Knoxville Raceway likely wouldn’t be what it is as one of the country’s most renowned short tracks without the work of Ralph Capitani.
Capitani has died following a battle of cancer (according to Speed Sport), news of which was announced Monday by the track. The longtime promoter at the track was born in 1932.
Capitani, better known as “Cappy,” oversaw a huge rise in the stature and popularity of the track’s premier event - the Knoxville Nationals - after taking the reins as the track’s new race director and promoter in 1978.
Some of the elements Capitani worked to implement were improved facilities, purses, safety standards, car counts and audience, the latter of which saw the Knoxville Nationals eventually make it to TV. He also established the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame.
In his 40th year at Knoxville in 2007, Capitani said the prestige of the Knoxville Nationals remained incredible.
“I think the Knoxville Nationals is the best sprint car race of the year, bar none,” he said in 2007, via InLappedTraffic. “It is the only time you see ALL of the best sprint car drivers competing on the same playing field. It is a United States and Internationally wide event.”
He retired from the track at the end of 2011.
Knoxville Raceway released a statement confirming Capitani’s passing, and thanking him for all he did to put the track and race on the map.
A portion of the statement reads: “A visionary in the sport, Cappy aimed to make sprint car racing at Knoxville Raceway grander, the purses bigger and the grandstands fuller. He achieved them all with a smile on his face and a hearty handshake for every team owner, driver, crew member and fan that ever crossed his path.”
Knoxville Raceway Official Statement on Passing of Ralph Capitani. https://t.co/ngbHeG1bor pic.twitter.com/nVAtlY5sOO
— Knoxville Raceway (@knoxvilleraces) February 28, 2017