2023 Knoxville Nationals

Kyle Larson Wins The Knoxville Nationals, Dominates For Second Event Title

Kyle Larson Wins The Knoxville Nationals, Dominates For Second Event Title

Kyle Larson dominates the 2023 Knoxville Nationals for his second win of the historic event.

Aug 13, 2023 by Kyle McFadden
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Kyle Larson led all 50 laps and held off a hard-charging David Gravel to win his second Knoxville Nationals, adding to his emotional breakthrough triumph from 2021. Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi and Carson Macedo rounded out the top five.

The former NASCAR Cup champion led by as many as 3.7 seconds and maintained a blistering pace practically from start to finish in the $185,000-to-win Crown Jewel event. Larson's closest challenger down the stretch had been Gravel, who surged from the 22nd-starting spot to finish 0.713 seconds behind the two-time Nationals champion.

Gravel had actually shaved a 2.4-second deficit with nine laps remaining down to less than a second in those closing laps. The third-finishing Schatz, meanwhile, kept Larson honest in the first half of Saturday's Knoxville Nationals. Though he fell by 3.7 seconds behind just five laps in, he closed the gap to a second by lap 12 as Larson navigated slower traffic.

Schatz lost second to Rico Abreu on lap 14 in that transition through slower traffic, but on lap 15, Abreu suffered a right-rear tire and along with Chase Randall drew the race's first caution. Abreu eventually rallied from the tail to finish seventh.

Logan Schuchart made his way into second two laps after the halfway break, and ran there until his engine expired with 11 laps to go. 

Fifteen of the 24 starters finished on the lead lap in the feature that lasted 38 minutes. Chase Randall, 18, earned the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year with his 13th-place finish. Corey Day, though younger at 17 and finishing a spot ahead in 12th, attempted his first Nationals last year and is therefore not an event rookie.

Sheldon Haudenschild was the second biggest mover behind Gravel, finishing 10th from the 20th-starting spot.

The Granddaddy Of Them All is in the books. Here's a look back at our blog-style notebook from the 62nd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's.

Knoxville Nationals Primers

Knoxville Nationals Qualifying Night Results

Knoxville Nationals Coverage

Knoxville Nationals Results

Finish

Driver

1

57 - Kyle Larson

2

2 - David Gravel

3

15 - Donny Schatz

4

18 - Gio Scelzi

5

41 - Carson Macedo

6

49 - Brad Sweet

7

24 - Rico Abreu

8

83jr - Buddy Kofoid

9

55 - Kerry Madsen

10

17 - Sheldon Haudenschild

11

5 - Spencer Bayston

12

14 - Corey Day

13

2KS - Chase Randall

14

21 - Brian Brown

15

4 - Ian Madsen

16

8 - Aaron Reutzel

17

3J - Dusty Zomer

18

9 - Parker Price-Miller

19

13 - Justin Peck

20

7BC - Anthony Macri

21

2M - Davey Heskin

22

10 - Scott Bogucki

23

1S - Logan Schuchart

24

39 - Hunter Schuerenberg

40 Down, 10 To Go

Heartbreak for second-running Logan Schuchart. He slows with a mechanical issue and heads to the pits. 

Kyle Larson continues to be untouchable. He's led all 40 laps. Donny Schatz is back into second, while David Gravel is up to third from 22nd, trying to become the deepest starter to win the Nationasls.

Halfway Break: 25 Down, 25 To Go

Kyle Larson dominant in the first half while Donny Schatz has lingered smoothly in second.

It's hard to tell how good Larson is through 25 laps and how much Schatz has been biding his time, watching Larson's every move while testing different parts of the track. Remember, last year Schatz came from sixth to win his 11th Knoxville Nationals.

Carson Macedo rides in third. Logan Schuchart and Kerry Madsen the top five. Rico Abreu has rallied from 11th after a flat right-rear knocked him out of second.

David Gravel is up seventh from 22nd. Brad Sweet eighth from 16th. Seventeen-year-old Corey Day is ninth.

15 laps Down, 35 To Go

It's been all Kyle Larson through 15 laps, who's led by nearly two seconds early.

But there's trouble for second-running Rico Abreu and Knoxville Nationals rookie Chase Randall. They both suffer flat right-rear tires with 10 laps left until the halfway open-red intermission. Deflating for Abreu, who Larson said Thursday is the "guy to beat" at the Nationals.

Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart and Gio Scelzi are the top five. David Gravel is up to eighth from 22nd.   https://twitter.com/ByKyleMcFadden/status/1690579104238538752?s=20for 

Opening Ceremonies

Kyle Larson Will Start First At The Knoxville Nationals

Prerace With Knoxville Regular Davey Heskin

Knoxville Nationals Saturday A-Main Lineup

Start

Driver

1

57 - Kyle Larson

2

24 - Rico Abreu

3

15 - Donny Schatz

4

1s - Logan Schuchart

5

41 - Carson Macedo

6

39 - Hunter Schuerenberg

7

55 - Kerry Madsen

8

83jr - Buddy Kofoid

9

18 - Gio Scelzi

10

14 - Corey Day

11

4 - Ian Madsen

12

3J - Dusty Zomer

13

5 - Spencer Bayston

14

2KS - Chase Randall

15

7BC - Anthony Macri

16

49 - Brad Sweet

17

13 - Justin Peck

18

9 - Parker Price-Miller

19

21 - Brian Brown

20

17 - Sheldon Haudenschild

21

8 - Aaron Reutzel

22

2 - David Gravel

23

10 - Scott Bogucki

24

2M - Davey Heskin

Knoxville Nationals Saturday B-Main Results

  1. Justin Peck
  2. Parker Price-Miller
  3. Brian Brown
  4. Sheldon Haudenschild
  5. Brent Marks
  6. Garet Williamson
  7. Kasey Kahne
  8. Shane Stewart
  9. Zeb Wise
  10. Dustin Selvage
  11. Ryan Timms
  12. Cory Eliason
  13. Tim Kaeding
  14. Bill Balog
  15. Brady Bacon
  16. Austin McCarl
  17. Justin Sanders
  18. Lynton Jeffrey
  19. Kaleb Johnson
  20. Jamie Ball
  21. Brandon Wimmer
  22. Tasker Phillips
  23. James McFadden
  24. Justin Henderson

Justin Peck Ready To Lead The B-Main To Green

Quick word with @justin_peck5 before he leads the crucial B-main to green as the polesitter.

He’s got the @Pella_News threads all cleaned up and ready to put the @Buchsprint13 in the big show after the nasty wreck on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/9aHVWeE9mj

— Kyle McFadden (@ByKyleMcFadden) August 13, 2023

Knoxville Nationals Saturday B-Main Lineup

Start

Driver

1

13 - Justin Peck

2

83 - James McFadden

3

9 - Kasey Kahne

4

88 - Austin McCarl

5

21 - Brian Brown

6

71 - Shane Stewart

7

6G - Garet Williamson

8

7TAZ - Tasker Phillips

9

7W - Dustin Selvage

10

17 - Sheldon Haudenschild

11

9P - Parker Price-Miller

12

19 - Brent Marks

13

7TW - Brandon Wimmer

14

5T - Ryan Timms

15

1 - Justin Henderson

16

11 - Cory Eliason

17

26 - Zeb Wise

18

22K - Kaleb Johnson

19

21H - Brady Bacon

20

4W - Jamie Ball

21

2K - Lynton Jeffrey

22

39M - Justin Sanders

23

3 - Tim Kaeding

24

17B - Bill Balog

Knoxville Nationals C-Main Results

  1. Lynton Jeffrey
  2. Justin Sanders
  3. Tim Kaeding
  4. Bill Balog
  5. Shane Golobic
  6. Robbie Price
  7. Tanner Holmes
  8. Chris Windom
  9. Kelby Watt
  10. Blake Hahn
  11. Jake Bubak
  12. Ayrton Gennetten
  13. Dylan Cisney
  14. Lachlan McHugh
  15. Clint Garner
  16. Zach Hampton
  17. Brock Zearfoss
  18. Sawyer Phillips
  19. Kade Higday
  20. Kraig Kinser
  21. Brenham Crouch
  22. Sye Lynch
  23. Christopher Thram
  24. Mark Dobmeier

Knoxville Nationals C-Main Lineup

Start

Driver

1

3 - Tim Kaeding

2

39M - Justin Sanders

3

49 - Tim Shaffer

4

2K - Lynton Jeffrey

5

4CW - Chris Windom

6

5C - Dylan Cisney

7

7S - Robbie Price

8

17W - Shane Golobic

9

17B - Bill Balog

10

42 - Sye Lynch

11

12X - Ayrton Gennetten

12

18T - Tanner Holmes

13

52 - Blake Hahn

14

6B - Clint Garner

15

24T - Christopher Thram

16

1K - Kelby Watt

17

1C - Brenham Crouch

18

1X - Jake Bubak

19

3P - Sawyer Phillips

20

3Z - Brock Zearfoss

21

25 - Lachlan McHugh

22

35 - Zach Hampton

23

24H - Kade Higday

24

25

13JT - Mark Dobmeier

70 - Kraig Kinser

Knoxville Nationals D-Main Results

  1. Lachlan McHugh
  2. Zach Hampton
  3. Kade Higday
  4. Mark Dobmeier
  5. Kraig Kinser
  6. Cap Henry
  7. Cole Macedo
  8. Kalib Henry
  9. Brooke Tatnell
  10. Don Droud Jr.
  11. Rusty Hickman
  12. Terry McCarl
  13. Kevin Thomas Jr.
  14. Skylar Prochaska
  15. McKenna Haase
  16. Kevin Ingle
  17. Chase Dietz
  18. Harli White
  19. Noah Gass
  20. Matt Covington
  21. Austin Bishop
  22. A.J. Moeller
  23. J.J. Hickle
  24. Jordan Goldesberry

Knoxville Nationals D-Main Lineup

Start

Driver

1

11N - Harli White

2

25 - Lachlan McHugh

3

20G - Noah Gass

4

24H - Kade Higday

5

50YR - J.J. Hickle

6

22 - Riley Goodno

7

13JT - Mark Dobmeier

8

91 - Kyle Reinhardt

9

35 - Zach Hampton

10

10V - Cap Henry

11

70 - Kraig Kinser

12

101 - Kalib Henry

13

44 - Chris Martin

14

21T - Cole Macedo

15

1M - Don Droud Jr.

16

83T - Tanner Carrick

17

16A - Colby Copeland

18

55t - McKenna Haase

19

95 - Matt Covington

20

17x - Terry McCarl

21

16 - Brooke Tatnell

22

44P - Skylar Prochaska

23

4J - Kevin Thomas Jr.

24

35B - Austin Bishop

Knoxville Nationals E-Main Results

  1. Brooke Tatnell
  2. Skylar Prochaska
  3. Kevin Thomas Jr.
  4. Austin Bishop
  5. Rusty Hickman
  6. A.J. Moeller
  7. Chase Dietz
  8. Kevin Ingle
  9. Jordan Goldesberry
  10. Cole Mincer
  11. R.J. Johnson
  12. Landon Hansen
  13. Matt Wasmund
  14. Bill Rose
  15. Bill Wagner
  16. Frank Rodgers
  17. Gage Pulkrabek
  18. Cody Ihlen

Knoxville Nationals E-Main Lineup

Start

Driver

1

16 - Brooke Tatnell

2

35B - Austin Bishop

3

44P - Skylar Prochaska

4

105 - Cody Ihlen

5

1a - Chase Dietz

6

W19 - Trent Pigdon

7

20 - A.J. Moeller

8

2KK - Kevin Ingle

9

4J - Kevin Thomas Jr.

10

27 - Carson McCarl

11

17AU - Jamie Veal

12

45 - Rusty Hickman

13

121 - R.J. Johnson

14

9H - Landon Hansen

15

15JR - Cole Mincer

16

6X - Frank Rodgers

17

4K2W - Matt Wasmund

18

65 - Jordan Goldesberry

19

6 - Bill Rose

20

37 - Ayden Gatewood

21

G5 - Gage Pulkrabek

22

56 - Joe Simbro

23

78 - Bill Wagner

24

15H - Sam Hafertepe Jr.