KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Friday night’s FVP Hard Knox qualifying night program during the 62nd Knoxville Nationals represents an opportunity for many drivers to resurrect what has the makings of a lost week.
The top four finishers in Friday’s 25-lap feature will earn starting spots 21-24 in Saturday night’s $185,000-to-win main event.
With the top 26 drivers in points from the two qualifying nights locked into the top 16 spots in the A-main and the top five rows of the B main, it may be the most stacked Friday night program in history.
With qualifying, heats and mains, Friday marks a fresh start for drivers such as Aaron Reutzel, who crashed in his heat race on Wednesday and ranked near the bottom of the points standings.
David Gravel, who was fast qualifier on Wednesday, but also crashed in his heat, will also be among those looking for new life on Hard Knox Night. Brent Marks, a top-10 finisher in each of the last two Nationals, also finds himself behind the eight-ball.
Tim Shaffer, the 2011 Nationals winner, will be in the field as will 2013 World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman.
All Star point leader Zeb Wise, Blake Hahn, who led 18 feature laps on his preliminary night, Brady Bacon, Chris Windom, Cory Eliason, Cole Macedo, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding and Parker Price-Miller are also among the drivers needing to make something happen on Friday night.
Sye Lynch, who was tied for 26th in points after the qualifying nights and missed the top 26 by a tiebreaker because Sheldon Haudenschild, who had the same number of points, finished better in the feature, will also be in action.
Hard Knox Entries
Sye Lynch
Daryn Pittman
Blake Hahn
Brock Zearfoss
Jamie Ball
Brandon Wimmer
Bill Balog
Scott Bogucki
Colby Copeland
Brent Marks
Tanner Holmes
Ayrton Gennetten
Brady Bacon
Chris Windom
Jamie Veal
Cory Eliason
Cole Macedo
David Gravel
Lachlan McHugh
Jake Bubak
Riley Goodno
Justin Henderson
Zach Hampton
Kalib Henry
Kevin Thomas Jr.
Justin Sanders
Sawyer Phillips
Robbie Price
Tanner Carrick
Zeb Wise
Don Droud Jr.
Carson McCarl
JJ Hickle
Tim Kaeding
Lynton Jeffrey
Parker Price-Miller
Brooke Tatnell
Ryan Timms
Shane Golobic
AJ Moeller
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
Kaleb Johnson
Tim Shaffer
Christopher Thram
Kelby Watt
Brenham Crouch
McKenna Haase
Chase Dietz
Harli White
Noah Gass
Aaron Reutzel
Skylar Prochaska
Jordan Goldesberry
