Article: Alex Nieten (WoO PR) | Photos: Kole Esterly
Kyle Larson ups his game to another level at Knoxville Raceway.
And he does so even more during the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.
The sport’s biggest event seems to bring out the absolute best in “Yung Money.” It doesn’t matter that NASCAR Cup Series duties limit his Sprint Car seat time throughout the season. Larson climbs in the Silva Motorsports No. 57 and doesn’t miss a beat when all Sprint Car racing’s toughest competition heads for Knoxville in August.
The latest proof came on Thursday’s Toyota Qualifying Night when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Knoxville Raceway finalized the first 16 lock-ins to Saturday’s $200,000-to-win finale.
Larson lined up eighth for the 25-lapper and put on a show. The Elk Grove, CA native worked up to fourth early and then waited for the right opportunity to pounce on the leaders. Those chances came on late restarts when he first wheeled by Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Austin McCarl. Then he set his sights on the leading Garet Williamson out front. Williamson did a solid job of playing defense at first, but a restart with six laps to go gave Larson the shot he needed. Williamson slid in front of him in Turns 3 and 4, but Larson powered under him exiting the corner and finished the pass in Turns 1 and 2. Then he pulled away by over three seconds in the final five laps on his way to Victory Lane.
“He (Williamson) did some stuff I was not expecting that first restart, so I was hoping he would do the same the next time,” Larson said. “I learned from that first restart and was able to make it work. I just had enough room low there in (Turn) 1 to slide him and just get going back on the top. I think I had gotten inside him or by him there, and then the caution came out. Then I think that just had him thinking on where to be, which played into my favor. He was doing a really good job. He had a really great car. That was a fun race.’
Logistics are expected to prevent Larson from competing in Saturday’s finale with the NASCAR Cup Series and Hendrick Motorsports requiring his talents at Richmond Raceway, but he did earn enough points to start on the pole of “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All” if he can find a way to make it back to Knoxville. If he’s able to compete, he’ll be looking to tie Kenny Weld and Danny Lasoski for the fourth most Knoxville Nationals titles all-time with four. Thursday’s score gave him 15 overall wins at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.” He also remained undefeated in a Sprint Car this week thanks to a Sunday triumph in the Capitani Classic and Monday victory in the Front Row Challenge.
Garet Williamson finished a heartbreaking runner-up in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 as he continues to absolutely slam on the door of a breakthrough win. On the bright side, his point total was enough to lock him in to start 13th in the Championship Feature.
Brent Marks wheeled the Chase Briscoe Racing No. 19 from 11th to third, enough to give him a front row starting spot for Saturday’s Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.
Buddy Kofoid and Austin McCarl completed the top five.
FEATURE RESULTS:
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[8]; 2. 23-Garet Williamson[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[11]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 5. 88W-Austin McCarl[2]; 6. 71-Parker Price Miller[5]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[15]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel[13]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[21]; 10. 17-Spencer Bayston[14]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[6]; 12. 69K-Daryn Pittman[7]; 13. 44-Chris Martin[17]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 15. 88T-Tanner Thorson[22]; 16. 16C-Skylar Gee[24]; 17. 49-Josh Schneiderman[18]; 18. 1X-Scott Bogucki[12]; 19. 15K-Creed Kemenah[23]; 20. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[20]; 21. 1TZ-Tasker Phillips[3]; 22. 19HM-Kaleb Johnson[10]; 23. 27-Carson McCarl[16]; 24. 09-Matt Juhl[19]
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