Jacob Allen came into the 2022 season with one career World of Outlaws win and zero in the previous season.
He’s captured three regular season wins through the season and took home another Thursday winning the second Knoxville Nationals preliminary win.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Allen said. “I’ve always believed in myself to be able to win at these kind of races. To be able to accomplish what we have ha been awesome.”
Allen started the race on the front row, following his P2 finish in his heat race.
He nearly surrendered the lead to Brad Sweet, after the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car appeared in the second position near the midway point of the 25-lap feature.
Sweet got by Allen at one point, but it didn’t hinder the No. 1A from making the trip to victory lane for the first time under Jacob.
“I’ve been lapped traffic pretty much every time I’ve been here,” Allen said after the race. “It’s about racing hard, but it’s about being patient just as much.”
Allen secured a P11 starting spot in Saturday’s 61st Knoxville Nationals, while his Shark Racing teammate and Night 1 victor Logan Schuchart will start on the front row of the B-Main to try and qualify into the big show.
Friday night features a chance for 75 drivers to secure one of the four, final guaranteed spots in Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals A-Main. The racing action is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. CT on DirtVision.
Knoxville Nationals Thursday Prelim A-Main results
1. Jacob Allen
2. Brad Sweet
3. Carson Macedo
4. Austin McCarl
5. Kyle Larson
6. Zeb Wise
7. Tyler Courtney
8. Kasey Kahne
9. Lynton Jeffrey
10. JJ Hickle
11. Tim Kaeding
12. Daryn Pittman
13. Chris Windom
14. Dylan Cisney
15. Brian Brown
16. Buddy Kofoid
17. Noah Gass
18. Tasker Phillips
19. Bill Balog
20. Cale Thomas
21. Zach Hampton
22. Logan Wagner
23. Sam Hafertepe Jr.
24. Jack Dover (Oil Pan, DNS)
🏆LOCKED IN🏆
These are the 2️⃣6️⃣ drivers locked into starting spots for the 61st running of the Knoxville Nationals held this Saturday, right here in Iowa.
Presented by @KarlAutoGroup, @NETCODEesports, @Josh_Gerlach and @EricBridger81E pic.twitter.com/yNXeMGFUi1
— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) August 12, 2022
