Brady Bacon tries to repeat at USAC Corn Belt Nationals

Connor Ferguson

6 years ago

Brady Bacon goes around turns 3 and 4 during the first annual Corn Belt Nationals at Knoxville Raceway. Photo courtesy Knoxville Raceway // Chuck Stowe Images

The Knoxville Nationals, in a normal year, hold the hallmark event spot of the season for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

When Knoxville Raceway created the Corn Belt Nationals in 2019, they sought to create the same thing for the USAC Non-Winged Sprint Cars that compete around the nation.

While $20,000 to win isn’t the absolute steepest winners purse on the tour, you won’t see any drivers complaining about winning the top prize of the two-night format that will grace Knoxville Raceway this weekend.

Brady Bacon took home the top prize a season ago and hopes to return to victory lane on Saturday night this week, which would mark his second straight USAC Sprint Car victory.

Bacon claimed the most recent USAC victory after a three-wide battle to the finish came about.

The finish to last night's #USAC race was crazy. @BradyBacon earned the win in the final race before this weekend's 2nd annual Corn Belt Nationals at @knoxvilleraces. Bacon is the defending champ of the event, too.

🎥 @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/1WK6wObMWl

— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) July 5, 2020

The win secured Bacon’s third place standing in the series points battle, although he won’t get a chance to build on that this weekend.

The Corn Belt Nationals were designed to be a two-day event and don’t count for points that are normally earned every race weekend.

These guys will be throwing it into the corner, balls to the wall, with money on their minds.

Points leader Justin Grant leads the series in wins, collecting three this season to tie Bacon.

Although, everything changes when these drivers get on a track as big as Knoxville, and that will effect the action in a big way.

If there was a bigger sample size than one race here a year ago, it might be easier to tell who the favorite is, but as of now, Bacon is the one and only champion and the question is if that changes or not this weekend.

The action from this weekend can be purchased separately from a DirtVision.com Fast Pass and the feature event of the weekend can be seen on FloRacing.

2020 Corn Belt Nationals Entry List
53 cars as of July 8