KNOXVILLE, IA — We are quickly approaching the start of the 63rd Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, and it’s time to get in some last-minute predictions ahead of the 50-lap feature where the winner will take home nearly $200,000. Christopher DeHarde and Chase Folsom call their shots on everything Knoxville Nationals Saturday.
Race Winner
DeHarde: Rico Abreu.
Reasoning: It’s easy to pick Kyle Larson, mainly because the California native started on the pole last year and led every lap to victory. Larson easily could do a repeat performance, but Abreu starts sixth and had a very solid car underneath him to win last Sunday’s Capitani Classic at Knoxville.
Abreu would have won Thursday night’s preliminary feature race had it not been for a lapped car sliding in front of Abreu within the final three laps of the race. The No. 24R machine was solid on Thursday night, and if the track is similar to how it was on Thursday and Friday night, then expect Abreu to find a way to the front.
Folsom: Tyler Courtney
Reasoning: As was stated above, picking Larson is the obvious low-hanging fruit. He starts on pole for the second year in a row, led all 50 laps in 2023 and hasn’t lost a sprint car race in two weeks. However, the man starting just behind him in third, Courtney, might be the man flying under the radar.
Courtney missed the Nationals in 2023 after suffering a back injury in the middle of the season. However, Courtney has come back to Knoxville with vengeance, winning 360 Nationals just this past Saturday (Aug. 3). Courtney finished a solid fourth in Thursday night’s prelim, and he and his team have put lots of focus into Knoxville in 2024. The winner of the 38th Kings Royal at Eldora, Courtney is no stranger to the big stage, and could park it in victory lane tonight at Knoxville.
A-Main Hard Charger
DeHarde: David Gravel
Reasoning: The 2019 Knoxville Nationals Champion starts sixth in Saturday night’s B-Main that takes four drivers to the A-Main and in the 2023 running he charged from 22nd to second.
A repeat is certainly possible, but Gravel would have to get around two drivers in front of him to get into The Granddaddy Of Them All.
Folsom: Donny Schatz
Reasoning: It’s pretty simple. Schatz is the greatest driver to ever wheel a Sprint Car around the Knoxville Raceway. Schatz already has 11 Knoxville Nationals titles to his name, and is looking for number 12 to tie Steve Kinser for the most of…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …