Kyle Larson will start the 62nd Knoxville Nationals from the pole position
While other races may pay more to win, the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals is still the most prestigious Sprint Car race on the planet. The 62nd annual running of the main event sanctioned by the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will pay $185,000 to the winner at the end of the 50-lap feature on Saturday evening at Iowa’s historic Knoxville Raceway.
After two nights of preliminary shows, the top-16 starters for the big race have been established.
Donny Schatz, an 11-time Knoxville Nationals champion, won the Wednesday night feature.
Carson Macedo, who suffered burns as the result of an accident in his last trip to Knoxville, was the winner of the Thursday night race.
A total of 106 drivers have participated in the racing action so far.
Rico Abreu
During those preliminary nights, drivers earned points for their performances every time they took to the half-mile clay oval. With all of that taken into consideration, Kyle Larson proved to be the top points earner with 482 followed by Rico Abreu with 480. Those two drivers will share the front row on Saturday night when the big show rolls toward the green flag.
Not only will Larson start this race from the pole, he will be splitting time this weekend between Knoxville Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where that historic facility’s road course will serve as the site for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion won the Knoxville Nationals in that same season.
Travel from track to track will be made easier for Larson by the fact that NASCAR qualifying will be held at 11:30 on Saturday morning while hot laps at Knoxville are not slated to begin until 7:30pm.
Those drivers not already locked into the feature still have opportunities to make the starting lineup through a B-main race and the Hard Knox Qualifying Night.
Partial Feature Lineup: 1. Kyle Larson, 2. Rico Abreu, 3. Donny Schatz, 4. Logan Schuchart, 5. Carson Macedo, 6. Hunter Schuerenberg, 7. Kerry Madson, 8. Buddy Kofoid. 9. Giovanni Scelzi, 10. Corey Day, 11. Ian Madsen, 12. Dusty Zomer, 13. Spencer Bayston, 14. Chase Randall, 15. Anthony Macri, 16. Brad Sweet, 17. B-main winner, 18. B-main 2nd, 19. B-main 3rd, 20. B-main 4th, 21. Aaron Reutzel, 22. David Gravel
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