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SPRINT: Larson’s List Adds Knoxville Opener
Larson’s triumph came at the expense of Jason Sides, who sustained a blown left rear tire while leading Larson with six laps remaining.
Kyle Larson opened his Knoxville account in style early Thursday morning. (SPEED)
For Kyle Larson, it was worth the wait.
Posing for pictures in victory lane at Knoxville Raceway a few minutes past 1:00am Central Time Thursday suited the California Kid and his crew just fine. After all, the occasion they celebrated was an A-feature win in the opening night qualifying program for the 52nd Knoxville Nationals.
With proceedings delayed by more than two hours because of a wicked late-afternoon thunderstorm, the 20-year old saved his best for last, surviving a couple of late restarts for his first win at the Marion County, Iowa half-mile dirt track. A development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, Larson continues his meteoric rise, with career victories in sprints, midgets and stocks cars on both dirt and pavement. He was a finalist for 2011 SPEED Performer of the Year.
Larson’s triumph came at the expense of Jason Sides, who sustained a blown left rear tire while leading Larson with six laps remaining in the 25-lap affair. Early leader Davey Heskin finished second, with defending race champion Donny Schatz, who has won five of the past six Nationals, claiming the final spot on the podium for Tony Stewart Racing.
Current World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series points leader Craig Dollansky charged through the field to finish fourth.
Joey Saldana, a three-time runner-up at the Nationals, set quick time and crossed the line eighth in the feature.
12-time Knoxville Nationals winner Steve Kinser failed to transfer out of the B-Main and faces an uphill climb if he is to qualify for the A-Main for an astounding 35th consecutive year.
The unique format at The Nationals splits the field in two, with drivers competing either Wednesday or Thursday in complete racing programs with time trials, heat races, and C, B and A-main events.
Drivers earn points every time they hit the track, and the top 16 in the standings after Thursday’s program secure spots in the first eight rows for Saturday’s $150,000 to win finale.
The balance of that lineup is set during another full show for non-qualifiers on Friday, in which the top four finishers secured starting positions 17-20 for Saturday’s A-Main.
Knoxville Knotes:
*The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is expected to announce a new partnership at Knoxville Raceway Thursday afternoon
*NASCAR star Jeff Gordon visited a “Salute to Champions” exhibit of cars pertinent to his racing career at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and was the guest flagman for the third heat race, which featured Shane Stewart and his car, sponsored by the Jeff Gordon Foundation.
*National Sprint Car Hall of Fame driver Brad Doty is providing analysis on SPEED Center all weekend
*Television coverage of the Knoxville Nationals can be seen Saturday, August 25 at Noon ET on SPEED.
Jim Chiappelli is SPEED’s Coordinating Producer of Studio Programming & News Director, whose family has been involved with sprint car racing for more than 30 years. Twitter: @jim_chiappelli
Posing for pictures in victory lane at Knoxville Raceway a few minutes past 1:00am Central Time Thursday suited the California Kid and his crew just fine. After all, the occasion they celebrated was an A-feature win in the opening night qualifying program for the 52nd Knoxville Nationals.
With proceedings delayed by more than two hours because of a wicked late-afternoon thunderstorm, the 20-year old saved his best for last, surviving a couple of late restarts for his first win at the Marion County, Iowa half-mile dirt track. A development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, Larson continues his meteoric rise, with career victories in sprints, midgets and stocks cars on both dirt and pavement. He was a finalist for 2011 SPEED Performer of the Year.
Larson’s triumph came at the expense of Jason Sides, who sustained a blown left rear tire while leading Larson with six laps remaining in the 25-lap affair. Early leader Davey Heskin finished second, with defending race champion Donny Schatz, who has won five of the past six Nationals, claiming the final spot on the podium for Tony Stewart Racing.
Current World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series points leader Craig Dollansky charged through the field to finish fourth.
Joey Saldana, a three-time runner-up at the Nationals, set quick time and crossed the line eighth in the feature.
12-time Knoxville Nationals winner Steve Kinser failed to transfer out of the B-Main and faces an uphill climb if he is to qualify for the A-Main for an astounding 35th consecutive year.
The unique format at The Nationals splits the field in two, with drivers competing either Wednesday or Thursday in complete racing programs with time trials, heat races, and C, B and A-main events.
Drivers earn points every time they hit the track, and the top 16 in the standings after Thursday’s program secure spots in the first eight rows for Saturday’s $150,000 to win finale.
The balance of that lineup is set during another full show for non-qualifiers on Friday, in which the top four finishers secured starting positions 17-20 for Saturday’s A-Main.
Knoxville Knotes:
*The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is expected to announce a new partnership at Knoxville Raceway Thursday afternoon
*NASCAR star Jeff Gordon visited a “Salute to Champions” exhibit of cars pertinent to his racing career at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and was the guest flagman for the third heat race, which featured Shane Stewart and his car, sponsored by the Jeff Gordon Foundation.
*National Sprint Car Hall of Fame driver Brad Doty is providing analysis on SPEED Center all weekend
*Television coverage of the Knoxville Nationals can be seen Saturday, August 25 at Noon ET on SPEED.
Jim Chiappelli is SPEED’s Coordinating Producer of Studio Programming & News Director, whose family has been involved with sprint car racing for more than 30 years. Twitter: @jim_chiappelli
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