Knoxville Nationals Firing Up Saturday

Sprint Car racing’s crown jewel begins tonight with the opening round of qualifying at the 43rd Knoxville Nationals. More than 20,000 fans are expected for Saturday’s event and that means full hotels all over the area. Lynn Corkery, director of the Knoxcville Chamber of Commerce, says they offer a program for race fans that attempts to find them housing. Several residents in Knoxville open their homes to guests during the Nationals four-day run. Others allow folks to camp on their property. Corkery says many residents play host to the same fans each year. Corkery has held the job of director since October and found out quickly how important the event is to the community. She says it’s been “quite an undertaking.” With that many racing fans, she says hotels are filled in towns within a 50 mile radius of Knoxville.