The 59th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores is set for Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway from Aug. 7-10.
The 59th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey‘s General Stores is set for Iowa‘s Knoxville Raceway from Aug. 7-10.
Last year there was a new winner. The headline read: A Sweet Victory.
This year, the headline might read: A Sweet Repeat.
THE FAVORITE
BRAD SWEET
The defending champion has been emphatically proving that his 2018 Nationals victory was not a fluke. Sweet turned back every advance Donny Schatz made last year and is a legitimate threat to take away his World of Outlaws championship this year.
The diminutive Californian has been the leading feature winner and most consistent driver on the WoO tour through the first half of the season and looked very good when the Outlaws were at Knoxville Raceway in June. He timed in the top five both nights, finished fifth on Friday and won on Saturday.
His consistency has been evident over the past four years at the Nationals. During that stretch, he has timed in the top four every year, scored enough points to lock himself into four straight A-Mains and finished in the top five three times, including his victory last year.
Sweet has earned the right to enter the Knoxville Nationals as the favorite.
CONTENDERS
BRIAN BROWN
He dominated Knoxville‘s weekly programs through the first half of 2019, setting quick times and scoring convincing victories, and when the Outlaws came to town Brown won again.
That‘s the kind of competition he will have to beat to win the Nationals, but Brown proved he can still do it. Brown had something to prove because his Nationals performances in recent years have been disappointing.
After finishing a close second to Donny Schatz three consecutive times from 2012 through 2014, Brownie hasn‘t cracked the top five, and last year‘s effort is best forgotten. This year he looks like he‘s back. Brian Brown has got everything it takes to win the Nationals, but he could be running out of chances.
KYLE LARSON
Larson has never failed to make the A-Main in five previous attempts. Very few drivers, past or present, can make that claim. In his last four starts Larson has finished sixth, fifth, second and third. That‘s quite a record for someone who races stock cars for a living, and only steps into sprint cars when his busy schedule permits.
His times haven‘t been great, but Larson certainly races well. He came from the B to finish fifth in 2016, then finished a close second to Schatz in ‘17 and settled for third behind Sweet and Schatz last year.
Larson has won in World of Outlaws and All Star competition this season, so he should be ready for the Nationals, however, he must lock in on his qualifying night, because his NASCAR commitments will not allow him to return to Knoxville on Friday.
However, as long as he does lock in, Larson is expected to be a threat for the $150,000 top prize.
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