The 1st annual East Tennessee Dirt Track Racing Kickoff Show took place on Saturday at the Knoxville Center Mall. Indications are the show was a success with plans for the 2nd annual show next year.
The show idea came from Chris and Leslie Corum. With the Food City Race Night show in Knoxville going away, the Corums decided another show was needed to fill the void. After searching for a venue, the management team of Knoxville Center Mall offered the mall as a place to host the show.
A number of race cars, drivers, hall of fame drivers, vendors, and more were on hand for the all-day event. Fans got an up-close and personal look at the machines that take to the area’s dirt tracks every week during racing season. Fans, young and old, made their way through the mall that has been struggling in recent years.
Feedback from the initial show was all positive from mall management.
“The mall people are very happy with the way things turned out,” Chris Corum said. “There was a lot of traffic in the mall today, especially around midday. But it was pretty steady all day long. They were pleased with the turn out and asked us if we wanted to do a second show later in the year. This was such a huge undertaking that will are going to stick to doing one a year. But we are glad they liked it so much they wanted us to do another show.”
Jed Emert was one of the drivers on hand with his Steve Ritchey-owned race car that was sporting a new wrap for the 2017 season. Emert said the show was a good way to start the season and reach some new fans.
“I’m glad Chris and Leslie put together this show,” Emert said. “It gives us racers a chance to showcase our sponsors and meet some of the fans. With a show like this being in a mall, there should be some people that come through here that have never been to a dirt track before. When they see these cars, maybe they will be curious enough to come out one night and check out a race.”
Only Tazewell Speedway and, to a lesser extent, Smoky Mountain Speedway were the only area tracks represented at the show. Corum hopes more tracks will want to be involved next year.
“It was a little disappointing some of the tracks chose not to participate,” Corum said. “One track scheduled a race for today, and that’s okay. Some of the others have been getting ready to start their season. We weren’t charging anything to be here. I hope some of the others will take the free exposure next year.”
Just like any first-time event, the Corums saw some things that can adjust for the show in the works for 2018.
“Doing this the first time, there is always something unexpected that comes up,” Leslie Corum said. “But it’s something we can take notes on and be better prepared for next year. Overall, I think the show went really well and the mall people were really excited about having us hear. We’re already planning on ways to make next year bigger and better.”
