KNOXVILLE, Iowa — With just under two weeks before the 60th annual NOS Energy Knoxville Nationals kicks off at the legendary Knoxville Raceway, the entry list for the event already includes some interesting drivers and cars.
Let’s take a look:
– Six-time All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Chad Kemenah has landed a top-notch ride for the Nationals and will be aboard Troy Renfro’s familiar No. 2ks. Kemenah debuted in the car at Knoxville Raceway on July 24.
Kemenah, who has raced sparingly in his home state of Ohio this season, is a former Knoxville Nationals runner-up.
– All Star regular Justin Peck will don a special number and paint scheme for the Nationals. Peck’s familiar Buch Motorsports No. 13 will don the No. 73 and carry a pink paint scheme to pay tribute to National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Kramer Williamson.
– Three McCarls are entered in the Knoxville Nationals with many-time Knoxville Raceway champion Terry McCarl joined by his sons Austin and Carson.
– Central Pennsylvania sprint car veteran Mike Wagner, 55, is entered in the Nationals for the first time and would be a rookie despite having started more than 500 sprint car features in his career.
Wagner’s son, Logan, who made his Nationals debut in 2015 will be aboard the familiar Zemco Racing No. 1z that he drives at Port Royal Speedway. Father and son have each won once at Port Royal this season. Logan Wagner leads the Port Royal point standings and his dad ranks third.
– A third father and son entry is that of Jac and Sheldon Haudenschild.Â
Jac Haudenschild, 63, will make his final Knoxville Nationals start in the familiar Pennzoil No. 22 fielded by Rico Abreu, while Sheldon Haudenschild pilots the Stenhouse Marshall No. 17 that he’s driven to five World of Outlaws victories this season.
– Nationals veteran Harli White is one of two drivers entered by Ohio car owner and former driver Ed Neumeister. White will drive the familiar No. 11n that she’s wheeled to victory at Limaland Motorsports Park this season.
Meanwhile, sprint car veteran Joey Saldana, who has raced sparingly in recent seasons, will wheel the No. 12n out of the Neumesiter stable.
– Daryn Pittman, who finished third at the Knoxville Nationals in 2019 driving for Roth Motorsports, will be looking to make his 18th Nationals feature while driving Kevin Swindell’s Swindell SpeedLab No. 39.
– Kerry Madsen is entered in Tony Stewart Racing’s No. 14, a car he drove to a pair of victories at the Jackson (Minn.) Motorplex earlier this season.
– Ayrton Gennetton is entered in the Gennetton Motorsports No. 3 and will be a contender for top rookie at the Nationals. Gennetton’s grandfather, Gene Genetton, is a three-time Nationals feature starter with a best finish of fifth in 1968.
Ayrton Gennetton’s father, Steve, was also a frequent competitor at Knoxville Raceway.
– Of the 76 drivers entered as of July 29, Donny Schatz and Terry McCarl share the honor of having the most Knoxville Nationals A-Main starts at 22 each. Paul McMahan is next among those entered at 20 A-Main starts, followed by Saldana and Shane Stewart at 19 A-Main starts. Schatz is the only member of that group to have won the Knoxville Nationals.Â