Carson Macedo marched around race-long leader Anthony Macri on a restart with 11 laps remaining to go on to win Thursday's second Knoxville Nationals qualifying night at Knoxville Raceway. The fourth-starting Macedo topped fifth-starting Kyle Larson by 1.659 seconds on a green-white-checkered restart that extended the second qualifier to 26 laps.

Larson's performance has netted him the pole as qualifying night's highest points earner.

After Macri went unchallenged the first 15 laps, five stoppages the final 11 laps shook up the leaderboard, namely 11th-running and 2018 Knoxville Nationals champion Brad Sweet, who flipped out of the race with four laps to go. He climbed out from his mangled race car OK.

Rico Abreu was the star of Thursday's program, charging from the 21st-starting position to finish fifth, locking himself on the outside pole of Saturday's main event. Buddy Kofoid, who qualified third overall, finished ninth from the 22nd-starting position.

Official Point Totals.#NOSvilleNationals pic.twitter.com/syQLSe5UBB

— Knoxville Raceway (@knoxvilleraces) August 11, 2023

Knoxville Nationals Primers

• 2023 Knoxville Nationals: Ranking The 10 Favorites To Win
• How To Watch The 2023 Knoxville Nationals At Knoxville Raceway
• 2023 Knoxville Nationals Paint Scheme Preview
• Breaking Down The Knoxville Nationals Format

Knoxville Nationals Coverage

• Corey Day's Chase For Sprint Car Superstardom While 'Still Being A Kid'
• Buddy Kofoid Rising In Speed, Comfort Ahead Of Knoxville Nationals
• Donny Schatz Locks In On Steve Kinser's Knoxville Nationals Record
• Hunter Schuerenberg Emerges As Early Knoxville Nationals Feel-Good Story
• Wednesday's Qualifying Night Results And Blog-Style Notebook
• Postrace Interview With Wednesday's Winner Donny Schatz

Knoxville Nationals Thursday A-Main Results

1. Carson Macedo
2. Kyle Larson
3. Spencer Bayston
4. Anthony Macri
5. Rico Abreu
6. Austin McCarl
7. Logan Schuchart
8. Dusty Zomer
9. Buddy Kofoid
10. Brock Zearfoss
11. Brian Brown
12. Garet Williamson
13. Shane Stewart
14. Colby Copeland
15. Ian Madsen
16. Lachlan McHugh
17. Ayrton Gennetten
18. Kalib Henry
19. Zach Hampton
20. Jamie Veal
21. Brad Sweet
22. Cory Eliason
23. Daryn Pittman
24. Kevin Thomas Jr.

Knoxville Nationals Thursday A-Main Lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
Row 2: Dusty Zomer, Carson Macedo
Row 3: Kyle Larson, Ian Madsen
Row 4: Logan Schuchart, Brad Sweet
Row 5: Brian Brown, Spencer Bayston
Row 6: Austin McCarl, Cory Eliason
Row 7: Brock Zearfoss, Jamie Veal
Row 8: Colby Copeland, Ayrton Gennetten
Row 9: Lachlan McHugh, Kevin Thomas Jr.
Row 10: Zach Hampton, Kalib Henry
Row 11: Rico Abreu, Buddy Kofoid
Row 12: Shane Stewart, Daryn Pittman

Knoxville Nationals Thursday B-Main Results

1. Rico Abreu
2. Buddy Kofoid
3. Shane Stewart
4. Daryn Pittman
5. Tanner Holmes
6. Bill Balog
7. Chris Windom
8. Tim Kaeding
9. Sawyer Phillips
10. Harli White
11. Kaleb Johnson
12. Ryan Timms
13. Shane Golobic
14. Skylar Prochaska
15. Kelby Watt
16. Noah Gass
17. Clint Garner
18. Dylan Cisney
19. Jordan Goldesberry
20. Bill Rose
21. Austin Bishop
22. A.J. Moeller
23. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (DNS)
24. Ryan Roberts (DNS)

Knoxville Nationals Thursday B-Main Lineup

B Main Lineup for @IALottery Qualifying Night #2 of the @NosEnergyDrink Knoxville Nationals presented by @caseysgenstore!#NOSvilleNationals pic.twitter.com/zjMxdQL5hk

— Knoxville Raceway (@knoxvilleraces) August 11, 2023

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat 1 Results

1. Zach Hampton
2. Brock Zearfoss
3. Carson Macedo
4. Lachlan McHugh
5. Rico Abreu
6. Sam Hafertepe Jr.
7. Tim Kaeding
8. Tanner Holmes
9. Ryan Roberts
10. Joe Simbro

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat 2 Results

1. Kevin Thomas Jr.
2. Spencer Bayston
3. Jamie Veal
4. Brad Sweet
5. Daryn Pittman
6. Shane Stewart
7. Dylan Cisney
8. Harli White
9. Matt Wasmund
10. Shane Golobic (DNS)

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat 3 Results

1. Kalib Henry
2. Austin McCarl
3. Garet Williamson
4. Dusty Zomer
5. Bill Balog
6. Kelby Watt
7. Kaleb Johnson
8. Buddy Kofoid
9. Glint Garner
10. Frank Rodgers (DNS)

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat 4 Results

1. Kyle Larson
2. Logan Schuchart
3. Colby Copeland
4. Anthony Macri
5. Skylar Prochaska
6. Ryan Timms
7. A.J. Moeller
8. Noah Gass
9. Bill Rose
10. R.J. Johnson

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat 5 Results

1. Ayrton Gennetten
2. Brian Brown
3. Cory Eliason
4. Ian Madsen
5. Chris Windom
6. Sawyer Phillips
7. Jordan Goldesberry
8. Austin Bishop
9. Gage Pulkrabek
10. Rusty Hickman (DNS)

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Heat Race Lineups

(10 laps, top four transfer)

Heat 1
Row 1: Zach Hampton, Lachlan McHugh
Row 2: Brock Zearfoss, Tim Kaeding
Row 3: Sam Hafertepe Jr., Carson Macedo
Row 4: Tanner Holmes, Rico Abreu
Row 5: Ryan Roberts, Joe Simbro
Heat 2
Row 1: Harli White, Kevin Thomas Jr.
Row 2: Jamie Veal, Spencer Bayston
Row 3: Shane Geologic, Shane Stewart
Row 4: Daryn Pittman, Brad Sweet
Row 5: Matt Wasmund, Dylan Cisney
Heat 3
Row 1: Kalib Henry, Kelby Watt
Row 2: Kaleb Johnson, Austin McCarl
Row 3: Garet Williamson, Dusty Zomer
Row 4: Bill Balog, Buddy Kofoid
Row 5: Clint Garner, Frank Rodgers
Heat 4
Row 1: Skylar Prochaska, Noah Gass
Row 2: Colby Copeland, Ryan Timms
Row 3: Anthony Macri, A.J. Moeller
Row 4: Kyle Larson, Logan Schuchart
Row 5: Bill Rose, R.J. Robinson
Heat 5
Row 1: Rusty Hickman, Jordan Goldesberry
Row 2: Ayrton Gennetten, Cory Eliason
Row 3: Brian Brown, Sawyer Phillips
Row 4: Chris Windom, Ian Madsen
Row 5: Gage Pulkrabek, Austin Bishop

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Qualifying Results

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Qualifying Order

Brad Sweet In Pursuit Of Second Nationals Title

WATCH: Brad Sweet discusses his pursuit of a second Nationals crown and the special paint he'll try to do it in.

Brian Brown's Quest To Win The Nationals At Long Last

WATCH: Brian Brown talks about Knoxville Nationals title prospects, winning the 360 Nationals, and more.

The 44-year-old Brown has won literally everything there is at Knoxville Raceway — five 410 track titles, a 360 Nationals, a Capitani Classic, World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions features — but The Granddaddy Of ‘Em All.

Is this the year that Brownie gets it done? He was agonizingly close in three straight runner-ups in 2012, ’13 and ’14, but really hasn’t been close since. He’s failed to see the finish line in the Knoxville Nationals main event the past five years, either failing to finish or qualify for the big dance every year since 2017. 

The good news is that Brown has six wins at Knoxville to date this year — Saturday's 360 Nationals the most recent — which is more wins at his stomping grounds when he finished runner-up at the Nationals in 2014.

Is Buddy Kofoid A Nationals Contender?

The Capitani Classic may have been a complete throwaway, but it wasn’t a throwaway for @MichaelKofoid & @RothMotorsports.

Fastest in Group A, fourth to second in the heat.

Kofoid found what he came for tonight: crucial early night speed that makes or breaks a Knoxville prelim. pic.twitter.com/DYwDcP1xer

— Kyle McFadden (@ByKyleMcFadden) August 7, 2023

Buddy Kofoid hasn't had much success at Knoxville in his limited Sprint Car races at the half-mile. Ever since joining forces with Roth Motorsports, that's changed. He finished second in July 29's All Star Circuit of Champions feature at the famed racetrack and on Sunday's Capitani Classic captured fast time in his group.

RELATED: Buddy Kofoid Rising In Speed, Comfort Ahead Of Knoxville Nationals

Thursday's Knoxville Nationals Roster

1s - Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA
3 – Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA
3J - Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD
3P - Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA
4 - Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Au
4CW - Chris Windom, Canton, IL
4K2W - Matt Wasmund, Jackson, MN
3Z - Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown PA
5 - Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN
5C - Dylan Cisney, Port Royal, PA
G5 - Gage Pulkrabek, E.Grand Forks,MN(R)
5T - Ryan Timms, Oklahoma City, OK (R)
5X – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK
6 - Bill Rose, Plainfield, IN
6B - Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD
7BC - Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, PA
10 - TBA, VanderEcken
11C - Cory Eliason, Visalia, CA
11N - Harli White, Lindsay, OK
12X - Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO
15H - Sam Hafertpe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX
16A - Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA
17AU - Jamie Veal, Warrnambool,VIC,Au
17B - Bill Balog, Hartland, WI
17W - Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA
18R – Ryan Roberts, Aurora, NE
18T- Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR (R)
W19 - Trent Pigdon, Cardup, WA, Au (R)
20 - A.J. Moeller, Rockwell City, IA
20G - Noah Gass, Mounds, OK
W20 - Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH
21 - Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO
21T - Cole Macedo, Lemoore, CA
22K - Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD(R)
24R - Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA
25 - Lachlan McHugh, Gold Coast, QLD, Au
33 - Henry Edward, Orlando, FL (R)
35 - Zach Hampton, Plainfield, IN
35B - Austin Bishop, Pottsville, PA (R)
41 - Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA
45 - Rusty Hickman, Bendigo, VIC, Aust.
49 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA *
56 - Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA
57 - Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA *
65 - Jordon Goldesberry, Springfield, IL
67 - Jonathan Hughes, Knoxville, IA (R)
78 - Bill Wagner, Reeder, ND (R)
83JR - Buddy Kofoid, Penngrove, CA
88 - Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA
99 - Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can
105 - Cody Ihlen, Pipestone, MN (R)
121 - RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL

Knoxville Nationals Thursday Schedule

(All times local)

8 a.m. - Knoxville Raceway ticket office opens
8 a.m. - National Sprint Car Hall of Fame opens
10 a.m. - Vendors open in Fan Zone
12 p.m. - Food vendors open
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - The Sage Fruit Knoxville Nationals Live prerace show hosted by Tony Bokhoven on the Sage Fruit Stage
7:15 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Hot laps
- Time trials
- Five heats
- C-main
- B-main
- 25-lap semifeature
Postrace press conference in the Premier Chevy Dealers Fan Pavilion (open to public)
Live Music with THE BOYS on the Sage Fruit Entertainment Stage