KYLE LARSON “JETS” TO FOURTH KNOXVILLE NATIONALS WIN IN SIX YEARS!
KYLE LARSON “JETS” TO FOURTH KNOXVILLE NATIONALS WIN IN SIX YEARS!
Feature photo by: Paul Arch… Kyle Larson in action
by Bill Wright.
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 15, 2026) – Kyle Larson’s night started with a NASCAR Cup run in Richmond, Virginia, but thanks to a three-hour rain delay and a fast jet, he made it to Knoxville Raceway early Sunday morning to claim the $200,000 top prize in the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s.
The Elk Grove, California native led all 50 laps to garner his fourth Nationals win in six years. Including his prelim win, the SprintCarUnlimited.com $2,000 for winning the pole, and the Beaver Drill & Tool/MPV Express/Mike & Kathy Hulbert Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” Award worth $10,000, his total earnings for the week topped $212,000. It was his sixteenth career win at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World.”
Larson missed A main hot laps, but arrived from Richmond before the 22-lap B main started. He shot out from the pole position in the 50-lapper ahead of Sheldon Haudenschild, Kasey Kahne, James McFaden and Buddy Kofoid. Kahne shot by Haudenschild for the runner-up spot on lap two.
Larson was into lapped traffic on the eighth circuit, and had a 3.8 second lead by lap 15. Chase Dietz worked his way into the top five on the same lap.
By the mandatory fuel stop on lap 25, Larson had lapped all but the top thirteen cars and held a 4.5 second lead. Kahne, Haudenschild, McFadden and Dietz trailed at that point, and were followed by Logan Schuchart, Kofoid, David Gravel, Parker Price-Miller and B main transfers, Carson Macedo and Tanner Holmes.
Once green again, Schuchart passed Dietz for fifth, with Kofoid in tow. Brian Brown stopped with 23 to go, bringing another caution. Schuchart passed McFadden for the fourth spot, when the green fell.
Larson was back in traffic with Kahne in pursuit, but he separated himself while lapping cars and held a 1.8 second lead with ten laps to go, as Haudenschild passed Kahne for second. The lead evaporated at that point, when Macedo’s strong ninth place run ended when he went up in smoke.
Larson led the ten-lap Dash to the checkers to win his fourth Nationals with car owner Paul Silva, ahead of Haudenschild, Kahne, Schuchart and McFadden. Schuchart peaked with a lap 43 pass of Kahne for second. Kahne returned the favor with three to go. Larson was back in traffic with two to go and pulled away for the win.
Haudenschild claimed second, ahead of Kahne, McFadden and Schuchart. Gravel, Kofoid, Price-Miller, Brent Marks and Dietz completed the top ten. Darin Naida won the D main, Ryan Timms took the C main, and Tyler Courtney claimed the 22-lap B.
Larson won the Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” Award, ahead of McFadden ($6,000) and Corey Day ($4,000).
Landon Crawley won the Skagit Speedway Best Appearing Car Award ($2,500), followed by Sheldon Haudenschild ($1,500) and Parker Price-Miller ($1,000).
Think N Ink Best Appearing Helmet Awards went to Sheldon Haudenschild ($500), followed by Danny Sams III ($300) and Sye Lynch ($200).
The Avanti Windows & Doors Best Appearing Crews went to the Shark Racing 1s ($500), Fischer Motorsports 23 ($250) and the Jason Johnson Racing 41 ($150).
The JETCO Rookie of the Year went to Jy Corbet ($1,000).
“It’s extremely surreal,” said Larson in Victory Lane.
“It was a range of emotions. Going back the last couple days, I had no emotions. I knew I wasn’t going to race, but there was still that glimmer of hope with the rain and the forecast. When I got in the Cup car, it only showed a 10% chance of rain at 6 or something. I was sad for a minute. Cliff came on the radio and said there was a rain delay here and they hadn’t started hot laps yet. I got a kickstart of emotion, and it’s wild how I’m here tonight standing here talking to you. Huge thank you to Hendrick Motorsports. I couldn’t do this without them.
“I felt really good there early. I was actually a bit nervous. I felt too free and loose. I was nervous when I got in traffic, but it seemed I could just carve through there. I felt like judging myself on the lappers, it would be hard for anyone to close on me and then make a move. (Paul Silva) doesn’t do much talking at all. He’s just such a strong mind. He’s so smart. For someone who’s never been behind the wheel of a racecar, to be as good as he is as a crew chief is unreal. He can read the car better than I can feel it. I think having that combination helps me just run the sprint car the way it needs to be. I hope all the people (complaining) about us running our preliminary night understand why. This was the best case scenario.”
“(Larson and Kahne) both had a good pace,” said Haudenschild. “Kasey cleared me early, and I just followed him around a long time. Kyle was obviously farther away. My hats off to my team. I’m glad Kyle got back, because if I win, I want to beat Kyle. He’s the best there is. We had a great time this week, and all our partners are here. I thought I might have a shot on that last restart, but I couldn’t rail one and two quite good enough. I felt like I paced him fine after that, but hard to get to him when we’re running that fast.”
“It was great,” said Kahen of his run. “We got right to second there, and I was going to do all I could to keep up with Kyle. I knew we were in a good spot. We worked on it a little bit under the red. I was still in the hunt. I was really happy with my car. I was up a little on my left front, so I had to push it down. I just did that a couple too many times. That’s when I got sideways and Sheldon ended up getting by. Overall, it was a great race, and a great Knoxville Nationals for our team.”
Join us Saturday, August 29 for McKay Group Season Championship Night! The Leighton State Bank 410 Sprints, the Randall Roofing 360 Sprints and the Raceway Tire & Muffler Pro Sprints will all be in action! For more information on the Knoxville Raceway, visit us online at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s Results
D main (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. 11N, Darin Naida, Adrian, MI (1); 2. 33W, Cap Henry, Republic, OH (2); 3. 6, Kasey Jedrzejek, Lagrange, OH (4); 4. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (3) / 5. 0, Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust. (5) ($2,400 from the Truck Bar); 6. 17A, Jack Anderson, Newton, IA (8); 7. 45D, Derek Hagar, Marion, AR (7); 8. 4C, Cameron Martin, Ankeny, IA (12); 9. G5, Gage Pulkrabek, East Grand Forks, MN (14); 10. 23L, Jimmy Light, Pittsboro, IN (6); 11. 14T, Brooke Tatnell (, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust.13); 12. 15JR, Cole Mincer, Burlington, IA (15); 13. 15J, Kade Higday, Knoxville, IA (11); 14. 121, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (18); 15. 28M, Conner Morrell, Bradenton, FL (20); 16. 44X, Scotty Johnson, Melcher, Dallas, IA (17); 17. 7B, Ben Brown, Marshall, MO (19); 18. 27B, Garrett Benson, Concordia, MO (10); 19. 6DC, Will Armitage, Athens, IL (9); 20. 3, Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO (16) DNS -87x, Ashton Torgerson, Glendale, AZ; 95, Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK; 77, Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, CA; 5, Brenham Crouch, Lubbock, TX; 85J, Logan Julien, Oconomowoc, WI; 56, Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA; 24T, Christopher Thram, Sanborn, MN; 31, Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN; 2KS, Hank Davis, Sand Springs, OK; 4w, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA; 1, Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 8, John Carney II, El Paso, TX; 19H, Joel Myers Jr., Santa Rosa, CA; 11R, Rodney Huband, Wimberley, TX; 16G, Austyn Gossel, Fort Collins, CO
C main (started), 15 Laps, NT: 1. 10, Ryan Timms, Oklahoma City, OK (1); 2. 55, Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust. (2); 3. 26, Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN (3); 4. 15H, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Sunnyvale, TX (4) / 5. 9R, Chase Randall, Waco, TX (5); 6. 21H, Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK (8); 7. 22, Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA (7); 8. 9P, Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (6); 9. 15, Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND (11); 10. 53, Jack Dover, Springfield, NE (9); 11. 51, Steven Snyder Jr, Rising Sun, MD (12); 12. 12X, Landon Crawley, Benton, AR (16); 13. 09, Matt Juhl (, Tea, SD17); 14. 7S, Chris Windom, Canton, IL (14); 15. 33W, Cap Henry (22); 16. 11N, Darin Naida (21); 17. 6, Kasey Jedrzejek (23); 18. 40, Clint Garner (24); 19. 2M, JJ Hickle, Quilcene, WA (18); 20. 45X, Rees Moran, Tulsa, OK (15); 21. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (10); 22. 1K, Kelby Watt, Adel, IA (19); 23. 26R, Levi Hillier, Burlington, WA (20); 24. 27, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (13)
B main (started), 22 Laps, NT: 1. 7BC, Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN (4); 2. 41, Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA (6); 3. 42, Sye Lynch, Apollo, PA (1); 4. 13, Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR (11) / 5. 87, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX (5); 6. 17, Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN (8); 7. 17B, Bill Balog, Hartland, WI (3); 8. 3P, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (10); 9. 1TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (7); 10. 1X, Scott Bogucki, McLaren Vale, SA, Aust. (12); 11. 10, Ryan Timms (21); 12. 25, Jy Corbet, Gympie, QLD, Aust. (9); 13. 16C, Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can. (16); 14. 15K, Creed Kemenah, Alvada, OH (18); 15. 74, Xavier Doney, Odess, MO (13); 16. 6T, Zach Hampton, Plainfield, IN (14); 17. 48, Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA(15); 18. 55, Kerry Madsen (22); 19. 19HM, Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD (19); 20. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (17); 21. 24D, Danny Sams III, North Port, FL (20); 22. 15H, Sam Hafertepe Jr (24); 23. 26, Justin Peck (23); 24. 27A, Emerson Axsom, Franklin, IN (2)
A main (started), 50 Laps, NT: 1. 57, Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA (1); 2. 18, Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH (2); 3. 4, Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA (4); 4. 21T, James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust. (3); 5. 1S, Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA (12); 6. 2, David Gravel, Watertown, CT (10); 7. 83, Michael Kofoid, Penngrove, CA (5); 8. 71, Parker Price Miller, Kokomo, IN (7); 9. 19, Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA (18); 10. 23D, Chase Dietz, York, PA (9); 11. 13, Tanner Holmes (24); 12. 11, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD (6); 13. 7BC, Tyler Courtney (21); 14. 14, Corey Day, Clovis, CA (15); 15. 23, Garet Williamson, Kingdom City, MO (13); 16. 28, Jace Park, Overland Park, KS (20); 17. 14TSR, Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA (11); 18. 2C, Cole Macedo, Lemoore, CA (14); 19. 88T, Tanner Thorson, Minden, NV (19); 20. 42, Sye Lynch (23); 21. 41, Carson Macedo (22); 22. 69K, Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK (8); 23. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (16); 24. 88W, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (17). Lap Leader: Larson 1-50. MPi Hard-charger: Holmes
Kyle Larson Wins Beaver Drill & Tool/MPV Express/Mike and Kathy Hulbert Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” Award!
by Bill Wright,
Knoxville, IA, August 15, 2026 – Kyle Larson’s improbable trip from racing with the NASCAR Cup Series in Richmond, Virginia to making it to win his fourth Knoxville Nationals propelled him to his first ever Beaver Drill & Tool/MPV Express/Mike & Kathy Hulbert Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” title worth $10,000. James McFadden ($6,000) finished second in the standings, ahead of Corey Day ($4,000). Parker Price-Miller, Austin McCarl, Justin Henderson, Aaron Reutzel, Rico Abreu, Ryan Timms and Brian Brown rounded out the top ten.
Points are accumulated with events at both Knoxville Raceway and Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, August 6-15. The winner will take home $10,000, second place $6,000 and third place $4,000 from Beaver Drill & Tool, MPV Express and Mike & Kathy Hulbert of Las Cruces, New Mexico!
About Beaver Drill & Tool
Over the past 70 years, Beaver Drill & Tool Company has committed to maintaining a large inventory of industrial products supported by some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, conveniently at their 10,000 square foot distribution facility in Kansas City, Kansas. With a local inventory of more than 11,000 items and access to many more from their supplier base of over 200 quality tool manufacturers, Beaver Drill has, or can get, what you need when you need it!
About MPV Express
MPV is a locally owned and operated trucking company based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. MPV is dedicated to building and maintaining long-term relationships with their customers and providing unrivaled freight solutions all while maintaining the highest level of service. They maintain a fleet of tractors and trailers that currently service 32 states. Their trucks are GPS equipped to provide real time updates and tracking for our customers. It all started in April 2003 with one driver, one truck, and a vision to expand on the need for dependable customer-oriented service.
About Mike and Kathy Hulbert
Mike and Kathy Hulbert have operated CSR Garage in Las Cruces since the early 1980’s and have been longtime supporters of sprint car racing. They were the car owners when Ricky Logan was crowned as the first “Mr. Sprint Car” in 2002.
Final 2026 Beaver Drill & Tool/MPV Express/Mike & Kathy Hulbert Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” current top ten standings…
1. Kyle Larson, California, 295 points; 2. James McFadden, Northern Territory, Aust., 279; 3. Corey Day, California, 251 points; 4. Parker Price-Miller, Indiana, 237 points; 5. Austin McCarl, Iowa, 214 points; 6..Justin Henderson, South Dakota, 204 points, 7. Aaron Reutzel, Texas, 198 points; 8. Rico Abreu, California, 197 points; 9. Ryan Timms, Oklahoma, 193 points; 10. Brian Brown, Missouri, 186 points
History of the Southern Iowa SprintWeek Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” standings…
2025 – 1. Ryan Timms, Oklahoma, 283 points ($10,000); 2. Austin McCarl, Iowa, 265 points ($6,000); 3. James McFadden, Northern Territory, Aust., 258 points ($4,000); 4. Rico Abreu, California, 239 points; 5. Kyle Larson, California, 230 points
2024 – 1. Brian Brown, Missouri, 262 points ($6,500); 2. Justin Peck, Indiana, 204 points ($2,500); 3. Austin McCarl, Iowa, 198 points ($1,000) 4. Tyler Courtney, Indiana, 196 points; 5. Carson Macedo, California, 191 points
2023 – 1. Anthony Macri, Pennsylvania, 203 points ($6,500); 2. Chase Randall, Texas, 199 points ($2,500); 3. Brian Brown, Missouri, 186 points ($1,000); 4. Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 184 points; 5. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 178 points
2022 – 1. Aaron Reutzel, Texas, 264 points ($6,500); 2. Giovanni Scelzi, California, 254 points $2,500); 3. Brian Brown, Missouri, 236 points ($1,000); 4. Parker Price-Miller, Indiana, 232 points; 5. Kyle Larson, California, 224 points
2021 – 1. Gio Scelzi, California, 267 points ($6,000); 2. Brian Brown, Missouri, 240 points ($2,500); 3. Justin Henderson, South Dakota, 211 points ($1,000); 4. Cory Eliason, California, 200 points; 5. Shane Golobic, California, 182 points
2019 – 1. James McFadden, Victoria, Aust., 276 points; 2. Aaron Reutzel, Texas, 257 points; 3. Cory Eliason, California, 234 points; 4. Brian Brown, Missouri, 213 points; 5. Parker Price-Miller, Indiana, 205
2018 – 1. Carson Macedo, California, 330 points ($2,000); 2. Gio Scelzi, California, 287 points ($1,250); 3. Terry McCarl, Iowa, 256 points ($750); 4. Tim Kaeding, California, 240 points; 5. Cory Eliason, California, 233 points
2017 – 1. Brian Brown, Missouri, 332 points ($1,500); 2. Greg Hodnett, Pennsylvania, 261 points; 3. Brad Sweet, California, 238 points; 4. Ian Madsen, New South Wales, 236 points; 5. Trey Starks, Washington, 218 points
2016 – 1. Jamie Veal, Victoria, 271 points ($2,500); 2. Ian Madsen, New South Wales, 257 points ($1,000); 3. Danny Lasoski, Missouri, 222 points ($500); 4. Terry McCarl, Iowa 221 points; 5. Kerry Madsen, New South Wales, 217 points.
2015 – 1., Terry McCarl, Iowa, 277 points ($2,500); 2., Danny Lasoski, Missouri, 275 points ($1,000); 3., Brian Brown, Missouri, 259 points ($500); 4., Sammy Swindell, Tennessee, 246 points; 5., Kerry Madsen, New South Wales, 234 points.
2014 – 1., Brian Brown, Missouri, 296 points ($2,500); 2., Mark Dobmeier, North Dakota, 271 points ($1,000); 3., Terry McCarl, Iowa, 257 points ($500); 4., Ian Madsen, New South Wales, Australia, 232 points; 5., Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Texas, 219 points.
2013 – 1., Kevin Swindell, Tennessee, 312 points ($2,500); 2., Brian Brown, Missouri, 288 points ($1,000); 3., Kyle Larson, California, 285 points ($500); 4., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 268 points; 5., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 250 points.
2012 – 1., Kyle Larson, California, 350 points ($2,500); 2., Brian Brown, Missouri, 276 points ($1,000); 3., Tim Kaeding, California, 268 points ($500); 4., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 253 points; 5., Tim Shaffer, Pennsylvania, 246 points.
2011 – 1., Sammy Swindell, Tennessee, 321 points ($2,500); 2., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 291 points ($1,000); 3., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 259 points ($500); 4., Daryn Pittman, Oklahoma, 237 points; 5., Tim Shaffer, Pennsylvania, 227 points.
2010 – 1., Sammy Swindell, Tennessee, 276 points ($2,500); 2., Brooke Tatnell, New South Wales, Australia, 229 ($1,000); 3., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 219 ($500); 4., Bronson Maeschen, Iowa, 215; 5., Brian Brown, Missouri, 207.
2009 – 1., Terry McCarl, Iowa, 276 points ($2,500); 2., Brian Brown, Missouri, 253 ($1,000); 3., Johnny Herrera, New Mexico, 239 ($500); 4., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 224; 5., Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma, 213.
2008 – 1., Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma, 314 points ($2,500); 2., Billy Alley, Nebraska, 274 ($1,000); 3., Brooke Tatnell ($500), New South Wales, Australia, 271; 4., Tyler Walker, California, 261; 5., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 233.
2007 – 1., Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma, 266 points ($2,500); 2., Kaley Gharst, Illinois, 252 ($1,000); 3., Brian Brown, Missouri, 249 ($500); 4., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 192; 5., Jonathan Allard, California, 182.
2006 – 1., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 309 points ($2,500); 2., Billy Alley, Nebraska, 247 ($1,000); 3., Brian Brown, Missouri, 227 ($500); 4., Don Droud, Jr., Nebraska, 201; 5., Gary Wright, Texas, 187.
2005 – 1., Billy Alley, Nebraska, 303 points ($2,500); 2., Kerry Madsen, New South Wales, Australia, 258 ($1,000); 3., Daryn Pittman, Oklahoma, 235; 4., Jesse Hockett, Missouri, 227; 5., Jesse Giannetto, Iowa, 214.
2004 – 1., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 217 points ($3,000); 2., Kerry Madsen, New South Wales, Australia, 183; 3., Zach Chappell, Oklahoma, 182; 4., Tim Kaeding, California, 165; 5., Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma, 160.
2003 – 1., Shane Stewart, Oklahoma, 238 points ($2,500); 2., Erin Crocker, Massachusetts, 186; 3., Travis Rilat, Texas, 183; 4., Kerry Madsen, New South Wales, Australia, 177; 5., Terry McCarl, Iowa, 175.
2002 – 1., Ricky Logan, Arkansas, 202 points ($1,500); 2., Jason Johnson, Louisiana, 186; 3., Daryn Pittman, Oklahoma, 171; 4., Brad Furr, California, 170; 5., Kasey Kahne, Washington, 160.
Those seeking information on the two participating tracks of the Beaver Drill & Tool/MPV Express Jesse Hockett “Mr. Sprint Car” Award are encouraged to visit their websites at www.knoxvilleraceway.com and www.oskychallenges.com, respectively.
