KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Knoxville Raceway is a particular place by itself. However to race within the shadow of the Nationwide Dash Automobile Corridor of Fame on induction weekend is incomparable.
The Dash Automobile Capital of the World welcomes the USAC AMSOIL Dash Automobile Nationwide Championship to Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway for back-to-back nights of full packages on Could 29-30.
The Avanti Home windows & Doorways Corn Belt Conflict presents $10,000-to-win for the Friday night time opener adopted by Saturday night time’s $15,000-to-win finale on the famed half-mile.
Gary Bettenhausen, Dick Tobias, Sammy Periods, Tom Bigelow, Sheldon Kinser and Sammy Swindell are among the many few who’ve received a USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile predominant occasion at Knoxville and are additionally enshrined within the Nationwide Dash Automobile Corridor of Fame.
They’re the embodiment of what so many nice racers aspire to attain. To win a USAC AMSOIL Dash Automobile Nationwide Championship predominant occasion at Knoxville is actually an iconic feat. To win on Corridor of Fame weekend at Knoxville, that’s what goals are product of.
Brady Bacon, Justin Grant, and Kevin Thomas Jr., amongst others, have added USAC wins of their very own in recent times at Knoxville, and sometime, their names are certain to be referred to as upon on the NSCHOF.
KNOXVILLE MASTERS
4 previous Knoxville Raceway USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile winners will likely be within the discipline for this weekend’s occasion, specifically Brady Bacon (5 wins throughout 2011, 2019, 2020 and 2025); Justin Grant (twice in 2017 and 2023); Jake Swanson (as soon as in 2023); and Kevin Thomas Jr. (as soon as in 2025).
Bacon already received a USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile characteristic on a half-mile this yr in mid-Could at Eldora. Grant is searching for his 98th and 99th profession USAC nationwide victories this weekend.
Swanson’s solely sequence win this yr to this point got here on a half-mile at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida. Thomas Jr.’s Knoxville victory in 2025 was his first of the yr, and this weekend, he goals to succeed in victory lane for the primary time in 2026.
CRISP BACON
Just one driver has received greater than two USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile options at Knoxville Raceway. Actually, that driver has received 5 all through his illustrious profession, and that’s Brady Bacon.
The Damaged Arrow, Okla., native scored at Knoxville in 2011, then swept each nights of the Corn Belt Conflict in 2019, capped the weekend with a triumph in 2020, after which did the deed once more on the opening night time of the 2025 occasion.
In 13 Knoxville USAC Dash Automobile begins, Bacon has solely completed outdoors the top-three twice. He flipped whereas operating fourth on night time two of the 2025 occasion. Bacon’s Knoxville USAC Dash Automobile profile options 5 wins, 5 seconds and a 3rd.
HALF-MILE PROWESS
Kyle Cummins has already checked off victories at two of essentially the most well-known dust half-miles on the USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile schedule in 2026, profitable at each the Terre Haute Motion Observe in April and Eldora Speedway in Could.
May a primary Knoxville triumph be subsequent within the playing cards for Cummins, the driving force who at the moment leads the sequence standings and is the defending champion?
He made the perfect run of his Knoxville profession in his most up-to-date look in 2025 the place he superior from his 18th beginning spot to complete third, incomes himself exhausting charger honors.
GOIN’ FOR THREE
Workforce AZ / Curb-Agajanian Racing can have Gavin Miller within the seat for the weekend. Miller completed tenth in his USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile debut with the workforce at Bloomington Speedway in Could.
The workforce has received twice at Knoxville over the previous three seasons. In 2023, they scored a final lap victory with Jake Swanson on the wheel of the No. 21AZ, then repeated the feat in 2024 with Daison Pursley as their wheelman, which was his first USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile points-paying victory.
This weekend, the workforce will attempt to repeat the feat with a 3rd completely different driver at Knoxville as Miller appears to tally his first USAC characteristic win as the driving force of the No. 21az.
COASTERS SEARCHIN’
Just a few coastal invaders will likely be rolling in for the Corn Belt Conflict, together with USAC CRA champion R.J. Johnson, plus Charles Davis Jr., Ryan Bernal from the west, whereas Steven Snyder Jr. arrives from the east.
One-time USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile predominant occasion winner Bernal will wheel one of many prime rides on the USAC CRA circuit, the Tom & Christy Dunkel No. 17. Reigning USAC CRA champion Johnson will pilot a automobile for occasion sponsor Petty Efficiency Racing whereas Davis will likely be within the seat of his personal No. 47.
Coming in from the east coast is Maryland’s Steven Snyder Jr. in a CB Industries-Spire Motorsports machine. Snyder’s solely two earlier USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile begins got here at Eldora’s half-mile a pair weeks again. There, Snyder completed tenth within the opener and a powerful fourth on night time two after beginning 14th.
HARD KNOX LIFE
Seven drivers at the moment residing inside the highest 10 of the USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile factors are vying for a primary Knoxville triumph this weekend.
Level chief Kyle Cummins is amongst these on the listing as are Mitchel Moles (second), Logan Seavey (fourth), Briggs Danner (fifth), Chase Stockon (seventh), C.J. Leary (ninth) and Robert Ballou (tenth).
Moles just lately conquered the Terre Haute half-mile for the Hulman Basic final week. Seavey is eying his first sequence victory since February. Danner received the latest sequence race at Circle Metropolis per week in the past.
Stockon led the primary 20 laps of final yr’s 25-lap Knoxville opener earlier than ending second. Leary set a brand new Knoxville USAC monitor report in 2025 at 18.442 seconds. Ballou possesses each the 10-lap and 16-lap Knoxville USAC monitor data, and completed second there in 2017.
