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ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! Drama, heartbreak, disaster, comebacks on Knoxville Nationals night 1 | Daily 8-7-2025

We'll go deep on night one of the Knoxville Nationals, including a breakthrough win, disasters, big comebacks, and more. We'll also preview night two, and get you ready for the North South 100. Let's go!

It's Thursday, August 7th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

Today's Daily show is being supported by our friends at American Table & The P.O. Box, two unique dining experiences not far from Knoxville Raceway. Knoxville Nationals week is here, and when you're in the area for the races, and you want something good to eat, check out American Table & The P.O. Box. Some of my friends have been there already this week, including MRN's Steve Post. Perfect for the Postman to hit up a restaurant in an old post office. American Table and The PO Box proudly support the racing community, and their historic location in Oskaloosa, Iowa offers two dining options under one roof. Inside you'll find an elevated experience upstairs with American Table, featuring a great menu and Sunday brunch. That brunch would be good next Sunday after the Nationals. Downstairs you've got The PO Box, open Monday through Saturday, serving up crave-worthy comfort food, cold drinks, and a cozy vibe. Whether you're refueling after the races or grabbing a bite before heading to the track, they've got a spot for you! Find them at 206 North Market Street in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and visit them online at americantablerestaurant.com. Big thanks to them for supporting the show the last few weeks.

The opening night of the 64th Knoxville Nationals providing just the storylines we come to expect from this event every year. Big names finding themselves battling back, wild heat races, transfer spot madness, and a few surprises along the way. On a night that featured some of the sport's best, like David Gravel, Rico Abreu, Corey Day, Anthony Macri, and Donny Schatz, it was a young gun that really stole the show. From start to finish, Ryan Timms was easily the most impressive driver last night with that Liebig team. Third quick in time trials, the only driver to go eighth to fourth and grab a feature transfer in the heat, and a big eighth to the win charge in the main event. Since he decided to go full time winged racing, I feel like we've been waiting for him to finally break out. Timms made his first World of Outlaws starts in 2022, and was fast out of the gate finishing second in his second ever series start. But in 2025, he's still winless on a national tour, in 115 combined starts between the Outlaws and High Limit. We've seen him win locally and regionally, he's run top five on big stages, but just hadn't broken through. And I know last night was not an official Outlaw win, but to carve through that field on a night when passing was at a premium, and win in dominating fashion was a big statement. Timms and Austin McCarl were the only drivers to start on row four in a heat last night and get into transfer spots, with Rico Abreu, Sye Lynch, Carson McCarl, Corey Day, James McFadden, Ashton Torgerson, David Gravel, and Jack Anderson all relegated to the B and C. After night one, Timms is easily high point man, and he'll start the 64th Nationals main event towards the front. David Gravel I think was easily the biggest disaster on the night. His Nationals went sideways almost immediately, with that lap one crash in heat four. He and Hunter Schuerenberg colliding into turn one, and Gravel went for a big tumble. Schuerenberg later told Sprint Car Unlimited's Jeremy Elliott that he was stuck in dirty air and picked up a push right as Gravel made a move for the middle. He said quote "I'm sure he's not happy. I don't know what he said and don't really care. The guy's known me long enough to know that I don't do that kind of shit on purpose. If he thinks I did, then that's on him. I can't do anything about that" unquote. The crash left Gravel buried in the C, with really no hope to make the night's main event. He won that race to move on to the B, but with only 12 laps, a driver would need a lot of help to get all the way from the back to fourth. Gravel did go 21st to eighth, but he'll need to come back Friday and try again. Others in that same boat include Donny Schatz, Anthony Macri, and Justin Sanders. Schatz qualified mid pack and actually started heat one in a transfer spot, but backed up from third to fifth by the end. He was then not able to make any ground in the B, and sits 34th in event points. Both he and Gravel will need some serious Friday and Saturday heroics to win the Nationals. The two big recovery drives on the night were from Rico Abreu and Corey Day. Both had miserable heats, and needed B transfers after the pair were one-two in time trials. With the pressure on, Rico then went 21st to eighth in the feature, and Day 22nd to seventh. Massive comebacks, and both are still easily in contention for a Nationals title after early scares. The top eight in points after last night are Timms, Sheldon Haudenschild, Corey Day, Rico Abreu, Emerson Axsom, Justin Peck, Garet Williamson, and Austin McCarl. Sheldon and Axsom both with six to two heat race runs, and top five feature finishes. Justin Peck also strong after leading laps early in the main event. Given past years, I'd say those drivers are all likely safe. The next in line for Saturday B spots are Chris Windom, Jack Anderson, James McFadden, Sam Hafertepe, and Danny Dietrich. We'll see if those positions hold after night two. The wildest moment of the night was easily the battle for the final feature transfer spot in the B. Sye Lynch had it late, and James McFadden was charging. The two were in a drag race out of four coming to the checkered, and basically met in the middle. Lynch then going for a big ride hitting the inside wall, and McFadden somehow not crashing and earning the spot. It was a scary ride for Lynch, but good to see him walk away. Just really hard racing between the two, and these are the types of situations the crown jewels create.

Tonight at Knoxville we'll get the other half of the field. It's been raining all morning there, with multiple inches of precipitation falling. It looks like things should clear out by the afternoon, but we could again see a very juiced up race track. That again wouldn't bode well for those guys that end up starting deep in heats. Defending winner Kyle Larson goes tonight, as does Buddy Kofoid, Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, Brian Brown, Brent Marks, Gio Scelzi, and Logan Schuchart. Some others to watch include Brady Bacon, who made last year's big show, Tanner Thorson might be a bit of a darkhorse pick, Bill Balog led laps on his prelim night last year, and Kerry Madsen has 27 career wins at Knoxville. Same setup as last night, with qualifying, heats inverted by eight, then the alphabet. Points on the line all night, and we'll see who makes that top 16.

In other Wednesday racing, Jacob Denney scored again with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets. He won the opening night of Appalachian Midget Week at Action Track USA, leading 25 laps and topping Cannon McIntosh and Gavin Miller. Michael Faccinto also leading laps in that one. Denney now with seven wins in 15 races this season and he is yet to finish worse than eighth. He's been on the podium in seven straight. Midget week continues tonight at Linda's Speedway.

The Knoxville Nationals isn't the only big dirt racing going down this weekend. The dirt late model focus will be on the North South 100 at Florence Speedway with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Two $6000 to win features tonight, two more on Friday, and then $75,000 to win on Saturday. Thursday and Friday will pay points, and where drivers end up after the prelim nights will set Saturday's heat race lineups. Bobby Pierce has won the North South two years in a row, and before that it was Jonathan Davenport. Pierce will be looking to bounce back after what was a tough USA Nationals last week at Cedar Lake. 17th and 11th, and never a factor after having won that one previously. As we start to tick down, the battle for that final Lucas chase lock-in spot will be a big focus for several teams. Hudson O'Neal's good stretch has him up to third, with Devin Moran backsliding a bit into fourth, and that final position. Garrett Alberson is 150 points out, and the charging Brandon Sheppard is 175. BShepp has looked like a different driver in the newly designed Rocket XR2, but if Moran can just stay consistent, Shepp and the Rocket 1 will likely run out of time. Some other guys to watch this weekend include a revitalized Tim McCreadie, he's won at Florence before. And Josh Rice is always a local favorite when the series come to Florence. There are other dirt late model options this weekend, but we'll talk more about those tomorrow.

And that is an important show note. There will be a Friday Daily this week, and likely a Saturday episode as well. So wall-to-wall coverage coming your way during what is a massive dirt racing week.

We are going to shut it down there for this episode however. Hope you guys have a great Thursday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow!