KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Two of the country’s hottest sprint car drivers will lead the field on the opening night of the 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Wednesday at Knoxville Raceway.
David Gravel, who leads the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series standings and has won 14 features this year, including the Joker’s Jackpot and the Kings Royal will guide the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 in search of his second (2019) Nationals triumph and the first for owner Tod Quiring and crew chief Cody Jacobs.
Gravel’s World of Outlaws rival Donny Schatz, an 11-time winner of the Knoxville Nationals, also hits the track on night one of the Nationals, wheeling the familiar Tony Stewart Racing No. 15.
Three more previous winners — Sammy Swindell (1983), Kraig Kinser (2005) and Tim Shaffer (2010) will be in the field on opening night.
With 109 entries as of Aug. 5, approximately half the field will race on Wednesday, with the remainder including Nationals winners Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet getting in action on Thursday.
Full-time World of Outlaws drivers Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid will be among the fastest contenders, while Corey Day, Jacob Allen, Kasey Kahne, Parker Price-Miller, Justin Peck and Brent Marks will represent High Limit Racing on the opening night.
Day and Gravel each won World of Outlaws features at the half-mile track earlier this season.
Other traveling drivers to watch will be Cole Macedo, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe and Danny Dietrich.
The local contingent will be led by Chase Randall, a winner in 410 and 360 sprint cars at Knoxville this season, and Aaron Reutzel, who is always among the fastest Knoxville racers. Reutzel drives the Ridge & Sons No. 87, while Randall pilots Troy Renfro’s No. 2ks.
Also representing the Knoxville weekly racers will be Garet Williamson, Kerry Madsen, Scott Bogucki, Lynton Jeffrey, Dustin Selvage, Riley Goodno and Carson McCarl.
Wednesday Night Entries
1 Sammy Swindell Germantown, TN
1a Jacob Allen Hanover, PA
1m Don Droud Jr. Lincoln, NE
J2 John Carney II El Paso, TX
2 David Gravel Watertown, CT
2k Kevin Ingle Huron, SD
2ks Chase Randall Waco, TX
2x Lynton Jeffrey Sydney, Australia
3p Sawyer Phillips Pleasantville, IA
3z Brock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA
4w Jamie Ball Knoxville, IA
G5 Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, ND
6b Brandon Wimmer Fairmount, IN
6w Dustin Selvage Indianola, IA
8h Jacob Hughes Hartford, SD
09 Matt Juhl Tea, SD
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA
9p Parker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN
10 Scott Bogucki McLaren Vale, Australia
10v Brian Paulus Six Mile, SC
11n Kasey Jedrezek Lagrange, OH
13 Justin Peck Monrovia, IN
14 Corey Day Clovis, CA
14j Jack Dover Springfield, NE
15 Donny Schatz Fargo, ND
15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. Sunnyvale, TX
15j Jack Potter Lee’s Summit, MO
15jr Cole Mincer Burlington, IA
17 Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH
17gp Cale Thomas Fairland, IN
18 Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA
18t Tanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR
19 Brent Marks Myerstwon, PA
19h Joel Myers Jr. Santa Rosa, CA
21t Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA
22 Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA
23 Garet Williamson Columbia, MO
23L Jimmy Light Indianapolis, IN
23m Lance Moss Cherryville, NC
24t Christopher Thram Sanborn, MN
27 Carson McCarl Altoona, IA
39m Anthony Macri Dillsburg, PA
44 Chris Martin Ankeny, IA
45x Jace Park Overland Park, KS
48 Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA
49x Tim Shaffer Aliquippa, PA
52 Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK
55 Kerry Madsen St. Mary’s, Australia
55t McKenna Haase Des Moines, IA
70 Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN
73 Scotty Thiel Sheboygan, WI
83jr Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA
87 Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX
99 Skylar Gee Leduc, Alberta
101 Kalib Henry Sacramento, CA