The Numbers Behind Kyle Larson's Wild 2026 Knoxville Nationals

Kyle Larson’s historic Knoxville Nationals week by the numbers, from four victories and a 1:41 a.m. checkered flag to $258,000 in earnings.

Aug 17, 2026 by Kyle McFadden

2026 Knoxville Nationals Podium Press Conference3:55

A whirlwind 65th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s week ended with Kyle Larson hoisting the trophy for the fourth time after a late-night and unfathomable dash from Richmond, Va., to Iowa following a four-hour rain delay at Marion County Fairgrounds.

Here are the numbers behind Larson’s historic week at the Sprint Car Capital of the World.

1: Larson is believed to be the only driver to win four features during Nationals week. Steve Kinser won three in 1981, winning Thursday’s prelim, Friday’s Race of States and Saturday’s finale. Brad Sweet matched the feat in 2018 with victories in the Capitani Classic, Thursday’s prelim and Nationals finale, while David Gravel ('19) and Larson ('24) followed the same path.

1:41: The morning Central time when the checkered flag fell on the 65th annual Knoxville Nationals, capping a marathon Championship Saturday that stretched well into Sunday morning.

3: Flag-to-flag Knoxville Nationals victories for Larson, tying Doug Wolfgang for second-most all-time. Only Steve Kinser, with six, has more. Larson has gone wire-to-wire in each of his last three Nationals victories: 2023, ’24 and ’26.

3: Knoxville Nationals poles for Larson, who added 2026 to his 2023 and ’24 poles. Larson is tied with Mark Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Joe Saldana for fourth-most all-time, trailing only Steve Kinser (eight), Donny Schatz (six) and Danny Lasoski (four).

4:06: Hours and minutes between the scheduled 6:30 p.m. CT start of D-main hot laps and when cars finally returned to the track at 10:36 p.m. after an extended rain delay.

4.799: Larson's largest lead of the feature in seconds, which was over Kasey Kahne on lap 24.

6: Larson became the sixth driver to win at least four Knoxville Nationals titles, joining Kenny Weld and Danny Lasoski with exactly four. Only Steve Kinser (12), Donny Schatz (11) and Doug Wolfgang (five) have won more. Sixth is also where Larson finished Saturday’s NASCAR Cup race at Richmond.

13: The amount of cars Larson lapped in the first half of the feature. That included Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney and Corey Day. (Correction: Fixes to 13 instead of 12)

13: Total victories Larson has at Knoxville alone during Nationals week, counting the Capitani Classic, qualifying-night prelims and, of course, Championship Saturday. That’s believed to rank third all-time behind Steve Kinser (29) and Donny Schatz (19). For Kinser and Schatz, the tally also includes Friday-night Nationals-week events such as Hard Knox Night and the since-discontinued Mystery Feature, Race of States and World Challenge. Larson moved past Sammy Swindell (12) and Doug Wolfgang (11) on the list this week.

22: Career Southern Iowa Speedweek victories for Larson across 48 starts, a 45.8-percent win rate. That includes six Front Row Challenges, six Knoxville Nationals prelims, four Nationals finales, three USAC Ultimate Challenges, two Capitani Classics and the 2020 One & Only. It also includes his six wingless starts made in USAC's Ultimate Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway from 2010-13.

28: The lap Larson ran his quickest circuit of the 50-lap feature of 15.941. It was the only lap turned in the 15-second bracket the entire 33-minute feature.

40: Minutes between the 10:17 p.m. ET checkered flag at Richmond Raceway and Larson’s 10:57 p.m. ET departure for Iowa.

68.2: Larson’s winning percentage (15 of 22) during Southern Iowa Speedweek since 2020. Those 15 victories include five Front Row Challenges (2021-22, ’24-26), four Knoxville Nationals finales (’21, ’23-24, ’26), three Nationals prelims (’24-26), two Capitani Classics (’20, ’26) and the 2020 One & Only. His seven non-wins over that span: 19th in the 2025 Nationals finale after a flat tire, 22nd in the ’24 Front Row Challenge, second in the '23 Nationals prelim, sixth in the ’22 Nationals finale, fifth in his ’22 Nationals prelim, second in his ’21 Nationals prelim and second in Thursday's portion of the ’20 One & Only.

118: Minutes Larson’s plane (N501KL) spent flying from Richmond, Va., to Pella, Iowa, arriving at 11:55 p.m. CT. Larson then took a 20-minute police escort from Pella Municipal Airport, arriving at 12:15 a.m. at Knoxville Raceway.

178: Career Knoxville Nationals A-main laps led for Larson, moving him past Doug Wolfgang (152) for third on the all-time list. Larson entered Saturday with 128 laps led before pacing all 50. Only Donny Schatz (339) and Steve Kinser (301) have led more.

17,000+: Peak number of people simultaneously tracking Larson’s N501KL flight on Flightradar24. It was the world’s most-tracked flight for virtually the duration of his trip from Richmond to Iowa.

$258,000: Larson’s earnings during Knoxville Nationals week: $13,000 for the Capitani Classic, $21,000 for the Front Row Challenge, $12,000 for his Nationals prelim, $2,000 for the pole award, $200,000 for the Nationals finale and $10,000 for the Jesse Hockett Mr. Sprint Car Award as Southern Iowa Speedweek’s top-performing driver.