Pursley Charges to Top-10 Finish at Kokomo
Daison Pursley and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9 team traveled to “Indiana’s Baddest Bullring,” Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana, for the Driven2SaveLives Bryan Clauson Hero Classic with the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing series.
Initially slated as a two-day event, inclement weather shortened the Classic to one day, heightening the stakes for the 39 competitors who showed up for their shot at a $20,000 payday.
In their first laps on the fast, quarter-mile clay oval, Pursley and the No. 9 team posted lap times of 11.410 (seventh) in Hot Laps, and 11.440 (sixth) in Qualifying.
Pursley started P2, on the front row of the fourth Heat Race, and battled to keep his position driving into turn 1, ultimately falling to third with a brief slip to fourth in the pack. The No. 9 rallied back to P3, where he finished the race and advanced to the A-Feature.
Starting 14th in the 40-lap A-Feature event, Pursley dropped to 16th on the opening lap, but quickly rebounded to 12th by their second circuit around the track. Navigating the racy surface proved to be a challenge, with short green-flag runs and competition peppered with cautions and red flags. Pursley kept his head down, his nose clean, and charged forward, reaching as high as P9 on the 37th lap. Maneuvering past the collected cars and charting the treacherous cushion, Pursley drove the NAPA No. 9 to a top-10 finish. Aaron Reutzel (No. 87) took the checkers for the second week in a row.
High Limit Racing will be back Tuesday, May 19, at Grandview Speedway in Pennsylvania. Catch every lap on Flo Sports and LIVE on FS1. Following that, a $100,000 payday is on the line at Port Royal Speedway, Friday-Sunday, May 22-24.
Start / Finish: 14 / 10
Points Standing / Total: 8th / 628 pts. (-201)
Next Race: Tuesday, May 19, Grandview Speedway, Bechtelsville, Penn.
How to Watch or Listen: 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 or Floracing.com
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Daison Pursley: @DaisonPursley
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.