Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 12, 2025) – Big Game Motorsports rebounded in a big way last weekend during the 64th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.
David Gravel opened the team’s preliminary night at Knoxville Raceway by qualifying fourth quickest despite a high pill draw that sent him out near the back of the 51-car field on Wednesday. Unfortunately, an opening-lap crash in the heat race resulted in a DNF. Gravel won the C Main and hustled from 21st to eighth in the B Main.
The crew repaired the race car for Friday’s Hard Knox Night and Gravel capitalized. He was second quickest in his group’s qualifying session before winning both the heat race and the main event from the fourth starting position.
“We’ve had a hot rod all year long,” Gravel said in a post-race interview on DIRTVision. “No matter what night it is, we’re passing cars. Just sometimes we get in wrecks or blow tires and drive straight in the wall. Thank you to my guys – Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), Pete (Stephens) and Scott (Vogelsong). This is the same race car we flipped on Wednesday. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.”
The triumphant performance locked the team into the 21st starting position for Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals finale. Just like two years ago when Gravel charged from 22nd to second, the team was on a mission.
Gravel was running 20th on Lap 14 before he began to charge forward. He was up to 13th when the mid-point caution occurred on Lap 27. Once the race restarted, Gravel cracked the top 10 on Lap 28. He drove into the top five on Lap 45 and a late-race caution bunched the field together. Gravel made the most of it, getting two more positions, including a last-lap pass to score the third-place result. It marked his fourth career podium during the Knoxville Nationals, including for the third time in the last four years. Gravel also earned the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars.
“We had a really good car,” he said in a post-race interview on DIRTVision. “The second half of those runs our car was unbelievable. I just want to say congratulations to Ryan Timms. This race is not easy to win. To put together your prelim night and then put together 50 laps that is not easy to do with the best in the business behind you.
“What a run for us. Super proud of our team not giving up and proved we can pass race cars year in and year out. Man, wish we could’ve started a couple rows farther up. Felt like we were so good at the end.”
The team returns to World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series points racing this Friday at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn., during the Big O Showdown and Saturday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., during the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars presented by FENDT.
Gravel holds a 172-point lead in the championship standings entering the weekend.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: DNF (8); C Main: 1 (1); B Main: 8 (21).
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 1 (4).
Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Feature: 3 (21).
SEASON STATS –
52 races, 12 wins, 42 top fives, 48 top 10s, 48 top 15s, 48 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn., for the Big O Showdown and Saturday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars presented by FENDT with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
BIG GAME MOTORSPORTS MEDIA LINKS –
X: https://x.com/BigGameMotorspt
DAVID GRAVEL MEDIA LINKS –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidGravelRacing
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/DavidGravel2
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidGravel
Website: http://www.shopDGR.com
HUSET’S SPEEDWAY –
Huset’s Speedway is home to the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals, which runs June 18-21 and features two six-figure payouts that week. The dirt oval located in Brandon, S.D., hosts a variety of events from Mother’s Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. The track opened in 1954 and has undergone a large renovation within the last few years, making it a premier destination for both marquee national events and a strong Sunday Night weekly program. Check out the complete schedule and get more information about Huset’s Speedway at http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.
JACKSON MOTORPLEX –
Jackson Motorplex is a 4/10-mile dirt oval located in Jackson, Minn. It hosts special events from May through September, including races with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Midwest Power Series, Midwest Sprint Touring Series and more. For the full 2025 racing schedule and more information, visit http://www.JacksonMotorplex.com.
2025 EVENT TICKET LINK –
To purchase tickets for events at either Huset’s Speedway or at Jackson Motorplex, visit http://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=JKMV_PL_MPV&orgid=55369#/?view=list&includePackages=true.
OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE –
Check out all of the newest Huset’s Speedway merchandise at http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
*PHOTO BY TRENT GOWER PHOTOGRAPHY*
