Everything went Kyle Larson’s way during the 65th running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway.
Especially the weather.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion won the Capitani Classic and the Thursday night preliminary feature at the half-mile track, earning the pole for Saturday’s $200,000-to win main event.
But with a NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Richmond Raceway, Larson’s chances of competing in the Granddaddy of all sprint car races were slim.
Rain to the rescue. With rain lingering in Iowa, Larson finished sixth in Richmond and boarded a West-bound jet.
He arrived during the B main, took his starting spot on the pole aboard Paul Silva’s No. 57 and led all 50 laps en route to his fourth Knoxville Nationals triumph, an unlikely one at that.
