NASCAR star Kyle Larson jetted to Iowa after a sixth-place finish at Richmond (Virginia) on Aug. 15, and he arrived in time to earn his fourth Knoxville Nationals championship.
A three-hour rain delay at Knoxville gave Larson the opportunity to compete for the $200,000 first-place cash prize. And he took full advantage, leading all 50 laps for his fourth title in six years.
“It’s extremely surreal,” Larson told KnoxvilleRaceway.com. “It was a range of emotions. Going back the last couple days, I had no emotions. I knew I wasn’t going to race, but there was still that glimmer of hope with the rain and the forecast.”
When Larson began the NASCAR Cup race in Richmond, he assumed there was no chance to get to Knoxville in time to race there. But the weather situation in Iowa cooperated for Team Larson.
Crew chief Cliff Daniels told Larson during the Cup race that there was a rain delay at Knoxville and hot laps had not even started yet. A plan was already in place for Larson to hop on a jet immediately after the NASCAR race, and that’s exactly what he did.
“It’s wild how I’m here tonight standing here talking to you,” Larson said after his Knoxville victory.
Larson’s victory was his 16th all-time at Knoxville. He missed Saturday’s A-main (championship round) hot laps, but arrived before the B-main started.
Sheldon Haudenschild finished second, and Kasey Kahne was third. James McFadden and Logan Schuchart rounded out the top five.
“I’m glad Kyle got back, because if I win, I want to beat Kyle,” Haudenschild told KnoxvilleRaceway.com. “He’s the best there is.”
Knoxville Nationals media relations contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: NASCAR star Kyle Larson wins 65th running of Knoxville Nationals
Reporting by Register Staff Report, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Register Staff Report, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
