[simage=5972,200,y,left] Wednesday marks the beginning of the 51st Goodyear Knoxville Nationals. The Knoxville Nationals are known as the biggest event in sprint car racing, with a purse of over $1,000,000 being awarded to drivers. Knoxville Raceway Marketing Director Brian Stickel says that it’s the people of Marion County that have helped shape the allure of the Knoxville Raceway and Knoxville Nationals. He says that those who visit the area always talk about how welcome they feel. He adds that the Raceway works hard to ensure high-quality racing.