KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Since the Friday night Hard Knox format was put into play during the NOS Energy Knoxville Nationals, the program has become more and more popular and provided tremendous entertainment value with four starting spots available in Saturday night’s $150,000-to-win feature at Knoxville Raceway.
This year could be the best yet after two topsy-turvy qualifying nights left the field jumbled and a lot of big names found themselves relegated to the Hard Knox program.
The top 26 drivers in points are locked into Saturday night’s program, but the rest of the 109-car field will be in action on Friday.
Jason Solwold, with 426 points, is the high point man heading into the night, while Caleb Helms ranked 109th.
All drivers will start fresh on Friday with a full program of time trials, heats and features.
Three-time Nationals runner-up Brian Brown, who leads the weekly racing standings at Knoxville Raceway this year, may be the headliner in the field after a rough night on Thursday saw him miss the main event.
Shane Stewart was the fast qualifier on Thursday, but flipped his CJB Motorsports entry on the first lap of his heat race and he’ll be racing again on Friday.
Logan Schuchart, who won last year’s Hard Knox feature and finished second the previous year, will be racing in the Hard Knox program again this year.
Veterans Jac Haudenschild, Terry McCarl, Jeff Swindell, Sammy Swindell, Chad Kemenah and Craig Dollansky will also be in action.
Central Pennsylvania kingpin Danny Dietrich, who ranked 30th in qualifying points, Wayne Johnson, Jason Sides, Brady Bacon, Austin McCarl, Sam Hafertepe, Bill Balog, Cale Conley, Greg Wilson, Freddie Rahmer and 2005 Nationals winner Kraig Kinser will also be among those competing in the Hard Knox event.
The top four finishers on Friday night will receive the 21st through 24th starting positions on Saturday night.
Below is the entry list posted by Knoxville Raceway early Friday, which is subject to change as teams may choose to withdraw. Kyle Larson has already confirmed he will not be competing Friday night and has withdrawn from the remainder of the Knoxville Nationals.
83 Cars Race tonight on @FVPparts HARD KNOX Night for a shot at earning positions 21-24 in the Saturday Championship A Main!
Format:
Split Field Time Trials (1 Lap per Car)
6 Heats (Invert 4, Top 3 to A Main)
C Main
2 B Mains (Top 3 of each to A Main)
A Main#NOSvilleNationals pic.twitter.com/eGC9OY5lBe— #NOSvilleNationals (@knoxvilleraces) August 9, 2019
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