For the second straight year, David Gravel will have to race his way into the Knoxville Nationals either on Hard Knox Night or through Saturday's consolation races.

After he put forth a magnificent qualifying lap — fourth from the 49th worse of 51 pill draws — the 2019 Knoxville Nationals champ tried hustling his Big Game Motorsports No. 2 around the top through the opening corner of the fourth heat race. 

But entering Turn 1, Gravel made enough contact with Hunter Schuerenberg that shot his car into the outside fence, sending him upside down and to a crashing halt. An unhappy Gravel shared his point of view with DIRTVision reporter Conner Wade.

Trouble for @DavidGravel glad he is okay after this crash during heat race action pic.twitter.com/zhAsbxs91P

— Cameron Saich (@ccsaich) August 7, 2025

"I don't know, he just went out there with his eyes closed and drive right into me," Gravel said. "Hunter's a good friend of mine, he's just trying too hard at the Nationals. We'll have a talk. I'm sure he didn't mean to do that."

Gravel won C-main after his Big Game Motorsports team replaced the front-end, top wing and left-rear tire. Crew chief Cody Jacobs reported that the car's frame made it out unscathed, meaning the team avoided going to a backup car.

Gravel was able to win the C-main, but couldn't make the top-four of the B-main after starting 21st. Last year, Gravel had to race his way into Saturday's A-main through the B-main where he finished third from the sixth-starting spot. This year, being 20th in points through Wednesday night with Thursday still to go, he's bound to race his way through Friday's Hard Knox Night.