All Eyes on Iowa as NAPA No. 49 Team Gears Up for Knoxville Nationals
The month of August has arrived, and with it, sprint car racing’s biggest stage — the Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway. With the sport’s crown jewel on deck, Brad Sweet and the Kasey Kahne Racing NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team have locked in their focus for the most important week of the season.
Originally slated to compete in the Knoxville 360 Nationals, the NAPA No. 49 crew faced a tough break during Friday night qualifying when the car came in light at the scales. With no qualifying points awarded and an uphill battle ahead, the team made the strategic decision to regroup and shift their full attention to the upcoming Nationals.
On Sunday, Sweet returned to the seat for his first race back since his Eldora Speedway crash in July, making his comeback at the Capitani Classic, a final tune-up before Nationals week. In a massive, 75-car field split into two groups for qualifying, Sweet qualified the NAPA No. 49 11th in Group A, earning him the pole position in Heat 2.
From the drop of the green, Sweet showed strength and confidence — cruising to a flag-to-flag heat race win. That performance lined him up 15th in the 25-lap Capitani A-Main. He brought the NAPA 49 home 17th, gaining critical track time and valuable setup insights on an always-changing Knoxville surface.
More importantly, Sweet reported feeling good physically and mentally behind the wheel, and the KKR team left the night encouraged heading into Nationals week.
Now, the main event is upon us. Known as the “Granddaddy of Them All,” the Knoxville Nationals is the sport’s most prestigious race. Sweet, a former Knoxville Nationals champion, is hungry for another crown.
His preliminary night is set for Thursday, with results from that night helping determine the field and positioning for Saturday’s championship finale.
All eyes will be on Brad Sweet and the KKR crew as they chase the biggest prize in sprint car racing.
Start / Finish: 15 / 17
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 1,523 pts. (+12)
Next Race: August 7-9 at Knoxville Raceway
How to Watch or Listen: www.dirtvision.com
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt
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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.