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Kyle Larson Reaches Knoxville After Richmond Sixth-Place Finish

8/16/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Kyle Larson Heads Knoxville

Kyle Larson finished sixth at the Richmond Cook-Out 400 before departing for the Knoxville Nationals.
He left Richmond at 10:57 p.m. ET on jet N501KL, crossed Indiana near midnight, over central Illinois at 12:25 a.m., landed at 12:55 a.m., and reached the Knoxville gate at 1:15 a.m. ET.
Larson won the $12,000 prelim for pole, his team earned $46,000 this week, and he eyes the $200,000 Nationals prize as fans cheered the big screen.

Summary

Timms Requalifies

The Friday Hard Knox qualifying session gave the top four finishers starting spots 21-24 for Saturday’s $200,000-to-win main event.
Reigning Knoxville Nationals champion Ryan Timms, who won last week’s 360 Nationals, suffered mechanical trouble on Wednesday and re-qualified on Friday.
Point totals list Tasker Phillips first with 426 points, Spencer Bayston second with 422, and Jy Corbet third with 421.

History

Historical Context

Promoter Marion Robinson launched the Knoxville Nationals in 1961, awarding Roy Robbins $1,000 for a total purse of $5,455 and drawing 45 drivers. Over decades the winner’s purse rose to $150,000 by 2010, reflecting sprint-car racing’s commercial growth. In 2024 Kyle Larson returned to Knoxville, chasing the multi-hundred-thousand prize amid that long-standing legacy.

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Kyle Larson Heads Knoxville

Kyle Larson finished sixth at the Richmond Cook-Out 400 before departing for the Knoxville Nationals.
He left Richmond at 10:57 p.m. ET on jet N501KL, crossed Indiana near midnight, over central Illinois at 12:25 a.m., landed at 12:55 a.m., and reached the Knoxville gate at 1:15 a.m. ET.
Larson won the $12,000 prelim for pole, his team earned $46,000 this week, and he eyes the $200,000 Nationals prize as fans cheered the big screen.

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