Entry No. 33 — the Des Moines file — filed under: dirt-track racing
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
This non-profit museum sits right beside the legendary Knoxville Raceway and puts 30-35 winged open-wheel sprint cars on the floor — machines that look like they were built to go fast and break apart simultaneously. The whole place hums with the mythology of dirt-track racing, from storied champions to the mechanics who kept the beasts alive.
The move: Walk the museum floor together picking favorites from the 30-plus sprint cars on display, then check the Knoxville Raceway schedule — Saturday night races run throughout summer — so you can end the evening in the grandstands watching real sprint cars tear up the dirt under the lights.
📍 Before you go Knoxville sits roughly 40 minutes southeast of downtown Des Moines, so treat this as a day trip rather than a quick stop. The four-story building anchors the Marion County Fairgrounds, tucked into turn two of the dirt oval — follow signs for the fairgrounds and you'll find ample lot parking. Floors are quietest on weekday afternoons; if you visit during the Knoxville Nationals in August, expect crowds and tight lodging, so book ahead or come another week. Pair the trip with nearby Pella's Dutch bakeries and windmill, or a detour to Lake Red Rock.
- 📍 Knoxville
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1 Sprint Capital Pl, Knoxville, IA 50138
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · traveliowa.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-07