Sweet Goes from Hard Charger to Heartbreak at Knoxville Nationals
The stage was set in Knoxville, Iowa, as sprint car teams ascended on Knoxville Raceway for the sport’s crown jewel — the Knoxville Nationals. With 100+ of the best on hand, the wide field was split between Wednesday and Thursday preliminary nights. The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 of Brad Sweet drew the Thursday slot, and a strong performance was critical to locking into Saturday’s $195,000-to-win finale.
From the moment the No. 49 hit the track on Thursday, the NAPA team showed they meant business. Sweet blistered the half-mile dirt track with the fastest lap of 49 cars in qualifying, earning the Simpson Quick Time Award and a valuable 200 points. With the top eight qualifiers inverted for heats, Sweet started eighth in Heat 1. He picked up two crucial positions, enough to secure the pole for the Last Chance Showdown.
Once the green flag dropped, Sweet never looked back. He won the LCS and secured the 21st starting spot for the 25-lap preliminary A-Main. In true championship form, Sweet charged forward, slicing through the field to finish eighth after a run that earned the night’s Hard Charger Award. More importantly, the effort locked the NAPA No. 49 into Saturday’s A-Main with a fourth-place starting position, the team’s best Knoxville Nationals starting spot since 2021.
The mission and goal for Saturday were simple: 50 laps, $195,000 to the winner of sprint car racing’s biggest prize. Having claimed the title in 2018, Sweet rolled off from the second row looking to join an elite list of multi-time Knoxville Nationals winners.
The opening laps were a high-speed chess match with the top seven cars battling under a blanket. Sweet stayed in the fight, shuffling between fourth and seventh before the halfway break which allowed crews three minutes for fuel, tires, and adjustments. Armed with Sweet’s feedback, the NAPA No. 49 team made small but critical changes.
On the restart, Sweet came alive, charging back toward the front and settling into fourth with laps winding down. Just as a podium finish looked within reach, misfortune struck. Mechanical failure forced the NAPA No. 49 to the infield with only five laps to go, ending the team’s Knoxville Nationals bid in heartbreaking fashion. Sweet was scored 20th after the checkered flag flew.
While the ending was tough, the 2025 Knoxville Nationals showed the speed, resilience, and execution that define the NAPA No. 49 team. Now, the focus shifts to closing out the High Limit Racing season, where Sweet leads the championship standings heading into a demanding West Coast swing. Over the next three weeks, the NAPA 49 will take on nine races across California, Oregon, and Washington — determined to keep the points lead and chase another title.
Start / Finish:
Thursday, July 7: 21 / 8
Saturday, July 9: 4 / 20
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 1,574 pts.
Next Race: Friday, August 15, Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif.
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt
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Kasey Kahne Racing View All
Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), based in Mooresville, NC, was formed in 2005 and employs more than ten people dedicated to sprint car racing. The organization competes full-time in High Limit Racing and is led by team owner and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne. For the 2026 season, KKR fields the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9, driven full-time by Daison Pursley in High Limit Racing. KKR has 7 World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing Championships (Daryn Pittman in ’13 and Brad Sweet in ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ’23 & ’24). Since its inception, KKR has earned 295+ national dirt car victories, solidifying its status as one of the most successful teams in modern sprint car racing.