Kyle Larson came around turns three and four on lap 50 of Saturday’s 60th Knoxville Nationals A-Main.
He was looking to have the perfect jump off of turn four that would get him the launch he needed to hold off 10-time champion Donny Schatz from returning to victory lane.
Schatz had made a late-race push to get back up to Larson after the No. 57 had managed to attain a straightaway lead on the No. 15.
Yet, for a world that has seen Larson win nearly everything, a Knoxville Nationals championship had, so far, eluded him.
Larson got that launch.
“I thought the track was starting to take rubber, I decided it was time to move down,” Larson said of the choice that put him on the inside line of the race track with a handful of laps to go. “I knew I had to fall in line and that he was coming fast. I was just praying it played out okay.”
The Elk Grove, California native punched the gas pedal out of turn four, crossing the finish line just car lengths in front of the 15.
Larson won the Knoxville Nationals.
“It’s huge,” Larson said. “I’ve legit, like, had dreams of winning this race. It’s so big. The atmosphere here is different than any other race in the world.
“This is the toughest race to win.”
But Larson won it and before he could even get to post-race interviews, he found himself on a table giving a toast to sprint car fans.
“You guys are the greatest fans in the world. Here’s a toast to the Knoxville Nationals.”@KyleLarsonRacin speaks to a raucous crowd of chanting fans at @KnoxvilleRaces. pic.twitter.com/hvrjRVX6nf
— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) August 15, 2021
Larson made what ended up to be the race-winning pass in the final moments of the first stage of the race.
He got past Schatz two laps ahead of the halfway break – something he was chasing so he could dictate how the back end of the race went.
“I knew we were coming to the break and I was wanting to get the lead before the halfway,” Larson said. “I knew (it was important) because I wanted to set the pace in the second half.”
Brad Sweet rounded out the podium of the race.
He was closing in on Larson as well – behind Schatz – as the track started to go away.
“The rubber really just laid down and it laid down quick,” Sweet said. “That was something different we don’t usually see at the Knoxville Nationals.”
Nonetheless, the 57 went to victory lane and Larson had the weight of potentially losing the Knoxville Nationals lifted off his shoulder.
In a quote only a driver with the success of Larson could give, he wrapped up his first Nationals win with a simple pair of sentences.
“It’s been so cool to feel that feeling again,” Larson said. “I haven’t been nervous in a couple years.”
60th Knoxville Nationals Results
1. Kyle Larson
2. Donny Schatz
3. Brad Sweet
4. Gio Scelzi
5. Logan Schuchart
6. Brent Marks
7. James McFadden
8. Kasey Kahne
9. Carson Macedo
10. Sheldon Haudenschild
11. Kerry Madsen
12. Brooke Tatnell
13. Justin Peck
14. Shane Stewart
15. Brock Zearfoss
16. Ian Madsen
17. Anthony Macri
18. David Gravel
19. Brian Brown
20. Tyler Courtney
21. Cory Eliason
22. Justin Henderson
23. Rico Abreu
24. Danny Dietrich
