Kyle Larson led flag to flag to score the win in Saturday night’s 62nd Knoxville Nationals for the World of Outlaws NOS Sprint Car Series at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway.
Larson went effectively unchallenged en route to his second win in the sprint car classic, scoring a $185,000 payday. It marked his 32nd career WoO Sprint Car victory.
The triumph was a special one for the NASCAR Cup Series ace, who was racing with a heavy heart. A close friend of Larson’s – Lowell Moural – passed away two days before the finale. Moural, who owned Cycleland Speedway and worked at Silver Dollar Speedway, helped the Californian not only in racing, but in life.
“Lowell meant so much to my life not only my career but my life,” an emotional Larson said. “I’ve always compared Cycleland to a mini-Knoxville. I had years and years of experience there racing in the outlaw karts. Lowell and Becky (wife) have done so much for me as well as everybody in this pit area. I’m sure there’s a lot of kids in the stands and adults in the stands that have grown up racing at Cycleland. Lowell meant so much to us.”
The win made Larson only the eighth driver to claim multiple Knoxville Nationals wins. He also joined Donny Schatz from 2015 as the only drivers to lead every lap since the feature’s total was upped to 50. An especially meaningful pair of accomplishments for a competitor who puts the event at the top of his list.
“I’m so excited to win another Crown Jewel, another Knoxville Nationals feels amazing,” Larson said. “This is my favorite week of the year. I look forward to this event all year long. It’s all I think about all week.”
David Gravel finished in second, with Donny Schatz in third, Giovanni Scelzi in fourth, and Carson Macedo in fifth.
Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Michael Kofoid, Kerry Madsen, and Sheldon Haudenschild rounded out the top 10,
Up next, the World of Outlaws NOS Sprint Cars are bound for Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex on August 17. For more information, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws NOS Sprint Car Series
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Knoxville Nationals – August 12, 2023
1. 57-Kyle Larson
2. 2-David Gravel
3. 15-Donny Schatz
4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi
5. 41-Carson Macedo
6. 49-Brad Sweet
7. 24-Rico Abreu
8. 83JR-Michael Kofoid
9. 55-Kerry Madsen
10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild
11. 5-Spencer Bayston
12. 14-Corey Day
13. 2KS-Chase Randall
14. 21-Brian Brown
15. 4-Ian Madsen
16. 8-Aaron Reutzel
17. 3J-Dusty Zomer
18. 9P-Parker Price Miller
19. 13-Justin Peck
20. 7BC-Anthony Macri
21. 2M-Davey Heskin
22. 10-Scott Bogucki
23. 1S-Logan Schuchart
24. 39-Hunter Schuerenberg
