Knoxville Nationals Saturday: Doubleheader Format Sets Stage for Spectacular Finale

The 2026 Knoxville Nationals has officially become a two-day event, with Saturday's action set to feature a thrilling doubleheader format. Due to this morning's heavy rainfall, the format and lineups have been updated to ensure the biggest stars in the sport shine on the largest stage.

The expanded lineup now includes 20 drivers locked directly into Saturday's $200,000-to-win A-main, up from the original 16. Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Tanner Thorson, and Jace Falk have been promoted to the top four positions in the A-main, while Kyle Larson remains the top driver in preliminary points with 485, four ahead of Wednesday's preliminary winner Sheldon Haudenschild. James McFadden, Kasey Kahne, and Buddy Kofoid round out the top five.

The new lineup change means drivers ranked 21st through 40th in preliminary points are now locked into Saturday night's B-main. Sye Lynch will start from the pole position alongside Emerson Axsom, while the top four finishers from the C-main will occupy starting positions 21st through 24th in the B-main. This format alteration provides an extraordinary opportunity for some of the fastest drivers on the circuit to make a statement and potentially upset the favorites.

Defending Knoxville Nationals champion Ryan Timms will start from the pole position of the C-main, followed by Kerry Madsen, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Chase Randall. The drivers ranked 41st through 50th are locked into the first five rows of the C-main. The remaining competitors, those ranked 51st and lower in preliminary points, will compete in a shortened Hard Knox program on Saturday afternoon.

The Hard Knox feature winner will advance to the 11th starting position in Saturday night's C-main, with the remaining lineup filled out from there. This unique format twist adds a layer of unpredictability to an already highly competitive event, making it impossible to predict who will emerge victorious in the end.

With a 50-lap Championship Feature and a packed grandstand, the energy at Knoxville Raceway will be electric on Saturday night. The doubleheader format will test the skills of these top drivers, providing an exciting finish to the 65th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's. As the racing action unfolds, fans will be on the edge of their seats, anticipating which driver will claim the coveted championship title.