Sprint car racing fans got their first serious look this weekend at who the drivers may be to beat during this season’s summertime crown-jewel events, and the names are quite familiar.
A field of 65 winged sprint cars traveled to Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway for two nights of racing under the World of Outlaws banner and a pair of Knoxville Nationals winners took center stage.
Winners of eight national championships between them, Brad Sweet and David Gravel claimed victories at the Sprint Car Capital of the World.
Driving Paul Silva’s No. 94, Sweet, who won the 2018 Knoxville Nationals, led every lap of Friday night’s opener, holding off Gravel during the closing laps of the legendary half-mile oval.
Gravel, the 2019 Nationals winner, was not to be denied on Saturday night. He raced the No. 2 Big Game Motorsports machine to a flag-to-flag victory, beating Carson Macedo to the checkered flag.
Ryan Timms, who won last year’s Knoxville Nationals, finished third on both nights.
