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It’s been tough to find a parking spot in downtown Pella lately, as hundreds – maybe even thousands – of race fans frequent the local businesses in the Tulip City. Along with making an undeniable impact on the local economy, Pella Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karen Eischen says the guests in town bring a very positive energy with them into the stores they patronize – something she frequently hears from business owners and employees.

“The thing I hear over and over is how nice the visitors are,” says Eischen. “They are on vacation, so they’re always upbeat; they’re always just eager to see what’s out there, and they [retailers] just love having them in and visiting with them and getting to know them.”

Eischen says many retailers offer special savings and products geared toward guests in the area during the Knoxville Nationals and work hard to welcome them to Pella so that they continue to come back year after year.