Kyle Larson Skips Knoxville Nationals Finale, Prioritizes NASCAR at Richmond
By John Damon
Kyle Larson will race at the Knoxville Nationals on Thursday night, but Iowa's biggest sprint car event will have to crown its 2026 champion without him. The two-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion is skipping Saturday's Knoxville Nationals finale to focus on the Cup race at Richmond, a decision he says is simply part of the job.
Larson, 34, is entered in Thursday's preliminary action at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. But when the green flag drops on Saturday's main event, the Hendrick Motorsports star will be in Virginia behind the wheel of his No. 5 Chevrolet for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
The Knoxville Nationals, known as