Knoxville LM Nationals Drivers List

[Josh Bayko]

Around here there are a lot of guys that run both USMTS and late models.

While it doesn't take a ton of cars away. It will take two away atleast. Fan wise a lot more are conflicted than just a few.

These two races are less than 250 miles apart.

Two whole cars. The racing world is more than big enough for both races.

[speedemon3b]

This might help here is a list of drivers that are pre entered for deer creek that also run late models
Tommy Weder Jr
Jeremy Payne
Austin Siebert
Terry Phillips
Rodney Sanders

[huskerdirt]

Two whole cars. The racing world is more than big enough for both races.

I said two drivers atleast. The others I can't speak for because I don't know if they would actually have went to Knoxville or not. My point is that these two races have never been conflicted before. Fan wise, both crowds will be down(I hope not) due to the fact that fans like to attend both.

[wuss]

I know where I'm gonna be and I would think most race fans would think the same way. The late models at Knoxville ALWAYS race hard and put on a heck of a show....all three days. I've never been to the LM nationals and walked away wishing I wouldn't have gone. Just the atmosphere there is worth the money, just to start with. If you can't have fun at Knoxville, I'm not sure you can have fun anywhere. It seems to grow bigger and bigger every year. "Doesn't really matter if there are 50 or 60 or 100 cars there, it's the quality, not the quantity. I'd leave for Knoxville today if I could, yep.

[huskerdirt]

Donny Schatz plans on racing his late model Thursday night.

[fryefan]

I don't blame them for going... Better shot at making some decent money.

The thing that bothers me is Knoxville has been on the same weekend the last 3-4 years. And deer creek has always been the third weekend in September for as long as remember. Then magically it moves to the same weekend as Knoxville. I'm sure some TP and Sanders don't like it. And I know some fans are upset about it.

I really don't see any reason for it. Like you said USMTS has been off for two weeks already.

Several events, not just the ones at Deer Creek, were moved back a week this year because of changes in the calendar. Other tracks did not move their events, so there are some overlaps. It also overlaps with Modified Mania at Granite City, IL this year.

While I would like to see Sanders and Phillips at Knoxville, there will be plenty of cars and fans for both events.

[WRC11]

Add Josh & James Rice

[bloomy18018]

How do you figure Knoxville changed their dates? Knoxville has always been on the last weekend of September for least few years now.. Last year the Fall Jamboree was September 18th to 20th... So Knoxville didn't move their date....

And this year it would have fallen to the first weekend in October, also because last year @ the race they said they were going to switch the date to the weekend earlier next year.... Therefore conflicting dates with Deer Creek, don't matter to me they are only losing 3 decent drivers in Phillips-Sanders&Gustin

[huskerdirt]

Several events, not just the ones at Deer Creek, were moved back a week this year because of changes in the calendar. Other tracks did not move their events, so there are some overlaps. It also overlaps with Modified Mania at Granite City, IL this year.

While I would like to see Sanders and Phillips at Knoxville, there will be plenty of cars and fans for both events.

After cross checking some schedules in the past years. Then counting the weekends after Labor Day, you are right. It's something we as fans we really don't think about at the time.

I'm not if Lucas or Knoxville did it on purpose. Hopefully next year it'll line up better.

[vande07]

Late Model Nationals Dates

2004 -- Oct 14,15,16
2005 -- Sept 29, 30 and Oct 1
2006 -- Sept 28,29, 30
2007 -- Sept 27,28, 29
2008 -- Sept 25,26,27
2009 -- Oct 1,2,3 and (4) -- all 3 nights rained out, they ran on Sunday
2010 -- Sept 30, Oct 1 and 2
2011 -- Sept 29,30 Oct 1
2012 -- Sept 27,28, 29
2013 -- Sept 26,27,28
2014 -- Sept 25,26,27

Personally, I have no issue with it being in September every year (you've got to remember, Knoxville (and every other track for that matter), have more than just other racetracks to compete with for entertainment $$$'s).

Holding it September 24,25 and 26 means a BYE Week for Iowa State Football (70 miles from Knoxville), a mid-morning Iowa Hawkeye Football Game (2:30 kick vs North Texas which should be a guaranteed win).

Moving it to the following weekend puts you against a HOME Iowa State Football Game vs Kansas (a winnable game for Iowa State) and Iowa at Wisconsin (so you lose fans coming from Wisconsin and Iowa fans that will want to watch that game or will head to Madison to watch in person (compared to watching North Texas at home the week prior).

Nothing will ever be perfect, but race schedules at other tracks 200+ miles away are probably the last thing looked at. You have to look at the fanbase that comes to your track and what could keep them away from your event.

I think both tracks will have a successful weekend. I hope Minnesota doesn't have a home game that Saturday competing against Deer Creek (Minnesota FB is trending upward) and hurt their crowd.

[BadlandsBandit12]

College football is a non issue in Minnesota country for race fans. Most die hard race fans will be at the races! More people I know only care about the Vikings on Sunday!

[vande07]

College football is a non issue in Minnesota country for race fans. Most die hard race fans will be at the races! More people I know only care about the Vikings on Sunday!

Won't dispute that, but of the 2 teams currently. I'd go watch the Gophers, they are least winning.

[waaac77]

It's all Vikings in Minnesota no one cares about the Gopher football team they are bad pretty much every year. I think the only Gophers they care about up there is the Gopher hockey team don't they win every year? On subject.... anyone know if Jeep ever plans on going to Knoxville again?

[plunks7]

It's all Vikings in Minnesota no one cares about the Gopher football team they are bad pretty much every year. I think the only Gophers they care about up there is the Gopher hockey team don't they win every year? On subject.... anyone know if Jeep ever plans on going to Knoxville again?

That would be the Last Team I would watch before giving up Knoxville. As far as the Hockey Team, No they do not win every year!!!! The only thing Minnesota needs to care about. Is black lives matter.

[plunks7]

Add:
Jason Rauen #98
Charlie McKenna #22
Joel Callahan #40

Husker I talked to all 3 of these Drivers last night at the "YANKEE".