he 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.
Thursday 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. Thursday has a nice mix of heavy hitters, Knoxville talent and veterans.
Locks
Logan Schuchart – He’s one of the best at Knoxville and one of the best on the “big” tracks. Schuchart has shown a lot of speed during the last month and it will continue during Nationals.
Tyler Courtney – A 360 Nationals title doesn’t mean much when it comes to the 410 Nationals, but Sunshine and the CMR 7BC team have things dialed in. They will be there when it matters most on Saturday.
Rico Abreu – Rico’s Capitani victory solidified what many of us already knew. Rico and Ricky Warner have things figured out just in time for Nationals.
Carson Macedo – Initially, I had Macedo locking in through a B-Main or Hard Knox. Now, I have seen enough from the JJR 41 team during the last week to tell me that they have the speed to lock in on their prelim night. Macedo is very good at Knoxville and so is the JJR team.
Brad Sweet – I still have a few concerns about Brad Sweet and the KKR 49 team, but that doesn’t mean he won’t lock in on Thursday. He might not have the speed to win the whole thing at the moment, but he has plenty of speed and experience to lock in.
Kyle Larson – Any concerns about Larson and Paul Silva earlier in the season have quickly been pushed aside. The calendar has turned to August and Larson might be the hottest driver in the country. He’s a legit threat to defend his title.
Daryn Pittman – I had Pittman on the cutline originally, but his performance at the Capitani showed me everything I needed to see out of the 69K. Pittman is a veteran with a ton of laps around Knoxville and the pairing looks to be one of the fastest in the pits.
Austin McCarl – The Big Unit has been one of the best Knoxville regulars all season long. He showed he has the speed to run with the best and I really like his chances to lock in on his prelim night.
On The Cut Line
James McFadden – McFadden has been one of the fastest cars in the country since leaving Eldora. Unfortunately, he only has one win to show for it. Still, McFadden is good at Knoxville and the Roth Motorsports cars are fast. If he can’t lock in on his prelim night, I like his chances in the B-Main or Hard Knox.
Brian Brown – Brown has qualified for 13 Knoxville Nationals A-Mains in 20 attempts. He has an average finish of 26.6 in his career, and having him on the outside looking in seems silly. Still, Brown has not been nearly as good this season as he has in the past. It wouldn’t surprise me if he locked in, but I think he is in danger of missing the A-Main this year.
Kaleb Johnson – Although I still have Kaleb Johnson and the LA Competition no. 58 team as an A-Main starter, that doesn’t mean he will lock in on Thursday. They had a lot of speed at the Capitani, advancing a few positions in the B-Main. Johnson won a 360 Nationals prelim and has a lot of momentum heading into Nationals.
Spencer Bayston – Bayston was another guy who was very good at Eldora and very good at the Cappy on Sunday. I like his chances to make the A-Main this year, I just don’t know if that will be on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Emerson Axsom – Axsom keeps impressing and making it harder to keep him out of the “locks.” He’s run well at Knoxville in both the 360 and 410 this year, but I still think his lack of experience could come into play. He’s definitely someone who wouldn’t be a surprise to lock in.
Dusty Zomer – Zomer is a guy who I am having a tough time ranking. I originally had him in my A-Main, and I still think that is possible. The track conditions will need to be right for Zomer to execute on the bottom.
Hunter Schuerenberg – Schuerenberg looked pretty sporty in the Heidbreder 19 at the Cappy. He locked in last year in the Swindell no. 39 and he’s certainly got the speed to do so again in 2024.
Justin Henderson – Henderson was a late entry to the 2024 Nationals. He made the A-Main at the Cappy in the Forbrook no. 5 but he didn’t have the speed we saw out of that car on opening day before he got caught up in a big wreck. He’s got the talent, experience and car to lock in.
Don’t Sleep On These Guys
Tasker Phillips – A recent 410 winner at Knoxville and a former Nationals A-Main starter. Tasker can rip the top with the best of them and he certainly has the speed to make his second career A-Main.
Tim Kaeding – Kaeding is sneaky good at Knoxville. He passed a ton of cars at the Cappy and I think he can do so again. If he can find the speed early in the night he could definitely surprise some people.
Cory Eliason – Eliason is another hard one to figure out. The RSR team is very good at Knoxville and Eliason has been good there in the past, but the pairing just hasn’t lived up to the potential all season long. He could easily come out of the gate fast, but I don’t think they have the speed to pass cars when it matters the most.
Brady Bacon – Brady Bacon comes into Nationals as a bit of an unknown. He’s already won an Outlaw show in 2024 and he’s been fast with the wing on at Knoxville in the past. He’s definitely capable of putting it in the B-Main and maybe even sneaking into the A with some luck.
Zeb Wise – It’s been a disappointing 2024 season for Wise and Rudeen Racing team. Wise could easily have a solid showing at Knoxville, but I am not confident in their program at the moment.
Jake Bubak – Bubak is someone who I think could surprise a lot of people this year. A few things will have to go his way early in the night, but he’s looked pretty fast at Knoxville this season.
Sye Lynch – Sye Lynch always shows up at the big events and performs pretty well. He’s been close to locking into the A-Main at Nationals in the past and I think he has the speed to be close again in 2024.
Terry McCarl – TMAC hopped back in a 410 and qualified for the Cappy. That showed me all I needed to see in terms of his chances to make the A-Main in 2024. It will be a tough task, but you just can’t count out the veteran.
Ryan Timms – Timms is a late entry to Nationals after the Pennsylvania Midget Speedweek was canceled. He has looked better in the 410 recently, picking up a win in weekly Huset’s action a few weeks ago. Timms will need to lay down a good lap in time trials to have a chance at making the A-Main.
Could Surprise With Some Luck
Kelby Watt – Watt is a Knoxville regular who has impressed with the Outlaws filling in for Bill Rose. He will be back in his family-owned no. 1K machine and will have plenty of speed to be competitive.
Tanner Thorson – Thorson has limited winged 410 starts at Knoxville. He has the talent to run with the best, but I think the lack of laps around the track will derail his chances of an A-Main in 2024.
Ayrton Gennetten – Gennetten is a former feature winner at Knoxville. He had good speed at the Iron Man 55 and has some momentum going into Nationals.
Bill Balog – Balog’s “big” track program has been underwhelming this season. He’s had some solid runs with the Outlaws but I am not confident that they have the speed to make some noise at Nationals.
Kyle Reinhardt – Reinhardt has scaled back racing this season and he has had limited success in 2024. He’s someone who can put together a good night against the top competition, but I have not seen anything from him this season that could propel him into the A-Main.
Brooke Tatnell – The veteran still has what it takes to run well with the best. You can never fully count him out but I think he falls behind early in the night due to time trials.
Ryan Giles – Giles is another unknown heading into Nationals. He’s very good at Knoxville and could be a true sleeper pick if he gets lucky with the pill draw.
Cap Henry – Henry has been real good in Ohio and real mediocre everywhere else. I don’t know that the 33W has the speed to be competitive at Knoxville.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
Daison Pursley – The Deuce 5 Motorsports car is fast and had locked into the A-Main in the past. Pursley just doesn’t have the laps around the track to match the speed. He’s definitely a sleeper pick to turn some heads.
Chris Windom – Windom and the Vermeer 55 team have looked better recently, but I still think they are missing on something. Windom’s skills have not translated to the big tracks yet in the winged car.
Brenham Crouch – Crouch has the ability to lay down a really fast lap in time trials to set himself up for a solid night. It’s the heat races that could prevent him from having a successful Nationals.
Landon Crawley – Crawley was impressive early in his WoO rookie season, but has since leveled out. He has shown glimpses of speed but lacks the consistency to gain enough points to get close enough to the A-Main.
Zach Hampton – No one has benefitted from running weekly at Knoxville more than Hampton. That was on full display at the Cappy when he qualified for the A-Main. Hampton could benefit from a good pill draw and put down a good lap.
JJ Hickle – Hickle is really good at Knoxville but doesn’t have any luck in 2024. The Cook Motorsports no. 22X has been looking better as of late, but I am not sure they have the program to make some noise this year.
Mark Dobmeier – Dobmeier is enjoying another season filled with wins in NOSA action. He put up a decent showing against the Outlaws earlier this season but I just don’t think he will have the speed at Knoxville.
Danny Sams III – Sams was really impressive during Ohio Speedweek but has been struggling since. He had engine troubles at the Front Row Challenge so hopefully that does not impact his chances at Knoxville.
Let’s Shock The World
Robbie Price – It’s been a while since we’ve seen Robbie Price outside of West Coast action. He’s been solid in 2024, but this will be his debut in the Bill Rose no. 6 and his first start at Knoxville since the 2023 Nationals.
Ryan Roberts – Every year, Ryan Roberts enters the nationals. He doesn’t race weekly, but he has a bunch of experience at the track. I don’t expect much from him this week.
Xavier Doney – Doney is a promising young talent. He’s a 410 rookie who has had some decent results this year. His lack of experience will definitely be a factor.
Tyler Drueke – Drueke picked up a win at Huset’s earlier this season, but we haven’t seen him consistently run up front in 2024. He hasn’t had the best results at Knoxville this year.
Clint Garner – The Knoxville 360 legend does not perform quite as good in the 410. You cannot count out his experience at the track but I do not think they will have the speed this year.
Jason Martin – Martin is a veteran 360 racer but he does have one Knoxville Nationals A-Main start under his belt. He hasn’t had the success recently and has been struggling in the 410 this season.
Jordan Goldesberry – The IRA veteran has been having a disappointing 2024 season. He’s yet to find victory lane and I think he struggles to find speed this year.
Jake Neuman – Neuman has found victory lane in 2024 but we have not seen him have success against larger fields. I don’t think they have the engine package to make speed at Knoxville.
You Can’t Win Unless You’re In
Scotty Johnson – Johnson is a rookie 410 racer at Knoxville. He’s struggled all season long and I don’t see that changing at Nationals.
Jessie Attard – The Australian has been racing everywhere this season. He’s had random good results but cannot find any consistency.
Josh Schniederman – A one time Knoxville Nationals A-Main starter. Schniederman is a part-time racer who will likely fall behind early in the night.
Joe Perry – A surprise entry for Nationals. He doesn’t have a 410 start this year. I think his last winged sprint car start came in 2022 in 360 action.
Weston Olson – A regular in NOSA competition, Olson does not have the laps at Knoxville. I don’t expect them to have the speed this year.
Landon Hansen – Hansen is a Knoxville regular who has really been struggling in 2024. That won’t change during nationals.
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