KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Reigning NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals winner Kyle Larson leads a field that includes four other winners of the prestigious event during Thursday night’s qualifying events for the 61st annual event.
Larson drove Paul Silva’s No. 57 to victory in the 60th running of the event last year and will be back aboard the machine looking for his third straight August victory at the half-mile track. Larson also won the One-And-Only during the pandemic plagued 2020 season.
The top drivers in points through the two qualifying nights are locked into the front eight rows for Saturday’s 50-lap, $175,000-to-win main event.
Larson tuned up for the Nationals with a victory in Monday’s Sage Fruit Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway.
Brad Sweet, who won the Nationals in 2018, turned in a dominant performance to win last weekend’s Ironman 55. He’ll be among those to beat on Thursday.
Knoxville Nationals winners Kraig Kinser (2005), Tim Shaffer (2011) and Sammy Swindell (1983) are also entered in Thursday night’s program.
World of Outlaws competitors Jacob Allen, Spencer Bayston, Bill Rose, Kasey Kahne, Carson Macedo and Noah Gass are also scheduled on Thursday.
All Star champion Tyler Courtney and multi-time Knoxville Raceway champion Brian Brown are set for Thursday night, along with USAC midget champion Buddy Kofoid, Zeb Wise, Daryn Pittman, Tim Kaeding, Kerry Madsen, Rico Abreu, Logan Wagner, Anthony Macri and Chad Kemenah, among others.
Thursday’s main event pays $12,000 to win.
THURSDAY AUG 11
1 Logan Wagner Harrisonville, Pa.
1a Jacob Allen Hanover, Pa.
2k Lynton Jeffrey Sydney, Australia
3tk Tim Kaeding San Jose, Calif.
4w Matt Wasmund Jackson, Minn.
5 Spencer Bayston Lebanon, Ind.
5c Dylan Cisney Port Royal, Pa.
6 Bill Rose Plainfield, Ind.
6a Adam Cruea Troy, Ohio
7bc Tyler Courtney Indianaplois, Ind.
7taz Tasker Phillips Pleasantville, Iowa
09 Matt Juhl Tea, S.D.
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, Wash.
11k Kraig Kinser Bloomington, Ind.
11n Harli White Lindsay, Okla.
11t – T.J. Stutts Liverpool, Pa.
11x Michael Kofoid Penngrove, Calif.
12 Tyler Drueke Eagle, Neb.
15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. Sunnyvale, Texas
15m Bobby Mincer Burlington, Iowa
16 Brooke Tatnell Sans Souci, Australia
17b Bill Balog Brookfield, Wis.
17s Sammy Swindell Lakeland, Tenn.
18r Ryan Roberts Aurora, Neb.
19w Chris Windom Canton, Ill.
20g Noah Gass Mounds, Okla.
21 Brian Brown Grain Valley, Mo.
21k Thomas Kennedy Winnipeg, Manitoba
24r Rico Abreu St. Helena, Calif.
25 J.J. Hickle Quilcene, Wash.
26 Zeb Wise Angola, Ind.
27 Carson McCarl Altoona, Iowa
27h Daryn Pittman Owasso, Okla.
28 Tim Shaffer Aliquippa, Pa.
35 Zachary Hampton Plainfield, Ind.
35k Chad Kemenah Alvada, Ohio
39m Anthony Macri Dillsburg, Pa.
41 Carson Macedo Lemoore, Calif.
42 Sye Lynch Cowansville, Pa.
44 Chris Martin Ankeny, Iowa
47x Dylan Westbrook Scotland, Ontario
49 Brad Sweet Grass Valley, Calif.
49x Cale Thomas Fairland, Ind.
57 Kyle Larson Elk Grove, Calif.
83jr Kerry Madsen St. Marys, Australia
83t Tanner Carrick Lincoln, Calif.
88 Austin McCarl Altoona, Iowa
97 Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, Ohio
97g Alan Gilbertson Kasson, Minn.
99 Skylar Gee Leduc, Alberta