Record-Paying Late Model Knoxville Nationals on Deck

BATAVIA, Ohio (September 15, 2025) – 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