ABOUT THE EVENT
What is PITS?
Ponies in the Smokies is an annual seven-day celebration of all things Mustang, held every spring in the host cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From high-speed track days to laid-back cruise-ins, and the most epic poker run (The Shine Run), capped off by a two-day indoor/outdoor car show, PITS brings the Ford pony car owners together against the best backdrop in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains.
EVENT OVERVIEW
By the numbers
7
DaYs of events
108K
Sq ft of indoor show space
1,100+
show cars registered
31
states represented
91
Vendors & sponsors
15,000+
ATTENDEES
5
VENUES ON THE SCHEDULE
2017
ESTABLISHED
All stats reflect the 2026 event. See you in the Smokies for an even bigger 2027.
THE PEOPLE
Meet the PITS crew
PITS is powered by a small team with a big love for pony cars. The organizers and volunteers pour their time and energy into making this event feel like home.
Kevin & Theresa Brown
Owner / Promoter
We live in the Upstate of South Carolina. I’m a car guy having owned almost 100 cars over the years of being on this earth and out of those most have been Mustangs. Foxbody Mustangs are definitely my passion with the 93 Cobra being my favorite model. One of the best decisions I’ve made was teaming up with some of my best friends and creating “Ponies In The Smokies“. It's crazy how much time we put in throughout the year to make this show what it is, but when it’s fun it doesn’t seem like work. My awesome wife has been there since day one and jumps into help wherever is needed. Her attention to detail is like no other. Now let’s get those rides ready because “All Roads Lead To PITS”.
Troy & Donna Raby
Owner / Promoter
We live in Charlotte, North Carolina with 7 children between us and have professional backgrounds in Software and Finance. Friendships made over the years through the Mustang hobby includes these gentlemen that we teamed up with to create “Ponies In The Smokies” in 2016. We enjoy the year-long planning side of PITS, then to see how the vision all comes together each March for all our attendees. Seeing old friends and making new ones is what it's all about and having the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop just puts a smile on our faces. We both can’t wait to see YOUR smiling faces and shiny rides at PITS each Spring!
Travis & Mallory Smith
Owner / promoter
We live in Enoree, South Carolina along with our 2 children Cameron and Braylen. We own a handful of mustangs across various years, and we have a deep passion for drag racing. We are out at a track somewhere just about every weekend (well, when the car isn't broken!). We also love to spend as much time as possible up in the Smoky Mountains discovering new roads and enjoying the incredible scenery. We hope to channel that love of mustangs and motorsports into PITS, and to continue providing you with an amazing show year after year.
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
DO I HAVE TO OWN A MUSTANG TO ATTEND?
No. Spectators are always welcome. The Car Show is Mustang/pony car-focused for registered entries, but the cruise-ins and driving events are open to other makes and models.
WHERE DO I PARK MY TRAILER?
PITS offers a convenient and secure Trailer Lot for attendees that haul their mustangs to the show. Trailer parking details and directions are covered in our Event Guide.
CAN I REGISTER ON SITE?
Some registrations are done online before the show, while other events have on-site registration. Head to the Registration page for details and to reserve your spot before the event.
IS THE SHOW INDOORS OR OUTDOORS?
Both! The main show on Friday and Saturday takes place at the Sevierville Convention Center which hosts 2 shows in 1. There's a traditional outdoor car show on the surrounding surface lots with judged and display only sections and vendor row. Then inside the convention center contains multiple special displays and even more vendors along with all the amenities the convention cneter offers. PITS also includes off-site venues throughout the week, including track days at Newport Speedway and Knoxville Dragway and Cruise-Ins at Quaker Steak & Lube and Junction 35.
ARE PETS ALLOWED?
Pets are welcome at all outdoor venues, including the outside portion at the Sevierville Convention Center, however they are not permitted inside the convention center. Service animals are always welcome.
WHAT DOES A SPECTATOR TICKET COST?
Pricing varies by day and event:
Mon (Driving School) & Tue (Autocross): Newport Speedway – $5/person, free parking
Wed (Fun Runs/Drifting/Burnout Comp/KOTS/Dyno): Newport Speedway – $15/person, free parking (participant registration separate)
Thu (Drag Racing): Knoxville Dragway – $15/person to spectate, $25/person to run
Fri–Sat (Car Show, Days 1 & 2) – Sevierville
Convention Center – $20/person entry (cash only, ATM onsite), plus $20/car for parking at Soaky Mountain Water Park with free shuttles
Children 12 and under are free at the car show.
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GOOD TO KNOW
Contact us
Have questions about registration, vendor opportunities, media passes, or sponsorships? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to the Ponies in the Smokies team directly.
- Email — Info@poniesinthesmokies.com
- Venue — Sevierville Convention Center, 202 Gists Creek Rd, Sevierville, TN 37876
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