Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 12, 2016) – Kyle Larson, the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Rookie of the Year, who won his qualifying night race in his very first Knoxville Nationals start in 2012, has officially entered the 5-hour ENERGY® Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. 

Larson, 23, will compete in sprint car racing’s greatest race for the third time in his career. When the racing phenom won his qualifying night in his rookie year he left the sprint car world in awe. He went on to finish 16th in Saturday’s finale and earned the event’s Rookie of the Year title. 

“Getting a win at Knoxville is so big,” Larson said after his qualifying night win. “I wasn't expecting to win. I was more hoping to finish top five or so, but I'm happy for the win.” 

The following year, while racing full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS), Larson again competed in the Knoxville Nationals. Larson, not locked into the finale with his qualifying night results, was forced to race in Friday’s preliminary night races. He started the day at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International for NASCAR practice then flew to Knoxville, landing with just minutes to spare before hot laps. He won the feature event that night and locked himself into his second Knoxville Nationals finale. Before that, however, he had to return to Watkins Glen to race in the NXS event on Saturday afternoon. He again flew back to Knoxville that day and charged from a 17th-place starting position to a sixth-place finish. 

While Larson, of Elk Grove, Calif., has turned his focus to earning his first Sprint Cup win and a NASCAR championship, he’s been very open about his love for sprint car racing. The NSCS schedule has an off-weekend on August 12-13, allowing Larson to return to sprint car racing’s biggest stage. Larson and car owner/crew chief Paul Silva will field the white No. 57 entry he’s been racing this season in the 5-hour ENERGY® Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores. This year, the duo have competed in eight sprint car events, earning an amazing two wins, six top-five and seven top-10 finishes. 

In the meantime, Larson will continue to race the No. 42 Target Chevy for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NSCS, where, on top of his Rookie of the Year honors, he’s earned 13 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes, including four runner-up finishes. With the success Larson has experienced in such little Knoxville Raceway track time, all competitors will have their eyes on the “part-time” driver as he chases his dream of winning the Knoxville Nationals. 

Would love to see Kyle & perhaps Kasey Kahne as well enter the Front Row Challenge on the Monday before the Nationals.

Cool. Concentrate on Knoxville & fuhgettabout all the flying around to NASCAR. 

He may just surprise Mr. Schatz, fans would go wild!.... & buy mucho T-shirts...

Driving Silva's 57 Larson is a major threat to Schatz domination!

May push the event to sell-out again on Saturday night too (some NASCAR fans will show up just to watch him).

& realize how much better sprint car racing is? That would be good....

yep, had some IndyCar fans come down from Newton last week that were probably converted after attending.

They saw a great night of racing and then watched someone lap the field the next afternoon in a snoozefest.....

I first got hooked on dirt track racing as a teenager, early 1960s, in Shenadoah Valley of Virginia (Jalopies, Sportsmen & Modifieds: hotrod coupes), We moved to Connecticut in 1966, I went to 2 races on pavement, didn't go to another race for 40 years.

Then about 6 years ago I read an article about sprint car racing in Central Pa. while traveling thru.... went to my first sprint car race, hooked again! 2nd race: flew from Colorado to Pa. to see Sammy win National Open.... wow!

Now I go whenever I can....

Yea, give up your guaranteed 7 figure income, corporate jet, and the other perks to return to traveling as your own driver in a motor home, to race for (at most) $10,000 on an average night. 

I am sure Kyle Larson's passion is racing sprint cars, but one of the main reasons he probably races with Nascar is because the money is much better! I have been watching him race since he first started racing sprint cars at the age of 14 and his CA fans just just knew he was something special and would do great things! I just saw him recently at an Outlaw show in Placerville and he is still the very humble person he always has been and easy to talk to and great with kids!  We all know racing and watching sprint cars is way more exciting that racing and watching Nascar, it's just a shame that all the money is in NASCAR!    My own husband, who wasn't raised around racing and total unbaised, says NASCAR has way too many laps and sprint car racing has a much better format and way more exciting to watch! I actually only watch Nascar races on Sunday to support Kyle Larson and even when he has a bad night I hope he does better the next week and I know soon he will get his 1st win at a Sunday race   

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

The hands on favorite to dethrone Donny? 

Before I had thoughts on Kerry Madsen, Gravel and Lasoski to be the most likely to beat Schatz, but I'll put the 57 over all of them. 

No, of course not. I wasn't saying retire from NASCAR, just concentrate on Nationals for that week.

He's not that stupid & neither am I !

He will bring many fans .He and Rico will be fan favorites and I would guess the money isnt the reason as much as his love for racing.Luckily his Nascar owner understands that unlike the ones that wont let several talented racers take the risk.Hes from the same mold as Tony Stewart that can drive anything and will give back to where he started and main reason being a NASCAR driver is the money.

This is a neat piece of news that will be a crowd pleaser for sure. Efforts earlier this year to get him to Indianapolis for the 500 mile race fell apart but the Knoxville deal is secure

Kyle larson the '11 & '12 Ultimate Challenge winner is rumored to be running Monday August 8th along with his good friend Rico Abreu & many of the top 410 in the nation.

There will be hundreds of give aways for the fans including FIVE television sets curtesy of our awesome event sponsors!

Great seats still available for this years $20,000/win Front Row Challenge by calling 515-957-0020 or you can get tickets at the door.

Lori, can we persuade VanGendren to move in the tires and rework the low side? #SLIDEJOBS

Keep It Real

Always love having the NASCAR guys come back to their "alma mater" Since we know of larson, clauson, rico running any word about Chris Bell? With the off week and larson running, i wouldnt be surprised if Ricky and Danica would also be in town to watch. In a perfect world it would be cool to see all the former sprint guys hop back into a car (obviously Tony, Jeff and Ricky wont)

Not 100% sure, but I don't think his NASCAR team is letting him race wingless sprinters anymore