KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The 64th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals kicks off with Wednesday night’s BRANDT Qualifying Night at Knoxville Raceway.
Half of the field of 102 entries hits the half-mile dirt track hoping to gather points in an effort to make Saturday night’s 50-lap, $195,000-to-win main event. The talented field includes three Knoxville Nationals winners.
Eleven-time Nationals winner hopes to erase a disappointing season aboard the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 with a Nationals triumph, while 2019 winner David Gravel will wheel the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 and 2010 victor Tim Shaffer guides the Dutcher Motorsports No. 17gp.
The Wednesday night favorite, however, is Rico Abreu. The driver of the No. 24 Abreu Motorsports machine has won five times at Knoxville this season, including claiming a $34,000 victory in Saturday night’s 360 Knoxville Nationals.
A $200,000 winner in last month’s Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, Anthony Macri will be among the contenders in the Macri Motorsports No. 39m.
Capitani Classic winner James McFadden will steer the Tarlton Motorsports No. 21t, while Corey Day, who won a World of Outlaws feature at Knoxville earlier this season, wheels Jason Meyers’ No. 14 bc entry.
Sheldon Haudenschild leads a bevy of World of Outlaws regulars that includes Chris Windom, Emerson Axsom, Garet Williamson and Hunter Schuerenberg.
High Limit Racing drivers in Wednesday’s field include Daison Pursley, Justin Peck and Justin Sanders, who guides the Ridge & Sons entry normally driven by Aaron Reutzel, who will miss the event with an injury.
Knoxville Raceway point leader Austin McCarl continues his pursuit of a first Nationals win aboard the familiar No. 88 machine, while multi-time Knoxville feature winner Ryan Timms will also be in action.
Traveling veterans Danny Dietrich, Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Tim Kaeding will also be among the contenders on opening night.
Wednesday-BRANDT Qualifying Night
1a – Ashton Torgerson, Glendale, AZ (R)
1K – Kelby Watt, Adel, IA
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, CT
2KS – Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust.
3 – Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO
4W – Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA
5w – Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, PA
6 – Zach Hampton, Plainfield, IN
6K – Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD
7s – Chris Windom, Canton, IL
09 – Matt Juhl, Tea, SD
9R – Chase Randall, Waco, TX
10 – Ryan Timms, Oklahoma City, OK
10V – TBD
11N – Kasey Jedrzejek, Lagrange, OH
12x – Hank Davis, Sand Springs, OK (R)
13 – Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK
14BC – Corey Day, Clovis, CA
15 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND
15H – Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX
15JR – Cole Mincer, Burlington, IA
17 – Sheldon Haudenschilld, Wooster, OH
17A – Jack Anderson, Newton, IA (R)
17GP – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA
18 – Emerson Axsom, Franklin, IN
18T – Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR
21T – James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust.
22 – Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA
23 – Garet Williamson, Columbia, MO
24D – Danny Sams III – North Port, FL
24R – Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA
25 – Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA
26 – Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN
27 – Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA
32B – Brandon Spithaler, Butler, PA (R)
36 – Jason Martin, Lincoln, NE
39M – Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, PA
42 – Sye Lynch, Cowansville, PA
44 – Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA
44x – Scotty Johnson, Melcher-Dallas, IA
45x – Landon Crawley, Benton, AR
48 – Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA
52 – Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK
55 – Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO
65 – Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL
67 – Justin Whittall, Vincetown, NJ (R)
71 – Brandon Worthington, Indianola, IA (R)
74 – Xavier Doney, Odessa, MO
87 – Justin Sanders, Aromas, CA
88 – Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA
121 – RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL
