The qualifying draw has produced a sharp contrast for several of Wednesday’s biggest Knoxville Nationals contenders. Kasey Kahne and Corey Day go out first and second, followed by David Gravel sixth and 11-time Nationals champion Donny Schatz seventh, putting four of the night’s headliners among the first seven cars on track.
Last year's Rico Abreu goes out not far behind at No. 15.
At the other end, several contenders will have to wait — and potentially deal with a changing track conditions deeper throughout the session. Defending Nationals champion Ryan Timms goes out 29th, while Sheldon Haudenschild is 37th, James McFadden 38th, Justin Henderson 39th and Giovanni Scelzi 40th. Chase Dietz, who enters Nationals week with a nation-leading 18 victories, is slated to time last.
Other notable spots: Brady Bacon 13th, Sammy Swindell 20th, Tanner Holmes 25th and Justin Peck 28th.
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2026 Knoxville Nationals Wednesday Qualifying Order
Order | Car | Driver | Hometown |
1 | 4 | Kasey Kahne | Enumclaw, WA |
2 | 14 | Corey Day | Clovis, CA |
3 | 121 | R.J. Johnson | Tampa, FL |
4 | 48 | Danny Dietrich | Gettysburg, PA |
5 | 11N | Darin Naida | Adrian, MI |
6 | 2 | David Gravel | Watertown, CT |
7 | 15 | Donny Schatz | Fargo, ND |
8 | 4W | Jamie Ball | Knoxville, IA |
9 | 2C | Cole Macedo | Lemoore, CA |
10 | 53 | Jack Dover | Springfield, NE |
11 | 22 | Riley Goodno | Knoxville, IA |
12 | 7B | Ben Brown | Marshall, MO |
13 | 21H | Brady Bacon | Broken Arrow, OK |
14 | 3P | Sawyer Phillips | Pleasantville, IA |
15 | 14TSR | Rico Abreu | St. Helena, CA |
16 | 15H | Sam Hafertepe Jr. | Sunnyvale, TX |
17 | 24T | Christopher Thram | Sanborn, MN |
18 | 6 | Kasey Jedrzejek | Lagrange, OH |
19 | 85J | Logan Julien | Oconomowoc, WI |
20 | 1 | Sammy Swindell | Germantown, TN |
21 | 7S | Chris Windom | Canton, IL |
22 | 27A | Emerson Axsom | Franklin, IN |
23 | 45X | Rees Moran | Tulsa, OK |
24 | 25 | Jy Corbet | Gympie, QLD |
25 | 13 | Tanner Holmes | Jacksonville, OR |
26 | 11R | Rodney Huband | Wimberley, TX |
27 | 2KS | Hank Davis | Sand Springs, OK |
28 | 26 | Justin Peck | Monrovia, IN |
29 | 10 | Ryan Timms | Oklahoma City, OK |
30 | 15JR | Cole Mincer | Burlington, IA |
31 | 44X | Scotty Johnson | Melcher-Dallas, IA |
32 | 19H | Joel Myers Jr. | Santa Rosa, CA |
33 | 17GP | Brock Zearfoss | Jonestown, PA |
34 | 15J | Kade Higday | Knoxville, IA |
35 | 42 | Sye Lynch | Cowansville, PA |
36 | 1K | Kelby Watt | Adel, IA |
37 | 18 | Sheldon Haudenschild | Wooster, OH |
38 | 21T | James McFadden | Alice Springs, NT |
39 | 11 | Justin Henderson | Tea, SD |
40 | 77 | Giovanni Scelzi | Fresno, CA |
41 | 6T | Zach Hampton | Mooresville, IN |
42 | 95 | Matt Covington | Glenpool, OK |
43 | 24D | Danny Sams III | North Port, FL |
44 | 0 | Lynton Jeffrey | Prairie City, IA |
45 | 28 | Jace Park | Overland Park, KS |
46 | 51 | Steven Snyder Jr. | Rising Sun, MD |
47 | 23D | Chase Dietz | York, PA |