It’s the most unique, demanding and—for one driver—rewarding format in all of Sprint Car racing. The 2025 NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s is unlike any other in dirt racing, and because of that, the four-day format will need explaining.

Below is a breakdown of how Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals main event lineup is determined, which all begins with qualifying nights next Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Thursday, Aug. 7 at Knoxville Raceway.

• Knoxville Nationals Prelim Night Rosters 2025: See The Split Groups Here

Knoxville Nationals Qualifying Night Format

Behind every Nationals title run is a productive qualifying night. The order of events for Wednesday and Thursday goes like this: hot laps, time trials, five heat races, C-main, B-main, and the 25-lap A-main.

Here’s where attention to detail is required. From the start of time trials, drivers are awarded for points each time they’re on the track.

Time trials

In time trials, 200 points are awarded for fast time with a two-point reduction for every position down the running order (200-198-196-etc.).

Only the top-50 qualifiers each night make the 10-car heats. The remaining drives are relegated to the Last Chance Heats, if needed, where the top-eight finishers tag the rear of the C-main. If the night’s car count is less than 50 cars, there are no Last Chance Heats.

Last Chance Heats

Points for Last Chance Heats: 50 points to the winner with a three-point reduction per position thereafter.

Heat races

Heat races are inverted by eight with the top-four finishers only transferring to the night’s 25-lap A-main. Points for heat races go like this: 100-97-94-91-88-85-82-79-76-73. Those finishing fifth through eighth in the heats go to the B-main, with ninth and 10th to the C-main.

C-Main

In the C-main, the top-four finishers transfer to the rear of the B-main. The fifth-place C-main finisher receives 92 points, while sixth receives 60 points.

B-Main

As for the B-main, the top-four advance to A-main. Drivers who fall short receive the following points: 142 points for fifth and a two-point reduction per position thereafter.

Semifeature A-Main

The 25-lap A-main is inverted by eight and rewards the same amount of points as time trials: 200-198-196-194-192-etc. The top 16 in combined points from Wednesday and Thursday are locked into Saturday’s championship event.

Those 17th through 26th in points are the first 10 starters in Saturday’s B-main. The rest of the field is then left scrambling to make the main event through Friday’s FVP Hard Knox Qualifying Night.

What Is Hard Knox Night At The Knoxville Nationals?

Hard Knox night resets the playing field — points from Thursday and Friday are discarded — as the top-four finishers from Friday’s A-main will earn the 21st through 24th starting spots in Saturday's big dance.

Before the Hard Knox main event, Friday consists of split-field qualifying, six heats that are inverted by four (with the to-three transferring to Hard Knox A-main), a 10-lap C-main (top-12 transfer among two B-mains), and two 12-lap B-mains (top-three from each transfer to Hard Knox A-main).

A unique element to Hard Knox night is the A-main is lined up by qualifying time, so drivers better make their time trial matter (and survive the four-car heat invert) to have the best chance possible at qualifying outright into Saturday's A-main.

Knoxville Nationals Championship Saturday

Championship Saturday features the pressure-packed alphabet soup: a 10-lap E-main, 12-lap D-main, 15-lap C-main and 22-lap B-main all preceding the 50-lap finale.

The top-four finishers of the B-, C-, D-, and E-mains transfer to the tail of the next event. If drivers and teams scratch from the E- and D-mains, that number may be more. The top-four finishers from the B-main earn starting spots 17th through 20th in the A-main.