Pursley Shows Perseverance at Knoxville Nationals
Daison Pursley and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9 team posted up in Knoxville, Iowa, the Sprint Car Capital of the World, for one of the biggest weeks in sprint car racing: the Knoxville Nationals. The prestige and $200,000 purse attracted more than 95 teams and fans from around the world.
On Thursday, August 13, Pursley and the NAPA team’s qualifying night to lock into Saturday’s finale started on a high with Pursley posting a 15.616 for 11th in Hot Laps and 15.630 for 13th in Qualifying among 49 other drivers. That set him up to start from sixth in Heat 3 of the night. Pursley defended his position during the 10-lap battle but was unable to advance, locking into a P7 start in the evening’s B-Main. Pursley gained one position but was unable to advance into A-Feature action.
Inclement weather canceled Friday’s Hard Knox preliminary event, forcing Knoxville Raceway and the World of Outlaws to adjust Saturday’s program and feature lineups. It also washed away another opportunity for Pursley and the No. 9 team to advance their position for the Nationals finale. Pursley was locked in to start sixth in the C-Main. A soggy track and pit area couldn’t dampen the atmosphere for the 65th running of the Knoxville Nationals. During a very weather-delayed Hot Laps C, Pursley posted a 15.987 for 13th quick. Pursley held his P6 spot in the C-Main for five laps before slipping back to eighth, where he battled the rest of the 15-lap race and finished his night there.
Team Owner and driver of the NAPA-partnered No. 4, Kasey Kahne, started fourth in the Knoxville Nationals and put on a show for fans, driving up to second for 37 laps of the 50-lap main event. Kahne slipped back to fourth after a late-race caution and challenged back to third with four laps to go. Kahne held that spot to the checkered flag, putting himself on the podium of the year’s biggest sprint car race.
The NAPA No. 9 team is now en route to the West Coast to resume the High Limit Racing schedule on the ‘West Coast Swing.’ On August 20, High Limit Racing makes its debut at Santa Maria Speedway in California. Catch every lap on FloSports.
Start / Finish:
Thursday, August 13: 7 / 6 (B-Main)
Saturday, August 15: 6 / 8 (C-Main)
Points Standing / Total: 9th / 1,428 pts. (-379)
Next Race: Thursday, August 20, Santa Maria Speedway, Santa Maria, Calif.
How to Watch or Listen: 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.