2/6/2026
Knoxville Raceway
FREE Grandstand Admission for April 18 Pella Motors / Kraig Ford Season Opener!
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (February 6, 2026) — The countdown to the 2026 racing season is officially on at Knoxville Raceway, with the season set to “push off” on Saturday, April 18, with the 73rd annual Pella Motors / Kraig Ford Season Opener for the Knoxville Championship Series sprint cars.
In partnership with Pella Motors and Kraig Ford, and with approval from the Marion County Fair Association, Knoxville Raceway is proud to announce that grandstand admission will be FREE for race fans on Saturday, April 18, for one night only.
Yes — FREE.
“This is an idea we’ve considered for some time, and the timing felt right to make it happen in 2026,” said Jason Reed, General Manager of Knoxville Raceway. “This is both a thank you to our loyal fans and an investment in the future. We believe our fans will bring friends with them, helping grow our audience and introduce more people to the excitement of Knoxville Raceway.”
“This is huge,” said Craig Ford. “I’m a lifelong race fan and I want to help Knoxville Raceway continue to grow. This is a great opportunity to do that, and I’m honored to play a role as an ambassador for the Season Opener through our car dealerships, customers, and employees. We hope to make April 18 a tremendous success.”
The April 18 Season Opener will feature all three weekly Knoxville Championship Series divisions – 410 sprint cars, Randall Roofing 360 sprint cars and Pro Sprints. The event is expected to draw all of our 2025 Track Champions; Austin McCarl (410), Tasker Phillips (360) and J Kinder (Pro Sprint), along with the defending Knoxville Nationals Champion, Ryan Timms.
Knoxville Raceway looks forward to welcoming race fans, teams, partners, and staff back for the 2026 season and hopes everyone will join in launching another exciting year at the Sprint Car Capital of the World.
About Knoxville Raceway:
For more information about Knoxville Raceway visit KnoxvilleRaceway.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. For tickets or more information visit. knoxvilleraceway.com or call 641-842-5431.
About Pella Motors / Kraig Ford:
For more information about Pella Motors or Kraig Ford—and their inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles in Pella and Oskaloosa—visit PellaMotors.com and GoKraig.com. All locations also provide service for all vehicle makes and models.
Article Credit: PR - Eric Arnold
Submitted By: Eric Arnold
