Real American Beer Named Title Sponsor of World of Outlaws Late Models, DIRTVision to be Presenting Sponsor

Real American Beer is bringing its grit and glory attitude to the World of Outlaws Late Models this season and beyond as the Series’ new title sponsor, joined by DIRTVision as the presenting sponsor. Select tracks across the country will now carry Real American Beer, giving fans the chance to crack open 12-ounce and 24-ounce cans right at the heart of the action.

Co-founded by WWE legend Hulk Hogan, Real American Beer has united with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and World Racing Group (WRG) in a multi-year deal that will showcase the Real American brand to race fans across the country. The company will also serve as the Official Beer of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – sponsoring Heat Race #2 – Super DIRTcar Series, American Sprint Car Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

“Real American Beer was built for the folks who pack the stands at World of Outlaws races,” said Hulk Hogan, Co-Founder of Real American Beer. “We’re fired up to be part of something this big, at the heart of American racing.”

One of the fastest-growing light beers in the U.S., Real American Beer is proudly American-owned and brewed. With 110 calories and 4g of carbs, it’s the legendary light beer people want to bring to racetracks, tailgates, and anywhere they raise a can with friends. Real American Beer is already an official partner of WWE and Arena Football One—two American brands that share our love of loud crowds and real fans.

“Hulk Hogan and Real American Beer share our passion of uniting a fanbase with a product everyone can enjoy,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “This is an exciting partnership not only for the World of Outlaws, but also the dirt racing community as we work together to enhance the race day experience for all fans and showcase what the World of Outlaws and Real American Beer have to offer to new fans. This includes their at-home experience when they’re watching every race live on DIRTVision.”

DIRTVision is the premier dirt racing broadcast provider, providing live and exclusive coverage of every event for the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Super DIRTcar Series, American Sprint Car Series, Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, 500 Sprint Car Tour and weekly racing from several tracks.

The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Models venture to 32 tracks across 16 states this season and will pay out a Series-high points fund reaching over $1 million. The season is already off to a thrilling start with five different winners and multiple drivers eyeing the 2025 title, which will be crowned during the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 5-8.

“This partnership goes beyond racing—it’s about being present in the places that matter to our customers,” said James Case, SVP of Partnerships at Real American Beer. “The World of Outlaws is one of the most passionate communities in American sports. It’s a natural fit for Real American Beer and a big step in our national expansion.”

This partnership was made possible by Ginger Baker Rust, CEO of Rust Management Group, LLC, a recognized powerhouse in global motorsports. Both Real American Beer and World Racing Group extend their sincere thanks for her dedication to building partnerships that support the racing community.

For the full 2025 World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision schedule and tickets to events, click here to visit the World of Outlaws site.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model and World of Outlaws Sprint Car race live on DIRTVision.

For more information on Real American Beer and where to find it, visit therealamerican.com and follow @therealamericanbeer on social media.

About Real American Beer
Co-founded by WWE legend Hulk Hogan, Real American Beer (RAB) is the beer America built. Now available in 20 states and counting, RAB delivers a crisp, clean, and crushable flavor at just 110 calories and 4g carbs—crafted from four simple ingredients. With a mission to bring people together one beer at a time, RAB is quickly becoming an American favorite. Learn more at therealamerican.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and X.

THE SHARK STRIKES: Schuchart Fends Off Macedo for First Win of 2025
Alex Nieten

The Shark Racing driver leads every lap on his way to topping the Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic at I-55

Friday night left Logan Schuchart with a bad taste in his mouth.

He knew he had the best car. He knew how close he came to standing in Victory Lane. But several ill-timed cautions forced he and the Shark Racing crew to settle for second. Their first win of the year pried from their grasp by Carson Macedo.

Schuchart wasn’t about to suffer the same fate Saturday.

A stacked field of 60 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park. It would be tough to be at the front of a roster that strong two nights in a row, but Schuchart and company were up to the task.

A Toyota Dash win gave the Hanover, PA native the pole for the 40-lap Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic finale, and that was all he needed. Schuchart drove out to an early advantage. Macedo made an early charge to second and looked to give Schuchart a case of déjà vu, but Schuchart was having none of it. The 12-year Series veteran held off the Lemoore, CA native for his first victory of the 2025 campaign.

“It means a lot,” Schuchart said. “These things are so hard to win. Only having one win last year wasn’t in our cards, wasn’t how I thought our season would go. We definitely started out of the box this season strong. Very happy about the way things are going. I was really excited to get to I-55. It’s a track where we’ve ran good in the past, a lot of podium finishes and second place finishes. I knew that we’d have a good chance to win with the way the car has been going.”
Logan Schuchart driving the Shark Racing No. 1S
Logan Schuchart led all 40 laps of Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic finale (Trent Gower Photo)

The first win of the season gave Schuchart 43 in his World of Outlaws career. It was his second I-55 checkered flag and first since conquering the 2018 Ironman 55. The Pevely, MO bullring becomes the 12th track in which Schuchart is a multi-time winner. It was also a special moment for Kyle Pruitt as he secured his first World of Outlaws win as a crew chief.

It was a methodical race for Schuchart as the track evolved over 40 laps, but he made all the right moves on his path to Victory Lane.

“I thought if we could just get the lead, I thought I could control the race and just be smart in traffic and use my experience to know not to put yourself in bad spots, not to try to pass lapped cars where you don’t need to,” Schuchart said. “I actually had my wing back pretty far at the beginning of the race. I felt good running the top and started watching lapped cars, how they would pull off the corner and kind of went lower in (Turns) 1 and 2 there and felt like it started to get a little sticky. (Turns) 3 and 4 was definitely there first, and as the race went on I just kind of pushed the wing back forward a little bit to loosen myself up.”

Coming up just a spot short of a weekend sweep was Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. He’s been on the podium in six of the last eight races and has trimmed David Gravel’s lead atop the standings down to 64 markers.

“Hats off to the Shark Racing team on getting the win,” Macedo said. “I thought our Albaugh 41 car was really close again tonight. Right out of the gate we were pretty good. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman, they did a great job. They really gave me a great car all weekend. For us to start eighth in the Dash and still run second in the Feature says a lot.”

A season best showing from Donny Schatz saw him bring the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 home third. The podium coupled with an 18th to sixth charge on Friday made for a productive weekend for the 10-time champion.

“My guys are doing a phenomenal job,” Schatz said. “Last night was big. We got ourselves through the field quite aways. Tonight, we made that much more improvement. It makes you want to get on to the next race sooner than later.”

Rico Abreu and Aaron Reutzel completed the top five.

A 25th to 14th run gave Hunter Schuerenberg the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Four belonged to Aaron Reutzel and Tanner Thorson. TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two went to Bill Balog. WIX Filters Heat Three went to David Gravel.

Logan Schuchart topped the Toyota Dash.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Rico Abreu.

Ryan Timms won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Zach Hampton.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars invade Knoxville Raceway on April 18-19 for the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel[3]; 6. 2-David Gravel[6]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 8. 88T-Tanner Thorson[8]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[11]; 10. 55V-Kerry Madsen[10]; 11. 26-Justin Peck[15]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 13. 83-Michael Kofoid[18]; 14. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[25]; 15. 14-Spencer Bayston[14]; 16. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 17. 6-Zach Hampton[12]; 18. 7S-Chris Windom[24]; 19. 10-Ryan Timms[21]; 20. 21-Brian Brown[17]; 21. 88-Austin McCarl[20]; 22. 23-Garet Williamson[22]; 23. 2KS-Cory Eliason[16]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[23]; 25. 48-Danny Dietrich[19]

Karter Sarff Leaves Illini 100 Finale Victorious at Farmer City Raceway
Matt Skipper

After finishing on the podium in Friday night’s World of Outlaws Illini 100 Feature, Karter Sarff knew he could leave the weekend with a trophy.

He completed the goal on Saturday night with a performance that saw him battle against multiple drivers for his first Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota win at Farmer City Raceway.

Sarff started the Feature on the pole with Thomas Meseraull on his outside at the drop of the initial green flag.

The Mason City, IL driver led the first five circuits until Jacob Denney took over the lead on the sixth lap by using the familiar high line that helped him win on Friday.

Sarff fell to third on Lap 10 when Trifecta Motorsports’ rookie Kameron Key passed him for second place, forcing the No. 21K to defend his position from reigning Series champion Cannon McIntosh and Springfield, IL’s Chase McDermand.

“The Shark” smelled blood in the water when Key and Denney slipped up on a restart with 10 laps remaining – retaking the lead and never looking back.

Behind Sarff, Key had to defend his position from McIntosh’s No. 71K until a clip of the Turn 4 cushion sent McIntosh flipping with four laps remaining.

On the final restart, Sarff stuck to the high side of the ractreack to hold off Key for his seventh career Xtreme Outlaw win. The triumph moves him up to fourth in all-time Feature wins – tying 2023 Series champion Jade Avedisian.

“I really had to stay up on the wheel,” Sarff said. “You had to run the curves super hard, and if you let up a little bit, it’d bite you. I’m super happy with the whole night, and everything went our way. Last year, it wasn’t too good for us here, so to come back, run third, and win the next night is pretty awesome.”

Key ended his first trip to Farmer City Raceway with a second-place finish to complete his debut weekend with the Series.

“It was really interesting,” Key said. “I went into it thinking it was just gonna be follow the leader on the bottom, and then the racetrack changed so much. It got crummy in the middle, and you could hold speed through there, you could rip the top and still roll the bottom. You had your choice of what you wanted to run, and I moved around everywhere trying to find stuff and keep my nose clean, stay out of trouble, and we found our way to the front.”

Meseraull dropped to seventh in the early stages of the Feature with ill-handling at the start. However, he found a chance to reset behind the wheel of his No. 7X at the halfway mark that pushed him up the field to finish the weekend with a podium result.

“At the start, you have a full load of fuel, the car was tight, and it wasn’t that good on the bottom,” Meseraull said. “I really had to ride it out, let the bottom slow down a little bit, and that allowed the top to speed up. I was sending it on the top to try and go forward. I think we had a bent wheel that we didn’t realize was bent, but I’m real happy about the night.”

Denney finished fourth, and McDermand ended the night with his second consecutive fifth-place finish to cap off the Illini 100.

RECAP NOTES:

Smith Titanium Quick Time Award: Karter Sarff

Toyota Heat 1 Winner: Thomas Meseraull

CASM Safety Products Heat 2 Winner: Jacob Denney

TJ Forged Heat 3 Winner: Chase McDermand

Summit Racing Equipment Hard Charger: Tyler Edwards (+10)

Honest Abe Roofing 16th Place Finisher: Zach Boden

Up Next: The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets return to racing in Oklahoma and Kansas, with the Series making its debut at Creek County Speedway on Thursday, May 8, Humboldt Speedway on Friday, May 9, and 81 Speedway on Saturday, May 10.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 21K-Karter Sarff[1]; 2. 9U-Kameron Key[5]; 3. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[2]; 4. 67-Jacob Denney[3]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[4]; 6. 5D-Zach Daum[6]; 7. 5U-Michael Faccinto[9]; 8. 56E-Tyler Edwards[18]; 9. 67K-Colton Robinson[15]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[10]; 11. 63-Cale Coons[16]; 12. 72-Alex Karpowicz[13]; 13. 94-Hayden Wise[20]; 14. 16C-David Camfield Jr[21]; 15. 97-Gavin Miller[11]; 16. 51-Zach Boden[22]; 17. 16TH-Kevin Newton[17]; 18. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[12]; 19. 20-Cody Weisensel[24]; 20. 50-Daniel Adler[14]; 21. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[7]; 22. 12-Corbin Gurley[25]; 23. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[8]; 24. 10C-Dalton Camfield[27]; 25. 98K-Brandon Carr[19]; 26. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[23]; 27. 17C-Devin Camfield[26]

PEVELY POWER: Macedo Bests Schuchart in I-55 Spring Classic Thriller
Alex Nieten

The Jason Johnson Racing pilot gets his first win since the season opener after a wild duel

I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park just doesn’t miss.

Friday’s Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic opener at the Pevely, MO oval served up the latest piece of evidence. Fans were treated to a 40-lap thrill ride as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars put on a show. Action over every inch of the bullring. Huge slide jobs. Countless crossovers. You couldn’t ask for more.

The battle for the top spot might’ve been the most intense action on track. Logan Schuchart led early and built a cozy lead, but once Carson Macedo reeled him in, the duel began.

The two swapped sliders. They countered with crossovers. They gave the crowd a masterful display of Sprint Car racing. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered restart, and Macedo had just enough to hold on by a few tenths of a second to get the win with his Jason Johnson Racing team.

“Wow, that was one of the funnest races I’ve run in a while,” Macedo said. “The whole race was really good. A lot of slide jobs. A lot of moving around. Battling the 1S (Schuchart), the 2 (David Gravel), the 2C (Cole Macedo), the 48 (Danny Dietrich) in the beginning. Really, I felt like I was in a battle the entire race. It was a lot of fun. Hats off to Philip Dietz. What an incredible Albaugh 41 car tonight. It was incredible to drive. Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman, they work really hard, and it feels good to reward them with a win.”

The victory brought Macedo to 49 in his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. His next will make him the 18th competitor to reach 50. I-55 is now home to a trio of the Lemoore, CA native’s wins as this one adds to the pair he bagged in 2022. The 1/3 mile is the is the seventh track where he’s collected at least a trio of checkered flags.

It was a battle all the way to the finish line for Macedo’s second triumph of 2025 and first since the season opener. Schuchart made him work and kept him on his toes as he chased late in the Shark Racing No. 1S.

“Logan was really good in traffic,” Macedo said. “I didn’t know what was better, sliding myself in (Turns) 3 and 4 and getting to the grip or running the top. I think at the end it just got so far to get to it and ledged up once you got to it, it would kill my run down the frontstretch. I tried to go to the top with like seven or eight to go and absolutely plugged it in the fence pretty hard. Then I was nervous I was getting a flat, so I started sliding myself. I knew with the green-white-checkered I needed to get up and make some momentum. Just a great race, a lot of fun.”
 

Schuchart matched his season best result with a runner-up finish after leading 26 laps in the Federated Auto Parts No. 1S. The Hanover, PA native is up to five podiums this year. Schuchart felt some ill-timed yellows were likely the deciding factor in him having to settle for second instead of celebrating in Victory Lane after the intense battle with Macedo.

“I definitely wanted to stay in traffic whether it was when we were leading or once he got to traffic,” Schuchart said. “I feel like every time I was ready to pull the trigger the yellow would come out. I felt like we were really good once we got going. He did a great job on the restart to get a run at me. I knew we were faster. I felt like we had the better car once we got going, just every time we got to traffic the yellow would come out. Just proud of my guys. They did a great job.”

David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports team stood on the final step of the podium. The defending Series champion still hasn’t missed the top five in 2025, and the No. 2 has parked on the podium in 11 of the 14 races this year. He leads the standings by 76 markers over Macedo.

“The top was very dominant there, and then it got really, really thin around the top and just promoted a lot of slide jobs,” Gravel explained. “I’m just proud of my guys. They gave me a good race car to end up third there. I was struggling in the middle of that race and kind of found the bottom at the end there in (Turns) 3 and 4.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Bill Balog completed the top five.

A 21st to eighth run earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his first Simpson Quick Time of the Year in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Four belonged to Carson Macedo and Austin McCarl. TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two went to Logan Schuchart, and WIX Filters Heat Three went to Danny Dietrich.

Logan Schuchart topped the Toyota Dash.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Danny Dietrich.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Cole Macedo.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars close out the Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic on Saturday, April 12 at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Jacob Denney Wins First Career Xtreme Outlaw Feature in Season-Opener at Farmer City
Matt Skipper

You never forget your first win.

In Jacob Denney’s case, his memory will be of keeping veterans at bay to win his first career Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Feature at Farmer City Raceway Friday night.

“It means a lot,” Denney said. “This track is pretty gnarly. I was questioning myself before I went out there. I was like, ‘That’s a big ole cushion, I don’t know if I’ll be able to ride it.’ On the first lap, I went straight in there and I was like, ‘Alright, I’m sticking to my guns now.’”

Thomas Meseraull and Denney led the field of 26 Midgets to the green flag, with Denney taking the lead on the opening circuit by using the top side of the 1/4-mile track.

Denney kept command in the early stages while Zach Daum and Meseraull battled for second place. Daum ended up winning the battle and then turned his attention to Denney, who found himself caught in traffic.

Denney’s hindrance became a crisis when he struggled to get by two slower cars, and Daum found a lane to pass them all and take the lead by the halfway point of the Feature.

While Daum ran low, Denney took his chances with the cushion to build momentum and chase the Series’ inaugural champion. That led to the two racing side by side and Denney reclaiming the lead on Lap 16 before the first red flag of the event for Luke Wackerlin flipping off of Turn 4.

After the race resumed, more drama occurred behind the Ohio native as his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports teammates Cannon McIntosh and Gavin Miller collided going into Turn 1 and sent Ethan Mitchell flipping.

When the race resumed with five laps to go, Denney continued to cruise around the top to hold off Daum and drive his JBL Audio No. 67 to a $4,000 payday.

“I knew what it was like to go down to the bottom of (Turn) 3 and miss it by a country mile and lose more time,” Denney said. “Daum is probably the hardest to beat on the bottom, so I just stuck up there and it was really good up there. It wasn’t like we were slow, I feel like we had a lot of speed, so I stuck with it and got it done.”

Daum finished the season opener with a second-place result for his first Series race aboard the Pat O’Dell-owned No. 5D Toyota.

“The top was treacherous, especially (Turns) 1 and 2 in particular,” Daum explained in his choice to run the bottom lane. “I think they could run the curb a lot harder than everyone else, and I’m just not that guy. I kept working on getting it to rotate on the bottom really well, and it was good down there. I’ll think about it tonight and see what to change for tomorrow, just fine tune it, and I think we’ll be OK.”

Karter Sarff followed Daum’s shadow by using the bottom lane to finish third at Farmer City.

“We just had a really maneuverable car,” Sarff said. “I figured the top was the long way around with how far the cushion was up there from the Late Models, and the Late Models couldn’t get far down quite enough to burn off the bottom, so I figured it’d be good down there. I’m super happy with the night with how we started. We didn’t get to qualify, started last in the Heat, and ended up making a bad night a good night, so just pumped to be on the podium.”

Friday’s Quick Time Award winner Corbin Rueschenberg finished fourth, and Springfield, IL’s Chase McDermand cemented the top five in his first Series start as an owner/driver.

RECAP NOTES:

Smith Titanium Quick Time Award: Corbin Rueschenberg

Toyota Heat 1: Zach Daum

CASM Safety Products Heat 2: Brandon Carr

TJ Forged Heat 3: Thomas Meseraull

Summit Racing Equipment Hard Charger: Tyler Edwards (+9)

Honest Abe Roofing 16th Place Finisher: Daniel Adler

Up Next: The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets join the World of Outlaws Late Models and MARS Modified Championship to tackle Farmer City Raceway one final time for the Illini 100 on Saturday, April 12.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 67-Jacob Denney[2]; 2. 5D-Zach Daum[5]; 3. 21K-Karter Sarff[8]; 4. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[3]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[6]; 6. 9U-Kameron Key[13]; 7. 5U-Michael Faccinto[11]; 8. 67K-Colton Robinson[14]; 9. 55-Trevor Cline[16]; 10. 98K-Brandon Carr[7]; 11. 56E-Tyler Edwards[20]; 12. 97-Gavin Miller[9]; 13. 72-Alex Karpowicz[12]; 14. 63-Cale Coons[15]; 15. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 16. 50-Daniel Adler[18]; 17. 16C-David Camfield Jr[26]; 18. 16TH-Kevin Newton[19]; 19. 94-Hayden Wise[22]; 20. 12-Corbin Gurley[23]; 21. 17C-Devin Camfield[24]; 22. 20-Cody Weisensel[25]; 23. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[10]; 24. 51-Zach Boden[17]; 25. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[21]; 26. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[1]; 27. (DNS) 56X-Mark Chisholm

Marquee Dates Locked in For Exciting Start to 2026 at Volusia
DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals and World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree again kickoff 2026 at Volusia

BARBERVILLE, FL (April 7, 2025) – From January to March in 2026, Volusia Speedway Park will again host the biggest events for the top dirt racing divisions.

The season will open with the DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals before leading into three weeks of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals and ending the stretch with the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree.

DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Jan. 22-24)
A true “Late Model Palooza” will open 2026 at Volusia Speedway Park with the three-day DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24, featuring three divisions of Late Models. The event will be headlined by the World of Outlaws Late Models – which opens its 2026 championship season at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” – and will bring a plethora of 604 Late Model and 602 Late Model competitors.

55th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Jan. 29-Feb. 14)
Five days later will be the start of the 55th Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Jan. 29-Feb. 14, which awards two of the most sought-after trophies in motorsports – the Golden Gator trophy and the Big Gator championship trophy. That brings dirt racing’s top series and its biggest stars to the track each week, along with several NASCAR standouts.

After a successful debut, the American Sprint Car Series National Tour is set to return to DIRTcar Nationals in 2026 to kick off the prestigious Speedweek event and the National Tour’s 2026 season, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29-31. The Series will be joined by the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, which will run all three nights with the ASCS National Tour before running six straight nights during Week 2 of DIRTcar Nationals (Monday-Saturday, Feb. 2-7).

For the 21st straight year, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is bringing The Greatest Show on Dirt back to Volusia Speedway Park to open the new season. The Series will run four nights, Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 4-7, and look to crown its fourth consecutive different Big Gator champion on Saturday.

Week 3 of DIRTcar Nationals will be stacked with action, opening the week with USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars (Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 9-10) and DIRTcar Late Models (Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 9-11). The Super DIRTcar Series joins in on the fun for four straight nights of racing, Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 11-14, and the World of Outlaws Late Models return to Volusia for the final half of the week, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14.

World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree (March 1-2)
A couple weeks later, the best Sprint Car drivers in the country make another trip to Volusia to help enhance Florida’s legendary Bike Week. From enjoying two-wheels during the day to experiencing four-wheels sliding around a dirt track at night, the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree will thrill fan again with the best Sprint Car drivers in the country on Sunday-Monday, March 1-2.

Tickets for the 2026 DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals and World of Outlaws Bike Week go on sale on Wednesday, April 9 – visit WorldofOutlaws.com/tix for tickets to all three or DIRTcarNationals.com for package tickets to DIRTcar Nationals.

To keep track of when the other tickets will be on sale, follow the Volusia Speedway Park and World of Outlaws social channels.

ARTICLE:

EVENT INFO: DIRTcarNationals.com
TRACK INFO: VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com

FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

Arrowhead, 81 Find New Weekend in October After Being Postponed By Weather
 

Race Fans will have the chance to see the two rescheduled events on the same weekend with 81 Speedway on Oct. 24 and Arrowhead Speedway on Oct. 25

With weather models from Precision Weather Service showing heavy rainfall Wednesday through Saturday in Colcord, OK, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Arrowhead Speedway officials have agreed to postpone the Jason Johnson Classic to a new weekend in October.

The Jason Johnson Classic will now make up a doubleheader weekend in late October with the postponed event from 81 Speedway, serving as the penultimate weekend of the season before the championship determining World of Outlaws World Finals.

The World of Outlaws will return to 81 Speedway in Wichita, KS on Friday, Oct. 24 – for a complete new program – and then venture just three hours and 30 minutes south to Arrowhead Speedway for the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends on Saturday, Oct. 25.

If you purchased a ticket or pit pass to the originally scheduled event at 81 Speedway on Saturday, March 29, they will be honored for the rescheduled event on Oct. 24. And if you purchased a Friday or Saturday ticket to this weekend’s event at Arrowhead, both will be honored for the new Oct. 25 date.

The Series now shifts its focus to the Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park on April 11-12. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

David Gravel currently sits atop the standings by 78 markers over Carson Macedo with Logan Schuchart 10 points behind Macedo in third.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

CAT AND MOUSE: Kofoid Holds Off Macedo in Traffic for Lawton Victory
Alex Nieten

The 23-year-old makes it a dozen career wins by topping his Lawton debut

The box score is going to show Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led every lap of Friday’s Sooner State Showdown at Lawton Speedway, but it was far from an easy cruise to victory.

The Roth Motorsports pilot had to survive a flurry of attacks from fellow Californian Carson Macedo. The driver of the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 threw absolutely everything he had at him for all 35 laps. He tried to roll the bottom around the No. 83. He threw sliders. He tried to rip the top around him, but Kofoid got up on the wheel for each and every challenge.

When the checkered flag flew, Kofoid crossed with just under a one second advantage for his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car win of 2025.

“Coming, I think, to two (laps) to go, I thought I almost gave it away, just got super tight. The 41, they were really good,” Kofoid said. “They were there the whole race. I could see him and hear him. I think there’s probably a little bit we need to work on, but I think a track like that and being able to move around kind of worked into my wheelhouse. I just want to thank Dylan, Nate, and John for their incredibly hard work and getting me comfortable and better every race.”

Kofoid became the third multi-time winner of 2025 with The Greatest Show on Dirt, joining David Gravel (five wins) and Kyle Larson (two wins). He’s one for one at Lawton as Friday marked his debut at the Oklahoma oval. The Penngrove, CA native became the seventh different Lawton victor through 11 races of World of Outlaws competition.

The trip to Victory Lane was the latest piece of evidence to support Kofoid and the Roth crew resembling their latter half of 2024 selves. After some early struggles, they’ve now strung together four consecutive top two finishes and 10 straight top 10s.

“I feel like we’re rolling pretty good,” Kofoid said. “I don’t want to say something and jinx myself. This car has been proven to be really good for us. This is just what we had to finish last year when we won Huset’s (High Bank Nationals) all the way up through Charlotte (World Finals). It’s just something that works for Dylan and I and something that for him, when he works on it, it just works out for me with what I’m telling him he can usually give me what I need. This car has just been really good to us, and I hope we can just keep the momentum rolling.”
Buddy Kofoid racing ahead of Carson Macedo at Lawton
Buddy Kofoid had to hold off Carson Macedo all race long on Friday night (Trent Gower Photo)

After pressuring Kofoid from green to checkered, Carson Macedo settled for the runner-up spot in the Jason Johnson Racing machine. He was confident he had the superior ride but simply couldn’t find the right opportunity to capitalize.

“I don’t think I needed anymore. I think my car was phenomenal. I think I had the best car on the track,” Macedo said. “I felt just solid anywhere I went, especially down in (Turns) 1 and 2. I could squeeze and grab the bottom really nice and get a lot of squeeze down the backstretch and had a lot of speed. But he just did a really good job. I just kept thinking, ‘Be patient. He’s going to miss it eventually here. Bide your time.’ I could see the lap count. Man, he just never really missed it. I think maybe twice he actually slipped up off of it just a little bit, and I could get to his left rear and then naturally he’s battling for the win, so he’d turn left and squeeze me down the backstretch. My options were kind of limited getting into (Turn) 3. He did a good job.”

Emerson Axsom put together a late charge to make his way onto the final step of the podium. The Franklin, IN native snuck around David Gravel’s outside to take third and nearly swiped second from Macedo coming to the checkered. A third place effort made it three career World of Outlaws top threes for Axsom.

“I think I just started deep enough that I could try some stuff,” Axsom said. “Lapped cars kind of forced me to move around in (Turns) 1 and 2 and was able to kind of be one of the first guys to find it. Our stuff is really good.”

David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

A 22nd to 12th run gave Ryan Timms his third KSE Racing Hard Charger of 2025.

David Gravel claimed his eighth Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 130th of his career in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One went to Logan Schuchart. TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two went to Buddy Kofoid. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Bill Balog.

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Dash.

Bill Balog got the SPA Technique #1 Redraw

Blake Hahn won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Cole Macedo.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only Kansas stop of 2025 with a trip to Wichita’s 81 Speedway on Saturday, March 29.

Lawton Speedway OK   3/28/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[4]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[9]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[10]; 12. 10-Ryan Timms[22]; 13. 2KS-Cory Eliason[14]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[13]; 15. 21-Brian Brown[7]; 16. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[20]; 17. 52-Blake Hahn[19]; 18. 28M-Conner Morrell[12]; 19. 73-Logan Julien[24]; 20. 6K-Kaleb Johnson[16]; 21. 40-Howard Moore[23]; 22. 45X-Jace Park[17]; 23. 2C-Cole Macedo[21]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[18]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 52-Blake Hahn[2]; 2. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[5]; 3. 2C-Cole Macedo[4]; 4. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 5. 40-Howard Moore[8]; 6. 73-Logan Julien[6]; 7. 88R-Ryder Laplante[11]; 8. 1K-Kelby Watt[3]; 9. 6-Zach Hampton[1]; 10. 9$-Kyle Clark[9]; 11. 1X-Bryant Wiedeman[10]; 12. 55V-Kerry Madsen[12]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 2-David Gravel[6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 21-Brian Brown[3]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee[6]; 6. 6K-Kaleb Johnson[5]; 7. 1K-Kelby Watt[8]; 8. 73-Logan Julien[10]; 9. 40-Howard Moore[9]; 10. 88R-Ryder Laplante[7]

The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 4. 7S-Chris Windom[3]; 5. 2KS-Cory Eliason[5]; 6. 45X-Jace Park[7]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]; 8. 10-Ryan Timms[8]; 9. 9$-Kyle Clark[9]; 10. 52-Blake Hahn[6]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 4. 28M-Conner Morrell[4]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 6. 24T-Christopher Thram[9]; 7. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[7]; 8. 6-Zach Hampton[3]; 9. 1X-Bryant Wiedeman[10]; 10. 55V-Kerry Madsen[8]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.764[27]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:12.834[24]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:12.928[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:12.933[6]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.944[1]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.963[22]; 7. 21-Brian Brown, 00:12.989[4]; 8. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:12.997[5]; 9. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.033[10]; 10. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.080[19]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.089[8]; 12. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:13.108[20]; 13. 6K-Kaleb Johnson, 00:13.125[7]; 14. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:13.136[13]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.174[15]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.213[2]; 17. 52-Blake Hahn, 00:13.224[16]; 18. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.245[23]; 19. 88R-Ryder Laplante, 00:13.246[26]; 20. 45X-Jace Park, 00:13.298[14]; 21. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.299[25]; 22. 1K-Kelby Watt, 00:13.300[11]; 23. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.365[30]; 24. 55V-Kerry Madsen, 00:13.381[21]; 25. 40-Howard Moore, 00:13.433[18]; 26. 9$-Kyle Clark, 00:13.482[29]; 27. 24T-Christopher Thram, 00:13.533[17]; 28. 73-Logan Julien, 00:13.551[9]; 29. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.556[12]; 30. 1X-Bryant Wiedeman, 00:13.845[28]

TEXAS-SIZED SWEEP: Gravel Survives Kofoid’s Charge for Second Straight Cotton Bowl Win
Alex Nieten

The point leader puts together a perfect night to sweep the weekend in Texas

David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports came about as close to perfection as possible this weekend in the “Lone Star State.”

It began with Friday’s victorious night at Cotton Bowl Speedway. The defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion started the night with Simpson Quick Time and topped the opening Heat Race. Gravel then finished fourth in the Toyota Dash, and it would be the first and only time he wasn’t atop the leaderboard the entire weekend.

After claiming Friday’s Feature, Saturday started with another Quick Time and a new track record as the cherry on top. Gravel won his Heat and the Dash and put the thunderous punctuation on a dominant weekend by leading all 30 laps of the finale. The brooms were brought out. Gravel swept the Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step.

“You just go out and have fun, and you believe in your race car every time you hit the track,” Gravel said of his recent success. “I’ve been pushing the limits of the car in Qualifying and then a couple of times going into Turn 1. Luckily there was grip up there, or I could’ve blew through the cushion. Cody (Jacobs) is giving me a lot of confidence and trying to bring the car to its full potential and everybody is doing a great job. We’re just having fun, and there’s no pressure. We just go out there and race and don’t think about it too much and listen to our instincts.”

The win was Gravel’s fifth in the last eight races with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’s now up to 108 career World of Outlaws victories. It marked 114 Series wins for Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports, moving them within one of equaling Roth Motorsports for fifth all-time. The weekend sweep coupled with Gravel’s 2018 Cotton Bowl checkered flag made him the first to own a trio of triumphs at the Paige, TX track.

And while Gravel might’ve been the one celebrating, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid didn’t make it easy on him. The Penngrove, CA native snagged the runner-up spot on Lap 20 and went to work on chasing down the No. 2. Kofoid narrowed the gap in the closing laps but just couldn’t find a way around Gravel.

“Those last five laps I was just hanging on,” Gravel admitted. “I kept getting looser and looser, and I didn’t want to grab too much more wing because I needed to get through (Turns) 1 and 2 well. I saw he was getting close to me there on the jumbotron, but man what a run we’re on right now. I felt like we had a pretty good race car there. It just seems like sometimes when there’s a lot of cautions or reds the tires don’t fire off the best, and I feel like I lost a little bit of grip there, but I can’t complain with sweeping the night. Cody, Zach (Patterson), and Pete (Stephens) are just performing every night giving me great race cars and giving me the platform to show my talent.”
 

Kofoid settled for second for the second night in a row in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. The reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year was a little disappointed in not being able to get to Victory Lane, but the momentum continues to build as Kofoid collected his third consecutive top two finish.

“Yeah, that’s where I let my team down,” Kofoid said of a late attempt at taking the lead. “I knew the laps were winding down and just got too eager because I struggled really bad in (Turns) 3 and 4. I think it was more myself. Dylan, Nate, and John carried me here this weekend. This is a place that’s been weird for me to get ahold of, especially in (Turns) 3 and 4, and then I found a ton of speed through there. I just took my chance too early.”

The final spot on the podium went to “Lone Star State” local Sam Hafertepe Jr. The Sunnyvale, TX native slipped back as far as seventh early on but rallied for his second trip to the top three during the World of Outlaws Texas trip in the Hills Racing Team No. 15H.

“We just didn’t have the grip off of (Turn) 4 like those guys had,” Hafertepe Jr. explained. “So, we just started kind of blowing across there and getting up right next to the wall and getting the forward drive off. He (Logan Schuchart) went down low there on the restart and actually let me get a lot of momentum on the outside and got to third there.”

Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

A 17th to eighth march earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23.

Gravel set a new Cotton Bowl Speedway track record in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying to claim his third consecutive Simpson Quick Time and his seventh of 2025.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Two belonged to David Gravel and Donny Schatz. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Sheldon Haudenschild.

Gravel topped the Toyota Dash after getting the SPA Technique #1 Redraw.

Conner Morrell won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Jace Park

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their way toward the Midwest with a weekend at Oklahoma’s Lawton Speedway on Friday, March 28 and 81 Speedway in Wichita, KS on Saturday, March 29.

Cottonbowl Speedway TX  3/22/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo[11]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[17]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom[9]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[16]; 11. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 13. 7S-Chris Windom[20]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[18]; 15. 6-Zach Hampton[13]; 16. 24T-Christopher Thram[8]; 17. 73-Logan Julien[15]; 18. 28M-Conner Morrell[19]; 19. 88R-Ryder Laplante[24]; 20. 45X-Jace Park[12]; 21. 17GP-Landon Crawley[22]; 22. 15-Donny Schatz[6]; 23. 2KS-Cory Eliason[14]; 24. J2-John Carney II[23]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (10 Laps): 1. 28M-Conner Morrell[1]; 2. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 4. 17GP-Landon Crawley[2]; 5. J2-John Carney II[3]; 6. 88R-Ryder Laplante[7]; 7. 85-Colby Stubblefield[8]; 8. 22M-Rees Moran[4]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[4]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 5. 6-Zach Hampton[5]; 6. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[6]; 7. J2-John Carney II[8]; 8. 17GP-Landon Crawley[7]; 9. 88R-Ryder Laplante[9]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 3. 24T-Christopher Thram[4]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[3]; 5. 2KS-Cory Eliason[7]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 7. 28M-Conner Morrell[6]; 8. 7S-Chris Windom[8]; 9. 85-Colby Stubblefield[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[3]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 4. 45X-Jace Park[2]; 5. 73-Logan Julien[4]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[5]; 7. 22M-Rees Moran[8]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[7]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.334[3]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.492[1]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.689[7]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.728[8]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.763[15]; 6. 45X-Jace Park, 00:13.783[9]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.828[14]; 8. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.867[23]; 9. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.892[18]; 10. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.896[22]; 11. 24T-Christopher Thram, 00:13.901[12]; 12. 73-Logan Julien, 00:13.915[6]; 13. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.921[11]; 14. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.932[19]; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.935[5]; 16. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.950[16]; 17. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:13.963[26]; 18. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.993[10]; 19. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:14.011[4]; 20. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:14.057[13]; 21. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.062[24]; 22. J2-John Carney II, 00:14.134[17]; 23. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:14.261[21]; 24. 22M-Rees Moran, 00:14.457[25]; 25. 88R-Ryder Laplante, 00:14.625[20]; 26. 85-Colby Stubblefield, 00:31.198[2]

COWBOY UP: Gravel Wheels From Fourth to Front for Cotton Bowl Victory
Alex Nieten

The defending champion takes the lead from Kofoid on Lap 10 and holds off the Californian’s late charge for fourth win of 2025

The defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion is at the top of his game. His title campaign in 2024 was plenty impressive, but he’s out for domination in 2025.

The latest testament to he and Big Game Motorsports’ excellence was an impressive drive on Friday night at Cotton Bowl Speedway. Gravel started fourth for the 30-lapper and methodically worked his way to the front by the 10th lap, but it wasn’t over yet. The Watertown, CT native had to hold off a fierce charge from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. The Roth Motorsports driver got the top side of Turns 1 and 2 wound up and showed Gravel a nose entering Turn 3 multiple times.

But Gravel showed the poise of a champion as he sensed the need to move to the cushion in the first set of corners. That slowed Kofoid’s momentum, and that was all she wrote in the Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step opener. Gravel drove away through lapped traffic on the path to yet another victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“I think just reacting from what he (Kofoid) was doing,” Gravel said on what led him to victory. “He was running the top, and I was kind of running low and then I had the bottom of (Turns) 1 and 2 all to myself. The 17 and 83 didn’t really try it much, and it was really good down there. When I got the lead, it started taking rubber through the middle not all the way to the bottom. I could hear him and knew he was getting a run on me in (Turns) 1 and 2, so I had to move up and moved up at the right time.”

The win was Gravel’s fourth in the last seven races in the Cody Jacobs-wrenched No. 2. He’s still yet to miss the top 5 through 11 nights in the 2025 campaign. His second Cotton Bowl checkered flag put him alongside Sheldon Haudenschild and Brad Sweet as multi-time winners at the Paige, TX track. The point lead for the 32-year-old grew to 70 markers in his quest for back-to-back titles.

“These guys continue to give me great race cars,” Gravel said. “We’re qualifying amazing and racing just as good. We were just patient there. We kind of figured they were all going to be pretty aggressive and kind of let the race come to us and it worked out.”
 

The runner-up position belonged to Buddy Kofoid as he came up one spot shy of two wins in a row aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83. The Penngrove, CA native continues to build momentum with his third top five finish in the last four races after no top five appearances in the first seven.

“David and the Big Game guys have been really good obviously,” Kofoid said. “I think we were better than him for a while, and then when he found it we kind of got back even. Then you just kind of got to surrender and chase him into there, and then the top kind of gave out again down there and had to move down. Just a race where you’ve got to work both pedals and find the lines. I feel like everything changes here so fast.”

The final spot on the podium went to Carson Macedo. He and the Jason Johnson Racing crew have been in the top three in three of the last four, and Friday’s effort helped lift them back into the second spot in points.

“It was a bit of a marathon race,” Macedo said. “There was a lot of moving parts. I felt like throughout the race there was a lot of comers and goers. You kind of had to chase the track a little bit. I feel like early it started out the bottom was really good both ends, and then down in (Turns) 1 and 2 I found the top and was actually kind of creeping back a little bit. I found the top and drove back by a few guys and got to third.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

A 24th to 13th run gave Skylar Gee the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel grabbed his sixth Simpson Quick Time in 11 tries this year during Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Two belonged to David Gravel and Carson Macedo. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Buddy Kofoid.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash after also getting the SPA Technique #1 Redraw.

Christopher Thram won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Cotton Bowl Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step finale on Saturday, March 22. Reserved seating is sold out, but general admission tickets can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.

For the complete 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Cottonbowl Speedway TX   3/21/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[4]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom[9]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 9. 2C-Cole Macedo[14]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[16]; 11. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[8]; 12. 24T-Christopher Thram[19]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee[24]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell[20]; 15. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 16. 2KS-Cory Eliason[12]; 17. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[17]; 18. 6-Zach Hampton[13]; 19. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 20. 22M-Rees Moran[15]; 21. J2-John Carney II[21]; 22. 45X-Jace Park[18]; 23. 17GP-Landon Crawley[22]; 24. 73-Logan Julien[23]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 24T-Christopher Thram[1]; 2. 28M-Conner Morrell[3]; 3. J2-John Carney II[4]; 4. 17GP-Landon Crawley[2]; 5. 73-Logan Julien[6]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[8]; 7. 85-Colby Stubblefield[5]; 8. 88R-Ryder Laplante[7]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[6]; 5. 6-Zach Hampton[7]; 6. 7S-Chris Windom[4]; 7. 28M-Conner Morrell[8]; 8. 85-Colby Stubblefield[9]; 9. 17GP-Landon Crawley[5]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 3. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo[5]; 6. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[2]; 7. J2-John Carney II[8]; 8. 73-Logan Julien[7]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 4. 2KS-Cory Eliason[5]; 5. 22M-Rees Moran[7]; 6. 45X-Jace Park[6]; 7. 24T-Christopher Thram[3]; 8. 88R-Ryder Laplante[8]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.906[8]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.927[13]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.933[16]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.971[19]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.983[9]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:14.005[18]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.071[24]; 8. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:14.088[2]; 9. 24T-Christopher Thram, 00:14.097[4]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:14.125[12]; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:14.127[23]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:14.129[10]; 13. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:14.135[3]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:14.137[1]; 15. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:14.167[26]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.221[21]; 17. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:14.242[22]; 18. 45X-Jace Park, 00:14.290[17]; 19. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:14.384[15]; 20. 73-Logan Julien, 00:14.391[25]; 21. 22M-Rees Moran, 00:14.394[5]; 22. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:14.437[7]; 23. J2-John Carney II, 00:14.581[20]; 24. 88R-Ryder Laplante, 00:14.683[14]; 25. 85-Colby Stubblefield, 00:14.763[11]; 26. 99-Skylar Gee, 01:00.000[6]

BUDDY’S BACK: Kofoid Bests Hafertepe Jr. in Traffic for First Win of Season

 Alex Nieten

The Series sophomore comes out on top of a Kennedale barnburner for his 11th career win

The 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season didn’t start the way Michael “Buddy” Kofoid would’ve liked, but he’s quickly turning things around.

The Penngrove, CA native entered 2025 with many viewing him as a championship contender after a stellar ending to 2024. He and Roth Motorsports closed out last year’s campaign with six wins in the final 16 races, but the pairing missed the top 10 in the first three nights of this season.

Kofoid rolled into Saturday’s Cowtown Classic finale with some momentum built back up courtesy of six straight top 10s, and the recent strides culminated in his first trip to Victory Lane of the year at Kennedale Speedway Park.

The 23-year-old started on the front row of the 30-lap Feature, but it was Sunnyvale, TX’s Sam Hafertepe Jr. taking the early advantage from the pole. After a fierce battle with Logan Schuchart for second, Kofoid chased Hafertepe down and cleared the Texan with a Lap 10 slider, but the race was far from over. Hafertepe refused to go down without a fight in front of home state fans. The pilot of the Hills Racing No. 15H hounded Kofoid as the two ripped through heavy traffic, but Kofoid had enough to hold on and secure an encouraging checkered flag.

“All year we’ve just been off a little bit,” Kofoid admitted. “We just kept working hard at it, and we just want it really bad. We weren’t going to let it get to us. Obviously, it’s a long, grueling, so it’s nice to get a win somewhat early on and change some things for this to happen today. I just want to thank them (team) for their hard work. It goes into a lot. We changed cars today, and this was actually the car we ended the year with last year, so I’m really happy about that.”

Kofoid’s first win of the season gave him 11 for his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt and made him the seventh different winner through 10 races. The first of the year for Roth Motorsports was the 115th for Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team and made it 15 consecutive seasons in which they’ve won at least one World of Outlaws Feature.

The No. 83 could move all around the Texas bullring on Saturday, and Kofoid was quick to credit his crew for the maneuverability that guided him to victory.

“A really good one,” Kofoid said of his car. “Going into today, even yesterday even though the track was vastly different, with seeing how heavy it was probably going to be, I told Dylan (Buswell), ‘I think to be good you’re going to have to be able to move around and be able to run lines that are kind of goofy.’ I was running a big diamond in (Turns) 1 and 2 or could run in the middle through the holes. I was just really good anywhere. That’s just a testament to Dylan, Nate, and John. They’ve been doing a really good job.”

Hafertepe Jr. held on to the runner-up spot, marking his first World of Outlaws podium since March of 2022. He badly wanted to win in front of a his home state fans that made Saturday the largest crowd in Kennedale Speedway Park history, but overall he was happy with the impressive outing against the sport’s toughest competition.

“I just didn’t get through traffic the first time right,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “I didn’t pick my spots right then got too tight off of (Turn) 4 here and gave him a pretty good lane to get by us there. Nothing to hang our head about. I really wanted to win this race starting up front like that and leading a lot of laps. We don’t run with these guys all the time. Two California guys running first and third, this is a California-style racetrack. Definitely not a track that I’m used to racing on.”

Completing the podium was Giovanni Scelzi in the KCP Racing No. 18. “Hot Sauce” capped a stout weekend in Texas with Friday’s win coupled with Saturday’s third. After a rough start to 2025, the Fresno, CA native has now bagged podiums in three of the last five races.

“I felt a little free in the Heat Race,” Scelzi explained. “And then we snugged up for the Dash, and it really got tighter. I felt like there was more mud on the race car in the Dash than there was in the Heat Race, so I don’t know if the moisture kind of came back or we finally blew all that slime off where it got to grip. Hats off to the track crew. I feel like they worked really hard through the night and today to give us a racetrack to race on.”

Logan Schuchart and David Gravel completed the top five.

A 26th to 13th run gave Skylar Gee the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel grabbed his 127th career Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four belonged to Bryce Lucius, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Conner Morrell. WIX Filters Heat Three went to David Gravel.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. topped the Toyota Dash.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Logan Schuchart.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bryce Lucius.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finish up a two-week stay in the “Lone Star State” with a trip to Paige, TX’s Cotton Bowl Speedway on March 21-22 for the Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Kennedale TX   3/15/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[1]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 2-David Gravel[4]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[14]; 7. 28M-Conner Morrell[6]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo[16]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[9]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[12]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[17]; 12. 6-Zach Hampton[10]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee[26]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 15. 22M-Rees Moran[13]; 16. 40-Howard Moore[11]; 17. 7S-Chris Windom[19]; 18. 2KS-Cory Eliason[20]; 19. 52-Blake Hahn[18]; 20. 24T-Christopher Thram[7]; 21. 6G-Cody Gardner[15]; 22. 2C-Cole Macedo[22]; 23. 27-Emerson Axsom[24]; 24. J2-John Carney II[23]; 25. 17B-Bill Balog[25]; 26. 32-Bryce Lucius[8]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 2. 2C-Cole Macedo[4]; 3. J2-John Carney II[2]; 4. 27-Emerson Axsom[9]; 5. 20G-Noah Gass[3]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 7. 17GP-Landon Crawley[5]; 8. 01J-Jeb Sessums[11]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee[10]; 10. 73-Logan Julien[7]; 11. 10G-Marcus Thomas[15]; 12. 45X-Roger Crockett[6]; 13. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[12]; 14. 99X-Dalton Stevens[17]; 15. 85-Colby Stubblefield[18]; 16. 79-Kyle Jones[19]; 17. G6-Chelby Hinton[14]; 18. 2B-Brett Becker[16]; 19. 23R-Ryder Laplante[13]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 6. 28M-Conner Morrell[8]; 7. 24T-Christopher Thram[7]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[6]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 32-Bryce Lucius[1]; 2. 24T-Christopher Thram[2]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 4. 22M-Rees Moran[6]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 6. 20G-Noah Gass[10]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 9. 23R-Ryder Laplante[9]; 10. 99X-Dalton Stevens[8]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 40-Howard Moore[3]; 4. 6G-Cody Gardner[4]; 5. 7S-Chris Windom[6]; 6. 17GP-Landon Crawley[7]; 7. 73-Logan Julien[5]; 8. 01J-Jeb Sessums[10]; 9. 10G-Marcus Thomas[8]; 10. 79-Kyle Jones[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 6-Zach Hampton[4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 5. 52-Blake Hahn[6]; 6. 2C-Cole Macedo[7]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 8. J2-John Carney II[3]; 9. G6-Chelby Hinton[9]; 10. 85-Colby Stubblefield[10]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 28M-Conner Morrell[2]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[4]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 5. 2KS-Cory Eliason[5]; 6. 45X-Roger Crockett[7]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[6]; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[8]; 9. 2B-Brett Becker[9]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:12.255[10]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:12.264[5]; 3. 24T-Christopher Thram, 00:12.288[17]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:12.316[8]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:12.320[18]; 6. 40-Howard Moore, 00:12.356[12]; 7. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:12.376[4]; 8. 6G-Cody Gardner, 00:12.390[6]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:12.399[11]; 10. 73-Logan Julien, 00:12.499[16]; 11. 22M-Rees Moran, 00:12.530[9]; 12. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:12.561[1]; 13. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.613[15]; 14. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:12.617[14]; 15. 99X-Dalton Stevens, 00:12.627[20]; 16. 10G-Marcus Thomas, 00:12.647[19]; 17. 23R-Ryder Laplante, 00:12.688[13]; 18. 79-Kyle Jones, 00:12.730[7]; 19. 20G-Noah Gass, 00:12.795[3]; 20. 01J-Jeb Sessums, 00:12.819[2]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:11.924[6]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:12.014[3]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.076[7]; 4. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:12.077[4]; 5. J2-John Carney II, 00:12.083[18]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:12.106[14]; 7. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:12.114[19]; 8. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:12.158[17]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:12.165[10]; 10. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:12.196[11]; 11. 52-Blake Hahn, 00:12.213[13]; 12. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:12.222[15]; 13. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:12.225[2]; 14. 45X-Roger Crockett, 00:12.278[8]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:12.310[1]; 16. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 00:12.353[5]; 17. G6-Chelby Hinton, 00:12.399[9]; 18. 2B-Brett Becker, 00:12.437[16]; 19. 85-Colby Stubblefield, 00:12.706[12]

Kennedale TX   3/14/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri[8]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 10. 83-Michael Kofoid[10]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 12. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[16]; 13. 2C-Cole Macedo[14]; 14. 7S-Chris Windom[15]; 15. 6-Zach Hampton[11]; 16. 28M-Conner Morrell[9]; 17. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[17]; 18. 2KS-Cory Eliason[18]; 19. J2-John Carney II[23]; 20. 99-Skylar Gee[20]; 21. 52-Blake Hahn[22]; 22. 24T-Christopher Thram[21]; 23. 17GP-Landon Crawley[24]; 24. 20G-Noah Gass[19]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 24T-Christopher Thram[1]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn[4]; 3. J2-John Carney II[2]; 4. 17GP-Landon Crawley[3]; 5. 73-Logan Julien[5]; 6. 32-Bryce Lucius[7]; 7. 10G-Marcus Thomas[8]; 8. 99X-Dalton Stevens[9]; 9. 45X-Jace Park[11]; 10. 01J-Jeb Sessums[17]; 11. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[13]; 12. 23R-Ryder Laplante[15]; 13. 2B-Brett Becker[6]; 14. 40-Howard Moore[12]; 15. 22M-Rees Moran[14]; 16. G6-Chelby Hinton[16]; 17. 6G-Cody Gardner[10]; 18. 85-Colby Stubblefield[19]; 19. 79-Kyle Jones[18]

Toyota Dash (8 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 7. 27-Emerson Axsom[8]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri[7]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 2. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]; 3. 28M-Conner Morrell[2]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[3]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 6. 17GP-Landon Crawley[7]; 7. 32-Bryce Lucius[6]; 8. 45X-Jace Park[8]; 9. 23R-Ryder Laplante[9]; 10. 85-Colby Stubblefield[10]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 23-Garet Williamson[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 6-Zach Hampton[4]; 4. 7S-Chris Windom[3]; 5. 20G-Noah Gass[7]; 6. 73-Logan Julien[6]; 7. 99X-Dalton Stevens[9]; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[8]; 9. G6-Chelby Hinton[10]; 10. 24T-Christopher Thram[5]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[4]; 5. 2KS-Cory Eliason[6]; 6. 52-Blake Hahn[5]; 7. 10G-Marcus Thomas[7]; 8. 40-Howard Moore[10]; 9. 22M-Rees Moran[9]; 10. 01J-Jeb Sessums[8]

Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 4. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[5]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee[6]; 6. 2B-Brett Becker[8]; 7. 6G-Cody Gardner[9]; 8. J2-John Carney II[4]; 9. (DQ) 79-Kyle Jones[7]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:11.525[3]; 2. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:11.800[6]; 3. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:11.831[11]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:11.876[9]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:11.922[8]; 6. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:11.991[7]; 7. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:11.998[12]; 8. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:12.012[20]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.103[19]; 10. 24T-Christopher Thram, 00:12.103[14]; 11. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:12.124[1]; 12. 73-Logan Julien, 00:12.167[5]; 13. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:12.232[4]; 14. 20G-Noah Gass, 00:12.264[18]; 15. 45X-Jace Park, 00:12.395[16]; 16. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 00:12.405[13]; 17. 23R-Ryder Laplante, 00:12.426[2]; 18. 99X-Dalton Stevens, 00:12.653[10]; 19. 85-Colby Stubblefield, 00:12.725[17]; 20. G6-Chelby Hinton, 01:00.000[15]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:12.197[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:12.383[14]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.402[7]; 4. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.413[19]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:12.433[4]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:12.484[9]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:12.558[10]; 8. J2-John Carney II, 00:12.559[11]; 9. 52-Blake Hahn, 00:12.635[15]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:12.645[17]; 11. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:12.655[6]; 12. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:12.663[12]; 13. 10G-Marcus Thomas, 00:12.743[13]; 14. 79-Kyle Jones, 00:12.894[5]; 15. 01J-Jeb Sessums, 00:12.967[3]; 16. 2B-Brett Becker, 00:13.027[2]; 17. 22M-Rees Moran, 00:13.175[8]; 18. 6G-Cody Gardner, 00:13.411[18]; 19. 40-Howard Moore, 00:13.413[16]

THE MAG MAGIC: Gravel Sweeps Magnolia for Third World of Outlaws Win of Season

 Alex Nieten

The defending champ completes a perfect night and takes sole possession of seventh on the all-time win list

Perfection. That’s the only word to describe David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports on Saturday at Mississippi’s Magnolia Motor Speedway.

The defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champions checked all the boxes. It began with setting their fourth consecutive Simpson Quick Time and establishing a new track record in the process. Next up was a Heat Race win. Then came a Toyota Dash victory.

All that remained was a 35-lap Feature, and Gravel put the punctuation on a perfect night. The Watertown, CT native led every single circuit on his way to his third trip to Victory Lane in 2025. He never flinched in traffic. Never faltered on a restart. It was yet another example of Gravel and his team being at the top of their game. At the top of the sport.

“Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), and Pete (Stephens) have been giving me great race cars every night,” Gravel said. “Look at what we’re doing in Qualifying. We could’ve potentially won last night too. It’s just been a dream to drive this Big Game No. 2.”

The dream has included an early stretch of dominance for Gravel and the Tod Quiring-owned team. They’re now up to seven podiums in eight races, and their worst result is fourth. Gravel’s average finish this season is an astonishing 2.13. All three of their victories have come in the last four races.

It was also a big night historically for the 32-year-old. Gravel’s 106th career triumph with The Greatest Show on Dirt pushed him ahead of Joey Saldana for sole possession of seventh on the all-time win list.

While he made it look easy, Gravel acknowledged it wasn’t a simple path to the checkered flag. Lapped traffic threw him some curveballs on where to race on the 3/8 mile. But even with a little indecision, it wasn’t nearly enough to drop him into the clutches of those chasing.

“I didn’t know where to run,” Gravel admitted. “I felt like it was the top, and then Skylar Gee had a really good pace and was running low and kind of running away from me in (Turns) 1 and 2. I felt like the top was better in (Turns) 3 and 4, but when I moved down I felt good in both lanes.” David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild racing at Magnolia David

The runner-up spot belonged to Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. He stole the second position on the final lap from Sheldon Haudenschild to wrap up a strong night. The result was Macedo’s sixth consecutive top 10 and his first time on the podium since winning the 2025 season opener.

“I think I was actually really good on the bottom, and each time I’d get to his (Sheldon Haudenschild) left-rear, he’d cut my water off getting into (Turn) 1,” Macedo explained. “It just would kill my run off of (Turn) 2 and take me so long to get back to him. I switched in up there that last lap and went to the top in (Turns) 1 and 2 and made some good speed and was able to get a run down into Turn 3 and kind of get my angle right and hit the bottom nice and squirt off to the checkered.”

Rounding out the top three was Sheldon Haudenschild with the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team. It was a welcome confidence boost for the Wooster, OH native as it marked his first podium of the season in the NOS Energy Drink No. 17.

“I think we have a lot of takeaways, finally just a good run and felt like I knew what I was doing again,” Haudenschild said. “Pumped with my team right now. This NOS Energy Drink/West Tennessee Expediting car is back where it belongs. I had a struggle of a start to the year at Volusia. It kicked our butts, but just felt really good from the start tonight.”

Buddy Kofoid and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

The KSE Racing Hard Charger went to Zach Hampton with a run from 22nd to seventh.

Gravel’s Simpson Quick Time was the 126th of his career in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Two belonged to David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Austin McCarl.

Gravel topped the Toyota Dash after getting the SPA Technique #1 Redraw.

Bryce Lucius won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Austin McCarl.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Texas for two nights (March 14-15) at Kennedale Speedway Park.

Magnolia Motor Speedway MS   3/8/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 7. 6-Zach Hampton[22]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[13]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 11. 27-Emerson Axsom[23]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 13. 14-Spencer Bayston[18]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 15. 19-Brent Marks[12]; 16. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[17]; 17. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee[20]; 19. 32-Bryce Lucius[19]; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne[24]; 21. 28M-Conner Morrell[16]; 22. 40-Howard Moore[21]; 23. 88-Austin McCarl[4]; 24. 84-Brandon Hanks[14]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 32-Bryce Lucius[2]; 2. 99-Skylar Gee[5]; 3. 40-Howard Moore[3]; 4. 6-Zach Hampton[10]; 5. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 6. 9-Kasey Kahne[1]; 7. 15K-Creed Kemenah[7]; 8. 29-Logan McCandless[9]; 9. 73-Logan Julien[8]; 10. 44-Derek Hagar[6]

Toyota Dash (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[3]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 5. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 6. 28M-Conner Morrell[7]; 7. 40-Howard Moore[10]; 8. 44-Derek Hagar[9]; 9. 15K-Creed Kemenah[8]; 10. 6-Zach Hampton[6]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 5. 84-Brandon Hanks[8]; 6. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[5]; 7. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne[4]; 9. 73-Logan Julien[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 88-Austin McCarl[1]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri[2]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 4. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo[6]; 6. 14-Spencer Bayston[7]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[9]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[5]; 9. 29-Logan McCandless[8]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:11.216[10]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:11.317[18]; 3. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:11.325[5]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:11.407[20]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:11.419[6]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:11.438[17]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:11.439[12]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:11.441[2]; 9. 19-Brent Marks, 00:11.443[16]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:11.480[1]; 11. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:11.487[21]; 12. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:11.492[28]; 13. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:11.502[3]; 14. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:11.512[25]; 15. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:11.534[13]; 16. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:11.564[9]; 17. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:11.623[24]; 18. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:11.661[22]; 19. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:11.696[7]; 20. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:11.696[23]; 21. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:11.769[8]; 22. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:11.843[26]; 23. 84-Brandon Hanks, 00:11.879[19]; 24. 29-Logan McCandless, 00:11.899[4]; 25. 44-Derek Hagar, 00:11.902[14]; 26. 73-Logan Julien, 00:11.911[15]; 27. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:11.940[27]; 28. 40-Howard Moore, 00:12.024[11]

ICE IN HIS VEINS: Balog Charges from Fourth, Holds off Defending Champion for First Win in Nine Years
Alex Nieten

The North Pole Nightmare drives by Macedo and survives Gravel’s late charge for popular victory

There might’ve been small earthquakes registered on the Richter scale in Alaska and Wisconsin on Friday night thanks to Bill Balog.

Balog did it. He finally made his way back to World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Victory Lane at Talladega Short Track, and the entire sport united in joy for the 45-year-old. Not a single fan disapproved. Not a single competitor wasn’t happy for their fellow driver.

After snowmobile racing in his youth and not getting in a Sprint Car until 20 years old, the Hartland, WI resident by way of North Pole, AK scratched and clawed and built a career in the sport. He racked up 10 Interstate Racing Association (IRA) titles and made the choice last year to join The Greatest Show on Dirt. This win was a culmination of that decision.

Sure, he had a previous World of Outlaws win under his belt, but that was as a local defending home turf in 2016 at Beaver Dam Raceway. This was in unfamiliar territory. Balog had just one prior Talladega race on his résumé. This was charging forward from fourth. This was holding off defending Series champion David Gravel. This win was everything.

“It’s unbelievable,” Balog said. “I can’t tell you how hard these things are to win. I’ve been doing this a long time, on and off with the Outlaws and stuff. Just unbelievable. We had a great car. We made the right decisions. I didn’t think we were quite good enough there a couple times throughout the night in the Heat Race and Dash. So, we did a couple things we do at other tracks with similar shapes.”
 

The “North Pole Nightmare” had to earn this victory by giving everything he had behind the wheel. A hungry Cole Macedo led the field to green in search of his first World of Outlaws win. Sprint Car titans Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo started ahead of Balog in second and third. He wheeled his way by all of them by Lap 17 after a thrilling duel with Cole Macedo to secure the top spot.

But it was far from over. Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team are at the top of the sport right now, and the No. 2 grabbed the runner-up spot on Lap 23, but Balog couldn’t be rattled. He stayed smooth, hit his marks, and held off the champion for his first World of Outlaws win in 3,177 days.

“I think we were just a little bit better kind of there through the middle,” Balog said of the early battle with Macedo. “He wasn’t going to cut under me. We were just really good on entry and could kind of baby it through the middle, and with our HP Engine, we could step on the gas and it would just go. It was awesome.”

Gravel settled for the runner-up spot as he and the Tod Quiring-owned team continue their early season tear. The Watertown, CT native has been on the podium in six of this season’s seven races, and the one time he wasn’t he finished fourth. His average finish is 2.29.

“I saw Bill move up the racetrack, and it worked out really well for him,” Gravel said. “Everybody was just around the bottom, so I tried it as well and got a couple guys. Man, those two lapped cars were hitting the bottom just good enough that I couldn’t clear them. Once I got clear of them, it seemed like the track kind of cleaned up and was officially one lane on the bottom. I felt like when Bill made those moves the track was still multiple grooves. We were just a little too late.”

Completing the podium was Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing crew. They continue to piece together the foundations of a bounce back campaign after a subpar 2024. The third place effort marked their fourth podium of 2025, which already surpassed the total they had all of last year.

“It’s nice to be in the mix running around there with Cole for a little bit,” Schuchart said. “I knew I probably wasn’t going to get him in open air, but I was hoping once we got to traffic I could move around a little bit. That restart when Bill drove around the outside of me in (Turns) 3 and 4, I knew he was really good because he was floating the middle of (Turns) 1 and 2. I think I tried it one lap, tried to get the wing back a little bit and float the middle, and I definitely didn’t feel the same way that he looked.”
 

Brothers Cole Macedo and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

Chris Windom earned his second consecutive KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel claimed his third consecutive Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Two belonged to David Gravel and Carson Macedo. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Bill Balog.

Cole Macedo topped the Toyota Dash after receiving the SPA Technique #1 Redraw.

Giovanni Scelzi won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Chelby Hinton.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete a weekend in the “Dirty South” on Saturday, March 8 at Columbus, MS’s Magnolia Motor Speedway.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Talladega AL 3/7/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 2. 2-David Gravel[5]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[1]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[8]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 8. 14-Spencer Bayston[6]; 9. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[9]; 10. 99-Skylar Gee[10]; 11. 19-Brent Marks[15]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 13. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 14. 6-Zach Hampton[16]; 15. 9-Kasey Kahne[12]; 16. 7S-Chris Windom[22]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri[14]; 18. 28M-Conner Morrell[20]; 19. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[19]; 20. 88-Austin McCarl[23]; 21. 32-Bryce Lucius[17]; 22. 73-Logan Julien[24]; 23. 40-Howard Moore[18]; 24. G6-Chelby Hinton[21]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 28M-Conner Morrell[2]; 3. G6-Chelby Hinton[4]; 4. 7S-Chris Windom[7]; 5. 88-Austin McCarl[3]; 6. 73-Logan Julien[9]; 7. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 9. 44-Derek Hagar[8]; 10. 29-Logan McCandless[12]; 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel[5]; 12. 17GP-Landon Crawley[11]

Toyota Dash (8 Laps): 1. 2C-Cole Macedo[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 5. 2-David Gravel[5]; 6. 14-Spencer Bayston[6]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 4. 99-Skylar Gee[5]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 6. 6-Zach Hampton[6]; 7. 88-Austin McCarl[7]; 8. G6-Chelby Hinton[9]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[8]; 10. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2C-Cole Macedo[2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 6. 32-Bryce Lucius[10]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 8. 16G-Austyn Gossel[8]; 9. 44-Derek Hagar[7]; 10. 17GP-Landon Crawley[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 14-Spencer Bayston[2]; 3. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[3]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne[4]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[5]; 6. 40-Howard Moore[9]; 7. 28M-Conner Morrell[6]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 9. 73-Logan Julien[10]; 10. 29-Logan McCandless[8]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.073[8]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:12.138[4]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:12.227[13]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:12.260[9]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:12.329[6]; 6. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:12.383[2]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.397[7]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:12.397[23]; 9. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:12.457[10]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:12.468[22]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:12.488[20]; 12. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:12.511[28]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:12.512[11]; 14. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:12.644[17]; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 00:12.644[18]; 16. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:12.686[1]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:12.749[24]; 18. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:12.755[3]; 19. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:12.762[27]; 20. 44-Derek Hagar, 00:12.779[21]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.793[12]; 22. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:12.823[30]; 23. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:12.898[14]; 24. 29-Logan McCandless, 00:12.928[15]; 25. G6-Chelby Hinton, 00:12.949[26]; 26. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:12.963[16]; 27. 40-Howard Moore, 00:12.995[19]; 28. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.034[25]; 29. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.061[29]; 30. 73-Logan Julien, 00:13.265[5]

BREAK OUT THE BROOM: Gravel Chases Down Scelzi to Sweep Volusia’s Bike Week Jamboree

Alex Nieten

David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports are on another level right now.

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car title was something they worked hard for. It eluded them for three seasons straight. But they have no plans of taking their foot off the gas after finally capturing the championship. They want to go on a run for the record books. Not just one title, but many.

The easiest path toward winning a championship is winning races, and that’s exactly what they did this week at Volusia Speedway Park.

First, it was Sunday’s dominant drive when Gravel led every lap. Monday dished out more of a challenge to the Watertown, CT native. He lined up third and slipped back to fourth on the opening circuit, but it didn’t matter. Gravel methodically worked the Cody Jacobs-prepared No. 2 forward. Back to third on Lap 5. Up to second on Lap 11. And ripping the lead away from Giovanni Scelzi on Lap 15. That was all she wrote. Gravel opened up the lead, survived heavy traffic, and took the checkered flag with nearly a two-second advantage to sweep the Bike Week Jamboree.

“Confidence has been high,” Gravel said. “All off-season it was high. After DIRTcar Nationals, it was high. To sweep the weekend feels really, really good. Now we’re going to a lot of different places, different sizes, places we haven’t been very often. It’s going to be a wildcard. It’s going to be a battle and fight every night no matter what.”

It was a significant victory for Gravel. His second straight elevated his career total with The Greatest Show on Dirt to 105, equaling him with Joey Saldana for seventh most all-time. It was also his seventh World of Outlaws triumph at Volusia, tying him with Brad Sweet for the second most.

It’s early, but Gravel has already built up a 44-point advantage over Logan Schuchart as he looks to defend his title. He and Tod Quiring’s team want to put together a stretch of Sprint Car racing that won’t be forgotten, and they look to be well on their way. They have two wins, five podiums, and a 2.33 average finish through six races in 2025.

“For us, we’re trying to build a point lead early, and so far we’re doing that,” Gravel said. “I’m really excited for this season. I think it’s going to be pretty special. We did a lot of special things last year, but we keep wanting to do special things.” David Gravel racing the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports put together a clean sweep of Volusia’s Bike Week Jamboree (Trent Gower Photo)

Behind Gravel it was a wild battle for second as the race wound down. Logan Schuchart eventually emerged over Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo. It was he and the Shark Racing team’s third podium of the year, which already equals their total from the entire 2024 campaign. They came out ready for a rebound season, and so far they’ve delivered.

“I felt really good there,” Schuchart said. “Had a cool little race with Gio (Scelzi) and Carson (Macedo), and I actually felt like we were catching David there at the end, definitely aggressive. Very happy for our team. I felt like we learned a lot here in Florida to start the year. Definitely a much better start than last year, and I feel like we have some speed.”

Scelzi slipped to third after leading the opening 14 circuits aboard the KCP Racing No. 18. The Fresno, CA native didn’t want to see a potential win slip away, but his spirits were still high with his first podium of the season after struggling last month at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”

“I saw it getting dirtier in (Turns) 1 and 2 especially across the middle, which means the bottom is obviously throwing up to the middle,” Scelzi said. “I didn’t really go down there until I got in traffic behind David and stuck with him for a bit and then kind of just made a block move on myself and let Logan by me. Just proud of my guys. This is a huge rally from DIRTcar (Nationals) to here. I’m proud. It’s easy to get discouraged early in the year. It is a long year, but Charlotte creeps up on you.”

Carson Macedo and Jacob Allen completed the top five.

Chris Windom took the Sides Motorsports No. 7S on a 22nd to 10th run to claim KSE Racing Hard Charger honors.

David Gravel claimed his second straight Simpson Quick Time and the 124th of his career in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Jacob Allen. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Carson Macedo.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Dash.

Anthony Macri won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Creed Kemenah.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to the “Dirty South” to take on Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track on Friday, March 7 and Columbus, MS’s Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 8.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Volusia Speedway Park FL  3/3/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen[5]; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel[10]; 7. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[4]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[11]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[22]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[17]; 13. 14-Spencer Bayston[9]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri[21]; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[19]; 16. 13-Daison Pursley[16]; 17. 6-Zach Hampton[20]; 18. 27-Emerson Axsom[12]; 19. 44-Chris Martin[23]; 20. 88-Austin McCarl[13]; 21. 28M-Conner Morrell[25]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[18]; 23. 2C-Cole Macedo[7]; 24. 26-Justin Peck[14]; 25. 15K-Creed Kemenah[24]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 2. 7S-Chris Windom[2]; 3. 44-Chris Martin[4]; 4. 15K-Creed Kemenah[3]; 5. 28M-Conner Morrell[5]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[7]; 7. 32-Bryce Lucius[9]; 8. 64-Andy Pake[6]; 9. 6S-Tyler Clem[10]; 10. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[8]; 11. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck[11]; 12. 20D-Stephen Darvalics[12]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 3. 2-David Gravel[5]; 4. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[4]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen[2]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo[7]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 2C-Cole Macedo[6]; 3. 14-Spencer Bayston[2]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[4]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 6. 15K-Creed Kemenah[8]; 7. 64-Andy Pake[7]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri[5]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[2]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]; 4. 26-Justin Peck[6]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 6. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[7]; 8. 6S-Tyler Clem[8]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 6. 44-Chris Martin[6]; 7. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[7]; 8. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck[8]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 1A-Jacob Allen[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 4. 13-Daison Pursley[5]; 5. 6-Zach Hampton[3]; 6. 28M-Conner Morrell[7]; 7. 32-Bryce Lucius[6]; 8. 20D-Stephen Darvalics[8]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.252[12]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 00:13.336[11]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.339[21]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.340[3]; 5. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.349[10]; 6. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.350[14]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.353[8]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.394[30]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.403[28]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.429[1]; 11. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.438[31]; 12. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.445[6]; 13. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.454[19]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.466[5]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.469[9]; 16. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.480[20]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.486[16]; 18. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:13.492[24]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.493[18]; 20. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.529[15]; 21. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.608[26]; 22. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.612[29]; 23. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.675[27]; 24. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.690[23]; 25. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.706[7]; 26. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.730[17]; 27. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.740[4]; 28. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:13.775[22]; 29. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.828[25]; 30. 6S-Tyler Clem, 00:14.006[32]; 31. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck, 00:14.786[13]; 32. 20D-Stephen Darvalics, 00:14.832[2]

CHAMPIONSHIP FORM: Gravel Cruises to Volusia Victory for First Win of 2025
Alex Nieten

The defending champion survives several restarts for 104th career victory

Last year David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports engineered an unforgettable season, and they’re out to top it in 2025.

There’s no taking the foot off the gas for the defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champions. They made it to the sport’s mountaintop, and they’re determined to protect their territory.

It began with last month’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Gravel couldn’t find Victory Lane during the four straight nights of racing to begin the season, but he bagged a trio of podiums. The only step of the podium left to climb in 2025 was the top one, and the Watertown, CT native did exactly that on Sunday at Volusia Speedway Park.

There was no stopping Gravel at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” To start, he flexed his muscle early by taking the top spot on three consecutive attempts to begin the race. Then he smoothly worked through traffic to maintain the lead. And to seal the deal Gravel survived multiple late restarts and drove away to victory.

“The car was really, really good tonight,” Gravel said. “I thought, in the Feature, I was super maneuverable. At first, I thought I was top dominant, but really I could run the bottom, and I felt like I was just as fast down there.

“Tonight was just our night. We qualified well, got a good Dash draw, and with how the track was, it was good to start up front.”

Fuel issues became a concern late as the field ripped around a fast surface, but Gravel was mindful to the potential of coming up short and made sure to save whenever he could to help secure the trip to Victory Lane.

“Once we got going green, I just kind of pulled back to three-quarters, half-throttle to conserve,” Gravel explained. “Once that red (flag) came out, I shut it down as fast as I could and then leaned it down as much as I could under yellow (flag). I did my part. We run a big tank and fill it up. We did everything we could do, and it worked out.”
 

Gravel’s first win of the season was the 104th of his career, bringing him within one of Joey Saldana for seventh on the all-time World of Outlaws win list. Six of those triumphs have now come at Volusia, equaling the Florida track with Eldora Speedway and Knoxville Raceway for the third winningest track on Gravel’s résumé. He’s also only one away from equaling Brad Sweet for the second most Series victories at Volusia. Gravel has now won at least one World of Outlaws race in 10 consecutive years, and he’s confident Sunday’s score could be the first of many in 2025.

“It’s good to get the first one off our backs here,” Gravel said. “If we stay up front like this, we’ll be a lot of trouble all year.”

The runner-up spot belonged to Aaron Reutzel as he and Ridge & Sons Racing made their first appearance of 2025. The Clute, TX native showed consistent speed all night as he got his year started off strong. Reutzel’s result marked his 21st career podium.

“It’s really satisfying,” Reutzel said. “Like I said earlier, we’ve put a lot of hours in at the shop not just race car-wise. We’ve been getting that truck and trailer ready and getting our team organized, just getting prepared to go up and down the road.”

Rounding out the podium was Jacob Allen and the Shark Racing No. 1A team. It marked the Hanover, PA native’s first top three with The Greatest Show on Dirt since June of 2023. Allen’s efforts were aided by the fact that he had “Lethal” Lee Stauffer helping out with the car and making his job a little easier.

“Great team effort,” Allen said. “Lee has given me a bunch of confidence. Normally, I’m kind of thrashing around trying to figure out how I want to set up my car. Obviously, winning Outlaw races is a big deal. Starting on the pole has some pressure, but Lee took that pressure off me today. Felt really good to come home with a podium.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Cole Macedo completed the top five.

Macedo’s drive to fifth started from 19th, giving him the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel earned his 123rd career Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Jacob Allen. WIX Filters Heat Three went to Carson Macedo.

Jacob Allen topped the Toyota Racing Dash after getting the SPA Technique #1 Redraw.

Chris Martin won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Logan Schuchart.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Bike Week Jamboree on Monday, March 3.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel[3]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen[1]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo[19]; 6. 14-Spencer Bayston[13]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 8. 7S-Chris Windom[9]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[22]; 10. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[12]; 11. 13-Daison Pursley[14]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 13. 23-Garet Williamson[7]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[16]; 15. 6-Zach Hampton[25]; 16. 44-Chris Martin[21]; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 18. 64-Andy Pake[24]; 19. 28M-Conner Morrell[23]; 20. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 21. 39M-Anthony Macri[10]; 22. 88-Austin McCarl[17]; 23. 17B-Bill Balog[11]; 24. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[20]; 25. 24D-Danny Sams III[18]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 44-Chris Martin[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 3. 28M-Conner Morrell[1]; 4. 64-Andy Pake[3]; 5. 6-Zach Hampton[5]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[6]; 7. 26-Justin Peck[7]; 8. 6S-Tyler Clem[8]; 9. 32-Bryce Lucius[10]; 10. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[11]; 11. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck[9]; 12. 20D-Stephen Darvalics[13]; 13. 15K-Creed Kemenah[12]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 1A-Jacob Allen[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[4]; 4. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 3. 7S-Chris Windom[2]; 4. 14-Spencer Bayston[3]; 5. 88-Austin McCarl[5]; 6. 64-Andy Pake[6]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[8]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[7]; 9. 20D-Stephen Darvalics[9]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[5]; 4. 13-Daison Pursley[4]; 5. 24D-Danny Sams III[3]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 7. 26-Justin Peck[7]; 8. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[8]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 23-Garet Williamson[2]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[6]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo[7]; 6. 44-Chris Martin[4]; 7. 6S-Tyler Clem[8]; 8. 28M-Conner Morrell[3]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 1A-Jacob Allen[1]; 2. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 5. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[5]; 6. 6-Zach Hampton[6]; 7. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck[8]; 8. 15K-Creed Kemenah[7]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.107[21]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 00:13.155[12]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.255[32]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.260[17]; 5. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:13.300[13]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.330[6]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.336[14]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.341[7]; 9. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.344[18]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.347[20]; 11. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:13.348[22]; 12. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.353[33]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.375[9]; 14. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.425[27]; 15. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.427[24]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.427[10]; 17. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.430[4]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.434[2]; 19. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.472[29]; 20. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.496[28]; 21. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.509[16]; 22. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.515[8]; 23. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.536[1]; 24. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.547[15]; 25. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.549[19]; 26. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.549[5]; 27. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.562[23]; 28. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.678[3]; 29. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.687[31]; 30. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.734[26]; 31. 6S-Tyler Clem, 00:13.816[11]; 32. 11K-Joshua Kunstbeck, 00:14.909[25]; 33. 20D-Stephen Darvalics, 00:14.981[30]

Conner Morrell Joins Bill Rose Racing for Rookie World of Outlaws Campaign
Alex Nieten

The Bradenton, FL native becomes the seventh rookie on tour in 2025

Conner Morrell is ready to join The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The 20-year-old has been hired by Bill Rose Racing for his debut campaign with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The Bradenton, FL driver becomes the seventh rookie in the class of 2025 and brings the total number of full-time competitors to 15.

The addition of Morrell means Bill Rose will field two cars on the World of Outlaws tour this year. He already put Mooresville, IN’s Zach Hampton behind the wheel of the No. 6. Morrell will still compete with his familiar No. 28 under Rose’s banner.

“The deal came together a little late,” Morrell said. “Obviously, we were talking through the off-season. I just couldn’t really come up with anything immediately. I knew I had something, but I didn’t know how quickly I could get it. Once I knew I had it, we decided to put this deal together. I’m super excited. I’ve always wanted to be an Outlaw.”

Morrell has sharpened his talents in recent years leading him to the sport’s biggest stage. Last season he competed primarily in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Highlights included victories at Michigan’s Butler Speedway and Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway. He also took on the full All Star Circuit of Champions tour in 2023.
 

While he’s been improving every year, he still knows 2025 is going to serve up plenty of challenges competing with the best every week. He’s ready to embrace the journey ahead and learn.

“There’s going to be a ton of new tracks,” Morrell said. “I ran the All Stars, so I think that will help me a little bit this year being on the road. I still know I’m going to get my teeth kicked in. These guys are the best of the best, and there’s no doubt about it. But I’m excited to run with them.”

The 2025 campaign already got underway a few weeks ago at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. At the time, Morrell didn’t expect to be full-time for the year. Then suddenly things came together, and he’s ready to take the step to Sprint Car racing’s top level.

“It was kind of thrown in my lap,” Morrell said. “I was in my room watching a movie, had just got back from the gym, and I was told that we’re going on the Outlaw tour. I’m super excited.”

Morrell continues his rookie campaign this Sunday-Monday, March 2-3 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree.
 

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Morrell would like to thank Tub O’ Towels, Amalie Oil, Auto Loads, Allstar Performance, Ti22 Performance, and USA Steel Fence.

Milton Hershey School Continues World of Outlaws Partnership, Joins Super DIRTcar Series

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 26, 2025) – Milton Hershey School (MHS) is set to expand its support of dirt racing in 2025, continuing its partnership with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and joining the Super DIRTcar Series.

The top tier private school’s involvement will include being the “Official Education Partner” of the World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series, partnering with the World of Outlaws on Pit Crew Experiences for MHS students, and hosting the third annual Hershey Sprint Car Experience.

“MHS and World of Outlaws have developed a tremendous partnership in recent years—one that’s been very beneficial in raising awareness of our school and its life-changing mission,” said Kristina Pae, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at MHS. “We appreciate WoO introducing MHS to audiences across the country and look forward to teaming up with the Super DIRTcar Series for a great season ahead.”

Milton Hershey School, in Hershey, PA, is one of the world’s leading private schools, where qualifying pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students live on campus and receive an exceptional education through top-tier classes and facilities—with all costs covered.

The school’s partnership with the World of Outlaws has given hundreds of students the chance to meet with the Series’ best drivers and learn from their experiences through various activations—all of which will continue in 2025.

The third annual Hershey Sprint Car Experience on Thursday, May 8, allows students from Milton Hershey School to learn about the region’s rich racing history as well as meet and engage with many Sprint Car teams and special guests from the Central Pennsylvania Racing Community. A handful of drivers will even participate in classroom activities with students. The day also features a window for the public to join and meet their favorite competitors from both the World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse.

In addition to the Sprint Car Experience, multiple MHS students will again get hands-on experience in 2025 with a Sprint Car team during World of Outlaws races at Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway.

“At Milton Hershey School, we emphasize real-world skills and career-focused education. Having WoO drivers visit our campus and work with students demonstrates our vision for learning in action,” Pae said.

Race Fans will additionally benefit from the partnership through the Milton Hershey School “Education Moments” showcased on DIRTVision during World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series events, teaching viewers about various aspects of the sport.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is already underway and continues at Volusia Speedway Park during the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree, March 2-3. The Super DIRTcar Series commences its championship season at New Egypt Speedway on March 29.

Milton Hershey School was founded in 1909 and continues to transform lives by offering an exceptional educational experience in a nurturing, positive environment. For more information, visit mhskids.org.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/milton-hershey-school-continues-world-of-outlaws-partnership-joins-super-dirtcar-series/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Toyota Extends World Racing Group Partnership

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 21, 2025) – Toyota has been a leading organization in the support and growth of dirt racing. In 2025, the company is continuing that commitment by extending its partnership with World Racing Group.

The iconic manufacturer will again be the Official Vehicle of the World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series, sponsor the Toyota Dash at every World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event and continue to serve as the presenting sponsor for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series.

“Everyone at Toyota is pleased to continue our relationship with the World Racing Group,” said Jack Irving, general manager, TRD U.S.A. “The World of Outlaws and Xtreme Midget schedules extend throughout the country and hit many unique markets that are important to Toyota. Supporting the World Racing Groups efforts continues to be a high priority for Toyota as we look to expand our engine program, especially in the sprint car ranks.”

In addition to seeing Toyota’s branding at each race and on DIRTVision, Race Fans will get to see Toyota’s products in action at each race with Toyota Tundra TRD Pro trucks pacing the field at every World of Outlaws Sprint Car, World of Outlaws Late Model, Super DIRTcar Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series event.

They’ll also see Toyota power in action on track with several Midget teams running a Toyota engine and Roth Motorsports running a 410 c.i. Toyota engine on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car tour with TRD development driver Michael “Buddy” Kofoid.

Toyota is also now accepting 410 engine orders for more teams to run the race-winning engine. Interested parties can reach out to trd.sales@toyota.com for more information.

“Dirt racing continues to be a priority for everyone at Toyota,” continued Irving. “The success on track is even more of a bonus. We are excited about the line-up we have in place this season across both the World of Outlaws and Xtreme Midget competition, and we look forward to achieving continued success and contending for both championships with our supported teams.”

“Toyota has been an incredible partner to work with and we’re proud to have such an iconic brand associated with World Racing Group,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “We look forward to continuing that partnership for years to come as we both share the same initiative of growing dirt racing.”

Toyota has helped elevate every series it’s entered and developed several drivers into race winning and championship winning athletes. That’s resulted in historic moments the last three years with Taylor Reimer becoming the first women to win a national dirt Midget race in 2022 and Jade Avedisian winning the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series title in 2023, becoming the first women to win a national dirt racing title.

Cannon McIntosh brought Toyota another title last year after claiming his first Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series championship, which he’ll try to defend during the 27-race tour for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets this year.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota 2025 season will commence during the Illini 100 weekend at Farmer City Raceway, April 10-12.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars continue their yearlong tour at Volusia Speedway Park during the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree, March 2-3, the World of Outlaws Late Models return to action at Smoky Mountain Speedway for the Tennessee Tipoff, March 14-15, and the Super DIRTcar Series starts its championship season at New Egypt Speedway for the Power in the Pines on March 29.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the Toyota pace trucks lead the field at each race live on DIRTVision.

GRABBIN’ GATORS: Kyle Larson Tops DIRTcar Nationals Finale, Claims Big Gator Title
Alex Nieten

After struggling at Volusia in the past, the Californian conquered the Florida half mile this week

Volusia Speedway Park can elude Kyle Larson and Paul Silva no more.

The potent pairing rolled into Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals week with no trips to Volusia Victory Lane. Larson had tried and tried and come close but fallen short. He’d been on the podium but not the top step. In a couple short days, “Yung Money” completely changed his narrative at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”

After a third and second on Wednesday and Thursday, Larson finally broke through on Friday to wave his first Volusia checkered flag. But he wasn’t done there.

Larson and the Silva Motorsports crew returned just as strong for Saturday. They entered the night needing to finish third or better to secure the coveted Big Gator. They opted for the better option to get the job done. Winning.

The Elk Grove, CA native was unstoppable in the event finale. David Gravel got the initial jump and took the lead from the second starting spot, but it only took Larson five laps to wheel his way from fourth to the top spot. He ripped the cushion around Gravel to claim the lead and drive away. Logan Schuchart looked to challenge him late but ultimately couldn’t make the move. Larson grabbed the win, a $20,000 payday, and the Big Gator.

“This has just been a track that’s historically and statistically been probably our weakest,” Larson admitted. “It’s been great to come here and have speed every time we hit the track, and to cap off the week with a Big Gator is something I’ve honestly dreamt about for a long time just because of how bad we’ve been here. Great to get the win there.”

All it took for Larson to get the advantage was Gravel leaving the door open once. When Gravel chose not to use the top in the early laps, Larson knew he couldn’t be stopped. Once he got the lead, it was simply a matter of taking care of business in lapped traffic.

“I don’t know if he could hear me or maybe thought I was down there, but he peeled down and I was like, ‘You’re done,’” Larson said. “Then I felt like I did a decent job in traffic there. But it got so single file, and the air becomes so bad and your tires are getting hot and losing grip. It’s just tough.”
 

Larson upped his total to 37 career victories with the World of Outlaws. A day after he added Volusia to his list, he made it the eighth track in which he’s won at multiple times with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’s also the 12th driver to top at least two World of Outlaws Feature at Volusia. Larson is just the sixth competitor to claim two straight at Volusia, joining Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, and David Gravel.

After passing Gravel late, Logan Schuchart brought the Shark Racing No. 1S home second. He continues an encouraging start to 2025 after a discouraging 2024. The Hanover, PA native leaves Volusia with finishes of fourth, third, eighth, and second. He had only three podiums last season, and he’s already up to a pair with only four races in the books. Schuchart thought he might’ve been the one standing in Victory Lane if not for a late caution.

“I kind of wanted to push the issue there at the end,” Schuchart said. “I was kind of hoping the caution wouldn’t come out because I felt like we were really closing. Kyle was still kind of searching around a little bit, and I felt like maybe I could capitalize. But after the restart, I just wanted to play the tire game. I knew it was important to finish the race. Right there at the end he tried to go around a lapped car on the outside, and I thought I might be able to stick my nose in there, but I wasn’t quite close enough to make that happen.”

Rounding out the podium was David Gravel as he and Big Game Motorsports continue the strong start to their title defense. The Watertown, CT native finished no worse than fourth all week in Florida. He’ll leave as the de facto points leader. While he found himself wishing he could’ve found a way to win once, Gravel left the week happy with his team’s consistency.

“Being the leader there under the red Cody (Jacobs) told me he was kind of running below me and I was running the middle,” Gravel explained. “And on that restart, Kyle started pounding the top and drove around me. Sometimes it’s better running second. I’m kind of disappointed I lost second place there to Logan. I didn’t really have a shot to win the race after that. We had the track position tonight and couldn’t capitalize. Sometimes that’s the way racing goes, but I’m very proud of the week we had.”

Carson Macedo and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

Ryan Timms claimed his second KSE Racing Hard Charger of the week with a drive from 19th to sixth.

Logan Schuchart claimed his 37th career Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four belonged to Logan Schuchart, Kyle Larson, and Bill Balog. WIX Filters Heat Three went to David Gravel.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Tyler Courtney.

Courtney also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take three weeks off before returning to Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park for the Bike Week Jamboree on March 2-3. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.

Volusia Speedway Park FL   2/8/25 

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 3. 2-David Gravel[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[10]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 6. 10-Ryan Timms[19]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 9. 71-Parker Price Miller[8]; 10. 26-Justin Peck[11]; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 12. 24D-Danny Sams III[16]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich[20]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet[14]; 15. 21-Brian Brown[7]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[25]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 18. 88-Austin McCarl[24]; 19. 5-Brenham Crouch[15]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]; 21. 7S-Chris Windom[23]; 22. 6-Zach Hampton[26]; 23. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 24. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[27]; 25. 39M-Anthony Macri[13]; 26. 28-Conner Morrell[22]; 27. 17B-Bill Balog[3]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 23-Garet Williamson[1]; 2. 28-Conner Morrell[2]; 3. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 5. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 7. 9-Kasey Kahne[8]; 8. 2C-Cole Macedo[14]; 9. 11T-TJ Stutts[4]; 10. 44-Chris Martin[11]; 11. 6-Zach Hampton[12]; 12. 13-Daison Pursley[10]; 13. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[16]; 14. 32-Bryce Lucius[9]; 15. 36-Jason Martin[13]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee[18]; 17. 16T-Brady Bacon[17]; 18. 15K-Creed Kemenah[15]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 16T-Brady Bacon[1]; 2. 99-Skylar Gee[2]; 3. 64-Andy Pake[3]; 4. 12X-Kameron Key[4]; 5. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[13]; 6. 34-Sterling Cling[6]; 7. 16G-Austyn Gossel[8]; 8. 6G-Bryan Gossel[7]; 9. 0-DJ Christie[5]; 10. 77T-Tyeller Powless[9]; 11. 17GP-Landon Crawley[10]; 12. 16TH-Kevin Newton[11]; 13. 69K-Christopher Bell[12]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 7. 21-Brian Brown[6]; 8. 71-Parker Price Miller[7]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen[6]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]; 7. 7S-Chris Windom[7]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[8]; 9. 36-Jason Martin[10]; 10. 16T-Brady Bacon[11]; 11. 0-DJ Christie[13]; 12. 77T-Tyeller Powless[12]; 13. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 3. 26-Justin Peck[7]; 4. 5-Brenham Crouch[5]; 5. 10-Ryan Timms[3]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 8. 44-Chris Martin[8]; 9. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 10. 64-Andy Pake[11]; 11. 6G-Bryan Gossel[9]; 12. 16TH-Kevin Newton[12]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 21-Brian Brown[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[5]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 6. 11T-TJ Stutts[11]; 7. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 8. 13-Daison Pursley[7]; 9. 2C-Cole Macedo[8]; 10. 99-Skylar Gee[12]; 11. 34-Sterling Cling[9]; 12. 17GP-Landon Crawley[10]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 71-Parker Price Miller[2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 4. 24D-Danny Sams III[3]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich[9]; 6. 28-Conner Morrell[5]; 7. 9-Kasey Kahne[6]; 8. 6-Zach Hampton[7]; 9. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[8]; 10. 12X-Kameron Key[11]; 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel[10]; 12. 69K-Christopher Bell[12]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.215[6]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson, 00:13.292[19]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.356[11]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.360[7]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.384[8]; 6. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.393[21]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.403[9]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.490[17]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.497[22]; 10. 5-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.497[13]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.522[16]; 12. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.538[20]; 13. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:13.542[2]; 14. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.570[10]; 15. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.638[5]; 16. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.665[4]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.709[14]; 18. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:13.756[15]; 19. 36-Jason Martin, 00:13.791[3]; 20. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.890[24]; 21. 16T-Brady Bacon, 00:13.916[25]; 22. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.979[1]; 23. 77T-Tyeller Powless, 00:14.003[12]; 24. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.171[18]; 25. 0-DJ Christie, 00:14.562[23]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.319[14]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.475[24]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.489[8]; 4. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:13.495[16]; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.507[10]; 6. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.532[12]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.549[5]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.639[15]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.665[2]; 10. 28-Conner Morrell, 00:13.689[7]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.713[6]; 12. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.744[4]; 13. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.753[19]; 14. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.797[3]; 15. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.809[9]; 16. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.869[13]; 17. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:13.919[11]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.940[17]; 19. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:13.943[18]; 20. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:13.995[22]; 21. 11T-TJ Stutts, 00:14.050[21]; 22. 12X-Kameron Key, 00:14.083[23]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee, 01:00.000[1]; 24. 69K-Christopher Bell, 01:00.100[20]

GOT A GATOR: Kyle Larson Leads Every Lap for First Volusia Victory with World of Outlaws
Alex Nieten

After third and second place runs on Wednesday and Thursday, Kyle Larson would not be denied on Friday night

A Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals gator was one of few pieces missing from Kyle Larson’s résumé. But there’d be no stopping him from filling that line on Friday night at Volusia Speedway Park.

He was third on Wednesday. He climbed to second on Thursday. The hunger grew and grew. And finally on Friday in his 19th attempt, Larson caught himself a gator.

“Yung Money” started on the pole of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Feature and never looked back. Lapped traffic appeared as if it may make things interesting with Christopher Bell stalking in second, but a timely yellow gave Larson open track. He refused to watch Bell celebrate two nights in a row. They’re friends but also fierce competitors.

Larson survived a handful of late restarts and parked the Silva Motorsports No. 57 in Victory Lane at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” for the first time.

“It’s (Volusia) a place that I feel like I’ve raced well,” Larson said. “I just always start so far back. I haven’t felt like that gator has been close enough. We’ve been getting the night started off pretty well, and my car feels really good throughout the night. I felt really good there again.

“It’s cool to win here at Volusia. It’s cool to have a lot of our supporters here this weekend and great to see a packed house too.”

It was roles reversed from the previous night when Bell narrowly fended off Larson. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion lined up on the pole and took off right away. Danny Sams III took the second spot from Bell early on, but the Norman, OK native rallied to reclaim it on Lap 13. He closed in on Larson in traffic, but some late cautions put Larson in clean air, and he drove the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to victory.

“It got kind of a little easy to run the top, so the lappers were just as fast as I was,” Larson said. “I felt like Bell would be closing on me, but I was able to make a couple good moves. I think the cautions probably came out at the right time for me, and I was able to have clean air to the end there.”

Larson’s 36th career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt equaled him with his former driver, Shane Stewart, for 22nd all-time. Volusia is the 18th different track where he’s topped a World of Outlaws race. Larson will also enter Saturday’s finale with an eight-point lead in the Big Gator standings with a strong chance to capture the reptilian championship trophy.

Bell came up just one spot short of back-to-back Volusia victories. The current NASCAR competitor for Joe Gibbs Racing now has podiums in four of his last five races at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” While Bell thought he was outmatched on Friday, he found himself wishing the race would’ve went caution-free to give him a shot.

“I definitely wanted it to stay green,” Bell said. “But ultimately, he got away from me even before the yellow came out. Ultimately, on the start me not being able to fall into second and follow behind him cost me a shot at it. But the car felt really good.”
Kyle Larson leads the field at Volusia
 

Rounding out the podium was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. The defending champion continued his strong start to 2025 with his third consecutive finish of fourth or better. He’s closest to Larson in the DIRTcar Nationals standings and looking to claim a record fourth Big Gator on Saturday.

“When it got congested there, we were really good,” Gravel said. “I think our car was the best right there in the middle of the race and was able to use the bottom here in (Turns) 3 and 4 to pass those guys. I think we passed two in one corner. Another good race car just a little too late. You put Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell on the front row it’s going to be tough to beat them.”

Brad Sweet and Ryan Timms completed the top five.

Logan Schuchart drove from 19th to eighth to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Danny Sams III claimed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four went to Carson Macedo, Brian Brown and Christopher Bell. WIX Filters Heat Three belonged to Kyle Larson.

Bell got the SPA Technique #1 Redraw for the second night in a row.

Kyle Larson topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Giovanni Scelzi won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Anthony Macri.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car portion of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals closes out with a $20,000-to-win/$1,500-to-start finale on Saturday, Feb. 8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Volusia Speedway Park FL   2/7/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 69K-Christopher Bell[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[5]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[4]; 5. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[19]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III[3]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 12. 88-Austin McCarl[11]; 13. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[16]; 14. 83-Michael Kofoid[22]; 15. 27-Emerson Axsom[10]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen[14]; 17. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 18. 26-Justin Peck[17]; 19. 9-Kasey Kahne[15]; 20. 5-Brenham Crouch[23]; 21. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[21]; 22. 23-Garet Williamson[18]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee[20]; 24. 6-Zach Hampton[27]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 26. 39M-Anthony Macri[12]; 27. 7S-Chris Windom[26]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 5-Brenham Crouch[3]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 5. 7S-Chris Windom[4]; 6. 71-Parker Price Miller[7]; 7. 16T-Brady Bacon[5]; 8. 48-Danny Dietrich[8]; 9. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 11. 28-Conner Morrell[11]; 12. 13-Daison Pursley[13]; 13. 12X-Kameron Key[18]; 14. 6-Zach Hampton[14]; 15. 17GP-Landon Crawley[9]; 16. 64-Andy Pake[16]; 17. 15K-Creed Kemenah[15]; 18. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[19]; 19. 32-Bryce Lucius[17]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 12X-Kameron Key[1]; 2. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[8]; 3. 44-Chris Martin[2]; 4. 6G-Bryan Gossel[3]; 5. 11T-TJ Stutts[5]; 6. 16TH-Kevin Newton[4]; 7. 0-Glenn Styres[10]; 8. 16G-Austyn Gossel[9]; 9. 36-Jason Martin[7]; 10. 34-Sterling Cling[6]; 11. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[11]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 2. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 3. 24D-Danny Sams III[4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 5. 2-David Gravel[3]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 7. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 8. 21-Brian Brown[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 24D-Danny Sams III[1]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 5. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 7. 16T-Brady Bacon[9]; 8. 17GP-Landon Crawley[12]; 9. 13-Daison Pursley[6]; 10. 12X-Kameron Key[11]; 11. 11T-TJ Stutts[10]; 12. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[7]; 13. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[13]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 88-Austin McCarl[4]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne[6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 5-Brenham Crouch[7]; 7. 71-Parker Price Miller[3]; 8. 28-Conner Morrell[8]; 9. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 10. 6G-Bryan Gossel[12]; 11. 36-Jason Martin[11]; 12. 16G-Austyn Gossel[9]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 10-Ryan Timms[2]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen[3]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 6. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich[7]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 9. 64-Andy Pake[8]; 10. 44-Chris Martin[9]; 11. 16TH-Kevin Newton[11]; 12. 77T-Tyeller Powless[12]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[2]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet[1]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[5]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee[8]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo[9]; 8. 6-Zach Hampton[7]; 9. 32-Bryce Lucius[6]; 10. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 11. 34-Sterling Cling[10]; 12. 0-Glenn Styres[11]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.288[9]; 2. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.330[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.365[16]; 4. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.400[12]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.414[6]; 6. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:13.422[4]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.427[10]; 8. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.428[7]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.448[25]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.490[20]; 11. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.516[24]; 12. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.549[15]; 13. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.552[23]; 14. 5-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.569[2]; 15. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.610[1]; 16. 28-Conner Morrell, 00:13.621[14]; 17. 16T-Brady Bacon, 00:13.671[19]; 18. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:13.712[17]; 19. 11T-TJ Stutts, 00:13.721[8]; 20. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.773[18]; 21. 12X-Kameron Key, 00:13.818[22]; 22. 36-Jason Martin, 00:13.832[5]; 23. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:13.898[11]; 24. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:13.908[13]; 25. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.964[21]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, 00:13.448[12]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.509[15]; 3. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.537[8]; 4. 69K-Christopher Bell, 00:13.539[18]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.590[3]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.619[1]; 7. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.624[19]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.675[22]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:13.679[9]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.698[23]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.770[21]; 12. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.791[24]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.806[4]; 14. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.843[17]; 15. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.887[2]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.929[11]; 17. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.936[5]; 18. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.968[7]; 19. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.059[6]; 20. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:14.099[20]; 21. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.103[14]; 22. 0-Glenn Styres, 00:14.150[16]; 23. 77T-Tyeller Powless, 00:14.396[10]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 01:00.000[13]

CBELL’S BACK: Christopher Bell Fends Off Larson for First World of Outlaws Win in Six Years
Alex Nieten

The two stars rekindle their rivalry with a Volusia thriller on night two of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

It’s the rivalry Sprint Car fans have missed for a long few years. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson. But it came roaring back in a big way on Thursday night at Volusia Speedway Park.

A heartbreaking spin for Emerson Axsom set up a three-lap duel to the finish for the dirt racers at heart that’ve become stars of the NASCAR Cup Series. And the two titans delivered.

Bell led the way, and Larson threw everything at him. Bell kept the Kreitz Racing No. 69K glued to the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 while Larson ripped the Silva Motorsports No. 57 around the top. Bell slid himself in Turns 3 and 4 leaving Larson to try crossovers. It came down to the final corner of the last lap as Bell again drifted up in front of Larson. The Elk Grove, CA native ducked under Bell as they exited Turn 4. The two drag raced to the checkered flag, and it was Bell holding off Larson by .05 seconds for his first gator.

The finish brought the entire crowd to their feet. Fans got a taste of the two battling on dirt last month when Bell held off Larson in similar fashion at the Tulsa Shootout. And the rivalry was rekindled even more as Bell bested him again for a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals gator and $12,000.

“It’s just absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “I’m just so thankful that my boss Joe Gibbs and everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing has allowed me to come out here and do this. It’s so much fun. Winning Outlaw races is my pride and joy. I don’t have many of them to my name, and I’m just so thankful to be in the 69K and get to add another one. It truly is a dream come true to be racing out here.”

It was Bell’s first Sprint Car win in only his second race back since taking a hiatus from dirt in 2022. The victory was also his first with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars since October 13, 2019 at Haubstadt, IN’s Tri-State Speedway. The Norman, OK native is up to six wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt for five different teams – Fox Racing, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing, CB Industries, and Kreitz Racing.

For team owner Don Kreitz Jr., it was the iconic No. 69K’s first Series triumph in the state of Florida, and Bell is the third different driver to win a World of Outlaws race in the car, joining Kreitz himself and Lance Dewease.

“It’s a pleasure to drive, for sure,” Bell said. “He’s (Kreitz Jr.) a magician whenever it comes to working on this thing. It just rolls around the corner really, really good. I feel like the slicker it gets the better off this car is going to be. The cushion is a little bit tricky. I’ve got to figure out how to drive a little bit better when it starts to get thicker.”
Christopher Bell celebrates with a wing dance
Christopher Bell grabbed his sixth career World of Outlaws win and first at Volusia on Thursday (Trent Gower Photo)

It was back-to-back podiums for Larson in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. He backed up Wednesday’s third with Thursday’s runner-up. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion continues to bang on the door on his first Volusia win. He did everything he could to make it happen, but he couldn’t quite sneak by.

“I thought I did a pretty good job on that last restart of staying with him on the frontstretch and thought I was going to be able to build enough of a run,” Larson said. “But this place is so wide. To run the top is a long ways around. It was difficult, but I thought I could get enough grip and speed to the center of (Turns) 3 and 4 that maybe I could get lucky enough to catch some traction as I diamonded and get a little bit of a run to get by him into (Turn) 1. Just came up a little bit short.”

Rounding out the podium was Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing No. 1S. It was an encouraging run for the Hanover, PA native who had to wait until late June for his first top three in 2024. It makes Schuchart the de facto point leader as the two ahead of him won’t be competing full-time.

“Tonight, I felt really good just moving around traffic at certain times,” Schuchart said. “Kyle is going to do a really good job and not make many mistakes. I just didn’t get around some lapped cars as quick as I needed to in (Turns) 3 and 4 and kind of lost a little bit of momentum. I went to get back to the top and try to diamond (Turns) 1 and 2, and by that time Kyle was on my left rear and got to the bottom before I did. That took me out of the fight there a little bit.”

It was a devastating night for Emerson Axsom. The 20-year-old native of Indiana looked to be on his way to his first World of Outlaws checkered flag, but a slight mistake while leading resulted in a spin in Turn 4 with a only a few laps remaining.

David Gravel and Brad Sweet completed the top five.

Ryan Timms drove from 21st to 10th to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Kyle Larson claimed Simpson Quick Time honors.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four went to Kyle Larson, Bill Balog, and Carson Macedo. WIX Filters Heat Three belonged to Christopher Bell.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Christopher Bell.

Bell also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Ryan Timms won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Emerson Axsom.

UP NEXT: The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals roll on to night three on Friday, Feb. 7 at Volusia Speedway Park. It’s another $12,000 and a gator on the line for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Volusia Speedway Park FL   2/6/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[12]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[9]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 8. 26-Justin Peck[11]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[10]; 10. 10-Ryan Timms[21]; 11. 83-Michael Kofoid[19]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[5]; 14. 71-Parker Price Miller[22]; 15. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 16. 39M-Anthony Macri[15]; 17. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[17]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen[23]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[25]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[20]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 23. 2C-Cole Macedo[27]; 24. 23-Garet Williamson[16]; 25. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 26. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 27. 6-Zach Hampton[26]; 28. 99-Skylar Gee[28]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 10-Ryan Timms[1]; 2. 71-Parker Price Miller[7]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen[3]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 5. 9-Kasey Kahne[4]; 6. 5-Brenham Crouch[5]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[17]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[2]; 9. 16T-Brady Bacon[11]; 10. 36-Jason Martin[9]; 11. 2C-Cole Macedo[8]; 12. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[12]; 13. 6-Zach Hampton[14]; 14. 34-Sterling Cling[13]; 15. 11T-TJ Stutts[16]; 16. 44-Chris Martin[18]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[15]; 18. 28-Conner Morrell[10]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 2. 44-Chris Martin[1]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich[2]; 4. 13-Daison Pursley[4]; 5. 15K-Creed Kemenah[7]; 6. 17GP-Landon Crawley[10]; 7. 12X-Kameron Key[15]; 8. 99-Skylar Gee[16]; 9. 77T-Tyeller Powless[5]; 10. 0-Glenn Styres[13]; 11. 64-Andy Pake[12]; 12. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[6]; 13. 16TH-Kevin Newton[8]; 14. 6G-Bryan Gossel[9]; 15. 16G-Austyn Gossel[11]; 16. 88J-Joey Amantea[14]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson[6]; 5. 21-Brian Brown[4]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III[7]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 5. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[7]; 6. 10-Ryan Timms[5]; 7. 5-Brenham Crouch[6]; 8. 36-Jason Martin[10]; 9. 34-Sterling Cling[8]; 10. 44-Chris Martin[9]; 11. 77T-Tyeller Powless[11]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 3. 26-Justin Peck[4]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen[8]; 7. 71-Parker Price Miller[7]; 8. 16T-Brady Bacon[10]; 9. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 11. 15K-Creed Kemenah[11]

WIX Filters Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 24D-Danny Sams III[2]; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[4]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 5. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 6. 9-Kasey Kahne[7]; 7. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[5]; 9. 6-Zach Hampton[8]; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich[9]; 11. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[11]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 5. 7S-Chris Windom[5]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[7]; 7. 28-Conner Morrell[6]; 8. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[8]; 9. 11T-TJ Stutts[11]; 10. 13-Daison Pursley[9]; 11. 16TH-Kevin Newton[10]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, 00:13.262[21]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.435[24]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.445[11]; 4. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.493[6]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.520[12]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.540[9]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.564[16]; 8. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.566[10]; 9. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.574[22]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.581[14]; 11. 5-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.582[20]; 12. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.587[15]; 13. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.595[18]; 14. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:13.636[5]; 15. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:13.666[23]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.694[2]; 17. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.721[8]; 18. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.818[19]; 19. 36-Jason Martin, 00:13.862[26]; 20. 16T-Brady Bacon, 00:13.906[7]; 21. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.937[17]; 22. 12X-Kameron Key, 00:13.951[4]; 23. 12S-Adyn Schmidt, 00:13.996[25]; 24. 11T-TJ Stutts, 00:13.997[3]; 25. 64-Andy Pake, 00:14.028[1]; 26. 88J-Joey Amantea, 00:14.223[13]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell, 00:13.293[9]; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.344[6]; 3. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.397[17]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.455[19]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.524[10]; 6. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.568[25]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.584[5]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.595[12]; 9. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:13.622[8]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom, 00:13.637[26]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.639[1]; 12. 28-Conner Morrell, 00:13.669[4]; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.679[2]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.694[16]; 15. 6-Zach Hampton, 00:13.736[15]; 16. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.737[13]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.764[23]; 18. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.800[14]; 19. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:13.809[18]; 20. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:13.866[20]; 21. 77T-Tyeller Powless, 00:13.924[7]; 22. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:13.927[22]; 23. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:13.964[21]; 24. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:13.990[11]; 25. 0-Glenn Styres, 00:13.994[3]; 26. 99-Skylar Gee, 01:00.000[24]

Non-Qualifier (8 Laps): 1. 77T-Tyeller Powless[2]; 2. 15K-Creed Kemenah[1]; 3. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[5]; 4. 11T-TJ Stutts[7]; 5. 6G-Bryan Gossel[4]; 6. 17GP-Landon Crawley[6]; 7. 16G-Austyn Gossel[8]; 8. 64-Andy Pake[9]; 9. 0-Glenn Styres[10]; 10. 88J-Joey Amantea[11]; 11. 12X-Kameron Key[3]; 12. 99-Skylar Gee[12]

RESILIENCE: Carson Macedo Overcomes Injury to Top Volusia Season Opener
Alex Nieten

The Californian fights through the pain of a broken leg to start the year with a statement

Less than two months ago Carson Macedo sat in a hospital with a broken leg. But on Wednesday night, that wouldn’t stop him from driving to victory and collecting a gator.

The injury derailed his plans of racing in Australia. Instead of staying sharp behind the wheel, Macedo had to focus on recovery. He and his Jason Johnson Racing crew were among the championship favorites entering 2025. He had to make sure he was ready for the start of the season. Not only did he do so, he made sure he came out at the top of his game. In fact, the only way you’d know he was in pain was a slight limp as he emerged from the Albaugh No. 41 in Victory Lane.

The Lemoore, CA native put together a strong 25 laps around Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park to claim the first race of the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season. Aside from a couple close calls in lapped traffic, Macedo couldn’t be slowed. He held off the defending World of Outlaws champion in David Gravel and a former NASCAR Cup champion in Kyle Larson to get the job done. That broken leg wouldn’t stop him. All it could prevent was Macedo doing a wing dance as he opted to walk in front of the car and wave the checkered flag.

“It’s really, really cool,” Macedo said of the win. “It’s been a humbling few weeks for me with the experience of breaking my leg and not knowing if I was going to be ready to come here or not and be 100-percent. To come here night one and win is super emotional. It was a long journey I feel like to get back here. Getting around on crutches was tough and just plays with your head a little bit.

“The engine was missing a little bit in Qualifying, but we were still able to come back and lay down a really good lap. We just executed from there. Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn worked really hard and gave me a great race car.”

While Wednesday’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals race only accounted for show-up points, it still served as a statement by Macedo and the JJR crew. They want that World of Outlaws title. They finished third in points for three straight seasons from 2021 through 2023. They climbed to second last year. They want to make that final step to fulfill the main goal the “Ragin’ Cajun had in mind when he formed Jason Johnson Racing.

And while Macedo overcame the obstacle, it didn’t happen without a little pain. The 28-year-old battled through some discomfort that’ll continue to have to fight through. But he proved he could as he chases a title.

“During the green flag stuff I didn’t think about it quite as much,” Macedo said of his leg. “But when the red (flag) came out, it was beating. It had a heartbeat bigger, I felt like, than the one in my chest just from being bent like that and fatigue, I think, from pressing the brake so much.”
Carson Macedo driving the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41
Carson Macedo led all 25 laps on his way to winning the World of Outlaws season opener (Trent Gower Photo)

The win was the 48th of Macedo’s career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’s now at three Series triumphs at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile,” putting it in a tie as the second winningest on his résumé. It was his fifth overall at Volusia as he also topped a pair of All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) races (2021 & 2023).

David Gravel chased Macedo to the checkered. The 2024 Series champion methodically picked his way forward from sixth to the runner-up spot, notching his 260th career top three with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“Really happy with that run,” Gravel said. “The pill draw kind of killed our night, but we didn’t give up and kept fighting and had a great start to the Feature. I was able to get by Buddy, and I felt like we were just as good or better than Carson at one point. Then I got really close to him at one point and got super tight and couldn’t get around the corner very well when it was really congested there. I felt like when it was time to pounce, I just didn’t feel right there, but for most stages of the race, the car felt great.”

Rounding out the podium was Kyle Larson. After missing the Toyota Dash, the Elk Grove, CA native wheeled from 10th to third in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. It was his third top three at Volusia as he continues to chase his first victory at the Florida oval.

“I think the biggest thing for us moving forward was starting on the outside lane,” Larson explained. “Starting 10th, I was able to get to sixth pretty quickly. Then (Christopher) Bell fell out. Carson, I was hoping he was going to choose the top and he did, and it worked out to where I got right to four. I had a good car.”

Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet completed the top five.

A 21st to eighth run gave Donny Schatz his fourth consecutive KSE Racing Hard Charger dating back to last season.

Emerson Axsom claimed the first Simpson Quick Time of the year.

NOS Energy Drink Heats belonged to Emerson Axsom, Logan Schuchart, Brian Brown, and Christopher Bell.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.

Macedo also topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Buddy Kofoid.

UP NEXT: Night two of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park will mark the first official points night of the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season on Thursday, Feb. 6. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.

For the entire 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Volusia Speedway Park FL   2/5/25

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[6]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[10]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[16]; 6. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[12]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[14]; 10. 26-Justin Peck[5]; 11. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 12. 10-Ryan Timms[18]; 13. 24D-Danny Sams III[9]; 14. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[26]; 15. 9-Kasey Kahne[22]; 16. 69K-Christopher Bell[4]; 17. 16T-Brady Bacon[20]; 18. 23-Garet Williamson[15]; 19. 88-Austin McCarl[24]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[25]; 21. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[13]; 22. 7S-Chris Windom[27]; 23. 13-Daison Pursley[17]; 24. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 25. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 26. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[19]; 27. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[23]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne[1]; 3. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[3]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich[6]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen[8]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[14]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 9. 11T-TJ Stutts[5]; 10. 12X-Kameron Key[11]; 11. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[7]; 12. 44-Chris Martin[17]; 13. 5-Brenham Crouch[16]; 14. 32-Bryce Lucius[12]; 15. 17GP-Landon Crawley[9]; 16. 64-Andy Pake[15]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[18]; 18. 15K-Creed Kemenah[19]; 19. 6G-Bryan Gossel[13]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[1]; 2. 15K-Creed Kemenah[2]; 3. 16TH-Kevin Newton[4]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[6]; 5. 34-Sterling Cling[3]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[9]; 7. 16G-Austyn Gossel[7]; 8. 88J-Joey Amantea[13]; 9. 6-Zach Hampton[14]; 10. 0-Glenn Styres[12]; 11. 28-Conner Morrell[5]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 13. 36-Jason Martin[10]; 14. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 15. 77T-Tyeller Powless[15]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 4. 69K-Christopher Bell[6]; 5. 26-Justin Peck[4]; 6. 2-David Gravel[7]; 7. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]; 8. 21-Brian Brown[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 27-Emerson Axsom[1]; 2. 26-Justin Peck[2]; 3. 24D-Danny Sams III[4]; 4. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[6]; 5. 13-Daison Pursley[3]; 6. 9-Kasey Kahne[5]; 7. 11T-TJ Stutts[7]; 8. 17GP-Landon Crawley[9]; 9. 6G-Bryan Gossel[11]; 10. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[10]; 11. 28-Conner Morrell[8]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 71-Parker Price Miller[4]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[5]; 6. 88-Austin McCarl[9]; 7. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[6]; 8. 12X-Kameron Key[7]; 9. 64-Andy Pake[8]; 10. 34-Sterling Cling[11]; 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel[10]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 5. 10-Ryan Timms[6]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[7]; 8. 32-Bryce Lucius[10]; 9. 5-Brenham Crouch[9]; 10. 15K-Creed Kemenah[11]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[5]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[8]; 5. 16T-Brady Bacon[3]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich[6]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 9. 44-Chris Martin[7]; 10. 16TH-Kevin Newton[11]; 11. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]

Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.449[7]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.555[25]; 3. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.591[17]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.642[16]; 5. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.660[2]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.668[11]; 7. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.669[22]; 8. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:13.678[4]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.770[23]; 10. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.770[24]; 11. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:13.819[8]; 12. 12S-Adyn Schmidt, 00:13.834[9]; 13. 11T-TJ Stutts, 00:13.873[15]; 14. 12X-Kameron Key, 00:13.875[14]; 15. 28-Conner Morrell, 00:13.879[6]; 16. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.925[20]; 17. 17GP-Landon Crawley, 00:13.937[18]; 18. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.946[3]; 19. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.952[26]; 20. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:13.960[12]; 21. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:14.001[21]; 22. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:14.015[5]; 23. 36-Jason Martin, 00:14.028[1]; 24. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.033[19]; 25. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.414[10]; 26. 7S-Chris Windom, 01:00.000[13]

Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.476[1]; 2. 69K-Christopher Bell, 00:13.481[2]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 00:13.532[21]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.592[3]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.652[15]; 6. 16T-Brady Bacon, 00:13.654[14]; 7. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.681[8]; 8. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.701[18]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.740[4]; 10. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.740[17]; 11. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.749[16]; 12. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.756[13]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.814[9]; 14. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.830[23]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.847[20]; 16. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.887[11]; 17. 5-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.936[26]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.943[24]; 19. 32-Bryce Lucius, 00:14.003[6]; 20. 2C-Cole Macedo, 00:14.069[19]; 21. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:14.097[5]; 22. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:14.148[22]; 23. 0-Glenn Styres, 00:14.181[12]; 24. 88J-Joey Amantea, 00:14.539[7]; 25. 77T-Tyeller Powless, 01:00.000[10]; 26. 6-Zach Hampton, 01:00.100[25]

Non-Qualifier (8 Laps): 1. 6G-Bryan Gossel[2]; 2. 34-Sterling Cling[1]; 3. 15K-Creed Kemenah[4]; 4. 16TH-Kevin Newton[7]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee[3]; 7. 36-Jason Martin[5]; 8. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 9. 0-Glenn Styres[6]; 10. 88J-Joey Amantea[8]; 11. 6-Zach Hampton[12]; 12. 77T-Tyeller Powless[10]

SPA Technique, SRI Indy Join World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series as Redraw Award Contingency Partner for 2025
World of Outlaws

SPA Technique, the industry leader in fire suppression systems has partnered with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as the official “Redraw Award” sponsor for the 2025 season.

As part of the collaboration, SPA Technique will present $50 in cash plus a $50 gift certificate to the driver that draws the No. 1 pill in the redraw at every event on the schedule. These certificates can be redeemed at SPA Technique’s headquarters at SRI Indy or at www.spatechnique.com

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the highest level of fire protection for racers at all levels,” said Dan List, Department Head at SPA Technique. “The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is one of the most demanding and thrilling racing series in the country, and we’re excited to support these incredible drivers while reinforcing the importance of fire safety in motorsports.”

SPA Technique, based in Brownsburg, Indiana, has been a trusted name in motorsports safety for years, offering FIA- and SFI-certified fire suppression systems designed to keep drivers safe in high-intensity racing environments. SPA Technique is also the first manufacturer to pass the SFI Spec 17.3 Certification Test, further testament to why they offer the best and safest product on the market. By integrating this contingency program into the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the company continues to invest in grassroots and professional racing alike.

“This is an amazing opportunity for SPA Technique to give back to the racing community,” said Morgan Jones, another Department Head at SPA Technique. “Every driver wants to be up front, and we’re excited to reward them while also highlighting the importance of fire suppression technology in sprint car racing.”

“When you look at some of the top guys in the series— like Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild—and see that they trust in SPA Technique to protect them, it really says everything,” said Greg Fornelli, Owner of SPA Technique. “These drivers put their lives on the line every night, and we take great pride in providing them with the most advanced fire suppression technology available.”

With 90 races on the schedule, this partnership ensures that drivers are not only rewarded for their success but also reminded of the crucial role fire safety plays in motorsports.

For more information on SPA Technique and its wide range of fire suppression systems, visit the SPA Technique website or stop by SRI Indy.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 48th World of Outlaws Season Begins with Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals
Alex Nieten

Four consecutive nights of racing will bring the 2025 campaign to life for The Greatest Show on Dirt

The wait is over. The 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car season is ready to fire off at Volusia Speedway Park.

The best Sprint Car drivers in the world have made their way to Barberville, FL to take their turn at the 54th Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

Four consecutive nights of racing at the “Sunshine State” half mile will unleash the 48th year of action for the World of Outlaws as the tour is set for a 90-night, coast-to-coast journey. A $12,000-to-win, show-up points program on Wednesday, Feb. 5, serves as the season opener before the week wraps up with a $20,000-to-win finale on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Drivers and teams will be competing for more than just the nightly winnings up for grabs. They’ll also be vying for the coveted Big Gator trophy and the point fund that comes along with it. Points will be accumulated throughout the week, and the top three when the final checkered flag flies will pocket some extra cash.

A new season is upon us. A clean slate. Fresh hope and goals. Races to be won. A championship to be claimed. History to be written.
 

Let’s look at the top storylines to watch in Florida:

TITLE DEFENSE: The beginning of the 2025 season signals the start of David Gravel’s title defense. Last year, he and Big Game Motorsports engineered an unforgettable campaign on the way to the first championship for both driver and team. Gravel looks to become only the sixth competitor ever to earn back-to-back World of Outlaws titles.

It starts at a track that’s been plenty kind to Gravel in recent years. All five of his Volusia victories in World of Outlaws competition have come aboard Tod Quiring’s No. 2. In his last 30 starts at the Florida oval, Gravel owns 20 top fives and has only missed the top 10 once.

The Watertown, CT native will be defending more than one title this week. Finishes of third, first, fifth, and sixth led Gravel to the 2024 Big Gator, marking the third time he’s taken home the reptilian trophy and equaling Daryn Pittman for the most. A fourth Big Gator this week would make him both the first to four and the first to win it in back-to-back fashion.
David Gravel in his fire suit
David Gravel is set to defend his 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship (Trent Gower Photo)

KING OF THE SWAMP: Donny Schatz’s trophy room might be populated with more gators than the Everglades.

The 10-time Series champion has conquered Volusia on 24 occasions with 15 coming in World of Outlaws competition and the other nine with the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC). The most recent of those checkered flags came during last year’s Bike Week Jamboree and gave him 500 career Sprint Car victories.

Despite his many trips to Volusia Victory Lane, Schatz’s success has produced one Big Gator title in 2018 with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing. He’ll be looking to join Daryn Pittman, David Gravel, Brad Sweet, and Logan Schuchart as the fifth multi-time Big Gator champ.

GRABBIN’ GATORS: Gravel and Schatz aren’t the only current full-time World of Outlaws competitors that know their way around Volusia.

Carson Macedo has topped four Volusia Features since joining forces with Jason Johnson Racing. All Star victories in 2021 and 2023 added a pair of gators to Macedo’s trophy room, and he’s won with the World of Outlaws at the half mile twice in the month of March.

Sheldon Haudenschild owns a trio of gators. The Wooster, OH driver scored the first Series win of his career at Volusia back in 2018, and he’s since added triumphs in 2022 and in 2024, the latter worth $20,000. Haudenschild begins his ninth World of Outlaws campaign this week and his eighth with Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing.
Sheldon Haudenschild in his fire suit
Sheldon Haudenschild looks to add more gators to his trophy room as his ninth World of Outlaws season begins (Trent Gower Photo)

Logan Schuchart is also the owner of three Volusia checkered flags. His first came in 2020, and then the following season he beat both the All Stars and the World of Outlaws in Florida during February. The Shark Racing pilot goes for a record-tying third Big Gator title this week.

SOPHOMORE SURGE: Many eyes will be fixed on Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports team as 2025 gets underway.

Kofoid put together perhaps the best rookie season in Series history last year in Dennis and Teresa Roth’s iconic No. 83 thanks in large part to an unforgettable final stretch of the tour. Over the last 20 races, the Penngrove, CA native bagged six wins and 15 podiums. That run put them in championship conversations for Kofoid’s sophomore season.

The 23-year-old will see if momentum carries into the start of 2025 at Volusia, where Kofoid is a two-time runner-up in World of Outlaws Feature action. During his last visit to the Florida facility, Kofoid looked destined for victory until a cut tire ended his hopes after leading the first 13 circuits.

ROOKIE BATTLE BEGINS: The start of the 2025 campaign will unleash one of the most anticipated Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year battles in World of Outlaws history. Six hungry competitors are ready to slug it out for top rookie honors.

Cole Macedo followed the footsteps of older brother Carson to The Greatest Show on Dirt as he’s set for his debut campaign. The 24-year-old is aboard the TwoC Racing ride, the same car Wayne Johnson – now crew chief of the No. 2C – drove to Rookie of the Year in 2020. Macedo debuted at Volusia with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) National Tour last week and recorded finishes of seventh, second and fourth.
Cole Macedo sitting in the TwoC Racing Sprint Car
Cole Macedo is one of six drivers ready to battle for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year (Dave Olson Photo)

Fellow 24-year-old Garet Williamson is geared for the same battle. The Columbia, MO native ran a pick and choose schedule last year with Fischer Motorsports, and now the pairing is set for a full-time World of Outlaws run. Williamson gets his first look at Volusia during DIRTcar Nationals.

Chris Windom is set for his debut World of Outlaws season, wheeling the Sides Motorsports No. 7S. The USAC Triple Crown champ has shifted his focus to Winged Sprint Cars in recent years and makes the jump to the sport’s highest level in 2025. Windom has made one Volusia appearance, finishing 16th with the World of Outlaws last year.

Skylar Gee is teamed up with the Ohio-based Logan Fenton Racing for his first season of World of Outlaws action. The former ASCS and ASCoC full-timer is ready to take on the sport’s most demanding schedule and go for Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

Bill Rose tabbed Zach Hampton as the pilot of the No. 6 for Hampton’s debut campaign. The Mooresville, IN native has made four previous Volusia appearances, all during the 2021 DIRTcar Nationals.

The most recent rookie to join is Sikeston, MO’s Hunter Schuerenberg. He reunited with Vermeer Motorsports, the team he topped six ASCoC races with.

C-BELL’S BACK: Much to the delight of dirt fans, Joe Gibbs loosened the reins on Christopher Bell over the off season allowing him to reunite with dirt. The reunion will lead to his first Sprint Car laps since 2022 this week after getting reacquainted with Midgets and Micros over the winter months.

Bell has partnered with Don Kreitz Jr. to wheel the iconic Kreitz Racing No. 69K in the “Sunshine State” this week, marking the first time the powder blue Sprint Car has made its way to Volusia since 1988. But even with the long absence, it’ll be no surprise if this potent pairing find speed right away.

The current NASCAR Cup star has proven to be fast in multiple machines at the Florida half mile over the years. He took the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 14 to a Volusia podium back in 2017. When he last visited the track in 2019, Bell drove the Swindell SpeedLab No. 39 to three consecutive top fives including a World of Outlaws runner-up on a night he led 26 laps.

NAMES KEEP COMING: In addition to the full-time stars of the World of Outlaws tour, fans can expect a healthy roster complete with Sprint Car talent from across the country at Volusia this week.

The Pennsylvania Posse will send Anthony Macri and Danny Dietrich off the porch and south to Florida. Macri has not only been one of the Posse’s best over the last few years, but also one of the nation’s top drivers with 46 Feature victories since the start of 2022, including a handful outside the confines of the “Keystone State.” The Dillsburg, PA native nearly grabbed a Volusia win last February, leading 13 laps before finishing second. Dietrich owns 33 checkered flags in the last three years. He’s also a former Volusia runner-up, taking the Gary Kauffman No. 48 to a second-place finish with the World of Outlaws in 2021.

The new pairing of Justin Peck and Rudeen Racing will see what they can do on week two of DIRTcar Nationals after a dominant start with ASCS. The Monrovia, IN native swept all three nights of 360 Sprint Car action last week on his way to a Big Gator title.

After 11 years of touring the country racing Sprint Cars, Jacob Allen is shifting to a pick and choose schedule in 2025, and his calendar includes DIRTcar Nationals. The fan favorite, and son of Bobby Allen, is a two-time top five finisher at Volusia, peaking with a third in 2023 during Bike Week.

Knoxville Raceway regulars Brian Brown and Austin McCarl made the trip to the “Sunshine State.” The two have combined to win six of the last seven 410 track titles at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.” McCarl is a former Volusia winner, beating the United Sprint Car Series in 2024, and Brown owns eight World of Outlaws top fives at the track.

These gassers will be joined by several standouts, including Emerson Axsom (Franklin, IN), Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), Brock Zearfoss (Jonestown, PA) and Ryan Timms (Oklahoma City, OK).
THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday-Saturday, February 5-8 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL

ON THE INTERNET

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
X – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month

2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:

Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 5-8 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Sunday-Monday, March 2-3 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Friday, March 7 – Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, AL)
Saturday, March 8 – Magnolia Motor Speedway (Columbus, MS)
Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 – Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX)
Friday-Saturday, March 21-22 – Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX)
Friday, March 28 – Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK)
Saturday, March 29 – 81 Speedway (Park City, KS)
Friday-Saturday, April 4-5 – Arrowhead Speedway (Colcord, OK)
Friday-Saturday, April 11-12 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Friday-Saturday, April 18-19 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Friday, April 25 – Jacksonville Speedway (Jacksonville, IL)
Saturday, April 26 – Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
Friday-Saturday, May 2-3 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, May 7 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA)
Friday-Saturday, May 9-10 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Wednesday-Thursday, May 14-15 – Ohsweken Speedway (Ohsweken, ON, Canada)
Sunday, May 18 – Cornwall Motor Speedway (Long Sault, ON, Canada)
Friday, May 23 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Saturday, May 24 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Monday, May 26 – Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH)
Friday, May 30 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, May 31 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND)
Wednesday, June 4 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN)
Friday, June 6 – Plymouth Dirt Track (Plymouth, WI)
Saturday, June 7 – Beaver Dam Raceway (Beaver Dam, WI)
Sunday, June 8 – Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, WI)
Friday-Saturday, June 13-14 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Wednesday-Saturday, June 18-21 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday-Saturday, June 27-28 – Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI)
Thursday, July 10 – Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN)
Friday-Saturday, July 11-12 – Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, WI)
Tuesday, July 15 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Friday-Saturday, July 18-19 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, July 23 – BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA)
Friday-Saturday, July 25-26 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Sunday, July 27 – Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, NY)
Friday-Saturday, August 1-2 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Wednesday-Saturday, August 6-9 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Friday, August 15 – Ogilvie Raceway (Ogilvie, MN)
Saturday, August 16 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN)
Tuesday, August 19 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Fountain City, WI)
Friday, August 22 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, August 23 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND)
Saturday-Sunday, August 30-31 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday-Saturday, September 5-6 – Vado Speedway Park (Vado, NM)
Friday, September 12 – Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Bakersfield, CA)
Saturday, September 13 – Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, CA)
Friday-Saturday, September 19-20 – Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA)
Friday, September 26 – TBD
Saturday, September 27 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Friday-Saturday, October 3-4 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Friday, October 10 – New Egypt Speedway (New Egypt, NJ)
Saturday, October 11 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA)
Friday, October 17 – TBD
Saturday, October 18 – LaSalle Speedway (La Salle, IL)
Friday-Saturday, October 24-25 – TBD
Wednesday-Saturday, November 5-8 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC)

ALT Sports Data, World Racing Group Announce Partnership Ahead of 2025 Season

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 29, 2025) – ALT Sports Data Inc., the San Diego-based leader in trading and consumer data for action, motor, alternative, and emerging sports, and World Racing Group announced a landmark partnership today. This collaboration will enable regulated sports betting on premier dirt track racing properties, including the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the American Sprint Car Series, and the Super DIRTcar Series.

Through this partnership, ALT Sports Data will leverage official data feeds to deliver pre-race and live betting products to sportsbooks worldwide. ALT Sports Data will utilize the World of Outlaws official data to offer up-to-the-minute odds and an array of traditional wagers and prop bets, designed to enhance fan engagement and expand the global reach of dirt track racing.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to redefine fan engagement in some of the world’s most iconic and exciting sports,” said Todd Ballard, Co-Founder and CMO of ALT Sports Data. “World Racing Group’s dirt track properties are iconic within the motorsports community, and we are excited to bring innovative betting markets to their passionate fan base. By integrating sports betting, we aim to create deeper connections, attract new audiences, and drive the continued growth of these series.”

World Racing Group (WRG) is the preeminent sanctioning body in dirt track racing, overseeing some of the most iconic events in the sport. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series represent the pinnacle of grassroots racing, showcasing elite drivers and thrilling action at tracks across North America. The Super DIRTcar Series further solidifies WRG’s commitment to dirt track excellence, bringing together the top drivers in Big Block Modified racing. Together, these properties attract millions of fans annually, creating an electrifying motorsports experience.

“Our goal is to continue to move the needle by providing our fans more ways to be part of our events,” World Racing Group Chief Media & Marketing Officer Charlie Mellilo said. “Working with ALT Sports Data, we are providing fans another way to be involved. The excitement at the track is incredible, and this provides a way for fans at the track and at home to be even more engaged. It is all about expanding our relationship with the race fan, and the team at ALT Sports Data have proven they can help us do exactly that.”

This partnership underscores the growing intersection between motorsports and sports betting, as dirt track racing continues to captivate new audiences. By integrating betting into the fan experience, ALT Sports Data and World Racing Group aim to elevate the profile of these series and foster deeper connections between fans and the sport.

Betting will be available in jurisdictions where approved starting with the first night of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car action at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Visit NXTBets.com/playdirtcar to see offers and availability in your area.

About ALT Sports Data
ALT Sports Data is bringing the next wave of consumers to sports betting. By empowering alternative sports leagues to participate in legal live sports betting, we enable them to activate, monetize and retain fans, while giving the world greater access to the sports they truly love.

Our official and exclusive league data rights power our proprietary trading platform. Leveraging advanced data models and market insights, we provide real-time odds and pricing for the largest sportsbook operators in the world.

Further, our demand generation engine boasts exclusive access to 80+ million fans and followers, rivaling the world’s largest sports properties in reach and engagement. By partnering with the leagues to access these, we efficiently drive customer demand for sports book operators in a way that no other data provider can. We further accelerate engagement via our owned media channel, NXTbets.com, to inform, entertain and engage audiences around betting on these sports. For more information on ALT Sports Data, please visit altsportsdata.com or email connect@altsportsdata.com.

About World Racing Group
World Racing Group (WRG) is the leading sanctioning body in dirt track racing, managing world-class series such as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, and the Super DIRTcar Series. With a legacy of excellence and innovation, WRG’s properties continue to set the standard in grassroots motorsports, delivering unforgettable moments to fans and competitors alike. For more information, please visit: worldracinggroup.com, worldofoutlaws.com, ascsracing.com, superdirtcarseries.com, or email info@dirtcar.com.

Bakersfield Event Moves to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Sept. 12
World of Outlaws

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ first stop in California this season will now take place at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway dirt track on Friday, Sept. 12.

Bakersfield Speedway was originally set to host the Series on that date, but track owner Scott Schweitzer partnered with Kern Raceway’s Tim Huddleston to move Bakersfield’s operations to Kern – about 20 miles down the road – in 2025.

Ticketing details for the September race will be released soon.

It’ll be the World of Outlaws’ debut at the 1/3-mile dirt track, now called Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway at Enos Lane and I-5 opened in 2013 while its dirt track began operations in 2015. Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway combines two of California’s signature venues into one racing season. The Kern Raceway dirt track is undergoing a transformation with a reshaping of the exit of Turn 2 into the entrance to Turn 3. Over 2,000 additional seats will be added along with a new VIP Booth, scoring tower and press box are also planned.

“We cannot begin to express our excitement at this opportunity to partner with Scott Schweitzer,” Huddleston said. “Kevin and I are looking forward to this chance to elevate motorsports in Kern County with a full season of dirt track racing!”

“Crissy, Dakota, Brody and myself are overwhelmed that everyone at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Racing was excited to have us as a part of this state of the art racing facility,” Schweitzer said. “We look forward to taking the dirt racing experience at Kern Raceway to the next level for all the racers, crew members and race fans…”

Make sure to follow the World of Outlaws website and social pages for further updates about the event.

Hunter Schuerenberg, Vermeer Motorsports Join World of Outlaws for 2025
Alex Nieten

The pairing reunited in the off-season, and Schuerenberg is set for his rookie year with The Greatest Show on Dirt

Hunter Schuerenberg and Vermeer Motorsports are taking the next step with their reunion, joining the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car roster for the first time.

The Sikeston, MO native reunited with Tony Vermeer’s team over the off-season, and they’re ready to compete with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Schuerenberg joins an already loaded rookie class alongside Cole Macedo, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Skylar Gee, and Zach Hampton.

“I’m super excited about it,” Schuerenberg said. “I’ve raced since I was five years old and raced professionally since I was 17, and I’m 35 now. The World of Outlaws has been a dream of mine since I was 10 years old. For me, this is something that’s been 25 years in the making.”

Schuerenberg in the Vermeer No. 55 is already a proven combination. The 35-year-old spent more than three seasons with the Iowa-based team. Their first win together came at Ohio’s Atomic Speedway with FAST in 2020. They competed full-time with the All-Star Circuit of Champions in 2021 and 2022, collecting five wins and a pair of third place finishes in points.

Schuerenberg and Vermeer also enjoyed a handful of strong outings in World of Outlaws action, posting top fives at Tri-State Speedway, Huset’s Speedway, and Eldora Speedway – three tracks on the 2025 calendar.

“I think we both just kind of realized that what we were doing when we split apart was pretty promising and headed the right direction,” Schuerenberg said of what led to the reunion. “I think we both mutually just kind of realized we’re better off together as a team.”
Hunter Schuerenberg
Hunter Schuerenberg becomes the sixth rookie set for the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season (Chris Owens Photo)

Now the pairing will look to rekindle the past success as they attack a 90-night campaign with the country’s best Sprint Car drivers. Schuerenberg will have brother-in-law Clinton Boyles on the wrenches for his debut season with the World of Outlaws.

“It’s very exciting for me to have the opportunity to run with the Outlaws, period, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Schuerenberg said. “But I’m also very excited that I’m going to be doing it with my brother-in-law as my crew chief. I’m going to be doing it with a car owner that gave me my first real opportunity at being a winged Sprint Car driver. I’m going to have my family on the road with me and also some sponsors that have not only been with Tony the last time I was there but have been with me since I started trying to do winged Sprint Car racing again.”

The addition of Schuerenberg adds even more intrigue to the 2025 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year competition. The list of rookies grows to six as the stage continues to be set for one of the most competitive battles in Series history.

“I definitely think all of them are going to be super competitive for that Rookie of the Year honor for different reasons,” Schuerenberg said. “If we do get that award at the end of the year, we will have worked for it. Whoever gets it will have definitely earned it, which is what I want. I wouldn’t want it to be a walk in the park.”

Schuerenberg and Vermeer Motorsports begin the 2025 World of Outlaws season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Zach Hampton Joins Bill Rose Racing for Rookie World of Outlaws Season
Alex Nieten

The two Hoosiers have joined forces as Hampton is set for his debut campaign, and Rose continues to iron out his driving schedule

Bill Rose has tabbed Zach Hampton to pilot his No. 6 machine full-time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2025.

Hampton becomes the latest driver in a loaded rookie class as the upcoming season will mark his first with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He joins Cole Macedo, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, and Skylar Gee in the chase for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

Knowing he wanted to put someone in the seat as he continues to heal from injuries sustained last year, Rose recently reached out to Hampton. It was fortuitous timing for the Mooresville, IN native as he went from an uncertain future to a shot on Sprint Car racing’s biggest stage.

“I’m actually selling most of my stuff, and I was kind of prepared to be done unless I could drive for someone else but didn’t really have anything in the works,” Hampton explained. “Bill was going to buy a few things like my mule and other small stuff, and we got to talking. It kind of started from there. Then he called me while I was at Chili Bowl and asked if I’d be interested. We talked some more and got a deal worked out that works well for both of us.”

Hampton has plenty of Sprint Car laps under his belt. His 2024 campaign was highlighted by several top 10s in weekly Knoxville Raceway action. In 2023 he picked up an impressive FAST victory in his home state at Circle City Raceway. Now he takes the step up to the demanding World of Outlaws calendar where he’ll face off with the best of the best every night.

“I’m really excited,” Hampton said. “There’s going to be a big learning curve in a lot of areas. I think there’s like 90 races on the schedule, and the most by far I’ve ever done in a year is, I want to say, 52. That’s definitely going to be a big step up, but I think that’ll only help me from a driving standpoint being on the track more and more consistently.”
Zach Hampton
Zach Hampton has joined forces with Bill Rose for his rookie World of Outlaws campaign (Trent Gower Photo)

The opportunity is one that Hampton is motivated to take advantage of. It wasn’t all that long ago that he was selling his equipment without a solid situation ahead. The time is now for Hampton.

“It’s nice that people see potential there and that Bill trusts me not only driving his car but to be a part of this team,” Hampton said. “The drivers are usually kind of the face of it. It means a lot that he trusts me enough in all of those aspects to come race with them.”

While Rose has added Hampton to the team, fans can still expect to see Rose himself behind the wheel. He’s still ironing out the details as he continues to await medical clearance, but with it being his 50th overall year in racing, Rose has no intentions of only being a crew chief all season.

Hampton and Rose kickoff the 2025 World of Outlaws season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Skylar Gee Joining World of Outlaws for Rookie Campaign in 2025 with Logan Fenton Racing
Alex Nieten

The Canadian will follow in the footsteps of his father as he makes his debut season with The Greatest Show on Dirt

Skylar Gee is ready to be a part of The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The 25-year-old out of Leduc, AB, Canada is set for his rookie World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour in 2025 aboard the Logan Fenton Racing No. 99. Gee joins Cole Macedo, Chris Windom, and Garet Williamson in the strong class chasing this year’s Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

Gee follows in the footsteps of his father, Tim Gee, who competed with the World of Outlaws full-time for multiple seasons in the 1980s and is one of two Canadian-born Feature winners.

“As cliché as it sounds, it’s a dream come true,” Gee said. “Growing up at the racetrack and racing with my dad and everything it’s something I’ve always wanted to do is to go out and race with the World of Outlaws and have that opportunity.”

“We feel that we’re ready for that jump,” team owner Logan Fenton said. “Ultimately, we’re a newer team. This is essentially our third full season. It takes a while to get an organization together like this and especially at the caliber the World of Outlaws demand. We understand there is a different level of commitment from teams at this level and we intend to do just that.”

While 2025 will mark Gee’s debut campaign with the World of Outlaws, he’s far from new to racing with a traveling series.

Back in 2017 and 2018, Gee competed full-time with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS), finishing eighth and seventh and points and picking up a prestigious Grizzly Nationals victory.

Gee graduated to the 410 Sprint Car touring ranks in 2019 as he took on the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) for the first time. He nabbed his first Series victory that season at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway, where the World of Outlaws will visit twice in 2025, and came home seventh in points. The next season he again competed full-time, improving to fifth in the standings.

He’s since shifted to a pick and choose schedule in the last few years, competing in roughly 60-70 races per year since 2021. “Gee Money” and Fenton joined forces ahead of 2022 and have proven to be a strong pairing, picking up seven wins together all in the state of Ohio.

“Kind of where I felt like our team was trending,” Gee said on why this year was the right one to make the jump. “We made some big races and raced pretty well. We had some good showings, I thought, and it kind of opened some doors for us to be able to do this.”

Now, the combination is hitting the road with the best Sprint Car drivers in the country. Gee and the Logan Fenton Racing crew will tackle the 90-night World of Outlaws calendar as one of the most competitive rookie battles in Series history continues to take shape. The 25-year-old will face off with Macedo, Windom, Williamson, and potentially more as they all look to etch their names in the history book.

“It’s going to be tough,” Gee said of going after Rookie of the Year. “I’ve raced with Cole, Garet, and Chris now for a handful of years. I think we’ve raced around each other enough to understand it’s going to be tough. I think looking at it right now it could go to anybody.”

“I’m really excited to watch and see how that transpires this year as we run with top level teams,” Fenton said. “I think that translates into some interesting racing this year with Cole Macedo, Chris Windom, and Garet Williamson. That’s four guys that are going to give us a really good, close battle. I don’t think there’s one single driver that absolutely blows the other ones out of the water. You’re going to see one of the better Rookie of the Year contentions that we’ve seen in Sprint Car racing in quite a number of years honestly.”

Gee and the Logan Fenton Racing crew begin the 2025 World of Outlaws season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8.

1 MONTH ALERT: Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Returns Bigger Than Ever

BARBERVILLE, FL (Dec. 30, 2024) – The 12 days of Christmas may be over, but 15 days of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals are still to come.

Attracting hundreds of the best dirt racing drivers in the country, displaying a fair-like atmosphere in the midway and presenting nightly edge-of-your-seat racing, the massive Volusia Speedway Park event is bigger than ever in 2025, spanning Jan. 30 to Feb. 15.

Now a three-week event, Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals will kick off with the debut of the American Sprint Car Series National Tour, Jan. 30-Feb. 1 ­– accompanied by the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, which will be continuing their Florida Speedweek tour.

The following two weeks will see the return of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars, DIRTcar Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and more DIRTcar UMP Modified action.

Seven Big Gator trophies – the most sought-after symbol of triumph for dirt racers in February – will await the weekly champions. Titles will be awarded to the drivers that earn the most points during their week with the ASCS National Tour, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, UMP Modifieds, USAC Sprint Cars, Late Models, and Super DIRTcar Series. Two Big Gator trophies will be awarded to the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds on Saturday, Feb. 8 – one for Saturday’s Gator Championship Feature winner and one for the weeklong Big Gator champion (the Jan. 30-Feb. 1 races don’t count toward the Big Gator championship but do count toward the Florida Speedweek championship).

Tickets for all three weeks are on sale now at DIRTcarNationals.com/Tickets. If you can’t make it to the track, every night will be streamed live on DIRTVision.

Weekly Highlights:
WEEK 1 (Jan. 30-Feb. 1)
The best 360 Sprint Car drivers in the country will help the American Sprint Car Series National Tour make its debut at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” with three straight days of racing. The first two nights will pay $3,000 to win, while Saturday’s finale will pay $12,000 to win.

The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will also race all three nights to kick off a record nine-days of UMP Modified racing at Volusia Speedway Park.

WEEK 2 (Feb. 3-Feb. 8)
Year 48 for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will kick off with a stout field of Sprint Car drivers racing for four straight days. The first night on Wednesday, Feb. 5, will be a non-points event and then the next three nights, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 6-8, will count toward the Series championship – all four nights will count toward the Big Gator championship.

Reigning World of Outlaws champion David Gravel earned his third Big Gator title in 2024, becoming the fourth driver to open the season with a Big Gator championship and end it with a Series championship. He joined Daryn Pittman (2013), Donny Schatz (2018) and Brad Sweet (2020).

The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds – bringing more than 100 cars – will run six Features a night Monday through Friday, building toward the 30-lap, $5,000-to-win, Gator Championship on Saturday. Among the 100-plus competitors will be Kenny Wallace, again driving a car for World of Outlaws Late Model competitor Nick Hoffman.

WEEK 3 (Feb. 10-Feb. 15)
The final week, which leads to the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16, will showcase three racing divisions – Non-Wing Sprint Cars (USAC), Late Models (DIRTcar and World of Outlaws) and Big Block Modifieds (Super DIRTcar Series).

Non-Wing Sprint Cars will thrill fans for the first two nights (Feb. 10-11), running the wall from corner to corner, along with the DIRTcar Late Models, which will also run three Features on Wednesday. The Super DIRTcar Series will run four straight nights Wednesday through Saturday, where reigning Series champion Mat Williamson will try to go for his third-straight Big Gator crown. And the World of Outlaws Late Models will help wrap up the week with the Big Blocks, Thursday through Saturday.

PLAN AHEAD:
Dates: Jan. 30-Feb. 15
Location: Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Full Event Info & Schedule: CLICK HERE

Get Your Tickets: CLICK HERE
Stream Live: DIRTVision.com
World of Outlaws Merch: CLICK HERE
Volusia Speedway Park Merch: CLICK HERE

LAST YEAR’S STATS:
DIRTcar UMP Modified Winners:
Feb. 10 — Kyle Strickler (Gator Championship winner)
Feb. 9 — Michael Leach, Will Krup, Zeke McKenzie, Tyler Nicely, David Stremme, Jonathan Taylor
Feb. 8 — Dave Pinkerton, Greg Moore, Jonathan Taylor, Dustin Sorensen, Ken Schrader, Ryan Ayers
Feb. 7 — Dustin Sorensen, Trevor Neville, Raymond Kable, Kenny Wallace, Charlie Mefford, Tyler Nicely
Feb. 6 — Kyle Strickler, Tom Berry Jr., Charlie Mefford, Tyler Nicely, Ken Schrader, Lucas Lee
Feb. 5 — Brian Ruhlman, Mitch Thomas, Tyler Nicely, Tim Ward, David Stremme, Will Krup

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Winners:
Feb. 10 — Sheldon Haudenschild
Feb. 9 — Tyler Courtney
Feb. 8 — David Gravel
Feb. 7 — Brad Sweet

USAC Sprint Car Winners:
Feb. 13 — Logan Seavey (X2)

DIRTcar Late Model Winners:
Feb. 14 — Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar, Brandon Sheppard (Split Features), Bobby Pierce (make up Feature from Monday)
Feb. 13 — Devin Moran

Super DIRTcar Series Winners:
Feb. 16 — Matt Sheppard
Feb. 15 — Mat Williamson
Feb. 14 — Matt Sheppard

World of Outlaws Late Model Winners:
Feb. 16 — Devin Moran
Feb. 15 — Nick Hoffman

EVENT STATS:
Track Size: 1/2-mile
Track Records:
410 Sprint Cars – 12.569 sec. by Paul McMahan on Feb. 10, 2011
360 Sprint Cars – 14.160 sec. by Brenham Crouch on Jan. 27, 2023
Big Block Modifieds – 16.754 sec. by Jamie Mills on Feb. 21, 2015
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds – 17.031 sec. by Ethan Dotson on Nov. 18, 2022
Non-Wing Sprint Cars – 16.151 sec. by CJ Leary on Feb. 13, 2024
Super Late Models – 15.100 sec. by Bobby Pierce on Jan. 19, 2024

Big Gator Champions:
410 Sprint Cars –
2024-David Gravel
2023-Logan Schuchart
2022-David Gravel
2021-Logan Schuchart
2020-Brad Sweet
2019-Daryn Pittman
2018-Donny Schatz
2017-David Gravel
2016-Brad Sweet
2015-Daryn Pittman
2014-Paul McMahan
2013-Daryn Pittman
2012-Sammy Swindell

Big Block Modifieds –
2024-Mat Williamson
2023-Mat Williamson
2022 – Jimmy Phelps
2021 – Max McLaughlin
2020 – Larry Wight
2019 – Larry Wight
2018 – Tim McCreadie
2017 – Brett Hearn
2016 – Matt Sheppard
2015 – Larry Wight
2014 – Stewart Friesen
2013 – Danny Johnson
2012 – Matt Sheppard

Non-Wing Sprint Cars –
2024 – Logan Seavey
2023 – Jake Swanson
2022 – CJ Leary

Super Late Models –
2024-Brandon Sheppard
2023-Tim McCreadie
2022-Devin Moran
2021-Devin Moran
2020-Brandon Sheppard
2019-Brandon Sheppard
2018-Chris Madden
2017-Shane Clanton
2016-Josh Richards
2015-Shane Clanton
2014-Scott Bloomquist
2013-Josh Richards
2012-Dennis Erb Jr

UMP Modifieds –
2024 – Tyler Nicely
2023 – Kyle Strickler
2022 – Nick Hoffman
2021 — Nick Hoffman
2020 — Nick Hoffman
2019 — Nick Hoffman
2018 — Nick Hoffman
2017 — Nick Hoffman
2016 — Nick Hoffman
2015 — Austin Dillon
2014 — Ty Dillon
2013 — Ken Schrader
2012 — Ty Dillon

ARTICLE: https://dirtcarnationals.com/news/1-month-alert-federated-auto-parts-dirtcar-nationals-returns-bigger-than-ever/

EVENT INFO: https://dirtcarnationals.com/info/faqs/
TRACK INFO: https://volusiaspeedwaypark.com

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

New Dates For Hershey Sprint Car Experience, Gettysburg Clash Help Create Major Week of Sprint Car Racing in Pennsylvania
World of Outlaws

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, PA Posse, and Milton Hershey School are ready to bring a huge week of Sprint Car racing and a celebration of the sport to Central Pennsylvania in May.

The third annual Hershey Sprint Car Experience has a new date on the calendar in 2025 – Thursday, May 8. The event allows students from Milton Hershey School to learn about the region’s rich racing history, and meet and engage with many Sprint Car teams and special guests from the Central Pennsylvania Racing Community. A handful of drivers will even partake in classroom activities with students. The day also features a window for the public to join and meet their favorite competitors from both the World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse.

“The Hershey Sprint Car Experience is always a fun and memorable event for our students as they meet with drivers and learn about career possibilities,” said Tara Valoczki, MHS senior director of curriculum, instruction & assessment. “At MHS, career-focused education and real-world skill building are hallmarks of our programming, and the Sprint Car Experience is yet another unique opportunity we provide our students.”

To help accommodate the Hershey Sprint Car Experience, Lincoln Speedway’s Gettysburg Clash will shift its date to Tuesday, May 6. This move ensures Wednesday, May 7 can serve as a rain date, giving Pennsylvania’s passionate fan base the best chance to see a midweek battle between the World of Outlaws and the PA Posse.

With Lincoln’s adjustment and the Hershey Sprint Car Experience date, Pennsylvanians are now set for a week full of celebrating the sport they love.

“This adjustment not only allows us to kick off Outlaw Week in Pennsylvania a day earlier but also strengthens our collaboration with the World of Outlaws and the Milton Hershey School,” Scott Gobrecht, part of the ownership group at Lincoln Speedway, said. “Together, we’re committed to providing an unforgettable experience for fans and participants alike, celebrating the spirit of racing in our community.”

The Gettysburg Clash kicks things off before the Hershey Sprint Car Experience celebrates the racing tradition of the “Keystone State.” Then, the week closes out with two more nights of the World of Outlaws facing off with the Posse at Williams Grove Speedway’s HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup (Friday-Saturday, May 9-10).

“We appreciate the support of Lincoln Speedway and our continued partnership with World of Outlaws, and look forward in May to a tremendous week of racing action for fans from central Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Valoczki.

Milton Hershey School was founded in 1909 and continues to transform lives by offering an exceptional educational experience in a nurturing, positive environment – with all costs covered. For more information, visit mhskids.org.

If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch both races live on DIRTVision.

Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing Taking on Third Consecutive World of Outlaws Campaign in 2025
Alex Nieten

The Californian will continue to work toward his goal of a championship next year

“Racing isn’t fun, winning is fun.” That line was instilled in Giovanni Scelzi from a young age by his father and four-time NHRA champion, Gary Scelzi.

And he’s taking that mindset into the 2025 season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as he and KCP Racing continue their quest to reach the pinnacle of the sport – a World of Outlaws title.

“It’s one of those things where you want to have realistic goals, but at the same time if your goal is not to win a World of Outlaws championship, you really shouldn’t be racing in my opinion,” Scelzi said. “We have the resources. We have the people. We have the engines. We have the cars, really the whole package, I feel like.”

The 23-year-old linked with the Iowa-based KCP team midway through 2020, and the pairing followed a pick and choose schedule through the end of 2022. Scelzi and KCP then hit the road with the World of Outlaws in 2023, and it resulted in the Fresno, CA native claiming Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors.
Gio Scelzi racing the KCP Racing No. 18 Sprint Car
In 2024, he raised his numbers in nearly every statistical category during his sophomore year.

One win elevated to three, and he also added a NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s prelim victory. Early in the year, Scelzi led the World of Outlaws points for the first time in his career.

“We started off great, obviously had a super strong DIRTcar Nationals,” Scelzi said. “Pretty much until Knoxville (Nationals) I feel like we were in the hunt to win races every single night, and that’s the thing, you’ve got to win these championships from February to November not, February to August. It was a solid year.”

While it was a strong season, Scelzi is fully focused on improvement in 2025 to put he and KCP in contention for a title by the end of the season.

“It’s just putting everything together and getting consistent on a nightly basis like the 2 car (David Gravel) was, like the 41 car (Carson Macedo) was. Buddy (Kofoid) got there at the end of the year,” Scelzi said. “It’s tough, there’s no doubt about that, but to win a championship is the ultimate goal.”

Scelzi and KCP Racing begin the 2025 World of Outlaws season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8.

Jacob Denney Joins Keith Kunz Motorsports for 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Campaign

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 18, 2025) — Jacob Denney has waited his entire Midget career for a chance to win a national championship. He’ll have a great chance in 2025, joining Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) to chase points with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Denney, 19, of Galloway, OH, will take over in the seat of the JBL Audio, Toyota-powered LynK Chassis No. 67 for all 27 races on the 2025 Xtreme schedule as a teammate to 2024 Series champion Cannon McIntosh, third-year racer Gavin Miller and national Midget rookie Colton Robinson.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to race for them,” Denney said on joining the 19-time national Midget series championship-winning team at KKM. “So, to be full-time with them is pretty sick, especially in one of their house cars. It’s definitely a dream come true.”

While relatively new to the KKM roster, Denney is an experienced Midget racer at the national level, having raced as part of Malloy Motorsports throughout 2023 and 2024. When the team announced it was ceasing operations at the end of the 2024 USAC season, Denney began searching for a new home to race for the 2025 season.

A phone call to the KKM stable landed him a ride for the Xtreme Outlaw Series season finale at Jacksonville Speedway and the final three races of the season with the POWRi National Midget League at Port City Raceway. Finishes of seventh and 11th at Jacksonville got him comfortable with the new team and car, but Denney saved his best performance for Port City — winning the Feature on the final night of the tripleheader.

Two weeks later, he got the call from KKM with an offer to take the seat of the famed No. 67 Midget for 2025, and knew he couldn’t refuse.

“As soon as I got there, everyone was super welcoming and it wasn’t like a huge change environmentally,” Denney said. “Keith and I worked together pretty well; we got faster from the first night to the fifth night substantially, so that gives me a lot of confidence going into the new year that we can continue to gain speed, get comfortable, and hopefully win a lot of races.”

After Jade Avedisian’s breakthrough season in 2023 and McIntosh’s triumph in 2024, KKM has captured the last two Xtreme Outlaw Series championships. With over three full-time seasons of experience on the national Midget circuit, Denney knows he’s got a great shot to add to that streak of success with Xtreme in 2025.

“Especially with the equipment I’m in, there’s no reason I shouldn’t think I should [win the championship],” Denney said. “I’m really confident for this year.”

Denney and KKM start their season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series Friday–Saturday, April 11–12, at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL. Tickets for the two-day event are on sale now at the link below.

FARMER CITY TICKETS

If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Photo credit — Josh James

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/jacob-denney-joins-keith-kunz-motorsports-for-2025-xtreme-outlaw-midget-campaign/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

Bill Balog Set for Sophomore World of Outlaws Season in 2025

The North Pole Nightmare is coming back for a second year with The Greatest Show on Dirt

CONCORD, NC (December 17, 2024) - Bill Balog is bringing his B Squared Motorsports team back to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars for a sophomore season in 2025.

After more than two decades of Sprint Car racing that included 10 Interstate Racing Association (IRA) championships, Balog decided 2024 was the right time to join The Greatest Show on Dirt full-time. “The North Pole Nightmare” is already looking forward to a second straight year of traveling the country with the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers.

“I’ve kind of been preparing even while we were still racing,” Balog said of getting ready for 2025. “It’s definitely a lot of work, but we have a better idea of what we need to do.”

The rookie campaign yielded plenty of highs for the Hartland, WI resident. It began with an eighth-place run in the season opener, and it only took Balog eight races to pick up his first top five of the year – fourth at Kennedale Speedway Park. He led laps before finishing fifth at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in April. Two weeks later, Balog’s first podium of the season arrived with a runner-up at Paducah International Raceway. He made the Knoxville Nationals championship Feature for the first time in his career. And one of his brightest moments was a third-place finish at the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals finale.

“It went better than I expected,” Balog said. “I think we had a good car going into the season and were able to get a little better engine package. And after Volusia, we got going pretty good there. I was very happy with how we were racing and how the car was working. Definitely had some highlights.”

Now, Balog’s attention shifts to a sophomore surge after an eighth-place finish in points this year. The 45-year-old is ready to see if he can climb even higher in 2025, turn some of the top 10s into top fives and maybe even grab a win or two. He knows it won’t be easy.

“The numbers and names have changed, but the intensity hasn’t,” Balog said. “Some of the guys that are now retired that were Outlaws were the same way. It was just about impossible to pass them. It’s another level.

“Our goal for 2024 was top 10s, and we were able to get a lot of those, but fifth pays a lot better than 10th, and third pays a hell of a lot better,” Balog added with a laugh. “I would say more top fives would be a natural goal. Also, there’s a lot of people that have won one Outlaw race, and then from there the list gets a lot shorter. So, I’d like to win a race or win a couple races. I’m not 20 years old, but I think I can still do it.”

Balog begins his second World of Outlaws season at Volusia Speedway Park’s 2025 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the full 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/bill-balog-set-for-sophomore-world-of-outlaws-season-in-2025/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO:

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Chris Windom Joins Sides Motorsports for Rookie World of Outlaws Campaign in 2025

The USAC Triple Crown champion joins the rookie class for next year

CONCORD, NC (December 13, 2024) - Chris Windom is set for a rookie run with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2025.

The Canton, IL native has joined forces with Sides Motorsports to climb aboard the iconic No. 7S and chase the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year next season. Windom brings his partnership with NOS Energy Drink to his new home. He joins Cole Macedo in the current class of 2025 rookies.

Back in 2020, Windom became the seventh member of the exclusive USAC Triple Crown club as he secured a National Midget championship to go along with his Silver Crown (2016) and National Sprint Car (2017) titles.

Recent years have given Windom the opportunity to shift his focus to winged Sprint Car racing. He came home second in the 2023 All-Star Circuit of Champions standings and came close to getting a Feature victory that year, finishing second on three occasions. Now, he’s ready to make the step to the pinnacle of Sprint Car racing as he joins The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Windom will have the veteran leadership of Jason Sides as the Bartlett, TN native brings him aboard. As a driver, Sides is a 15-time World of Outlaws Feature winner including the 2004 Kings Royal.

Sides has embraced the role out of the seat in the last few seasons as he’s operated as the crew chief on his car and helped build the talents of others, and that’ll continue as Windom and Sides tackle the 90-night World of Outlaws campaign in 2025.

Windom and Sides Motorsports begin the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the full 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/chris-windom-joins-sides-motorsports-for-rookie-world-of-outlaws-campaign-in-2025/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO:

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing Ready for 12th Consecutive World of Outlaws Season in 2025

The Pennsylvanian looks to challenge for his first championship next year

CONCORD, NC (December 12, 2024) - Logan Schuchart and his Shark Racing crew are set for their 12th consecutive campaign with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

The Hanover, PA native has come a long way since first embarking out with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2014. Many wondered if they’d make it a full season following one of racing’s most demanding schedules. Not only did they make it, but they’ve also continued coming back for more.

“I’m excited,” Schuchart said. “It’ll be our 12th season with the World of Outlaws. It seems like it’s gone really, really quick. To be out on the road 12 years, it seems like it’s flown by. I’m very fortunate to be out on the road again. We’ve got a lot of great partners with Shark Racing that have supported us for a number of years now. We’re just excited to get after it.”

Schuchart has amassed 42 career World of Outlaws victories, currently tied for 19th all-time. Back in 2020 Schuchart nearly won the title, finishing runner-up by a mere 46 points. Last year he etched his name in history by winning the Eldora Million and banking the first seven-figure payday in Sprint Car history.

“I think we have the opportunity and potential to run really well, fight for wins, fight for running up front in points,” Schuchart said. “I believe we’re capable of doing that. So, hopefully we’re able to show that next year. I’m definitely excited to be back racing with the World of Outlaws in 2025.”

Schuchart rolls into 2025 looking for a little more speed. Schuchart did collect a solid 50 top 10s this season but didn’t quite reach what he was looking for in the win and top 5 columns. Ultimately, he came home seventh in points.

Seventh is nothing to hang your head about against the best Sprint Car drivers in the country, but Schuchart and his crew expect more. They’ve been close to a championship before and are ready to contend again. Shark Racing brought on veteran crew chief Kyle Pruitt to help lead those efforts in 2025.

“We’re bringing in Kyle Pruitt who has a lot of passion and is going to work very hard,” Schuchart said. “He wants to be part of this race team for a long time, and I think we have the opportunity to run really well. I think we’re going to work really well together, and he’s going to do a great job.”

Led by Bobby Allen’s ownership and Schuchart’s talent, there’s no doubt that the Shark No. 1S has the potential to rise back up toward the top of the standings in 2024. Their plans are set, and they’re ready to get the season rolling.

“I’m very excited to get 2025 started,” Schuchart said. “There’s a lot of work to be done from now until the second week of February, but Shark Racing will be ready. We’re ready to go after our 12th year.”

Schuchart and the Shark Racing team begin the 2025 season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap of World of Outlaws action live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/logan-schuchart-shark-racing-ready-for-12th-consecutive-world-of-outlaws-season-in-2025/

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FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series is brought to fans by important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Toyota (Title sponsor of the Midgets Series), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier) and SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider). Other partners include: TJ Forged and Whitz Racing Products.

Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart Racing Set for 2025 World of Outlaws Campaign

Schatz set for 29th straight year with the World of Outlaws as TSR celebrates 25 seasons

CONCORD, NC (December 11, 2025) - Ten-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion Donny Schatz is ready to make a run at an 11th title in 2025.

Next year will mark Schatz’s 29th consecutive season with The Greatest Show on Dirt and 18th since joining forces with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing in 2008. Next year will also be the 25th season of Sprint Car racing for Tony Stewart’s team since he unleashed TSR in 2001.

Schatz has already assembled a résumé that puts him among Sprint Car racing’s greats. His 10 World of Outlaws titles headline the accomplishments. He’s won the Knoxville Nationals 11 times, claimed six Kings Royal crowns, and topped the National Open on a record six occasions. Schatz’s 316 Series victories rank behind only Steve Kinser’s 690 and Sammy Swindell’s 394.

But Schatz’s isn’t thinking about what he’s already done. He’s focused on what’s next. The next win. The next championship. Schatz wants his 11th, and he wants to give “Smoke” his 10th as an owner. It’s not only what he wants. It’s what he expects.

“That would be awesome,” Schatz said of potentially earning another championship. “To get him (Stewart) a 10th one is what our goal is. Honestly, that’s what our expectations are. That’s what our partners expect from us. That’s what my team expects from me. That’s what I expect from them. That’s what makes this all tick, but this sport doesn’t get any easier. It gets tougher. There’s a lot of great guys out there. There’s a lot of guys that have worked hard to get where they’re at. That’s why they call it racing. That’s why we love it. It’s never-ending challenges, never-ending competition.”

Schatz is fresh off a third place finish in the standings aboard the No. 15, his 17th time finishing inside the top three with the country’s best Sprint Car drivers. The hunger is as strong as ever. He knows he’s got plenty left in the tank. There’s nobody Tony Stewart would rather have in the car as his team celebrates a quarter century of competition.

“It’s awesome,” Stewart said of another year with Schatz behind the wheel. “He’s the perfect guy. It’s not always a perfect day with him because he demands perfection. He wants it a certain way, but when you can give him what he wants, the stats and the record books show he gets the job done when you get it right for him. We have the same passion and drive and desire to win races and championships. I can remember even being at Knoxville in Victory Lane and standing on the stage with him, and I’m happy and smiling and high fiving the guys, and he’s (Schatz) mad. And I’m like, ‘You realize the won the race, right?’ And he’s mad because there’s something we could’ve done better still. That’s what I love about him. He just knows what he’s looking for.”

Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing begin the 2025 season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap of World of Outlaws action live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/donny-schatz-tony-stewart-racing-set-for-2025-world-of-outlaws-campaign/

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FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

POWERING CHAMPIONS: Brian Morrison’s Path from Biology Professor to Building Championship Winning Sprint Car Engines

A youthful interest in drag racing and a wrong turn toward Charlie Garrett’s shop led Morrison to supplying World of Outlaws championship winning engines

CONCORD, NC (December 5, 2024) - One afternoon after moving to central Pennsylvania, a distant rumble caught the ear of Brian Morrison.

He decided to hop in his car and follow the sound. The rumble heightened to a roar as it lured him to Abbottstown, PA where Lincoln Speedway lies in the Pigeon Hills. Curiosity carried him to the ticket booth, and he entered the pit area to discover the source of the noise – a field of 410 Sprint Cars.

It was a piece of the racing world entirely unfamiliar to Morrison. He could’ve never predicted that years later the sounds of his own engines would fill the air at the highest level of the sport and even sing a championship ballad.

Morrison’s mechanical inclination goes back to childhood when he learned the fundamentals from his father.

“I would say that, as a kid, I was influenced by my dad,” Morrison said. “He was kind of a gearhead type that was always working on cars, swapping engines and transmissions and things like that. It was hobby-type stuff. He didn’t do it for a living, but that was a passion that we shared together. And that’s how I learned my basic mechanical skills and how to work on stuff.”

Teenage years brought a passion for drag racing and led Morrison to landing a job in both a speed and machine shop after high school. After a couple of years working there, uncertainty arose as he questioned if his current path could lead to a good living and being able to support a family.

So, he turned to college and fully dedicated his time to education.

“I went to school and studied biology of all things,” Morrison explained. “At the time, that decision was based on there are a number of career paths that can use a biology degree as a starting point. I could go to medical school or dental school or a number of things that maybe could end up supplying a good living down the road. And so that’s what I did. I hit the books hard and thrived and did well. Ultimately, I ended up getting involved in biological research and got a master’s degree and actually got some of my research published in peer reviewed scientific journals. I just worked hard and really thrived, and it clicked some of the same things in my brain probably that engine building does to me at this point. It was interesting to learn about complex things and how the world works.”

The master’s degree guided Morrison to being Adjunct Professor of Biology at Towson University, a position he held for several years. And while his career had shifted during the time through college and becoming a professor, the love for racing never flickered. He continued to stay involved in drag racing on the side and one day found himself needing to hone an engine block for his race car. Oddly enough, a wrong turn wound up changing the trajectory of his life.

“I just made a wrong turn, went down a road that I wasn’t familiar with and saw a little building that had a sign out front that said, ‘Racing Engines and Dyno Testing,’” Morrison recalled. “It was Garrett’s Racing Engines, and I said, ‘Man, I better stop in there. Maybe he can hone a block for me.’

“To that point, my experience in automotive machine shops was I had worked in two of them, and both of them seemed kind of dingy, dark, dreary. You were really ready to go home at the end of the day. You probably looked like a coal miner when you got home, and maybe 98-percent of what you’re working on was uninspiring and uninteresting.

“And when I opened the door and walked into Charlie Garrett’s shop, it was like my jaw just dropped to the floor. I mean this place just about knocked me down with cold air conditioning and epoxy-coated floors, and every machine was spotless. Everything was organized. The engines that were sitting around. There was an 810-cubic inch Pro Stock engine and multiple 410 Sprint Car engines, very exotic stuff for what I was used to. I just kind of knew right then and there that I wanted to learn some things from this guy.”

Learn is exactly what he did. That wrong turn led to a fortuitous introduction to Garrett and laid the foundations of a lasting friendship. Garrett eventually offered Morrison the opportunity to help him run his dyno with his one free day from teaching.

As the months went on, Morrison rearranged his schedule at the university to allow for more time at Garrett’s. That led to Morrison making the difficult choice to leave teaching and focus entirely on engine building. It was a scary move, departing the comforts of a career he enjoyed for a new one he’d have to build from the ground up.

“That was a really stressful time because I had invested so many of my years to that point in trying to get to the path where I thought I was going,” Morrison said. “I really had to make a decision that was tough to make, but I followed my passion. Really, my greatest passion, the thing that I couldn’t get out of my mind was thinking about engines.”

His passion birthed Morrison Racing Engines as he dedicated himself to crafting powerplants capable of taking teams to Victory Lane on the biggest stages in Sprint Car racing. The first World of Outlaws team to drop Morrison’s engines between the frame rails was Dave Helm’s Selma Shell crew. A Morrison motor first won with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars when Lance Dewease came out on top aboard the Catoctin Motorsports No. 30C at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in 2008.

A few years later, Morrison’s skills caught the attention of Tod Quiring. The two partnered, and Morrison began to supply engines for the Big Game Motorsports No. 7 car driven by Craig Dollansky. The combination went on to collect many victories, including three consecutive Ironman 55s (2011-2013). Morrison got a fourth straight Ironman in 2014 when Kerry Madsen topped the grueling event, wheeling the Keneric Racing No. 29. Morrison also powered Madsen’s Kings Royal triumph that year.

Morrison linked with Matt Barbara and Bret Nehring’s KCP Racing in the mid-2010s. Between Big Game and KCP, Morrison engines helped win three straight Knoxville Raceway track championships (2015-2017).

Other drivers that went on to win World of Outlaws races with Morrison’s engines include Danny Lasoski, Ian Madsen, David Gravel, and Giovanni Scelzi. This year, Morrison Racing Engines eclipsed 100 victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt, and he was awarded the Engine Builder of the Year.

“I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that if you do good work in this business and if you treat people right and are honorable and honest and if you work hard to excel at what you do, you’re not going to have any problem finding customers,” Morrison said of his journey. “I don’t advertise. I’m not much into self-promotion because I feel as though I let my engines do the promotional work for me.”

Work ethic and principles have allowed Morrison to form many relationships along the way. Big Game and KCP continue to use his engines, and both team crew chiefs, Cody Jacobs and Adam Clark, speak highly of Morrison’s effort and care for his craft.

“I first met Brian, I believe, in 2016,” Jacobs said. “I was with Pete Grove on the 70 car with Danny Holtgraver driving when I first got to work with him. Big Game has been with him a lot longer than I have, and that was one of the main things. I feel like we really hit it off right away. We really worked well together. It’s nice to have him involved on race nights. We communicate every race night on what to do as far as engine tune up and conditions and different things. We really keep him involved with our race team.”

“Ever since I took over, he’s been pretty much an extended part of the crew,” Clark said. “Even at the racetrack he’s always a text or call away. He’s always been really helpful for me as far as me coming in pretty fresh, helping with fueling and even working on the engines, fixing stuff that I can fix. We may be clear across the country, but he sits there on the phone with me and talks me through it and has helped me learn a lot.”

This year, Morrison’s dedication took him all the way to the pinnacle of the sport. His engines powered the David Gravel piloted Big Game Motorsports No. 2 to the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship and the most wins in the country this season (16).

“It was absolutely very gratifying,” Morrison said. “You do this for a lot of reasons, but ultimately in racing it’s a competitive endeavor. So, to win the championship is what we’re all striving to do. It was very, very rewarding and a lot of fun.”

But the work isn’t done for Morrison. Far from it. Like anyone in racing, one achievement fuels the hunger for the next. The next checkered flag. The next crown jewel. The next championship.

Hard work and dedication continue in the Morrison Racing Engines shop in Pennsylvania, which he oversees with his wife. Preparation is ongoing for 2025 as David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports have a title to defend. And he still makes time to stay connected to what originally attracted him to motorsports by working on his drag racing car.

From chasing engine sounds to constructing them, Morrison’s career has come a long way. And it’s his goal to make sure those engines continue to sing their way to Victory Lane and intrigue curious listeners, inspiring the next generation of Sprint Car fans – as a professor would do.

“A lot of hard work goes into it,” Morrison said of his craft. “It keeps you interested and coming back and trying to do it again next year.”

Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports team will look for their Morrison Racing Engines to power them to another championship in 2025, and that pursuit begins at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/powering-champions-brian-morrisons-path-from-biology-professor-to-building-championship-winning-sprint-car-engines/

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FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Nine Drivers Moved Up All-Time Xtreme Outlaw Midget Wins List in 2024

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 2, 2024) — Through 22 races on the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota schedule, nine different drivers made it to Victory Lane and made moves up the all-time wins list.

Three of those nine were first-time winners this year, making for a refreshed list that now includes 18 names. Here is a breakdown of each driver to win in 2024:

Cannon McIntosh (Rank: 1 / Wins: 11) — When the season began, McIntosh sat fourth on the all-time wins list with only five Feature wins with the Xtreme Outlaw Series. Since then, the 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, has more than doubled his total, garnering six victories in 22 races in 2024. Starting with a win on opening weekend inside the Southern Illinois Center, McIntosh later put the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) No. 71K in Victory Lane at 81 Speedway, Atomic Speedway, Doe Run Raceway, Spoon River Speedway and Arrowhead Speedway to ascend to the top of the Series’ all-time wins list with a total of 11.

Chase McDermand (Rank: 2 / Wins: 8) — McDermand dropped to P2 on the all-time wins list after only one trip to Victory Lane in 2024. The 24-year-old from Springfield, IL, won a season-high six races in 2023 to top the list coming the new season but had to wait until August to top the field again. Not 24 hours removed from celebrating his 24th birthday, McDermand took the CMR–Mounce/Stout Motorsports No. 40 back to Victory Lane in dominant fashion, garnering the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award in Qualifying, winning his Heat Race and leading every lap of the main event en route to his eighth career Xtreme Outlaw Series win.

Zach Daum (Rank: 2 / Wins: 8) — The inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Midget champion surged to second place on the all-time wins list with two Feature wins in 2024 and remains one of only three drivers (McIntosh, McDermand) to win in each of the first three seasons of the Series. Daum, 33, of Pocahontas, IL, first broke through to Victory Lane in May at Millbridge Speedway, finally taming the red clay, 1/6-mile oval, after struggling there in the past. He wrapped up 2024 with a win at Jacksonville Speedway in October, earning Trifecta Motorsports’ seventh career Series win.

Karter Sarff (Rank: 4 / Wins: 6) — Sarff notched the second-most wins of any driver in Xtreme Outlaw Series competition in 2024 with four trips to Victory Lane, moving him up to fourth on the all-time wins list. The 21-year-old from Mason City, IL, first punched through in April, winning the third race of the season at US 36 Raceway by outrunning eventual champion Cannon McIntosh in the final laps. In May, he made the tow out to North Carolina and took the checkered at Millbridge Speedway before completing his season with a sweep of both races at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 during Ironman 55 weekend in August.

Ryan Timms (Rank: 5 / Wins: 4) — Timms came into 2024 with only a single Xtreme Outlaw Series win to his name, but quadrupled his total with three wins in 22 starts on tour this year. The 17-year-old from Oklahoma City, OK, scored his first checkered flag of the season on opening night of the Illini 100 weekend at Farmer City Raceway in April. Next came a win on the high banks of Atomic Speedway in Ohio on May 24 before his third and final win on another high-banked, 3/8-mile oval — Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL.

Ashton Torgerson (Rank: 6 / Wins: 3) — Torgerson came into his rookie Midget season without a win on any national tour, but by the end had three to his credit with the Xtreme Outlaw Series en route to a fourth-place finish in the final points standings. The 17-year-old from Glendale, AZ, jumped up to sixth on the all-time wins list with Feature triumphs coming at Farmer City Raceway in April before two wins in the month of May — first at Humboldt Speedway in Kansas and one more at Coles County Speedway in Illinois.

Gavin Miller (Rank: 6 / Wins: 3) — Though Miller’s sophomore season on the national Midget circuit was hindered by injury early on, the 17-year-old from Allentown, PA, showed resilience and bounced back to get his third career Series win by season’s end. In the final race on the 2024 Xtreme calendar, Miller gave a dominant performance around the high-banked, 1/4-mile oval, of Jacksonville Speedway, leading all but the first three laps of the main event to get the win and move into a tie with Torgerson for sixth on the all-time wins list.

First-Timers — Of the nine different drivers to win an Xtreme Outlaw Series Feature in 2024, Thomas Meseraull and Kale Drake were the only non-full-timers to do so. Meseraull, the 43-year-old open-wheel veteran from San Jose, CA, took the checkered flag in the season opener in the Southern Illinois Center, while 19-year-old rookie Drake punched through three races later at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex with a last-lap pass on KKM teammate Taylor Reimer.

Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series All-Time Wins List (Rank/Driver/Wins)

1. Cannon McIntosh (11)

2. Chase McDermand, Zach Daum (8)

3. Jade Avedisian (7)

4. Karter Sarff (6)

5. Ryan Timms (4)

6. Ashton Torgerson, Gavin Miller (3)
7. Gavan Boschele, Chance Crum, Kale Drake, Jesse Love, Thomas Meseraull, Michael Pickens, Daison Pursley, Taylor Reimer, Hayden Reinbold, Daniel Whitley, Bryant Wiedeman (1)

Photo Credit: Emily Schwanke

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/nine-drivers-moved-up-all-time-xtreme-outlaw-midget-wins-list-in-2024/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

2025 SCHEDULE: 90-Night Calendar Takes World of Outlaws to 41 Tracks in 21 States, Two Countries

Crown Jewels, tracks returning, and Series staples highlight the campaign

CONCORD, NC (November 21, 2024) - The 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule is here and ready to take The Greatest Show on Dirt on a 90-night journey around North America.

The Series’ 48th season of showcasing the top level of Sprint Car racing will send the teams to 41 tracks in 21 states along with a Canadian province as the tour ventures outside the United States borders for the first time in eight years.

It all begins in Florida at Volusia Speedway Park and finds its final destination nine months later at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. In between, the country’s best drivers will take on a new track, compete in the sport’s most prestigious crown jewels, visit staples of the schedule, and return to tracks eager to welcome them back after multi-year absences.

“We’re very happy with the schedule built for 2025,” Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “The calendar comes from taking feedback from both teams and fans and creating a campaign complete with the sport’s top events, annual stops, and some places we haven’t been in a while to best showcase The Greatest Show on Dirt.”

GATOR HUNTIN’: The World of Outlaws campaign will begin in Florida for the 21st consecutive season. Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals will bring the nation’s top Sprint Car drivers to Barberville, FL for four nights (Feb. 5-8) of racing as they chase a Big Gator championship. For tickets to the DIRTcar Nationals, CLICK HERE.

And for the third straight season, Volusia will also host the second event of the year as the tour returns three weeks later for the Bike Week Jamboree. Racing on Sunday and Monday (March 2-3) will help kick off Florida’s famed Bike Week as the four-wheel and two-wheel worlds cross over.

NEW TRACK

Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Aug. 19) – The one new facility on the calendar is Fountain City, WI’s Mississippi Thunder Speedway. The Interstate Racing Association (IRA) Sprint Cars delivered a thriller at Mississippi Thunder this year, and now the “Badger State” oval is ready to bring The Greatest Show on Dirt to town in 2025.

BACK ON THE SCHEDULE

Ohsweken Speedway (May 14-15) – Canada, we’re coming back! The nation’s top Sprint Car drivers will make a highly anticipated return to Canada for the first time since 2017 as the tour crosses the northern border aimed at Ontario’s Ohsweken Speedway for two nights of weekday racing in May.

Cornwall Motor Speedway (May 18) – The action in Canada doesn’t end after two nights at Ohsweken. Sunday will take the tour to Cornwall Motor Speedway for the first time since 2014 to wrap up a three-race stay in “The Great White North.”

Plymouth Dirt Track (June 6) – The World of Outlaws will ignite a three-race weekend in Wisconsin by ending a 20-year absence from Plymouth Dirt Track.

Angell Park Speedway (June 8) – The World of Outlaws have made just one visit to Angell Park Speedway (2016), but that is set to change next year as the tour returns to the historic Sun Prairie, WI oval on a Sunday in June.

Deer Creek Speedway (July 10) – An eight-year wait ends in July when Minnesota’s Deer Creek Speedway welcomes the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers for the first time since 2017.

Vado Speedway Park (Sept. 5-6) – Back in 2022 The Greatest Show on Dirt debuted at New Mexico’s Vado Speedway Park with a midweek show. And in 2025 the Series returns in a bigger way with a two-night weekend in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Perris Auto Speedway (Sept. 13) – Just like Vado, this So-Cal oval has been absent from the calendar since 2022 and will return in 2025. The World of Outlaws are set for their 23rd visit to Perris Auto Speedway.

New Egypt Speedway (Oct. 10) – The state of New Jersey will be treated to the country’s top Sprint Car talent for the first time since 2022. The World of Outlaws make a fall trip to Somerset, NJ’s New Egypt Speedway for the track’s 10th race in Series history.

LaSalle Speedway (Oct. 18) – A week after New Egypt, another track will host the World of Outlaws for the 10th time. The tour heads back to Illinois’ LaSalle Speedway for the first visit since 2013 in mid-October.

CROWN JEWELS

Huset’s High Bank Nationals (June 18-21) – BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals week again packs two major events in one in 2025. First up will be the Huset’s Hustle on June 18-19 with a $100,000 prize. Then the focus shifts to the High Bank Nationals with the Friday, June 20 prelim setting the stage for Saturday’s $250,000-to-win finale, equaling the highest payday in Series history. Four-day ticket packages for the High Bank Nationals are on sale now and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.

42nd Kings Royal (July 18-19) – A King will be crowned in mid-July when Eldora Speedway hosts the 42nd running of the Kings Royal. Friday’s Knight Before opens the weekend before Saturday’s coronation puts another name in “The Big E” history books and sends the King home to the castle with even more riches than normal as the winner’s share grows to $200,000 in 2025.

64th Knoxville Nationals (Aug. 6-9) – The Sprint Car world will converge on Knoxville Raceway in early August for the 64th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. It’s the one race every driver dreams of winning when they first strap into a Sprint Car. The 2025 running grows a little more with the champion banking a massive $195,000 check at the top of a purse that pays generously throughout the field.

Dennis Roth Classic (Sept. 19-20) – Last year’s Dennis Roth Classic grew to new heights as the World of Outlaws sanctioned the race for the first time and the winner’s share rose to $83,000. The Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) event will again feature the massive payday as a nod to Roth’s iconic car number.

63rd National Open (Oct. 3-4) – The World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse rivalry reaches its peak at the beginning of October at Williams Grove Speedway’s National Open. It’s all about big money and bragging rights at the “Natty O” as the 2025 winner will again take home $75,000.

MAINSTAYS

Jason Johnson Classic (April 4-5) – The World of Outlaws continue to honor the “Ragin’ Cajun” with the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic. After a successful shift to Arrowhead Speedway in 2024, the event returns to the Colcord, OK facility in 2025.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (April 11-12 & Aug. 1-2) – The usual two stops for four nights of racing at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 begins with a spring visit. Four months later The Greatest Show on Dirt returns alongside the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota for the grueling Ironman 55.

#LetsRaceTwo (May 2-3) – The first two of four total nights of Eldora Speedway action in 2025 come in Early May when the World of Outlaws meet up with the USAC National Sprint Cars for #LetsRaceTwo at “The Big E.”

Lincoln Speedway (May 7 & Oct. 11) – It’s a pair of dates in the scenic Pigeon Hills of Pennsylvania next year. Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway is the destination for May’s Gettysburg Clash along with a fall race in October.

Morgan Cup & Summer Nationals (May 9-10 & July 25-26) – The National Open won’t be the only trip to Williams Grove. The track hosts the tour for a total of six nights of racing in 2025 with the Morgan Cup and Summer Nationals also pitting the World of Outlaws and PA Posse against one another.

Attica Raceway Park (May 23 & July 15) – This northern Ohio oval has become a staple of The Greatest Show on Dirt, and that won’t change with two dates in 2025. The first Attica stop comes in May before July’s highly anticipated Brad Doty Classic.

Jackson Motorplex (June 4 & Aug. 16) – Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex again features a pair of dates but with a slight shakeup. The two visits will be split with a June midweek event coming first before returning on an August Saturday.

Beaver Dam Raceway (June 7) – The World of Outlaws make a visit to Wisconsin’s Beaver Dam Raceway during a three-race weekend in Wisconsin for the $20,000-to-win Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial.

#ALLDIRTROADS: For the 19th consecutive year, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour will conclude at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The World of Outlaws World Finals not only invites the country’s best Sprint Car drivers to the “Queen City,” but it also brings the World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Bock Modifieds for four straight nights (Nov. 5-8) of action.

After thousands of miles traveling from coast to coast, the next champion will be crowned when the final checkered flag falls at Charlotte.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap of the 2025 season live on DIRTVision.

2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS NOS ENERGY DRINK SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:

Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 5-8 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Sunday-Monday, March 2-3 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Friday, March 7 – Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, AL)
Saturday, March 8 – Magnolia Motor Speedway (Columbus, MS)
Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 – Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX)
Friday-Saturday, March 21-22 – Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX)
Friday, March 28 – Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK)
Saturday, March 29 – 81 Speedway (Park City, KS)
Friday-Saturday, April 4-5 – Arrowhead Speedway (Colcord, OK)
Friday-Saturday, April 11-12 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Friday-Saturday, April 18-19 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Friday, April 25 – Jacksonville Speedway (Jacksonville, IL)
Saturday, April 26 – Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
Friday-Saturday, May 2-3 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, May 7 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA)
Friday-Saturday, May 9-10 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Wednesday-Thursday, May 14-15 – Ohsweken Speedway (Ohsweken, ON, Canada)
Sunday, May 18 – Cornwall Motor Speedway (Long Sault, ON, Canada)
Friday, May 23 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Saturday, May 24 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Monday, May 26 – Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH)
Friday, May 30 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, May 31 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND)
Wednesday, June 4 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN)
Friday, June 6 – Plymouth Dirt Track (Plymouth, WI)
Saturday, June 7 – Beaver Dam Raceway (Beaver Dam, WI)
Sunday, June 8 – Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, WI)
Friday-Saturday, June 13-14 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Wednesday-Saturday, June 18-21 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday-Saturday, June 27-28 – Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI)
Thursday, July 10 – Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN)
Friday-Saturday, July 11-12 – Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, WI)
Tuesday, July 15 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Friday-Saturday, July 18-19 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, July 23 – BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA)
Friday-Saturday, July 25-26 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Sunday, July 27 – Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, NY)
Friday-Saturday, August 1-2 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Wednesday-Saturday, August 6-9 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Friday, August 15 – Ogilvie Raceway (Ogilvie, MN)
Saturday, August 16 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN)
Tuesday, August 19 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Fountain City, WI)
Friday, August 22 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, August 23 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND)
Saturday-Sunday, August 30-31 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday-Saturday, September 5-6 – Vado Speedway Park (Vado, NM)
Friday, September 12 – Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, CA)
Saturday, September 13 – Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, CA)
Friday-Saturday, September 19-20 – Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA)
Friday, September 26 – TBD
Saturday, September 27 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Friday-Saturday, October 3-4 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Friday, October 10 – New Egypt Speedway (New Egypt, NJ)
Saturday, October 11 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA)
Friday, October 17 – TBD
Saturday, October 18 – LaSalle Speedway (La Salle, IL)
Friday-Saturday, October 24-25 – TBD
Wednesday-Saturday, November 5-8 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC)

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/2025-schedule-90-night-calendar-takes-world-of-outlaws-to-41-tracks-in-21-states-two-countries/

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FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

2025 SCHEDULE: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Bringing New Races, Building Key Events

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 19, 2024) — The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota embarks on its third full-length national schedule in 2025, set to contest 27 races at 18 different tracks.

The Series will travel to six different states from April to November, racing for a chance at the $30,000 points championship check and $94,000 points fund, which has been increased to now reward 12 full-time drivers.

VIEW FULL SCHEDULE

The season will open at a new location for 2025 — Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL, racing alongside the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series as part of the Illini 100 weekend, Thursday–Saturday, April 10-12 — and conclude with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget World Championship: The Kickoff to World of Outlaws World Finals at Millbridge Speedway, Nov. 3-4 where a new champion will be crowned.

If you can’t be at the track to see the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota in 2025, tune into DIRTVision to watch every lap live from your smart TV, laptop or mobile device with the DIRTVision app.

What’s New

Creek County Speedway, May 8 — The 1/4-mile of Creek County joins the Xtreme Outlaw Series schedule for the first time on Thursday, May 8, kicking off a three-day race weekend in Oklahoma and Kansas. An annual stop for the American Sprint Car Series, it has also hosted several regional and national Midget races over the last 10 years under the POWRi banner.

Airport Raceway, May 23–25 — The Xtreme Outlaw Series’ annual Memorial Day Weekend activity has a new home in 2025 at Airport Raceway in Garden City, KS. Known as the Midget Roundup since its inception in 2017, this annual event will feature the regional stars of the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association against the national talents of the Xtreme Outlaw Series in a three-day program that begins with a night of practice on Friday, May 23, followed by a $4,000-to-win program on Saturday and a $5,000-to-win main event on Sunday.

Xtreme Outlaw World Championship, Nov. 3–4 — The Xtreme Outlaw Series will kick off the World of Outlaws World Finals in 2025 with a two-night program at Millbridge Speedway on the Monday and Tuesday before racing begins at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. This brand-new event will feature $4,000-to-win and $5,000-to-win main events and crown a Series champion at the birthplace of the Series on Tuesday night.

Returning Highlights

Double in Pevely — Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 will host four Midget races on the new schedule, spread across two weekends with both brands of the World of Outlaws. The first runs Friday–Saturday, June 20-21, alongside the World of Outlaws Late Models (co-sanctioned by the DIRTcar Summer Nationals), while the second runs Friday–Saturday, Aug. 1-2, when the Midgets meet the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as part of the marquee Ironman 55 weekend.

Back to PA — Appalachian Midget Week returns to the calendar in 2025 with four Pennsylvania tracks set to host a race from Wednesday, Aug. 6, through Saturday, Aug. 9.

Action Track USA in Kutztown will host the kickoff on Aug. 6, preceding stops at Linda’s Speedway in Jonestown on Aug. 7, Path Valley Speedway in Spring Run on Aug. 8, and the finale at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Newmanstown on Aug. 9.

The upgraded miniseries championship purse, announced last December, will stay in place for 2025 — awarding $5,000 to the points champion and $2,500 for runner-up, $1,250 to third, $750 for fourth and $500 for the fifth-place driver.

Take Two — After taking on its first-ever national Midget series event in 2024, Coles County Speedway will host two races on the 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Series calendar — Friday–Saturday, May 30-31. The 1/8-mile oval, located in in Mattoon, IL, saw rookie Ashton Torgerson go to Victory Lane last May and will welcome the Series regulars back for a $4,000-to-win program on May 30 and a $5,000-to-win show on May 31.

High Banks Await — This past July, National Midget series racing returned to Spoon River Speedway for the first time in three years as the Xtreme Outlaw Series made its debut at the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval. The Series will be back for another two-day program on Friday–Saturday, July 18–19.

Bullring Battles — Jacksonville Speedway has been a mainstay on the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Schedule since its inception in 2022 and will return to the calendar in 2025 on Friday–Saturday, Oct. 3–4. The two-day open-wheel special will also feature the Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) Sprint Cars alongside $4,000-to-win and $5,000-to-win Midget programs.

Challenge Series — The Xtreme Outlaw–POWRi Challenge Series is back in operation for 2025 with another slate of 10 races, co-sanctioned with the POWRi National Midget League.

The Illini 100 weekend at Farmer City will serve as the first two races, while Highland Speedway in Highland, IL, will host the finale on Saturday, Sept. 6, where the miniseries champion will be crowned. Races marked with an asterisk on the full schedule below will count as Challenge Series events.

Xtreme and POWRi regulars will compete for a slice of the $5,000 miniseries points fund, which awards $2,500 to the champion, $1,250 to the runner-up, $600 for third-place, $400 for fourth and $250 to the fifth-place driver in the final points standings. Open-wheel veteran Zach Daum was the champion of the inaugural points chase in 2023, while Ryan Timms captured the championship bonus in 2024.

2025 SCHEDULE
Date | Track | Location | To-Win (* Denotes Challenge Series event)
Thursday, April 10 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | Practice
*Friday, April 11 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $4,000
*Saturday, April 12 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $5,000
Thursday, May 8 | Creek County Speedway | Kellyville, OK | $4,000
Friday, May 9 | Humboldt Speedway | Humboldt, KS | $4,000
Saturday, May 10 | 81 Speedway | Wichita, KS | $4,000
Friday, May 23 | Airport Raceway | Garden City, KS | Practice
Saturday, May 24 | Airport Raceway | Garden City, KS | $4,000
Sunday, May 25 | Airport Raceway | Garden City, KS | $5,000
*Friday, May 30 | Coles County Speedway | Mattoon, IL | $4,000
*Friday, May 31 | Coles County Speedway | Mattoon, IL | $5,000
*Friday, June 20 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $4,000
*Saturday, June 21 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000
Friday, July 18 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $4,000
Saturday, July 19 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $5,000
Friday, July 25 | Arrowhead Speedway | Colcord, OK | $4,000
Saturday, July 26 | Tulsa Speedway | Tulsa, OK | $4,000
*Friday, Aug. 1 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000
*Saturday, Aug. 2 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $7,500
Wednesday, Aug. 6 | Action Track USA | Kutztown, PA | $4,000
Thursday, Aug. 7 | Linda’s Speedway | Jonestown, PA | $4,000
Friday, Aug. 8 | Path Valley Speedway | Spring Run, PA | $4,000
Saturday, Aug. 9 | Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway | Newmanstown, PA | $4,000
*Friday, Sept. 5 | Doe Run Raceway | Doe Run, MO | $4,000
*Saturday, Sept. 6 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | $4,000
Friday, Oct. 3 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | $4,000
Saturday, Oct. 4 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | $5,000

Monday, Nov. 3 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $4,000
Tuesday, Nov. 4 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $5,000

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Ritchie

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/2025-schedule-xtreme-outlaw-midgets-bringing-new-races-building-key-events/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

JOURNEY OF CHAMPIONS: Big Game Motorsports Reflects on Path to Title

All members of the team earned their first World of Outlaws championship

CONCORD, NC (November 19, 2024) - World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championships require commitment. There are no shortcuts. No easy paths. Before 2024, only 10 drivers through 46 seasons of racing could call themselves a champion. But this year, one team’s dedication led to number 11.

David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew pieced together a year to remember. Expectations were high, and they lived up to the hype.

Gravel drove the Tod Quiring-owned No. 2 to 15 victories, more than 300 Feature laps led, 33 podiums, 60 top 10s, and a 4.88 average finish with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Numbers that led them him to being crowned champions ­– a first for every member of the team.

It was a process that didn’t happen overnight.

Tod Quiring (Team Owner)

Big Game Motorsports begins with a man from Minnesota – Tod Quiring. His love for the sport started during childhood when he frequently visited Jackson Motorplex with his family.

Later in life, that childhood passion evolved into opportunities to be a part of the sport via sponsorship on a localized level. That eventually grew into a national partnership with Terry McCarl before taking ownership of T-Mac’s team in 2008. That led to Quiring’s first World of Outlaws win as an owner on Sept. 24, 2008 at Middletown, NY’s Orange County Fair Speedway.

Big Game Motorsports expanded to a two-car team for 2010 with Sammy Swindell and Craig Dollansky behind the wheel, and the two went on to gather a Series-high 22 victories in 2012 for Quiring. Danny Lasoski and Kerry Madsen joined forces with Big Game for a stint before Gravel linked with the team for the 2021 season.

The pairing came home runner-up in the standings for three straight seasons before a championship arrived in 2024.

“It was a great accomplishment for our team,” Quiring said. “I feel like our team this year really meshed and gelled. I mean, they have the last few years, but they took it to another level this year with David and Cody working very closely together. Cody is really good with shock programs. Then, we had Stephen and Zach providing a great deal of support up and down the road. I think everyone got along well all year. It’s a long season. I’ve got to give the credit to the guys. Those guys working together. Obviously, we give them the stuff to do it, but they really worked well together.”

David Gravel (Driver)

The path to a championship was a long road for David Gravel.

The Watertown, CT native made his presence felt when he picked up his first career World of Outlaws victory in 2011 at Talladega Short Track aboard the DDR Motorsports No. 89G, ending a five-race win streak by then reigning champion, Jason Meyers.

His early demonstration of talent helped him land valuable opportunities with Roth Motorsports and Destiny Motorsports. He found some success during this stretch, topping four World of Outlaws race in the Roth No. 83.

Then, his career took off when he joined forces with CJB Motorsports in 2016. Gravel collected 32 checkered flags in a three-year span aboard the No. 5 and finished third in points each year. Gravel began to form a relationship with Quiring at the time as he was a primary sponsor for the team. After his tenure with CJB, Gravel moved to Jason Johnson Racing for a pair of seasons – a partnership that yielded 19 victories in two years, including a Knoxville Nationals title.

In 2021, Gravel got the opportunity to join Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports and the pairing clicked right away. They scored 11 World of Outlaws victories and finished runner-up in points in their first season.

They added 18 more triumphs in 2022 and 2023 with two more second-place points finishes.

That path helped lead him to this season. Gravel finally summited the mountaintop with his unforgettable 2024 that included a Kings Royal crown, more than $1 million in earnings and a World of Outlaws championship.

“I raced quarter midgets since I was six years old and raced pavement most of my life until I turned into a teenager and got a taste of dirt racing for the first time,” Gravel reflected. “I saw my first 410 race at Lincoln Speedway, and ever since I saw a 410 Sprint Car, I was like, ‘Man, those look like a lot of fun.’

“Ray Cappella with JRC Transportation made the 89G happen. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have been able to run the All-Star tour back in the day and to put ourselves on that platform and perform pretty well and win a couple of Outlaws shows. Then, it catapulted from there and Dennis Roth giving me an opportunity and really putting me on the national scene and winning races with him. From there, CJB Motorsports and Jason Johnson Racing and now Big Game Motorsports. It’s been a fun ride.”

Cody Jacobs (Crew Chief)

Ohio is known for its deeply rooted Sprint Car history, and Cody Jacobs grew up in a family that’s greatly contributed to that history.

He’s the son of “Buckeye State” legend Dean Jacobs and spent his childhood flagging races from the grandstand. After spending a little time racing Sprint Cars, his primary focus shifted to working on them.

Jacobs worked his way up the ranks and earned his first World of Outlaws win as a crew chief in 2012 with Paul McMahan driving the Buch Motorsports No. 13. The mid-2010s saw him form a fruitful partnership with Tim Shaffer that resulted in several trips to Victory Lane.

He united with Big Game to turn the wrenches on the No. 2 in 2020. Gravel joined a year later, and the magical run that led to a title began.

“It’s a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication,” Jacobs said. “I worked on these things for a long time for not a lot of money. You could probably say I did it nearly for free for a long time before I got linked up with Tod. That really tells me I love what I’m doing, so anytime you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’re going to put 110-percent effort in.

“A lot of great people throughout the years have helped me get to where I’m at. I worked for a guy named Keith Berner. He taught me a lot about attention to detail and just perfecting the basics. He’s been a huge mentor in my life.

And then everybody that’s helped me on the team. Trey Bowman was with me for a while. Scott Vogelsong. And then obviously Stephen and Zach. It takes a group of good guys to be successful. Not one man or one driver can do it on his own. Just really thankful to have good guys around me to get to where I’m at.”

Stephen Hamm-Reilly (Car Chief)

Stephen Hamm-Reilly’s earliest years didn’t involve growing up in a racing family. A native of New York, he didn’t begin to learn about Sprint Cars until moving to the hotbed of Pennsylvania.

Once in PA Posse land, it didn’t take long for Hamm-Reilly to cultivate an interest in the sport. He began getting involved in small ways before his first opportunity to work on a traveling team arrived in 2015 when CJB Motorsports hired him.

Since then, he’s had stints with powerhouses such as Rudeen Racing, Roth Motorsports, and Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing before becoming the Big Game car chief for 2024. It’s a decision he wasn’t sure he wanted to make after already spending years on the road, but a decision he’ll never regret as he’s now a World of Outlaws champion.

“It’s pretty gratifying. It was definitely a long road to get to that point,” Hamm-Reilly said. “It feels pretty good to be able to accomplish the things we accomplished with Cody and Zach and David. It’s something I won’t ever forget.”

Zach Patterson (Tire Specialist)

Zach Patterson’s path to a championship began in a small Texas town going to Modified races at Abilene Speedway.

Later on, he moved with his family to Oklahoma as they helped operate multiple tracks in the “Sooner State.” Soon after, Patterson got the urge to jump behind the wheel of a race car.

He found his way to Sprint Cars in 2020, and then a pivotal opportunity to hit the road with TwoC Racing and Wayne Johnson on the World of Outlaws tour arose in 2021. He wouldn’t be in the seat in this new role, but he’d be a part of The Greatest Show on Dirt and gaining valuable experience working on Sprint Cars. It was a chance he couldn’t let pass, so he accepted.

One year later, a void needed filled at Big Game and Patterson got the job. Fast forward three seasons, and he can now call himself a World of Outlaws champion.

“It’s been a long road, that’s for sure,” Patterson said. “Starting off with Wayne, I felt what it’s like to not win those races, trying to shoot for top 10s and top fives and really being happy with that. And then to come here and win races and have a shot at a title and be so close for the last few years and feel like it’s right there within the grasp and not end up getting it, finishing second the past couple years, it feels good to finally do it.”

Gravel and Big Game Motorsports have already announced their plans to defend the title in 2025, which begins during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/journey-of-champions-big-game-motorsports-reflects-on-path-to-title/

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FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

2024 WORLD CHAMPIONS: Gravel, Sheppard, Williamson Claim Championships at World of Outlaws World Finals

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 10, 2024) – All dreams, all hopes, all anxieties, all wonders, and all dirt roads led to three drivers being crowned champions at the World of Outlaws World Finals Saturday night.

David Gravel, of Watertown, CT, Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL and Mat Williamson, of St. Catharines, ON, conquered all paths en route to the 2024 title with their respective series.

Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports  team – consisting of Cody Jacobs, Stephen Hamm-Reilly and Zach Patterson – earned their first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship. He became the 11th different Series champion and first new champion since 2019. Also, his car owner, Tod Quiring, became the first new team owner to win a title since 2013.

“It’s a dream come true,” Gravel said. “We’ve been working at this for a long time. To do this with Big Game (Motorsports) in our fourth year together feels really really good.”

Sheppard made history by becoming the winningest World of Outlaws Late Model champion in Series history by claiming his fifth Series championship – breaking the tie with Josh Richards. However, this was his first with the Sheppard Riggs Racing Longhorn Factory Team.

“It’s crazy to think about now,” Sheppard said. “These things are not easy to win, and we did it the absolute hardest way possible, that’s for sure. Longhorn and the whole Riggs family gave me everything I needed to get the job done. It’s been a trying year with a ton of ups and downs. We’ve showed a lot of speed but haven’t had the wins that we needed. It was a battle of attrition to keep the thing up front and just be consistent…

“The stars lined up, man. I’ve battled for this a lot of years now. I know how to do it, it’s just a matter of putting together the package to be consistent and be OK when you’re not going to win that night.”

Williamson earned his second Super DIRTcar Series championship – first since 2019 – becoming the eighth driver in Super DIRTcar Series history to win multiple titles.

“It’s unbelievable,” Williamson said about winning the championship. “The second one was way harder than the first one. We worked really hard. The guys do such a good job of getting this thing prepared. I really have to thank them for everything they do. It’s really cool to be sitting here on the front straightaway (at The Dirt Track at Charlotte) celebrating something like this.”

Sheppard and Williamson had to endure the stress of waiting until the final lap of the weekend to be crowned the champion, while Gravel was able to lock up his title on Friday. His championship rival, Carson Macedo, won Friday night’s race, but Gravel’s fourth-place finish gave him enough points to lock up the title – ending the season with 15 wins, 44 top five finishes and 60 top 10s.

Gravel’s championship season started with him winning the second race of the year at Volusia Speedway Park and then taking home his third Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title. He and the Big Game Motorsports team were then masters of consistency, finishing outside the top 12 only two times in the first half of the season. And in that time, Gravel also picked up his first Kings Royal title and a Summer Nationals win at Williams Grove Speedway.

Their win count dropped in the second half of the year, picking up only two wins in that time span, but only had two finishes outside the top 10 with the worse being 13th.

“We started off really good, but when I started to build a big lead (in points) I crashed and it got close again and then stretched it out a little bit,” Gravel said. “We went through a little bit of a slump. Once we got away from the West Coast, I thought we battled back and ran really good to close off the year. It feels good to get the job done, finally.”

Sheppard’s championship season was tame in the win column, grabbing three Series wins on the year – compared to his other four championship years, which saw him earn 18 wins with his first and second titles, 14 wins with this third title and eight with his fourth. However, he too was a master of consistency. He only had eight finishes worse than eighth in 41 starts – and only one outside the top 20.

Although, one of those finishes outside the top 10 came during the first World Finals Feature of the week, putting Nick Hoffman within 26 points of him. And then Bobby Pierce won Friday night’s Feature, while Hoffman suffered a mechanical failure, moving Pierce to second in points – 22 points behind Sheppard.

The drama continued on the final night as Pierce battled for the lead, while Sheppard fought to stay within the top 10 to hold on to his points lead. But Pierce suffered a flat tire near the halfway point and could only recover to a 17th-place finish. Sheppard finished ninth and clinched the title by 38 points.

“It was a crazy year,” Sheppard said. “We’re super happy and thankful for all the sponsors that have stuck behind us. My dad and my grandpa. The whole Riggs family. The whole Longhorn family. Just everybody that’s involved with this team. It’s wild to think about standing here right now. I know the Riggs family has been trying to get one of these for a while.”

The Super DIRTcar Series had the closest points battle of the three Series entering the World of Outlaws World Finals with Williamson trailing 10-time Series champion Matt Sheppard by 15 points. That points lead evaporated for Sheppard and transferred to Williamson after Sheppard’s engine overheated during the first Feature of the weekend. Williamson then went on to win Friday night’s Feature and finish third on Saturday – securing the championship by 33 points over Sheppard.

“In our first year (as a team with Buzz Chew Racing) we came down to Charlotte and won the championship and it was like, ‘Wow, we did it. Good job guys.’ And then the next year you expect it and the year after you expect it and the year after, and so on and so forth,” Williamson said. “To get the second one finally done is unbelievably cool.”

Williamson ended the season with eight Series wins, 14 top five finishes and 17 top 10s. He also earned his second straight DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title in February.

The 2025 season for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series will commence at Volusia Speedway Park for the DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 22-25. Then, the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park will start the new year for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-8) and Super DIRTcar Series (Feb. 12-15). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the entire 2025 season for all three series live on DIRTVision.

SUNSHINE IN CHARLOTTE: Tyler Courtney Holds Off Gravel to Top World of Outlaws Season Finale

“Sunshine” pockets $25,000 at the site of his Series debut to close World Finals

CONCORD, NC (November 9, 2024) - In a week defined by uncharacteristically nice November weather, it’s only fitting that “Sunshine” found a way to Victory Lane.

Tyler Courtney was quietly consistent through the first three nights of the World of Outlaws World Finals. Sea Foam Qualifying Night led to him clocking in seventh and 11th in the pair of flights. Then he grabbed finishes of 10th and sixth on Thursday and Friday which set him up on the front row of a Saturday Heat Race.

Then came the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season finale, and Courtney locked himself in the Toyota Dash. Good fortune in the redraw put him P1, and he capitalized.

Courtney won the Dash to set himself up on the pole for the 25-lapper, and he never looked back once the green flag flew at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The Indianapolis, IN native led every lap of the Feature, surviving a brief challenge from Series champion David Gravel to get the win and bank $25,000.

“To end the year on a win like this gives us a little bit of momentum going into 2025,” Courtney said. “Just can’t say enough about all of my guys. Jake, Ron, Bobby, they bust their tails. We struggled a little bit the second half of the season but started to find our footing here in the last month or so. I heard them talking about my debut here with Danny Smith. I think I was racing Jacob Allen for the D-main that year. So 11 years later to come here and get a victory is great.”

It’s Courtney’s third win of 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt and his 12th overall this year in a 410 Sprint Car, tied for the third most in the country. It was a full circle night as Courtney got his first checkered flag from the site of his World of Outlaws debut back in 2013.

When the green flag dropped Courtney quickly pulled ahead of outside polesitter Brian Brown. Courtney had the Clauson Marshall Racing No. 7BC on cruise control as he stretched the advantage early.

David Gravel surged from seventh to the runner-up spot by Lap 13 and appeared primed to give Courtney a challenge when a caution came out a lap later erasing his more than five-second lead.

But Courtney refused to let it slip away even as Gravel pressured him on the restart. Courtney kept his NOS Energy Drink ride glued to the bottom as Gravel braved the top. Gravel got the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 wound up and closed in for about a lap, but ultimately Courtney prevailed as he rolled away and took the checkered flag with more than a two-second gap between himself and Gravel.

“I think we proved to not only ourselves but a lot of other people too that we belong on the national tour and that we can compete too,” Courtney said of he and his team’s season. “I haven’t won as many Outlaw races in a year as I did this year, so to go out and do that is really accomplishing for myself and our team and just awesome.”

Gravel’s runner-up gave him a strong punctuation to his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship. He and Big Game Motorsports pieced together 15 wins, 33 podiums, 44 top fives, and 60 top 10s on their way to a title. Gravel became the 11th different driver to earn a championship with The Greatest Show on Dirt while Quiring became the 10th different owner.

While they might’ve come up one spot short, the race exemplified why Gravel and the Tod Quiring-owned crew came out on top in 2024. They’ve got a fast race car with one of the most talented Sprint Car drivers in the country who does what he needs to do without taking unnecessary risks. The Big Game No. 2 came home P2 to close out the season.

“The beginning of the race really went my way,” Gravel explained. “A couple of guys missed the bottom, and I was able to get underneath them. “Brownie” (Brian Brown) got messed up on the cushion there, and I was able to get by him. Then a caution came out and kind of had a clean slate. Then we had that run, and he started getting into traffic, I felt like that was a little bit of my chance there. Then we had the caution or the red with five to go. He was really, really good in clean track.”

Rounding out the final podium of the season was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team. The Californian got the top going late in the running to work his way into third.

“I think late in the race there it transitioned back to the top,” Macedo said. “These guys (Courtney and Gravel) were actually running the middle which surprised me. But Brownie went to the bottom there on that restart and I think just spun a little bit, and I was able to get a run and get around him. It was a hard-fought race. It changed a lot just like I feel it has the last couple of nights with the way the track prep is. Man, hats off to this team. They’re doing a great job. They’re delivering, Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn.”

Ryan Timms and Brian Brown completed the top five.

Donny Schatz completed a clean sweep of the World Finals KSE Racing Hard Charger Awards by taking the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 from 18th to ninth for his third in a row.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, and Justin Peck. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Buddy Kofoid.

Tyler Courtney topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Bill Balog won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Giovanni Scelzi.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars begin the 2025 season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[7]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 4. 10-Ryan Timms[9]; 5. 21-Brian Brown[2]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen[12]; 11. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 12. 2KS-Cory Eliason[16]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[19]; 14. 9-Kasey Kahne[10]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[14]; 16. 14-Spencer Bayston[15]; 17. 27-Emerson Axsom[17]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 19. 91-Kyle Reinhardt[23]; 20. 70-Kraig Kinser[27]; 21. 69K-Logan Wagner[24]; 22. 24D-Danny Sams III[22]; 23. 88-Austin McCarl[20]; 24. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 25. 7S-Landon Crawley[26]; 26. 13-Daison Pursley[13]; 27. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[25]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/sunshine-in-charlotte-tyler-courtney-holds-off-gravel-to-top-world-of-outlaws-season-finale/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6174
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/world-of-outlaws-world-finals/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Millbridge Speedway to Host Xtreme Outlaw Midget Championship Finale During World Finals Week in 2025

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 9, 2024) – The 2025 season finale for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is coming home to Millbridge Speedway for a two-night program, Monday–Tuesday, Nov. 3–4.

The move brings the Series’ championship finale to its birthplace and places it among the biggest week for dirt racing in North Carolina — the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which is 30 minutes south of Millbridge.

Titled as the Xtreme Outlaw Midget World Championship: The Kickoff to World of Outlaws World Finals, the inaugural event will help commence a massive week of championship celebrations for the premier dirt racing series.

“The World of Outlaws World Finals is one of the biggest events in dirt track racing, and with Millbridge’s short drive from Charlotte, we all knew we wanted to make the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series part of this special week,” said Tyler Bachman, Xtreme Outlaw Series Director. “Our relationship with the Millbridge staff has grown so much over the past three years, and what better way to grow one of our biggest events on the schedule than to put it in front of fans that travel into the area for World Finals.”

For the past three seasons, the Xtreme Outlaw Series has made its annual Millbridge stop during the week leading up to Memorial Day — coinciding with the NASCAR weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway — and will now move into the fall, giving Millbridge a fall Midget program for the first time since the track’s last presentation of the Carolina Midget Showdown in 2021.

“We think that the track, with the red clay, is going to bring some better racing in November than it would in the middle of the summer,” said Ashly Burnett, Millbridge Speedway co-owner and promoter. “We love our NASCAR fans, but we really want to bring some good racing to our dirt fans as well.”

While the 2025 World Finals runs Nov. 5–8, the Xtreme Outlaw Midget World Championship will get the week’s racing festivities started with a $4,000-to-win Feature on Monday, Nov. 3, and a $5,000-to-win main event on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

A Series championship coronation will follow the completion of Tuesday’s program, after which all attendees are encouraged to spend the rest of the week at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modified action.

Historically, multiple drivers from non-open-wheel racing disciplines have had cars prepared to compete during Millbridge’s two-day Midget event, which has been contested every year since 2020 in both the spring and fall.

“We see that every week at Millbridge; you never know who’s going to show up,” said Burnett, who hosts several NASCAR stars and their family members as competitors in the track’s weekly Micro Sprint program. “When you present them with a big race, especially with the Midgets and bring Xtreme in, you really never know — not only NASCAR, but any form of motorsports — we always get surprised who shows up and who enters our events.”

NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe won the first-ever Midget events contested at the 1/6-mile oval in December 2020, followed by USAC champion C.J. Leary’s sweep of both Midget events on the red clay in October 2021.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series began its inaugural season at Millbridge the following spring with multi-time track champion Gavan Boschele taking the first-ever Series checkered flag in May 2022. History was then made at the next Millbridge race as Taylor Reimer was deemed the winner, becoming the first woman to earn a win in national Midget competition.

Cannon McIntosh — the 2024 Series champion — swept the two-day show in May 2023. And Karter Sarff and Zach Daum split this year’s shows.

Tickets for the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw World Championship: The Kickoff to World of Outlaws World Finals will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch, stream every lap from every 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Series event live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/millbridge-speedway-to-host-xtreme-outlaw-midget-championship-finale-during-world-finals-week-in-2025/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4547705
TRACK INFO: https://millbridgespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

GIVING HIS ALL: Carson Macedo Out-duels Kofoid for Charlotte Win, Gravel Locks Up Title

Macedo makes it a dozen wins in 2024 with Jason Johnson Racing after compelling duel

CONCORD, NC (November 9, 2024) - Carson Macedo came into the World of Outlaws World Finals knowing he wouldn’t leave anything on the table. The odds of climbing back in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship fight were slim, but that didn’t mean he’d give less than maximum effort. And that kind of attitude brought him to Victory Lane on Friday night.

Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew earned the pole for the 25-lap finale and came out on top of a spirited battle with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid for a $15,000 score at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Macedo led early before Kofoid roared by on the outside, but the Lemoore, CA native refused to be beaten by his fellow Californian as Macedo came back with a slide job that proved to be the winning move.

Only three spots behind him, David Gravel came home fourth to secure a World of Outlaws title and end Macedo’s outside chance. But the 28-year-old had nothing to hang his head about. He did everything he could by picking up the win, but Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports team continued the consistency they showed all season long.

“I think it takes time to win a race here,” Macedo explained. “It’s definitely a chess game. As the lines and stuff move around, you’ve got to be able to move around with them. I think your car, obviously, being good helps a lot, too. I felt really confident when Buddy got by me that I could maybe get back by him.

“Feels good to win the battle tonight, but obviously we kind of lost the war. That’s a little bit bittersweet, but congrats to the 2 team and David on winning the championship. Man, we fought all year. We fought as hard as we could. Someday maybe we can be sitting in that spot.”

The Charlotte win made it a dozen overall in 2024 for Macedo with The Greatest Show on Dirt. That marks a new personal best for him. It was also his first ever checkered flag from the North Carolina facility. His 47th career victory moves him within four of equaling Jeff Swindell for 17th all time.

As previously noted, a fourth place result locked up the championship for David Gravel. He becomes the 11th driver in Sprint Car history to own a World of Outlaws title. Big Game Motorsports team owner, Tod Quiring, is only the 10th owner to claim the championship and becomes the first new one since 2013 when Kasey Kahne got his first with Daryn Pittman behind the wheel.

“It feels good to go into tomorrow just racing for a win,” Gravel said. “I want to touch that trophy and raise that trophy above my head because I’ve been doing this for a long time. We’ve been close a lot of years and been on the podium a lot in the points. To finally get it done and do it with Levi, being a dad, and having a family and everything feels really, really cool. There’s a small list of World of Outlaws champions, and I’m just proud to be one of them.”

Macedo and Kofoid led the field to green, and Macedo jumped right out to an early lead.

The early part of the race allowed Macedo to inch away from Kofoid and Gravel as he rolled the bottom of the freshly prepped surface, but lapped traffic threw him a curveball.

Once traffic became a factor near the halfway point, Macedo’s lead started to shrink as Kofoid started to get the cushion going around the 4/10 mile. Kofoid finally found the momentum he needed to blast by for the top spot on Lap 16 out of Turn 2. Macedo came back at him with a slider in the next set of corners, but Kofoid calmly crossed him over to keep the lead.

It was a short-lived stint atop the leaderboard as the tricky cushion caught Kofoid. The Roth Motorsports driver tripped up outside of Turn 2 allowing Macedo back to his tail tank. He wasted no time looking to reclaim the top spot as he tried to throw a slider in Turn 3 but couldn’t clear him. However, one more set of corners was what Macedo required as he tossed a slide job that stuck in Turns 1 and 2.

From there, Macedo drove away with ease to his 12th World of Outlaws victory of the 2024 campaign.

“I was just the leader and didn’t really know where to be,” Macedo said of his race. “I was running the bottom at the time and felt like it was slowing down. My pace was just getting so low. I kept getting my wing back I tried it the one time and felt like I was on ice skates it was so dirty. I just never thought that it would’ve been that good. Then I could hear Buddy get to my outside, I thought, ‘Man, he must just be running just behind me.’ Then I see him leave my left rear off of (Turn) 2. I tried to slide him in (Turns) 3 and 4 and got over the cushion a little bit. But overall, my car was incredible.’

Kofoid came home in the runner-up spot for his second straight second place finish in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. He continues to make some final additions to his unbelievable rookie season résumé with the World of Outlaws.

“Obviously, Carson and the 41 guys were really good,” Kofoid said. “I just had my wing back to be really good down there (Turns 3 and 4) kind of through the dust before it cleaned up. And then I was kind of running across (Turns) 1 and 2, middle-up and kind of was just getting my wing back every lap. Then it looked clean enough, so I moved up more on top into (Turn) 1 and just plugged it a little bit too hard and let Carson back by.”

Like Kofoid finished up second both nights, the third position belonged to Justin Peck once again on Friday. The Monrovia, IN native continues to prove he’s quickly adapted to wheeling his new ride, the Rudeen Racing No. 26.

“Two nights in a row we’ve kind of started a bit free as we started that Feature. My car is awesome. After we get a couple laps into the race it starts coming in. The longer the race goes the faster I seem to get. The car is really good man.”

David Gravel and Kasey Kahne completed the top five.

A 23rd to 15th run earned Donny Schatz back-to-back KSE Racing Hard Chargers.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, and Justin Peck. Milton Hershey School Heat went to Buddy Kofoid.

Carson Macedo won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Logan Schuchart won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Danny Sams III.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up their 47th season with the $25,000-to-win World of Outlaws World Finals finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 26-Justin Peck[4]; 4. 2-David Gravel[3]; 5. 9-Kasey Kahne[8]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[13]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 9. 13-Daison Pursley[6]; 10. 91-Kyle Reinhardt[10]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[9]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[23]; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart[21]; 17. 10-Ryan Timms[16]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[25]; 19. 2KS-Cory Eliason[24]; 20. 27-Emerson Axsom[22]; 21. 23W-Justin Whittall[19]; 22. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 23. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 24. 7N-Darin Naida[20]; 25. 99-Skylar Gee[12]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/giving-his-all-carson-macedo-out-duels-kofoid-for-charlotte-win-gravel-locks-up-title/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6174
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

MAN ON A MISSION: Gravel Goes Flag to Flag to Top World Finals Opener

Gravel inches closer to first World of Outlaws title with 15th win of 2024

CONCORD, NC (November 7, 2024) - David Gravel has one thing in mind right now – securing his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

He first made his focus clear on Wednesday when Sea Foam Qualifying Night got the World of Outlaws World Finals underway. The Watertown, CT native laid down two heaters to sweep both Simpson Quick Time Awards.

And on Thursday when racing began, Gravel had zero intentions of slowing down.

First, he cruised to a Heat Race victory. Next, he set himself up on the front row of the main event by finishing second in the Dash. Then, he delivered a dominant performance in the 25-lap NOS Energy Drink Feature at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Gravel rocketed to the lead around Brian Brown’s outside on the first lap and survived Michael “Buddy” Kofoid’s late surge to claim the first main event of the week at the North Carolina oval.

It was an emotional Victory Lane for a variety of reasons. First, Gravel was happy to have his father, who recently suffered a heart attack, in attendance. Secondly, in what’s become a year of checking off major milestones, another was reached. Earlier this year Gravel helped Tod Quiring get his 100th World of Outlaws win as an owner before Gravel got his own 100th as a driver two months later. And on Thursday Gravel’s drive brought Big Game Motorsports crew chief Cody Jacobs his 50th with the Series.

“It’s been a great year,” Gravel said. “We talked about it at dinner that the next one was going to be his 50th, and I forgot because there’s so much other stuff going on. It feels good, happy to get Tod his 100th, my 100th, and Cody his 50th and hopefully a championship tomorrow night. It’s just been an unbelievable season. And with everything going on with my dad the last month, just happy he’s here.”

The win was Gravel’s 15th of 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt and the 103rd of his career. Seven of those 103 have come at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, making it the second winningest track on his World of Outlaws résumé. It also gave him 16 overall Sprint Car wins in 2024, breaking a tie with Anthony Macri for the most in the nation.

The path to victory was paved on the opening lap for Gravel as pole-sitter Brian Brown led them to the green flag.

Brown nosed ahead as they accelerated down the front straightaway and muscled in front as they entered Turn 1. But Gravel committed to the top and built up momentum and ripped by Brown before he could slide ahead.

The early laps allowed Gravel to build a strong lead over Brown, and right when he was beginning to negotiate traffic, the yellow lights flashed as Emerson Axsom spun to a stop in Turn 4 with 16 laps to go.

Gravel launched ahead when the green flag came back out, but one of the sport’s hottest drivers, Buddy Kofoid, threw his name into contention with a big restart that propelled him from sixth to third.

The Penngrove, CA native then set his sights on Brown, and he disposed of him on Lap 17 to take over the runner-up spot with Gravel still nearly two seconds ahead.

But the laps times showed Gravel’s lead was fading as the laps clicked away and the lead duo worked through traffic. With two circuits remaining, Kofoid had chopped the margin all the way down to six tenths of a second. When the white flag flew, it was under half a second. Kofoid was there.

Right when it appeared Gravel could be in danger of last lap heartbreak, he smoothly cleared a lapped car to give himself the small amount of breathing room he needed. Gravel pulled away and took the checkered flag with his advantage north of a second again.

“Sometimes it’s not good to be leading there,” Gravel explained. “The 7S ran me really hard and saw my nose and chopped going into (Turn) 3. Didn’t really like that move. Man, just going to the bottom if you missed it, you lost a lot of momentum. I’m sure Buddy was ripping the top aggressively. My momentum and pace just slowed down, but sometimes you’ll have that. Just happy to hold on.”

Gravel is now in a spot where he can likely secure his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship on Friday assuming he starts Saturday’s Feature. If Carson Macedo wins, Gravel must finish 19th or better. If Macedo doesn’t win, Gravel must finish within 19 positions of the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.

Kofoid settled for second after his late charge. It was another great run as he continues a rookie World of Outlaws season for the record books with Roth Motorsports. He’s up to 26 podiums in 2024.

“I think just getting to start on the outside here is really beneficial if you’re not on the front row,” Kofoid said. “I was able to just get a good run and get outside of and get past fifth and then get to the bottom. As the couple cars in front of me were coming up the straightaway I was able to fill that gap before they got to the bottom, and I was able to get back to the top. I kind of found it right before that yellow came out and picked off a couple cars and knew that the bottom was getting narrower and narrower and moved up just in time.”

Rounding out the top three was Justin Peck as he debuted in the Rudeen Racing No. 26. The Monrovia, IN native very recently inked a deal to jump in the seat of Kevin Rudeen’s iconic blue Sprint Car, and it the pairing showed chemistry right off the bat.

“Car has been fast almost every time I’ve hit the racetrack,” Peck said. “Obviously, there’s a couple things getting used to a new car, just understanding tendencies the car has and how it wants to move around and react and kind of relearn a little muscle memory and adapt to what we’re doing.”

Brian Brown and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 25th to 14th drive earned Donny Schatz the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, and Buddy Kofoid. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Brian Brown.

Brian Brown topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Landon Crawley won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Emerson Axsom.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle at the penultimate World Finals night on Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[8]; 3. 26-Justin Peck[3]; 4. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 7. 10-Ryan Timms[4]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[10]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[13]; 11. 69K-Logan Wagner[11]; 12. 88-Austin McCarl[9]; 13. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen[12]; 16. 14-Spencer Bayston[18]; 17. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[23]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[16]; 19. 2KS-Cory Eliason[17]; 20. 23W-Justin Whittall[15]; 21. 13-Daison Pursley[22]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 23. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[24]; 25. 55-CJ Leary[20]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/man-on-a-mission-gravel-goes-flag-to-flag-to-top-world-finals-opener/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6174
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

LAYIN’ DOWN A LAP: Qualifying Night Sets the Stage for World Finals Racing

David Gravel sweeps Simpson Quick Time Awards as he looks to secure a title this week

CONCORD, NC (November 6, 2024) - On-track World of Outlaws World Finals action got underway on Wednesday with Sea Foam Qualifying Night. The more than 40 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars ripped through a pair of Qualifying sessions to set Heat Race lineups for Thursday and Friday’s racing programs.

The first of two delivered no surprise atop the charts. If David Gravel is feeling any pressure as he aims to secure his first championship with The Greatest Show on Dirt, he didn’t show it.

The Watertown, CT native took the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 around The Dirt Track at Charlotte in 12.626 seconds. That time netted him his 11th Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 121st of his career. He’ll line up on the pole of Thursday’s opening NOS Energy Drink Heat Race. Brian Brown and Sheldon Haudenschild snagged the second and third positions of Flight A.

“It’s always important here at Charlotte,” Gravel said of Qualifying. “Stout fields. You just don’t want to start the week off badly. If you can start on the front row both nights, it makes the week so much easier. It’s just a big part of the World of Outlaws format and the night. So far, so good.”

Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing crew paced the second Flight of Thursday’s Qualifying session with a 12.782 with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Emerson Axsom right behind him.

A notable name in the top five of Flight B was Ricky Thornton Jr. as the Late Model ace drove Bernie Stuebgen’s ride to a 12.920, good enough for fifth quick.

Unfortunately for Gravel’s closest championship rival, Carson Macedo, he could only put together the 13th fastest time in Flight B. That’ll put him and the Jason Johnson Racing crew behind the eight ball for Thursday’s program.

It was déjà vu when Friday’s Qualifying session rolled out. Gravel laid down a 12.983 to sweep the Simpson Quick Time Awards for the night. In doing so, he equaled Carson Macedo for the most this season with a dozen, and they’ll end the year tied. Gravel is set to start from the pole of Heat One on Friday. A pair of Californians in Buddy Kofoid and Giovanni Scelzi timed in second and third quickest.

Carson Macedo rebounded in a big way after his subpar first session by sitting atop the charts of Flight B in the second with a 13.144. He’ll lead the field to green in Heat Three on Friday.

Right behind Macedo, Justin Peck put down an impressive lap in his first night aboard the Rudeen Racing No. 26. The driver-team combo recently linked, and Peck’s 13.170 slotted him in second and on the Pole of Heat Four. Another new pairing in the form of Daison Pursley and Buch Motorsports claimed the third spot on the charts.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars begin World Finals racing on Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

THURSDAY QUALIFYING RESULTS:

Qualifying A - Thursday Night (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.626[1]; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 00:12.741[7]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:12.757[20]; 4. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:12.774[17]; 5. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:12.778[2]; 6. 23W-Justin Whittall, 00:12.827[3]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:12.838[8]; 8. 69K-Logan Wagner, 00:12.856[9]; 9. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:12.878[12]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:12.904[14]; 11. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:12.910[16]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:12.918[18]; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell, 00:12.925[11]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:12.948[10]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:12.990[5]; 16. 6-Dylan Cisney, 00:13.010[15]; 17. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:13.023[23]; 18. 6X-Tim Shaffer, 00:13.099[19]; 19. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.115[4]; 20. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 00:13.197[21]; 21. 17GP-Hank Davis, 00:13.217[13]; 22. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.421[22]; 23. 1B-Keith Baxter, 00:13.782[6]

Qualifying B - Thursday Night (2 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:12.782[9]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.836[12]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.905[16]; 4. 55-CJ Leary, 00:12.919[3]; 5. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr, 00:12.920[6]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:12.929[4]; 7. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:12.962[18]; 8. 26-Justin Peck, 00:12.973[22]; 9. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:12.982[17]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:12.997[20]; 11. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.029[13]; 12. 91-Kyle Reinhardt, 00:13.045[8]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.051[7]; 14. 77-Geoff Dodge, 00:13.106[1]; 15. G5-Gage Pulkrabek, 00:13.126[2]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.177[11]; 17. 7N-Darin Naida, 00:13.226[15]; 18. 6K-Kaleb Johnson, 00:13.272[19]; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:13.289[10]; 20. 0-Glenn Styres, 00:13.509[5]; 21. 5K-Adam Kekich, 00:13.521[21]; 22. 9-Kasey Kahne, 01:00.000[14]

FRIDAY QUALIFYING RESULTS:

Qualifying A - Friday Night (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.983[4]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.132[1]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.133[12]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.150[17]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.166[23]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:13.166[21]; 7. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.187[6]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.212[20]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.228[13]; 10. 14-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.247[2]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.284[10]; 12. 23W-Justin Whittall, 00:13.293[15]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.304[19]; 14. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.322[14]; 15. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr, 00:13.343[5]; 16. 2KS-Cory Eliason, 00:13.354[16]; 17. 77-Geoff Dodge, 00:13.435[7]; 18. 17GP-Hank Davis, 00:13.442[8]; 19. 6-Dylan Cisney, 00:13.458[9]; 20. 1-Sammy Swindell, 00:13.604[18]; 21. 6X-Tim Shaffer, 00:13.656[3]; 22. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 00:13.819[22]; 23. 5K-Adam Kekich, 00:13.940[11]

Qualifying B - Friday Night (2 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.144[11]; 2. 26-Justin Peck, 00:13.170[4]; 3. 13-Daison Pursley, 00:13.197[15]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.217[19]; 5. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.220[9]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.248[14]; 7. 91-Kyle Reinhardt, 00:13.272[22]; 8. 69K-Logan Wagner, 00:13.288[5]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.290[8]; 10. 7N-Darin Naida, 00:13.348[7]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:13.376[13]; 12. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.391[10]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.411[3]; 14. 10-Ryan Timms, 00:13.482[21]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.484[12]; 16. 55-CJ Leary, 00:13.490[6]; 17. G5-Gage Pulkrabek, 00:13.494[2]; 18. 6K-Kaleb Johnson, 00:13.597[17]; 19. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:13.669[20]; 20. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.733[1]; 21. 0-Glenn Styres, 00:14.003[16]; 22. 1B-Keith Baxter, 00:14.289[18]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/layin-down-a-lap-qualifying-night-sets-the-stage-for-world-finals-racing/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6174
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World Finals Set to Bring 47th World of Outlaws Season to a Close

A first-time champion will arise after four nights at The Dirt Track at Charlotte

CONCORD, NC (November 4, 2024) - Another chapter of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car history is ready to come to a close.

After thousands of laps at dozens of tracks from coast-to-coast, #AllDirtRoads have led the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers to Concord, NC where The Dirt Track at Charlotte awaits. The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 47th season of showcasing the highest level of the sport will conclude this week with the World of Outlaws World Finals.

The four consecutive evenings will kick off with Sea Foam Qualifying Night on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Two Sea Foam Qualifying sessions will set NOS Energy Drink Heat Race lineups for Thursday and Friday’s complete racing programs with $15,000-to-win Features. Points accumulated from those two nights will then line up Heats for Saturday’s $25,000-to-win/$1,750-to-start season finale. All-in-all, nearly $250,000 in purse money is up for grabs for the expected stout field of competitors.

Joining the Sprint Cars all week at the North Carolina facility will be the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds.

And when the checkered flag flies and the dust settles Saturday night, the three Series champions will be crowned.

BUY WORLD FINALS TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the week’s top storylines:

A NEW CHAMPION: For the first time since 2019, fans will see a brand new World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion arise from World Finals.

David Gravel enters the week primed for his first title after finishing second the past three seasons. He and Big Game Motorsports hold a 74-point advantage with three races to go. They’ve pieced together a memorable season with 14 wins, 31 podiums, more than 300 Feature laps led, and an average finish of fifth on the dot.

Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team still have a shot if things fall their way as they sit second. Macedo has also assembled an excellent campaign with 11 victories, 32 top threes, 12 Quick Times, and an average result of 5.15.

Gravel can seal the deal this week at a track that’s been very kind to him. He’s won at the 4/10-mile dirt track six times with three different teams (CJB Motorsports, Jason Johnson Racing, and Big Game Motorsports). His six checkered flags rank second for the most World of Outlaws wins at Charlotte.

Macedo has yet to win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, but since joining JJR he’s been knocking on the door. The Lemoore, CA native has taken the No. 41 to five Charlotte top fives, including a pair of podiums. His best result is a 2022 runner-up.

It’s not only the prestige of being a World of Outlaws champion that Gravel and Macedo are after. The honor also brings a massive payday. This year’s champion banks $350,000 while the runner-up goes home with $210,000. If Gravel holds on, he’ll make more than a million dollars in earnings this season.

CHARLOTTE SUPREMACY: There’s been one man to beat whenever the World of Outlaws roll into Charlotte, and that man is 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz.

He’s made 64 Series appearances at the North Carolina oval, and nobody comes close to his total of 14 victories. That number is more than double the second most wins. Schatz has also podiumed in more than half of his visits with 33 top threes.

Schatz heads to Charlotte with his spot in the standings just about secured. The Fargo, ND native is third with more than 100 points separating him from both second and fourth. Finishing up the season in his current position would be the 17th time Schatz has ended the year in the top three of the standings.

FIGHT FOR FIFTH: The battle for the title won’t be the only one to watch in Charlotte. A three-car fight for a spot in the top five between Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Logan Schuchart will be finalized.

Scelzi currently holds the spot with the KCP Racing team. The Series sophomore elevated his performance in year two on tour with more victories (three), podiums (nine), laps led (220), and Quick Times (four) over his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign last season. “Hot Sauce” has made 13 Feature starts at Charlotte and collected 10 top 10s highlighted by a 2019 victory in Bernie Stuebgen’s No. 71.

Haudenschild is Scelzi’s closest competitor as he trails him by 38 points. The Wooster, OH native owns the third most wins this season with eight under his belt and already set a personal-best mark with 24 podiums in 2024. Charlotte hasn’t traditionally been Haudenschild’s best track, but he’s shown flashes of strength with podium runs in both 2020 and 2022.

Schuchart sits seventh with an outside shot at surpassing both Haudenschild and Scelzi. The Shark Racing No. 1S is 38 markers behind Haudenschild and 76 back of Scelzi. Fortunately for Schuchart, Charlotte is one of his best tracks. Four of his 42 career wins have come at “America’s Home for Racing,” which is tied for the most on his résumé.

The fifth finisher in the standings will collect a $113,750 check at year’s end while sixth and seventh will claim $109,375 and $105,000.

ROOKIES NO MORE: Three competitors with vastly different paths jumped on the World of Outlaws tour for the first time in 2024. Charlotte will bring their rookie seasons to a close.

The first season for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid has been nothing short of spectacular. He’s racked up seven wins and 25 podiums aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83 – numbers a veteran would be proud of. Charlotte hasn’t been the kindest track to the Californian, but his season suggests the fortune could turn around as he closes out his debut campaign.

After more than 20 years of Sprint Car racing that includes 10 Interstate Racing Association (IRA) titles, Bill Balog decided 2024 was the time for his debut World of Outlaws campaign. The “North Pole Nightmare” has impressed with 10 top fives and more than 30 top 10s. Balog is a former fifth-place finisher at Charlotte (2017).

Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Jason Sides was bringing freshly turned 16-year-old Landon Crawley to the No. 7S for a season with The Greatest Show on Dirt. But Crawley quickly proved he belonged by setting Simpson Quick Time at the Volusia season opener. The season has had its ups and downs for the teenager, but he’s shown the skill is there with runs such as a top 10 at Eldora Speedway and 25th to 10th drive at Attica Raceway Park. Crawley makes his Charlotte debut this week.

SAME FACES, NEW PLACES: Sprint Car silly season got off to an early start, which means fans will be treated to a handful of drivers getting laps in new rides ahead of 2025.

Fresh off finishing second in the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) points with Tarlton Motorsports, Cole Macedo is set to unite with his new team. Before Macedo and TwoC Racing hit the road with the World of Outlaws next year, they plan to get some laps at World Finals.

Justin Peck recently inked a deal with Rudeen Racing and will debut in the No. 26 this week. Last year Peck, nearly bagged his first World of Outlaws win at Charlotte, leading laps before finishing second.

After some recent races in Liebig Motorsports machine, Ryan Timms and the team have added World Finals to their calendar. Timms’ four starts so far in the No. 10 have led to four top 10s including a pair of podiums.

After competing with NARC out in California, the new pairing of Spencer Bayston and Jason Meyers Racing will make the long haul east for World Finals. Bayston’s best Charlotte showing is a fourth in 2018.

Hank Davis will be making his 410 Sprint Car debut aboard the Michael Dutcher Motorsports No. 17GP this week before he looks to deliver an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) owner’s championship to TwoC Racing next weekend in Oklahoma.

STACKED FIELD: Along with the full-time World of Outlaws roster and the cast of competitors hopping in new rides, many more noteworthy names are planning to fill the pit area.

Fresh off his first Series top 10 in three years, Sammy Swindell has World Finals on his agenda. It’ll be “Slammin’ Sammy’s” first Charlotte laps since 2020. The three-time World of Outlaws champion is a two-time winner at “America’s Home for Racing” (2000 and 2012).

Anthony Macri is tied as the country’s winningest Sprint Car driver with 15 victories, and the Pennsylvanian intends to make the trip south to Charlotte. His best finish in 10 tries there is ninth in 2022.

One of Late Model racing’s most elite drivers, Ricky Thornton Jr., will make his highly anticipated World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car debut in Bernie Stuegben’s No. 71. “RTJ” won two of the three World of Outlaws Late Model races during World Finals last year.

Many more names including Garet Williamson, Kasey Kahne, Daison Pursley, and more are expected to invade Charlotte.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

Wednesday-Saturday, November 6-9 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC

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CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (63/66 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (8582 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-74 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-176 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-280 PTS)
5. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-358 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-396 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-434 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-980 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1394 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1698 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (17 Drivers): 

14 Wins – David Gravel
11 Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Wins – Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts, Aaron Reutzel

FEATURE LAPS LED (27 Drivers):

471 Laps – Carson Macedo
329 Laps – David Gravel
220 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
201 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
169 Laps – Michael Kofoid
142 Laps – Donny Schatz
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
52 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
36 Laps – Emerson Axsom
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Chase Randall
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts, Aaron Reutzel
20 Laps – Anthony Macri
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
14 Laps – Shane Golobic
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
6 Laps – D.J. Netto
4 Laps – Hunter Schuerenberg
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (22 Drivers):

12 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
10 Quick Times – David Gravel
8 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley, Chase Dietz
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks, Bryce Lucius

HEAT RACE WINNERS (57 Drivers): 

33 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
32 Heat Wins – David Gravel
27 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
19 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
13 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Donny Schatz
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Brent Marks
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
4 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman
3 Heat Wins – Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson, Brian Brown, Emerson Axsom
2 Heat Wins – Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall, D.J. Netto, Kasey Kahne, Chase Dietz
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Shane Golobic, Dylan Bloomfield, Kaleb Montgomery, Landon Brooks, Tyler Ross, Zach Hampton, Joe B. Miller

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (77 Drivers):

46 Dashes – Carson Macedo
44 Dashes – David Gravel
38 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
37 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
33 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
23 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
21 Dashes – Donny Schatz
17 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Landon Crawley
8 Dashes – Brent Marks
7 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Emerson Axsom, Aaron Reutzel
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Brian Brown, Chase Dietz
4 Dashes – Brady Bacon, Daryn Pittman, James McFadden
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Justin Peck, Landon Brooks, Danny Sams III
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Kaleb Montgomery, Skylar Gee, Tim Kaeding
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Justin Sanders, Tanner Carrick, Jock Goodyer, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Kasey Kahne, Tyler Ross, Kyle Reinhardt, Chris Windom, Zach Hampton, Joe B. Miller, Sammy Swindell

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (49 Drivers):

4 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss
3 LCS Wins – Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Cole Macedo
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah, Joel Myers Jr., Hunter Schuerenberg, Kody Hartlaub, Lucas Wolfe, Larry Wight, Kyle Larson, Jesse Attard, Dusty Zomer, Chris Windom, Ayrton Gennetten, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Scott Bogucki, Mark Dobmeier, Scott Winters, Christopher Thram, Logan Schuchart, Caeden Steele, Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, Daryn Pittman, Justin Whittall, Darin Naida, Skylar Gee

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (35 Drivers):

9 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
4 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Garet Williamson
3 Hard Chargers – Michael Kofoid, Tim Kaeding
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Emerson Axsom, Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Estenson, David Gravel, Ryan Bernal, Shane Golobic, Matt Campbell, Dylan Cisney

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

32 Podiums – Carson Macedo
31 Podiums – David Gravel
25 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
24 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Podiums – Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
4 Podiums – Brad Sweet
3 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Logan Schuchart, Aaron Reutzel
2 Podiums – Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, T.J. Stutts, Chase Randall, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding, Daryn Pittman, Chase Dietz

TOP 10 FINISHES (84 Drivers): 

57 Top 10s – David Gravel
52 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
51 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
48 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
44 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
32 Top 10s – Bill Balog
16 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
11 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, James McFadden
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Brad Sweet
8 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
7 Top 10s – Emerson Axsom
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Cole Macedo, Justin Peck
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Chase Randall, Tim Kaeding, Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Skylar Gee
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Zeb Wise, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Daryn Pittman, Troy Wagaman Jr., Chris Windom
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Ayrton Gennetten, Kerry Madsen, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi
1 Top 10 – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Joe B. Miller, Scotty Milan, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley, Devon Borden, T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Stewart Friesen, Jordan Poirier, Larry Wight, Andy Pake, Kaleb Montgomery, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Ryan Bernal, Jock Goodyer, Kyle Moody, Kyle Reinhardt, Sammy Swindell

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1)
4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1)
7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
8. Sat, March 23 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
9. Sat, March 30 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (1)
10. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / David Gravel (2)
11. Sat, April 6 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
12. Fri, April 12 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / David Gravel (3)
13. Sat, April 13 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Donny Schatz (2)
14. Fri, April 19 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
15. Sat, April 20 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)
16. Wed, May 1 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / David Gravel (4)
17. Fri, May 3 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
18. Sat, May 4 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (5)
19. Wed, May 8 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / David Gravel (6)
20. Fri, May 17 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Michael Kofoid (1)
21. Sat, May 18 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / David Gravel (7)
22. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / David Gravel (8)
23. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Mon, May 27 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Carson Macedo (2)
25. Fri, May 31 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
26. Fri, June 7 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
27. Sat, June 8 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
28. Fri, June 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (9)
29. Sat, June 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Corey Day (1)
30. Wed, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Tyler Courtney (2)
31. Sat, June 29 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Logan Schuchart (1)
32. Wed, July 10 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Giovanni Scelzi (3)
33. Fri, July 12 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (3)
34. Sat, July 13 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Donny Schatz (3)
35. Tues, July 16 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (10)
36. Fri, July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (2)
37. Sat, July 20 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (11)
38. Wed, July 24 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / James McFadden (1)
39. Fri, July 26 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / T.J. Stutts (1)
40. Sat, July 27 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (12)
41. Sun, July 28 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (13)
42. Fri, Aug 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, Aug 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, Aug 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
45. Fri, Aug 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4)
46. Sat, Aug 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4)
47. Fri, Aug 23 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
48. Sat, Aug 24 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (6)
49. Fri, Aug 30 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
50. Sat, Aug 31 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Carson Macedo (7)
51. Sun, Sept 1 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (2)
52. Fri, Sept 6 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / Michael Kofoid (3)
53. Sat, Sept 7 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (8)
54. Fri, Sept 13 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Michael Kofoid (4)
55. Sat, Sept 14 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Michael Kofoid (5)
56. Fri, Sept 20 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / David Gravel (14)
57. Sat, Sept 21 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
58. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (6)
59. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (10)
60. Sat, Oct 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Donny Schatz (5)
61. Fri, Oct 18 / Dirt Oval 66 / Joliet, IL / Aaron Reutzel (1)
62. Sat, Oct 19 / Dirt Oval 66 / Joliet, IL / Michael Kofoid (7)
63. Fri, Oct 25 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR / Carson Macedo (11)

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-world-finals-set-to-bring-47th-world-of-outlaws-season-to-a-close/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com/
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/world-of-outlaws-world-finals/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

BATTLE BEHIND THE SCENES: Jacobs, Dietz Squaring Off for World of Outlaws Title

The mechanical masters are both aiming for their first championship as crew chiefs

CONCORD, NC (November 1, 2024) - David Gravel and Carson Macedo are ready to battle on track for the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship, but there’s another matchup taking place behind the scenes on the wrenches.

Like their drivers, both crew chiefs are vying for their first title with The Greatest Show on Dirt. A title that’s set to be decided next week (Nov. 6-9) at the World of Outlaws World Finals hosted by The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Cody Jacobs calls the shots on the current car atop the standings, the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. Jacobs worked his way through the ranks before linking with the Tod Quiring-owned team ahead of the 2020 season with Kerry Madsen in the seat. Gravel came aboard in 2021, and they’ve chased a World of Outlaws title since.

“It’s really cool,” Jacobs said of being on the brink of a title. “I’ve never really done a whole lot of championship chasing. So, the last four years with David has been a little bit different. You maybe have to have somewhat of a little bit different mindset or approach at times. It’s great to be in this position. I’m very fortunate to be in this position. A lot of great people around us to put us in this situation.”

Philip Dietz not only turns the wrenches on the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, but he and his wife Brooke are also team owners. They race on in honor Dietz’s late cousin, who launched Jason Johnson Racing with dreams of a World of Outlaws title.

“It’s very important to me for many reasons,” Dietz said of a potential championship. “We would love to win a championship for all of our sponsors who’ve been a key part of allowing us to have a Sprint Car team in the first place. Obviously, it was Jason’s goal many years ago to have a championship contending Sprint Car team.”

Both Jacobs and Dietz are masters of their craft with résumés that speak for themselves.

Jacobs’ first World of Outlaws win as a crew chief came back in 2012 when Paul McMahan drove the Buch Motorsports ride to Victory Lane at New York’s Rolling Wheels Raceway Park. He had two successful stints with Tim Shaffer in the 2010s that included a $100,000 score at Mansfield Motor Speedway’s Sprint Car World Championship. Since joining forces with Gravel, Jacobs has added 44 World of Outlaws checkered flags, highlighted by a $175,000 Kings Royal crown. Jacobs’ next win will be his 50th as a crew chief with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Dietz helped elevate JJR into one of the sport’s premier organizations that’s now up to 70 World of Outlaws Feature victories. Among those are a pair of Knoxville Nationals titles (2016 with Jason Johnson and 2019 with David Gravel). Macedo has been responsible for 40 of the team’s triumphs since being hired in 2021.

This year both teams have taken their performance to new heights.

Gravel, Jacobs, and the Big Game crew lead the Series with 14 wins and an average finish of fifth on the dot. An unmatched consistency with 57 top 10s in 63 races supplied them with a 74-point lead entering World Finals.

“It’s been a really good year,” Jacobs said. “Just the consistency throughout the year as a whole. I feel like we’ve been really consistent. We’ve got a lot of wins. There’s been a few moments or maybe some wins we left out on the table, but that’s just the way it goes in racing. Overall, it’s been a spectacular year, and we want to finish it off strong at Charlotte for the World Finals.”

Macedo already matched his career high with 11 victories and established a new personal best with 32 podiums. His average finish of 5.15 isn’t far off Gravel’s, but some early struggles left the JJR crew with a hill to climb in Charlotte if they hope to secure the championship.

“Obviously, there was a bit of a rough start going into 2024. We had some issues at Volusia that kind of set us back,” Dietz said. “We went to work and spent some time on the chassis dyno trying to learn more about our engine program. Eventually, I feel like we improved in that area and went back to working on our car again and got it even better.”

It’s no easy task to compete for a title at this level. It requires near perfection, minimizing mistakes, and salvaging the subpar nights. The No. 2 and the No. 41 are not only facing each other every night, they’re up against a group of the country’s most elite Sprint Car drivers.

Only one can stand at the mountaintop, and these two master mechanics are ready to give their all next week at Charlotte.

“There’s an incredible amount of work that it takes to run a World of Outlaws schedule and compete for a championship,” Jacobs said. “Everybody works real hard. The 15 (Donny Schatz) has a good team. The 41 (Macedo) has a good team. Sheldon (Haudenschild) and the 17 guys, they’ve been really strong. Gio (Scelzi) and Buddy (Kofoid) in the mix. There’s a talented group of drivers out there with some really good mechanics and teams. It’s very difficult to put it all together and complete and Outlaw season.”

“It’s tough. You can’t have any bad nights,” Dietz said of chasing a championship. “I wish the points gap was a little closer than it is currently. I feel like it’s our own fault for not being in a little better position than we are. But we’re going to continue on, give it our best, and hopefully we can give him (Gravel) a challenge there at the end.”

Jacobs and Dietz and their teams will settle the 2024 World of Outlaws championship next week at The Dirt Track at Charlotte when the World of Outlaws World Finals bring the season to a close. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/battle-behind-the-scenes-jacobs-dietz-squaring-off-for-world-of-outlaws-title/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com/
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/world-of-outlaws-world-finals/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

ALL DIRT ROADS: Ricky Thornton Jr. Making World of Outlaws Sprint Car Debut, Pulling Double Duty at World Finals

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 30, 2024) – Scanning the World of Outlaws World Finals Sprint Car entry list you’ll find a 10-time champion, a history-making rookie, the leading open-wheel drivers in the country and Ricky Thornton Jr.

The recent national Late Model champion will attempt to make his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series debut at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9, piloting Bernie Stuebgen’s Indy Race Parts No. 71.

“It’s always something I wanted to do, just never had the right opportunity,” Thornton said. “I was fortunate enough to go test for three days, two of them at Charlotte. It’ll help my learning curve a lot. Obviously, not being in dirty air, there’s still a lot I’ll have to learn. I feel like we’re doing what we can to be as prepared as we can before World Finals.”

Thornton’s connection with Stuebgen stemmed from happenstance when the two parked next to each other during a race night two years ago. They kept in touch and waited for the right opportunity to work together.

Enter, 2024.

With his Late Model program in a place he was happy with, Thornton and Stuebgen targeted World Finals as the site of their debut. However, with rain washing out one of Thornton’s Late Model weekends, the duo decided to jump into an event at Lernerville Speedway. They didn’t qualify for the Features, but the experience gave Thornton a better idea of what he’ll be walking into at Charlotte.

“The biggest thing is a lot of like the way the car drives,” Thornton said. “Watching it and how the car feels in the seat, I feel, is completely different. Just figuring out that dirty air. Dirty air is big in the Late Model, but it is just as big in the Sprint Car, where if you lose air on the nose or lose air on the top wing… there’s just a lot I had to learn in a really quick time. Where at least now, I feel a little more confident going to Charlotte, what I should do and what I should absolutely not do.”

Thornton has only made four starts at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in a Late Model, but his last two saw him in Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models. They’re two victories he’ll try to defend as Thornton will also be pulling double duty all four nights, jumping back and forth the between the Sprint Car and the Koehler Motorsports No. 20RT Late Model.

DITCH DOMINATION: Macedo Masters Riverside Return for 11th Victory of Season

The Californian equals his personal best for wins in a year by leading every lap at Riverside

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 25, 2024) - The championship odds might be against him, but Carson Macedo refuses to go down quietly.

It’s been an electric last couple months for he and the Jason Johnson Racing team. A magical run ignited when the pairing topped the opening night of the Jackson Nationals midway through August. Entering this weekend, Macedo had won seven of the last 18 races with the World of Outlaws.

And as the stage shifted to West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, nothing was going to slow Macedo and company.

The Lemoore, CA native started on the pole and never looked back during the 30-lapper. An incident with a lapped car put the win in question briefly, but ultimately Macedo drove away from David Gravel to claim the first World of Outlaws race at “The Ditch” since 2018.

“I was nervous,” Macedo admitted. “A lot of those double-file restarts, I didn’t know where to be. The top was kind of where the grip was, but I didn’t want to be too high and miss it and not get off (Turn) 4 nice then him (David Gravel) beat me down into Turn 1.

“I want to say I’m sorry to that lapper. I could see David behind me on the big screen. He was breathing right down my back and knew I had to make moves, or I was going to get ate up. We were just going so slow down into Turn 3, and I was getting nervous. I saw the opening and drove it in there, and it was probably silly with the track being the way it was. I didn’t want to get complacent and end up getting passed, so I’m sorry to that team and feel back their stuff is tore up.

“Nevertheless, my guys did an incredible job. Philip Dietz, he just delivered all night. We went out late there in Qualifying, and we did a great job in the Heat Race that put us in a position. Then we drew a good front row spot in the Dash and executed from there.”

Macedo’s 11th victory of 2024 matches his personal best for a season, a mark he also reached in 2021 and 2022. He’s now at 46 for his career as he closes in on becoming the 18th different driver with 50 checkered flags. It was the 70th World of Outlaws trophy for Jason Johnson Racing.

A win in the Toyota Racing Dash put Macedo on the pole of the main event. He jumped out to an early lead when the green flag flew as the battles broke out behind him. Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart swapped the second spot. Then fourth-starting David Gravel rolled by both of them.

A red flag with 11 laps complete gave Macedo a break as it took him out of lapped traffic. Sheldon Haudenschild capitalized with a huge restart. The Wooster, OH native rolled the bottom to clear multiple cars and take third by the time the pack got to the back straightaway.

Up front Gravel kept the pressure on Macedo, but a yellow at the halfway point again eliminated the concern of traffic.

The next restart saw Gravel maintain pace with Macedo as the second half of the race clicked away. It was near disaster for Macedo with seven laps remaining as he made a move to lap Ayden Gatewood in Turns 3 and 4. Macedo’s slider didn’t quite clear, and the result was hard contact. Macedo managed to keep rolling, but Gatewood wound up on his lid.

With only seven laps to go when the green lights came back on, Macedo never had to worry about traffic again as he aced the restart and drove away to yet another victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“Winning Outlaw races is not easy to do,” Macedo said. “It’s a tough thing, and it’s really tough to do on a consistent basis. I’ve got a really good race team behind me in Jason Johnson Racing. We’re racing in memory of Jason Johnson and everything he stood for, so to be winning races like this is awesome.”

While Macedo might’ve gotten the win, David Gravel didn’t let him gain many points in the battle for the title. Gravel brought the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 home second for his third consecutive podium. The advantage sits at 74 markers with four races to go. The Watertown, CT native wanted the victory, but he also had the big picture in mind.

“Good night for us,” Gravel said. “Didn’t get a great Dash draw and was able to gain a row there in the Dash. Felt good there early on and was searching, and then on Lap 10 or 11, and I kind of just got in line. Little bit of a bummer there. Wish I had a shot to win that.”

The third spot belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild as he charged from ninth to continue a recent strong stretch. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 has strung together six top fives in the last eight races including four podiums. The major move on a restart helped lead Haudenschild to another good finish.

“The one restart really just made my race,” Haudenschild explained. “I was able to get under Gio (Scelzi) and three other guys and roll the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2 really nice. I just got back in line after that. I was a little nervous when I got stuck on the top of that restart, but hats off to (Kyle) Ripper and the guys.”

Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog completed the top five.

An 18th to sixth drive earned Donny Schatz the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Bryce Lucius claimed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One, Three, and Four belonged to Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid, and Joe B. Miller. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Skylar Gee won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Dylan Cisney.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Bull Ring Blitz at West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 8. 55C-Chris Windom[11]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell[5]; 11. 44-Derek Hagar[15]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[10]; 13. 51B-Joe B Miller[8]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]; 15. 27-Emerson Axsom[19]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 17. 23B-Brian Bell[23]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee[21]; 19. 7C-Brad Bowden[14]; 20. 37-Ayden Gatewood[17]; 21. 32-Bryce Lucius[13]; 22. 6-Dylan Cisney[22]; 23. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 24. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/ditch-domination-macedo-masters-riverside-return-for-11th-victory-of-season/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6237
TRACK INFO: https://riversideinternationalspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

FULL COMMITMENT: Crawley Reflects on Rookie World of Outlaws Campaign With Home Race Ahead at Riverside

The teenager has faced challenges but is happy with his debut season

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 24, 2024) - Not many 16-year-olds can say they traveled the country competing with the best Sprint Car drivers in the world on a weekly basis. But that’s Landon Crawley’s story.

A couple races in the Sides Motorsports No. 7S near the end of 2023 evolved into Crawley joining forces with Jason Sides to compete full-time on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series tour in 2024, traveling coast-to-coast for 80-plus races – including a home visit this weekend at Riverside International Speedway, Oct. 25-26.

The teenager had a few years of 360 Sprint Car experience but minimal 410 starts under his belt entering the season. Despite the challenges of acclimating to an entirely new lifestyle, Crawley has adapted well and gelled comfortably with Sides.

“The first three or four months, I’m not going to lie, it was hard,” Crawley admitted. “You leave every single thing you have at home. It’s full commitment. If you’re not fully committed, you get the results that aren’t fully committed. It’s tough. You miss kind of everything at home. You miss birthdays and all of the events, but it’s still been fun. I’ve learned more about adulting and life in the past year than I have ever.”

His growing maturity hasn’t been lost on Sides either.

“It’s been really good. He’s 16 but really mature for his age. It’s never like ‘Let’s go play some arcade games,’ or nothing like that,” Sides said with a laugh. “It’s mainly about the race cars and stuff. Everywhere we went for the first time I know it was a struggle for him a lot. But sometimes he caught on really quick. Sometimes it wasn’t as good as we wanted, but we’d go back there the second time and make the shows.”

The season started with a bang for Crawley. The Volusia Speedway Park season opener was also his Series debut, and Crawley promptly went out and set Simpson Quick Time to announce his presence and lift a little weight off his shoulders.

“It helped a lot going into it knowing that I can qualify, and I can race halfway decent against the guys I’m racing with,” Crawley said. “They’re the best in the country, and they run with the Outlaws for a reason. It was a big confidence booster.”

Another major highlight of Crawley’s first season is visiting Eldora Speedway. In May, he came home with a top 10 during his debut at the intimidating 1/2-mile dirt track, but he wasn’t done there. Fast forward two months, and Crawley made the Feature at Eldora’s crown jewel – the Kings Royal.

“That was honestly one of the coolest parts of the year,” Crawley said of racing at Eldora. “That was one of the tracks I’d been looking forward to since February. Right when the season started, I wanted to race there, and I’ve always wanted to race there. Racing there in general was really cool, let alone being somewhat fast. It was pretty awesome. Everything about that place is pretty special to me.

This season has so often been about visiting new tracks for Crawley, but this weekend he finally gets to head home. Two nights at Crawley’s home track, West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, are on the agenda. “The Ditch” is home to many firsts for the Benton, AR native.

First race in a Micro. First Sprint Car win. And now he gets to head back to race in front of friends and family as a full-time World of Outlaws driver.

It's not only a home race for Crawley. Sides’ hometown of Bartlett, TN is right across the Mississippi River. It’s a weekend the team has had circled on their calendar all year.

“I’m really looking forward to this race,” Crawley said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of nervous about it just because I feel like there’s so much pressure for this race compared to any other race I’ve ran this year. Even the first race at Volusia, there was literally no pressure. I go into this week, and you kind of have that feeling like you have to perform. It’s going to be tough. It’s a really tricky racetrack. It’s not super noticed, but the local guys are really good. (Derek) Hagar can run anywhere in the country and run pretty good, especially once the track gets slick. He has an All-Star win. It’s going to be a tough race, but I think it’s going to be a good one. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“For both of us to be able to come run it, and then everybody goes home to their own bed, it’ll be pretty nice,” Sides said. “Being home and racing and seeing the people that have supported us for all of these years. We’ll get to see everybody and hoot and holler and hang out with them.”

For tickets to this weekend’s racing at Riverside, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/full-commitment-crawley-reflects-on-rookie-world-of-outlaws-campaign-with-home-race-ahead-at-riverside/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6236
TRACK INFO: https://riversideinternationalspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Two-night Return to Riverside Awaits the World of Outlaws

The Greatest Show on Dirt heads back to “The Ditch” for the first time in six years

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 22, 2024) - One of the country’s most exciting bullrings is ready to welcome back The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Marc Cohn might’ve been “Walking in Memphis,” but the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are trucking to West Memphis, AR to invade Riverside International Speedway for the first time since 2018. The country’s best Sprint Car drivers are prepared to battle for two nights (Oct. 25-26) on the 1/4-mile dirt track, west of the Mississippi River.

This weekend’s Bull Ring Blitz is the year’s penultimate event with #AllDirtRoads leading the tour to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World of Outlaws World Finals in two weeks (Nov. 6-9).

Spots in the standings are still up for grabs with an increase in the higher you climb. The stage is set for two can’t-miss nights of Sprint Car racing at “The Ditch.”

BUY TWO-DAY RIVERSIDE TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY RIVERSIDE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY RIVERSIDE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

HOME AT LAST: Much of the 2024 season has been about venturing to unfamiliar tracks for World of Outlaws rookie Landon Crawley. But this weekend he’ll be the one with the experience advantage.

The 16-year-old is a native of Benton, AR, roughly two hours west of Riverside. It’s the first track where he made a lap in a Micro Sprint back in 2017. It’s where he’s turned plenty of laps in a Sprint Car. And now it’s where he’ll get to race in front of home state fans as a full-time World of Outlaws driver.

Crawley has competed several times at Riverside over the past few years with the United Sprint Car Series (USCS). He’s been on the podium four times including a pair of runner-ups. He also won the Greg Hodnett Memorial at Riverside last year. 

This weekend will also serve as a home game for Crawley’s car owner Jason Sides who hails from right across the Mississippi River in Bartlett, TN. Sides finished sixth with The Greatest Show on Dirt 15 years ago at Riverside.

MAKING THE BOSS HAPPY: Jason Sides isn’t the only World of Outlaws car owner with ties to the area.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., co-owner of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17, calls Olive Branch, MS home. Just like Sides, it’s a quick trip across the river to reach the current NASCAR Cup Series star’s hometown. Stenhouse Jr. beat the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) at his home track back in 2004 when he was rising through the ranks. He also finished a career-best fourth with the World of Outlaws there in 2009.

Haudenschild has plenty of motivation to visit Victory Lane this weekend at Riverside. There’s the bossman’s connection, and there’s the fact that he and the team are still chasing their 10-win goal for the year. Currently, they’re two short of what would mark a career high for “Haud.” The Wooster, OH driver has finished second in two of the last four races this season.

The lone visit to Riverside for Haudenschild saw him start on the pole of the Feature and lead a lap before tipping over late.

ONE RIVERSIDE WINNER: Only one competitor on the 2024 World of Outlaws roster owns a Series victory at Riverside, and to no surprise his name his Donny Schatz.

Schatz celebrated Fourth of July weekend with a July 5 win at “The Ditch” in 2008. The 10-time champion led all 40 laps of the main event. It’s by far Schatz’s top performance in West Memphis through four tries with an eighth in 2018 being his next best.

The Fargo, ND driver enters the weekend on a mini-hot streak. He’s finished no worse than sixth in the last three races highlighted by a Lincoln Speedway victory, his fifth of the season. Schatz sits third in points looking at potentially a 17th year of finishing within the top three.

ROTH RESUME: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports have only been teamed for a little more than a year, but Kofoid is already establishing himself as one of the top drivers in team history. A rookie season for the records books has largely contributed to this effort.

The Penngrove, CA native is up to seven wins and 25 podiums in 2024, numbers that a veteran would be proud of let alone a rookie. Thirteen of those top three finishes have come in the last 16 races as Kofoid and Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team ride an unforgettable run.

Kofoid’s seven victories this year is already the fourth winningest World of Outlaws season in Roth’s history, trailing Danny Lasoski’s totals of 16 and 12 in 1999 and 2000 and Tim Kaeding’s nine in 2013. Kofoid is also tied as the team’s third winningest driver behind Lasoski (41 wins) and Kaeding (19 wins) and equaled with James McFadden with eight overall victories.

Kofoid will make his Riverside debut this weekend, but Roth has won at Riverside in the past with Kaeding in 2009.

“WALKING IN (WEST) MEMPHIS”: While most local Sprint Car racing at Riverside is done with a 360 under the hood, a collection of the track’s talent can drop a 410 between the frame rails and compete with the best in the country.

The local that most stands out to deliver a strong performance on the big stage is Marion, AR’s Derek Hagar. His trophy room is full of hardware from “The Ditch.” Hagar added two more this past weekend by sweeping the World Short Track Challenge with ASCS, bringing his 2024 Riverside win total to six.

Memphis, TN’s Howard Moore is another potent shoe anytime Sprint Cars battle at Riverside. He’s beat the USCS several times over the past handful of years including this season in June. Moore also owns multiple ASCS regional wins in West Memphis.

Brian Bell calls Arlington, TN, a little northeast of Memphis, home and is a frequent Riverside competitor. He’s got this weekend circled on his calendar and is prepared to battle the nation’s toughest competition at his home track.

This trio is expected to be joined by more locals along with a healthy cast of invaders from all over.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

Friday-Saturday, October 25-26 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, AR

ON THE INTERNET

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CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (62/67 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (8436 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-78 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-168 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-266 PTS)
5. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-348 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-394 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-430 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-974 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1366 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1674 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (17 Drivers): 

14 Wins – David Gravel
10 Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Wins – Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts, Aaron Reutzel

FEATURE LAPS LED (27 Drivers):

441 Laps – Carson Macedo
329 Laps – David Gravel
220 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
201 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
169 Laps – Michael Kofoid
142 Laps – Donny Schatz
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
52 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
36 Laps – Emerson Axsom
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Chase Randall
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts, Aaron Reutzel
20 Laps – Anthony Macri
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
14 Laps – Shane Golobic
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
6 Laps – D.J. Netto
4 Laps – Hunter Schuerenberg
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):

12 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
10 Quick Times – David Gravel
8 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley, Chase Dietz
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks

HEAT RACE WINNERS (56 Drivers): 

33 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
31 Heat Wins – David Gravel
27 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
19 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
12 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Donny Schatz
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Brent Marks
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
4 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman
3 Heat Wins – Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson, Brian Brown, Emerson Axsom
2 Heat Wins – Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall, D.J. Netto, Kasey Kahne, Chase Dietz
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Shane Golobic, Dylan Bloomfield, Kaleb Montgomery, Landon Brooks, Tyler Ross, Zach Hampton

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (75 Drivers):

45 Dashes – Carson Macedo
43 Dashes – David Gravel
38 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
36 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
32 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
22 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
21 Dashes – Donny Schatz
17 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
8 Dashes – Brent Marks, Landon Crawley
7 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Emerson Axsom, Aaron Reutzel
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Brian Brown, Chase Dietz
4 Dashes – Brady Bacon, Daryn Pittman, James McFadden
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Justin Peck, Landon Brooks, Danny Sams III
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Kaleb Montgomery, Skylar Gee, Tim Kaeding
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Justin Sanders, Tanner Carrick, Jock Goodyer, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Kasey Kahne, Tyler Ross, Kyle Reinhardt, Chris Windom, Zach Hampton

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (48 Drivers):

4 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss
3 LCS Wins – Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Cole Macedo
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah, Joel Myers Jr., Hunter Schuerenberg, Kody Hartlaub, Lucas Wolfe, Larry Wight, Kyle Larson, Jesse Attard, Dusty Zomer, Chris Windom, Ayrton Gennetten, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Scott Bogucki, Mark Dobmeier, Scott Winters, Christopher Thram, Logan Schuchart, Caeden Steele, Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, Daryn Pittman, Justin Whittall, Darin Naida

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (35 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
4 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Garet Williamson
3 Hard Chargers – Michael Kofoid, Tim Kaeding
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Emerson Axsom, Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Estenson, David Gravel, Ryan Bernal, Shane Golobic, Matt Campbell, Dylan Cisney

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

31 Podiums – Carson Macedo
30 Podiums – David Gravel
25 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
23 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Podiums – Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
4 Podiums – Brad Sweet
3 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Logan Schuchart, Aaron Reutzel
2 Podiums – Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, T.J. Stutts, Chase Randall, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding, Daryn Pittman, Chase Dietz

TOP 10 FINISHES (83 Drivers): 

56 Top 10s – David Gravel
51 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
50 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
47 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
43 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
31 Top 10s – Bill Balog
16 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
11 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, James McFadden
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Brad Sweet
8 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
7 Top 10s – Emerson Axsom
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Cole Macedo, Justin Peck
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Chase Randall, Tim Kaeding, Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Skylar Gee
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Zeb Wise, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Daryn Pittman, Troy Wagaman Jr.
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Ayrton Gennetten, Kerry Madsen, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi, Chris Windom
1 Top 10 – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Joe B. Miller, Scotty Milan, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley, Devon Borden, T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Stewart Friesen, Jordan Poirier, Larry Wight, Andy Pake, Kaleb Montgomery, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Ryan Bernal, Jock Goodyer, Kyle Moody, Kyle Reinhardt

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1)
4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1)
7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
8. Sat, March 23 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
9. Sat, March 30 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (1)
10. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / David Gravel (2)
11. Sat, April 6 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
12. Fri, April 12 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / David Gravel (3)
13. Sat, April 13 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Donny Schatz (2)
14. Fri, April 19 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
15. Sat, April 20 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)
16. Wed, May 1 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / David Gravel (4)
17. Fri, May 3 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
18. Sat, May 4 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (5)
19. Wed, May 8 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / David Gravel (6)
20. Fri, May 17 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Michael Kofoid (1)
21. Sat, May 18 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / David Gravel (7)
22. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / David Gravel (8)
23. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Mon, May 27 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Carson Macedo (2)
25. Fri, May 31 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
26. Fri, June 7 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
27. Sat, June 8 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
28. Fri, June 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (9)
29. Sat, June 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Corey Day (1)
30. Wed, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Tyler Courtney (2)
31. Sat, June 29 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Logan Schuchart (1)
32. Wed, July 10 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Giovanni Scelzi (3)
33. Fri, July 12 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (3)
34. Sat, July 13 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Donny Schatz (3)
35. Tues, July 16 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (10)
36. Fri, July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (2)
37. Sat, July 20 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (11)
38. Wed, July 24 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / James McFadden (1)
39. Fri, July 26 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / T.J. Stutts (1)
40. Sat, July 27 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (12)
41. Sun, July 28 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (13)
42. Fri, Aug 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, Aug 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, Aug 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
45. Fri, Aug 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4)
46. Sat, Aug 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4)
47. Fri, Aug 23 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
48. Sat, Aug 24 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (6)
49. Fri, Aug 30 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
50. Sat, Aug 31 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Carson Macedo (7)
51. Sun, Sept 1 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (2)
52. Fri, Sept 6 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / Michael Kofoid (3)
53. Sat, Sept 7 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (8)
54. Fri, Sept 13 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Michael Kofoid (4)
55. Sat, Sept 14 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Michael Kofoid (5)
56. Fri, Sept 20 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / David Gravel (14)
57. Sat, Sept 21 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
58. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (6)
59. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (10)
60. Sat, Oct 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Donny Schatz (5)
61. Fri, Oct 18 / Dirt Oval 66 / Joliet, IL / Aaron Reutzel (1)
62. Sat, Oct 19 / Dirt Oval 66 / Joliet, IL / Michael Kofoid (7)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-two-night-return-to-riverside-awaits-the-world-of-outlaws/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6237
TRACK INFO: https://riversideinternationalspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

JOLIET JET: Kofoid Continues Hot Streak with Dirt Oval 66 Victory

Kofoid fends off Haudenschild, Gravel for sixth win in the last 12 races

JOLIET, IL (October 19, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports flipped a switch two months ago, and they’ve got no intentions of shutting it off.

The pairing rolled into Dirt Oval 66 for the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown on a hot streak that included five wins and 12 podiums in the last 14 races. Mechanical woes ended their night before it truly started on Friday. And Kofoid and company came back hungry on Saturday night.

The Penngrove, CA native started second for the 30-lap finale, slid ahead of Sheldon Haudenschild on the opening circuit, and then held off Haudenschild’s late run to secure his seventh World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory of the year.

“My Roth Motorsports crew guys are unbelievable,” Kofoid said. “Like I’ve said, this is the most fun I’ve ever had racing and best I’ve ever felt in any race car. Like I always say, that’s just a testament to Dylan (Buswell) and his talent and making me a better driver. And then I feel like Nate (Knotts) and Gage (Tyra) just complement him really well. It just shows what it’s like to be with good people.”

Kofoid’s lucky number seven win of 2024 pushes him to 10 for his career, making him the 50th driver with double digit victories in the history of The Greatest Show on Dirt. Ten victories equals him with Danny Smith and Joe Gaerte on the all-time win list and makes him the ninth winningest Californian. Roth Motorsports is now up to 114 World of Outlaws checkered flags.

Haudenschild brought the field to green for the main event with Kofoid to his outside. Haudenschild slid in front of Kofoid in the first set of corners, but Kofoid built momentum for a run down the back straightaway. Kofoid had enough speed to duck under the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 entering Turn 3. He finished the slider exiting the corner to lead the opening lap.

A restart with 18 laps to go got wild as battles erupted all over the place including toward the front of the field. Gravel drove ahead of Haudenschild for second, but Haudenschild returned the favor with a slider. Gravel turned underneath him to retake the spot, and this time he held off Haudenschild’s counter.

Donny Schatz threw his name into contention during a halfway point restart as he rolled the bottom by Haudenschild for third.

Multiple yellow flags continued to set up restarts with drivers looking to capitalize. Haudenschild started to make his way back toward the front as he found some grip on the bottom of the oval.

The low side of the Joliet, IL track lifted Haudenschild to third on Lap 26 and then to the runner-up spot with two circuits remaining. However, the hourglass ran out as Kofoid held off Haudenschild’s last gasp when he stuck the bottom in Turns 3 and 4 but couldn’t muscle around Kofoid.

“The exit of (Turn) 4 was just really wide earlier in the race,” Kofoid said. “I could fire off good and get to the top, and I was able to diamond under Sheldon’s slider and kind of control the race. I was nervous with all of those yellows. I didn’t want to see that one with, I think, two to go. I couldn’t see my guys well, but they weren’t telling me I was doing anything wrong. I didn’t want to choose the outside or fire on the outside and try take the long way around because I feel like there was just so much meat on the front stretch on the bottom to take off on. Then it was just a matter of getting to the top and not tripping on the cushion.”

Settling for second was Haudenschild and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew. He became more and more comfortable with the handling of his machine throughout the race but simply ran out of laps to get the job done.

“Being able to move around and find the bottom there in (Turns) 3 and 4,” Haudenschild said of what helped his late surge. “I feel like I was getting better the more fuel I burned off and was able to rotate down there. But Buddy was really good all night. I couldn’t keep up with him there the first 10 to 15 laps. The restarts were really hard starting on the outside as well. Happy with the weekend, a second and a fifth.”

Rounding out the podium was Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew as they continue to march toward a title. The Watertown, CT native is now up to 30 World of Outlaws podiums the season, the fourth time he’s reached that mark. His lead atop the standings is up to 78 markers with five races left.

“Man, I could not get a good restart behind him single file on the bottom,” Gravel said. “I just would start spinning and then hit the grip and just not get down the front stretch very good. Then I was kind of in defense going into (Turn) 1 where I kind of wanted to attack. Definitely didn’t want that caution because I feel like we were coming. I think lap traffic would’ve benefitted us.”

Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

A run from 23rd to 11th in the Bill Rose Racing No. 6 earned Dylan Cisney the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Buddy Kofoid earned his sixth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 11th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Buddy Kofoid, Emerson Axsom, and Zach Hampton. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Darin Naida won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR) for the first time in six years on Oct. 25-26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[6]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[11]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[13]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom[4]; 10. 55C-Chris Windom[12]; 11. 6-Dylan Cisney[23]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[18]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[20]; 16. 2KS-Danny Sams III[16]; 17. 45X-Scott Bogucki[15]; 18. 7N-Darin Naida[21]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[22]; 20. 22-Riley Goodno[17]; 21. 55-Kerry Madsen[14]; 22. 79-Blake Nimee[24]; 23. 17X-Zach Hampton[5]; 24. 87-Aaron Reutzel[8]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/?p=127545&preview=true

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6234
TRACK INFO: https://www.dirtoval66.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

ALL A-ARON: Reutzel Survives Gravel’s Last Lap Charge to Keep Perfect Dirt Oval 66 Record

The Clute, TX native leads every lap to bag his first Series victory in three years

JOLIET, IL (October 18, 2024) - Aaron Reutzel doesn’t know how to lose at Dirt Oval 66.

The Clute, TX native rolled into the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown and put his perfect record on the line. Reutzel beat the All Stars at the Illinois oval back in 2018 and 2019 and was prepared to face off with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars as the Series returned for the first time since 2017.

Five years since his last race at the track. The country’s toughest competition. Could Reutzel rise to the occasion and make it three straight at Dirt Oval 66?

Absolutely he could.

Reutzel earned the pole for Friday’s main event and never looked back during the 25-lapper. A sketchy restart and late lapped traffic created some drama, but ultimately neither were enough to derail the Ridge & Sons Racing driver. Reutzel fended off a final lap charge from David Gravel to secure his third consecutive win in Joliet.

“This is awesome,” Reutzel said. “It’s been a long time. Just not going up and down the road like I used to you kind of lose your race craft a little bit. This feels great. I couldn’t feel more excited. My entire family is here. This is the first Outlaw win they’ve ever seen. Brian and Lisa Ridge, this is their first true Outlaw win. I just couldn’t be more happy to get it for them. They deserve it. They’ve given me everything. This one is definitely for them.”

Reutzel’s win ended a drought dating back to 2021 as he scored his first victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt in three years. It’s the seventh of Reutzel’s career, equaling him with Chad Kemenah, Brian Brown, and Jeff Shepard for 57th on the all-time win list. He’s the seventh different competitor to visit Dirt Oval 66 Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws.

A win in the Toyota Racing Dash set Reutzel up on the pole for the NOS Energy Drink Feature. Second-starting Chris Windom gave him a fight on the opening circuit, but ultimately Reutzel powered ahead of the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 to lead Lap 1.

An early caution for Windom slowing with problems set up a chaotic restart with 15 laps left. Gravel, who inherited third, got into Reutzel as the field came to restart. The collision caused a stack-up behind them and dominoed through the field until Sterling Cling and Geoff Dodge wound up upside down. Both drivers were okay.

Reutzel and Gravel both escaped with no considerable damage and prepared for the restart.

A fierce battle between Gravel and Carson Macedo was unleashed when the green lights returned. The two traded several slide jobs and crossovers before Gravel finally secured the runner-up spot.

A few more yellow flags continued to keep the leaders out of traffic, and one final one with seven laps remaining looked like it might seal the deal for Reutzel. But he wasn’t safe quite yet.

As the laps faded, he got closer and closer to the tail of the field, and Gravel managed to pace him aboard the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. With only two circuits remaining, Reutzel found himself in traffic.

The white flag waved, and Gravel erased most of the gap between the two as they navigated Turns 1 and 2. Reutzel looked to dive under a lapped car in the final set of corners, but the car ahead also went low. Reutzel quickly adjusted and aimed back toward the top and slid in front of Gravel. As Reutzel caught the cushion Gravel turned underneath him but didn’t quite have the power needed to drive by. Reutzel used the momentum of the top to finish off his first World of Outlaws win in 1,176 days.

“I just had a lapped car make an erratic lane change,” Reutzel said of the final lap. “I knew I needed to do something, so I hurried up and went back to the top, and I just slid into it too hard. I’m glad we came out on top of that. That would’ve really sucked to lose it that way.”

Gravel had to settle for second, his 10th World of Outlaws runner-up of the season. While he was hungry for his 15th Series triumph of 2024, Gravel came away satisfied with a strong points night as he looks to close out his first championship.

“I thought we were a little bit better than Aaron there at the end,” Gravel said. “He really had to lean on the cushion, I thought. I felt like he was coming back to us a little bit, and obviously lapped traffic was coming there. He got over the cushion that one time. That lapped car looked like he was going high and then went low, and Aaron was going low then he went high. I was committed to the top at that point, so I couldn’t really do much from there. It was superior grip on the top of (Turns) 3 and 4. Man, it was close.”

Rounding out the podium was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew. They tallied their Series-leading 31st top three of the year. The Lemoore, CA native felt the race could’ve been even more interesting if traffic became more of a factor.

“He (Gravel) was able to slide me with a big run into Turn 1,” Macedo explained. “And, man, once somebody gets by you, the top has a lot of speed once you get up there leaning on it. It was going to be tough to get back by him. Seems like we really needed traffic to kind of mix things up. When we got there, it was one of those deals where a red or a yellow would come out.”

Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

A 19th to eighth drive earned Garet Williamson his fourth KSE Racing Hard Charger of 2024.

Sheldon Haudenschild earned his eighth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 37th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, David Gravel, and Logan Schuchart. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Aaron Reutzel topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brock Zearfoss won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race belonged to Buddy Kofoid.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Dirt Oval 66 on Saturday, Oct. 19 for the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown finale. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 10. 99-Skylar Gee[11]; 11. 27-Emerson Axsom[16]; 12. 17X-Zach Hampton[14]; 13. 7S-Landon Crawley[8]; 14. 45X-Scott Bogucki[22]; 15. 6-Dylan Cisney[13]; 16. 32-Bryce Lucius[17]; 17. 51-Ayrton Gennetten[24]; 18. 2KS-Danny Sams III[6]; 19. 55-Kerry Madsen[20]; 20. 55C-Chris Windom[2]; 21. 34-Sterling Cling[9]; 22. 77-Geoff Dodge[23]; 23. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[21]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/all-a-aron-reutzel-survives-gravels-last-lap-charge-to-keep-perfect-dirt-oval-66-record/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6235
TRACK INFO: https://www.dirtoval66.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

How Cannon McIntosh Matured, Reunited with KKM to Clinch 2024 Championship

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 18, 2024) — Cannon McIntosh’s run to the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship was one defined by reunion, maturity and redemption.

After a bitter defeat in the final races of 2023, he returned home empty-handed, unsure of his plans for a return to the national Midget circuit in 2024. But after some off-season discussion, the 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, struck a deal to return to his former team at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) for the first time in three years, seeking to reclaim what slipped away the year before.

Paired with the knowledge and expertise of veteran crew chief and team co-owner Keith Kunz, McIntosh was a model of discipline and consistency in 2024 — winning six Features, recording zero DNFs and stringing together 18 consecutive top-five finishes in the first 18 races. He set new personal-best with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in wins (six), podiums (15) and top-five finishes (20) to clinch his first national championship, redeeming himself to sit atop the national Midget world once again.

“I feel like it’s those times where you’re down on yourself and down on your confidence that shape things like this up,” McIntosh said. “You learn a lot in those seasons. It’s really just about not giving up.”

REUNION

At the dawning of his Midget career, McIntosh drove the flagship car for Dave Mac Motorsports (DMD) — the team owned and operated by his father. For the 2020 season, he took an opportunity to join the driver roster at KKM, and made his mark, winning five races on the national circuit and two Chili Bowl Nationals preliminary Features before returning to DMD for 2021.

After a record season in 2022 with DMD — scoring 16 wins across USAC, POWRi and Xtreme — McIntosh returned to chase the Xtreme championship in 2023. Four wins and eight podiums in the first 10 races gave him a 121-point lead in the chase for the championship but struggles over the final 19 races evaporated that lead and knocked him back to a fourth-place finish in the final standings.

With broken spirits and morale running low, McIntosh questioned his future in Midget racing.

“I’m not sure what else I was gonna do, whether I’d go back to my own car, I would have had to find a new crew chief and learn to work together again,” McIntosh said. “I spent a whole year in 2021 learning with (crew chief Robert Dalby) and trying to figure our stuff out; we didn’t really win much. Then, 2022 was kind of our breakout year — we were able to win races and compete up front. Then, in 2023, he informed me that he was leaving, and things just went south after that.”

Soon after the regular season, McIntosh and KKM reconnected and struck a deal with Toyota Racing and GEARWRENCH to contest the 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals. McIntosh made his third A-Main start in the marquee event as part of the KKM team (2020, 2021, 2024), which then led to a discussion about his return for the regular season.

However, when KKM experienced a departure of multiple star crew chiefs after the Chili Bowl, team management knew others were going to have to step up and fill those roles as more new drivers made commitments to join the team.

And who better to step up than the man who coached so many drivers to numerous open-wheel championships over the last 30 years than Kunz himself.

“For three or four years, I kinda stepped back and let my guys do stuff, and I had to step back in this year,” Kunz said. “I knew if I was gonna step back in, I had to have me a guy that could go win races, and I knew Cannon could win and win championships.”

Kunz has been at the helm of Midget racing’s most decorated team since the late 1990s, having won 17 national Midget titles, including Jade Avedisian’s history-making Xtreme championship in 2023. But after spending a few seasons away from his primary role as head crew chief, Kunz was beginning to feel the itch to get back on the wrenches in pursuit of an 18th championship.

He found his driver, and over the next eight months, he rejuvenated his competitive edge.

“For me, I think a little bit of the excitement was gone because I was so hands-on all my years,” Kunz said. “It’s hard to sit back and watch and sit in the grandstands and not be that hands-on when you’ve done it for that long. That was the thing knowing I was gonna be hands-on, I needed a guy that I could go win with. And I knew Cannon could win.

“It took me a little bit, but having somebody as good as Cannon kinda put the drive back in me. It made me want to go to the races again.”

MATURITY

The new driver-crew chief combo got to work right away, winning their second start together in Xtreme Outlaw Series competition inside the Southern Illinois Center (Du Quoin, IL) in March. Though he went to Victory Lane on Saturday night of the two-day event, McIntosh left Du Quoin with some uncertainty, and his crew chief noticed as well.

“Even when we won DuQuoin, the second race of the season, I didn’t feel great; there were a lot of things I had to learn on my end,” McIntosh said. “Even quite a few races after that, I kept trying to tell [Keith] what I wanted to feel out of the car and what I was used to. Finally, it got to the point where I just started listening to him and drove the car how it needed to be driven.”

“When he came back, he was a little nervous I think, a little unsure,” Kunz said. “As the year went on, the maturity in him really kinda showed because he settled into that role — more of the driver role, because in the beginning, he was trying to still be that mechanic a little bit.”

Over the next nine races, McIntosh began to build his record-setting streak of consistency, building his top-five streak up to 11-straight through the first 11 races and scoring another Feature win at 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) on May 11 after teammate Ryan Timms blew a tire while leading in the closing laps.

Despite the success, Kunz said he felt like the wins were still coming at a premium.

“There was a period there where I was getting him comfortable, but we were losing ground,” Kunz said. “We were starting to run fifth, sixth, and was backing up from the front row in a few of the races. We just didn’t have the speed, more or less we were just kinda hanging in there and getting decent finishes.

“He was comfortable, but we weren’t fast. And there was finally one night I just told him, ‘Comfortable isn’t fast.’ He asked me something about what he should do, and I was like, ‘Dude, you’re the driver. That’s your job. Figure it out.’”

And figure it out, he did. Two weeks after the win at 81, McIntosh delivered his most dominant performance of the season at Atomic Speedway in Ohio, when he led all 25 laps around the high-speed, 3/8-mile dirt oval to bank his third win of the season, showing a more complete growth as a driver with the ability to both win and tally consistent finishes up front.

“At that point, I think he kinda realized and he changed his whole tune to just more driving and letting me do what I do and trusting my experience,” Kunz said. “And something just all-of-a-sudden clicked. I kinda got back into what I thought we should do, and he fully concentrated on just the driving part of it, and we figured it out pretty quickly at that point.”

McIntosh’s hot streak continued as the summer months began, winning three times in the next five races at Spoon River Speedway (Lewistown, IL), Doe Run Raceway (Doe Run, MO) and Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, OK — one where he bested Timms, who was his biggest opponent in the chase for the championship.

“I think after our win at Arrowhead, what we were able to do there and just go out and win with Ryan (Timms) behind us most of the race and he not being able to do much, I was confident in our abilities to be able to just go and flat-out beat him,” McIntosh said. “That told me that we had a good chance at it. He was running second in points, and he was the guy to beat, and we went out and just beat him that night.

“We just continued to build on that win. That was a cool win for me as well, being in my home state in front of family and friends.”

REDEMPTION

After Arrowhead, McIntosh closed-out his 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series campaign with three more top-five finishes in the final five races and clinched the championship by 156 points over Timms. One week later, he clinched another national championship with POWRi — finally hoisting the championship trophies that slipped through his fingers in the final races of 2023.

“I had a really good year,” McIntosh said. “Obviously, not a lot of things went wrong for us. It was just really good car preparation and the team effort that put us in position every night to either win or be close to winning. It was a team effort that got us here.”

While 2023 is now nothing but a faded memory in his book, McIntosh has honed several of his skills since then and learned a new level of discipline that brought him more consistency to pair with his trips to Victory Lane in 2024.

“I feel like we’ve just continued to get better and better,” McIntosh said. “We didn’t start winning and then flatline. We’ve always been trying to get better. Keith’s always been looking for new things to improve.”

Kunz was both a witness and a benefactor of McIntosh’s late-season decline in 2023, but still saw his potential. He took that potential and grew it with his own efforts in 2024 and saw his driver evolve from a race winner to a championship closer.

“I think you’ve gotta lose one to really know how to win one,” Kunz said. “That’s the thing is knowing how to win championships. It isn’t your normal mentality of just going racing and racing hard. You really have to have some maturity to win a championship because you’ve gotta take your seconds, your thirds, and not throw away a race. You can’t throw away a top five for a DNF trying to get that win that just ain’t there. Sometimes, you’ve just gotta take what it gives you and settle in.”

Now, McIntosh places his name alongside the other KKM greats of the 21st century. Drake, Clauson, Bell, Larson — the list of open-wheel racing heroes he’s joined goes on for miles, and the path he took to become a part of it is one he won’t forget.

“There’s a lot of big names that have come through Keith and Pete’s stable and a lot of people they’ve put their trust in to go out and do the job,” McIntosh said. “It’s a good feeling when a team like that believes in you to do your job and then you can go out and do it. It’s rewarding, for sure.”

Photo credit — Josh James, Joe Grabianowski

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/how-cannon-mcintosh-matured-reunited-with-kkm-to-clinch-2024-championship/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO:
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

WELL-OILED MACHINE: Hamm-Reilly Fitting Right in with Big Game Motorsports

The native of New York brought plenty of experience to Tod Quiring’s team and hasn’t missed a beat as they chase a championship

JOLIET, IL (October 17, 2024) - Plenty of focus has been placed on David Gravel’s pursuit of his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship, but there’s another member of the Big Game Motorsports team on a similar path toward a first title.

Both Gravel and car chief on the No. 2, Stephen Hamm-Reilly, come from the northeast. And while one drives and the other wrenches, both worked their way through the ranks to earn a spot with one of Sprint Car racing’s premier organizations.

Hamm-Reilly is originally from New York, but a move to Pennsylvania early in life ignited his interest in Sprint Cars. He cites watching Greg Hodnett winning the 2009 National Open aboard Jim and Sandy Kline’s No. 22 as the moment that caused his passion for the sport to take off.

His involvement began by helping friends at the racetrack, and the desire to do more grew and grew.

“What really got me going and wanting to do it for a job was I helped Aaron Ott with my buddy Jake,” Hamm-Reilly said. “And we started running good and being more competitive, and it was a higher level of racing than what I was used to. We would do good when the Outlaws came to town and just be competitive. I had friends of mine like my buddy at the time Derek Miller, we both helped Ryan Wilson, and then he went on the road a little bit before me. And I was like, ‘Well, if he could do it, then it’s something that I’d really like to do.’ And at the time I had a really good job, but I always wanted to go racing. I just took the plunge of going racing full-time.”

That plunge led to his first chance with a nationally touring team as he joined CJB Motorsports midway through 2015. It also brought his first trip to World of Outlaws Victory Lane when Paul McMahan grabbed a Lawrenceburg Speedway win late that year.

But it wasn’t exactly the experience Hamm-Reilly had anticipated, and he chose to head home and get a little more experience.

 “My first race was the Kings Royal because they had somebody leave or needed somebody, so that was my first opportunity really,” Hamm-Reilly recalled. “I will say it was a massive eye-opener at the end of the year. It was a struggle at times. I was probably not as well-prepared as I thought I was. At the end of 2015, realizing that, I actually decided to come back to PA and race locally a little more.”

The time in Pennsylvania that followed allowed him to better prepare himself. Along with adding more knowledge, Hamm-Reilly acquired his CDL to be a more valuable asset when he decided to return to the road. And in 2019, that time came.

Hamm-Reilly hit the highway with Rudeen Racing as the first stop of what would become a stretch of working for some of the sport’s powerhouses. After the year with Rudeen, he spent time working at Roth Motorsports, Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing, and CMS Racing before making his way to Tod Quiring’s South Dakota-based operation. It was a step that brought his career to new heights.

The team, consisting of himself, Gravel, Cody Jacobs, and Zach Patterson lead the nation with 15 Sprint Car victories. Among those is a Kings Royal crown worth $175,000. They lead the World of Outlaws standings by 72 points with seven races remaining.

“Part of the reason why I came here is having the chance to win those races and do those things,” Hamm-Reilly said. “To be honest with you, I was pretty well set on not racing anymore at the end of 2023. And then I talked to Cody a little bit, and he said he’d like to have me and this and that. That’s probably the biggest reason I came here is the fact that we could be in position, I felt like, to win these big races, win big events, and have a shot night in and night out.”

The season has been a rejuvenating one for Hamm-Reilly. At the end of last year, he wasn’t certain if he wanted to continue racing across the country. The 2023 season didn’t go the way he’d hoped, and he wasn’t sure what the future held. Then, a talk with Cody Jacobs persuaded him, and an unforgettable season followed. Now, he’s positioned himself to potentially be a part of a World of Outlaws championship team.

“It’s definitely worked out to be a good decision,” Hamm-Reilly said of joining Big Game Motorsports. “Everything is working really good. I really enjoy working with David, Cody, and Zach. I feel like we all really work well together. It’s like a well-oiled machine at this point.”

Gravel, Hamm-Reilly, and the Big Game crew continue their pursuit of a championship at this weekend’s Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown hosted by Joliet, IL’s Dirt Oval 66. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/well-oiled-machine-hamm-reilly-fitting-right-in-with-big-game-motorsports/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6235
TRACK INFO: https://www.dirtoval66.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Return to Dirt Oval 66 After Seven-Year Absence

The Illinois oval welcomes The Greatest Show on Dirt for Two Nights as the championship battle heats up

JOLIET, IL (October 15, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready for one last stop in the “Land of Lincoln” as #AllDirtRoads continue to bring the tour closer to World of Outlaws World Finals.

After seven years away, The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to return to Joliet, IL’s Dirt Oval 66 for this weekend’s (Oct. 18-19) Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown. The facility, less than an hour south of Chicago, has hosted the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers on nine occasions and will welcome them for the 10th and 11th times this weekend.

The fight atop the standings is tightening, and other battles throughout the points still need settled. Dirt Oval 66 takes center stage this weekend as the action continues to unfold and the 2024 World of Outlaws season rolls toward its conclusion.

BUY FRIDAY DIRT OVAL 66 TICKETS HERE
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WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CLOSER AND CLOSER: Carson Macedo is doing everything he can to bring a fight to David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports when the World of Outlaws World Finals decides a champion, Nov. 6-9.

Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew looked like they might be out of contention a little less than two months ago. They sat third in the standings – a distant 142 markers behind Gravel. But then they caught fire.

Six of the 13 races since that point have been won by Macedo, and he’s only missed the top 10 once. The Lemoore, CA native not only sits second in points, but he’s also slashed the gap between he and Gravel down to 72 points with seven races to go.

The two are even in terms of experience at this weekend’s venue with one appearance apiece. Gravel took the CJB Motorsports machine to a fourth-place finish when the World of Outlaws last visited Joliet in 2017. Macedo’s lone night at Dirt Oval 66 also led to a fourth, but that came with the All-Star Circuit of Champions in 2018 aboard Joe Gaerte’s No. 3G.

WINDY CITY WHEELMAN: There’s no doubt that Donny Schatz will have the upper hand this weekend when it comes to experience.

While many of the current full-timers have only seen the 3/8 mile a time or two or not at all, Schatz has made nine trips to Dirt Oval 66. The driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 is the winner of the two most recent Series visits (2005 and 2017). His average finish there is 5.78, and he’s never come home worse than 12th.

Schatz heads to Joliet fresh off a $20,000 payday from Lincoln Speedway. He’s currently third in the standings with Macedo 86 points ahead.

THE NIGHTMARE’S KNOWLEDGE: There’s one other driver among the current World of Outlaws full-time roster that’s visited Victory Lane at Dirt Oval 66.

In 2017, Bill Balog scored one of his more than 100 wins with the Interstate Racing Association (IRA). The “North Pole Nightmare” also took part in the World of Outlaws race that year, finishing 14th.

But that’s not the extent of Balog’s Joliet laps. He visited the track in 2019 and 2021with the All-Stars and brought home top fives on both occasions. He enters the weekend as one of the most experienced competitors at the northern Illinois facility.

ROOKIE ON A ROLL: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid is piecing together one of the best rookie seasons in World of Outlaws history.

Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports team were solid in the first half of 2024, but since late August they’ve arguably been the fastest car on tour. In the last 14 races, Kofoid has won five, bagged a dozen podiums, and only been outside the top five once. The No. 83’s average finish over that stretch is a staggering 3.2.

The run has helped Kofoid climb to fourth in points with history reasonably within sight. Schatz resides in third with a 72-point advantage over Kofoid. If the Penngrove, CA native can surpass the 10-time champ, he’ll establish a new record for the highest finishing Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

Kofoid’s only trip to Dirt Oval 66 led to a top 10 with the All-Stars driving a Keith Kunz Sprint Car in 2021.

READY FOR REDEMPTION: One competitor heading to Joliet this weekend with redemption in mind is Kraig Kinser.

Seven years ago, Kinser came so close to an impressive Dirt Oval 66 win. The Bloomington, IN native drove all the way from 11th to the lead in five laps. Kinser led for 21 circuits before Donny Schatz came along and wrestled the top spot away with only four circuits remaining as Kinser slipped to eighth in the closing laps.

Kinser is closing in on the conclusion of another season with the World of Outlaws. His best finish with the Premier Motorsports team, so far, is a seventh at Eldora Speedway – a mark he’ll look to better this weekend at a track where he’s proven to have speed.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

Friday-Saturday, October 18-19 at Dirt Oval 66 in Joliet, IL

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CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (60/67 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (8146 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-72 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-158 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-230 PTS)
5. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-332 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-390 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-418 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-940 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1312 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1628 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers): 

14 Wins – David Gravel
10 Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Wins – Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (26 Drivers):

441 Laps – Carson Macedo
329 Laps – David Gravel
220 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
201 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
142 Laps – Donny Schatz
139 Laps – Michael Kofoid
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
52 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
36 Laps – Emerson Axsom
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Chase Randall
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts
20 Laps – Anthony Macri
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
14 Laps – Shane Golobic
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
6 Laps – D.J. Netto
4 Laps – Hunter Schuerenberg
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):

12 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
10 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley, Chase Dietz
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks

HEAT RACE WINNERS (55 Drivers): 

31 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
30 Heat Wins – David Gravel
26 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
19 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
18 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
11 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Donny Schatz
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Brent Marks
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
4 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman
3 Heat Wins – Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson, Brian Brown
2 Heat Wins – Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Emerson Axsom, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall, D.J. Netto, Kasey Kahne, Chase Dietz
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Shane Golobic, Dylan Bloomfield, Kaleb Montgomery, Landon Brooks, Tyler Ross

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (73 Drivers):

42 Dashes – Carson Macedo
41 Dashes – David Gravel
35 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
30 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
21 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
16 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
8 Dashes – Brent Marks
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Anthony Macri
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson, Brian Brown, Chase Dietz
4 Dashes – Brady Bacon, Daryn Pittman, James McFadden
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Justin Peck, Landon Brooks
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Kaleb Montgomery, Skylar Gee
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Justin Sanders, Tanner Carrick, Tim Kaeding, Jock Goodyer, Dylan Bloomfield, Tim Kaeding, Jamie Veal, Kasey Kahne, Tyler Ross, Kyle Reinhardt

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (47 Drivers):

4 LCS Wins – Bill Balog
3 LCS Wins – Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Cole Macedo
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah, Joel Myers Jr., Hunter Schuerenberg, Kody Hartlaub, Lucas Wolfe, Larry Wight, Kyle Larson, Jesse Attard, Dusty Zomer, Chris Windom, Ayrton Gennetten, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Scott Bogucki, Mark Dobmeier, Scott Winters, Christopher Thram, Logan Schuchart, Caeden Steele, Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, Daryn Pittman, Justin Whittall

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (34 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
4 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
3 Hard Chargers – Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson, Tim Kaeding
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Emerson Axsom, Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Estenson, David Gravel, Ryan Bernal, Shane Golobic, Matt Campbell

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

30 Podiums – Carson Macedo
28 Podiums – David Gravel
24 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
22 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Podiums – Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
4 Podiums – Brad Sweet
3 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Logan Schuchart
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, T.J. Stutts, Chase Randall, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding, Daryn Pittman, Chase Dietz

TOP 10 FINISHES (83 Drivers): 

54 Top 10s – David Gravel
49 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
45 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
41 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
30 Top 10s – Bill Balog
15 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
11 Top 10s – Anthony Macri
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Garet Williamson, Brent Marks, James McFadden
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Brad Sweet
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo, Justin Peck
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Chase Randall, Tim Kaeding, Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Daryn Pittman, Troy Wagaman Jr.
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Ayrton Gennetten, Kerry Madsen, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi
1 Top 10 – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Scotty Milan, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley, Devon Borden, T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Stewart Friesen, Jordan Poirier, Larry Wight, Andy Pake, Kaleb Montgomery, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Ryan Bernal, Jock Goodyer, Kyle Moody, Kyle Reinhardt

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1)
4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1)
7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
8. Sat, March 23 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
9. Sat, March 30 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (1)
10. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / David Gravel (2)
11. Sat, April 6 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
12. Fri, April 12 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / David Gravel (3)
13. Sat, April 13 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Donny Schatz (2)
14. Fri, April 19 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
15. Sat, April 20 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)
16. Wed, May 1 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / David Gravel (4)
17. Fri, May 3 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
18. Sat, May 4 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (5)
19. Wed, May 8 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / David Gravel (6)
20. Fri, May 17 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Michael Kofoid (1)
21. Sat, May 18 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / David Gravel (7)
22. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / David Gravel (8)
23. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Mon, May 27 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Carson Macedo (2)
25. Fri, May 31 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
26. Fri, June 7 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
27. Sat, June 8 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
28. Fri, June 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (9)
29. Sat, June 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Corey Day (1)
30. Wed, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Tyler Courtney (2)
31. Sat, June 29 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Logan Schuchart (1)
32. Wed, July 10 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Giovanni Scelzi (3)
33. Fri, July 12 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (3)
34. Sat, July 13 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Donny Schatz (3)
35. Tues, July 16 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (10)
36. Fri, July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (2)
37. Sat, July 20 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (11)
38. Wed, July 24 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / James McFadden (1)
39. Fri, July 26 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / T.J. Stutts (1)
40. Sat, July 27 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (12)
41. Sun, July 28 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (13)
42. Fri, Aug 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, Aug 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, Aug 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
45. Fri, Aug 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4)
46. Sat, Aug 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4)
47. Fri, Aug 23 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
48. Sat, Aug 24 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (6)
49. Fri, Aug 30 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
50. Sat, Aug 31 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Carson Macedo (7)
51. Sun, Sept 1 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (2)
52. Fri, Sept 6 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / Michael Kofoid (3)
53. Sat, Sept 7 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (8)
54. Fri, Sept 13 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Michael Kofoid (4)
55. Sat, Sept 14 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Michael Kofoid (5)
56. Fri, Sept 20 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / David Gravel (14)
57. Sat, Sept 21 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
58. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (6)
59. Sat, Oct 5 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (10)
60. Sat, Oct 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Donny Schatz (5)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-world-of-outlaws-return-to-dirt-oval-66-after-seven-year-absence/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6234
TRACK INFO: https://www.dirtoval66.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

A LITTLE LINCOLN LUCK: Schatz Claims Commanding Keystone Showdown Victory After Haudenschild’s Troubles

The 10-time Series champion banks $20,000 by claiming the year’s final battle with the PA Posse

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (October 12, 2024) - The old saying states that it’s better to be lucky than good. But when you’re both lucky and good, you’re going to be nearly unbeatable.

Such was the case on Saturday night at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway for Donny Schatz. Luck was on his side on the 26th lap when leader Sheldon Haudenschild tagged the fence and got upside down. Haudenschild’s misfortune gifted the lead to Schatz, but a tinge of luck alone wouldn’t lead him to Victory Lane.

When the race restarted, Schatz had arguably the two hottest drivers in Sprint Car racing lined up right behind him. Carson Macedo and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, who had combined to win 12 of the last 15 races entering Lincoln, restarted second and third.

But the 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion was unphased by the potent pair behind him. Schatz drove away over the final 10 laps. He perfected the middle of the 3/8 mile on his way to a nearly three-second win and $20,000 payday.

“Sheldon obviously was the class of the field all night,” Schatz said. “I can’t go up and do that. He did an awesome job up there. It just bit him, and we capitalized on his misfortune, obviously.

“This is huge. At this point in the game, it’s beyond confidence. We’re all confident in what we do. It’s just the results. This isn’t a game of I said I did this. It’s about putting it on paper and putting money in the bank. These guys work their tails off. The funny part is, I don’t think people realize that you have to work just as hard to run 14th as you do to win a race. So, hats off to them. It’s just an awesome night all around. Going out late (in Qualifying), we didn’t know that we were going to have a great shot at getting qualified well, but we did. We got ourselves through that Heat Race after I made a mistake on the first lap. We just kept digging all night long, and sometimes that’s what it takes.”

Schatz’s fifth win of 2024 bumped him up to 316 for his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Saturday marked his second score at Lincoln, becoming the 10th different driver with multiple World of Outlaws wins at the Pigeon Hills Oval. It’s Schatz’s first checkered flag from the state of Pennsylvania since his 2020 National Open title.

The night also punctuated a statement season from the World of Outlaws in their rivalry with the PA Posse. The band of travelers claimed five of the seven faceoffs in 2024 to carry bragging rights into next year.

Well before the luck came around for Schatz, he showed that his Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 would be in contention early in the race.

He lined up seventh for the 35-lapper and wasted no time getting to work by moving to fifth on the opening circuit. The Fargo, ND driver settled in there for a while before advancing to fourth on the 10th circuit and third two laps later.

Lap 18 is when Schatz muscled by Kofoid for the runner-up spot and looked to chase down Haudenschild. Schatz stayed with Haudenschild on a restart shortly after he took over second, but he couldn’t quite find the speed to pass him. The Carquest No. 15 paced the NOS Energy Drink No. 17, but that was all Schatz could manage.

And then disaster struck for Haudenschild with only 10 laps to go as he got a little too high in Turn 3 and clipped the wall before getting upside down.

That proved to be all Schatz needed as he took advantage of the good fortune by pulling away on his path to victory.

“I was just trying to roll with what speed I had there,” Schatz explained. “Early in the race, I tried to stay down there, but there was just a little bit of moisture right up next to the wall. Your car gets really weird when you’ve got two tires on the edge of it and two in the slick. I guess I was just doing too much seesawing. I just tried to slow it down and keep it stuck, and it worked obviously.”

The runner-up position belonged to Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew. With David Gravel finishing ninth, Macedo trimmed 14 more points off the gap between the two, and it now sits at 72 markers with seven races to go.

“Hats off to Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn, they gave me a great race car,” Macedo said. “I felt like I was really competitive the whole race. I started fifth and was able to kind of march up through there. Happy to put this JJR No. 41 back on the podium.”

Kofoid brought the Roth Motorsports No. 83 home third at Lincoln. The Penngrove, CA native and the Roth team continued their incredible recent stretch with a 12th podium in the last 14 races.

“Happy to be on the podium in central Pennsylvania,” Kofoid said. “This is probably one of the toughest tracks we come to. With it being that slick and that wide and that technical, it makes it even harder. That’s just a testament to Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra) and their abilities and giving me a good car that can race good and be good in dirty air.”

Danny Dietrich and Chase Dietz completed the top five to represent the PA Posse.

A 25th to 11th drive earned Matt Campbell the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Chase Dietz claimed his second career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, Chase Dietz, and Carson Macedo. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Tyler Ross.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Justin Whittall won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Logan Schuchart.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only appearance in the “Land of Lincoln” this year with a two-night (Oct. 18-19) return to Joliet, IL’s Dirt Oval 66 for the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich[14]; 5. 2D-Chase Dietz[8]; 6. 99M-Kyle Moody[18]; 7. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[16]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 9. 2-David Gravel[19]; 10. 91-Kyle Reinhardt[4]; 11. X-Matt Campbell[25]; 12. 8-Freddie Rahmer[12]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 14. 5R-Tyler Ross[2]; 15. 1X-Chad Trout[20]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[24]; 17. 23-Justin Whittall[21]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[22]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 20. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[11]; 21. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[15]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 23. 19R-Mark Smith[13]; 24. 75-Cameron Smith[17]; 25. 39-Kody Hartlaub[26]; 26. 6B-Ryan Smith[23]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/a-little-lincoln-luck-schatz-claims-commanding-keystone-showdown-victory-after-haudenschilds-troubles/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4544379
TRACK INFO: https://www.lincolnspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

GRATEFUL: McQuinn’s Change of Plans Leads to Unforgettable Year with Jason Johnson Racing

After no plans to be on the road in 2024, the JJR car chief is now looking at a possible World of Outlaws championship

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (October 11, 2024) - Eight months ago, a text appeared on Robby McQuinn’s phone that completely changed the trajectory of his year.

He was in Florida helping Zach Daum during Volusia Speedway Park’s DIRTcar Nationals already with change on the horizon. After two years on Noah Gass’ team following the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour, McQuinn’s 2024 plans featured a move to Washington to work for Greg Hamilton.

And then came a text from Carson Macedo asking him to call.

Macedo wanted to know if he might want to join Jason Johnson Racing as they were in search of a car chief. Before he knew it, McQuinn had moved into their team shop in Eldon, MO and was back with a full-time World of Outlaws team.

It didn’t take long for a breakthrough moment to come. On McQuinn’s fourth night with the team, Macedo took the No. 41 to Victory Lane at Kennedale Speedway Park. It’ll forever be a special moment for McQuinn as it marked his first night on a World of Outlaws winning crew.

“Just talking about it now I get chills. It’s something that, for a while, I never thought I’d get the feeling of achieving,” McQuinn said of the Kennedale victory. “I can remember standing up there and watching it. There’s five to go, and I’m counting down. We’re catching traffic, and David (Gravel) is charging. Carson doesn’t know the top is coming in in (Turns) 3 and 4. I’m getting nervous. Then the checkered flies, and it was just a surreal moment that you’re never going to feel again because you’re never going to win your first Outlaw race again. It was super cool and a moment I’ll never forget and a night I’ll never forget.”

Macedo and company haven’t slowed since. They’re up to 10 wins and in the thick of the title fight, 86 markers behind David Gravel with eight races to go. McQuinn has fit right into the mold of JJR.

“He came on board and has just done a phenomenal job,” Macedo said. “We knew that he was going to be a good fit right away because we had seen his ethic. When we reached out to Randy Gass and asked, ‘What do you think of Robby?’ he had nothing but great things to say. That really helped us make that decision, and he’s kind of hit the road running ever since. He does a great job. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s got a great attitude. He’s really been a great asset to our team.”

A year on the road with the team established by the “Ragin’ Cajun” has not only allowed McQuinn to enjoy loads of success, it’s also been a major learning experience. Working for JJR means working for one of the most respected car owners/crew chiefs in the sport, Philip Dietz.

“It’s been a blessing for me,” McQuinn said. “I’ve learned a lot this year, almost a different way of thinking for me personally because Phil is very calculated. He doesn’t make a change that he hasn’t already thought through in his head once if not twice maybe even three times. He’s an engineer by trade, so his mind thinks a little differently than most. For me, it’s been a real eye opener to see the way he goes about setting up a Sprint Car and just handling day to day operations.”

The peak of their 2024 campaign arrived just this past weekend at Williams Grove Speedway. Macedo drove to a National Open title, making McQuinn a winner of one of the sport’s most prestigious crown jewels.

It’s a moment that caused McQuinn to reflect. Less than a year before his racing journey looked to be heading in an entirely different direction. One that would’ve removed him from the national scene. Instead, his dreams are coming true with Jason Johnson Racing.

“When we were driving back from “The Grove” I was sitting there in the passenger seat just thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I almost wasn’t even in this position’” McQuinn said. “I was almost in Washington not even on the road. To me just riding in the truck I think that’s when it hit me. Not even that we won the National Open, but it hit me that I was about a month away from not even being in this position to contend for a championship and win a crown jewel and win 10 races and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. In the moment, I was just very grateful for everything that has happened.”

And while the National Open is currently the highlight of the season, there’s an opportunity for McQuinn to reach the sport’s mountaintop. Macedo sits second in the standings with a handful of races to go and a manageable gap between himself and Gravel. That single text back in February has led McQuinn to a dream season and put him in a position he never imagined.

“We’ve just kept rolling and rolling, and the next thing you know we’re not too far behind David again in the points,” McQuinn said. “And we’ve got one goal in mind for the rest of the year.”

Macedo, McQuinn, and the entire Jason Johnson Racing crew continue their pursuit of a World of Outlaws championship this Saturday, Oct. 12 at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/grateful-mcquinns-change-of-plans-leads-to-unforgettable-year-with-jason-johnson-racing/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4544379
TRACK INFO: https://www.lincolnspeedway.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/