Sweet Makes Moves Heading into Knoxville Nationals
Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team kept their rhythm competing outside of the High Limit Racing series ahead of this week’s Knoxville Nationals. The NAPA team took on the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri, before moving on to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World,” Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the Capitani Classic. Sweet, a five-time World of Outlaws champion and the current High Limit Racing points leader, gained spots in both feature races and ended the weekend with a top-five finish at Knoxville.
On Friday, Sweet clocked a 10.762-second qualifying run at I-55, placing him tenth in Flight A. He gained positions in his heat race, starting from fifth and finishing third to lock into Friday night’s main event. The feature race proved a tough battle with an “elbows out” surface condition. The Big Cat was still able to advance from his 11th-place starting position to 10th across the line, and the NAPA team added valuable information to their notes.
The action continued for Sweet and the No. 49 team on Sunday at the Capitani Classic, which also presented an opportunity to log some laps on the iconic Iowa dirt track before the start of the crown jewel Knoxville Nationals. In qualifying, the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 hit the charts with a lap time of 16.269 seconds, ninth-quickest in Flight B. Sweet maintained his second-place starting spot in his heat race to finish in the runner-up spot. In Sunday night’s main event, the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 was one to watch from the drop of the green flag. After starting 12th, Sweet gained four positions in just the first lap and went on to charge to a fifth-place finish at the checkers. His race through the field helped to prepare the NAPA driver for an exciting week of racing and a shot at a second Knoxville Nationals championship.
The Knoxville Nationals are scheduled for August 7 – 10, with Sweet’s first appearance slated for Thursday. The High Limit Racing schedule resumes on August 15 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California.
Start / Finish:
Friday, Aug. 2, I-55 Raceway: 11 / 10
Sunday, Aug. 4, Knoxville Raceway: 12 / 5
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 1,904 pts.
Next Race: Thursday, August 8, 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 View All
Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), located in Mooresville, NC, was formed in 2005 and employs more than ten people dedicated to sprint car racing. The organization fields two entries in the High Limit Sprint Car Series; Brad Sweet (NAPA No. 49) and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (No. 9). Collectively, KKR has 6 World of Outlaws Championships (Daryn Pittman in '13 and Brad Sweet in '19, '20, '21, '22 & '23). Since the team's inception, KKR has amassed over 285+ dirt car wins.