KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Three former winners and NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson headline a stacked field for Thursday night’s preliminary program for the 60th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway.
Sammy Swindell, who won the Nationals in 1983, will participate in the event for a record 46th time, driving Pete Grove’s familiar No. 70 sprint car.
Kraig Kinser, who triumphed in 2005, and 2018 winner Brad Sweet are also entered. Kinser will wheel the familiar Steve Kinser Racing No. 11k, while Sweet pilots the Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb No. 49.
Sweet is the two-time and defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion. Sweet’s won 15 features this year, including a weekly event at Knoxville.
Driving Paul Silva’s No. 57 sprint car, Larson won the 37th Kings Royal last month at Eldora Speedway and topped last year’s Capitani Classic that replaced the Knoxville Nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Larson has also won five NASCAR Cup Series races this season, driving for Hendrick Motorsports.
Kerry Madsen, who won the All Star Circuit of Champions race at Knoxville last month, will attempt to make his 14th Nationals feature aboard the Tony Stewart Racing No. 14. The Australian driver’s brother, Ian Madsen, is entered in the Rudzik Excavating No. 49. Veteran racers Jac Haudenschild, Rico Abreu and Daryn Pittman are also scheduled to compete on Thursday night.
World of Outlaws regular Carson Macedo will drive the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, which won the Nationals in 2016 and 2019. Kasey Kahne returns to the Nationals aboard the No. 83 Roth Motorsports sprint car. Brock Zearfoss and Jacob Allen will also represent the World of Outlaws.
Tyler Courtney, who won last month’s 38th Kings Royal at Eldora and leads the All Star points, drives the Clauson-Marshall Racing No. 7bc, with Paul McMahan also representing the All Stars aboard the CJB Motorsports No. 5
Brent Marks, a nine-time winner this season, leads the Pennsylvania contingent that includes Logan Wagner, Dylan Cisney, T.J. Stutts, Sye Lynch and Mike Wagner.
Three-time Nationals runner-up Brian Brown leads the contingent of Knoxville Raceway regulars that also includes Lynton Jeffrey and Sawyer Phillips.
Veteran Tim Kaeding and newcomer Colby Copeland will represent California on Thursday night.
Thursday Qualifiers
1a Jacob Allen Hanover, Pa.
1z Logan Wagner Harrisonville, Pa.
2dc Dylan Cisney, Port Royal, Pa.
2k Kevin Ingle, Huron, S.D.
3p Sawyer Philips, Pleasantville, Iowa.
3z Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown, Pa.
5 Paul McMahan Nashville, Tenn.
5v Colby Copeland Roseville, Calif.
5X Parker Price-Miller Kokomo, Ind.
7bc Tyler Courtney Indianapolis, Ind.
7w Dustin Selvage Indianola, Iowa
09 Matt Juhl Tea, S.D.
10 Jeff Swindell, Memphis, Tenn.
11k Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind.
11n Harli White Lindsay, Okla.
11t T.J. Stutts Liverpool, Pa.
11tk Tim Kaeding San Jose, Calif.
13r Brad Ryun, Odessa, Mo.
13s Tyler Esh, Quarryville, Pa.
14 Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, Australia
15h Sam Hefertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas
15M Bobby Mincer Burlington, Iowa
17a Austin McCarl Altoona, Iowa
17b Bill Balog Hartland, Wis.
17w Shane Golobic Fremont, Calif.
19 Brent Marks Myerstown, Pa.
20g Noah Gass Mounds, Okla.
21 Brian Brown Grain Valley, Mo.
22 Jac Haudenshild Wooster, Ohio
24r Rico Abreu St. Helena, Calif.
35p Skylar Prochaska Lakefield, MN
39 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla.
41 Carson Macedo Lemoore, Calif.
42 Sye Lynch Apollo, Pa.
44 Chris Martin Ankeny, Iowa
N47 Marcus Dumesny, Sydney, Australia
49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif.
49x Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, Australia
53 Jessie Attard, Landilo, Australia
53D Jack Dover Springfield, Mo.
55w Mike Wagner Harrisonville, Pa.
57 Kyle Larson Elk Grove, Calif.
70 Sammy Swindell, Lakeland, Tenn.
71 Shane Stewart Bixby, Okla.
73a Scotty Thiel Sheboygan, Wis.
83 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, Wash.orts
83j Lynton Jeffrey Sydney, Australia
97 Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, Ohio
101 Cale Thomas Fairland, Ind.