Emma Tatnell of Forest Lake, MN was crowned as the 2024 Knoxville Nationals Queen on Tuesday night.

In the ceremony held at Dyer Hudson Hall, Tatnell was crowned the 49th Nationals Queen by a panel of six judges including three women from the Knoxville community and sprint car drivers Rico Abreu and Danny Lasoski. Each contestant introduced themselves on stage and then was later asked a question by one of the six judges. The contestants were from all over the midwest and Canada and they also participated in a daytime portion of the contest. The winner of Miss Congeniality was Annie Dawson of Carlisle, second runner up was Emma Baker of Rock Rapids, and first runner up was Taya Hagarty of Rainy River, Ontario. 

Emma’s mother Amy was the 1988 Knoxville Nationals Queen making this the first mother/daughter duo to serve as queen. Amy’s father Jerry Richert won the 1962 Knoxville Nationals.