The Knoxville Nationals
 

Yes ladies and gentlemen it’s time once again for the biggest dirt track race in the world. I think it’s going to be awfully interesting this week. Brad Sweet the defending champ has had a heck of a year so far and will likely be the favorite, but I doubt it will be uncontested. Gravel with a big win last night in the Cappy, but Brian Brown has looked very good too. I’m hoping Sheldon can duplicate the butt whooping he put on at the Iron Man Saturday. Young Gio Scelzi has been stout recently also and I think Aaron Reutzel could be in the mix too. Would love to hear your thoughts

Not to big of a wing fan but something about this week turns me into one. You know Donny will be right there come Saturday night. I’m gonna have to pack up and go one year!

I went a couple of years ago when Jason Johnson won the last couple of laps were exciting but the rest was follow the leader racing was ok but the atmosphere with that many people was cool

We’ll be there starting Wednesday night. It is definitely going to be interesting this year. Looking forward to it.

I will be there the last two nights. I expect it to come down to Larson, Sweet and Schatz again this year. Logan Schuchart and David Gravel should be right in the mix as well.

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

Not taking a shot at the Knoxville Nationals, since that was the highlight of my racing year way back when. I attended all of them from 1976 through 1992. Some time after that, I discovered Indiana Sprint Week, and have attended at least 15, including the past 7 years in a row, since I bought my RV. My sketchy records show the first time may have been 1999, but that might have been an SCRA swing through the midwest, so I may be exaggerating by 1, or may have attended more between '92 and then. Knoxville may be closer to me, living in Mesa, AZ, but in my opinion, ISW hands down beats the Nationals. By the way, I did leave 2 weeks earlier for Indiana this year so I could take in the non-winged Corn Belt Nationals in Knoxville, so I have nothing against the track.....I just lost interest in winged racing after seeing the alternative.

Heading that way Wednesday. Did 2 nights in 2017 and the full deal last year. Racing is so intense. The atmosphere is incredible.

Stacked field tonight, ought to be intense

Originally Posted by Daisy's dad:
Not taking a shot at the Knoxville Nationals, since that was the highlight of my racing year way back when. I attended all of them from 1976 through 1992. Some time after that, I discovered Indiana Sprint Week, and have attended at least 15, including the past 7 years in a row, since I bought my RV. My sketchy records show the first time may have been 1999, but that might have been an SCRA swing through the midwest, so I may be exaggerating by 1, or may have attended more between '92 and then. Knoxville may be closer to me, living in Mesa, AZ, but in my opinion, ISW hands down beats the Nationals. By the way, I did leave 2 weeks earlier for Indiana this year so I could take in the non-winged Corn Belt Nationals in Knoxville, so I have nothing against the track.....I just lost interest in winged racing after seeing the alternative.

Who cares if you don’t like it!! Nobody asked

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

Originally Posted by wright59:
Who cares if you don’t like it!! Nobody asked

He has a right to his opinion too. Chill out, beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

Who will win? Probably Sweet or Schatz. Who would I like to see win, Aaron Reutzel, Dale Blaney, Danny Dietrich, or of course, Kyle Larson.

My money is on Brady Bacon. Three races in Iowa this year, 3 wins!

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

The years I have been there, I think the Weds thru Fri races are better. Something about trying to get in to the race on sat makes the races better. The c, b mains on sat are good also. I think the fast guys up front on the sat A main tend to all ready have the race finishing order figured out between a few cars. But the crowds and the well prep track all are a plus. Always cool to have a top level team that has had the bad luck and race to the front on sat is a thing to look forward on Sat. Yes I would like to see it a non-wing race, but that is a very fast track to have non wing races. Same way as Belleville and midgets. When done right very cool, when it goes bad very painful. Eat a pork sandwich for me.

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

I've been going since the sixties. It isn't the event I remember then, but still a big event. It used to be so interesting when you would only read about drivers in the Speed Sport. Then the announcer would introduce them, I remember that with Dick Gaines, he was a heck of a driver. The Indiana, Arizona, California, PA, Ohio, plus all the mid-west cars would all be there, maybe not every year. If you were good you usually made it at some point.
I remember on a Nationals qualifying night there was a black and blue #96, the driver really, really got around the track, but it had trouble in hot laps. The announcer later said it was Pancho Carter. I think they headed home.

Eddie Leavitt had won the Nationals two years in a row. I don't think most fans at Knoxville had seen an enclosed trailer until the Siebert Olds Team pulled in. It looked 120 feet long. Eddie drove the yellow Siebert #9, the car seemed super fast. They were knocked out of the race passing cars. I always believed that car could have won the C, B and A. Great memories. Tons of passing in those days.

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

We know who the favorites are but I would love to see an upset, maybe a first time winner. Wish I could be there!

You might just see one. I don’t think anyone would have had Trey Starks winning night 1, not that he’s not good, but a Lot of big guns in the B. The depth of the field is amazing. We can only imagine just how awesome this would be without the handicap of wings. That being said it’s still the Nationals and the biggest dirt track race in the world. The excitement and intensity of it is awesome!

Last night was a bit of a letdown after Sunday’s Cappy Classic but it’s still Knoxville. Gio and Schatz in the B on Saturday will be a great show.

111 total entries. Impressive in this day and age.

No nobody asked but is has a right to his opinion and I agree with him ask my wife originally from Ohio that's all she knew winged racing until I took to her first non wing race took a little while but finally saw the light granted she loves the wing things on tracks shorter than half miles she Attica and fremont

That's right john

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
You might just see one. I don’t think anyone would have had Trey Starks winning night 1, not that he’s not good, but a Lot of big guns in the B. The depth of the field is amazing. We can only imagine just how awesome this would be without the handicap of wings. That being said it’s still the Nationals and the biggest dirt track race in the world. The excitement and intensity of it is awesome!

I agree! I heard someone say that apparently it was reverse night, i. e., the A main had cars that were expected in the B and vice versa. Larson was mediocre at best and even after the engine change Schatz was just average. I really thought Bacon had a shot at the top 4 in his heat esp. after he drove around Schatz but just couldn’t get there.

Tonight is going to be very interesting.

Well last night went fairly according to script with Gravel and Sweet showing their strength. Certainly these 2 have the best odds to stand atop the podium. Going to be some good racing tonight trying to get in the big show. Here’s hoping our guy the Macho Man gets in!

78 cars tonight.

K Madsen, Logan Schuhart Shane Stewart and Dominic Scelzi top 4 tonight. Those 4 locked into back of tomorrow’s a. Everyone else runs the alphabet tomorrow. The Friday night show is incredible. 78 cars and really intense racing.

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

That was the best night of wing racing I have witnessed.

Schatz starting 7th in the B, don’t see that very often. Madsen strong last night as expected.

Re: The Knoxville Nationals
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
Schatz starting 7th in the B, don’t see that very often. Madsen strong last night as expected.

Schatz is actually starting 4th in the B. Parker Price-Miller is locked into 5th starting position on the A Main. Tyler Courtney on the pole of the C. Brady Bacon 12th in the C.

https://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/Art...general-stores

Jerry

David Gravel with the win. Best car won. Logan Schuhart finished 2nd after starting 22nd.

Couldn't have a scripted a better story with JJR and Jax in victory lane with Gravel last night