Kyle Larson won his second career Capitani Classic at Knoxville Sunday (Paul Arch Photo) (Video Highlights from DirtVision.com)
by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 9, 2026) – Kyle Larson was just happy to get back behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car at Knoxville. After running the 360 Knoxville Nationals and the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa Speedway, he felt at home in winning the 14th $13,000 Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic Presented by Great Southern Bank Sunday night at the Knoxville Raceway. It was a hard fought win that saw plenty of passing in the feature event. A record 87 cars entered on Sunday.
David Gravel started in the pole position after winning the $2,500 K-1 Racegear Pole Shuffle, and led early in the 25-lap main event over Brent Marks, Austin McCarl, Kyle Larson and Rico Abreu. Rico and Larson put on a great battle for fourth, exchanging the spot before Kyle took it on lap three.
On lap ten, Aaron Reutzel passed Abreu to move in the top five and a lap later, Larson found his way around McCarl to take over third.
It took until lap 14 to catch traffic, but things got interesting quickly. Larson used a move high in turn two to take second from Marks on lap 15, while Abreu moved back by Reutzel into the top five.
Larson gained slowly on Gravel, and on lap 19, he entered high in turn one and came down off of turn two under the leader to take the point. On lap 18, Abreu continued his momentum, getting by McCarl for fourth, and a circuit later passed Marks for third.
On lap 21, Reutzel and McCarl passed Marks for fourth and fifth. Things were happening quickly in traffic. Abreu got by Gravel for second in close racing before Buddy Kofoid and Tyler Courtney got together, with Kofoid getting upside down.
Larson would lead the pack the last three laps to take his second Capitani Classic (his previous win came in 2020). Abreu would come home second, ahead of Gravel, Reutzel and McCarl. James McFadden, Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Parker Price-Miller and $1,000 Avanti Windows & Doors Hard-charger Donny Schatz rounded out the top ten.
Gravel and Brady Bacon set quick time over their respective groups. Chase Dietz, Corey Day, Courtney, Justin Peck, Abreu and McFadden won the heat races. Steven Snyder Jr. and Brock Zearfoss won the two C mains, and Kofoid and Chris Windom claimed the B mains.
Anthony Macri and Bacon were involved in a scary crash in their heat race. Both walked away. Austyn Gossel and Riley Goodno were other flip victims that were uninjured.
“When I got to the lead, it was very difficult to run the bottom,” said Larson in Victory Lane. “When I hit it right, it was really good, but I struggled. Once I got to the lead, I was a little too timid, and getting tight on entry. I was just making a lot of mistakes. When (Abreu) was close before the red, he pulled up close and I knew he had a run. It had me confused about how high to go on the restart. I saw the crumbs, and with clean air, I thought I’d have enough in the middle. It was good enough to get the job done for that three-lap shootout. I feel like no matter how much rain they get here, they always seem to find a way to get it racy. I was happy to get back behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car. I wasn’t planning to run this, but after 360 Nationals I was kind of grumpy. I’m really glad to get in Victory Lane.”
“I was just a little bit off in the early going,” said Abreu. “Once the right rear tire got some growth, I could get my car going up top like a slingshot. It was a lot of fun there to race in traffic, maneuver around and get the middle going at times. My team does a great job. I’ve got the best in the business. I wouldn’t do it with anyone else. These podiums are good to put us in position. I really treat these races like Saturday of the Knoxville Nationals. We’ll have 25 more laps (next Saturday), so to get to second…these drivers are the best of the best when it comes to sprint car racing. It was great to race with (Reutzel), (Gravel) and Kyle.”
“I felt really good early running the bottom well,” said Gravel. “I kind of got a little stale there, and lapped traffic definitely ‘whoa-ed’ me up. I didn’t feel right there and Kyle got me. I moved to the top and felt like I was gaining on him. I thought I rolled a really good corner, and here comes Rico sliding by me. Rico’s car really came on late in that green flag run. If we didn’t have a caution, Rico may have won that race. It was a real strong night…real happy with our piece. I feel like we can get better in the later part of that race. Kyle Larson and Rico Abreu are some of the best drivers in the world. It’s nothing to hang our heads about, and hopefully, it’s us three on Saturday night duking it out.”
Join us for the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s August 12-15! It’s the “Granddaddy of Them All!” For more information on the Knoxville Raceway, visit us online at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
14th Annual Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic Presented by Great Southern Bank Night Results
Time Trials Group 1 (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 2-David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 15.205 (4) ($100 from OpenWheel101.com); 2. 88W-Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 15.279 (28); 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 15.280 (31); 4. 71-Parker Price Miller, Kokomo, IN, 15.331 (29); 5. 27A-Emerson Axsom, Franklin, IN, 15.384 (23); 6. 77-Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 15.411 (2); 7. 23D-Chase Dietz, York, PA, 15.413 (37); 8. 14-Corey Day, Clovis, CA, 15.463 (30); 9. 5-Brenham Crouch, Lubbock, TX, 15.472 (16); 10. 10-Ryan Timms, Oklahoma City, OK, 15.480 (10); 11. 19HM-Kaleb Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD, 15.560 (21); 12. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN, 15.566 (12); 13. 12X-Landon Crawley, Benton, AR, 15.588 (5); 14. 09-Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 15.617 (8); 15. 13-Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR, 15.619 (9); 16. 16C-Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can., 15.623 (3); 17. 83-Michael Kofoid, Penngrove, CA, 15.628 (41); 18. 4-Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA, 15.641 (27); 19. 9P-Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK, 15.661 (17); 20. 44-Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 15.675 (14); 21. 9R-Chase Randall, Waco, TX, 15.694 (33); 22. 55-Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 15.700 (35); 23. 2K-Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust., 15.714 (15); 24. 1TAZ-Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 15.729 (13); 25. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 15.770 (34); 26. 42-Sye Lynch, Apollo, PA, 15.785 (18); 27. 28-Jace Park, Overland Park, KS, 15.787 (42); 28. 121-RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 15.792 (36); 29. 51-Steven Snyder Jr, Rising Sun, MD, 15.792 (38); 30. 26R-Levi Hillier, Burlington, WA, 15.819 (1); 31. 17-Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 15.885 (43); 32. 2C-Cole Macedo, Lemoore, CA, 15.929 (39); 33. 27B-Garrett Benson, Concordia, MO, 15.936 (20); 34. 2M-JJ Hickle, Quilcene, WA, 15.943 (6); 35. 19H-Joel Myers Jr, Santa Rosa, CA, 15.992 (32); 36. 22-Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA, 16.044 (22) / 37. 24D-Danny Sams III, North Port, FL, 16.134 (11); 38. 15J-Kade Higday, Knoxville, IA, 16.159 (25); 39. 4C-Cameron Martin, Ankeny, IA, 16.173 (26); 40. 6-Zach Hampton, Plainfield, IN, 16.253 (44); 41. 15JR-Cole Mincer, Burlington, IA, 16.274 (40); 42. 85J-Logan Julien, Oconomowoc, WI, 16.323 (24); 43. 56-Joe Simbro, Pleasantville, IA, 16.739 (7); 44. 11R-Rodney Huband, Wimberley, TX, 16.790 (19)
Time Trials Group 2 (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 21H-Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 15.248 (3); 2. 69K-Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK, 15.329 (8); 3. 19-Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 15.381 (16); 4. 57-Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 15.416 (7); 5. 88-Tanner Thorson, Minden, NV, 15.499 (22); 6. 11-Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 15.499 (9); 7. 1K-Kelby Watt, Adel, IA, 15.509 (10); 8. 14TSR-Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 15.518 (5); 9. 21T-James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust., 15.553 (13); 10. 26-Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN, 15.638 (28); 11. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, Sunnyvale, TX, 15.655 (39); 12. 21-Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 15.693 (24); 13. 7S-Chris Windom, Canton, IL, 15.733 (15); 14. 41-Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA, 15.738 (23); 15. 45X-Rees Moran, Tulsa, OK, 15.777 (26); 16. 39M-Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, PA, 15.796 (30); 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA, 15.805 (41); 18. 2A-Austin Wood, Sacramento, CA, 15.833 (2); 19. 87X-Ashton Torgerson, Glendale, AZ, 15.848 (14); 20. 25-Jy Corbet, Gympie, QLD, Aust., 15.862 (33); 21. 1X-Scott Bogucki, McLaren Vale, SA, Aust., 015.884 (34); 22. 23-Garet Williamson, Kingdom City, MO, 15.925 (43); 23. 11N-Darin Naida, Adrian MI, 15.995 (19); 24. 15-Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 16.018 (11); 25. 27-Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 16.069 (40); 26. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss, Jonestown, PA, 16.072 (29); 27. 74-Xavier Doney, Odessa, MO, 16.078 (31); 28. 45D-Derek Hagar, Marion, AR, 16.079 (21); 29. 31-Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN, 16.124 (36); 30. 4W-Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 16.224 (38); 31. 2KS-Hank Davis, Sand Springs, OK, 16.270 (35); 32. 0D-DJ Christie, Beachville, ONT, Can., 16.282 (27); 33. 23L-Jimmy Light, Pittsboro, IN, 16.291 (4); 34. 14T-Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 16.312 (17); 35. 24T-Christopher Thram, Sanborn, MN, 16.344 (32); 36. 16G-Austyn Gossel, Fort Collins, CO, 16.347 (12) / 37. 40-Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.386 (20); 38. G5-Gage Pulkrabek, East Grand Forks, MN, 16.505 (18); 39. 7B-Ben Brown, Marshall, MO, 16.635 (6); 40. 6DC-Will Armitage, Athens, IL, 16.694 (42); 41. 8N-Dylan Bloomfield, Oakley, CA, 16.704 (25); 42. 10V-Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.717 (1); 43. 24-Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, NT
Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 2:19.1: 1. 23D-Chase Dietz (1); 2. 71-Parker Price Miller (2); 3. 2-David Gravel (3) / 4. 12X-Landon Crawley (4); 5. 3P-Sawyer Phillips (7); 6. 17-Spencer Bayston (8); 7. 9P-Daison Pursley (6); 8. 16C-Skylar Gee (5); DNS - 10-Ryan Timms (1) / 55-Kerry Madsen; 121-RJ Johnson; 2M-JJ Hickle
Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 2:33.4: 1. 14-Corey Day (2); 2. 88W-Austin McCarl (4); 3. 19HM-Kaleb Johnson (1) / 4. 27A-Emerson Axsom (3); 5. 83-Michael Kofoid (6); 6. 09-Matt Juhl (5); 7. 42-Sye Lynch (9); 8. 44-Chris Martin (7); 9. 2K-Lynton Jeffrey (8) / 10. 19H-Joel Myers Jr (11); 11. 51-Steven Snyder Jr (10); DNS - 2C-Cole Macedo
Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 2:41.6: 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney (1); 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel (4); 3. 77-Giovanni Scelzi (3) / 4. 5-Brenham Crouch (2); 5. 4-Kasey Kahne (6); 6. 28-Jace Park (8); 7. 13-Tanner Holmes (5); 8. 9R-Chase Randall (7); 9. 27B-Garrett Benson (10) / 10. 22-Riley Goodno (11); 11. 26R-Levi Hillier (9); DNS - 1TAZ-Tasker Phillips
Heat four (started), 8 Laps, 2:38.2: 1. 26-Justin Peck (1); 2. 57-Kyle Larson (3); 3. 1K-Kelby Watt (2) / 4. 7S-Chris Windom (5); 5. 87X-Ashton Torgerson (7); 6. 27-Carson McCarl (9); 7. 14T-Brooke Tatnell (12); 8. 23-Garet Williamson (8); 9. 45D-Derek Hagar (10) / 10. 2KS-Hank Davis (11); 11. 21H-Brady Bacon (4); 12. 39M-Anthony Macri (6)
Heat five (started), 8 Laps, 2:40.6: 1. 14TSR-Rico Abreu (2); 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr (1); 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart (6) / 4. 69K-Daryn Pittman (4); 5. 41-Carson Macedo (5); 6. 88-Tanner Thorson (3); 7. 25-Jy Corbet (7); 8. 11N-Darin Naida (8); 9. 31-Cale Thomas (10) / 10. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss (9); 11. 24T-Christopher Thram (12); 12. 0D-DJ Christie (11)
Heat six (started), 8 Laps, 2:42.9: 1. 21T-James McFadden (2); 2. 21-Brian Brown (1); 3. 19-Brent Marks (4) / 4. 11-Justin Henderson (3); 5. 15-Donny Schatz (8); 6. 45X-Rees Moran (5); 7. 1X-Scott Bogucki (7); 8. 74-Xavier Doney (9); 9. 2A-Austin Wood (6) / 10. 4W-Jamie Ball (10); 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel (12); 12. 23L-Jimmy Light (11)
C main one (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. 51-Steven Snyder Jr (2); 2. 24D-Danny Sams III (4); 3. 26R-Levi Hillier (3); 4. 4C-Cameron Martin (6) / 5. 15J-Kade Higday (5); 6. 85J-Logan Julien (9); 7. 6-Zach Hampton (7); 8. 11R-Rodney Huband (11); 9. 56-Joe Simbro (10); 10. 22-Riley Goodno (1); 11. 15JR-Cole Mincer (8); DNS - 55-Kerry Madsen; 19H-Joel Myers Jr; 121-RJ Johnson; 2M-JJ Hickle; 2C-Cole Macedo; 1TAZ-Tasker Phillips
C main two (started), 10 Laps, 3:02.1: 1. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss (2); 2. 2KS-Hank Davis (1); 3. 16G-Austyn Gossel (3); 4. 23L-Jimmy Light (5) / 5. 8N-Dylan Bloomfield (9); 6. 0D-DJ Christie (4); 7. 10V-Joe Beaver (10); 8. G5-Gage Pulkrabek (7); 9. 7B-Ben Brown (8); 10. 40-Clint Garner (6); DNS - 4W-Jamie Ball; 21H-Brady Bacon; 24T-Christopher Thram; 39M-Anthony Macri; 6DC-Will Armitage; 24-Terry McCarl
Pole Shuffle 1, 2 Laps, :32.3: 1. Rico Abreu 2. Parker Price-Miller
Pole Shuffle 2, 2 Laps, :32.2: 1. Rico Abreu 2. Kelby Watt
Pole Shuffle 3, 2 Laps, :32.6: 1. Aaron Reutzel 2. Rico Abreu
Pole Shuffle 4, 2 Laps, :32.5: 1. Kyle Larson 2. Aaron Reutzel
Pole Shuffle 5, 2 Laps, :32.5: 1. Austin McCarl 2. Kyle Larson
Pole Shuffle 6, 2 Laps: 1. Brent Marks 2. Austin McCarl
Pole Shuffle 7, 2 Laps, :32.6: 1. David Gravel ($2500 from K-1 Racewear) 2. Brent Marks
B main one (started), 12 Laps, 3:40.9: 1. 83-Michael Kofoid (5); 2. 27A-Emerson Axsom (2); 3. 5-Brenham Crouch (3) / 4. 12X-Landon Crawley (1); 5. 17-Spencer Bayston (7); 6. 4-Kasey Kahne (6); 7. 28-Jace Park (9); 8. 9P-Daison Pursley (10); 9. 9R-Chase Randall (14); 10. 44-Chris Martin (13); 11. 13-Tanner Holmes (12); 12. 3P-Sawyer Phillips (4); 13. 2K-Lynton Jeffrey (15); 14. 26R-Levi Hillier (19); 15. 27B-Garrett Benson (16); 16. 4C-Cameron Martin (20); 17. 51-Steven Snyder Jr (17); 18. 24D-Danny Sams III (18); 19. 42-Sye Lynch (11); 20. 09-Matt Juhl (8); DNS - 16C-Skylar Gee; 10-Ryan Timms
B main two (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. 7S-Chris Windom (1); 2. 15-Donny Schatz (6); 3. 11-Justin Henderson (3) / 4. 69K-Daryn Pittman (2); 5. 1X-Scott Bogucki (11); 6. 41-Carson Macedo (5); 7. 88-Tanner Thorson (7); 8. 45X-Rees Moran (8); 9. 87X-Ashton Torgerson (4); 10. 2KS-Hank Davis (18); 11. 25-Jy Corbet (10); 12. 14T-Brooke Tatnell (9); 13. 74-Xavier Doney (13); 14. 11N-Darin Naida (12); 15. 31-Cale Thomas (15); 16. 23L-Jimmy Light (20); 17. 45D-Derek Hagar (14); 18. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss (17); 19. 16G-Austyn Gossel (19); 20. 2A-Austin Wood (16); DNS - 27-Carson McCarl; 23-Garet Williamson
A main (started), 25 Laps, NT: 1. 57-Kyle Larson (4); 2. 14TSR-Rico Abreu (6); 3. 2-David Gravel (1); 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel (5); 5. 88W-Austin McCarl (3); 6. 21T-James McFadden (10); 7. 19-Brent Marks (2); 8. 77-Giovanni Scelzi (9); 9. 71-Parker Price Miller (8); 10. 15-Donny Schatz (22); 11. 1K-Kelby Watt (7); 12. 14-Corey Day (13); 13. 26-Justin Peck (12); 14. 7S-Chris Windom (20); 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart (18); 16. 11-Justin Henderson (24); 17. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr (14); 18. 5-Brenham Crouch (23); 19. 7BC-Tyler Courtney (17); 20. 83-Michael Kofoid (19); 21. 19HM-Kaleb Johnson (15); 22. 27A-Emerson Axsom (21); 23. 23D-Chase Dietz (11); 24. 21-Brian Brown (16). Lap Leaders: Gravel 1-16, Larson 17-25. $1000 Avanti Windows & Doors Hard-charger: Schatz.