the 1930s and 1940s. This was when non-winged Sprint cars entered the field.
Nowadays, most sprint cars have wings attached to them on the top side. Which helps provide extra traction and makes the car faster and easier to navigate.
Imagine how different the races would be if these cars didn’t have wings!
In 1990, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, opened its doors. Their mission was to honor some of racing’s most significant drivers, car owners, crew members, and pioneers.
The second floor houses their hallowed Hall of Fame and a movie theater. The museum below showcases vintage fire suits, helmets, and sprint cars.
Visitors can even get a taste of what it’s like to sit inside an actual race car. On top of that, there’s a viewing deck to look out on the world-famous Knoxville Raceway, home of one of the sport’s premier races, The Knoxville Nationals.
Bob Baker, the Executive Director, was generous enough to share information on their collection’s first six cars. He retold stories of the sport, which were full of successes, trials and tribulations (including injury and death). After that, I was one of the first to tour their newest exhibit, called “Track Tribute to Williams Grove,” which opened on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Altogether, walking through the museum was an absolute blast. With nearly twenty-five preserved cars, supermodifieds, and sprint cars on display, it was a sight to behold.
Moreover, each exhibited driver has their own section in the museum, complete with their racing gear, helmets, awards, and many other memorabilia. The media equipment played old races and interviews on a loop, making it feel like you were right there in the pits.
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductees
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame has specific guidelines for eligibility. The nominee must have been retired for a minimum of five years and be over 50 years old as of January 1 of the year of nomination. Another qualification will be if the inductee has passed away six months before the opening of nominations.
The ballot is divided into four distinct groups: Drivers (Driver-Oriented), Owners, Mechanics, Builders, Car Sponsors and Manufacturers (Vehicle-Oriented).
You can learn about some of the inspiring individuals and outstanding achievers who have been inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame by reading here:
Getting Ready. Get Set. Go!
The National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame & Museum welcomes visitors 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays and 12 PM to 5 PM on Sundays.
Racedays: 8 AM – Checkered Flag
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students, seniors & military, and free of charge for kiddos under the age of 6.
And remember to pick something up to commemorate your visit to the museum store.
Cheers to your next adventure!
Hi, I’m Kirsti.
My blog, Kirsti Out Wandering, is a guide for unique experiences. I explore less popular areas to uncover a destination’s culture and hidden potential.
From the perspective of a curious wanderer, I seek the potential rather than the obvious.
I hope you will wander along with me!