A two hour rain delay and an A-Main that lasted over 60 minutes was just the tip of the iceberg in the chaos that was Thursday night at the Knoxville Nationals.
But standing on the other side on dry land as chips fell to the water was the local hero that is Brian Brown.
“I’m proud of my whole team,” Brown said. “I feel like we can get some time to relax and breathe here for a bit.”
The No. 21 FVP car is headed to Knoxville Nationals feature once again, clinching a top 10 starting spot.
The fan favorite at the half-mile oval in Iowa is still searching for his first Knoxville Nationals title, but the motivation is back inside of him in what might be at a higher level than its ever been.
“In 2012, 13, and 14, I ran second to Donny (Schatz),” Brown said. “You get kind of thinking, ‘Oh it’s going to be like that every year.’ Well, in 15, 16, 17, 18 and even 19, I’ve had some bad luck.”
Behind Brown, a lot of drivers did.
One accident early on in the race took out six drivers in the field.
. @dirtvision REPLAY: Thankfullly, everyone involved in this one is okay after @carson_macedo, @RealPaulMcMahan, @1sam91, @kmr29 and @DumesnyMarcus all crashed wildly on Lap Two. #NOSvilleNationals pic.twitter.com/Ak4i2H3Rzb
— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) August 13, 2021
Each driver involved in the wreck exited their cars under their own power. Paul McMahan was taken from the track on a stretcher in an ambulance.
The chaos of the night, though, clinches Gio Scelzi the pole position starting spot for the 60th Knoxville Nationals on Saturday.
The young gun will start off just beside 2018 Nationals champion Brad Sweet and in front of a guy named Kyle Larson.
Somewhere behind them, though, will be a hungry driver in a red-and-white No. 21.
“We have a chance to win Saturday night and I’m excited about that,” Brown said.
Knoxville Nationals Night 2 A-Main Results
1. Brian Brown
2. Kyle Larson
3. Brent Marks
4. Brad Sweet
5. Rico Abreu
6. Kasey Kahne
7. Austin McCarl
8. Ian Madsen
9. Kraig Kinser
10. Sye Lynch
11. Sawyer Phillips
12. Sam Hafertepe Jr.
13. Skylar Prochaska
14. Greg Wilson
15. TJ Stutts
16. Mike Wagner
17. Tyler Courtney
18. Sammy Swindell
19. Paul McMahan
20. Carson Macedo
21. Marcus Dumesny
22. Kerry Madsen
23. Parker Price-Miller
24. Shane Stewart
Knoxville Nationals Points after Thursday
Locked into A-Main
1. Gio Scelzi 487
2. Brad Sweet 481
3. Kyle Larson 480
4. Brent Marks 479
5. Donny Schatz 477
6. David Gravel 475
7. Kasey Kahne 475
8. Logan Schuchart 472
9. Brian Brown 471
10. Ian Madsen 463
11. Brooke Tatnell 460
12. Tyler Courtney 460
13. James McFadden 459
14. Justin Henderson 458
15. Justin Peck 458
16. Danny Dietrich 449
Locked into B-Main
17. Josh Baughman 447
18. Carson Macedo 441
19. Sye Lynch 436
20. Spencer Bayston 435
21. Cory Eliason 433
22. Kraig Kinser 432
23. Paul McMahan 430
24. Kerry Madsen 430
25. Sheldon Haudenschild 428
26. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 428
