On Friday night, Knoxville Raceway will join an exclusive group of NASCAR Race Track royalties, becoming the third facility to host a modern-day, dirt race.
Eldora Speedway has hosted the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the past and this season, as their track was covered in clay, Bristol Motor Speedway played home to a dirt race for the tour as well.
Knoxville will get in on the party on Friday. Here are the names that you’ll need to know:
The Regulars
Currently leading the NASCAR Truck Series points is a young racer in John Hunter Nemechek. The son of longtime driver Joe Nemechek is back in the Truck Series full-time this season for Kyle Busch Motorsports after a stint in the Cup Series. He’s already grabbed five wins with the series this season as he continues to dominate on the circuit.
Ben Rhodes is a Truck Series veteran who opened the season with wins at both Daytona and the Daytona road course, but has yet to find his way back to victory lane since.
Defending series champion Sheldon Creed will also run at Knoxville Friday, trying to repeat this season for GMS Racing.
Also running full-time with the series, Hailie Deegan returns to the track after running the SRX race there in June. She’s one of the biggest brands in the development circuit and continues to build more popularity as the years go on.
Stewart Friesen will enter the race, like he has the entire 2021 season, in his Halmar-Friesen 52. His first career Truck Series win came on the dirt at Eldora and the series regular posted two dirt wins at Bristol during the Super Dirt Car Big Block Modified event at the track earlier this season. Friesen’s wife, Jessica Friesen, will also make her truck debut in a second vehicle for the team.
Cup Series rookie Chase Briscoe will also be picking up a spot in a truck.
Sprint Car Stars
Friday’s race will see the presence of three stars in the sprint car racing world.
Ten-time World of Outlaws and Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz will be in the David Gilliland Racing No. 17 to try his hand at the track he’s mastered.
Reigning and defending Knoxville Raceway champion Brian Brown will be piloting the iconic Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 51. Brown is a fan favorite at the track and although is a Missouri native, has made a home at the half-mile in Iowa.
Two-time World of Outlaws winner Parker Price-Miller will also be racing on Friday, in a later entry with Jordan Anderson Racing in the No. 3 truck.
Iowa’s Nice Guys
Three Iowans will take part in this weekends events at Knoxville including 2018 series champion Brett Moffitt. The Grimes, IA native originally planned on racing the full Truck Series season, but has sense moved full-time to the Xfinity Series for the year. Moffitt will be racing on Friday in the No. 37 entry for AM Racing.
Des Moines native Michael Annett will be running a third Young’s Motorsports Truck with backing from TMC in the 02. The deck lid of the truck will feature a tribute to the late Harrold Annett – a name synonymous with racing in Iowa.
Devon Rouse, a Burlington native, will be making his NASCAR debut as well, becoming the second openly gay driver to ever race in an event over the top three series in the sport.
Thursday night at Knoxville will feature a practice session for drivers and teams to get acquainted for the race, beginning at 6:05 p.m. CT. Friday night’s action will start with driver introductions at 7:40 p.m. and the race kicking off at 8:00. Both nights will be telecasted by Fox Sports 1.
The full entry list for the race can be found below:
Knoxville Truck Race Entry List
1 | Hailie Deegan, David Gilliland Racing
2 | Sheldon Creed, GMS Racing
02 | Michael Annett, Young’s Motorsports
3 | Parker Price-Miller, Jordan Anderson Racing
4 | John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch Motorsports
04 | Chase Briscoe, Roper Racing
6 | Norm Benning, Norm Benning Racing
9 | Codie Rohrbaugh, CR7 Motorsports
10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb, Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing
12 | Tate Fogleman, Young’s Motorsports
13 | Johnny Sauter, ThorSport Racing
15 | Tanner Gray, David Gilliland Racing
16 | Austin Hill, Hattori Racing Enterprises
17 | Donny Schatz, David Gilliland Racing
18 | Chandler Smith, Kyle Busch Motorsports
19 | Derek Kraus, McAnally Hilgemann Racing
20 | Spencer Boyd, Young’s Motorsports
21 | Zane Smith, GMS Racing
22 | Austin Wayne Self, AM Racing
23 | Chase Purdy, GMS Racing
24 | Jack Wood, GMS Racing
25 | Josh Berry, Rackley W.A.R.
26 | Tyler Ankrum, GMS Racing
30 | Danny Bohn, On Point Motorsports
33 | Devon Rouse, Reaume Brothers Racing
34 | Jake Griffin, Reaume Brothers Racing
37 | Brett Moffitt, AM Racing
38 | Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports
40 | Ryan Truex, Niece Motorsports
41 | Cody Erickson, Cram Enterprises
42 | Carson Hocevar, Niece Motorsports
44 | Morgan Alexander, Niece Motorsports
45 | Jett Noland, Niece Motorsports
49 | Andrew Gordon, CMI Motorsports
51 | Brian Brown, Kyle Busch Motorsports
52 | Stewart Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing
62 | Jessica Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing
88 | Matt Crafton, ThorSport Racing
98 | Grant Enfinger, ThorSport Racing
99 | Ben Rhodes, ThorSport Racing
