MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The Knoxville Nationals have come and gone and the more than 100 teams that participated are headed in different directions as the sun begins to set on the season.
The High Limit Racing touring pros are headed to California, while the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series heads to Minnesota for the prestigious Jackson Nationals.
Other traveling racers will join the POWRi Sprint Series tour this weekend for three races in Missouri, while others will return to weekly competition at their tracks in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other far-off places.
High Limit stops at California’s Thunderbowl Raceway on Thursday night for a $25,000-to-win main event with Knoxville Nationals winner Kyle Larson in the field and looking for his sixth victory in his last six sprint car starts.
From there, the series stops at Kings Speedway on Friday and Placerville Speedway on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the World of Outlaws heads north to the Jackson (Minn.) Motorplex for a $12,000-to-win event on Friday night and a $25,000-to-win Jackson Nationals feature on Saturday.
For the Ohio and Pennsylvania contingent of racers, the 16th annual Lou Blaney Memorial is Saturday at Ohio’s Sharon Speedway, paying $12,000 to win.
• McKenna Haase, who was injured in a violent accident at Knoxville Raceway on Friday night, was released from the hospital on Sunday.
“Thanks to everyone who has commented, sent flowers or cards,” Haase said in a video posted on social media. “Thank you all for the generosity. It means more than you will ever know. I am grateful to be alive and have a loyal, loving sprint car community surrounding us. It meant a lot to us and we are super thankful. Hope to see you all back at the track soon.”
• Jack Dover returned to the driver’s seat for the Knoxville Nationals, wheeling the Tim Estenson Motorsports No. 14, which he usually serves as crew chief for up-and-coming driver Tim Estenson.
Dover had a good week behind the wheel, with the exception of one mistake that may have kept him out of the Knoxville Nationals main event.
Dover ran 10th in the B main on Wednesday and returned for Friday’s Hard Knox program. He qualified 10th out of 80 and placed second in his heat race, earning a spot in that night’s feature.
However, Dover didn’t drive to the scales and was disqualified.
“I’ve never had that in my entire career,” he said. “I was so in a zone. I heard my two-way radio, but I couldn’t tell you a word they said. I was pumped. I had figured the points I had and where we were sitting. We were going to have the best run I’ve ever had in my career at the Knoxville Nationals. I was thinking about the important things except the most important thing at that time.
“I’m very disappointed in myself. I’ve been doing this a long time to make a silly mistake like that. We probably would have started third or fourth row in the A Main. We’ve been trying this for 18 years and finally put ourselves in a good spot and I made a mistake that cost us our best run ever.”
Dover will drive for Tim Estenson Motorsports in a trio of POWRi Sprint Series features this weekend.
“My expectations are high,” he said. “I think we can run in the top three every night. After last week I feel great. Considering it was my fourth through sixth races of the season, we had really good speed and passed a lot of cars so that makes me feel really good.”
• Brock Zearfoss finished fifth in Saturday night’s B main during the Knoxville Nationals, leaving him one spot short of qualifying for the main event.
“So close on Saturday,” said Zearfoss, who earned $10,000 as the first driver on the outside looking in at the Nationals main event. “We had a great week so there’s nothing to hang our heads about. Just a great effort by this entire team and all of our partners. Just needed a little bit more, that’s all. Regardless, we have another big week ahead. Every weekend is a new weekend.”
• Pennsylvania driver Danny Dietrich finished 16th on Wednesday night at Knoxville and 16th again in Saturday night’s B main, missing the Nationals main event.
“We had a great trip to Knoxville. Made the best of it despite missing the A,” Dietrich said. “Just a big thanks to Gary Kauffman (car owner) and all of our partners for giving us the opportunity to go out there and compete. It’s the toughest race in the country. All we can do now is reset to get back at it this weekend.”
Dietrich has a three-race weekend planned for Aug. 16-18.
•Next year’s NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals are scheduled Aug. 6-9 at Knoxville Raceway.