KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Will the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals see a new winner this season, or will one of the six former winners entered in the event claim another triumph?
Donny Schatz has a chance to make history on Saturday night. Schatz could win the event for the 12th time, which would tie him for the most victories in history.
No other driver entered this year has won the Nationals more than once. As a result, Kraig Kinser, Tim Shaffer, Brad Sweet, David Gravel and Kyle Larson will all be chasing a second Nationals triumph.
Roy Robbins earned $1,000 for winning the first Knoxville Nationals in 1961. Saturday night’s victor will take home $185,000.
Here are the winners of the previous 61 runnings of the Knoxville Nationals:
Knoxville Nationals Winners
Year Driver Owner
1961 Roy Robbins O. J. Huffman
1962 Jerry Richert Sr. Ted Ready
1963 Greg Weld Taylor “Pappy” Weld
1964 Kenny Weld Taylor “Pappy” Weld
1965 Kenny Weld Taylor “Pappy” Weld
1966 Jay Woodside Ted Hall
1967 Thad Dosher Jack Cunningham
1968 Ray Lee Goodwin Swenson/Williams
1969 Ken Gritz Larry Snyder
1970 Joe Saldana C&L Racing
1971 Jan Opperman Cahill Racing
1972 Kenny Weld Bob Weikert
1973 Kenny Weld Bob Weikert
1974 Dick Gaines Karl Kinser
1975 Eddie Leavitt Ricke/Hill
1976 Eddie Leavitt Galden Inc.
1977 Doug Wolfgang Bob Trostle
1978 Doug Wolfgang Speedway Motors
1979 Ron Shuman Gary Stanton
1980 Steve Kinser Bob Trostle/Karl Kinser
1981 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1982 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1983 Sammy Swindell Raymond Beadle
1984 Doug Wolfgang Bob Weikert
1985 Doug Wolfgang Bob Weikert
1986 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1987 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1988 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1989 Doug Wolfgang D.P. Motorsports
1990 Bobby Allen Allen Enterprises
1991 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1992 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1993 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1994 Steve Kinser Karl Kinser
1995 Steve Kinser Steve Kinser
1996 Mark Kinser Karl Kinser
1997 Dave Blaney Blaney/Hylton
1998 Danny Lasoski Dennis Roth
1999 Mark Kinser Karl Kinser
2000 Mark Kinser Karl Kinser
2001 Danny Lasoski Tony Stewart
2002 Steve Kinser Steve Kinser
2003 Danny Lasoski Tony Stewart
2004 Danny Lasoski Tony Stewart
2005 Kraig Kinser Steve Kinser
2006 Donny Schatz Schatz Motorsports
2007 Donny Schatz Schatz Motorsports
2008 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart
2009 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart
2010 Tim Shaffer Call/Holbrook Motorsports
2011 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart
2012 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart
2013 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart
2014 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing
2015 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing
2016 Jason Johnson Jason Johnson Racing
2017 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing
2018 Brad Sweet Kasey Kahne Racing
2019 David Gravel Jason Johnson Racing
2021 Kyle Larson Paul Silva
2022 Donny Schatz Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian