National Championship Chuckwagon Race

Festival Location: Clinton, AR, USA

Festival State: Arkansas Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals, Bizarre Sports Events

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

Every Tuesday before Labor Day, the small Ozark Mountain town of Clinton kicks off a long weekend of western competition, which includes the National Championship Chuckwagon races, the world's largest wagon race. More than one-hundred three-person teams compete in front of a crowd of about 20,000, who sit along the bluffs that rise above the rangeland track. (Hint: bring lawn chairs, a blanket, a picnic basket and a cooler.) Each racing team consists of a cook, a driver and an outrider. Chuckwagon racers compete in a series of one-on-one, high-speed battles, where a sharp turn can send a wagon tumbling.

Other weekend attractions include a six-hour Rough Riders Trail Ride, an Antique Western Auction, and Mule Qualifying Trials for various asinine events. Expect lots of friendly fiddling and all-you-can-eat BBQ as well.

Held every year since 1985, the races attract most of the same people year after year, who come out in early August to claim their favorite campsites. If you're a first-timer and plan on camping, make sure you call ahead to reserve a spot. The hookups rent for $45 for the weekend. And regular daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.