Heavy rains forced the postponement of the biggest sprint car race of the year Saturday night at Knoxville, Iowa, resulting in the Knoxville Nationals finale being rescheduled for tonight.

Stevie Smith will start the 2009 Knoxville Nationals from the pole with Joey Saldana, whose car is owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne, taking the green from the outside of the front row.

“We will have to focus on the final lap. We will just make some adjustments and try to get the car the best we can. I guess the best will be up to the driver,” Stevie Smith said after capturing the pole Friday. “It’s a long race and anything can happen.”

Knoxville Raceway officials were able to get in most of Saturday nights scheduled events before the rain came with the final two races yet to be run. Racing at the famed speedway was postponed with the clock leaning towards 11 p.m.

“It is what it is,” veteran sprint car driver Steve Kinser said during the rain delay. “There’s nothing you can do about Mother Nature.”

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