KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Kyle Larson has earned the pole for Saturday’s 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals. Now things get a little bit hectic for the two-time race winner.
Larson, who has won his last four sprint car starts including Thursday’s preliminary feature, must also work his day job.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will need to fly back-and-forth between Knoxville, Iowa, and Richmond (Va.) Raceway where he will practice and qualify for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 on Saturday afternoon.
Having already made the field and starting from the pole at Knoxville makes Larson’s journey a bit easier, but it remains a tight schedule.
Practice at Richmond begins at 4:30 p.m. ET, with qualifying following at 5:35 p.m. ET., and conclude at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Festivities at Knoxville are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. CT (8:15 ET), but Larson’s hot-lap session won’t come until much later in the evening.
Larson, however, is no stranger to flying back and forth between events.
“It’s always fun to run the 57. We’ve definitely been on it lately and no better time than now,” Larson said. “I’ve been fortunate enough now to be able to do double duty between NASCAR and the sprint car. No doubt it’s on your mind through the whole weekend. Richmond is a tough place for us.
“I’ll definitely be focused on that as well. I’m looking forward to getting back in the 5 car. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve seen all of them with the break. Excited to see the 5 guys. And then hopefully Qualifying goes well then we’ll get back here and try to win another Knoxville Nationals.”
The driver of the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet currently leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings and has won four Cup Series races this season, despite having missed the Coca-Cola 600 when rain hampered his plans to run the Indianapolis 500 and the 600 on the same day.
Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race is not scheduled to begin until 6 p.m.