Sweet Charges to Top-10 Finish at Knoxville
Before Brad Sweet climbed back into the seat of the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 to take on the World of Outlaws at the famed Knoxville Raceway, Sweet had the honor of joining NAPA Racing teams and employees to celebrate NAPA’s 100-Year Anniversary at the NAPA NOW Conference in Las Vegas. Sweet connected with NAPA’s extended family, representing Kasey Kahne Racing at one of the most exciting celebrations of the year.
During the High Limit Racing schedule’s brief pause, Sweet boarded a flight in Las Vegas after his NAPA NOW appearance and headed straight to the home of the prestigious Knoxville Nationals in Iowa.
With Knoxville’s season opener drawing near, the team took full advantage of an open practice session Thursday night, dialing in the car before Friday’s action was rained out. Saturday brought blue skies and a massive, 64-car field to “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” with the World of Outlaws.
Sweet was dealt a tough hand, going out 56th for qualifying and facing a major challenge as the track surface began to slick off. Despite the late draw, the NAPA 49 team was fast, timing 12th in Flight B and locking into sixth for Heat 4.
Sweet powered forward to finish fourth in the heat, transferring directly into the A-Main. Rolling off 16th in the Feature, Sweet wasted no time getting to work. Navigating heavy traffic and making moves, he advanced seven positions to bring home a ninth-place finish. This was a hard-fought top-10 against a stout field.
The NAPA 49 showed speed all night and made the most of a challenging qualifying spot. The early laps at Knoxville are invaluable as the team prepares for the Knoxville Nationals later this summer.
Now, the team shifts focus back to High Limit Racing, where Sweet currently sits at the top of the championship contenders. Up next is a midweek showdown at Texarkana 67 Speedway on Wednesday, April 30, followed by a massive weekend at Texas Motor Speedway racing on May 1st and May 3rd.
Start / Finish: 16 / 9
Next Race: Wednesday, April 30, Texarkana 67 Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing
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.