Knoxville Nationals Winners: Complete Champions List, Historic Records, And Latest Crown Jewel Results
The Knoxville Nationals stands as the ultimate proving ground in winged sprint car racing, pulling the world's elite drivers to Iowa's famed Knoxville Raceway each August. Dominating this grueling four-day spectacle places a driver into dirt racing royalty, rewarding them with motorsport fame and one of the largest purses in grassroots racing.
| Year | Champion | Car No. | Team / Entrant | Total Career Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kyle Larson | #57 | Silva Motorsports | 3 |
| 2023 | Kyle Larson | #57 | Silva Motorsports | 2 |
| 2022 | Donny Schatz | #15 | Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing | 11 |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | #57 | Silva Motorsports | 1 |
| 2019 | David Gravel | #41 | Jason Johnson Racing | 1 |
| 2018 | Brad Sweet | #49 | Kasey Kahne Racing | 1 |
| 2017 | Donny Schatz | #15 | Tony Stewart Racing | 10 |
| All-Time | Steve Kinser | #11 | Karl Kinser Racing | 12 (Record) |
Titans of the Black Dirt: Legacy and All-Time Record Holders
Earning a spot on the Knoxville Nationals winners wall requires mastering a unique, high-pressure points system over four exhausting days of competition. A single mistake during qualifying nights can relegate championship contenders to the dreaded B-Main or C-Main on Saturday night.
Steve "The King" Kinser holds the ultimate benchmark in sprint car history with 12 Knoxville Nationals victories spanning from 1980 to 2002. His record seemed untouchable until Donny Schatz launched a modern reign of dominance, securing 11 titles between 2006 and 2022. Schatz remains the only driver in history to win five consecutive Knoxville Nationals crowns from 2006 to 2010.
In recent years, NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has asserted his own dominance on the dirt, capturing three titles (2021, 2023, 2024). Racing against full-time touring stars from the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and High Limit Racing, Larson's triumphs cemented his status as one of the most versatile drivers of the modern racing era.
Record Purses, Broadcast Access, and How to Stream Live
The Knoxville Nationals is famous for offering the richest payout in sprint car racing, with a total event purse exceeding $1 million and the winner taking home nearly $200,000. Beyond the main event winner, lap money and contingency awards ensure significant payouts throughout the entire 24-car A-Main field.
- Live Stream Provider: DIRTVision holds exclusive streaming rights for live video coverage, hot laps, qualifying, heat races, and the 50-lap A-Main feature.
- On-Demand Access: Full event replays and highlights are archived on DIRTVision immediately following each night's checkered flag.
- Radio Broadcast: The Knoxville Raceway Radio Network and MRN broadcast audio live across local affiliates and online stream channels.
- Race Format: Drivers accumulate points during Wednesday and Thursday preliminary nights to secure their starting positions for Saturday's crown jewel feature.
Knoxville Nationals Race Results
Sprint Car Dominance: The Impact on National Championships
Conquering the half-mile black dirt oval at Knoxville serves as a defining momentum shift for driver seasons. A win elevates team morale and often dictates momentum for national touring series like the World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing as teams enter the late-summer stretch.
Local track regulars frequently test national touring drivers on Knoxville's heavy half-mile surface. The clash between local legends and national stars produces iconic battles, where tire wear, wing positions, and changing track conditions test engine power and chassis setup to the absolute limit.
As teams gear up for upcoming major sprint car crown jewels on the 2026 racing calendar, the chase to unseat recent champions remains the central storyline across the dirt racing landscape. Every driver on the grid understands that while series championships showcase consistency, a Knoxville Nationals trophy guarantees immortality.
