Knoxville Raceway
Fast Facts: 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt weekend editor
Dates: Sept. 18-20
Track: Knoxville Raceway (semi-banked half-mile clay oval)
Location: Knoxville, Iowa
Purse: $75,000-to-win ($10,000-to-win prelims)
Presenting sponsors: Lucas Oil and All Makes Collision Center
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Streaming: FloRacing
Last year’s winner: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., who overcame a rain delay for his first career Knoxville finale
Tickets: $35 adult general admission Thursday and Friday; $40 Saturday (details below)
Track website: knoxvilleraceway.com
Track phone: (641) 842-5431
Notes: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors invade the Sprint Car Capital of the World for the 21st annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by All Makes Collision Center. … The three-day event begins with 25-lap, $10,000-to-win prelim features (an increase from $7,000-to-win purses paid out since 2008) Thursday and Friday, with points setting the lineup for Saturday’s consolations and 75-lap, $75,000-to-win (an increase from the $50,000 the last four seasons) finale. … An event-record $350,000 purse received a $60,000 upgrade for 2025. … Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., passed Hudson O’Neal and endured a 30-minute rain delay to win last year’s $50,000 top prize. … Among other recent winners, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., swept 2023’s Knoxville weekend, earning more than $64,000; it was the first event sweep since Billy Moyer pulled off the feat in 2010. … Thornton’s closest challenger Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., robbed Tyler Bruening to capture 2022’s $50,000 finale pushed to a Sunday afternoon by wet weather. … Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., became the event’s first three-time winner in 2021, adding to his wins in 2016-’17, combining for more than $130,000. … Knoxville’s finale marks the cutoff for the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship, where the top four drivers in series standings have a playoff-style chase for the title over the final five events. … Off-track activities are highlighted by Saturday’s memorabilia auction in the Hall of Fame Museum at 11:45 a.m. and a driver autograph session at 4 p.m. in the Dyer Hudson Hall Barn.
Knoxville winners
Year: Winner, hometown
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
Weekend purses
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
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
Weekend schedule
(All times local; subject to change)
Thursday
10 a.m. - Hauler parking begins
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
4:30 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
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
4:30 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)
Saturday
11:30 a.m. - Memorabilia auction (Hall of Fame Museum)
1:45 p.m. - Dirt Racing Outreach 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)
4:30 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 (feature entrants)
- Super Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (22 laps)
Driver introductions
- 21st annual Knoxville Nationals (75 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
One-day adult general admission (20-and-up): $35
Three-day adult reserved (20-and-up): $125
One-day teen general admission (13-to-19): $25
Three-day teen reserved (13-to-19): $95
One-day child general admission (6-to-12): $20
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
One-day adult general admission (20-and-up): $35
One-day teen general admission (13-to-19): $25
One-day child general admission (6-to-12): $20
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
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
Camping
Water and electric camping: $150 at North Campground; other campsites available
Online reservations: vandonsler.com and mycountyparks.com/default.aspx
More information: knoxvilleraceway.com/Hospitality/Campgrounds or (641) 842-5431
