KNOXVILLE, Iowa — If the drivers entered for Wednesday’s BRANDT Qualifying Night program at Knoxville Raceway want to be the best at the half-mile black-dirt oval, they’re going to have to beat the best in order to do so.
Ten-time and defending 5-hour Energy Knoxville Nationals winner Donny Schatz headlines the entry list for the opening night of the 58th running of the crown jewel sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway.
Schatz has won the race 10 times in the last 12 years, second only to 12-time event champion Steve Kinser. He will pilot a freshly-painted Tony Stewart Racing No. 15, carrying a lime-green livery featuring Textron Off-Road’s Wildcat XX performance ATV on the wing.
The battle for Knoxville supremacy may well pick up right where last year’s Saturday finale ended on Wednesday night, with 2017 Nationals runner-up and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson returning again to drive Paul Silva’s No. 57 Chevrolet Accessories/Finley Farms Special.
Larson will be joined by fellow Cup Series regular Kasey Kahne in Wednesday’s preliminary field. Kahne drives for Leavine Family Racing in the No. 95 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on Sundays and will pilot his own No. 4k Ollie’s Bargain Outlet sprinter at Knoxville.
Of note, 2010 Knoxville Nationals champion Tim Shaffer is the only other former event winner in Wednesday’s field, aboard the Demyan-Rudzik Racing No. 49x entry.
Eight drivers in Wednesday night’s field have won a World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series feature this season — Logan Schuchart, Daryn Pittman, Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen, Larson and Aaron Reutzel.
Other drivers of note taking the wheel on Wednesay include Austin McCarl, James McFadden, Paul McMahan, Harli White, Shane Golobic, Ian Madsen, Greg Hodnett and 2017 360 Knoxville Nationals champion Clint Garner.
Reigning Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year Dominic Scelzi is back for more in his family’s No. 41s, with three rookie candidates taking to the track Wednesday – Brock Zearfoss, Jamie Ball and Dominic’s younger brother, Gio Scelzi.
Knoxville Nationals BRANDT Qualifying Night Entry List
0 – Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, AUS
1D – Travis Rilat, Heath, Texas
1S – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa.
2K – Kevin Ingle, Huron, S.D.
2KS – Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa
2M – Kerry Madsen – St. Mary’s, NSW, AUS
3H – James McFadden, Ormeau, QLD, AUS
3p – Sawyer Phillips, Knoxville, Iowa
4 – Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown, Pa. (R)
4K – Kasey Kahne, Mooresville, N.C.
5H – Sammy Walsh, Orangeville, NSW, AUS
5J – Jamie Ball, Knoxville, Iowa (R)
7 – Carson McCarl, Altoona, Iowa
7s – Jason Sides, Barlett, Tenn.
7w – Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, Iowa
09 – Matt Juhl, Tea, S.D.
9 – Daryn Pittman, Mooresville, N.C.
9x – Jake Bubak, Arvada, Colo.
10 – TBA
11 – Roger Crockett, Broken Arrow, Okla.
12N – Cole Duncan, Grove City, Ohio
13v – Seth Brahmer, Norfolk, Neb.
13x – Paul McMahan, Nashville, Tenn.
15 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D.
17 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio
17b – Bill Balog, Hartland, Wis.
17w – Harli White, Lindsay, Okla.
17wx – Shane Golobic, Fremont, Calif.
18 – Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, AUS
19 – Brent Marks, Jonestown, Pa.
20 – A.J. Moeller, Sioux City, Iowa
21au – Jordyn Brazier, Sydney, NSW, AUS
24w – Lucas Wolfe, Millersburg, Pa.
27 – Greg Hodnett, Apring Grove, Pa.
29 – Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif.
35P – Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, Minn.
40 – Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, S.D.
41s – Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, Calif.
49X – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa.
56N – Davey Heskin, St.Michael, Minn.
57 – Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif.
68 – Chase Johnson, Penngrove, Calif.
71 – Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. (R)
71x – Kevin Thomas, Jr., Cullman, Ala.
85 – Chase Wanner, Batavia, Iowa
87 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas
97G – Hunter Schurenberg, Sikeston, Mo.
99 – Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Okla.
