There are crown jewels.
Then there’s the Kings Royal.
Sprint car racing’s biggest weekend reaches its grand finale Saturday night as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Eldora Speedway for the 43rd running of the Kings Royal, where $200,000 awaits the winner and a place in dirt racing immortality.
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For many fans, there are two races every winged sprint car driver dreams of winning: the Kings Royal and the Knoxville Nationals.
They’re the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 of 410 sprint car racing.
Simply put, they don’t get any bigger.
Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Friday, July 17
Knight Before the Kings Royal
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Winner’s Purse – $25,000
Saturday, July 18
43rd Kings Royal
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Spectator Gates Open – Noon
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Hot Laps – 6:30 p.m. (subject to weather adjustments)
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Opening Ceremonies – Evening
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Feature Distance – 40 laps
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Winner’s Purse – $200,000
Track: Eldora Speedway (0.5-mile high-banked dirt oval), Rossburg, Ohio.
TV/Streaming: DIRTVision
Radio: DIRTVision Audio and the World of Outlaws app/live timing.
Larson’s Week Is Complete
Kyle Larson won’t race Saturday night.
And honestly, he has earned a breather.
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The Hendrick Motorsports superstar spent Monday through Thursday racing sprint cars across Ohio before capping the week with a victory in Thursday night’s $100,000 Joker’s Jackpot during High Limit Racing competition at Eldora.
Mind you, he raced EchoPark Speedway with NASCAR until about 2 a.m. on Sunday night, which turned into Monday morning.
With NASCAR Cup Series qualifying awaiting him Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Larson will turn his attention back to stock cars after one of the busiest stretches any driver will have this season.
His absence certainly changes the outlook for Saturday.
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It doesn’t make the field any less loaded.
Corey Day Takes Center Stage
If Larson isn’t racing, Hendrick Motorsports’ next great prospect might be.
Corey Day headlines Saturday’s field after spending the week battling the sport’s best at Eldora. With the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series off this weekend, Day gets another opportunity to chase one of sprint car racing’s most prestigious trophies.
Few young drivers have generated as much excitement over the past two seasons.
Winning the Kings Royal would instantly elevate him into sprint car royalty.
The Favorites
Even without Larson, Saturday’s lineup remains absolutely stacked.
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David Gravel
The current World of Outlaws championship leader has been one of the fastest drivers in the country all season and already owns a Kings Royal victory from 2023. Gravel rarely unloads without race-winning speed at Eldora.
Logan Schuchart
One of the sport’s premier big-race drivers, Schuchart has consistently excelled at Eldora and knows how to survive the attrition that often defines the Kings Royal.
Rico Abreu
If there is a fan favorite entering Saturday night, Rico Abreu might top the list.
His aggressive style fits Eldora perfectly, and whenever the cushion comes into play, few drivers attack it better.
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Brent Marks
Marks captured the Kings Royal in 2022 and has developed into one of the sport’s premier crown jewel racers.
When the money gets bigger, Marks usually gets faster.
Aaron Reutzel
Reutzel continues to be one of sprint car racing’s most consistent winners and has the speed to contend on any given night, which he often does in High Limit.
Brad Sweet
The five-time World of Outlaws champion never seems far from the front at Eldora.
Experience matters here, and few drivers possess more of it.
Donny Schatz
Never overlook Donny Schatz.
The veteran owns six Kings Royal victories, the most of any active driver, and has spent nearly two decades mastering Eldora Speedway. Even when outright speed isn’t there, Schatz always seems to find himself in contention when the money is on the line.
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Corey Day
Youth meets opportunity.
Few drivers carry more momentum entering the weekend. Day is progressing rapidly on the NASCAR side and still among sprint car racing’s best when he gets back behind the wheel of a winged missile.
Defending Champion
Anthony Macri returns looking to defend his Kings Royal crown after breaking through with the biggest victory of his career one year ago.
Before Macri’s triumph, David Gravel won in 2024, Donny Schatz captured the event in 2023, Brent Marks prevailed in 2022, and Kyle Larson delivered one of the most memorable Kings Royal victories in recent memory back in 2021.
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That’s elite company.
Macri now has a chance to add another chapter.
Weather Could Play a Role
Friday’s Knight Before the Kings Royal serves as the final tune-up before Saturday’s main event, although weather has already forced officials to adjust portions of the weekend schedule.
Some teams have understandably shifted much of their focus toward Saturday’s $200,000 payday, where one spectacular night can define a career.
Why This Race Matters
Every form of motorsports has its bucket-list events.
The Daytona 500.
The Indianapolis 500.
The Coca-Cola 600.
Monaco.
Nürburgring.
Le Mans.
For winged sprint car racers, the Kings Royal belongs in that conversation.
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Winning Saturday night isn’t just another victory.
It becomes part of your résumé forever.
The list of past champions reads like a Hall of Fame ballot, and another legendary name will join it before the night is over.
If you love dirt racing—even casually—this is one of the can’t-miss events of the year.
Forty laps.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Sprint car immortality awaits.
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