Daison Pursley to drive Kasey Kahne Napa No. 9 in 2026
MOORESVILLE, N.C.—On the heels of Brad Sweet’s retirement from full-time Sprint Car Racing, the question has been asked repeatedly: what’s next for Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb? After all, the team has been a staple in the sport for two decades and of late, has been the gold standard of which others measure themselves against.
On Friday afternoon, the question was answered, and the torch was passed to the next generation. Beginning in 2026, the NAPA Auto Parts sponsorship will move to the KKR No. 9 machine with 21-year-old Locust Grove, Oklahoma native Daison Pursley taking the wheel in pursuit of a Kubota High Limit Racing championship.
Pursley moves to KKR fresh off a successful 2025 campaign driving Tom Buch’s No. 13 machine, a year that saw him earn 23 top-10 finishes, seven top-five results, and a victory at Lernerville’s Commonwealth Clash as he finished seventh in the standings and claimed the inaugural Rayce Rudeen Foundation Rookie of the Year Award. Prior to that, the second-generation racer climbed the ranks through micro sprints on his way to working with Keith Kunz and Chad Boat during a tenure in USAC, which saw him win the 2024 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship.
“I’m super excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Pursley. “To drive for Kasey and everyone at KKR is truly a dream come true. I look forward to carrying on the legacy and success that KKR has built. I’m also really looking forward to representing NAPA – they’ve been such a huge supporter of KKR for many years, and it means a lot to have them on board with me. I can’t wait to get things started.”
Established in 2005 – when Pursley was less than a year old – KKR quickly became a powerhouse in the sport. To this day, they’ve earned 219 World of Outlaws wins, 14 High Limit Racing victories, and seven national championships to go along with crown jewel wins like the Knoxville Nationals and Kings Royal.
Pursley joins a long lineage of KKR drivers that includes the likes of Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Brad Sweet, Cody Darrah, Paul McMahan, Craig Dollansky, James McFadden, Jesse Hockett, Jeff Shepard, Kerry Madsen, Jason Meyers, Jason Johnson, and Kasey Kahne himself. The organization is just as noted for prominent crew members, handing wrenches to the likes of Ricky Warner, Paul Silva, Eric Prutzman, Willie Kahne, Kale Kahne, Lee Stauffer, Joe Mooney, and more.
“I recognize Daison’s commitment to excel in the sport and be a top Sprint Car driver,” Kahne added. “His story and resume speaks for itself, and in some cases, mirrors the same passions I had as a young racer. His drive, goals, and talent are aligned with KKR and our partners. We look forward to doing big things together.”
As Kahne mentioned, the similarities are plentiful between he and Pursley, but especially Pursley and his predecessor, Brad Sweet. Much like Daison in the early 2020s, Brad Sweet in the early-mid 2000s constantly craved to race – it didn’t matter who, what, when, where, why, or how – and that fiery passion inspired Kasey to hire Brad. In turn, Brad rewarded him with six titles and a hundred-plus victories. Now, Daison gets his chance to follow the mold of Kasey and Brad and doing so with an iconic brand like NAPA Auto Parts and the famous No. 9 team.
“As part of our continued partnership with Kasey Kahne Racing, we are thrilled to welcome Daison Pursley to the NAPA Racing family and look forward to ushering in a new era of success in the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9,” Katherine Wooten, NAPA’s Director of Partnership Strategy & Activation, commented.”
The pairing of Pursley in the KKR, NAPA No. 9 will officially begin in two weeks during the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. After that, preparations will begin for the 2026 Kubota High Limit Racing season, which begins in March.
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