The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series invade the Sprint Car Capital of the World for this weekend’s 22nd annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. The three-day event begins with 25-lap, $10,000-to-win preliminary features on Thursday-Friday, with accumulative points setting consolation and main event lineups for Saturday’s 75-lap, $75,000-to-win finale. The top 24 point earners that compete both prelim nights will be locked into the main event with three transfers coming out of each consolation.
Where is the 2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Held?
The 2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals are held at Knoxville Raceway, semi-banked half-mile clay oval in Knoxville, Iowa.
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Weekend Schedule
Thursday, September 17
8 a.m. - Ticket office opens
10 a.m. - Hauler parking begins
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5 p.m. - Suites open
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (12 laps)
Intermission
- Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Late Model feature (25 laps)
Friday, September 18
8 a.m. - Ticket office opens
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5 p.m. - Suites open
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (12 laps)
Intermission
- Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Late Model feature (25 laps)
The Boys postrace concert
12 a.m. - Grilled cheese nationals (fairgrounds campground)
Saturday, September 19
8 a.m. - Ticket office opens
11:30 a.m. - Memorabilia auction (Hall of Fame Museum)
1:45 p.m. - Outreach church service (Dyer Hudson Hall Barn)
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 - Tech and registration opens
4 p.m. - Driver autograph session (Dyer Hudson Hall Barn)
5 p.m. - Suites open
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps (consolation entrants)
- Limited Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
Intermission
- Super Late Model hot laps (locked in feature entrants)
- Super Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (22 laps)
Driver introductions
- 22nd annual Knoxville Nationals (75 laps)
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Entry List
Driver (car no.) | Hometown |
Brandon Sheppard (1) | New Berlin, Ill. |
Mike Mataragas (1m) | Marseilles, Ill. |
Aaron Marrant (1x) | Richmond, Mo. |
Brian Shirley (3s) | Chatham, Ill. |
Tad Pospisil (04) | Norfolk, Neb. |
Clay Harris (6) | Jupiter, Fla. |
Dillon McCowan (8) | Urbana, Mo. |
Junior Coover (10) | Norfolk, Neb. |
Josh Rice (11) | Crittenden, Ky. |
Dallon Murty (13) | Chelsea, Iowa |
Clay Stuckey (15) | Shreveport, La. |
Curt Schroeder (15c) | Newton, Iowa |
Tyler Bruening (16) | Decorah, Iowa |
Brenden Smith (17ss) | Dade City, Fla. |
Brody Smith (17sr) | Dade City, Fla. |
Chase Junghans (18) | Manhattan, Kan. |
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt) | Chandler, Ariz. |
Daniel Hilsabeck (22) | Earlham, Iowa |
Chad Simpson (25) | Mount Vernon, Iowa |
Chris Simpson (32) | Oxford, Iowa |
Dylan Sillman (35) | Albo, Neb. |
Kyle Bronson (40B) | Brandon, Fla. |
Derrick Stewart (43) | Ainsworth, Iowa |
Jonathan Davenport (49) | Blairsville, Ga. |
Matt Furman (51) | Iowa City, Iowa |
Garrett Alberson (58) | Las Cruces, N.M. |
Dan Ebert (60) | Lake Shore, Minn. |
Hudson O’Neal (71) | Martinsville, Ind. |
Brandon Overton (76) | Evans, Ga. |
Blair Nothdurft (76n) | Renner, S.D. |
Carson Ferguson (93) | Lincolnton, N.C. |
Cory Lawler (93L) | Hanover, Pa. |
Devin Moran (99) | Dresden, Ohio |
Jesse Sobbing (99-18) | Malvern, Iowa |
Max Blair (111) | Centerville, Pa. |
Mike Marlar (157) | Winfield, Tenn. |
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Weekend Purse
Thursday-Friday prelims
1. $10,000
2. $5,500
3. $3,500
4. $2,700
5. $2,500
6. $2,300
7. $2,200
8. $2,100
9. $2,050
10. $2,000
11. $1,600
12. $1,400
13. $1,200
14. $1,000
15. $950
16. $925
17. $900
18. $875
19. $850
20. $825
21.-24. $800
Saturday’s feature event
1. $75,000
2. $25,000
3. $10,000
4. $9,000
5. $8,000
6. $7,000
7. $6,000
8. $5,000
9. $4,500
10. $4,000
11. $3,800
12. $3,700
13. $3,600
14. $3,500
15. $3,400
16. $3,300
17. $3,200
18. $3,100
19. $3,000
20. $2,900
21. $2,800
22. $2,700
23. $2,600
24.-32. $2,500
Who Won Last Year's Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals?
Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., earned his first career Knoxville Late Model Nationals victory.
Past Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2025: Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2024: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2023: Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
2022: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2021: Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
2020: Cancelled
2019: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2018: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2017: Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
2016: Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
2015: Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
2014: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2013: Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
2012: Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
2011: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2010: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2009: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2008: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2007: Brady Smith, Solon Springs, Wis.
2006: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
2005: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2004: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Weekend Tickets
Thursday, September 17
One-day adult general admission (20-and-up): $40
Three-day adult reserved (20-and-up): $125
One-day teen general admission (13-to-19): $30
Three-day teen reserved (13-to-19): $95
One-day child general admission (6-to-12): $25
Three-day child reserved (12-and-under): $80
One-day infant general admission (5-and-under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for all ages
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $50
Friday, September 18
One-day adult general admission (20-and-up): $40
One-day teen general admission (13-to-19): $30
One-day child general admission (6-to-12): $25
One-day infant general admission (5-and-under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for all ages
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $50
Saturday, September 19
One-day adult general admission (20-and-up): $45
One-day teen general admission (13-to-19): $35
One-day child general admission (6-to-12): $30
One-day infant general admission (5-and-under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for all ages
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $50
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Camping
Water and electric camping: $150 at North Campground; other campsites available
Online reservations: vandonsler.com/ and mycountyparks.com/default.aspx
More information: https://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/city/
Camping questions, call: (641) 842-5431
2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Notes
- Overcoming a violent flip during the first preliminary night’s action, Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., rallied from 15th to win last year’s $75,000 Late Model Knoxville Nationals finale.
- Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., pulled off a three-race sweep of Knoxville’s Late Model Nationals in 2023, becoming only the second driver to complete that feat, joining Hall of Famer Billy Moyer’s 2010 accomplishment.
- Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., is a four-time feature winner since 2014 at Knoxville, including the 2022 Nationals, combining to collect $70,000 over that span.
- Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., owns three Nationals finales (2016-’17, ’21).
- Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., topped the 2006 Late Model Nationals for a $35,000 payday.
- Friday’s postrace festivities include a concert featuring The Boys and the Grilled Cheese Nationals at midnight at the fairgrounds campground (west of barns).
- A 22-lap, $4,900-to-win invitational for Malvern Bank East-West tour regulars will be contested on Saturday’s undercard.
- Saturday’s off-track entertainment is highlighted by an 11:30 a.m. memorabilia auction in the Hall of Fame museum, a church outreach service at 1:45 p.m. in the Dyer Hudson Hall and a driver autograph session there at 4.
How To Watch The 2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals
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