Record-Paying Late Model Knoxville Nationals on Deck
KNOXVILLE, Ia.—The 21st running of the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by All Makes Collision Center is set for Thursday through Saturday, September 18-20, at the famed Knoxville Raceway.
It is the only annual late model event at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World,” gathering the nation’s top dirt late model teams on one of motorsports’ biggest stages. In 2025, over $60,000 was added to the weekend purse, bringing the total to more than $350,000 across three nights of racing on the historic black-dirt, half-mile oval at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
The festivities on Thursday and Friday, September 18-19, will feature a complete program of Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 25-lap, $10,000-to-win main event.
The unique format of the Knoxville Nationals makes every lap on the track important. Drivers score points for each performance, from time trials to heat races, to preliminary night feature events. The champion at the end of the week not only writes their name into the history books but earns the record $75,000 winner’s check.
Numerous off-track activities will take place surrounding the three-day event. The Hall of Fame Auction will take place at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum, behind turn two, on Saturday at 11:30 AM. There will be a Dirt Racing Outreach service in the Dyer Hudson Hall at 1:45 PM, with an autograph session to follow at 4:00 PM, on Saturday.
This half-mile speed plant is located within the Marion County Fairgrounds, in the heart of Knoxville, Iowa, just a short drive from Des Moines. Three-day ticket packages and single-night tickets are available at www.knoxvilleraceway.com or by calling the ticket office at 641-842-5431.
Ricky Thornton Jr. is currently leading the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. Jonathan Davenport holds second place, followed by Devin Moran in third. Hudson O’Neal and Brandon Sheppard complete the top five in the championship standings.
The 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by All Makes Collision Center will be the final bonus round in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. The Big River Steel “Big Four” drivers - who will race in the final five events of the season to decide the 2025 National Championship - will be determined after Saturday’s main event at Knoxville Raceway.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses:
Thursday - September 18
B-Main Purses: 1. Transfer + $100, 2. Transfer + $100, 3. Transfer + $100, 4. $200, 5. $200, 6. $200, 7. $200, 8. $200, 9. $200, 10. $200, 11. $200, 12. $200, 13. $200, 14. $200, 15. $200, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200, 21. $200, 22. $200,
23. $200, 24. $200 = $4,500
A-Main Purse: 1. $10,000, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,575
Friday - September 19
B-Main Purses: 1. Transfer + $100, 2. Transfer + $100, 3. Transfer + $100, 4. $200, 5. $200, 6. $200, 7. $200, 8. $200, 9. $200, 10. $200, 11. $200, 12. $200, 13. $200, 14. $200, 15. $200, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200, 21. $200, 22. $200,
23. $200, 24. $200 = $4,500
A-Main Purse: 1. $10,000, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,575
Saturday - September 20
B-Main Purses: 1. Transfer + $200, 2. Transfer + $200, 3. Transfer + $200, 4. $500, 5. $500, 6. $500, 7. $500, 8. $500, 9. $500, 10. $500, 11. $500, 12. $400, 13. $400, 14. $400, 15. $400, 16. $400, 17. $400, 18. $400, 19. $400, 20. $400, 21. $400, 22. $400, 23. $400, 24. $400 = $9,800
A-Main Purse: 1. $75,000, 2. $25,000, 3. $10,000, 4. $9,000, 5. $8,000, 6. $7,000, 7. $6,000, 8. $5,000, 9. $4,500, 10. $4,000, 11. $3,800, 12. $3,700, 13. $3,600, 14. $3,500, 15. $3,400, 16. $3,300, 17. $3,200, 18. $3,100, 19. $3,000, 20. $2,900, 21. $2,800, 22. $2,700, 23. $2,600, 24. $2,500, 25. $2,500, 26. $2,500, 27. $2,500, 28. $2,500, 29. $2,500, 30. $2,500, 31. $2,500, 32. $2,500 = $217,600
Total Weekend Purse: $352,350
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule:
Left Rear/Fronts - Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3
Right Rear - Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4
Previous Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Winners:
2024 - Bobby Pierce
2023 - Ricky Thornton Jr.
2022 - Jonathan Davenport
2021 - Mike Marlar
2019 - Jimmy Owens
2018 - Jimmy Owens
2017 - Mike Marlar
2016 - Mike Marlar
2015 - Jared Landers
2014 - Brian Birkhofer
2013 - Darrell Lanigan
2012 - Steve Francis
2011 - Don O'Neal
2010 - Billy Moyer
2009 - Scott Bloomquist
2008 - Tim McCreadie
2007 - Brady Smith
2006 - Brian Shirley
2005 - Scott Bloomquist
2004 - Brian Birkhofer
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