Gio Scelzi opened the 360 Nationals with a win over Aaron Reutzel (L) and Kyle Larson (R) (Paul Arch Photo) (Video Highlights from DirtVision.com)
Aaron Reutzel High Point Driver
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 6, 2026) – Giovanni Scelzi opened up the 36th Annual Xtream Powered by Mediacom 360 Knoxville Nationals Presented by Great Southern Bank with a big win on Thursday night. The Fresno, California native and 2021 360 Nationals champ led wire to wire in the Spire Motorsports #77. His win was worth $3,000. Aaron Reutzel left Thursday with the point lead, having accumulated 492 Thursday. James McFadden (482), Justin Henderson (478), Kyle Larson (477), Scelzi (473) and Chase Randall (471) followed (complete points are below the results).
Scelzi shot out from the pole position in the 20-lap main event. Randall, Larson, McFadden and Reutzel followed. On lap three, Larson shot by Randall for second on lap three. Reutzel got by McFadden on the low side of turn two for fourth on lap seven.
Scelzi was in lapped traffic by the eighth circuit. Twelve laps in, John Carney II brought the only caution of the race when he blew his left rear tire.
Scelzi led Larson, Randall, Reutzel and McFadden back to green. Randall shot by Larson for second on the restart, while Corey Day entered the top five on the restart. McFadden regained fifth from Day on lap 14, while Larson repassed Randall on the high side with five to go to take second.
Reutzel, who started eighth, passed Randall with four to go for third. He reeled Larson in, and got by in the last corner to finish second to Scelzi, who won his fourth career 360 feature here. Randall was fourth, ahead of McFadden. Day, Justin Peck, Justin Henderson, Brock Zearfoss and Ryan Leavitt rounded out the top ten.
Reutzel set quick time over the 53-car field, while Peck, Carney, Tanner Holmes, Austin McCarl and Matt Juhl won the heats. Jesse Pate took the C main, and Chris Martin claimed the B. Skylar Prochaska took a nasty ride in the B, collecting Jack Thomas. Both drivers walked away.
“The middle got dirty midway through the race,” said Scelzi in Victory Lane. “I didn’t realize the bottom would come in so fast. I saw Chris (Martin) in the B main, and he looked pretty stuck down there. I hit the first corner wide open and I hoped it was the same down in three and four. Single-file restarts help, and there’s no games. Thanks to Trey Starks. Their second baby is due, and we were able to use their motor. This was cool. We had to win to be anywhere decent in points for Saturday.”
“That was really good,” said Reutzel of his run. “Hopefully, that’s the pole. We’ll have to see what happens tomorrow, but our car was phenomenal. It was a great way to get Nationals started. It feels like a long time since I ran the Nationals having to miss last year (due to injury). I’m just really proud of this race team.”
“I just didn’t do a good job on either of the starts,” said Larson. “After I got through one and two poorly, I would run a couple good laps and get going and feel pretty good there. Obviously, I wish we stayed green. On the restart, I knew there was a lot of meat in the middle, but I didn’t think (Randall) had enough to circle me. I was happy to get back by him, and Aaron caught me off guard at the end. I was getting kind of tight. I just have to do a better job. You just can’t make any mistakes.”
The 36th Annual Xtream Powered by Mediacom Knoxville 360 Nationals Presented by Great Southern Bank continues on Friday, August 7! For more information on the Knoxville Raceway, visit us online at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
36th Annual Xtream Powered by Mediacom Knoxville 360 Nationals Presented by Great Southern Bank Night #1 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 87, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 16.267 (17); 2. 11, Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 16.281 (24); 3. 21T, James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust., 16.372 (52); 4. 22X, Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA, 16.441 (22); 5. 9P, Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK, 16.455 (6); 6. 57, Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 16.456 (37); 7. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 16.518 (29); 8. 64, Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.545 (2); 9. G2, Tony Rost, Utica, NE, 16.550 (16); 10. 7S, Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.560 (12); 11. 9, Chase Randall, Waco, TX, 16.571 (38); 12. 4J, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA, 16.587 (3); 13. 77, Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 16.589 (26); 14. 4C, Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN, 16.596 (19); 15. 14, Corey Day, Clovis, CA, 16.598 (42); 16. 71T, Christopher Townsend, Cleveland, TX, 16.606 (4); 17. 11N, Darin Naida, Adrian, MI, 16.658 (23); 18. 28, Jace Park, Overland Park, KS, 16.661 (53); 19. 17GP, Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown, PA, 16.664 (11); 20. 23D, Devon Dobie, Wapakoneta, OH, 16.671 (10); 21. 26, Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN, 16.691 (47); 22. 86, Timothy Smith, Rocheport, MO, 16.700 (34); 23. 13, Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR, 16.707 (33); 24. 88W, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 16.738 (51); 25. 09, Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 16.749 (28); 26. 55B, Chase Brown, Yutan, NE, 16.756 (1); 27. 8C, John Carney II, El Paso, TX, 16.761 (50); 28. 01, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 16.802 (27); 29. 8M, Kade Morton, Coweta, OK, 16.827 (31); 30. 71B, Brady Baker, Alexander, AR, 16.832 (36); 31. 22P, Jesse Pate, Overbrook, KS, 16.882 (14); 32. 4W, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 16.896 (45); 33. 47, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.902 (44); 34. 24H, Kade Higday, Knoxville, IA, 16.904 (32); 35. 56, Johnn Cressman, Hartford, SD, 16.907 (30); 36. 9L, Laney Moore, Des Moines, IA, 16.924 (39); 37. 938, Bradley Fezard, Bonnerdale, AR, 16.941 (9); 38. 23, Chase Dietz, York, PA, 16.960 (13); 39. 63W, Josh Weller, Mertztown, PA, 16.993 (8); 40. 23B, Seth Bergman, Snohomish, WA, 17.008 (41); 41. 63T, Jack Thomas, Bates City, MO, 17.068 (49); 42. 35, Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN, 17.133 (40); 43. 1A, John Anderson, Des Moines, IA, 17.153 (7); 44. 7B, Ben Brown, Marshall, MO, 17.204 (43); 45. T4, Tyler Graves, Chariton, IA, 17.212 (5); 46. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA, 17.257 (46); 47. 20I, Kelsey Ivy, Fremont, OH, 17.266 (20); 48. 6, Logan Moore, Des Moines, IA, 17.325 (35); 49. 48, Nick Tucker, Mooresville, NC, 17.327 (15); 50. 39JR, Brayden Mount, Rapid City, SD, 17.383 (21) / 51. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA, 17.457 (18); 52. 11R, Rodney Huband, Wimberley, TX, 17.987 (48); 53. 81, Kelly Miller, Lethbridge, ALB, Can., NT (25)
Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 2:55.3: 1. 26, Justin Peck (2); 2. 9, Chase Randall (4); 3. 87, Aaron Reutzel (6); 4. 57, Kyle Larson (5) / 5. 55B, Chase Brown (1); 6. 9L, Laney Moore (8); 7. 7, Dustin Selvage (10); 8. 71T, Christopher Townsend (3) / 9. 22P, Jesse Pate (7); 10. 63T, Jack Thomas (9)
Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:17.7: 1. 8C, John Carney II (1); 2. 4J, Ryan Leavitt (4); 3. 11, Justin Henderson (6); 4. 86, Timothy Smith (2) / 5. 11N, Darin Naida (3); 6. 44, Chris Martin (5); 7. 4W, Jamie Ball (7); 8. 938, Bradley Fezard (8) / 9. 35, Skylar Prochaska (9); 10. 20I, Kelsey Ivy (10)
Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 2:37.9: 1. 13, Tanner Holmes (2); 2. 77, Giovanni Scelzi (4); 3. 21T, James McFadden (6); 4. 01, Carson McCarl (1) / 5. 28, Jace Park (3); 6. 64, Kaleb Johnson (5); 7. 23, Chase Dietz (8); 8. 6, Logan Moore (10) / 9. 1A, John Anderson (9); 10. 47, Tony Shilling (7)
Heat four (started), 8 Laps, 2:42.2: 1. 88W, Austin McCarl (2); 2. 4C, Cale Thomas (4); 3. 8M, Kade Morton (1); 4. 17GP, Brock Zearfoss (3) / 5. 22X, Riley Goodno (6); 6. 24H, Kade Higday (7); 7. G2, Tony Rost (5); 8. 7B, Ben Brown (9) / 9. 63W, Josh Weller (8); 10. 48, Nick Tucker (10)
Heat five (started), 8 Laps, 2:21.5: 1. 09, Matt Juhl (2); 2. 14, Corey Day (4); 3. 9P, Daison Pursley (6); 4. 71B, Brady Baker (1) / 5. 7S, Sawyer Phillips (5); 6. 23B, Seth Bergman (7); 7. 23D, Devon Dobie (3); 8. T4, Tyler Graves (8) / 9. 39JR, Brayden Mount (9); DNS - 10. 56, Johnn Cressman
C main (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. 22P, Jesse Pate (1); 2. 35, Skylar Prochaska (6); 3. 63T, Jack Thomas (5); 4. 63W, Josh Weller (4) / 5. 20I, Kelsey Ivy (8); 6. 1A, John Anderson (7); 7. 39JR, Brayden Mount (10); 8. 33, Alan Zoutte (11); 9. 48, Nick Tucker (9); 10. 11R, Rodney Huband (12); DNS - 11. 47, Tony Shilling; 12. 56, Johnn Cressman; 13. 81, Kelly Miller
B main (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. 44, Chris Martin (2); 2. 22X, Riley Goodno (1); 3. G2, Tony Rost (4); 4. 64, Kaleb Johnson (3) / 5. 11N, Darin Naida (7); 6. 28, Jace Park (8); 7. 7S, Sawyer Phillips (5); 8. 4W, Jamie Ball (11); 9. 23, Chase Dietz (15); 10. 55B, Chase Brown (10); 11. 24H, Kade Higday (12); 12. 71T, Christopher Townsend (6); 13. 7B, Ben Brown (17); 14. 9L, Laney Moore (13); 15. 23D, Devon Dobie (9); 16. 938, Bradley Fezard (14); 17. 23B, Seth Bergman (16); 18. 22P, Jesse Pate (21); 19. T4, Tyler Graves (18); 20. 6, Logan Moore (20); 21. 63W, Josh Weller (24); 22. 7, Dustin Selvage (19); 23. 35, Skylar Prochaska (22); 24. 63T, Jack Thomas (23)
A main (started), 20 Laps, NT: 1. 77, Giovanni Scelzi (1); 2. 87, Aaron Reutzel (8); 3. 57, Kyle Larson (4); 4. 9, Chase Randall (3); 5. 21T, James McFadden (6); 6. 14, Corey Day (10); 7. 26, Justin Peck (12); 8. 11, Justin Henderson (7); 9. 17GP, Brock Zearfoss (11); 10. 4J, Ryan Leavitt (2); 11. 22X, Riley Goodno (22); 12. 9P, Daison Pursley (5); 13. 88W, Austin McCarl (15); 14. 13, Tanner Holmes (14); 15. 44, Chris Martin (21); 16. 01, Carson McCarl (18); 17. 09, Matt Juhl (16); 18. 71B, Brady Baker (20); 19. 8C, John Carney II (17); 20. 64, Kaleb Johnson (24); 21. 4C, Cale Thomas (9); 22. 8M, Kade Morton (19); 23. 86, Timothy Smith (13); 24. G2, Tony Rost (23). Lap Leader: Scelzi 1-20. Hard-charger: Goodno.
Thursday Points
1. Aaron Reutzel, 492
2. James McFadden, 482
3. Justin Henderson, 478
4. Kyle Larson, 477
5. Giovanni Scelzi, 473
6. Chase Randall, 471
7. Daison Pursley, 464
8. Riley Goodno, 462
9. Corey Day, 459
10. Ryan Leavitt, 457
11. Justin Peck, 448
12. Chris Martin, 445
13. Brock Zearfoss, 439
14. Kaleb Johnson, 433
15. Cale Thomas, 431
16. Austin McCarl, 430
17. Tanner Holmes, 430
18. Matt Juhl, 429
19. Tony Rost, 420
20. John Carney II, 412
21. Sawyer Phillips, 408
22. Carson McCarl, 407
23. Timothy Smith, 405
24. Brady Baker, 399
25. Darin Naida, 398
26. Kade Morton, 396
27. Jace Park, 394
28. Christopher Townsend, 377
29. Chase Brown, 370
30. Devon Dobie, 366
31. Jamie Ball, 356
32. Kade Higday, 349
33. Chase Dietz, 342
34. Laney Moore, 339
35. Jesse Pate, 332
36. Bradley Fezard, 327
37. Seth Bergman, 325
38. Ben Brown, 319
39. Josh Weller, 310
40. Tyler Graves, 305
41. Dustin Selvage, 300
42. Skylar Prochaska, 300
43. Logan Moore, 297
44. Jack Thomas, 297
45. Tony Shilling, 289
46. Johnn Cressman, 283
47. John Anderson, 282
48. Kelsey Ivy, 273
49. Brayden Mount, 266
50. Nick Tukcer, 261
51. Alan Zoutte, 236
52. Rodney Huband, 227
53. Kelly Miller, 216