The split field for the 2024 Knoxville Nationals has officially been set. 108 cars are expected to do battle at the sprint car capitol of the world, and it all starts this Wednesday. Knoxville Raceway has released the finalized preliminary lineups, and I going to break it down as in-depth as possible by each night.
Wednesday Entries
Last week, in my initial breakdown, I stated that Wednesday has more drivers with an opportunity to make the A-Main. After the Iron Man 55 and the Capitani Classic, I don’t think I feel the same way. Wednesday might be easier for some of these guys to sneak in, but it’s very “top-heavy” when it comes to potential A-Main starters. Wednesday is filled with some of the best talent in the sport, but many of those drivers have been struggling lately. Still, a lot of these names racing on Wednesday have had success at Knoxville over the years and that’s why we race!
Locks
David Gravel – Gravel didn’t even feel the need to enter the Capitani Classic. That’s how good the Big Game Motorsports team has been in 2024. He’s the best driver in the country and one of the best drivers at Knoxville.
Donny Schatz – Schatz has been very good this season. I think he’s been better than many expected. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and the TSR 15 will be ready.
Gio Scelzi – Scelzi gave me everything I needed to know during the Capitani. He was already one of my locks, but he solidified my decision with a podium run on Sunday. He’s made the Knoxville Nationals A-Main 5 times in his young career, and 2024 will be no different.
Scott Bogucki – Like Scelzi, Bogucki showed me everything I needed to see to make him a lock. He has the no. 10 car looking incredibly fast and he has been one of the best drivers all season at Knoxville.
Justin Peck – Peck’s performace at the 360 Nationals was pretty solid. He was never in contention for a win, but he easily locked in and made some gains during the feature. He’s always good at Knoxville and the no. 13 machine was very quick at Eldora. I think he has the speed to lock in again in 2024.
Aaron Reutzel – Reutzel was a surprising non-factor at the 360 Nationals. That really doesn’t concern me, as he was able to qualify for the Capitani without any issue. He’s been running weekly at Knoxville and I think that gives him a slight advantage over some of the other borderline lock-in cars.
Anthony Macri – Macri was a guy who I was paying close attention to last night at the Capitani. I needed to see the speed out of the 39M in time trials and he showed me exactly what I was looking for. Macri’s “race trim” concerns me a little bit, but I think he can do enough to be toward the top of the points when the night is over.
Corey Day – Day’s performance at the Front Row Challenge bumped him into my locks. I had him making the A-Main but I was not confident it would be through his preliminary night. He was super impressive against the Outlaws earlier in the year at Knoxville and I expect the same on Wednesday.
On The Cut Line
Parker Price-Miller – I was very high on PPM and I still think he can lock in to the 2024 Nationals. He was a non-factor at the 360 Nationals, but ended up in 11th last night at the Capitani. He has the speed to put down a good lap in time trials, but I’m not sure he has the speed to make a ton of gains in the heat races. As with many drivers, PPM’s fate may be in the hands of the pill draw.
Jacob Allen – The Shark Racing cars were a no-show at the Capitani. I’m confident that their cars will be quick, but Allen’s chances rely too much on track conditions. He can roll the bottom with the best of them and I think that helps his chances in terms of gaining points, but will he have enough points after qualifying to be a factor?
Chase Randall – Randall was one of the guys who I removed from my Saturday night A-Main starters. He actually gained 8 spots in one of the B-Mains last night, which tells me he has plenty of speed to pass cars. The lack of speed from the 2KS at the beginning of the night is what could end up hurting him the most.
Kerry Madsen – Since I bumped Corey Day up, Madsen ended up being the odd man out. I’m still confident that he can make the A-Main, but it might be through the B-Main or Hard Knox.
Brent Marks – Marks’ performance at the Capitani was very concerning (he had mechanical issues as well). He was one of the most consistent cars at Eldora a few weeks ago, but was never in contention for a win on any of the four nights. While consistency is sometimes all you need to lock in for the Knoxville Nationals, Marks doesn’t have the speed we have seen out of the 19 in previous years. He’s certainly capable of coming out of the gate fast, but I’m just not overly confident in their program right now.
Sheldon Haudenschild – Haudenschild seemed to surprise a lot of people when I left him out of my initial A-Main. He’s been really fast all year, but also really inconsistent. Haudenschild makes a lot of mistakes and sometimes puts himself in a bad spot where he can get caught up in wrecks. He fell back a few spots in the Capitani A-Main, making me feel like his Knoxville Nationals hopes are going to rely a lot on the pill draw and time trials.
Buddy Kofoid – Kofoid was a quick-timer in his group last night. That speed will be very important come Nationals time. I think both Roth Motorsports cars are very fast and if Kofoid does not lock in during his prelim night, I think he is one of the guys who can make the field through the B-Main.
Garet Williamson – Another guy who I have removed from my initial A-Main prediction. Williamson suffered from a bad pill draw at the 360 nationals and the Capitani. While he made plenty of gains in his B-Main last night, he was never able to fully overcome the hole he was in. That concerns me heading into Nationals, but a good pill draw could easily set Williamson up for success.
Don’t Sleep On These Guys
Jamie Ball – Ball has all of the Knoxville experience in the world. He’s the 360 point leader and he qualified for the Capitani last night. He impressed during the 2023 Nationals and he can certainly do so again in 2024.
Lynton Jeffrey – Jeffrey was on his way to qualifying for the Capitani last night before engine woes ended his night early. Jeffrey has been close in the past, but has never been able to break through and lock in.
Kasey Kahne – I really like where Kahne is at right now with his Knoxville package. He nearly made the A-Main last year and he showed a lot of speed at the 360 Nationals. Similar to how I feel about Jacob Allen, track conditions will really play a factor in how Kahne performs this year.
Sam Hafertepe Jr – I was actually impressed with the speed Hafertepe had last night. He underwhelmed at the 360 Nationals but caught the invert perfectly at the Capitani. The same result could happen again on Wednesday, and Hafertepe could be right on the cut-line when it comes to points.
Danny Dietrich – Dietrich went out early in qualifying last night and put down a great lap. He was unable to transfer through his heat race and couldn’t make any gains in the B-Main. The 48 looked fast, but a lot of pieces would need to fall his way in order for him to get the points he needs to lock in.
Cole Macedo – Macedo was a non-factor last night. I think they will get the Tarlton 21 better for Wednesday, but I don’t know if they have the speed to pass cars when it matters the most.
Tanner Holmes – Holmes actually looked pretty good last night. He advanced four positions in his B-main and fell just short of making the A. If he can have some luck with the pill draw, Holmes has the speed to put together a successful prelim night.
Brandon Wimmer – Never count out the veteran at Knoxville. Wimmer nearly made the A-Main last year and the Dennis Gainey cars are definitely fast.
Could Surprise With Some Luck
Sawyer Phillips – The Knoxville regular has steadily been improving over the last few years. He’s been very strong in the 360, but he’s still struggling a bit in the 410.
Brock Zearfoss – Zearfoss was riding the struggle bus for most of the 2024 season. He’s been showing signs of speed lately, but some potential top five runs have been ruined due to mechanical failures. He hasn’t done much on the big tracks to tell me that he has the speed to be a factor this year.
Matt Juhl – Juhl has been underwhelming all season long, but he’s still someone with experience at Knoxville to put together a solid performance with some luck. He was a mid-pack car last night and I haven’t seen anything this season to change that during Nationals.
Carson McCarl – Carson McCarl picked up his first career Knoxville 410 win earlier this season. This is definitely the best chance he’s had in recent years to make the Nationals, but a lot of things will need to go his way to help him get there.
Tim Shaffer – It feels wrong having a former Knoxville Nationals champion all the way down here, but Shaffer and the 49X team just haven’t performed well in their limited starts in 2024. We know that the 49X is fast, but do they have the package to put together a complete night?
Kalib Henry – Henry is a guy who could come out of the gate with a bang. His lack of Knoxville experience concerns me and I think his night is going to be too reliant on pill draw. With some luck, we could see the Running Boxer Farm 101 be relevant this week.
Skylar Gee – Gee surprised everyone when he qualified for the King’s Royal. He’s enjoying one of his better seasons in 410 competition this year, but I’m not sure that will carry into Knoxville.
Blake Hahn – It’s Hahn’s lack of consistency in the 410 that pushes him down the list. He’s capable of putting together a fast lap in qualifying if he gets luck with the pill draw.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
Cale Thomas – My concerns about Thomas driving the 17GP this weekend came to fruition last night at the Cappy. I think the pairing will improve heading into Nationals, but they did not have the speed they needed to compete last night.
Jace Park – The young driver turned some heads competing against the Outlaws and High Rollers this season. He’s been racking up the laps at Knoxville, but he just doesn’t have the experience to set himself up for success.
Dustin Selvage – Selvage had a strong showing at the 2023 Nationals. He’s a Knoxville regular with a ton of experience, but I think he falls behind early in the night and struggles to dig himself out of the hole.
Kraig Kinser – The veteran looked decent at the Capitani, but was never close to making the A-Main. He and the Premier Motorsports no. 70 have struggled for much of the year and I don’t see that changing on Wednesday.
Don Droud Jr – Another veteran with lots of laps around Knoxville. He nearly won an A-Main in weekly competition earlier this year, but track conditions, pill draw and some other factors will all need to go his way in order for him to have a solid night.
Riley Goodno – Goodno has definitely improved his craft in 2024. He hasn’t done much to gain a lot of attention, but he has certainly avoided the trouble he found himself caught up in last season. He could surprise with a decent lap in qualifying, but his performance in the heat races will likely be his downfall.
Christopher Thram – Another young driver who has clearly improved in 2024. Thram is still learning in the 410 and has had some decent speed at times. I just don’t think he will have the speed early in the night.
Jack Dover – Dover barely has any laps in a 410 this year. He’s a veteran driver who I consider to be underrated. I don’t know much about his team heading into Nationals, but the lack of laps this year could play a factor in his performance.
Let’s Shock The World
Joel Myers Jr – A recent winner in IRA competition, Myers Jr is slowly coming into the 410 scene. He’s been competitive all season long, but not so much against larger fields. The team struggled at Eldora and this will be his first Knoxville Nationals appearance.
Scotty Thiel – Thiel is a three-time winner in 2024. He’s a veteran driver who knows how to get it done. I am not confident that Thiel’s team has the speed on the big tracks to be competitive.
McKenna Haase – Haase has a strong Nationals in 2023 when she made it into the B-Main. She has the experience at Knoxville, but I have not seen any speed out of the 55T in 2024.
John Carney – Carney has been getting more laps at Knoxville in 2024. He’s had a few glimpses of speed, but lacks overall consistency to put together a complete night.
Chris Martin – Martin had a great “soup” run at the 360 Nationals. He dug himself into a huge hole, and I expect him to do something similar in the 410.
Sammy Swindell – This feels like a crime having Sammy so far down. I just don’t know what he will look like back behind the wheel of a 410. Either way, I am excited to watch it unfold.
Jimmy Light – Jimmy Light was out there cruising during the Capitani. Seriously, he definitely surprised me with the speed he had, but it was still only good enough to put himself in a B-Main.
Jacob Hughes – The Huset’s Speedway regular does not have any starts this season at Knoxville in the 410. He’s been getting better each week, but the lack of laps will play a factor in how he performs.
You Can’t Win Unless You’re In
Kasey Jedrezek – The 410 rookie has been impressive on occasion in 2024. He will have plenty of years at be successful at Knoxville in his career and the laps he gains this year will be important for the future.
Kevin Ingle – A staple on the Knoxville Nationals entry list, Ingle has limited starts in 2024. He’s one of the “I’m just here to have fun” guys and I am all for it.
Gage Pulkrabek – Pulkrabek has actually improved quite a bit in 2024. The young driver still struggles against top competition, and the 2024 nationals will be no different for him.
Brian Paulus – The veteran with a ton of laps around Knoxville can’t seem to fight the mechanical gremlins in 2024. He has limited starts this year and many of them have been DNF/DNS.
Jack Potter – Another staple on the Nationals entry list. Potter has 9 starts at Knoxville in 2024, with a 19th place finish as his best.
Cole Mincer – Mincer’s best finish in Knoxville weekly competition came during the season opener when he finished 18th. It’s been a struggle for him all season long.
Lance Moss – The North Carolina native has been making more 410 starts this season. He’s had limited success and the lack of experience at Knoxville will play a factor.
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