The last, and only, time that an 18-year-old had won the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s was in 1964, when Kenny Weld won the pole and the race. On Thursday, 18-year-old Ryan Timms put together a brilliant qualifying night and added his name as the second youngest pole winner ever. When asked on Saturday about how he felt about that effort, car owner Shane Leibig made it clear that they weren’t done.
“We’re not satisfied with the pole of the Nationals. Yeah, it’s a great accomplishment, but that ain’t what we came here to do. We’re going to shock the world. It’s that simple. I’m built for this s**t. I’m ready.”
And shock the world they did. The young driver of the Liebig Motorsports #10 put on an absolute clinic, leading wire to wire and gapping the field at every test. On multiple occasions he held a lead of more than three seconds, often within just a few laps of a restart. The final test came when a carcass from Kyle Larson’s flat right-rear slowed the field on lap 46. Timms restarted with a list, the list, of who’s who in the world of sprint cars hot on his tail. Unphased, the young driver did what he had done all night, drive away. By the time the checkers fell he had put nearly two seconds on the field again. The 18-year-old was Knoxville Nationals Champion, etching his name into the history books as the second-youngest winner of the most prestigious event in sprint car racing. Using the words of Leibig, he was built for this.
Brad Sweet strong in return
Brad Sweet, 2018 Knoxville Nationals Winner, was back in a sprint car for the first time since being injured in a crash during the Kings Royal week at Eldora. He was strong all week, starting 4th and finishing 5th. He’s back just in time for the High Limit Racing series to return to action at Thunderbowl this week.
Larson slump continues
Outside of his win at Eldora, Kyle Larson just hasn’t been himself the last few months, and tonight was no different. Larson ran in the bottom half of the top ten for most of the event until a flat tire with four laps to go ended his night. With the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs looming, I imagine that things will turn around soon for him.
Brian Brown injured
It feels like we can’t catch a break as of recent. Brian Brown suffered a pretty nasty crash during a heat race on the second night of qualifying in Knoxville. It was later announced by his wife that he had broken his right hand and left wrist in the accident. Prayers and best wishes to the Brown’s as he works to get back behind the wheel.
Donny Schatz keeps streak going
Coming into this week’s event, seven-time Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz, had made the Saturday feature for twenty-six straight years. Schatz found himself in 34th place after his qualifying night, which meant he would have to race his way into the feature on Hard Knox Night. Schatz and his #15 Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team put in a valiant effort, tearing through the field, but ultimately ended up one spot short of the final transfer spot. That left just one opportunity for the team to keep Schatz’s streak alive, Saturday’s Last Chance Showdown. Schatz started the event 11th and worked his way to 4th grab the final LCS transfer spot and go on to finish 11th in the feature.
Image: World of Outlaws/Trent Gower Photogoraphy