KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Kyle Larson was among the notable names who struggled during the opening night of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals on Wednesday.

BRANDT Qualifying Night appeared to get off to a solid start for Larson and his Paul Silva-led No. 57 team, as they went ninth-quick, but a seventh-place starting position in his heat with the top eight cars inverted, was too much to overcome for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular.

Larson finished seventh in his heat race, which relegated him to the Last Chance Showdown with one more shot to move into the 25-lap preliminary night feature.

Starting seventh again, Larson was unable to get to the top four in the 12-lap B-main, leaving him out in the cold for the night after podium runs in the Saturday finale each of the last two years.

“We were a field filler tonight,” Larson wrote on social media after the feature, won by Trey Starks, had concluded. “You’ll have that sometimes. Paul Silva is still the best, though.”

Larson capped his note with the hashtag, “WoO Tour 2031 Champions.”

Silva expounded on his driver’s remarks, noting that Wednesday night’s misfortune was, to the best of his recollection, the first time in their history together that they weren’t in the A-main at a race track they were competing at.

“Auto racing is one of the most humbling sports there is,” said Silva. “I believe that last night was the first show that (Kyle and I) have ever missed together. The cool thing about racing with him, though, is that we say our piece, usually laugh about it and then move on. There was no laughing last night, though.”

Larson’s tough night — which resulted in only the 21st-highest points total, 406, in the 53-driver field — leaves him with a difficult decision to make and even tougher logistics if he wants to qualify for this year’s Knoxville Nationals championship A-main on Saturday night.

His NASCAR duties for Chip Ganassi Racing put him at the two-mile Michigan Int’l Speedway on Friday for practice and qualifying. Busch Pole Qualifying for the Consumers Energy 400 kicks off at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. in Knoxville, which is on Central time), and the Friday night Hard Knox program sees hot laps beginning at 7:15 p.m. Knoxville time, leaving a very tight window of travel and arrival.

Factoring in around a two-hour flight from Michigan to Iowa, it would seem tough at best that Larson would be able to make it back to Knoxville in time to compete on Friday night for one of the four spots on offer in the Hard Knox program — however at Knoxville, it’s the car which qualifies, not the driver.

That could open up the possibility of someone else trying to lock the Silva Motorsports No. 57 in on Friday and then Larson running the car in the feature Saturday night, if Larson were unable to make the trip to Knoxville to try and race his way in due to sponsor commitments or

In a reversal of that scenario, Chip Ganassi Racing could also put someone else in Larson’s Cup Series car for practice and qualifying on Friday, and have Larson start from the rear of the field on Sunday – if, of course, he’s able to make the Friday trip in the first place.

Should Larson be unable to fall back on the Friday program or didn’t make it in on Friday night through one of the four Hard Knox A-main transfer spots, he would have the option of attempting to race his way in through the alphabet soup on Saturday.

However, that task could be exponentially tougher if Larson is unable to compete in the Friday-night program, as the lineups for Saturday’s E-, D-, C- and B-mains (aside from the top 10 starting spots in the B) are based off of drivers’ Friday night performances.

The fourth option? Larson withdraws from this year’s Nationals program, after finishing second and third on Saturday night, respectively, over the past two years at the black-dirt, half-mile oval.

We don’t have the answer as to what Larson will do yet, but in any case, Wednesday night’s proceedings have certainly left both he and Silva with plenty of decision-making to do in regard to the rest of their week.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Andretti Autosport and the United States Air Force announced Thursday that Conor Daly will be returning to drive the No. 25 U.S. Air Force Honda for the all-American team at the NTT IndyCar Series season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in late September.

The Indianapolis native will pilot a fifth entry for the team.

Daly made his sixth Indianapolis 500 start in the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport, qualifying in 11th and finished 10th, his best start and finish for the famed 500-mile race.

The second-generation racer holds wins in both Indy Lights and the Pro Mazda (now Indy Pro 2000) series and claimed the 2010 Pro Mazda championship.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get back to my road course routes and take on Laguna Seca with Andretti Autosport and the United States Air Force,” said Daly.  “It’s been incredible to be a part of the team this year carrying the USAF colors and to represent them at the season finale will be very special.  I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to do with the USAF this year on and off the track and I can’t wait to get back in the No. 25 car.”

The United States Air Force served as Daly’s primary sponsor at the Indianapolis 500 and has been an associate sponsor for Andretti Autosport all season with branding featured across the team’s four full-season entries of Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Zach Veach.

“We are thrilled to have Conor, as well as the U.S. Air Force, join us again for the season finale in Laguna Seca,” said Michael Andretti, CEO, Andretti Autosport. “Conor was a great addition during the month of May and being able to continue this great partnership with the Air Force at the series season finale is another special opportunity to show our support and honor the brave men and women serving our Nation.”

“We were extremely proud of the effort that Conor (Daly) and the entire Andretti Autosport Team put in for the Indianapolis 500,” said Maj Ross McKnight, Chief Air Force National Events Branch. “The activation exceeded all Air Force Recruiting objectives and we are excited to continue that success at Laguna Seca and the IndyCar season finale.”

The season finale for the NTT IndyCar Series will broadcast live Sunday, September 22, on NBC with the green flag dropping at 2:30 p.m. ET.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Garrett Smithley will return to Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with primary sponsorship from Victory Lane Quick Oil Change for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway.

Founded in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1980, Victory Lane Quick Oil Change is one of the oldest quick-lube franchises in the industry. Victory Lane’s distinctive, trademarked checkered flag logo is easily recognizable throughout the Wolverine State. With 35 locations now in operation, Victory Lane is rapidly growing in select US and Canadian markets.

Smithley’s No. 77 Chevy will also showcase sponsorship from Kendall Motor Oil, Buck’s Oil and TrueBrand.

“As an automotive preventive maintenance retailer, it just makes sense to continue our partnership in NASCAR and share our love of cars with fellow enthusiasts,” explained Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chief Executive Officer Justin Cialella. “It’s a truly engaging way to interact with our customers, franchisees, and employees to promote the Victory Lane Quick Oil Change brand.”

Smithley, a NASCAR XFINITY Series regular who currently sits 18th in points on NASCAR’s junior circuit, will also compete in Saturday’s B&L Transport 170 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course before making the trip north to Brooklyn, Mich.

NASCAR veteran Reed Sorenson will practice and qualify the No. 77 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chevy while Smithley attends to his duties for Johnny Davis Motorsports at Mid-Ohio.

“I always look forward to racing at Michigan,” explained the 27-year-old Peachtree City, Ga., driver who will make his fiftth start of the season in NASCAR’s premiere division. “It’s a fast, multi-groove race track that offers lots of options for drivers. Racing in Victory Lane Quick Oil Change’s backyard is always a bonus. We enjoy having them at the track to support us. Their business is one of the fastest growing quick lube’s in the country and a perfect fit in our sport. I’m excited to continue our relationship, this time behind the wheel of the No. 77 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chevrolet.”

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — With nearly a purse of nearly $1 million, including $150,000 to win Saturday night’s 50-lap feature, the 24-car field for the 59th annual NOS Energy Knoxville Nationals will be filled using one of the most unique formats in motorsports.

It’s the unique format that adds intrigue, challenge and pressure to the equation.

Unlike the usual World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series race procedure, the format at the Knoxville Nationals pays drivers points every time they go on the track on their qualifying nights.

And while minor tweaks to the format have been made through the years, including one this year, it has remained relatively unchanged for decades.

Wednesday and Thursday Nights

Order of Events: Hot laps, Qualifications, 5 Heats, C Main, B Main, 25-lap feature.

Qualifications: 200 points are awarded for quick timer, 198 for second quick, 196 for third, etc.

Only the top 50 qualifiers each night make the heats, the rest are put in the last chance heats if needed in which the first eight finishers will fill the back of that night’s C feature (starting in the sixth row). If there are 10 or fewer cars not making the heats, they will line straight up by time starting in the sixth row.  The quickest will be given 50 points, the next 47, etc.

Last Chance Heats (for drivers out of the top 50 in Qual.): 50 points awarded to the winner, 47 for 2nd, etc.

Heats: 100 points are awarded for the heat race winner, points go down by three for each position: 97, 94, 91, 88, etc.

Heats are inverted by eight. For most of the history of this format, the top 10 were inverted. This sets up the best racing of the week as only the top four finishers transfer to the A Main. Fifth through eighth go to the B Main, finishing positions 9-10 go to the C Main.

C Main: Top four finishers go to back of the B. Fifth place is worth 92 pts., 6th is 90, etc.

B Main: The top four finishers transfer to the tail of the A. The B awards 142 points for fifth, 140 for sixth and so on by twos.

A Main: The A Main points are the same as time trials: 200, 198, 196 etc. This explains how a driver cannot make the A, but if he timed well may have more points than someone who did make the A.  The invert for the A Main is eight.

First tiebreaker is finish position in respective main event. Next tie breaker is rank in time trial. The third tiebreaker is pill draw. Other tie breaking criteria may be implemented if needed.

A perfect score (quick time, heat win, feature win) is 500.

The top 16 in combined points from Wednesday and Thursday are locked in to Saturday’s Championship feature, Teams 17th-26th in points are awarded the first 10 positions in the Saturday B Main. The rest of the field comes back for more racing on Friday.

Friday

Here’s where there is a change this year. Following format changes in 2012, drivers who find themselves not locked into Saturday’s A-Main have a second chance to qualify for the finale. The top-four finishers in Friday’s feature event have previously made up positions 17-20 in Saturday’s A-Main. Beginning in 2019, the four transfers will now start 21-24.

The top four finishers in Saturday’s B main receive starting spots 17-20.

After 25 years, the SPEED SPORT World Challenge does not return to the slate this.

Friday’s event will consist of split field qualifying, 6 heats, C Main, two B Main’s and the Hard Knox 25-lap feature.

Saturday

Events:10-lap E Main, 12-lap D Main, 15-lap C Main, 22-lap B Main and the 50-lap 5-hour Energy Knoxville Nationals Championship feature.

The B, C, D and E Main will take the top four finishers to the tail of the next event (if there are scratches, there may be more taken for a particular event).

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The best news, without question, in the 2019-20 NHL broadcast schedule is that NBC, the league's U.S. television partner, has carried over its decision of last season to spread the wealth among teams.

For the most part, that is.

Wednesday night is the showcase night on NBCSN, and three-quarters of the league's teams are going to get their shot in that spotlight. That includes everyone from Montreal to Vancouver to Arizona (twice!). That's pretty cool.

(Of course, there are a variety of teams featured every night on ESPN+, where you will find the NHL streaming again this season.)

As we have done each time the TV schedule is released, here are the winners and losers from the new NHL on NBC docket:

Also in this week's Wysh List: Jersey Foul | Puck headlines
Are GMs overpaid or under-appreciated?

Winners: St. Louis Blues

The Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues (yep, still weird) saw their total games increase to 15, up five from 2018-19. That includes their banner-raising on Oct. 2, four appearances on the Wednesday Night Hockey showcase and an Oct. 26 Saturday night showdown in Boston against the Bruins in a Cup Final rematch. Also, the NHL All-Star Weekend is in St. Louis. Prepare to hear "Gloria." A lot.

Losers: St. Louis Blues

When the NBC schedule dropped, there was one universal reaction: How could the reigning Stanley Cup champions, from a solid U.S. market that produced strong playoff ratings and that looks to contend again this season, not merit a single appearance in the NHL on NBC slate after appearing twice in 2018-19?

Winner: Gritty

The Philadelphia Flyers are on NBCSN 18 times and NBC twice for a total of 20 games, by far the highest total for any NHL team in 2019-20. That's an increase of three appearances from last season, when the Flyers failed to qualify for the playoffs. I've been meditating on why a team that's 25-1 to win the Stanley Cup and whose biggest offseason acquisition was coach Alain Vigneault would appear more times than the Boston Bruins (12) and San Jose Sharks (7) combined, and this is the only answer I could muster: Gritty.

Please recall that this fluffy orange demon debuted after last season's schedule was released and pretty much became the NHL's biggest crossover star since Wayne Gretzky soon thereafter. So absent any other logical explanation for the Flyers having more appearances than any other team in the league on NBC, it's Gritty. The answer is always Gritty.

Loser: P.K. Subban

The Nashville Predators were featured 12 times last season with Subban and are on another 12 times this season without him. His new team, the New Jersey Devils, added Subban, No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes, and 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall returns ... and they had a net increase of just two games, none of them on NBC. There are 17 teams with more televised games than the Devils. (Although, in context, the Devils haven't had more than two appearances in a season since at least 2014.)

Winners: Central Division teams not named the Blackhawks or Jets

The Blues (15), Dallas Stars (6), Colorado Avalanche (12) and Minnesota Wild (12) all saw increases from their appearance totals from last season. In fact, the six-game bump for the Avalanche was the largest for any team, while the five-game increases for the Stars and Blues were tied for second-highest. (As mentioned, the Predators were a push.) So the Central Division is booming ...

Losers: Blackhawks and Jets

... But not for everyone. The Jets' brief surge in national broadcast exposure has receded, as they go from five games last season down to one this season, the Heritage Classic against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 26. Last season marked their first regular-season TV appearances after failing to make the cut since at least 2014.

The Blackhawks are still a heavily featured team, with 14 appearances, but that's down five from last season. More importantly: For the first time in recent memory, the Blackhawks do not have an "NHL on NBC" appearance ... while the Detroit Red Wings have two. Go figure.

Winners: Western Conference on NBCSN

In what's either a transparent attempt to fight back against "East Coast bias" taunts, an acknowledgement of the NHL's power imbalance or perhaps an accounting error, NBC announced that the Western Conference accounts for "more than 60 percent" of the schedule this season. Again, this is mostly due to the Central Division, as the Sharks (minus-1), Ducks (minus-4), Golden Knights (minus-3) and Oilers (minus-3) all saw declines. (The Los Angeles Kings, inexplicably, gained two appearances year over year. The Todd McLellan Effect!)

Losers: Western Conference on NBC

Where the West didn't win: The NHL on NBC. There are just two games featuring Western Conference teams on the schedule, down from three last season: the Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl between Nashville and Dallas on Jan. 1, and the Stadium Series game at Air Force between the Kings and Avalanche. Every other game on NBC features Eastern Conference teams.

Yes, there are time zone considerations. No, you shouldn't crow about a "60 percent Western Conference schedule" when that number for games on the biggest stage is about 16 percent.

Winners: Vancouver Canucks

On Oct. 9, the Vancouver Canucks host the Kings as the nightcap of a Wednesday doubleheader. Why is this significant? Because it's the first time the Canucks will have appeared on NBCSN in several seasons. Going back to 2014 -- and possibly beyond it -- Vancouver never had a single game on the network, despite being a perfect late-night foil for West teams and having the Sedins. So congrats to Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes for doing what the Sedins couldn't, we suppose.

Losers: Ottawa Senators

The only team without a game on NBC or NBCSN this season, after getting the goose egg last year too. But don't worry, the Senators will be featured plenty when Eugene Melnyk's plan to win the Stanley Cup "in three to five years" comes to fruition.

Winner: Sidney Crosby

The Kid remains the king. The Penguins are on NBC networks 16 times, up one from last season and even from two years ago. Crosby's team is on "NHL on NBC" six times, more than anyone else, and on Wednesday Night Hockey six times.

Losers: Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews

While NBC deserves credit for having spread the wealth to different franchises in the last two seasons, this schedule does a disservice to two of the league's biggest attractions.

McDavid is, demonstrably, the best offensive player in the world. He is on four times, three fewer than last season. Matthews, a generational talent on an Original Six team (and video game boxes) whose popularity cuts through borders and demographics, is on three times, three fewer than last season. That's one more than Columbus. McDavid and Matthews do face each other on NBCSN on Jan. 6.

Winners: Flyers/Penguins/Capitals love triangle

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington are geographic rivals that have been intertwined at times during the Crosby vs. Ovechkin era. Eight games on the schedule are some combination of the Flyers, Penguins and Capitals, including four of the 12 games featured on NBC.

Losers: Moments that matter

Among the games not nationally televised on the schedule: any game featuring John Tavares at the Islanders; Phil Kessel's return to Pittsburgh; Subban returning to Nashville; Milan Lucic in Edmonton as a Flame; Corey Perry's return to Anaheim; Nazem Kadri's return to Toronto; Artemi Panarin or Sergei Bobrovsky returning to Columbus; and Joe Pavelski's return to San Jose.

There's a lot of great hockey on this schedule. There are a lot of compelling matchups. But for years, fans in the United States have noted the disconnect between the league's compelling storylines and the games that are ultimately featured. And with due respect to the always interesting battle between the Flyers and the Penguins, on Jan. 21, the night that game is on NBCSN, Joel Quenneville returns to Chicago as head coach of the Florida Panthers. How is that game not nationally televised? (Yes, I'm asking for another game featuring the Blackhawks. Hey, at least it won't be outdoors.)

Here's the full breakdown of each team's appearances; last season's totals are in parentheses.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks: 4 (8)
Arizona Coyotes: 2 (2)
Calgary Flames: 2 (2)
Edmonton Oilers: 4 (7)
Vegas Golden Knights: 6 (9)
Los Angeles Kings: 7 (5)
San Jose Sharks: 7 (8)
Vancouver Canucks: 1 (0)

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks: 14 (19)
Colorado Avalanche: 12 (6)
Dallas Stars: 6 (1)
Minnesota Wild: 12 (11)
Nashville Predators: 12 (12)
St. Louis Blues: 15 (10)
Winnipeg Jets: 1 (5)

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: 12 (14)
Buffalo Sabres: 5 (5)
Detroit Red Wings: 8 (6)
Florida Panthers: 1 (1)
Montreal Canadiens: 3 (1)
Ottawa Senators: 0 (0)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 11 (12)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 (6)

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes: 1 (1)
Columbus Blue Jackets: 2 (2)
New Jersey Devils: 4 (2)
New York Islanders: 2 (1)
New York Rangers: 13 (14)
Philadelphia Flyers: 20 (17)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 16 (15)
Washington Capitals: 12 (18)

Jersey Fouls

From reader Christian, in China:

From a Puck Daddy reader named Christian, a wild #JerseyFoul from China. pic.twitter.com/G8rrhxrmth

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 7, 2019

"Greetings from China, where we watch KHL and CWHL (pro women's hockey) games played at rinks around the country. I spotted this woman, who had no idea what she was wearing, at the bag pickup day for the GuiLin Marathon in the southern Guang Do province. Many people were photographing her, although none likely knew the significance of her attire or how 'foulish' it was on so many levels."

So, in summary: This person was wearing a Brett Hull St. Louis Blues jersey, stitched to a Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers jersey as some sort of gown, and was unaware as to why people were gawking at it?

What a remarkable Foul. Perhaps the first one we've ever had that could be loaned out by Rent The Runway.

Are general managers overpaid or underappreciated?

Hockey fans: "Most NHL general managers are overcompensated idiots, old boys who get jobs based on reputation and not merit and then perform their duties for two or three years building toward a championship and then several years of self-preservation. Really, you could find a 17-year-old playing EA Sports NHL, hire them and get the same result. They are eminently replaceable."

Also hockey fans: "Tom Dundon is a fool for being a tightwad over Don Waddell's contract and letting him interview with the Minnesota Wild."

The maverick owner of the Carolina Hurricanes opted not to hand his general manager a new contract after the season. According to News & Observer writer Luke DeCock, the Hurricanes have until the end of August to have a GM under contract, per NHL rules. Waddell, meanwhile, interviewed with the Minnesota Wild about succeeding Paul Fenton as general manager. A nominee as GM of the Year in the NHL, it's expected that he is going to be a significant contender for a gig that would seem to compensate him better than will Dundon.

"I'm not going to pay what other guys pay GMs, so me having a contract with a GM doesn't really help me," Dundon told DeCock, adding that he'd let him interview even if he had a contract. "Don in essence has a contract. I already told Don, 'I'm not going to fire you. If I did, I'd tell you a year in advance.' My life's pretty good. I want people to do what's best for their life. If this is what's best for Don, the Hurricanes will be fine."

Herein lies the difference between talent and management in the NHL. Sebastian Aho wasn't allowed to leave, and the Hurricanes paid him what the "other guy" decided he was worth. If Craig Leipold wants to hand Don Waddell a fat contract, Dundon likely lets him walk.

Essentially what he's saying is: "Our front office is bigger than one guy. It's a team philosophy fueled by a smart, effective support staff that's dedicated to analytics. If my guy wants to leave to chase the money, that's fine. There are 32 jobs like this in the world. I'll find someone else. I'll be fine. Frankly, my coach is more important."

Back to hockey fans. We really need to pick a lane. Either most general managers are recycled, replacement-level doofuses who keep other qualified candidates from ascending to the throne, or they're too precious to lowball on a contract.

Personally, I think Dundon could be on to something here.

Goal of the summer

Is the "hockey goal of the summer" a thing? If it's a thing, then Cole Caufield, U.S. national team member and Montreal Canadiens prospect, scored it:

#Habs prospect Cole Caufield with an absolutely DISGUSTING snipe against #Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase ?? pic.twitter.com/4FVjjOgteJ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 3, 2019

Clearly, Canadian goalie Alexis Gravel should have had the millimeter next to his head covered.

Said Gravel after the game: "At first, I didn't know it was him. But then as soon as he shot it there I was like, 'No way it's in,' and then I knew it was him, because he's the only one who could do it."

Listen To ESPN On Ice

The season archive of our podcast can be found on iTunes. Honestly, if you're lounging at the pool, nothing is better than listening to two people who have had it up to here about playoff officiating.

Puck headlines

Is this the year that age finally catches up with the Washington Capitals?

Justin Bourne on what prevents NHL coaches from having more creativity: "It feels like chances, and in turn goals, and in turn wins are being left out there by just about everyone, every night of the NHL season. The game is always changing and I think we're going to undergo a big shift in the coming years. The only question, as always with pro sports, is who wants to go first?" ($)

Sidney Crosby's appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast finally dropped, and here are the Sid vs. Ovi highlights.

Five players with the most to prove in 2019-20. Nolan Patrick's an odd choice here, but the rest are spot-on.

A look at pro hockey in Mississippi." Did you know both Mississippi State and Ole Miss have club hockey teams? They do. Did you know Mississippi has produced at least one born-and-raised-here professional hockey player? His name is Marvin C. Powell II, born in Jackson, raised in Madison, and he raises eyebrows everywhere he goes."

One Florida community plans on improving their water quality with ... hockey sticks?

How Ron Francis plans to build the Seattle NHL front office with analytics ... and those Eric Tulsky and Michael Peterson rumors.

Ryan Lambert looks at the free agent scrap heap.

Finally, this floor hockey team's jerseys might be my favorite thing I saw this week:

Our floor hockey team (the Heartfelt Whalers) has the ugliest jerseys possible. pic.twitter.com/eGuJV1jjDN

— Mike Winters (@Mike_Wntrz) August 4, 2019

Hockey tl;dr

Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News, who's had a strong summer of writing, with a fantastic look at Joe Pavelski's goal scoring and how Dallas Stars coach Jim Montgomery sees him fitting with the team.

In case you missed this from your friends at ESPN

My look at the "lottery ticket" contracts in the NHL, i.e. players who took one-year contracts after massive buyouts. For every Brad Richards, there was an Alexander Semin.