KNOXVILLE, Iowa — No one was surprised that Kyle Larson won the pole for the 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, but it’s fair to say that Daryn Pittman starting outside the front row turned a few heads.
The 45-year-old Oklahoma native is no stranger to the front row at the Knoxville Nationals, but he has raced sparingly in recent years while focusing on his business (Ultra Shield Race Products).
Pittman, who started the Nationals from the pole in 2016, will make his 19th A-main start alongside Kyle Larson after the pair tied in points on Thursday night and Larson got the pole by virtue of winning the feature.
“I’m very happy with the speed we have. I’ve been happy all week,” Pittman said. “I’m comfortable in the car. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a little disappointed that we lost the tie. I feel like for us to put together the night we did — quick time, win our heat — set us up in a good place to go for the pole. I know it doesn’t matter where you start, it only matters where you finish, but that carrot was right there and we were going after it and we got beat.
“Losing the tie, I would have liked to have rewarded these guys with the pole position for the Knoxville Nationals.”
Though, he’s racing a limited schedule, Pittman has been fast every time he’s strapped into Don Kreitz Jr.’s No. 69k sprint car. He won a feature at Williams Grove Speedway.
The 2013 World of Outlaws champion acknowledged that he’s concerned about the length (50 laps) of Saturday’s main event at Knoxville Raceway.
“It’s not my first front row, but I’ll put a lot of thought into it, watch some video, try to eat my Wheaties,” Pittman said with a grin. “I’m not in the best race shape that I have ever been in and this race is physically demanding. Fifty laps around this place is tough. I am going to need the cool weather and hopefully we get a break where I can catch my breath.”
• Tyler Courtney, who missed last year’s Knoxville Nationals while recovering from an injury, will start his Clauson Marshall Racing No. 7bc third on Saturday night.
“We are starting behind two of the greatest sprint car drivers to ever do this at the biggest race of the year, so I am real excited,” Courtney said. “…It’s the hardest race in the world to make, let alone win. We’ve given ourselves a chance and we’ll attack it on Saturday.”
• Donny Schatz knew he got lucky on Friday night when Jack Dover failed to go to the scales after a heat race that Schatz failed to transfer through. Dover’s disqualification elevated Schatz to third in the heat and to the pole in the main event, which he promptly won to earn the 21st starting spot in Saturday’s main event.
Schatz wasn’t hiding from the truth after the race.
“Without that, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Schatz said. “There’s no question. Can’t hide behind that. But you know, sometimes in this sport we race enough that sometimes you have to be luckier than good. Today was one of those days. Maybe there was some help from above or something, who the hell knows, but, yeah, very fortunate today.”
Schatz will start his 26th consecutive Nationals feature on Saturday from the 21st position, a spot where he won from in 2013. He’ll be seeking to tie Steve Kinser with a 12th Nationals victory.
• Emerson Axsom finished third on Friday and will start his first Knoxville Nationals feature on Saturday.
“I feel like we’ve been racing here at Knoxville for more than anyone anywhere else this year,” Axsom said. “It feels good to have all the work pay off. I wish we’re a little bit better. We found some issues from last night. I’m glad we found them now then not find them at all. It feels really good to be locked in, but I still wish we were a little bit better, but we just locked in the Knoxville Nationals, so it definitely feels good.”
• While Emerson Axsom, Bill Balog and Brady Bacon are the only drivers among the 20 locked in to the $190,000-to-win main event on Saturday, the field offers a mixed bag of Knoxville experience.
Eleven-time Nationals winner Donny Schatz will be starting his 26th main event, while outside-front-row starter Daryn Pittman will run his 19th. It will be a 14th A-main for Brian Brown.
All other starters have fewer than 10 starts, including two-time winner and polesitter Kyle Larson, who is making his ninth Nationals start. Rico Abreu will also appear in the main event for the ninth time.
Logan Schuchart will start his eighth Saturday night, while it will be No. 6 for Justin Henderson, Sheldon Haudenschild and Giovanni Scelzi