World of Outlaws

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.

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/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO:

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.

“I think it’ll be alright,” Thornton said about jumping between the two cars. “I think the biggest hurdle is having the Sprint Car up top (in the upper pits) and the Late Model down below. That side of it, luckily, Bernie and all of them will have everything fully taken care of up there so I can just hop in and go. Where with the Late Model I’m a lot more involved. I kind of have to focus on both.

“But, obviously, one of our goals with the Sprint Car, at least for me, is to make the race, then just kind of go from there and see how we do. I feel like on our Late Model side, our car has been really good lately. We won the race last year, so we want to back that up.”

He won't have to worry about there being speed in his No. 71 ride as it’s already visited Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Giovanni Scelzi piloted it to a win during the Patriot Nationals in 2019, out dueling Kyle Larson for the win. In total, Stuebgen has seen his car score three World of Outlaws victories – two with Scelzi and one with Shane Stewart.

Thornton was able to get some early laps around the 4/10-mile dirt track in the Indy Race Parts car during a couple of recent test sessions. He turned competitive laps, holding times in the 13 second bracket. Sheldon Haudenschild set overall Quick Time last year with a 13.694 second lap.

“I felt really good,” Thornton said about the test. “I made good laps and learned a few little things that’ll help me, as far as if it’s Qualifying or something like that. Overall, I had a blast. I jumped back and forth one day between the Late Model and the Sprint Car. It’s hard to realize how much faster the Sprint Car is until you get back in the Late Model. Like, I knew I was going fast, and then I ran the Late Model, and I was like, man, you’re going way faster than you really think about. Not that you’re nervous or anything like that. You just don’t realize it until you do go back-to-back.”

It's a factor that may prove beneficial when he tries to repeat his Late Model victories. But overall, he said any track time, no matter the car, will be helpful track time.

World Finals is his only Sprint Car race on his radar right now, but Thornton didn't turn down the idea of adding more races next year.

"Ideally, if I could run 10 races next year, that’d be awesome," he said. "Obviously, our Late Model program is really good. I love Sprint Cars at the same time but if I could still run the Late Model full time and run the Sprint Car on off weekends or something like that, it would be pretty special."

You can see Thornton compete with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models during the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

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

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):

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):

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)

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
BUY SATURDAY DIRT OVAL 66 TICKETS HERE

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

ON THE INTERNET

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)

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/

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series Bringing Exciting Championship Battles to World Finals

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 9, 2024) – Dirt racing’s three premier series are set to bring close championship battles to the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series will be on track for four straight days with qualifying on Wednesday (Nov. 6) and Feature action Thursday through Saturday (Nov. 7-9).

All three series have championships up for grabs and history to be made with each one. For the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, David Gravel currently leads the charge with Carson Macedo in tow – both looking for their first World of Outlaws championship. However, they still have five more races before making the trek to Charlotte.

The World of Outlaws Late Models have a three-way battle for the title with Brandon Sheppard leading, looking for a record fifth series title, Bobby Pierce in second (-44 points) looking for his second straight title and Nick Hoffman in third (-50 points) looking for his first title in his second full-time season.

Super DIRT Week 52 will set the stage for the Super DIRTcar Series title fight, currently led by 10-time Series champion Matt Sheppard. Mat Williamson is behind him by 27 points. An 11th title for Sheppard would give him the most all time. And for Williamson, it would be his second Series title. He won his first in 2019 – beating Sheppard.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series will run their normal World Finals programs with qualifying on Wednesday for Thursday and Friday’s events. They'll collect points those two days to line up the Heat Races on Saturday.

But the Late Models will utilize the “every lap matters” format where drivers will earn points for where they qualify, where they finish in their Heat Race, where they finish in the Last Chance Showdown (if they don’t make the Feature) and where they finish in the Feature – Thursday and Friday only. That will determine which 16 Late Model drivers are locked into Saturday’s Feature (based on their best points finish between the two nights). Two Dashes will determine how the top 16 drivers start in Saturday’s Feature.

Along with the on-track action, fans will be treated to a plethora of activities and entertainment throughout the week.

Wednesday kicks off the fun with a Fan Fest party at noon in the midway. The Sage Fruit Stage will feature pre-race shows and music all week long.

Friday will feature one of the most unique visuals in all of motorsports with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models and Big Block Modifieds on track together for the 3X4 parade lap.

And before the start of the event, fans can watch their favorite team haulers parade into the track (in front of the ZMax Dragway) on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m.

Opening ceremonies is schedule for 4:45 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday and then will start at 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For the full World of Outlaws World Finals schedule, click here.

TICKETS – Available HERE.
HOW TO WATCH – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

2023 VIDEO RECAPS
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars (Nov. 4, 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oXvAyrhMIc

World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models (Nov. 4, 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBZJLnjVGDM

Super DIRTcar Series (Nov. 4, 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1hYketHdGk

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Final World of Outlaws, PA Posse Battle of 2024 Brings Rivalry to Lincoln

The last Pennsylvania race of the year puts $20,000 up for grabs at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (October 8, 2024) - Another chapter of Sprint Car racing’s most historic rivalry writes its final page this weekend.

Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway is set to host the last round of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battling the Pennsylvania Posse for 2024. The oval nestled in the Pigeon Hills welcomes the two sides this Saturday, Oct. 12 for a $20,000-to-win punctuation to the year’s PA slate.

The Greatest Show on Dirt has made 53 trips to Lincoln (tied for 16th-most visited), but this weekend’s bout will be the first in the month of October.

One last opportunity for bragging rights awaits the World of Outlaws and PA Posse on Saturday. It’s a chance to get the last laugh for the year before the rivalry is rekindled in 2025. Both sides are ready for one last battle.

BUY LINCOLN TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at Saturday’s top storylines:

THE SCOREBOARD: One race may remain, but the World of Outlaws have already secured bragging rights for the year.

Six battles between the two have taken place so far in 2024. The travelers of the World of Outlaws have claimed four. David Gravel kicked things off with a victory at this weekend’s venue – Lincoln – on May 8, giving Big Game Motorsports 100 Series wins. He also topped Williams Grove’s Summer Nationals in July to give himself 100 Series wins. Then this past weekend Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Carson Macedo split Williams Grove glory to make it a sweep for California Outlaws.

The Posse’s one night of bragging rights came in July when T.J. Stutts pulled off an all-time upset at Williams Grove to give PA possession of the Morgan Cup. Then the one other contest saw James McFadden invade BAPS Motor Speedway in the summer and steal the spotlight.

Of the last 10 World of Outlaws races at Lincoln, six have went to the World of Outlaws, a trio to the PA Posse, and one to an invader.

NOT GOING QUIETLY: National Open weekend started off looking like it might put the nail in the coffin for Carson Macedo, but he refuses to go quietly in the 2024 championship battle.

The Lemoore, CA native lined up 25th in the prelim Feature after using a provisional while point leader David Gravel lined up 19 spots ahead in six. By the time the checkered flag waved, Macedo had moved all the way up to 12th while Gravel slipped back two positions to eighth. The next night Macedo won the National Open while Gravel finished sixth, keeping hope alive as he trimmed Gravel’s advantage to 86 markers.

Now the championship fight between the two shifts to Lincoln. Macedo took the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to a third place finish at the 3/8 mile in May when Gravel won. Macedo has conquered Lincoln twice, beating the All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) in 2018 and topping a 2020 local race.

LINCOLN LOVE: The current roster of World of Outlaws sure seems to enjoy trips to Abbottstown, PA. Along with Gravel and Macedo’s prior success, every driver currently in the top seven of the Series standings has won at Lincoln at some point in time.

Donny Schatz made a trip to Lincoln Victory Lane back in 2016 in World of Outlaws competition. The Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing pilot also came close in 2013 with a runner-up.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid holds the fourth spot in points, and two years ago the Penngrove, CA native invaded a local show aboard Bernie Stuebgen’s No. 71 and came out on top. He and Roth Motorsports roll to Lincoln with the momentum of five wins in the last nine races this year.

Back in their “true outlaw” days, Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing dropped into central PA in October of 2022 and walked away with a Lincoln score from a local contest. “Hot Sauce” finished second in the May World of Outlaws visit.

Wooster, OH’s Sheldon Haudenschild is one of 27 competitors to top a Lincoln World of Outlaws race but only the fourth from the “Buckeye State” alongside Rick Ferkel, Brad Doty, and Dave Blaney. Haudenschild drove the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 to victory in 2020.

Logan Schuchart is yet to best The Greatest Show on Dirt at Lincoln, but back before he joined the tour the Hanover, PA native earned a pair of local trophies in 2013. His best World of Outlaws finish at his home track is a runner-up in 2020.

While he’s not an active full-time driver, Dylan Cisney is filling in for the sidelined Bill Rose and has experienced Lincoln success. “The Mayor” picked up a pair of local triumphs in 2020 at the 3/8 mile.

PA PRIDE: While the World of Outlaws may have already locked up rivalry bragging rights for 2024, that won’t stop the Posse from putting forth their best effort to go out on top in the final bout of the season.

To no surprise it’s been Anthony Macri leading the way among the locals at Lincoln in 2024. The Gettysburg, PA native owns five Lincoln checkered flags this year including $20,000 scores at the Weldon Sterner Memorial (April 20) and Kevin Gobrecht Memorial (Sept. 1). Last year Macri beat the World of Outlaws at Lincoln in May with a last lap, last corner pass.

Both Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg, PA) and Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville, PA) are united in being one-time winners at Lincoln this year that have also toppled the World of Outlaws there. Dietrich and Gary Kauffman Racing went back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 while Rahmer got the job done in 2018.

Back in May Troy Wagaman Jr. scored his first career World of Outlaws top 10 at Lincoln. He and the Heffner Racing team have been a potent pairing and have topped a pair of local Lincoln races this year.

York, PA’s Chase Dietz is fresh off bagging his first podium with The Greatest Show on Dirt during the National Open prelim. He’s won once at Lincoln this year back on April 7 and has been on the podium with a second and a third in his two most recent appearances in the Pigeon Hills.

Other Lincoln winners in 2024 expected to compete on Saturday include Matt Campbell (Fawn Grove, PA), Aaron Bollinger (Birds Boro, PA), and Tyler Ross (Lincoln University, PA).

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Saturday, October 12 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (59/67 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (8014 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-86 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-176 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-242 PTS)
5. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-318 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-370 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-392 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-932 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1288 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1610 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

14 Wins – David Gravel
10 Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Wins – Michael Kofoid
4 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
177 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
138 Laps – Michael Kofoid
132 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
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
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks

HEAT RACE WINNERS (54 Drivers):

30 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
25 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
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, Chase Dietz, 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

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (70 Drivers):

41 Dashes – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
35 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
34 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
29 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
21 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
20 Dashes – Donny Schatz
16 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
8 Dashes – Brent Marks
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson, Brian Brown
4 Dashes – Brady Bacon, Daryn Pittman, Chase Dietz, 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

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (46 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (33 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

29 Podiums – Carson Macedo
28 Podiums – David Gravel
23 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
22 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 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 (81 Drivers):

53 Top 10s – David Gravel
49 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
48 Top 10s – 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
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Garet Williamson, Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, 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
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Chase Dietz Daryn Pittman
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Troy Wagaman Jr., 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

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-final-world-of-outlaws-pa-posse-battle-of-2024-brings-rivalry-to-lincoln/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4544379
TRACK INFO: https://www.lincolnspeedway.com/

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

NATTY O NUMBER TWO: Carson Macedo Survives Haudenschild’s Last Gasp for Second National Open Title

A National Open title continues the recent hot stretch for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing

MECHANICSBURG, PA (October 5, 2024) - What a difference a handful of hours makes for Carson Macedo.

After fog postponed the remainder of Friday’s program, Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway began with he and the Jason Johnson Racing crew requiring a provisional to start the prelim Feature for the WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit.

Macedo was able to salvage the evening by advancing from 25th to 12th to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger. But it was still a subpar showing from the championship caliber crew.

Fast forward a few hours to a fresh start, and Macedo and the JJR crew brought out their A-game when it mattered most. They topped the charts in Flight B of Sea Foam Qualifying, won their Heat Race, and moved from third to second in the Toyota Dash to secure a front row starting spot. Then in the main event, Macedo secured the lead on Lap 8 with a pass on Anthony Macri and survived a late charge from Sheldon Haudenschild for his second National Open title worth $75,000.

“Man, hats off to Philip Dietz (crew chief). That was incredible,” Macedo said. “The first half of that race was unbelievable. I’ve never had a car that was that good here. It just could basically go anywhere that Anthony wasn’t and make more speed. I just like I was really stuck and really maneuverable. Hats off to Philip, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman. They’ve worked their tails off. They came back from a rough night last night and the day show. We came back and won the National Open. That’s pretty special.

“It means a lot to be standing up here. I never thought I’d be a two-time National Open champion. The first time I came here I was so bad, so to win the National Open twice is pretty incredible.”

Adding the 62nd National Open to his 2021 title in the crown jewel, Macedo became the 14th different driver with multiple victories in the event and first from the state of California. He’s now up to 10 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car wins in 2024, marking his third double-digit win season. His third Series win at Williams Grove is the 45th overall of his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s also been a nice, little lucrative stretch for Macedo as he adds the $75,000 to the $83,000 he scored at the Dennis Roth Classic two weeks ago.

Macri sat as the pole-sitter for the 40 lapper, and the “Concrete Kid” pulled ahead early when the green flag flew.

But Macedo didn’t let him get far as he stayed within striking distance and searched all over the track for a little extra speed. No matter where he moved the #41, his ride was fast. Macedo completed an early slider for the lead that Macri crossed over. But the next one on Lap 8 stuck as Macri couldn’t find the momentum to slip back ahead of Macedo.

“I think my car was just so maneuverable,” Macedo said. “It seemed like he was maybe not quite as maneuverable. It maybe seemed like I was going really hard early in the race, but I just knew track position was going to be so important. I knew I couldn’t let it slip. I needed to get to the lead as quick as I could and kind of pace my own race. It’s crazy the difference in how your car feels when you’re out front here.”

Once he got the top spot, Macedo was off to the races for a while. The Lemoore, CA driver took off and settled into a rhythm at the front of the pack. It wasn’t until lapped traffic became a bigger issue that the result looked in doubt.

The 28-year-old got a little held up and allowed Haudenschild to close in during the final laps. Haudenschild had the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 glued to Macedo by the time the white flag waved. He looked for a run as they made their final trip down the back straightaway, but he couldn’t quite locate the speed necessary as Macedo narrowly claimed the “Natty O” for the second time.

“Late in the race the top was really far around,” Macedo said. “There were some grip strips that I was able to kind of catch and drive through most of the race, and those started going away at the end. Traffic was all running the bottom. I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to go down there and follow them. I got to Chad Trout there and just was struggling. I didn’t know what to do in (Turns) 1 and 2. Sheldon kind of showed me a nose down there on the bottom, and I moved down for a lap or two. Then we took the white (flag), and I was so nervous to run down in there and follow him and end up in no man’s land off of (Turn) 2 and get passed going into (Turn) 3. So, I moved up a lane and luckily got off Turn 2. Once I got off Turn 2 okay, I knew I was going to be okay.”

Haudenschild earned a nice $30,000 payday with the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew for finishing runner-up – his best National Open outing. He needed just a little more time and perhaps some slightly better track position when the race was winding down.

“I think we were really good there at the beginning,” Haudenschild explained. “We made some changes after that red. I wasn’t very comfortable with my fuel load. Once it got burnt off, I had to work on J-Mac (James McFadden) there again. Once I got by him, I felt really good. I felt like I could move around in (Turns) 1 and 2 and (Turns) 3 and 4. Once I moved up in (Turs) 3 and 4, I could make a lot of straightaway speed.”

Rounding out the National Open podium was Brad Sweet in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 after wheeling from 12th. The five-time Series World of Outlaws champion might’ve been in the battle for the National Open title had he started a tad closer to the front.

“We had a really good car,” Sweet said. “We came from 12th. I’m just disappointed because we had such a good car in the main event but kind of gave up so much track position with a bad start in the Heat. That one was on me. I just didn’t get going and over-slowed my entry into (Turn) 1 and missed the Dash. It’s really important to have track position here. But my guys rallied, and we had a really good car in the main event.”

James McFadden and Anthony Macri completed the top five.

Bill Balog grabbed the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger with a massive 27th to ninth drive.

David Gravel scored his 10th Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 120th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Carson Macedo, and Sheldon Haudenschild. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Brian Brown.

Anthony Macri topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Daryn Pittman 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 battle the PA Posse one last time in 2024 with $20,000 on the line on 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.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[12]; 4. 83SR-James McFadden[6]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 6. 2-David Gravel[3]; 7. 19-Brent Marks[10]; 8. 13-Justin Peck[9]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[27]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart[17]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[11]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[16]; 13. 58-Chase Randall[15]; 14. 48-Danny Dietrich[24]; 15. 99-Skylar Gee[7]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]; 17. 11-TJ Stutts[14]; 18. 83-Michael Kofoid[25]; 19. 9-Kasey Kahne[20]; 20. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 21. 1X-Chad Trout[18]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[19]; 23. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[22]; 24. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[28]; 25. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[23]; 26. 69K-Daryn Pittman[21]; 27. 2D-Chase Dietz[4]; 28. 8R-Freddie Rahmer[26]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/natty-o-number-two-carson-macedo-survives-haudenschilds-last-gasp-for-second-national-open-title/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6231
TRACK INFO: https://www.williamsgrove.com

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

Cannon McIntosh Crowned 2024 Champion, Gavin Miller Wins Finale at Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, IL (Oct. 5, 2024) — Cannon McIntosh has waited since the dawning of his Midget career in 2017 for the day he’d hoist a national championship trophy. At last, his day has arrived.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, was officially crowned 2024 champion of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Saturday night at Jacksonville Speedway after a runner-up finish in the main event.

With a total of six Feature wins, 20 top-fives and 21 top-10 finishes through 22 events, McIntosh clinched his first career national Midget series championship, as well as the 18th in team history for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM). The Columbus, IN-based team, led by co-owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby, also garnered its second consecutive Xtreme Outlaw Series championship after capturing the gold in 2023.

Only minutes removed from his crowning moment, McIntosh was already beginning to feel the weight of his accomplishment.

“It’s a special feeling, obviously I won’t ever forget it,” he said. “Hopefully, I continue to grow in my career, and hopefully this is just the beginning.”

Parked next to McIntosh in Victory Lane was KKM teammate and Feature winner Gavin Miller, who topped the field in the 30-lap main event, leading all but two laps to score his first Midget win of 2024 and third career Series victory.

Before Saturday, Miller, 17, of Allentown, PA, had not won a Midget race since Xtreme Outlaw Series championship weekend in 2023. He battled injury in the beginning of the season and was forced to take time off, but soon recovered and for championship weekend was paired with veteran KKM crew chief Beau Binder.

Together, the duo put together one of the car’s strongest showings of the season.

“I felt amazing, thanks to Beau with this new pairing coming into this weekend and knowing that he communicates very well to me, and all his drivers in general,” Miller said. “He got the car where I liked it, and it felt great.”

From the drop of the green, Miller was strong, passing polesitter Ethan Mitchell on the outside lane on Lap 3 — right-rear tire leaning hard on the 1/4-mile bullring’s cushion. Miller soon sped off, opening up a gap of over two seconds as he entered lapped traffic near the halfway point.

When second-place Corbin Rueschenberg brought out the caution with 14 laps complete, Miller was tasked with surviving the one and only restart of the race with Chase McDermand and Mitchell on his tail.

“I felt confident that I could put that car wherever I needed to be on that racetrack,” Miller said. “I didn’t really know where anybody was when I got to lapped traffic, but luckily the lapped cars were on the bottom, so I felt confident enough where I could just circle the top and they wouldn’t be able to slide me if they were behind me.”

Miller handled the restart with great skill, keeping the field behind him as McDermand and McIntosh — who made the pass on Mitchell to take third on the restart — began to mount a charge for the lead.

When McDermand and McIntosh engaged in a slidejob-filled battle for the runner-up spot in the closing laps, Miller pulled away and crossed underneath the checkered flags to secure the $5,000 check.

Shut out of Xtreme Victory Lane for almost a full year, Miller said he had begun to question his abilities in the driver’s seat, but kept his trust in the process and has finally made it back.

“There was a lot of doubting myself just because of that, and a lot of [asking], ‘Is this for me?’ because of that,” he said. “Just being confident every night and having people who believe in you is probably the best thing for me.”

After winning the slider war with McDermand in the final laps, McIntosh crossed the finish line in second, officially sealing his championship points title.

“We almost closed it out the best way you can, with a win, but I just came up short,” McIntosh said. “I think starting too far back on a track with that fast of a pace is hard to make up ground with only one caution. It was tough to really do anything. But we did our job going into tonight, so it took the weight off of our shoulders early and we were able to just go have fun.”

McIntosh’s first national championship will be one he’ll remember forever, especially considering what he lost the year prior. The Midget world watched as his 121-point gap slowly withered away in the second half of the 2023 schedule, later losing the lead entirely to eventual champion Jade Avedisian before championship weekend in Oklahoma.

But over the offseason, McIntosh reconnected with Kunz and the KKM team — where he’d spent the entirety of the 2020 season — and later set out on the road to chase the Xtreme Outlaw Series championship. Their decision paid off, winning six races and now a championship, restoring McIntosh’s confidence and continuing KKM’s strong grip on the national Midget world.

“Last year was tough,” McIntosh said. “Midway through the season feeling great about it, winning races, and then everything went dead on us. Having to change teams midway through the year and feeling really down on my confidence… just not knowing if I’m able to win races again.

“Being able to get back in Keith’s car this year and win races and close it out with a championship is a good feeling.”

For their 2024 campaign, Kunz took up crew chief duties with McIntosh, working with him on several driving skills that improved his consistency from years previous. That shows in the stats column, as McIntosh recorded only two finishes outside the top five all season.

Now, McIntosh adds his name to a long list of open-wheel heroes to have won a championship with KKM, dating back to the team’s formation in the late 1990s.

“It’s cool, even as long as Keith’s been doing this — he’s won so many races — seeing how happy he still is every single race we win; he’s pumped as much as I am,” McIntosh said. “It’s cool for us to be able to do this together and enjoy moments like these.”

McDermand crossed the stripe in third, and in doing so, sealed himself a third-place finish in the championship points standings after coming into the weekend 35 points behind Ashton Torgerson. Karter Sarff drove from 10th on the starting grid to finish fourth, and Kameron Key completed the top five.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 97-Gavin Miller[2]; 2. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[9]; 3. 40-Chase McDermand[3]; 4. 21K-Karter Sarff[10]; 5. 5U-Kameron Key[5]; 6. 67-Ryan Timms[12]; 7. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[14]; 8. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[1]; 9. 7U-Zach Daum[19]; 10. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[7]; 11. 68-Jacob Denney[17]; 12. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[20]; 13. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[4]; 14. 83-Will Armitage[8]; 15. 51B-Joe B Miller[15]; 16. 55-Trevor Cline[6]; 17. 50-Daniel Adler[11]; 18. 98-Gunnar Setser[21]; 19. 16TH-Kevin Newton[13]; 20. 16C-David Camfield Jr[16]; 21. 14S-Tyler Edwards[18]; 22. 17-Parker Jones[22]

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/recap/cannon-mcintosh-crowned-2024-champion-gavin-miller-wins-finale-at-jacksonville/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6140
TRACK INFO: https://jacksonvillespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

DAYTIME SPECIAL: Buddy Kofoid Wins WEIS Markets National Open Prelim

MECHANICSBURG, PA (Oct. 5, 2024) – Taking a moment to himself in his No. 83 Sprint Car, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid held his head against his helmet, eyes closed.

He’d just picked up his sixth win of his rookie season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, but his first at the historic Williams Grove Speedway during the WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit opener.

“I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I’ve ever finished in the top 10 here with the Outlaws and we just won it,” Kofoid said. “Probably my hardest track I’ve been to. But it is just a testament to Dylan (Buswell, his crew chief) and his abilities. I’m just the lucky guy that gets to drive it.

“This is the most fun I’ve ever had and best I’ve ever been in a Sprint Car. Any race car in my career.”

Kofoid started fourth in the 25-lap prelim Feature – which was pushed to Saturday evening before the $75,000-to-win WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit after dense fog created safety issues Friday night. PA Posse member Chase Dietz scored the pole position by winning the Toyota Dash and Giovanni Scelzi started next to him.

When the race commenced, Scelzi darted ahead of Dietz in the first corner and Kofoid tested a three-wide pass through the middle off Turn 2 but eased out of it and fell in line behind Scelzi, taking second from Dietz.

With clean air, Scelzi pulled away from Kofoid by about a second in the opening laps, but the Roth Motorsports No. 83 found its rhythm early.

By the time Scelzi caught the back of the field on Lap 6, Kofoid was also breathing down his neck. The two drag raced down the front stretch and Kofoid threw his car ahead of Scelzi going into Turns 1 and 2, taking the lead. Two laps later, Scelzi also fell victim to Dietz.

As Kofoid battled slower traffic, Dietz started to close in. Their runs came to a halt on Lap 15 when Brent Marks and Scelzi collided in Turn 4, sending Scelzi outside the track. Scelzi walked away unharmed.

When the race resumed, Kofoid launched ahead of the field and Pittman made a charge to second-place past Dietz. But before Pittman could try to formulate a run, another red flag came out three laps later for T.J. Stutts getting upside down.

On the final restart of the Feature, Kofoid had another stellar launch, pulling ahead of Pittman by several car lengths. That propelled him to a more than four second lead by the time he found the checkered flag.

“I don’t believe in perfection, but this car was damn near perfect,” Kofoid said. “Probably the only thing that made me nervous was we couldn’t take off good. I kind of stumbled quite a bit. But I figured if I keep my pace up and just go around the top the long way I could get a good enough gap to enter on the top.”

Pittman, who finished second in the National Open last year, finished second in the prelim, knowing what he'll need to do to win his first National Open title later in the night.

“I had a shot at him. We restarted right on his bumper, that was the closest I got to him for the rest of the race,” Pittman said. “We just didn’t have anything for him. They’ve been one of the cars to beat in the country, no matter where they go the last month or two.

“But our car is really good, for us to go from seventh to second… We just didn’t have the all-out speed. Face it, I’m not going to pound the top as hard as some of these guys do and Buddy is one of the best at it. Our shot is to get around the bottom or middle.”

Dietz rounded out the podium, scoring his career-best finish with the World of Outlaws and first top-five finish with the Series.

“This is awesome for our team,” Dietz said. “Just a massive thank you to all of my crew, sponsors, family. It has been a helluva ride the last two years now. We’ve been very strong and just getting better and better. There, in the Feature, I didn’t want that red flag with Gio, because I was just getting up there to Buddy. I felt like we were better at that point. Just how these races play out.”

With a 25th to 12th run, Carson Macedo earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Reigning National Open champion Brent Marks claimed the Simpson Pole Award in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Daryn Pittman, Brent Marks and David Gravel. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Kasey Kahne.

Jacob Allen won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

And the Smith Titanium Break Systems Brake of the Race went to Scelzi.

UP NEXT: Later this evening, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle the PA Posse for the biggest crown jewel prize in Pennsylvania – the $75,000-to-win WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit at Williams Grove Speedway.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 laps) 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 2. 69K-Daryn Pittman[7]; 3. 2D-Chase Dietz[1]; 4. 19-Brent Marks[5]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri[8]; 7. 83SR-James McFadden[10]; 8. 2-David Gravel[6]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 10. 13-Justin Peck[12]; 11. 67-Justin Whittall[13]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[25]; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne[3]; 14. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[22]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart[27]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III[16]; 17. 58-Chase Randall[14]; 18. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[18]; 19. 8-Cory Eliason[24]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen[21]; 21. 28M-Conner Morrell[23]; 22. 11-TJ Stutts[11]; 23. 8R-Freddie Rahmer[26]; 24. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[28]; 25. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 26. 49-Brad Sweet[19]; 27. 22-Brandon Spithaler[20]; 28. 21-Brian Brown[17]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/daytime-special-buddy-kofoid-wins-weis-markets-national-open-prelim/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6230
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/tracks/?track=Williams+Grove+Speedway

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

Zach Daum Wins at Jacksonville After Timms, Miller Tangle in Final Corner

JACKSONVILLE, IL (Oct. 4, 2024) — Speed. Slider. Crash. Checkered. Friday’s Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota main event had a finish like none other in 2024.

When race leader Ryan Timms and teammate Gavin Miller tangled and crashed into the inside wall in the final corner on the last lap, Zach Daum was there to capitalize, slipping by both drivers on the bottom out of Turn 4 and crossing the stripe to steal the win — the second of his Midget career at Jacksonville Speedway.

“Honestly, when I came around, obviously I was happy, but I just felt really bad for Ryan because I felt like he drove a really good race,” Daum, 32, of Pocahontas, IL, said. “He kinda deserved to win that.”

Daum’s second win of the season was his first trip to Victory Lane since May, when he and Trifecta Motorsports won at Millbridge Speedway (NC). The $4,000 score marked the Oklahoma-based team’s seventh career Xtreme Outlaw Series win — all seven of which have come with Daum in the seat since the dawning of their long-term partnership in June of last year.

Not having been to Victory Lane in five months had left Daum and the team scratching their heads looking for an answer to their competition. Now, they’ve found it and brought it out in front of the driver’s home state crowd.

“We’re back on the right path of where we should’ve been all year,” Daum said. “We kinda got off-track there searching for stuff, and now we’re back to how we were last year. Hopefully, we can just maintain that.”

While Timms established himself as the most dominant car throughout the first half of the main event — expanding his lead out to over four-and-a-half seconds at its largest — Daum and teammate Kameron Key battled side-by-side through the halfway point of the race. Key and Series points leader Cannon McIntosh later collided battling for position on Lap 19, sending McIntosh into a single rollover and Key to the pits with a flat tire, but both recovered to finish 13th and 14th, respectively.

On the ensuing restart, Timms took off and created a slight gap between himself and Daum, with his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammate Miller right behind in third place. With Miller on the high side and Daum rolling the bottom lane, the two closed the gap to Timms and with the white flag in the air, both were in a position to make a move for the lead in the final corners.

“When I saw the white, I was thinking about either sliding myself or running the bottom or diamonding or something in (Turns) 3 and 4,” Timms, 18, of Oklahoma City, OK, said. “But I figured I’d just keep doing what I was doing. I thought Zach was in second, and I’ve been in that situation with him. He’s not the guy to throw a Hail Mary, so I was expecting to go in 3 and 4 and just coast through there and take the checkered.”

Miller got the best run off Turn 2, zooming past Daum on the bottom to take second and charged into Turn 3 with great speed. While Timms rode the high side through Turn 3, Miller used his momentum to make one last-ditch effort for the lead, sliding up in front of Timms with a big slide-job as they rounded the corner.

“Gavin actually pulled alongside of me one lap before that on the outside, so I kinda figured he was diamonding or somehow carrying more speed through there than I was and then was getting the run down the straightaway,” Daum said. “I beat him off of (Turn) 4 and I didn’t hear him into 1 and then he set me up to come off of 2, but he was so low down the straightaway that I didn’t know where he was going. He got to Turn 3, and I don’t think he knew where he was going.”

Though Miller’s car executed the pass without contact, a big rebound off the cushion pitched his car back down toward the bottom of the track, right into the path of Timms. The two collided and spun into the jersey barriers in the infield as Daum snuck by underneath both of them to take the lead and the win on the final lap.

“Whenever I went to try slide and hit the cushion, I kinda ramped up on it, so it kinda shot my car down the track,” Miller said. “Ryan wasn’t doing anything wrong, just trying to cross me back over using the middle and I’m already coming down because the way the cushion is here, you can’t blow it in like that.”

“They went out of my peripheral, and I just tried to get across the line first at that point; I didn’t realize they had crashed until I came back around,” Daum said.

In the end, Timms was scored with a 15th-place finish. A podium finish would have likely meant a large points gain in the championship standings after McIntosh’s incident, but now his gap has expanded to 139 points with only one race left.

“I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the exact same thing Gavin did,” Timms said. “If this was a night 10 races ago, I probably wouldn’t be so torn up about it. It sucks; I’d say that pretty much takes me out of the championship.”

Fellow Illinois racer and new track record holder Chase McDermand crossed the finish in second while Indiana-native Rylan Gray scored his first career national Midget Series podium with a third-place finish. Joe B. Miller came home fourth after starting 17th, and Karter Sarff completed the top five.

McDermand was awarded the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award in Qualifying (new track record 11.814). Hayden Reinbold won Toyota Racing Heat 1 while Daum took the checkered in TJ Forged Heat 2.

UP NEXT

Championship weekend for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets continues at Jacksonville Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets will be available at the gate or in advance at XtremeOutlawSeries.com. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7U-Zach Daum[6]; 2. 40-Chase McDermand[1]; 3. 87-Rylan Gray[8]; 4. 51B-Joe B Miller[17]; 5. 21K-Karter Sarff[9]; 6. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[2]; 7. 68-Jacob Denney[10]; 8. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[14]; 9. 14S-Tyler Edwards[11]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[12]; 11. 98-Gunnar Setser[21]; 12. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[13]; 13. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[7]; 14. 5U-Kameron Key[3]; 15. 67-Ryan Timms[4]; 16. 97-Gavin Miller[5]; 17. 3N-Jake Neuman[15]; 18. 50-Daniel Adler[20]; 19. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[18]; 20. 83-Will Armitage[16]; 21. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[19]; 22. 66-Jayden Clay[22]

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/recap/zach-daum-wins-at-jacksonville-after-timms-miller-tangle-in-final-corner/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6141
TRACK INFO: https://jacksonvillespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

POTENT PAIRING: Daryn Pittman Ready to Chase Elusive National Open Title with Kreitz Racing

The 2013 World of Outlaws champion has come so close so many times to capturing the crown jewel

MECHANICSBURG, PA (October 3, 2024) - The stars looked to be aligning last year for Daryn Pittman at Williams Grove Speedway’s National Open.

He moved forward from fourth to second in his Heat Race to make the Dash, advanced two spots in the Dash to line himself up sixth for the Feature, and charged all the way to the lead on Lap 12 of the main event. After five runner-ups in one of the sport’s most prestigious crown jewels, Pittman appeared bound for victory aboard the iconic Kreitz Racing No. 69K.

But it wasn’t quite meant to be. Eventual champion Brent Marks found the speed he needed to drive back around Pittman on Lap 23 and pull away, forcing Pittman to settle for second a sixth time.

But a new year brings another opportunity. Pittman, the 2013 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion, is once again teamed with the Kreitz crew for a run at this weekend’s Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit (Oct. 4-5). The pairing has raced only 10 nights together in 2024 but have been fast every time.

They won their first night out locally at Williams Grove on May 31. A couple weeks later at Knoxville Raceway with the World of Outlaws in June, Pittman went Quick Time and earned a top 10. At Williams Grove’s Summer Nationals in July, Pittman started on the front row before finishing fourth. Then, on the sport’s biggest stage at the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Pittman put the No. 69K on the front row of the finale before finishing 11th.

“It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s just a pleasure to work with the whole team, the whole group of guys,” Pittman said. “It’s a good group that, I think, right now fits me really well. It fits my schedule. It fits the races I want to run. I think what I fit what they’re looking for as well. It’s been good to be able to have success, and it’s a lot of fun to be able to get behind the wheel of a car that you know if going to be maybe the car to beat every night it hits the track especially at Williams Grove.”

Pittman and the Kreitz crew now prepare to enter a weekend circled on everyone in the Sprint Car community’s calendar. The National Open creates a distinct vibe, unique from the sport’s other major events. It’s the ultimate “us against them” and brings out the utmost passion of all fans that venture to Williams Grove.

“Honestly, the (Knoxville) Nationals are cool. The Kings Royal is cool. They’re all really neat, huge events in their own right,” Pittman said. “But I just think that the atmosphere on Saturday night at the National Open at Williams Grove with the people in the infield so much closer to the action. You don’t feel as separated as you do at Knoxville and Eldora from the fans. It’s a big event, and you know it. The atmosphere is unlike any other in Pennsylvania the rest of the year.”

A National Open title is at the top of Pittman’s bucket list. Last year’s heartbreak was the latest in what’s been a tale of coming up just short at the prestigious event. His six second place finishes have come with four different teams – Kasey Kahne Racing (2013 and 2018), Titan Racing (2005), Heffner Racing (2011), Roth Motorsports (2019), and Kreitz Racing (2023). And he’s led laps in three of those runner-ups. The hunger has grown and grown.

“Obviously, it would mean the world to me,” Pittman said of potentially winning. “Would it be the biggest win of my career? Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like we’ve been really blessed and had a lot of big ones and success along the way. I hope I get the chance to think about where that race fits, but I can tell you it’s the one I’ve wanted to win the most for a long time. And that’s mainly because we’ve been so close to doing it and just haven’t been able to seal it off.”

And if Pittman pulls it off, there’s another burning question to be answered – one sure to inspire debate among World of Outlaws and PA Posse fans. He’s a World of Outlaws champion from Oklahoma that also spent four years racing primarily in Pennsylvania. Now, he’s in one of the “Keystone State’s” most famed cars. So, who gets to claim him?

“I would be a National Open winner, and they can call me whatever they want,” Pittman said with a laugh. “I’ve competed for it on a lot of fronts as far as full-time Outlaw and full-time PA. I love that side of it from the fans at the banter that goes along with it.”

The Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit kicks off at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday, Oct. 4, before the $75,000-to-win/$2,500-to-start finale on Saturday, Oct. 5. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/potent-pairing-daryn-pittman-ready-to-chase-elusive-national-open-title-with-kreitz-racing/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6231
TRACK INFO: https://www.williamsgrove.com

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

TRACK TALK: Jacksonville’s Banking, Speeds Bring Thrills, Challenges to Midget Racers

Xtreme Outlaw Series championship to be decided at demanding 1/4-mile bullring Oct. 4–5

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 2, 2024) — Banked, curbed and fast. Jacksonville Speedway hosts the 2024 season finale for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota this Friday–Saturday, Oct. 4–5, and will offer drivers one of the biggest challenges of the season.

Located approximately two hours north of St. Louis, the black dirt, banked 1/4-mile oval located inside the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Jacksonville, IL, has been a host of Midget racing every year since 2005 and has hosted the Xtreme Outlaw Series in each of its first two seasons. This weekend, its hosts one final Midget special for the year with a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event on Friday and a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win program to close the season on Saturday.

Home-state racers Chase McDermand and Karter Sarff — last year’s Xtreme winner at Jacksonville — will race points leader Cannon McIntosh and the rest of the field on both nights of the event. Each offered their sentiments on competing at the venue and the excitement surrounding championship weekend.

Generally speaking, what are your thoughts on racing at Jacksonville?

McDermand: I really like Jacksonville. We seem to have good speed there. I’m super familiar with the track; I’ve grown up going there from when my dad raced Stock Cars there to various Midget races growing up, and then racing there with the D2 and Badger stuff even before Xtreme came along.

McIntosh: I feel like all year, it’s been kind of breaking down those barriers of tracks that I’ve either not been great at or not enjoyed racing at. We’ve went out and kind of changed the narrative for me this year. I’ve won at tracks that I’ve struggled at in the past this year, and actually enjoyed a lot of the tracks that I didn’t enjoy racing at before.

I feel like I’ve lacked a bit of comfort when it comes to running there. It’s probably a little bit of [a mental thing], but I’d say a lot of it is just really understanding the way the track works. I’ve raced there quite a bit, but I feel like I’ve just never got a full understanding of it and what I need to do when I go there.

Sarff: I always look forward to racing at Jacksonville. It’s close to home, not too far of a drive to get there. It’s a little bullring, a lot of action. I have a lot of laps around there, so we’re usually pretty good there. I always look forward to going back to Jacksonville.

Do you like racing at the tiny bullrings like Jacksonville?

McDermand: I do. Jacksonville at least has a little room to move around and race compared to some of the other places we go to. I feel like the big tracks kind of suited me for a couple races this year, but I’ve had good runs on the small tracks too. It helps having some familiarity with the venue that we’re going to, and just having a good notebook is always important to success.

Sarff: Yeah, it seems to be the places we usually stand out, with the big ol’ cushion. But I don’t know, this year we’ve been pretty good on the big tracks as well. I think just getting our whole package put together has been a big thing for us. I’ve always been a short track racer and like the cowboy-up, big-cushion tracks, and that’s usually what Jacksonville is. It suits me pretty well.

What makes Jacksonville stand out from all the other 1/4-mile “bullring” type tracks that Midgets so commonly race on today?

McDermand: For the classification of a 1/4-mile, I feel like it’s pretty small. Seems like we go to a vast majority of 1/4-miles, and they all seem to be a little bit different in length. It’s a tight 1/4-mile and it’s got a lot of banking, which I feel like races well. It seems like it always builds a nice cushion up on the wall, which helps with the sliders and that type of racing. The track’s usually pretty good when we go there in terms of being pretty slick. That bodes well for our type of racing, and it seems like we’re always putting on good shows when we go there.

McIntosh: I’d say one of the things that makes it stand out is how hard you have to run it. It’s usually up around the fence, and you’ve gotta be pretty much running 99 percent the whole time to keep a good pace.

Sarff: I feel like it’s one of the fastest 1/4-mile bullrings that we go to. It usually puts on some good races no matter what; I feel like we’ve never really had a boring race there. It’s close to home too, so that stands out to me. Not too far of a drive to get there and a short drive home as well. We’ve always ran well there. It’s the place I ran my first 305 Sprint Car race at, so I have a lot of special laps I’ve made there.

What is something that only a driver would know about racing at Jacksonville, something a fan can’t understand by just watching?

McDermand: As a driver, something that always sticks out to me about Jacksonville is the frontstretch. When you’re racing on the frontstretch — that’s where you pull on and off the racetrack, so there’s no wall or anything there — so you have to be careful of the huge berm going into Turn 1 and off of Turn 4. That’s something that’s definitely bitten a lot of people.

McIntosh: The top is trickier than it seems. Being able to trust your car. I feel like it definitely tests the balance of your car, especially early in the night — it’s a lot more rough than it may look. Each corner you get into, there’s always a little bit of a hump that the car goes over, and it unloads the car. It definitely tests the balance and whether or not you can trust your car throughout the night.

Sarff: It’s just fast. It’s one of those places where, as a driver, you go up to watch a Heat Race that you’re not in and it’s just kinda wild to see how fast they’re going.

What are your expectations for the atmosphere and the racing in the final weekend of the season?

McDermand: Me and Ashton (Torgerson) that are kind of tight [in points], maybe a little bit harder racing there compared to the rest. You might get a couple of those throughout the top 10 maybe that are close, but nothing changes for me, really. You still have to go out there. My philosophy is if you win, you do everything that you can to get the points anyway. We always show up to win, so nothing really changes from my perspective.

McIntosh: I feel like it’ll be pretty normal. Obviously, people know what’s on the line, but at the same time, I’d like to think that a few of us have enough respect to race each other the way we have all year and not try to overdo it. There’s a lot of guys that aren’t in contention anymore and can make up some places, but I’d say that everyone is gonna be smart about it and respectful.

Sarff: I think some drivers may be a little on the cautious side, but then again, they gotta be running up front, doing all they can and taking advantage of every spot they can get. For drivers that are racing for the championship, I think their mindset shouldn’t change much because they still need to try and win to try and seal up a championship. But for me, how it’s been all year long — we just want to win races.

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/track-talk-jacksonvilles-banking-speeds-bring-thrills-challenges-to-midget-racers/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6141
TRACK INFO: https://jacksonvillespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.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.

World of Outlaws, PA Posse Find Common Ground Working With Milton Hershey School Students

MECHANICSBURG, PA (Oct. 2, 2024) – While the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit puts the World of Outlaws/PA Posse rivalry on the highest pedestal of the year, it also brings the rivals together for an important initiative.

Drivers from both camps will again host students from the Milton Hershey School (MHS) to be honorary crew members for the night at Williams Grove Speedway.

It’s the third year that the World of Outlaws and MHS have collaborated on the initiative, providing students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get hands-on experience with a Sprint Car.

“It is so important for our students to have positive, hands-on career experiences as they think about their futures,” said Shaun Turner, MHS senior director of enrollment management & family relations. “Working with World of Outlaws drivers is a tremendous opportunity to learn from the best and gain new skills in the motorsports and automotive industries. We’re very grateful for the continual partnership that Milton Hershey School has with World of Outlaws, and we’re excited to see our students once again so involved in this event.”

The drivers welcoming a student as an honorary crew member this year include World of Outlaws drivers Brock Zearfoss and Carson Macedo and PA Posse drivers Chase Dietz and Chad Trout.

This will be Zearfoss’ third straight year working with a MHS student, having been a part of the initiative since its inception. He’s been one of the biggest supporters of the school and its programs, making multiple appearances in MHS classes and playing a leading role in the Milton Hershey Sprint Car Experience.

“I think it is really cool that Milton Hershey incorporates the kids with coming in and being a crew person for the night,” Zearfoss said. “It’s really neat for us too, to show them what we do and how a whole night goes from start to finish. It’s pretty special to be able to be a part of that and show the kids all what we do here from the driving aspect to working on the cars.

“I’m excited to see who we can show that to this year. It’s definitely unique to be able to do that, but hopefully at the end of the day when they’re there it’s not just about having fun, they learn a little bit about a different type of automotive side of that industry. Hopefully it gains a little bit of interest in racing for them.”

Dietz shared the same sentiment. While the National Open is the biggest event of the year to him and attracts most of his focus, working with the MHS student will be just as important.

“It is an awesome opportunity, not only for the kids, but also us as teams. Really, for the sport to get the kids involved,” Dietz said. “I think it is a great idea that the Series and the Outlaws have been able to bring to reality. I think other places and tracks around the country need to start getting some of these into events to get the younger fans involved. Let them see what goes on behind the scenes. Going into this weekend, I’m looking forward to being a part of the program and being able to show the individual what we do throughout the night. Obviously, a lot of the work is done prior to the event but there is also a ton that’s done in a short period of time throughout these events.”

The York, PA native got to visit MHS and meet with its students for the first time this year during the Sprint Car Experience in May. It was a chance for him to see what the school has to offer and experience the students’ excitement about racing.

“It’s very important to get the younger generation involved,” Dietz said. “They’re what’s going to keep the sport alive. Also, for these kids from Milton Hershey, it’s a great opportunity for them to see something different and maybe be a part of something they’re interested in, whether it’s the auto side or just working on vehicles. Anything about the sport, it gives them a new opportunity to see something new.”

Between the pit crew opportunity and Milton Hershey Sprint Car Experience, Turner said he’s already seen an increased interest in racing across the school.

“The atmosphere at Williams Grove is special and our students are thrilled to be there,” Turner said. “Even in high school, they can see the career possibilities—they want to be the next generation of talent on the track.”

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway for the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5. For tickets, click here.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

About Milton Hershey School
Founded by Milton S. Hershey, and his wife Catherine, in 1909, Milton Hershey School is one of the nation’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-K through 12th grade live on campus in Hershey, PA and receive a high-quality education at no cost to the students or their families. For more information, click here.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/world-of-outlaws-pa-posse-find-common-ground-working-with-milton-hershey-school-students/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6231
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Williams+Grove+Speedway

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 62nd Weis Markets National Open Brings World of Outlaws, PA Posse Rivalry to New Heights

The Sprint Car crown jewel puts bragging rights and big money on the line this weekend at Williams Grove

MECHANICSBURG, PA (October 1, 2024) - Sprint Car Racing’s fiercest rivalry reaches its peak this week.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are set to venture into Pennsylvania where the PA Posse await to defend home turf on the biggest stage.

The two sides will converge on Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway this weekend (Oct. 4-5) for the 62nd running of the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit. The crown jewel elevates even more in 2024 with nearly $300,000 in purse money up for grabs over the two nights, all culminating in a $75,000-to-win/$2,500-to-start finale.

But it’s not only about the massive money on the line this weekend, it’s about the prestige. It’s being able to forever call yourself a National Open champion. It’s the World of Outlaws invaders ready to face off with the country’s toughest locals. It’s the Posse ready put up their best defense. It’s a collection of invaders aiming to steal the glory. It’s thousands of fans creating a fierce atmosphere.

The next chapter of National Open history is ready to be written.

BUY FRIDAY NATIONAL OPEN TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY NATIONAL OPEN TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

DONNY’S DOMINANCE: Williams Grove Speedway may be the pinnacle of Posse country, but no driver has experienced greater success at the National Open than 10-time World of Outlaws champion and North Dakota native Donny Schatz.

The 47-year-old owns a record six titles (2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2020) in the crown jewel. In addition to the four victories, Schatz has also bagged four runner-ups and a trio of thirds, giving him 13 podiums in 25 attempts. His average finish in the event is a stout 5.96.

Schatz’s strength at Williams Grove doesn’t stop with the “Natty O.” The half mile is home to 21 of his 315 career Series triumphs, which is more than any other track on his list and ranks behind only Steve Kinser’s massive tally of 38.

This weekend supplies Schatz the chance to extend his record with a seventh National Open win in the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15.

GRAVEL’S GROUND: With a hometown of Watertown, CT, David Gravel may not quite come from a PA Posse background, but Williams Grove Speedway is a special place for him.

It’s where he first raced a Sprint Car. It’s where he burst onto the scene with a 2014 National Open victory before adding another in 2017. Earlier this year, Williams Grove became home to his 100th career World of Outlaws checkered flag. The Mechanicsburg, PA oval is also most responsible for getting Gravel to triple digits as nine of his now 102 victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt have occurred there.

Gravel can further cement his place in the Williams Grove history books this weekend. Only seven legendary drivers – Donny Schatz, Lance Dewease, Steve Kinser, Kenny Weld, Steve Smith, Doug Wolfgang, and Stevie Smith – have a least a trio of National Open trophies. Gravel could join the exclusive club this weekend aboard the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. A win on either night would make him only the sixth different driver with double digit World of Outlaws scores at the historic facility.

GLORY AT THE GROVE: Schatz and Gravel aren’t the only two current World of Outlaws competitors to visit Williams Grove Victory Lane.

Carson Macedo is the one other full-timer with a National Open title. The Lemoore, CA native topped the 2021 running with Jason Johnson Racing for a $75,000 payday. Another on Saturday would make him the 14th different multi-time champion of the event.

Fellow Californian Giovanni Scelzi scored at Williams Grove in 2018. The current driver of the KCP Racing No. 18 steered the Indy Race Parts No. 71 to victory to become the youngest winner in Series history – a record that still stands.

Back before he even joined the World of Outlaws tour, Brock Zearfoss upset the World of Outlaws in 2017 at the Mechanicsburg, PA oval.

Another Pennsylvania native, Logan Schuchart, finally broke through last year after more than 50 Williams Grove attempts when he claimed the Morgan Cup for the World of Outlaws.

And lastly, Sheldon Haudenschild has one Williams Grove triumph, taking the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 across the finish line first in July 2021.

MAYOR OF THE OUTLAWS: As Bill Rose continues to heal from injuries sustained earlier this year, Dylan Cisney has been tabbed as the driver of the No. 6 machine for the remainder of the World of Outlaws campaign.

The partnership was supposed to begin this past weekend in Ohio, but Mother Nature had other plans. So, Cisney’s stint with Rose is set to begin on home turf this weekend for the Port Royal, PA native.

“The Mayor” is yet to win at Williams Grove, but he did collect local runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2022. He’s won once in 2024, topping a Port Royal Speedway race on April 20.

POSSE PRIDE: There’s no event on the calendar that the Pennsylvania Posse want more than the National Open. It’s the ultimate stage to represent the home state, make the fans proud, and compete for major cash. As always, the Pennsylvania contingent boasts a stout set of locals ready to square off with the World of Outlaws.

Anthony Macri stands out as a prime candidate to make the Posse proud. He’s tied as the nation’s winningest Sprint Car driver this year with 15 wins under his belt including four at Williams Grove. The Dillsburg, PA driver has never beaten the World of Outlaws at “The Grove,” but he’s been knocking on the door with 10 top fives.

Fayetteville, PA’s Lance Dewease may have the best résumé in the history of Williams Grove Speedway. His record 115 total victories outrank the second most by 25. Seventeen of those wins have come against the World of Outlaws including five National Open championships. A sixth this weekend would equal him with Schatz for the most.

Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg, PA) already toppled the World of Outlaws for a “Natty O” title in 2016 with Gary Kauffman Racing. A trio of his 11 victories this season have happened at Williams Grove.

In July, Liverpool, PA’s T.J. Stutts stunned the World of Outlaws by holding off David Gravel to grab the Morgan Cup. He’s tallied two more Williams Grove trophies on a local level this year amid what’s been a resurgent season for the 44-year-old.

These four are expected to be joined by several others including Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville, PA), Troy Wagaman Jr. (Hanover, PA), Lucas Wolfe (Mechanicsburg, PA), Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, PA), and more.

INVADERS: The World of Outlaws and the PA Posse won’t be the only groups to keep an eye on this weekend. A cast of invaders with no current connections to either group will be shooting to steal the show.

Daryn Pittman invades from Owasso, OK but may serve as honorary Posse as he will again get behind the wheel of the iconic Kreitz Racing No. 69K. Last year, Kreitz became the fifth different car Pittman has taken to a runner-up finish in the National Open. The pairing won a local Williams Grove race earlier this year, and Pittman is hungry to seal the deal on his first “Natty O” title.

Brent Marks calls Pennsylvania home but now races nationally. The defending National Open champion will head back to familiar territory looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Donny Schatz in 2004-2005.

Tyler Courtney is expected to bring some "Sunshine" to Williams Grove this weekend with the Clauson Marshall Racing crew. He debuted at the National Open last year with a top 10, and the team NOS Energy Drink driver has a best finish of fourth (twice) at the half mile.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, October 4-5 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (57/67 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (7742 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-90 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-170 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-234 PTS)
5. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-250 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-366 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-370 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-882 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1266 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1534 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

14 Wins – David Gravel
9 Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Wins – Michael Kofoid
4 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):

408 Laps – Carson Macedo
329 Laps – David Gravel
214 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
177 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
132 Laps – Donny Schatz
119 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
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
14 Laps – Shane Golobic
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
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
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks

HEAT RACE WINNERS (54 Drivers):

29 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
28 Heat Wins – David Gravel
24 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
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman, Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Emerson Axsom, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall, D.J. Netto
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, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Shane Golobic, Dylan Bloomfield, Kaleb Montgomery, Landon Brooks

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (69 Drivers):

40 Dashes – Carson Macedo
39 Dashes – David Gravel
34 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
33 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
28 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
21 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
20 Dashes – Donny Schatz
16 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Landon Brooks
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic, Kaleb Montgomery
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, 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

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (44 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (33 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson, Tim Kaeding
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Emerson Axsom, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Estenson, David Gravel, Ryan Bernal, Shane Golobic

PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):

28 Podiums – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
22 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
21 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Podiums – Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, 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

TOP 10 FINISHES (81 Drivers):

51 Top 10s – David Gravel
49 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
47 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
44 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
40 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
29 Top 10s – Bill Balog
14 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Garet Williamson
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Chase Randall, Tim Kaeding
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki, D.J. Netto, Shane Golobic
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, 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

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-62nd-weis-markets-national-open-brings-world-of-outlaws-pa-posse-rivalry-to-new-heights/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6231
TRACK INFO: https://www.williamsgrove.com

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: McIntosh, Timms Lead Storylines for Championship Weekend at Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, IL (Sept. 30, 2024) — The final weekend of the 2024 season for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota has arrived, and the chase for the championship has reached fever pitch.

The black dirt, banked 1/4-mile of Jacksonville Speedway will play host to the final two races and settle the points championship chase between Cannon McIntosh and Ryan Timms. Two full programs are on tap, including a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event on Friday, Oct. 4, and a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win finale on Saturday, Oct. 5.

A championship ceremony will follow the conclusion of Saturday’s Feature and include the championship trophy presentation along with the $30,000 championship check.

The Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) 410 Winged Sprint Cars and WFO Winged Outlaw Micro Series are also scheduled to compete on both dates. Other racing activities include the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Pinewood Derby competition, scheduled for Saturday at 1pm in the indoor concourse area behind the main grandstands. Anyone who would like to build a car and race is encouraged to do so; rules can be found at JacksonvilleSpeedway.com.

Tickets for both days are on sale now at the link below. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BUY TICKETS

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

EYES ON THE PRIZE — With two races left, 133 points is all that stands between the two championship contenders Cannon McIntosh and Ryan Timms.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, has been the points leader for nearly the entire season while his teammate at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) Ryan Timms — the 18-year-old from Oklahoma City, OK — has trailed in second place. While that points gap has expanded and contracted intermittently throughout the season, McIntosh remains the top driver with the most wins (six), top fives (19) and top-10 finishes (20) of any driver. Timms trails with three Feature wins and second-most top fives (15) and top 10s (18).

Both drivers have had past success at Jacksonville. McIntosh has the most with two wins in POWRi National Midget League competition (July 2022, June 2023) and finished runner-up to Karter Sarff at the Xtreme Outlaw Series race there last year. Timms has not reached Victory Lane there in a Midget, but has with his 410 Winged Sprint Car, scoring a Feature win with MOWA in April 2023.

In addition to fighting for their first national Midget series championships as drivers, a bit of Xtreme Outlaw Series history is on the line as well in the team category. Either driver can clinch KKM’s 18th national Midget points title and in doing so would make the Columbus, IN-based organization the first in Xtreme history to win back-to-back championships.

PODIUM SPOT — While the spotlight in the battle for the Series championship remains on the points leaders, there’s still a score left to be settled for third place in the standings between Ashton Torgerson and Chase McDermand.

Torgerson, the 18-year-old national Midget rookie from Glendale, AZ, is one of KKM’s newest breakout stars, garnering three Feature wins with Xtreme Outlaw Series this year to compliment six top-fives and 16 top-10 finishes. After finishes of fifth and sixth in the two most recent events at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in August, Torgerson overtook McDermand in the points standings and now sits 35 points ahead.

McDermand, 24, of Springfield, IL, will attempt to surpass the 35-point gap he faces in the final two races. He’s never been to Jacksonville Victory Lane but has had many laps around the track before, both with the Xtreme Outlaw Series, POWRi and in the D2 Midget ranks. He’ll also be coming in with a surge of momentum after going to Victory Lane with USAC at The Dirt Track at IMS last weekend in the marquee BC39 event.

DEFENDING WINNER — This weekend, Karter Sarff returns to Jacksonville where he defeated the Xtreme Outlaw Series regulars one year ago.

Last September, the 21-year-old from Mason City, IL, came to challenge the Xtreme Outlaw regulars at Jacksonville and gave them all they could handle, coming from sixth on the starting grid and passing McIntosh with five laps-to-go to score his second career Series win.

Sarff is also the most recent Series winner, going to Victory Lane in back-to-back fashion at I-55 in August, and will be among the local favorites to potentially win again on Xtreme championship weekend.

HOME COOKING — Local open-wheel favorite Jake Neuman, of New Berlin, IL, is scheduled to be in action with the Midgets and the MOWA Sprint Cars this weekend at his home track.

The 27-year-old is set for back-to-back nights of double-duty racing at Jacksonville, piloting both his own 410 Winged Sprint Car and the O’Dell Racing No. 3N Midget. He’s had success in the Sprint Car ranks this season, going to Victory Lane at both Jacksonville and Sycamore Speedway (Maple Park, IL) in local competition.

In addition to his two MOWA wins at Jacksonville (2021, 2022), he also won at the 1/4-mile bullring with the POWRi National Midget League in 2016, defeating a host of local and regional talent.

A NEW FACE — National Midget series regular Jacob Denney, of Galloway, OH, is set to make his first-ever appearance in a KKM-prepared car this weekend.

The 19-year-old racer will get behind the wheel of the Curb Records, Toyota-powered LynK Chassis No. 68 and compete on both nights with the Xtreme Outlaw Series. Denney makes up a packed KKM roster of seven cars this weekend, joining teammates McIntosh and Timms, Gavin Miller, Ashton Torgerson, Kale Drake and Gunnar Setser.

Denney was a winner with the POWRi National Midget League at Jacksonville in June, capturing the checkers and defeating a strong roster of drivers including Drake, Thomas Meseraull, McDermand and McIntosh.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday–Saturday, Oct. 4–5, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 4360 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 4227 points (-133) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Ashton Torgerson: 3980 points (-380) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Chase McDermand: 3945 points (-415) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Zach Daum: 3860 points (-500) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 3756 points (-604) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
Trevor Cline: 3446 points (-914) | Cline Racing #55
Gavin Miller: 3341 points (-1019) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97
Tyler Edwards: 3301 points (-1059) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Karter Sarff: 3198 points (-1162) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K

Toyota Feature winners (7 drivers)
6 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
4 wins – Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K)
3 wins – Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing #7x), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Zach Daum (Trifecta Motorsports #7U), Chase McDermand (CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40)

Toyota Feature laps led (15 drivers)
113 laps – Cannon McIntosh
95 laps – Ryan Timms
80 laps – Karter Sarff
72 laps – Ashton Torgerson
44 laps – Kale Drake
35 laps – Joe B. Miller
30 laps – Chase McDermand

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
25 laps – Zach Daum
29 laps – Hayden Reinbold

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Jade Avedisian
5 laps – Michael Pickens, Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Jason McDougal

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (12 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
3 awards – Kale Drake, Karter Sarff
2 awards – Ryan Timms
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Kyle Jones, Trevor Cline, Zach Daum, Tyler Edwards, Hayden Reinbold, Chase McDermand, Joe Wirth

Heat Race winners (22 drivers)
8 wins – Ashton Torgerson
6 wins – Chase McDermand, Ryan Timms, Cannon McIntosh
5 wins – Kale Drake, Zach Daum, Gavin Miller
4 wins – Tyler Edwards
3 wins – Trevor Cline, Karter Sarff
2 wins – Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Jason McDougal, Gunnar Setser, Hayden Reinbold

High-points honors (12 drivers)
4 honors – Cannon McIntosh
3 honors – Ryan Timms
2 honors – Zach Daum, Ashton Torgerson, Chase McDermand, Gavin Miller
1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Karter Sarff, Kale Drake, Michael Pickens, Hayden Reinbold

Last Chance Showdown wins (10 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis

Hard Charger Awards (15 drivers)
3 awards – Hayden Reinbold, Ryan Timms
2 awards – Chase McDermand
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser, Jade Avedisian, Elijah Gile, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh, Gavin Miller, Jacob Denney, Ashton Torgerson, Corbin Rueschenberg

Podium finishes (16 drivers)
14 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
10 podiums – Ryan Timms
7 podiums – Zach Daum
5 podiums – Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff
4 podiums – Ashton Torgerson, Hayden Reinbold
3 podiums – Kale Drake, Gavin Miller
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Jade Avedisian, Michael Pickens, Trevor Cline, Jacob Denney, Jason McDougal

Top-10 finishes (38 drivers)
20 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh
18 top-10s – Ryan Timms
17 top-10s – Chase McDermand
16 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson
15 top-10s – Zach Daum
12 top-10s – Karter Sarff
11 top-10s – Hayden Reinbold, Gavin Miller
8 top-10s – Kale Drake, Jade Avedisian, Trevor Cline
6 top-10s – Tyler Edwards
5 top-10s – Taylor Reimer, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis
3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell, Gunnar Setser
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Sam Johnson, Jacob Denney, Jason McDougal, Thomas Meseraull
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr, Elijah Gile, Brayton Lynch, Nick Drake, Jacob Dykstra, Briggs Danner, Michael Pickens, Andrew Felker, Drake Edwards, Jonathan Beason, Shannon McQueen, Corbin Rueschenberg

2024 Schedule & Winners – Race No. Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Fri, March 15 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Thomas Meseraull (1)
2. Sat, March 16 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Cannon McIntosh (1)

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake (1)
5. Fri, April 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ryan Timms (1)
6. Sat, April 13 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ashton Torgerson (1)
7. Fri, May 10 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS / Ashton Torgerson (2)
8. Sat, May 11 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Cannon McIntosh (2)
9. Tue, May 21 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Karter Sarff (2)
10. Wed, May 22 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Zach Daum (1)
11. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Ryan Timms (2)
12. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Cannon McIntosh (3)
13. Thu, May 30 / Doe Run Raceway / Doe Run, MO / Cannon McIntosh (4)
14. Fri, May 31 / Coles County Speedway / Mattoon, IL / Ashton Torgerson (3)
15. Fri, July 19 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Ryan Timms (3)
16. Sat, July 20 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Cannon McIntosh (5)
17. Fri, July 26 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Cannon McIntosh (6)
18. Sat, July 27 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Chase McDermand (1)

19. Fri, Aug. 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Karter Sarff (3)
20. Sat, Aug. 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Karter Sarff (4)

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/cannon-mcintosh-ryan-timms-lead-championship-weekend-jacksonville/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6141
TRACK INFO: https://jacksonvillespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

Photo credit — Joe Grabianowski

Persistent Showers from Hurricane Helene Cancel Sharon’s Federated Auto Parts Showdown

With persistent showers hitting Hartford, OH Saturday evening and weather models projecting steady rain throughout the night, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car and track officials have agreed to cancel Sharon Speedway’s Federated Auto Parts Showdown.

The showers came as a result of remnants from Hurricane Helene shifting course toward Sharon Speedway. The decision to cancel comes with guidance from Precision Weather Service, who have closely monitored the hurricane throughout the week.

If you purchased a ticket in advance for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown, you will receive a face-value credit to your MyDirtTickets.com account – good for two years – to be used toward any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until Oct. 28 to request a refund.

If you purchased a ticket or pit pass at the race track, please mail the ticket or wristband to 7575 W Winds Blvd NW Ste D, Concord, NC 28027 in an envelope postmarked by October 28 for a refund.

The Series now shifts its focus to one of Sprint Car Racing’s crown jewels. Williams Grove Speedway’s Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit (Oct. 4-5) serves up a $75,000-to-win/$2,500-to-start finale as the World of Outlaws and PA Posse battle for big money and bragging rights. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

David Gravel currently sits atop the standings in pursuit of his first championship with Carson Macedo within striking distance 90 points behind.

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

TITLE BOUT: McIntosh, Timms Ready to Compete for Championship at Jacksonville

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 27, 2024) — With two races left on the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota schedule, Fri–Sat, Oct. 4–5 at Jacksonville Speedway, Cannon McIntosh and Ryan Timms are ready to settle the score.

The two teammates at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) are vying for their first career national Midget series championships and are currently separated by 133 points in the standings.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, has led the points standings nearly the entire season and also tops the win column with six Feature wins in 20 starts. He’s been the most consistent driver on tour throughout the year with 19 top-five finishes (18 consecutive), no DNFs and a worst finish of sixth (Aug. 2 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55).

Timms, 18, of Oklahoma City, OK, currently sits second in the standings and will need to surpass the 133-point gap to take the championship from McIntosh over the final two races. He’s compiled three Feature wins so far this year and amassed 15 top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes in 20 starts.

In addition to their first championships as drivers, McIntosh and Timms are aiming to bring an 18th national Midget series championship (12 with USAC, four with POWRi, two with Xtreme) home for team co-owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby. KKM won the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Series championship with driver Jade Avedisian, which will make the Columbus, IN-based team the first in Series history to win back-to-back championships.

Both growing up around the Oklahoma Micro Sprint scene, McIntosh and Timms were familiar with each other in their first years on the dirt, racing at Micro hotbeds Port City Raceway and I-44 Riverside Speedway. Now, they’re teammates competing against each other for their first national dirt track racing championship.

While they took different paths to become teammates in 2024, they’ve earned each other’s respect along the way.

“I remember watching [Timms] and seeing that he was gonna be good,” McIntosh said. “His dad was a big part of our team. They were a big sponsor for us and helped us a lot. He drove our Midget for a bit actually, and then made the transition over to CB Industries, and now KKM. He’s developed really well; he’s done a good job. He races hard, and I feel like he and I have raced back-and-forth plenty and never really had any problems with each other. We both give each other the respect that we deserve.”

“When I was in the Micros, I was in the lower classes just because I was a lot younger, but we grew up racing at the same tracks as one another and some of the same races,” Timms said. “I remember watching Midget racing when I was still in Micros and Cannon was running for his dad. He’s been in it for a while now and he’s got a lot of Midget laps under his belt. He’s a tough guy to compete with, but I feel like we help one another and push each other to be better every night. I enjoy racing with him, and I’ve enjoyed this whole season so far.”

McIntosh has been through championship-clinching situations in the past, most recently in 2023 when he battled eventual champion Jade Avedisian through the final three races of the season in Oklahoma. Though the sting of the defeat still lingers in his memory, McIntosh made big changes to his career this year — rejoining KKM in January for the first time since 2021 — and said 2024 has been among the most comfortable seasons he’s ever had in the national Midget ranks.

“We were good right off the bat, but I feel like there was still a lot for me to do to get to the point where I was just really comfortable in the car and everything was flowing nice and Keith (Kunz, crew chief) and I were fully trusting each other,” McIntosh said. “It’s really gotten better every weekend we’ve raced.

“We just ran Eldora, and I feel like we were as confident as ever and as good as we’ve ever been. It’s just been flowing really nice.”

This year, McIntosh set a new Series record of 18 consecutive top-five finishes. From the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center until the first night of the Ironman 55 weekend at I-55 in August, he finished inside the top five in every Xtreme Outlaw Series main event. Never before in his career has he strung together such consistency, now seven years into his Midget career.

“It’s taken time to learn and get better together, because this stuff doesn’t happen overnight,” McIntosh said. “It’s just taken time to build, and we at least had really good runs while we were still doing that. I’m definitely happy with where we’re at.”

McIntosh has also taken a leap in racing discipline this year, evident by his DNF-less season (recorded four in 2023) and change of mindset.

“I think you’ve got to look at the big picture,” McIntosh said. “All the way from the beginning, if you’re not in contention to win every single night, you gotta take those fourths and fifth and just go to the next weekend and fight again. Winning one night and running ninth the next night is just not going to do it. I feel like we’ve been very aware of that, and just known the goal all year.”

Timms has had a strong season as well, tying his personal best for wins in a season at three. He’s been trailing McIntosh by 133 points since early August but has not been able to close the gap due to the rain-related cancelations of the last seven Series events. However, he said he doesn’t hold the rain solely responsible for that gap, as the two 12th-place finishes (Southern Illinois, Millbridge) showing in his results did cost him valuable points in the standings.

“This year has definitely been the most comfortable and confident I’ve been in a Midget,” Timms said. “It really sucks having seven rainouts; that definitely makes it much tougher to get the top spot. But I’ve felt really good all year. I can remember times when I was running top five and would overdrive it or get in the cushion too hard, take myself out or have to restart at the back, or just have bad luck.”

Despite his deficit, Timms is a past winner in 410 Winged Sprint Car competition at Jacksonville and has plenty of laps around the track in Midget. Combined with some good fortune, it could potentially be enough for him make up the gap in two races.

“[Jacksonville is] a technical track; it gets a big lip and can sometimes get really curbed-up right against the wall,” Timms said. “It’s a track I feel like anything can happen on, for sure, and a track I feel like I can definitely get a win or two at.”

Tickets for both days of racing at Jacksonville are on sale now at the link below. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Return to Riverside For October Doubleheader

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (Sept. 25, 2024) – For the first time since 2018, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will make the trek to Arkansas for a doubleheader weekend at Riverside International Speedway.

The World of Outlaws Bullring Blitz will be Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26, paying $12,000 to win both nights. It’ll be the final weekend of the 2024 season before the championship finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 6-9).

When the Series last visited the 1/4-mile track in 2018, Daryn Pittman held off attacks from Sheldon Haudenschild and Brad Sweet to score the victory – his second at the dirt track.

Of active full-time drivers, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz is currently the only World of Outlaws driver with a victory at Riverside. However, that win came in 2008.

Both nights will be crucial for championship contenders David Gravel, Carson Macedo and Schatz. With World Finals looming, a good or bad night could make or break a championship run.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
Location – West Memphis, AR
Track Record – 11.060 sec. by Jason Solwold on May 5, 2007

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.
-Opening ceremonies & racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (April 20, 2018) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spc3fMChnDA

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Riverside –
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 20
2009 – Tim Kaeding on April 24
2008- Donny Schatz on July 5
2007- Daryn Pittman on May 5
1981 – Sammy Swindell on March 27, Steve Kinser on March 28, Doug Wolfgang on May 29, Sammy Swindell on August 1
1980 – Rick Ferkel on April 4, Tim Green on April 5, Doug Wolfgang on September 15, Terry Gray on September 16
1979 – Ron Shuman on April 7, Sammy Swindell on August 25, Steve Kinser on August 26

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/1-month-alert-world-of-outlaws-return-to-riverside-for-october-doubleheader/
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/tracks/?track=Riverside+International+Speedway

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Final Ohio Weekend of 2024 Brings World of Outlaws to Wayne County, Sharon

The northeast Ohio ovals take The Greatest Show on Dirt to the Buckeye State one last time this year

ORRVILLE, OH (September 25, 2024) - The trek to World Finals marches into Ohio this weekend for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars with the Series final trip of 2024 to the “Buckeye State.”

First on the agenda is a return to Orrville, OH’s Wayne County Speedway on Friday, Sept. 27, for the $15,000-to-win/$1,500-to-start Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS Energy Drink. Then, it’s back to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 28.

It’ll be The Greatest Show on Dirt’s first time back at Wayne County since 2020 and its 15th visit in Series history to Sharon.

Less than 10 races remain before #AllDirtRoads lead the tour to The Dirt Track at Charlotte to close out the 2024 campaign. And with the championship still up for grabs, both races will be crucial to the title fight.

BUY WAYNE COUNTY TICKETS HERE
BUY SHARON TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

HAUD’S HOMECOMING: Any race in his home state of Ohio is special for Sheldon Haudenschild. But Friday’s trip to Wayne County is especially meaningful for the 31-year-old.

Haudenschild’s hometown of Wooster, OH is only 15 minutes down the road from the Orrville, OH oval. He loves the track, and the fans love him. Haudenschild’s sights will be firmly on victory Friday.

He rolls into the weekend as the most recent Series winner at Wayne County, claiming the 2020 visit. The driver of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink also has several more victories at his home track including five with the All-Star Circuit of Champions.

Haudenschild is also no slouch at Sharon. He beat the All-Stars there in the 2015 Lou Blaney Memorial, and he’s been on the World of Outlaws podium three times including a 2021 runner-up.

EVERY POINT MATTERS: The last five World of Outlaws championships have all been decided by less than 100 points, and a similar battle looks to be shaping up in 2024.

David Gravel has sat atop the standings for the bulk of the season with his Big Game Motorsports crew, but Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing are still within striking distance (-90 points) with a dozen races remaining. Both are chasing their first title.

Gravel finished ninth at the 2020 World of Outlaws trip to Wayne County. Back in 2012 he picked up an All-Star podium. Over at Sharon, Gravel grabbed his first win at the Hartford, OH, dirt track earlier this year after two straight runner-up finishes.

Macedo has been consistent in eight Wayne County races with no finish worse than eighth. The highlight of that experience is an All-Star runner-up in 2018. Sharon is a similar story for the Lemoore, CA driver with eight top 10s in nine Feature starts including four podiums.

BUDDY ON THE BRINK: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid moved one step closer to making history as the California swing wrapped up last weekend.

A third and a second pushed his current podium streak to seven in a row with Roth Motorsports and moved him to fourth in the standings. He’s now in position to tie the record for the highest finishing Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year in Series history, but he could also set a new mark. Donny Schatz sits just 64 points ahead of the Penngrove, CA native.

Kofoid has been successful at both tracks on this weekend’s agenda. The 22-year-old claimed an All-Star Race at Wayne County in 2019 and podiumed there that same season.

His experience is a little more limited at Sharon but still with flashes of speed. Kofoid posted an All-Star top five in 2022 and drove from 12th to seventh last May with the World of Outlaws.

BUCKEYE BRILLIANCE: Any trip to Ohio is a welcome part of the schedule for Donny Schatz.

The 10-time Series champion has tallied 32 of his 315 career World of Outlaws victories in the “Buckeye State” at six different facilities – Eldora Speedway (18), Attica Raceway Park (five), Atomic Speedway (four), Fremont Speedway (two), Limaland Motorsports Park (two), and Sharon Speedway (one).

Schatz could make Wayne County the seventh on Friday. His only start at the 3/8 mile led to a fourth place run in 2020 aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15. Schatz’s lone Sharon score came last year in May. He’s also run second there on three occasions including earlier this season.

OHIO EXPERTISE: Ohio is one of the most booming hotbeds in the Sprint Car landscape, and many of the area’s top locals plan to join the action this weekend to see how they stack up against the nation’s best.

Rawson, OH’s Ricky Peterson has already topped a pair of Wayne County races this year. He’s also been victorious with both the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association (OVSCA) and FAST on Dirt in Orrville, OH.

Cale Thomas may call Ohio’s neighboring state of Indiana home, but the “Buckeye State” is where he races most often. He’s won eight times in 2024 all within the borders of Ohio including a $10,000 payday at Wayne County’s Pete Jacobs Memorial.

Evans City, PA’s Brandon Spithaler is another out-of-state native that often crosses state lines to compete in Ohio. He’s won two times at Wayne County so far this year. He also owns several podium finishes at Sharon.

These three will be joined by several others from the region ready to battle the World of Outlaws.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, Sept. 27 at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (57/69 Races):

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

FEATURE LAPS LED (26 Drivers):

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):

HEAT RACE WINNERS (54 Drivers):

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (69 Drivers):

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (44 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (33 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):

TOP 10 FINISHES (81 Drivers):

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-final-ohio-weekend-of-2024-brings-world-of-outlaws-to-wayne-county-sharon/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6228

https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6229
TRACK INFO: http://www.waynecountyspeedway.com

https://www.sharonspeedway.com

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

STEAK DINNER: Carson Macedo Tops Dennis Roth Classic for Biggest Win of Career

The Californian sweeps the night in his home state’s biggest World of Outlaws race ever

TULARE, CA (September 21, 2024) - Only a few short weeks ago Carson Macedo saw the potential biggest win of his career fall from his grasp.

The white flag waved at Huset’s Speedway, and he threw everything he had at Michael “Buddy” Kofoid with a final corner slider. Macedo cleared him but couldn’t stop Kofoid’s crossover as he watched $100,000 and Huset’s High Bank Nationals glory slip away.

But he refused to suffer the same fate at the Dennis Roth Classic.

It was a special event for several reasons for Macedo. First, the host track – Thunderbowl Raceway – is only about 30 miles from his hometown of Lemoore, CA. Secondly, the event boasted the largest winner’s share in World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car history with $83,000 going to the champion. And the event saluted perhaps his home state’s most impactful car owner in Sprint Car racing.

There was plenty of motivation. He and the Jason Johnson Racing simply needed to execute, and that’s exactly what they did to perfection.

Macedo pieced together a full sweep of the night. It started off with his second straight Simpson Quick Time. He then went on to top both his Heat Race and the Toyota Racing Dash. And he finalized the special evening by leading every circuit of the 35-lap finale to collect the massive payday.

“What a night to have a perfect night,” Macedo said. “Philip (Dietz) just delivered tonight. It was, from start to finish, an absolutely excellent performance by this JJR 41 team. Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn, they worked their tails off. They did a great job. They just made phenomenal adjustments. I wasn’t that comfortable in Hot Laps. Phil just knocked it out of the park for Qualifying really. We just never faded from that point on. It was just unbelievable to drive from start to finish.”

The sweep of the night not only netted Macedo the massive check, it also came with some tasty rewards. With 20 pounds of choice New York steaks, 20 pounds of choice Tri-Tip, and 30 pounds of ribeye steaks collected courtesy of Roth Motorsports, Macedo walked away with 70 pounds of meat.

Macedo’s ninth win of the year was his 44th overall with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He became the 20th different competitor to top a Series race at the Thunderbowl. The Tulare, CA 1/3 mile is the 26th different track where Macedo has won with the World of Outlaws and fourth in his home state.

Macedo started on the pole for the main event and drove ahead to an early advantage. The 28-year-old may have gapped the field early on, but the action behind him was plentiful. Sixth-starting David Gravel charged by Buddy Kofoid to grab third, but Kofoid returned the favor by ripping the top in Turns 3 and 4 to take it right back.

A little further behind them Sheldon Haudenschild was giving the fans a show all on his own aboard the NOS Energy Drink No. 17. He glued his right rear tire to the cushion and beat down the boards. After starting 12th, the Wooster, OH native had cracked the top five by Lap 7. A lap later he took fourth from Gravel. Up ahead of them Kofoid started to battle with Shane Golobic for the runner-up spot.

A Lap 9 restart proved to be pivotal as Kofoid, Gravel, and Haudenschild all rocketed ahead of Golobic for spots second, third, and fourth.

Kofoid looked to run down Macedo to deliver a storybook win for his Roth Motorsports crew, but it wasn’t in the cards on Saturday night. He did everything he could to keep up with Macedo through traffic, but he never managed to close in.

Macedo maintained a healthy advantage throughout the race’s second half on his way to $83,000 and a mountain of meat to feed him and the Jason Johnson Racing cast for weeks.

“Man, what a night,” Macedo said. “Obviously, we were racing for the Dennis Roth Classic. Dennis and Teresa Roth, they’ve given a lot to the sport of Sprint Car Racing. It feels special to win this race. I’ve been competing against the Roth 83 for a while. Obviously, out here in California driving the Tarlton Motorsports 21 and through the transition of my career.”

Kofoid collected his sixth straight podium and $40,000 with a runner-up finish. The Penngrove, CA native had high hopes of bringing the Dennis Roth Classic trophy back to Roth’s Fresno, CA shop, but he didn’t hang his head over yet another strong run as he and the No. 83 team continue to click as the season winds down.

“I feel like I could pace Carson,” Kofoid said. “And I felt like I was just as good as him, but clean air is huge, and when you��re behind him and he kicks up dust, it’s hard to see the wall sometimes when you’ve got to ride the wall. It was a really fun track. I’m just super happy that this event was able to happen for Dennis and Teresa. I feel like they deserve a race like this. I just feel very honored to be the guy to drive this car and be close to getting it done.”

The final spot of the podium belonged to Haudenschild as his charge from 12th led him all the way to third. Combine that with his Friday run, and Haudenschild passed a total of 23 cars in two nights at the Thunderbowl. Time simply ran out for him to have an opportunity at potentially moving by Kofoid and Macedo for victory.

“I had a beautiful race car honestly,” Haudenschild said. “I had confidence right from the drop of the green. I just knew I had to clear a few of those guys that would give a little bit of trouble. Once I got to the guys I knew I could race with like David (Gravel) and a couple other ones, I feel like we had the pace with them for sure. Just too little too late.”

David Gravel and Shane Golobic rounded out the top five.

A 23rd to 10th run earned Tim Kaeding the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo completed a weekend sweep of Simpson Quick Time Awards by claiming his 12th of the season and 45th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart, and Landon Brooks. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Kaleb Montgomery.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Bill Balog won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head east for an Ohio doubleheader beginning with Wayne County Speedway’s (Orrville, OH) Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS Energy Drink on Friday, Sept. 27. Then it’s off to Hartford, OH’s Sharon Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 28 for the Federated Auto Parts 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. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 4. 2-David Gravel[6]; 5. 17W-Shane Golobic[2]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[19]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 10. 0-Tim Kaeding[23]; 11. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[7]; 12. 45-Landon Brooks[8]; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[22]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 15. 21-Cole Macedo[15]; 16. 29-Bud Kaeding[18]; 17. 88N-DJ Netto[9]; 18. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[20]; 19. 88-Austin McCarl[17]; 20. 2K-Gauge Garcia[16]; 21. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 22. 83T-Tanner Carrick[14]; 23. 2X-Justin Sanders[13]; 24. 57W-Jock Goodyer[10]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/steak-dinner-carson-macedo-tops-dennis-roth-classic-for-biggest-win-of-career/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6226
TRACK INFO: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com

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

THUNDERBOWL THRILLER: David Gravel Tops Wild Dennis Roth Classic Opener

The point leader arises victorious from four-leader Feature at Tulare for 14th win of season

TULARE, CA (September 20, 2024) - Thunderbowl Raceway delivered yet again.

The California oval always produces some of the best Sprint Car racing in the country. A cushion right against the fence. A technical but fast bottom. Passing everywhere you look. And the Thunderbowl lived up to all the hype on Friday as the Dennis Roth Classic weekend kicked off.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into town for the first time in two years and gave the fans 30 laps on non-stop excitement. Four different competitors led laps all looking to write various stories of victory. A home state hero now on the World of Outlaws tour in search of a triumphant homecoming. A local eying his first Series win against the nation’s best. A Pennsylvanian looking for a late season surge. And perhaps the country’s most dominant driver hoping to shake a slump.

Ultimately it was the final scenario that played out as David Gravel navigated through a subpar first half of the main event before piecing together a fierce charge to victory. The current point leader with The Greatest Show on Dirt started sixth, slipped back to seventh, and rallied to take the lead on Lap 19 and never looked back.

“We were not good in the Dash at all, and Cody (Jacobs), Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), and Zach (Patterson) changed a bunch of stuff there for the Feature,” Gravel said. “And the car was really good. Hats off to them for rebounding really well there. Just a much needed win for our team.

“It’s Sprint Car racing. A lot of good competition here. Every night is going to be a fight. Obviously, for our confidence, it’s going to help us a bunch. We just haven’t been in position to even lead laps really even if we finish on the podium or top five. We haven’t had the opportunity to lead laps. Tonight was maybe looking the same way, but things went our way, found a lane that worked, and our car was really, really good.”

The victory was Gravel’s 14th of the season with the World of Outlaws and ended a 14-race winless streak dating back to July 28 at Weedsport Speedway. His 15th overall Sprint Car checkered flag of 2024 puts him in a tie with Anthony Macri as the country’s winningest driver. Gravel’s third Tulare triumph equals him with Donny Schatz for the second most at the 1/3 mile, and a weekend sweep would equal him with Tim Kaeding and Joey Saldana for the most.

It was Fresno, CA’s Giovanni Scelzi bringing the field to green with Roseville, CA’s Colby Copeland alongside. Scelzi jumped out to the early advantage while D.J. Netto slid ahead of Copeland on the opening lap to take second.

Scelzi opened up the advantage through the early laps while cars throughout the pack jockeyed for spots. Gravel dropped to seventh on Lap 6 as Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog drove around him.

The introduction of traffic into the equation ignited a wild war for the top spot. Netto began to reel in the KCP Racing No. 18 piloted by Scelzi. On the ninth circuit Netto showed him a nose in Turns 3 and 4. And then one lap later he fired a slider in the same set of corners to grab the top spot.

Netto then looked to put some distance between himself and the field as he chased his first career World of Outlaws victory. Disaster nearly struck when he almost got together with a lapped car entering Turn 3, but he rebounded by turning under the car and clearing him exiting Turn 4.

The bid for his first Series win ended when Netto smacked the Turn 2 wall on Lap 16. The contact allowed both Logan Schuchart and Kofoid to drive around him.

Behind them Gravel was suddenly on the move having gotten the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 rolling on the bottom. The Watertown, CT native was seventh on Lap 13. Four trips around the track later he took third. On Lap 18 he rolled by Kofoid for second. Then on the following lap Schuchart slipped up ever so slightly exiting Turn 4, but it was all the space Gravel needed as he motored by the Shark Racing No. 1S.

That moved punctuated an exhilarating 10-lap stretch of swapping the top spot. Once Gravel had the lead, there was no stopping him. He stretched the advantage to more than four seconds and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead.

“I fell back to sixth or seventh or eighth there,” Gravel recalled. “Buddy and Balog passed me with their hair on fire sliding across. I was running up there and didn’t feel that great, and then I sniffed the bottom one time in (Turns) 3 and 4 and felt pretty good and then figured it out. I kind of had that lane a little bit to myself. Logan sniffed it out there. Gio started falling back and then Netto got in the wall. I just was trying to be patient, and it worked out really good.”

Schuchart brought the Shark Racing machine home second. While there was a hint of disappointment after leading laps and not winning, the night proved to be overall encouraging for the Hanover, PA native at a track that hasn’t always been the kindest to him.

“I feel like the bottom was definitely the place to be,” Schuchart said. “David just did a better job than I did for a few laps there. He got underneath me in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I went in a little too hot and just didn’t stick the bottom as good as I needed to. Definitely the best I’ve felt at this place in a long time. Happy to get a podium and run up front.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Kofoid as he and Roth Motorsports continued their hot streak. They’ve now pieced together 10 consecutive finishes of fourth or better including the last six all on the podium. Dennis and Teresa’s car appears poised to be in the running for $83,000 at Saturday’s Dennis Roth Classic finale.

“I was just really stuck on the bottom,” Kofoid said of his charge from ninth. “I figured some people were probably indecisive on where to be. And since I started on the bottom, I committed to just staying down there for a while at least until it moved around. Then it got slick and dirty, and when I moved up to try and race with Logan for the lead and get around lappers, I think the top had just gotten dirtier by that point, and I let David back by. I thought we had a really good Roth Motorsports, Mobil 1, Toyota 83. It was a hectic race. I would’ve liked a yellow. I feel like we had a car capable of winning.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and D.J. Netto completed the top five.

An 18th to fourth run earned Sheldon Haudenschild the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his 11th Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 44th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat Races One, Three, and Four belonged to Carson Macedo, D.J. Netto, and Logan Schuchart. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Cole Macedo 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 compete for a massive $83,000 payday at Thunderbowl Raceway’s Dennis Roth Classic finale on Saturday, Sept. 21. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[6]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto[3]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 9. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[11]; 10. 17W-Shane Golobic[12]; 11. 5V-Colby Copeland[2]; 12. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[15]; 13. 2X-Justin Sanders[14]; 14. 45-Landon Brooks[8]; 15. O-Tim Kaeding[19]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz[24]; 17. 10-Dominic Gorden[20]; 18. 29-Bud Kaeding[10]; 19. 57W-Jock Goodyer[13]; 20. 18T-Tanner Holmes[22]; 21. 88A-Joey Ancona[16]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[17]; 23. 21-Cole Macedo[21]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/thunderbowl-thriller-david-gravel-tops-wild-dennis-roth-classic-opener/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6226
TRACK INFO: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com

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

MVP: Beau Binder Still Holding KKM Shop, Road Crew Together in 20th Season

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 20, 2024) – Seventeen-time national Midget championship-winning team Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) has been fueled by the experience of co-founders Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby since its inception in the late 1990s. But there’s one other man they’ve consistently relied on.

Beau Binder.

Fabricator. Shop foreman. Crew chief. Driver coach. The El Paso, TX, native has worked in several roles with KKM since his first season with the team in 2004. This year, he celebrates 20 years with the team as the dependable, dedicated veteran and role model for KKM’s small army of mechanics.

“He’s like Keith and I were back when we first started,” Willoughby said. “It didn’t matter what the clock said, you didn’t leave until you were done. And Beau was always right there by our side.”

As KKM’s longest-tenured crew member, Binder has spent the past four seasons back on the road with the team as a crew chief and driver mentor, chasing points championships with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, USAC National Midget Series and POWRi National Midget League after several years primarily in the team shop in Columbus, IN.

In that time, he’s been able to learn from the best, which he said has helped transform him into the racing brain he is today.

“Being able to work with Keith who is just a master at reading the tracks and knowing what changes to make,” Binder said. “Being able to work with him and his resources has just taught me so much. Where we run so many different drivers, and you learn so quick that you have to watch the car, not the driver to be able to tell what changes to make. That’s such an important telltale sign there of what direction to go.”

Before his first introduction to Midgets, Binder grew up a Sprint Car fan in Texas, attending races with his family locally and wherever their travels took them. At 13, his father gave him his first opportunity as a driver when a new dirt go-kart track opened in nearby Las Cruces, NM. As a neighbor to local Sprint Car racers Joe Yearwood and Dennis Pellicotte, he also took on crew member duties for them, giving him his first lessons in full-size open-wheel race car anatomy.

In 1998, Pellicotte was getting out of Sprint Car racing. Binder’s father bought the equipment and stuck his son in the seat on the condition he got a job to help pay for the expenses and worked on the car himself. As he established himself as a regular competitor around the local 360 Sprint Car scene, Binder doubled his knowledge as both a driver and a mechanic of his own operation.

At the turn of the millennium, Binder was hired as a welder and fabricator at renown drag racing shop Don Davis Race Cars — one of his biggest lessons in motorsports education.

“He taught me all my basic fabricating,” Binder said. “He taught me how to weld, how to build frames and how to repair frames. I knew at that point I probably didn’t have enough money to always go and buy replacement parts. So, it was kinda nice to know how to fix the stuff myself.”

A similar role at Avenger Chassis in 2002 allowed him to focus more on the inner workings of the Sprint Car frames the company produced. This opened the door for his own fledgling 360 Non-Wing Sprint Car career in 2004, when he won the USAC Southwest Sprint Car championship.

During that season, Binder towed to Indiana to compete in USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week. It was there he met Kunz and Willoughby when he visited the KKM shop while searching for a new job. Willoughby soon called and hired him as a crew member on the road for the rest of 2004 before moving him into the shop full-time for the 2005 season to assist with their own increasing production of Sprint Car frames.

“When I first started, we were way more focused on Sprint Cars than Midgets,” Binder said. “At the time, we didn’t follow the entire USAC series with Midgets, we would hit the banner events. We would do Sun Prairie, Chili Bowl, Belleville, but weren’t chasing all that. We were more oft to go run a local Sprint Car race than we were some of the Midget stuff.”

When KKM was approached by Chip Ganassi Racing — and later Toyota Racing — to start a driver development program in the late 2000s, the team began to dedicate more time to Midget racing, later producing champions like Cole Whitt, Bryan Clauson and Christopher Bell.

As the team’s priorities began to change, Binder adapted his skills and began to earn his standout status.

“As he saw that was kinda what takes to survive, the way we do it, he just jumped on board,” Willoughby said. “Honestly, I don’t think we could do it without him.”

Throughout the 2010s, Binder served in various capacities in the KKM shop, including a break from his full-time role in 2011 before rejoining the team in 2014. During that period, he worked only nights at the KKM shop, spent more time with his family and even got back in the seat, winning the 2012 and 2013 Midwest Mini Sprint Association championships.

Binder returned to a crew chief role in 2021 with driver Daison Pursley, rejoining the road crew full-time for the first time in many years. By then, the KKM Midget program had expanded to upwards of four cars at any given event, and more staff, more time, and more effort became necessary to stay competitive.

“It has helped us learn to keep the setup evolving because essentially, we are running four-to-eight races in one night,” Binder said. “Granted, we’re not trying to take big swings, but there’s still a factor of trying to make the car comfortable for each driver, and sometimes you see that watching the car and not the driver. You see where you gain some speed by trying to help one of them somewhere and now you go and apply it to everybody.

“We’re able to learn faster because we’re running more races every night. That has really kept our cars, even with more rookie drivers, up front and in contention for the lead every night.”

To keep up with the extensive maintenance schedule on the team’s expanding fleet, Binder helped to organize the team’s pre-race and post-race habits, still in use today.

“One of their biggest things they tell us is to treat this place like it’s our own,” Binder said. “A lot of the processes and stuff, I’ve been able to take and mold myself. A lot of the way we do stuff, granted it’s all still based on Keith’s original processes, there’s always a little bit here and there where you can figure out how to save some time or save some money or save some work and make the process, while still productive, you make it a little more efficient.”

Reflecting on 20 years working for one of Midget racing’s most successful organizations, Binder has learned several things from Kunz but mentioned one that stands out as the difference maker over their competition.

“It’s that attention to detail,” he said. “It’s not always about having the prettiest car out there, it’s about having the most functional car out there. It’s about making sure the details that do matter are correct every time it goes on the track.”

Binder and the KKM team now prepare to wrap-up the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series season and earn their 18th national championship in the final two races — Friday–Saturday, Oct. 4–5 at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL.

Advance sale tickets are available for purchase now at the link below. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

JACKSONVILLE TICKETS

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/mvp-beau-binder-still-holding-kkm-shop-road-crew-together-in-20th-season/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6141
TRACK INFO: https://jacksonvillespeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

Photo credit — Emily Schwanke

BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Kofoid Clear Headed, Confident Heading to Dennis Roth Classic

The Californian is on a heater entering the event he and Roth Motorsports have had circled all season

TULARE, CA (September 19, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid admits there was a time not too long ago when he wasn’t enjoying Sprint Car racing the way he used to.

It’s the sport he grew up in. It’s the sport he loves. It’s the sport where his talent was evident right when Dan Simpson put him behind the wheel in his earliest teenage years. But a short stretch of his career brought him to a place he didn’t want to be mentally.

Like any racer battling through a slump, Kofoid fought through it. Now, he’s landed in a spot where he’s having perhaps the most fun he’s ever had racing Sprint Cars.

Kofoid is navigating the second half of his rookie World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign with Roth Motorsports, and the pairing have caught fire. They’ve topped four of the last five races and haven’t finished worse than fourth in the last nine. The run of unflinching consistency has Kofoid knocking on the door of fourth in points, which would equal the best showing for a rookie in Series history.

“I grew up going to Outlaw races and watching,” Kofoid said. “Steve Kinser was always my hero and still is. So, to go on a run like this is still surreal and kind of hard to believe because I know how hard it is to win. And the people that compete with the Outlaws is as hard as it gets. You can’t take it for granted. You have to cherish it. It’s special to me because of how I view Sprint Car racing and what the Outlaws mean to me.”

The peak of the stretch came three weeks ago at Huset’s Speedway when Kofoid and the Roth crew found redemption. A little more than a year after engine troubles broke their hearts, the same powerplant motored them to victory at the Huset’s High Bank Nationals for a six-figure payday.

“I do know that I’ve probably watched that video from then to now 50-plus times. I feel like I watched it 20 times on the way back to the shop,” Kofoid said. “I feel like it all came full circle. That motor is the same motor we won with this year. We figured she was worthy of one more chance, and she didn’t disappoint. That and when they announced the dates, Dylan (Buswell) and I messaged each other about the Huset’s race and the money, and we were like, “Well, it’s time for redemption.’”

A common thread of Kofoid’s comments this year has been a reference to his crew chief Dylan Buswell. He’s been around the sport for several years and worked with many top talents. His impact on Kofoid has been a catalyst to returning to the right headspace.

“There was a little bit where I wasn’t really enjoying racing to the fullest extent to where I knew how I used to enjoy it or the way that I feel like you should still enjoy it to do it at a professional level and to grind and do it every single day,” Kofoid recalled. “And then working with Dylan was kind of a breath of fresh air for me again. He helped me subconsciously believe that I could still do it and that there are people that could help me enjoy it and want to show up to work every day.”

It's been a mutually beneficial partnership between Kofoid and Buswell.

“I know he’s talked about me making him enjoy racing again,” Buswell said. “And honestly it was the same for me. I kind of got to a point where I was kind of burnt out. Getting the chance to race with him rejuvenated me as well.”

The recent hot streak couldn’t have come at a better time for Kofoid and company. Next up on the calendar is Thunderbowl Raceway’s Dennis Roth Classic (Sept. 20-21). A huge payday of $83,000 awaits Saturday’s winner, but it’s about more than the money for the No. 83 team. It’s about honoring Dennis and Teresa Roth in the best way possible by putting their car in Victory Lane at the race that salutes their dedication to the sport.

And perhaps even more important than the momentum they’ve built, Kofoid and Buswell head to Thunderbowl feeling revitalized and confident in the sport they love.

“I hope we haven’t peaked too early,” Buswell said with a laugh. “It’s definitely the right time to be fast. I’m definitely looking forward to this weekend. I think if some things roll our way, we can definitely get it done. I would love nothing more than to win the Dennis Roth Classic for these guys. Obviously, they’ve put so much into the sport. They’ve done a lot for me and now Buddy. I would really, really love to win this race for them.”

“I want to win it for Dennis,” Kofoid said. “Obviously, it pays well, and that’s a lot of incentive, but I’m kind of a history person. I’ve learned to appreciate things that have come before me and the people that have paved the way for where we get to stand right now and get to do what we love to do. So, I want to win it for Dennis and Teresa because I feel like they deserve this race for everything they’ve done.”

Tickets will be available at the Thunderbowl Raceway gate for this weekend’s Dennis Roth Classic. If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/breath-of-fresh-air-kofoid-clear-headed-confident-heading-to-dennis-roth-classic/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6226
TRACK INFO: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com

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

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Ride Into Dirt Oval 66 For Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown in October

JOLIET, IL (Sept. 18, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ 2024 journey brings the best Sprint Car drivers in the world back to Dirt Oval 66 for the first time since 2017.

About an hour south from Chicago, the 3/8-mile dirt track will host The Greatest Show on Dirt for a doubleheader weekend, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19, with a $12,000 payday on the line both nights of the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown.

The last time the Series visited the track, Donny Schatz scored his second straight victory at Dirt Oval 66. Although, those two wins were 12 years apart. The Series’ return to the track in 2017 was its first time there since 2005.

With that, Schatz, the 10-time World of Outlaws champion, is currently the only full-time driver on the tour with a Series win at the track. However, Rookie of the Year contender Bill Balog has also won at the track, picking up an IRA win there in 2017.

In addition to his win, Balog has a top-five finish there with the All Star Circuit of Champions in 2019 – the last premier Sprint Car series to race at the track. Brock Zearfoss finished one spot behind him in sixth in that race too.

The event will be the second to last race weekend before the championship finale at the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Nov. 6-9). David Gravel, looking for his first title, is the current points leader, but Carson Macedo, also looking for his first title, has been gaining steam and cutting into Gravel’s lead.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19
Location – Joliet, IL
Track Website – DirtOval66.com

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies: 7:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 27, 2017) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjAfPvQB9cY

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Dirt Oval 66 –
2017 – Donny Schatz on June 27
2005 – Donny Schatz on July 8
2002 – Joey Saldana on July 12
2001 – Mark Kinser on July 13; Jeff Sheppard on July 12
2000 – Steve Kinser on June 29
1999 – Stevie Smith on Oct. 10; Steve Kinser on May 9
1998 – Stevie Smith on July 26

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/1-month-alert-world-of-outlaws-ride-into-dirt-oval-66-for-federated-auto-parts-route-66-showdown-in-october/

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Thunderbowl’s Dennis Roth Classic Ready to Offer $83,000 Payday

The World of Outlaws salute one of the sport’s most dedicated car owners with two huge nights of racing

TULARE, CA (September 17, 2024) - The time has come for the biggest California race in World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car history.

A three-week stay in the “Golden State” wraps up in a huge way this weekend (Sept. 20-21) at Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway. The third annual Dennis Roth Classic is set to serve up a beefy $83,000 payday to the winner of the finale as a nod to Roth’s car number. His cars have become an iconic staple with many of the sport’s greats climbing behind the wheel of a Roth ride over the years.

The pay won’t be the only prize on Saturday night as Roth is adding some other goods to the menu. The Simpson Quick Time and Toyota Dash winners will head home with 10 pounds of choice New York steaks. Each NOS Energy Drink Heat Race winner receives 20 pounds of choice tri-tip. The event winner gets 30 pounds of choice ribeye steaks while second and third collect 20 and 10 pounds.

Danny Lasoski will also be making a special appearance as he reunites with his 1998 Knoxville Nationals winning Roth Motorsports ride. The team has kept the car maintained since that night, and Lasoski is heading to California to pace the field aboard the historic machine.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a memorable weekend saluting one of the most important figures in Sprint Car racing history.

Tickets will be available at the gate, or fans can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

BRING HOME THE BEEF: The stars could be aligning for a storybook weekend for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid.

He’s living out his dream in 2024 as he tackles his rookie World of Outlaws campaign thanks to none other than Dennis and Teresa Roth giving him the opportunity. The Californian grew up watching the California car, and now he has the honor of piloting the No. 83 alongside the nation’s best. Kofoid would love nothing more than to bring the Dennis Roth Classic trophy to Roth’s Fresno, CA shop.

Kofoid rolls into the weekend as, arguably, the hottest driver on tour. Four of the last five races have belonged to the 22-year-old including a sweep of Bakersfield and Merced last weekend. He hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the last nine races.

Thunderbowl has seen Kofoid visit its Victory Lane multiple times in the past. Back in 2016 he topped a Trophy Cupprelim at only 14 years old. He claimed another prelim in 2021 that helped lead him to a Trophy Cup title. It’s also where he made his World of Outlaws debut in 2018.

CARSON IS CLOSING: With only 14 races remaining before the 2024 World of Outlaws champion is crowned, there may be a battle brewing for the title.

Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team have strung together eight podiums in the last 11 races, including five victories. A pair of third place finishes over the weekend helped Macedo trim David Gravel’s advantage down to 86 markers.

Thunderbowl gives Macedo two more chances in home territory to make up some ground before the tour ventures back east. Macedo won a Kings of Thunder 360 Sprint Car race at the Tulare, CA oval in 2021, and his best World of Outlaws finish there is fifth (2018).

ROTH’S WINNERS: A record 16 different drivers have steered Dennis and Teresa Roth’s race cars to World of Outlaws Victory Lane, and along with Kofoid two more of those names will be in the Thunderbowl pit area this weekend.

Current Series point leader David Gravel got his first national touring opportunity when Roth put him in the seat during the 2014 World of Outlaws season. The pairing claimed four races that year including a crown jewel triumph at Williams Grove Speedway’s National Open. Through Gravel hasn’t won with Roth at the Thunderbowl, he has claimed a pair of events with CJB Motorsports. The richest Sprint Car driver in the country this season eyes $83,000 this weekend.

The other is Roth’s second winningest driver with the World of Outlaws, Tim Kaeding. The San Jose, CA native collected 19 of his 21 career checkered flags behind the wheel of the No. 83, and a trio of those came at Thunderbowl. “TK” added one more Tulare triumph in the Kinser No. 11K (2007). Kaeding’s four Series victories at the 1/3 mile are tied with Joey Saldana for the most.

TAMING TULARE: In addition to Gravel, two more current full-time World of Outlaws competitors have won with The Greatest Show on Dirt at Thunderbowl.

Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz has topped three Tulare visits (2005, 2007, 2017). One more at the Dennis Roth Classic would equal him with Kaeding and Saldana for the most, and a weekend sweep in the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 would give him sole possession of the most.

Giovanni Scelzi grew up less than an hour from Tulare, calling Fresno, CA home in his youth. Two years ago, Scelzi came out on top of a Thunderbowl thriller after trading sliders with Kyle Larson and David Gravel in the closing laps. “Hot Sauce” has also won there with both the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) and Sprint Car Challenge Tour (SCCT).

CAN CALI CASH IN?: With such major money on the line, a big cast of local California talent is expected to join the field in search of an Outlaw upset.

Rocklin, CA’s Shane Golobic has made it abundantly clear that he knows his way around Thunderbowl. He’s claimed a trio of the coveted Trophy Cup titles, and he’s won with a 410 under the hood in NARC action. Golobic is already a two-time Series winner with both scores coming in his home state at Antioch (2013) and Placerville (2019).

Dominic Scelzi has been a force at Tulare to the tune of 12 career triumphs. Three of those have come in NARC action. The Fresno, CA native is still seeking his first World of Outlaws victory, and he led laps at the most recent Series visit in 2022.

Cole Macedo was impressive this past weekend, posting finishes of sixth and fifth in the Tarlton Motorsports No. 21 at Bakersfield and Merced. Before he joins the tour full-time next year, the Lemoore, CA native looks to win one as a California local this weekend at the Thunderbowl. He topped a 360 show last year at Tulare and finished fourth with NARC back in May this year.

Hanford, CA’s D.J. Netto has been perhaps the most impressive “Golden State” local through the California swing with a pair of top five finishes at Kings Speedway and Merced Speedway. Netto is a four-time Thunderbowl winner including two last year.

These three will be joined by many more including the likes of Justin Sanders (Aromas, CA), Caeden Steele (Fresno, CA), Kaleb Montgomery (Templeton, CA), and many more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, Sept 20-21 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, CA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (55/69 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (7450 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-86 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-132 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-226 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-232 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-360 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-362 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-848 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1184 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1438 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo
5 Wins – Michael Kofoid
4 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 (25 Drivers):

373 Laps – Carson Macedo
317 Laps – David Gravel
205 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
177 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
132 Laps – Donny Schatz
119 Laps – Michael Kofoid
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
49 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
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
14 Laps – Shane Golobic
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
4 Laps – Hunter Schuerenberg
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):

10 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom, Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, Landon Brooks

HEAT RACE WINNERS (52 Drivers):

27 Heat Wins – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
24 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
19 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
18 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman, Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Emerson Axsom, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall
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, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake, Shane Golobic, Dylan Bloomfield, D.J. Netto

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (69 Drivers):

38 Dashes – Carson Macedo
37 Dashes – David Gravel
33 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
32 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
27 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
20 Dashes – Donny Schatz
19 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
15 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, 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, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Kaleb Montgomery, Tanner Carrick, Tim Kaeding, Jock Goodyer, Landon Brooks, Dylan Bloomfield, Tim Kaeding, D.J. Netto, Jamie Veal

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (44 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless
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, Cole Macedo, 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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (33 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Emerson Axsom, Tim Kaeding
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Estenson, David Gravel, Ryan Bernal, Shane Golobic

PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):

27 Podiums – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
20 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
17 Podiums – Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, 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

TOP 10 FINISHES (81 Drivers):

49 Top 10s – David Gravel
47 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
46 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
45 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
42 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
38 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
28 Top 10s – Bill Balog
14 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Garet Williamson
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Chase Randall
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Kerry Madsen, Tim Kaeding, D.J. Netto, Justin Sanders
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, Shane Golobic, Kaleb Montgomery, Dylan Bloomfield, Jamie Veal, Ryan Bernal, Jock Goodyer, Dominic Scelzi

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/what-to-watch-for-thunderbowls-dennis-roth-classic-ready-to-offer-83000-payday/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6226
TRACK INFO: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com

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

GAMERS UNITE: Midgets Ready to Race in World of Outlaws Dirt Racing 24

All-new Xbox-PlayStation title includes 35 real-life Midget drivers plus Millbridge, Micro Sprints

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 17, 2024) — The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to the home console world of gaming for the second consecutive year with the official release of the all-new World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 title on Xbox and PlayStation.

Thirty-five authentic national Midget drivers are represented on the in-game Midget roster, included along with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, ASCS Elite Non-Wing 410 Sprint Cars, DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals and several other dirt track racing divisions.

The game is available for purchase today on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The full roster of drivers included with the initial release is listed below and includes all new paint schemes for 2024 with additional schemes for select drivers to be added in a future DLC pack.

Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series championship chasers Ryan Timms and Chase McDermand are included in the playable drivers and shared their anticipation to continue dirt racing’s reach beyond the racetrack.

“When I was younger, I’d play the World of Outlaws 2002 game on my PlayStation, and that’s how I learned who a lot of the older drivers were,” Timms said. “Now me, and I’m sure a lot of other people are getting kids coming up to you and saying they use your car in the video game. It’s just pretty cool to see.”

“It’s one thing to see kids at the racetrack and stuff, but to hear from the kids outside of that playing as me in a video game is pretty cool,” McDermand said. “I’ve actually gotten a lot of feedback and comments from various fans and just friends and their kids sending me pictures and stuff of my car on a videogame. It’s pretty cool.”

New for the 2024 edition of the game is the addition of Winged Micro Sprints, as seen in the weekly program of the birthplace of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series — Millbridge Speedway. Several present-day open-wheel stars began their careers in Micro Sprints as kids, racing both on the real track and in the virtual world, which will continue to draw in new racers into 2025 and beyond.

“Chances are, if a kid likes to play a certain type of car on a video game, they’re gonna be able to make that connection when they go to the racetrack,” McDermand said. “That’s the same thing that they can do with drivers themselves, and that’s how you build fans and build and fanbase.

“Just being able to connect more people to our sport in whatever way possible is something that’s super important to be able to continue the sport that we all love.”

Both the Midgets and Millbridge Speedway are available for download today with all of the other car types, tracks and new features — including Outlaw Challenge mode, improved graphics, streamlined career mode, variable track conditions and more.

For more information about World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 or to purchase your copy of the game, visit WorldofOutlawsGame.com or your home console’s digital store today.

Xtreme Outlaw Midget drivers included:

Chase McDermand

Ryan Timms
Zach Daum
Cannon McIntosh
Jade Avedisian
Ashton Torgerson
Karter Sarff

Hayden Reinbold

Tyler Edwards

Gavin Miller

Luke Drotschie

Peter Smith

Trevor Cline

Brayton Lynch
Jayden Clay

Kale Drake

TJ Smith

Elijah Gile

Austin Torgerson

Thomas Meseraull

Kyle Beilman
Kyle Jones
Nick Hoffman

Ethan Mitchell

Jake Neuman

Mitchell Davis

Gunnar Setser

Taylor Reimer

Andrew Felker

Casey Shuman

Gary Taylor

Tyler Robbins
Corbin Rueschenberg

Branigan Roark

Sean Robbins

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/gamers-unite-midgets-ready-to-race-in-world-of-outlaws-dirt-racing-24/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlawsgame.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

UNBEATABLE BUDDY: Kofoid Cruises to Merced Victory, California Weekend Sweep

The Californian bags fourth victory in the last five races with a perfect night at Merced

MERCED, CA (September 14, 2024) - Another day, another Michael “Buddy” Kofoid win.

The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as the hottest driver on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour with Roth Motorsports. And he delivered yet another piece of evidence at Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown hosted by Merced Speedway.

Kofoid flexed his muscle every time he hit the track on his way to a clean sweep. It started with his fifth Simpson Quick Time of the year, moved on to victories in NOS Energy Drink Heat One and the Toyota Racing Dash, and the punctuation mark was made with a commanding showing in the Feature.

The Penngrove, CA native started on the pole and led every circuit at the “Golden State” bullring. Thick traffic made things interesting on multiple occasions, but Kofoid made all the right moves on the path to yet another home state triumph.

“I feel like our car has just been exceptional,” Kofoid said. “It’s all those guys – Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra). They work so hard. They’ve just got us rolling. They’ve got me really comfortable and confident. You’ve got to have confidence on the Outlaw tour and really any Series that you’re doing. I feel like I just have a ton of confidence and know exactly what I’m going to get.

“Happy to get another win. Just want to say thank you to Dennis and Teresa Roth. I can’t thank them enough for letting me live my dream on the Outlaw tour. Being this good is just a lot of fun right now.”

After earning four victories in his first 121 Feature starts with The Greatest Show on Dirt, Kofoid has now reeled off four more in the last five starts, elevating his career total to eight. Half of them have come in his home state of California. He’s now made three total trips to Merced Victory Lane to go along with USAC National Midget checkered flags in 2021 and 2022. The Roth team now hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the last nine races with an average finish of second over that span.

The pole position for the 35-lapper belonged to Kofoid after taming the Toyota Racing Dash. One the green was displayed he darted ahead to an early advantage.

Some early yellows offered Kofoid a hand as they kept him out of lapped traffic throughout the early portion of the race with Tim Kaeding looking to pounce. A restart with 26 laps remaining nearly gave Kofoid a new challenger as Carson Macedo slid Kaeding for second, but another caution before the lap was complete returned the spot to “TK.”

That yellow proved to be the final one of the evening as the laps clicked away fast once the action resumed. Kofoid faced heavy traffic with a hungry Kaeding looking for his first Series win since 2015 right behind him.

A couple close calls nearly gave Kaeding the chance he needed as first Kofoid almost slipped over the cushion and off track in Turn 2, but he managed to keep the car within the banking. Then when he attempted to lap Landon Crawley, Kofoid slid sideways and nearly spun but managed to maintain control.

After the two near misses, Kofoid drove much smoother on his way to win number five in 2024 against the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

This hot streak couldn’t come at a better time for Kofoid as the Series now steers toward one of the season’s biggest events that happens to honor Kofoid’s car owner – the Dennis Roth Classic. Next weekend’s two-night event at Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway will send the winner home with a massive $83,000 payday as a nod to Roth’s iconic car number. With the great help of his crew chief Dylan Buswell, Kofoid is heading to Tulare having the most fun racing he’s ever had and with all the momentum in his corner.

“Dylan has helped me enjoy Sprint Car racing again,” Kofoid said. “There was a while where I wasn’t enjoying it and not questioning things, but I wasn’t in the best place I wanted to be in and should be in. Dylan, and of course Dennis and Teresa Roth and everyone involved, helped me find that drive again to just enjoy it. Obviously, you’ve got to have fun to enjoy it even at this professional level. Without Dylan, Nate, and Gage it wouldn’t be this fun. And obviously running good helps it become fun. Hopefully we can just keep this rolling and try to bring the Dennis Roth Classic back to the shop.”

Finishing second was San Jose, CA’s Tim Kaeding in the Williams Motorsports No. 0, marking his first appearance on the World of Outlaws podium since the 2019 Gold Cup opener at Silver Dollar Speedway. Kaeding has now finished second in four of the six Series races contested at Merced. He thought traffic might’ve given him a shot, but overall came away happy with the runner-up.

“He (Kofoid) kept trying to dive bomb some lapped cars there,” Kaeding said. “And I thought he was going to maybe slide across the racetrack and miss it a little bit, but he didn’t. Buddy is having the time of his life right now running for the Dennis Roth car. We just needed a little bit of luck there. I’m going to take second. That’s a win for us. We’ve struggled almost all year. We’ve had a fast race car, and it finally showed tonight.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing. The No. 41 has been within the top three in five of the last six outings as they continue to click away consistency. A 13th place run for David Gravel allowed Macedo to trim his point lead down to 86 markers.

“Ultimately, we’ve just got to keep putting good nights together,” Macedo said. “That’s what we’ve been able to do lately, and it’s paying off. Man, it was a wild race there. I felt like on that one restart I wish it would’ve went. We jumped up into second, but we didn’t quite go a lap so we ended up getting put back.”

D.J. Netto and Cole Macedo completed the top five.

A 24th to 14th run earned Shane Golobic the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Buddy Kofoid claimed his fifth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 10th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Buddy Kofoid, D.J. Netto, and Sheldon Haudenschild. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kraig Kinser won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Chance Grasty.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finalize the California swing in a big way with Thunderbowl Raceway’s (Tulare, CA) Dennis Roth Classic on Sept. 20-21 offering an $83,000 payday to the winner. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. O-Tim Kaeding[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 88N-DJ Netto[3]; 5. 21-Cole Macedo[6]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 7. 2X-Justin Sanders[16]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 11. 10-Dominic Gorden[15]; 12. 17AU-Jamie Veal[7]; 13. 2-David Gravel[17]; 14. 17W-Shane Golobic[24]; 15. 57W-Jock Goodyer[13]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[22]; 17. 83T-Tanner Carrick[23]; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[10]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[19]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 21. 70-Kraig Kinser[21]; 22. X1-Chance Grasty[11]; 23. 45-Landon Brooks[9]; 24. 73-Ryan Bernal[20]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/unbeatable-buddy-kofoid-cruises-to-merced-victory-california-weekend-sweep/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Merced+Speedway

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

BULLRING BANGER: Kofoid Bests Scelzi in Bakersfield Thriller

The two Californians trade the lead several times before Kofoid pulls away for fourth win of 2024

BAKERSFIELD, CA (September 13, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid cut his teeth on the bullrings of California. And that upbringing was on full display Friday as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into Bakersfield Speedway.

The “Golden State’s” tight ovals are never easy to tame. Bakersfield proved to be no different. A narrow bottom, slick middle, and fast but technical cushion. But Kofoid couldn’t have looked more comfortable in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.

After charging from sixth to third in the Toyota Racing Dash, Kofoid lined up inside the second row for the 35-lap finale at the 1/3-mile. He quickly got to second before igniting a race-long war with pole sitter Giovanni Scelzi.

Kofoid fired slider after slider at the fellow Californian. Scelzi countered with crossover after crossover. They sliced through heavy traffic. They fought for every inch of space as the laps wound down. The winning move came on Lap 28 as Kofoid threw the slide job that stuck as Scelzi couldn’t drive back around exiting Turn 2.

A caution shortly after the move supplied Kofoid with clean air, and he used it to drive away to a victory on home turf.

“That was a really fun race with Gio,” Kofoid said. “Good, clean racing really hard. This is one of my favorite tracks in a Midget. I’d never ran a Sprint Car here. Now, it’s definitely up there. I just can’t thank Dylan (Buswell) enough. I’m super grateful to have someone like Dylan in my corner. In Sprint Car racing, you’re competing with guys that have been on the tour for a while. I’ve never really had a guy this long until now. I feel like Dylan and I just work well when it’s going good. It just feels easy. Not that it is because these are the best guys in the world.”

The win continued Kofoid and the Roth crew’s recent hot streak as they’ve won three of the last four races with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The 22-year-old hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the most recent eight outings. His fourth win of 2024 equals him with Donny Schatz for the fourth most this year.

Scelzi led the field to green with Landon Brooks alongside, but the initial start caused some carnage as Brooks spun from the front row in Turns 1 and 2 and collected several other vehicles.

Brooks’ misfortune lined Kofoid up on Scelzi’s outside for the second attempt to get the main event going. The second start proved to be much smoother as Scelzi pulled ahead of Kofoid to pace the first circuit.

It didn’t take long for the battle to start as Kofoid took his first shot at the lead only a few laps in. A Turn 1 slider cleared Scelzi, but the Fresno, CA driver crossed him over to get the lead right back down the back straightaway.

Cat and mouse became the story of the race’s opening half as Kofoid stayed all over Scelzi. It didn’t matter if they were in clean air or heavy traffic, Kofoid refused to let the KCP Racing No. 18 out of his sights. He attempted multiple more slide jobs that cleared but Scelzi countered each one.

A restart with 15 laps to go proved to be pivotal in the outcome. Kofoid stuck with Scelzi when the green lights flashed and tried another slider into Turn 1 that didn’t quite clear. The missed attempt gave Scelzi the chance to drive away, but Kofoid had no plans of allowing that.

He stayed focused and up on the wheel as he reeled him back in. With seven laps remaining the necessary door opened as Kofoid cleared Scelzi in Turns 1 and 2, and Scelzi didn’t have the run he needed to roll back under Kofoid.

A caution one lap later opened up the track for Kofoid, and he took advantage by wheeling away to a popular triumph in his home state.

“I felt like I was really good in clear air,” Kofoid said. “So, when we had that yellow I wasn’t super worried. I knew we needed a shot. I just needed to not get tight.”

After leading the first 27 laps, Scelzi brought the KCP machine home second. He didn’t feel there was much he could’ve done different to hold off Kofoid. The Roth ride simply proved to be a little too fast to keep behind.

“I was hanging on from pretty early in the race,” Scelzi said. “We made changes every session because the track was changing so much. I felt like we stayed on top of it, just missed it. We got beat by a better driver and a better car tonight. So, I can’t be too upset. It’s our best run in a while.”

The three California World of Outlaws competitors swept the podium as Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 home third. An ill-timed yellow flag took away a potential shot for Macedo to take the lead, but he still came away satisfied with his ninth top three in the last 14 races.

“It would’ve been nice for it to stick just because I think I would’ve at least came out of there in second. It seemed like Gio was going to cross me over there, but you never know,” Macedo explained. “At least I would’ve had somewhat of a shot at it. I feel like we were pacing pretty decent before then. It seemed like after that it was a little harder for me to keep pace. Buddy got good toward the end of the race there and was able to get aggressive, especially when they got to traffic. All in all, still a great effort for this team.”

Logan Schuchart and David Gravel completed the top five.

A 23rd to 11th run earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Landon Brooks earned his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Buddy Kofoid and Giovanni Scelzi. Milton Hershey Heat Two went to Dylan Bloomfield.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Caeden Steele 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 make their sixth appearance in Series history at California’s Merced Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite 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. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 5. 2-David Gravel[7]; 6. 21-Cole Macedo[9]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 8. 57W-Jock Goodyer[10]; 9. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[8]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[15]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[23]; 12. 10-Dominic Gorden[24]; 13. 121-Caeden Steele[19]; 14. 17AU-Jamie Veal[20]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[11]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[17]; 17. 70-Kraig Kinser[21]; 18. 88N-DJ Netto[13]; 19. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[6]; 20. 6-Lachy McDonough[16]; 21. O-Tim Kaeding[18]; 22. 88-Austin McCarl[22]; 23. 45-Landon Brooks[2]; 24. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[14]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/bullring-banger-kofoid-bests-scelzi-in-bakersfield-thriller/

EVENT INFO:
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Bakersfield+Speedway

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

Hurricane Francine Remnants Cancel Races at Southern Illinois, Highland

MARION, IL (Sept. 12, 2024) — Remnant storms from Hurricane Francine are projected to make their way into Illinois Thursday night and Friday morning and linger in the area throughout the day Saturday.

With the best financial interest of traveling teams of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and the POWRi National Midget League along with the safety of traveling fans in mind, Series and track officials have agreed to cancel both Friday and Saturday’s races at Southern Illinois Raceway and Highland Speedway.

While both races have been canceled and will not be made up in 2024, the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series is exploring options to return to both tracks in 2025.

With the cancelations, the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series is complete. Oklahoma racer Ryan Timms is the champion by 21 points over fellow Oklahoman Cannon McIntosh. Final Challenge Series points standings can be viewed here.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series now shifts its focus to the final weekend of the season — Fri-Sat, Oct. 4-5, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL. Advance sale tickets for both days are available now at the link below.

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

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/hurricane-francine-remnants-cancel-races-at-southern-illinois-highland/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6287, https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6138 TRACK INFO: https://southernillinoisraceway.org/, https://highlandspeedway.com/ FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

NOS Energy Drink Boosts Buckeye Brawl at Wayne County; Overall Purse Increased

ORRVILLE, OH (Sept. 12, 2024) – Sprint Car drivers have been given an extra incentive to get after it at Wayne County Speedway in September with NOS® Energy Drink joining as the presenting sponsor of the World of Outlaws event.

More than $10,000 was added to the overall purse for the World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS® Energy Drink (Friday, Sept. 27), increasing the payout for every position. The event now pays $15,000 to win/$1,500 to start.

“We’re excited to join the Buckeye Brawl at Wayne County Speedway and support Sheldon Haudenschild as the event is set to bring out Ohio’s most passionate race fans,” said Lauren Albano, NOS® Energy Drink marketing director. “Between the increased off-track activations for fans and increased purse for the drivers, there will be no shortage of energy throughout the night.”

The Buckeye Brawl will be the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ first time back at the 3/8-mile Ohio dirt track since 2020. That race was won by Sheldon Haudenschild – who grew up 15 minutes from the track in Wooster, OH.

“Obviously, excited to get another race back home, and to have NOS Energy Drink on board is pretty special for me,” Haudenschild said. “The race fans definitely show up when we get to Wayne County. Honestly, the track produces good racing. I feel like it’s probably the closest thing we have to a West Coast type of track. The track is always on point and puts on a good show.”

The 2020 race was also the Series’ first time back at Wayne County since 1985. There have been five World of Outlaws races at the track, so far, and three different winners – Steve Kinser (1979, 1981, 1985), Bobby Davis Jr. (1984) and Haudenschild (2020).

The NOS® Energy Drink sampling station will be on site at the Buckeye Brawl, providing fans with a complimentary NOS® Energy Drink. The World of Outlaws Fan Entertainment team will also be handing out NOS® Energy Drink giveaways throughout the night.

Tickets for the World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS® Energy Drink are on sale now HERE. Use code HAUDENSCHILD17 to get $5 off your ticket when purchasing online.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/nos-energy-drink-boosts-buckeye-brawl-at-wayne-county-overall-purse-increased/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6228
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Wayne+County+(OH)+Speedway

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme-POWRi Challenge Series Champion to be Crowned at SIR, Highland

MARION, IL (Sept. 11, 2024) — With the season winding down, the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota moves into the home stretch this weekend and will crown a champion of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series.

A stop at Southern Illinois Raceway (SIR) in Marion, IL, kicks off the weekend on Friday, Sept. 13, before a visit to Highland Speedway in Highland, IL, on Saturday, Sept. 14. Both programs will feature 30-lap, $4,000-to-win main events, and will be co-sanctioned by the POWRi National Midget League.

Both races will also count as the final two events in the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series, which will award the points champion with a $2,500 cash bonus and additional cash bonuses going to the rest of the top-five in the final standings. Ryan Timms is the current Challenge Series points leader by 21 over Cannon McIntosh and 81 over Ashton Torgerson.

Tickets for both events are on sale in advance at the links below and will also be available at the track on race day. If you can’t be at the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

TO THE WIRE – With only four races left, time is running out to settle the season-long points battle.

Cannon McIntosh has led the way for most of the season, tallying six Feature wins — a new personal best with the Xtreme Outlaw Series — and carries a points lead of 133 over his teammate at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM), Ryan Timms. McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, drove from 15th on the starting grid up to a fifth-place finish at Southern Illinois last year and ran ninth at Highland. He’s maintaining a far better record of consistency this year (2.9 avg. finish) than in the second half of 2023 (7.53 avg. finish) and could potentially clinch his first national Midget series championship at the finale in October.

Timms, the 18-year-old open-wheel standout from Oklahoma City, OK, has won three Features this season and trails McIntosh by 133 points. He’ll debut at both Southern Illinois and Highland this weekend, trying to close the gap before championship weekend at Jacksonville Speedway, Oct. 4-5. He’ll also have a shot to clinch the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series championship, holding a 21-point lead over McIntosh.

PROVEN GROUND – Reigning Xtreme Outlaw Series champion Jade Avedisian returns to SIR and Highland this weekend, both tracks where she had strong results in the main events last year.

The 17-year-old Toyota Racing driver from Clovis, CA, will take the wheel of the Yahoo!, Toyota/LynK No. 71 for KKM, first at SIR on Friday, where in 2023 she took the lead from Kyle Jones on a late restart to get the win — her second of the season — which led to three more before collecting the points championship at season’s end.

Her charge through the field at Highland last year was among the largest in positions advanced as she started 18th on the grid and made up 15 spots in 30 laps to finish third, saving what could have been a potentially bad points night in her run to the championship.

SHARK SWIMMING – Coming off a sweep of the Ironman 55 weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in early August, Karter Sarff is set for Xtreme Outlaw Series competition again this weekend in search of his fifth win of 2024.

Sarff, 21, of Mason City, IL, has made four trips to Victory Lane with the Series this year — second-most of any driver — at US 36 Raceway in April, Millbridge Speedway in May, and back-to-back at I-55 last month.

He’s got some improvements to make, however, if he is to compete for another win this weekend, considering his finishes of 11th at SIR and 18th at Highland one year ago.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY – Chase McDermand is heading back to Highland on Saturday, where he won his fifth race of the season one year ago.

McDermand, 24, of Springfield, IL, captured the checkered flag with a strong performance at the 1/4-mile bullring in his home state last September, leading 21 of 30 laps of the main event. This weekend, he makes his return in search of a second win of 2024 after scoring at Tulsa Speedway in July.

Sitting fourth in the Series points standings, McDermand aims to start the week off by bettering his run of seventh with the Series at SIR from 2023.

DOUBLE DUTY – Highland Speedway is a home track to Xtreme Outlaw Series full-timer Zach Daum, where he’ll race both the Midget and a 410 Winged Sprint Car this Saturday.

Daum, 32, of Pocahontas, IL, lives only 15 minutes from Highland Speedway, and will get behind the wheel of both the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U Midget and the McGarry Motorsports No. 31 Sprint Car for an appearance with the Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA).

Last year, Daum charged from 11th on the starting grid to finish second at SIR and placed fifth in the Midget at Highland.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday, Sept. 13, at Southern Illinois Raceway in Marion, IL
Saturday, Sept. 14 at Highland Speedway in Highland, IL

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 4360 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 4227 points (-133) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Ashton Torgerson: 3980 points (-380) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Chase McDermand: 3945 points (-415) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Zach Daum: 3860 points (-500) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 3756 points (-604) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
Trevor Cline: 3446 points (-914) | Cline Racing #55
Gavin Miller: 3341 points (-1019) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97
Tyler Edwards: 3301 points (-1059) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Karter Sarff: 3198 points (-1162) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
25 laps – Zach Daum
29 laps – Hayden Reinbold

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Jade Avedisian
5 laps – Michael Pickens, Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Jason McDougal

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Jason McDougal, Gunnar Setser, Hayden Reinbold

Last Chance Showdown wins (10 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake (1)
5. Fri, April 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ryan Timms (1)
6. Sat, April 13 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ashton Torgerson (1)
7. Fri, May 10 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS / Ashton Torgerson (2)
8. Sat, May 11 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Cannon McIntosh (2)
9. Tue, May 21 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Karter Sarff (2)
10. Wed, May 22 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Zach Daum (1)
11. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Ryan Timms (2)
12. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Cannon McIntosh (3)
13. Thu, May 30 / Doe Run Raceway / Doe Run, MO / Cannon McIntosh (4)
14. Fri, May 31 / Coles County Speedway / Matoon, IL / Ashton Torgerson (3)
15. Fri, July 19 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Ryan Timms (3)
16. Sat, July 20 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Cannon McIntosh (5)
17. Fri, July 26 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Cannon McIntosh (6)
18. Sat, July 27 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Chase McDermand (1)

19. Fri, Aug. 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Karter Sarff (3)
20. Sat, Aug. 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Karter Sarff (4)

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/what-to-watch-for-xtreme-powri-challenge-series-champion-to-be-crowned-at-sir-highland/

EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6287, https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=6138
TRACK INFO: https://southernillinoisraceway.org/, https://highlandspeedway.com/
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

Lincoln Speedway Replaces Selinsgrove Speedway Event on World of Outlaws Tour

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (Sept. 9, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 12, replacing the originally scheduled event at Selinsgrove Speedway with a new $20,000-to-win, $1,200-to-start main event.

Following discussions between Selinsgrove Speedway staff and World of Outlaws officials, it was deemed it would be in the best interest of both parties to cancel the Jim Nace Memorial at Selinsgrove. World of Outlaws officials will explore options on a potential return to Selinsgrove Speedway in 2025.

Lincoln Speedway, in Abbottstown, PA, was one of the original tracks on the World of Outlaws inaugural schedule in 1978 and has been host to The Greatest Show on Dirt every year since 2012. Earlier this season, current championship leader David Gravel fought off Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo and Anthony Macri to earn Big Game Motorsports its 100th World of Outlaws victory.

The World of Outlaws will be joined at Lincoln Speedway by the Flying Iron Limited Stocks.

Fans who purchased a ticket in advance for the World of Outlaws event at Selinsgrove Speedway and would like to roll it over to the new event at Lincoln Speedway can call 844-347-8849 or email tickets@dirtcar.com. Otherwise, they will receive a face-value credit to their MyDirtTickets.com account — good for two years — to be used toward any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to the account does not work for them, then they have until Oct. 9 to request a refund.

Keep up with the latest news and updates on the World of Outlaws through X(Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.

HANFORD’S HERO: Carson Macedo Banks $21,000 with Third Tom Tarlton Classic Title

The Californian holds off Haudenschild and Kofoid at Kings for another special win

HANFORD, CA (September 7, 2024) - There are so many reasons that the Tom Tarlton Classic is one of the most meaningful races to Carson Macedo.

First and foremost, the event honors his great uncle, who also played a major role in Macedo ascending to the highest level of the sport with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The Tarlton family put the aspiring driver in their iconic No. 21 during his teenage years, allowing him to show his potential and hone his skills. He even took the car to a World of Outlaws win at Silver Dollar Speedway back in 2014 when he was only 18 years old.

Secondly, Hanford, CA’s Kings Speedway hosts the race. The track is a mere 10 miles from Macedo’s hometown of Lemoore, CA. It’s an event that brings his family, friends, and many fans ready to reunite with the local who made it to the big leagues.

It’s easy to see why the race is near the top of Macedo’s list of those he wants to win every year. He topped the first two editions back in 2020 and 2021, and after a two-year hiatus from Victory Lane, Macedo made a popular return on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old started on the pole and fended off several challenges from Sheldon Haudenschild and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid for a $21,000 payday. Like always the home state crowd warmly welcomed Macedo to Victory Lane with a huge cheer as he climbed atop the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.

“Man, what a cool event,” Macedo said. “Hometown crowd in Hanford. It feels good to see all of these awesome fans here. You guys are the best in the country. It feels good to win this race for Tom Tarlton. The Tom Tarlton Classic is near and dear to my heart. Robby Tarlton, my grandfather, and Tom Tarlton is my great uncle and really the reason I am a Sprint Car driver today. My parents kind of got me going in the Micro ranks, and he was the one that gave me an opportunity. Had it not been for him I don’t think I ever would’ve had the chance to race a Sprint Car.”

Macedo’s eighth win of 2024 is the 43rd of his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The victory breaks a four-way tie with Andy Hillenburg, Logan Schuchart, and Sheldon Haudenschild, giving Macedo sole possession of 18th all-time. He also took over second in points and still sits within striking distance of David Gravel – 110 points ahead – as the 2024 season winds down.

Macedo led the field to green for the 35-lapper with Kofoid alongside. On the race’s opening lap Macedo took the early advantage as Haudenschild drove by Kofoid to grab second.

An early restart allowed Haudenschild to take his first swing at Macedo as he looked low when they entered Turns 1 and 2. But the driver of the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 didn’t quite have the momentum he needed as Macedo drove away.

Macedo’s run was nearly brought to a heartbreaking halt with 21 laps to go when a lapped car spun directly ahead of him, but he reacted quickly to narrowly avoid disaster.

Haudenschild nearly got the top spot on the ensuing restart as he got a strong launch on the top. Macedo had just enough momentum and muscle to slide ahead of Haudenschild in the first set of corners. And then Kofoid snuck by Haudenschild for the runner-up spot.

The latter half of the race became a story of well-timed or ill-timed cautions depending on who you asked. Macedo enjoyed the yellow lights as each seemed to remove him from heavy traffic when the two behind him were closing. The yellow flag was the last thing Haudenschild and Kofoid wanted to see as they gave Macedo clean air.

With less than 10 laps to go, Haudenschild drove back by Kofoid and closed quickly on Macedo. A wild finish appeared to be in the works, but one last yellow flag again eliminated traffic concerns for Macedo. He nailed one final restart, and that was all she wrote on the path to his third Tom Tarlton Classic win.

“Other than myself, I feel like they’re (Haudenschild and Kofoid) two of the most aggressive drivers on the tour,” Macedo said. “I knew they were going to be coming and coming hard. Little bit more money on the line. Everybody is running a little bit more up in the seat. Just had to switch up my game a little bit. Roll the dice a different direction, make sure they weren’t timing my restarts.”

Haudenschild brought the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 home second to continue his recent consistency. The Wooster, OH native is up to six podiums in the last nine races.

“I was really good the whole race honestly,” Haudenschild said. “It put me behind once Buddy got in front of me and kind of killed my runs there. Overall, I’m really happy with the car. I feel like we made gains on the car all night, and (Kyle) Ripper did a good job there. I was hoping we could stay in traffic there a little bit more. Traffic was really slow and still running the top, and it was pretty exciting.”

Another driver on a hot streak is Buddy Kofoid as he and the Roth Motorsports crew have been firing on all cylinders as of late. The Penngrove, CA native finished third for his seventh straight finish of fourth or better with a 2.3 average finish over that span. If it wasn’t for the cautions, Kofoid felt he could’ve been celebrating a third consecutive victory.

“I just didn’t need any yellows,” Kofoid said. “It’s hard to say if I could’ve got the lead if I would’ve been okay out front. On the short runs, both of them were probably just a little bit better, but I felt like on the long runs like when we’d get to traffic or even before, I felt like I could kind of close back up to them. But I just didn’t quite have the opportunity. Again, I felt really in traffic and thrived in traffic. Just needed to not have a yellow come out.”

D.J. Netto and David Gravel completed the top five.

A 24th to 10th run earned Ryan Bernal the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Bill Balog earned his third career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Buddy Kofoid and Carson Macedo. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Brock Zearfoss won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Tim Kaeding.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car California swing rolls into Bakersfield Speedway on Friday, Sept. 13 before a trip to Merced Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite 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. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 4. 88N-DJ Netto[9]; 5. 2-David Gravel[8]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[17]; 8. 17AU-Jamie Veal[7]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[20]; 10. 73-Ryan Bernal[24]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl[14]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[11]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[19]; 14. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[16]; 15. 29-Bud Kaeding[13]; 16. 57W-Jock Goodyer[6]; 17. 2K-Gauge Garcia[22]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 19. 21-Cole Macedo[12]; 20. 6-Lachy McDonough[15]; 21. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[18]; 22. 12B-Dawson Faria[23]; 23. O-Tim Kaeding[5]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[10]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WELCOME HOME: Kofoid Stays Hot with Stockton Score to Kickoff California Swing

The Californian wins on home turf to secure back-to-back victories

STOCKTON, CA (September 6, 2024) - What better place to visit after the biggest win of your Sprint Car career than home?

Such was the case for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid on Friday night as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour rolled into California’s Stockton Dirt Track. Last week the Penngrove, CA native banked $100,000 with a last lap pass at Huset’s Speedway ahead of three straight weeks of racing on home turf.

Momentum and confidence rode with Kofoid into the “Golden State,” and he put together another impressive drive to score back-to-back victories with Roth Motorsports.

It all started with a determined charge in the Toyota Racing Dash. Kofoid started seventh in the eight-lap tilt and wheeled all the way to second to earn a front row starting spot. After near disaster in the NOS Energy Drink Feature when he biked up on two wheels, Kofoid regained composure and slipped by early leader Shane Golobic on Lap 15. He then held on in heavy lapped traffic to secure the checkered flag.

“I didn’t feel great when I took the lead,” Kofoid said. “But I felt good on the bottom. It was just hard to hit. And then with lapped traffic, they’d pull away then I’d pull up, and then they’d pull away again. I was like, ‘Man, the guys behind me are they better than me? Are they catching up to me? What do I need to do better?’ I just decided to stick with running the bottom and try to protect the runs off the bottom.

“Really happy to get another win with the best and to do it in front of a home crowd. I can’t thank Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra) enough. It’s been a lot of fun these last few weeks. I feel like we’ve gotten our game back. I just want to say hey to Dennis and Teresa Roth. Can’t thank them enough.”

It's the first time in his career that Kofoid has topped two races in a row with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He became the eighth different driver to win with the World of Outlaws at Stockton and fifth Californian to do so. His home state is now the first state where he’s topped a pair of Series races as he adds Stockton to his Placerville triumph from a year ago.

Golobic led the field to green in search of a perfect night after earning Simpson Quick Time, a NOS Energy Drink Heat victory, and the Toyota Dash checkered flag. The driver of the Matt Wood Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17W pulled ahead early and set a strong pace at the front of the field.

The first few cars of traffic didn’t slow Golobic much as he navigated through them. But as the group of cars in front of him grew larger, the gap between himself and Kofoid shrank.

Then the door Kofoid needed opened on Lap 15. As Golobic drifted high out of Turn 2, Kofoid kept the No. 83 glued to the bottom on exit. The grip gave him a run to pull alongside Golobic down the back straightaway. He finished off the move for the lead by sticking the bottom in Turns 3 and 4 and driving ahead out of the corner.

The race was by no means over with Kofoid now in control. The pass lit a fire under Golobic as he looked to rally and reclaim the top spot. The Rocklin, CA driver closed back in several times in the race’s second half.

But ultimately, Kofoid proved to be too fast as he maintained enough of a gap to drive comfortably to a second victory this week with roughly 1,700 miles between the two dirt tracks. And just like the Huset’s glory, a fast, stable Sprint Car led him to Victory Lane.

“I feel like as the runs went on my car got more equal and maybe a little bit better,” Kofoid said. “Just like Huset’s last week, our car can just maneuver so good and doesn’t really know what dirty air is even if you’re going a lot slower pace. It’s still nice to know that your car is not really going to be affected.”

Golobic held on for the runner-up spot to lead the local California contingent. Traffic proved to be the deciding factor as he came up a spot short of his third career World of Outlaws victory but still collected his fifth career podium with the country’s top Sprint Car talent.

“I just think I needed to make better decisions there in traffic, or more aggressive ones I guess,” Golobic said. “You can’t really make any mistakes with these guys. They’re good, and he (Kofoid) pounced on one there. I didn’t know where the 1S was going. Just kind of guessed wrong and got myself hung up. It sucks. You don’t get a lot of opportunities to win an Outlaw show, and I feel like I kind of gave one up there.”

Justin Sanders completed the podium on what was a strong night for the California locals. The Aromas, CA native took the Mittry Racing No. 2X to his fourth Series podium to start the swing in home territory. Like Golobic, struggles in traffic prevented him from putting forth a stronger challenge for victory.

“I don’t really have much to say about the race,” Sanders said. “I just really couldn’t go anywhere with a lapped car in my way for half the race, but we’ll take this third.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and David Gravel completed the top five.

A 24th to 13th run earned Tim Kaeding the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Shane Golobic claimed the first Simpson Quick Time of his career and established a new track record in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Shane Golobic, Bill Balog, and Buddy Kofoid. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel

Shane Golobic topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Logan Schuchart won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Garet Williamson.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car California swing rolls into Hanford, CA’s Kings Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the $21,000-to-win Tom Tarlton Classic. 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. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 17W-Shane Golobic[1]; 3. 2X-Justin Sanders[4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 5. 2-David Gravel[6]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 7. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[7]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 9. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[13]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 11. 21-Cole Macedo[18]; 12. 7S-Landon Crawley[11]; 13. O-Tim Kaeding[24]; 14. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 15. 88-Austin McCarl[16]; 16. 88N-DJ Netto[22]; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart[21]; 18. 5V-Colby Copeland[17]; 19. 83T-Tanner Carrick[8]; 20. 88A-Joey Ancona[9]; 21. 73-Ryan Bernal[20]; 22. 23-Garet Williamson[15]; 23. 57W-Jock Goodyer[19]; 24. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT IT TAKES: How National Midget Racers, Teams Stay Competitive in 2024

Thomas Meseraull, Jade Avedisian, KKM crew chief Beau Binder shoot on the work, dedication necessary to stay ahead

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 6, 2024) – Nearly 100 years of Midget racing in the United States means nearly 100 years’ worth of evolution, change and other positive advancement for one of dirt track racing’s most exciting disciplines.

They’re still four-cylinder engine cars with four wheels and a driver cockpit, capable of putting on some of the most entertaining programs in motorsports. But with modern-day advancements in technology and season-long points championships, the effort necessary to keep a competitive car on the track, almost year-round, is now at an all-time high.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is the newest organization in the national Midget world and has hosted several different driving, building and coaching talents at its events since its inception in 2022 — all of whom have experienced firsthand each of the elements that go into putting a car into Victory Lane.

Experience Matters

Ask any veteran open-wheel racer in the pit area today and they’ll not be shy in talking about it — Midget racing has changed over the last 25 years.

For better or worse, Midget racing and its constant evolution has given the motorsports world some of the best racing action and most iconic moments. And there’s a reason for that.

“Midgets are always about as exciting as it gets,” said veteran open-wheel racer and multi-time Xtreme Outlaw Series Feature winner, Thomas Meseraull. “That’s because you’ve got these awesome race cars, and they’re a little bit smaller than everybody else like a Stock Car or a Sprint Car, and they’re racing on the same track, so you’ve got way more room to be two, three and four-wide.”

Meseraull, 43, of San Jose, CA, began his professional Midget career in the 1990s and has since established himself as one of the nation’s most experienced open-wheel racers. He’s seen the evolution of the sport firsthand, from equipment and technology upgrades to several different driving talents come through the ranks.

Though he’s now one of the few remaining veterans on the national Midget scene, he recalls his days as an up-and-comer racing against the generational heroes.

“When you went to the national scene, you had to bring your best A-game, for sure,” Meseraull said. “It was (Dave) Darland, Jerry Coons, Jay Drake… it was pretty obvious that the big teams — you had Steve Lewis, and even back then, Keith (Kunz) was one of the veterans of the sport — there were some teams you could tell it wasn’t a family operation, it wasn’t built out of their garage. It was tough in the beginning.”

Racing with his family-owned operation, Meseraull admits he was, at first, more focused on the pavement side of Midget racing over dirt. In turning laps on the asphalt, and through extensive testing sessions at his home tracks in California — including Madera Speedway, Stockton 99 Speedway and Altamont Speedway — he learned the discipline and determination necessary to be competitive, which he still uses to this day on dirt.

“We would test a lot and just try things,” Meseraull said. “I really feel like that kind of put me where I am now, where I’m just open for whatever because that’s kinda how we grew up racing. You buy a car, and you just put every bar package you have in it and see what it does. You put all the springs in it and see what it does. You talk to your neighbor and see what they’re doing. Try to get faster.”

In the dawning of his career at the national level, Meseraull raced with the equipment his family team could bring together. Now piloting a new package for car owner and engine builder Tim Engler, featuring a special-built EA Stealth engine and MF1 Chassis by Farrell FrameWorks, he’s experienced the change in dirt racing technology and the impact it’s had on the racing.

“Even Midget motors were starting to make more power,” Meseraull said. “When I started, the Midget motor I was running made 300 horsepower. Now, they’re making over 400, 420, I think. And that’s kinda changed the way the cars race.

“I think the shock packages and the technology, and the torsion bars and springs have come a long way, and maybe even so the tires. Because the cars didn’t do what they do now. They’ve really figured out how to make these dirt cars have so much grip in the middle of the corner, where back then, they didn’t, and it was kind of just… the bravest man wins.”

Not only have the cars changed, so have the tracks they race on. The 2000 USAC National Midget Series schedule featured 23 completed events on both dirt and asphalt — only seven of which were on tracks of less than a half-mile in length. Fast forward to 2024, and it’s rare to see a single half-mile track on any of the three national touring Midget schedules.

“Nowadays, the big tracks are harder on equipment, motors, and (are) more dangerous,” Meseraull said. “Things have definitely gotten to smaller tracks, which probably made the racing a little more aggressive too because the risks aren’t as big on some of these smaller tracks. But it seems like the racing is at a high either way.”

The route in which most of national championship contenders take into the sport has changed as well. While several of the sport’s most historic names began in Quarter Midgets — including inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series champion Zach Daum — much of the new wave of youth sweeping the sport was brought into Midget racing an entirely different way.

“It’s impressive how Micros and Outlaw Karts can really hone a driver,” Meseraull said. “Keith (Kunz) has a Micro program and Chad Boat has a Micro program, and those guys are at the Micro races and can see the kids that have potential and bring them into the next round and bring them in right away in good equipment. Stuff that’s capable of winning.”

Lessons in Laps and Life

From the most experienced veterans to the newest rookies, time in the seat is invaluable at the professional level. The more laps driven in the car — any car — the shorter the learning curve.

Reigning Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series champion Jade Avedisian is getting more laps in more cars than she thought possible in 2024 after signing a multi-year agreement with Toyota Racing’s driver development program after clinching her first national Midget series championship last fall.

This year, the 17-year-old from Clovis, CA, is taking on the entire Toyota GR Cup Series schedule, piloting a Toyota GR-86 car on a nationwide tour consisting of 14 races at some of the country’s famed asphalt road courses. She said it’s been an onslaught of new racing information far different than what she applies to Midget racing.

“An asphalt car or a road course car — you have to have a lot of patience,” Avedisian said. “The simple race craft is a lot different. I feel like when you go get in the Midget, yeah, you have to have patience at some points, but for the most part it’s as hard as you can go for 30 laps.”

While she’s been developing her skills outside the Midget world, Avedisian’s not been shy about staying active on the dirt. In both 2023 and 2024, she’s taken to the 1/6-mile red clay oval of Millbridge Speedway multiple times in the track’s weekly events for Micro Sprints — the division in which she first made headlines in after winning several marquee events in 2020 and 2021.

After being discovered by CB Industries team owner Chad Boat, Avedisian set sail on her Midget career and signed with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) for the 2023 season, where she joined several teammates who also came from the Micro Sprint ranks.

“I’ve always said this, but I think it’s hard to beat someone with a lot of experience and a lot of laps,” Avedisian said. “You can take Gavin Miller, for example, during Mid-America Midget Week — he ran the Micro and the Midget in the same nights, and he said it’s helped.”

While both drivers saw new heights of success in 2023 — Avedisian with five wins and a national championship; Miller with two wins and a third-place championship finish — both were separated from the KKM crew chiefs they worked with throughout the season. Together, they formed bonds that made them more successful than the sum of their individual abilities — another crucial attribute of successful Midget racers.

“Last year, I clicked with the team from weekend one,” Avedisian said. “Times have changed; my crew chief left last year and I’m now working with a different group of guys, but it’s the same thing.

“It’s whoever can build the best relationship the fastest. Honestly, whatever crew chief and driver clicks the best is who’s gonna do the best.”

In racing with her new teammates and crew members at several new tracks across the country, Avedisian and her life have never been the same since breaking through in the motorsports world with her first Midget win in 2022. She’s since moved out to Mooresville, NC, to be closer to the Toyota Racing family and get access to their amenities and receive direct coaching on her lifestyle to help improve her game at the track.

“I’m grateful that my family was able to move me out to North Carolina full-time,” Avedisian said. “My family has probably sacrificed more than I have. I’m not with them all the time, and I’m sure that’s hard on my parents.”

Most 17-year-old kids don’t get to live a life anything like Avedisian’s. She admits it’s been a thrill ride that’s only getting started but knows the sacrifices she and her family have had to make for her to be in her position. What were once math tests, homework and after school athletics are now midweek track walks, morning meetings with fitness trainers and late nights at dirt ovals in the Midwest.

And she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“My life is definitely very different than your average 17 or 18-year-old kid,” Avedisian said. “But I can’t really complain; this is obviously what I want to do.”

A Strong Team

From Feature events to season-long points championships, staying consistently competitive in Midget racing takes a team of dedicated professionals behind every driver, armed with the right equipment and knowledge of both car and track.

For the past 25 years, few teams have been able to match the preparedness and professionalism shown at Midget racing’s most dominant team – Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM). Led in part by veteran crew chief Beau Binder — now in his 20th year with KKM — the Texas native and former Sprint Car/Micro Sprint racer has applied his knowledge of fabrication, team management, car setup and driving experience to become one of the team’s most valuable players next to co-owner Keith Kunz.

With upwards of five cars racing at any event on the team’s calendar, Binder has helped to develop and manage the team’s weekly maintenance routine. With multiple different car chiefs, tire specialists and other crew members in the shop and at the track, KKM has improved their process over the years as their driver roster grows.

“That’s one of the big things, just trying to make everything manageable,” Binder said. “We’ve got so many cars, so many guys, so many hands, everything that we’ve got a torque spec for. That’s the biggest thing — getting our checklist reset for the week and then going through and making sure that motor milage, valve spring mileage, driveline mileage, all the things we need to check on a regular basis gets done on all these cars.”

Like any extensive process, the maintenance checklist — which Binder keeps on a large Google Sheet, accessible to all members of the team — starts with a single step after a race weekend.

“Once the first car’s done being washed, one of us will go over, get the water blown off, get it all WD-ed and bring it back inside — that’s when we start our post-wash maintenance that all gets done the first day,” Binder said. “We oil the cylinders, blow out the torsion tubes, grease our bird cage bearings, our spindles, things like that.”

While most Midget teams service only one or two cars after a race weekend, KKM works on five-to-eight cars during the regular season and has prepared as many as 15 to bring to the marquee Chili Bowl Nationals event in January. These cars, while well-built with top-of-the-line parts and materials, can sometimes get damaged and also require repair or more in-depth inspection.

“Lately, we’ve been running closer to seven or eight cars, and with that, the driveline mileage and motor mileage is all kind of — we try not to get to where everything is needing changed at the same time,” Binder said. “So, every week, we’re gonna have at least one that needs a motor swapped or driveline gone through.”

While reliable equipment is crucial to success on the national circuit, Binder indicated that coachable drivers and the rapport they develop with the crew is the element that wins not only the races, but the season-long championships as well.

“All of our crew guys and crew chiefs — they’re all reliable,” Binder said. “I feel like it’s really the bond they build with the crew chief that gives them that confidence.

“You see Cannon and Ryan right now — their confidence gets so high that a lot of times, it’s not even necessarily about the setup, it’s about them being confident that the car is capable, and they go make it happen.”

With 17 national Midget series championships in the trophy room, KKM has seen more than its fair share of driving talent come through the walls of its Columbus, IN-based headquarters over the years — all of whom have become better drivers because of the team around them.

“You look at Keith and Cannon and the relationship they’ve built, and we had Kaz Townsend work with Brenham Crouch when they won the POWRi championship, Brandon Selph work with Gavin Miller and they ended up second in the Xtreme points,” Binder said. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had a good relationship with Taylor (Reimer) and Ryan (Timms), and I had Kaylee Bryson and Bryant Wiedeman when we won the POWRi championship.

“I just feel like this group — we know what the goal is, we know what the job is. But at the same time, everybody’s still human. We’re able to build these good relationships with these kids where they always end up with that confidence no matter who they’re with.”

The New Era

Since the turn of the decade, a new generation of Midget racers have taken center stage on the national circuit. The Oklahoma Micro Sprint scene has produced several of today’s Midget frontrunners, including Cannon McIntosh, Daison Pursley, Ryan Timms, and recent graduates Taylor Reimer and Kaylee Bryson.

The Xtreme Outlaw Series has been a proving ground for several of these names, and in 2024 features another championship points battle as the season nears its conclusion. McIntosh and Timms account for nine of the 20 Feature event wins this season, and with only four races left, the two are separated by 133 points.

The two KKM teammates have been in the spotlight of national Midget racing for the past several seasons, learning from both the veteran crew members and drivers in the efforts to hone their own skills. What comes out of their hard work will be on full display as the Xtreme Outlaw Series wraps-up its 2024 campaign with the final four races in Illinois — Southern Illinois Raceway (Sept. 13); Highland Speedway (Sept. 14); Jacksonville Speedway (Oct. 4-5).

Tickets for the Xtreme Outlaw Series event at Southern Illinois Raceway are on sale in advance at the link below. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: Xtreme Outlaw Midget 2024 Championship to be Determined at Jacksonville Speedway, Oct. 4-5

JACKSONVILLE, IL (Sept. 6, 2024) – A new Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota champion will be crowned at Jacksonville Speedway in October.

The two-day Ron Milton Race of Champions, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5, will serve as the championship finale for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets – presenting a $30,000 check to this year’s title winner.

Before then, drivers will battle for a $4,000 payday on Friday and then a $5,000 top prize on Saturday.

The Series has made two visits to the 1/4-mile dirt track, so far. Reigning Series champion Jade Avedisian won the Series’ debut race at the track in 2022 and Karter Sarff made a late race pass on Cannon McIntosh to score the win last year.

McIntosh is the current Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series points leader, looking for redemption this year after leading the points most of last year before falling out of the top-three in the last few races of the season. He holds a more than 100-point lead over Ryan Timms going into the two-day Illinois race weekend in September – Southern Illinois Raceway (Friday, Sept. 13) and Highland Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 14).

In his two Series starts at Jacksonville, McIntosh has finished fourth and second. He also has two wins at the track with POWRi. Timms has yet to run with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets at Jacksonville, but did win a 410 Sprint Car race there last year.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5
Location – Jacksonville, IL

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 4 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5:30 p.m.

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (Sept. 15, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOyyDThIPtc

Previous Xtreme Outlaw winners at Jacksonville –
2023 – Karter Sarff on Sept. 15
2022 – Jade Avedisian on June 26

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Three-Week California Stretch Kicks Off with Trips to Stockton, Kings

A return to Stockton starts the Golden State stay before the $21,000-to-win Tom Tarlton Classic

STOCKTON, CA (September 4, 2024) - The time has come for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour to venture west.

After wrapping up a major money Labor Day weekend at Huset’s Speedway, teams are trucking across the continental divide amid a 1,700-plus mile drive into California for a three-week stay in the “Golden State.”

First up is a return to Stockton Dirt Track on Friday, Sept. 6, after a five-year absence from the central valley oval. Stockton is ready to welcome the country’s best Sprint Car drivers since being reconfigured over the off-season.

Then, it’s south to Hanford, CA where Kings Speedway is ready to host The Greatest Show on Dirt for the 38th time. The Tom Tarlton Classic offers up a $21,000 payday to the winner as a nod to the iconic car owner’s number on his famous matte black Sprint Car.

BUY STOCKTON TICKETS HERE
BUY TOM TARLTON CLASSIC TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CALIFORNIA OUTLAWS: Three weeks in California means three weeks at home for a trio of current full-time World of Outlaws competitors.

Currently conquering his sixth year on tour, Lemoore, CA’s Carson Macedo is the longest tenured of the three. He’s never won at Stockton but owns a few podiums there with the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) and a World of Outlaws top five (2018). Saturday’s trip to Kings is always special for Macedo as the race honors his family member and a foundational figure in his career, Tom Tarlton. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot topped the first two runnings of the event for a pair of his four overall victories at the Hanford, CA oval.

Series sophomore Giovanni Scelzi also hails from the central valley, calling Fresno, CA home. The last time he visited Stockton, Scelzi swept a pair of Sprint Car Challenge Tour (SCCT) races in one weekend. The driver of the KCP Racing No. 18 will seek his first win at Kings as his best outing there is a 2020 runner-up in Kings of Thunder Sprint Car action.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid completes the west coast trio. The town of Penngrove, nestled between Napa Valley and the Pacific Coast, is where Kofoid comes from. He’s fresh off banking $100,000 at Huset’s with Roth Motorsports. The pairing claimed a NARC race at Stockton last November. His best finish at Kings is fifth with SCCT in 2018.

CENTRAL VALLEY SHARK: The two tracks on the agenda this weekend have treated Logan Schuchart kindly over the years.

Courtesy of a win in September of 2019, Schuchart rolls into the weekend as the most recent victor at Stockton. That same season he claimed the spring visit as well with the Shark Racing team. A win on Friday would both equal him with Donny Schatz as the winningest Series driver at Stockton and make him the first to top three in a row.

The Hanover, PA native also owns a pair of Kings checkered flags. He put together a remarkable drive from 19th to victory in 2017. And then, in 2022, Schuchart topped the Tom Tarlton Classic with a charge from 10th. He’s only led a combined five laps at Kings but come away with two triumphs. A third on Saturday would put him alongside Stevie Smith and Danny Lasoski as the third winningest driver at the 3/8 mile.

NIGHTMARE MAKING NOISE: Things are clicking right now for Bill Balog as he navigates the second half of his rookie World of Outlaws campaign with his family-owned team.

He’s strung together five consecutive top 10 finishes, his longest streak so far of 2024. Three of those results were within the top five including a podium on the big stage of the High Bank Nationals finale this past Saturday.

While many tracks have been new to Balog this year, the “North Pole Nightmare” does have some laps at the two California tracks ahead. He’s been in the top five at Stockton on three occasions all aboard a Clayton Snow entry. Snow also put him in a car for three races at Kings in the past.

SHAKING THE SLUMP: Five consecutive top 10s isn’t a slump for most drivers and teams, but most teams aren’t David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports.

Gravel’s best finish over the past five races is a sixth at River Cities Speedway, marking his longest stretch outside the top five during what’s been a remarkable 2024. He still holds a healthy 110-point lead over Donny Schatz in the standings but shaking the current slump will help provide extra security.

The last time Gravel visited Stockton he scored a personal best third-place run. Friday will be his first Stockton trip with the Big Game crew. He’s a former winner at Kings, charging from seventh to victory with Jason Johnson Racing in 2019.

CALI CLIQUE: California is ready to send its strong contingent of locals to the national scene with hopes of defending home turf this weekend. The west coasters always put up a good fight when The Greatest Show on Dirt comes to town.

Justin Sanders has established himself as one of California’s top talents, and he’s hungry to add a World of Outlaws win to the résumé with Mittry Racing. The Aromas, CA native has already won twice at Stockton this year – once apiece with NARC and SCCT. His Kings accomplishments include a NARC victory last year and an eighth with the World of Outlaws in 2022.

Dominic Scelzi is another potent left coaster eying his first Series triumph. Gio’s brother has plenty of success at both tracks with a 410 under the hood, beating NARC three times at Stockton and five times at Kings. Scelzi podiumed last year in Hanford with the World of Outlaws.

Shane Golobic is already a two-time Series winner – 2013 at Antioch and 2019 at Placerville. The Rocklin, CA driver owns several Stockton scores wheeling both Sprint Cars and Midgets. He’s also topped NARC at Kings.

Before he joins the World of Outlaws tour next year with TwoC Racing, Cole Macedo eyes his first Series win during the California swing with Tarlton Motorsports. The pairing already visited Stockton Victory Lane earlier this year and topped Kings in the latter half of 2023.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, Sept. 6 at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, CA
Saturday, Sept. 7 at Kings Speedway in Hanford, CA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (51/70 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (6906 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-110 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-114 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-222 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-282 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-332 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-340 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-812 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1062 PTS)
10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1346 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Wins – Carson Macedo
4 Wins – Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Michael Kofoid
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (24 Drivers):

338 Laps – Carson Macedo
317 Laps – David Gravel
178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
177 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
132 Laps – Donny Schatz
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
65 Laps – Michael Kofoid
49 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
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
4 Laps – Hunter Schuerenberg
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (17 Drivers):

10 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl, Emerson Axsom

HEAT RACE WINNERS (49 Drivers):

26 Heat Wins – David Gravel
25 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
23 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
14 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
3 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman, Garet Williamson, Kaleb Johnson
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel, Emerson Axsom, Scott Bogucki, Chase Randall
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, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (60 Drivers):

36 Dashes – David Gravel
35 Dashes – Carson Macedo
32 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
31 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
24 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
20 Dashes – Donny Schatz
18 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
13 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, 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

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (41 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss
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, Cole Macedo, 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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (31 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tim Kaeding, Tim Estenson, David Gravel

PODIUM FINISHES (25 Drivers):

27 Podiums – David Gravel
24 Podiums – Carson Macedo
19 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Podiums – Donny Schatz
16 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, 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

TOP 10 FINISHES (72 Drivers):

46 Top 10s – David Gravel
44 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
43 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
41 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
39 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
36 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
25 Top 10s – Bill Balog
14 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Ryan Timms
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Chase Randall
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen, Scott Bogucki
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Kerry Madsen, Tim Kaeding
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

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: National Open Presents $75,000-to-win Outlaw Versus PA Posse Battle
World of Outlaws

October brings another crown jewel event for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series with the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit.

The two-day event, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5, also pits the World of Outlaws and local Pennsylvania Posse in a duel for Saturday’s $75,000-to-win finale.

Pennsylvania’s own Brent Marks scored his second triumph in the event last year and became the fourth consecutive different winner since 2020. The PA Posse have claimed victory in the marquee event the last two years as Lance Dewease, of Fayetteville, PA, won it for the fifth time.

Ten-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz has the most National Open titles of active drivers with six. His last came in 2020 which is also his last Series win at Williams Grove.

Carson Macedo still holds the title as the last World of Outlaws driver to win a National Open title. He scored his victory in 2021, which was his second Series win at the famed 1/2-mile track.

Current Series points leader David Gravel is the last driver to win a World of Outlaws race at Williams Grove after winning the Summer Nationals in July – his ninth World of Outlaws win at the dirt track.

Gravel was denied victory the night before by TJ Stutts, of Liverpool, PA, who scored his first World of Outlaws victory. He also has three wins at the track this year.

Freddie Rahmer, of Salfordville, PA, is the current points leader at Williams Grove with one victory, so far. He’ll be poised to join his father, Fred Rahmer, as a National Open champion. Fred scored his title in 2013.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5
Location – Mechanicsburg, PA
Track Record – 16.089 sec. by TJ Stutts on April 8, 2023

Times (ET) –
Pit Gate Opens: 4 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5 p.m.
Hot Laps: 7 p.m.
-Opening Ceremonies & Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (July 27, 2024) –

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Williams Grove –
2024 – T.J. Stutts on July 26, David Gravel on July 27
2023 – Brad Sweet on May 12, Logan Schuchart on July 21, Rico Abreu on July 22, Brad Sweet on Sept. 29, Brent Marks on Sept. 30
2022 – Brent Marks on May 14, Lance Dewease on July 22, Sept. 30 & Oct. 22, Brad Sweet on July 23
2021 –Carson Macedo on May 14, Aaron Reutzel on May 15, Sheldon Haudenschild on July 23, Brent Marks on July 24, Kyle Larson on Oct. 1, Carson Macedo on Oct. 2
2020 – Shane Stewart on July 24, David Gravel on July 25, David Gravel on Oct. 2, Donny Schatz on Oct. 3
2019 – David Gravel on May 17, Lance Dewease on May 18, Tim Shaffer on July 26, Donny Schatz on July 27, David Gravel on Oct. 4, Brent Marks on Oct. 5
2018 – Lance Dewease on July 20, Gio Scelzi on Sept. 28, Lance Dewease on Sept. 29,
2017 – David Gravel on May 19, Shane Stewart on May 20, Brock Zearfoss on July 21, Greg Hodnett on Sept. 28 (makeup from 7/22), David Gravel on Sept. 28, James McFadden on Sept. 29, David Gravel on Sept. 30
2016 – Lance Dewease on May 20, Daryn Pittman on July 22, Lance Dewease on July 23, Danny Dietrich on Oct. 14
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 15, Danny Dietrich on July 24, Stevie Smith on July 25, Stevie Smith on Oct. 4
2014 – Daryn Pittman on May 16, Daryn Pittman on May 17, Greg Hodnett on July 18, Lance Dewease on July 19, David Gravel on Oct. 4
2013 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on July 20, Don Kreitz Jr. on Oct. 4, Fred Rahmer on Oct. 5
2012 – Fred Rahmer on May 11, Steve Kinser on May 12, Cody Darrah on July 21, Paul McMahan on Sept. 28, Donny Schatz on Sept. 29
2011 – Daryn Pittman on May 13, Greg Hodnett on July 22, Jason Meyers on July 23, Jason Meyers on Sept. 30, Jason Meyers on Oct. 7
2010 – Chad Layton on May 13, Fred Rahmer on May 14, Lance Dewease on July 23, Greg Hodnett on July 24, Greg Hodnett on Oct. 1, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 2
2009 – Greg Hodnett on May 14, Greg Hodnett on July 24, Greg Hodnett on Oct. 3, Cody Darrah on Oct. 3 (Completion of July 25 event)
2008 – Steve Kinser on May 15, Daryn Pittman on July 18, Donny Schatz on July 19
2007 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on May 18, Donny Schatz on July 19, Brian Leppo on July 20, Donny Schatz on July 21, Donny Schatz on Sept. 29
2006 – Fred Rahmer on May 26, Fred Rahmer on May 27, Terry McCarl on July 20, Craig Dollansky on July 21, Daryn Pittman on July 22, Jason Solwold on Sept. 29, Doug Esh on Sept. 30
2005 – Craig Dollansky on May 26, Steve Kinser on May 27, Jason Johnson on July 21, Paul McMahan on July 23, Fred Rahmer on July 23, Donny Schatz on Oct. 1
2004 – Fred Rahmer on May 27, Don Kreitz Jr. on May 28, Lance Dewease on July 23, Danny Lasoski on July 24, Mark Smith on Oct. 1, Donny Schatz on Oct. 2
2003 – Don Kreitz, Jr. on July 24, Donny Schatz on July 25, Donny Schatz on July 26, Donny Schatz on Oct. 3, Steve Kinser on Oct. 4
2002 – Steve Kinser on May 16, Danny Lasoski on July 25, Joey Saldana on July 26, Greg Hodnett on July 27, Lance Dewease on Sept. 28
2001 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on July 26 (completed May 18 event), Donny Schatz on July 26, Don Kreitz Jr., on July 27, Tim Shaffer on Sept. 28, Lance Dewease on Sept. 29
2000 – Mark Kinser on May 18, Fred Rahmer on May 19, Lance Dewease on July 27, Sammy Swindell on July 29, Steve Kinser on Sept. 29, Donny Schatz on Sept. 30
1999 – Mark Kinser on May 27, Steve Kinser on May 28, Mark Kinser on July 29, Mark Kinser on July 30, Cris Eash on Oct. 1, Mark Kinser on Oct. 2
1998 – Mark Kinser on May 21, Johnny Herrera on May 22, Stevie Smith on May 29, Kevin Gobrecht on July 31, Mark Kinser on Oct. 2
1997 – Sammy Swindell on May 22, Mark Kinser on May 23, Jac Haudenschild on May 30, Mark Kinser on July 31, Mark Kinser on Aug. 1, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 3, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 4
1996 – Johnny Herrera on May 24, Mark Kinser on May 25, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on Aug. 1, Mark Kinser on Aug. 2, Lance Dewease on Oct. 4, Lance Dewease on Oct. 5
1995 – Steve Kinser on May 26, Dave Blaney on Aug. 3, Mark Kinser on Aug. 4, Mark Kinser on Sept. 29, Mark Kinser on Sept. 30
1994 – Dave Blaney on May 26, Steve Kinser on May 27, Andy Hillenburg on June 3, Jeff Swindell on Aug. 4, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 5, Lance Dewease on Sept. 30, Steve Kinser on Oct. 1
1993 – Dave Blaney on May 27, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 28, Dave Blaney on June 4, Steve Kinser on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Oct. 1, Don Kreitz Jr. on Oct. 3
1992 – Mark Kinser on May 21, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 22, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 29, Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 31, Keith Kauffman on Oct. 2, Steve Kinser on Oct. 3
1991 – Steve Kinser on May 23, Steve Kinser on May 24, Sammy Swindell on May 31, Mark Kinser on Aug. 1, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 4, Stevie Smith on Oct. 6
1990 – Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 25, Sammy Swindell on June 1, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3, Steve Kinser on Sept. 28, Steve Kinser on Sept. 29
1989 – Bobby Allen on May 25, Sammy Swindell on May 26, Bobby Allen on June 2, Bobby Davis Jr., on July 27, Bobby Davis Jr., on July 28, Stevie Smith on Sept. 29, Stevie Smith on Sept. 30
1988 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr., on May 27, Mark Kinser on June 3, Cris Eash on July 28, Steve Kinser on July 29
1987 – Ron Shuman on May 21, Steve Kinser on May 22, Steve Kinser on May 29, Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 31
1986 – Doug Wolfgang on May 22, Doug Wolfgang on May 23, Bobby Allen on May 30, Jac Haudenschild on July 31, Bobby Allen on Aug. 1
1985 – Keith Kauffman on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 31, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 1, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 2
1984 – Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 25, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 1, Brad Doty on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
1983 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr., on May 27, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 5
1982 – Sammy Swindell on May 13, Bobby Allen on May 14, Bobby Allen on May 21
1981 – Steve Kinser on June 5, Steve Kinser on June 12
1980 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Bill Stief on July 25, Keith Kauffman on July 26
1979 – Lynn Paxton on July 27
1978 – Kramer Williamson on Sept. 24

REDEMPTION: Kofoid Scores Biggest Win of Career in Huset’s High Bank Nationals Thriller

Kofoid takes the Roth Motorsports No. 83 to a $100,000 payday, sealing it with a last lap crossover on Carson Macedo

BRANDON, SD (September 1, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid entered this year’s BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards with one thing on his mind – redemption.

Last year’s edition served up the ultimate heartbreak. After leading every lap from the drop of the green in 2023, mechanical woes with 10 laps remaining ended his chances at a six-figure payday. The Penngrove, CA native was forced to watch the final laps from the infield as David Gravel celebrated what could’ve been the biggest day of Kofoid’s career.

Needless to say, he was motivated heading to Huset’s this Labor Day weekend, and he got the redemption he was looking for and a huge paycheck to go with it.

Kofoid started second in the 40-lap NOS Energy Drink Feature aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83 and went to work on tracking down pole-sitter Carson Macedo. He snatched the lead on Lap 24, gave it back up, and then reclaimed it on the 30th circuit. It all came down to a last lap that’ll go down in the history books. Macedo threw a Hail Mary slider in the final set of corners, but Kofoid had the speed he needed to cross him over and beat him to the line for $100,000.

In Victory Lane Kofoid climbed all the way atop the wing of the Roth ride as the huge crowd roared. Emotion overwhelmed the celebration. From devastation to jubilation. He’d done it. A victory he’ll cherish forever and a huge payday.

“I’m so glad we just won this race. Redemption from last year,” Kofoid said. “I’m so blessed to be driving this car. This is for Dennis and Teresa (Roth). Man, I don’t even know. One hundred thousand, that’s a lot of money, but just to win another Outlaw race is awesome. I owe it all to Dennis and Teresa Roth.

“We fought pretty hard, almost turned her over when he slid me before I got back by him, and I thought that was it. I drove back up to him, and I could just maneuver the bottom really well. I feel like that’s what kept me close to him. Obviously, clean air was good, so I wanted to be the one to control the start. Coming down the frontstretch I missed the moisture and thought, ‘I just ruined this one, too.’ I was able to protect and get back up and didn’t see him. I was setting a torrid pace I felt like and could see the screen and saw that they were filming me but there wasn’t someone behind me, so I thought I’d be okay. I was just catching the lappers a little too quick. You can’t back down here because it’s easy to get caught back up to and easy to get passed.”

With the 56th six-figure winner’s check in Sprint Car history going to Kofoid, he became the 25th different driver to visit Victory Lane with that kind of cash on the line. The 22-year-old is up to five career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victories and two this season. It was also his second at Huset’s Speedway to go along with the first of his career back in 2022. The $100,000 is the most money legendary car owners Dennis and Teresa Roth have scored with a victory.

After beating Kofoid in the final round of the Toyota Racing King of the Hill, Macedo was the one leading the field to green with 40 laps ahead. The Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 jumped ahead to the early lead as Kofoid settled into second.

Kofoid kept pace with Macedo through the opening portion of the main event, patiently waiting for a way to close in.

The patience paid off when the door opened on Lap 24. Kofoid got a strong run off the bottom exiting Turn 2 to pull alongside Macedo. He then fired a slide job in Turn 3 to take the top spot. It was nearly disaster for Kofoid on the next lap when Macedo returned the favor in Turn 3. The two nearly collided as Macedo slid ahead of Kofoid. The No. 83 drifted above the cushion and got sideways, but he managed to hold on and resume the pursuit.

It didn’t take long for Kofoid to reel Macedo back in, and another opportunity quickly arose on Lap 30 for him to bring the battle back to the No. 41. Macedo looked to clear a lapped car with a slider in Turn 3 but couldn’t get by him. Kofoid used the moment to duck under him exiting Turn 4. Macedo tried to shut the door but couldn’t get there in time as Kofoid muscled ahead.

A caution for a slowing Tim Kaeding set up a seven-lap dash to the finish. Kofoid first pulled away when the green lights returned, but as he neared traffic in the final laps, Macedo started to erase the gap.

When the white flag flew Kofoid rolled under a lapper in Turns 1 and 2 allowing Macedo to build one last run as he ripped the cushion. Kofoid slid himself in Turns 3 and 4 but left Macedo the one lane he needed. The Lemoore, CA driver launched under Kofoid and slid ahead of him, but Kofoid managed to get the car turned under Macedo and drive back ahead for an unforgettable triumph and $100,000.

“Carson and I were going at it pretty good,” Kofoid said. “And I could pace him really well in traffic. I’ve said all weekend this car doesn’t really know what dirty air is here. You’d think dirty air wouldn’t be as bad on short tracks, but it can upset your car a lot with how much you spin the tires here. The air here is just super crucial. I knew getting in front of him would be crucial as early as I could.”

Macedo gave it everything he had, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as he and the Jason Johnson Racing crew settled for second. After coming so close to the biggest victory of his career, the runner-up definitely left a bit of a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I was watching the lap counter,” Macedo recalled. “I could see it out of the corner of my eye when I’d leave Turn 2 every lap. I saw we had two to go and knew we were coming for the white. He was closing in on the lapper, and I didn’t know that I was going to have enough really. He got by the lapper. I was hoping he’d try to slide him and not clear him, but the lapper kind of checked up and got tight. It gave me just enough of a run to throw a Hail Mary at it. It was definitely everything I had. I was going really fast at the wall off of (Turn) 4 and knew I was going to clobber it. I knew that was the only shot I had was maybe bouncing it off the fence and getting to the line. I held it wipe open until I got there and hit it, and he must have crossed back over okay and just got me at the line. Hats off to them. Congrats on the win.”

Rounding out the podium was a feel-good story with Bill Balog bringing his personally-owned No. 17B home third. The “North Pole Nightmare” put together a good 40 laps for an impressive showing on a big stage at Huset’s.

“This is huge,” Balog said. “It’s been a really good three days. It’s just a huge night for us. We seem to be going in the right direction with this Triple X car. I pay full price for my engines, but I feel like I’m on an engine deal sometimes. These HP Engines just run great. I’m just super happy with tonight.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

A 17th to 10th run earned Emerson Axsom the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, and Giovanni Scelzi. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Buddy Kofoid.

Carson Macedo beat Buddy Kofoid in the final round of the King of the Hill.

Christopher Thram won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Tim Kaeding.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars kick off a three-week stretch in California with visits to Stockton Dirt Track on Friday, Sept. 6 and Hanford, CA’s Kings Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the $21,000-to-win Tom Tarlton Classic. 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. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 7. 14H-Chase Randall[6]; 8. 2-David Gravel[7]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 10. 27-Emerson Axsom[17]; 11. 55-Kerry Madsen[8]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel[12]; 14. 13-Mark Dobmeier[18]; 15. 2KS-Hunter Schuerenberg[15]; 16. 22-Riley Goodno[16]; 17. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 18. 14T-Tim Estenson[13]; 19. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[14]; 20. 10-Scott Bogucki[20]; 21. 3-Tim Kaeding[23]; 22. 17GP-Justin Henderson[24]; 23. 24T-Christopher Thram[21]; 24. 83S-Sam Henderson[22]

HOT HAND AT HUSET’S: Carson Macedo Tops Huset’s Thriller After Charge from Eighth

The Jason Johnson Racing pilot wins his fourth race in the last six and is the high point man for Sunday

BRANDON, SD (August 31, 2024) - There’s no driver hotter on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour than Carson Macedo.

He and Jason Johnson Racing rolled into BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards weekend with three victories in the last four races. A seventh place run on Friday at Huset’s Speedway cooled them off slightly, but their fire reignited in a big way on Saturday night.

Macedo started eighth for the 35-lap NOS Energy Drink Feature and pieced together a fierce charge to the front. The Lemoore, CA native punctuated the drive with a slider on Chase Randall with only two laps remaining. Randall tried to return the favor as they wheeled toward the white flag, but Macedo kept his foot in the gas and narrowly drove around the slider to hold on and make his way to Victory Lane.

“Hats off to this race team – Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn – they’ve been working really hard,” Macedo said. “It feels good to have a lot of speed here. That was fun, hard racing late in the race. No points on the line, just good, hard, authentic racing. Hats off to this race team.

“It feels good to have speed here. When you start eighth and drive by everybody to get the win, it makes you have a lot of confidence going into a night like tomorrow where it pays a hundred grand.”

A fourth win in the last six races puts Macedo at 42 for his career and into a four-way tie for 18th all-time, and two of the others are a pair of current full-time World of Outlaws competitors. The trio tied with him is Andy Hillenburg, Logan Schuchart, and Sheldon Haudenschild. His seventh victory of 2024 already equals his 2023 total. It also set Macedo up as the high point man entering Sunday’s $100,000-to-win High Bank Nationals finale.

Randall led the field to green thanks to Hunter Schuerenberg giving him the one in the Toyota Racing Revenge Redraw. But it was Schuerenberg, who was handed the two in the Redraw, powering around Randall’s outside to lead the first lap.

Schuerenberg paced the opening four circuits aboard the TKS Motorsports No. 2KS, and then a caution and the resulting restart shook things up at the front.

Randall used a great start to throw a slider and clear Schuerenberg to take over the top spot. Schuerenberg stayed within striking distance as Randall quickly neared the tail of the field, but a yellow with 25 laps remaining just as traffic was getting thick served up some welcome clean air to Randall and the Krull Racing team.

As the second half of the 35-lapper unfolded, Randall pulled away and started to slice his way through traffic. The 19-year-old looked like a veteran as he continued to put more cars between himself and Schuerenberg. Even when Macedo took second on Lap 23, he couldn’t seem to cut much into the gap.

But then a yellow flag for a spinning Schuerenberg set up an eight-lap dash to the finish and put the hottest driver in the sport right on Randall’s tail as he pursued his first Series victory.

Randall wasn’t rattled when the green lights brought the action back to life as he powered ahead on the low side of Turn 4 as Macedo looked to get a launch on the top. Randall built a sizeable lead over Macedo on the first lap back under green.

But little by little Macedo cut into the margin. Randall struggled to pick his way through lappers as the race fell to five laps to go, and Macedo closed in on his tail tank on Lap 33. The door opened with two rotations remaining as Macedo launched a slide job in Turns 1 and 2 that cleared Randall. Down the back straightaway Randall looked to cross him over. He threw a slider of his own, but Macedo made a daring move to drive back by him on the cushion, narrowly slipping by.

It proved to be the winning move as he drove away comfortably on the final lap to claim another checkered flag.

“That caution helped a lot,” Macedo admitted. “I don’t think we would’ve ever got to him if we wouldn’t have had that restart there. I actually tried to fire off on the cushion there on the restart, and it was really bad, gave up a lot of time. He got a sizeable lead, and I thought, ‘Man, it’s going to be tough to get him.’

“And then we got to lap traffic really quick there. And then the lapped cars were kind of all over the place. I felt like I was in the cat-bird seat. When he (Randall) went the wrong way, I was there to see what the difference was. Sometimes it’s better to be running second in that situation. He was having a real hard time getting off (Turn) 4 even coming to the traffic. He really had a hard time there. One of the lappers kind of got beside him and took some of the air off his wing. He struggled off of (Turn) 4, and I was able to get just enough of a run and really didn’t know if I was going to clear him or not but kind of grabbed a little bit of that grip on the bottom, and it shot me across.”

While slightly disappointed to lose out on his first World of Outlaws win late, Randall kept his head high after the race with the runner-up finish. It was only his second night in the Krull No. 14, and he’s happy with the quick chemistry they’ve found especially with a six-figure payday on the line Sunday.

“I don’t know if I could’ve done a little too much,” Randall said about the closing laps. “I feel like anywhere I would’ve went he would’ve been the other way. It’s just how the cars fell tonight. I can’t say enough about this team. Just a short notice to come to this weekend. They’re great guys, awesome people and have my back 100-percent. We’re really excited with a good run. They deserve it.”

Rounding out the podium was Donny Schatz, completing a strong rebound after a crash on Friday night. The 10-time champion put together a complete event with the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 and slotted himself third in points for Sunday’s big finale.

“All in all the guys did a great job,” Schatz said. “A big positive over last night. The Carquest guys, everybody helped dig us out of a big hole to put us in a good spot for tomorrow. So, now we go back and discuss what we need to do for tomorrow and go from there.”

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog completed the top five.

Kofoid got to fourth from 17th to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Emerson Axsom grabbed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Donny Schatz, Chase Randall, and Scott Bogucki. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Kaleb Johnson.

Scott Winters won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Scott Bogucki.

UP NEXT: All the focus for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars shifts to the $100,000-to-win finale of the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards on Sunday, Sept. 1. 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. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 2. 14H-Chase Randall[1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[17]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[16]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[19]; 8. 2-David Gravel[18]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[14]; 10. 55-Kerry Madsen[13]; 11. 5-Ryan Timms[15]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 13. 3-Tim Kaeding[24]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel[12]; 15. 22-Riley Goodno[20]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 17. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[9]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 19. 17GP-Justin Henderson[23]; 20. 16-Brooke Tatnell[22]; 21. 24T-Christopher Thram[5]; 22. 23W-Scott Winters[21]; 23. 2KS-Hunter Schuerenberg[2]; 24. 10-Scott Bogucki[3]

HUSTLIN’ HAUD: Sheldon Haudenschild Bests Axsom for $25,000 Huset’s Hustle Victory

Haudenschild gets first win since early June and his eighth of 2024 at Huset’s

BRANDON, SD (August 30, 2024) - Sheldon Haudenschild was ready to win for so many reasons entering Friday night.

Firstly, he’s been wanting to get a victory for his longtime friend and World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car official Eloy Gutierrez, who passed away last week. Both nights in North Dakota led to podiums for Haudenschild, heightening the hunger to win even more.

He’d also been enduring a winless drought. After an incredible start to 2024 with seven victories in the first 27 races, the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew hadn’t been to Victory Lane in 21 straight events. Five times over that stretch he’d come home second.

No more motivation was necessary, and Haudenschild got the job done at Huset’s Speedway.

With $25,000 on the line at the Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking, Haudenschild gave the fans a show. The NOS Energy Drink gasser outdueled Emerson Axsom in a back-and-forth battle. Haudenschild pulled ahead and held off a late charge from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid for his first win since Ogilvie in early June.

“This is big. I said we needed a win here,” Haudenschild said. “(Kyle) Ripper is focused right now, and he’s got it going on. He’s giving us fast race cars, and we’re qualifying well. If we can keep starting up front, I think we can keep clicking off wins all season. Hats off to Luke (Vaughn), Steve (Kinzer Dussel), and Ripper.

“We wanted to win in Jackson for Eloy. Good to get a win for Eloy and all of these Outlaw officials and everybody on the road that loved Eloy. This is what he lived for.”

Haudenschild’s eighth win of 2024 moves him within one of the most he’s collected in one season with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The 42nd of his career equals him with Andy Hillenburg and fellow full-timer Logan Schuchart for 18th on the all-time win list. His third Huset’s victory makes it the fifth track where he’s topped at least a trio of races.

Axsom and Haudenschild brought the field to green after drawing the front row in the Toyota Racing Redraw. Axsom used a strong launch off the bottom to grab the top spot and lead the first lap.

Haudenschild had no plans of letting him escape as he stalked the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27. The gap between the two never grew north of one second as Haudenschild kept Axsom firmly within his sights. Axsom worked the bottom around the 1/3 mile while Haudenschild searched for speed on the top.

Traffic allowed Haudenschild to close in and peek under Axsom at one point, but the Franklin, IN native closed the door on the Buckeye as the lively crowd cheered on the intensifying action.

The battle really got going on Lap 23 when Haudenschild built a run off Turn 2 and ducked to Axsom’s inside heading into the next set of corners. Haudenschild cleared him with a slider and led the lap, but Axsom fought back. As Haudenschild got slightly slowed on the cushion in Turns 1 and 2 Axsom rolled the bottom to perfection to slip back ahead. Haudenschild fired a slider back at him in Turn 3 but couldn’t quite clear it. Fast forward a lap, and Haudenschild fired it off under Axsom, but a yellow flag halted the action.

Axsom opted for the bottom groove on the restart, and that decision helped lift Haudenschild to the front. While Axsom rolled the low line, Haudenschild ripped the cushion and nosed ahead down the back straightaway. Axsom didn’t have positioning to move back in front, so Haudenschild secured the spot and quickly pulled away.

As the laps faded, Buddy Kofoid surged into contention as he drove around Axsom to take the second spot. Up ahead Haudenschild worked through traffic which allowed the Roth Motorsports No. 83 to cut into his lead. But ultimately Kofoid ran out of laps as Haudenschild secured a trip to Huset’s Victory Lane and $25,000.

“I feel like we got him (Axsom) in traffic and was probably a little nice, and he got back by us there,” Haudenschild said. “I didn’t really know what to expect on that restart. He was starting really slow and really soon. I just kind of figured I’d try to get down and follow him in there. I’m really surprised he didn’t rip the top and was just able to get around him.”

Kofoid brought the Roth No. 83 home second, marking his sixth podium in 11 Sprint Car races at Huset’s for the Penngrove, CA native. It marked a strong start on his path to redemption after his devastation last June at Huset’s when troubles ended a potential six-figure payday for him.

“I got to third and then got back in line on the top,” Kofoid said. “I was able to chase people down in dirty air. I feel like every time we come here, we’re just exceptional and really good. We race good, and I feel like this thing doesn’t know what dirty air is at Huset’s. I feel like if you can play that into your favor, you’re going to be pretty good. I was able to run Sheldon down. I just feel like I kind of ran out of time.”

Completing the top three was early leader Emerson Axsom.

“I think our speed was there, but I feel like on the restart I kind of like didn’t get in hard enough to kind of load the right rear and kind of like slid across the bottom,” Axsom explained. “That allowed Sheldon to just drive around us. I hate it for my guys to be in position and kind of give one away there. Obviously, these guys are really good, and it’s hard to out Haud Haud.”

Garet Williamson and Ryan Timms completed the top five.

A 20th to 10th drive in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 earned David Gravel the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild earned his seventh Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 36th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Logan Schuchart, Emerson Axsom, and Garet Williamson. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Kaleb Johnson.

Mark Dobmeier 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 begin the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards with a $15,000-to-win prelim on Saturday, Aug. 31, setting the stage for Sunday’s $100,000-to-win 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 (35 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[1]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 5. 5-Ryan Timms[4]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[13]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 8. 10-Scott Bogucki[6]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 10. 2-David Gravel[20]; 11. 13-Mark Dobmeier[21]; 12. 7S-Landon Crawley[11]; 13. 3J-Dusty Zomer[5]; 14. 8-Jacob Hughes[12]; 15. 88-Austin McCarl[15]; 16. 2KS-Hunter Schuerenberg[23]; 17. 24T-Christopher Thram[16]; 18. 64-Andy Pake[17]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[24]; 20. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[7]; 21. 55-Kerry Madsen[10]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 23. 83S-Sam Henderson[22]; 24. 27X-Carson McCarl[19]

RACER ON THE WRENCHES: Zach Patterson Blending Racing with Big Game Motorsports Role

The tire specialist is a racer himself with a Sprint Car victory under his belt this year

BRANDON, SD (Aug 29, 2024) - Nearly every weekend from February through November you can find Zach Patterson working on the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 Sprint Car.

But the tire specialist for the team atop the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car standings doesn’t only work on the cars, he likes to get behind the wheel himself occasionally.

Patterson has jumped in a 305 Sprint Car a handful of times in 2024 when time permits, even getting help from his Big Game teammates David Gravel, Cody Jacobs, and Stephen Hamm-Reilly.

The love for racing stems from a youth fixed firmly within the sport. Patterson hails from Merkel, TX with Abilene Speedway 10 minutes down the road. He grew up spending nearly every weekend at a racetrack watching family members win in the Late Model and Modified ranks of the region.

A move to Oklahoma didn’t halt Patterson’s racing involvement. Instead, it enhanced it as his family helped operate multiple dirt tracks in the “Sooner State.” The move also led to his first laps in a go kart. He also got his first opportunity in a real race car at 11 years old, but a frightening crash paused his driving career.

“We had that bomber class,” Patterson said. “That was my first chance to actually get behind the wheel of a real car. I went out there and absolutely destroyed that thing. That was kind of the end of it for a while.”

Racing restarted for Patterson after high school, and the result was a 2019 I-44 Speedway track championship in a Micro Sprint. The following year brought his first season in a Sprint Car, and then, with the help of Joe Madore, a door opened that facilitated his current career ahead of 2021.

“He (Madore) comes into the shop one night and says, ‘I have a really good opportunity for you. One of Wayne Johnson’s guys just quit. There’s an opportunity for you to go on the road for the 2021 season,’” Patterson recalled. “Four days later I was at Wayne’s shop getting interviewed.”

After one season with Johnson, an opportunity arose to join one of Sprint Car racing’s powerhouses when a spot opened at Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports. Patterson got the job, and three races in was standing in World of Outlaws Victory Lane for the first time as Gravel won at Volusia Speedway Park.

Patterson has been a good fit as he now navigates his third year with the team. The time has allowed him to learn from one of the sport’s most renowned crew chiefs – Cody Jacobs.

“It’s been great,” Patterson said of working with Jacobs. “In my mind, he’s the best at what he does. Working with him has been amazing. There’s so much to learn from him. Overall, it’s been everything I imagined and more. I’m super grateful for the time he’s put in to teach me.”

The last couple years have given Patterson the chance to hop back in a Sprint Car. Jay Masur of Med Star Dirt Track Rescue Team let Patterson take his Sprint Car for a spin last year, and that led to more time in his car along with a couple other opportunities this season.

“Really, it’s a dream come true,” Patterson said. “Them supporting me and getting the opportunity to race and Stephen and Cody coming down to the infield here and there and helping me, that means a lot. Tod allows me to do it. Everyone has just been really supportive.”

The highlight of Patterson getting back behind the wheel came in June this year when he drove from 11th to the front at Huset’s Speedway for his first Sprint Car win. It was a storybook evening as he had Gravel, Jacobs, and Hamm-Reilly working on the car that night and ready to greet him in Victory Lane.

“I can’t even explain the emotions,” Patterson said. “It’s a completely different feeling. That’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Genuinely, I didn’t know if it was ever going to happen, if I was going to get the opportunity to be there. It was so cool with all of those guys being there. Really, it was perfect timing. The whole team was there. I about cried going around the track. I was pumped up. I couldn’t quit yelling. That’s been a goal of mine ever since I got in a Sprint Car, and I’d been so close but hadn’t ever made it happen. That was just unreal.”

While Patterson enjoys the occasional opportunity to race, his focus remains locked on the ultimate goal of 2024 – a World of Outlaws championship. Since joining Big Game Motorsports, Patterson has experienced finishing runner-up in the standings two straight seasons. Gravel holds more than a 100-point advantage right now, but the job isn’t done until it’s done.

“The past couple years have been a little heartbreaking,” Patterson admitted. “I genuinely feel like we were the best car last year and maybe even the year before, but definitely last year. I felt like we were the better car but just had some bad luck. Running second in the points is just heartbreaking. You want to win this championship. Until it happens, I don’t know what it’s going to feel like because I’m so focused. Having somebody like Donny Schatz behind you, he isn’t going to give up. Carson (Macedo) isn’t going to give up. There’s still a long way ahead of us.”

Patterson and the Big Game crew continue their pursuit of a World of Outlaws title this weekend at the $25,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking on Friday, Aug. 30, and the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, with a $100,000-to-win finale. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Return to Ohio For September Doubleheader at Wayne County, Sharon

ORRVILLE, OH (Aug. 27, 2024) – Ohio will welcome the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for the final time this year with a doubleheader weekend to conclude September.

The Series will make its highly anticipated return to Wayne County Speedway, in Orrville, on Friday, Sept. 27, and then venture back to Dave Blaney’s Sharon Speedway, in Hartford, on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Wayne County Speedway becomes a prime stop on the tour again for the first time since 2020. Sheldon Haudenschild, who grew up about 15 minutes from the track in Wooster, won that event – his first Series win at his home track.

The World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl event will see the World of Outlaws stars go up against Ohio’s best local talent, such as Brandon Spithaler, Trey Jacobs, Leyton Wagner – the current 410 Sprint Car points leader at the track – and more.

Then, the World of Outlaws return to Sharon Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown – the Series’ second visit to the 3/8-mile dirt track this year. During the Series’ last visit in May, David Gravel held off 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo to score his first Series win at the track.

The weekend will also start the road to the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 6-9) as there will only be 10 races left until the championship determining weekend.

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

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday, Sept. 27
Location – Orrville, OH
Track Record – 13.808 sec. by Spencer Bayston on April 21, 2018

Times (ET) –
Pit Gates Open: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (Sept. 25, 2020) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKUtGve0F8Y

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Wayne County –
2020 –Sheldon Haudenschild on Sept. 25
1985 – Steve Kinser on Aug. 6
1984 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on June 9
1981 – Steve Kinser on June 14
1979 – Steve Kinser on July 29

EVENT INFO
Date – Saturday, Sept. 28
Location – Hartford, OH
Track Record – 12.704 sec. by Danny Holtgraver on Aug. 20, 2013

Times (ET) –
Pit Gates Open: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (May 18, 2024) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ2whoFW-T0

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Sharon –
2024 – David Gravel on May 18
2023 – Donny Schatz on May 20, Brad Sweet on Sept. 23
2022 – Brad Sweet on Sept. 24
2021 – Dave Blaney on May 22
2007 –Steve Kinser on June 1
2006 – Jac Haudenschild on May 20
2005 – Jason Meyers on June 3
2004 – Danny Lasoski on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 28
2003 – Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 30
2002 – Danny Lasoski on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 31

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: High Bank Nationals Brings World of Outlaws to Huset’s for Six-Figure Payday

Three nights of South Dakota racing will culminate in a $100,000-to-win finale on Sunday

BRANDON, SD (August 27, 2024) - Another huge stop on the Summer of Money awaits the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars this weekend.

The rescheduled BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards invites The Greatest Show on Dirt back to Huset’s Speedway for three nights (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) of action with major money up for grabs.

It kicks off with Friday’s $25,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking. Then a $15,000-to-win High Bank Nationals prelim on Saturday sets the stage for Sunday’s finale with $100,000 being deposited in the winner’s bank account.

With so much money on the line, the weekend is expected to bring a healthy roster of the country’s best Sprint Car drivers to the pit area. Huset’s Speedway is the place to be over Labor Day weekend.

BUY THREE-DAY HUSET’S TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE
BUY SUNDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

MONEY MAN: When the large bags of cash are up for grabs, it’s been hard to stop David Gravel in 2024. His earnings this year with the Big Game Motorsports team have already eclipsed $600,000, roughly $160,000 more than the sport’s second highest earner this season.

The biggest contributor toward Gravel’s lucrative year was a nearly $300,000 week at Eldora Speedway in July that included his first Kings Royal crown worth $175,000. He also made history during that stretch as the first Sprint Car driver to take home six-digit paychecks from three different racetracks with Knoxville Raceway and Huset’s Speedway being the other two.

And speaking of that Huset’s payday, it came in the form of last year’s High Bank Nationals title. Gravel heads into the weekend looking to make the boss proud once again as his car owner Tod Quiring also owns Huset’s and has invested so much into making the 1/3 mile one of the country’s premier facilities.

Overall, the Watertown, CT native has topped a trio of Huset’s races with the World of Outlaws. His résumé suggests a high chance of success this weekend as he continues the march toward a potential million-dollar season.

HAUD’S HUNGRY: There’s one driver on the World of Outlaws tour that may be hungrier to break into Victory Lane than any other, and his name is Sheldon Haudenschild.

After topping seven of the first 27 races this year, he’s gone winless over the last 21. The speed has been there, but Victory Lane has simply eluded the Wooster, OH driver. Since his last win, Haudenschild has podiumed nine times including the last four races. Five of those have been second place finishes.

Haudenschild has stated he and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team’s goal of reaching double-digit wins for the first time, and Huset’s serves up a prime opportunity for them to not only end the slump, but also pad their wallets. Back in 2020 Haudenschild won when the Series returned to the South Dakota oval for the first time in four years. Then in 2022 he made an unbelievable charge from sixth to victory in the final five laps to top the inaugural High Bank Nationals for $100,000.

$CHATZ: While Gravel’s bank account may be the one most growing in 2024, Donny Schatz has been the biggest earner in the history of the sport when it comes to six-figure paydays.

The Fargo, ND legend has won 13 of the sport’s 54 races that paid at least $100,000. Schatz first cashed in at Eldora’s Historical Big One in 2002, broke the bank with 11 Knoxville Nationals, and added to his riches with the 2023 Kings Royal. Add it all up, and Schatz has totaled $1,775,000 in those 13 events alone.

Huset’s presents Schatz an opportunity to replicate the feat Gravel accomplished earlier this year. A victory on Sunday would make the 10-time champion the second driver to collect six-figure paydays at three different dirt tracks. Schatz is already a four-time Feature winner at Huset’s, topping visits in 2001, 2007, 2015, and 2016.

ROTH REDEMPTION: Last year left Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports wondering what could’ve been. Mechanical woes with less than 10 laps remaining knocked them from the lead and a potential High Bank Nationals title to a heartbreaking DNF.

It’s all about redemption heading into the event this year as Kofoid now rolls in as a World of Outlaws rookie. After coming so close last year, his sights will be squarely on a redemptive victory.

Huset’s is home to Kofoid’s first career World of Outlaws win back in 2022. The Penngrove, CA gasser also topped a pair of USAC National Midget races at Huset’s that same year. He’s been overall consistent in a Sprint Car at the 1/3 mile with podiums in half of his 10 starts.

HIGH BANK HOPEFULS: The four listed above aren’t the only current Series competitors who’ve experienced Huset’s success and will be in search of some serious coin this weekend.

Carson Macedo topped a Huset’s visit in 2022 during a High Bank Nationals prelim with Jason Johnson Racing. He’s missed the top 10 just once in his last nine visits to the South Dakota oval. Macedo is fresh off a North Dakota weekend sweep, and he’s won three of the last four races.

Last year Logan Schuchart grabbed his first Huset’s win by topping the final High Bank Nationals prelim. He’s been in the top 10 in 11 of his last 14 tries at the facility with Shark Racing. Schuchart is no stranger to big paydays having topped the richest race in the sport’s history at last year’s Eldora Million.

HUSET’S HEROES: Along with the full-time stars on the World of Outlaws tour, a hefty batch of competitors is expected to join and chase the big money. Among them are plenty with Huset’s success under their belt.

Ryan Timms enters the weekend as the track’s most recent 410 Sprint Car winner. He took Guy Forbrook’s car to Victory Lane in Sunday’s Bull Haulers Brawl for $7,000. The Oklahoman will be teamed with Forbrook again this weekend but only for Friday and Saturday as a prior commitment requires his presence on Sunday.

Garet Williamson and the Fischer Motorsports team have won in their two most recent visits to Huset’s (July 7 and July 28). The Columbia, MO native is fresh off recovering from a Heat Race flip to a top 10 at Red River Valley with the World of Outlaws. He’ll continue an eight-week stretch with the World of Outlaws this weekend at Huset’s.

Tim Kaeding plans to be in Dave Lunstra’s ride for the weekend. The pairing already topped a local Huset’s show this year on May 27. “TK” has also been to World of Outlaws Victory Lane at Huset’s, winning with Roth Motorsports back in 2013.

Kerry Madsen has been a frequent visitor to Huset’s all year with Vermeer Motorsports. The “Mad Man” has been close to a World of Outlaws win at the facility no matter what car he’s in as he’s run third with both Keneric Racing (2014) and Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing (2021) and grabbed a fourth in Dave Helm’s Selma Shell No. 11H in 2007.

These four will be joined by many more for three nights of South Dakota Sprint Car racing.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (48/70 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (6636 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-110 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-114 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-222 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-282 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-332 PTS)
7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-340 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-812 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1062 PTS)
10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1346 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Wins – Carson Macedo
4 Wins – Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):

317 Laps – David Gravel
308 Laps – Carson Macedo
178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
132 Laps – Donny Schatz
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
53 Laps – Michael Kofoid
49 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):

10 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
6 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl

HEAT RACE WINNERS (49 Drivers):

26 Heat Wins – David Gravel
24 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
23 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
13 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
8 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Donny Schatz
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
3 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Chase Randall, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy Pake

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (60 Drivers):

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (38 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (30 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Garet Williamson
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Tim Kaeding, Tim Estenson

PODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):

27 Podiums – David Gravel
22 Podiums – Carson Macedo
18 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Podiums – Donny Schatz
14 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
2 Podiums – Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom, T.J. Stutts

TOP 10 FINISHES (72 Drivers):

43 Top 10s – David Gravel
41 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi
38 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
37 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
34 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
22 Top 10s – Bill Balog
14 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Garet Williamson
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Emerson Axsom, Ryan Timms
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki
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, Tim Kaeding, 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, Kerry Madsen, Andy Pake

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, August 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, August 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, August 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
45. Fri, August 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4)
46. Sat, August 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4)
47. Fri, August 23 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
48. Sat, August 24 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (6)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

How Karter Sarff Ascended from Regional Racer to National Midget Phenom

CONCORD, NC (Aug. 27, 2024) – There’s a new rising star on the national Midget circuit. His name: Karter Sarff.

Six career Feature wins with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota ranks the 21-year-old racer from Mason City, IL, fourth on the Series’ all-time wins list, following his sweep of the Ironman 55 weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in early August.

Each of those wins have come in the last 12 months, all built on the hard work he and his father put into their operation. No hired crew members, no major corporate sponsors — just father and son both at the track and in their home shop, as it’s been since Sarff began his racing career at five years old.

“It’s been pretty surreal, and it’s been a lot of fun, obviously,” Sarff said. “Our team I feel like has come a long way from when we first started. I’m just happy to see where it’s come.”

For two consecutive nights at I-55, Sarff was the fastest driver in the national Midget world. He led 39 of 60 contested Feature laps, won a Heat Race and garnered his third Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award of the season. When the weekend was over, he had collected a grand total of $11,500, including a $7,500 check as victor of the richest race in Series history Saturday night and his fourth win of the season — second only to championship points leader Cannon McIntosh.

Looking back, Sarff said he’s proud of the feat and knows the weight of what he was able to accomplish that weekend, but that hasn’t changed his mindset going forward.

“I still feel like I’m just a little kid racing Quarter Midgets; I don’t feel any more special than I did back when I was a little kid,” Sarff said. “I’m just hoping to keep growing and stay humble just to show kids that are coming up that you don’t have to change when you start winning races. Just keep being you.”

In keeping his sharp skills and humble personality, Sarff has gained the respect of his competitors — most notably fellow Illinoisan and inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Series champion, Zach Daum.

“Karter Sarff – you’ll never have an issue racing with him, and he’s still a kid,” Daum said. “He’s only 21. I remember when Karter started racing Quarter Midgets.

“Karter’s just a good kid and his results are showing it right now. For not being a full-time guy, he’s won just as many races as anybody else has. He does it cleanly. He doesn’t tear nobody up, he doesn’t crash nobody, he races hard.”

“I’ve always been a big fan of Zach’s; I have his Midget diecast here at the house,” Sarff said. “He was always someone I watched when I was real young and wanted to run Midgets. It’s really cool to have the respect from him and be able to race with him every weekend.”

In his time watching the veterans of Midget racing like Daum, Sarff has picked up on their techniques and applied them to his own style, which he said keeps him going fast and out of trouble.

“Maybe it’s the way I was raised, but I always wanted to gain the respect of everyone I was racing,” Sarff said. “Especially racing adults being a young kid, I didn’t want to be one of those kids that just went out there and drove like an idiot and crashed everyone.

“That’s just the way I was raised; it’s the way I want to win races.”

His surge of success in the Midget, which began after his first two Xtreme Outlaw Series wins in 2023 afforded him several new opportunities in 2024 with Chase Briscoe Racing (CBR). The NASCAR Cup Series star and former dirt track racer tapped Sarff to drive a second CBR entry at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January, where he qualified for his first career A-Main in the marquee Midget event.

His crew chief during the event was Paul May — the former Winged Sprint Car racer from Terre Haute, IN, and Briscoe’s Sprint Car crew chief before he made his move to full-time NASCAR competition in the late 2010s. Together, May helped Sarff punch his ticket into the Chili Bowl main event via transfer spot in the final B-Main and finished 18th in his first A-Main start.

Since then, May has continued to provide Sarff with his Midget and Sprint Car expertise throughout the season, resulting in four Xtreme Outlaw Series wins and his first career Sprint Car victory with the Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) in April.

“I work on all my own stuff here at my house, and Paul usually just texts me what he wants on it,” Sarff said. “We scale it and go through it over the phone. Paul never gets to come to our shop because he’s in Indiana and I’m in Illinois. So, we just have a package that we go through, scale the car, show up to the track and that’s what we got. It seems to be working good so far.”

That Sprint Car win also came driving for CBR — one month after Briscoe announced Sarff would be in the driver’s seat for the reopening of his Sprint Car team.

“Once I started the NASCAR journey, I always knew I wanted to stay a part of the sport as an owner give back to drivers I felt like deserved opportunities because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the same thing,” Briscoe said in a team press release in March. “I’m super excited this year to have Karter Sarff try wing Sprint Car racing, he did an amazing job in our midget at Chili Bowl and he has a bright future ahead. It will be a lot of fun for me to be able to race a few races this year with my dad again and then watch him and Karter go run as well.”

Sarff started on the pole and led all 25 laps around the 4/10-mile of Red Hill Raceway in his first race out with the CBR Sprint Car team, led by Briscoe’s father, Kevin.

“With Kevin, he’s just real knowledgeable with everything as well,” Sarff said. “Listening to what he says about things, how things work, I’ve been able to build a pretty good notebook in my head of how things work and how things should work.

“They’ve been a lot of help to get my knowledge to where I want it to be. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn, and I’m just happy to be around a good, smart group of guys.”

As the Midget season winds down, Sarff has reflected on what’s brought his career to this point. Thirteen months ago, he was a regional Midget racer still looking for his first major breakthrough. Now, he’s a budding open-wheel talent racing for a NASCAR star’s team and a threat to win any national Midget series event he competes in.

“I’m not sure what clicked for me, but I think the Sprint Cars helped a lot,” Sarff said. “Just slowing the Midget down, and I think my racecraft has improved a lot for whatever reason. I guess just watching, paying attention and learning from my mistakes.”

Sarff will be back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota — Sept. 13-15 for a three-race swing through his home state at Southern Illinois Raceway, Highland Speedway and Adams County (IL) Speedway. Advance sale tickets are available at the link below.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RACEWAY TICKETS ($5 off with advanced purchased)

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

Photo credit – Emily Schwanke

BREAK OUT THE BROOM: Red River Valley Domination Leads Carson Macedo to Weekend Sweep

Carson Macedo grabs third win in four races, closes on Schatz in the points

WEST FARGO, ND (August 24, 2024) - Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing are getting hot.

On Friday Macedo pieced together an impressive drive from sixth to victory at River Cities Speedway.

On Saturday when the stage shifted to West Fargo, ND’s Red River Valley Speedway, Macedo made things a little easier on himself. There would be no need to drive from the third row as he earned the pole of the 30-lap Feature. And the Lemoore, CA native put together a nearly perfect race to punctuate a perfect night.

Macedo earned Simpson Quick Time, won the first NOS Energy Drink Heat Race, topped the Toyota Racing Dash, and sealed the deal by leading every lap of the Feature. The performance earned Macedo and JJR a weekend sweep in North Dakota and their third victory in the last four races.

“I just felt extremely good,” Macedo said. “Philip Dietz knocked it out of the park again. He’s done an incredible job this weekend. Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman putting the whole package together and working really hard. It just feels good to get a win here.

“We’ve got a lot of momentum. It just feels good to be running up front, contending for wins, and then closing it out and getting the job done. The 41 is just fast right now. When your race car is fast and things are clicking, it seems like things just go your way. I remember Jason Meyers telling me at one point, ‘When the iron is burning, it burns hot. When it’s cold, it’s tough to get out of that wintertime.’”

The weekend sweep marked Macedo’s first back-to-back wins since April of 2022. He’s up to 41 career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victories, equaling him with fellow full-timer Sheldon Haudenschild for 20th on the all-time win list. A night after claiming his second River Cities checkered flag, he grabbed his second Red River Valley trophy, making it the 11th track where he’s a multi-time winner. He also closed to within four points of Donny Schatz for second in the standings.

Macedo rolled right out to an early advantage when the green flag flew for the finale. He established control early and made it clear it was going to be difficult to pass him. In only two laps, his lead grew to a second and a half.

Even when he first encountered traffic, Macedo showed no signs of slowing. The Albaugh No. 41 sliced through slower cars and clicked off laps. The gap between himself and second-running Sheldon Haudenschild expanded to north of two seconds by the halfway point.

But you can’t ever count out Haudenschild. He’s known for incredible feats behind the wheel and looked to achieve another by erasing Macedo’s huge advantage and stealing the victory.

The lead dropped back under two seconds on Lap 21 as Macedo met some struggles navigating traffic. And then a close moment nearly cost him. Two lappers collided just ahead of Macedo exiting Turn 4 forcing him to slow down considerably. The contact allowed Haudenschild to pull right up to Macedo, but he couldn’t find a path around him.

The yellow flag flew with four laps remaining as Donny Schatz slowed with a flat tire. The caution was just what Macedo needed as the clear track allowed him to drive away and complete the statement win.

“The track turned out to be really wide and racy,” Macedo said. “I was surprised. It took a while to get worked in early in the night and then was fast through the Heat Races. It was just a great track and a lot of fun.”

Haudenschild brought the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 home second as he continues to build momentum. The Wooster, OH native has strung together four consecutive podiums. The recent stretch of consistency has lifted Haudenschild from seventh to sixth in points.

“We ran him back down,” Haudenschild commented. “Lapped traffic was hectic. He did a great job getting through them. Then I kind of had to pick my way back through them. It’s frustrating as a driver having this good of a car and to not pick up a win this weekend. But hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Steve (Kinzer Dussel), and Luke (Vaughn). They’ve been putting the work in, and we’re getting better each week I feel.”

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid came home third to round up the podium with Roth Motorsports. The effort capped a strong weekend for the Series rookie as he landed in the top three on both nights. Kofoid is buildings some momentum with his home tracks in California on the horizon.

“It was a great weekend for us,” Kofoid said. “I feel like we’re back to how I felt my best here and even in general. I always love coming here. I was a little apprehensive when I saw how wet it was, but it turned out really good.”

Bill Balog and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

A 19th to ninth drive earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo earned his 10th Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 43rd of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Carson Macedo and Sheldon Haudenschild. Milton Hershey Heat Two went to Andy Pake.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Scott Bogucki earned the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to South Dakota for the rescheduled Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale on Friday, August 30 before the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards on August 31-September 1 with a $100,000-to-win 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 (30 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 6. 64-Andy Pake[2]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 8. 2-David Gravel[12]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[14]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 12. 7S-Landon Crawley[9]; 13. 24T-Christopher Thram[13]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[17]; 15. 17GP-Justin Henderson[16]; 16. 6-Max Guilford[21]; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier[15]; 18. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[11]; 19. 8-Jack Croaker[24]; 20. 27-Weston Olson[20]; 21. 52-Adam Sobolik[23]; 22. 14T-Tim Estenson[18]; 23. 11M-Brendan Mullen[22]; 24. 10-Scott Bogucki[6]

FOR ELOY: Carson Macedo Tops River Cities Thriller for 40th Career Victory

The Jason Johnson Racing driver holds on to win on the night the World of Outlaws honored Eloy Gutierrez

GRAND FORKS, ND (August 23, 2024) - There looked to be no stopping Carson Macedo on Friday night at River Cities Speedway.

The Californian lined up sixth for the 40-lap finale with a stacked five names ahead in the lineup, but it didn’t matter. None of them would get in Macedo’s way on his charge toward Victory Lane.

Macedo moved the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 wherever he wanted to march forward. After starting on row three, he snatched the lead from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid on Lap 19. A fierce battle ensued for the next few laps before Macedo secured the spot. He then picked his way through heavy traffic and survived Kofoid’s final surge to grab the win.

An emotional celebration followed as the evening was all about honoring Eloy Gutierrez who passed away on Monday. Gutierrez helped implement the use of electronic timing and scoring, evolving Sprint Car racing to a new level. He dedicated many years of his life to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. But most importantly, he was one of the kindest humans to ever grace the racing community. Gutierrez treated everyone he met with kindness and as a friend.

“I just want to give a huge shoutout to Eloy,” Macedo said. “We miss him very much. It just sucks not having him here. He was a guy that was a friend to you no matter who you were. You felt like Eloy was your best friend because he made it a point to make you feel that way every time you saw him. I know we’re going to miss him very much.”

Macedo’s win bumped his career tally up to 40 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He became the 21st driver in Series history to reach the milestone. The victory was his second at River Cities, making him the eighth with at least a pair of checkered flags at the Fargo, ND bullring. River Cities also became the 10th track where he’s won at least twice with the World of Outlaws.

Macedo might’ve made the drive to the front look easy, but it by no means was a simple cruise to the lead on the exciting quarter mile that is River Cities Speedway.

When the green flag dropped on the 40-lapper, it was second starting Kofoid getting the jump on the pole sitter Haudenschild to lead the first lap. Kofoid established command in the early going as the Roth Motorsports No. 83 pulled ahead of the field.

It didn’t take long for Macedo to begin charging, and right before the halfway point of the race he grabbed second when Haudenschild got tripped up on the cushion in Turns 1 and 2. Right after Macedo secured the spot the yellow flag flew for the first time.

The caution set up a pivotal restart as Kofoid opted for the bottom and gave Macedo the top for the double-file formation. Macedo took advantage by ripping by Kofoid in Turns 1 and 2 when the green flag brought the action back to life.

Kofoid fought back a few laps later as he got a strong run down the back straightaway and slid Macedo into Turn 3. Then during the next lap Macedo returned the favor as he pulled off a Turn 3 slider to regain the lead.

The laps clicked away quickly in the second half of the race. Kofoid and Haudenschild gave it everything they had in their hopes to catch Macedo, but it simply wasn’t enough. Both closed in on the final lap, but Macedo held on comfortably on his way to his fifth World of Outlaws victory of the season.

“I started to kind of second guess what I was doing there at the end,” Macedo admitted. “I started to kind of second guess what I was doing there at the end. I was starting to get a little free up top in (Turns) 3 and 4, but if I got my wing back a little bit, I’d get tight other places. I kind of found a happy medium there and moved around just enough. I could see him (Kofoid) exiting to my inside off of (Turn) 4 a little bit, so I tried the bottom. It was really slick on entry, but it was really center off, so I could see where he was using that and making up a little bit of ground. It was slick up top in (Turns) 3 and 4 as well.”

Buddy Kofoid settled for runner-up after leading 19 laps. It gave the Penngrove, CA native 13 podiums for the year with the World of Outlaws. After how the restart unfolded, Kofoid found himself second guessing his choice to take the bottom groove on the racetrack.

“I knew I obviously took the lead on the top on the initial start,” Kofoid said. “But it had been almost 20 laps since to where I figured the middle had kind of slicked up just enough to where I could take off on the bottom. But I just needed to be on the outside on the restart. Carson and the 41 guys did a good job. To be honest I felt like I could still pace them in their dirty air. There were times I felt like I was faster. Everyone is just hauling ass here. They did a good job. I just made a mistake, and it cost me.”

Rounding out the top three in the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 was Sheldon Haudenschild. The hunger continues to grow for a River Cities victory for the team NOS Energy Drink driver as he looks for his first win at the quarter mile.

“We kind of got going there towards the end,” Haudenschild explained. “We were just kind of hanging on there at the beginning and tried to burn some fuel off and just get rolling. (Kyle) Ripper and the boys did a great job all night. I rolled the bottom good there the last two laps or so and kind of got my nose and really threaded the needle with the one lapper. I really wanted to get a win for Eloy, but we’ve got tomorrow and we’ll keep fighting.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

Tim Estenson earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 24th to 16th drive.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his sixth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 35th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog, and Buddy Kofoid. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Logan Schuchart.

The Toyota Racing Dash was won by Sheldon Haudenschild.

Scott Bogucki topped the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Justin Henderson.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only appearance at West Fargo, ND’s Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday, August 24. 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. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[11]; 6. 2-David Gravel[7]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[8]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 11. 64-Andy Pake[13]; 12. 13-Mark Dobmeier[10]; 13. 6-Max Guilford[19]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[16]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser[22]; 16. 14T-Tim Estenson[24]; 17. 24T-Christopher Thram[15]; 18. 17GP-Justin Henderson[12]; 19. 17Z-Zach Omdahl[18]; 20. 8-Jack Croaker[14]; 21. 10-Scott Bogucki[21]; 22. 11M-Brendan Mullen[17]; 23. 26-Blake Egeland[20]; 24. O-Nick Omdahl[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Zach Daum’s Veteran Skill, Mind Propels Trifecta Motorsports Forward

Mechanical, incidental woes won’t slow experienced Illinois racer in fight for wins

CONCORD, NC (Aug. 22, 2024) – In a sea of teenage and 20-something phenoms of the national Midget ranks, Zach Daum remains the lone veteran presence on the roster of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Armed with years of experience behind the wheel of several open-wheel rides, the 32-year-old from Pocahontas, IL, has learned a lot from racing alongside the heroes of the non-winged world. Clauson, Darland, Hines, East, Kuhn – Daum could go on all day listing the names he learned invaluable techniques from, and still applies to his game today.

He’s fielded cars with his own support for most of his Midget career before becoming a hired gun in the 2020s, winning the inaugural Xtreme Midget championship in 2022 with Bundy Built Motorsports and later making the move to his current home at Trifecta Motorsports in June 2023.

Team co-owners Steve Carbone and Staton Flurry are in their seventh year of partnership and second full season chasing a national Midget series championship. The two have fielded Midgets at the Chili Bowl Nationals every year since 2018, and since linking with Daum last summer, they’ve been pleased with Daum’s veteran skills and the care he takes with the cars.

To Daum, it’s an essential attribute for modern Midget racers.

“I kinda pride myself on not tearing up a lot of stuff,” Daum said. “Carbone yells at me all the time because I never go through a front bumper or right-side nerf bar or anything like that. You can race without making contact.

“I know that when you’re racing, you’re gonna make contact with people. But these aren’t bumper cars. We don’t need to be hitting people.”

Racing hard, yet clean, has afforded Daum several opportunities over his career, most recently the opportunity to drive the Trifecta team and be part of the successful stretch they experienced in the 2023 season. In the last two thirds of the schedule, the pairing came nearly all the way back from over 200 points down in the Xtreme Outlaw Series championship standings, won five races and clinched the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge miniseries championship.

Daum’s no-quit attitude and on-track intensity is why Carbone keeps him in the seat, even in the roughest of times.

“We’re extremely serious about what we’re doing, and Zach is a perfect example,” Carbone said. “You will see him have some flare-ups on the racetrack, especially with his famous one-finger salute, and that is his passion coming out. If you’ve met him or talked to him, he’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. If you jeopardize his racecraft or put a sour note on Midget racers, he just flips a switch.

“It’s a guy you’ll never meet anywhere else.”

While the Oklahoma-based team was looking forward to replicating the numbers they produced in 2023, the 2024 season has fallen short of their championship expectations. They began the year strong with back-to-back podiums in Du Quoin, however, mechanical issues and on-track incidents hindered their progress through the first half of the season, leaving them 500 points behind the championship points leader in fifth place.

“Highs and lows, I guess; it hasn’t been as good of a year as it was last year,” Daum said. “Last year, we won a couple USAC races and five Xtreme races. This year, we’ve won one Xtreme race, so obviously not been as good of a year. But you’ll have those years – the peaks and valleys of racing. You ride the wave as long as you can when they’re going up and you try to find the next one when you’re down to get back up.”

Despite the struggles, the team had a career-best trip out to North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway in May, where they ran runner-up to Karter Sarff in the first race of the two-day event before scoring their lone Feature win of the season in the finale Wednesday night. All of this, only one year after Daum finished 15th on the opening night before taking a hard crash in a Last Chance event the next night.

“There was a few races on my schedule that I was like, ‘OK, we can win here, we can win here, we’re good at these places,’” Daum said. “We were all dreading going to Millbridge, and that’s the only highlight of our year so far.

“That was our worst racetrack last year and it’s our best racetrack this year. It’s funny how things like that work.”

While they work to get back to Victory Lane again before the end of the season, each of the five remaining races on the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series schedule are in Daum’s home state of Illinois, including one of his home tracks – Highland Speedway.

“It’d be cool to at least win one or a couple of them,” Daum said. “We’re finally getting back to being better. I’ve complained about the racecar every night we’ve raced and not being comfortable and not being the same as what we were last year. I feel like we’re finally getting back to feeling pretty good again.”

Daum and Trifecta Motorsports get back into action with the Xtreme Outlaw Series at Southern Illinois Raceway on Friday, Sept. 13. Advance sale tickets are available now.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RACEWAY TICKETS

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

A NEW LENS: Bill Rose Learning Even More from Crew Chief Role

The Series veteran is taking the opportunity to give young drivers a chance on the sport’s biggest stage

GRAND FORKS, ND (August 22, 2024) - Bill Rose wants to be behind the wheel of a Sprint Car.

It’s what he loves. It’s what he knows. It’s what he’s done for nearly his entire life.

Unfortunately for Rose, injuries have intervened over his last two seasons on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour. Broken ribs last fall and a fractured sternum in May of this year have forced the Plainfield, IN native to the sidelines.

But the time out of the seat hasn’t been entirely negative for Rose. It’s given him the opportunity to work solely on the other side of the street as a crew chief and give aspiring drivers a chance on the sport’s biggest stage.

He’s kept his No. 6 machine on tour with a variety of competitors being tabbed to fill in. While veterans such as Tim Kaeding and Brian Paulus have been part of the rotation, Rose has prioritized putting younger talent in the seat. Kody Hartlaub (East Berlin, PA), Kelby Watt (Adel, IA), Robbie Price (Cobble Hill, BC, Canada) and most recently Max Guilford (Auckland, New Zealand) have all joined The Greatest Show on Dirt to keep Rose’s car on track.

The last couple seasons haven’t been Rose’s first rodeo of a promising racer jumping in the No. 6. In 2013, a 21-year-old named David Gravel got the call from Rose and even won a World of Outlaws race at I-94 emr Speedway. The stint helped Gravel gain recognition on his path to becoming currently the eighth winningest driver in Series history with 101 victories.

“I like working with the younger guys,” Rose said. “As long as they’re willing to learn because some of these guys do have some talent. I mean, they really do. Actually, all three of the younger guys I’ve put in the car, they got talent. And they’re just like me when I was starting, I’ve always had to work on my own stuff and do everything myself. And maybe if these guys get a little bit of a break getting into something, it could grow into something big. I mean, Gravel got in my car. Of course, he’s got big talent as we all know. But these other kids, they could have that opportunity, too.”

The veteran does have one main requirement beyond flashes of talent to drive for him. Rose wants his drivers to know their way around the car, not to simply show up and race.

“I think it means a lot,” Rose said of his drivers understanding the mechanical side. “As a driver, I think if you know more about the race car, you’re going to learn more about driving them, too. If you understand how the car works, it’s easier to tell someone that’s working on your car that it’s this in the corner and this here. Some of these young kids have no clue. They just drive the wheels off of it.”

Being forced out of the seat due to injury is the last thing Rose wants, but he expects his current role to be beneficial when he returns to the seat. Even when he’s the driver, he calls the shots on the car. Serving as only a crew chief has allowed him to watch the car more and even discover issues that he’s been able to solve.

“I’m always trying to drive it, wrench it, and do it all by myself,” Rose said. “Now that I’ve gotten to watch the car and what the car is doing, the setups I’m doing are totally different than what I was doing when I was driving the car. The car was just way, way too tight for me, and I didn’t even realize it. When Kelby got in the car, it was so tight it was unbelievable. So, I started freeing the car up, and of course he got faster and faster as everybody saw.”

The short-term plan is for Guilford to continue to drive for Rose through at least the California stretch that wraps up with the $83,000-to-win Dennis Roth Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA). Guilford’s drive and attitude impressed Rose last weekend at Jackson Motorplex.

But don’t be mistaken, Rose fully plans to be ripping a Sprint Car again. The recovery goes on for his broken sternum, but he has no plans of retiring from driving just yet, especially with a milestone year awaiting him.

“As soon as I can get healed up and get back in the car I will,” Rose said. “If it’s this year, fine. If it’s February, great… I know I’m racing next year. I just don’t know what the caliber of it is going to be. I know 100 percent, one way or the other, I will be racing next year because next year is 50 years of driving race cars for me. I’ve got to race next year. I started racing go-karts when I was 10 years old.”

Looking a little further down the road, Rose knows father time is undefeated and will eventually lead to him exiting the car for good. But whenever that time does come, he has no intentions of leaving the sport. The passion burns as bright as ever for the 59-year-old, and the last two years of operating as a crew chief may be a preview of Rose’s future.

“I can’t get away from this crap,” Rose said with a laugh. “I love it too much.”

Rose plans to have Guilford behind the wheel this weekend as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) on Aug. 23 and Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND) on Aug. 24. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

1 MONTH ALERT: Two-Day Dennis Roth Classic at Tulare Presents $83,000 Payday For World of Outlaws in September

TULARE, CA (Aug. 21, 2024) – One the most iconic figures in Sprint Car racing will be honored in September with a two-day marquee World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event.

Thunderbowl Raceway will host the Dennis Roth Classic, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21, which will conclude the World of Outlaws’ Cali Outlaw Valley Swing with a $83,000 payday to Saturday’s victor.

While this will be the third Dennis Roth Classic – first two with the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) – it’ll be the first sanctioned by the World of Outlaws. It’ll also mark the World of Outlaws’ first time back at the fan-favorite California dirt track since 2022.

Rico Abreu and Justin Cox won the first two editions of the event.

Kyle Larson and Giovanni Scelzi are the last two World of Outlaws winners at Thunderbowl. Of active full-time Series drivers, 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz has the most Series wins at the track with three; his last came in 2017.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, of Penngrove, CA, will carry the flag for Roth Motorsports at the event, piloting Roth’s famed No. 83 Sprint Car. He has two Trophy Cup preliminary night victories at the track.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21
Location – Tulare, CA
Track Record – 12.582 seconds set by Brad Sweet on March 13, 2015

Times (PT) –
Gates Open: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps: 5 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at track.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (March 12, 2022) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlB5MbSebMs

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Thunderbowl –
2022 –Giovanni Scelzi on March 11, Kyle Larson on March 12
2019 – Ian Madsen on March 9
2018 – Aaron Reutzel on March 9
2017 – David Gravel on March 17, Donny Schatz on March 18
2016 – David Gravel on March 12
2015 – Tim Kaeding on March 13, Rico Abreu on March 14
2014 – Daryn Pittman on March 14, Rico Abreu on March 15
2013 – Tim Kaeding on March 15, Craig Dollansky on March 16
2012 – Tim Kaeding on March 16
2011 – Joey Saldana on March 19
2010 – Jason Meyers on March 5, Joey Saldana on March 6
2009 – Randy Hannagan on March 20, Joey Saldana on March 21
2008 – Jac Haudenschild on Oct. 18
2007 – Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, Tim Kaeding on Feb. 24, Donny Schatz on Oct. 13
2005 – Tim Shaffer on Feb. 25, Donny Schatz on Oct. 14, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 – Erin Crocker on Oct. 29, Terry McCarl on Oct. 30
2003 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 2

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: North Dakota Welcomes World of Outlaws for Final Time This Year

River Cities and Red River Valley close out 2024 North Dakota slate

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign rolls on into North Dakota this weekend.

The late summer stretch continues with the final visits to the “Peace Garden State” for the year. First up is a Friday, Aug. 23, trip to Grand Forks, ND’s River Cities Speedway. The quarter mile bullring always produces some of the most thrilling action of the season with its high banks and tight confines. Out of the more than 400 tracks he’s visited, longtime Series announcer Johnny Gibson ranks it as his favorite.

Then, it’s an hour south down I-29 to West Fargo, ND where Red River Valley Speedway awaits. The 3/8 mile is set to host The Greatest Show on Dirt for the 69th time on Saturday, Aug. 24, which will equal it with Eagle Raceway for the eighth most visited track in Series history.

BUY RIVER CITIES TICKETS HERE
BUY RED RIVER VALLEY TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

HOME SWEET HOME: The final weekend in North Dakota this season means the final chance for Donny Schatz to race in front of home state fans – something the 10-time Series champion has always excelled at doing.

Schatz’s River Cities numbers are staggering. He’s competed in all 32 World of Outlaws races contested at the bullring and made a dozen trips to Victory Lane – a 36% winning clip. Twenty-three of those 32 starts have resulted in podiums. Only three times has he missed the top five, and he’s never missed the top 10 with a worst result of eighth. His average finish is 2.7.

Over at Red River Valley, the track closest to his current home, Schatz hasn’t been quite as strong as he is at River Cities but still boasts a solid résumé. The driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 has made 46 Series appearances at Red River Valley and won six times. It’s where he made his World of Outlaws debut back in 1993.

Schatz could use a strong weekend on home turf as he looks to catch David Gravel in the battle for the championship. Gravel is currently 106 points ahead.

SHARK SWEEP: Last year, the August trip to North Dakota proved to be a fruitful one for Logan Schuchart.

He and the Shark Racing team swept the River Cities and Red River Valley weekend. The Hanover, PA native pulled off a late pass to steal the win. Then, the next night, he dominated by leading all 30 laps for his first Red River Valley checkered flag.

This year, Schuchart rolls into the “Peace Garden State” locked in a tight battle for a top five in the standings. He’s 40 markers behind Michael “Buddy” Kofoid who currently holds down the fifth spot, but he’s got Sheldon Haudenschild just 10 behind him. The stats stay Schuchart could piece together a productive weekend toward that effort.

GRAND FORKS GLORY: Schatz and Schuchart aren’t the only full-timers among the current crop of World of Outlaws competitors to enjoy success at River Cities. In fact, half of the roster has topped a Series race at the 1/4-mile dirt track.

Current point leader David Gravel owns a pair of River Cities trophies. Back in 2017 he took the CJB Motorsports No. 5 to a win and then added a second last year with Big Game Motorsports.

Two years ago, Carson Macedo took home his sole River Cities victory to date. It came aboard his current ride, the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.

In 2012, Kraig Kinser made an impressive drive at River Cities to collect one of his 17 career wins. The Bloomington, IN native rolled from 10th to Victory Lane.

The latest to add his name to the list is Fresno, CA’s Giovanni Scelzi. The 22-year-old outdueled Sheldon Haudenschild and crossed the finish line first in the KCP Racing No. 18.

A MATTER OF TIME: Friday’s visit to River Cities looks like the perfect opportunity for Sheldon Haudenschild to break through into Victory Lane.

After topping seven of the first 27 World of Outlaws races this season, Haudenschild and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew are now on a 19-race winless streak. This past weekend at Jackson, the hunger to win again intensified even more as he finished second both nights, his sixth and seventh podium efforts since his last victory.

Coincidentally, Haudenschild’s last two visits to River Cities have led to runner-up results. He’s come so close to a River Cities triumph with laps led in six different Features and three total second place finishes in his career at the North Dakota bullring. It’s a track where he’s undoubtedly ready to find a way to win.

BULLRING BREAKTHROUGH: Another driver that can be expected to be in contention at Friday’s River Cities tilt is Brock Zearfoss.

The “Jonestown Jet” might’ve developed his skills on the big tracks of Pennsylvania, but the bullring of River Cities has suited him well on the World of Outlaws tour. He’s raced there six times and come away with five top 10s. The last two visits have seen him drive from 22nd to 10th and 21st to ninth.

Zearfoss will head to River Cities already carrying some momentum. Since the break for Fourth of July weekend, he’s earned four top 10s in 11 Feature starts including a ninth in this past weekend’s Jackson Nationals finale.

NORTH DAKOTA KNOWLEDGE: North Dakota always offers up a solid collection of local talent ready to face off with the country’s best when the World of Outlaws come to town.

Mark Dobmeier headlines the North Dakota contingent. The Grand Forks, ND driver has been dominant at his home track to the tune of more than 100 career River Cities wins including six this year. He’s yet to beat the World of Outlaws there but has come close with a pair of podiums. Over at Red River Valley, Dobmeier is a former Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) winner.

Fellow Grand Forks native and reigning NOSA champion, Jade Hastings, is another local to keep an eye on. He’s already topped four River Cities races this year. Hastings picked up a World of Outlaws top 10 at the 1/4-mile track in 2018.

The only person not named Dobmeier or Hastings to claim a River Cities NOSA race this season is Nick Omdahl. He’s from East Grand Forks, MN and frequently makes the trip across the Red River when the World of Outlaws visit. He also owns a pair of NOSA runner-ups at Red River Valley.

This trio is likely to be joined by additional local competitors including Brendan Mullen (Grand Forks, ND), Jack Croaker (East Grand Forks, MN), Adam Sobolik (Grand Forks, ND), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, August 23 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Saturday, August 24 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (46/70 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (6364 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-106 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-142 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-232 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-300 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-340 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-350 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-812 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1052 PTS)
10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1316 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Wins – Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):

317 Laps – David Gravel
257 Laps – Carson Macedo
178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
132 Laps – Donny Schatz
97 Laps – Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
49 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):

9 Quick Times – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl

HEAT RACE WINNERS (48 Drivers):

26 Heat Wins – David Gravel
23 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
21 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
12 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
4 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
3 Heat Wins – Daryn Pittman
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Chase Randall, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (59 Drivers):

35 Dashes – David Gravel
33 Dashes – Carson Macedo
30 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
23 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
20 Dashes – Donny Schatz
16 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
11 Dashes – Bill Balog
10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage, Dusty Zomer

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (37 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson,
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, Cole Macedo, 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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (29 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Garet Williamson, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Tim Kaeding

PODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):

27 Podiums – David Gravel
20 Podiums – Carson Macedo
16 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
2 Podiums – Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom, T.J. Stutts

TOP 10 FINISHES (71 Drivers):

41 Top 10s – David Gravel
40 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
39 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
36 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
35 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
32 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Top 10s – Bill Balog
12 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day
5 Top 10s – Brian Brown
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, Ryan Timms
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki
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, Tim Kaeding, 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, Kerry Madsen

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, August 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, August 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, August 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
45. Fri, August 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4)
46. Sat, August 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

SCHATZ SURVIVES: Donny Schatz Holds On for Second Jackson Nationals Title

The 10-time Series champ narrowly beats Sheldon Haudenschild to the line at Jackson for $25,000

JACKSON, MN (August, 17, 2024) - When the white flag flew on Saturday night the 46th FENDT Jackson Nationals looked to already be decided.

Donny Schatz had led from the drop of the green in the 35-lapper. The 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion worked through traffic masterfully, did what he needed to do on a restart, and held a comfortable advantage when the final lap began.

But Sheldon Haudenschild can never be counted out.

The Wooster, OH native was more than a second behind Schatz as the white flag was displayed. He put the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 right where he’s most comfortable – against the cushion – and let it rip. As they exited Turn 2 the gap visibly shrank. And then in the final set of corners Haudenschild went full send around the top and closed in, but Schatz narrowly held him off for $25,000 in a finish that brought the Jackson Motorplex crowd to their feet.

“I guess you’ve got to look at stats and look back at things, and I think we’ve taken these two-day shows, almost every one of them on the first night we’ve kind of tried something to get where we're at," Schatz explained of his speed on Saturday night. “Then when Scuba (Steve Swenson), Todd (Devnich), and Dauson (Heitritter) come back the second day it’s game on. Tonight was another one of those nights. We took what we learned from the first night for the second night. Obviously, we had help with that pill draw.

“Man, on the racetrack you could go everywhere. We could run the bottom and the top. I ran the middle there at the end. I kind of knew I needed to keep my tires underneath me. I was kind of hanging off of (Turn) 4. I don’t know what was going on up there, but that’s my own fault. I asked to get really tight, and sometimes you pay the price when you get over that crown that way.”

Schatz’s win gave him his second Jackson Nationals title to go along with his 2018 triumph. The Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian driver now owns four Series victories at Jackson, putting him in a four-way tie with Logan Schuchart, Brad Sweet, and Carson Macedo for the most wins at the Minnesota oval with The Greatest Show on Dirt. His fourth of 2024 is the 315th of his legendary career.

Schatz led the field to green after coming out on top of the Toyota Racing King of the Hill. Second-starting David Gravel attempted to give him an opening lap challenge. Schatz committed to the bottom on the first circuit while Gravel rolled about a lane higher in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. Exiting Turn 4 on the first lap Gravel nearly got his left front alongside Schatz but couldn’t quite get there. Schatz began to extend the advantage on Lap 2.

Disaster nearly struck Schatz with 24 laps remaining as he worked through traffic. Landon Crawley and Kelby Watt got together right in front of him and spun. Schatz quickly reacted by driving between the two, narrowly avoiding disaster.

When the green flag brought the action back to life Gravel looked to Schatz’s outside, but just like the race’s initial start he couldn’t find the momentum necessary.

Haudenschild momentarily slipped back to fourth as Aaron Reutzel rolled by, but Haudenschild rallied to drive back around him. Haudenschild then got to work on tracking down Gravel. Haudenschild’s first move for second was countered as Gravel crossed him over. But on Lap 28 Haudenschild ripped the cushion to secure the runner-up spot.

Three lapped cars stood between Schatz and Haudenschild once he snagged the second spot. Victory appeared entirely out of reach until the 30-year-old got clear of traffic. The margin fell bit by bit as Haudenschild prepared for one final swing on the last lap. He gave it everything he had but couldn’t quite make the pass.

The veteran felt especially grateful to hold off Haudenschild’s charge.

“All I can say is if you’re a fan, it’s a good time to be alive,” Schatz said. “These kids, I criticize them a lot there’s no question. But it makes me damn proud to race with guys like Sheldon and Carson (Macedo) and seeing what’s happening because not only are they awesome, but they make the old guys like me even better. And that’s what this is all about. Happy to steal one from them tonight, that’s for sure.”

The runner-up run for Haudenschild’s was his second consecutive second place finish. He and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew are building some momentum with their fourth podium run in the last five points races.

“I think just rolling around there in third and fourth and being able to search especially with a really good race car. That’s the only way you’re able to do that,” Haudenschild said of his late surge. “Hats off to Donny. It’s fun racing Donny. He’s the best at it. I’m just happy with our speed this weekend and looking forward to the next.”

Rounding out the top three was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. The Watertown, CT native bagged his second straight third place finish at Jackson. If the initial start of the race could’ve gone a little differently for the point leader, it might’ve changed the entire race’s trajectory.

“The top of (Turns) 1 and 2 was pretty good early on, but the top of (Turns) 3 and 4 wasn’t. I felt like I was right there on his (Schatz’s) right rear, but I just wasn’t able to get around him. I feel like that would’ve changed our race a lot there. Donny was good through lapped traffic. I just feel like in the middle of that race I kind of struggled to find a place in (Turns) 1 and 2 where I felt good.”

Aaron Reutzel and Emerson Axsom completed the top five.

Tim Kaeding grabbed the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a drive from 24th to 15th.

Landon Crawley claimed his second career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, and Sheldon Haudenschild. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Aaron Reutzel.

Donny Schatz topped the Toyota Racing King of the Hill.

Landon Crawley won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Break of the Race went to Landon Crawley.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take on a North Dakota doubleheader at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) on Friday, August 23 and Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND) on Saturday, August 24. 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[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 2-David Gravel[2]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel[6]; 5. 27-Emerson Axsom[8]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[10]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 10. 5T-Ryan Timms[18]; 11. 10-Scott Bogucki[11]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[19]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 14. 55-Kerry Madsen[9]; 15. 3-Tim Kaeding[24]; 16. 23-Garet Williamson[17]; 17. 2KS-Kelby Watt[16]; 18. 70-Kraig Kinser[13]; 19. 3J-Dusty Zomer[22]; 20. 17GP-Justin Henderson[20]; 21. 16-Brooke Tatnell[14]; 22. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[23]; 23. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[15]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

MINNESOTA MASTERPIECE: Carson Macedo Leads Every Lap to Begin Jackson Nationals in Victory Lane

The Jason Johnson Racing driver equals the record for the most Jackson victories with his fourth

JACKSON, MN (August 16, 2024) - Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing continue to be nearly unstoppable at Jackson Motorplex.

Since teaming in 2021, Macedo and JJR have established themselves as the team to beat at the Minnesota oval. Heading into Friday’s FENDT Jackson Nationals race, Macedo hadn’t missed the top five in eight Jackson attempts behind the wheel of the No. 41. Two of those outings were wins, and another three were podiums.

All eyes were on them entering the evening, and they met the moment with ease.

Macedo started second in the 30-lapper and put on a clinic. He drove away from the field in the early portion of the race and sliced through traffic. A late restart served up a potential challenge from Sheldon Haudenschild, but Macedo stayed composed and moved by a couple lapped cars in the closing laps to punctuate a statement victory.

“Man, what a great job by this Albaugh, JJR 41 team,” Macedo said. “It was a great night overall. I feel like we were good in Qualifying and the Heat Race. The Dash I just didn’t really know that the top was that good. But I was able to get a really good start in the Feature and get back by Logan (Schuchart) and kind of take command of the race. Hats off to Philip Dietz. He did a great job. Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn both did a great job working hard.”

The fourth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car win of 2024 for Macedo is the 39th of his career. With his fourth overall Jackson checkered flag, it now stands alone as the track where he’s won most often with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It also equaled him with Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet for the most victories at the facility.

It was Schuchart leading the field to green with Macedo alongside. The Lemoore, CA native used a strong start on the top to rocket around Schuchart in the first set of corners to lead the opening lap.

The first few laps saw Macedo waste no time in building his advantage over the Shark Racing No. 1S. The gap grew north of a second in only two laps as Macedo rolled around the 4/10 mile oval.

Macedo went unchallenged throughout the race’s opening half as he masterfully negotiated traffic. Schuchart and third-running Garet Williamson closed in a couple times but never could get close enough to make a move.

Just beyond the halfway point David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild worked around Williamson to claim the third and fourth positions.

The yellow lights flashed for the first and only time in the Feature with 10 laps remaining setting up a quick dash to the finish.

On the restart Macedo pulled ahead while Gravel peeked to Schuchart’s inside. The Hanover, PA native closed the door which left the top lane wide open for the fourth-running Haudenschild. He quickly ripped the cushion and cleared both Gravel and Schuchart by the time they reached the back straightaway.

Unlike early in the race, Macedo couldn’t manage to distance himself from the runner-up after Haudenschild had taken the spot. The NOS Energy Drink No. 17 stalked Macedo as the laps wound down. Traffic became a factor with only five laps remaining, and the gap shrank even more.

But right when it looked like a final lap thriller might be brewing, Haudenschild tripped up in Turns 3 and 4 right as Macedo managed to put another lapper between himself and Haudenschild. That proved to be the winning move as Macedo drove away to a comfortable victory.

“I could feel that my pace was slowing down when we got to traffic,” Macedo explained. “A lot of guys were running the same lane as we are. I got held up big time once off of (Turn) 4 by a lapper. He kind of got sideways, and I knew I was in trouble. Then I fired it off into (Turn) 1 and cleared him. Then I took the white and got around that last lap well.”

Haudenschild brought the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing machine home second to record his best career Jackson finish. The Wooster, OH native was happy with the speed he had but left a little disappointed that he couldn’t make a move to get by Macedo in traffic.

“I just had a lane open and went around them,” Haudenschild said of the restart that got him to second. “I felt like I was pacing the 41 really nice there. I just didn’t capitalize in traffic. He did a good job. I think he got by two of them in (Turns) 3 and 4. Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Steve (Kinzer Dussel), and Luke (Vaughn). They’re working hard here to get this NOS Energy Drink 17 another win. We want to get to that double-digit win mark pretty bad this year, so to come this close hurts a little bit, but we’ll take it and move on to tomorrow.”

The final step of the podium was occupied by David Gravel. He and the Big Game Motorsports crew continue to show unflinching consistency with their 26th top three of the year. If the late restart had unfolded a little differently, the point leader might’ve had a real shot at stealing the win.

“I thought we had a really good race car there,” Gravel said. “The track was slightly top dominant, but the lapped traffic really made it exciting. You could run the bottom groove there. On that restart Logan chose to go high, and I just stayed low like Macedo. And he (Schuchart) just kind of ran defensive down there and bottled us both up and Sheldon got around us. I would’ve loved to have the opportunity to run second there and then in lapped traffic I thought Sheldon had an opportunity to win the race. But man, those lapped cars were not getting off the top, and it was kind of hard to pass them sometimes. I’m really, really happy with the car.”

Aaron Reutzel and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

Emerson Axsom earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a run from 17th to 11th.

David Gravel claimed his ninth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 119th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Dusty Zomer, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Bill Balog. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Logan Schuchart topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kelby Watt won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take on the $25,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start FENDT Jackson Nationals finale at Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex on Saturday, August 17. 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[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel[6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 8. 55-Kerry Madsen[13]; 9. 3-Tim Kaeding[11]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[14]; 11. 27-Emerson Axsom[17]; 12. 10-Scott Bogucki[18]; 13. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[19]; 14. 5T-Ryan Timms[20]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 16. 17GP-Justin Henderson[10]; 17. 3J-Dusty Zomer[8]; 18. O9-Matt Juhl[15]; 19. 24T-Christopher Thram[24]; 20. 7S-Landon Crawley[16]; 21. 2KS-Kelby Watt[21]; 22. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[22]; 23. 44-Chris Martin[23]; 24. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

TRUE PASSION: Bob Curtis’ Commitment to Sprint Car Racing Has Led to Long Career With Top Teams

The KCP Racing car chief has spent more than two decades in the sport and worked alongside some of the brightest mechanical minds

JACKSON, MN (August 15, 2024) - Sprint Car racing is a passion. Working in it is a commitment.

It’s more than unloading at the track, racing, and heading to the next destination. It’s early mornings at the shop or in hotel parking lots throughout the week. It’s late nights at the car wash. It’s afternoon maintenance under a relentless, hot sun in the summer.

KCP Racing’s Bob Curtis knows that lifestyle well. The car chief for the team that Giovanni Scelzi competes with full-time on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour has been involved in the sport for more than 20 years.

“I’ve always said that once you get your foot in the door and you’re willing to work and have a little work ethic, you’ll be in,” Curtis said. “If you get in and you don’t want to work and you want to be lazy, you’re not going to be in very long. But if you’re willing to put the time in and have a little bit of work ethic, once you get in the Sprint Car world, you’re in. It’s a hard, hard thing for teams to find people that want to do this, that realize how much time and effort it takes. When you break it down money-wise for time and money, it’s not that great. It’s definitely a passion.”

His passion has led him to work with some of the most notorious Sprint Car teams in the sport. He worked with Jason Meyers and Elite Racing; Rudeen Racing brought him aboard when they ran with the World of Outlaws; he tried his hand in USAC with Kasey Kahne Racing; a reunion with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing led him to a 2011 Knoxville Nationals win; and he helped Larson-Marks Racing in its early years.

Curtis, a Warrensburg, MO native, first gained an interest in racing during childhood when his father spent some years competing in Micros. He first attended a World of Outlaws race in his teenage years at Odessa, MO’s I-70 Motorsports Park, but when his first experience working on race cars came in the Late Model and Modified worlds.

The fire to make a living in racing grew for there, and Curtis decided Sprint Cars were the direction he wanted to go. He was in his 20s and had a good job but gave it up to go racing when the opportunity to work for Brian Paulus arose near the end of 2000.

“Transitioning, I was committed,” Curtis said. “I knew going in I wasn’t going to make as much money, but it wasn’t about the money. I wanted to work on race cars. That’s what I did. I lived for it on the weekends. I wanted to work on race cars.”

After ending the year with Paulus, Curtis got the opportunity for the first part of 2001 to work with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team as they joined the World of Outlaws trail with Danny Lasoski behind the wheel. That stint allowed Curtis to learn from legendary crew chief Jimmy Carr.

But later in the season when he moved over to Daryn Pittman’s team it signaled the start of the most impactful stretch of his journey. It led to more responsibility and as a result, more knowledge.

“It was the best two years of Sprint Car Racing for me. I learned in a hurry because I didn’t have a choice,” Curtis said. “The two years with Daryn I learned so much. I had to. There was literally a stretch where it was just me and Daryn on the road. Joe (Gaerte) would fly out on the weekends, and I kind of had to learn everything. Motor stuff. Stuff on the car.”

From there, he had a successful stretch, working for some of the best teams in the sport, but eventually got to a point where he considered stepping away. Then came the opportunity to join Matt Barbara and Bret Nehring’s KCP Racing as their car chief this year.

“I thought I wanted to be done,” Curtis admitted. “I was just kind of sitting around not sure what I wanted to do and saw where these guys (KCP) were kind of looking, and I thought, ‘Well, I don’t need to be a crew chief. I don’t have to be a crew chief there. It would be a lot less stress, a lot less pressure.’ So, I reached out to them and one thing led to another.

“They’ve got a good package. Obviously, there was a lot of learning curves for them last year. But they went through the goods and the bads and stuck with each other. And then rolling into their second year (with the World of Outlaws), everything has been rolling pretty smooth.”

Curtis’ presence has been a welcome addition to the team. His years of experience have not only made him entirely reliable, but also helpful in other elements of being on the road with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“I think anytime you can get someone with experience, whether it’s knowledge of the race car, someone you trust tightening bolts and making a nice race car that’s serviced right and someone that knows their way around the country, whether it’s roads to take, getting in and out of a racetrack, hotels to stay at, someone with that knowledge that isn’t completely green helps a race team,” Scelzi said. “To have someone you trust fully and someone that really wants to win races and has been in the position of winning races definitely helps.”

Scelzi and the KCP team sit fourth in points with 44 races in the books. They’ve already bagged a trio of victories in 2024 and are fresh off a runner-up in the 63rd running of the Knoxville Nationals. The best season of Scelzi’s career looks to be shaping up, and it’ll be yet another successful season in Curtis’ long career powered by an unwavering love for the sport.

“It’s a passion,” Curtis said of what keeps him going. “You either love it or you hate it. There’s no in-between. The demand that you have. The hours on the road, hours in the shop, hours in the parking lots at the motels and wherever you can find a place to work. If you don’t love it, you’re not going to make it. It’s a true passion.”

Scelzi and the KCP crew continue their World of Outlaws campaign this weekend (Aug. 16-17) at Jackson Motorplex’s 46th Fendt Jackson Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

1 MONTH ALERT: California Swing Brings World of Outlaws Back to Bakersfield, Merced in Mid-September

BAKERSFIELD, CA (Aug. 13, 2024) – The halfway point of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ California Swing will bring the Series back to two West Coast tracks for the first time in two years.

The weekend will kick off at Bakersfield Speedway for the “Nashville West” Showdown on Friday, Sept. 13, and then venture to Merced Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Both events have produced a variety of winners with six straight different Series winners at Bakersfield and three straight different winners at Merced. California natives conquered the two tracks during the World of Outlaws’ last trip to both in 2022. Giovanni Scelzi, of Fresno, CA, won at Bakersfield and Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, CA, won at Merced. Scelzi also set the track record that day with a 10.057 second lap around the 1/4-mile track.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, of Penngrove, CA, will try to join his fellow Outlaw Californians as a winner at the two tracks. Of his four Series victories, one has come at California, so far – Placerville Speedway in 2023.

Currently, no driver has a World of Outlaws win at both dirt tracks.

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

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday, Sept. 13
Location – Bakersfield, CA
Track Record – 10.342 by Jason Sides on 3/18/06

Times (PT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (March 25, 2022) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcj7H5W9eBE&t=223s

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Bakersfield –
2022 –Giovanni Scelzi on March 25
2018 - Sheldon Haudenschild on March 24
2016 - Brad Sweet on April 15
2005 - Craig Dollansky on February 26
1995 - Dave Blaney on September 10
1992 - Steve Kinser on February 29
1991 - Steve Kinser on March 2, September 22
1990 - Dave Blaney on February 16, Doug Wolfgang on September 2
1989 - Bobby Davis Jr. on September 3

EVENT INFO
Date – Saturday, Sept. 14
Location – Merced, CA
Track Record – 10.057 sec. set by Gio Scelzi on March 18, 2022

Times (PT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (March 18, 2022) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIoYbIm5cEA

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Merced –
2022 - Carson Macedo on March 18
2014 – David Gravel on March 28
2013 – Sammy Swindell on March 29
2012 – Sammy Swindell on March 30
2011 – Sammy Swindell on April 1

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 46th Jackson Nationals Brings World of Outlaws to Minnesota

The two-night event puts more than $100,000 in purse money up for grabs on Saturday

JACKSON, MN (August 13, 2024) - The “Summer of Money” rolls on for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars with Minnesota the next destination.

The Greatest Show on Dirt trucks to Jackson Motorplex this weekend (Aug. 16-17) for the 46th running of the FENDT Jackson Nationals. The final night offers up a purse exceeding $100,000 with $25,000-to-win and $2,000-to-start the NOS Energy Drink Feature.

Friday’s show will feature a standard World of Outlaws format, but Saturday will showcase a slight twist. The drivers that lock into the Toyota Dash will instead partake in a King of the Hill. They’ll draw for seeding, and the lowest seed will take on the second lowest seed in a race against the clock with the fastest time advancing to face the next seed. The winner of the last round will sit on the pole of the $25,000-to-win finale.

The event has more than four decades of history. Marv DeWall won the first in 1979, and the list of champions features many of the best to ever wheel a Sprint Car. This weekend will attract a hungry roster of competitors ready to add their names.

BUY TWO-DAY JACKSON NATIONALS TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY JACKSON NATIONALS TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY JACKSON NATIONALS TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT RESUMES: Last week at the Knoxville Nationals points weren’t a concern, but the battle for the 2024 World of Outlaws title resumes at Jackson.

David Gravel still sits atop the standings as he has for the last several weeks. While a 12th-place run at the Knoxville Nationals wasn’t what he and Big Game Motorsports were hoping for, Gravel still hasn’t missed the top 10 in a standard points race since May 25 at Atomic.

Donny Schatz is still within striking distance but has some work to do with a 98-point gap between himself and Gravel. Consistency has carried the 10-time Series champion to a chance at his 11th this year. The Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 hasn’t finished worse than 11th in a standard points night in 2024.

Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team currently reside 42 markers behind Schatz. The Lemoore, CA driver has only missed the top five four times in the last 15 races, but he’ll have to limit the bad nights to climb back into the battle with Gravel.

Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing (204 points behind Gravel) and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports (252 points behind Gravel) round out the top five.

THREE-PEAT: There’s been one man to beat over the last two years when the big money is on the line at Jackson, and his name is Carson Macedo.

Two years ago, Macedo drove from eighth to the front and led the final 19 laps for his first Jackson Nationals title. Then, in 2023 the Lemoore, CA native slipped by James McFadden with 10 laps to go and survived a wild duel with Brad Sweet in the closing laps for another $25,000 payday.

History is on the line this weekend for Macedo as no driver has ever topped three in a row through 45 events. The stats suggest he has a strong chance with the Jason Johnson Racing team. Since joining forces with JJR in 2021, Macedo hasn’t missed the Jackson top five in eight tries and owns a 2.9 average finish over that stretch.

In addition to chasing three Jackson Nationals championships in a row, if Macedo can win either night he’ll equal Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet for the most overall Jackson victories with the World of Outlaws with his fourth.

RETURN TO FORM?: Only a few years ago Logan Schuchart was nearly unbeatable at Jackson, and he’ll see if he can return to that form this weekend.

Schuchart put together a dominant stretch from 2020 to 2022 when he won four of six races at Jackson including the 2020 and 2021 Nationals. The two races he didn’t win resulted in finishes of second and third leading to a 1.5 average finish over the six races.

Since that magical run, the Shark Racing pilot has experienced some struggles at the Minnesota dirt track. In his last four starts he’s posted finishes of 11th (twice), a 21st, and a sixth. If he can find his way to Victory Lane again either night this weekend, he’ll take sole possession of the most Series wins at Jackson.

THE BOSS’ HOUSE: It’s an important weekend for David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew. Team owner Tod Quiring is also the owner of Jackson Motorplex.

The current point leader has already won 13 World of Outlaws races this year, but he’ll be in search of his first ever visit to Jackson Victory Lane. He’s yet to break through in his 24 attempts.

Gravel has been close on many occasions to a Jackson win. He’s been on the podium five times including a trio with the Big Game team. Two of those podium efforts were runner-ups in 2019 and 2021.

JETTIN’ IN JACKSON: In addition to the roster of full-time World of Outlaws competitors, the Jackson Nationals is likely to attract a variety of other drivers who’ve experienced success at the facility.

Chase Randall and the TKS Motorsports team plan to make the trip to Jackson. The Waco, TX native rolls into the weekend as the most recent 410 Sprint Car winner at the oval, topping a 38-car field at the Midwest Sprint Touring Series (MSTS) race on July 26. The “Quickest Chicken” also won a Jackson 360 race in 2022.

If Kerry Madsen joins the field at Jackson, he’ll undoubtedly be one to watch. The “Mad Man” owns a trio of World of Outlaws victories there. He won with Big Game Motorsports in 2017 and then twice with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing in 2021. Now, he wheels the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55.

Scott Bogucki is a Jackson winner this year, claiming the season opener in the Liebig Motorsports No. 10. The Australian and the Liebig crew are fresh off an impressive eighth-place run in the Knoxville Nationals championship Feature.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, August 16-17 at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, MN

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (44/70 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (6076 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-98 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-130 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-204 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-252 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-326 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-354 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-784 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1016 PTS)
10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1232 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, Kyle Larson
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):

317 Laps – David Gravel
227 Laps – Carson Macedo
178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
97 Laps – Donny Schatz, Kyle Larson
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
49 Laps – Logan Schuchart
44 Laps – James McFadden
34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):

8 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
8 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt Juhl

HEAT RACE WINNERS (47 Drivers):

25 Heat Wins – David Gravel
22 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
19 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
12 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Donny Schatz
6 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Daryn Pittman
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Aaron Reutzel, Chase Randall, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (58 Drivers):

33 Dashes – David Gravel
32 Dashes – Carson Macedo
29 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
28 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
23 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
19 Dashes – Donny Schatz
14 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks
6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney
5 Dashes – Emerson Axsom, Corey Day
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson, Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden
2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (37 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Anthony Macri
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson, Landon Crawley,
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, 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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (27 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):

25 Podiums – David Gravel
19 Podiums – Carson Macedo
15 Podiums – Donny Schatz
14 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Podiums – Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
2 Podiums – Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom, T.J. Stutts

TOP 10 FINISHES (70 Drivers):

39 Top 10s – David Gravel
38 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi
35 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
33 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
30 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
19 Top 10s – Bill Balog
11 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri
6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day
5 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Brian Brown
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki
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, Tim Kaeding, 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

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, August 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
43. Sat, August 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2)
44. Sat, August 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)

For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

BACK-TO-BACK: Kyle Larson Leads All 50 Laps for Third Knoxville Nationals Title in Four Years

Larson becomes the seventh driver with at least three Knoxville Nationals Victories and Banks $190,000

KNOXVILLE, IA (August 10, 2024) - Kyle Larson continues to cement his place as one of the best to ever wheel a Sprint Car.

And he does so by defying all logic.

He doesn’t get to race a Sprint Car 80 times a year. Typically, his count ends up somewhere between 20 and 30. But it doesn’t seem to matter when he shows up to race against the best Sprint Car drivers in the country.

Larson’s latest conquest came on Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. A prelim win on Thursday helped the Elk Grove, CA native secure the pole for the 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. He rolled into Championship Saturday as the clear favorite, and he delivered.

“Yung Money” led all 50 laps around the historic half mile for the second consecutive year. He fended off challenges from multiple drivers – Daryn Pittman, Carson Macedo, and Giovanni Scelzi – to top his third Knoxville Nationals in the last four years aboard the Silva Motorsports No. 57 and bank $190,000.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than the Knoxville Nationals,” Larson said. “It feels great to lead back-to-back 50 lappers from start to finish because the best Sprint Car drivers in the world are lined up behind me. They don’t make it easy. It was a tricky race there. I know at times it maybe doesn’t look like it, but those lappers were just fast enough around the bottom. I felt like I was just slowing myself down. I was able to get clear of a couple of them and able to get rolling back near the bottom and the middle actually came in, so I felt like I strung together some good laps there at the end.”

Larson’s third win in “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All” puts him in a list alongside legendary names as those who’ve topped at least three – Steve Kinser (12), Donny Schatz (11), Doug Wolfgang (five), Kenny Weld (four), Danny Lasoski (four), and Mark Kinser (three). He also became the eighth different competitor to tame back-to-back Knoxville Nationals.

The triumph on the sport’s biggest stage also adds to what’s been a remarkable run from Larson and the Silva Motorsports crew that will go down in the history books. It began last Friday when Larson charged from 21st to victory at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. He backed that up the following night with a drive from 12th to his third Ironman 55 dumbbell. Then on Monday at Southern Iowa Speedway he stormed form 13th to Victory Lane. The Knoxville Nationals Thursday prelim saw him pick up the trophy from starting sixth. And now he adds the sport’s biggest race to the roll.

Five straight Sprint Car wins for Larson in the No. 57. For a team that performed below their standards earlier in the year, the celebration was even more rewarding.

“Hats off to Paul, Trevor, and Doug,” Larson said. “Everybody knows we’ve been really bad this year until the last couple weeks. They’ve been working extremely hard. It’s been a very disappointing year to our standards. For them to never give up and myself to never give up either is tough to do. Like I said, they work so hard. All of this goes to them for continuing to push and push and try to get better and better. All of these teams are racing 90 times a year. We’re only getting to race 25 to 30, so we have to work extra hard. It makes these wins feel extra great.”

A few different competitors offered up challenges to Larson throughout the 50 laps.

First it was second-starting Daryn Pittman taking a swing right off the bat. Larson opted for the bottom on the first lap, so Pittman moved the Kreitz Racing No. 69K to the top. The Owasso, OK native nearly pulled alongside Larson out of Turn 4, but he couldn’t keep the momentum up to make the move.

Larson then pulled ahead of Pittman, and the next to take a shot at the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion was Carson Macedo. He slipped by Pittman for second on Lap 16 and quickly began to close the gap. The Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 whittled what was over a two-second lead down under half a second in traffic right before the yellow flag for the fuel stop halted the action.

After the restart, another name looked to challenge Larson, and it was Giovanni Scelzi. “Hot Sauce” wheeled around Macedo for second on Lap 28. The distance between the No. 57 and the KCP Racing No. 18 dwindled as Scelzi worked the bottom smoothly.

But ultimately Larson proved to have too much speed as he drove off and constructed a big lead through traffic. By the time the checkered flag waved it had grown to nearly four seconds.

Three wins at the sport’s biggest race over four years. If the One and Only in 2020 during the pandemic had been the traditional event, he’d be up to four in five years since he also won then. Steve Kinser had his stretch of dominance. Donny Schatz had a turn. And Larson wants to put together a similar chapter in the history books. He’s off to a strong start.

“Any time you win a crown jewel it’s up there,” Larson said of the race’s significance. “To win back-to-back Knoxville Nationals, that puts it right up there as well. Donny Schatz had dominated this place for so long. I feel like we’re on our own little streak of dominance like he was. With 2020 not really counting, I feel like we could have four of these things.”

Giovanni Scelzi held off a charging Corey Day to secure the runner-up spot and an $85,000 payday for he and KCP Racing. The Fresno, CA native was filled with emotion as he posted his best finish in the Knoxville Nationals. He knew he had a chance to stand in Victory Lane but couldn’t quite find his way around Larson.

“I know I look upset, but I can’t be more proud of my guys,” a choked up Scelzi said. “Adam (Clark), to come from a beer delivery truck to a crew chief on a Sprint Car. I really wish Tim Mallicoat was here to see us run second. I want to win this race more than anything in my life. Man, thank you to Danny Lasoski, my mom and my dad, everyone on this race team. Damn, I want to win this race so bad. You’ve got to lose them before you can win them.”

Rounding out the top three and earning the KSE Racing Hard Charger was Corey Day in the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14. The 18-year-old rolled from 11th to third to claim his best finish in the sport’s biggest race and $45,000. The résumé continues to grow for the California phenom.

“I feel like we had a really good car there,” Day said. “A caution on that last run would’ve helped, I think. Just hats off to my guys. To run third and be beat by Kyle and Gio is awesome. You always want to win, but I’ve just got to give it up to them. We weren’t too great on Wednesday night in the Feature there, and then we got our car a lot better there.”

Carson Macedo and Anthony Macri completed the top five.

Brad Sweet won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their final Minnesota stop of 2024 at the Fendt Jackson Nationals at Jackson Motorplex (August 16-17) with a $25,000-to-win 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 (50 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 3. 14-Corey Day[11]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri[8]; 6. 21-Brian Brown[7]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 8. 10-Scott Bogucki[10]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[14]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen[16]; 11. 69K-Daryn Pittman[2]; 12. 2-David Gravel[19]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart[22]; 15. 21H-Brady Bacon[9]; 16. 13-Justin Peck[18]; 17. 83SR-James McFadden[20]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 19. 49-Brad Sweet[17]; 20. 27A-Emerson Axsom[24]; 21. 19-Brent Marks[12]; 22. 2KS-Chase Randall[15]; 23. 24R-Rico Abreu[6]; 24. 5X-Justin Henderson[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

NOT DONE YET: Donny Schatz Dominates Knoxville Nationals Hard Knox Night

The 11-time Nationals winner locks into his 26th consecutive Championship Feature

KNOXVILLE, IA (August 9, 2024) - Hope is alive for Donny Schatz at the 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.

Wednesday’s prelim night at Knoxville Raceway didn’t go according to plan for the 11-time Knoxville Nationals champion. He nearly missed the Heat Race invert with a 38th place Qualifying effort. And then in the Feature he could only move forward once spot from 19th to 18th. The night left Schatz well outside the lock-ins for Saturday’s 50-lap finale and forced him to Friday’s FVP Hard Knox Night.

And Hard Knox Night is just what Schatz needed. It’s all about a clean slate. It’s designed to give those with a forgettable prelim a chance to make up for it, and that’s exactly what Schatz did with the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team.

After setting Simpson Quick Time, Schatz had a little help in his Your Life Iowa Heat Race. He finished fourth, one spot outside a transfer to the Feature, but Jack Dover missing the scales and the resulting disqualification lifted Schatz into a transfer spot. With the main event lined up on Qualifying times, Schatz earned the pole. Logan Schuchart gave him a challenge in the first few laps, but Schatz went on to drive away and secure the checkered flag along with a starting spot in Saturday’s finale.

“You’ve got to get in the show first,” Schatz said. “I just think that’s something that’s getting harder and harder to do all the time. Obviously, I’m not getting any younger, but I’m not going anywhere either. I feel like experience sometimes kicks in, and we’ll see if we can’t put a little experience to the test tomorrow and get through there. We’ve done it before. We’re going to have to be a little bit better than we were right there. But I’ve got all the faith in the world in my guys that they’ll go to work and get us there.”

The victory put Schatz in his 26th consecutive Knoxville Nationals Championship Feature, equaling him with Danny Lasoski for the third most appearances. He’ll start 21st with his sights on a record tying 12th event title. Schatz started one other finale back in 2013. The result? He charged all the way to Victory Lane.

Schatz pulled out to an early advantage but narrowly led the first circuit over Logan Schuchart. On the second lap Schuchart snuck under Schatz in Turns 3 and 4 to take the top spot. Schatz refused to be rattled as he used a similar move in the same set of corners on Lap 3 to reclaim the lead.

“I needed to get off that bottom and wanted to go up there and try it,” Schatz explained. “I figured I better do it early in the race. So, when I did go to the top, I changed lanes and Logan went right by on the bottom. And then he went up there and I went back down, and I was like, ‘Well, we’re not going to do that again.”

“I felt comfortable on the top,” Schuchart said of their early battle. “When we switched lanes on me, I went to the bottom of (Turns) 3 and 4. I felt good, felt like I ran a really good corner and obviously was able to come out in the lead. But I didn’t know what the bottom of (Turns) 1 and 2 was going to feel like, and I didn’t feel like the bottom of (Turns) 3 and 4 was going to last the whole time I felt comfortable running it. So, I went back to the top, and once Donny passed me I knew I was going to have trouble getting back by him.”

Getting back by Schuchart proved to be the winning move for Schatz as he went effectively unchallenged for the remainder of the 25 laps.

But behind him the battle for the other three tickets to Saturday’s finale was far from over. Schuchart held down the second spot while a mix of Austin McCarl, Justin Henderson, Emerson Axsom, and Lynton Jeffrey began to go at it for the final two transfer spots.

Henderson blasted into third on Lap 7, putting Austin McCarl on the bubble. Then on Lap 13 McCarl fell outside the lock-in spots as Axsom went by him for fourth. Shortly after losing the spot McCarl slowed to a stop due to rear end damage.

Up ahead Schatz pieced together a strong drive through traffic on his way to a Hard Knox checkered flag and a spot in the sport’s most prestigious race.

“It wasn’t the prettiest, but this is the Knoxville Nationals, and I guess sometimes you’ve got to be lucky too. I guess when it happens to you it’s great, and when it happens to doesn’t happen to you it’s not so great… We’re going to have to be a little bit better tomorrow if we’re going to come through the field. You’ve got to take it in steps. The first thing you’ve got to do is get it in the show.”

Schuchart held on for second and locked into his eighth consecutive Knoxville Nationals Championship Feature with Shark Racing. The Hanover, PA native is no stranger to charging toward the front in the finale, and he’ll look to do so again from 22nd this year.

“It’s definitely a relieving feeling,” Schuchart said. “This whole week is so stressful. What it means for a driver to want to run for a Knoxville Nationals championship. We were so close to it last year, 10 laps to go running second to Kyle (Larson), and a little 50-cent piece of plastic took us out of the race.”

Rounding out the podium and clinching a spot in his sixth finale of “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All was Justin Henderson in the Forbrook No. 5X. The former podium finisher in the Championship Feature (2013) is eager for Saturday’s main event.

“Super happy to make the Feature,” Henderson said. “This is the Knoxville Nationals. It doesn’t get any bigger than this obviously. There’s more stress in this race right, I think, than in any other race.”

The final lock-in spot belonged to JETCO Rookie of the Year contender Emerson Axsom. The Indiana driver nearly won the 360 Nationals last weekend and now has secured a spot in the sport’s biggest race.

“We made the Knoxville Nationals,” Axsom said. “My stuff is really good. I feel like I was making really good laps there trailing Logan. I was surprised that Justin was able to sneak back by us. I feel like we were making solid laps, so it surprised me to see his nose down there. I’m really happy with it, but I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Lynton Jeffrey completed the top five.

A 22nd to 12th run earned Parker Price-Miller the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Donny Schatz earned the Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

Your Life Iowa Heats One, Three, Four, Five, and Six belonged to Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, and Cale Thomas. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Austin McCarl.

Chris Windom and Ayrton Gennetten won the two Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdowns.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up the 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s with Championship Night on Saturday, August 10 with $190,000 going to the winner.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 3. 5X-Justin Henderson[5]; 4. 27A-Emerson Axsom[6]; 5. 2X-Lynton Jeffrey[7]; 6. 21T-Cole Macedo[14]; 7. 5-Spencer Bayston[15]; 8. 58-Kaleb Johnson[13]; 9. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[17]; 10. 18T-Tanner Holmes[9]; 11. 99-Skylar Gee[4]; 12. 9P-Parker Price Miller[22]; 13. 19S-Hunter Schuerenberg[10]; 14. 9-Kasey Kahne[8]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich[24]; 16. 1C-Brenham Crouch[11]; 17. 3G-Ayrton Gennetten[20]; 18. 55C-Chris Windom[19]; 19. 22X-JJ Hickle[23]; 20. 17GP-Cale Thomas[16]; 21. 24T-Christopher Thram[18]; 22. 42-Sye Lynch[21]; 23. 52-Blake Hahn[12]; 24. 88-Austin McCarl[3]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

UNSTOPPABLE: Kyle Larson Charges from Sixth for Knoxville Nationals Prelim Victory

Yung Money wins his fourth consecutive Sprint Car race and earns the pole for Saturday’s $190,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals finale

KNOXVILLE, IA (August 9, 2024) - Not too long ago many questioned Kyle Larson’s chances at the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. But in one short week, every trace of doubt has been erased, and he stands likely as the favorite.

A big week at Eldora Speedway served up struggles for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion. It started with a strong runner-up, but then he closed out the week with a 13th during the Knight Before and missing the Kings Royal main event.

And then it all began to turn around at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. Larson opened Ironman weekend with an unforgettable drive from 21st to victory. Then he topped his third Ironman 55 the following night by charging from 12th. The stage then moved to Southern Iowa Speedway (Oskaloosa, IA) on Monday, and “Yung Money” rolled from 13th to Victory Lane.

Knoxville Raceway then welcomed the Sprint Car world for “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All” this week. And Larson delivered yet another statement on Thursday during Toyota Qualifying Night.

Larson lined up sixth for the 25-lapper and put on another show in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. He methodically picked his way forward, passing some strong cars in the process. The Elk Grove, CA native punctuated his rise to the top of the leaderboard with a slider on Rico Abreu with only two laps remaining. Four straight wins for Larson with a combined 49 Sprint Cars passed. The Knoxville triumph was his 10th overall at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”

And just like that, Larson looks like the clear-cut favorite for Saturday as he aims to go back-to-back on the sport’s biggest stage. His performance earned him 490 points, enough to put him on the pole for the 50-lap finale.

“Rico was doing a good job as the leader and doing a good job through traffic,” Larson recalled. “And Carson (Macedo) got kind of rolling there for a minute and thankfully I was able to get by him. I didn’t know exactly what to do. I felt like if you could hit the bottom, it was the best place to be, and I think Rico knew that as well. But then he got to that lapper and couldn’t follow him, had to go to the top or middle. And that lapper just hit the berm in front of me, gave me a bunch of clean air and probably messed him up. So, right place at the right time, but you always have to execute every lap. We were able to put ourselves in position to get another win. It feels really good. The car felt great during the Feature.”

Bill Balog and Abreu led the Feature to green, and it was Balog inching ahead to lead the opening lap.

Throughout the opening half of the race, the action remained relatively tame up front. Balog made some daring moves in traffic to stay ahead of Abreu, but the action really warmed up beyond the halfway mark.

Abreu made his move with a slider on Balog on Lap 12. The battle between the two allowed third-running Carson Macedo to close in. Right after Abreu stole the lead, Macedo ripped by Balog to secure the runner-up spot.

It wasn’t much longer before Larson followed the footsteps of the two Californians up front and went by “The North Pole Nightmare” for third. Up ahead Abreu got trapped behind a lapped car allowing Macedo to look low down the back straightaway, but the No. 24 closed the door on the No. 41.

That allowed Larson to close in, and on Lap 18 he rolled by Macedo for second. Then the sights were set on his childhood friend Abreu just ahead.

Larson got to work building momentum to chase down Abreu as he was nearly a second behind once he grabbed the runner-up position. It didn’t take long for the gap to shrink, but Abreu made some moves in traffic to hold Larson off at first as the race hit five laps to go.

But Larson stayed on the gas, and the opportunity he needed presented itself with only two laps remaining. As the two navigated Turns 1 and 2, Larson looked low as Abreu went to the cushion. Larson managed to pull alongside, and a lapped car drifted in Abreu’s lane exiting the corner. The disruption to Abreu’s line allowed Larson to power ahead down the back straightaway and head toward the white flag.

Abreu stayed close with Larson throughout the final rotation around the half mile, but there was no stopping Larson as he held on for the prelim win.

Now all the focus is on Saturday for Larson. With NASCAR duties in Richmond, VA, it’s going to be a busy day but he’s confident. It’s not his first rodeo of jumping between race cars and a few flights over a weekend.

“It’s always fun to run the 57. We’ve definitely been on it lately and no better time than now,” Larson said. “I’ve been fortunate enough now to be able to do double duty between NASCAR and the Sprint Car. No doubt it’s on your mind through the whole weekend. Richmond is a tough place for us. I’ll definitely be focused on that as well. I’m looking forward to getting back in the 5 car. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve seen all of them with the break. Excited to see the 5 guys. And then hopefully Qualifying goes well then we’ll get back here and try to win another Knoxville Nationals.”

Abreu come home second and only a couple laps short of prelim glory. The St. Helena, CA driver earned some valuable lessons as he prepares to chase his first Knoxville Nationals title on Saturday. He’ll line up sixth.

“I’ve got to do a little better job managing traffic and knowing the race pace,” Abreu said. “I felt like I left the bottom open there, but I just wanted to keep it up on the pipes toward the end of the race. The top was just really far around. On the cushion my right front would get up a little bit where I had to give up some in the center. Other than that, Ricky (Warner), Zack (Middlebrooks), and Brady (Forbrook) did an awesome job.”

Rounding out the Knoxville Nationals prelim podium was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew. It was a strong night from beginning to end that will set them up fourth in the lineup for Saturday’s finale.

“The race was in stages for me,” Macedo said. “I feel like early I got my wing back too far, and I had to push it back forward. I started catching them back once we got to traffic. I felt pretty good. And then once we got to traffic I felt really good. I could maneuver really nicely anywhere I wanted to go. I got to Rico when he kind of got messed up with a lapper and thought I was going to be able to squeeze underneath him and then just had to pace behind him for a minute.”

Tyler Courtney and Bill Balog rounded out the top five.

A 23rd to 13th run in the Roth Motorsports ride earned James McFadden the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Daryn Pittman claimed Simpson Quick Time honors in Sea Foam Qualifying.

Your Life Iowa Heat Races One, Three, Four, and Five belonged to Daryn Pittman, Tasker Phillips, Carson Macedo, and Ayrton Gennetten. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Hunter Schuerenberg.

Dusty Zomer won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

16 KNOXVILLE NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURE LOCK-INS:

Row 1: Kyle Larson – Daryn Pittman
Row 2: Tyler Courtney – Carson Macedo
Row 3: Giovanni Scelzi – Rico Abreu
Row 4: Brian Brown – Anthony Macri
Row 5: Brady Bacon – Scott Bogucki
Row 6: Corey Day – Brent Marks
Row 7: Bill Balog – Sheldon Haudenschild
Row 8: Chase Randall – Jacob Allen

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take on FVP “Hard Knox” Preliminary Night on Friday, August 9 with four more tickets up for grabs to Saturday’s $190,000-to-win NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s finale. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[6]; 2. 24R-Rico Abreu[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 6. 69K-Daryn Pittman[8]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet[9]; 8. 21H-Brady Bacon[4]; 9. 26-Zeb Wise[11]; 10. 21-Brian Brown[5]; 11. 58-Kaleb Johnson[14]; 12. 19S-Hunter Schuerenberg[13]; 13. 83SR-James McFadden[23]; 14. 8-Cory Eliason[24]; 15. 5T-Ryan Timms[17]; 16. 1D-Tasker Phillips[18]; 17. 24D-Danny Sams III[10]; 18. 36-Jason Martin[12]; 19. 3J-Dusty Zomer[21]; 20. 7S-Landon Crawley[16]; 21. 3G-Ayrton Gennetten[20]; 22. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier[15]; 23. 33W-Cap Henry[22]; 24. 25-Daison Pursley[19]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Cole Macedo Joining World of Outlaws in 2025 with TwoC Racing
The Californian will make a run at the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year next season

KNOXVILLE, IA (Aug. 8, 2024) – Cole Macedo, one of Sprint Car Racing’s top rising talents, is heading to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour in 2025.

The 24-year-old has linked Todd Carlile’s TwoC Racing for a rookie run with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The jump to the World of Outlaws tour will fulfill a childhood dream for Macedo as he follows the path of his older brother Carson.

“I’m definitely excited,” Macedo said. “The goal from when I was a little kid for me and Carson both was to race with the World of Outlaws. It’s pretty surreal. Obviously, he’s already made it, but for me to follow his footsteps I’m super excited. I’m super grateful that Wayne and Todd and everybody there at TwoC Racing is giving me a shot. I’m definitely nervous, but I think it’s going to be an awesome deal. I think me and Wayne and the crew guys will work really well together. Todd seems like an awesome car owner.”

It will also bring 2020 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, Wayne Johnson, back on the tour as the former driver for TwoC Racing has moved to the crew chief role for the No. 2C. Johnson recently announced his retirement from being in the seat after a racing accident sidelined him earlier this year.

“Man, I’m pumped,” Johnson said. “I’ve said this over and over about going out when I did. I wish I would’ve got the chance at 24 or 25 years old with the car owner that I have now, and I just never got the opportunity basically until I was too damn old to be doing it. I have a great car owner, and he didn’t want to do it without me driving. But when I mentioned that we could get Cole, he was like, ‘Well, let’s go back full-time Outlaw racing.’”

Macedo has spent the last few years proving his potential. The Lemoore, CA native cut his teeth on the California bullrings before broadening his horizons in 2020 with a heavy slate of Ohio racing. He had a breakout 2021 that saw him bag seven 410 Sprint Car wins including his first with the All-Star Circuit of Champions.

This year has been especially busy for Macedo as he racks up airline miles traveling from the west coast to the Midwest for racing. Out on the left coast he’s pursuing a Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) championship with Tarlton Motorsports. They’ve tallied a trio of wins and sit just three markers behind the point lead. In the country’s heartland he’s made plenty of starts aboard the 2nd Law Motorsports No. 16T.

“About a year and a half ago I told myself I’m going to race as much as I possibly can and never sit at home,” Macedo said. “Even if it’s a car that I don’t feel like is the best, I’m going to try to go make the best of it. Some of those nights were my best nights out there. I think racing as much as possible is a key to having success.”

One of Macedo’s 47 races in a 410 Sprint Car this year came with the TwoC Racing crew at Knoxville Raceway. Macedo jumped in for a local show on June 8 and drove from 16th to fifth.

“We just sat down and talked about next year and this that and the other, and I asked him if he’d like to run a couple races for us this year to just kind of see if we could work together,” Johnson said. “And we came to Knoxville for a weekly show and ran fifth. Then, we just talked ever since then about wanting to do it and kind of put it all together from that.”

While Macedo and the TwoC team are ready to hit the road with the World of Outlaws, they both remained focused on their tasks at hand. Macedo has his sights on the NARC title in the Tarlton No. 21. TwoC Racing is chasing the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) owner’s championship with Hank Davis in the seat.

But once the checkered flag flies on 2024, the focus turns to fulfilling a lifelong goal for Macedo in 2024.

“There’s a long list of people from when I grew up that I looked up to that raced World of Outlaws races,” Macedo said. “And I always told myself I want to be one of those guys one day. I feel like it’s the best of the best.”

For tickets to World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car races, CLICK HERE.

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

SCELZI STRIKES FIRST: Giovanni Scelzi Charges from Sixth to Knoxville Nationals Prelim Victory

Scelzi steals night one with a late pass on Jacob Allen and grabs the point lead

KNOXVILLE, IA (August 7, 2024) - “Hot Sauce” is hungry.

Giovanni Scelzi is a Californian by birth but now calls Iowa home. KCP Racing, the team he competes with, is located roughly an hour’s drive from Knoxville Raceway. The pairing have won the 360 Nationals. They’ve sat on the pole of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. They’re hungrier than ever for a Knoxville Nationals.

And they made a big step toward that goal on Wednesday’s BRANDT Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”

Scelzi lined up sixth for the 25-lapper and put on a show with a charge to the front. After an uneventful first half of the race for the Fresno, CA driver, Scelzi got up on the wheel to move forward. On Lap 17 he took over second. Then he sealed the deal with a daring move between leader Jacob Allen and a lapped car entering Turn 1.

Emotion flowed in Victory Lane. Scelzi yelled with joy as he rose atop the wing, and the crowd joined him with a roar.

“I don’t even know what to say. I’ve never run a prelim night. I’ve run second. This definitely sets us up good for Saturday,” Scelzi said. “Living just outside Des Moines now in Grimes, this is kind of a home for me. The first time I came here in I think 2016 or 2017 I got to work for Aaron Reutzel. And you know, Danny Lasoski being my idol was one that was obviously super successful here. And I think sometimes when you really put your mind to something at a place you want to be successful at, it makes you work harder to really do that. It’s the best racetrack in the world. Best fans in the world. There’s no question. Best racing surface you get all year long. Whether the track is a little bit wetter like it was tonight or it’s super dry, you almost have three lines of racing every time you come here. My guys did an incredible job. Hats off to Adam (Clark), Bob (Curtis), and Aaron (Beiler).”

Scelzi’s victory was his first in a 410 at Knoxville since topping a local show in 2019. But perhaps more important than the prelim win itself is where it’s currently slotted him for championship Saturday. A tally of 471 points has him atop the table after the opening night, nearly guaranteeing he’ll be starting in the first couple rows for the 50-lap finale.

The NOS Energy Drink Feature was led to green by Jacob Allen and Justin Peck. Allen inched ahead of Peck and narrowly led the first circuit. Peck built up momentum on the top and looked as if he may challenge Allen for the top spot in Turn 1 on Lap 2, but Allen got the bottom rolling and scooted away.

Allen checked out as the opening portion of the race unfolded. Back behind Scelzi looked to begin his march forward but met a tough challenge in the form of Brent Marks. The Myerstown, PA native fended off several attempts from the No. 18. Even when Scelzi got by him the first time, the yellow flag flew before the lap was completed, giving the spot back to Marks.

Scelzi finally managed to escape Marks on the 11th circuit, and then the real fun began. Two laps later he drove right by Chase Randall to grab third. And then in four more rotations he wasted no time wheeled around Justin Peck for second.

Then the pursuit of race-long leader Allen began. Up front the Shark Racing No. 1A navigated heavy traffic which allowed Scelzi to close in. The first attempt at the top spot was thwarted by Allen as he protected. But only a few laps later Scelzi made a magnificent move for the lead.

A big run off the exit of Turn 4 allowed Scelzi to dip under Allen heading down the front straightaway. With Allen to his outside, the 22-year-old was also faced with a lapped car directly ahead. Scelzi had just enough momentum to clear Allen entering Turn 1 and slice ahead of him to get to the cushion and clear the traffic in the set of corners.

And that was all she wrote. The KCP No. 18 was dialed in with a motivated driver in the seat, and Scelzi set sail on his way to the checkered flag.

“What an incredible job by my guys,” Scelzi said. “Normally yellows are my kryptonite. And I just got by Brent Marks and the yellow came out of course. But man, the bottom got easier and easier to run as all of those crumbs got thrown up in the middle. Thank you, fans, for coming out. This is the busiest I’ve ever seen a Wednesday night. I hope everyone goes to Dingus because they can serve all of you.”

Allen held on for second wheeling his father, Bobby Allen’s, Sprint Car. It was a strong night for the Hanover, PA native as he sits eighth in points and likely on the bubble of locking into Saturday’s finale after Thursday’s prelim. Despite losing the lead late, Allen showed no signs of disappointment once the checkered flag flew.

“Honestly, I think I ran a pretty good race, a race that I’m pretty proud of running,” Allen said. “I felt like my race car was really good. We didn’t go through much lapped traffic, but I made a nice pass that I thought would maybe be a defining move on Blake Hahn. But obviously Gio had a really good car as well. There’s honestly nothing to hang our heads about. Last year I didn’t even race this race and took some time off. To come back, lead my prelim night, and run second is a huge accomplishment.”

Rounding out the Knoxville Nationals opener podium was Justin Peck aboard the Buch Motorsports machine. Peck is confident he and the Buch crew have something to build on after Wednesday but have a couple areas with room for improvement if they want to challenge for a Knoxville Nationals title.

“I feel like we’re pretty close, just need to find a little bit more speed,” Peck said. “I think our straight-line speed or straight-line grip is pretty good. I’m struggling kind of getting in the corner, and then depending on how that goes maybe struggling through the rest of the corner. Like I said, we’ll keep working. It’s cool to put it on the podium on a prelim night of the Knoxville Nationals.”

Chase Randall and Brent Marks completed the top five.

A 21st to 10th drive earned Anthony Macri the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Matt Juhl claimed Simpson Quick Time honors in Sea Foam Qualifying.

Your Life Iowa Heats One, Three, Four, and Five belonged to Sam Hafertepe Jr., Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, and Chase Randall. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Jamie Ball.

Anthony Macri won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Knoxville Raceway for the second split-field prelim for the 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s on Thursday, August 8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen[1]; 3. 13-Justin Peck[2]; 4. 2KS-Chase Randall[3]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 6. 10-Scott Bogucki[5]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel[13]; 9. 14-Corey Day[7]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri[21]; 11. 9P-Parker Price Miller[15]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne[9]; 14. 27-Carson McCarl[10]; 15. 2-David Gravel[24]; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich[12]; 17. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[17]; 18. 15-Donny Schatz[19]; 19. 23-Garet Williamson[23]; 20. 09-Matt Juhl[22]; 21. 4W-Jamie Ball[18]; 22. 52-Blake Hahn[14]; 23. (DNF) J2-John Carney II[20]; 24. (DNF) 6B-Brandon Wimmer[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Head to Iowa for 63rd Knoxville Nationals

The entire Sprint Car world has converged on Knoxville Raceway for “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All"

KNOXVILLE, IA (August 6, 2024) - No more waiting. The 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s is here.

The Sprint Car world has traveled to the small town of Knoxville, IA. The population sits just north of 7,000 but grows exponentially this week as “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All” invites people from all over the globe to the Marion County Fairgrounds. More than 100 drivers are ready to chase Sprint Car immortality, and tens of thousands of fans are ready to watch.

To go along with the unparalleled prestige of the Knoxville Nationals, the event offers up a massive purse that hands out more than a million dollars to the competitors on championship Saturday alone. This year’s winner will bank $190,000, and it pays $15,000 to simply make the finale.

It’s the most anticipated week of the year in Sprint Car Racing, and it has arrived. Another important chapter in the sport’s history books is ready to be written.

BUY KNOXVILLE NATIONALS TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the week’s top storylines:

SCHATZVILLE NATIONALS: As always when the Knoxville Nationals take center stage, many eyes will be firmly fixed on Donny Schatz and the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15.

The numbers for Schatz at the sport’s most prestigious race are astonishing. He’s made the Saturday finale 25 consecutive years. The Fargo, ND native has won the main event 11 times including streaks of four in a row (2006-2009) and five in a row (2011-2015). He’s finished second another eight times and brought home his first third place run last year, marking his 20th podium finish.

The 10-time World of Outlaws champion again enters the week with one of the sport’s most coveted records within reach. Steve Kinser claimed 12 Knoxville Nationals titles during his illustrious career. Another checkered flag on Saturday would equal Schatz with “The King.”

BACK-TO-BACK?: Winning one Knoxville Nationals is difficult enough. Going back-to-back in the iconic event is another level of challenging.

27 different competitors can call themselves a Knoxville Nationals champion, but only seven have topped two in a row. The opportunity stands in front of Kyle Larson, courtesy of him leading all 50 laps in last year’s 62nd running.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is entered aboard the Silva Motorsports No. 57 as the pairing seek a second straight victory in “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All.” It would also be Larson’s third overall, which would put him in the company of Steve Kinser (12), Donny Schatz (11), Doug Wolfgang (five), Kenny Weld (four), Danny Lasoski, (four), and Mark Kinser (three) as the seventh with at least three Knoxville Nationals wins on their résumé.

Larson is fresh off sweeping the Ironman 55 weekend with drives to victory from 21st and 12th along with a charge from 13th to the win at Monday’s Front Row Challenge.

RETURNING WINNERS: Beyond Schatz and Larson, the pre-entry list also features five more former event champions.

1983 winner Sammy Swindell will make a popular return after not partaking in the 2023 edition. In addition to his one Nationals win, the three-time World of Outlaws champion also owns seven more podiums including a trio of runner-ups (1981, 1985, 1990).

Back in 2005 Kraig Kinser sat on the pole and joined his father Steve Kinser on the list of champions by leading all 30 laps. The Bloomington, IN native also picked up a top five in 2012. He’ll be aboard the Premier Motorsports No. 70 for the second consecutive year at Knoxville in August.

2010 winner Tim Shaffer is looking to make his 17th main event. Shaffer’s triumph 14 years ago halted Donny Schatz’s run of four straight. The “Steel City Outlaw” is entered behind the wheel of the Deyman-Rudzik No. 49X.

Brad Sweet will be aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 in search of his second visit to the hallowed ground of Knoxville Nationals Victory Lane. The “Big Cat” won in 2018, podiumed in 2015 and 2021, and has been in the top 10 in eight of his 11 starts in the finale.

David Gravel, the 2019 victor, may be the favorite to become the ninth different driver to earn multiple Knoxville Nationals victories. He and Big Game Motorsports have already amassed 13 World of Outlaws wins in 2024 including one at Knoxville in June. Gravel grabbed the first gem of the triple crown by winning the Kings Royal less than three weeks ago, and Knoxville could be the second piece to the puzzle for the current Series point leader.

A NEW CHAMP?: Only 27 drivers have been crowned a Knoxville Nationals champion through 62 runnings, but several current stars of the sport stand out as potential favorites to add their name to the list of legends and Hall of Famers.

Carson Macedo would love nothing more than to take the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to Victory Lane for the third time on the sport’s biggest stage. Johnson himself topped the wild 2016 edition, and David Gravel took JJR to the top again in 2019. Last year, Macedo won his prelim and finished a personal best fifth in the finale.

Giovanni Scelzi has posted fourth-place finishes in two of the last three Knoxville Nationals Features with KCP Racing. “Hot Sauce” also topped the 2021 360 Nationals, one of his three victories at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”

Logan Schuchart continues to bang on the door of a Knoxville Nationals title. He finished in the top five in three straight runnings including drives from 22nd to second in 2019 and 17th to third in 2022. Last year, he was running second in the Shark Racing No. 1S before a flat tire derailed his effort.

Brian Brown is always one to watch at Knoxville when August rolls around. “Blackjack” put together three consecutive runner-ups in the finale from 2012 through 2014. He’s a 66-time Feature winner and five-time track champion at Knoxville and ready to add a Nationals victory to his résumé.

Rico Abreu is undoubtedly one of the sport’s best that is still lacking a Knoxville Nationals title. He scored a top 10 back in 2017 and looked primed to challenge Larson last year until an issue while running second ended those hopes. He’s fresh off an impressive victory in the Capitani Classic.

Many more talented gassers including Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, Corey Day, Brent Marks, recent 360 Knoxville Nationals champion Tyler Courtney, and more will be in search of their first Knoxville Nationals win.

DARK HORSES: While it’s a rare occurrence, not always do the favorites pull into Victory Lane when the checkered flag flies on Saturday night. And the 2024 roster features a handful of names that might make some noise up front in the finale.

Chase Randall continues to prove he’s one of the sport’s top rising stars, and his performance at Knoxville has been a key contributor toward that reputation. He’s won three times at the half mile this season including a pair in 410 action. Last year, he earned JETCO Rookie of the Year honors with TKS Motorsports.

It may be strange to think of a former World of Outlaws champion as a dark horse, but with Daryn Pittman only running a limited schedule these days, he’s behind most in terms of recent laps. The 2013 Series titlist linked with Kreitz Racing to bring the No. 69K out from Pennsylvania to Iowa. He owns a trio of top fives in the finale, peaking at third in 2019.

Austin McCarl would love to be the first Iowan to claim a Knoxville Nationals title. The “Big Unit” sat on the pole two years ago in what was his third Feature appearance. McCarl is a two-time and the reigning Knoxville track champion in the 410 division.

ADDITIONAL ACCOLADES: Of course, the main goal of this week for every driver is to become a Knoxville Nationals champion, but there are plenty of other opportunities for achievement and recognition.

The battle for the MPV Express Jesse Hockett Mr. Sprint Car Award has already started as it takes points from the 360 Nationals, Capitani Classic, Front Row Challenge, and 410 Nationals to decide the winner of the $6,500 prize.

The JETCO Rookie of the Year acknowledges the highest finishing driver making their event debut. Every year the Knoxville Nationals invites a wide array of first timers looking to be the best among the rookie class.

With all the special paint schemes that team roll out, the DGRD Best Appearing Car Award rewards the one that stands out from the rest.

To go along with those unique liveries, many teams also create special uniforms for the week leading to the Avanti Windows and Doors Best Dressed Crew Award.

For the Saturday finale, there will also be the SprintCarUnlimted.com Pole Award and the KSE Racing Hard Charger and MPI Steering Wheel Hard Charger Award.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday-Saturday, August 7-10 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (43/73 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (5986 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-98 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-130 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-204 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-252 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-326 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-354 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-784 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1016 PTS)
10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1232 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

13 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Kyle Larson
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. Stutts

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):

317 Laps – David Gravel
227 Laps – Carson Macedo
178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
97 Laps – Donny Schatz
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
49 Laps – Logan Schuchart
47 Laps – Kyle Larson
44 Laps – James McFadden
34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):

8 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
8 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Brent Marks
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz

HEAT RACE WINNERS (36 Drivers):

25 Heat Wins – David Gravel
21 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
19 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
12 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Daryn Pittman
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (58 Drivers):

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (33 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson, Landon Crawley, Anthony Macri
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, 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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (23 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (23 Drivers):

25 Podiums – David Gravel
19 Podiums – Carson Macedo
15 Podiums – Donny Schatz
14 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
7 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu, Kyle Larson
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
2 Podiums – Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, James McFadden
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom, T.J. Stutts

TOP 10 FINISHES (70 Drivers):

39 Top 10s – David Gravel
38 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
37 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
35 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
34 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
33 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
29 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
19 Top 10s – Bill Balog
11 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
9 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden
7 Top 10s – Anthony Macri
5 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day, Kyle Larson
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Jacob Allen, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten
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, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, 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

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

Tropical Storm Remnants Cancel Entirety of Appalachian Midget Week

KUTZTOWN, PA (Aug. 6, 2024) – Tropical Storm Debby has ravaged the East Coast with record rainfall and is projected to make its way into Pennsylvania by Wednesday. With the best financial interest of traveling teams of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota in mind, Series and track officials have agreed to cancel all Milton Hershey School Appalachian Midget Week events.

The decision comes with professional weather guidance from Chief Meteorologist Wayne Mahar of Precision Weather Service. None of the canceled events will be made up, which includes Action Track USA (Aug. 7); Linda’s Speedway (Aug. 8); Path Valley Speedway Park (Aug. 9); Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Aug. 10).

The Xtreme Outlaw Series will now take a month off and return to action with a three-day swing through Illinois, which includes the final two races of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series at Southern Illinois Raceway (Sept. 13) and Highland Speedway (Sept. 14) before a trip to Adams County (IL) Speedway to cap the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Advance sale tickets for Southern Illinois Raceway are on sale now at the link below; Highland and Adams County will be selling tickets at the track on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

UNDEFEATED IRONMAN: Kyle Larson Drives From 12th for I-55 Weekend Sweep, Third Ironman Title

“Yung Money” equals Craig Dollansky for the most victories in the demanding event and banks $25,000

PEVELY, MO (August 3, 2024) - There seems to be no stopping Kyle Larson at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

To open Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 weekend on Friday Larson pieced together a miraculous charge from 21st to victory in 30 laps. He punctuated that performance with a last lap, last corner pass to seal the deal. That marked the longest drive to a win with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 11 years.

The stage set for “Yung Money” on Saturday was a 12th place starting position with 55 laps to get the job done. Looking at the math from the night before, the task seemed like a simple one. But of course, driving through a field with the country’s best Sprint Car drivers in it two nights in a row is far from easy. But Larson managed to pull it off anyway.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion methodically picked his way to the front over the course of the longest race in laps on the 2024 World of Outlaws calendar. It started with a strong first rotation that saw him go from 12th to ninth. Six circuits later he cracked the top five. And then on Lap 44 he slipped under race-long leader Giovanni Scelzi to take the top spot and then sped away.

“I was just fortunate enough to get a good initial start and kind of be the first one to the top to get to fifth,” Larson said. “I was really struggling there before the open red, so that was nice to be able to get Paul (Silva) to turn some wrenches on this thing and get me freed up. That really allowed me to kind of get through the waves in (Turn) 1 and get through the middle and get pointed off of (Turn) 2 much better.

“That was a fun race. I hope all of you fans enjoyed that. Ironman 55 is probably my favorite Sprint Car race of the year. It’s tough, long. I really enjoy these long races. Cool to three-peat this.”

The three-peat Larson mentioned is due to the fact that he’s won all three Ironman 55 editions that he’s entered (2020, 2023, and 2024). The three wins ties Craig Dollansky’s record mark for the most that had stood alone since he topped three straight from 2011 to 2013. He’s now up to five wins in seven tries at I-55 with The Greatest Show on Dirt, putting him just one checkered flag away from tying Sammy Swindell and Brad Sweet for the most. It also moves the Pevely, MO bullring within one of Knoxville Raceway for the winningest track on Larson’s World of Outlaws résumé.

He passed a total of 31 Sprint Cars over the course of 85 Feature laps through the two nights and banked $37,000.

Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz led the field to green for the 55-lapper. Scelzi used the pole position to pull ahead of Schatz and lead the opening lap.

Scelzi managed to stretch out the advantage a bit through the early laps. Schatz settled into second with Carson Macedo in third. A little way behind them Larson began his journey through the field.

Even once traffic became a factor Schatz struggled to find the speed necessary to catch Scelzi. One lap he’d cut into the advantage, and the next Scelzi would pad it again.

Macedo used a restart with 34 laps remaining to muscle by Schatz for second shortly before a red flag ended the night for a pair of frontrunners. Contact with a lapped car sent fourth-running Corey Day into Michael Kofoid and sent Day upside down.

The stoppage turned into an open red to allow teams to refuel, and on the restart Schatz found his way back into second as Larson jumped into third. And then a restart with 22 laps remaining gave Larson the opportunity he needed to snatch second from Schatz, leaving only Scelzi between himself and a weekend sweep.

Larson patiently worked the low and middle grooves of the racetrack as Scelzi stayed committed to the top. Little by little Larson chipped away, and on Lap 44 he pulled the trigger on a slider that stuck for the top spot. From there Larson never looked back on his way to a record-tying third Ironman 55.

“I was actually really surprised about the restart after the fuel stop,” Larson recalled. “I almost got to second into (Turn) 3 by diamonding (Turns) 1 and 2. I didn’t expect that, so I knew my car was better right away. I knew I needed to take advantage of that. I lined up third, caution came right back out, and the bottom was better. My engine took off really good, and then I just kind of paced and hoped for no caution because I didn’t want to be on the outside for a restart. It just worked out really good for us.”

Donny Schatz brought the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 home second. The 10-time World of Outlaws champion continues to bang on the door of an Ironman 55 as the dumbbell trophy has eluded him to this point. Saturday marked five runner-up finishes in the grueling race.

“Every time I was on the outside I was getting passed by cars on the inside,” Schatz said of restarts. “Being on the inside of the second row was probably better on those restarts. We capitalized on it, just tried to move around the racetrack. I guess I’m just glad that’s over with a decent run. It was pretty demanding. It feels like 200-degrees in the car. I’m not used to that, but that’s the way it goes. It was a good race. Kyle did a good job.”

Rounding out the Ironman 55 podium was Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing machine. The Lemoore, CA native continues to be one of the most consistent drivers at I-55 with his fifth consecutive top five run and seventh podium in the last 10 tries at the bullring.

“I think Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn gave me a great race car,” Macedo said. “I feel like I was pretty versatile. I’d get to bouncing a little bit through the middle, but I could make a lot of speed up top. I just had one big mistake on my part. I think I got a little eager on the fuel and kind of maybe got it too loaded up. Then when I went to fire off on that restart there and kind of got stuck out there and let Donny and Kyle get by.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

Larson’s run from 12th to the win also earned him back-to-back KSE Racing Hard Chargers.

Carson Macedo claimed his Series leading ninth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 42nd of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, and Logan Schuchart. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Jessie Attard won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brock Zearfoss.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars roll to Knoxville Raceway for the 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s on August 7-10. 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 (55 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[12]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 6. 2-David Gravel[10]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[14]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 10. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[4]; 11. 53-Jessie Attard[21]; 12. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[19]; 13. 20G-Noah Gass[16]; 14. 34-Sterling Cling[18]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser[11]; 16. 37B-Bryce Norris[23]; 17. 6-Kelby Watt[17]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 19. 14-Corey Day[5]; 20. 37-Ayden Gatewood[15]; 21. 21R-Gunner Ramey[20]; 22. 7A-Will Armitage[7]; 23. 50K-Thomas Meseraull[24]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[22]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

SHARK SWEEPS: Karter Sarff Wins Second-Straight at I-55, Sweeps Ironman Weekend

PEVELY, MO (Aug. 3, 2024) – Karter Sarff’s first-ever win with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota came at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 last year. Fast forward to 2024, and he’s swept the track’s most prestigious event.

Sarff, the 21-year-old racer from Mason City, IL, led flag-to-flag for the win Friday night and then made it back-to-back trips to Victory Lane with his fourth Series victory Saturday, taking the lead from Ryan Timms late in the race and leading the rest of the way untouched to claim the $7,500 grand prize – the largest winner’s share in Series history.

“It’s just super cool, especially with this night paying $7,500 to win,” Sarff said. “Obviously, the Saturday race is the big one to win – I feel like there’s a lot more people here, and the [World of] Outlaws run the Ironman 55.

“It’s just a prestigious race and it’s turning into a prestigious Midget race too; just happy to put my name in the record books [and get my] biggest Midget win this year so far.”

In seven career starts with the Series at I-55, Sarff has won three of them. Saturday’s win, co-sacntioned by the POWRi National Midget League, counted as his fourth of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Series – second-most only to points leader Cannon McIntosh – and sixth of his career.

The driver known as “The Shark” accomplished the feat all while pulling double duty on both nights of the event, driving his own No. 21K Midget and the Chase Briscoe Racing No. 5 Sprint Car with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

“I was already worn out from running the Sprint Car all night too,” Sarff said. “That was really tiring, and it just seemed non-stop all night long. I was tired before the race even started for the Midget Feature. I had noodle arms the whole race.”

While Sarff was on top in the end, points leaders Cannon McIntosh and Ryan Timms opened the Feature action. McIntosh led the opening four circuits around the 1/3-mile track before hitting a rut in Turn 1 and coughing-up the top spot to Timms.

Timms took the top spot and began to run with it before a red flag halted the action on Lap 9. On the restart, Timms hit a bump in the track entering Turn 3 and gave the lead back to McIntosh, but only for two corners as Timms came right back with a move of his own around the bottom of Turns 1-2 to regain the lead.

“I was so good on the top there before the red and was running Ryan down just that little bit the couple laps I changed my line,” McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, said. “We had the red and just could never fire off the same. I feel like we sat too long.”

Meanwhile, Sarff was working on his push to the head of the field. Sitting third for a restart on Lap 17, Sarff threw a slider of his own on McIntosh in Turns 3-4 for the second spot, racing through the middle groove.

“I thought for sure Cannon would rip it through the middle there right in front of me and kinda block it,” Sarff said. “He just went up and I was able to do the same exact thing.”

Now riding second, Sarff got his first look at the lead on a restart three laps later. Timms led the field into Turn 3 after taking the green and jumped a rut again, allowing Sarff to scoot by out of Turn 4.

Though Timms retook the spot with a slide job in Turns 1-2, he hit yet another bump in Turn 1 on Lap 23 and shot up the track, opening the door for Sarff once more down low to take the lead for good.

“I got to Ryan and got real lucky with him hitting the holes wrong,” Sarff said. “I could just get through them really good; our stuff is usually always good through the rough.”

“I knew the bottom was coming in and I saw the 21 got to second and I knew he’s really good on the bottom here,” Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, said. “I knew he was gonna be there, but I thought as long as I didn’t hop to where it would screw me up too bad and get could get under us, then I’d be fine. Sure enough, that’s what happened.”

Now armed with the race lead, Sarff began to distance himself from the field. He made quick work of the lapped traffic in front of him, and by the time he crossed under the checkered flag, he held a 1.6-second gap over Timms.

McIntosh crossed the stripe in third, re-entering the top-five after his streak of 18 consecutive top-five runs came to a halt with a sixth-place run Friday.

“Good podium finish but still disappointing for leading there at the beginning, losing the lead, getting it back and losing it again,” McIntosh said. “Obviously wanted more when you start on the pole; the only goal is to win.”

Seventh-starting Zach Daum climbed to finish fourth aboard the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U while Thomas Meseraull drove the Engler Machine & Tool No. 7x to round out the top five.

Joe Wirth earned the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award in Qualifying. Toyota Racing Heat 1 was won by McIntosh, TJ Forged Heat 2 was won by Sarff and Heat 3 went to Gavin Miller.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will take the next three days away from the track to rest, repair and make the trip east to Pennsylvania for the start of Milton Hershey School Appalachian Midget Week. The four-day stretch of racing begins Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Action Track USA in Kutztown, PA.

Tickets for all Midget Week races will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’ be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (35 Laps): 1. 21K-Karter Sarff[3]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms[2]; 3. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[1]; 4. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 5. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[4]; 6. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[16]; 7. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[5]; 8. 40-Chase McDermand[23]; 9. 14S-Tyler Edwards[9]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[11]; 11. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[12]; 12. 71-Jade Avedisian[10]; 13. 97-Gavin Miller[6]; 14. 98-Gunnar Setser[8]; 15. 50-Daniel Adler[17]; 16. 51B-Joe B Miller[15]; 17. 44-Branigan Roark[21]; 18. 7-Shannon McQueen[20]; 19. 77-Joe Wirth[14]; 20. 66-Jayden Clay[24]; 21. 33-Jacob McFarlin[22]; 22. 72J-Sam Johnson[19]; 23. 5U-Peter Smith[18]; 24. 56D-Mitchell Davis[13]

Photo credit – Trent Gower

YUNG MONEY MADNESS: Last Lap Pass Completes Drive From 21st to I-55 Victory for Kyle Larson

Larson beats McFadden to the line to finish off a memorable charge from the Last Chance Showdown to Victory Lane

PEVELY, MO (August 2, 2024) - Kyle Larson continues to do things behind the wheel of a Sprint Car that will be talked about for years and years.

The Elk Grove, CA native has already achieved so much in his career despite seldom being a full-time Sprint Car driver due to NASCAR commitments. A 2011 Gold Cup Race of Champions triumph at only 19 years old. A pair of NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals. A Kings Royal. A 12-win World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season in only 26 Feature starts in 2020.

Those are only a few of the many accomplishments Larson has chalked up, and he pulled something off on Friday night that’ll go down as one of the best drives he’s ever put together.

“Yung Money” lined up 21st for the 30-lap Feature at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 after having to go to the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown and winning it. A victory in the main event was hardly on his mind when he rolled out for it. Maybe a strong charge for a solid finish, but a win? That didn’t seem likely.

And then one by one Larson started to pick off cars. By Lap 8 he’d cracked the top 10. But even 10 laps later when he entered the top five, Victory Lane still seemed out of reach. Then came a pivotal restart.

Larson roared into third in two circuits after restarting fifth with 11 laps to go. Then on Lap 26 Sheldon Haudenschild tripped up and allowed him by for second. With only four laps remaining, all that stood between the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion and completing an unforgettable drive to victory was James McFadden.

And even as McFadden took the white flag he appeared to be too far ahead with nearly a full second advantage. But then hope arose down the back straightaway. A lapped car slipped in front of the Roth Motorsports No. 83SR exiting Turn 2 allowing Larson to close in. McFadden went to slide the car in Turn 3, and Larson stuck the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to the bottom. They both picked their front wheels up in a drag race down the front straightaway, and Larson edged him out by .053 seconds.

The crowd went wild. He’d really pulled off the unthinkable. From the Last Chance Showdown to Victory Lane. Don’t put anything past Kyle Larson.

“I’m out of breath,” Larson said. “I’ve been screaming the whole time since I got the checkered flag. I can’t say enough about Paul, Trevor, Doug, everybody on this team for working so hard. We’ve been terrible, and really, really bad tonight, too. And they’ve just been working hard, trying to get the car better each time. I felt like we were pretty good there in the Feature. I felt like we could move around, get my wheels underneath me, and get grip through the center on restarts. I’m just super thankful. This is amazing. There was a kid that came up during the Midget A-main and said, ‘You think you’re going to win tonight?’ And I said, ‘No.’ I did not think we would win. So, this is pretty amazing.”

Larson is up to 33 career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. His fourth win in six tries at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 equals it with Attica Raceway Park as the second winningest track on his Series résumé. He’s behind only Sammy Swindell and Brad Sweet (six wins apiece) and Steve Kinser and Craig Dollansky (five wins apiece) on the track’s World of Outlaws victory list. The drive from 21st marked the farthest back someone has won a World of Outlaws race from since Donny Schatz’s legendary drive to the Knoxville Nationals title in 2013.

Sheldon Haudenschild and James McFadden brought the field to green, and it was McFadden getting the early advantage on the outside.

The Australian pieced together a nearly perfect race. McFadden knifed his way through traffic in search of his first I-55 victory. Right when it seemed Haudenschild might be able to close in, McFadden added another slower car to the buffer between the two.

Even when Larson got to second with only a few laps remaining, McFadden’s lead didn’t seem in jeopardy. But one small slip from a lapped car on the final lap was enough to break his momentum down the back straightaway and hurt his entry angle into Turn 3. Larson had one shot, and he took full advantage to steal the checkered flag on the final lap by putting together a perfect set of corners in the Silva Motorsports No. 57.

“I could see those two (McFadden and Haudenschild) running the top in (Turns) 3 and 4,” Larson explained. “And I knew my opportunity to get by them was if they made a mistake in (Turns) 3 and 4. Then we caught traffic, and all those lappers were on the bottom. I thought I probably wouldn’t get there. Then he got hung up real tight behind the lapper off (Turn) 2, kind of choked his momentum and forced him to the bottom. And I figured his angle was too bad to be able to stick it and he would probably be cautious or nervous of Sheldon or somebody coming up top in (Turns) 3 and 4. So, I figured he’d drive across, and I knew I just needed to square up my corner and just try and grab the moisture in the middle of the straightaway. I was able to do that and just edge him out.”

After leading all but the final few feet, McFadden was forced to settle for second in the Dennis and Teresa Roth-owned machine. He handled the heartbreak well and is confident an I-55 breakthrough is coming.

“I ran the top, and Noah (Gass) was sort of running the middle, and I thought it was all good because he left me a lane,” McFadden said. “He just lost a bunch of traction off the corner, and I don’t know if he got into the fence a little bit. It just stopped him and parked him there, and I ran into the back of him. I peeled left to get under him, but my angle was sort of bad to get in there, so I had to slide across. That’s racing, mate. That’s the way it goes. Our car was fast. You win them that way, you lose them that way. We’ll come back tomorrow. I think this place owes me one.”

Rounding out the top three was Sheldon Haudenschild in the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17. The result marked his 10th World of Outlaws podium at the Pevely, MO oval. The result was also his third top three in the last five races.

“I feel like I ran a really careful race,” Haudenschild commented. “I really didn’t push the limits at all. That curb was tricky. I didn’t want to run her too hard and wad her up. I think my car was really close. James did a great job that whole race, and obviously Kyle was really good. I probably should’ve just moved around a bit more at the end and tried to get back to the bottom.”

Carson Macedo and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

Larson’s incredible drive from 21st to first also earned him the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his second consecutive Simpson Quick Time and the 34th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Michael Kofoid, Logan Schuchart, and Kelby Watt. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went Carson Macedo.

Sheldon Haudenschild won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kyle Larson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brock Zearfoss.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are right back at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO) for the $25,000-to-win Ironman 55 finale on Saturday, August 3. 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. 57-Kyle Larson[21]; 2. 83SR-James McFadden[2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 7. 2-David Gravel[13]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 10. 49-Brad Sweet[11]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 12. 6-Kelby Watt[7]; 13. 20G-Noah Gass[14]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[22]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser[18]; 16. 24T-Christopher Thram[17]; 17. 53-Jessie Attard[24]; 18. 51B-Joe B Miller[19]; 19. 22M-Rees Moran[16]; 20. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[23]; 21. 24D-Danny Sams III[12]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]; 23. 23B-Brian Bell[15]; 24. 14-Corey Day[20]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Karter Sarff Dominates I-55 for Second-Straight Ironman Opening Night Win

PEVELY, MO (Aug. 2, 2024) – There’s something about Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 that just clicks with Karter Sarff. Two years in-a-row, he’s gone to Victory Lane at the Missouri oval with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Sarff, the 21-year-old reigning champion of the POWRi National Midget League from Mason City, IL, won on opening night of Ironman 55 weekend last year and did it again Friday night, leading all 25 laps of the main event to bank the $4,000 grand prize and his third Series victory of the year.

“It’s just one of those tracks that clicks for me, and our stuff just seems to go around here really well,” Sarff said. “I think it’s just a combination of our car always being really good here, and I always have the confidence coming here that we’re gonna be good.”

Sarff was strong from the drop of the green, taking the lead on the opening lap from the pole and immediately going to work on opening up a gap between himself and the field. At its largest, Sarff led by 2.7 seconds before Timms began to reel him in.

As Sarff dipped into lapped traffic, taking the bottom lane around the 1/3-mile oval, Timms took advantage of the open top lane, using the “diamond” line to gain extra speed on corner exit at both ends of the track. Lap-by-lap, Timms cut into Sarff’s gap and with five laps left, only .7 seconds separated them.

“I definitely didn’t want to see a caution,” Sarff said. “I felt like I had a good rhythm going, especially there at the end. I kinda figured out where I needed to be and slowing the car down as the track slowed down. I noticed I got a lot better once I started slowing down.”

Once more, Timms gathered speed from the high side momentum and gave it everything he had in pursuit of Sarff, but in the end was unsuccessful.

“On that last lap, I followed it all the way around in (Turn) 2 on the top and it was a lot faster doing that than my diamond, at least later on,” Timms said. “Earlier on, the diamond was working and then it kinda just went away.”

Sarff was able to maintain the .7-second gap he had on Timms, despite the long line of lapped traffic he faced throughout the race, most of which was racing directly in his lane on the bottom.

“I was struggling to get around them there for quite a few laps,” Sarff said. “I just started running one lane higher than them and actually figured out that it was better than what I was doing. Part of it helped me out quite a bit.

“If the race would’ve been a little longer, don’t know if we would’ve held on, but I’m excited to get it done.”

Timms crossed the stripe second, garnering his ninth podium finish of the season in the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) No. 67. He said there were a few things that might have helped his case in getting to make a move on Sarff for the lead, but he wasn’t able to get close enough to execute.

“I think heavier lapped traffic, or a yellow, or me changing my line – any of those three would have made a difference,” Timms said.

Hayden Reinbold rounded out the podium with his third top-three finish in the last four Series races. Inaugural Series champion Zach Daum climbed climbed from seventh to finish fourth while Ashton Torgerson rounded out the top five.

Gavin Miller won Toyota Heat Race 1, Timms topped TJ Forged Heat 2 and Torgerson won the third and final Heat of the night. Sarff also won his third Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award of the year for his best lap in Qualifying at 12.768 seconds.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi Midgets are back in action at I-55 Saturday night, Aug. 3, for the richest race of the season – $7,500-to-win and $500-to-start.

Tickets are on sale at XtremeOutlawSeries.com. If you can’t be there, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 21K-Karter Sarff[1]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms[2]; 3. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[3]; 4. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 5. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[5]; 6. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[12]; 7. 97-Gavin Miller[4]; 8. 7-Shannon McQueen[10]; 9. 56D-Mitchell Davis[6]; 10. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[18]; 11. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[11]; 12. 71-Jade Avedisian[9]; 13. 55-Trevor Cline[13]; 14. 14S-Tyler Edwards[16]; 15. 5U-Peter Smith[15]; 16. 50-Daniel Adler[14]; 17. 98-Gunnar Setser[21]; 18. 40-Chase McDermand[24]; 19. 51B-Joe B Miller[17]; 20. 72J-Sam Johnson[19]; 21. 77-Joe Wirth[8]; 22. 44-Branigan Roark[22]; 23. 66-Jayden Clay[23]; 24. 33-Jacob McFarlin[20]

DREAM WEEK: David Gravel Reflects on Reaching Two Massive Milestones

The point leader claims a huge crown jewel and 100th win in a seven-day span

PEVELY, MO (August 1, 2024) - Confetti blasted and towers of flames rose up behind David Gravel as he climbed all the way atop his wing in front of a massive Eldora Speedway crowd. A few minutes later Royal Sovereign Jason Sides crowned him to forever cement his status as King David XLI. In his 16th try, Gravel had finally become a Kings Royal champion.

Wearing the crown made him only the sixth driver to win the trio of the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal, and National Open, joining the legendary list of Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Doug Wolfgang, Mark Kinser, and Donny Schatz.

But he wasn’t done there.

Only seven days later Gravel lined up fourth at Williams Grove Speedway and made a spirited drive to top the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals, securing his 100th career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory. He became the eighth to join the triple-digit club alongside Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Donny Schatz, Mark Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, Danny Lasoski, and Joey Saldana.

Two exclusive clubs joined one week apart. The celebration from the Kings Royal had barely concluded for the 100-win began. Nearly every Sprint Car driver would love to have the chance to check either accomplishment off the list, let alone nab both in a seven-day span.

“It was just a dream week,” Gravel said. “Finally checking off the Kings Royal. I had some good runs and opportunities just never was able to capitalize and get the job done. Very rewarding to win that race. How we won it. Who we won it against. It was a great race.

“From there getting the 100th, when the season started, I knew it was possible to get to 100. But it’s not easy to win over 10 World of Outlaws races in a season. So, you just don’t know how that’s going to go. Luckily, it’s been going really, really well.”

Both victories were by no means easy. One of the best to ever wheel a Sprint Car and someone who already reached both achievements Gravel was after, Donny Schatz, made him earn it.

The 10-time Series champion drove from 20th in the Kings Royal and took the lead from Gravel with less than 10 laps remaining. But Gravel got his elbows up, went straight to the cushion, and ripped back around Schatz to claim the crown.

Then at Williams Grove Schatz started ahead of Gravel. He wheeled the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 around Schatz early, but the Fargo, ND native got back around him. Gravel then reclaimed the lead on Lap 18 and had to hold off Schatz in the closing laps.

“Battling it out, each of us leading laps, he’s a guy that’s really good in long races taking care of his stuff,” Gravel said of his duels with Schatz. “I feel like I’m good as well at taking care of my stuff. Sometimes you’ve got to be creative in how you win these races. I’ve won a couple of these races kind of uncharacteristically and just had to get out of my comfort zone and get the job done.”

The Williams Grove win had an additional layer of significance. It was a fitting place for Gravel to reach triple digits. As a native of Connecticut, Gravel isn’t a Pennsylvania Posse member, but he did spend plenty of his youth in PA. “The Grove” is also where his Sprint Car career began.

“Williams Grove was the first place I ever stepped foot in a Sprint Car,” Gravel said. “It’s been a place that I went to quite a bit early in my career with the All-Stars and would run the National Open and stuff like that. We probably went to Williams Grove six, seven, eight times a year. I ran Linda’s (Speedway) on Friday’s racing Micros when I was in high school. Yeah, I’ve just been to PA a lot in my life, and it was kind of the closest state that had a lot of Sprint Car Racing.”

It's been an amazing season so far for Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew with 13 World of Outlaws wins already, but they’ve got no intentions of slowing down. More crown jewels and big paydays await, and they roll into every track as one of the clear favorites.

The Ironman 55 ($25K-to-win) is this week. The NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s ($190K-to-win) the week after that. Down the road a little farther is the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit ($75K-to-win). Could Gravel join Doug Wolfgang and Donny Schatz as the third driver to claim the triple crown (Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals, National Open) in one season? He’s shown no reason to doubt him in 2024.

And of course, he’ll look to punctuate a dream season with his first World of Outlaws title in November at World Finals.

“It’s just been a really good year,” Gravel said. “We’re firing on all cylinders. Things are going our way, and we’re taking advantage of it most of the time. When we’re in position to win, I feel like we haven’t really let many slip away.”

Gravel and the rest of the World of Outlaws head to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 this weekend (August 2-3) for the Ironman 55. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Meseraull Set for Return; Avedisian, Sarff Aim for Repeats at I-55

PEVELY, MO (July 30, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for one of its biggest paying events of the year during the Ironman 55 weekend, Aug. 2-3.

Co-sanctioned by the POWRi National Midget League, the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will contest a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event Friday night before the richest race of the 2024 season Saturday – paying $7,500 to the winner and at least $500 to each starter of the 35-lap main event.

Racing alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the two-day event will showcase the talent of the country’s best open-wheel racers, some of which will be competing in both divisions.

Both Series events also count as the seventh and eighth races of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series, which awards the points champion of the 10-race miniseries with a $2,500 bonus at the end of the season in September, in addition to checks for each of the top-five in final points.

Advance-sale tickets for both days of the Ironman 55 are available at the World of Outlaws website and will also be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

GUESS WHO’S BACK – For the first time since the season opener in March, Thomas Meseraull is expected to be part of the Xtreme Outlaw Series roster, returning to the seat of the Engler Tool & Machine, EA-Stealth-powered MF1 Chassis No. 7x in Xtreme competition after being sidelined due to injury sustained in a Non-Wing Sprint Car crash at Paragon Speedway (IN) in late March.

Meseraull, the 43-year-old open-wheel veteran from San Jose, CA, won the 2024 Xtreme season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in March. After taking several weeks off for recovery, Meseraull returned to Midget action for POWRi’s Illinois SPEEDweek in June and has since won twice with POWRi at Lake Ozark Speedway (MO).

When it comes to Midgets at I-55, Meseraull has had success at the 1/3-mile oval before, scoring a win during Ironman weekend in 2015 – POWRi’s first time as the support division in the marquee Sprint Car event.

DEFENDING WINNERS – The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets put on two exciting races during Ironman weekend one year ago, won by Karter Sarff and Jade Avedisian, both of whom are expected to be back in action with the Series again this weekend.

Sarff, 21, of Mason City, IL, scored his first career Series victory in Friday night’s main event last year, outrunning 2022 Series champion Zach Daum to bag the win. He’s won twice in Xtreme competition already this year – US36 in April and Millbridge Speedway (NC) in May – and will go for his fifth career Series victory this weekend piloting his own Provisio Partners, Spike/Toyota No. 21K.

Avedisian, the 17-year-old reigning Series champion from Clovis, CA, won the Saturday portion of the two-day event last year in a slide job-filled battle with Sarff late in the race to score her sixth career Series win. However, she has struggled throughout the 2024 season, appearing on the podium only once in 14 starts with a best finish of second at Atomic Speedway (OH) in May.

POINTS CHASE – A trip through Oklahoma this past weekend meant another Feature win for points leader Cannon McIntosh – his sixth of the season – and an expanded 160-point gap over teammate Ryan Timms in the championship standings.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, is still in search of his first career national Midget series championship driving for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM). He’s had success at I-55 in the past, winning the April 2023 visit, but couldn’t break the top five during the Ironman weekend last year with finishes of eighth and sixth.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, has trailed McIntosh in the standings for most of the season but has seen Victory Lane three times, most recently at Spoon River Speedway (IL) two weeks ago. Unlike McIntosh, Timms has not won at I-55, but finished third to Daum and McIntosh there in April 2023.

ILLINOIS BOYS – Zach Daum and Chase McDermand have also triumphed in Pevely in the past, both with the POWRi National Midget League.

Daum, 32, of Pocahontas, IL, won the Midget Feature during the Saturday portion of Ironman weekend in 2016, topping Kyle Jones and Dave Darland in the 24-car main event. More recently, he ran second to McIntosh at the Xtreme/POWRi show at I-55 in April 2023 and also claimed the runner-up spot on Friday during last year’s Ironman.

McDermand, 24, of Springfield, IL, won with POWRi at I-55 in April 2022. He’s coming into the weekend as the most recent Feature winner, taking the checkered flag in the Series debut at Tulsa Speedway (OK) last Saturday night after leading all 30 laps of the main event.

HEY JOE – After coming a handful of laps away from his first career Xtreme Outlaw Series Feature win in the 2024 season opener, Joe B. Miller is projected to be back in action with the Midgets this weekend at I-55.

Miller, 33, of Millersville, MO, was leading late in Saturday’s Feature at the Southern Illinois Center this past March when he was involved in an incident while battling Meseraull for the lead. While he ended up scored 12th in the official finishing order, the speed and skill Miller showed in traffic that night demonstrated his abilities in the Midget, which he does not get to display often due to his Sprint Car and Micro Sprint schedule.

However, Miller has found success in the Midget at I-55 in the past, finishing runner-up to McDermand in the POWRi event in April 2022.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 2-3, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, MO

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 3940 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 3780 points (-160) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Chase McDermand: 3624 points (-316) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Ashton Torgerson: 3575 points (-365) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Zach Daum: 3438 points (-502) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 3335 points (-605) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
Trevor Cline: 3094 points (-846) | Cline Racing #55
Gavin Miller: 2957 points (-983) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97
Tyler Edwards: 2947 points (-993) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Karter Sarff: 2742 points (-1198) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K

Toyota Feature winners (7 drivers)
6 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
3 wins – Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
2 wins – Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing #7x), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Zach Daum (Trifecta Motorsports #7U), Chase McDermand (CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40)

Toyota Feature laps led (15 drivers)
108 laps – Cannon McIntosh
77 laps – Ryan Timms
72 laps – Ashton Torgerson
44 laps – Kale Drake
41 laps – Karter Sarff
35 laps – Joe B. Miller
30 laps – Chase McDermand

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
25 laps – Zach Daum
29 laps – Hayden Reinbold

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Jade Avedisian
5 laps – Michael Pickens, Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Jason McDougal

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (11 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
3 awards – Kale Drake
2 awards – Karter Sarff, Ryan Timms
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Kyle Jones, Trevor Cline, Zach Daum, Tyler Edwards, Hayden Reinbold, Chase McDermand

Heat Race winners (22 drivers)
7 wins – Ashton Torgerson
6 wins – Chase McDermand
5 wins – Kale Drake, Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Zach Daum,
4 wins – Tyler Edwards
3 wins – Gavin Miller, Trevor Cline
2 wins – Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Karter Sarff

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Jason McDougal, Gunnar Setser, Hayden Reinbold

High-points honors (12 drivers)
3 honors – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms
2 honors – Zach Daum, Ashton Torgerson, Chase McDermand
1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Karter Sarff, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Michael Pickens, Hayden Reinbold

Last Chance Showdown wins (10 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis

Hard Charger Awards (14 drivers)
3 awards – Hayden Reinbold, Ryan Timms
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser, Jade Avedisian, Chase McDermand, Elijah Gile, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh, Gavin Miller, Jacob Denney, Ashton Torgerson

Podium finishes (16 drivers)
13 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
8 podiums – Ryan Timms
7 podiums – Zach Daum
5 podiums – Chase McDermand
4 podiums – Ashton Torgerson
3 podiums – Karter Sarff, Kale Drake, Gavin Miller, Hayden Reinbold
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Jade Avedisian, Michael Pickens, Trevor Cline, Jacob Denney, Jason McDougal

Top-10 finishes (37 drivers)
18 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh
16 top-10s – Chase McDermand, Ryan Timms
14 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson
13 top-10s – Zach Daum
10 top-10s – Karter Sarff, Gavin Miller
9 top-10s – Hayden Reinbold
8 top-10s – Kale Drake, Jade Avedisian
7 top-10s – Trevor Cline
5 top-10s – Taylor Reimer, Tyler Edwards, Kyle Jones
4 top-10s – Mitchell Davis
3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell, Gunnar Setser
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Sam Johnson, Jacob Denney, Jason McDougal
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr, Elijah Gile, Brayton Lynch, Nick Drake, Jacob Dykstra, Briggs Danner, Michael Pickens, Andrew Felker, Drake Edwards, Jonathan Beason

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake (1)
5. Fri, April 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ryan Timms (1)
6. Sat, April 13 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ashton Torgerson (1)
7. Fri, May 10 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS / Ashton Torgerson (2)
8. Sat, May 11 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Cannon McIntosh (2)
9. Tue, May 21 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Karter Sarff (2)
10. Wed, May 22 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Zach Daum (1)
11. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Ryan Timms (2)
12. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Cannon McIntosh (3)
13. Thu, May 30 / Doe Run Raceway / Doe Run, MO / Cannon McIntosh (4)
14. Fri, May 31 / Coles County Speedway / Matoon, IL / Ashton Torgerson (3)
15. Fri, July 19 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Ryan Timms (3)
16. Sat, July 20 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Cannon McIntosh (5)
17. Fri, July 26 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Cannon McIntosh (6)
18. Sat, July 27 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Chase McDermand (1)

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Return to Huset’s for Hustle Finale, High Bank Nationals, Aug. 30-Sept.1

BRANDON, SD (July 30, 2024) – Huset’s Speedway will welcome back the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the end of August to give drivers and fans the marquee event they’ve been waiting for.

After torrential rain flooded the South Dakota facility in June, the crown jewel event was moved to Labor Day weekend with the $25,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale now on Friday, Aug. 30, and the Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, with Sunday’s race paying $100,000 to win.

The first night of the Huset’s Hustle was completed in June with Tyler Courtney scoring his first victory at the track.

Current World of Outlaws points leader David Gravel is the most recent Huset’s High Bank Nationals champion, winning the premier event for the first time last year. Since joining Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports team in 2021, Gravel has been one of the best drivers at his owner’s track, picking up three wins there in the last three years. He’s now one win away from tying 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz for the most Series wins at the track of active drivers.

Huset’s has produced one of the most diverse list of winners, dating back to 2022. There have been nine different winners in the last nine World of Outlaws races at the bullring dirt track – they include Courtney, Gravel, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, Kyle Larson, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Spencer Bayston. It’s the longest streak of different winners the track as seen with the Series.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Sunday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Location – Brandon, SD
Track Record – 10.319 sec. by Terry McCarl on May 10, 2009

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 3 p.m.
Grandstand Gate Opens: 5 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 19, 2024) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LpHvG5D0n8

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Huset’s –
2024 – Tyler Courtney on June 19
2023 – Kyle Larson on June 21, James McFadden on June 22, Logan Schuchart on June 23, David Gravel on June 24
2022 – Spencer Bayston on June 22, Michael Kofoid on June 23, Carson Macedo on June 24, Sheldon Haudenschild on June 25
2021 - David Gravel on June 21, Aaron Reutzel on June 22, David Gravel on Aug. 22
2020 – Sheldon Haudenschild on Sept. 5, Kyle Larson on Sept. 6
2016 – Brad Sweet won on July 2, Donny Schatz won on July 3
2015 –Donny Schatz won on June 14
2014 – Mark Dobmeier won on July 2
2013 – Tim Kaeding won on July 3
2012 – Mark Dobmeier won on July 3
2011 –Steve Kinser won on Aug. 20
2010 –Sammy Swindell won on July 1
2008 – Craig Dollansky won on June 13, Craig Dollansky won on July 3
2007 –Donny Schatz won on July 3
2006 – Brooke Tatnell won on May 7, Terry McCarl won on July 3
2005 –Brian Paulus won on June 28
2004 – Sammy Swindell won on July 6
2003 – Steve Kinser won on June 18
2002 – Steve Kinser won on July 2
2001 – Donny Schatz won on April 29, Mark Kinser won on July 3
2000 –Mark Kinser won on May 7, Mark Kinser won on July 3
1999 – Mark Kinser won on May 3, Mark Kinser won on July 7
1998 – Stevie Smith won on July 7
1997 – Sammy Swindell won on April 27, Mark Kinser won on July 3
1996 – Mark Kinser won on July 3
1995 – Dave Blaney won on June 28
1994 – Mark Kinser won on June 29
1993 – Steve Kinser won on Aug. 23
1992 – Steve Kinser won on Aug. 21, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 22
1991 –Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 23, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 24
1990 – Doug Wolfgang won on July 4, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 24, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 25
1989 –Doug Wolgang won on July 5, Bobby Davis, Jr. won on Aug. 25, Doug Wolfgang won on Aug. 26
1984 – Steve Kinser won on July 11
1983 –Sammy Swindell won on April 30, Steve Kinser won on July 6

HAPPY BELATED: Chase McDermand Ends 20-Race Drought Day After 24th Birthday at Tulsa Speedway

TULSA, OK (July 27, 2024) – There was one thing Chase McDermand wanted for his 24th birthday; something he hadn’t experienced in 10 months. On Saturday night at Tulsa Speedway, albeit a day late, he got it – a win with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Last year, McDermand led all drivers in Feature wins with six, but 2024 started out a different story. In each of the 20 Xtreme Outlaw Series races held since his last win at Red Hill Raceway in September 2023, he was shut out of Victory Lane. He had gone 17 Series races this year with a best finish of second, three times, but still hungered for the top of the mountain.

After a 14th-place effort on his birthday at Arrowhead Speedway Friday night, he was desperate for a spark to help him break through. But after setting Whitz Racing Products Quick Time in Qualifying, winning Toyota Heat Race 1 and claiming the pole for the Feature, McDermand had been charged with the skill and speed he needed to finally punch through, leading all 30 laps of the main event to bank his eighth career Series victory.

“It feels almost as good as the first one; it’s been so long since we’ve been in Victory Lane,” McDermand, of Springfield, IL, said. “Everybody’s been working super hard over here and they deserve a lot better finishes than what we’d been putting together this season.”

Despite his early struggles, McDermand has found consistency this season, posting four podium finishes, nine top-fives and top-10s in each race except two coming into Saturday night’s program. All of which has combined to seed him third in the Series points standings – two spots higher from where he finished in the 2023 championship chase. So, what kept him out of Victory Lane for over half the season?

“I feel like we’ve had good speed at times – it’s kind of been sporadic – but I just wasn’t quite able to capitalize, maybe it was a second place or a third place,” McDermand said. “From last season to now, I feel like everybody else has kind of improved a little bit, and we stayed a little bit stagnant from last year to this year. Just didn’t do quite as good of a job over the winter as some of the other teams.”

Lining up on the pole of Saturday’s main event, McDermand jumped out to the lead on the first lap and began to open a gap on second-place Trevor Cline. He held strong through the race’s first restart on Lap 7 but soon had company at the head of the field from home-state racer Jason McDougal.

McDougal, the 26-year-old open-wheel standout from Broken Arrow, OK, had made passes on Zach Daum and Cline to move into second and by Lap 10 had caught McDermand. Into Turns 1 and 2 they raced – McDermand through the middle-high lane and McDougal with a big run around the bottom – before McDougal got a great drive off Turn 2 and sped by McDermand for the lead down the backstretch.

“I probably wasn’t running the right line, and that’s the thing about being the leader – you’re kind of a sitting duck out there when the track starts to change or a new line develops,” McDermand said. “His car was really good on the bottom and mine was really a little too tight to run down there, so I was a little bit worried when I saw he was peeking his nose.”

But McDermand wasn’t going to concede to McDougal. With great speed into Turn 3, McDermand ripped the high line around the 1/4-mile oval and got the speed he needed to nose back in front of McDougal at the start/finish line.

“I got a little antsy and showed my nose on the bottom of (Turns) 1 and 2 too much,” McDougal said. “I was fading a little bit in 3 and 4 but still maintaining, but I should’ve waited another half a lap or another two laps and just played my cards a little better.”

The two raced side-by-side for the next four corners before McDermand was able to get back in control of the spot on Lap 13 with a move to the outside through Turns 1 and 2. For the next nine laps, McDermand went to work on getting through lapped traffic as he proceeded to open a gap of two full seconds on McDougal in second.

That advantage held until Lap 22, when the caution was thrown for Tanner Conn stopped in Turn 4. This erased McDermand’s lead, restacked the field and put McDougal on his bumper for the restart.

With one final chance at the lead, McDougal made a bid for it down low in Turns 1 and 2 on the restart, but McDermand shut it down with a block and good speed off Turn 2. From there, McDermand was smooth and cruised to the $4,000 payday – a nice check for turning 24.

“Even though it came a day late, better late than never I guess,” McDermand said with a smile. “It was super nice to celebrate yesterday; it didn’t have a good night, but I was able to cap off the weekend with a good run.”

Over a second-and-a-half back, McDougal crossed the stripe with the runner-up spot to claim his first career Xtreme Outlaw Series podium in only his second Series start.

Behind McDougal came Zach Daum, crossing the stripe in third following a hard-fought battle after the final restart. Ryan Timms, who had come from ninth on the starting grid, took third from Daum on the Lap 22 restart and second from McDougal on Lap 26 after putting a slide job on the RAMCO No. 7P.

However, Timms was unable to hold it on the podium as McDougal executed the crossover on Timms’ slider, and Daum was able to get back by for third after Timms overshot Turns 1 and 2 and nearly spun on the final lap.

Racing only 10 minutes down the road from the Trifecta Motorsports shop in Tulsa, Daum was injected with confidence and good spirit after collecting his sixth podium of the seaon.

“With them being just down the road, you always want to run good,” Daum said. “There’s been a ton of people at the trailer all night. Anytime they get to run in front of a hometown crowd and friends and family that comes around. It’s good to end up on the podium.”

Timms held on to finish fourth while his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammate Cannon McIntosh completed the top-five with a last-lap pass to keep his streak of 18-straight top-five finishes going.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is back in action next Friday-Saturday, Aug. 2-3, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 as part of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ marquee Ironman 55 event.

Pre-sale tickets for the Ironman 55 are on sale now at WorldofOutlaws.com. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 40-Chase McDermand[1]; 2. 7P-Jason McDougal[4]; 3. 7U-Zach Daum[2]; 4. 67-Ryan Timms[9]; 5. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[10]; 6. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[8]; 7. 3P-Drake Edwards[7]; 8. 97-Gavin Miller[5]; 9. 60X-Kyle Jones[13]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[3]; 11. 11A-Andrew Felker[14]; 12. 71-Jade Avedisian[6]; 13. 14S-Tyler Edwards[17]; 14. 5U-Peter Smith[11]; 15. 93-Kyle Bellm[15]; 16. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[16]; 17. 98-Gunnar Setser[12]; 18. 21-Jonathan Beason[21]; 19. 66-Jayden Clay[20]; 20. 85-Tanner Conn[18]; 21. 19-Taylor Hall[23]; 22. 7-Shannon McQueen[19]; 23. 10J-Noah Harris[22]

SOONER THE BETTER: McIntosh Wins in Home State at Arrowhead for Sixth Xtreme Victory of 2024

COLCORD, OK (July 26, 2024) – In front of his home-state friends and family Friday night, Cannon McIntosh showed yet again why he remains one of the top Midget racers in the country.

The 21-year-old Oklahoma racer’s sixth win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota came after a slide job on Hayden Reinbold in lapped traffic at the halfway point. McIntosh then led the rest of the way and survived a late restart to take the checkered flag in national Midget racing’s first-ever event at Arrowhead Speedway.

“It took me a few laps to get going, and once I figured out the line, I think the car just came to life,” McIntosh, of Bixby, OK, said. “It just took me a few laps to figure out what I needed to do to make the car happy.”

In collecting the $4,000 grand prize and his 11th career Xtreme Outlaw Series Feature win, McIntosh increased his points lead to 165 over his teammate at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM), Ryan Timms, who came from ninth to finish second.

Polesitter Jason McDougal led the field to the green flag and grabbed the early lead over Gunnar Setser and Reinbold. As McDougal and Setser floated through the bottom and middle lanes, the top side was open for Reinbold, who threw it hard into Turns 1 and 2 on the second lap and drove by both drivers to take the lead down the backstretch.

“There was just a little lane around the top that I was able to slot-car around,” Reinbold, 20, of Chandler, AZ, said. “The car was just really good; I think it was just a bit too good early.”

After a quick restart on Lap 3, Reinbold began to expand on his lead, opening up a gap of nearly two seconds over second place at its largest. At this point, McIntosh had begun to make his charge to the front, taking over second from McDougal with a slide job in Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 6.

Lap-by-lap, McIntosh cut deeper and deeper into Reinbold’s lead and by Lap 11 had trimmed it down to only a few car lengths. McIntosh gave Reinbold his first challenge with a slider in Turns 3 and 4, but Reinbold stayed strong, crossing McIntosh over out of Turn 4 to take the spot back.

Two circuits later, Reinbold went into Turn 1 on the heels of two lapped cars and McIntosh right behind him. As Reinbold put a slider of his own on Kyle Bellm and slid up the track, McIntosh pointed his car down low and drove off Turn 2 with speed and made the pass on the inside of Reinbold for the lead.

“I could tell I was catching him in clean air even when he was by himself, but when he got to traffic, I was able to really close it up,” McIntosh said. “And then just make a couple good moves. I entered high and diamond-ed down; I had to wait on it a lot but was able to still close up on him and throw the move on him.”

“I just struggled a little bit through traffic; kind of hard to get through cars a little bit,” Reinbold said. “He must’ve just made strides through traffic a little bit better than us and was able to pull off the slider on us. “

From there, it was all McIntosh out front with Timms giving chase behind him. From ninth on the starting grid, Timms had raced his way to third when McIntosh took the lead, right before the caution flag was displayed on Lap 16 for a slowing Kyle Jones in Turn 2.

On the restart, Timms threw a slider on Reinbold in Turns 1 and 2 to take second, which he held through the checkered flag to claim the runner-up spot for the second-straight race. In the end, Timms said despite his strong Qualifying effort – which garnered him the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award – his mistakes in the Heat Race may have hurt his chances to compete for the win in the Feature.

“I think staying in lapped traffic the first time we all got to it would have been a big difference,” Timms said. “Starting up front probably would have allowed that.”

Reinbold held onto third and crossed under the checkers to claim his second podium finish in the last two races while reigning Series champion Jade Avedisian crossed in fourth and Setser rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets continue the Oklahoma swing with a visit to Tulsa Speedway on Saturday, July 27. Tickets will be available at the gate. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[3]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms[9]; 3. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[4]; 4. 71-Jade Avedisian[5]; 5. 98-Gunnar Setser[2]; 6. 7U-Zach Daum[11]; 7. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[17]; 8. 7P-Jason McDougal[1]; 9. 21-Jonathan Beason[19]; 10. 11A-Andrew Felker[8]; 11. 97-Gavin Miller[10]; 12. 55-Trevor Cline[12]; 13. 3P-Drake Edwards[13]; 14. 40-Chase McDermand[15]; 15. 93-Kyle Bellm[20]; 16. 5U-Peter Smith[16]; 17. 85-Tanner Conn[14]; 18. 66-Jayden Clay[21]; 19. 7-Shannon McQueen[22]; 20. 60X-Kyle Jones[7]; 21. 19-Taylor Hall[18]; 22. 14S-Tyler Edwards[6]

WEEDSPORT WONDER: David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports Top Fourth Weedsport Race in Five Tries

Gravel bests Macedo to become the winningest driver in Series history at the New York oval

WEEDSPORT, NY (July 28, 2024) - The pairing of David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports has been perhaps the fastest in Sprint Car Racing in 2024. Take them to one of their best tracks as a pairing, and it’s almost not even fair for the competition.

Such was the case Sunday night when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars journeyed to New York. Weedsport Speedway awaited to host The Greatest Show on Dirt’s only “Empire State” appearance of 2024. Entering the night Gravel and Tod Quiring’s team had contested four races together at Weedsport. Their results? Three visits to Victory Lane and a runner-up.

Add on to that résumé the fact that Gravel rolled into Weedsport on a streak of six straight top two finishes that included a Kings Royal triumph and the 100th victory of Gravel’s career, and Gravel and the Big Game crew entered the Weedsport pit area as odds on favorites. And they delivered.

Gravel started third in the 30-lap main event, took second early, and stalked Carson Macedo until the right time arose. And when the window opened, Gravel drove right by Macedo, and that was all she wrote. The point leader built up a sizeable lead and took the checkered flag with just under a four-second advantage.

“I know about every time we’ve been here in the 2 car we’ve won,” Gravel said. “Cody (Jacobs), Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), and Zach (Patterson) are continuing to do their jobs and give me great race cars. It’s been a lot of fun to drive. It’s been a dream season. We’ve still got a long ways to go, but, man, this is fun.”

The 13th win of the year for Gravel already makes 2024 the second winningest season in his tenure. His most is 18 in 2017 with CJB Motorsports. A fourth Weedsport victory gives him sole possession of the most at the New York oval, breaking a tie with Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz. One night after securing his 100th World of Outlaws triumph, Gravel pushed the total to 101 and closed within four of Joey Saldana for seventh on the all-time list. It was also Big Game Motorsports’ 107th Series win as a team, positioning Quiring’s crew just one behind Roth Motorsports.

The Empire State Challenge main event was led to green by Carson Macedo with Michael Kofoid alongside. Macedo pulled ahead to lead the first circuit, and Gravel quickly rolled by Kofoid to take over second right before a red flag flew for Davie Franek tumbling in Turn 3.

Macedo managed to maintain the lead on the ensuing restart. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot used the slider line in Turns 1 and 2 and stuck the bottom on the opposite end of the unique oval. Behind him Gravel ran a similar line in the first set of corners but ripped the top in Turns 3 and 4.

A yellow flag with 19 laps remaining set up another restart for Macedo with Gravel alongside him. The Lemoore, CA native again pulled ahead when the green lights brought the action back to life, but Gravel didn’t let him get far.

On the 13th circuit Gravel built a huge run on the cushion in Turns 3 and 4 and down the front straightaway. The momentum allowed him to duck under Macedo and complete the pass in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo had no counter as Gravel drifted in front of him, caught the grip, and pulled ahead.

Gravel drove away in the second half of the race while a battle brewed for the runner-up spot behind him. Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Stewart Friesen all jockeyed for podium positioning.

Up ahead Gravel had the Huset’s Speedway No. 2 on a Sunday drive as he rolled comfortably to victory to make it a baker’s dozen in the win column this year.

“I felt like with him (Macedo) being down in (Turns) 3 and 4 I was getting really good runs down the front stretch,” Gravel said. “This place continues to change, and as the fuel load comes off you really got to get aggressive on your wing. In lapped traffic, I was getting out of the racetrack a little bit, so when we got that clean track there with that caution, I felt like it was my time to pounce and try to get in front of him and control the race after that. It all worked out.”

Haudenschild came out on top of the war for second. The runner-up result aboard the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 equaled his best Weedsport finish.

“Just being able to see kind of where he was running,” Haudenschild said of getting by Macedo late. “He was trying different things to catch David obviously. I was probably entering (Turn) 1 higher than anybody and trying to get down the track. The 41 was ripping the top, and the 2 was kind of through the middle, so I think they were all pretty even. It’s just a tricky track. What do you do? These races are hard to win, and the 2 is on it right now. Happy to get out of here with a podium rolling into Pevely and give our guys a little bit of confidence.”

After leading the first 13 laps, Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 home third. He and the JJR crew were stout all night but just needed a little more speed to have a better shot at holding on for the victory.

“It seemed like after the restart there I felt like I was hitting pretty good laps,” Macedo said. “I went back down to the bottom, and I could hear him and see him enter off my right rear on the top. And when I hit the bottom, I felt like it was pretty good, and he still was able to get a run on me and cross me over and beat me down into Turn 1. Then I paced behind him. Then the caution came out and I thought, ‘Okay, I know what he’s going to do.’ And he actually peeled off and went down to the bottom where I was running in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I tried to run the top and he was still faster than me down there. I really don’t know what I could’ve done different, but nevertheless we ended up third.”

Stewart Friesen and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

And 19th to 10th run earned Larry Wight the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his fourth Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 33rd of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild and David Gravel. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Larry Wight won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Davie Franek.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Pevely, MO’s Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the grueling Ironman 55 on August 2-3. The winner of the 55-lap finale takes home the iconic dumbbell trophy and $25,000. 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. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 4. 0-Stewart Friesen[9]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[8]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 7. 28-Jordan Poirier[10]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 10. 10B-Larry Wight[19]; 11. 70-Kraig Kinser[15]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 13. 79-Jordan Thomas[12]; 14. W20-Greg Wilson[21]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 16. 10-Billy VanInwegen Jr[24]; 17. 22P-Jonathan Preston[16]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[18]; 19. 7NY-Matt Farnham[13]; 20. 6-Kelby Watt[20]; 21. 41X-Dalton Rombough[14]; 22. 36-Logan Crisafulli[23]; 23. 28F-Davie Franek[17]; 24. O1-Danny Varin[22]

100: David Gravel Fends Off Donny Schatz for Summer Nationals Glory, Milestone World of Outlaws Victory

The Watertown, CT native earns his 100th career World of Outlaws checkered flag in thrilling fashion at Williams Grove

MECHANICSBURG, PA (July 27, 2024) - Two straight races David Gravel had been denied a milestone moment by a single spot. But he simply refused to let it happen again on Saturday night at Williams Grove Speedway.

After claiming the Kings Royal crown at Eldora Speedway last Saturday, Gravel sat at 99 career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car wins.

On Wednesday at BAPS Motor Speedway, an ill-timed red flag potentially took away an opportunity at reaching 100. Then two nights later as the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals kicked off at Williams Grove, Gravel made a pass on T.J. Stutts for the lead with only five laps to go but couldn’t quite hold him back as he drove back by.

And on Saturday a similar story looked to be writing itself. Gravel charged from fourth to the lead, but Donny Schatz drove back around him and looked to shut him out of Victory Lane for the third straight race. A hungry Gravel motored back into the lead on Lap 18, but Schatz didn’t make it easy. A late restart set up a duel between the two drivers leading the World of Outlaws points. Schatz stayed all over Gravel as the final laps clicked away and even showed him a nose multiple times. But Gravel dodged every punch thrown by the 10-time Series champion to prevail and claim his 100th victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt and a $20,000 payday.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Gravel said. “To achieve that milestone. Beat Donny Schatz at Williams Grove. What a place to do it. This 2 car, we haven’t been in Victory Lane here together at Williams Grove. This is a tough track to win at. It felt like I was hanging on there a little bit at the end. I saw Donny poking his nose, but I felt like doing what I was doing it would’ve been hard for him to pass me, and this feels really good.”

Gravel became the eighth driver in Series history to reach 100 victories, joining Steve Kinser (690 wins), Sammy Swindell (394), Donny Schatz (314), Mark Kinser (203), Doug Wolfgang (140), Danny Lasoski (122), and Joey Saldana (105). Gravel’s triumphs have come with seven different race teams – Big Game Motorsports (42), CJB Motorsports (32), Jason Johnson Racing (19), Roth Motorsports (4), DDR Motorsports (1), Bill Rose Racing (1), and Rod Tiner Racing (1).

His 12th World of Outlaws win of 2024 equals the second most he’s had in one season. The Summer Nationals score marked Gravel’s ninth Series win at Williams Grove, equaling him with a pair of legends – Fred Rahmer and Greg Hodnett – on that list.

The 30-lap NOS Energy Drink Feature was brought to green by Donny Schatz and Daryn Pittman. Schatz pulled narrowly ahead of Pittman to lead the opening circuit.

Throughout the first several laps Pittman stayed glued to the tail tank of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15. Pittman, aboard the iconic Kreitz Racing No. 69K, stalked the Fargo, ND pilot lap after lap. And then on the ninth circuit, Pittman found an opening to take a swing at the top spot. The 2013 World of Outlaws champion fired a slide job in Turns 3 and 4 that cleared, but Schatz dipped under Pittman to reclaim the lead.

Schatz managed to pull slightly ahead of Pittman after fending off the challenge, and Gravel quickly close on the No. 69K. He snatched second from Pittman on Lap 19, and the gap between himself and Schatz began to tighten.

Only two laps later Gravel got a great launch off the bottom of Turn 2 to power by Schatz down the back straightaway and lead the lap. The pass lit a fire under Schatz as he pulled off a tight slider in Turns 3 and 4 on the next circuit to take it back right before a yellow flag.

Once the restart brought the action back to life, Gravel went back to work building momentum on the cushion around the entire half mile. He remained committed to the top while Schatz rolled the low line. A massive run out of Turn 4 and down the front straightaway allowed Gravel to turn under Schatz and clear him heading into Turn 1.

The yellow flag was again displayed right when Gravel was set to encounter traffic in the closing laps. But instead of the clean air helping him on the restart, it let Schatz make one last run at the win. Schatz kept his machine glued to the bottom as low as he could and even showed Gravel a nose multiple times.

“I thought as long as I exited off of (Turn) 4 good I would be okay. And then I was kind of running the middle on entrance in (Turns) 1 and 2. I thought that was better, but they (his team) said he was running just below me, so maybe I should’ve kept going low there, but it was good enough to get the job done.”

The final laps unfolded, and Schatz let Gravel have everything he had. He searched for speed on the bottom but it wasn’t quite enough. Gravel didn’t flinch despite the pressure and went on to win with a half a second margin of victory over Schatz. 100 wins. History had been made.

Reaching the milestone caused an emotional Gravel to reflect on the journey.

“I bounced around a lot in my career and was able to win in a lot of different cars,” Gravel said. “I wouldn’t be here without all of those people giving me opportunities. As a Sprint Car driver trying to make a living, people have to take chances on you. Going out with Bill Rose and Rod Tiner and having a s****y season. And then CJB hiring me. All of those things just catapulted my career. Roth (Motorsports) gave me my first big national opportunity. It’s been a fun ride. I’m 32 years old. Hopefully we can keep getting a lot more.”

Schatz came home second for his third runner-up in the last six World of Outlaws Features. He and the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team continue to flex plenty of muscle as they look to hunt down Gravel in the title chase.

“We were decent,” Schatz said. “From the word go we were okay, and the longer I ran the looser I got. I tried moving the wing, and it kind of made me a little bit worse, so I kind of had to go back. I just kind of started searching around the racetrack. I tried the top. I tried the middle. It seemed like that yellow helped. It cooled the tires down and I could go for a few laps. I just couldn’t get in the racetrack the way we needed to. We were there, but I guess we’ll have to settle for second tonight.”

Brent Marks rounded out the podium aboard the Murray-Marks Motorsports No. 19. It was a strong night for the defending National Open champion on home turf.

“We just started the race off a little too tight there and just weren’t able to build momentum,” Marks explained. “But once the fuel load wore off a little bit we started coming on. I just wasn’t able to get the right momentum built up to get by Donny there for second and challenge David for the win. We just weren’t quite good enough for that, but all in all I’m really happy with a good, solid night.”

Daryn Pittman and Justin Peck completed the top five.

A 17th to 10th drive aboard the Gary Kauffman No. 48 earned Danny Dietrich the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Brent Marks grabbed his third Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the sixth of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Brent Marks, Carson Macedo, and Daryn Pittman. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Donny Schatz topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Anthony Macri won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Kelby Watt.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only New York stop of 2024 for the Empire State Challenge at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, July 28. 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. 2-David Gravel[4]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 4. 69K-Daryn Pittman[2]; 5. 13-Justin Peck[7]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 8. 12-Lance Dewease[6]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich[17]; 11. 8-Cory Eliason[10]; 12. 83-Michael Kofoid[16]; 13. 2D-Chase Dietz[13]; 14. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[11]; 15. 39M-Anthony Macri[21]; 16. 8R-Freddie Rahmer[23]; 17. 5-Spencer Bayston[18]; 18. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[25]; 19. 67-Justin Whittall[14]; 20. 11-TJ Stutts[19]; 21. 1S-Logan Schuchart[22]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen[24]; 23. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 24. 6-Kelby Watt[12]; 25. 35-Austin Bishop[15]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

POSSE PRIDE: T.J. Stutts Stuns World of Outlaws with Williams Grove Morgan Cup Victory

The PA Posse veteran gets his first career World of Outlaws victory and the Morgan Cup by holding off a hungry David Gravel

Mechanicsburg, PA (July 26, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car and Pennsylvania Posse rivalry has given us so many memorable moments. And it delivered another gem on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway.

Liverpool, PA’s T.J. Stutts lined up on the front row alongside the hottest driver in the sport through recent weeks – David Gravel. Stutts is no slouch. He’s been driving Sprint Cars for more than two decades in the “Keystone State” and picked up a handful of wins. But he’d never topped The Greatest Show on Dirt heading into the Morgan Cup finale/opener for the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals.

Could he really give Gravel a run for his money? The man that was fresh off being crowned a Kings Royal champion. The man that already owns 11 World of Outlaws wins in 2024. The man that’s won more money than any other Sprint Car driver in the nation by a wide margin this year. The man with eight World of Outlaws wins at Williams Grove. Could he make the Posse proud against all odds? Absolutely he could.

Stutts ripped around Gravel on the initial start and had to earn every bit of a trip to Victory Lane. Gravel threw everything he had at him, but Stutts was up for the challenge. He aced multiple restarts. He didn’t back down when Gravel slid him in the closing laps and crossed over to take the lead back. He never stumbled in lapped traffic. And he drove the Stutts Racing No. 11 to one of the biggest upsets in World of Outlaws history for a $17,000 payday.

An explosion of emotion erupted in Victory Lane. Stutts’ team welcomed him with shouts and slaps on the panels of his machine. Once he climbed out, the hugs were long and abundant in number. Chants of “T-J” roared from the stands. And then cheers when Stutts climbed all the way atop his wing might’ve registered on the Richter scale. Stutts had done it. He’d topped the Outlaws on the hallowed ground of Williams Grove and held off perhaps the fastest car in the country to do it.

“We beat the damn Outlaws,” a thrilled Stutts said. “And not just any Outlaw, but David Gravel. There’s about five Outlaws that are in that league, and we just got to drive with one of them and beat him. You’ve got to understand. We just go to work every day. This is our version of golf. If this was the PGA, they wouldn’t even let us play with them. I don’t even know what to say. This is beyond words.”

Stutts became the 153rd different winner in World of Outlaws history by grabbing his first checkered flag in his 56th career Feature start. He’s the 54th different driver to top a Series race at Williams Grove through 235 visits. The win will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the biggest upsets in World of Outlaws history. It’ll be in the realm with Travis Jacobsen’s 2012 triumph at Skagit, Jason Statler’s Santa Maria stunner in 1999, and others.

When the green flag dropped, Stutts set the tone for the 25-lapper. Despite Gravel having the pole position, Stutts didn’t back down and blasted around the outside of the Big Game Motorsports machine to lead the opening lap.

Gravel stayed within striking distance as the opening laps unfolded. Stutts opted for the low line in Turns 1 and 2 while Gravel hammered the cushion and got a run each time they exited the corner. But he couldn’t quite get the run he needed to make a move.

Right when the lead duo was poised to enter lapped traffic, the yellow flag flew for the first time as Justin Whittall went around in Turn 3.

Stutts aced a pair of restarts to maintain the lead while Gravel continued to hunt for a route around him. The race cleared the halfway point, and Gravel tripped on the cushion allowing Stutts some breathing room with only 10 laps to go. But Gravel wasn’t done.

The gap between the two shrank, and Gravel pulled right back up to the tail tank of Stutts in the closing circuits. On Lap 20, Gravel found his opening. The Watertown, CT native used a big run down the back straightaway to fire a slider at Stutts and clear him in Turns 3 and 4. But Stutts didn’t blink. He promptly turned down the banking and completed a crossover to quickly reclaim the lead.

Stutts and Gravel then faced traffic, but with a car he could move wherever he needed, the lapped cars played to Stutts’ favor.

“Honestly the lapped cars just fell right,” Stutts said. “The longer we went we just kept getting better and better, and we could move off that curb. I think being able to run (Turns) 3 and 4 like we did the last couple laps was the only reason we were able to beat him.”

The laps dwindled, and Stutts’ advantage grew as he smoothly worked the bottom around the historic half mile. The 44-year-old cruised to the checkered flag and put his name in the history books. He’s forever a World of Outlaws winner, and he made the Posse proud.

“Well, I gave Justin (Loh) and some of the Grove people a little bit of crap the other week,” Stutts said. “I said, ‘What’s the point in us racing every week here?’ And, Justin, this is your answer. We get to stand with the World of Outlaws, and we get to drive by them.”

Gravel brought the Huset’s Speedway No. 2 home second as he missed his 100th World of Outlaws Feature victory by one spot for the second straight race. He and the Tod Quiring-owned team continue to flex their muscle, and hitting triple digits looks likely to come sooner than later for Gravel.

“I probably should’ve maybe slid more aggressive across and got to the cushion a little faster,” Gravel explained. “Man, the lapped cars were running the top there, and that really slowed me up those last five laps. T.J. was really, really good those last three or four laps and could really maneuver around. It seemed like as the fuel load came off, I just got a little bit up in the left rear and had to rely on the top really bad. I tried to get some more wing back, but then it was harder and harder to run the cushion, and I think that’s where T.J. got us. He didn’t have to rely on the cushion.”

Rounding out the podium was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team. Macedo and company earned a much needed rebound after some recent struggled. They now own 17 top three runs during the 2024 World of Outlaws campaign.

“It definitely builds some confidence,” Macedo said. “I feel like we were pretty good. I think that ultimately just starting on the front row tonight probably would’ve helped. It’s crazy at “The Grove” how much air makes a difference. You get close to somebody, and it just totally changes the way you feel in the car. Hats off to Philip Dietz. He turned this thing around. We were struggling a little bit at BAPS, and he came in here and gave me a great race car all night. And I feel like Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman worked really hard, too.”

Anthony Macri and Freddie Rahmer completed the top five to give the Posse three of the first five finishers.

Brent Marks earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel picked up his eighth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 118th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, and T.J. Stutts. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Anthony Macri.

David Gravel topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Lucas Wolfe won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals with a $20,000-to-win/$1,500-to-start finale on Saturday, July 27. Then on Sunday, July 28 The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its only New York stop of 2024 with Weedsport Speedway’s Empire State Challenge. 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. 11-TJ Stutts[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 5. 8R-Freddie Rahmer[4]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 7. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[7]; 8. 19-Brent Marks[14]; 9. 13-Justin Peck[9]; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich[12]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[8]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[17]; 14. 5-Spencer Bayston[20]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart[18]; 17. 8-Cory Eliason[22]; 18. 2D-Chase Dietz[16]; 19. 83-Michael Kofoid[23]; 20. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[21]; 21. 67-Justin Whittall[10]; 22. 35-Austin Bishop[26]; 23. 6-Kelby Watt[19]; 24. 7S-Landon Crawley[25]; 25. 70-Kraig Kinser[24]; 26. 69K-Daryn Pittman[13]

J-MAC’S BACK: McFadden Bests Scelzi for World of Outlaws Bricker’s Bash Victory

The Australian goes back and forth with Giovanni Scelzi at BAPS to claim his first World of Outlaws triumph of 2024

YORK HAVEN, PA (July 24, 2024) - James McFadden returned to one of his favorite places on Wednesday night – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Victory Lane.

Last year the Alice Springs, NTR, Australia native had a breakout year with Roth Motorsports to the tune of six wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt. His 2024 calendar limited him to only nine World of Outlaws appearances entering Wednesday at BAPS Motor Speedway, but he made the most of number 10.

McFadden used a great move on the initial start to slot himself in second and then came out on top of a fierce duel with Giovanni Scelzi to snag the lead on Lap 15 before holding off the tour’s winningest drivers this year – David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild – to top the Bricker’s Bash.

And of course, the Australian celebrated the special return to Victory Lane with a NOS Energy Drink shoey atop the Roth No. 83SR.

“To rebound tonight and win against the Outlaws is special,” McFadden said. “Anytime you can win a race in America is great, but against the Outlaws is something that I grew up wanting to do as a kid. And we beat them and to take a little bit of money away from David. He’s been hogging it all lately.”

McFadden’s first win of 2024 is the 12th of his career with the World of Outlaws. It’s the second of 2024 for Roth Motorsports to go along with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid’s victory at Attica back in May. BAPS became the 11th track where the 35-year-old has won a Series event, and he’s the fourth different winner through four races at BAPS.

Scelzi led the field to green with Gravel alongside him, but it was McFadden powering from fourth to second in the opening set of corners.

The opening half of the 30-lapper saw the leaders mostly stay in line. An early yellow with six laps complete kept Scelzi in clean air as he was just about to encounter traffic. McFadden peeked to Scelzi’s inside on the restart but couldn’t pull alongside.

As traffic became a factor near the halfway point, the battle for the top spot intensified. Scelzi slipped up out of the groove ever so slightly in Turns 3 and 4 allowing McFadden to drive under him and lead Lap 15. Scelzi refused to go down without a fight as he wheeled the KCP Racing No. 18 under McFadden in Turns 1 and 2 to take it back. But McFadden used a big run out of Turn 2 to slice around “Hot Sauce” again in Turn 3. This time, McFadden kept his momentum up enough to hold Scelzi off in the next set of corners.

McFadden began to build up a lead after taking command. Behind him Gravel moved by Scelzi for the runner-up spot on Lap 19. The World of Outlaws point leader looked to be closing on McFadden, but a red flag with seven laps to go for contact between Scelzi and Brad Sweet halted his progress.

The restart allowed McFadden to power away in clean air, and that was all she wrote as he drove off to his 12th career World of Outlaws checkered flag.

“It was a super tough race,” McFadden said. “You just didn’t know where to run in (Turns) 1 and 2. There was really big holes in the middle there. My car was really good rotating underneath them. I just thought if we bide our time there and hope Gio made a mistake or lapped traffic slowed him down we’d be able to get by. Super happy that we did. My car was unbelievable tonight. Thanks to Brent (Ventura), Wood (Gary Patellaro), and Rob (Beattie).”

Gravel came home second aboard the Big Game Motorsports No. 2, coming up one spot short of his 100th World of Outlaws win. He continued his incredible consistency in 2024 with his 22nd podium of the season. If it weren’t for the timing of the red flag, Gravel’s 100th win might’ve come at BAPS.

“Our car really started coming to life there before that red flag,” Gravel said. “I wish we didn’t see a red flag there. We just added some fuel in the car, and were just really, really tight early and the car was coming to us. And then we added that fuel again and were not good after that red flag. Happy to finish second. J-Mac was pretty damn good. I felt like if it went to checkered there, we had a real shot to win that race.”

Rounding out the Bricker’s Bash podium was Sheldon Haudenschild in the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing machine. The Wooster, OH native improved in his second ever BAPS appearance, going from sixth last year to third in 2024 aboard a fast NOS Energy Drink No. 17.

“It was a great race honestly,” Haudenschild said. “My car felt really good all night. I thought we might’ve had something for them. I just didn’t do a good enough job those first six laps there. James got a really good start, and I got a really bad start. He got going there. Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Luke (Vaughn), Steve (Kinzer Dussel). They’ve been working hard.”

Brock Zearfoss and Cory Eliason completed the top five.

Carson Macedo earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 22nd to 13th drive in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.

Chase Dietz claimed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat Races One, Three, and Four belonged to Chase Dietz, Sheldon Haudenschild, and David Gravel. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kody Hartlaub 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 battle the PA Posse once again at Williams Grove Speedway’s C&D Rigging Summer Nationals on July 26-27 with $20,000 going to Saturday’s winner. Then it’s off to the season’s lone stop in New York with Weedsport Speedway’s Empire State Challenge on Sunday, July 28. 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. 83SR-James McFadden[4]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason[9]; 6. 2D-Chase Dietz[8]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[10]; 10. 23-Devon Borden[18]; 11. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[11]; 12. 83-Michael Kofoid[13]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo[22]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog[14]; 15. 8R-Freddie Rahmer[16]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich[15]; 18. 19B-Aaron Bollinger[24]; 19. 5-Tyler Ross[23]; 20. 49-Brad Sweet[5]; 21. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[19]; 22. 39-Kody Hartlaub[21]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 24. 19R-Mark Smith[20]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Oklahoma Doubleheader Features Home-State Stars at Arrowhead, Tulsa

CONCORD, NC (July 24, 2024) – Midget racing is headed for the “Sooner State” during the summer this year as the stars of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota visit Oklahoma for a two-race event this Friday and Saturday night.

The trip begins with a stop at the brand-new Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, OK, on Friday, July 26, featuring a 30-lap, $4,000-to-win main event. The track, formerly known as Flint Creek Speedway, underwent new ownership and complete property renovation, which was completed last year, and hosts national Midget series racing for the first time ever in 2024.

Teams will then head west to Tulsa for a visit to the Tulsa Speedway on Saturday, July 27. Focus Midgets made several appearances at the track before it ceased operations in 2005, but with its revival in 2021 comes a national Midget series for the first time in track history this year with a 30-lap, $4,000-to-win Feature on Saturday.

Tickets for both events will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

CHAMP HATH RETURNED – Reigning Series champion Jade Avedisian returns to the seat of the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM), Toyota-powered LynK Chassis No. 71 alongside a brand-new teammate.

Avedisian, 17, of Clovis, CA, missed last weekend’s Xtreme races due to her Toyota GR Cup Series duties at Virginia International Raceway. She’s projected to rejoin the Xtreme Outlaw roster for the rest of the season, excluding the season finale at Jacksonville Speedway in October, still searching for her first win of the season.

She’ll be joined on track by new KKM teammate, Gunnar Setser. The 15-year-old from Columbus, IN, suffered mechanical failure in his own car during Friday’s main event at Spoon River and was offered to fill the vacant seat in the KKM No. 98 for Saturday’s program, which he will keep for this upcoming weekend.

OKIE FROM BIXBY – Xtreme Outlaw Series points leader Cannon McIntosh comes into his home state holding a 153-point lead in the standings, fresh off a fifth win of the season last Saturday at Spoon River Speedway.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, is still riding his streak of 16 consecutive top-five finishes – the most ever strung together by one driver in Series history. This weekend, he would love nothing more than to get another win in front of his home-state fans, friends and family, racing only 20 miles from his hometown Saturday night.

While national Midgets have never competed at neither Arrowhead nor Tulsa, McIntosh has turned laps at both. He finished 10th with the POWRi West Midget League at Arrowhead in 2017 and has also tested a Sprint Car at Tulsa in the past.

OKC THUNDER – Fellow Oklahoma racer Ryan Timms also took a checkered flag at Spoon River last weekend, topping McIntosh for his third Series victory of the season.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, chipped into McIntosh’s lead slightly after the win Friday but lost more following McIntosh’s victory Saturday. Timms started sixth on the grid and moved up only one spot to collect his 11th top-five finish of the season but lost a net total of eight points over the weekend.

He’ll be looking for another win this weekend as he tries to cut further into McIntosh’s points lead in efforts to claim his first career national Midget series championship.

STOUT BUNCH – The Collinsville, OK-based operation Mounce/Stout Motorsports has a home game this weekend, as do two of their four drivers set to be in the field this weekend, racing in front of friends and family with a national Midget series for the first time.

Series regulars Tyler Edwards and Jayden Clay are the resident Oklahoma drivers on the team, both in their rookie national Midget seasons. Edwards, 31, of Salina, OK, bagged his fifth top-10 of the season Friday at Spoon River and moved up to ninth in the Series points standings. Clay, 16, of Newcastle, OK, is still navigating the learning curve in his first full season of Midget racing, but both he and Edwards will have a leg up on their opponents this weekend, having tested at Arrowhead with their Midgets earlier this summer.

Additionally, young California racer Taylor Hall will join the roster for the weekend, piloting a Mounce/Stout, Stanton-powered Spike Chassis No. 19. The 17-year-old from Roseville, CA, has dabbled in various areas open-wheel racing this year, racing Midgets with both POWRi and USAC Western States and driving a Velox Racing Micro Sprint entry at the Tulsa Shootout over the winter.

HOMETOWN TEAM – The Trifecta Motorsports team makes its home directly in the city of Tulsa, OK, utilizing the former OFIXCO Racing shop that housed several famed Sprint Cars in the 1970s and 1980s. This weekend, they’ll take two cars to race in front of their biggest fans, friends and family.

Inaugural Series champion Zach Daum – 32, of Pocahontas, IL – posted finishes of eighth and fourth last weekend in his home state and now turns his attention to his team’s homeland for two races at two tracks brand-new to him. While still down 490 points in the standings, Daum is going for his second win of the year in his second season under team owners Steve Carbone and Staton Flurry.

Returning to the seat of the No. 5U Midget for the first time since suffering injury at 81 Speedway in May, Peter Smith is back as Daum’s teammate for both races this weekend. Smith, 19, of Anthony, NM, has fully recovered from the concussion he sustained and will return to the roster with brother and crew chief Mark Smith on the wrenches.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday, July 26, at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, OK

Saturday, July 27, at Tulsa Speedway in Tulsa, OK

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 3506 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 3353 points (-153) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Chase McDermand: 3227 points (-279) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Ashton Torgerson: 3184 points (-322) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Zach Daum: 3016 points (-490) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 2958 points (-548) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
Karter Sarff: 2742 points (-764) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K
Trevor Cline: 2728 points (-778) | Cline Racing #55
Tyler Edwards: 2642 points (-864) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Gavin Miller: 2577 points (-929) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97

Toyota Feature winners (7 drivers)
5 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
3 wins – Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
2 wins – Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing #7x), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Zach Daum (Trifecta Motorsports #7U)

Toyota Feature laps led (14 drivers)
96 laps – Cannon McIntosh
77 laps – Ryan Timms
72 laps – Ashton Torgerson
44 laps – Kale Drake
41 laps – Karter Sarff
35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
25 laps – Zach Daum
17 laps – Hayden Reinbold

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Jade Avedisian
5 laps – Michael Pickens, Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Chase McDermand

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (10 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
3 awards – Kale Drake
2 awards – Karter Sarff
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Trevor Cline, Zach Daum, Tyler Edwards, Hayden Reinbold

Heat Race winners (19 drivers)
7 wins – Ashton Torgerson
5 wins – Kale Drake, Cannon McIntosh, Chase McDermand, Ryan Timms
4 wins – Zach Daum
3 wins – Tyler Edwards, Gavin Miller
2 wins – Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Trevor Cline, Karter Sarff

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Tyler Edwards

High-points honors (10 drivers)
3 honors – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms
2 honors – Zach Daum, Ashton Torgerson
1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Michael Pickens

Last Chance Showdown wins (10 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis

Hard Charger Awards (13 drivers)
3 awards – Hayden Reinbold
2 awards – Ryan Timms
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser, Jade Avedisian, Chase McDermand, Elijah Gile, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh, Gavin Miller, Jacob Denney

Podium finishes (15 drivers)
12 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
7 podiums – Ryan Timms
5 podiums – Zach Daum
4 podiums – Chase McDermand, Ashton Torgerson
3 podiums – Karter Sarff, Kale Drake, Gavin Miller
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Jade Avedisian, Michael Pickens, Trevor Cline, Hayden Reinbold, Jacob Denney

Top-10 finishes (33 drivers)
16 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh
15 top-10s – Chase McDermand
14 top-10s – Ryan Timms
12 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson
11 top-10s – Zach Daum
10 top-10s – Karter Sarff
9 top-10s – Gavin Miller
8 top-10s – Kale Drake, Hayden Reinbold
7 top-10s – Jade Avedisian
6 top-10s – Trevor Cline
5 top-10s – Taylor Reimer, Tyler Edwards
4 top-10s – Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis
3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Gunnar Setser, TJ Smith, Sam Johnson, Jacob Denney
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr, Elijah Gile, Brayton Lynch, Nick Drake, Jacob Dykstra, Briggs Danner, Michael Pickens

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake (1)
5. Fri, April 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ryan Timms (1)
6. Sat, April 13 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ashton Torgerson (1)
7. Fri, May 10 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS / Ashton Torgerson (2)
8. Sat, May 11 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Cannon McIntosh (2)
9. Tue, May 21 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Karter Sarff (2)
10. Wed, May 22 / Millbridge Speedway / Salisbury, NC / Zach Daum (1)
11. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Ryan Timms (2)
12. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Cannon McIntosh (3)
13. Thu, May 30 / Doe Run Raceway / Doe Run, MO / Cannon McIntosh (4)
14. Fri, May 31 / Coles County Speedway / Matoon, IL / Ashton Torgerson (3)
15. Fri, July 19 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Ryan Timms (3)
16. Sat, July 20 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL / Cannon McIntosh (5)

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Swing Back Through North Dakota With River Cities, Red River Stops in August

GRAND FORKS, ND (July 24, 2024) – North Dakota will welcome the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for the second time this year with stops at two fan-favorite tracks in August.

The Greatest Show on Dirt will visit River Cities Speedway on Friday, Aug. 23, and Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 24 – both races paying $12,000 to win.

It’ll be the Series’ second trip to River Cities this year. In June, Giovanni Scelzi held off a hard-charging Sheldon Haudenschild for his first win at the bullring. In doing so, he became the fifth different winner in five races at the track, joining David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo and Brad Sweet.

Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz, of Fargo, ND, still holds the most Series wins of any World of Outlaws driver at the track with 13. His last came in 2019.

Of active full-time World of Outlaws drivers, Schatz also holds the most Series wins at his home track Red River Valley Speedway with six. He’s the only driver with a repeat victory there in the Series’ last 10 visits to the 3/8-mile dirt track.

Pennsylvania’s Logan Schuchart is the most recent winner at the track, outrunning Gravel and Scelzi for his first win at the track last year.

If you can’t make it to either North Dakota track, you can watch both races live on DIRTVision.

RIVER CITIES EVENT INFO
Date – Friday, Aug. 23
Location – Grand Forks, ND
Track Record – 9.269 sec. by Jason Meyers on Aug. 21, 2009

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstand Opens: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (June 7, 2024) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX9pjLK577c

Previous World of Outlaws winners at River Cities –
2024 – Giovanni Scelzi on June 7
2023 – David Gravel on June 2, Logan Schuchart on Aug. 25
2022 – Carson Macedo on June 3, Brad Sweet on Aug. 26
2021 – Brad Sweet on Aug. 25
2020 –Kyle Larson on Aug. 21
2019 – Logan Schuchart on June 7, Donny Schatz on Aug. 16
2018 – Donny Schatz on June 15, Donny Schatz on Aug. 17
2017 – David Gravel on June 16, Donny Schatz on Aug. 18
2016 – Donny Schatz on June 17, Donny Schatz on Aug. 26
2015 – Donny Schatz on June 19, Donny Schatz on Aug. 21
2014 – Donny Schatz on June 20, Daryn Pittman on Aug. 15
2013 – Cody Darrah on June 21, Donny Schatz on Aug. 16
2012 – Kraig Kinser on June 15, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 17
2011 – Craig Dollansky on June 17, Craig Dollansky on June 18, Steve Kinser on Aug. 19
2010 – Steve Kinser on June 19, Joey Saldana on June 20
2009 – Donny Schatz on June 19, Craig Dollansky on Aug. 21
2008 – Donny Schatz on June 27
2007 – Joey Saldana on June 29

RED RIVER EVENT INFO
Date – Saturday, Aug. 24
Location – West Fargo, ND
Track Record – 11.460 sec. by Kasey Kahne on Aug. 21, 2021

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 2 p.m.
Grandstand Opens: 4 p.m.
Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.

Last Race Video Recap (Aug. 26, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmBIuMhZ5v0

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Red River –
2023 – Logan Schuchart on Aug. 26
2022 - Carson Macedo on Aug. 27
2021 – Donny Schatz on Aug. 21
2020 – Kyle Larson on Aug. 22
2018 – Donny Schatz on Aug. 18
2017 – Jason Johnson on Aug. 19
2012 – Sammy Swindell on June 16
2009 – Jason Meyers on June 20
2008 – Daryn Pittman on Aug. 12
2007 – Jac Haudenschild on June 30
2006 – Donny Schatz on June 16, Donny Schatz on June 17
2005 – Brian Paulus on July 1, Jason Meyers on July 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 16
2004 – Joey Saldana on July 8, Jason Meyers on July 9, Joey Saldana on July 10
2003 – Steve Kinser on June 12, Donny Schatz on June 13, Danny Lasoski on June 14
2002 – Joey Saldana on July 4, P.J. Chesson on July 5, Donny Schatz on July 6
2001 – Steve Kinser on July 5, Sammy Swindell on July 6, Craig Dollansky on July 7
2000 – Sammy Swindell on July 6, Danny Lasoski on July 7, Sammy Swindell on July 8
1999 – Andy Hillenburg on July 8, Stevie Smith on July 9, Steve Kinser on July 10
1998 – Steve Kinser on July 9, Steve Kinser on July 10, Sammy Swindell on July 11
1997 – Steve Kinser on July 11, Stevie Smith on July 12
1996 – Mark Kinser on July 6, Sammy Swindell on July 7
1995 – Sammy Swindell on July 7, Sammy Swindell on July 8
1994 – Dave Blaney on July 9, Steve Kinser on July 10
1993 – Steve Kinser on July 9, Johnny Herrera on July 10
1992 – Steve Kinser on July 10, Steve Kinser on July 12
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on July 5, Doug Wolfgang on July 6
1990 – Doug Wolfgang on July 6, Doug Wolfgang on July 7
1989 – Doug Wolfgang on July 7, Jeff Swindell on July 8
1988 – Sammy Swindell on July 8, Doug Wolfgang on July 9
1987 – Steve Kinser on July 11
1986 – Sammy Swindell on July 11, Steve Kinser on July 12
1985 – Mark Kinser on July 12, Steve Kinser on July 13
1984 – Jeff Swindell on July 13, Steve Kinser on July 14
1983 – Sammy Swindell on July 8, Sammy Swindell on July 9
1982 – Sammy Swindell on July 12, Steve Kinser on July 13
1981 – Sammy Swindell on July 13

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Set for Three Pennsylvania Races, 2024’s Lone New York Stop

BAPS and Williams Grove rekindle the PA Posse rivalry before a Sunday visit to Weedsport

YORK HAVEN, PA (July 23, 2024) - The summer stretch continues with another busy week of action for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

First, Sprint Car racing’s fiercest rivalry resumes with three races over four nights in Pennsylvania where the Posse awaits. Then, it’s north to New York for the season’s one visit to the “Empire State.”

The Greatest Show on Dirt gets the week started with a Wednesday, July 24, visit to York Haven, PA’s BAPS Motor Speedway for the Bricker’s Bash. The Series made a thrilling return to BAPS for the first time in 32 years last season. Then, the weekend brings the tour to the iconic Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) for the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals on July 26-27. With weather wiping out the Morgan Cup finale in May, the traditional $5,000 bonus carries over to Friday’s opener, making it $17,000-to-win before a $20,000-to-win finale on Saturday.

After racing wraps up at “The Grove,” the teams will journey to New York’s Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, July 28. The Empire State Challenge will be 2024’s lone visit to New York for the World of Outlaws.

BUY BAPS TICKETS HERE
BUY FRIDAY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE
BUY WEEDSPORT TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s take a look at the weekend’s top storylines:

FEELING LIKE A KING: There’s no denying David Gravel is atop the Sprint Car world. Last week he won three of the five races he contested including Eldora Speedway’s 41st running of the Kings Royal, pushing his 2024 earnings over half a million dollars. The Watertown, CT native hasn’t finished outside the top 10 since May 25 at Atomic Speedway. Gravel leads the Series standings by 66 markers as he chases his first title.

The stats suggest the hot streak could continue for Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team with four races in five nights ahead. Last year, Gravel topped the return to BAPS in his debut at the facility. Williams Grove is the winningest track on his résumé as he’s taken eight trips to Victory Lane.

Weedsport has also been incredibly kind to the 32-year-old. Three of the last four races at the New York oval were topped by him, putting him in a tie with Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz for the most Weedsport wins. The one race he didn’t win was a runner-up in 2022.

NOT GOING QUIETLY: While Gravel may look unstoppable at the moment, Donny Schatz continues to lurk and won’t go down without a fight in the hunt for his 11th title. Gravel said it himself after the Kings Royal of Schatz, “You can’t put that guy away.”

Despite Gravel’s incredible week, Schatz only gave up eight points in the championship chase. He passed a combined 48 cars in the three Series races leading to finishes of second, fourth, and second and also grabbed a win a week and a half ago at Wilmot.

Schatz’s only BAPS start led to a 12th place run last season, but his success at Williams Grove is off the charts. The 10-time Series champion owns 21 World of Outlaws victories at the half mile, which ranks behind only Steve Kinser’s tally of 38. Over at Weedsport, the driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 hasn’t missed the top 10 in seven tries and has three victories (2015, 2016, 2022).

POSSE TURNED OUTLAWS: With the strong landscape of Sprint Car racing in Pennsylvania, the Posse often send stars to the national ranks. And such is the case for a pair of World of Outlaws stars returning to their roots this week.

Logan Schuchart is amid his 11th season with the World of Outlaws since departing the Hanover, PA porch for the tour in 2014. Last year, Schuchart got a long-awaited first Williams Grove victory when he pulled off a miracle last lap pass to top the Summer Nationals opener. The Shark Racing driver picked up a BAPS podium when the Series returned last year.

Jonestown, PA native Brock Zearfoss is taking on his fourth season with The Greatest Show on Dirt. In 2017, before he even became a full-time competitor, Zearfoss drove Aaron Long’s No. 58 to a World of Outlaws win at Williams Grove to represent the Posse. The “Jonestown Jet” owns four local podiums at BAPS.

CA POSSE: California is thousands of miles from Pennsylvania with dirt tracks characterized much differently, but a pair of current World of Outlaws drivers from the “Golden State” have excelled in PA.

Fresno, CA’s Giovanni Scelzi has won at both Pennsylvania tracks on the agenda. Two years ago, he and KCP Racing topped a local show before joining the World of Outlaws tour. Rewind the clock even further back to 2018 when “Hot Sauce” scored his first Series victory at Williams Grove to become the youngest winner in World of Outlaws history – a record that still stands.

Carson Macedo has collected a trio of Williams Grove trophies including the 2021 National Open, making him only the second Californian to claim the crown jewel. The Lemoore, CA driver is yet to win at BAPS in two attempts with a best of fourth last year.

PA PRIDE: As always when the World of Outlaws invade the “Keystone State,” the Posse will be ready to give their best to protect the porch. Pennsylvania always gives the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers some of the toughest competition they’ll face all year.

Anthony Macri (Dillsburg, PA) leads the way for the local contingent. His 12 wins in 2024 are tied for the most in the nation, and 10 of them have come within the borders of Pennsylvania including one at BAPS and a trio at Williams Grove. The “Concrete Kid” has beaten the World of Outlaws three times in his career, but those checkered flags came courtesy of Port Royal Speedway (twice) and Lincoln Speedway.

Gettysburg, PA’s Danny Dietrich is always a threat in the Gary Kauffman Racing No. 48 when the World of Outlaws come to town. A pair of his five career Series victories occurred at Williams Grove, and he’s topped a total of 31 races at the half mile, including two this year. He’s won twice locally at BAPS this year, upping his total there to 20.

Troy Wagaman Jr. (Hanover, PA) and Heffner Racing have proven to be a potent combo this season. Wagaman took the iconic No. 27 to Williams Grove Victory Lane on April 26, and he’s run on the podium in half of his 12 Feature starts there this season. He also won at BAPS last October and has finished sixth or better in four of his five tries at the York Haven, PA oval this year.

Expect these three to be joined by the likes of Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville, PA), Chase Dietz (York, PA), Dylan Norris (Hanover, PA), and many more at BAPS and Williams Grove.

EMPIRE STATE EXCELLENCE: While not as notorious as the PA Posse, New York boasts its own group of locals eager to have strong showings when the country’s top Sprint Car talent invades.

Sharon Springs, NY’s Danny Varin is always stout at Weedsport. He started on the pole of last year’s World of Outlaws visit, and he’s already an Empire Super Sprints (ESS) winner there in 2024, topping a race earlier this month.

Super DIRTcar Series star Larry Wight likes to trade the Big Block Modified for a Sprint Car when The Greatest Show on Dirt visits New York. “Lightning” has finished in the top 10 in his last three World of Outlaws runs at Weedsport and won there with ESS last October.

Matt Farnham (Tanawanda, NY) nearly won with the All-Stars at Weedsport last year, leading many laps before finishing fifth.

This trio along with more New Yorkers are expected to enter the Weedsport pit area on Sunday.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday, July 24 at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, PA
Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA
Sunday, July 28 at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (37/73 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (5120 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-66 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-98 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-140 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-158 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-232 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-310 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-608 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-856 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-1010 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (13 Drivers):

11 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart

FEATURE LAPS LED (20 Drivers):

287 Laps – David Gravel
214 Laps – Carson Macedo
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
120 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
80 Laps – Donny Schatz
75 Laps – Rico Abreu
49 Laps – Logan Schuchart
34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (15 Drivers):

8 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
7 Quick Times – David Gravel
4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
3 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu

HEAT RACE WINNERS (33 Drivers):

22 Heat Wins – David Gravel
16 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
13 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
11 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (51 Drivers):

29 Dashes – David Gravel
27 Dashes – Carson Macedo
24 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
23 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
21 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
16 Dashes – Donny Schatz
11 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
9 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss
6 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney
5 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Corey Day
3 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Daryn Pittman, Danny Sams III, Justin Peck, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller
1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (28 Drivers):

3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog
2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson, Landon Crawley
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah, Joel Myers Jr., Hunter Schuerenberg

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (21 Drivers):

8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid, Cale Thomas
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Garet Williamson

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers):

21 Podiums – David Gravel
16 Podiums – Carson Macedo
13 Podiums – Donny Schatz
12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
11 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
5 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson
2 Podiums – Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck
1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom

TOP 10 FINISHES (60 Drivers):

33 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, David Gravel
32 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
29 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
24 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Top 10s – Bill Balog
10 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
9 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
7 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
6 Top 10s – Brent Marks, James McFadden
5 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, Kyle Larson, Zeb Wise
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller
1 Top 10 – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Cory Eliason, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scotty Milan, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

Cannon McIntosh Charges from Eighth to Win Tom Knowles Memorial at Spoon River

LEWISTOWN, IL (July 20, 2024) – Lining up eighth on the starting grid, racing one of the fastest tracks on the schedule and a host of talent in front of him. No problem for Cannon McIntosh.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, put on a display of speed and racetrack smarts Saturday night at Spoon River Speedway, taking the lead from Hayden Reinbold late in the race and leading the rest of the way to bag the win in the finale of the Tom Knowles Memorial.

The main event, co-sanctioned by the POWRi National Midget League, stood as McIntosh’s fifth win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and second as part of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series – both of which he now leads the points standings in.

From eighth on the grid, McIntosh also becomes the deepest-starting Xtreme Outlaw Series Feature winner this season. So, how’d he do it?

“Really just trying to go where they aren’t at that point, you’re already starting eighth and really have nothing to lose there,” McIntosh said. “I didn’t really jump all the way up there right from the beginning, I kinda was searching and got to about third and decided to just commit to the top and get on the very edge.

“It took time to build the momentum, but once I got it, I was able to get to the lead and try to run away.”

While third-starting Reinbold got out to the early lead, fending off early challenges from polesitter Ashton Torgerson, McIntosh searched for the fast lane further back in the field. By the halfway point, he was up to fourth and challenging his Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammates Gavin Miller and Torgerson for a spot on the podium and got it with a great burst of speed off the top side of Turn 2 on Lap 16.

After getting by Torgerson for third, McIntosh set his sights on Miller. By this point, McIntosh had made the decision to commit to the top side around the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval and build his speed for a run at Miller in second and Reinbold at the head of the field.

“During that long run, I could just work up to the cushion slower and slower,” McIntosh said. “Once you’re on it, you’re already in a rhythm at that point. I think it was just a matter of getting the laps together and how long it to get the speed.”

As Miller followed in Reinbold’s tracks on the bottom, McIntosh’s high side momentum began to showcase the speed as he zoomed past Miller for second on Lap 19. Two laps later, he did the same to Reinbold for the lead, beating the Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports No. 19AZ to the stripe by .225 seconds on Lap 21.

Reinbold said it was all about hitting his marks on the bottom side of the racetrack, which he said became more difficult to do as the race progressed.

“It was kind of a gamble – you could drive it hard in and it would maybe stick or maybe not, and I just took too many where I just floated it and missed it,” Reinbold said. “[Cannon] would just get out and get a run and building momentum up.”

As McIntosh began to open up a gap on the field, his progress was soon halted by a red flag displayed on Lap 23. Mark McMahill made contact with McIntosh going into Turn 1 and ended up flipping numerous times in the air before coming to a rest outside Turns 1 and 2. McMahill climbed from his car under his own power, uninjured in the incident.

On the restart, McIntosh went back to the top as the laps wound down, but he soon switched to running the low lines at both ends of the track in an effort to keep Reinbold at bay behind him.

“At the end, with the red, tires just change a little bit, and you lose your rhythm too,” McIntosh said. “I kinda struggled to get back into that rhythm and just started falling over that cushion out of (Turn) 4, and I saw the 19 car poke a nose there right at the end, so I just decided to go down and protect.”

The strategy worked as McIntosh held off all challengers to collect the win and the $5,000 prize.

Reinbold crossed the line in second, setting a new personal best finish with the Series in 2024. Try as he may on the last restart, he was unable to catch McIntosh despite his best effort.

“I knew the bottom was still there and I was gonna have a good chance, so I took time to mess with my shocks and stuff and get it dialed-in,” Reinbold said. “Tied the right-rear down, opened-up the fronts and just got better with the car. Made sure I hit my marks and gave it a good shot.”

Ohio racer Jacob Denney crossed the stripe in third after a fruitful last five laps. Coming from 11th on the grid, Denney piloted the Tom Malloy-owned No. 25 car up to fifth by the final restart. He chose the bottom lane at the drop of the green and, even after slipping back to sixth at one point, picked off three spots in the last five laps to finish third.

Inaugural Series champion Zach Daum crossed the stripe fourth in the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U while KKM’s own Ryan Timms drove the No. 67 to a fifth-place run after winning at the track Friday night.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets are back in action next weekend for a doubleheader in Oklahoma – Friday, July 26 at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, and Saturday, July 27 at Tulsa Speedway in Tulsa.

Tickets for both events will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[8]; 2. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[3]; 3. 25-Jacob Denney[11]; 4. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 5. 67-Ryan Timms[6]; 6. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[1]; 7. 40-Chase McDermand[4]; 8. 56D-Mitchell Davis[10]; 9. 97-Gavin Miller[5]; 10. 21K-Karter Sarff[13]; 11. 98-Gunnar Setser[15]; 12. 55-Trevor Cline[12]; 13. 14S-Tyler Edwards[2]; 14. 7T-Adam Taylor[16]; 15. 8-Zach Wigal[9]; 16. 66-Jayden Clay[17]; 17. 1K-Brayton Lynch[14]; 18. 00-John Heitzman[20]; 19. 57-Mark McMahill[18]; 20. 83-Will Armitage[19]

KING DAVID XLI: David Gravel Bests Donny Schatz in a Thriller for First Kings Royal Crown

Gravel and Schatz deliver a duel that’ll never be forgotten, and Gravel comes out on top for $175,000

ROSSBURG, OH (July 20, 2024) - There’s a reason Eldora Speedway is called “The World’s Greatest Dirt Track.”

The historic half mile located in Rossburg, OH gave the Sprint Car world a Kings Royal they’ll never forget on Saturday night. A driver at the top of his game hungry for his first crown. A legend of Sprint Car Racing charging through the field in search of a record-tying seventh. And the two coming together to clash with racing royalty and $175,000 on the line.

David Gravel entered Saturday’s 41st running of the Kings Royal with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars as one of the clear favorites. When he earned the pole for the 40-lap Feature, it felt like even more of a foregone conclusion. But it was anything but easy for the Watertown, CT native to become King.

First, he had to contend with Logan Schuchart, and then Schatz came charging. The 10-time Series champion roared all the way from 20th to take the lead from Gravel with eight laps remaining. But Gravel wouldn’t let it slip away. He simply refused. The 32-year-old got his elbows up and drove the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 as hard as he could right next to the Eldora fence to get back by. A tap on the wall with only a few laps to go nearly cost him, but he regrouped and held on to become King David XLI.

“Why is Donny Schatz so damn good? Damn,” Gravel said. “You can’t put that guy away no matter where he starts. I saw he was eighth on the open red, and I was like, ‘I know he’s going to be a factor.’ And when I looked down, I thought maybe it was Logan, and there he is – Donny Schatz again. I just had to drive my a** off, do my best Haud line impression, and just run the s**t out of it.

“I’ve let it be known I don’t like to ride the wall, but it’s Kings Royal and you’re in the lead and you see Donny Schatz. I always try to save a little bit of a second gear and was able to hit that second gear and plugged it in the wall, rode the wall for a little while, and luckily got out of it and didn’t hurt too much. I thought those lapped cars were going to mess with me a little bit and kind of did. Hats off to Donny for racing the right way. I try to race as clean as good as he does. Just a lot of respect for him.

“Like I said earlier, this is the coolest celebration for winning a crown jewel event, and to get that third crown jewel is just amazing.”

With the victory, Gravel secured his missing piece to complete the trio of Sprint Car Racing’s three most prestigious crown jewel events. He already owned a Knoxville Nationals and two National Opens and added the Kings Royal. He pushed his career win total with the World of Outlaws to 99 and looks destined to become the eighth to reach triple digits soon. The Kings Royal has now crowned 22 different Kings through 41 editions.

Gravel got the jump on the initial start, but a red flag for a flipping Parker Price-Miller necessitated a restart. Outside pole-sitter, Tyler Courtney, pulled ahead with the second attempt and led the opening lap.

It didn’t take Gravel long to begin searching around the wide half mile for speed as Courtney remained committed to the cushion. Sure enough, Gravel got the bottom rolling and pulled alongside and slid ahead to lead Lap 7.

Logan Schuchart then entered the discussion as he followed Gravel by “Sunshine” to take over the runner-up spot in the Shark Racing machine. Schuchart quickly closed the gap, and on the 16th circuit he rolled low under Gravel to grab the lead in pursuit of his first Kings Royal crown.

A restart with 23 laps remaining gave Gravel to opportunity he needed to regain the lead as he blasted the cushion right around Schuchart. A little way behind them, Schatz launched from eighth to fifth on the restart by the time he reached the back straightaway. He then made it three-wide Sheldon Haudenschild and Jacob Allen in Turns 3 and 4, clearing Haudenschild in the process. The Fargo, ND driver then moved by Allen in the next set of turns to grab third. A lap later Schatz cleared Schuchart for the runner-up spot.

Gravel easily proved to be the toughest challenge as Schatz sliced through the field. When he took the runner-up position, Gravel had over a second advantage on the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15. But slowly but surely the gap dwindled as Schatz masterfully worked the low line.

Schatz caught up and showed Gravel his nose on Lap 31, and Gravel moved down to block. But Gravel’s choice cost him momentum on the exit of Turn 2 as Schatz rolled by down the back straightaway, sending the huge crowd into a frenzy and completing the drive from 20th to the front.

And then Gravel got up on the wheel. He put the hammer down on the top and motored back around Schatz two laps later. He would not be denied the throne.

Gravel gave Schatz one last opportunity when he hit the wall hard in Turn 4 on Lap 36. Schatz pulled alongside and gave it everything he had, but ultimately Gravel prevailed as he pulled away on the path to forever being known as King David XLI.

“Cody (Jacobs) has a lot of confidence right now. I have a lot of confidence right now,” Gravel said. “Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) and Zach (Patterson) are doing a great job. It’s just been a lot of fun. We’ve had a couple DNFs this year, but every time we’re on the racetrack and this 2 car finishes, it’s typically in a good way. Man, what a race. I just got to thank Tod Quiring for hiring me four years ago.”

Schatz settled for second after the amazing drive from 20th. After taking the lead with less than 10 laps to go, the defeat definitely left Schatz feeling disappointed, but he gave credit where credit was due.

“We’re a little short,” Schatz said. “I guess I’m happy we got there. The guys did a great job all week. We had to change a few motors to get things the way we needed. That stings a little bit to get there. I felt really good. It’s just I’ve said it a hundred million times – the last eight laps of those 40 at this race are a whole different dynamic. I got the lead and started to just slip a little bit. I didn’t let my tires slip once, or I knew I was never going to get it back. And I didn’t slip them, but just as our fuel load came off, I started struggling. David got up on there and got the job done. He got in the fence there, and I don’t know how he drove out of that. I wasn’t going to do what he did, so he won.”

Justin Peck put together a strong charge of his own to wheel the Buch Motorsports No. 13 from 15th to third to round out the Kings Royal podium. His team made some strong changes under the open red with 23 laps to go and put Peck on the path to his best career finish in the Eldora crown jewel.

“That thing was a dream to drive there after that open red,” Peck said. “It just kind of was a slot car around there. I felt like I could run the slick or the bottom or run the top.”

Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen completed the top five.

Schatz’s drive from 20th to second earned him the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

In Sea Foam Qualifying, Rico Abreu picked up Simpson Quick Time honors.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Four, Five, and Six belonged to Rico Abreu, Parker Price-Miller, Tyler Courtney, and David Gravel. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild, and Toyota Racing Heat Three went to Logan Schuchart.

Hunter Schuerenberg won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Pennsylvania with three battles against the PA Posse in four nights. It begins on Wednesday, July 24 at York Haven, PA’s BAPS Motor Speedway. Then on July 26-27, the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals brings the tour to Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) for two nights of action capped with a $20,000-to-win 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 (40 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[20]; 3. 13-Justin Peck[15]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen[7]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom[13]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 8. 26-Zeb Wise[14]; 9. 19-Brent Marks[12]; 10. 83-Michael Kofoid[11]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 12. 5-Spencer Bayston[23]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[19]; 14. 83SR-James McFadden[10]; 15. 11-Hunter Schuerenberg[21]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee[9]; 17. 21H-Brady Bacon[22]; 18. 24-Rico Abreu[6]; 19. 21-Brian Brown[16]; 20. 7S-Landon Crawley[17]; 21. 45-Landon Brooks[18]; 22. 16T-Cole Macedo[24]; 23. 42-Sye Lynch[8]; 24. 9P-Parker Price Miller[3]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

RICO! RICO!: Abreu Outduels Gravel for Eldora’s Knight Before the Kings Royal Triumph

A wild duel sees Abreu best Gravel for his 10th overall Eldora victory and $25,000

ROSSBURG, OH (July 19, 2024) - When the checkered flag waved on Friday night at Eldora Speedway, residents of towns miles away from Rossburg, OH knew who topped the Knight Before the Kings Royal. The massive Eldora crowd made sure of it.

The “RICO! RICO!” chants roared from stands at “The Big E.” And for good reason. They’d just seen Rico Abreu and David Gravel put on an absolute show with Abreu coming out on top.

One lap it looked like Abreu had it in the bag. Then Gravel surged ahead. And then Abreu came roaring back to deliver the knockout blow only three laps remaining and arise victorious with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. Eldora’s pyrotechnics provided the flames, and the fans provided a wave of cheers as Abreu celebrated with a full wing dance in Victory Lane.

“Being really patient and believing in your team,” an emotional Abreu said of what it took to win. “These guys do a really good job working on these race cars. It’s a lot of work to prepare these things. These moments get intense when you’re out there racing, and you’ve just got to be patient with your feet and be consistent and just understand the balance of your car.

“David is such a respectable race car driver. He’s going to be searching around. That’s how he got to the lead. In traffic I was probably just a little too hesitant at times and then knew I could really pick the pace up there at the end. I probably was a little resistant to the wing and just understood as the race went on I needed more of it. It’s just really incredible to be racing with Ricky Warner, Zach Middlebrooks, and Brady Forbrook. They’re relentless when it comes to this sport. They’re really passionate about it. It makes me really, really emotional.”

The victory was Abreu’s 17th with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’s now at 10 total triumphs at Eldora Speedway, and four of them have come in World of Outlaws competition. Adding it on to his win at 81 Speedway back in March, Abreu became the second competitor that isn’t full-time with multiple Series checkered flags this season.

Tyler Courtney and Abreu led the field to green, and it was Abreu blasting around “Sunshine’s” outside to lead the opening lap.

Gravel took no time to ignite the battle for second as he rolled the bottom in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. He pulled alongside the NOS Energy Drink No. 7BC and nosed ahead on Lap 2. But Courtney refused to go down easy and inched back in front on the following lap.

Those two continued their duel for multiple laps while Abreu established a rhythm at the front of the field. Gravel managed to wrestle away the second spot from Courtney for good on the seventh circuit.

A couple red flags interrupted Gravel’s pursuit of Abreu, but in the 30-lapper’s latter half, the battle began. Gravel built a big run out of Turn 4 that he used to dive under Abreu and take the spot on Lap 18.

One rotation later Abreu threw a huge slide job to clear Gravel in Turns 3 and 4. Gravel refused to be rattled as he ducked under Abreu and slid ahead of him exiting Turn 2. Abreu fired another slider through Turns 3 and 4 in the back-and-forth battle, but Gravel countered with a crossover and secured the top spot down the front straightaway.

The laps dwindled, and time appeared to be running out for Abreu. But with traffic slowing Gravel in the closing laps, hope was restored for the pilot of the No. 2 as he closed back in. Gravel opted for the very low side of the half mile in Turns 3 and 4 coming to three laps to go, and it allowed Abreu to get a massive run. The St. Helena, CA native sliced under Gravel heading into Turn 1 and completed the slider in the middle of the corner.

From there it was smooth sailing as Abreu pulled ahead to secure the checkered flag. The $25,000 Knight Before check was nice. But now the focus shifts to the quest to become King Rico XLI on Saturday night.

“Hats off to Tony Stewart and Eldora Speedway. I love all of you guys,” Abreu said. “Man, this place is really, really special to me. I get emotional when I come race here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win one of these things.”

Gravel had to settle for second, falling one spot short of back-to-back Eldora wins after his Joker’s Jackpot triumph on Thursday. But the Watertown, CT native didn’t hang his head. He knows he’ll be in the running for the Kings Royal crown and $175,000 on Saturday night.

“It got really slick and technical,” Gravel said. “I felt some parts of the race I was better then some parts of the race he was better. He got his wing all the way back and started running higher up the track. I really regret going low in (Turns) 3 and 4 that one lap. That’s when he got that big run on me. I didn’t feel in a good spot in (Turns) 3 and 4 no matter where I went. It was so slick. There was really no cushion left. I got hung up with the lapped cars a little bit. I wish I just stayed up and probably would’ve dirtied him up and maybe been able to hold on. But it was a great effort tonight.”

Rounding out the podium was Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing No. 1S. A sub-par Qualifying effort set them back early in the night, but Schuchart and company fought their way back to a strong effort heading into the Kings Royal finale.

“We started fifth in our Heat Race tonight, so it was an uphill climb from the very start,” Schuchart said. “We got ourselves in the Dash spot and went forward from there. I think we have a really good car to start out with tomorrow. The format is obviously a lot different. Hopefully we can get ourselves in a good spot because I think we have fast hotrod to go after $175,000.”

Donny Schatz and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

Schatz came all the way from 25th to fourth to grab the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Michael Kofoid picked up his fourth Simpson Quick Time of the year in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Buddy Kofoid, Rico Abreu, and David Gravel. Tyler Courtney topped Milton Hershey School Heat Two.

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 Garet Williamson.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars fight for racing royalty and a $175,000 payday when the 41st Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway concludes on Saturday, July 20. 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. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 6. 9P-Parker Price Miller[4]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[8]; 8. 83SR-James McFadden[9]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet[17]; 10. 5-Spencer Bayston[11]; 11. 14-Corey Day[14]; 12. 13-Justin Peck[7]; 13. 57-Kyle Larson[24]; 14. 19-Brent Marks[6]; 15. 41-Carson Macedo[16]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[20]; 17. 26-Zeb Wise[15]; 18. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[27]; 20. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[26]; 21. 25-Daison Pursley[19]; 22. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 23. 27-Emerson Axsom[12]; 24. 6-Kelby Watt[28]; 25. 23-Garet Williamson[18]; 26. 23J-Cale Thomas[10]; 27. 39M-Anthony Macri[22]; 28. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Ryan Timms Dominates Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Debut at Spoon River Speedway

KKM sweeps podium with Timms, McIntosh and Miller

LEWISTOWN, IL (July 19, 2024) – Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) is firing on all cylinders. Ryan Timms’ victory Friday night at Spoon River Speedway has garnered them five-straight wins with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, dominated the Series debut at the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval, leading all 25 laps unchallenged for his second Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series victory of the season. Going back to Timms’ win at Atomic Speedway in May, KKM has now won the last five Xtreme Outlaw events including the second race at Atomic (Cannon McIntosh), Doe Run Raceway (McIntosh), and Coles County Speedway (Ashton Torgerson).

Standing by Timms’ side on the podium Friday night were two of his teammates – McIntosh and Gavin Miller – who finished second and third to give the KKM squad a podium sweep of the event.

For never having seen the track before Friday night, Timms made it look like an old stomping ground, building a lead as large as 3.6 seconds at the checkered flag as he ripped the top lane around the historic Illinois oval.

“It finally got widened out and slick up to the lip and you were able to just run it pretty much wide open,” Timms said. “It felt fast, but it was a lot of fun up there.”

Timms took the lead on the opening lap from the outside pole, racing around McIntosh and fending-off the challenge from third-starting Chase McDermand. While Timms began to expand his gap out front, McDermand was busy trying to keep McIntosh behind him.

McIntosh, who started on the pole, said he did not get the start he was looking for, which gave McDermand the opportunity to get by underneath him.

“I throttled up and I just didn’t really get a launch,” McIntosh said. “They were able to just take off a little better. I don’t know what it was, if I just timed it wrong and they got to the throttle sooner. But everyone told me it was a clean start.”

McIntosh chased McDermand through the halfway point of the race but was unable to get close enough to make a move. And then, the caution flag was thrown with nine laps remaining.

POWRi championship chaser Gunnar Setser sat still at the bottom of Turn 3 and took a push off the track. On the restart, McDermand tried to defend the second spot, but McIntosh had other plans.

“I kinda had a feeling he was gonna go down and try something different into (Turn) 1,” McIntosh said. “We went green, and luckily I didn’t follow him, and I went to the top where I’d been running and got a really good run on him out of 2 and chased him down the backstretch and slid him into 3.”

While McDermand did slide McIntosh back in Turns 1-2, he was unable to evade the crossover as McIntosh was able to wrestle away the runner-up spot for good on Lap 18.

“I feel like judging it right on the restart, I made the right decision and chose the right lane,” McIntosh said. “Little things like that can change your Feature around. I know third is not a big difference from second, but we most likely should have ran third in that race and just got a really good restart and got by him.”

While the two traded sliders, Timms was pulling away again out front. Though he originally said he did not want to see the yellow, he said he felt faster after the yellow.

“Before that caution, I was kinda peeling off of the cushion off Turn 2 and turning down and making the straightaway longer,” Timms said. “But after that caution, I just stayed all the way up against it and it felt way better. I think I was actually faster doing that.”

By the time he came across the stripe to take the checkered flag, Timms had built a 3.6-second gap over McIntosh, who notched his 15th-straight top-five finish with the Series. Behind him came Miller, who had run ninth the entire race until the yellow was displayed on Lap 17.

In the final nine laps, Miller advanced six positions to finish third, riding in the bottom lane and picking cars off one-by-one.

“I just kinda picked a line where everyone else wasn’t running,” Miller said. “Everyone was just running the top. I just ran the bottom nice and good. I had some guys (in front of me) trying to race each other and slide each other. I could just roll the bottom all the way to the tires and pass them. It ultimately worked out.”

Hayden Reinbold crossed in fourth to score his best finish of the season while McDermand held on to complete the top-five.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets are back in action at Spoon River on Saturday, July 20, for Round 6 of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series with a $5,000 grand prize on the line in the 30-lap main event.

Tickets are available for purchase in advance by clicking here. If you can’t make it to the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 67-Ryan Timms[2]; 2. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[1]; 3. 97-Gavin Miller[9]; 4. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[6]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[3]; 6. 14S-Tyler Edwards[4]; 7. 25-Jacob Denney[10]; 8. 7U-Zach Daum[5]; 9. 97K-Kale Drake[11]; 10. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[8]; 11. 21K-Karter Sarff[7]; 12. 56D-Mitchell Davis[12]; 13. 55-Trevor Cline[13]; 14. 1K-Brayton Lynch[16]; 15. 66-Jayden Clay[18]; 16. 7T-Adam Taylor[15]; 17. 43-Gunnar Setser[14]; 18. 42-Kevin Battefeld[20]; 19. 83-Will Armitage[17]; 20. 98-Elijah Gile[19]

THE DOTY DOUBLE: David Gravel Nets Second Brad Doty Classic Win and 10th Victory of 2024

Gravel’s early pass on Macedo leads him to becoming the sixth different driver with multiple Brad Doty Classic titles

ATTICA, OH (July 16, 2024) - The incredible 2024 campaign for David Gravel keeps on rolling.

The Watertown, CT native entered the year carrying the weight of heaps of expectation. And he continues to meet them as he chases his first World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

Entering this huge week of Sprint Car Racing in Ohio, Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew had already made nine trips to Victory Lane. And they displayed on the same speed on Tuesday night at Attica Raceway Park that they’ve shown time and time again this year. This time it came with the prestige of the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by dac® Pet Products on the line.

Gravel waited patiently for the right moment and pounced to take the top spot on the 17th circuit of the 40-lapper and drove to his 10th win of 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He also helped his crew chief Cody Jacobs get some Brad Doty Classic redemption. Oddly enough, it was Gravel himself who denied Jacobs of the event back in 2017.

“Happy to get one for Cody because I stole one from him when I was in the CJB (Motorsports) car, and he was in the 49 car with (Tim) Shaffer,” Gravel said. “Happy to get him a Brad Doty Classic and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) and Zach (Patterson) were working hard. It was hot as hell today. It feels good to get number 10 on the year.”

The victory made 2024 the fifth year in which Gravel has reached double-digit checkered flags as his career win total with the World of Outlaws grew to 98. He joined Donny Schatz, Kyle Larson, Steve Kinser, Danny Smith, and Dale Blaney as the sixth competitor to top multiple Brad Doty Classics. The 32-year-old also joined Schatz, Larson, and Blaney as those with at least three World of Outlaws victories at Attica.

The field was led to green by Carson Macedo with Gravel alongside him. Macedo jumped out to the early advantage.

The early stage of the race was marred by a flurry of yellow flags for several incidents. One early restart allowed Kyle Larson the opportunity to slide ahead of Gravel for second and lock his view on Macedo as “Yung Money” chased a third straight Brad Doty Classic win.

Another restart with 33 laps left gave Larson the opening to slide Macedo to take over the top spot and lead Lap 8. But the Jason Johnson Racing pilot slid back ahead of Larson in Turns 1 and 2. In the same set of corners, Larson got a little crossed up and also let Gravel roll back by him for the runner-up spot.

After he reclaimed second, it became a game of cat and mouse for Gravel and Macedo. Gravel searched around the Attica surface and found speed wherever he went. Macedo began to drive defensively, but it wasn’t enough as Gravel smoothly rolled the bottom of Turns 3 and 4 right by Macedo for the lead on Lap 17.

Gravel promptly built his advantage after taking possession of the top spot. While it might’ve been smooth sailing up front, the battles were wild behind the Huset’s Speedway No. 2. A hard charging Logan Schuchart passed Larson for third and went after Macedo for second. They traded sliders before Schuchart secured the spot. Larson, Corey Day, and Donny Schatz with a damaged nose wing went at it behind them.

An issue under a late caution period left Schuchart broken hearted as he gave up the runner-up position to head to the Federated Car Care Work Zone. The problem gave second to Larson, but Schatz passed him on the restart with 14 laps to go as Larson slipped off track in Turn 2 trying to get a run at Gravel.

Schatz did everything he could to close in on Gravel as the last handful of laps unfolded, but the No. 2 was too smooth. Gravel got win number 10 in 2024 with just over seven tenths of a second advantage when the checkered flag waved. A methodical approach paved the path for the current point leader.

“I was just biding my time,” Gravel said. “Carson was racing pretty defensive. I think he knew he was in trouble and was running a lot of different lines and just trying to figure out what the best line was before I could get the lead because you’re just guessing out there. All of those cautions. I don’t know how many cautions there were, but it was so many. It was hard to get a rhythm.

“We unloaded pretty well. Didn’t really feel good in Qualifying, but whatever Cody did to the car for the Dash gave me a really, really good car – something I didn’t have to push too hard and could kind of drive my own race.”

Donny Schatz brought the No. 15 home second for his seventh podium in the last 12 Attica races. It was also his 12th top three of the 2024 World of Outlaws campaign. The damaged nose wing didn’t slow the 10-time Series champion at all as he rolled from 11th to second.

“It (nose wing) didn’t really affect it like everybody thinks,” Schatz said. “We’re not on the gas that hard here, and I think there were probably parts of the racetrack where it helped. Ultimately, I think I would’ve liked to have had it there and seen what happened. All in all a good effort. The guys got things rolling, and they’re working. This is the type of racetrack that happens in the summer. We had an opportunity. That’s all you can ask for.”

Rounding out the podium was Kyle Larson in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion was strong all night, but a slight mistake on a late restart potentially cost him a shot at a third consecutive Brad Doty Classic.

“I wish I could have that last restart back,” Larson said. “Obviously, I knew all I could do was really blitz the top there with Gravel. He was really good. I just got my right-rear (tire) hung off the edge and fell back to fourth and had to battle Carson and Corey to get back to third. I was kind of hoping for another caution to get reset, but my car felt pretty good.”

Carson Macedo and Corey Day completed the top five.

A 23rd to 11th run earned Cale Thomas the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Giovanni Scelzi claimed his fourth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 13th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying presented by Jon and Janet Wright.

Gill Construction Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi (51st Heat Race win of career), Kyle Larson (41st of career), and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (25th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two presented by Gill Construction went to Carson Macedo (129th of career).

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash presented by Racing Optics.

Joel Myers Jr. won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown presented by CK Mechanical.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Rossburg, OH’s Eldora Speedway for a massive two nights of racing. First up is the $25,000-to-win Knight Before on Friday, July 19. Then the 41st Kings Royal is offering up a $175,000 payday to the victor on Saturday, July 20. 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. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[11]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[3]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 5. 14-Corey Day[5]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 9. 25-Daison Pursley[10]; 10. 26-Zeb Wise[15]; 11. 23-Cale Thomas[23]; 12. 5T-Ryan Timms[19]; 13. 28M-Conner Morrell[20]; 14. 11N-Kasey Jedrzejek[18]; 15. 9-Trey Jacobs[22]; 16. 15K-Creed Kemenah[13]; 17. 19H-Joel Myers Jr[21]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 19. 29-Zeth Sabo[12]; 20. 97-Cole Macedo[24]; 21. 101-Kalib Henry[16]; 22. W20-Greg Wilson[17]; 23. 22-Brandon Spithaler[14]; 24. 99-Skylar Gee[9]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series Takes on Spoon River Doubleheader

LEWISTOWN, IL (July 16, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to action from the summer break this Friday and Saturday night for a doubleheader at Spoon River Speedway with the POWRi National Midget League.

Now entering the second half of the season, Cannon McIntosh leads the Xtreme Outlaw championship standings by 145 points over Ryan Timms with 14 races complete and 15 remaining. Spoon River kicks off another extended stretch of action with the Series, racing in each of the next four weekends through the middle of August.

Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series hits the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval for a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event Friday, July 19, before the 30-lap, $5,000-to-win finale on Saturday. Ashton Torgerson currently leads Challenge Series points by 11 over Ryan Timms; the champion of the miniseries receives a $2,500 bonus check at season’s end in October.

Tickets for both nights at Spoon River are available by clicking here. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

HALFWAY THERE – Cannon McIntosh leads the Xtreme Outlaw Series back into action as the points leader with only half of the season remaining in the quest for his first career national Midget series championship.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, holds a 145-point lead over second place Ryan Timms with four Features wins in the first 14 races of 2024. He held similar statistics at the halfway point of the 2023 season, totaling four Feature wins and maintaining a points gap of over 100 on second place, but fell back to fourth in the championship standings after the season finale.

He’s also riding a streak of 14-straight top-five finishes in Xtreme Outlaw Series competition, going all the way back to the season opener in Du Quoin in March. This past weekend, McIntosh bagged two podium finishes in USAC Midget competition at Jefferson County Speedway (Fairbury, NE), giving he and his crew at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) a momentum boost before an extended stretch of Xtreme Outlaw Series racing for the next four weekends.

TARGET ACQUIRED – Sitting 145 points out of the lead in second place is McIntosh’s KKM teammate, Ryan Timms – a USAC winner over the weekend, now charged with momentum and ready to begin chipping away at his points deficit.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, scored his fourth Midget win of the season Saturday at Jefferson County and now has two wins with both Xtreme and USAC with half of each series’ schedule remaining. Timms is a winner with Xtreme at both Farmer City Raceway and Atomic Speedway this season, tying him for third-most wins with Illinois racer Karter Sarff at two apiece.

Though Timms has yet to see the high banks of Spoon River in a Midget, the speed and banking he experienced at Atomic will be similar, pointing to a potential third and fourth Xtreme Outlaw win of the year Friday and Saturday night.

GOT THE POWR – Similar to 2023, McIntosh leads the POWRi National Midget League points standings at the halfway point of the season but only by 10 points over full-timer Gunnar Setser.

McIntosh has two POWRi wins so far this season – one in the Challenge Series event at Doe Run Raceway in May and the other in the most recent POWRi National event at Macon Speedway during the tour’s annual Illinois SPEEDweek in June.

Karter Sarff clinched the 2023 POWRi National championship in the final race of the season over McIntosh last October. The 21-year-old from Mason City, IL, has won twice with the Xtreme Outlaw Series this year and currently sits eighth in Series points.

CHALLENGE SERIES – Spoon River will play host to Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 Challenge Series – a tight points race where the top-six drivers in the standings are separated by 100 points.

Ashton Torgerson currently leads the points standings by 11 over Ryan Timms. Torgerson, 18, of Glendale, AZ, has two wins and three top-fives in the four completed races and will go for his fifth Midget win overall this weekend. Between Xtreme and POWRi, he’s totaled four Feature wins so far in his rookie Midget season.

While Timms remains 11 points behind Torgerson, McIntosh sits 13 points back in third place, Chase McDermand is fourth at 30 points back, Gavin Miller is fifth at 96 points back, and Zach Daum is sixth, 100 points out of the lead.

PAST WINNERS – While national Midget series racing has not seen the high banks of Spoon River in three years, two Xtreme Outlaw Series full-timers and Illinois natives have graced its Victory Lane hill in Midget competition before.

Former Badger Midget Racing Association champion Chase McDermand won two D2 Midget-style IMRA-sanctioned races at the track in 2017. The 23-year-old from Springfield, IL, currently sits fourth in the championship standings, still looking for his first Feature win of the year.

Zach Daum – the inaugural Series champion from Pocahontas, IL – won a POWRi National event there in 2014, topping star open-wheel names like Rico Abreu, Tanner Thorson and Justin Peck in the main event. Fast forward to 2024 and the three-time POWRi National champion sits fifth in Xtreme championship standings with one win and seven top-five finishes in 14 races.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, at Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 3056 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 2911 points (-145) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Chase McDermand: 2812 points (-244) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Ashton Torgerson: 2792 points (-264) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Zach Daum: 2608 points (-448) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 2525 points (-531) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
Trevor Cline: 2382 points (-674) | Cline Racing #55
Karter Sarff: 2375 points (-681) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K
Kale Drake: 2269 points (-787) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97K
Tyler Edwards: 2260 points (-796) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S

Toyota Feature winners (7 drivers)
4 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
3 wins – Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K), Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing #7x), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Zach Daum (Trifecta Motorsports #7U)

Toyota Feature laps led (13 drivers)
86 laps – Cannon McIntosh
70 laps – Ashton Torgerson
52 laps – Ryan Timms

44 laps – Kale Drake
41 laps – Karter Sarff
35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
25 laps – Zach Daum

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Jade Avedisian
5 laps – Michael Pickens

4 laps – Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Chase McDermand

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (8 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
3 awards – Kale Drake
2 awards – Karter Sarff
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Trevor Cline, Zach Daum

Heat Race winners (19 drivers)
6 wins – Ashton Torgerson
5 wins – Kale Drake
4 wins – Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh, Chase McDermand
3 wins – Ryan Timms, Tyler Edwards
2 wins – Gavin Miller, Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Trevor Cline, Karter Sarff

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Tyler Edwards

High-points honors (10 drivers)
2 honors – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Zach Daum, Ashton Torgerson
1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Michael Pickens

Last Chance Showdown wins (10 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones, Mitchell Davis

Hard Charger Awards (11 drivers)
3 awards – Hayden Reinbold
2 awards – Ryan Timms
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser, Jade Avedisian, Chase McDermand, Elijah Gile, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh

Podium finishes (13 drivers)
10 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
6 podiums – Ryan Timms
5 podiums – Zach Daum
4 podiums – Chase McDermand, Ashton Torgerson
3 podiums – Karter Sarff, Kale Drake
2 podiums – Gavin Miller
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Jade Avedisian, Michael Pickens, Trevor Cline

Top-10 finishes (32 drivers)
14 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh
13 top-10s – Chase McDermand
12 top-10s – Ryan Timms
10 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson
9 top-10s – Zach Daum, Karter Sarff
7 top-10s – Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Jade Avedisian
6 top-10s – Trevor Cline, Hayden Reinbold
5 top-10s – Taylor Reimer
4 top-10s – Kyle Jones, Tyler Edwards
3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell, Mitchell Davis
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Gunnar Setser, TJ Smith, Sam Johnson
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr, Elijah Gile, Brayton Lynch, Nick Drake, Jacob Dykstra, Briggs Danner, Michael Pickens

1 MONTH ALERT: Jackson Nationals Brings World of Outlaws to Another Marquee Stop in August
World of Outlaws

Jackson Nationals 2023

A week after crowning a new Knoxville Nationals champion, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will crown another “Nationals” champion at Jackson Motorplex.

The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to Minnesota for the 46th FENDT Jackson Nationals, Aug. 16-17, with Saturday’s finale paying $25,000 to the champion.

Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo are the most recent champions, having both won their two titles in back-to-back years. Schuchart won his with Shark Racing in 2020 and 2021 and then Macedo won his with Jason Johnson Racing the following two years.

Of current full-time World of Outlaws drivers, Schuchart and Macedo are tied with 10-time Series champion and 2018 Jackson Nationals champion Donny Schatz for the most wins (3) at the 4/10-mile track.

While Giovanni Scelzi has yet to win at Jackson Motorplex, he was one of the most consistent drivers at the Jackson Nationals last year with finishes of sixth, second and fifth, respectively. He and his KCP Racing team are championship contenders this year and entered the second half of the season by picking up a $20,000-to-win event at Beaver Dam Raceway.

In addition to the on-track action, fans will be treated to off-track fun with the Race Day Live show at the Sage Fruit stage both days before Hot Laps, featuring interviews with the biggest stars at the event.

Before the World of Outlaws role into town, the Jackson Nationals will kick off on Thursday with the Midwest Sprint Touring Series 360 Sprint Cars taking the top bill. They’ll also join the World of Outlaws Saturday night.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Aug. 16-17
Location – Jackson, MN
Track Record – 12.572 seconds by Carson Macedo on Aug. 20, 2022

Times (CT) –
2 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
4 p.m. Grandstand Gate Opens
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

How to Watch – Can’t be there? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Jackson Motorplex –
2023 – James McFadden on Aug. 17, James McFadden on Aug. 18, Carson Macedo on Aug. 19
2022 – Logan Schuchart on August 20 (Day), Carson Macedo on August 20 (Night)
2021 – Kerry Madsen on June 24, Kerry Madsen on June 25, Logan Schuchart on June 27
2020 – Brad Sweet on June 25, Logan Schuchart on June 26 and 27
2019 – Brad Sweet on June 29; Carson Macedo on June 28; Brad Sweet on June 27
2018 – Jason Johnson on June 8, Jason Johnson and Donny Schatz on June 9
2017 – Ian Madsen on June 1, Kerry Madsen on June 2, Brad Sweet on June 3
2016 – Daryn Pittman on June 24
2014 – Joey Saldana on June 13
2013 – Donny Schatz on June 14
2010 – Steve Kinser on May 1
2006 – Donny Schatz on Sept. 16
2005 – Daryn Pittman on Sept. 23
2004 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 24
1988 – Sammy Swindell on July 6, Steve Kinser on Aug. 20
1987 – Bobby Davis Jr. on July 9

DIRTVision Launches ‘Driven to Dirt’ Docu-Series

CONCORD, NC (July 16, 2024) – DIRTVision will immerse fans deeper into the world of dirt racing with the new “Driven to Dirt” docu-series, going behind the scenes with the stars of the World of Outlaws and the year’s biggest events.

The first round of the new series will feature drivers from the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models, giving fans never-before-seen access to their career and life away from the track.

There will also be episodes dedicated to exploring some of the World of Outlaws’ biggest events, such as the Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway and World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“We’re excited to bring fans a new way to show them a side of the sport and drivers they rarely get to see,” said Charlie Mellilo, chief media and marketing officer at World Racing Group. “Fans will get to see World of Outlaws drivers’ lives away from the track, get to know their families, and hear their stories. This goes well beyond what’s presented on a regular race weekend.”

The first episode, featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car driver David Gravel, will air exclusively on DIRTVision on Monday, Aug. 12. Then, there will be a new episode each month through January 2025 with a mix of Sprint Car and Late Model drivers like four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi, Nick Hoffman and more – all available with a DIRTVision FAST PASS subscription.

Full trailer: https://x.com/WorldofOutlaws/status/1813242121710612983

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Brad Doty Classic, Kings Royal Create Huge Week of Sprint Car Racing in Ohio

Plenty of money and prestige are up for grabs this week at Attica and Eldora

ATTICA, OH (July 15, 2024) - One of the biggest weeks in Sprint Car Racing has arrived.

All eyes are on Ohio this week as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars roll into the “Buckeye State” for a trio of prestigious races.

First up is the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by dac® Pet Products on Tuesday, July 16. The summertime staple of the World of Outlaws calendar takes place at Attica Raceway Park for the ninth consecutive year since shifting back to the northern Ohio facility in 2016.

It’s not only about a race on Tuesday night, but it’s also about honoring a man who has dedicated so much of his life to Sprint Car Racing. Brad Doty starred behind the wheel in the 1980s, and ever since his career-ending injury in 1988, he’s stayed heavily involved through a variety of avenues helping elevate the sport.

Then it’s time for a trip to the Kingdom of Eldora Speedway. All of Sprint Car racing’s top names will journey to the castle constructed by Earl Baltes before he passed the torch to Tony Stewart in 2004.

The two nights (July 19-20) of action at “The Big E” begin with the Knight Before, dishing out $25,000 to the victor. Then on Saturday the 41st Kings Royal King will be crowned, cementing their name in Sprint Car history and taking $175,000 in riches to the bank.

BUY BRAD DOTY CLASSIC TICKETS HERE
BUY KNIGHT BEFORE TICKETS HERE
BUY KINGS ROYAL TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

ATTICA ACES: A handful of names stand out as potential favorites to claim the Brad Doty Classic based on their success at the Ohio oval.

Donny Schatz leads the list of contenders with five Attica wins – the most through the World of Outlaws 24 visits to the track. He’s only missed the top 10 once in 18 Attica attempts. Schatz is already a four-time Brad Doty Classic winner (most all-time), splitting two victories apiece at Attica and Limaland.

Kyle Larson intends to pursue a few pieces of history on Tuesday at Attica. Last year he became the first driver to ever top back-to-back Brad Doty Classics. The three-time winner of the event could equal Donny Schatz’s record tally of four. “Yung Money” owns four overall World of Outlaws wins at Attica, and a fifth would also equal Schatz for the most in that category.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid is always stout at Attica. He’s made 24 overall Feature starts and posted podiums in half of them, highlighted by a thrilling World of Outlaws win earlier this year aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83 and a local victory in 2020.

Brock Zearfoss added his name to the list of Brad Doty Classic winners in 2019 at Attica. That came with the All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), and a World of Outlaws win on Tuesday would make him the sixth competitor with multiple Brad Doty Classic triumphs.

Attica will also attract many of its talented regulars that compete at the track on a weekly basis including 2024 winners Cap Henry, Craig Mintz, Cale Thomas, and Bryce Lucius.

KING OF KINGS: There’s only one king of Sprint Car Racing, and his name is Steve Kinser. But one current competitor has the opportunity to match one of “The King’s” royal records.

Kinser topped seven Kings Royal during his illustrious career, which is the most through 40 runnings. Last year, Donny Schatz drove the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 to his sixth Kings Royal title, making this year the first chance he’ll have to equal Kinser’s crown collection.

There’s no reason to think Schatz won’t be in contention for his seventh coronation. Eldora is home to 18 of the Fargo, ND native’s 314 career wins. The 10-time champion also topped the 2002 Historical Big One. Schatz has podiumed in seven of his last 11 Eldora races including both nights of #LetsRaceTwo back in May. He’ll enter the week fresh off his third win of 2024 after an impressive drive at Wilmot.

CROWN CHASING: The list of Kings Royal champions is filled with legends of the sport. But there are a handful of future Hall of Famers and noteworthy names on the World of Outlaws roster still seeking to grace the throne for the first time.

Logan Schuchart stands out among those eying their first Kings Royal victory. The Shark Racing pilot has won four times with the World of Outlaws at Eldora, making it tied for the winningest track on his Series résumé. He also claimed the first Sprint Car Eldora Million last year. The 2019 Kings Royal is Schuchart’s best showing to date when he started 12th and drove to the front and led 15 laps before finishing second.

David Gravel already owns wins in the sport’s two other top crown jewels – Knoxville Nationals and National Open – but the Kings Royal has eluded the current Series point leader. Last year he equaled his best Kings Royal run with a third-place outing in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. Six times Gravel has stood in Eldora Victory Lane including the final night of #LetsRaceTwo earlier this year.

Carson Macedo has been rapping on the castle door through the last four Kings Royals. He’s finished no worse than eighth and grabbed a pair of third place runs in one of the two contested in 2021 and the 2022 editions. Macedo owns a trio of checkered flags at “The House that Earl Built” most recently in last year’s Knight Before in the Jason Johnson Racing ride.

Sheldon Haudenschild is an Ohio native, and he’s still looking to top his home state’s most prestigious Sprint Car event. He’s been in the top five in four of the last five editions, peaking a second in 2021. Haudenschild won at Eldora earlier this season. A victory on Saturday would add him to this list alongside his father and three-time King Jac Haudenschild, and they’d become the first father-son duo to don the Crown.

Giovanni Scelzi struggled at “The Big E” early in his career, but he’s found speed as of late at the historic half mile. Four of his last five Eldora starts have resulted in top fives including a trio of podiums. Back in May he posted his best career Eldora finish with a runner-up in the KCP Racing No. 18.

RETURNING KINGS: The Eldora roster is expected to include more former Kings in addition to Donny Schatz looking to sit atop the throne once again.

Brad Sweet is set to pursue his third crown in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49. The Grass Valley, CA native topped the 2013 edition for his second ever World of Outlaws victory. The five-time Series champ also earned the spoils of $175,000 when he won in 2019. He’ll look to join Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Jac Haudenschild, and Sammy Swindell as those with at least three Kings Royal titles.

Two years ago, Myerstown, PA’s Brent Marks capped off an incredible week when he was crowned King. Marks also claimed the return of the Historical Big One two days before, totaling $275,000 in winnings between the two. He’ll attempt to become the ninth multi-time King.

Tyler Courtney’s first ever World of Outlaws triumph came in the form of a Kings Royal crown in 2021. “Sunshine” is always a threat at Eldora no matter what he’s wheeling as he’s won 13 times at the half mile between a winged Sprint Car, non-wing Sprint Car, Midget, and a Silver Crown car.

Kerry Madsen claimed the crown 10 years ago to become the first Australian Kings Royal champion. He’s expected to be behind the wheel of the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 at Eldora this weekend.

STAR-STUDDED: On top of the hugely talented collection of names already listed, many more Sprint Car stars are planning to be at one or both of the events on this week’s agenda.

The nation’s winningest driver – Anthony Macri – intends to make the trip one state west from Pennsylvania to Ohio. Already in the month of July Macri has won three PA Speedweek races on his way to the event title.

Rico Abreu will be in the Eldora pit area in search of his first Kings Royal. The St. Helena, CA native ran second in 2016. Of his nine total wins at the half mile, three were in World of Outlaws competition including a pair last year.

Spencer Bayston has been to Victory Lane at both Attica and Eldora. He got his first ever World of Outlaws victory in the 2021 Brad Doty Classic, and he drove a Midget to an Eldora victory with USAC in 2017.

These few will be joined be so many more as huge fields are expected to fill both the Attica and Eldora pit areas this week.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Tuesday, July 16 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH
Friday-Saturday, July 19-20 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (34/73 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (4312 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-58 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-64 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-98 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-136 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-194 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-250 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-508 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-760 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-894 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (13 Drivers):

9 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz
2 Wins – Tyler Courtney
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart

FEATURE LAPS LED (20 Drivers):

224 Laps – David Gravel
199 Laps – Carson Macedo
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
120 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
78 Laps – Donny Schatz
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Logan Schuchart
34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid
33 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
15 Laps – Ryan Timms
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
12 Laps – Emerson Axsom
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tyler Courtney
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (14 Drivers):

8 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
7 Quick Times – David Gravel
3 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss

HEAT RACE WINNERS (32 Drivers):

20 Heat Wins – David Gravel
15 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
9 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
7 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss
6 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Tyler Courtney, Logan Schuchart
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Garet Williamson
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (51 Drivers):

27 Dashes – David Gravel
26 Dashes – Carson Macedo
23 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
22 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
19 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
16 Dashes – Donny Schatz
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
9 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
8 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon
3 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Corey Day, Daryn Pittman, Danny Sams III
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Parker Price-Miller, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (26 Drivers):

2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson, Landon Crawley
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (21 Drivers):

6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Garet Williamson, Cale Thomas

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers):

18 Podiums – David Gravel
16 Podiums – Carson Macedo
12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
11 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
4 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney
2 Podiums – Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Kyle Larson, Aaron Reutzel
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Logan Schuchart, Emerson Axsom

TOP 10 FINISHES (60 Drivers):

31 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
30 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, David Gravel
29 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
28 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
27 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
22 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Top 10s – Bill Balog
10 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
8 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
6 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, James McFadden
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scotty Milan, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Parker Price-Miller, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

DONNY DOMINATION: Masterclass in Traffic Leads Schatz to Second Badger 40 Victory

Subtitle

WILMOT, WI (July 13, 2024) - The time of year is near when Donny Schatz begins to heat up. And he stoked the flames in a big way on Saturday night at Wilmot Raceway.

Sprint Car Racing’s crown jewels are where the Fargo, ND legend has always excelled. The Kings Royal and NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals are both less than a month away, and Schatz appears to be getting warmed up at the right time.

The 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion delivered an absolute masterclass at Wilmot. Schatz lost the lead on the opening lap after starting on the pole, grabbed it back on Lap 10, and set sail through traffic on his way to a Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 victory.

After Friday’s opener didn’t go Schatz’s way when he started 14th and had to salvage a sixth place run, rolling into Victory Lane on Saturday felt even sweeter.

“Last night was really trying, but that’s what makes nights like this so much more important,” Schatz said. “The guys spent a lot of time today digging and changing things. It was a whole different race car tonight. Hats off to them – Scuba (Steve Swenson), Todd (Devnich), and Dauson (Heitritter). There’s a lot of communication there, and that’s what it takes to be in this situation.

“We won the Larry Hillerud Memorial, so that’s pretty damn cool. Larry was a North Dakota boy with tons of passion for this sport. I’m sure he’s up there arguing with my dad about something. I’m pretty honored to win this tonight.”

The triumph marked Schatz’s second Badger 40 triumph to go along with the one he topped in 2019. Schatz joins David Gravel (four) and Carson Macedo (three) as the only drivers with multiple World of Outlaws wins at Wilmot. His third win of the season snaps a 20-race winless drought dating back to I-55 in mid-April. Schatz’s career win total with The Greatest Show on Dirt grew to 314.

Schatz led the field to green for the 40-lap finale with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid alongside. The outside lane proved to be the place to be for the start as Kofoid jumped out ahead to lead the opening lap in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.

The opening laps belonged to Kofoid as he maintained a small advantage over Schatz. But when traffic came into play, the gap began to fade.

Schatz closed in on the top spot aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 as Kofoid struggled to work through slower cars. And on Lap 10 the door opened.

Kofoid drifted up the track in Turns 1 and 2 as he started down heavy traffic and Schatz pounced. He stuck the lowline perfectly in the No. 15 and powered ahead of Kofoid as the two raced down the back straightaway.

Schatz had no plans of letting Kofoid return the favor. Right away he began to masterfully carve his way through traffic. He went anywhere required to clear a lapper. Schatz could even float right through the middle of the turns to complete a pass. It didn’t matter where he went. Schatz would not be slowed.

Behind Schatz the battle for second heated up between Kofoid and Carson Macedo, who was in search of his fourth Wilmot triumph in a row. Macedo blasted around Kofoid on the high line on Lap 14 to secure the spot.

But even with a new runner-up, the distance between first and second expanded. Schatz pushed the margin over six seconds by Lap 21.

A caution with 18 laps to go gave the rest of the field a chance. It lined Macedo, winner of the past three at Wilmot, alongside Schatz. But it simply did not matter who was placed in his proximity. Schatz only had plans to drive away from them.

And that’s exactly what he did when the green flag brought the racing back to life. Schatz drove away from Macedo and went back to work navigating traffic when he reached the tail of the field. On multiple occasions he even split cars running side by side to clear both of them. When the checkered flag waved Schatz crossed the finish line nearly seven seconds ahead.

“That was a hell of a lot of fun,” Schatz said. “Traffic was actually pretty awesome for me there. There were a couple times we would get two or three-wide and split guys. That car was really good no matter where we went.”

Macedo’s pursuit of four in a row at Wilmot fell one spot shy as he brought the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 home in the runner-up spot. After putting on a dominating performance of his own on Friday, Macedo had a front row seat to watch Schatz do the same a night later.

“I think Donny tonight was a little bit like I was last night,” Macedo explained. “I feel like he could just maneuver and really go anywhere on the racetrack. I felt like I was decent in (Turns) 3 and 4 moving around a little bit. But I had to stay pretty committed other than that, especially in (Turns) 1 and 2. That allowed him to get through lapped traffic a little bit easier and better. But overall this is a great effort for this JJR team.”

Sheldon Haudenschild moved by Kofoid in the closing laps to claim the final spot on the podium. It was a productive 40 laps for the Wooster, OH native as his NOS Energy Drink No. 17 got better and better throughout the Feature.

“I worked on him (Kofoid) the whole race,” Haudenschild said. “Him and the 41 (Macedo) had a good battle, and I was just kind of sitting back there watching and was able to move around a little bit. I wasn’t sure what happened after that restart. I think Buddy’s car might’ve went away a little bit, and I think we got better and also kind of ran the 41 down there at the end, too.”

Buddy Kofoid and David Gravel completed the top five.

Logan Schuchart picked up the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a run from 17th to eighth.

Buddy Kofoid claimed his third Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the eighth of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Buddy Kofoid (24th Heat Race win of career), David Gravel (261st of career), and Giovanni Scelzi (50th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Donny Schatz (527th of career).

Donny Schatz topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Creed Kemenah won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Scotty Thiel.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Ohio for a huge trio of races. First up is the $15,000-to-win Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by dac® Pet Products at Attica Raceway Park on Tuesday, July 16. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Then it’s off to the iconic Eldora Speedway for the Knight Before ($25,000-to-win) on Friday, July 19 and the 41st Kings Royal on Saturday, July 20 offering up $175,000 in riches to the victor. 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. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 5. 2-David Gravel[7]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[17]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 10. 21H-Brady Bacon[5]; 11. 70-Kraig Kinser[8]; 12. 29-Logan McCandless[9]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson[19]; 14. 45-Landon Brooks[23]; 15. 15K-Creed Kemenah[21]; 16. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 17. 24D-Danny Sams III[12]; 18. 79-Blake Nimee[16]; 19. 3N-Jake Neuman[20]; 20. 6-Kelby Watt[11]; 21. 96-Jake Blackhurst[18]; 22. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[22]; 23. 16-Anthony Knierim[24]; 24. 73-Scotty Thiel[15]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

BADGER BEATDOWN: Carson Macedo Engineers Flawless Drive to Third Consecutive Wilmot Victory

The Californian laps up to ninth on his way to victory in the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 opener

WILMOT, WI (July 12, 2024) - Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing have Wilmot Raceway figured out right now.

They entered Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 weekend as winners of the two most recent World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car races at the Wisconsin facility. And on Friday night the pairing delivered their strongest statement yet at the 1/3 mile.

Macedo started second for the 40-lap Feature and put on a masterclass. After surviving one early challenge from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, he simply drove away. The Lemoore, CA native wheeled the Albaugh No. 41 wherever he wanted. He worked through traffic on the top. He worked through traffic on the bottom.

When the checkered flag waved to punctuate the beatdown, Macedo had lapped up to the ninth place finisher and crossed the line nearly six seconds ahead of Kofoid in the runner-up spot. From the moment the green flag dropped, Macedo knew he was steering a special setup on Friday night.

“That was ridiculous. My car was unbelievable there, especially when we got into traffic,” Macedo said. “I knew we were going to be in really good shape when we got to traffic just because I could pretty much run wherever I wanted as long as I had clean air on my wings. It would go pretty much everywhere. I could split cars. And you know when you’re good like that it’s going to be tough to get by you. Tonight was one of those nights. It was definitely a Philip Dietz race car, just incredible from start to finish.”

The third consecutive Wilmot victory matches David Gravel’s run of three straight in 2014, 2016, and 2017 for the longest streak at the track. Wilmot is also now tied with Tri-State Speedway, Eldora Speedway, and Jackson Motorplex as the track where Macedo has won most often with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’s up to 38 career World of Outlaws triumphs. He also cut the gap between himself and Donny Schatz for second in the standings down to just two points.

Kofoid and Macedo led the field to green for the night’s 40-lap conclusion. It took no time for Macedo to flex his muscle as he powered ahead of Kofoid on the outside and led the first lap.

A flurry of early cautions forced Macedo to withstand multiple restarts. Kofoid kept him honest as Brady Bacon, Sheldon Haudenschild, David Gravel, and Giovanni Scelzi all jockeyed for spots within the top five behind them.

A golden opportunity for Kofoid to challenge for the win arose on a restart with 30 laps remaining. Kofoid kept the Roth Motorsports No. 83 close to Macedo as the green brought the field back to life. Exiting Turn 4 on the next lap he got a strong run on the bottom and looked under Macedo in Turns 1 and 2. Right when it looked like he may slide him for the lead, the yellow lights flashed once again for a slowing car on the other end of the racetrack.

On the ensuing restart Macedo made sure Kofoid had no chance at slipping by. He powered ahead when the green flag flew and began to build what eventually became an enormous advantage.

Kofoid managed to stay within striking distance in clean air, but instead of traffic helping him erase the gap, it played to Macedo’s advantage. One the lead duo caught the tail of the field, Macedo went to work slicing his way through as Kofoid struggled to maintain pace. The margin grew over a second on Lap 22. Two laps later it was over two seconds. By Lap 30 he had pushed the lead to more than four seconds, and the next circuit it ballooned to more than five seconds.

Traffic stood no chance of slowing his march toward the checkered flag. The gap reached its peak on Lap 38 when Macedo crossed the line 6.785 seconds ahead. He sealed the deal with just under a six-second margin between himself and the runner-up.

After losing out on multiple wins this year late in races, Macedo and the JJR crew have prioritized maintaining speed through the duration of Features. And that’s exactly what they did at Wilmot.

“I think that we’ve been trying to work on that for the last few races,” Macedo said. “And I feel like we definitely hit it tonight. It seemed like as the race went on I kept getting my wing back and just kept getting better. I looked up at one point and was like, ‘Man, I’m all the way back.’ And I felt like I could maybe even grab a little more wing, but then at times I would get tight as well. Just hats off to this JJR team.”

Kofoid brought the Roth Motorsports machine home second to earn back-to-back runner-up finishes after claiming second on Wednesday at Beaver Dam. He knew Macedo had an incredibly fast machine but couldn’t help wonder what could’ve been if the early ill-timed yellow hadn’t occurred.

“The 41 guys were just really good, and Carson did a really good job,” Kofoid said. “Who knows if the green stayed and the yellow didn’t come out. There was still a whole race left, and they were extremely good, but it would’ve been nice to see how it played out at least.”

After slipping back to sixth early in the race, David Gravel clawed his way back to third to round out the podium. That marked his 18th World of Outlaws podium of the season in the Big Game Motorsports machine as the No. 2 really came alive late for yet another strong run.

“Man, we just weren’t really good around the bottom of (Turns) 1 and 2,” Gravel said. “I thought, if your car was operating good, that would’ve been the place to be. But we had to slide across, keep our wing speed up, hit that grip, and get down the backstretch really, really fast. Once I did that, I was able to gain on Sheldon and get past Brady. We closed on Buddy, but just like all positioning, if he got held up by a lapped car I caught him, and when I got caught up he pulled away.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Brady Bacon completed the top five.

A 14th to sixth run earned Donny Schatz his Series-leading sixth KSE Racing Hard Charger of 2024.

Brock Zearfoss claimed his frist Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the second of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Brock Zearfoss (21st Heat Race win of career), Brady Bacon (fifth of career), and Carson Macedo (128th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (114th of career).

Buddy Kofoid 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 Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 at Wilmot Raceway on Saturday, July 13. 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. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 5. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[14]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 11. 73-Scotty Thiel[16]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[15]; 13. 70-Kraig Kinser[10]; 14. 45-Landon Brooks[22]; 15. 6-Kelby Watt[18]; 16. 15K-Creed Kemenah[20]; 17. 24D-Danny Sams III[17]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 20. 3N-Jake Neuman[23]; 21. 10V-Matt VanderVere[24]; 22. 96-Jake Blackhurst[19]; 23. 29-Logan McCandless[9]; 24. 10W-Mike Reinke[13]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

OF MIDGETS AND MONSTERS: Torgerson Family Keeping Open Wheel, Monster Truck Racing Tradition Alive

CONCORD, NC (July 11, 2024) – From Midgets to Sprint Cars, Micro Sprints and even Monster Trucks, dirt motorsports has run through the Torgerson family blood for over 40 years.

In 2024, Ashton Torgerson, along with brother Austin Torgerson, help carry the family tradition into the 21st century with their careers in Sprint Cars, Micro Sprints and most recently, Midgets, with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Ashton, a winner of three Features through the first 14 Series events – second most of any driver – has been a standout on the national Midget stage in his rookie season with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM). With wins at Farmer City Raceway, Humboldt Speedway and Coles County Speedway, Ashton’s early stretch of success has been an eye-opener for himself, his team and even his own family.

“Once we first started with the season, I got talking with Keith and was saying that it would be cool to get one win,” Ashton said. “We’ll try to get one win and see how it goes. Coming out and winning the Turnpike Challenge with POWRi, that was pretty [cool]. It was like, ‘Wow, OK.’”

“Keith had told me, he’s like, ‘We’re going to win with Ashton this year,’” said Danny Torgerson, Ashton’s father. “And I’m like, ‘I’d be happy with a few top fives and just him progressing.’ For him to get a win that early I think surprised a lot of us.”

However, the foundation of Ashton’s racing success was built many years ago.

Ashton’s grandfather, Stanley Torgerson, began the family tradition with his first venture into Monster Trucks in the 1980s as the founder of International Promotions Incorporated – one of the earliest Monster Truck event brands. After selling the company in 2001, Danny repurchased it, which in 2010 evolved into the present-day AMP Live Events.

Now operating with over 20 different trucks and three different tours – including the Monster X Tour, Monster Truck Nitro Tour and WGAS – AMP puts on events both in the United States and overseas, having brought Monster Truck racing to fans in Europe, Asia and South America.

Ashton has always been around the Monster Truck scene, attending shows since he was a child. While he got his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of a truck several years ago, Ashton has been getting more involved this year in his free time when not racing Midgets.

In March, he made an appearance with one of AMP's many entities piloting the famed Monster Patrol truck at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL. This weekend, he’ll be in action again piloting a truck at Auto City Speedway in Clio, MI – a welcomed, fun escape from the dirt ovals he’s used to racing on.

“You get to go out there and pretty much just have fun doing jumps, crush some cars, do some donuts and sling mud,” Ashton said. “It’s super cool to be able to do that.”

While most racers with visions of a future in oval track racing tend to stick to the tracks with four turns throughout their careers, Ashton has never shied away from the opportunity to drive something different.

“If it has a steering wheel, a gas pedal and a brake pedal, I’m in,” Ashton said. “I like to drive anything and just keep in the seat in anything while I’m gone from the Midgets. If I’m not racing the Midget, I want to be racing something else. If I’m not racing anything else, I’ll be running the Monster Truck. Just to have fun and keep me on my toes.”

Recently, Ashton’s older brother Austin has been making waves of his own in Micro Sprints. With four-straight top-five finishes during the four-race CA Speedweek Micro Sprint event in California, Austin’s consistency garnered him the miniseries points championship in the Super 600 division.

Austin and Ashton also competed against each other in the first four races of the Xtreme Outlaw Series season in March and April – Austin with Mounce/Stout Motorsports and Ashton with KKM – keeping the competitive flame alive between the two brothers.

“We always give each other some crap,” Ashton said. “Normally, we’re always pretty good with each other about it and we’re definitely proud of each other. But either way, we’ll give each other some crap and see who will beat each other. Sometimes, I’ll even try and make him bet on it. There’s always a little rivalry going on.”

From a father’s perspective, Danny has enjoyed seeing the success his sons have had so early on in their careers and looks forward to the accomplishments that lie ahead.

“I’m pretty proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Danny said. “They’ve definitely worked for it. Some people, it just comes natural and super easy, and the boys have been racing literally since they were four.”

Watch Ashton Torgerson and the rest of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota get back in action Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, with the two-day Tom Knowles Memorial event at Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL. Tickets for this event are on sale now at the link below.

BEAVER DAM BARNBURNER: Giovanni Scelzi Tops Thrilling JB Memorial for Another Beaver Dam Win

Scelzi bests Kofoid and Axsom for second Beaver Dam score and a $20,000 payday

BEAVER DAM, WI (July 10, 2024) - Beaver Dam Raceway continues to be a special place for Giovanni Scelzi and the KCP Racing crew.

Two years ago, it’s where current crew chief Adam Clark took the reins of the team to get his start calling the shots for a major Sprint Car operation. Then last year it’s where Clark got his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory as a crew chief when Scelzi took the car to Victory Lane at the Wisconsin oval.

And on Wednesday night Beaver Dam became the site of another noteworthy moment for the No. 18 team. Scelzi topped a thrilling three-way battle between himself, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, and Emerson Axsom to make Beaver Dam the first track where the Californian owns multiple victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Series sophomore snatched the lead on Lap 15 and held off a late charge from Kofoid with a slick move in traffic to top the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial for a $20,000 payday.

“Man, what an incredible racetrack, incredible crowd on a Wednesday night. I’m so glad the Outlaws decided to reschedule this one,” Scelzi said. “This is turning into one of my favorite racetracks, for sure. It’s so nicely worked, smooth, two lanes – a top and a bottom. It kind of developed a middle at both ends, too. I knew the lappers were damn near three-wide in front of me, so I kind of had to play it safe but make my own lane as well. Great job to my guys.”

The win marked the third of 2024 for Scelzi and the ninth overall of “Hot Sauce’s” career with the World of Outlaws. Three victories are already a personal best in one season for the Fresno, CA native. Scelzi became the 10th different driver to top multiple World of Outlaws races at Beaver Dam through the Series’ 35 visits to the 1/3 mile.

The 40-lap finale was brought to green by Kofoid and Axsom with Scelzi close behind in fourth. Kofoid jumped ahead to the early advantage as Scelzi rocketed from fourth to second in the opening set of corners. Axsom quickly drove back by Scelzi and went right to work on Kofoid.

The door opened on Lap 3 as Axsom ducked under Kofoid and slid ahead of him to take over the lead in the Klaasmeyer/Petry No. 27.

Axsom wasted no time building an advantage in pursuit of his first World of Outlaws win. Behind him the battle brewed for second as Scelzi locked his sights on the Roth Motorsports No. 83. Scelzi stole the spot from Kofoid on Lap 5 but surrendered it back the following lap.

As the first quarter of the 40 laps came to a close Scelzi’s machine began to come to life. He used a big run down the back straightaway to slip under Kofoid and reclaim second on Lap 14. Then on the next circuit he got another strong head of steam heading into Turn 3 and used it to roll the bottom right by Axsom and take the lead.

Scelzi began to build his advantage as he worked smoothly through lapped cars. Axsom chopped into the gap on a few different laps but couldn’t ever find the speed to close back in on Scelzi’s tail tank. And behind him Kofoid was starting to piece together some solid laps as he looked to rejoin the battle for the win.

The contest for the runner-up spot reignited between Axsom and Kofoid with the Roth machine making its way back into second with seven laps remaining. The distance between Kofoid and Scelzi was more than a second when Kofoid got the spot, but it began to shrink right away as the laps clicked off. With only a few circuits remaining, Kofoid closed nearly to the tail tank of Scelzi.

But one slight slip up from Kofoid was all Scelzi needed to seal the deal. As the duo exited Turn 4 coming to two laps remaining, Kofoid narrowly missed the lane of grip on the bottom as Scelzi stayed glued to it and powered away down the front straightaway. Scelzi cleared a couple more lapped cars for breathing room and rolled to the checkered flag.

For Scelzi and company, the win served as a nice momentum boost with one of the biggest events in Sprint Car Racing on the horizon.

“They all dropped to the bottom in Turn 1, and I got to second and then got passed back by Buddy and just kind of rode there for a little bit,” Scelzi said of his race. “I felt like I could really go anywhere I wanted. Kudos to Adam for getting the car really good. I feel like we learned some stuff testing at Knoxville. Great job to my guys. Kings Royal is coming up.”

Kofoid settled for second after leading the opening two laps and making it close at the end. The Toyota Racing driver came away encouraged with the outing, especially with the speed of the No. 83 in the latter portion of the race.

“We really came alive probably the last 10, 15 laps and started trucking through the middle at least in (Turns) 1 and 2 and was good on the top in (Turns) 3 and 4,” Kofoid explained. “I just needed it to probably be slicker longer, but I felt like we were there at the end. Dylan, Nate, and Gage did a really good job. We’ve been off a little bit I feel like this last month or so. But to contend for a win today is, I feel like, a step in the right direction.”

Rounding out the top three was Emerson Axsom. The Franklin, IN native brought home his first career World of Outlaws podium in only his sixth Feature start with the Series. While happy with the result, it was a bit of a bittersweet moment for the 19-year-old as he felt a potential victory slipped away.

“I’m really happy with our speed, but I’m a little disappointed with some of the mistakes I made,” Axsom admitted. “But you’ve got to race with these guys to learn and make mistakes and then pick yourself up from it and learn. Leading it’s tough to tell where to run. Obviously Gio was running through the hole in (Turn) 3 and got a big run of me carrying a lot more speed through (Turns) 3 and 4. After I moved up, I felt really good. I just made some mistakes and let some professionals get by me that have been doing it a while. Obviously, I’m happy with our speed, but I want to win.”

Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 24th to 14th drive earned Cale Thomas the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo earned a Series-leading eighth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 is Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi (49th Heat Race win of career), Garet Williamson (third of career), and David Gravel (260th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (113th of career).

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kerry Madsen won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brock Zearfoss.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Wisconsin’s Wilmot Raceway on July 12-13 for the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40. 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. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 6. 2-David Gravel[3]; 7. 83SR-James McFadden[9]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 10. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 12. 45-Landon Brooks[11]; 13. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 14. 17GP-Cale Thomas[24]; 15. 55-Kerry Madsen[21]; 16. 73-Scotty Thiel[22]; 17. 6-Kelby Watt[17]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[20]; 20. 14-Sean Rayhall[18]; 21. 2W-Scott Neitzel[19]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[16]; 23. 29-Logan McCandless[12]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[23]

World of Outlaws World Finals Schedule Cements Four Nights of Dirt Track Racing, Entertainment

CONCORD, NC (July 9, 2024) – The World of Outlaws World Finals championship weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte is bringing four nights of on-track action with three premier dirt racing series, endless fan activities and celebrations like no other.

Set for Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 6-9, the championship crowning event will again feature the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. However, this time, the Late Models will utilize the popular “every lap matters” format.

All three series will qualify on Wednesday, setting up the Heat Race lineups for Thursday and Friday. For the Late Model’s “every lap matters” format, drivers will earn points for where they qualify, where they finish in their Heat Race, where they finish in the Last Chance Showdown (if they don’t make it to the Feature) and where they finish in the Feature – Thursday and Friday only.

That will determine which 16 Late Model drivers are locked into Saturday’s Feature (based on their best points finish between the two nights) and who will have to race their way in through Saturday’s Last Chance Showdowns. Two Dashes (one for positions first through eighth, and the second for positions ninth through 16th) will determine how the top 16 drivers start in Saturday’s Feature.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series will run their normal World Finals programs with points collected from Thursday and Friday setting up Saturday’s Heat Race lineups. All three series will crown their 2024 champion Saturday night with a confetti and fireworks filled celebration.

Along with the on-track action, fans will be treated to a plethora of activities and entertainment throughout the week.

Wednesday kicks off the fun with a Fan Fest party at noon in the midway. The Race Day Live show on the Sage Fruit Stage returns at noon all four days with driver interviews and music.

Friday will feature the one of the most unique visuals in all of motorsports with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models and Big Block Modifieds on track together for the 3X4 parade lap.

The final two nights of the week will be enhanced by NOS Energy Drink with the addition of Freestyle Motocross shows throughout the program.

Opening ceremonies is schedule for 4:45 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday and then will start at 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For the full World of Outlaws World Finals schedule, click here.

Last year’s World Finals saw milestone triumphs and a first-time champion. To follow the points battles for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series, click here, and follow the World of Outlaws World Finals’ Twitter (X) account.

Tickets are now on sale and available by clicking here. Make sure to purchase the four-day package by Aug. 31 to receive a free fan pit pass.

2024 Schedule Highlights
Wednesday, Nov. 6
• Fan Fest in midway (12 p.m.)

Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Qualifying for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Thursday, Nov. 7

Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Full race programs for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Friday, Nov. 8

Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
3X4 Parade Lap
NOS Energy Drink Freestyle Motocross show during 3X4
Full race programs for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Saturday, Nov. 9

Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Auction (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
NOS Energy Drink Freestyle Motocross shows
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series championship finales
Championship Celebration

1 MONTH ALERT: Ironman 55 Weekend Pumps Up Excitement For World of Outlaws, Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

PEVELY, MO (July 4, 2024) – Drivers and fans will be treated to the biggest Ironman 55 yet at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in August with the largest purse in event history.

Between two days of racing, Aug. 2-3, more than $180,000 will be on the line for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota. That’s highlighted by Saturday’s Features paying $25,000-to-win for the World of Outlaws and $7,500-to-win for the Midgets.

Friday’s Feature will pay out $12,000-to-win/$1,200-to-start for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and $4,000-to-win/$300-to-start for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets.

Both nights will also count toward the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series title – awarding $2,500 to the Series champion at the end of the year – as POWRi will co-sanction the event with Xtreme.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 is home to some of the most iconic moments in Sprint Car racing, such as Sheldon Haudenschild’s dominating performance in 2019 where he won by over 10 seconds, Kyle Larson’s sub-10 second qualifying lap and Larson’s intense duel with Logan Schuchart last year.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets have produced a “new flavor of the week” vibe with every race at I-55, producing five different winners in their five trips there.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, Aug. 2-3
Location – Pevely, MO
Track Record –
9.995 sec. set by Kyle Larson on May 22, 2020 (Sprint Cars)
12.625 sec. set by Michael Pickens on Aug. 5, 2022 (Midgets)

Times (CT) –
2 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
Grandstand Gate Opens: 5 p.m. Friday / 4 p.m. Saturday
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (World of Outlaws, Aug. 5, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7ZWv2i-JM

Last Race Video Recap (Xtreme, Aug. 5, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y458bOOLEY

Previous World of Outlaws winners at I-55 –
2023 – Brad Sweet on April 14, Spencer Bayston on Aug. 4, Kyle Larson on Aug. 5
2022 – Carson Macedo on April 16 & August 5, Brad Sweet on August 6
2021 – Brad Sweet on April 2, Brad Sweet on April 3, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 6, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 7
2020 – Brad Sweet on May 22, Kyle Larson on May 23, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 7, Kyle Larson on Aug. 8
2019 – Brad Sweet on Aug 2, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 3
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 21, Rico Abreu on Aug. 3, Logan Schuchart on Aug. 4
2017 – Daryn Pittman on Aug. 4
2016 – David Gravel on Aug. 5, Rico Abreu on Aug. 6
2015 – Christopher Bell on May 2, Donny Schatz on Aug. 7, Shane Stewart on Aug. 8
2014 – Sammy Swindell on April 26, Paul McMahan on Aug. 1, Kerry Madsen on Aug. 2
2013 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 3
2012 – Craig Dollansky on Oct. 13, Jason Sides on Oct. 13
2011 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 5
2010 – Joey Saldana on April 17, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 6, Jason Meyers on Aug. 7
2009 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 7, Joey Saldana on Aug. 8
2008 – Jason Meyers on April 5
2007 – Joey Saldana on July 7
2006 – Donny Schatz on April 1, Brooke Tatnell on July 8
2005 – Kraig Kinser on April 2, Chad Kemenah on July 8
2004 – Craig Dollansky on April 17, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 7
2003 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Tyler Walker on July 12
2002 – Jac Haudenschild on March 30, Daryn Pittman on July 13
2001 – Randy Hannagan on March 24, Stevie Smith on July 14
2000 – Jac Haudenschild on July 22
1999 – Jac Haudenschild on July 24
1998 – Stevie Smith on July 25, Andy Hillenburg on Oct. 10
1997 – Mark Kinser on May 18, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 11
1996 – Mark Kinser on June 12
1992 – Steve Kinser on June 10
1991 – Sammy Swindell on May 4
1990 – Sammy Swindell on April 14
1989 – Doug Wolfgang on April 15, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 11
1988 – Steve Kinser on April 23
1987 – Brad Doty on April 22, Steve Kinser on Sept. 25

Previous Xtreme winners at I-55 –
2023 – Cannon McIntosh on April 14, Karter Sarff on Aug. 4, Jade Avedisian on Aug. 5
2022 – Chance Crum on Aug. 5, Michael Pickens on Aug. 6

1 MONTH ALERT: Ironman 55 Weekend Pumps Up Excitement For World of Outlaws, Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

Drivers and fans will be treated to the biggest Ironman 55 yet at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in August with the largest purse in event history.

Between two days of racing, Aug. 2-3, more than $180,000 will be on the line for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota. That’s highlighted by Saturday’s Features paying $25,000 to win for the World of Outlaws and $7,500 to win for the Midgets.

Friday’s Feature will pay out $12,000-to-win/$1,200-to-start for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and $4,000-to-win/$300-to-start for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets.

Both nights will also count toward the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series title – awarding $2,500 to the Series champion at the end of the year – as POWRi will co-sanction the event with Xtreme.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 is home to some of the most iconic moments in Sprint Car and dirt track racing, such as Sheldon Haudenschild’s dominating performance in 2019 where he won by 10 seconds, Kyle Larson’ sub-10 second Qualifying lap and Larson’s intense duel with Logan Schuchart last year.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets have produced a “new flavor of the week” vibe with every race at I-55, producing five different winners in their five trips there.

Times (CT) –
2 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
Grandstand Gate Opens: 5 p.m. Friday / 4 p.m. Saturday
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (World of Outlaws, Aug. 5, 2023) –

Last Race Video Recap (Xtreme, Aug. 5, 2023) –

Previous Xtreme winners at I-55 –
2023 – Cannon McIntosh on April 14, Karter Sarff on Aug. 4, Jade Avedisian on Aug. 5
2022 – Chance Crum on Aug. 5, Michael Pickens on Aug. 6

Logan Schuchart Ends Slump with Statement Cedar Lake Victory

The Series veteran takes the Shark Racing machine to Victory Lane for the first time in 2024

NEW RICHMOND, WI (June 29, 2024) - Logan Schuchart isn’t afraid to admit the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season hasn’t gone to plan.

Schuchart and the Shark Racing crew entered their 11th year with championship aspirations. After a six-win 2023 season, there was reason to hope.

But the first 30 races of the didn’t work out in their favor. Despite showing speed on several nights, the Hanover, PA native had not a win or a podium to show for it. The campaign hit a really low point two weeks ago at Knoxville when Schuchart wound up wrecked with a DNF after battling for a win.

But then it all turned around on Saturday night at Cedar Lake Speedway.

The Hanover, PA native simply refused to lose at the track where he earned his first career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt back in 2016. He started on the pole of the 30-lap finale, held off the season’s two winningest drivers in David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild, and took the Shark No. 1S to Victory Lane for the first time in 2024. After suffering through the struggles to start the year, the relief that the victory brought reminded him of that special night eight years ago.

“It almost feels like the very first one just with another eight years in between,” an ecstatic Schuchart said. “This stuff is tough. These guys are so good out here. The smallest things can make or break your night. It feels really good, for sure. It’s been a struggle. It’s been frustrating at times. I can say that I’ve got an amazing team with guys that stick by me and work their butts off no matter the outcome each week and are doing their best job to make us better. Huge thanks to my guys Lonnie Judy, Brendan Collum, Bill Klingbeil, my grandfather.”

The victory ends a 45-race winless streak for Schuchart dating back to September 4, 2023 at Elma, WA’s Grays Harbor Raceway. He’s now at nine consecutive seasons of topping at least one World of Outlaws race. The 42nd win of his career equals him with Andy Hillenburg for 18th on the all-time win list. Cedar Lake also became the 11th track in which he’s won at on multiple occasions.

The box score may show Schuchart led every lap, but it was far from a walk in the park. He lined up on the pole for the 30-lapper with three of the current best in the game – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Carson Macedo – starting in spots two through four. The trio behind him owned a combined 18 wins this year entering the night.

Schuchart darted ahead on the opening start as Haudenschild quickly stole second from Gravel. But the roles were reversed on an early restart with 26 laps to go as Gravel reclaimed second from Haudenschild. The point leader then set his sights on Schuchart and fired a slider attempt that didn’t quite clear him.

Schuchart pulled ahead as the battle for second again warmed up between Gravel and Haudenschild. After a few laps of jockeying that saw Gravel pull a massive wheelie down the entire front straightaway, Haudenschild took the position back. It didn’t take long for Haudenschild to run down Schuchart in traffic, but right as a battle looked to be brewing the red flag flew when Scott Winters flipped in Turn 2 with 12 laps to go.

The green flag brought the action back to life, and Schuchart again stretched his lead as Haudenschild and Gravel resumed their battle. A spinning Christopher Thram brought the yellow out quickly and necessitated a single-file restart.

The clean air on the restart allowed Schuchart to put some significant space between himself and Haudenschild as the race dipped inside 10 laps to go. The driver of the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 began to reel him back in as traffic became more of a factor and pulled within seventh tenths of a second with five laps to go.

But the Shark Racing machine proved to be too strong as Schuchart made some determined moves around lappers and went on to win by more than three seconds.

“I think the No. 2 car (Gravel) is obviously the fastest car out here this year,” Schuchart said. “And the two crew chiefs (Cody Jacobs and Kyle Ripper) are buddies, so I’m sure they’re sharing information. And Sheldon is always gassing it up, and I would expect him to be fast on this type of track. They’re a great group of guys. They’re always going to be fast. When they’re behind you, it’s going to be tough. We just wanted to make sure we got through lapped traffic at the right time.”

Bringing home the runner-up spot was Sheldon Haudenschild and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew. The Wooster, OH native had a car capable of winning, but the circumstances of the main event didn’t work out in his favor.

“I thought I had a shot there,” Haudenschild said. “Me and David did some racing, too, so that kind of slowed us up and let Logan get going even better. I thought we did alright through lappers. I probably could’ve done a little bit better. I feel like I searched around and did everything we could and just came up short.”

Rounding out the top three for his Series-leading 17th podium of 2024 was David Gravel. The third place outing allowed him to extend his points lead ever so slightly over fourth-finishing Donny Schatz. It was another night of speed out of the Big Game Motorsports machine as Gravel continues to march toward his first title.

“The track had some character,” Gravel said. “We were really good on the restarts. You could run the bottom for a couple laps then kind of had to move up and maintain momentum, but I just couldn’t run the top of (Turns) 3 and 4 very good for whatever reason. I couldn’t get it well and then it was getting rough. Sheldon struggled through there, and I couldn’t really see Logan, but it had a lot of character and just happy to finish third.”

Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

Schatz drove his way forward from 10th to fourth to collect the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his seventh Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 40th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three went to Sheldon Haudenschild (112th Heat Race win of career) and David Gravel (259th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Three belonged to Logan Schuchart (124th of career).

Logan Schuchart topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

UP NEXT: The Wisconsin stretch continues for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars with a three-race week beginning with the $20,000-to-win Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial at Beaver Dam Raceway on Wednesday, June 10. Then it’s off to Wilmot Raceway for two nights (July 12-13) for the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40. 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. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 2-David Gravel[2]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 9. 24T-Christopher Thram[6]; 10. 45-Landon Brooks[13]; 11. 7S-Landon Crawley[9]; 12. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[11]; 13. 70-Kraig Kinser[18]; 14. 6-Kelby Watt[19]; 15. 14T-Brooke Tatnell[14]; 16. 74N-Luke Nellis[16]; 17. 199-Ryan Bowers[21]; 18. 33-Scott Broty[22]; 19. 10J-Justin Jacobsma[23]; 20. 47-Todd King[20]; 21. 24D-Danny Sams III[5]; 22. 23W-Scott Winters[17]; 23. 91-Reed Allex[24]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[15]

A SPECIAL PLACE: Brock Zearfoss Reflects on 2022 Cedar Lake Victory

The Jonestown Jet revisits the site of one of his career’s most memorable moments this weekend

NEW RICHMOND, WI (June 27, 2024) - More than 5,000 drivers have competed with the World of Outlaws, but only 152 of them can call themselves winners with The Greatest Show on Dirt. And even less can call themselves multi-time winners – like Brock Zearfoss.

His first win came in his eighth career Series start, but it took another five years before he claimed his second at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway in July of 2022; a victory that will forever be one of the most memorable moments of his career.

“It wasn’t handed to us,” Zearfoss said. “We had to work for it. It really wasn’t easy, but we did have a lot of luck that night. I think we were running fifth and Gio (Scelzi) crashed, and it ended up being second, third and fourth all going to the work area at the same time. So, we got up to second. That part was kind of a blessing.

“Also, the bottom was really good on the restarts, and Brad (Sweet) chose the high line and gave us the bottom. We just had a really good restart and was able to get in front of Brad and kind of run away a little bit. I think there were four or five cautions in 16 laps. It wasn’t toward the end of the race. We still had a long way to go. It just went our way. It was having some luck there and being in the right spot to capitalize. It all went right that night, and we were able to hold on to win.”

This night was different. First and foremost, the Cedar Lake triumph came aboard his family-owned No. 3Z. Brock Zearfoss Racing became a winning team against the toughest competition. Winning as a hired gun is one thing. Beating the best of the best in your own car that you’ve built into a contending organization is another.

“It had its own special feeling,” Zearfoss said. “Obviously, winning your first one is way different than anything else. This one was a little more gratifying. It’s hard to win Outlaw races, but we did it with our family team. We were doing things one step at a time, trying to make our program better each year. It’s not that our team wasn’t capable of doing it. It’s just hard when you’re running with the best cars every night, and you can’t make errors. A lot of learning. It was definitely gratifying to be able to do it with our family team and to be able to celebrate with my guys.”

This weekend offers the opportunity for Zearfoss to return to the meaningful site when the World of Outlaws campaign rolls into Cedar Lake for two nights of action on Friday-Saturday, June 28-29. No matter how many more victories he adds, no matter what other accomplishments he attaches to his résumé, he’ll always hold that night at Cedar Lake close to heart.

“I think it’s a special place for me to go back to,” Zearfoss said. “Being our first win as a family team and a full-time Outlaw, it’s always going to be a place that I’ll remember for a while. I always enjoy going back there. The fans are really great in Wisconsin for the Outlaws. This time of year is fun up there, lot of stuff going on. It’s always going to be a special place for me.”

Zearfoss heads to Cedar Lake beginning to piece together some momentum as he navigates his fourth campaign. After struggling last year, Zearfoss is on pace to put up better numbers in most statistical categories in 2024. Improvements that have Zearfoss not only looking forward to Cedar Lake, but to the duration of his fourth year with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“We made some changes before Eldora, and our season has really gotten better since Eldora,” Zearfoss said. “We’re trending toward running where we should be… We’re working hard at it. Our program has gotten a lot better since making changes, and I’m excited to finish the rest of the season.”

How Kale Drake Evolved from Micro Sprint Champion to Xtreme Midget Winner with Keith Kunz Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (June 27, 2024) – Joining the driver roster of one of Midget racing’s most successful teams by way of hours in the shop is rare. But that’s the story of Kale Drake’s arrival at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM).

The 18-year-old national Micro Sprint champion from Collinsville, OK, joined the Indiana-based organization as a full-time employee in the spring and has since become the team’s only current driver/crew member, competing full-time with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

With 17 national Midget series championships since KKM’s formation in the 1990s, a plentiful roster of crew members, countless Feature wins and a partnership with Toyota Racing, Drake’s decision to pursue a spot on the team was easy.

“Since day one, I’ve wanted to be a part of a team like that,” he said.

A regular of the Micro Sprint world for 12 years, Drake won his first national championship with the POWRi 600cc Outlaw Micro League in 2023. That October, he was runner-up to Gavin Miller in the annual KKM Giveback Classic event for Micro Sprints at Oklahoma’s Port City Raceway – an event that traditionally awards the winner with their choice of either a large sum of cash or a Midget with their name on it at the next running of the Chili Bowl Nationals in January.

Since Miller was already a full-time KKM Midget racer, team co-owner Keith Kunz made the offer to Drake. He elected to take Kunz’s offer for a car at the 2024 Chili Bowl and made the most of his debut in the famed event, qualifying for Saturday’s A-Main in his first attempt and garnering the Rookie of the Year honor following his 14th-place finish.

But Drake wasn’t done with Midget racing or being in the KKM environment. So, a few weeks later, he picked up the phone.

“I called Keith and told him that I wanted to take that next step in my career,” Drake said. “He told me that the best option for me was just to get out to Indiana and start making new connections, so that’s what I did.”

“I told him that if that’s what you want to do, I’ll actually hire you, you come back here and work for me,” Kunz said. “I really want to try to run [him] a couple races here and there in the Midget. And he decided to make that leap.”

Soon, Drake packed his things and made the one-way trip out to Columbus, IN, to join the team in the shop. Kunz immediately put him to work with KKM’s Micro Sprint division as a mechanic, working on and maintaining the fleet of cars for upcoming events.

Right away, Kunz noticed his natural ability and determination.

“For [not a lot] of Midget experience, the kid works really hard,” Kunz said. “He works on the stuff; he absorbs all the knowledge and what’s going on. He’s not just your typical show-up-and-drive, he gets it. He has that understanding of race cars. He works late; whatever it takes.

“I think everybody has taken such a liking to him because of his work ethic, but then he’s talented on top of it.”

As promised, Drake got a few chances for more time in the seat of a Midget, starting with a POWRi-sanctioned three-race weekend in Oklahoma in March, posting a best finish of seventh at Port City. It was a solid first showing in his home state, but one that paled in comparison to what came next.

When Miller was injured in a Micro Sprint crash in late March, Drake got the nod again, replacing Miller in the KKM No. 97 for the next Xtreme Outlaw Series weekend on the schedule in Missouri. After a seventh-place in Friday’s main event at US36 Raceway, Drake pulled-off the unthinkable on Saturday, reeling in teammate Taylor Reimer in the final laps and executing a last-lap, last-corner pass for the win at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

“Even midway through that main, I didn’t think we were gonna be able to pull it off,” Drake said. “Right toward the end of it, I was able to find another gear and just click-off really solid laps, and even that last lap, it was so perfect. It was crazy how well everything came together toward the end of that race in my favor.”

With a first career national Midget series win now in-hand, Kunz had once again taken notice of his skills behind the wheel.

“It really showed Keith that I was capable of winning races, and that’s what KKM is all about,” Drake said. “After that, it kind of rolled into, ‘You’ve proven you can win, so now you have a seat on the team.’”

“He has earned his ride, that’s the thing,” Kunz said. “Once he won that first race, we were like, ‘Well, we’ve gotta keep going now.’”

Now at the halfway point of his rookie season in the national Midget ranks, Drake continues both his crew member and driving duties in the Midget and Micro Sprint. When he’s not in the car at the track, he’s taking up duties such as adjusting stagger, changing torsion bars and preparing tires, among many other tasks on both he and his teammates’ cars.

He said that knowledge he gains from working on the same cars he races is invaluable.

“I think coming in and being a part of the team like that has also shown other drivers that it can be done, and it’s also shown others not to take things for granted,” Drake said. “I feel like there’s a lot of guys on the team now that are more hands-on than they were before, and it teaches them more than just what they know from driving the car.

“You can only learn so much behind the wheel. But once you get hands-on, it really opens a lot of doors and you see things from a different perspective, and it just makes everything come together a lot better.”

It’s not every year Kunz comes across a driver who understands as much about the inner workings of the cars as he does driving them, which he said makes Drake unique.

“His feedback’s really, really good in knowing when we make decisions of what to do, he’s in on that,” Kunz said. “He gets the things we’ve already done, and he remembers all that, so he can kinda lead us. That’s good for a driver that has some input and understands the changes you’re gonna make on it and what it’s gonna do.”

Drake and KKM return to Xtreme Outlaw Series competition Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, in a two-day event at Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL. Tickets are on sale now at the link below and will also be available at the gate on race day.

1 MONTH ALERT: Big Paydays, Morgan Cup on Tap at Williams Grove Speedway's Summer Nationals

MECHANICSBURG, PA (June 27, 2024) – Sprint Car racing action heats up at Williams Grove Speedway in July for the two-day World of Outlaws C&D Rigging Summer Nationals, which will also crown this year’s Morgan Cup champion.

The doubleheader, Friday-Saturday, July 26-27, will be the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ first stop at the historic 1/2-mile dirt track this year after weather hindered its spring appearance.

Friday night will serve as the make-up night for the Morgan Cup, meaning the night’s winner will be crowned this year’s Morgan Cup champion and receive a $17,000 check.

Then, drivers will battle for a $20,000 payday on Saturday.

Both nights will continue the famed World of Outlaws v.s. PA Posse rivalry. World of Outlaws star Logan Schuchart, of Hanover, PA, scored the Morgan Cup last year, which was also his first Series win at Williams Grove Speedway.

Pennsylvania's Brent Marks is the last driver to win a World of Outlaws race at the dirt track, picking up his second National Open victory last year. He’s the only PA Posse member to have won a World of Outlaws race at Williams Grove last year as three of the five events were won by Outlaw drivers.

Of active World of Outlaws drivers, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz holds the most Series wins at the track with 21. He'll be looking for his first win there since 2020.

Freddie Rahmer and Troy Wagaman Jr. currently sit in positions one and two, respectively, in the weekly racing standings at Williams Grove Speedway – more than 100 points ahead of Lucas Wolfe in third.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, July 26-27
Location – Mechanicsburg, PA
Track Record – 16.089 sec. by TJ Stutts on April 8, 2023

Times (ET) –
4 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
5 p.m. Grandstand Gate Opens
7 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it to the track? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (Sept. 30, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf77q9_ZOkI

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Williams Grove –
2023 – Brad Sweet on May 12, Logan Schuchart on July 21, Rico Abreu on July 22, Brad Sweet on Sept. 29, Brent Marks on Sept. 30
2022 - Brent Marks on May 14, Lance Dewease on July 22, Sept. 30 & Oct. 22, Brad Sweet on July 23
2021 –Carson Macedo on May 14, Aaron Reutzel on May 15, Sheldon Haudenschild on July 23, Brent Marks on July 24, Kyle Larson on Oct. 1, Carson Macedo on Oct. 2
2020 – Shane Stewart on July 24, David Gravel on July 25, David Gravel on Oct. 2, Donny Schatz on Oct. 3
2019 – David Gravel on May 17, Lance Dewease on May 18, Tim Shaffer on July 26, Donny Schatz on July 27, David Gravel on Oct. 4, Brent Marks on Oct. 5
2018 – Lance Dewease on July 20, Gio Scelzi on Sept. 28, Lance Dewease on Sept. 29,
2017 – David Gravel on May 19, Shane Stewart on May 20, Brock Zearfoss on July 21, Greg Hodnett on Sept. 28 (makeup from 7/22), David Gravel on Sept. 28, James McFadden on Sept. 29, David Gravel on Sept. 30
2016 – Lance Dewease on May 20, Daryn Pittman on July 22, Lance Dewease on July 23, Danny Dietrich on Oct. 14
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 15, Danny Dietrich on July 24, Stevie Smith on July 25, Stevie Smith on Oct. 4
2014 – Daryn Pittman on May 16, Daryn Pittman on May 17, Greg Hodnett on July 18, Lance Dewease on July 19, David Gravel on Oct. 4
2013 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on July 20, Don Kreitz Jr. on Oct. 4, Fred Rahmer on Oct. 5
2012 – Fred Rahmer on May 11, Steve Kinser on May 12, Cody Darrah on July 21, Paul McMahan on Sept. 28, Donny Schatz on Sept. 29
2011 – Daryn Pittman on May 13, Greg Hodnett on July 22, Jason Meyers on July 23, Jason Meyers on Sept. 30, Jason Meyers on Oct. 7
2010 – Chad Layton on May 13, Fred Rahmer on May 14, Lance Dewease on July 23, Greg Hodnett on July 24, Greg Hodnett on Oct. 1, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 2
2009 – Greg Hodnett on May 14, Greg Hodnett on July 24, Greg Hodnett on Oct. 3, Cody Darrah on Oct. 3 (Completion of July 25 event)
2008 – Steve Kinser on May 15, Daryn Pittman on July 18, Donny Schatz on July 19
2007 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on May 18, Donny Schatz on July 19, Brian Leppo on July 20, Donny Schatz on July 21, Donny Schatz on Sept. 29
2006 – Fred Rahmer on May 26, Fred Rahmer on May 27, Terry McCarl on July 20, Craig Dollansky on July 21, Daryn Pittman on July 22, Jason Solwold on Sept. 29, Doug Esh on Sept. 30
2005 – Craig Dollansky on May 26, Steve Kinser on May 27, Jason Johnson on July 21, Paul McMahan on July 23, Fred Rahmer on July 23, Donny Schatz on Oct. 1
2004 – Fred Rahmer on May 27, Don Kreitz Jr. on May 28, Lance Dewease on July 23, Danny Lasoski on July 24, Mark Smith on Oct. 1, Donny Schatz on Oct. 2
2003 – Don Kreitz, Jr. on July 24, Donny Schatz on July 25, Donny Schatz on July 26, Donny Schatz on Oct. 3, Steve Kinser on Oct. 4
2002 – Steve Kinser on May 16, Danny Lasoski on July 25, Joey Saldana on July 26, Greg Hodnett on July 27, Lance Dewease on Sept. 28
2001 – Donny Schatz on May 17, Donny Schatz on July 26 (completed May 18 event), Donny Schatz on July 26, Don Kreitz Jr., on July 27, Tim Shaffer on Sept. 28, Lance Dewease on Sept. 29
2000 – Mark Kinser on May 18, Fred Rahmer on May 19, Lance Dewease on July 27, Sammy Swindell on July 29, Steve Kinser on Sept. 29, Donny Schatz on Sept. 30
1999 – Mark Kinser on May 27, Steve Kinser on May 28, Mark Kinser on July 29, Mark Kinser on July 30, Cris Eash on Oct. 1, Mark Kinser on Oct. 2
1998 – Mark Kinser on May 21, Johnny Herrera on May 22, Stevie Smith on May 29, Kevin Gobrecht on July 31, Mark Kinser on Oct. 2
1997 – Sammy Swindell on May 22, Mark Kinser on May 23, Jac Haudenschild on May 30, Mark Kinser on July 31, Mark Kinser on Aug. 1, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 3, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 4
1996 – Johnny Herrera on May 24, Mark Kinser on May 25, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on Aug. 1, Mark Kinser on Aug. 2, Lance Dewease on Oct. 4, Lance Dewease on Oct. 5
1995 – Steve Kinser on May 26, Dave Blaney on Aug. 3, Mark Kinser on Aug. 4, Mark Kinser on Sept. 29, Mark Kinser on Sept. 30
1994 – Dave Blaney on May 26, Steve Kinser on May 27, Andy Hillenburg on June 3, Jeff Swindell on Aug. 4, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 5, Lance Dewease on Sept. 30, Steve Kinser on Oct. 1
1993 – Dave Blaney on May 27, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 28, Dave Blaney on June 4, Steve Kinser on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Oct. 1, Don Kreitz Jr. on Oct. 3
1992 – Mark Kinser on May 21, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 22, Don Kreitz Jr., on May 29, Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 31, Keith Kauffman on Oct. 2, Steve Kinser on Oct. 3
1991 – Steve Kinser on May 23, Steve Kinser on May 24, Sammy Swindell on May 31, Mark Kinser on Aug. 1, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 4, Stevie Smith on Oct. 6
1990 – Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 25, Sammy Swindell on June 1, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3, Steve Kinser on Sept. 28, Steve Kinser on Sept. 29
1989 – Bobby Allen on May 25, Sammy Swindell on May 26, Bobby Allen on June 2, Bobby Davis Jr., on July 27, Bobby Davis Jr., on July 28, Stevie Smith on Sept. 29, Stevie Smith on Sept. 30
1988 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr., on May 27, Mark Kinser on June 3, Cris Eash on July 28, Steve Kinser on July 29
1987 – Ron Shuman on May 21, Steve Kinser on May 22, Steve Kinser on May 29, Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 31
1986 – Doug Wolfgang on May 22, Doug Wolfgang on May 23, Bobby Allen on May 30, Jac Haudenschild on July 31, Bobby Allen on Aug. 1
1985 – Keith Kauffman on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 31, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 1, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 2
1984 – Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on May 25, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 1, Brad Doty on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
1983 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr., on May 27, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 5
1982 – Sammy Swindell on May 13, Bobby Allen on May 14, Bobby Allen on May 21
1981 – Steve Kinser on June 5, Steve Kinser on June 12
1980 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Bill Stief on July 25, Keith Kauffman on July 26
1979 – Lynn Paxton on July 27
1978 – Kramer Williamson on Sept. 24

Huset’s Hustle, High Bank Nationals Rescheduled for Fall

Three-day Huset’s High Bank Nationals replaces originally scheduled two-day fall event

BRANDON, SD (June 25, 2024) - The remainder of Huset’s Speedway’s biggest weekend, including the Huset’s Hustle finale and both nights of the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards, has been rescheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 1 after severe flooding postponed the events.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series was slated to return to Huset’s for the Huset’s Shootout, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, but the Shootout has been canceled to make room for the completion of the postponed dates.

This adjustment adds a night of racing to the previously scheduled fall event and sets up three consecutive evenings of action at the Brandon, SD dirt track. First up on Friday, Aug. 30, will be the $25,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 31, it’s the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards prelim setting the stage for the $100,000-to-win finale on Sunday, Sept. 1.

All tickets purchased for the original date of the Huset’s Hustle finale (June 20) and High Bank Nationals (June 21-22), along with four-day wristbands, will be honored on the new dates.

Tickets are available now and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cedar Lake Doubleheader Kicks Off World of Outlaws Wisconsin Stretch

Two nights at the New Richmond, WI oval signal the start of five straight in the Badger State

NEW RICHMOND, WI (June 25, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are set to head back to the “Badger State” for an extended stay.

New Richmond, WI’s Cedar Lake Speedway welcomes The Greatest Show on Dirt this weekend for two nights of action (June 28-29). Located less than an hour east of Minneapolis, the Wisconsin dirt track will extend its streak as the most visited track in the state with the Series, adding visits 53 and 54 this Friday and Saturday.

The weekend ignites a five-race stretch in Wisconsin for the World of Outlaws. After the Cedar Lake doubleheader and a weekend off, the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers head to Beaver Dam Raceway on Wednesday, July 10 for the $20,000-to-win Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. Then, it’s off to Wilmot Raceway on July 12-13 for the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40.

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

BADGER GASSERS: There’s a trio of drivers on the 2024 World of Outlaws roster that have gotten quite comfortable on the ovals of Wisconsin. And it happens to be this year’s three winningest drivers – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild and Donny Schatz.

Schatz leads the way with nine career Wisconsin wins. Five times the 10-time champion has come out on top at Cedar Lake, most recently claiming a 2016 visit. Only Sammy Swindell and Brad Sweet’s seven Cedar Lake wins are ahead of Schatz.

Six of Haudenschild’s 41 career victories have come within Wisconsin’s borders – tied with Missouri as the state he’s won in most often. A majority of those triumphs (five) have come courtesy of Beaver Dam Raceway, but he’s made one visit to Cedar Lake Victory Lane in 2019. The Wooster, OH native also hasn’t missed the top 10 in his last 13 Cedar Lake visits.

The majority of Gravel’s Wisconsin winning has been done at Wilmot Raceway, where’s he come out on top four times. Last year, Gravel finally broke through for what had been an elusive Cedar Lake checkered flag. Before the win, the current point leader had posted seven runner-up finishes at the 3/8 mile. Gravel’s 2024 win tally already sits at nine as he continues to chase his first championship.

HOME STAND: There’s likely no driver more welcoming of the Wisconsin swing than Bill Balog. He’s originally from Alaska but has worn the cheese head for the last several years and will get to work out of his own shop during the upcoming stretch.

The “North Pole Nightmare’s” career is full of success at the trio of tracks on the agenda. It all starts with Cedar Lake this weekend where he’s bagged five Interstate Racing Association victories. He’s also been in the top 10 with the World of Outlaws on seven occasions at Cedar Lake with a best of sixth in 2013. Last year, Balog grabbed his first career Simpson Quick Time with The Greatest Show on Dirt courtesy of Cedar Lake.

After a strong stretch to close out May that included five top 10s in six races highlighted by an Attica podium, Balog’s rookie campaign has hit a slump with one top 10 in the last five. A multi-week stretch at familiar tracks offers up an excellent opportunity to build some momentum.

BROCK’S BREAKTHROUGH: Two years ago, Cedar Lake became the sight of a popular World of Outlaws winner.

Jonestown, PA’s Brock Zearfoss broke through for his first Series victory as a full-time competitor. He had already won with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2017 at Williams Grove Speedway, but the Cedar Lake triumph featured another special layer. It was his first with his family-owned team that he took on the road with the World of Outlaws. It was validation. It was proof he belonged.

Zearfoss heads back to Cedar Lake in the middle of his fourth campaign with the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers. He’s collected eight top 10s so far in 2024 and ready to see if Cedar Lake brings another magical moment.

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Zearfoss isn’t the only competitor to experience an important first at Cedar Lake. The track is also home to Logan Schuchart’s first ever World of Outlaws victory.

Eight years ago, Schuchart snagged his first career win in his 198th Feature start. Like Zearfoss, the night supplied a measure of reassurance. After making the bold jump to the grind of the World of Outlaws in 2014, Schuchart took Shark Racing to Victory Lane. Since then, he’s added another 40, currently good enough for 19th all-time.

Schuchart could use the boost of another Cedar Lake triumph this weekend. He’s winless through 30 events in 2024 and recently got hit with heartbreak at Knoxville, crashing while battling for the lead. The Hanover, PA native is yet to return to Cedar Lake Victory Lane, but he’s been in the top five in three of his last five attempts including a runner-up last year.

BOUNCING BACK: The most recent points races didn’t go according to plan for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing. The potent pairing wound up with finishes of 21st and 16th at Knoxville two weeks ago, ending a remarkable 17-race top five streak. The weekend knocked them from second in points and only 10 markers behind the top spot to third and 76 points back of the lead.

Macedo did rebound with a fourth-place run during the one completed night of BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards week, but the event offered only show-up points.

Cedar Lake serves up the opportunity for Macedo and the JJR crew to get back on the right track as they chase a title. The Californian is yet to win at the Wisconsin facility, but he’s been banging on the door. Four of his 11 Cedar Lake attempts have resulted in podiums including a pair of runner-ups. He’s also started on the pole three times and led laps in four Features.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, June 28-29 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI

ON THE INTERNET

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

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (30/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (4168 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-56 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-76 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-86 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-142 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-186 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-244 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-458 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-670 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-800 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (12 Drivers):

9 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day

FEATURE LAPS LED (19 Drivers):

224 Laps – David Gravel
166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
159 Laps – Carson Macedo
94 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
33 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
17 Laps – Logan Schuchart
15 Laps – Ryan Timms
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tyler Courtney
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (13 Drivers):

7 Quick Times – David Gravel
6 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
3 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Cory Eliason

HEAT RACE WINNERS (30 Drivers):

17 Heat Wins – David Gravel
14 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
12 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
10 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
7 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
6 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss
5 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Tyler Courtney
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Garet Williamson, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (49 Drivers):

23 Dashes – David Gravel
22 Dashes – Carson Macedo
19 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
14 Dashes – Donny Schatz
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
8 Dashes – Rico Abreu
7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Logan Schuchart
6 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Emerson Axsom
3 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Brady Bacon, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Garet Williamson, Corey Day, Daryn Pittman
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Parker Price-Miller, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (23 Drivers):

2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (20 Drivers):

5 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
4 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Garet Williamson

PODIUM FINISHES (18 Drivers):

16 Podiums – David Gravel
14 Podiums – Carson Macedo
10 Podiums – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
4 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney
2 Podiums – Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Kyle Larson, Aaron Reutzel
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms

TOP 10 FINISHES (57 Drivers):

27 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
26 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, David Gravel
25 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
24 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
23 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
19 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Top 10s – Bill Balog
8 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
6 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, James McFadden, Brian Brown
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms
2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Brady Bacon, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Parker Price-Miller, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

Jade Avedisian Reflects on New Life as Champion, Progress Made Outside Dirt Midget Racing

17-year-old Toyota Racing prospect returns to Xtreme Outlaw Series racing July 26-27 in Oklahoma

CONCORD, NC (June 20, 2024) – Jade Avedisian is quickly finding out that being champion of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota has its perks.

From corporate sponsor signings to special event appearances and even starring in television commercials, life in general for the 17-year-old racer from Clovis, CA, has never been the same since winning her first national Midget series championship eight months ago.

“It’s definitely changed a huge amount, even from the last three years,” Avedisian said. “The last few years, a lot has happened. I’ve had a lot of great people around me, even when I was at CBI and obviously the people around me right now. I don’t think I could get a better group of guys around me right now, or just better people around me in general right now.”

Avedisian returns to Series competition in five weeks’ time – July 26-27 at Arrowhead Speedway and Tulsa Speedway in Oklahoma. She clinched the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series points championship in the Sooner State and has since seen her stock in the motorsports industry rise, creating a level of attention around her unlike any she’d seen before.

Soon, her name began appearing on headlines written by high-profile media personalities. From Jeff Gluck to Bob Pockrass, even dirt racers-turned-NASCAR Cup Series drivers like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson spoke of her accomplishments.

“She was just super, super fast, and really maximized the equipment,” Bell said in a December 2023 interview. “A key ingredient for a racecar driver is being able to perform and get lap time out of the car, and that’s one thing she was able to do consistently.”

RELATED – KKM Leaders Never Doubted Jade Avedisian’s Championship Potential

One month after hoisting the championship trophy, Avedisian signed a multi-year agreement with Toyota Racing Development (TRD), making her a part of their full-time driver development program and opening her up to several new opportunities. In the spring, she co-starred with NASCAR Truck Series driver Corey Heim in her first TV commercial for Toyota Racing.

“Being in the Toyota commercials, and with all the push I have right now is something super special. I feel like not many kids get to say that,” Avedisian said. “But at the end of the day, you still have to stay humble and keep working hard. Your racing gets you those opportunities to have your name out there and all that.”

In May, she made a special appearance at Milton Hershey Stadium in Pennsylvania as part of the annual Hershey Sprint Car Experience event with her championship-winning car on display alongside several World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series drivers. Looking back, she said she had never met so many kids younger than her wanting to know about motorsports and enjoyed catching up with several fans that came out to meet her.

“Fans make the racing just so cool,” Avedisian said. “I feel like when you have a line out there, or even when you have people come up to you at the track, it’s super cool. I always go back to the days when I was the little kid asking for people’s autographs. To kind of be on the flip side of it now and be the person getting asked for autographs is something super special. I know it makes their day.”

Since signing with TRD, she’s taken on a new venture in motorsports this year, competing full-time in the Toyota GR Cup Series driving a Mobil 1-sponsored Toyota GR-86 car on some of the country’s most historic road courses.

It’s been a complete 180-degree spin for her, transitioning from years of nothing but dirt oval racing to now taking on asphalt road courses in a sports car. But Avedisian has navigated the learning curve well, notching a best finish of fourth last month at Circuit of the Americas, and said she’s enjoyed the new challenges.

“The pace of the race is different, the race craft is different, it even goes down to how you qualify is different,” Avedisian said. “When you get in the dirt car, you have two-three laps of hard-as-you-can-go and that’s it.

“With the GR Cup side of things, we do timed sessions, so you have 15 laps. Obviously, your tires can only get so hot before they shelf-off, so you have a certain amount of time to make sure you’re in the realm of where the tire can perform the best. When you’re in that time, you hope you don’t mess up in one of the 20 corners.”

Back on the dirt side, Avedisian has continued to race with Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) as her schedule allows, but she’s encountered some difficulty this year. In 12 starts, she’s finished top-five three times and made the podium once. Though she’s now recovered from another hinderance – a concussion she suffered in a hard crash at Farmer City Raceway in April – she and KKM are still searching to find her the speed and consistency she demonstrated in 2023 to get her back to Victory Lane.

“I think if you just go back to the very start of the season in Du Quoin – I lost my crew chief to IndyCar racing and what he had to do for himself,” Avedisian said. “I think that played a huge role in it; obviously, I spent the whole last year with him. Some people you get with, you just click right off the bat, and I feel like that’s how Jarrett [Martin] and I were – we clicked right off the bat.”

Though it’s been rough waters in the Midget as of late, Avedisian is determined to right the ship and continue making progress in the motorsports world as one of the top up-and-comers dirt track racing has to offer.

“I’m glad I could put my name on the history board, but at the same time, it was just cool to celebrate it with the team and show off their hard work all season,” Avedisian said. “It’s a lot we went through last season, honestly. For us to kind of stick through it, and no one ever gave up on the KKM side, it’s truly unbelievable.”

1 MONTH ALERT: Kings Royal Throne Awaits New Champion During World of Outlaws Doubleheader

ROSSBURG, OH (June 20, 2024) – Hear ye! Hear ye! The throne at Eldora Speedway awaits a new king.

The best Sprint Car drivers in the world will duel for the crown when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to the “Big E” for the 41st Kings Royal weekend, Friday-Saturday, July 19-20.

Along with receiving royal honors, Saturday’s victor will be bestowed a $175,000 check – the third six-figure payout in a month’s time for the World of Outlaws.

Friday’s Knight Before will set the stage for the weekend with a 30-lap battle for $25,000.

Ten-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz (King Donny XL) claimed his sixth Kings Royal title last year after leading all 40 laps. He’s now one away from tying Steve Kinser (King Steve XXVII) for the most Kings Royal victories.

He’s also one away from 20 wins overall at the historic half-mile track – owned by his Sprint Car team owner Tony Stewart.

Schatz was the first repeat winner since 2018 as the last five editions of the Kings Royal have produced five different winners – Schatz (2023), Brent Marks (2022), Kyle Larson (2021), Tyler Courtney (2021) and Brad Sweet (2019).

Current World of Outlaws points leader David Gravel and Ohio’s Sheldon Haudenschild will enter the event as the most recent World of Outlaws winners at Eldora, having each scored a victory there in May. Both will be on a quest for their first Kings Royal title.

Haudenschild’s father, Jac Haudenschild (King Jac XV), is a three-time Kings Royal champion and was the fourth driver in the event’s history to win it. If Sheldon can score his own crown, the Haudenschilds will be the first father-son duo to win the Kings Royal.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, July 19-20
Location – Rossburg, OH
Track Record – 12.599 seconds by David Gravel on Sept. 23, 2020

Times (ET) –
12 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
1 p.m. Grandstand Gate Opens
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (July 15, 2023; 40th Kings Royal) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3wrnFqaP50

Previous Kings Royal winners –
2023 – Donny Schatz (6)
2022 – Brent Marks
2021 – Kyle Larson
2021 – Tyler Courtney
2019 – Brad Sweet (2)
2018 – Donny Schatz (5)
2017 – Donny Schatz (4)
2016 – Donny Schatz (3)
2015 – Shane Stewart
2014 – Kerry Madsen
2013 – Brad Sweet
2012 – Sammy Swindell (3)
2011 – Tyler Walker
2010 – Steve Kinser (7)
2009 – Donny Schatz (2)
2008 – Daryn Pittman
2007 – Donny Schatz
2006 – Joey Saldana (2)
2005 – Steve Kinser (6)
2004 – Jason Sides
2003 – Steve Kinser (5)
2002 – Joey Saldana
2001 – Mark Kinser
2000 – Dale Blaney
1999 – Sammy Swindell (2)
1998 – Jac Haudenschild (3)
1997 – Steve Kinser (4)
1996 – Johnny Herrera
1995 – Dave Blaney (2)
1994 – Jac Haudenschild (2)
1993 – Dave Blaney
1992 – Sammy Swindell
1991 – Steve Kinser (3)
1990 – Doug Wolfgang (2)
1989 – Bobby Davis Jr.
1988 – Steve Kinser (2)
1987 – Jac Haudenschild
1986 – Don Krietz Jr.
1985 – Doug Wolfgang
1984 – Steve Kinser

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Eldora Speedway –
2024 – Sheldon Haudenschild on May 3, David Gravel on May 4
2023 – Logan Schuchart on May 5, Rico Abreu on May 6, Carson Macedo on July 14, Donny Schatz on July 15, Rico Abreu on Sept. 22
2022 –David Gravel on July 13, Brent Marks on July 14, David Gravel on July 15 (Day), Brent Marks on July 15 (Night), Rico Abreu on Sept. 23
2021 – Brent Marks on May 8 (Day), Sheldon Haudenschild on May 8, Carson Macedo on July 14, Tyler Courtney on July 17 (Day), Kyle Larson on July 17, Carson Macedo on July 18, Logan Schuchart on Sept. 24
2019 – Donny Schatz on May 10, Donny Schatz on July 17, Brad Sweet on July 18, Donny Schatz on July 19, Brad Sweet on July 20, Logan Schuchart on Sept. 27
2018 – Donny Schatz on May 11, Donny Schatz on May 12, Shane Stewart on July 12, Donny Schatz on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Brent Marks on Sept. 21, Christopher Bell on October 14
2017 – Logan Schuchart on May 12, Donny Schatz on May 13, Kerry Madsen on July 13, Christopher Bell on July 14, Donny Schatz on May 15, Tim Shaffer on Sept. 22
2016 – Kerry Madsen on May 6, Kerry Madsen on May 7, David Gravel on July 14, Daryn Pittman on July 15, Donny Schatz on July 16, Shane Stewart on Sept. 23
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 8, Donny Schatz on May 9, Shane Stewart on July 17, Shane Stewart on July 18, Greg Wilson on Sept. 25
2014 – Shane Stewart on May 2, David Gravel on May 3, Sammy Swindell on July 11, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2013 – Kerry Madsen on May 3, Daryn Pittman on May 4, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Brad Sweet on July 13
2012 – Chad Kemenah on May 4, Sammy Swindell on May 5, Joey Saldana on July 13, Sammy Swindell on July 14
2011 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Tim Shaffer on July 15, Tyler Walker on July 16, Joey Saldana on Sept. 23
2010 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Paul McMahan on May 9, Joey Saldana on July 16, Steve Kinser on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 24
2009 – Donny Schatz on May 9, Terry McCarl on July 17, Donny Schatz on July 18, Jason Sides on Sept. 25
2008 – Craig Dollansky on April 11, Donny Schatz on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 11, Daryn Pittman on July 13, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2007 – Jason Meyers on April 13, Paul McMahan on June 2, Steve Kinser on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 21
2006 – Sammy Swindell on April 7, Sammy Swindell on April 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 – Sammy Swindell on April 8, Steve Kinser on April 9, Sammy Swindell on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 15, Steve Kinser on July 16, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 5
2004 – Steve Kinser on April 9, Steve Kinser on April 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 – Donny Schatz on April 18, Sammy Swindell on April 19, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Jason Meyers on Aug. 8
2002 – Craig Dollansky on April 13, Steve Kinser on June 1, Daryn Pittman on July 19, Joey Saldana on July 20, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2001 – Stevie Smith on April 13, Mark Kinser on April 14, Andy Hillenburg on June 2, Andy Hillenburg on July 20, Mark Kinser on July 21, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
2000 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Mark Kinser on June 3, Johnny Herrera on July 13, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 – Steve Kinser on April 2, Tim Shaffer on June 5, Mark Kinser on July 15, Greg Hodnett on July 16, Sammy Swindell on July 17, Stevie Smith on Aug. 6
1998 – Joey Saldana on April 10, Sammy Swindell on April 11, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Jac Haudenschild on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on July 18, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 7
1997 – Sammy Swindell on April 4, Dave Blaney on June 14, Dave Blaney on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8
1996 – Sammy Swindell on April 5, Steve Kinser on June 15, Mark Kinser on July 19, Johnny Herrera on July 20, Mark Kinser on Aug. 9
1995 – Dave Blaney on April 14, Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 – Jeff Swindell on April 16, Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 – Dave Blaney on Dave Blaney on April 17, April 18, Dave Blaney on June 11, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on April 20, Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 – Steve Kinser on April 21, Steve Kinser on April 22, Rickey Hood on June 8, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 – Lee Brewer on April 22, Jeff Swindell on April 23, Bobby Davis, Jr. on June 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 – Sammy Swindell on April 9, Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 26, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 – Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Kenny Jacobs on Aug. 8, Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 – Doug Wolfgang on April 13, Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 – Sammy Swindell on April 7, Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 – Steve Kinser on May 21, Brad Doty on May 22
1982 – Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 4, Ronnie Daniels on Aug. 5, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 6, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 7, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 17, Steve Kinser on Oct. 18
1980 – Sammy Swindell on April 13, Steve Kinser on May 3, Steve Kinser on May 4, Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on July 5, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 7, Sammy Swindell on Aug.8, Steve Kinser on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 30, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 31, Steve Kinser on Oct. 19
1979 – Ron Shuman on April 15, Dub May on May 27, Steve Kinser on July 3, Sammy Swindell on July 14, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 1, Shane Carson on Oct. 21
1978 – Bobby Allen on April 16, Rick Ferkel on April 30, Steve Kinser on May 21, Rick Ferkel on July 3, Randy Ford on Aug. 3, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 4, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 3, Shane Carson on Oct. 29

SUNSHINE STRIKES FIRST: Tyler Courtney Opens High Bank Nationals Week with Huset’s Hustle Prelim Win

A fast NOS Energy Drink No. 7BC and a little luck led Sunshine to a $20,000 Wednesday victory

BRANDON, SD (June 19, 2024) - The stars appeared to be aligning for a battle for the win on Wednesday night at Huset’s Speedway.

One NOS Energy Drink machine – Tyler Courtney – stalked fellow NOS Energy Drink driver – Sheldon Haudenschild – in the closing stages of the Huset’s Hustle prelim. Courtney rolled the bottom while Haudenschild held down the top. Laps clicked away, and the gap between the two shrank. And then disaster struck for Haudenschild.

Courtney suddenly got a huge run out of Turn 4 and slipped under Haudenschild to take the lead with only eight laps remaining. Haudenschild’s issue was soon revealed as he slowed exiting Turn 2 on the next lap with a shredded right rear tire.

The caution flew and set up a restart, but Courtney went on unchallenged to the checkered flag and a $20,000 payday to kickoff BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards week. Sunshine struck first as the four-day stretch of mega money on the line with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars at Huset’s began.

“Just an awesome, awesome night for us,” Courtney said. “I didn’t even remember running top 10 a couple of the nights last year. I just felt like it was one of our worst performances of the year last year, so to come out first night and put this thing in Victory Lane is just awesome. It speaks huge to what my guys can do and what we’ve been doing this year, and hopefully we’ll be in this same spot tomorrow with a little bit bigger check.”

The win not only earned “Sunshine” a healthy payday, but it also set him up in a great spot for Thursday’s $100,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle finale. Courtney stands as the high point man, which puts him on the pole of Heat One tomorrow. If he can win the Heat, he’ll be guaranteed a front row starting spot in the Clauson Marshall Racing machine as he chases the second six-figure payday of his Sprint Car career.

Courtney is up to four career World of Outlaws wins, and Huset’s was his first not on a half mile with the other three coming at Eldora Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, and Volusia Speedway Park. The Indianapolis, IN native became the sixth driver this year with multiple Series victories, and he’s the first who isn’t a full-time World of Outlaws competitor.

The race kicked off with outside pole-sitter Ryan Timms getting the jump on Sheldon Haudenschild to take the early top spot. Timms, who was chasing his first career World of Outlaws checkered flag, led through the early circuits with Haudenschild not too far behind.

The pressure on Timms intensified as they encountered lapped traffic only a handful of laps into the 35-lapper. The top two having issues with slower cars allowed the third-running Courtney to join the battle.

On Lap 16 Haudenschild managed to slip by Timms to snag the top spot and lead the lap. But a hungry Timms rolled low under Haudenschild in the next set of corners to move back atop the leaderboard.

Then one lap later Haudenschild came right back at Timms even stronger. The Wooster, OH driver ripped around Timms and didn’t leave the door open for Timms to come back at him. Haudenschild secured the lead and began to drive away.

Right after Haudenschild passed Timms, Courtney followed suit and rolled by the No. 5T. It didn’t take long for Courtney to begin to eat away at Haudenschild’s advantage. Courtney stuck the low line and cut into the lead piece by piece. And right when the battle looked ready to ignite as Courtney ducked under Haudenschild to take the lead, the right rear tire went down on the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17.

Haudenschild’s issue paved the path for Courtney to drive away to a $20,000 Huset’s paycheck.

“I just knew I was going to have to go somewhere else to beat Sheldon,” Courtney said. “He was really, really good around the top. And I knew when we got to traffic, we were going to have to move around. It was getting a little rough there through (Turns) 1 and 2, so you kind of had to slow down quite a bit. He could just carry momentum, and I think he just cut a tire or something there. That sucks. I really wanted to have a good race with our NOS Energy Drink teammate there.”

Bringing home the second spot was Ryan Timms as he equaled his best career World of Outlaws finish. The Oklahoma teenager showed speed all race with the best in the business and needed just a little more speed to grab that first World of Outlaws win.

“I felt really good early on,” Timms said. “We got a really good initial start and took the lead there. I had no idea 20 laps had already gone by. It went by super quick, and then that caution came out and Haud and Courtney got by me. I knew I had to figure something out because I could kind of hang with them at times, but for the most part they would kind of inch away. I’m happy with the run. I felt like we had a really good car.”

Rounding out the Huset’s Hustle prelim podium was Aaron Reutzel in the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87. The Clute, TX native slipped back slightly early on but came back to life later in the race and outdueled Carson Macedo for the final step of the podium.

“I just struggled a little bit early,” Reutzel said. “With a full fuel load, I wasn’t very good. It was actually a handful. But there at the end when the fuel started coming off, my car came back to life. That was something we’re going to have to figure out the next couple nights.”

Carson Macedo and Tim Kaeding completed the top five.

Buddy Kofoid took the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a run from 22nd to seventh in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.

Cory Eliason claimed the fifth Simpson Quick Time of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three through Six went to Austin McCarl, Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet, Brock Zearfoss, and Spencer Bayston. Milton Hershey Heat Two belonged to Rico Abreu.

Cory Eliason won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Sheldon Haudenschild.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Huset’s Speedway for the $100,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle finale on Thursday, June 20. Then the week wraps up with the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards prelim ($20,000-to-win) and finale ($250,000-to-win) on June 21-22. 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. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[6]; 2. 5T-Ryan Timms[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 5. 3K-Tim Kaeding[9]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet[12]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[22]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 9. 2-David Gravel[20]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[7]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl[5]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[17]; 13. 5-Spencer Bayston[14]; 14. 8R-Cory Eliason[21]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog[23]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[16]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri[15]; 19. 2KS-Chase Randall[10]; 20. 45-Landon Brooks[18]; 21. 23-Garet Williamson[24]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[19]; 23. 25-Daison Pursley[11]; 24. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[13]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: Attica Welcomes Back World of Outlaws in Mid-July For Brad Doty Classic

ATTICA, OH (June 19, 2024) – One of the biggest weeks of Sprint Car racing in Ohio commences with the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park on Tuesday, July 16.

The prestigious event will see World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competitors return to Attica for the second time this year to challenge Ohio’s top local talent – all competing for the $15,000 payday.

Along with bringing fans The Greatest Show on Dirt, the event salutes Brad Doty, who’s give countless contributions to the sport and continues to do so today. Doty was one of the most promising talents in the 1980s before an injury ended his career as a race car driver. In the 35 years that have followed, the Apple Creek, OH native has found many avenues to remain an impactful figure.

Kyle Larson scored his second consecutive Brady Doty Classic victory last year, and fourth World of Outlaws win at the track in a four-year period.

Since 2016, only five different drivers have visited Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws at Attica – 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, current Series points leader David Gravel, Larson, 2022 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year Spencer Bayston and current Rookie of the Year contender Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, who's the most recent winner at the track.

Sheldon Haudenschild, of Wooster, OH, will be on the hunt for his first win at Attica and try to become the first Ohio native to win a World of Outlaws race at the track since Dale Blaney did so in 2015.

The event will lead into the Kings Royal weekend at Eldora Speedway, July 19-20.

EVENT INFO
Date – Tuesday, July 16
Location – Attica, OH
Track Record – 11.306 seconds by Butch Schroeder

Times (ET) –
3 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
3 p.m. Grandstand Gate Opens
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE.
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (May 17, 2024) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ__fOaAg8s

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Attica –
2024 – Michael Kofoid on May 17
2023 – Donny Schatz on May 19, Kyle Larson on July 11
2022 – Kyle Larson on May 20, Kyle Larson on July 12
2021 – David Gravel on May 21, Spencer Bayston on July 13
2020 – Kyle Larson on July 14
2018 – Donny Schatz on July 10
2017 – David Gravel on July 11
2016 – Donny Schatz on July 12
2015 – Dale Blaney on May 29
2014 – Dale Blaney on May 30
2011 – Donny Schatz on May 20
2009 – Dale Blaney on May 29
2008 – Donny Schatz on May 30
2007 – Joey Saldana on April 20
2005 – Stevie Smith on July 13
1994 – Sammy Swindell on May 21
1993 – Joe Garte on May 21
1992 – Joey Allen on Aug. 7
1991 – Steve Kinser on Aug. 9
1990 – Steve Kinser on May 18

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Huset’s Hustle, High Bank Nationals Put Up Huge Money

Two six-figure paydays and more than $800,000 in purse money are available over four days this week

BRANDON, SD (June 17, 2024) - The Summer of Money starts now, and it starts in a big way.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are rolling toward Huset’s Speedway, and teams are ready to build their bank accounts. This week, The Greatest Show on Dirt will tackle four consecutive nights of action at the Brandon, SD oval for two events in one.

First up is the Huset’s Hustle (June 19-20). Wednesday’s $20,000-to-win prelim will set the stage for Thursday’s $100,000-to-win main event. Then, the third BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals takes center stage, June 21-22. Like the Hustle, the opener offers up a $20,000 payday, but the stakes are raised for Saturday’s finale when drivers will fight for a huge $250,000 check, equaling the biggest winner’s share in World of Outlaws history.

Overall, the Bank of Huset’s Speedway is offering up more than $800,000 in purse money over four nights of racing. That kind of cash has lured a large and talented roster to South Dakota. This year’s edition again features a unique format guaranteeing fans a thrilling program from start to finish every night. For this week’s format, CLICK HERE.

This week begins a three-month stretch of big money races for the World of Outlaws. From June 19 to September 21, the Series will take on 17 nights that feature a winner’s share of at least $15,000 with 14 of them offering at least $20,000.

BUY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

BIG GAME GROUNDS: This week is a special one for David Gravel, Tod Quiring, and all of Big Game Motorsports.

Quiring – owner of Huset’s Speedway and the Big Game team – has invested so much in the sport of Sprint Car racing, and he’s continuing to develop this week into more and more of a marquee event in only its third edition.

Gravel rolls into Huset’s as the defending winner of the event, topping last year’s finale for the $250,000 prize, which is still the highest in Series history. He’s already driven to Victory Lane nine times in 2024 including one last weekend at Knoxville. A win during any of the four nights of racing ahead this week would mark his fifth season of reaching at least 10 victories.

ROTH REDEMPTION: While Gravel celebrated at the conclusion of last year’s High Bank Nationals, another driver was dealt a devastating defeat.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid teamed with Roth Motorsports heading into Huset’s. Podium finishes on the second and third nights set them up strong for the finale. Kofoid grabbed the pole for the 40-lap Feature and looked to be on his way to winning a quarter of a million dollars. But engine troubles with only 10 laps remaining slowed the No. 83 and ended his hopes.

Now, Kofoid is a full-timer on the World of Outlaws tour with Dennis and Teresa Roth and ready to seek redemption this week. Huset’s is home to his first career Series win in June of 2022. He also won a pair of USAC National Midget races at the South Dakota oval that year. It’s been a productive rookie season so far for the Californian with 24 top 10s in 29 races highlighted by an Attica victory.

HAUD HEROICS: The inaugural High Bank Nationals in 2022 allowed Sheldon Haudenschild to give perhaps the best example of the magic he’s capable of behind the wheel of a Sprint Car.

With four laps remaining, Haudenschild sat in sixth place needing a heroic effort to win, and that’s exactly what he delivered. He went to the top of the track where he’s made a name for himself and passed two cars to move to fourth with three circuits remaining. A lap later he was third. And then, as the white flag waved, he blasted from third to first on the final lap to bank $100,000.

The Wooster, OH native owns one other win at Huset’s, driving the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 to Victory Lane in 2020. He’s already put seven tallies in the “W” column in 2024 heading to Huset’s.

SIX-FIGURE STUD: It’s rare that Sprint Cars race for a pair of six-figure paydays in the same week. There have only been 50 races in the sport’s history where the winner earned at least $100,000. And the man who has built his bank account most often is Donny Schatz.

The 10-time World of Outlaws champion has his name on 13 of the 50 six-figure checks handed out in Sprint Car history. That’s the most and nine more than the second highest total. He’s collected 11 of them at Knoxville Raceway and a pair at Eldora Speedway.

If he can deposit either Thursday’s $100,000 or Saturday’s $250,000, he’ll achieve something no Sprint Car driver has done before. Schatz would become the first to win a six-figure payday at three different racetracks. The Fargo, ND driver owns four Huset’s victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt, topping trips in 2001, 2007, 2015, and 2016.

Other six-figure Sprint Car winners expected to be in attendance this week are Kraig Kinser, Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Logan Schuchart.

SO MANY STARS: The cast of full-time World of Outlaws drivers will be joined by many more talented gassers to create a huge field of competitors.

The country’s second winningest 410 Sprint Car driver this year – Anthony Macri – intends to make his High Bank Nationals debut. The Dillsburg, PA native has won eight times in 2024 including a local Huset’s race on June 2.

Last year, Kyle Larson was two spots away from Huset’s High Bank Nationals glory, and the Elk Grove, CA driver is on the entry list for the 2024 edition. “Yung Money” owns a pair of Huset’s victories with the World of Outlaws, driving the Silva Motorsports to wins in 2020 and during last year’s opening prelim. Like Schatz, Larson could also become the first driver with six-figure paydays at three different tracks.

The man who finished a spot ahead of Larson last year was fellow Californian Rico Abreu, and he intends to be back to chase the major money on the line. Abreu has collected 16 410 Sprint Car victories over the last year and a half.

One of the country’s top young talents Ryan Timms has the Hustle and High Bank Nationals on his calendar. He’ll roll into the week as the most recent Huset’s winner after winning their local race on Sunday, June 16. In addition to the Huset’s win, the versatile driver out of Oklahoma City, OK has also collected a trio of 360 Sprint Car victories this year and three Midget wins including a pair with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series.

Also expected to fill the roster are many of Huset’s regular competitors including the likes of Mark Dobmeier (Grand Forks, ND), Kaleb Johnson (Sioux Falls, SD), Dusty Zomer (Brookings, SD), Justin Henderson (Sioux Falls, SD), and many more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday-Saturday, June 19-22 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (29/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (4078 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-56 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-76 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-86 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-142 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-186 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-244 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-458 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-670 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-800 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (12 Drivers):

9 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day

FEATURE LAPS LED (18 Drivers):

224 Laps – David Gravel
159 Laps – Carson Macedo
154 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
94 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
33 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
17 Laps – Logan Schuchart
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney, Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (12 Drivers):

HEAT RACE WINNERS (27 Drivers):

17 Heat Wins – David Gravel
13 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
12 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
10 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
6 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
5 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Donny Schatz
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Tyler Courtney
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Garet Williamson, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (49 Drivers):

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (22 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (20 Drivers):

5 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
4 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
1 Hard Charger – Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson

PODIUM FINISHES (18 Drivers):

16 Podiums – David Gravel
14 Podiums – Carson Macedo
10 Podiums – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz
9 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
4 Podiums – Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog, Kyle Larson
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller

TOP 10 FINISHES (57 Drivers):

26 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz
25 Top 10s – David Gravel
24 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
23 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
19 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Top 10s – Bill Balog
8 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
7 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day, James McFadden, Brian Brown
3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Brady Bacon, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Parker Price-Miller, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER W: Corey Day Tops Knoxville for Second World of Outlaws Victory

The California phenom outduels Logan Schuchart and holds off Donny Schatz for first Knoxville win

KNOXVILLE, IA (June 15, 2024) - Corey Day is something special.

From the time he first climbed in a Sprint Car, it was clear he was heading for stardom. Winning Sprint Car races as early as 15 years of age on the west coast. A Northern Auto Racing Club championship last year. He even won his pavement late model debut earlier this year. And now the national star has an item on his résumé every Sprint Car driver strives for – a Knoxville Raceway win with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

The Clovis, CA native started second in the 25-lap finale of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash aboard the Jason Meyers Racing #14. He faced off with Logan Schuchart in a multi-lap battle for the top spot. After misfortune struck Schuchart, the 18-year-old held off one of the greatest of all time – Donny Schatz – to seal the deal.

“I always thought just winning at Knoxville would be badass,” Day said. “But to win an Outlaw race here means so much more. I’ve just got to give it up to my whole team.”

Day became the 102nd driver in World of Outlaws history with multiple Series victories. He got his first last September when he topped the Gold Cup Race of Champions. He’s also the 35th competitor to claim a Knoxville Feature with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Logan Schuchart brought the field to green for the main event. The Shark Racing driver opted to roll the bottom around the half mile through the early laps. Day jumped to the top and looked to build momentum on the cushion. He took a peek to Schuchart’s inside on the fourth lap, but Schuchart shut the door.

An early caution warranted a restart that saw the action heat up. Schuchart pulled ahead while Day, Donny Schatz and David Gravel squared off for the runner-up spot. Schatz attempted to split the two down the front straightaway, but Day slammed the door shut entering Turn 1 to hold him off. A couple laps later Schatz slipped under Day for second in Turns 3 and 4, but Day powered back around the 10-time champion on the top on the next lap.

As Schuchart worked through traffic his lead began to shrink. The advantage was above two seconds on Lap 11 and trimmed to only two tenths of a second by Lap 14. Two circuits later, Day made his move as he ripped the cushion and blasted by Schuchart.

Day moved away from Schuchart after taking the top spot, but it didn’t take long for Schuchart to begin to reel him back in. On Lap 21 Schuchart got a run off the bottom of Turn 2 and closed down the back straightaway. He stuck the bottom again in Turns 3 and 4 and cleared Day for the lead by the time they exited the corner.

But on the following lap Schuchart’s bid for his first win of 2024 ended in devastating fashion. The Hanover, PA native looked to go under a lapped car in Turns 1 and 2, but the car went to the bottom. Schuchart then looked to slide up to the cushion, but Day ripped by him before he could get there. And then when Schuchart’s right rear tire did meet the curb, it knocked him around and sent his front end into the wall, putting an early punctuation mark on his night.

The yellow set up a restart with only three laps remaining. The names Day would have to hold off right behind him were Donny Schatz, David Gravel and Kyle Larson – a trio of the sport’s best. But in typical Corey Day fashion, he didn’t flinch when the green lights restarted the action. He drove away from Schatz on his way to his first Knoxville checkered flag.

“I feel like around the top I was the better car for sure,” Day said of his battle with Schuchart. “He was really good. He left me by about a straightaway in that Dash, and I thought we were in trouble. But I think it got just slow enough in the middle of (Turns) 1 and 2 to where I could make enough speed on entry to get close to him and get a good drive off. I’m just so proud of my guys.”

Schatz brought the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 home second for his 10th World of Outlaws podium of the season. It’s the 26th consecutive season he’s earned at least 10 top threes. The outing helped him reclaim second in the standings. He’s 56 markers behind Gravel for the lead.

Completing the podium was Kyle Larson as he took the Silva Motorsports No. 57 from 13th to third. Earlier in the day he claimed the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series debut at Iowa Speedway, and he finished the evening by grabbing his second podium in three tries this year with the World of Outlaws.

David Gravel and Scott Bogucki rounded out the top five.

A 23rd to 10th run gave Aaron Reutzel the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

In Sea Foam Qualifying, Daryn Pittman picked up his first Simpson Quick Time in two years and the 62nd of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Donny Schatz (526th Heat Race win of career), Scott Bogucki (first of career), and Corey Day (fifth of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Logan Schuchart (123rd of career).

Logan Schuchart topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brent Marks 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 head to Huset’s Speedway for a lucrative four days of racing. The High Bank Hustle (June 19-20) ends with a $100,00 main event before the High Bank Hustle (June 21-22) wraps up with a $250,000 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. 14-Corey Day[2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[13]; 4. 2-David Gravel[3]; 5. 10-Scott Bogucki[6]; 6. 21-Brian Brown[10]; 7. 83SR-James McFadden[11]; 8. 88-Austin McCarl[7]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet[12]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel[23]; 11. 2KS-Chase Randall[17]; 12. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[9]; 13. 69K-Daryn Pittman[8]; 14. 83-Michael Kofoid[25]; 15. 19-Brent Marks[21]; 16. 41-Carson Macedo[15]; 17. 8-Cory Eliason[24]; 18. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]; 19. 27X-Carson McCarl[19]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]; 21. 24-Rico Abreu[22]; 22. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[14]; 23. 3P-Sawyer Phillips[28]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[20]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[27]; 26. 09-Matt Juhl[26]; 27. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 28. 2K-Lynton Jeffrey[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

BACK ON TOP: David Gravel Claims Opening Night of Knoxville’s Premier Chevy Dealers Clash

The point leader earns his ninth win of 2024 after Larson’s bid from 10th ended with mechanical woes

KNOXVILLE, IA (June 14, 2024) - The best race teams can’t be kept down.

There’s no denying David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports didn’t have the weekend they would’ve liked last week. A crash at River Cities forced them to rally to 10th, and they followed that up with a sixth place run at Ogilvie. Two top-10s may not seem like bad outings, but they’re below par for the high bar Gravel and Tod Quiring’s crew have established.

Plus, Carson Macedo had closed within 10 points of Gravel’s position atop the standings heading into Knoxville Raceway’s Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. The talk through the week focused on the points battle shaping up, and how would Gravel respond to last weekend’s woes?

And the answer was he would respond emphatically.

Gravel started outside the front row of Friday’s 25-lap Feature, hunted down Parker Price-Miller for the top spot, and then had a little luck when mechanical issues ended an impressive charge from 10th to the lead from Kyle Larson.

“Once I got back to the bottom, I got right back to him (Larson),” Gravel said. “I really wish we could’ve raced that out. I think he was running really aggressive and was maybe going to run high one more lap, and I might’ve been able to get underneath him. I wish we could’ve race that out. I’ve got to thank Cody (Jacobs), Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), and Zach (Patterson) for working hard. This is a new car, and to debut it, qualify well going out late, and winning the race is really good.”

Gravel climbed to 97 career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Six of those checkered flags have come courtesy of Knoxville, which puts it in a tie for the second winningest track on Gravel’s World of Outlaws résumé. The Watertown, CT native is already up to nine wins in 2024. And perhaps most importantly, he added a solid 42 markers to his lead atop the standings, growing the gap to 52 points over Macedo.

Pole-sitter Parker Price-Miller brought the field to green with Gravel to his right. “The Law Firm” got the advantage into the opening set of corners and committed to the bottom during the opening circuits. Gravel stayed with the cushion and could stay right with Price-Miller but not build enough momentum to pass him.

A Lap 4 restart brought Sheldon Haudenschild into the fight for the lead as he slid by Gravel for second. He closed in on Price-Miller, but PPM moved up to the top just in time to break Haudenschild’s momentum. On Lap 9 a resurging Gravel rolled under Haudenschild on the bottom for second, and one rotation later he did the same to Price-Miller to take the lead. Price-Miller snuck back around in the next set of corners, but Gravel grabbed it right back and closed the door on Price-Miller’s next attempt.

Meanwhile 10th starting Kyle Larson was making moves to the front. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion claimed third on the 12th circuit, and then a lap later he drove the Silva Motorsports No. 57 into second. On Lap 16 “Yung Money” powered by Gravel to take the top spot and wasted no time pulling away as he started to slice through traffic.

Gravel got going on the bottom in the late stages of the race, and a duel to the checkered flag looked to be shaping up. But right as Gravel closed back in, a puff of smoke blew from Larson’s engine and he quickly slowed. Just like that, the magical drive from 10th was ended, and his night was over.

Larson’s misfortune was Gravel’s gain as he inherited the lead for the restart and went unchallenged over the final six circuits on his way to trophy number nine of 2024 in the Huset’s Speedway No. 2. With the Summer of Money on the horizon, Gravel has his mind set on some lucrative trips to Victory Lane.

“This Morrison Engine was ripping tonight,” Gravel said. “Hopefully everyone comes to the (Huset’s) High Bank Hustle for $100,000 and the High Bank Nationals on Saturday for $250,000.”

Price-Miller held onto the second spot. He led the first nine laps and earned his ninth career World of Outlaws podium in the PPM Racing No. 9. The Kokomo, IN native has had a consistent 2024 to this point, and another solid run fueled his hunger for a win even more.

“Our car is really good,” Price-Miller said. “I’m just really excited to be racing right now when the car is this good. You obviously want to win, but we’ll keep trying, and hopefully it doesn’t take us too much longer to knock off a win.”

The podium was rounded out by Rico Abreu for his fourth top three of the year with the World of Outlaws and the 49th of his career. The St. Helena, CA native came away satisfied with the result and added some pages to the notebook for August when the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s brings the entire Sprint Car world to Knoxville.

“I just focused on hitting my marks and understanding the race,” Abreu explained. “That outside lane was very, very difficult to take off in. I was kind of dependent on Sheldon (Haudenschild) who was obviously watching the leader go. The leader gets such a big advantage there on the inside row. I think you take a lot of notes from nights like this and work on bringing that back to the Nationals.”

James McFadden and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his third Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 32nd of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Sheldon Haudenschild (111th Heat Race win of career), Rico Abreu (54th of career), and Tyler Courtney (18th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Daryn Pittman (273rd of career).

Parker Price-Miller topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Knoxville Raceway to complete the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash on Saturday, June 15. 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. 9P-Parker Price Miller[1]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu[3]; 4. 83SR-James McFadden[12]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[6]; 6. 69K-Daryn Pittman[8]; 7. 14-Corey Day[22]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[11]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[25]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri[7]; 12. 88-Austin McCarl[9]; 13. 83-Michael Kofoid[23]; 14. 55V-Kerry Madsen[16]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet[20]; 16. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 17. 13-Justin Peck[18]; 18. 1K-Kelby Watt[24]; 19. 6B-Brandon Wimmer[17]; 20. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 21. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 22. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 23. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[19]; 24. 57-Kyle Larson[10]; 25. 17B-Bill Balog[26]; 26. 10-Scott Bogucki[15]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Stout Field Expected for World of Outlaws June Visit to Knoxville

Premier Chevy Dealers Clash gives the World of Outlaws teams their final chance to prepare for August’s Knoxville Nationals

KNOXVILLE, IA (June 11, 2024) - The time has come for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars to travel to “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”

Knoxville Raceway is ready to welcome The Greatest Show on Dirt for two nights of early summer action. The Premier Chevy Dealers Clash brings the country’s best Sprint Car drivers to the Marion County Fairgrounds this weekend (June 14-15).

The weekend will be the first chance for World of Outlaws teams to get some laps at the historic half mile this year. It’ll also be their only weekend to pad the notebook ahead of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store (August 7-10).

The stars of the World of Outlaws tour, a healthy contingent of locals, and a stout crop of invaders are all expected to make for a huge roster this weekend and put on two nights of can’t-miss Sprint Car racing.

BUY TWO-DAY KNOXVILLE TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

The time has come for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars to travel to “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”

BUY TWO-DAY KNOXVILLE TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

SCHATZVILLE: For as long as he’s racing Sprint Cars, Donny Schatz will headline any World of Outlaws trip to Knoxville.

The 10-time Series champion has assembled an astonishing résumé at the half mile over the course of his career. He’s collected 18 of his 313 career wins at Knoxville, and six of them have come during the month of June. The Fargo, ND driver is an 11-time NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals champion (second most), and he’s been on the podium in 20 of his 25 Feature starts in “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All.” The Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 is a threat anytime it rolls into the small town in Iowa.

Schatz heads to Knoxville third in the standings with David Gravel (+40 PTS) and Carson Macedo (+30 PTS) not too far ahead. He’s currently on a streak of 11 consecutive top 10 finishes with seven of those being within the top five.

ALMOST THERE: It took a while, but Carson Macedo has almost dug himself out of the hole created at DIRTcar Nationals.

After four consecutive finishes of 12th or worse to begin the year, the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 hasn’t missed the top 10 in the 23 races since. The last 17 races have all been top fives for Macedo leading to a 3.1 average finish over that span. During the incredible stretch of consistency, he’s also stood on the podium 11 times. The run has moved Macedo and the JJR crew within 10 markers of the points lead.

And how fitting it would be if they could claim the top spot this weekend. Last year, Macedo entered Knoxville’s Premier Chevy Dealers Clash as the point leader, but a frightening crash cost him the top spot that he never regained. The Lemoore, CA native owns four victories at Knoxville – a 2018 360 Nationals prelim, a two-night sweep with the World of Outlaws in June of 2021, and a Knoxville Nationals prelim last year.

HAUD’S HOT: The temperatures are rising with summer near, and Sheldon Haudenschild is heating up with them.

After winning three races during all of the 2023 campaign, Haudenschild has reeled off three victories in the last five races. The hot streak has bumped him up to seven wins in 2024 with the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team, already marking the third most he’s produced in one year. He’s also been stringing together some consistency with 12 top 10s in the last 14 races.

A Knoxville victory has eluded Haudenschild to this point in his career. His best finish is third on four occasions – a trio of Knoxville Nationals prelims (2019, 2022, 2023) and a June World of Outlaws race in 2021.

HOME GAME: A trip to Knoxville means a weekend at home for Giovanni Scelzi and the KCP Racing team.

Scelzi is originally from Fresno, CA, but after being hired by the Des Moines, IA-based team in 2020, Scelzi made the move to the “Hawkeye State.” The Matt Barbara and Bret Nehring-owned team set up shop slightly more than an hour from Knoxville Raceway. KCP owns a pair of Knoxville track championships with Ian Madsen behind the wheel.

Scelzi is always stout at the iconic half mile. He and KCP topped the 2021 360 Nationals, and then a week later they sat on the pole of the 410 Nationals before finishing fourth. Last year, Scelzi matched that fourth place effort in the sport’s most prestigious race. Scelzi also picked up an All-Star Circuit of Champions win at Knoxville back in 2019.

It’s been a strong sophomore season for Scelzi to this point. He’ll head to Knoxville fourth in points with 16 top fives and 25 top 10s through 27 races.

KNOXVILLE NAMES: “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” always offers up plenty of talented regulars ready to challenge for a World of Outlaws win.

Brian Brown is always a driver to watch when the World of Outlaws invade Knoxville. He’s a five-time track champion, and his 65 wins rank second in track history. “Blackjack” has beaten the Outlaws at Knoxville on three occasions, each time during the month of June and most recently last year.

Rolling into the weekend as the most recent Knoxville winner is Altoona, IA’s Carson McCarl. The former 360 Knoxville track champion grabbed his first victory in the 410 class and joined his father (Terry) and brother (Austin) on the all-time win list.

The only two-time winner in the 410 division this year at Knoxville is Waco, TX’s Chase Randall. The 2023 Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year took the TKS Motorsports No. 2KS to Victory Lane on May 25 and June 1.

This trio is expected to be joined by many more regular visitors to Knoxville including Garet Williamson (Columbia, MO), Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX), Tasker Phillips (Pleasantville, IA), Riley Goodno (Knoxville, IA), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, June 14-15 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (27/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (3786 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-10 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-40 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-54 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-96 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-128 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-168 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-370 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-584 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-688 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (11 Drivers):

8 Wins – David Gravel
7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid

FEATURE LAPS LED (15 Drivers):

212 Laps – David Gravel
159 Laps – Carson Macedo
154 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
94 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney, Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (11 Drivers):

7 Quick Times – David Gravel
6 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
3 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz

HEAT RACE WINNERS (26 Drivers):

17 Heat Wins – David Gravel
13 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
11 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
10 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Donny Schatz
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Garet Williamson, Nick Omdahl

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (45 Drivers):

22 Dashes – Carson Macedo
21 Dashes – David Gravel
19 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
18 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
13 Dashes – Donny Schatz
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Landon Crawley
6 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Brock Zearfoss
5 Dashes – Brent Marks
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Garet Williamson
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (20 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (20 Drivers):

4 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
1 Hard Charger – Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson

PODIUM FINISHES (17 Drivers):

15 Podiums – David Gravel
14 Podiums – Carson Macedo
10 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
9 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo

TOP 10 FINISHES (53 Drivers):

25 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
24 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid
23 Top 10s – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
22 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
19 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Top 10s – Bill Balog
8 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
6 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Corey Day, James McFadden, Cale Thomas, Brady Bacon, Garet Williamson
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Kyle Larson, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

HOLY HAUD: Wild Last Lap Leads Sheldon Haudenschild to Ogilvie Victory

Haudenschild slides Macedo and holds off Kofoid for seventh win of 2024

OGILVIE, MN (June 9, 2024) - Every now and then Sprint Car Racing delivers a moment that race fans will never forget. And that’s exactly what occurred Saturday night at Ogilvie Raceway.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into the Minnesota oval for the second time ever for the Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers. Mother Nature offered up a picturesque evening. The entire grandstands filled before Hot Laps began. The stage was set for the massive crowd to see a show. And they got one they’ll be talking about for a long time.

In a bid to win the first two races in Series history at Ogilvie, Carson Macedo led nearly the entire race. He rocketed ahead early, sliced through traffic, and looked like he was on his way to Victory Lane.

Then the white flag flew, and a wild last lap followed.

Second running Sheldon Haudenschild cleared Macedo with a huge slide job in Turns 1 and 2 as Michael “Buddy” Kofoid got a run on both of them down the back straightaway. Kofoid then threw a slide job in the final set of corners, but Haudenschild narrowly held him off to claim a thrilling victory.

“We hounded him (Macedo) the whole race there, and it was just a deal where it was better to be running second, I think,” Haudenschild said. “I was just kind of able to see what he was doing and also the lappers. When we got to them, they were ripping the top and racing, too. He had to change his line up right there on the white. I was just able to pull a slide job there in (Turns) 1 and 2 and hoped to clear him down the backstretch and be able to pinch him enough into (Turn) 3 that he couldn’t get back there.”

The exciting win bumped Haudenschild up to seven in 2024 and 41 for his career, equaling him with fellow full-time driver Logan Schuchart for 19th on the all-time win list. He’s pulled within one of David Gravel for the most checkered flags this season. Ogilvie is the 25th different track where the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing driver has visited Victory Lane.

A fresh track rework set up a fast surface that evolved throughout the 30-lap Feature. Macedo owned the pole for the main event and took off when the green flag flew.

The early stages of the race were controlled by Macedo. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot pulled ahead and worked expertly through traffic. Behind him, battles broke out all over the place within the top 10.

Haudenschild and Kofoid faced off for the second spot with Kofoid claiming it early in the finale. But Haudenschild kept him well within sight as the race neared the halfway point. On the 17th circuit, Haudenschild found the run he needed to clear Kofoid with a tight slider in traffic in Turns 3 and 4. Then his sights locked on Macedo.

Haudenschild struggled to close in on Macedo upon first claiming the runner-up spot. In fact, Macedo pushed the advantage north of a second on the 21st circuit. But then Haudenschild went to work on slashing into the gap.

With two laps remaining Macedo was less than half a second ahead. And then as the white flag waved Haudenschild built a huge run down the front straightaway. He pounced on the opportunity with a Turn 1 slider that narrowly cleared. Macedo looked to cross back over, but Kofoid filled the gap and closed on Haudenschild heading into Turn 3. Kofoid pulled alongside Haudenschild but couldn’t quite slide ahead. As the two leaders slid toward the top, Macedo turned off the cushion toward the bottom and drove back around Kofoid, but up ahead Haudenschild crossed the finish line to put the punctuation on a wild conclusion that wowed the capacity crowd.

“Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Luke (Vaughn), and Steve (Kinzer Dussel),” Haudenschild said. “They’ve been putting the work in, and we ‘ve been fast through the whole night on all of these nights… I think we’ve been there all year.”

Carson Macedo, who has led all but one of the 60 Feature laps the World of Outlaws have contested at Ogilvie, didn’t mask the heartbreak after the race. Haudenschild’s last lap move to take the win left the Lemoore, CA driver puzzled when all was said and done. On the bright side, Macedo pushed his streak of top fives to 16 in a row, and he’s only 10 markers behind Gravel for the points lead.

“That was honestly devastating,” Macedo admitted. “I took the white and did feel like maybe I was starting to catch Brock (Zearfoss) and the other lapper, but I didn’t think that peeling off of the top with one to go was the thing to do. I guess I could’ve just ran the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2. I don’t know. That was just really disappointing.”

After nearly driving from third to steal the victory on the final lap, Buddy Kofoid settled for a third place finish in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. Nearly getting the win left a slightly sour taste in the rookie’s mouth, but he came away satisfied overall with the strong showing.

“It’s frustrating because I feel like I had a chance,” Kofoid said. “We were right there and just as fast as them, but you can’t hang your head about it. Those two (Haudenschild and Macedo) are a couple of the best right now.”

Donny Schatz and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

A 15th to eighth drive earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild earned his second Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 31st of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three went to Sheldon Haudenschild (110th Heat Race win of career) and Brock Zearfoss (19th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Giovanni Scelzi (48th of career).

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brooke Tatnell won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Knoxville Raceway for the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash on June 14-15, giving the teams their final chance to prepare for August’s NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store. 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. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 6. 2-David Gravel[7]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[15]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 10. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[13]; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 12. 70-Kraig Kinser[14]; 13. 13-Mark Dobmeier[20]; 14. 23W-Scott Winters[18]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[12]; 16. 11M-Brendan Mullen[16]; 17. 3-Tim Kaeding[11]; 18. 24T-Christopher Thram[10]; 19. 14T-Brooke Tatnell[19]; 20. 17Z-Zach Omdahl[22]; 21. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[17]; 22. 199-Ryan Bowers[21]; 23. 33-Scott Broty[23]; 24. 6-Bill Rose[24]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

GRAND FORKS GLORY: Gio Scelzi Outduels Sheldon Haudenschild in Traffic for River Cities Victory

Hot Sauce picks up his second win of the season in only his third ever start at the North Dakota track

GRAND FORKS, ND (June 7, 2024) - Giovanni Scelzi grew up racing on the bullrings of California. He ripped around the tracks often characterized by tight confines and tacky conditions in his teenage years. And that experience sure came in handy on Friday night at River Cities Speedway.

Mother Nature threw a wrench in the evening right before the start of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Feature. A shower delayed the conclusion to the Don Mack Classic and dropped plenty of moisture on the North Dakota quarter mile. The result? A fast, cowboy up racing surface for the 40-lap main event.

Scelzi started on the pole of the Feature, carefully worked his way through thick lapped traffic, and bested Sheldon Haudenschild in a battle for the checkered flag. In only his third ever appearance at River Cities, “Hot Sauce” took the KCP Racing #18 to Victory Lane.

“I heard Donny (Schatz) on those restarts,” Scelzi said. “I didn’t know if it was just momentum building as he got going on the top. It worked for me in the Dash, but the track was obviously way wetter there. Kudos to the track crew for sticking this out. Whoever had the idea to add dirt to the racetrack was brilliant. It kind of helped it dry out a bit, but what a great show. The stands are packed. I got to meet some of you guys last time, so this is pretty cool.”

The victory bumped Scelzi up to eight in his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It gave KCP Racing double digit wins as the Des Moines, IA-based team climbed to 10 World of Outlaws triumphs. The Fresno, CA native became the 14th different driver to top a World of Outlaws race at River Cities.

The green flag dropped with Scelzi and Schatz leading the way. Scelzi grabbed the early advantage and opted for the bottom, but Schatz looked high and kept his left-front tire right behind the right-rear rubber of Scelzi’s machine.

An early caution set the stage for a restart and one of the race’s wildest moments. Garet Williamson came together with David Gravel as the green lights came back on. The contact stacked up the field as Bill Balog connected with Gravel and flipped, and Gage Pulkrabek also got collected and went over. The point leader Gravel was left with significant damage but managed to return to the track after a trip to the Federated Car Care Work Zone.

On the next restart Scelzi pulled ahead, and Schatz again kept him within sight for the first few circuits. When traffic became a factor, Carson Macedo used a lapped car as a pick to roll by Schatz for second on Lap 10. Sheldon Haudenschild followed Macedo by Schatz to take third on the same circuit. And then only two laps later the surging Haudenschild, who started seventh, drove around Macedo to take over the runner-up spot.

It didn’t take long for Haudenschild to drive the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 right up to the tail tank of Scelzi. The Wooster, OH native pressured Scelzi in traffic, and then on Lap 19 he blasted around Scelzi on the top side to take the lead.

But Scelzi refused to be rattled. It took him hardly any time to respond as two trips around the track later he snuck back around Haudenschild on the low line to regain the lead.

From there it became a game of cat and mouse through traffic. Haudenschild refused to let Scelzi get away, but Scelzi also refused to let Haudenschild alongside again. Haudenschild would close in as they navigated traffic, but then Scelzi would clear a slower car for breathing room. The gap between the two was close for many laps. But ultimately Scelzi managed to hold on for his second World of Outlaws win of 2024 and first since mid-March at Cotton Bowl Speedway.

“We freed up there a little bit during the rain and then left it after the Hot Lap session,” Scelzi said. “And our Hot Lap session was really kind of drying the racetrack out. 40 laps is a long time to run here and have the racetrack blow off, but it never really changed a whole lot. Definitely got tighter as I went, but the car was phenomenal.”

Sheldon Haudenschild brought the NOS Energy Drink machine home second after his fierce charge from seventh. He knew he had a car capable of winning, but the battle for victory came down to minimizing mistakes.

“I don’t think I needed anything out of my car. It was really good,” Haudenschild explained. It was a winning car for sure. (Kyle) Ripper had her dialed in. I could run Gio down there in a lap pretty quick, and then he kind of got behind David and David was trying things. And then I got to David and really couldn’t do anything with him. I think Gio made one mistake and I got him, and I made a mistake, and he got me back.”

Completing the podium at River Cities was Donny Schatz. The 10-time champion improved his already incredible résumé at the facility located in his home state. He’s now up to 23 top threes in 32 races at the North Dakota bullring.

“I was just too tight from the word go,” Schatz said. “The only shot I had really was on the restart trying to get around Gio on the outside and then obviously traffic. I don’t know what happened in traffic there. We lost a bunch of spots. I went in, got under someone, and I guess I got freight trained for a little bit, but I was able to make some spots back up.”

Carson Macedo and Mark Dobmeier rounded out the top five.

A huge 25th to seventh drive earned Buddy Kofoid the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson claimed his sixth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 39th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Carson Macedo (126th Heat Race win of career), Garet Williamson (second of career), and Nick Omdahl (first of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild (109th of career).

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brock Zearfoss 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 head to Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway for the Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers on Saturday, June 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 (40 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 5. 13-Mark Dobmeier[13]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[25]; 8. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[21]; 10. 2-David Gravel[11]; 11. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[4]; 12. 64-Andy Pake[18]; 13. 0-Nick Omdahl[8]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[22]; 15. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 16. 17Z-Zach Omdahl[20]; 17. 4-Brendan Mullen[19]; 18. 3-Tim Kaeding[9]; 19. 6-Bill Rose[24]; 20. 8-Jack Croaker[23]; 21. 17B-Bill Balog[14]; 22. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[17]; 23. 14T-Tim Estenson[12]; 24. 4Y-Colton Young[15]; 25. 26-Blake Egeland[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

LESSONS IN FLYING: Donny Schatz’s Reliance on Aviation for Successful Sprint Car Career

The 10-time Series champion has been a pilot for nearly the entire duration of his World of Outlaws career

GRAND FORKS, ND (June 7, 2024) - Race fans across the country have watched Donny Schatz wheel a Sprint Car to a hall-of-fame worthy career over the past three decades – 10 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car titles, 313 wins, and on and on.

But there’s been a different type of driving going on behind the scenes for most of Schatz’s World of Outlaws career that began in 1997 – aviation.

His air travel is different than most. He’s not slogging through a long TSA line and cramming into seat 28C. The 46-year-old is the pilot. He flies his own plane to nearly every race and back home to Fargo, ND during the week – a love for air time that trickles through the Schatz family tree.

“It all starts really with my grandfather,” Schatz said. “My grandfather was in the military, and airplanes were something that enamored him. He was a private pilot for recreation, and in the late ‘60s he was able to get his own plane. I think it’s what enticed my father to get involved in his aviation endeavors as kind of a recreational pilot.

“When we started racing in ’93, my father was trying to expand his business from Minot, ND to Fargo. And the only way that was going to work with living in Minot and having stuff to do in Fargo, going back and forth every day is 280 miles or four-and-a-half-hour drive, so it really brought aviation into play for my father to be able to make his dream come true at the Petro in Fargo.”

Schatz was on the path to acquiring a pilot’s license in his teenage years before racing became priority. Life on the road appealed to the up-and-coming driver as he began to travel the country with The Greatest Show on Dirt. After a handful of years of traversing the country’s highways in a motorhome and racing, the desire to be home more often emerged.

“I realized if I wanted to have somewhat of a normal life and still continue to race, the best balance was going to be to get my pilot’s license and I did,” Schatz explained. “And it’s not just a matter of getting your recreational pilot’s license. You need to be able to fly a twin-engine plane, an all instrument, basically the next thing below a commercial airline pilot without being a commercial airline pilot. You want to keep yourself safe and have the knowledge and be able to deal with weather, all the emergencies and things that happen.

“When you start racing with the World of Outlaws, anything you do, anything you inject into your life, whether it’s learning to be a pilot or learning to do this or that, obviously your priority is your racing,” Schatz said. “For me, it was a situation where I had to find somebody that would train me and was looking for a full-time gig that could work around my schedule. We would do training during the week here and there and then obviously go to the races. Flying is really about building time… It took me about a year from the time I got my private single engine to working multi-engine to working on instrument and the things I did. It took quite some time, but I was trained by great people.”

The ability to journey home between nearly every race has helped Schatz stay focused and content throughout his historic career. It’s given him a sense a normalcy through the grueling World of Outlaws calendar. It’s also helped put the bad nights behind him.

“The thing about flying is you can’t get in the plane and be mad about something on the racetrack or if you had a bad finish,” Schatz said. “When you get in the airplane it’s like getting in the race car, you better be switched on. You better be focused at what you’re doing or you could pay for it with your life and whoever is along with you could pay for it with their life as well.”

This year has been no different for Schatz as he continues to rely on flying to be home often throughout the year. The only difference has been the results. Back before the season started, the 10-time champion promised the racing community they’d see a different Donny Schatz. And he’s delivered on that promise.

After struggling to a sixth-place finish in the 2023 standings, Schatz has been one of the tour’s most consistent drivers in 2024 with his Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team. Through more than a quarter of the campaign he sits third in points and only 58 markers behind David Gravel for the top spot.

Schatz won’t have to travel far for this weekend’s racing as it kicks off on Friday at Grand Forks, ND’s River Cities Speedway. The bullring is only 80 miles from his home in Fargo, and full of Schatz fans.

“I think a lot of people had the mentality that, ‘Well, he doesn’t care. He’s won 10 championships.’ That’s not the case,” Schatz said. “I never expected in my career to win those things, and I have won them, and I’m still going to try to win another one. That’s why I keep going. I love the competition.”

Schatz continues the 2024 World of Outlaws season this weekend at River Cities Speedway on Friday, June 7, and Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway on Saturday, June 8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Ironman Pumps Up Payouts For World of Outlaws, Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

PEVELY, MO (June 6, 2024) – This year’s edition of the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 will present the biggest payouts in the event’s history for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

More than $180,000 will be on the line during the two-day event (Aug. 2-3) at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, with World of Outlaws competitors battling for a $25,000 top prize on Saturday and Xtreme Outlaw Midget competitors dueling for a $7,500 check the same day.

The increased payout for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets also reflects an increase to the overall purse for Saturday. In total, $26,700 will be paid out through the field for Saturday’s Xtreme Outlaw Feature – a more than $10,000 increase to the Series’ standard purse. Every Feature position will see an increase.

Both nights will also count toward the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series title – awarding $2,500 to the Series champion at the end of the year – as POWRi will co-sanction the event with Xtreme.

“As the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 continues to grow into one of the biggest events of the year for Sprint Cars and Midgets, we’re excited to be able to increase the payouts with it,” said Jeff Hachmann, executive director of events for World Racing Group. “This is a marquee event for everyone, and we strive to make it bigger for drivers and fans every year.”

Friday’s Feature will pay out $12,000-to-win/$1,200-to-start for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and $4,000-to-win/$300-to-start for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets.

Last year, the Ironman gave fans, and drivers, a “race of the year” candidate with Logan Schuchart and Kyle Larson battling wheel-to-wheel, inches apart, at the end of the World of Outlaws race. It was a battle so good, Larson said “that was probably the most fun Sprint Car race I’ve ran maybe ever.”

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets have brought a variety of action with every stop at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, producing five different winners in their five trips there. 2023 Series champion Jade Avedisian won the Ironman finale last year.

For tickets to the Ironman weekend, CLICK HERE.

Grandstands will open at 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Aug. 2, and then at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Hot Laps are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. both nights.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Northern Swing Continues with Trips to River Cities, Ogilvie

The weekend brings The Greatest Show on Dirt to North Dakota and Minnesota for the first time in 2024

GRAND FORKS, ND (June 4, 2024) - The 2024 map grows even more this weekend as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their first stops of the season in two more states.

A North Dakota bullring that never fails to entertain is up first. The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its 32nd visit to Grand Forks, ND’s River Cities Speedway on Friday, June 7, for the Don Mack Classic. The high-banked quarter mile is home to nine second laps in Qualifying and thrilling racing throughout the entire program. There’s a reason longtime Series announcer Johnny Gibson ranks River Cities atop the list of nearly 400 tracks that he’s visited.

Then, the tour takes off on a nearly 300-mile drive east into Minnesota where Ogilvie Raceway awaits. Last year, the World of Outlaws debuted at the fine facility with a record crowd filling the stands and are coming back for the Wagamon Brothers presents the Big O Showdown.

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Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

DONNY’S DOMAIN: Racing in home territory has always been important for Donny Schatz. Whether it was his rookie World of Outlaws season in 1997 or any of the 10 championship campaigns he’s put together, Schatz always wants to make the North Dakota fans proud. And his River Cities results prove as much.

Schatz has contested all 31 World of Outlaws events at River Cities and won a dozen of them, posted 28 top fives, and never missed the top 10 with a worst finish of eighth. The 10-time champion’s average finish at River Cities is a remarkable 2.7. During 2015 and 2016, Schatz took the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing machine to four consecutive River Cities victories.

The Fargo, ND driver is in search of his 11th championship, and a visit to River Cities could offer a boost toward those efforts. Schatz owns a pair of victories so far this year and only missed the top 10 on three occasions. All three times he only missed it by a spot with a trio of 11th place runs.

SHARK SLUMP ENDER?: There’s no denying 2024 hasn’t been the season Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing had hoped it would be. They’ve been plenty consistent with 20 top 10s in 25 races but haven’t yet had race winning speed or been able to crack the podium. But there’s reason to believe River Cities could help them turn things around.

Schuchart has won two of the last eight visits to River Cities, including the most recent last August. Over the course of those eight races, the Hanover, PA native has finished sixth or better in all but one. Half of the eight have resulted in podiums.

Despite the lack of a win this year, Schuchart still sits sixth in points and only 26 markers outside the top five. A night at River Cities may be just what Schuchart needs to build some momentum with the Summer of Money on the horizon.

GRAND FORKS GLORY: Schatz and Schuchart aren’t the only World of Outlaws competitors with River Cities victories under their belts.

Current point leader David Gravel has made a pair of trips to Victory Lane. Seven years ago, he scored the first of the pair with CJB Motorsports, and then last June he and his current Big Game Motorsports team claimed the checkered flag. The Watertown, CT native already owns eight wins in 2024 and is only four away from reaching 100 for his career.

The man chasing Gravel in the standings – Carson Macedo – topped the June River Cities visit in 2022. That’s his only win at the quarter mile, but in eight tries he’s only missed the top five twice. He and Jason Johnson Racing enter the weekend on a roll of eight consecutive podiums and are 30 markers behind Gravel for the top spot.

The final full-timer with a River Cities World of Outlaws win is Kraig Kinser. The Bloomington, IN native pieced together an impressive drive from 10th to victory in 2012. That win came aboard his family’s No. 11K, and he returns aboard the Premier Motorsports No. 70 this Friday.

OGILVIE TAKE TWO: After an exciting debut last year, the World of Outlaws are eager to get back to Ogilvie. The 3/8 mile doesn’t often host Sprint Cars, leaving little data to suggest potential favorites entering Saturday.

The one previous Ogilvie winner is Carson Macedo. Last year, he led from flag to flag in the JJR No. 41 to tame the 10th Minnesota track visited by The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Chasing Macedo to the line a year ago was Logan Schuchart. His past success at River Cities coupled with a strong effort last year at Ogilvie lays out a prime opportunity at a strong weekend to get him and the Shark Racing team on the right track.

Rounding out the podium last year was Donny Schatz. Eight of his 313 career Series wins have come in the state of Minnesota at three different tracks – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN), Princeton Speedway (Princeton, MN), and Granite City Speedway (Sauk Rapids, MN) – and Ogilvie could become the fourth this weekend.

NOSA KNOWLEDGE: The first trips to North Dakota and Minnesota this year means a fresh crop of locals will be ready to test themselves against the best in the business on home turf. The Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) regulars are prepared to face off with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

It’s no surprise that the most recent River Cities winner this year is Mark Dobmeier. A May 31 victory marked the latest in the list of more than 100 Dobmeier has compiled at the 1/4 mile. The Grand Forks, ND native has competed 30 times with the World of Outlaws at his home track, and the closest he’s come to beating the nation’s top talent is a pair of podiums (2016 & 2018).

Fellow Grand Forks native Brendan Mullen has established himself as a solid competitor in recent years. He’s won at least one River Cities NOSA race in each of the last three seasons, and he’s fresh off a podium finish this past weekend.

Jade Hastings regularly joins the field when the World of Outlaws roll into River Cities. He won the track’s 2024 season opener on May 10. Hastings has made at least one visit to River Cities Victory Lane every year since 2017.

This trio along with a collection of others from the country’s northern region are expected to be in action this weekend.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, June 7 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Saturday, June 8 at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, MN

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (25/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (3518 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-30 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-58 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-76 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-108 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-134 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-196 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-342 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-576 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-674 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (11 Drivers):

8 Wins – David Gravel
6 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid

FEATURE LAPS LED (15 Drivers):

212 Laps – David Gravel
151 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
130 Laps – Carson Macedo
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney, Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (11 Drivers):

7 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
3 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild

HEAT RACE WINNERS (24 Drivers):

17 Heat Wins – David Gravel
12 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
9 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
8 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Donny Schatz, Brock Zearfoss
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (43 Drivers):

21 Dashes – David Gravel
20 Dashes – Carson Macedo
17 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
16 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
12 Dashes – Donny Schatz
10 Dashes – Bill Balog
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu
6 Dashes – Landon Crawley
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart, Brock Zearfoss
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (20 Drivers):

2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Bill Balog
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Garet Williamson

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (18 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (17 Drivers):

15 Podiums – David Gravel
13 Podiums – Carson Macedo
9 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Donny Schatz
7 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo

TOP 10 FINISHES (51 Drivers):

23 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
22 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid
21 Top 10s – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
20 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
17 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
14 Top 10s – Bill Balog
7 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
6 Top 10s – Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Cole Macedo
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Landon Crawley, Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Corey Day, James McFadden, Cale Thomas, Brady Bacon
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Kyle Larson, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

CBS Bringing New World of Outlaws Docu-Special on June 9

CONCORD, NC (June 1, 2024) – The path to the World of Outlaws will be showcased on CBS with a new one-hour special on Sunday, June 9, at 12:30 p.m. (ET).

In the documentary-style show – World of Outlaws: The Dirt Road to Stardom – the ladder system of going from racing dirt Midgets to 410 Sprint Cars will be highlighted with a focus on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota from the April Wildcat Showdown event at US 36 Raceway.

The special will showcase the stars of both Series, including 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, current World of Outlaws points leader David Gravel, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid – who went from racing Midgets to Sprint Cars – and those trying to make their way to The Greatest Show on Dirt like Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms and more.

The show will run from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (ET), on Sunday, June 9, marking the World of Outlaws’ third time on the main CBS network.

Fans will also get to see World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota races from the 2024 season throughout the year on CBS Sports Network (CBSSN), presented in a half-hour special.

World of Outlaws CBS/CBS Sports Schedule:
Sunday, June 9 – World of Outlaws: The Dirt Road to Stardom (CBS main network)
Sunday, June 23 – World of Outlaws Late Model Dairyland Showdown (CBS Sports)
Sunday, July 7 – World of Outlaws Sprint Car Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial (CBS Sports)
Sunday, July 21 – World of Outlaws Late Model Gopher 50 (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Aug. 4 – Xtreme Outlaw Midget DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Aug. 18 – World of Outlaws Sprint Car Summer Nationals (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Sept. 1 – World of Outlaws Late Model Prairie Dirt Classic (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Sept. 15 – World of Outlaws Sprint Car Knoxville Nationals (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Sept. 29 – World of Outlaws Late Models at Highland Speedway (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Oct. 13 – World of Outlaws Sprint Car Huset’s Shootout (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Oct. 27 – World of Outlaws Late Models at Atomic Speedway (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Xtreme Outlaw Championship Finale at Jacksonville Speedway (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 24 – World of Outlaws Late Models World Finals (CBS Sports)
Sunday, Dec. 8 – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars World Finals (CBS Sports)

Ashton Torgerson Takes Coles County Debut for Third Xtreme Outlaw Win of 2024

MATTOON, IL (May 31, 2024) – When Ashton Torgerson cemented his plans to begin his rookie season on the trail of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, he was unsure about how he’d perform and manage the pressure of driving for one of the most accomplished teams in national Midget racing.

But now, only halfway through the season, the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) racer has collected three Xtreme Outlaw Feature wins, which is second-most among all drivers. The latest came Friday night in the Series’ debut at Coles County Speedway, when he took the lead from 2022 Series champion Zach Daum on Lap 10 and led the rest of the way to score the win in the POWRi co-sanctioned Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series main event.

“We weren’t sure if we were gonna be the best since it’s my first Midget year,” Torgerson, 17, of Glendale AZ, said. “We have three wins already this year with Xtreme and one with POWRi. Overall, so far, it’s been amazing already, and we’re only halfway through.”

Earlier in the program, Torgerson put himself in shape to be up front after setting the fastest lap in his Qualifying group and winning his Heat Race from outside Row 2. After the four-car invert, Torgerson took the green flag in the Feature from the fourth starting spot and wasted little time challenging the leaders in the early going.

A red flag situation appeared on Lap 5 for a Kale Drake rollover in Turn 2, which restacked the field for a restart. Daum led the field back to green with Gavin Miller right behind him in the bottom lane around the 1/8-mile oval, which played right into Torgerson’s hand as he soon found the top side of the track to his liking and began to close-in on the two leaders ahead.

“We looked at the track before the main and I think everybody thought it was gonna be right around the bottom with how much track work they actually did to the bottom,” Torgerson said. “Rolling around, we had four laps I think and then a red came out. I just figured I’m third, I had to try something.

“I saw the top in (Turns) 1 and 2 and it was kinda cleaned off a little bit, and so I figured I’d try it once, see how it goes and learn from there. That’s what I did.”

Torgerson got around Miller for second on Lap 7 and then set his sights on Daum. He kept it smooth on the top side and reeled-in the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U, and on Lap 10 got a great run to Daum’s outside in Turns 1 and 2 and zoomed past him into the lead down the backstretch.

“Really, I was just hoping Daum wouldn’t come up in (Turns) 1 and 2 to block me the one or two times I showed him I had momentum, and luckily he didn’t,” Torgerson said. “After that, I was able to jump up top in 3 and 4 pretty much set sail after that.”

And set sail he did. Torgerson navigated his way through traffic without a single fault, ducking and weaving his way around the slower cars en route to the win. At its largest, his gap to second-place Chase McDermand grew to nearly two seconds in the final laps.

“With the moves I was making and how fast I was getting around them, I actually think it calmed me down a little bit knowing that I had lapped cars in between us,” Torgerson said. “Splitting cars there – I don’t think they were able to do the exact same moves, so it probably took them a little bit longer to get around them.”

McDermand crossed the finish line second to secure his fourth podium finish of the season. He started third and fell back to fourth in the beginning of the race but was able to climb back thanks to his patience on the top side.

After a fierce battle with Daum around the midway point of the race, complete with slide jobs and repeated contact between the two, McDermand was able to take the spot away for good on Lap 13. However, he was unable to get close enough to Torgerson in the end to make a bid for the lead.

“I think, like everybody else, I just needed a caution,” McDermand said. “Just couldn’t get there in the dirty air. I feel like we were better in clean air. I ran him down, but then right when I caught him, we were getting into lapped traffic and there really wasn’t any opportunity to get by him.”

Still, the 23-year-old Illinois racer collected a strong finish and showed progress in the midst of a season that’s been dotted with misfortune and results he said has not been up to his standards.

“It’s good for some confidence to have a good run again after the last few runs we’ve had,” McDermand said. “I feel like we’ve just been buried lately, and it just hasn’t been reflective of what we’re capable of and what we know we’re capable of. To get a P2 finish is good for everybody involved.”

Daum hung on to finish third while KKM teammates Ryan Timms and Cannon McIntosh completed the top-five.

The Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award went to Zach Daum for his fastest lap in Qualifying of 10.781.

Toyota Racing Heat 1 was won by Chase McDermand. TJ Forged Heat 2 was won by Ryan Timms.

UP NEXT

Following the postponement of Saturday’s events at Wayne County Speedway (IL), the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will now take a summer break and resume competition Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, at Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will also be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[4]; 2. 40-Chase McDermand[3]; 3. 7U-Zach Daum[1]; 4. 67-Ryan Timms[5]; 5. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[12]; 6. 71-Jade Avedisian[8]; 7. 97-Gavin Miller[2]; 8. 21K-Karter Sarff[10]; 9. 16-Kyle Jones[17]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[6]; 11. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[9]; 12. 56D-Mitchell Davis[18]; 13. 14S-Tyler Edwards[19]; 14. 54-Michael Pickens[11]; 15. 1K-Brayton Lynch[13]; 16. 97K-Kale Drake[16]; 17. 43-Gunnar Setser[20]; 18. 66-Jayden Clay[21]; 19. 98-Elijah Gile[15]; 20. 57-Mark McMahill[22]; 21. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[7]; 22. 86-Shane Cottle[14]

HAUD HEROICS: Sheldon Haudenschild Drives from Sixth for Another Beaver Dam Victory

A thrilling drive leads Sheldon Haudenschild to his fifth Beaver Dam win in the last six races

BEAVER DAM, WI (May 31, 2024) - Sometime a track just fits a racer perfectly. Whether it’s the size, shape, surface, or a blend of all the elements, drivers go with certain racetracks like yin and yang.

And that’s certainly the case with Sheldon Haudenschild and Beaver Dam Raceway.

Heading into Friday’s Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial opener, Haudenschild had topped four the last five Beaver Dam races with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. Haudenschild being up front at the Wisconsin oval with the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew had become a foregone conclusion. And he didn’t let the “Badger State” fans down on Friday.

Haudenschild delivered perhaps his most exciting Beaver Dam victory to kick off the Jim Boyd Memorial. He hadn’t started worse than third in his previous four victories, but he lined up sixth Friday night and gave the crowd a show. The Wooster, OH native wheeled his way forward from row three, snatched the top spot from Carson Macedo on Lap 17, and held on late for his fifth win in the last six Beaver Dam races.

“I don’t know, maybe I’m Scott Boyd’s (track owner) long lost son or something,” Haudenschild said with a laugh of his success at Beaver Dam. “We just seem to have this place figured out. It’s cool to have the wins here and be friends with the Boyd family.”

The sixth win of 2024 for Haudenschild moved him to 40 for his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt as he becomes the 20th different driver to reach 40 victories. Five wins at Beaver Dam also breaks a tie with Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 to make it the winningest track on his résumé. It also broke a tie with Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman to give him sole possession of the most World of Outlaws wins at Beaver through 34 visits.

The front row of Carson Macedo and Bill Balog led the field to green. Macedo slid ahead of Balog to take the top spot and lead the opening lap. As the front four cars all opted for the cushion on the first couple circuits, David Gravel gave the bottom a shot and it paid off. The point leader rolled all the way from the fifth starting spot to second in two laps.

The forward progress for Gravel halted when he reached second as he couldn’t also move by Macedo for the top spot. The lead duo settled into a rhythm while Haudenschild began to make his charge. At the completion of the first lap Haudenschild was in seventh. Only three circuits later he’d worked his way up to third.

Haudenschild quickly closed in on the lead duo as they navigated traffic. Lapped cars caused the leaders to bunch up and make daring moves to work their way through. Haudenschild grabbed the runner-up spot from Gravel on Lap 8, but Gravel took it right back on the following lap. Two circuits later Haudenschild passed Gravel again, and then a Lap 14 caution cooled off the battle.

Gravel used a strong run on the bottom during the restart to reclaim second, but it didn’t take long for Haudenschild to get his momentum wound up where he’s most comfortable – right against the fence.

As Macedo and Gravel rolled the bottom in Turns 3 and 4, Haudenschild blasted by Gravel on the top and into second on the 16th circuit. One lap later he used the same move to power by Macedo and into the lead.

There was no slowing Haudenschild after he took the top spot as he began to stretch the advantage while Macedo and Gravel battled for second.

A yellow flag with six laps remaining brought Macedo and Gravel to Haudenschild’s tail tank, but he proved to be too strong on the restart as he took off and drove to his sixth victory of 2024 in the NOS Energy Drink #17.

“Just searching the track and knowing when to move,” Haudenschild said of how he got to Victory Lane. “Me and David were on the bottom pretty early, but he was still trying the top in (Turns) 1 and 2. I kind of showed him my nose, and then he moved down, and that just put me searching again. But you can only do that with a really good race car. If your car is no good, you can’t search like that, so hats off to (Kyle) Ripper and the guys. They were on it all night even after starting in the back of that Dash.”

Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing #41 home second for their eighth consecutive podium finish. They’re down to only 30 markers behind Gravel for the point lead. Macedo found himself wishing he’d tried something different to stay in front of Haudenschild with hopes of back-to-back victories after winning Fremont on Monday.

“I feel like that was obviously the wrong move now, but hindsight is 20/20,” Macedo said. “I felt like during the race I was getting edged on the bottom. I could see David down there, and I think I could see Sheldon down there at one point. It just felt like in lapped traffic it was decent down there and getting so far around up top. It was weird. I went down there, and it was good, and then a couple laps later I went down there and spun (tires), and Sheldon blew my doors off. Then when I moved back up, it was way more grippy up there all of a sudden.”

David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports rounded out the podium. Like he has most of 2024, Gravel showed he had speed capable of winning but came up just a couple spots shy of his ninth victory of the year.

“We had a race-winning race car right there,” Gravel said. “What a racetrack. It changed. The fastest lane changed a couple times. I felt like if Carson just continued to run the top there and didn’t dirty up my air on the bottom of (Turns) 3 and 4, then I could’ve maybe got the lead. But that just opened up the top for Sheldon, and he was really able to rip it and make it count.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 23rd to 13th drive earned Scotty Neitzel the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Giovanni Scelzi claimed his third Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 14th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Brock Zearfoss (18th Heat Race win of career), Buddy Kofoid (23rd of career), and Sheldon Haudenschild (108th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to David Gravel (258th of career).

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Brock Zearfoss earned the night’s Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finish the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial at Beaver Dam Raceway with a $20,000-to-win finale on Saturday, June 1. 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. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[5]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[3]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee[17]; 10. 73-Scotty Thiel[9]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson[13]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 13. 2W-Scott Neitzel[23]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[14]; 15. 6-Bill Rose[15]; 16. 49J-Josh Schneiderman[11]; 17. 14T-Tim Estenson[19]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[12]; 19. 10V-Matt VanderVere[22]; 20. 25-Danny Schlafer[16]; 21. 87A-Austin Hartmann[20]; 22. 65-Jordan Goldesberry[24]; 23. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 24. 10W-Mike Reinke[18]

Cannon McIntosh Wins at Doe Run for Second-Straight Xtreme Outlaw Feature Win

DOE RUN, MO (May 30, 2024) – Cannon McIntosh and the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) team are heating up at exactly the right time of the season.

With a summer break in the schedule nearing, McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, scored his fourth Feature win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Thursday night at Doe Run Raceway, taking the lead from Michael Pickens early and never looking back en route to his ninth career Series victory and second in two races, going back to his win at Atomic Speedway last Saturday.

The win increases his lead in the championship standings up to 154 points over his KKM teammate Ryan Timms with 13 of the 30 scheduled races complete. He’s now a perfect 13-for-13 in top-five finishes this season – 10 of which have been on the podium. Thursday’s program was also run in conjunction with the POWRi National Midget League, making for his second career win in Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series events.

With his fourth Xtreme Outlaw main event win of the season in the can – tying his personal record from last year – McIntosh is beginning to take the form he showed during the first half of 2023 driving for his family-run team. But he made the move back to KKM this past winter and has been increasingly more of a threat for the win every night – essential in his quest to capture his first national Midget series championship.

“I think it’s just Keith and I’s relationship, when it comes to the racecars, is just getting better and better with every race,” McIntosh said. “As good as we looked tonight, I feel like we keep better and better every race.”

When the green flag dropped in the main event, McIntosh wasted no time in making a charge for the leaders, picking off Tyler Edwards for second on Lap 3 and setting his sights on leader Pickens.

A caution flag was thrown one lap later for Edwards who spun and collected Jade Avedisian in Turn 4. On the restart, McIntosh lined up behind Pickens and took first crack at a slide job in Turns 3-4 on Lap 5. Pickens crossed him over to retake the spot down the frontstretch, but McIntosh returned the favor in Turns 1-2. Pickens threw one more slider in Turn 3 and but washed way up the track out of Turn 4, allowing McIntosh to take the spot for good.

“Pickens was, obviously, a little bit harder to do; he had more momentum built up,” McIntosh said. “But, I was able to eventually just build enough momentum to get by him there. I know it was probably a close slider, but no contact, which is always a good thing.”

“It got trickier as the race went on,” Pickens said. “It was really a race of understanding the best place to put your car and not make mistakes and trip yourself up. Cannon obviously did that the best.”

Once he got to the lead, it was all McIntosh out front. For the next 25 laps, he put on a clinic around the 1/6-mile, opening up a gap as large as three seconds in lapped traffic as the laps wound down.

From seventh on the starting grid, Zach Daum was making his climb toward the front, and by Lap 11 had taken second from Pickens with a pass in Turns 1-2. While Daum tried to run McIntosh down later in the race, he was unable to find the speed to keep up as McIntosh’s gap grew in traffic.

“First thing is having a really good car under you, which I had an amazing piece under me; it was lights-out,” McIntosh said. “From that point out, it was just kind of my job in finding the line early, and I think I found it pretty quick. After that, it was just kind of finding the fine line between how hard I could drive it and not going too far.”

In the closing laps, Daum appeared to be settled in for runner-up finish until a rear-end component broke with only two laps left. The 2022 Series champion pulled to the infield and gave up his spot to Pickens, who crossed the stripe with a second-place finish in his first appearance with Xtreme since 2022.

“I probably struggled a little bit through the midway point, figured a few things out and maybe got a tick better at the end,” said Pickens, 41, of Auckland, NZ.

Coming home third was 16-year-old national Midget rookie Trevor Cline, who received the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award for the first time in his career earlier in the program. His Qualifying lap of 10.784 also broke the track record and contributed to him later starting ninth on the Feature starting grid.

Cline, of Mooresville, NC, navigated through the top-10 gradually throughout the 30-lap main event, settling into third once Daum dropped out in the final laps.

Toyota Racing Heat 1 was won by Karter Sarff; Kale Drake won TJ Forged Heat 2; Tyler Edwards won Heat 3.

The Last Chance Showdown was won by Mitchell Davis.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi Midgets next head to Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, IL, on Friday, May 31. Tickets will be on sale at the gate. If you can’t be at the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[3]; 2. 54-Michael Pickens[1]; 3. 55-Trevor Cline[9]; 4. 21K-Karter Sarff[5]; 5. 67-Ryan Timms[15]; 6. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[14]; 7. 14S-Tyler Edwards[2]; 8. 97K-Kale Drake[4]; 9. 40-Chase McDermand[12]; 10. 16-Kyle Jones[16]; 11. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[11]; 12. 97-Gavin Miller[18]; 13. 98-Elijah Gile[10]; 14. 3N-Jake Neuman[20]; 15. 43-Gunnar Setser[8]; 16. 1K-Brayton Lynch[21]; 17. 66-Jayden Clay[22]; 18. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 19. 71-Jade Avedisian[6]; 20. 77-Joe Wirth[13]; 21. 56D-Mitchell Davis[17]; 22. 50-Daniel Adler[19]

DIRTcar Nationals Grows to Three Week Event With ASCS Addition

The 54th Running of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals will be the biggest yet with the addition of the American Sprint Car Series National Tour, creating a massive three-week event, Jan. 30-Feb. 15, 2025.

Three straight nights of ASCS racing, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, will kick off DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park and serve as the third annual Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will join the 360 Sprint Cars each night, leading to an added day of DIRTcar UMP Modified action on Monday, Feb. 3.

“Every year we look for ways to grow and enhance DIRTcar Nationals; and with World Racing Group’s acquisition of the American Sprint Car Series, this was a great opportunity to build a marquee event for ASCS that also helps make DIRTcar Nationals bigger than ever before,” said Jeff Hachmann, executive director of events at World Racing Group. “This also makes Volusia Speedway Park home to the biggest dirt racing events in Florida for four straight weeks with DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals commencing the 2025 season in January.”

The Southern Sprint Car Shootout has already grown into one of the biggest 360 Sprint Car events, expanding to three days last year with one of the biggest purses of the year for the division. That will be true again in 2025 with a more than $70,000 purse on the line for ASCS competitors in the Series’ debut at Volusia, featuring $3,000-to-win events on Thursday and Friday, and then a $12,000 top prize on Saturday.

Also, the driver with the most points at the end of the three nights will be awarded the Big Gator title.

Last year, the event attracted some of the biggest names in Sprint Car racing from around the world and produced three-straight nights of thrilling racing with three different winners – Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl and Ryan Timms.

Sunday, Feb. 2 will be an off day before a full week of DIRTcar UMP Modified and World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action commences (Feb. 3-8). The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will run six Features a night Monday through Friday before competing for the Gator Championship and a Big Gator title on Saturday. The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will run Wednesday through Saturday with Wednesday’s event being a non-points event – however all four nights will count toward the Big Gator championship.

There will be another off day on Sunday, Feb. 9, as DIRTcar Nationals resets for its final week of racing (Feb. 10-15), featuring USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars, DIRTcar Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models.

Ticket packages for all three weeks of racing are on sale now. CLICK HERE to buy them before they’re gone.

For more information about Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, visit the DIRTcar Nationals website, and follow DIRTcar Nationals on X (formerly Twitter).

2025 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Schedule:
-Thursday, Jan. 30: American Sprint Car Series National Tour & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Friday, Jan. 31: American Sprint Car Series National Tour & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Saturday, Feb. 1: American Sprint Car Series National Tour & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

-Sunday, Feb. 2: Day Off

-Monday, Feb. 3: DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Tuesday, Feb. 4: DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Wednesday, Feb. 5: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Thursday, Feb. 6: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Friday, Feb. 7: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
-Saturday, Feb. 8: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

-Sunday, Feb. 9: Day Off

-Monday, Feb. 10: USAC Non-Wing & DIRTcar Late Models
-Tuesday, Feb. 11: USAC Non-Wing & DIRTcar Late Models
-Wednesday, Feb. 12: DIRTcar Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series
-Thursday, Feb. 13: World of Outlaws Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series
-Friday, Feb. 14: World of Outlaws Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series
-Saturday, Feb. 15: World of Outlaws Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Jim Boyd Memorial Brings World of Outlaws to Wisconsin for First 2024 Visit

The Greatest Show on Dirt is set for two nights at Beaver Dam with $20,000 on the line Saturday

BEAVER DAM, WI (May 29, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are trucking from the “Buckeye State” to the “Badger State.”

Beaver Dam Raceway is this week’s destination for The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Wisconsin oval welcomes the country’s best Sprint Car drivers for two nights (May 31-June 1) of action at the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. The opener offers up a $12,000 payday before the stakes are raised for Saturday’s $20,000-to-win finale. The pair of races will be the 34th and 35th in Series history at the 1/3 mile.

This weekend is set to mark the first two of six scheduled nights of racing in Wisconsin in 2024 for the World of Outlaws.

The battle for the championship lead is tightening. Spots inside the top five are swapping. The summer of money is approaching. A region is ready to face off with the World of Outlaws for the first time in 2024. All pieces that promise to contribute toward another thrilling weekend of action.

BUY FRIDAY BEAVER DAM TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY BEAVER DAM TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CLOSER AND CLOSER: A battle atop the point standings between two hungry drivers quickly appears to be shaping up. Eight wins and remarkable speed has carried David Gravel to the point lead for much of 2024. But an unflinching consistency has positioned Carson Macedo within striking distance as they both chase their first title.

Heading into Beaver Dam, Gravel leads Macedo by 32 markers – the closest Macedo has been all year. The last 17 races for Gravel have led to a whopping seven wins and a dozen top two finishes. But sprinkled in that stretch are also finishes of 23rd, 11th and 21st. Over that same time frame, Macedo has only won twice compared to Gravel’s seven, but he’s finished no worse than ninth and owns a 3.6 average result over the stretch.

Looking at Beaver Dam, Gravel is yet to win at the Wisconsin oval, but he’s been so close. The Watertown, CT native has been on the podium in five of his last six Beaver Dam tries including two runner-ups last year. Macedo also doesn’t own a World of Outlaws win at Beaver Dam, but he did drive Joe Gaerte’s #3G to Victory Lane at a 2017 Interstate Racing Association (IRA) race.

HOME GAME: For the first time during his rookie World of Outlaws campaign, Bill Balog will get the chance to race in front of home fans. The North Pole, AK native made the move to Wisconsin earlier in life and established himself as one of the best drivers in the region’s history before joining The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Balog owns a huge total of 19 IRA victories at Beaver Dam, most recently claiming a 2021 visit. It’s also home to his one career World of Outlaws victory. Back in 2016 Balog bested former champion – Daryn Pittman – to pick up a wildly popular upset win.

It’s been a productive debut season with the World of Outlaws for Balog and the B Squared Motorsports team. He’s picked up 13 top 10s in 24 races. He’s fresh off an 18th to fourth drive at Fremont for his sixth top five of the season. And the campaign has been highlighted by a pair of podiums at Paducah and Attica.

BADGER MASTER: Over the last few years Sheldon Haudenschild has been the clear man to beat whenever the World of Outlaws roll into Beaver Dam.

The Wooster, OH native has driven the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 to Beaver Dam Victory Lane in four of the last five visits. The Wisconsin 1/3 mile is currently tied with Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the winningest track on Haudenschild’s World of Outlaws résumé.

The 2024 campaign has already led to five victories for Haudenschild including one last weekend at Atomic. The next one will push the team NOS Energy Drink driver to 40 for his career.

CAN HOT SAUCE GET HOT?: After taking the point lead back in March, Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing have cooled off slightly.

Scelzi began the year with seven straight finishes of seventh or better including a pair of podiums and an average finish of fourth. The last five races have led to a best of fifth and an average result of eighth. The consistency is still there, but he’ll need slightly better results to climb back into the championship battle.

Fortunately for “Hot Sauce,” Beaver Dam could be the place to begin a hot streak. The Fresno, CA driver topped the opening night of last year’s Jim Boyd Memorial, and he’s always consistent at Beaver Dam. Scelzi hasn’t finished worse than eighth in five tries and also nearly won the 2021 visit, leading 19 laps before finishing second.

WISCONSIN WARRIORS: With this weekend being the first trip to Wisconsin of 2024, a collection of the state’s locals will be looking to see how well they can defend home turf against the nation’s best.

Sheboygan, WI’s Scotty Thiel is always stout at Beaver Dam. He’s bagged four IRA wins at the 1/3 mile, most recently taking a 2022 checkered flag. Thiel’s best Beaver Dam finish in 10 tries with the World of Outlaws is 13th (2022).

There’s another Scotty with plenty of experience under his belt, and it’s Beaver Dam’s own Scotty Neitzel. He’s fresh off claiming his first IRA win in two years at Wilmot Raceway. Neitzel picked up a Beaver Dam IRA victory back in 1995, and its home to his one career World of Outlaws top 10 (eighth in 2003).

This duo is expected to be joined by more “Badger State” locals including Austin Hartmann (Plymouth, WI), Dave Uttech (Kenosha, WI), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, WI

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (24/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (3374 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-32 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-52 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-74 PTS)
5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-100 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-130 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-202 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-332 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-536 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-644 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (11 Drivers):

8 Wins – David Gravel
5 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid

FEATURE LAPS LED (15 Drivers):

212 Laps – David Gravel
137 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
114 Laps – Carson Macedo
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
34 Laps – Brady Bacon
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney, Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (11 Drivers):

7 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild

HEAT RACE WINNERS (24 Drivers):

16 Heat Wins – David Gravel
12 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
9 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Donny Schatz
3 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (43 Drivers):

20 Dashes – David Gravel
19 Dashes – Carson Macedo
16 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
15 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
14 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
11 Dashes – Donny Schatz
9 Dashes – Bill Balog
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu
6 Dashes – Landon Crawley
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (17 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (17 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (17 Drivers):

14 Podiums – David Gravel
12 Podiums – Carson Macedo
9 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
8 Podiums – Donny Schatz
6 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo

TOP 10 FINISHES (50 Drivers):

22 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
21 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid
20 Top 10s – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
19 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
16 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
13 Top 10s – Bill Balog
7 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
6 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Cole Macedo
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Landon Crawley, Cole Duncan
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Corey Day, James McFadden, Skylar Gee, Cale Thomas, Brady Bacon
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Kyle Larson, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme, POWRi Collide with Tripleheader Weekend in Midwest

DOE RUN, MO (May 29, 2024) – The busiest stretch of the season for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota continues this weekend with three races spread across Missouri and Illinois.

After four races through North Carolina and Ohio last week, the Series now heads to Missouri for an appearance at Doe Run Raceway on Thursday, May 30. The banked 1/6-mile oval is home to weekly Micro Sprint competition and hosted its first-ever national Midget series event with the Xtreme Outlaw Series’ debut in July 2023. The Xtreme stars will return to the track with a $4,000 grand prize on the line, racing in conjunction with the POWRi National Midget League.

Next, the Series heads back to Illinois for a first-time appearance at Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, IL, featuring another $4,000-to-win main event. The event will mark a moment in track history as the first time national Midget series racing has graced its 1/8-mile confines. This event will also be run in conjunction with POWRi as Race No. 4 of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series.

Finally, the weekend wraps up with a trip back to Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, IL, where the Series ran two races in 2023. A $4,000 grand prize is on the line for the Feature winner at the banked 1/5-mile oval.

Races three and four of the Challenge Series will commence at Doe Run and Coles County. Ashton Torgerson is the points leader of both the Challenge Series and the POWRi National standings with two Feature wins.

Tickets for all three races will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch for and storylines to follow this week:

CLIMBING BACK – Right when it looked as if Zach Daum and Trifecta Motorsports had freed themselves from their string of bad luck, fate tipped them off on another stretch of misfortune that they’ll again try to bounce back from this weekend.

Daum, the 2022 Series champion from Pocahontas, IL, scored his first win of the season last Wednesday at Millbridge Speedway, finally breaking through on the track that had frustrated he and his team for the past two seasons. However, two days later at Atomic Speedway, a crash took them out of the main event early, damaging their primary car and forcing them to go to a backup for Saturday.

But things may be looking up for the 32-year-old open-wheel veteran. He and the Trifecta team race Doe Run on Thursday, where they won in July of last year, and Wayne County on Saturday, where they won on back-to-back nights last June. All three of those wins came in succession, marking the first three-peat in Xtreme Outlaw Series history.

THE STREAK CONTINUES – Cannon McIntosh’s streak of top-fives continued last week, bringing him up to 12-straight Xtreme Outlaw Series races finishing no worse than fifth as he maintains his points lead.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, scored his third Xtreme Outlaw Series win of the season last Saturday at Atomic over his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammate Ryan Timms, who he leads in the standings by 127 points with 18 races left on the schedule.

Last year at Doe Run, McIntosh crashed out of the main event but had success at Wayne County, notching a third-place run at the Illinois oval.

HELLO, OLD FRIEND – New Zealand racer Michael Pickens begins his first racing trip to the States – aside from the Chili Bowl Nationals – since 2022 this weekend with the Xtreme Outlaw Series.

Pickens, 41, of Auckland, NZ, has not been seen in Series competition since 2022, when he won at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 during Ironman 55 weekend in August.

This weekend, he’ll join the Oklahoma-based Mounce/Stout Motorsports team, piloting a Spike/Stanton package for all three races as teammates to Tyler Edwards and Jayden Clay in his first Midget appearances at all three tracks.

DYNAMIC DUO – The partner drivers of Chase Briscoe Racing will be on the Xtreme Outlaw Series roster this weekend after a strong showing at Millbridge.

Briscoe, the NASCAR Cup Series regular from Mitchell, IN, plans to be in attendance Thursday at Doe Run and Saturday at Wayne County, where he finished eighth and sixth in the two Series events held there last year.

His part-time hired Sprint Car driver, Karter Sarff, is also scheduled to be in attendance in his family-owned ride. The 21-year-old from Mason City, IL, posted finishes of seventh at Wayne County and eighth at Doe Run last year. He scored his second Feature win of the season last Tuesday at Millbridge and ran second to Daum on Wednesday.

LOOKING UP – After being involved in a hard wreck last Wednesday at Millbridge, Gavin Miller is set to return to competition for all three races this weekend.

Miller, 17, of Allentown, PA, will head back to Doe Run on Thursday, where he ran fifth last July, and Wayne County on Saturday, where he ran second and third in the two starts he made there with the Series last year.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where Thursday, May 30 at Doe Run Raceway in Doe Run, MO Friday, May 31 at Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, IL Saturday, June 1 at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, IL

On the internet Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 2625 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K Ryan Timms: 2498 points (-127) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67 Chase McDermand: 2401 points (-224) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40 Ashton Torgerson: 2378 points (-247) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K Zach Daum: 2236 points (-389) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U Hayden Reinbold: 2148 points (-477) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ Trevor Cline: 1979 points (-646) | Cline Racing #55 Karter Sarff: 1969 points (-656) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K Kale Drake: 1918 points (-707) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97K Tyler Edwards: 1892 points (-733) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S

Toyota Feature winners (7 drivers) 3 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K) 2 wins – Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K), Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67) 1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing #7x), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Zach Daum (Trifecta Motorsports #7U)

Toyota Feature laps led (12 drivers) 61 laps – Cannon McIntosh 52 laps – Ryan Timms 49 laps – Ashton Torgerson 44 laps – Kale Drake 41 laps – Karter Sarff 35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull 14 laps – Zach Daum

12 laps – Taylor Reimer 11 laps – Jade Avedisian

4 laps – Tyler Edwards 1 lap – Chase McDermand

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (6 drivers) 4 awards – Ethan Mitchell 3 awards – Kale Drake 2 awards – Karter Sarff 1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones

Heat Race winners (19 drivers) 5 wins – Ashton Torgerson 4 wins – Kale Drake, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh 3 wins – Chase McDermand 2 wins – Tyler Edwards, Ryan Timms, Gavin Miller, Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Trevor Cline

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Karter Sarff, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer, Ethan Mitchell, Tyler Edwards

High-points honors (7 drivers) 2 honors – Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Zach Daum 1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff, Ashton Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake

Last Chance Showdown wins (8 drivers) 1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell, Ashton Torgerson, Ryan Timms

Hard Charger Awards (10 drivers) 3 awards – Hayden Reinbold 1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Ryan Timms, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser, Jade Avedisian, Chase McDermand, Elijah Gile, Zach Daum

Podium finishes (11 drivers) 9 podiums – Cannon McIntosh 6 podiums – Ryan Timms 4 podiums – Zach Daum 3 podiums – Chase McDermand, Ashton Torgerson, Karter Sarff, Kale Drake 2 podiums – Gavin Miller 1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Jade Avedisian

Top-10 finishes (31 drivers) 12 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh 11 top-10s – Chase McDermand 10 top-10s – Ryan Timms 9 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson 8 top-10s – Zach Daum 7 top-10s – Karter Sarff 6 top-10s – Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Jade Avedisian 5 top-10s – Taylor Reimer, Hayden Reinbold 4 top-10s – Trevor Cline 3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell, Mitchell Davis, Tyler Edwards 2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Gunnar Setser, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones, Sam Johnson 1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr, Elijah Gile, Brayton Lynch, Nick Drake, Jacob Dykstra, Briggs Danner

2024 Schedule & Winners – Race No. Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins) 1. Fri, March 15 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Thomas Meseraull (1) 2. Sat, March 16 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Cannon McIntosh (1)

BUCKEYE BREAKTHROUGH: Carson Macedo Finally Grabs Elusive Win with Rick Ferkel Tribute Victory

The Californian goes from third to first on the opening lap and holds on to claim first World of Outlaws race at Fremont since 2016

FREMONT, OH (May 27, 2024) - There’s knocking on the door. Then there’s beating the door nearly off its hinges. The latter certainly defines the past two months for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing.

The pairing entered Monday’s Rick Ferkel Tribute on a stretch of 13 consecutive top five finishes that began on April 6 at Arrowhead Speedway. Eight of them were podiums including the most recent six. But none were wins.

Since topping the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series debut at Kennedale Speedway Park on March 23, a second victory had eluded Macedo. Even when he appeared bound for a win at Attica Raceway Park less than two weeks ago, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid snatched it away in the final set of corners.

But on Memorial Day at Fremont Speedway, Macedo finally broke through.

The Lemoore, CA driver made a statement move to go from third to first in the opening set of corners, survived a flurry of restarts, and held on during a green-white-checkered finish to grab the first World of Outlaws checkered flag handed out at Fremont since 2016.

“I’m just really proud of this race team,” Macedo said. “It feels really good to get a win. It’s been a little while. It’s definitely not easy to win these World of Outlaws races, so you’ve got to cherish them when you get them. We hadn’t won in a little while, but we’d been really consistent and really close. We had nights where we almost won, lost on the last lap, things like that. I knew that we had the potential in us. We just had to put it all together. I feel like tonight we did.”

Macedo’s win marked the 37th of his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He now owns three wins in only seven attempts at Fremont as Monday’s victory joins his triumphs with FAST (2017) and on a local level (2016) at the northern Ohio oval. And the icing on the cake of the victory is it came a day after Macedo celebrated his 28th birthday.

There’s a common saying in racing that states you can’t win the race on the first lap, but that’s essentially what Macedo pulled off. At the very least he made the race winning move on the opening lap.

The front row of David Gravel and Cale Thomas led the field to green for the 35-lapper. Gravel pulled ahead of Thomas as the third-starting Macedo peeked to Thomas’ inside heading into Turn 1. Macedo edged ahead of Thomas halfway through the first set of corners while up ahead Gravel slipped off the bottom, opening a lane for Macedo. He quickly grabbed some grip to launch off the bottom of Turn 2 down the back straightaway and went on to lead the opening lap.

A Lap 2 caution brought the action to a halt and set the tone for much of the race. A bevy of yellow and red flags interrupted the early flow of the Feature as drivers fought for space on the hooked-up surface.

A common thread of each caution period proved to be Macedo’s potency on restarts. Every time the green flag resumed the action, Macedo powered ahead of Gravel. The pilot of the Big Game Motorsports #2 tried everything he could. He stayed high with hopes of the top coming in better but never found the necessary speed. He sliced through traffic. But no move could make Macedo flinch.

The race threw one last curveball at Macedo as the caution lights flashed one last time when he crossed under the white flag to begin the final lap. Tyler Gunn came to a stop in Turn 4 setting up a green-white-checkered finish.

But just like each restart before, Macedo aced the final one. He took off on the lowline as Gravel made one final attempt at passing Macedo by working the top. But as it had throughout the main event, the bottom proved to be too strong. Macedo launched ahead and managed to win by a little more than half a second for a special victory at a place that helped elevate his career.

“I thought we got better in the Dash, and we were just better again there,” Macedo said. “Back in 2016 I ran here for my first time ever in the state of Ohio when I moved back to the Midwest. I was driving for Craig and Les Mintz and was able to win my first time here. And to come here for the Outlaw show and win like this is pretty cool.”

Gravel brought his machine home second as he continued his 2024 consistency. The point leader has finished in the top two in 12 of the last 17 Features. Gravel came away satisfied to bounce back after a Saturday crash at Atomic Speedway.

“The track stayed a lot wetter than we anticipated,” Gravel said. “The only lane I had where I could keep up with him was hammering the top really, really hard. I had to rip a tear off every single corner, so if I did that I would last like 70 tear offs… The #41 guys were just really good tonight.”

Finishing third for his first career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car podium result was Cole Macedo. The Californian got comfortable at Fremont quickly upon arriving in the Midwest earlier in his career and was overjoyed to join his brother on the podium.

“It’s really rewarding,” Macedo said. “I want to start this off with thanking Kevin Newton. He gave me a shot this year when a lot of people weren’t, and we’ve had speed all year... It’s just a testament how hard these guys work. We crashed the other night. The Linder gang came and straightened me up, and we came and ran Fremont. I thought that was a smarter decision than going to back to Atomic, and it paid off.”

Bill Balog and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.

Balog got to fourth with a drive from 18th to grab the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel set his third consecutive Simpson Quick Time and the 116th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to David Gravel (257th Heat Race win of career), Carson Macedo (125th of career), and Sheldon Haudenschild (107th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Brock Zearfoss (17th of career).

David Gravel topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Zeth Sabo won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Zane DeVault.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their first visit to Wisconsin in 2024 for Beaver Dam Raceway’s Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on May 31-June 1. The winner of the finale is going home with $20,000. 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. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 16T-Cole Macedo[6]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[13]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 7. 23J-Cale Thomas[2]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[17]; 10. 9-Trey Jacobs[9]; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 12. 101-Kalib Henry[8]; 13. 7S-Landon Crawley[25]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart[24]; 15. 5T-Travis Philo[22]; 16. 22-Brandon Spithaler[20]; 17. 68G-Tyler Gunn[23]; 18. 29-Zeth Sabo[21]; 19. 16-DJ Foos[26]; 20. 4-Zane DeVault[10]; 21. 34-Sterling Cling[15]; 22. 15C-Chris Andrews[19]; 23. 35-Stuart Brubaker[11]; 24. 19H-Joel Myers Jr[14]; 25. 9P-Parker Price Miller[16]; 26. 99-Skylar Gee[12]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Sheldon Haudenschild Rebounds with Atomic World of Outlaws Victory

Haudenschild collects his fifth victory of 2024 with a dominant drive at Atomic Speedway

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 25, 2024) - They say there’s no place like home. It’s a place of comfort. It’s a place filled with family and friends always ready to welcome you.

Such was the case Saturday night at Chillicothe, OH’s Atomic Speedway. Friday night ended in disappointment for Sheldon Haudenschild as he got into the wall and upside down running third. But the Ohio fans welcomed the Wooster, OH native as warmly as ever the following night. The Buckeyes watched Haudenschild bloom into a star and appreciate every opportunity to cheer him on at home. And he made sure to give them a reason to cheer on Saturday.

Haudenschild started on the pole of the 30-lap Feature and ran away to claim his fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory of 2024. The 30-year-old worked through traffic and avoided disaster in the same spot that bit him on Friday night to get the job done.

As always when Haudenschild parks in an Ohio Victory Lane, the crowd roared as he stood atop the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17.

“It’s so special,” Haudenschild said of winning on home turf. “It’s so cool to see these guys come support this race and all of the Ohio racing. I’ve got my parents here and some friends. Hats off to this whole NOS Energy Drink, West Tennessee Expediting, Frozen Farmer team. Everybody that helps out.”

Haudenschild also had his close friend and World of Outlaws icon Eloy Gutierrez, who is combatting health issues, on the mind.

“I’ve been wanting to win for Eloy,” Haudenschild said. “He’s back home and going through some stuff right now, and we’re thinking about him.”

The win gave Haudenschild 39 for his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It moved Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing up to 40. Five of Haudenschild’s career victories have come in his home state, and Atomic became the ninth track where he’s won multiple times.

The field was brought to green by Haudenschild with David Gravel alongside. Haudenschild pulled ahead on the initial start as Carson Macedo slid ahead of Gravel in Turns 1 and 2, but Gravel countered with a crossover to hold onto the spot.

Haudenschild pulled away from Gravel slightly throughout the early circuits, but as traffic became a factor the lead began to dwindle. And then on Lap 8 came one of the race’s wildest moments.

In Turns 1 and 2 Haudenschild lapped Keith Baxter with a slide job, but Baxter crossed him over down the back straightaway as Gravel got a huge run behind them. Haudenschild looked to pass Baxter on the top of Turns 3 and 4 as Gravel looked under him to take the lead. But Gravel slid into Baxter sending them both into the wall and leaving Gravel with heavy front end damage. Macedo came in and got a piece of the incident but was able to continue. The Big Game Motorsports team thrashed to fix the Huset’s Speedway #2 but couldn’t get Gravel back out before the restart.

When the green flag brought the action back to life Haudenschild darted away as Michael “Buddy” Kofoid snatched the runner-up spot from Macedo who had inherited it after Gravel’s misfortune.

Traffic again quickly became a factor, but Kofoid struggled to narrow the gap between himself and Haudenschild. But right when it looked like Haudenschild might drive away comfortably, drama arose when he slapped the wall in between Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 19. Kofoid closed in right on his tail tank.

But even with the near disaster for Haudenschild, Kofoid couldn’t find the run he needed to make a move. Haudenschild went on to cross the finish line with an advantage of just under seven tenths of a second, completing the ideal rebound after Friday’s crash.

“It seems like we do this every other week – crash one night and win one night,” Haudenschild said. “It just goes to show that my guys are willing to put the work in to win. We’ll just keep working.”

Buddy Kofoid drove the Roth Motorsports #83 to a runner-up finish for his ninth podium of 2024 and second in a row. The Series rookie continues to piece together an impressive stretch of consistency with his 18th consecutive top 10 finish. The Penngrove, CA native keeps building more and more momentum and took over fifth in points.

“I feel like our car has been really, really good here, and I feel like this is the best I’ve ever felt here,” Kofoid said. “We’ll take a second. I can’t thank these Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1/Toyota guys enough for the opportunity. Dennis and Teresa Roth, they’re watching at home. I couldn’t be driving for a better team.”

Carson Macedo came home third and took another step toward the top of the standings as he moved into second. The strong run coupled with Gravel’s troubles positioned Macedo only 36 markers behind the top spot. Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing are on an incredible roll of 13 consecutive top fives and six straight podiums.

“That was race weird,” Macedo explained. “Early in the race I felt like I had a really good car. I felt like I could pace David pretty effortlessly. And then obviously David had the wreck, and I got into him a little bit and didn’t think I had any damage. But the right-side wing board was a little bit tore up. All of a sudden after that I felt like I was sliding in no man’s land. I was using the cushion as much as I could just to get going. It’s amazing how big of a difference that little bit of side board makes.”

Cole Duncan and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

Donny Schatz drove the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian #15 from 20th to ninth to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel claimed his second straight Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying giving him the most (six) in 2024.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to David Gravel (256th Heat Race win of career) and Giovanni Scelzi (47th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo (124th of career).

Sheldon Haudenschild 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 David Gravel.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to Fremont Speedway for the first time in eight years on Monday, May 27 for the Rick Ferkel Tribute. 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. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[5]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 7. 5T-Travis Philo[7]; 8. 99-Skylar Gee[12]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[20]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 11. 21H-Brady Bacon[14]; 12. A79-Brandon Wimmer[18]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[19]; 14. 11C-Kory Crabtree[15]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser[17]; 16. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 17. 24D-Danny Sams III[13]; 18. 2S-Nathan Skaggs[21]; 19. 5J-Jake Hesson[9]; 20. 83X-Nate Reeser[24]; 21. 2-David Gravel[2]; 22. 42-Sye Lynch[16]; 23. 1B-Keith Baxter[23]; 24. 4-Danny Smith[22]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Cannon McIntosh Dominates Atomic Speedway for Third Xtreme Outlaw Win of 2024

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 25, 2024) – Cannon McIntosh has won races in 2024, but none in as dominant of fashion as his victory Saturday night.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, took to the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval of Atomic Speedway and put on a clinic for 25 laps, leading flag-to-flag for his third win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

His first two wins on tour this year both came after some misfortune bit his opponents in the final laps. But this one was different – he didn’t need anything other than the speed of his own car, which there was plenty of as he ripped around the top of the track en route to his eighth career Series win.

“The car had great balance, great speed really all night and it showed,” McIntosh said. “Definitely had a good piece under us and executed, which was the most important thing.”

For the first 10 laps, McIntosh began to separate himself from the field, opening up a gap of nearly 1.5 seconds before his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammates Ryan Timms and Kale Drake began to reel him in. As McIntosh neared lapped traffic, Timms closed the gap even more.

“I couldn’t tell if what I was doing out of (Turn) 2 was good or not,” McIntosh said. “I was trying to cut down the track and make speed. It was getting so slick and I felt like I was starting to lose speed there. I think that’s when Ryan started to close on me.”

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, got close enough to make his first bid at the lead on Lap 16 with a big slide job on McIntosh in Turn 1, but he was unable to clear McIntosh as they raced out of Turn 2.

When McIntosh dove low in Turn 1 to slide up in front of lapped cars the next time by, Timms was waiting on the doorstep to try and get a run on him down the backstretch. He tried another slider on his teammate in Turns 3 and 4 but again was unable to get clear.

“I think I started to catch [McIntosh] right before we got to lapped traffic, and then when we got into traffic, I was right on him,” Timms said. “We got racing with lapped cars there, and I threw a couple bombs on him, but here it’s just so hard to clear sliders.”

The race’s only break in the action came on Lap 18 when Jacob Dykstra got into the wall and flipped hard in Turn 3. After he walked with assistance from medical personnel to the ambulance for further evaluation, and was later released, the field was restacked with eight laps remaining.

This took the leaders out of lapped traffic and put them back into clean air, which played right into McIntosh’s favor.

“Once we had the [open] red, Keith just kinda told me where I needed to make adjustments with my line,” McIntosh said. “I was able to take off really well on the restart and just set sail.”

McIntosh got the restart he was looking for and again opened up a gap on Timms that grew every lap – up to a full second by the checkered flag.

“This place is big, it’s fast, it’s hard to get runs on guys so those restarts are key,” McIntosh said. “I knew I had to get a good initial start and that restart, and I was able to get a good launch on both of those.”

Timms crossed the finish line second, backing up the win he scored on Friday night. Though he did not make up any points in the championship standings, needing to beat points leader McIntosh to decrease his gap, he kept things close with another podium finish.

“To come home with a [first and second] is nothing to hang your head about at all,” Timms said. “Really happy with the results this weekend. I just kinda need Cannon to have some bad luck – not wishing it upon him – but if I want to have a shot to catch up here.”

Kale Drake crossed the line third, rebounding from what could have been a second win of the season on Friday after blowing a tire while leading late in the race.

“Cannon and Ryan were racing really hard and it just really opened up the door for me, and I could see what was going on from the outside looking in,” Drake said. “I really felt like we were the car to beat there, but the cards just didn’t fall our way tonight.”

For the second night in-a-row, Drake picked up the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award in Qualifying with his best lap of 14.324.

Chase McDermand won Toyota Racing Heat Race 1, while Trevor Cline won TJ Forged Heat Race 2.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets return to competition next Thursday, Friday and Saturday – May 30-31, June 1 – for a swing through Missouri and Illinois at Doe Run Raceway, Coles County Speedway and Wayne County (IL) Speedway.

Tickets for all three races will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t make it to the track to watch in person, stream live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[2]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms[3]; 3. 97-Kale Drake[4]; 4. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[6]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[11]; 6. 40-Chase McDermand[1]; 7. 71-Jade Avedisian[7]; 8. 7U-Zach Daum[10]; 9. 55-Trevor Cline[5]; 10. 98-Elijah Gile[12]; 11. 14S-Tyler Edwards[9]; 12. 1K-Brayton Lynch[13]; 13. 66-Jayden Clay[14]; 14. 76-Michael Smith[16]; 15. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[8]; 16. 5D-Jacob Dykstra[15]

Ryan Timms Victorious at Atomic After Teammate Kale Drake Blows Tire Late

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 24, 2024) – Winning national Midget series races takes a special blend of speed, skill and good fortune. Ryan Timms had all three on his side Friday night at Atomic Speedway.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, scored his second Feature win of the year with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, driving from third on the starting grid past his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammates Jade Avedisian and later Kale Drake after a right-rear flat tire struck him on a restart in the final laps.

Timms fended off all challengers on the final restart to bank his third career Series victory and the $4,000 prize, joining Cannon McIntosh, Ashton Torgerson and Karter Sarff as the only drivers so far this year to win more than once.

“Overall, it was just an awesome night,” Timms said. “I’m just happy to finally be back in Victory Lane; it feels like it’s been a while.”

While Avedisian – who won the Series’ first-ever main event at Atomic in 2023 – led the opening 11 laps from the pole, Drake and Timms followed close behind, waiting for an opportunity to make a move for the lead on the reigning Series champion.

That opportunity knocked on Lap 12, when Avedisian came up on lapped traffic in front of her and dove from the top to the bottom lane heading into Turn 3 in an attempt to get around the slower cars. When one of the cars stuck to the bottom lane, Avedisian was forced to check-up, opening the door for Drake up high.

“The lappers, about two laps before, I was closing the gap and seeing where they were running,” Avedisian said. “They were running the top, so when I went down the backstretch and got close enough to slide them, they peeled down to the bottom.

“Honestly, it was kind of just a bad decision on my part; I could’ve turned at the last minute and thrown a half-slider and still had more momentum than what I did. That’s how Kale got around me.”

Drake kept his right-rear on the cushion and zipped past Avedisian out of Turn 4 to lead Lap 12.

A red flag halted the action one lap later and prompted a restart with Drake out front and Avedisian and Timms right behind him. Avedisian nearly hit the frontstretch wall coming back to the green, allowing Timms to close the gap behind her and eventually make the pass for second down the backstretch.

“[Avedisian] got kinda jacked-up down the frontstretch and it gave me a big run into (Turn) 1,” Timms said. “I knew she was going to protect, and she did. I still managed to have a big run coming off the corner and was able to get her going into the next corner.”

Now with the second spot, Timms began his hunt for leader Drake, who had gapped himself from the other leaders. However, another caution flag was displayed with 19 laps complete, restacking the field and forcing Drake to survive another restart.

But this time, he did not survive. Drake’s right-rear was reportedly going soft under the caution period, which came to the forefront when he hit the throttle on the restart and jumped the Turn 4 cushion, slowing dramatically down the frontstretch and bringing out another yellow.

Timms said he spotted the flat under caution and knew it was going to create an issue for his teammate.

“I pulled up next to him, we were one-to-green, and I didn’t notice it ‘til then, and I was pointing at my right-rear trying to tell him his right-rear was going down,” Timms said. “I think he was just zoned-in, because I don’t even think he looked over.”

When Drake took his car to the infield to change the tire, Timms was handed the lead for what would be the final restart of the race and held off Avedisian and all other challengers for the win.

Avedisian crossed the line second, notching her best finish of the season. Despite her first Midget podium finish of the year, the 17-year-old Californian was disappointed with the result after starting on the pole.

“I feel like if I didn’t make that one mistake on that one restart Kale was leading, we might have been able to hold-off Ryan,” Avedisian said. “It’s hard to say because he was a lot better than me.”

Cannon McIntosh, a fellow KKM teammate to Timms and Avedisian, crossed the stripe in third, garnering his 11th-straight top-five finish and eighth podium finish of the season. The 21-year-old Oklahoman had his points gap cut by nine points, but still leads by 122 over Timms.

National Midget series rookie Tyler Edwards recorded his best career finish with the Series in fourth place, while 19-year-old Arizona racer Hayden Reinbold rounded-out the top five.

The Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award went to Kale Drake, who also set a new track record in Qualifying with his lap of 13.760.

Toyota Racing Heat 1 was won by Tyler Edwards. TJ Forged Heat 2 was won by Cannon McIntosh.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets return to Atomic Speedway Saturday night, May 25, for another night of racing action alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Tickets are on sale in advance at XtremeOutlawSeries.com. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream all the action live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 67-Ryan Timms[3]; 2. 71-Jade Avedisian[1]; 3. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 4. 14S-Tyler Edwards[5]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[8]; 6. 40-Chase McDermand[9]; 7. 5D-Jacob Dykstra[10]; 8. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[7]; 9. 1K-Brayton Lynch[11]; 10. 55-Trevor Cline[12]; 11. 98K-Elijah Gile[15]; 12. 97-Kale Drake[2]; 13. 66-Jayden Clay[16]; 14. 76-Michael Smith[17]; 15. 7U-Zach Daum[6]; 16. 98-Luke Drotschie[13]; 17. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[14]

Photo credit – Tyler Carr

GRAVEL’S GREATNESS: David Gravel Aces Atomic for Fifth Victory in Last Seven Races

The point leader claims sole possession of eighth on the all-time win list with first Atomic triumph

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 24, 2024) - Nothing seems capable of stopping David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports right now. No drivers. No tracks. Nothing.

The Watertown, CT is taking no prisoners as he chases his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car title. Every time the Huset’s Speedway #2 touches the track, it’s fast. Gravel entered Friday’s race at Atomic Speedway fresh off his seventh victory of the season with a Sharon win. And he added another with an impressive Atomic drive.

Gravel started in the second spot for the 30-lap finale, slid ahead of Brady Bacon on Lap 9 for the lead, and held off a flurry of challenges to seal his eighth win of 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), man, they’ve been working really, really hard,” Gravel said. “Eight wins this time of year is amazing, and hopefully we can continue to do this.”

The 31-year-old pushed his hot streak to five wins in the last seven races. His 96th career win gives him sole possession of eighth on the all-time World of Outlaws win list. Atomic is the 49th different track he’s won at against the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers. And perhaps most importantly, Gravel extended his lead atop the standings to 64 markers.

Brady Bacon brought the field to green with Gravel alongside. Bacon powered ahead heading into the first set of corners as Carson Macedo slid ahead of Gravel. But Gravel crossed over down the back straightaway to reclaim the runner-up spot.

Bacon paced the field as the opening laps unfolded, but lapped traffic threw the “Macho Man” a curveball. Bacon stared down a hornet’s nest of traffic, and Gravel quickly closed. And then on the ninth circuit, the window opened.

As Bacon made contact with a lapped car in Turns 1 and 2, Gravel got a massive run down the back straightaway. In Turns 3 and 4, Gravel pulled the trigger on a slider and surged ahead of Bacon to takeover the lead.

After taking the top spot, Gravel began to negotiate heavy traffic as the war for second erupted. Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid caught up to Bacon and all moved around him. Then that trio traded wild slide jobs and crossovers for multiple laps with Gravel just ahead. Finally, Macedo secured the spot and the yellow flag flew with 11 laps remaining.

Macedo managed to stay right with Gravel on the restart down the front straightaway, but Gravel muscled ahead in Turns 1 and 2 to maintain the top spot.

One last red flag set up a restart with eight laps to go. Gravel pulled away when the green flag brought the field back to life, but traffic became a factor in the final few laps. Macedo closed in as Gravel struggled with lapped cars in his lane. Macedo got one final run as Gravel slipped in the final corner, but it wasn’t enough as Gravel held on to win by just under half a second.

“He (Bacon) was getting messed up pretty early in lapped traffic,” Gravel explained. “He got really messed up off of (Turn) 2 there, and I was able to slide him. But when I went to slide him, I about spun out, so I probably parked it right in front of him. So, it probably didn’t look very good. But I felt like that was my opportunity to pass. Man, lapped cars were so hard to get by. I felt like the top was the fastest, but guys would just kind of park it in front of you. I just tried to be really patient.”

Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing #41 home second to continue his impressive streaks of consistency. He’s now up to 17 straight top 10s, 12 top fives, and five podiums. While he’s hungry for a win, Macedo maintained a positive outlook as he and the JJR crew continue to be one of the fastest cars on tour.

“I felt like we had a really strong car tonight,” Macedo said. “We qualified pretty good, won our Heat Race, then we drew, I think, sixth in the Dash, and ran up to second. So, I really can’t complain about that. We just got to keep trying to get that win.”

Rounding out the top three was Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83. The Penngrove, CA native hasn’t missed the top 10 in the last 17 races. He’s also up to eight World of Outlaws podiums in 2024. The third place outing required a major effort as mechanical troubles kept Kofoid from making a Qualifying effort. He drove from last to third in his Heat and from seventh to third in the main event.

“Honestly, it didn’t feel that crazy,” Kofoid said of his night. “Our car is just so good right now. I feel like I can race well from behind or up front. The car just races good. Hats off to these Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1/Toyota guys.”

Cole Duncan and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

A 15th to seventh drive earned Sye Lynch the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel secured his fifth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 115th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three went to David Gravel (255th Heat Race win of career) and Donny Schatz (525thof career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Carson Macedo (123rd of career).

Brady Bacon topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Cole Macedo won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are right back on Atomic Speedway on Saturday, May 25 before a Monday, May 27 visit to Fremont Speedway. 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. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[4]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[6]; 6. 21H-Brady Bacon[1]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 8. 42-Sye Lynch[15]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 11. 5T-Travis Philo[11]; 12. 16T-Cole Macedo[19]; 13. 24D-Danny Sams III[17]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[13]; 15. 99-Skylar Gee[16]; 16. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 17. 5AU-Brock Hallett[24]; 18. A79-Brandon Wimmer[18]; 19. 15K-Creed Kemenah[23]; 20. 5J-Jake Hesson[20]; 21. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 22. 2S-Nathan Skaggs[22]; 23. 32-Bryce Lucius[21]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Looking Back at Kofoid’s Time in Midgets Before Becoming an Outlaw

The World of Outlaws rookie put together a historic run in Midgets before moving to Sprint Cars full-time

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 23, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars will be joined by some open-wheel companions this weekend (May 24-25) at Atomic Speedway. The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets presented by Toyota are also set for two nights of action at the Chillicothe, OH oval.

The pair of evenings will mark the seventh and eighth times the two Series have converged since Xtreme was born in 2022.

Even when Sprint Cars and Midgets aren’t competing on the same card, the worlds are often intertwined. Sprint Car drivers occasionally test their talents in a Midget, especially at the Chili Bowl Nationals, and sometimes Midget drivers like to strap some wings and four extra cylinders on.

For one current full-time World of Outlaws driver, a stint in Midgets elevated his career and helped guide him to The Greatest Show on Dirt. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid cut his teeth in Sprint Cars from his early teenage years in California. Even when he moved to Ohio to broaden his horizons in the sport, Midgets weren’t on the radar. And then an important message appeared on his phone on his way to a Sprint Car Race at, oddly enough, Atomic Speedway.

“I think I was actually on the way to Atomic for either an All-Star race or a FAST show,” Kofoid recalled. “And I got a text on Twitter from Jack Irving from TRD (Toyota Racing Development) saying, ‘Hey, give me a call Monday’ basically. I knew who it was, and I was like ‘Oh my god. I wonder what this could be about.

“I called him, and we talked Monday. And right before he hung up, he said Keith (Kunz) and Pete (Willoughby) from KKM (Keith Kunz Motorsports) will be calling you. And then he hung up.”

The call proved to be life changing for the then 17-year-old. KKM brought Kofoid on to test the waters in a Midget late that year, and he promptly won a local race at Jacksonville Speedway along with picking up a pair of POWRi podiums.

The following year Kofoid tackled his first full USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget campaign and finished fourth in points. Then in 2021 and 2022, Kofoid claimed back-to-back USAC championships, becoming the 12th driver to do so. His 13 wins in 32 races during the 2022 season established a new record for highest winning percentage in a year (40.63%). He’s also won a pair of Chili Bowl prelim Features (2022 & 2024) and finished runner-up in this year’s finale.

“I think first and foremost running for KKM, I couldn’t have run for a better team,” Kofoid said of his Midget success. “With Mobil 1 and Toyota, who I’m happy to still be with to this day, having them in my corner and their knowledge and ability and everything, I think that helped speed up my learning curve.”

The time in Midgets not only developed him as a driver, but it also established connections leading him to where he is today. The 22-year-old is navigating his rookie campaign with the World of Outlaws with Roth Motorsports and Toyota Racing Engines under the hood. Connecting with KKM set him down a fruitful path with Toyota.

“Toyota has changed my life, for sure,” Kofoid said. “I’ve gotten to do things that I’d never done before and that I never thought I’d be able to do because of Toyota and Mobil 1… Toyota, they work harder than any manufacturer in the world. If there’s a problem, they get it fixed and want it done right. And they won’t be done until it’s perfect.”

The speed with Toyota power has continued in the Sprint Car for Kofoid. His debut campaign with The Greatest Show on Dirt has been nothing short of a success. He’s taken the Roth Motorsports #83 to 18 top 10s in 21 races including a current streak of 16 in a row. The Californian has podiumed on seven occasions this year including a win at Attica Raceway Park.

And even though he’s moved into racing Sprint Cars full-time, Midgets will always be important Kofoid. They helped shape him. They established important connections he’ll always value. Kofoid might be with the World of Outlaws now, but he has no plans on fully giving up Midget racing. Especially with a Golden Driller chip on his shoulder.

“I’ll run Midgets as long as I can, especially Chili Bowl,” Kofoid said. “I feel like I’m close to being able to win it. And that’s kind of, in my eyes, the last thing on my bucket list as far as Midgets that I feel like I need to check off to be really proud of what I’ve done in Midgets. Pete and Keith and Toyota have said whenever I want to run a Midget, I’ll have a place at KKM.”

The rookie World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season for Buddy Kofoid continues this weekend at Atomic Speedway (May 24-25) alongside the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series. Then the tour heads to Fremont Speedway on Monday, May 27. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Zach Daum Wins Double Down Showdown Finale at Millbridge Speedway

SALISBURY, NC (May 22, 2024) – Zach Daum was in need of a spark. Something to get he and the Trifecta Motorsports team back on track after a string of misfortunes and up-and-down results.

Who would have guessed they’d find it at the red-clay, 1/6-mile North Carolina bullring known as Millbridge Speedway – a place Daum took a hard crash at and destroyed his own car one year prior.

Daum, the 33-year-old open-wheel champion from Pocahontas, IL, took the lead on a late restart in the finale of the DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown Wednesday night and drove off to a $5,000 grand prize and his first Feature win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

“It was cool; we needed a win,” Daum said. “We’ve had struggles with engines and stuff. You’ll have them spurts. Luckily, we were able to put together a good night tonight.”

After posting back-to-back third-place finishes to open his 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series campaign, Daum and the team ran into an array of mechanical issues that hindered their progress and efforts to get back to their 2023 form – in which they won five races together.

First came the engine issues at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex that forced them to retire before Heats were run. Next came more mechanical malfunctions with both the primary and backup car on the same night at Humboldt Speedway. One night later, Daum was caught-up in a late-race incident at 81 Speedway, leaving him with a 16th-place finish.

But that’s all behind them now. The Oklahoma-based operation – over 15 hours away from home – finally got back in gear with the win Wednesday night.

“It just goes in spurts,” Daum said. “Some days, you’re on top of the world and you can’t do anything wrong, and other days you can’t do anything right. It’s one of them deals. Hopefully, we’ve got the monkey off our back, and we can just go for some more wins the rest of the year.”

At the drop of the green flag, Oklahoma-racer Kale Drake jumped to the lead from the outside pole and led unchallenged through the race’s first red-flag period on Lap 18. On the restart, Daum took advantage of the opportunity and began hounding Drake for the lead down low. Daum was able to pull ahead by a bumper’s length on Lap 19, but Drake quickly took the lead back the next time by, beating him with his top-side momentum.

Another red flag halted the action on Lap 23, putting Daum on Drake’s tail for the restart once more. Behind him was Tuesday night’s main event winner Karter Sarff, who had started seventh.

Daum was bested on the restart prior but was not going to allow national Midget series rookie Drake to get the better of him again. This time, Daum was prepared and had his car pointed at a more favorable angle when leader Drake hit the throttle on the restart.

“When [Drake] picked the throttle up, I was still turned the wrong way, so it took me two car-lengths to get going the other way,” Daum said. “He did that restart perfect, and then the next one, I was turned and I was on his bumper when we came across there. So, I gained two car lengths for free, basically, and I was able to race him a lot harder and quicker.”

Daum slid into the lead out of Turn 4 as he crossed the stripe to complete Lap 23. Behind him, Sarff began hounding Drake for second. After a couple slider-crossover combos, Sarff was able to wrestle the second spot away with one final slide job in Turns 1-2 on Lap 27.

“I was just trying to keep the thing wound-up and not get tight on the curb when following those guys in there,” Sarff said of the battle between Daum and Drake in front of him. “I was hoping something would happen and I’d be able to squeak though because I think them racing was holding Zach up. Once Zach got out past him, he was just good enough on the bottom. I don’t know that I could’ve ran the top any harder to catch him.”

Now in second with only Daum in front of him, Sarff set his sights on his fellow Illinois racer. He stuck with his preferred middle-top lane and made up some ground, but not enough, and was forced to settle for second.

“The top was just a little bit trickier than it was last night,” Sarff said. “I feel like I was running it just as hard, and Zach was just really good on the bottom like he always is.”

Points leader Cannon McIntosh crossed the finish line third for the second-straight night, once again extending his points lead, now up to 131 over teammate Ryan Timms. Kale Drake crossed in fourth while Chase McDermand rounded out the top-five.

Karter Sarff won the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award in Qualifying with a lap of 9.880.

Trevor Cline won Toyota Racing Heat 1, Ashton Torgerson won TJ Forged Heat 2 and Zach Daum won Heat 3.

Chase McDermand was the Hard Charger, advancing 12 positions on his drive from 17th to finish fifth.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will now make the trip out to Chillicothe, OH, for another two-day event – Fri-Sat, May 24-25 – at Atomic Speedway alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

Tickets are on sale in advance at XtremeOutlawSeries.com. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (35 Laps): 1. 7U-Zach Daum[1]; 2. 21K-Karter Sarff[7]; 3. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[5]; 4. 97K-Kale Drake[2]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[17]; 6. 67-Ryan Timms[15]; 7. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[3]; 8. 72-Sam Johnson[8]; 9. 55-Trevor Cline[4]; 10. 25K-Taylor Reimer[12]; 11. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[20]; 12. 55D-Nick Drake[10]; 13. 1K-Brayton Lynch[14]; 14. 98K-Elijah Gile[16]; 15. 71-Jade Avedisian[11]; 16. 89-Zach Wigal[13]; 17. 14S-Tyler Edwards[6]; 18. 5-Chase Briscoe[21]; 19. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[9]; 20. 97-Gavin Miller[19]; 21. 66-Jayden Clay[18]

Karter Sarff Conquers Millbridge Speedway for Second Win of 2024

SALISBURY, NC (May 21, 2024) – Karter Sarff’s recent starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota since garnering his first win of the season in early April haven’t met his expectations.

But in unfamiliar territory Tuesday night at Millbridge Speedway, he turned it around, leading the opening round of the DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown flag-to-flag for his second Feature win of the year and first-ever at the North Carolina oval.

“We were in a slump the last couple races, just couldn’t get anything out of the car,” Sarff said. “Come to a bullring like this kinda takes the setup out of it a little… I guess I shouldn’t say that. Paul May (crew chief) had her dialed all night long.”

Between his first win at US 36 Raceway in April and his second Tuesday night, Sarff – 21, of Mason City, IL – had posted three finishes of 10th or worse with a best result of seventh two weeks ago at Humboldt Speedway. But those results are in the past, and the young open-wheel talent once again stands atop the national Midget world with his third career Series victory.

When the green flag dropped in the main event, Sarff took off immediately, grabbing the lead from the pole and jumping out to a lead in lapped traffic that stretched nearly three seconds at its largest.

“I was happy when I got to lapped traffic because I usually get through lapped traffic pretty good, and I was getting through them fast,” Sarff said. “I figured I might have been out a little ways, but I didn’t know if they were right on me or not, so I just kept hammering on it.”

Behind him, Zach Daum and Cannon McIntosh began their battle for the third spot – Daum the first to throw a slide job in Turn 1 and take the position, only to give it right back after stumbling in Turns 3-4. Daum was able to rebound though, getting by McIntosh for good with another Turn 1 slider – one that held up through Turns 3-4.

“Me and Cannon have come back to an understanding; we can race with each other again,” Daum said. “It’s good. That’s how racing should be – I wasn’t gonna crash him and he wasn’t gonna crash me. I had my line; he had his line. When he was better, he would drive around me and if not, we’d drag race down the straightaway.”

“You’d see [Daum] and you’d lift, and you didn’t know if he was sliding all the way across or gonna keep it in the middle,” McIntosh said. “When I lifted, he was just kinda there, and I couldn’t really slide him back just because he was running the middle. I could get momentum and get back to him, just nowhere to really pass him back.”

When the race’s first caution flag appeared on Lap 22, Sarff led the field back to green ahead of Ryan Timms, Daum in third and McIntosh in fourth. Daum wasted no time going after Timms, throwing a slider on him in Turn 1 on the restart.

But Timms held strong, crossing back underneath Daum in Turns 3-4 to regain the spot, at least for the moment. When the yellow came out again for Timms’ Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports teammate Kale Drake on Lap 25, Timms lined up once more with Daum on his tail for the restart.

Timms was smooth through Turns 1 and 2 but stumbled in Turn 4, hitting the outside wall. When Daum and McIntosh got underneath him heading back into Turn 1, Timms jumped up over the cushion in Turn 2 and tagged the wall, which slowed him dramatically. Several cars drove by cleanly on the inside except Ethan Mitchell, who hit Timms’ left-rear tire, puncturing it and bringing out the yellow once again.

With Timms out of the picture, McIntosh assumed third place for the restart with Daum and Sarff in front of him. Try as he may, however, McIntosh was unable to make a move to advance position and crossed the stripe third. In doing so, he increased his lead in the points standings to 108 with Timms ending up 12th and McDermand a DNF, scored in 20th.

Daum challenged Sarff on the final restart, nearly pulling even with him at one point, but was unable to get close enough to make a move for the lead. Though he fell one spot short of his first win of the season, he notched his second podium of the year and first since the season opener in March with the Trifecta Motorsports #7U team.

“Hopefully, we can start this trend,” Daum said. “This race last year was the last race in my car, and we started off with the 7U after these races and kinda went on a tear. Hopefully, this is the start of that again. Championship’s pretty well out of grasp right now, so we’re just gonna go for wins and try to win as many races as we can by the end of the year.”

When he pulled into the pit area Tuesday afternoon, ready to race a track he’d yet to see in a Midget, Sarff had zero fear. Despite his recent results, he wasn’t surprised how fast he was in the main event, as the track conditions played right into his hand.

“I like to have somewhat high expectations, but it’s Midgets – you never know what’s gonna happen,” Sarff said. “I figured it would be somewhat my style – big ol’ curb up on the cushion. It seemed to be that way, and I had a lot of fun.”

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets jump right back into action Wednesday, May 22, for the finale of the third annual Double Down Showdown at Millbridge Speedway. Tickets will be available at the gate. If you can’t be at the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ohio Swing Concludes with Huge Atomic Doubleheader, Return to Fremont

The World of Outlaws are joined by the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets for two nights at Atomic before honoring Rick Ferkel at Fremont

CHILLICOTHE, OH (May 21, 2024) - Three races in four nights lie ahead as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up a two-week stay in Ohio.

First on the agenda is a massive two-night holiday weekend event (May 24-25) at Chillicothe, OH’s Atomic Speedway. The greatest Sprint Car drivers in the country will be joined by the stars of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota at the high-speed oval.

Then on Monday, May 27 the World of Outlaws return to Fremont Speedway for the first time in eight years for the Rick Ferkel Tribute. The Memorial Day visit will mark the ninth race in Series history to the northern Ohio track.

More than a quarter of the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign is in the books, and it’s been a thrilling season to date. A record number of winners to begin the year, last lap passes, a tight points battle, and so much more. And this week the second quarter of the season continues through the “Buckeye State.”

BUY TWO-DAY ATOMIC TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY ATOMIC TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY ATOMIC TICKETS HERE
BUY FREMONT TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

MACEDO’S MOMENTUM: The early season woes from DIRTcar Nationals are long gone for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing.

Macedo and the Philip Dietz-led team are firing on all cylinders. The Albaugh #41 hasn’t missed the top five in the past 11 races with a 3.5 average finish over that stretch. He’s also qualified for 14 consecutive Toyota Dashes. The hot streak has allowed Macedo to claw his way up to third in the standings with Donny Schatz (+14 points) and David Gravel (+68 points) well within striking distance.

The numbers suggest Macedo could build even more momentum at the tracks ahead. Three of his last four Atomic races have led to podium runs including a World of Outlaws win last May. The Lemoore, CA driver has made six previous Fremont appearances and won twice, topping their 2016 season opener along with a 2017 FAST event.

WEIGHT LIFTED: The first win of a season is always the toughest. That especially proved to be true for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid as he navigated his rookie season. But after six podium runs, Kofoid finally broke through last weekend at Attica.

The Attica triumph is the highlight of what’s been an impressive debut season for the 22-year-old. Kofoid is on a streak of 16 consecutive top 10s, and he hasn’t finished worse than seventh in the last 13.

Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports team will look to add more checkered flags to the collection this weekend. The Penngrove, CA native has never won at Atomic, but he’s been consistent with five top 10s in six tries including a 2020 top five with FAST. He’s had plenty of success at Fremont to the tune of four victories and 12 top fives in 16 tries. One of the four wins came with the All-Star Circuit of Champions (2020).

A DONNY DOUBLE?: It comes as no surprise that the statistics suggest Donny Schatz should be a favorite at both Atomic and Fremont this weekend. No matter where he goes in Ohio, the 10-time Series champion always seems to find his way to the front.

Through The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 10 previous trip to Atomic, Schatz is the only driver with multiple victories. The Fargo, ND native has won four times in only nine tries. He’s also led Feature laps in six of nine races he’s contested on the high-banked oval.

The Fremont results have been just as strong for Schatz. He’s made four visits to the northern Ohio oval and topped two of them including an impressive drive from 11th to Victory Lane in 2014. He’s never finished worse than fourth at Fremont, and his average result is second.

A win at both tracks over Memorial Day weekend isn’t inconceivable for Schatz considering his previous success. And it would serve as a tremendous help as he looks to chase down David Gravel who leads him by 54 markers in the standings.

HONORING THE OHIO TRAVELER: Monday’s trip to Fremont is more than a race. It’s a night to celebrate the life of one of Sprint Car Racing’s most impactful figures.

Rick Ferkel was one of the original Outlaws among Ted Johnson’s band of travelers in 1978. He won the third race in Series history at Eldora Speedway and went on to claim 21 victories with the Series. Even when his time behind the wheel ended, Ferkel remained heavily involved via roles as a World of Outlaws official and Director of the Gumout Series. He also was a car owner and crew chief that mentored many rising talents in the sport. Ferkel passed away on New Year’s Day this year.

Monday is about honoring the “Ohio Traveler,” and where better to do so than the Ohio oval Fremont Speedway — less than 10 miles from Ferkel’s birthplace, Green Springs, OH? A stout field of racers will be on hand to compete for the honor of winning the inaugural Rick Ferkel Tribute.

BUCKEYE BRAWLERS: Both Atomic and Fremont are expected to attract a healthy contingent of local Ohio talent looking to impress on a national stage. Many of them put up strong performances last week at Attica. Fremont is already home to two popular occasions of a local upsetting the nation’s best when Fremont’s own Frankie Kerr won in back-to-back years (1991 & 1992).

The Atomic regulars are undoubtedly headlined by Cole Duncan. The Lockbourne, OH driver has won a whopping 20 races over the last four seasons at the Chillicothe, OH track. It’s also home to his most recent World of Outlaws top five. Bowling Green, OH’s Travis Philo is the most recent Atomic winner, claiming their 2023 season finale.

Fremont features a healthy heap of local talent, and Bellevue, OH’s Cap Henry is near the top of the crop. He’s already been to Fremont Victory Lane this year (April 27), and he made six visits last year. Henry is expected to be joined by many more including Fremont track record holder, Lee Jacobs (Dalton, OH) Greg Wilson (Benton Ridge, OH), Creed Kemenah (Alvada, OH), Zeth Sabo (Fremont, OH), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, May 24-25 at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH
Monday, May 27 at Fremont Speedway in Fremont, OH

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (21/76 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (2970 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-54 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-68 PTS)
4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-78 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-118 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-126 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-194 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-324 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-492 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-572 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (11 Drivers):

7 Wins – David Gravel
4 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid

FEATURE LAPS LED (15 Drivers):

190 Laps – David Gravel
107 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
79 Laps – Carson Macedo
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
26 Laps – Brady Bacon
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
23 Laps – Michael Kofoid
13 Laps – Anthony Macri
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney, Kalib Henry

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (11 Drivers):

5 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
4 Quick Times – David Gravel
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild

HEAT RACE WINNERS (24 Drivers):

13 Heat Wins – David Gravel
9 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
8 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
7 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Bill Balog
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (41 Drivers):

17 Dashes – David Gravel
16 Dashes – Carson Macedo
15 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
13 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
12 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
9 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Bill Balog
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu
6 Dashes – Landon Crawley
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom, Brock Zearfoss
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Danny Sams III, Cole Macedo, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Kalib Henry, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (17 Drivers):

2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless
1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (15 Drivers):

4 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
1 Hard Charger – Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley

PODIUM FINISHES (16 Drivers):

12 Podiums – David Gravel
9 Podiums – Carson Macedo
8 Podiums – Donny Schatz
7 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
5 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson

TOP 10 FINISHES (47 Drivers):

19 Top 10s �� Giovanni Scelzi
18 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid, David Gravel
17 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
14 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
11 Top 10s – Bill Balog
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Corey Day, James McFadden
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Cale Thomas, Cole Duncan, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Millbridge, Atomic to Host Big Names, Midget Stars in Four-Race Stretch

SALISBURY, NC (May 20, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota takes on one of the busiest stretches of the season this week with four races in five days spread across North Carolina and Ohio.

A homecoming at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, NC, kicks off the action Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22, with the third annual DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown. The 1/6-mile, red clay oval hosted the first event in Series history in 2022 and will present a 30-lap, $4,000-to-win main event Tuesday night before a 35-lap, $5,000-to-win finale on Wednesday.

Teams will take Thursday to make the drive north to Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH, and get set for another two-day event at the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval Friday-Saturday, May 24-25. Running adjacent to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, Midgets will race a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event on both nights.

Tickets for both events will be on sale at the gate on race day. Advance sale tickets are available for both nights at Atomic, which can be purchased at the link below.

BUY ATOMIC TICKETS

If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap of both events live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this week:

CANNON’S HOUSE – Cannon McIntosh maintains the lead in the standings by 74 points over Ryan Timms, coming into a track he’s come to know better than most of his competition since moving to the Mooresville, NC-area in 2023.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, was dominant with the Xtreme Outlaw Series on the red clay bullring one year ago, sweeping the midweek program by winning both Features and leading 42 of the 66 total Feature laps contested between the two races.

In the time he’s spent living and working in the area, the 1/6-mile oval has become his unofficial home track away from home as he continues to carve into the weekly Micro Sprint program. McIntosh established himself as a major player in both the Winged and Non-Wing 600cc Micro Sprint ranks last year, winning several races in both divisions, and has continued his involvement in 2024 with the spawning of his new Micro Sprint team – Cannon McIntosh Development.

READY FOR LAUNCH – Currently sitting third in the Series standings, Chase McDermand is still searching for his first win of the season, which could come at either venue this week.

McDermand, the 23-year-old racer from Springfield, IL, was strong in his first appearance at Millbridge one year ago, posting back-to-back third-place finishes after starting on the pole of the Feature both nights of the two-day event.

He also started on the pole of the main event at Atomic last July but faded back to eighth by the checkered flag. However, McDermand has not been shy about his fondness for the larger, faster tracks, which Atomic is at 3/8ths of a mile and a high degree of banking.

THINK PINK – It’s been over a month since Taylor Reimer’s near-victory with the Xtreme Outlaw Series, but she’s set to return to the roster at Millbridge this week – a place she’s seen success at before.

Reimer, 24, of Tulsa, OK, will be back behind the wheel of the BuzzBallz, LynK/Toyota No. 25K for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) as an owner of two podium finishes on the red clay. Her first came as a runner-up finish to McIntosh on the second day of the two-day event in 2022, which was later upgraded to a win via McIntosh’s disqualification in the following weeks, and the second came last year when she ran second to McIntosh again on Wednesday night.

She’s also seen success off the dirt track recently, scoring her first career Limited Late Model Feature win on the asphalt at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, NC, driving for Toyota Racing Development-associated team Lee Faulk Racing.

FAMILY TIES – While Nick Hoffman has spent most of his career in Modifieds and Late Models, he might still know Millbridge Speedway better than most races on the roster.

Hoffman – the 32-year-old multi-time DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion and current World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series points leader from Mooresville, NC – is the brother of track co-owner Ashly Burnett, who, with her husband Jeremy Burnett, have owned and operated the facility since purchasing the property in 2014. Hoffman has turned many laps around the oval in a variety of car types, including one of his self-built Elite Chassis Modifieds in a one-off test session.

This weekend, Hoffman will climb back behind the wheel of the NOS Energy Drink, King/Stanton No. 2H for Rockwell Security/RAMS Racing for the first time since the season opener in Du Quoin, ready to try for his first career victory in a Midget. While he did not compete with the Midgets at Millbridge last year, he finished fourth and fifth at the Double Down Showdown in 2022.

BIG LEAGUE STARS – Located only 30 minutes north of Charlotte Motor Speedway – the site of the Coca-Cola 600 – Millbridge is the place to race Tuesday and Wednesday night for a select few NASCAR stars before competing on the big track Saturday and Sunday.

News broke last Thursday of J.J. Yeley’s plans to make his Xtreme Outlaw Series debut at Millbridge, piloting the Avanti Windows & Doors, Ripper/Stanton No. 2 for Petty Performance Racing (PPR). The 47-year-old NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series veteran from Phoenix, AZ, has not made a national Midget series start since the USAC-sanctioned BC39 in 2022, but has made multiple starts on dirt in a PPR-backed Non-Wing Sprint Car this year, most notably logging a top-10 finish at a USAC CRA event in April.

Chase Briscoe has been a Millbridge entry to count on in each of the last two years and is scheduled to compete again in the Mahindra Tractors No. 5. The NASCAR Cup Series regular from Mitchell, IN, originally planned to compete on both nights of last year’s event but suffered terminal mechanical failure in the opening Hot Lap session and was forced to sit out the remainder of the week. However, Briscoe did record finishes of 12th and eighth in 2022.

ATOMIC EXCITEMENT – Last July, Jade Avedisian gave the fans of Atomic Speedway plenty of reason to come back to see the Xtreme Outlaw Series in 2024.

The 17-year-old Californian stole the show and the Feature win from fellow California racer Daniel Whitley out of Turn 4 on the final lap, collecting her third checkered flag of the season in one of the closest finishes in Series history. This year, Avedisian will be back to defend her win in the Yahoo, LynK/Toyota No. 71 as part of the KKM stable.

Last weekend, Avedisian was back on the pavement with the Toyota GR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas, where she drove 21st-to-12th and eighth-to-fourth in the two races at the Texas road course.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Tue-Wed, May 21-22 at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, NC
Fri-Sat, May 24-25 at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter/X – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 1744 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 1670 points (-74) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Chase McDermand: 1669 points (-75) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Ashton Torgerson: 1597 points (-147) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Karter Sarff: 1524 points (-220) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K
Zach Daum: 1422 points (-322) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 1407 points (-337) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
TJ Smith: 1294 points (-450) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Gavin Miller: 1250 points (-494) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97
Trevor Cline: 1231 points (-513) | Cline Racing #55

Toyota Feature winners (6 drivers)
2 wins – Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports), Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing), Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)

Toyota Feature laps led (10 drivers)
49 laps – Ashton Torgerson
45 laps – Ryan Timms
36 laps – Cannon McIntosh
35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
16 laps – Kale Drake

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Karter Sarff

4 laps – Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Chase McDermand

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (5 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake, Ryan Timms, Kyle Jones

Heat Race winners (16 drivers)
4 wins – Ashton Torgerson, Kale Drake
3 wins – Cannon McIntosh,
2 wins – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Ryan Timms, Zach Daum, Gavin Miller, Jade Avedisian

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, TJ Smith, Nick Hoffman, Karter Sarff, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer

High-points honors (7 drivers)
2 honors – Cannon McIntosh
1 honor – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff, Ryan Timms, Ashton Torgerson, Gavin Miller

Last Chance Showdown wins (6 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell

DIRTVision Hard Charger Awards (6 drivers)
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Ryan Timms, Hayden Reinbold, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser

Podium finishes (9 drivers)
5 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
4 podiums – Ryan Timms
3 podiums – Chase McDermand, Ashton Torgerson
2 podiums – Zach Daum, Kale Drake, Gavin Miller
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Taylor Reimer, Karter Sarff

Top-10 finishes (25 drivers)
10 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh, Chase McDermand
7 top-10s – Ryan Timms
6 top-10s – Ashton Torgerson
5 top-10s – Zach Daum, Karter Sarff, Gavin Miller
4 top-10s – Kale Drake
3 top-10s – Ethan Mitchell, Taylor Reimer, Mitchell Davis, Hayden Reinbold, Jade Avedisian
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Gunnar Setser, Tyler Edwards, TJ Smith, Kyle Jones
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Todd McVay, Kevin Thomas Jr.

1 MONTH ALERT: Huset’s High Bank Nationals Week Brings $100K-to-win Hustle, $250K-to-win Finale

BRANDON, SD (May 20, 2024) – Two six-figure paydays will be on the line when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Huset’s Speedway for the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals, June 19-22.

The four-day event starts with the new two-day Huset’s High Bank Hustle (June 19-20), paying $100,000-to-win on Thursday. Then, the Huset’s High Bank Nationals concludes the week (June 21-22), featuring a $250,000-to-win/$5,000-to-start finale.

That $250,000 payout equals the largest payout in World of Outlaws history established last season with this event. Each of the opening night races (June 19 and June 21) will pay $20,000 to the winner.

Current Series points leader David Gravel, who also drives for Tod Quiring – owner of Huset’s Speedway – won the Huset’s High Bank Nationals last year. Sheldon Haudenschild won the first edition of the Huset’s High Bank Nationals in 2022.

Since the inception of the High Bank Nationals there hasn’t been a repeat winner of any of the nights – eight different winners in eight races.

EVENT INFO
Date – June 19-22
Location – Brandon, SD
Track Record – 10.319 sec. by Terry McCarl on May 10, 2009

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available HERE
How to Watch – Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision

Last Race Video Recap (High Bank Nationals June 24, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwtawzir4zM

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Huset’s –
2023 – Kyle Larson on June 21, James McFadden on June 22, Logan Schuchart on June 23, David Gravel on June 24
2022 – Spencer Bayston on June 22, Michael Kofoid on June 23, Carson Macedo on June 24, Sheldon Haudenschild on June 25
2021 - David Gravel on June 21, Aaron Reutzel on June 22, David Gravel on Aug. 22
2020 – Sheldon Haudenschild on Sept. 5, Kyle Larson on Sept. 6
2016 – Brad Sweet won on July 2, Donny Schatz won on July 3
2015 –Donny Schatz won on June 14
2014 – Mark Dobmeier won on July 2
2013 – Tim Kaeding won on July 3
2012 – Mark Dobmeier won on July 3
2011 –Steve Kinser won on Aug. 20
2010 –Sammy Swindell won on July 1
2008 – Craig Dollansky won on June 13, Craig Dollansky won on July 3
2007 –Donny Schatz won on July 3
2006 – Brooke Tatnell won on May 7, Terry McCarl won on July 3
2005 –Brian Paulus won on June 28
2004 – Sammy Swindell won on July 6
2003 – Steve Kinser won on June 18
2002 – Steve Kinser won on July 2
2001 – Donny Schatz won on April 29, Mark Kinser won on July 3
2000 –Mark Kinser won on May 7, Mark Kinser won on July 3
1999 – Mark Kinser won on May 3, Mark Kinser won on July 7
1998 – Stevie Smith won on July 7
1997 – Sammy Swindell won on April 27, Mark Kinser won on July 3
1996 – Mark Kinser won on July 3
1995 – Dave Blaney won on June 28
1994 – Mark Kinser won on June 29
1993 – Steve Kinser won on Aug. 23
1992 – Steve Kinser won on Aug. 21, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 22
1991 –Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 23, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 24
1990 – Doug Wolfgang won on July 4, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 24, Sammy Swindell won on Aug. 25
1989 –Doug Wolgang won on July 5, Bobby Davis, Jr. won on Aug. 25, Doug Wolfgang won on Aug. 26
1984 – Steve Kinser won on July 11
1983 –Sammy Swindell won on April 30, Steve Kinser won on July 6

BUCKEYE BOUNCE BACK: Gravel Grabs Seventh Win of 2024 with Sharon Statement

The point leader leads every lap at the Ohio oval and puts himself in a tie for eighth on the all-time win list

HARTFORD, OH (May 18, 2024) - David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports refuse to stay down for long.

The pairing has consistently been the fastest team on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour in 2024. Heading into the Ohio weekend (Attica Raceway Park & Sharon Speedway) Gravel had already collected six checkered flags this season. Nine of his last 12 starts had resulted in top two finishes.

But then his fortune faltered Friday at Attica when a troublesome Heat Race put him in the Last Chance Showdown. Gravel won the LCS and went on to finish 11th – only his third time outside the top 10 this season. Both the previous occasions, Gravel promptly rebounded.

Back in March at Cotton Bowl Speedway, an incident gave him a 12th place finish. The following night he brought home a top five. Then a Paducah DNF led to a 23rd place result. The next day he ran second at Tri-State Speedway.

And then on Saturday at Sharon, Gravel and company served up their strongest bounce back. The Watertown, CT native started on the pole and led every single circuit of the main event to park the Huset’s Speedway #2 in Victory Lane for the seventh time in 2024.

“Just happy to get the job done,” Gravel said. “It’s way harder on this type of racetrack to pass cars when you’re behind them, and having that clean air just makes your job so much easier. Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) have been working really hard. I can’t thank them enough.”

Gravel upped his career win total with The Greatest Show on Dirt to 95. That mark equals him with Dave Blaney for the eighth most all-time, and fittingly he reached the feat at Blaney’s track. Sharon is now the 48th different track he’s won at with the World of Outlaws.

The 30-lap Feature was led to green by Gravel and Sye Lynch. The opening start was called back for a jump by Lynch. On the second attempt Gravel quickly took off.

Traffic became a factor only five laps into the race, and it allowed second-running Carson Macedo to close in on Gravel. The Sharon surface offered up grip all over the 3/8-mile, so Gravel searched everywhere for speed as he navigated traffic. Eventually, he began to gap Macedo again.

A pair of cautions offered those chasing Gravel a shot at him, but the veteran never flinched on the restarts. Both times he accelerated at the right spot and had a solid advantage entering the first set of corners.

As the final laps closed Gravel did face one scare when he clipped a rough patch of track and nearly spun. But he managed to regain control and drive away comfortably to Victory Lane. He might’ve led every lap, but it was by no means an easy cruise with a tricky racing surface that proved to be difficult to figure out.

“Man, what character the track had,” Gravel said. “It just kept getting rougher and rougher. I didn’t know where to run. Cody told me to run the middle, so I started running the middle. And then he told me elbows up and run the top, and it was just hard to run the top consistently. It was just a very technical track.”

Donny Schatz climbed from fifth to the runner-up spot for his eighth World of Outlaws podium of the season. Finishing second ensured Gravel couldn’t extend his point lead much over the 10-time champion as Schatz now sits 54 markers behind. Schatz and the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team continue to show plenty of speed.

“We were good at the end, decent,” Schatz said. The guys are doing a great job. Everybody at Ford is working their tails off. I’ve got some control, and that’s what we’ve been looking for. The performance shows. I don’t know that we were going to be able to get there on open racetrack. But that’s the way racing is anymore. We needed traffic, and we didn’t really have it there at the end. I feel like we were decent, and we’ll just keep building on it.”

Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing #41 home third to post a pair of podiums in Ohio over the weekend. The result was also the 11th consecutive top five for Macedo. The Lemoore, CA driver ran second for much of the race but never found a way by Gravel and also slipped back a spot late when Schatz rolled by on a restart.

“I felt like it was going to be tough there in open air,” Macedo said. “Once we would get a restart there and get that clean air back on his (Gravel’s) wings and clean racetrack, he was lightning quick. I feel like we were pretty good. Our car was fairly balanced. I think in traffic I was as good. I would kind of get to him. It would’ve been tough to make a move, and I was prepared to throw something at him if it did happen. I just had a late race restart and went to the top there, probably wasn’t really the place to be.”

Logan Schuchart and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

Schuchart also claimed his Series-leading fourth KSE Racing Hard Charger of the season.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his first Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 30th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Brock Zearfoss (16th Heat Race win of career), Sheldon Haudenschild (106th of career), and David Gravel (254th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Bill Balog (10th of career).

David Gravel topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Nate Dussel won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Landon Crawley.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are joined by the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota for two nights of action at Chillicothe, OH’s Atomic Speedway on May 24-25. Then The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to Fremont Speedway for the first time in eight years on Memorial Day (May 27) for the Rick Ferkel Tribute. 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. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[11]; 11. 101-Kalib Henry[16]; 12. 42-Sye Lynch[2]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer[19]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[9]; 15. 32B-Dale Blaney[15]; 16. 33W-Cap Henry[22]; 17. 29-Logan McCandless[18]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[24]; 19. 1-Nate Dussel[21]; 20. 81-Lee Jacobs[13]; 21. W20-Greg Wilson[20]; 22. 11-Carl Bowser[23]; 23. O8-Danny Kuriger[17]; 24. 10-Dave Blaney[14]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

BUDDY BREAKS THROUGH: Attica Last Lap Pass Lifts Kofoid to First Victory of 2024

The Roth Motorsports driver secures what’s been an elusive first checkered flag of 2024 with a thrilling final lap move

ATTICA, OH (May 17, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid was tired. Tired of finishing third. Tired of finishing second. Tired of watching the winner celebrate atop the podium while he stood on the other two steps.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car rookie with Roth Motorsports had podiumed six times in 2024 heading into Friday’s race at Attica Raceway Park, but none had resulted in wins. As the laps clicked away at the Ohio oval it looked as if he may be settling for one spot short again. But Kofoid refused. Not this time.

Carson Macedo led in the final stages, and even though Kofoid clearly had the speed to contend, he couldn’t find his way ahead. Multiple times he showed Macedo a nose to no avail. Then came the white flag. With one last gasp on the final lap, Kofoid used a big run down the back straightaway to muscle ahead of Macedo with a slide job in Turns 3 and 4 and steal the win in thrilling fashion.

Kofoid may be from California, but he spent some time in Ohio upon venturing to the Midwest to further his career. And the Buckeyes haven’t forgotten Kofoid as he’s risen to Sprint Car stardom. The packed grandstands rose to their feet for the finish and warmly welcomed him to Victory Lane for the first time in 2024.

“I’m just super happy to finally win a race this year,” said a relieved Kofoid. “These Roth Motorsports guys have been unbelievable. This is the best I’ve ever felt in a Sprint Car. I owe all of that to Dylan, Nate, and Gage. They work their butts off, and we have a hell of a lot of fun together. This one’s for them and of course Dennis and Teresa Roth at home. They gave me a great opportunity to drive such an iconic car, and I’m just really blessed to do it."

The victory marked the fourth of Kofoid’s career with The Greatest Show on Dirt and second since joining Roth Motorsports midway through last season. Kofoid is now the 11th different driver with multiple World of Outlaws wins behind the wheel of Dennis and Teresa Roth’s historic ride. Friday was the 24th Series visit to Attica, and Kofoid made it a dozen different drivers to visit Victory Lane at the 3/8-mile.

Kofoid brought the field to green for the 35-lapper with fellow Californian – Kalib Henry – in the Running Boxer #101 alongside. The two exchanged the top spot during an exciting opening lap that saw Henry pace the first circuit, but Kofoid fired a slide job in Turns 1 and 2 on the second lap that stuck and gave him the lead.

Throughout the early laps Kofoid led without issue, but a charging Carson Macedo was on his way to offer up a challenge. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot had already climbed from eighth to fifth in the Toyota Racing Dash. And then in the Feature, it took him only six circuits to rise from fifth to second.

A Lap 11 restart gave Macedo the opportunity he needed as he pounced with a slider in Turns 3 and 4 to snatch the top spot.

After taking over the lead, Macedo began to distance himself from Kofoid as the race moved beyond the halfway mark. But as traffic became a bigger factor, Kofoid closed back in.

The lead had grown as large as 1.6 seconds, and on Lap 20 Kofoid had it slashed to under a second. Four laps later in heavy traffic Kofoid closed right up to Macedo’s tail tank as the advantage fell under two tenths.

Over the last 10 laps Kofoid worked and worked on Macedo. He found the best speed in the middle groove in Turns 1 and 2 and Macedo operated one lane higher. Kofoid peeked under Macedo multiple times to let him know he was there. And as they roared down the back straightaway one last time on the final lap, Kofoid pulled alongside and sealed the deal with a full-send slider in the final set of corners. No more settling for second. Kofoid finally broke through for a win.

“I just tried to stay with him and pace him because I knew the race could potentially be won in traffic if it stayed green, and luckily it did,” Kofoid explained. “I was just really stuck a lane lower than him. I figured if traffic played out right or if I could get close enough, I could shoot the gap and get there. I thought it was going to work earlier, and then I’d get tight, and he’d get away and then I could get back to him. I guess it went that way the whole race except the last half a lap.”

A disappointed Macedo came home second after leading 23 laps. On the bright side for Macedo and the JJR team, the night did mark their 10th consecutive top 10 finish, and they jumped a spot to third in points. But Macedo noted if he attacked Turns 1 and 2 differently on the final lap, he might’ve been able to hang on for his second win of 2024.

“I just got beat, outraced there. He just did a better job,” Macedo said. “I was kind of floundering a little bit. I was trying to get my wing back, and the lappers were just throwing that stuff across, and I’d get to spinning a little bit. He was poking his nose underneath me the lap before into (Turns) 3 and 4. So, my thought was he’s obviously getting his runs in (Turns) 1 and 2 running a little bit higher, so I saw the white come out and think, ‘Well, if I can just get through there (Turns 1 and 2), I think I’ll have him covered.’ Then I moved up a lane, and then he slid me so obviously a horrible decision. I’m just a little dejected.”

Rounding out the top three was Bill Balog aboard the Andersons Maple Syrup #17B. The result served as a welcome bounce back for the Series rookie as the last few races had offered some bumps in the road. Balog and his team put together a strong night from start to finish for their second podium of the season.

“This is awesome for us,” Balog said. “This is great, just the way everything went tonight. The car was just working great… It was a great race. I kind of caught them at the end there a little bit and definitely could kind of feel that win, but it just didn’t happen.”

Brandon Spithaler and Kalib Henry completed the top five.

A 25th to 10th run in his Attica debut gave Landon Crawley the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his fifth Simpson Quick Time of the year and 38th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Tim Shaffer (168th Heat Race win of career), Carson Macedo (122nd of career), and Buddy Kofoid (22nd of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Bill Balog (ninth of career).

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

David Gravel won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Craig Mintz.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make a visit to Dave Blaney’s Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) on Saturday, May 18. 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. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 4. 22B-Brandon Spithaler[3]; 5. 101-Kalib Henry[2]; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer[7]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[11]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 9. 4-Zane DeVault[10]; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley[25]; 11. 2-David Gravel[21]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 13. 35-Stuart Brubaker[16]; 14. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[15]; 15. 19P-Paige Polyak[24]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee[22]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 18. 11N-Kasey Jedrzejek[17]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[14]; 20. 29-Zeth Sabo[20]; 21. 23J-Cale Thomas[19]; 22. 19-TJ Michael[8]; 23. 09-Craig Mintz[6]; 24. 7N-Darin Naida[23]; 25. 16-DJ Foos[18]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Eloy Gutierrez

A personal message from World of Outlaws icon Eloy Gutierrez:

Dearest friends, colleagues, and racing family, many of you have noticed my absence from the racetrack and have reached out to ask where I’ve been. After much reflection, it is with a heavy heart I find myself needing to inform you of a serious health issue that has surfaced.

I have been undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for the past three weeks. After a barrage of testing and scanning, I have been diagnosed with several tumors that have a cancer signature, although doctors are still determining the type cancer I’m up against.

At this time, the medical staff is reviewing what treatment regiments will be needed to fight this war. All I can tell you is it WILL be a war. I have held off making this public as long as I felt I could, but I know questions of where I’ve been are mounting. All of you are my lifeline to what’s one of the most important things in my life, something I have dedicated a significant part of my life to — Sprint Car Racing.

I hoped to have more information that might provide timelines, but at this point I don’t have much more to report. I’m not one for social media, but the World of Outlaws will help me keep you all updated when I feel it’s necessary as I go through this battle. You can still reach out to me like normal, as well.

Your thoughts and prayers are certainly welcomed, and WE WILL wage a war!

ELOY

A native of Albuquerque, NM, Eloy Gutierrez went from working on safety-related elements of nuclear weapons systems at Sandia National Laboratories to becoming the co-founder of electronic timing and scoring systems used by dirt tracks and racing series across the country. While he was always around Sprint Cars, following his retirement from Sandia, Eloy became a full-time traveling Official with the World of Outlaws in 2007.

Speed Dawg, World of Outlaws Shifting Gears With New Collaboration

Speed Dawg’s award-winning shift knobs will get the World of Outlaws treatment with a new collaboration between the two brands.

The company will offer four officially licensed World of Outlaws shift knobs, with three featuring the iconic World of Outlaws logo and one showcasing the fan-favorite Be An Outlaw design.

“I’m super excited about this partnership because I grew up on Sprint Car racing,” said Chris Figdore, founder and general manager of Speed Dawg. “I was at Outlaw races from the very first season in 1978 as a kid, and with Kevin Gobrecht having been one of my best friends it’s also special because the Rookie of the Year title is in his name. I’m greatly excited to be partnering with the World of Outlaws.”

Speed Dawg was founded in 2005 with the objective to promote and sponsor motorsports. The company started off making clothing before introducing shift knobs in 2007. In 2010, Speed Dawg was awarded a SEMA Global Media Best New Product Award for introducing the Von Hot Rod Signature Series Pinstriped shift knob. Its products have also been featured on premier television broadcasts and used in racing series like NASCAR and NHRA.

Along with Figdore’s passion for the World of Outlaws, Sprint Car racing is already in Speed Dawg’s DNA, having been the founding title sponsor of the Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car Points Series and handing championships to the likes of Fred Rahmer and Greg Hodnett.

The World of Outlaws shift knobs are available now and can be purchased at Speed Dawg’s website.

JJ Yeley to Make Xtreme Outlaw Midget Debut at Millbridge with Petty Performance Racing

2003 USAC Triple Crown winner continuing passion of dirt track racing with new team owner

CONCORD, NC (May 16, 2024) – J.J. Yeley has spent his last 20 Memorial Day weekends competing in the most prestigious races in motorsports and this year he’ll add a new event to that list.

The NASCAR veteran and former USAC champion will make his debut with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota at Millbridge Speedway – Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22 – for the DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown.

“Regardless of where I am in my life and career, I’ve always been a dirt guy,” Yeley said. “That’s always been my passion. That’s where I started my career. Even though I’ve spent 20 years in NASCAR, I’ve run IndyCar, I’ve always kept the dirt side of things close to my heart. It didn’t matter if it was Midgets or Sprint Cars.”

Yeley, 47, of Phoenix, AZ, will get behind the wheel of the Avanti Windows & Doors-sponsored, Stanton-powered Ripper Chassis Midget for one of open-wheel racing’s newest teams – Petty Performance Racing (PPR), which was founded by fellow Arizona-native and Avanti CEO Jerry Petty in fall 2023.

Though it’s been roughly 20 years since he last competed full-time in the USAC ranks, Yeley has found pockets of time to be able to keep in touch with his dirt roots. He made scattered starts in the mid-2000s after taking on NASCAR full-time, but soon made efforts to scale back on the dirt after a hard crash sidelined him.

“The scheduling was always more difficult to do,” Yeley said. “After I was injured in 2009 at Lakeside (Speedway) in a USAC Non-Wing Sprint Car, I pumped the brakes a little bit on some of the events that I did, and then became more comfortable going back and doing it.”

In April, Yeley competed in a USAC CRA Sprint Car race in Arizona, piloting one of Petty’s Non-Wing Sprint Cars to an eighth-place finish.

Petty has been a supporter and investor of dirt track racing for many years, sponsoring multiple events and putting the Avanti logo on the side of several cars across the country. He’s had a strong connection with the Yeley family in sponsoring J.J.’s father Jack, who won several Midget championships around Arizona in the 1980s and 1990s.

Petty broke new ground on the foundation of his PPR race team for 2024, putting a Non-Wing Sprint Car operation together for Indiana racer Kyle Cummins, and a new Midget for Yeley’s own endeavors this season.

“Jerry Petty has been a sponsor of my dad for the last couple years, fantastic guy,” Yeley said. “He reminds me of a modern-day J.W. Hunt.”

Yeley debuted the Midget at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January but had limited results after experiencing mechanical issues during the week.

“It wasn’t a good barometer for what I feel the car has the capabilities of,” Yeley said.

He said he’s resolved those issues and will be ready to go at Millbridge, despite the limited time he’s spent on track with the car.

“Gonna go at it a little bit blindly, but it’s nothing new to show up to the racetrack and just have to make adjustments, see if we can find the speed and do what we need to win the race,” Yeley said.

He’ll race Millbridge next week as one of the only driver, mechanic and crew chief entrants in the field. Yeley said as far back as his days as a full-time USAC racer, he has always been most comfortable as the head wrench on his equipment – something he feels gives him an edge over the competition.

“As far as calling the shots, I’ve always been best doing that myself,” Yeley said. “If it’s not a good night, there’s no one to blame other than myself. If it came down to hard work, perseverance, the success comes from having to do it yourself and not necessarily relying on other people to get the job done for you.”

It’s been almost two years since his last national Midget series start, but he hasn’t forgotten how to wheel. Yeley is taking the two-day event at Millbridge seriously, armed with great equipment, a “DIY” attitude and the spirit of hard work.

“I’m showing up to win,” Yeley said. “There’s no participation trophy in my world; there never has been.”

See Yeley and his new Petty Performance Racing ride compete against the stars of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota at Millbridge Speedway next Tuesday-Wednesday night, May 21-22, in the third annual DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: Knoxville Welcomes World of Outlaws For June Doubleheader

KNOXVILLE, IA (May 15, 2024) – Two months before World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series drivers contend in "The Granddaddy of Them All" at Knoxville Raceway, they'll get two days of racing at the premier facility in June.

Knoxville will welcome the best Sprint Car drivers in the country for the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash, Friday-Saturday, June 14-15.

The two-day event will feature two $12,000-to-win races and valuable lap time for World of Outlaws drivers before the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, Aug. 7-10.

Knoxville has ran two weekly shows, so far, this year with Aaron Reutzel picking up the season-opening win and Dusty Zomer scoring the most recent win at the track on May 11.

When the World of Outlaws were last at Knoxville Raceway, Kyle Larson scored his second Knoxville Nationals title. David Gravel finished second with an impressive 22nd to second run, and 11-time Knoxville Nationals winner Donny Schatz finished third.

The Knoxville Nationals was voted the second best motorports race in USA Today's 10Best poll this year.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Friday-Saturday, June 14-15
Location – Knoxville, IA
Track Record – 14.351 seconds by Brian Brown on May 22, 2021

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Click HERE to purchase
How to Watch – Can't make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision

Last Race Video Recap (Aug. 12, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfJ66-l-pLY

Previous World of Outlaws Knoxville Winners –
2023 - Brian Brown on June 9, David Gravel on June 10, Kyle Larson on Aug. 12 (Knoxville Nationals)
2022 - Brent Marks on June 10, Brian Brown on June 11, Donny Schatz on Aug. 13 (Knoxville Nationals)
2021 - Carson Macedo on June 11, Carson Macedo on June 12, Kyle Larson on Aug. 14 (Knoxville Nationals)
2020 – David Gravel on May 8, Kyle Larson on June 12, Kyle Larson on June 13, Kyle Larson on Aug. 13, David Gravel on Aug. 14, Kyle Larson on Aug. 15
2019 – Brian Brown on June 14, Brad Sweet on June 15, David Gravel on Aug. 10 (Knoxville Nationals)
2018 – Donny Schatz on June 29, David Gravel on June 30, Greg Hodnett on Aug. 8, Brad Sweet on Aug. 9, Logan Schuchart on Aug. 10, Brad Sweet on Aug. 11 (Knoxville Nationals)
2017 – Brad Sweet on June 9, Donny Schatz on June 10, Donny Schatz on Aug. 12 (Knoxville Nationals)
2016 – Terry McCarl on June 10, Donny Schatz on June 11, Jason Johnson on Aug. 13 (Knoxville Nationals)
2015 – Donny Schatz on June 13, Donny Schatz on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals)
2014 – Brad Sweet on June 14, Donny Schatz on Aug. 9 (Knoxville Nationals)
2013 – Donny Schatz on May 11, Donny Schatz on June 15, Donny Schatz on Aug. 10 (Knoxville Nationals)
2012 – Sammy Swindell on April 28, Kerry Madsen on June 9, Donny Schatz on Aug. 11 (Knoxville Nationals)
2011 – Sammy Swindell on June 11, Donny Schatz on Aug. 13 (Knoxville Nationals)
2010 – Brooke Tatnell on June 3, Jac Haudenschild on June 4
2009 – Donny Schatz on May 2, Terry McCarl on June 27
2008 – Donny Schatz on May 3, Shane Stewart on June 6, Donny Schatz on June 7
2007 – Donny Schatz on April 28, Terry McCarl on June 16
2006 – Joey Saldana on June 23, Donny Schatz on Oct. 7
2005 – Kraig Kinser on June 24, Steve Kinser on April 30
2004 – Craig Dollansky on June 26, Mark Kinser on May 1, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 14 (Knoxville Nationals)
2003 – Danny Lasoski on April 26, Danny Lasoski on July 5, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 16 (Knoxville Nationals)
2002 – Steve Kinser on April 26, Danny Lasoski on June 29, Steve Kinser on Aug. 10 (Knoxville Nationals)
2001 – Danny Lasoski on April 28, Stevie Smith on June 30, Jason Meyers on July 16, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 11 (Knoxville Nationals)
2000 – Danny Lasoski on April 29, Stevie Smith on July 1, Steve Kinser on July 19, Mark Kinser on Aug. 12 (Knoxville Nationals)
1999 – Sammy Swindell on May 1, Danny Lasoski on July 3, Danny Lasoski on July 21, Mark Kinser on Aug. 14 (Knoxville Nationals)
1998 – Jac Haudenschild on May 2, Jac Haudenschild on July 4, Jac Haudenschild on July 22, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals)
1997 – Mark Kinser on April 26, Jac Haudenschild on July 5, Mark Kinser on July 23, Dave Blaney on Aug. 17 (Knoxville Nationals)
1996 – Mark Kinser on April 27, Mark Kinser on June 22, Mark Kinser on July 24, Mark Kinser on Aug. 17 (Knoxville Nationals)
1995 – Mark Kinser on May 6, Mark Kinser on June 24, Steve Kinser on July 19, Steve Kinser on Aug. 19(Knoxville Nationals), Mark Kinser on Sept. 27
1994 – Dave Blaney on April 29, Steve Kinser on June 25, Steve Kinser on July 20, Steve Kinser on Aug. 20 (Knoxville Nationals), Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 23
1993 – Danny Lasoski on April 30, Mark Kinser on June 27, Steve Kinser on Aug. 21 (Knoxville Nationals), Stevie Smith on Sept. 24
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 26, Steve Kinser on June 20, Steve Kinser on July 22, Steve Kinser on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals), Steve Kinser on Sept. 26
1991 – Steve Kinser on April 27, Doug Wolfgang on June 22, Steve Kinser on July 24, Steve Kinser on Aug. 17 (Knoxville Nationals)
1990 – Doug Wolfgang on April 29, Steve Kinser on June 23, Sammy Swindell on July 25, Bobby Allen on Aug. 18 (Knoxville Nationals)
1989 – Sammy Swindell on April 29, Doug Wolfgang on June 24, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 19 (Knoxville Nationals)
1988 – Steve Kinser on April 30, Steve Kinser on June 22, Steve Kinser on Aug. 13 (Knoxville Nationals)
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 25, Steve Kinser on June 22, Steve Kinser on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals)
1986 – Sammy Swindell on April 26, Steve Kinser on June 25, Steve Kinser on July 23, Steve Kinser on Aug. 16 (Knoxville Nationals)
1985 – Sammy Swindell on April 28, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 17 (Knoxville Nationals)
Doug Wolfgang on Oct. 6
1984 – Sammy Swindell on July 25, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 11 (Knoxville Nationals)
1983 – Sammy Swindell on April 16, Sammy Swindell on July 27, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 13 (Knoxville Nationals), Sammy Swindell on Oct. 16
1982 – Doug Wolfgang on April 17, Danny Smith on July 21, Steve Kinser on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals)
1981 – Steve Kinser on April 18, Doug Wolfgang on May 22, Sammy Swindell on May 23, Sammy Swindell on July 22, Steve Kinser on Aug. 15 (Knoxville Nationals), Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 12
1980 – Steve Kinser on April 19, Steve Kinser on April 20, Doug Wolfgang on May 31, Steve Kinser on Aug. 17 (Knoxville Nationals), Tim Green on Sept. 20
1979 – Sammy Swindell on April 21, Ron Shuman on Aug. 11 (Knoxville Nationals)
1978 – Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 12 (Knoxville Nationals)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ohio Doubleheader Brings World of Outlaws to Attica, Sharon

The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its first stops of 2024 a pair of Ohio staples

ATTICA, OH (May 14, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready to kick off a two-week stay in the “Buckeye State.”

Ohio welcomes The Greatest Show on Dirt for two nights at two tracks this weekend. First up is the 24th visit in Series history to Attica Raceway Park on Friday, May 17. The following night it’s an eastward trip to Hartford, OH’s Sharon Speedway.

The pair of races are the first two of five consecutive in the state of Ohio with Atomic Speedway (May 24-25) and Fremont Speedway (May 27) on the horizon.

The slick ovals of Ohio routinely produce some of the season’s most exciting racing, and the upcoming slate should be no different. A strong crop of Buckeye based talent is ready to face off with the stars of the World of Outlaws tour.

BUY ATTICA TICKETS HERE
BUY SHARON TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

HAUD’S HOME: Trips to Ohio are always circled on Sheldon Haudenschild’s calendar. The 30-year-old calls Wooster, OH home, and it’s where he cut his teeth in Sprint Cars. He’ll roll into home territory with four victories under his belt already in 2024.

Attica is home to two of Haudenschild’s 17 career All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) victories. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing driver is yet to bag a World of Outlaws win at Attica, but he’s been banging on the door with three top fives in his last four tries including a runner-up at last year’s Brad Doty Classic.

Over at Sharon, it’s a similar story for the son of Jac Haudenschild. He topped the 2015 Lou Blaney Memorial in ASCoC competition. Victory Lane has narrowly eluded him with the World of Outlaws as he owns three podiums in four tries piloting the NOS Energy Drink #17.

BIG GAME BRILLIANCE: The combination of David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports are borderline unbeatable right now. Three of the last four races have belonged to the potent pairing as they’ve claimed wins at Jacksonville, Eldora and Lincoln. The most recent made Tod Quiring the sixth owner in Series history to reach 100 wins. The No. 2 has finished in the top two in nine of the last 12 main events. Gravel came into the year as a premier championship favorite, and he’s showing why.

The numbers show no reason for Gravel to slow this weekend in Ohio. The Watertown, CT native three most recent visits to Attica have resulted in top fives. He’s also bagged a pair of Series victories at the 1/3-mile (2017 & 2021).

Over at Sharon, Gravel is yet to make a trip to Victory Lane, but he’s been remarkably consistent. His four starts there with the Big Game Motorsports team have led to a pair of runner-ups, no result worse than fourth, and an average finish of third.

Gravel heads to Ohio atop the standings with a 58-point advantage over Donny Schatz.

OHIO EXPERTISE: There’s no doubt this coming stretch of Ohio races is circled on Donny Schatz’s calendar as he chases an 11th World of Outlaws title. The Fargo, ND native has won at least once at all four tracks within the “Buckeye State” borders over the next couple weeks.

It begins this weekend at Attica where Schatz has excelled. In 17 Attica starts, Schatz owns five wins, nine podiums, and a 4.53 average finish. A DNF in 2009 caused his only result outside the top 10. Last May Schatz picked up his first Series victory at Sharon to complete a weekend sweep at the two tracks ahead this weekend.

Schatz heads to Attica sitting second in the points amid what’s been a resurgent season. He’s already bagged a pair of victories along with seven podiums, and the only occurrences he’s missed the top-10 have been a trio of 11ths.

READY TO WIN: There are two notable names on the 2024 roster still chasing a victory with the season nearly a quarter complete – Logan Schuchart and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid.

Schuchart and the Shark Racing crew have been consistent all year long with an average finish of 7.21, and they’ve completed every lap of Feature competition through 19 events. None of Schuchart’s 41 career wins have come at Attica or Sharon, but like the story of his 2024 campaign, he’s been close. His last seven outings at Attica have led to top 10s including a trio of top fives. Four of his five Sharon finishes have been inside the top 10.

Kofoid rolls to Ohio on a streak of 14 straight top 10s including six podiums with Roth Motorsports. But none of those top three efforts placed the Penngrove, CA native atop the podium. Kofoid owns plenty of Attica laps courtesy of moving from California to Ohio when his Sprint Car career was blooming. He’s made 11 appearances on the Attica podium highlighted by a 2020 local win. The 22-year-old’s Sharon experience is much more limited, but he did pick up a top five in a 2022 ASCoC race.

The pair currently reside as neighbors in the points with Schuchart in fifth, 18 markers ahead of Kofoid.

BUCKEYE PROUD: With plenty of racing on a weekly basis, Ohio offers up many local talents that are expected to battle the World of Outlaws this weekend.

Bryce Lucius (Findlay, OH), Cap Henry (Bellevue, OH), and Craig Mintz (Gibsonburg, OH) are all Buckeyes who’ve already made visits to Attica Victory Lane in 2024. Greg Wilson is a 25-time Attica Feature winner (tied 16th-most) and is fresh off a runner-up finish at the 3/8-mile this past weekend. The Benton Ridge, OH driver picked up an Attica top five with the World of Outlaws back in 2005.

Sharon may share the state with Attica, but its location being about 150 miles east typically means the local contingent looks a little different. Dave Blaney owns the racetrack and often finds success when he brings his No. 10 out for battle. Last year, the 1995 Series champion collected a trio of Sharon checkered flags, and it’s also the site of his most recent World of Outlaws win came at Sharon in 2021 with a dramatic last lap pass. Dave’s brother – Dale Blaney – is also strong at the Ohio oval. He matched Dave’s 2023 Sharon win tally with three victories of his own.

Sharon also often invites a western Pennsylvania presence including the likes of A.J. Flick (Apollo, PA), George Hobaugh (Chicora, PA), Brandon Matus (Wampum, PA), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, May 17 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH
Saturday, May 18 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (19/78 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (2692 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-58 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-62 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-80 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-116 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-134 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-180 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-324 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-462 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-538 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

6 Wins – David Gravel
4 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon

FEATURE LAPS LED (14 Drivers):

160 Laps – David Gravel
107 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
26 Laps – Brady Bacon
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (10 Drivers):

4 Quick Times – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
2 Quick Times �� Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz

HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 Drivers):

12 Heat Wins – David Gravel
8 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo
6 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (35 Drivers):

16 Dashes – David Gravel
14 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo
12 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
11 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
8 Dashes – Donny Schatz
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Bill Balog
6 Dashes – Landon Crawley
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Danny Sams III, Cole Macedo, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (15 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (14 Drivers):

3 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart
2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
1 Hard Charger – Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich

PODIUM FINISHES (16 Drivers):

11 Podiums – David Gravel
7 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
6 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
5 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Bill Balog, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson

TOP 10 FINISHES (43 Drivers):

18 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
17 Top 10s – David Gravel
16 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Michael Kofoid
15 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
13 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
9 Top 10s – Bill Balog
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Cole Macedo
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, James McFadden
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Cale Thomas, Cole Duncan, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

Cannon McIntosh Finds Redemption at 81 Speedway for Second Win of 2024

PARK CITY, KS (May 11, 2024) – One year after losing out on victory at 81 Speedway, Cannon McIntosh has found redemption and his second win of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

McIntosh – 21, of Bixby, OK – led several laps of the Feature during the Series debut at the 3/8-mile oval in 2023 but ultimately came up one spot short, giving up the lead in the final laps. Fast forward a full calendar year to Saturday night, and the story ended far more different.

McIntosh spent most of the 25-lap main event chasing teammate Ryan Timms for the top spot, but later found himself holding the race lead on a restart with only six laps left when Timms’ left-rear tire blew out, bringing out the caution flag. McIntosh held strong on the restart, and once more through another restart in green-white-checkered fashion to get redemption and his seventh career Xtreme Outlaw Feature win.

“I was glad to be able to come back here and win after losing it late in the race last year,” McIntosh said. “I thought maybe it was gonna be a broken record again after having those yellows and the green-white-checkered. But I was able to get a good restart and get away.”

The win came as McIntosh’s first since the season-opening weekend inside the Southern Illinois Center in March and second since reuniting with Keith Kunz Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM). Kansas is now the fifth state in which he has won a Series Feature, joining his triumphs in Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina.

Reuniting with KKM – for the first time since 2021 – was a big change for McIntosh this year after spending the past three national Midget seasons driving for his father’s team at Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports. But the change has produced a positive net effect despite its differences – one that McIntosh has taken notice of.

“We’ve had really good cars every weekend, it’s just been a matter of me adapting and getting used to this thing,” McIntosh said. “It’s just a lot different than our family car. I had to drive it a lot differently.”

McIntosh started the program off strong, collecting the most passing points over all 21 cars after Qualifying and Heat Races. He took the green from outside Row 2, settled into the runner-up spot on Lap 1 and began his pursuit of Timms leading the field.

When the caution flag was displayed on Lap 9, McIntosh saw an opportunity to make a move on Timms for the lead on the ensuing restart and took it, throwing a slide job in Turn 3 and completing it out of Turn 4 to take the lead at the start/finish line.

“We were beating him into (Turn) 1 for sure with the slider, and then I think the frame rail bottomed-out there on the slide job and it just went into a continuous bounce,” McIntosh said. “It took a long time to recover, and by that time I was in third going down the backstretch.”

McIntosh went with high speeds into Turn 1 and began bouncing as he turned into the corner, upsetting the car and allowing Timms to sneak back by underneath.

From there, Timms began to expand his gap over McIntosh and the field, leading by as much as two seconds before disaster struck on Lap 20. His left-rear tire blew out in Turn 4 and left him to coast down the frontstretch as the caution flag flew, sending him to the work area and handing the lead back over McIntosh for the restart.

The green flag dropped and McIntosh took off, defending the lead there and once more on a green-white-checkered finish to seal the win.

“I knew I had to have been pretty good; I hadn’t seen anyone’s nose,” McIntosh said. “I just knew I needed to get a good restart and beat everybody into (Turn) 1. I knew if no one slid me in 1 and 2 and I could beat everyone into 1, I’d be fine.

“Once I cleared 2 and I didn’t see anybody, I knew we were good.”

Crossing the stripe second was the driver who bested McIntosh at 81 last year – Chase McDermand. This time, the scripts were flipped, and McDermand was forced to come from ninth on the starting grid.

While he was able to secure the runner-up spot in the end, winning a slide job battle with Kale Drake in the final laps, McDermand said starting more forward on the grid would have been the biggest help in getting his first win of the season.

“Just struggled for points and then had to start from the back, so that really handicapped us,” McDermand, 23, of Springfield, IL, said. “The car was really good, we had a lot of speed, just took too long to get through the field.”

Under the race’s final caution period with two laps remaining, McDermand devised his plan of attack (and defense) but was unable to get close enough to McIntosh to make a move for the win.

“I was just trying to play defense as much as offense there on that green-white-checkered,” McDermand said. “I knew if I didn’t get a good start, Kale slides me and then Cannon is gone and our chance at winning is gone too.”

Oklahoma racer Kale Drake crossed the stripe in third after spending the entire race inside the top five while Gavin Miller and Jade Avedisian rounded-out the top five, giving KKM four of the top five finishers.

Kyle Jones set the night’s quickest lap time in Qualifying, picking up the Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award and setting a new track record with a time of 16.625.

Toyota Heat 1 was won by Jade Avedisian. TJ Forged Heat 2 was won by Kale Drake. Heat Race 3 was won by Cannon McIntosh.

Hayden Reinbold was awarded with DIRTVision Hard Charger honors on his run from 21st all the way to seventh.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota takes next weekend off before returning to competition Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22 at Millbridge Speedway.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 2. 40-Chase McDermand[9]; 3. 97K-Kale Drake[2]; 4. 97-Gavin Miller[6]; 5. 71-Jade Avedisian[3]; 6. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[10]; 7. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[21]; 8. 60X-Kyle Jones[5]; 9. 67-Ryan Timms[1]; 10. 21K-Karter Sarff[8]; 11. 56-Tyler Edwards[14]; 12. 98K-Elijah Gile[16]; 13. 5U-Peter Smith[18]; 14. 7-Shannon McQueen[11]; 15. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 16. 55-Trevor Cline[13]; 17. 98-Luke Drotschie[17]; 18. 14S-TJ Smith[12]; 19. (DNS) 1K-Brayton Lynch; 20. (DNS) 84S-Shaun Shapel; 21. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay

Ashton Torgerson Gets Redemption at Humboldt with Second-Straight Xtreme Outlaw Win

HUMBOLDT, KS (May 10, 2024) – Humboldt Speedway holds a special place in the heart of Ashton Torgerson.

It’s where he made his national Midget series debut with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota one year ago and nearly went to Victory Lane, leading the first 21 laps of the main event before getting passed for the lead late and coming home third.

Fast forward to Friday night, and he’s standing in Victory Lane, singing a song of redemption as he hoisted his second trophy of the season with the Xtreme Outlaw Series.

“All day, it was in the back of my mind – last year I was here leading laps and lost it [late in the race],” Torgerson said. “Tonight, we had a little bit of red [flags] later on in the race, and then we had the late caution. Both of those were kinda frustrating, but I felt so good that I knew I’d be good if I just hit my marks.”

The 17-year-old from Glendale, AZ, becomes the first repeat winner of the 2024 Xtreme season, ending the streak of different winners at six in the first six races. The $4,000 triumph also goes down as his second in-a-row after a win in the Series’ most recent event at Farmer City Raceway in April.

Torgerson wheeled a Tanner Thorson Racing entry to the third-place run he had in his Series debut at the banked, 1/4-mile oval last year. He’s since joined forces with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) for his rookie national Midget campaign and given team owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby their fifth win in the first seven Xtreme races of 2024.

“Coming back here, I was kinda hungry for the win after last year,” Torgerson said. “All night, we’ve been pretty good, and I can’t thank the crew enough for what they’ve done and what they do consistently.”

Torgerson took the green in the main event from third on the starting grid, trailing KKM teammates Ryan Timms and Kale Drake as they completed the opening laps. Drake soon made a move on Timms for the lead out of Turn 4 on Lap 8 and held it through the race’s first red flag period on Lap 13.

Torgerson lined up second after getting by Timms for the position on Lap 11, and prepared for a critical restart.

“I thought [Drake] would go to the bottom there and I thought I’d have to figure out another way to get by him,” Torgerson said. “And then on the restart, he went to the top and I was able to roll right by him.”

When Drake washed up the track in Turns 1-2, Torgerson was there to capitalize, hugging the bottom lane and zooming past Drake at the exit of Turn 2 to take the lead.

From there, it was all Torgerson out front. He defended the lead after multiple restarts, a red flag period and even a green-white-checkered finish with several of his KKM teammates right behind him.

“I just knew I had to hit my marks,” Torgerson said. “If I miss the bottom, I probably would have got passed, so I just knew I had to hit the bottom and be calm and hit my lines. That’s what I did.”

In the end, Drake’s podium run was cut short, as he spun and stalled in Turn 2 on the final lap, taking him out of contention. However, Gavin Miller was right on the doorstep and moved into the second spot for the restart, which he defended to bag the $2,000 runner-up prize.

“Didn’t quite have enough on the last restart; got a little tight,” Miller said. “I think we were a little bit more free off exit; probably could’ve got under him and had the run to get to him.”

Miller did try a bit of a dive going into Turn 1 on the final restart in an attempt to get by Torgerson, but it was unsuccessful.

“Going into the corner, I didn’t drive it in hard enough on the bottom,” Miller said. “[Torgerson] drove it in too hard, so we kinda both made opposite mistakes.”

Xtreme Outlaw Series points leader Cannon McIntosh crossed the stripe in third and retained his points lead, now expanded 10 points up to 37 over Timms. Chase McDermand finished fourth and Zach Daum rounded out the top five.

The Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award went to Ryan Timms for a fast lap in Qualifying at 14.036.

Toyota Racing Heat 1 was won by Gavin Miller. TJ Forged Heat 2 went to Kale Drake.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets are back in action on Saturday, May 11 at 81 Speedway in Park City, KS. Tickets will be available at the gate. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[3]; 2. 97-Gavin Miller[4]; 3. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[5]; 4. 40-Chase McDermand[11]; 5. 7U-Zach Daum[16]; 6. 67-Ryan Timms[1]; 7. 21K-Karter Sarff[12]; 8. 14S-TJ Smith[9]; 9. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[10]; 10. 71-Jade Avedisian[8]; 11. 56-Tyler Edwards[6]; 12. 60X-Kyle Jones[7]; 13. 98K-Elijah Gile[15]; 14. 5U-Peter Smith[14]; 15. 1K-Brayton Lynch[17]; 16. 7-Shannon McQueen[21]; 17. 55-Trevor Cline[13]; 18. 66-Jayden Clay[19]; 19. 97K-Kale Drake[2]; 20. 98-Luke Drotschie[18]; 21. 43-Gunnar Setser[20]

100: David Gravel’s Lincoln Victory Lifts Big Game Motorsports to Historic Milestone

Gravel rolls to third win in four races to make Tod Quiring the sixth car owner with 100 World of Outlaws wins

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 8, 2024) - Sprint Car Racing history was made Wednesday night at Lincoln Speedway.

All the hype heading into Lincoln Speedway’s Federated Auto Parts Gettysburg Clash was the renewal of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car and Pennsylvania Posse rivalry. And while the atmosphere was alive and well in the Pigeon Hills, the evening evolved into a historic occasion not for the rivalry, but for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports had been on a tear entering Pennsylvania. Their previous 11 races consisted of four wins and eight top two finishes. And each victory pushed Tod Quiring’s team closer and closer to 100 career World of Outlaws triumphs. Last Saturday Gravel put them at 99 with a trip to Victory Lane, meaning Lincoln would be the first opportunity at triple digits.

And Gravel delivered.

The Watertown, CT native started on the pole and drove a masterful 35 laps around the Abbottstown, PA oval to make Big Game Motorsports only the sixth team with 100 wins. Gravel fended off challenges from both Carson Macedo and Giovanni Scelzi to get the job done in Posse territory.

“We got Tod’s 100th win,” Gravel said. “Congrats to Tod Quiring. He’s put so much into this sport, and for him to get 100 is really, really cool. Our joke was once he gets his 100, hopefully I can get mine. We’re still a few away from that, but we’re going to keep working hard and doing our jobs. This Huset’s #2 has been really, really fun to drive lately and really all year. Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) have been doing a really good job.”

As Gravel noted, he’s still a handful of checkered flags away from personally hitting 100 wins as Wednesday marked his 94th, moving him within one of equaling Dave Blaney for eighth all-time. With his 100th win, Quiring joined fellow car owners Karl Kinser, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Steve Kinser, and Dennis Roth in the exclusive triple digit category. Six different drivers helped him get there – Gravel (36 wins), Craig Dollansky (28 wins), Sammy Swindell (26 wins), Kerry Madsen (six wins), Terry McCarl (three wins), and Danny Lasoski (one win). Gravel now owns a pair of Lincoln victories with his first coming in 2017.

A last lap pass for the win in the Toyota Racing Dash slotted Gravel on the pole of the 35-lap Feature. The green flag waved, and Gravel pulled ahead of Carson Macedo.

Throughout the early circuits Macedo looked as if he may pose a strong threat to Gravel. The Jason Johnson Racing #41 stayed glued to the tail tank of the #2 as they both ripped around the top of the 3/8-mile.

Traffic became a factor in the early going, but Macedo still wasn’t able to muster a run as they navigated the earliest batch of lapped cars. With 21 laps remaining, Macedo put together some momentum down the front straightaway and took a look to Gravel’s inside in Turns 1 and 2. But he wasn’t able to complete a pass, and Gravel powered away down the back straightaway.

Gravel pulled away over the next several laps until a yellow flag with 12 laps remaining. That yellow along with a couple red flags put the pressure on Gravel multiple times as the laps faded. But Gravel never flinched.

He nailed every restart as battles broke out behind him. Giovanni Scelzi challenged Macedo for the runner-up spot and secured it with 10 to go. Then it was Anthony Macri attempting to climb onto the podium by following Scelzi around Macedo. The two traded sliders, but Macedo managed to hold on.

Up ahead, Gravel drove away smoothly for his sixth win of the World of Outlaws season and the 100th of Tod Quiring’s career as an owner.

“It got really slick there at the end off of (Turn) 4,” Gravel explained. “And I didn’t know if I needed to move or not, but I got down the backstretch good. I could run her in pretty hard and then just maintain on exit. If I was in second or third, I would’ve definitely been searching around. I think the bottom came in late there.”

Giovanni Scelzi came home second for his fifth podium of the season in the KCP Racing #18 and third top five in a row. The sophomore World of Outlaws campaign continues to be a strong one for Scelzi as he’s third in points.

“There’s no excuses from me tonight. We just flat out got beat tonight,” Scelzi said. “My car was unbelievable tonight. Adam Clark (crew chief) went from delivering beer to crew chief on a Sprint Car. He’s done an incredible job.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Carson Macedo. The Lemoore, CA driver is on a roll of nine consecutive top five finishes. Macedo had plenty of speed early in the 35-lapper behind the wheel of the Jason Johnson Racing #41 but couldn’t find the speed to challenge Gravel.

“I feel like I was pretty good early in the Feature,” Macedo said. “I feel like we had a lot of speed. I feel like Philip (Dietz), Robby (McQuinn), and Adam (Zimmerman) did a great job. I feel like I was kind of just racing my race just waiting to make a move, and it never kind of played out. I feel like he did a good job in traffic.”

Anthony Macri and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

A 24th to ninth drive earned Danny Dietrich the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Donny Schatz grabbed his first Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 111th of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Donny Schatz, Anthony Macri, and Carson Macedo. Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to David Gravel.

David Gravel topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brandon Rahmer won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Bill Balog was awarded the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars go head-to-head with the PA Posse two more nights (May 10-11) at Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway in the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup presented by Daikin. The winner of the finale is taking home $15,000. 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. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 8. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[10]; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich[24]; 10. 2D-Chase Dietz[8]; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 12. 5-Tyler Ross[16]; 13. X-Matt Campbell[15]; 14. 23-Devon Borden[22]; 15. 75-Cameron Smith[23]; 16. 17N-Dylan Norris[18]; 17. 1X-Chad Trout[20]; 18. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[11]; 19. 8-Freddie Rahmer[17]; 20. 95-Kody Hartlaub[5]; 21. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 22. 99M-Kyle Moody[13]; 23. 8D-Billy Dietrich[19]; 24. 88-Brandon Rahmer[21]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: A Trio of Battles Reignite World of Outlaws, PA Posse Rivalry

A midweek visit to Lincoln kicks off the Pennsylvania trip before Williams Grove takes center stage on the weekend

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 7, 2024) - The time has come for the Pennsylvania Posse to make room on the porch. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready to invade.

Sprint Car Racing’s fiercest rivalry is rekindled this week with three matchups in the “Keystone State.” First up is a Wednesday, May 8, visit to Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Gettysburg Clash. The midweek action will be the Series’ lone trip to the 3/8-mile in 2024 and the 53rd in history.

Then, the weekend brings the tour to Mechanicsburg, PA where Williams Grove Speedway awaits to host the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup presented by Daikin on May 10-11. The finale on Saturday puts $15,000 and possession of the coveted Morgan Cup on the line.

BUY LINCOLN TICKETS HERE
BUY FRIDAY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the week’s top storylines:

LACKING LINCOLN LUCK: Lincoln Speedway hasn’t been particularly kind to the current crop of World of Outlaws. Only three of this year’s full-timers have been to Lincoln Victory Lane in Series competition, and none of them have done so multiple times.

Donny Schatz managed to grab one Lincoln win, leading flag to flag in the 2016 visit. The Fargo, ND driver owns eight top 10s in 15 tries at the 3/8-mile.

The following season, David Gravel topped the 2017 visit. While Gravel doesn’t own multiple Lincoln wins, he’s been consistent with eight consecutive Series top 10s there.

The last full-timer with a Lincoln victory is Sheldon Haudenschild. The Wooster, OH native came out on top in 2020.

GROOVIN’ AT THE GROVE: Contrary to the lack of success at Lincoln, there are two full-time World of Outlaws drivers in 2024 that have experienced their highest rate of winning at Williams Grove, and it happens to be the duo atop the standings.

David Gravel is the current point leader, and the Big Game Motorsports driver has notched eight of his 93 career wins at the Mechanicsburg oval. The most recent of those came in October of 2020. The Watertown, CT native needs only one more win to push car owner Tod Quiring to 100 World of Outlaws victories.

Donny Schatz is currently second in the standings, and his Williams Grove résumé is mind blowing. The 10-time champion owns 21 Series triumphs at the historic half mile, which ranks second behind Steve Kinser’s 38 for the most all-time. Like Gravel, Schatz is seeking his first Williams Grove checkered flag since October of 2020 in the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15.

POSSE TURNED OUTLAWS: With its tendency to groom some of the country’s best regional talent, Pennsylvania consistently sees competitors test their skills nationally by joining the World of Outlaws tour. And trips to PA offer the opportunity for those drivers to come back home. A pair of 2024 full-timers are former Posse turned Outlaws.

Logan Schuchart is an established veteran on tour, currently navigating his 11th season. But before he joined The Greatest Show on Dirt, Schuchart cut his teeth in Pennsylvania. The Hanover, PA native is yet to top Lincoln with the World of Outlaws, but he did claim a pair of local wins in 2013 in Abbottstown. Last year, Schuchart snagged his first Williams Grove win using a last lap pass and photo finish to give the World of Outlaws possession of the Morgan Cup.

Brock Zearfoss is in his fourth season after graduating from the PA ranks. Williams Grove is home to the “Jonestown Jet’s” first career World of Outlaws win. Back in 2017, he drove Aaron Long’s #58 to Victory Lane at the Mechanicsburg facility. Zearfoss also owns a trio of local Williams Grove checkered flags.

CA CONQUERS PA: California may be thousands of miles from Pennsylvania, but two of the three Golden State gassers on tour have conquered Williams Grove.

Carson Macedo picked up a pair of Williams Grove World of Outlaws wins in 2021 with Jason Johnson Racing. One of those included a $75,000 payday in the prestigious National Open. The Lemoore, CA driver finished runner-up in the most recent visit to “The Grove.” Macedo enters the week on a roll of eight consecutive top five finishes.

Giovanni Scelzi’s victory at Williams Grove marked a special moment for the Fresno native. Back in 2018, making only his second ever appearance at the half mile, Scelzi became the youngest winner in World of Outlaws history at 16 years old – a record that still stands. He and KCP Racing currently sit third in the standings heading to PA.

PENNSYLVANIA POWER: As always Pennsylvania sends their top talent into battle with hopes of stealing glory from the World of Outlaws and earning some bragging rights.

Anthony Macri undoubtedly headlines the Posse representatives entering the week. The Dillsburg, PA gasser owns seven victories in 25 races this year including two apiece at Lincoln and Williams Grove. One of the Williams Grove wins required an incredible drive from 17th. Last year, Macri stole the Gettysburg Clash with a last lap, last corner pass for his third career World of Outlaws win.

It's impossible to discuss Posse favorites without mentioning Lance Dewease. The Fayetteville, PA legend owns 20 World of Outlaws wins, and 17 of them have come courtesy of Williams Grove. One of the others came at Lincoln in 2019. Dewease is fresh off driving the Shearer #12 to Williams Grove Victory Lane this past Friday.

Danny Dietrich already owns six podium runs in 2024 between Lincoln and Williams Grove including a Lincoln win on March 16. The Gettysburg, PA native owns two World of Outlaws victories apiece at the two tracks ahead this week.

Salfordville, PA’s Freddie Rahmer is always dangerous at Lincoln, where he scored a whopping 14 wins last season. Rahmer’s lone World of Outlaws triumph occurred at Lincoln in 2018. He’s bagged one Williams Grove local win so far in 2024.

Troy Wagaman Jr. has come out of the gates hot in 2024 aboard the Heffner Racing #27. He’s already won at both Lincoln and Williams Grove and has seven top fives in 13 races. The Hanover, PA native looks to translate that success to strong runs with the World of Outlaws this week.

More Pennsylvanians expected to compete this week include Chad Trout (Dover, PA), Chase Dietz (York, PA), Lucas Wolfe (Mechanicsburg, PA), T.J. Stutts (Liverpool, PA), Dylan Norris (Hanover, PA), Kyle Moody (Lewisberry, PA), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday, May 8 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA
Friday-Saturday, May 10-11 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (18/80 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (2542 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-48 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-58 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-74 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-94 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-120 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-168 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-282 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-402 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-478 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

5 Wins – David Gravel
4 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon

FEATURE LAPS LED (14 Drivers):

125 Laps – David Gravel
107 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
47 Laps – Donny Schatz
29 Laps – Kyle Larson
26 Laps – Brady Bacon
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (9 Drivers):

4 Quick Times – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon

HEAT RACE WINNERS (22 Drivers):

11 Heat Wins – David Gravel
8 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi
7 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
6 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley, Donny Schatz
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (33 Drivers):

15 Dashes – David Gravel
13 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo
11 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz
6 Dashes – Landon Crawley
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Danny Sams III, Cole Macedo, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (14 Drivers):

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (13 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (16 Drivers):

10 Podiums – David Gravel
7 Podiums – Donny Schatz
6 Podiums – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
5 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Bill Balog, Brady Bacon, Kyle Larson

TOP 10 FINISHES (40 Drivers):

17 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
16 Top 10s – David Gravel
15 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart, Michael Kofoid
14 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
12 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
9 Top 10s – Bill Balog
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss
4 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Cole Macedo
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, James McFadden
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan, Cale Thomas, Cole Duncan, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: River Cities, Ogilvie Setup June Doubleheader Weekend For World of Outlaws

GRAND FORKS, ND (May 7, 2024) – For the first time in 2024, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will venture north for a North Dakota and Minnesota weekend in June.

First, “The Greatest Show on Dirt” will make its 32nd visit to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND on Friday, June 7. The 1/4-mile bullring has become a fan, and driver favorite, consistently producing wheel-to-wheel, edge-of-your-seat, action – demonstrated by Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild battling for the win in the final laps last August.

The event will also be the first homecoming of the year for 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, of Fargo, ND. He has 12 World of Outlaws victories at the track, however, the last came in 2019.

On Saturday, June 8, the World of Outlaws will make its second trip to Ogilvie Speedway in Ogilvie, MN for the Big ‘O’ Showdown. Last year, Carson Macedo dominated the Series’ debut at the 3/8-mile track. He set the track record and then led from start to finish in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.

Both races will have a $12,000 payday on the line this year, as well.

EVENT INFO FOR RIVER CITIES
Date – Friday, June 7
Location – Grand Forks, ND
Track Record – 9.269 sec. by Jason Meyers on Aug. 21, 2009

Times (CT) –
2 p.m. Pit Gates Open
4 p.m. Grandstands Open
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – CLICK HERE to get them in advance.
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (Aug. 25, 2023) – CLICK HERE

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at River Cities –
2023 – David Gravel on June 2, Logan Schuchart on Aug. 25
2022 – Carson Macedo on June 3, Brad Sweet on Aug. 26
2021 – Brad Sweet on Aug. 25
2020 –Kyle Larson on Aug. 21
2019 – Logan Schuchart on June 7, Donny Schatz on Aug. 16
2018 – Donny Schatz on June 15, Donny Schatz on Aug. 17
2017 – David Gravel on June 16, Donny Schatz on Aug. 18
2016 – Donny Schatz on June 17, Donny Schatz on Aug. 26
2015 – Donny Schatz on June 19, Donny Schatz on Aug. 21
2014 – Donny Schatz on June 20, Daryn Pittman on Aug. 15
2013 – Cody Darrah on June 21, Donny Schatz on Aug. 16
2012 – Kraig Kinser on June 15, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 17
2011 – Craig Dollansky on June 17, Craig Dollansky on June 18, Steve Kinser on Aug. 19
2010 – Steve Kinser on June 19, Joey Saldana on June 20
2009 – Donny Schatz on June 19, Craig Dollansky on Aug. 21
2008 – Donny Schatz on June 27
2007 – Joey Saldana on June 29

EVENT INFO FOR OGILVIE
Date – Saturday, June 8
Location – Ogilvie, MN
Track Record – 11.743 sec. by Carson Macedo on June 3, 2023

Times (CT) –
2 p.m. Pit Gates Open
4 p.m. Grandstands Open
6:30 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – CLICK HERE to get them in advance.
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 3, 2023) – CLICK HERE

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at River Cities –
2023 – Carson Macedo on June 3

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Ready for Duel in Kansas at Humboldt, 81

HUMBOLDT, KS (May 7, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to competition this weekend with a doubleheader in Kansas, Friday and Saturday night.

A visit to the banked 1/4-mile oval of Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, KS will kick things off on Friday, May 10, featuring a $4,000-to-win main event. Pit gates are set to open at 4 p.m. CT and grandstand gates at 6 p.m. Hot Laps and Qualifying will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 11, brings the Series back to the fast, 3/8-mile oval of 81 Speedway in Park City, KS for the second-straight year with a $4,000 grand prize on the line. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. CT and grandstand gates at 5 p.m. Hot Laps and Qualifying will follow at 6:15 p.m.

As an added bonus, all regular competitors of the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association (RMMRA) are invited to compete in both Xtreme Outlaw Series events over the weekend. These races will present a $200 bonus check to the highest-finishing RMMRA racer and a $100 check to the second-highest RMMRA finisher on both nights.

Tickets for both events will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and the storylines to follow this weekend:

GRAB A BROOM – No driver on the Xtreme Outlaw Series roster is more ready for a weekend of Midget racing in Kansas than Chase McDermand.

Currently, McDermand, the 23-year-old racer from Springfield, IL, sits third in the standings – 56 points out of the lead – and is the only driver inside the top five in points without a Feature win on tour thus far. However, he won both Series races at Humboldt and 81 last year, beating points leader Cannon McIntosh on back-to-back nights for a sweep of the weekend in Kansas.

Though it’s been a full year since those triumphs, McDermand has been rolling as of late, posting top-five finishes in each of the last four races, including a podium at Farmer City. He’s been open about his fondness for the larger, faster tracks in the past, and will be a contender for his first win of the season at both venues this weekend.

RELATED: Kansas Sweep Helped Establish Chase McDermand as National Midget Series Contender

BRIDESMAID – After finishing second to McDermand at both races in Kansas last year, Cannon McIntosh is ready for another shot at Humboldt and 81.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, came from ninth on the starting grid at Humboldt in 2023 and challenged McDermand for the lead late in the race, but came up one spot short. The next night at 81, he took the lead on Lap 11 and led through Lap 18 but was unable to fend off the challenge from McDermand, who took the lead on Lap 19 and brought the field back around to the checkered to bag his second-straight win over McIntosh.

McIntosh currently leads Series points by 27 over Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) teammate Ryan Timms and will be trying for his second win of the season after winning the second race of the season-opening weekend in March.

READY TO POUNCE – Sitting only 27 points behind leader Cannon McIntosh in the standings, Ryan Timms enters the weekend looking to make a move for the points lead as he returns to a track he’s already won at.

Timms, the 17-year-old open-wheel star from Oklahoma City, OK, has yet to compete in a Midget at Humboldt but has had laps around 81 in the past, scoring a win with the American Sprint Car Series at the 3/8-mile oval in 2021.

That experience will play into his favor as he seeks his second win of the season this weekend – four weeks after breaking through to Victory Lane at Farmer City Raceway.

PATCHED UP – Jade Avedisian returns to the seat of the KKM No. 71 this week, now fully recovered from a concussion suffered in a hard crash during a Heat Race at Farmer City Raceway nearly four weeks ago.

Avedisian, the reigning Series champion from Clovis, CA, represented at both Kansas venues last year, running sixth at Humboldt after starting third and led the first 10 laps of the main event at 81 before dropping back to finish fourth.

She’s also coming off another weekend in action with the Toyota GR Cup Series at Sebring International Raceway in Florida, racing twice and posting a best finish of 14th in a field of 29 cars.

BEEN HERE BEFORE – One year ago, Ashton Torgerson made his Xtreme Outlaw Series debut with Tanner Thorson Racing at Humboldt and shined, scoring his first career podium finish with a national Midget series.

Torgerson, of Glendale, AZ, led the opening 21 laps at the 1/4-mile oval before eventual winner McDermand swiped the lead away from him late in the race to secure the win. He fell back to an 11th-place run the next night at 81 but still turned heads in his national Midget debut.

Fast forward to 2024 and the 17-year-old racer is driving as part of the KKM squad and already has two national Midget series Feature wins thus far, scoring one win with POWRi in March and his first with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in the most recent Series event at Farmer City Raceway in April.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday, May 10 at Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, KS
Saturday, May 11 at 81 Speedway in Park City, KS

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 1298 points | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Ryan Timms: 1271 points (-27) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67
Chase McDermand: 1242 points (-56) | CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40
Ashton Torgerson: 1165 points (-133) | Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K
Karter Sarff: 1142 points (-156) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K
Zach Daum: 1055 points (-243) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Hayden Reinbold: 1022 points (-276) | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ
TJ Smith: 949 points (-349) | Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S
Trevor Cline: 922 points (-376) | Cline Racing #55
Peter Smith: 899 points (-399) | Trifecta Motorsports #5U

Toyota Feature winners (6 drivers)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing), Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports), Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97), Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67), Ashton Torgerson (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67K)

Toyota Feature laps led (10 drivers)
36 laps – Cannon McIntosh
35 laps – Joe B. Miller
29 laps – Ashton Torgerson

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull
16 laps – Ryan Timms

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Karter Sarff
10 laps – Kale Drake

4 laps – Tyler Edwards
1 lap – Chase McDermand

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (3 drivers)
4 awards – Ethan Mitchell
1 award – Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake

Heat Race winners (16 drivers)
3 wins – Ashton Torgerson
2 wins – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Ryan Timms, Zach Daum, Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake

1 win – Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, Gavin Miller, TJ Smith, Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Karter Sarff, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer

High-points honors (6 drivers)
1 honor – Cannon McIntosh, Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff, Ryan Timms, Ashton Torgerson

Last Chance Showdown wins (6 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell

DIRTVision Hard Charger Awards (6 drivers)
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Ryan Timms, Hayden Reinbold, Kayla Roell, Gunnar Setser

Podium finishes (9 drivers)
4 podiums – Ryan Timms
3 podiums – Cannon McIntosh
2 podiums – Zach Daum, Chase McDermand, Ashton Torgerson
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Taylor Reimer, Karter Sarff

Top-10 finishes (25 drivers)
6 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh, Chase McDermand
5 top-10s – Ryan Timms
4 top-10s – Zach Daum, Ashton Torgerson
3 top-10s – Karter Sarff, Ethan Mitchell, Taylor Reimer, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Mitchell Davis
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Gunnar Setser, Tyler Edwards
1 top-10 – Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Jade Avedisian, Will Armitage, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Hayden Reinbold, TJ Smith, Todd McVay, Kyle Jones, Kevin Thomas Jr.

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake
5. Fri, April 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ryan Timms
6. Sat, April 13 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ashton Torgerson

BIG E BARNBURNER: David Gravel Bests Donny Schatz in Last Lap Eldora Thriller

The point leader moves Big Game Motorsports to 99 World of Outlaws wins with wild Eldora victory

ROSSBURG, OH (May 4, 2024) - Eldora Speedway showed exactly why it’s known as “The World’s Greatest Dirt Track” on Saturday night.

The #LetsRaceTwo finale for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars gave fans a main event they couldn’t look away from. It was everything you could ask for. A 10-time champion battling a driver eying his first. A tricky racing surface with multiple grooves. Several late passes for the lead including one last move to secure the victory on the last lap.

The combatants came in the form of David Gravel and Donny Schatz, and they threw everything they had at each other. Hammering the top. Tiptoeing the bottom. Rolling the middle. Slide jobs. Nothing was left on the table. In the end, Gravel grabbed the checkered flag by powering ahead of Schatz down the back straightaway on the 30th and final lap and holding him off to the finish line. Gravel put the punctuation mark on a clean sweep at “The Big E” as he also set Simpson Quick Time and won both his NOS Energy Drink Heat Race and the Toyota Racing Dash.

“With the lower air pressure and lower tire temps we were really, really good,” Gravel said. “I got my wing so far back I couldn’t steer it, and on the restarts I would move it forward. But then as the run went on I got really loose. Once I got to that lapped traffic, my car kind of stalled out. That’s why I grabbed the wing, but then it made it where I couldn’t move around. I just had to hold the car straight. I couldn’t maneuver. Donny was definitely more maneuverable, but I think in open air we were probably a little bit faster.

“It’s really hard to beat Donny Schatz in the slick like that. He was running really hard in (Turns) 1 and 2 and running the cushion and just hang a little bit off of (Turn) 2. And luckily, we were able to get just better runs down the backstretch each time and get position on him. It feels really good to get another win. Starting on the front row two nights in a row and getting no wins would’ve been very disappointing. Really happy to get this one.”

Gravel grabbed sole possession of the most World of Outlaws wins in 2024 with his fifth. He also moved Big Game Motorsports one step away from a major milestone. Tod Quiring’s team is at 99 victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. A 100th would make him only the sixth car owner to reach the impressive feat. Five of Gravel’s 93 career triumphs have come at Eldora, putting it in a tie for the third winningest track on his résumé.

The 30-lap Feature was brought to green by Gravel with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid alongside. Kofoid looked under Gravel on the opening circuit but couldn’t find enough speed to make a run at the lead, and Gravel began to pad his early advantage.

It didn’t take long for Gravel to near traffic as third-running Donny Schatz began to close on Kofoid for second. On the eighth circuit, Schatz tried a slider in Turns 1 and 2 and couldn’t clear Kofoid. But in the next set of corners, the 10-time champion rolled the low line to snatch the runner-up spot from the Roth Motorsports #83.

Schatz wasted no time closing on Gravel. He was a second behind the lap he passed Kofoid, and one rotation later it was slashed to six tenths of a second. Then on the 14th lap Schatz found the run he needed and used the low side of Turns 3 and 4 to slip ahead of Gravel and lead the lap.

A slowing Kalib Henry set up a restart on the 17th lap and opened the door again for Gravel. The Huset’s Speedway #2 got a huge run down the back straightaway and slid ahead of Schatz in the third turn to regain the lead.

Over the next several circuits Gravel pulled away and looked as if he was heading to a comfortable win at Eldora. The gap grew to nearly two seconds on Lap 19, but with less than 10 laps to go the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 came to life as traffic became more and more of a factor.

By Lap 25 the lead was back under a second and shrinking with every corner. A few laps later the war began. Schatz dipped beneath Gravel in Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 28 and narrowly grabbed the spot on the front straightaway. Gravel returned fire with a slider in Turns 1 and 2 that Schatz countered with a crossover and took the lead back. In Turns 3 and 4 Gravel went low as Schatz opted for the middle, and just as the white flag was within sight the red lights flashed for a flipping Bryce Lucius.

Schatz held the lead for the restart, and the battle immediately resumed when the green lights returned. Gravel got a head of steam exiting the second corner and slid ahead of Schatz in Turns 3 and 4. Schatz turned under him to drive back ahead and lead at the white flag. Like the lap before, Gravel got a run out of Turn 2 and dove under Schatz in the final set of corners. But this time he stuck to the bottom and didn’t leave Schatz the lane to crossover. It proved to be the winning move as he came out on top.

“I just tried to go a car width lower or higher than him (Schatz) on the start and was able to get alongside him,” Gravel said. “And then when I slid across, I slid way too hard across all the way to the fence. I should’ve backpedaled, kept the tires underneath me, and put myself in better shape in (Turns) 1 and 2. But luckily, we were able to get a good run. Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) have been working really hard.”

Schatz brought home the runner-up spot after the hard-fought battle aboard the Carquest #15. The Fargo, ND native notched back-to-back podium finishes during the #LetsRaceTwo weekend and is up to seven top threes in 2024. Schatz felt he might’ve been standing in Victory Lane if it wasn’t for the red flag coming to the last lap.

“He ran away on that one restart,” Schatz said. “He drove by us and ran away. And then we caught back up and got back by. So, I guess if we wouldn’t have had the red, it may have been a different story.”

Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing #41 home third to complete the top three. The Californian has now bagged six podiums this season. He fought within the top five throughout the entire race and climbed his way onto the podium with a strong run late in the going.

“I think I just had a really good final restart there,” Macedo explained. “Everybody kind of went to the top, and I sort of filled through the middle and felt really good. It’s a testament to Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman. They gave me a great car there. I thought there were points in the race where I had a really, really good car and then faded a little, and then I got good there at the end. I feel like we gain some momentum with that kind of a race car.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 21st to ninth drive earned Sheldon Haudenschild the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel claimed his fourth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 114th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to David Gravel (252nd Heat Race win of career), Giovanni Scelzi (46th of career), and Emerson Axsom (first of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Buddy Kofoid (21stof career).

Gravel also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Sheldon Haudenschild won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Bryce Lucius was awarded the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Pennsylvania for the first three battles with the PA Posse. First up is Lincoln Speedway’s (Abbottstown, PA) Federated Auto Parts Gettysburg Clash on Wednesday, May 8. Then the weekend takes the tour to Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway for the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup on May 10-11. 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. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[7]; 8. 99-Skylar Gee[3]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[21]; 10. 22-Cole Duncan[13]; 11. 27-Emerson Axsom[8]; 12. 23J-Cale Thomas[9]; 13. 21H-Brady Bacon[23]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[15]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog[17]; 16. 1-Nate Dussel[24]; 17. 42-Sye Lynch[20]; 18. 101-Kalib Henry[16]; 19. 23-Garet Williamson[22]; 20. 24D-Danny Sams III[19]; 21. 55T-McKenna Haase[18]; 22. 32-Bryce Lucius[10]; 23. 24-Logan Seavey[14]; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer[12]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

RIGHT AT HOME: Sheldon Haudenschild Rips the Eldora Cushion to Victory on Home Turf

The Wooster, OH native eclipses his 2023 win total with fourth victory of 2024

ROSSBURG, OH (May 3, 2024) - Sheldon Haudenschild was right at home in more ways than one on Friday night at Eldora Speedway.

First, he was literally on home turf as the Rossburg, OH oval is only a few hours from his hometown of Wooster, OH. Second, he used the part of the racetrack where he feels right at home to drive to Victory Lane.

Haudenschild started on the pole and drove a masterful 30 laps inches from the intimidating fence at the fast half mile. The 30-year-old sliced his way through traffic and held off multiple challenges from Donny Schatz and Giovanni Scelzi to claim the checkered flag. A proud crowd enthusiastically welcomed one of their own to Victory Lane as Haudenschild climbed atop the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 and took a celebratory swig of NOS Energy Drink.

Back in 2021 Haudenschild picked up his first Eldora win during #LetsRaceTwo, but he felt that Friday’s triumph validated the prior victory.

“I don’t really ever count first wins,” Haudenschild said. “I feel like they don’t mean much until you back them up. I’ve been really good here in the past. The Kings Royal I ran behind (Kyle) Larson. Even last year I was pretty good here but just haven’t finished the job off. I feel like we just struggled to make a full Feature really smooth, and we did it tonight. I feel like that was a perfect race. A perfect race car. (Kyle) Ripper busts his ass all the time. We were up until two in the morning last night fixing stuff like old times and running on very little sleep. It feels good. Luke (Vaughn), Kinzer (Dussel), everybody has been putting in the work. Can’t ask for much more.”

The fourth win of the season for Haudenschild already elevated his total beyond the three reached in 2023. He’s up to 38 for his career, and Eldora is the eighth track where he’s won multiple times with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It also marked Haudenschild’s fourth victory in his home state of Ohio.

The path to victory required an incredible early effort from Haudenschild before the Feature even started. His Qualifying effort left him starting fifth in a stacked Heat Race. The two rows ahead of him consisted of nothing but star power – Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid.”

But Haudenschild did what Haudenschild does. He put on a show with a great start to get to third by Lap 3. And then he snatched the final transfer to the Toyota Racing Dash from Scelzi on the final lap of the Heat.

In the Dash, Haudenschild lined up third and drove by David Gravel and Schatz to earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature.

Even though he had the best seat in the house for the green flag of the main event, it would prove to be no easy drive to the winner’s circle. He pulled ahead of David Gravel in the early part of the race, but it wasn’t long before traffic became a factor.

But traffic didn’t seem to phase Haudenschild. While the top was his preferred line, he could move the NOS Energy Drink #17 anywhere necessary to pass cars. At one point he stared down lapped cars racing three-wide ahead and made a daring move to split between two and give himself a little more breathing room from those in pursuit.

The red flag flew with 11 laps remaining for a flipping Garet Williamson. Under the red, heartbreak struck the runner-up Gravel as his right rear tire went down, forcing him to the Federated Car Care Work Zone for a new one.

On the ensuing restart Schatz blasted from fourth to second and hung right with Haudenschild looking to challenge. Schatz kept the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 rolling through the middle while Haudenschild never wavered from the top. After nearly pulling alongside Haudenschild multiple times, Schatz began to slip back as the laps faded.

Scelzi ripped by Schatz to take over second on the white flag with Haudenschild within sight, but it was too little, too late as Haudenschild crossed the finish line with half a second advantage to make his home state proud.

“Hats off to this whole NOS Energy Drink team,” Haudenschild said. “All these guys have been putting in the work. Happy to be in this.”

Scelzi brought the KCP Racing #18 home P2 for his fourth podium of the season and first since Arrowhead Speedway a month ago. The Fresno, CA native used the low line to make up most of his ground as he moved forward from ninth but found himself wishing he would’ve moved to the cushion sooner after finding speed there late in the race.

“The motor we put in was incredible,” Scelzi said. “I’m kicking myself because I wish I would’ve moved up a couple laps sooner because I think I would’ve maybe slid Sheldon for the lead. But he did his job in the Heat Race and did a great job all night. I tried to do my best Greg Wilson impression around the bottom for most of the race and gave up on it there with two to go and should’ve done it sooner.”

Rounding out the top three was Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion put together a productive night for his sixth podium of the 2024 World of Outlaws campaign.

“I thought we were going to have a chance at them there at the end,” Schatz said. “And then as we went by the end, they’d left us hanging again. Either way it was a decent finish. Started there and finished there. Went back and came back forward again.”

Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

After going to a backup car, Logan Schuchart drove from 24th to fourth to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel claimed his third Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 113th of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three went to David Gravel (251st Heat Race win of career) and Donny Schatz (523rdof career). Milton Hershey Heat Two went to Carson Macedo (120th of career).

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Logan McCandless won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

After a flat tire derailed a potential challenge for the win and left him with an ninth place finish, David Gravel was awarded the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Eldora Speedway on Saturday, May 4 for the #LetsRaceTwo 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 (30 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[9]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[24]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[14]; 7. 70-Kraig Kinser[11]; 8. 23J-Cale Thomas[7]; 9. 2-David Gravel[2]; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley[6]; 11. 42-Sye Lynch[19]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom[5]; 13. 101-Kalib Henry[8]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[10]; 15. 29-Logan McCandless[18]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[21]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson[20]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[15]; 19. 55T-McKenna Haase[16]; 20. 5T-Travis Philo[17]; 21. 6-Bill Rose[23]; 22. 15K-Creed Kemenah[22]; 23. 23-Garet Williamson[12]; 24. 21H-Brady Bacon[13]

For full results, CLICK HERE.

BIG IN THE BUCKEYE STATE: Ohio’s Long Connection with the World of Outlaws

The World of Outlaws are ready for a heavy dose of Ohio that will add to the significant history between the Series and State

ROSSBURG, OH (May 2, 2024) - From border to boarder, roughly 40,000 square miles of Ohio’s land is dotted with dirt tracks. And the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars have a long and heavy history spread across that terrain.

It’s a history that will grow healthily in 2024. The Greatest Show on Dirt is about to embark on a 25-day stretch that features seven races in the “Buckeye State” at five different tracks. It begins with two nights at Eldora Speedway (May 3-4) and leads to stops at Attica Raceway Park (May 17), Sharon Speedway (May 18), Atomic Speedway (May 24-25), and Fremont Speedway (May 27).

The seven nights will add to the immense list of Ohio races in Series history. With more than 300 total trips, it’s the third most visited state since Ted Johnson unleashed the band of travelers in 1978. It didn’t take long for the band to roll into Ohio. The second ever World of Outlaws race was contested at Earl Baltes’ Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH). Pennsylvanian Bobby Allen went to Victory Lane.

“The Big E” welcomed the World of Outlaws eight more times during their debut campaign. Ohio’s own Rick Ferkel made fellow Buckeyes proud by claiming four. Eldora’s nine appearances on the first schedule set the stage for a long and fruitful connection between the track and Series.

Two more Ohio ovals hosted the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers in 1978. Limaland Motorsports Park was first conquered by Ferkel. And the Series first and only visit to Wauseon, OH’s Oakshade Raceway went to New Oxford, PA’s Steve Smith. A total of 13 races were contested in the state in 1978 – the most of any as the Series came to life.

Each of the first four seasons of World of Outlaws action saw Ohio lead the way in terms of the state with the most events. Eldora remained a mainstay while Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH), New Bremen Speedway, Mansfield Motor Speedway, and Millstream Speedway (Findlay, OH) joined the fray during that four-year run.

Throughout the 1980s Eldora remained a staple of the schedule, routinely hosting several races per season. Millstream and Wayne County held occasional dates, but it wasn’t until the turn of the decade that two new facilities were added. Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway joined for a debut weekend in May of 1990 swept by Steve Kinser. On July 15, 1990 Millstream Speedway hosted Ohio’s 100th overall World of Outlaws Race.

The 1990s also marked another major moment in the connection when the World of Outlaws became part of the Kings Royal – a tradition that continues today as the Series will roll into Eldora on July 19-20 for the 41st edition with $175,000 going to the King.

It took another dozen years for the next new track to come along when Danny Lasoski topped the Series debut at Hartford’s Sharon Speedway in 2002. The following season Atomic Speedway – then K-C Raceway – hosted The Greatest Show on Dirt for the first time, bringing the total of tracks visited to 11.

As a result of the state’s many racetracks, Ohio has also turned many of its local talents into national stars with the World of Outlaws. Of the 152 drivers to win World of Outlaws races, 16 are Buckeyes.

Hartford, OH’s Dave Blaney leads the way with 95 World of Outlaws victories (eighth all-time). His first came at Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, IL) in 1985. In the mid-1990s Blaney became a dominant force teamed with Casey Luna, topping 56 Features from 1993 through 1996 that also included the 1995 championship.

The Wooster, OH father-son duo of Jac and Sheldon Haudenschild are the next two most successful Ohioans. Jac’s famous driving style earned him the nickname “The Wild Child” and led him to 72 checkered flags. He won with a record 15 different car owners and enjoyed the most success aboard Jack Elden’s #22, which he wheeled to 32 wins. Sheldon has picked up 37 checkered flags, all since joining Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing in 2018 including a trio already in 2024.

The state’s first winner – Rick Ferkel – is next on the list. “The Ohio Traveler” racked up 21 triumphs, eight of which came in his home state. Millersburg, OH’s Brad Doty collected 18 checkered flags before his career got cut short in 1988.

Other Ohio winners include Dale Blaney (Hartford), Danny Smith (Chillicothe), Kenny Jacobs (Holmesville), Chad Kemenah (Findlay), Jack Hewitt (Troy), Frankie Kerr (Fremont), Greg Wilson (Benton Ridge), Randy Ford (Elmore), Johnny Beaber (Gibsonburg), Rick Ungar (Belpree), and Dean Jacobs (Wooster).

Only a day remains before the World of Outlaws invade Eldora to continue growing the Series’ history in Ohio. With 235 previous trips, Eldora is already the most visited track for the nation’s top talent.

Five more nights of Ohio racing in May await after Eldora along with a trio in July and two more in September including a return to Wayne County Speedway. Overall, the 2024 calendar boasts 12 Ohio races at six racetracks – all adding new chapters to the long and impactful history between the World of Outlaws and the “Buckeye State.”

WORLD OF OUTLAWS 2024 OHIO RACES

May 3-4 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH (TICKETS)
May 17 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH (TICKETS)
May 18 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH (TICKETS)
May 24-25 at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH (TICKETS)
May 27 at Fremont Speedway in Fremont, OH (TICKETS)
July 16 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH (TICKETS)
July 19-20 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH (TICKETS)
September 27 at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH (TICKETS)
September 28 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH (TICKETS)

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

Kansas Sweep Helped Establish Chase McDermand as National Midget Series Contender

Xtreme Outlaw Series star prepares return to Humboldt, 81 next weekend after sweeping both races in 2023

CONCORD, NC (May 2, 2024) – Chase McDermand’s sweep of both races with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota last year in Kansas was special. Not for what it did for him in the stats column, but for what it showed about his abilities and his place in the open-wheel racing world.

McDermand, the 23-year-old family-team racer from Springfield, IL, came to Humboldt Speedway and 81 Speedway for the first time last May and walked out of both with the checkered flag in hand — his first career sweep of a national Midget series weekend.

As he prepares to return to both tracks with the Series next Friday and Saturday, May 10-11, he recalled the joy of those triumphs and how much it fueled his drive to compete for the Series championship in 2023.

“It helped our team a lot as far as the confidence goes and the knowledge that came with that,” McDermand said. “It was really just a good building weekend for all of us early in the season to have that success.”

Though he came up short in the points standings with a fifth-place finish, McDermand — like several others — cemented his place in the national Midget ranks as a star of the Xtreme Outlaw Series and with the others ushered in a brand-new era of talent.

Midget goliaths of USAC in the late 2010s — Seavey, Thorson, Courtney, Windom — have gone on to broaden their open-wheel racing horizons, opening the door for the present-day roster of stars — McDermand, McIntosh, Daum, Timms, among others — to make their mark aboard the Xtreme Outlaw Series.

McDermand — a multi-time regional Midget champion at the turn of the decade — spent many years watching the USAC and POWRi greats, dreaming of the day he’d make his mark on the national Midget scene. Now a three-year regular on the Xtreme Outlaw Series, that day has dawned, and he’s never been happier now that it’s here.

“It feels good as a driver to know that I’m a contender,” McDermand said. “It goes back to maybe six or eight years ago sitting in the stands watching the national Midget races with the guys that were in that position that I am.

“It’s really come full circle for me as a driver to be fortunate enough to be in that position. I think [that] says a lot about me and who surrounds me with the team and my family and stuff. It means a lot to all of us to be able to have that privilege throughout the year. I’m just looking forward to making everybody happy, hopefully.”

For the past three seasons, McDermand has enjoyed continued success with support from Oklahoma-based Mounce/Stout Motorsports, who he renewed his partnership with in early 2024. Together, they’ve won seven Xtreme Outlaw Series races — tied with Jade Avedisian for most all-time.

“It’s been good so far; it just feels like home again,” McDermand said. “We work well together. Last year showed that.

“It’s been helpful to have the same notebook as last year. I don’t have to learn a different engine platform and stuff like that, so that’s really helped me get back on the right foot.”

His reunion with team owners Jay Mounce and Gavin Stout came after a sudden change from his original plans for 2024. McDermand announced in November he had entered into a deal with Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports (DMD) to pilot team owner Dave McIntosh’s flagship car and chase the Xtreme Outlaw Series championship.

However, McDermand was forced to make other arrangements before the season opener in March after McIntosh informed him that he would not be able to continue operations at DMD in 2024, and so he picked up the phone.

“I feel like I had a good plan moving forward to better myself and my racing career,” McDermand said. “The way things played out — the economy isn’t as good as it once was, and [McIntosh] decided it was better to close the doors on his racing program, at least for now.

“The way things played out so far is probably the best that could’ve happened. I feel like the speed we’ve had already this season shows that. Now, it’s just all focus on the season ahead.”

McDermand has built his racing mentality on forward thinking. He’s back in his comfort zone at Mounce/Stout, looking forward to getting his first win of the year and defending his 2023 victories next weekend at Humboldt and 81. Though it’s been a year since those wins, he’s accepting of the challenge.

“Obviously, it’s a little bit of pressure that I put on myself to go back to place that you had good speed at before — you’re kind of expected to have that same speed again,” McDermand said. “In racing, it’s hard to stay on top of a mountain for a while, especially 365 days later.”

He currently sits 56 points behind leader Cannon McIntosh in the standings with 24 races left on the schedule. With plenty of time left, McDermand said it’s a gap he can make up in pursuit of his first career national Midget series championship.

“I definitely think that we’re a contender; that’s our number-one goal and focus,” McDermand said. “To be honest, anything less than that would probably be a disappointment to us.”

Don’t miss McDermand and Mounce/Stout back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Series next Friday-Saturday, May 10-11, at Humboldt Speedway and 81 Speedway in Kansas. Tickets for both events will be on sale at the gate. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

MONTH OF MAY MASTERPIECE: David Gravel Tops Jacksonville Barnburner for Fourth Win of Season

A wild win marks the Series leading fourth of 2024 for David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports

JACKSONVILLE, IL (May 1, 2024) - The anticipation filled the entire town of Jacksonville, IL as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars returned for the first time in three years on Wednesday night. Tickets sold out Tuesday night. Fans filled the entire grandstands before Hot Laps even began. Many more headed for the pit area. Could the Hy-Vee Perks 40 live up to the hype? Absolutely it could.

The midweek Feature offered up 35 laps of non-stop action all over the Illinois bullring. Among the battles including a thrilling duel for the lead between two of the best in Sprint Car Racing. David Gravel and Kyle Larson threw everything they had at each other. Haymaker after haymaker. In the end, Gravel used a late slide job to secure a thrilling win in front of the largest crowd in the track’s history.

Once they’d caught their breath, the massive crowd roared as Gravel climbed atop the Big Game Motorsports machine in Victory Lane. The record number of fans came for a show. And that’s exactly what they got.

“You like that s***?” Gravel asked a rowdy crowd in Victory Lane. “Man, what a great race car. Cody Jacobs, Zach (Patterson), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), they deserved that win. I was able to run lanes other people weren’t and had a great car. Honestly, I was fairly conservative, and then being too conservative got Kyle back by me, and I knew once I got to clear him, I had to move up because he’d be pounding the top. I had the wing pretty far back and was pushing really bad on entry going into (Turn) 1 and wasn’t making a good corner, but I knew I had to screw him up there at the end.”

Gravel is up to a Series best four victories in 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. His 92nd win broke a tie with Brad Sweet to give him sole possession of ninth on the all-time win list. The victory was Gravel’s first at Jacksonville, making it the 47th track he’s won at with the World of Outlaws. Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports sits at 98 triumphs, two away from becoming the sixth team with 100.

Well before his battle with Larson began, Gravel had to climb through the front of the field. Up front, Larson took off to lead the opening circuit while Gravel took the green flag in fourth and actually slipped back to fifth when Carson Macedo rolled by on the top.

Gravel remained committed to the bottom, keeping the Huset’s Speedway #2 glued to the lowline. The commitment paid off as he began to reel Macedo back in and slipped back around him on Lap 11 for fourth.

A couple circuits later Gravel welcomed himself to a war for the runner-up spot. Giovanni Scelzi and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid raced side by side and Gravel joined the fun. Kofoid attempted to shut the door when he saw Gravel approaching. The tactic briefly worked, but Gravel muscled his way into second on Lap 19.

When Gravel grabbed the runner-up spot, Larson owned a one-second advantage in the Silva Motorsports #57. The gap was slashed in half only a lap later and then down under three tenths of a second on Lap 21 as Gravel continued on the low side while Larson opted for the top.

On Lap 24 Gravel found the momentum he needed and rolled under Larson to grab the lead. The pass lit a fire under Larson who found another gear. “Yung Money” began to hammer the treacherous cushion all around the ¼ mile. Then on Lap 26, Larson ripped back by Gravel on the top in Turns 1 and 2.

Despite Larson using the cushion to get by, Gravel continued his path on the bottom. As the final laps clicked away, Larson looked as if he may pull away from Gravel. But hope flashed for Gravel as Larson looked to split a pair of lapped cars but couldn’t squeeze through. On Lap 32 Gravel gathered enough momentum down the back straightaway to move under Larson and then clear him with a slider in Turns 3 and 4. Gravel then stuck with a defensive line around the top the final few laps to grab the checkered flag.

“What a great race,” Gravel said. “Hats off to the track crew… I think really the Outlaws and track guys made the right call for track prep with 56 cars here. It’s really hard to prep a surface with that many cars here. It got really wide. You got to use every inch of this racetrack, and it was a lot of fun tonight.”

Larson kicked off the month of May with a runner-up in his World of Outlaws season debut. The Elk Grove, CA native plans to partake in his first Indianapolis 500 later this month, and he started a busy upcoming stretch with his 63rd career World of Outlaws podium. Despite leading laps and coming up a spot short, Larson enjoyed the wild race.

“Traffic was thick, for sure,” Larson said. “Being the leader, I knew he was there obviously because he passed me and I got him back. And then Kraig (Kinser) was doing his thing running the middle. I’ve got to watch it back. I don’t know if I got too impatient or what. I couldn’t follow because the pace was starting to slow down as I was getting to his back bumper. I knew Gravel was right there, and he seemed like he could move around a lot. I shot the gap and couldn’t get down the backstretch good and knew he’d be coming. I knew we were getting close to the end there because we had run a lot of laps. It was a great race. Super, super fun.”

Completing the top three was the man who can’t stay off the podium as of late – Buddy Kofoid. The pole-sitter remained a consistent force throughout the Feature but couldn’t quite challenge for the victory. He and Roth Motorsports still managed to collect their fifth consecutive podium. Kofoid continues to bang on the door of a win.

“That was a badass race,” Kofoid said. “I hope you guys all enjoyed that. That was about as tight and full send as you can get at a track like this. I enjoy that stuff. That’s kind of what I come from. And then with the Midget stuff, you could always run like that and make speed. It was fun. I wish we could get a win. We’re so close. Our car is so good.”

Carson Macedo and Corey Day completed the top five.

A 23rd to 11th run gave Donny Schatz his second straight KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Brady Bacon topped Seafoam Qualifying to claim his second career Simpson Quick Time.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Carson Macedo (119th Heat Race win of career), Giovanni Scelzi (45th of career), and Kyle Larson (40th of career). David Gravel claimed Milton Hershey School Heat Two (250th of career).

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brenham Crouch 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 Rossburg, OH’s Eldora Speedway for #LetsRaceTwo on May 3-4 and will be joined by the USAC National Sprint Cars. 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. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 5. 14-Corey Day[7]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 8. 83SR-James McFadden[11]; 9. 16T-Cole Macedo[8]; 10. 49-Brad Sweet[13]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[23]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[14]; 13. 9P-Parker Price Miller[9]; 14. 24D-Danny Sams III[10]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee[16]; 17. 31-Zach Daum[22]; 18. 70-Kraig Kinser[18]; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser[24]; 20. 23-Garet Williamson[20]; 21. 2KS-Chase Randall[17]; 22. 1-Brenham Crouch[21]; 23. 51B-Joe B Miller[19]; 24. 87-Aaron Reutzel[15]

Jacksonville IL 5/1/24

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 1-Brenham Crouch[1]; 2. 31-Zach Daum[4]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 4. 9X-Paul Nienhiser[8]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]; 6. 73-Scotty Thiel[6]; 7. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]; 8. 35-Zach Hampton[9]; 9. 3N-Jake Neuman[11]; 10. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr[14]; 11. 21H-Brady Bacon[2]; 12. 24-Logan Seavey[13]; 13. 34-Sterling Cling[12]; 14. 1T-Trevin Littleton[15]; 15. 88-Austin McCarl[10]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr[2]; 2. 1T-Trevin Littleton[1]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 4. 5-Chase Briscoe[9]; 5. 97-Scotty Milan[6]; 6. B5-Brandon Sheppard[7]; 7. 6-Bill Rose[5]; 8. 9-Tyler Duff[12]; 9. 79G-Max Guilford[13]; 10. 79-Gage Montgomery[8]; 11. 37-Bryce Norris[11]; 12. 3B-Shelby Bosie[4]; 13. 22-Riley Goodno[10]

D Feature (10 Laps): 1. 9-Tyler Duff[2]; 2. 79G-Max Guilford[1]; 3. 17GP-Jadon Rogers[3]; 4. 16TH-Kevin Newton[7]; 5. 5H-Joey Moughan[5]; 6. 7-Tyler Lee[4]; 7. 14T-Tim Estenson[6]; 8. 55T-McKenna Haase[9]; 9. 44-Chris Martin[11]; 10. 29-Brayton Lynch[8]; 11. 10S-Jeremy Standridge[10]; 12. 96-Jake Blackhurst[12]

Non-Qualifiers Race (8 Laps): 1. 5-Chase Briscoe[1]; 2. 3N-Jake Neuman[3]; 3. 31-Zach Daum[4]; 4. 22-Riley Goodno[2]; 5. 79G-Max Guilford[7]; 6. 9-Tyler Duff[8]; 7. 17GP-Jadon Rogers[15]; 8. 7-Tyler Lee[11]; 9. 5H-Joey Moughan[5]; 10. 14T-Tim Estenson[14]; 11. 16TH-Kevin Newton[12]; 12. 29-Brayton Lynch[10]; 13. 55T-McKenna Haase[13]; 14. 10S-Jeremy Standridge[16]; 15. 44-Chris Martin[6]; 16. 96-Jake Blackhurst[9]

Toyota Dash (8 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[4]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 7. 14-Corey Day[7]; 8. 16T-Cole Macedo[5]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 9P-Parker Price Miller[4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 5. 2KS-Chase Randall[7]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 7. 1-Brenham Crouch[5]; 8. 35-Zach Hampton[8]; 9. 1T-Trevin Littleton[10]; 10. 6-Bill Rose[9]; 11. 5-Chase Briscoe[11]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 3. 83SR-James McFadden[4]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel[3]; 5. 51B-Joe B Miller[6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[8]; 7. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 8. 3N-Jake Neuman[11]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 10. B5-Brandon Sheppard[9]; 11. 37-Bryce Norris[10]

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 2. 16T-Cole Macedo[3]; 3. 24D-Danny Sams III[4]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 5. 70-Kraig Kinser[10]; 6. 31-Zach Daum[11]; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser[7]; 8. 34-Sterling Cling[8]; 9. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr[9]; 10. 97-Scotty Milan[5]; 11. 21H-Brady Bacon[1]

Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 14-Corey Day[2]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 4. 99-Skylar Gee[6]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 6. 73-Scotty Thiel[7]; 7. 88-Austin McCarl[8]; 8. 24-Logan Seavey[4]; 9. 3B-Shelby Bosie[9]; 10. 79-Gage Montgomery[10]; 11. 22-Riley Goodno[11]

Sea Foam Qualifying 1 (2 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:10.068[20]; 2. 2-David Gravel, 00:10.086[10]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:10.138[12]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:10.160[13]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:10.176[2]; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 00:10.177[23]; 7. 9P-Parker Price Miller, 00:10.238[15]; 8. 83SR-James McFadden, 00:10.239[3]; 9. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:10.247[17]; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:10.349[14]; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:10.432[19]; 12. 51B-Joe B Miller, 00:10.485[16]; 13. 2KS-Chase Randall, 00:10.507[8]; 14. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:10.511[1]; 15. 35-Zach Hampton, 00:10.564[6]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:10.589[18]; 17. 6-Bill Rose, 00:10.641[27]; 18. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 00:10.642[24]; 19. 1T-Trevin Littleton, 00:10.659[21]; 20. 37-Bryce Norris, 00:10.671[5]; 21. 5-Chase Briscoe, 00:10.674[7]; 22. 3N-Jake Neuman, 00:10.703[28]; 23. 5H-Joey Moughan, 00:10.749[11]; 24. 79G-Max Guilford, 00:10.906[26]; 25. 96-Jake Blackhurst, 00:10.910[22]; 26. 7-Tyler Lee, 00:11.035[4]; 27. 55T-McKenna Haase, 00:11.258[9]; 28. 17GP-Jadon Rogers, 00:11.693[25]

Sea Foam Qualifying 2 (2 Laps): 1. 21H-Brady Bacon, 00:10.062[1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson, 00:10.158[13]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:10.193[8]; 4. 14-Corey Day, 00:10.259[18]; 5. 16T-Cole Macedo, 00:10.338[17]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:10.352[15]; 7. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:10.436[27]; 8. 24-Logan Seavey, 00:10.445[11]; 9. 97-Scotty Milan, 00:10.516[25]; 10. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:10.520[21]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:10.535[9]; 12. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:10.625[4]; 13. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 00:10.747[6]; 14. 73-Scotty Thiel, 00:10.751[2]; 15. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:10.772[3]; 16. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:10.794[14]; 17. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr, 00:10.916[28]; 18. 3B-Shelby Bosie, 00:10.938[7]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:10.946[23]; 20. 79-Gage Montgomery, 00:10.970[26]; 21. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:11.013[22]; 22. 31-Zach Daum, 00:11.068[16]; 23. 44-Chris Martin, 00:11.078[5]; 24. 9-Tyler Duff, 00:11.085[24]; 25. 29-Brayton Lynch, 00:11.122[19]; 26. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:11.327[10]; 27. 14T-Tim Estenson, 00:11.434[12]; 28. 10S-Jeremy Standridge, 00:11.973[20]

1 MONTH ALERT: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Set For Massive Three-Day Weekend in Missouri, Illinois

CONCORD, NC (May 1, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to Missouri and Illinois for a three-day weekend to cap off May and kick-start June.

Spanning Thursday through Saturday, the Series will visit Doe Run Raceway (Doe Run, MO) on May 30, Coles County Speedway (Mattoon, IL) on May 31 and Wayne County Speedway (Wayne City, IL) on June 1.

The visits to Doe Run and Wayne County will be the Series' second consecutive year visiting both tracks, while the stop at Coles County's 1/8-mile track will be the Series' first.

Last year, 2022 Series champion Zach Daum, of Pocahontas, IL, locked up Victory Lane at Doe Run and both races at Wayne County. Searching for a second title, Daum will be back to defend his wins with Trifecta Motorsports.

When the Series debuts at Coles County Speedway, it'll also be the track's first national Midget race, having recently opened in 2019.

The events at Doe Run and Coles County will also count toward the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series, seeing Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi stars going head to head for the Challenge championship – won by last year by Daum, who's also the current Challenge Series points leader.

EVENT INFO FOR DOE RUN
Date – Thursday, May 30
Location – Doe Run, MO

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at track.
How to Watch – Can't make it? You can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (July 21, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UymwSRgLQg

Previous Xtreme Outlaw winner at Doe Run –
2023 – Zach Daum on July 21

EVENT INFO FOR COLES COUNTY
Date – Friday, May 31
Location – Mattoon, IL

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at track.
How to Watch – Can't make it? You can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

EVENT INFO FOR WAYNE COUNTY
Date – Saturday, June 1
Location – Wayne City, IL

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at track.
How to Watch – Can't make it? You can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 3, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDp0L1R1Yrs

Previous Xtreme Outlaw winner at Wayne County –
2023 – Zach Daum on June 2 & June 3

Brandon Sheppard Hoping ‘Change of Pace’ With World of Outlaws Sprint Car Debut Leads to Late Model Success

JACKSONVILLE, IL (May 1, 2024) – Brandon Sheppard is getting back to his roots of “put a race car in front of him and he’ll drive it.”

This time, it’s a Sprint Car. A 410 Sprint Car with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

The four-time World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series champion will make his debut with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Jacksonville Speedway on Wednesday, May 1, during the Hy-Vee Perks 40.

“Initially, everyone was surprised that I done it because they’ve offered me a few times over the years and just never had any intentions on doing anything,” Sheppard said. “This year, I just kind of thought it was time to change it up and do something different. Kind of get back to my roots a little bit. I used to drive whatever they put in front of me.”

While the No. B5 Sprint Car he’ll drive for his relatives, Jake and Jim Neuman, bears no comparison to his Sheppard Riggs Racing No. B5 Late Model – other than the design of the number – there’s still benefits he can take away from the experience.

“Definitely hasn’t been the year we wanted in the Late Model,” Sheppard said. “So, just kind of clear my head and change the pace a little bit and see if it helps us out in the Late Model.”

About 36 hours after running the Sprint Car, he’ll jump back behind the wheel of his Longhorn Chassis Factory Team car to compete with the World of Outlaws Late Models at Mississippi Thunder Speedway for the Dairyland Showdown, May 3-4 – still looking for his first win this year with the Series.

That quick change of race car diversity is one of the reasons Sheppard agreed to run the Sprint Car, pointing to how similar situations have helped other drivers.

“Anytime you can drive different cars… I mean, look at Kyle Larson, for example,” Sheppard said. “He’s so good at everything he gets in. I think he’d credit the same thing, that getting to get in and drive all these different cars and do all this different stuff; I feel like that helps him not get too complacent with one thing.

“A lot of times, you get in these cars, and you do the same thing week in and week out, and you get into bad habits. Then, the next thing you know you’re doing bad habits at every track you go to. When you drive different stuff, it helps keep you on your toes and have a little bit different feel. Obviously, the feel is going to be different than anything I’d feel in a Late Model, but it’s just the fact of getting in something and going fast in a different kind of car. Really clearing my head of all things Late Model for one night and just go have fun and see what we can do. Then, hopefully go into Mississippi Thunder fresh and ready to go.”

The New Berlin, IL native will have a large fanbase at Jacksonville, IL track, having grown up about 20 minutes from the speedway and made several laps there in various cars – including a 410 Sprint Car more than a decade ago.

“We do the Outlaw event as really just sort of something fun for our fans to take in during the season and, obviously, having Brandon in a Sprint Car has it have even more interest,” said Jacksonville Speedway promoter Kenny Dobson – who once fielded a Midget for Sheppard. “It gets national interest because Brandon is a national brand, but here, locally, Brandon is Brandon. He just has a huge fanbase. I think everyone around here is pretty confident Brandon can get a Sprint Car around Jacksonville Speedway just fine.”

Sheppard's first laps around Jacksonville in a Neuman car made him internet famous for the night, pulling a photo-worthy wheelie with the nose to sky.

“It literally was on the first lap,” Sheppard said with a chuckle. “I went out there… I knew it wasn’t doing to do me any good to pace around there for two laps, so I got out there and got after it and it stood up on me there. It was definitely crazy, but like I said, the only way to get the feel for it is to jump right in and go do it.”

After the excitement, he began turning decent laps, Jake Neuman said. Sheppard’s car will be one of Neuman’s backups with the Illinois-based team's standard Jacksonville set up.

“I don’t see a problem with him not making the show,” Neuman said. “Our stuff runs good enough. We get around there pretty good and he can in a Late Model and basically anything he’s ever been in, so I think we’ll be OK.”

After Jacksonville, don’t expect to see Sheppard become a Sprint Car regular. For now, it’s a one-time deal, he said. Maybe another Sprint Car run next year. But being a guy that’ll drive anything you put in front of him, he made sure to add… “You never know.”

Grandstand tickets for the Hy-Vee Perks 40 at Jacksonville Speedway are sold out, however, you can still purchase a pit pass. Gates open at 4 p.m. (CT) with Hot Laps scheduled for 6 p.m.

Or, if you plan on attending the Dairyland Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, WI, boasting two $25,000-to-win Features, tickets are available at the track. Gates open at 5 p.m. (CT) with Hot Laps scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Three Races in Four Nights Bring World of Outlaws to Jacksonville, Eldora

The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to an Illinois bullring before heading to one of the country’s most famed half miles

JACKSONVILLE, IL (April 30, 2024) - An action-packed trio of races are next for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

A stretch of three races in four nights this week kicks off with a highly anticipated bullring battle at Illinois’ Jacksonville Speedway on Wednesday, May 1, for the Hy-Vee Perks 40. The 1/4 mile in the Land of Lincoln never fails to deliver thrilling action with its tight confines. The Greatest Show on Dirt has made four previous trips to Jacksonville, most recently in 2021.

It’s a diverse week in terms of the style of racetracks. After the midweek stop at Jacksonville, the tour rolls to Rossburg, OH where the wide, high banked, 1/2 mile that is Eldora Speedway awaits. With 235 previous visits, “The Big E” is the most visited track in Series history and will add two more tallies to that total on May 3-4. #LetsRaceTwo gives winged and wingless Sprint Car fans everything they could want as the World of Outlaws are joined by the USAC National Sprint Cars both nights.

BUY JACKSONVILLE TICKETS HERE
BUY FRIDAY ELDORA TICKETS HERE
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WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the week’s top storylines:

MACEDO’S MOMENT: The 2024 season has been an uphill battle for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing since beginning the year with four straight finishes outside the top 10. They’ve clawed their way forward with 11 consecutive top 10s including five podiums, and this week presents an excellent opportunity to gain more ground.

Macedo will be the only driver in the pit area this week with a World of Outlaws win at both Jacksonville and Eldora. Back in 2019 Macedo topped the Jacksonville visit for his fifth career Series victory. Eldora is equaled for the winningest track on Macedo’s World of Outlaws résumé. The Lemoore, CA native has topped a trio of races at “The Big E,” all aboard the JJR #41. The most recent was last year’s Knight Before the Kings Royal.

Three nights at two tracks that have been kind to Macedo offers the chance to make up more ground as he chases a title. He’s currently fifth in points, only four markers behind fourth and 68 behind David Gravel for the top spot.

ELDORA EXCELLENCE: There’s something about Eldora Speedway that seems to perfectly suit Donny Schatz. Maybe he likes to up his game at his race team’s boss – Tony Stewart’s – racetrack. Whatever it is, you can almost always count on Schatz to be up front at Eldora.

The historic half mile is responsible for 18 of Schatz’s 313 career World of Outlaws victories, most recently claiming his sixth Kings Royal crown last July. The 10-time Series champion has 19 total Eldora triumphs having also topped the 2002 Historical Big One.

It’s not just about winning for Schatz at Eldora. He’s also extraordinarily consistent. In his last 90 Eldora Feature starts, Schatz has missed the top 10 only eight times. Exactly half of those starts (45) have resulted in podiums.

BIG E VICTORY: Macedo and Schatz aren’t the only current full-time World of Outlaws competitors with Eldora success under their belt.

The Ohio oval is home to four of Logan Schuchart’s 41 career Series wins. The Shark Racing pilot picked up the most recent of those four during last year’s #LetsRaceTwo opener. Schuchart also famously topped the Eldora Million last July to take home the biggest payday in Sprint Car history.

Current Series point leader David Gravel also owns four Series triumphs at Eldora. They’ve been spread between three teams with a 2014 win with Roth Motorsports, one in 2016 with CJB Motorsports, and a pair in 2022 with his current team – Big Game Motorsports. The Watertown, CT native also scored $52,000 with the All-Star Circuit of Champions at Eldora in 2020.

Ohio’s own Sheldon Haudenschild has made one previous trip to Eldora Speedway Victory Lane, driving the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 to the win during 2021’s #LetsRaceTwo. With three victories already in 2024, he’s currently tied with Gravel as the Series leader in wins this season.

BSHEPP’S CROSSOVER: Wednesday’s visit to Jacksonville will serve up one of the most interesting World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car debuts in Series history. Four-time World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model champion – Brandon Sheppard – is trading the fenders for some open-wheel action.

Sheppard is jumping in an entry fielded by his cousins – Jake and Jim Neuman – that will have his familiar #B5 on the wing. It’s set to be a home game Series debut as Sheppard calls New Berlin, IL home – a mere 20 miles from Jacksonville.

The all-time winningest driver with the World of Outlaws Late Models isn’t entirely unfamiliar with Sprint Cars. Sheppard turned some laps from time to time near the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s.

DIVERSE FIELD: On top of the unique addition of Sheppard to Wednesday’s roster, the Jacksonville pit area is expected to fill with a variety of drivers to create a diverse field.

Chase Briscoe intends to make his first World of Outlaws Sprint Car appearance since a 2018 trip to Tri-State Speedway. The NASCAR Cup Series full-timer is fresh off picking up a Sprint Car win as a car owner as Karter Sarff claimed the Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) checkered flag at Red Hill Raceway aboard the CBR #5 three nights ago. Now, it’s Briscoe’s turn to have some fun behind the wheel at Jacksonville.

On the local side, Pocahontas, IL’s Zach Daum plans to make his second Series appearance of the season. Daum owns plenty of Midget laps around Jacksonville including a POWRi win back in 2016. It’s also home to his one career World of Outlaws top 10 in 2019.

Logan Seavey will be back in the World of Outlaws pit area for the first time in two years as he hops aboard a Landon Simon Racing entry for Wednesday. The Sutter, CA native is a familiar face to Jacksonville fans as he’s won five times at the Illinois oval in POWRi Midget action. Seavey has also raced there twice in a Sprint Car with MOWA, finishing third and fifth.

This trio will be accompanied by many others ready to battle the World of Outlaws in some midweek bullring action.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday, May 1 at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL
Friday-Saturday, May 3-4 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (15/80 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (2110 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-34 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-52 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-64 PTS)
5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-68 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-108 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-154 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-210 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-314 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-388 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon

FEATURE LAPS LED (13 Drivers):

94 Laps – David Gravel
77 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
42 Laps – Donny Schatz
26 Laps – Brady Bacon
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
11 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (8 Drivers):

4 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (20 Drivers):

8 Heat Wins – David Gravel
6 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Donny Schatz, Danny Sams III

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (30 Drivers):

12 Dashes – David Gravel
11 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
10 Dashes – Carson Macedo
9 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Bill Balog
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley, Logan Schuchart
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Emerson Axsom, Danny Sams III

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (12 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Logan McCandless, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kevin Newton

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (12 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
1 Hard Charger – Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi

PODIUM FINISHES (15 Drivers):

8 Podiums – David Gravel
5 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
4 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Bill Balog, Brady Bacon

TOP 10 FINISHES (36 Drivers):

14 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
13 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, David Gravel, Logan Schuchart
12 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
11 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
9 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu
4 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss
3 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall, Cole Macedo
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Joe B. Miller, Kraig Kinser, Ayrton Gennetten, Brady Bacon, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Milan

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: Big Payouts on Tap at Two-Day Beaver Dam Special For World of Outlaws

BEAVER DAM, WI (April 30, 2024) – When the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Beaver Dam Raceway for the two-day Jim "JB" Boyd Memorial, May 31-June 1, two big checks will be on the line.

First, drivers will contend for a $12,000 payday on Friday. Then, $20,000 will be on the line for Saturday's Feature.

The weekend will be the Series' first of six races in the "Badger State" this year. And the first of six chances for Wisconsin resident Bill Balog to score a home win.

Balog, who's one of the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contenders, has 22 victories at the 1/3-mile track, including a win with the World of Outlaws in 2016 – his first and only with the Series.

Last year, Giovanni Scelzi and Sheldon Haudenschild each picked up a Series win at Beaver Dam. Haudenschild has won four of the last five races there.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1
Location – Beaver Dam, WI
Track Record – 11.025 sec. by Sheldon Haudenschild on June 30, 2021

Times (CT) –
2PM Pit Gates open
4PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at SLSPromotions.com.
How to Watch – Can't make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 17, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXcyZAZ8eaA

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Beaver Dam –
2023 - Gio Scelzi on June 16, Sheldon Haudenschild on June 17
2022 - Sheldon Haudenschild on June 17 & June 18
2021 - Sheldon Haudenschild on June 19
2020 – Brad Sweet on June 5 & June 6
2019 – Brad Sweet on June 22
2018 – Daryn Pittman on June 23
2017 – Shane Stewart on June 24
2016 - Bill Balog on June 25
2015 – Donny Schatz on June 27
2014 – Brad Sweet on June 28
2013 – Craig Dollansky on June 29
2012 – Kraig Kinser on July 7
2011 – Joey Saldana on July 9
2010 – Joey Saldana on July 10
2009 – Danny Lasoski on July 11
2008 – Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2007 – Jason Solwold on Aug. 3, Daryn Pittman on Sept. 16
2006 – Jac Haudenschild on June 14
2005 – Craig Dollansky on July 6, Daryn Pittman on Sept. 24
2004 – Tim Shaffer on Sept. 25, Steve Kinser on June 12
2003 – Joey Saldana on April 22, Daryn Pittman on Aug. 3
2002 – Donny Schatz on July 10
1998 – Jac Haudenschild on June 17
1997 – Mark Kinser on May 4, Dave Blaney on June 18
1996 – Dave Blaney on May 5

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Set to Honor Rick Ferkel During Fremont Return on Memorial Day

FREMONT, OH (April 29, 2024) – Fremont Speedway will welcome back the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Memorial Day this year for a special night.

With the passing of Rick Ferkel, the "Ohio Traveler," in January, the track and Series will honor the original Outlaw throughout the event, which is called the Rick Ferkel Tribute.

RELATED: Remembering Rick Ferkel

It'll be the World of Outlaws' first time back at the 1/3-mile Ohio track since 2016. In total, the Series has made eight trips to Fremont and only seen two repeat winners – Frankie Kerr (1991, 1992) and Donny Schatz (2013, 2014). Ohio's Chad Kemenah won the last World of Outlaws race there.

The $12,000-to-win race will also be the final Ohio stop on the World of Outlaws' spring swing before the Series ventures further north. With that, local Ohio competitors will be on a mission to try and top the stars of the Series on their home turf. However, of the Outlaws, Ohio's Sheldon Haudenschild will be just as hungry for a home state win.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Monday, May 27
Location – Fremont, OH
Track Record – 11.732 sec. by Lee Jacobs on May 3, 2003

Times (ET) –
2PM Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.
How to Watch – Can't be there? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (June 3, 2016) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usRy3PZb6D0

Previous World of Outlaws Fremont Winners –
2016 - Chad Kemenah (June 3)
2014 - Donny Schatz (Oct. 18)
2013 - Donny Schatz (Sept. 28)
2011 - Jason Meyers (Oct. 15)
1993 - Stevie Smith (May 22)
1992 - Frankie Kerr (Aug. 8)
1991 - Frankie Kerr (Aug. 10)
1990 - Doug Wolfgang (May 19)

Ryan Timms in Hot Pursuit of First National Midget Championship While Balancing Sprint Car Schedule

CONCORD, NC (April 26, 2024) – Ryan Timms has been a fixture of the youthful wave of open-wheel racers sweeping the country over the last several seasons. He’s got wins in both Midgets and 410 Sprint Cars, but there’s one thing he wants that he’s never had.

The 17-year-old Oklahoma racer has yet to win a national Midget series championship. 2024 is only his second full season chasing points for team owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby of Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM), but he’s hot on the trail of a first national crown.

Timms has already broken through to Victory Lane with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota once in the first six races and currently sits second in the standings, only 27 points behind leader Cannon McIntosh.

For the past two years, the national Midget series schedule has been laid out in such a manner that allows drivers – if they choose – to compete with both Xtreme and the USAC National Midget Championship, and still make room for some POWRi National Midget League races as well. Timms chased the USAC schedule in 2023 and finished fourth in the standings and this year adds-in the Xtreme Outlaw schedule.

“If I could win both [national championships] this year, it could open some opportunities with Toyota or maybe in the Sprint Car stuff,” Timms said. “As of right now, I’m just focusing on getting the best results I can with both Xtreme and USAC and trying to win both [championships].”

Prior to his USAC title run last year, Timms sprinkled Midget starts into his Sprint Car-heavy schedule in 2022, driving for two Midget teams at CB Industries and KKM. While his main priority that season remained with his family-owned Sprint Car team, Timms chased only Feature wins with the Midgets. Thus, a change in mentality was inevitable when he signed with KKM to chase USAC Midget points the following season.

“A lot of the points deal – I kinda learned this from last year – you’ve got to finish races, and you gotta be at least in the top-10,” Timms said. “If you just focus on doing your absolute best and getting the best results possible, not worrying about anything else, there’s not anything else you can really do. Whatever happens, happens.”

Fast-forward to 2024 and Timms is still balancing his Sprint Car and Midget schedule, though now more focused on Midgets than ever as he chases a national championship. In two complete seasons driving both car types, he said he’s finally found a level of comfort that allows him to not only race both divisions but be competitive in both as well.

“I’d say I’m a lot better at it this year than I was last year,” Timms said. “Last year, it would take me three or four weekends to get comfortable and used to whatever car I just hopped back into. But now, I feel like after a Hot Lap session or a Heat Race, I kinda already got the basics down and it feels natural to be back in whichever car I’m in.

“It’s a little tough when you’re doing double duty running both in the same night just because you’re literally going back-and-forth, back-and-forth, and they drive pretty different. That’s a little tough, but I really enjoy racing Midgets and I really enjoy racing Sprint Cars, and I want to be the best at both of them.”

Only six races into the Xtreme Outlaw Series season, and Timms has shown his prowess at the controls of the JBL Audio, LynK/Toyota No. 67. He scored his first Midget win of the season two weeks ago at Farmer City Raceway – a track that featured both tacky and slick conditions throughout the course of the two-day event. But Timms said he’s able to handle both.

“When the track has more moisture in it, we seem to struggle a little bit more – not struggle bad, just a little more than when it’s slick,” Timms said. “That’s just me as a driver. Last year, there was no telling where I’d finish if the track was hooked up. But this year, I feel like I’ve still got a shot at winning even when it’s hooked up, it’s just a little bit tougher for me.”

Next on Timms’ Xtreme Outlaw Series calendar are back-to-back races in Kansas – Friday, May 10 at Humboldt Speedway and Saturday, May 11 at 81 Speedway. He’s raced at both tracks before in his Sprint Car, which he said gives him a slight advantage over his competition.

“That 410 Sprint Car has so much more power and there’s so much more [G-Forces] on your body and it’s so much more intense than the Midget ever is,” Timms said. “When I go to a track that I’ve to been to in a Sprint Car, [the Midget] feels so slow and I’m used to going so fast at that track, it slows everything down a lot and kinda makes things easier.”

Timms continues his championship chase with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in the State of Kansas in only two weeks’ time. Tickets for both Humboldt and 81 will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BELIEVE THE HYPE: Kofoid’s Rookie Campaign with Roth Motorsports Starting Strong

The 22-year-old has been one of the fastest drivers on track in recent weeks

KNOXVILLE, IA (April 25, 2024) - The expectations were plenty high for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid entering 2024. One of Sprint Car Racing’s most promising young talents announced he’d be joining the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars with Roth Motorsports for a full-time rookie run. And the Californian is living up to the hype.

The start of the season provided some bumps in the road, but over the last several weeks Kofoid and his Roth crew have been one of the fastest teams on tour. The 10 most recent races have yielded unflinching consistency for Kofoid and company.

A 10th-place outing at Cotton Bowl Speedway on March 15 kicked off a run of 10 consecutive finishes inside the top 10. And they’ve only gotten faster throughout the stretch. The last six main events have resulted in five podiums and a 3.5 average finish. Kofoid is also currently on a streak of qualifying for six straight Toyota Racing Dashes.

The early season decision to swap to a different car proved to be a catalyst for putting Kofoid on the right track.

“It started a little rough,” Kofoid admitted. “We unfortunately had some engine issues the first couple nights of DIRTcar Nationals, which put us behind in a spot that we didn’t want to be in at a big track like that.

“It’s been really good. We struggled a little bit early on in Texas, but then Dylan (Buswell) made the decision to go to our backup car, which is the car we actually ended last year with. It’s kind of old faithful if you will. I think it was the right move, for sure. It felt just like we remembered and looked better and felt better. I think doing that helped us a lot.”

Another key piece to the team’s success is Buswell – Kofoid’s crew chief. Kofoid is always quick to credit his lead wrench when interviewed. Buswell has worked with some of the sport’s top drivers, and the pairing quickly gelled when connecting at Roth last summer. They nearly won the richest race in World of Outlaws history in their first week of racing together, but mechanical troubles pried victory from their grasp. Even with that disappointment, Kofoid made it clear he’d be a force in the #83.

“I knew Dylan a little bit and actually met him at the beginning of 2023 but didn’t know him a whole lot personally before I got to Roth,” Kofoid said. “And then once we got started, I always say it’s the story of what could’ve been at Huset’s. He went to California and drove everything out and got here (Iowa) on Sunday and then left Monday or Tuesday and went straight to Huset’s and had a really good week there right off the bat. I think Dylan is extremely talented, and I trust him 110-percent. He’s helped me enjoy Sprint Car Racing even more, and he’s helped me become a better driver.”

The upcoming World of Outlaws schedule will present a shift as Kofoid continues his rookie season. The tour hasn’t visited a half mile since Volusia Speedway Park in early March, but three of the next five facilities on tap – Knoxville Raceway (April 26-27), Eldora Speedway (May 3-4), and Williams Grove Speedway (May 10-11) – are half miles.

For Kofoid, who grew up racing Sprint Cars on California’s countless bullrings before focusing on Midgets for a few years, bigger tracks continue to provide a challenge as he gets acquainted with the style. But he’s found that ever since partnering with Roth, he’s never felt better at the high speeds of half miles leading to confidence heading into the upcoming stretch.

“I feel good in general right now,” Kofoid said. “And I think it helps to have that positive mindset anywhere, but on the other hand I know that half miles are something that I need to get better on, and it’s something that I haven’t really been exposed to all that much. When I took those three years and ran Midgets, it made it less possible for me.

“But last year with Dylan I feel like on the half-mile stuff was the best I’ve ever felt. We’ve went to Knoxville a few times and almost won an All-Star race there. Or at least had a shot and ran second. We were okay in our (Knoxville Nationals) prelim night. We just qualify really well there, and that’s a huge part. Then we finished eighth last year (in the Knoxville Nationals).”

With more than 60 nights remaining on the schedule, there’s still plenty of racing left to go in 2024. Any World of Outlaws season has its ups and downs, and Kofoid and the Roth crew will have to fight through some off nights along the way. But Kofoid has made it clear he belongs with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The bar was set high when this California kid was winning races in his early teenage years. And now that he’s arrived on the sport’s biggest stage, he continues to raise the bar even higher as he lives out his dream with the World of Outlaws.

“Once you have a good run and you kind of figure out what you need to do the next time, and you hope it snowballs from there,” Kofoid said. “And it’s kind of done that. We’re looking forward to keeping it going, and we’re just having fun.”

Kofoid’s debut season with the World of Outlaws continues this weekend (April 26-27) with Knoxville Raceway’s Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Make Springtime Knoxville Stop

A tightening top five in the standings headline a rare April visit to The Sprint Car Capital of the World

KNOXVILLE, IA (April 23, 2024) - There’s never a bad time to visit Knoxville Raceway. And for the first time in a dozen years, the historic half mile is ready to welcome the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in the month of April.

“The Sprint Car Capital of the World” is the destination for the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash (April 26-27). The trip will be the first two of eight scheduled nights at Knoxville for the World of Outlaws in 2024.

It’s only April, but it’s never too early to start padding the notebook for August’s NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s – offering up Sprint Car immortality, a $190,000 winner’s check, and more than a million dollars in total purse money.

RELATED: Vote for the Knoxville Nationals as USA Today’s Best Motorsports Race

A huge field of stars from all over the country is expected to fill the Knoxville pit area this weekend with plans to chase a pair of $12,000 paydays and prepare for “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All.”

BUY TWO-DAY KNOXVILLE TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

TOP FIVE IS TIGHT: The 2024 World of Outlaws championship battle appears primed to stay tight all the way to Charlotte, NC when #AllDirtRoads lead to the World Finals. The top five tightened this past weekend, and only 68 points separate the leading five drivers.

David Gravel continues to lead the way despite a crash at Paducah cutting into his advantage. He’s been the most consistent driver in 2024 behind the wheel of the Big Game Motorsports #2 having already bagged eight podiums and 12 top fives through 15 races.

Donny Schatz sits second – 34 markers behind Gravel – amid his pursuit of an 11th championship. With only two finishes outside the top 10 so far this season, it’s the most consistent he and the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team have looked in recent years.

Giovanni Scelzi holds down the third spot after leading the points earlier in the season. A DNF at 81 Speedway to conclude March put an end to his perfect stretch of top 10s, but Scelzi and KCP Racing have since rebounded with six straight finishes of ninth or better.

Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing have been quietly consistent all season, leading them to the fourth spot only 12 points behind Scelzi. The Hanover, PA driver owns a 6.8 average finish this year and hasn’t finished worse than 12th.

Carson Macedo completes the current top five, four markers behind Schuchart. The Jason Johnson Racing #41 continues to shake off a forgettable start at the 2024 DIRTcar Nationals. In the 11 races since the season opening event, Macedo hasn’t missed the top 10 and owns a 4.45 average finish.

SCHATZVILLE: It’s impossible to head to Knoxville without viewing Donny Schatz’s mind-blowing résumé on the Marion County Fairgrounds that he’ll look to add to this weekend.

His Knoxville Nationals success is well documented with 11 triumphs in the sport’s most prestigious race, one away from Steve Kinser’s record of 12. He’s also been on the podium a whopping 20 times in “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All.”

But the Knoxville success isn’t limited to the Nationals for Schatz. The 10-time Series champion has topped 11 World of Outlaws Features at the Iowa oval in months not named August. He’s the second most recent April winner with the Series, topping a spring visit back in 2007. The Fargo, ND native has also won in May, June, and October at Knoxville.

ROOKIES IN RHYTHM: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog are separated by 22 years of age, but they’re united in being rookies on the World of Outlaws tour. And lately they’ve been united in being two of the fastest cars on track.

Kofoid is one of, if not the hottest drivers among the World of Outlaws roster at the moment. He’s reeled off four consecutive podiums and 10 consecutive top 10s aboard the Roth Motorsports #83. The Penngrove, CA driver has qualified for the finale in both of his Knoxville Nationals attempts, picking up Rookie of the Year honors in 2022 before grabbing a top 10 last year. He nearly won at the half mile last year, finishing second with the All-Star Circuit of Champions.

Balog has logged four consecutive finishes of sixth or better including a runner-up at Paducah, his first Series podium since 2019. The “North Pole Nightmare” has plenty of Knoxville experience with tastes of success here and there. He’s been in the top 10 in multiple Knoxville Nationals prelims.

The chase for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year currently sees Kofoid holding a 102-point advantage over Balog heading into Knoxville.

APRIL ABSENCE: This weekend is set to end a 12-year drought of April World of Outlaws action in Knoxville. But before this recent absence the half mile was a common stop of the tour in the spring.

The World of Outlaws have contested 43 Knoxville Features in the month of April. The first was April 21, 1979 and topped by Sammy Swindell. The Germantown, TN legend also claimed the most recent on April 28, 2012. Swindell has won the most in April with 13 checkered flags. The only driver that will be in the pit area this weekend with an April World of Outlaws win on the black zook clay is Donny Schatz.

This weekend will reignite the tradition of the country’s greatest Sprint Car drivers visiting the Marion County Fairgrounds in the spring.

KNOXVILLE KNOWLEDGE: Knoxville has always offered some of the toughest local competition in the country for the World of Outlaws to face and expect this weekend to be no different.

Brian Brown headlines the crop of Knoxville regulars. “Blackjack’s” 65 overall Knoxville victories rank second behind only the legendary Danny Lasoski. Among those wins are a trio with The Greatest Show on Dirt including one last June.

Two-time and defending Knoxville track champion – Austin McCarl – will be in the hunt to secure his first World of Outlaws win at his home track. The Altoona, IA native is a former Knoxville Nationals pole sitter (2022), and last year he sat on the pole of night one of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash before earning his third career World of Outlaws top five.

Plenty of more local talents are likely to join the field this weekend including Knoxville’s own Riley Goodno, Tasker Phillips (Pleasantville, IA), McKenna Haase (Des Moines, IA), Chris Martin (Ankeny, IA), Cole Mincer (Burlington, IA), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, April 26-27 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (15/82 Races):

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon

FEATURE LAPS LED (13 Drivers):

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (8 Drivers):

4 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (20 Drivers):

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (30 Drivers):

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (12 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Logan McCandless, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kevin Newton

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (12 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (15 Drivers):

TOP 10 FINISHES (36 Drivers):

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws, Xtreme Outlaw Tours Joining For Ohio Doubleheader at Atomic

CHILLICOTHE, OH (April 24, 2024) – Ohio race fans will be treated to a doubleheader weekend at Atomic Speedway with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota in May.

For the first time, the two national series will run together at the 3/8-mile Chillicothe, OH track on Friday-Saturday, May 24-25.

It'll mark the end of the World of Outlaws' spring Ohio swing and the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series' first stop in Ohio this season.

The iconic Ohio track has produced some of the most exciting races in World of Outlaws history and has seen four different winners in the last four Series races there – including Ohio's Sheldon Haudenschild in 2022.

Last year, Jade Avedisian scored the win with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets at Atomic – one of five victories she picked up en route to her becoming the first women to win a national dirt racing title.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday-Saturday, May 24-25
Location – Chillicothe, OH
Track Record (Sprint Cars) – 10.915 sec. set by Brock Mayes in 2005
Track Record (Midgets) – 14.036 sec. set by Daniel Whitley on July 29, 2023

Times (ET) –
2PM Gates Open
4PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.
How to Watch – Can't make it to the track? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (Sprint Cars on May 27, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueA_v-2_8K4

Last Race Video Recap (Xtreme Outlaw Midgets on July 29, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBP-7WuWis4

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Atomic –
2023 - Brad Sweet on May 26, Carson Macedo on May 27
2022 - Sheldon Haudenschild on May 28
2009 - Donny Schatz on August 1
2008 - Donny Schatz on July 26
2007 - Terry McCarl on July 28
2006 - Donny Schatz on August 5
2005 - Donny Schatz on September 27
2004 - Jason Meyers on May 11
2003 - Daryn Pittman on July 31

Previous Xtreme Outlaw winners at Atomic –
2023 – Jade Avedisian on July 29

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Make Springtime Knoxville Stop

A tightening top five in the standings headline a rare April visit to The Sprint Car Capital of the World

RELATED: Vote for the Knoxville Nationals as USA Today’s Best Motorsports Race

BUY TWO-DAY KNOXVILLE TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY KNOXVILLE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

TOP FIVE IS TIGHT: The 2024 World of Outlaws championship battle appears primed to stay tight all the way to Charlotte, NC when #AllDirtRoads lead to the World Finals. The top five tightened this past weekend, and only 68 points separate the leading five drivers.

SCHATZVILLE: It’s impossible to head to Knoxville without viewing Donny Schatz’s mind-blowing résumé on the Marion County Fairgrounds that he’ll look to add to this weekend.

ROOKIES IN RHYTHM: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog are separated by 22 years of age, but they’re united in being rookies on the World of Outlaws tour. And lately they’ve been united in being two of the fastest cars on track.

The chase for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year currently sees Kofoid holding a 102-point advantage over Balog heading into Knoxville.

APRIL ABSENCE: This weekend is set to end a 12-year drought of April World of Outlaws action in Knoxville. But before this recent absence the half mile was a common stop of the tour in the spring.

This weekend will reignite the tradition of the country’s greatest Sprint Car drivers visiting the Marion County Fairgrounds in the spring.

KNOXVILLE KNOWLEDGE: Knoxville has always offered some of the toughest local competition in the country for the World of Outlaws to face and expect this weekend to be no different.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, April 26-27 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (15/82 Races):

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Wins – Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon

FEATURE LAPS LED (13 Drivers):

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (8 Drivers):

4 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (20 Drivers):

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (30 Drivers):

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (12 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Logan McCandless, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kevin Newton

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (12 Drivers):

PODIUM FINISHES (15 Drivers):

TOP 10 FINISHES (36 Drivers):

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: Xtreme Outlaw Midget National Tour Returns to Salisbury's Millbridge Speedway

SALISBURY, NC (April 22, 2024) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is returning home in May to kick off a week of motorsports activities in North Carolina.

Millbridge Speedway – which hosted the Series' inaugural race in 2022 – will again be the site of the DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown, Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22.

The biggest stars in dirt Midget racing will be in attendance, inlcuding 2023 Xtreme Outlaw champion Jade Avedisian – the first women to win a national championship in dirt racing – Oklahoma's Cannon McIntosh, who swept the two Millbridge races last year, 2022 Xtreme Outlaw champion Zach Daum, and local standouts Trevor Cline and Ethan Mitchell – both from Mooresville, NC.

With the race leading up to NASCAR's Coke 600 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the two-day event also tends to bring out some of the biggest names in racing to compete, such as NASCAR Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe and Carson Hocevar.

EVENT INFO
Date – Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22
Location – Salisbury, NC

Times (ET) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps & Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at track
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (May 23, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-r5WFm2Q4o

Previous Xtreme Outlaw Winners at Millbridge –
2023 – Cannon McIntosh on May 23 & May 24
2022 – Gavan Boschele on May 24, Taylor Reimer on May 25

HAUBSTADT HEATER: Brady Bacon Outduels Gravel for Second Straight Tri-State Victory

The Macho Man swaps the top spot multiple times with David Gravel before driving away to win

HAUBSTADT, IN (April 20, 2024) - Brady Bacon has Tri-State Speedway figured out.

Last year “The Macho Man” finally broke through at the Haubstadt, IN bullring. After countless near misses and cases of heartbreak with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars at Tri-State, he made the elusive trip to Victory Lane for his first Series win in 2023. And he came back for an encore in 2024.

The Broken Arrow, OK native started third in Saturday night’s Feature, had a fierce battle with David Gravel for the top spot, and then drove expertly through lapped traffic to go back-to-back at the “Hoosier State” facility.

The Haubstadt crowd that’s grown to love Bacon throughout his endless wingless success in the state of Indiana welcomed him to Victory Lane with a massive roar.

“I had a really good car on the bottom,” Bacon said. “It was going to be hard to pass him (Gravel) just in open track, but I could move around a little bit more than him, I think. And then once we got out front with those yellows, I just couldn’t make mistakes on those restarts. He got close to me on one of them. I thought we had a really good car in open air, so I was liking those yellows at the end, but we could still maneuver in traffic.”

Last year Bacon’s win made him the 150th driver to win a World of Outlaws race. Saturday’s victory made him the 101st with at least two. He became only the fifth driver to top consecutive World of Outlaws race at Tri-State Speedway, joining Doug Wolfgang, Andy Hillenburg, Paul McMahan, and Carson Macedo.

The 40-lap main event was led to green by David Gravel and Logan Schuchart. Gravel darted ahead to secure the early lead while the third-starting Bacon slipped under Schuchart for second.

The game of cat and mouse began as Bacon locked his sights on the Big Game Motorsports #2. The battle intensified when traffic became a factor. Bacon quickly closed in aboard the TKH Motorsports #21H.

On Lap 9 Bacon rolled under Gravel to grab the lead and ignite a war for the top spot. The next lap Gravel launched a slide job to snag the spot back. Bacon promptly returned the favor by sliding Gravel in Turn 1. Down the back straightaway Gravel crossed over and drove back ahead entering Turn 3 and pulled ahead to calm the battle for a little while.

It didn’t take long to heat back up as Bacon reeled him back in as they worked through more traffic. Bacon looked low in Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 16 to pull alongside Gravel but couldn’t quite clear him. In the next set of corners, “The Macho Man” mustered the strength he needed to power ahead on the bottom and lead the 16th circuit. And this time he had no intentions of letting Gravel back by.

Over the second half of the race, Bacon delivered a masterclass in working through traffic. He moved wherever he needed to on the quarter mile. He sliced through cars on the top and the bottom of Tri-State Speedway. By the time the checkered flag flew, Bacon had lapped up to 11th as he secured his second straight Haubstadt victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Bacon had so much fun on Saturday night, it had him itching to strap the wing on more often.

“A lot of people come together to make this happen,” Bacon said. “If we could a little more help, we could probably do this wing stuff a little more often, so anyone can give us a call.”

After leading early, Gravel held on for the runner-up spot. The result served as an encouraging bounce back after a crash on Friday at Paducah. He and the Big Game Motorsports crew are already up to a Series-leading eight podiums in 2024. Saturday also allowed him to extend his lead atop the standings to 34 markers ahead of Donny Schatz.

“I thought we were maybe equally as good early, but once the fuel load came off he (Bacon) was superior,” Gravel said. “I thought I got through lapped traffic really, really good, and I saw him underneath me, and I did an aggressive move in lapped traffic, and that’s how he got the lead from me. Man, he just diced through lapped traffic there in the last 10 laps. Obviously, he was the best car last year and the best car this year.”

Rounding out the top three for the third straight race was Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83. The Californian us up to four consecutive podiums as he and his team continue to build momentum amid Kofoid’s rookie year.

“It’s funny at a track like this, running winged Sprint Cars you’re always trying to drive straight and everything, and here you throw all that out the window and get her backed in,” Kofoid said. “We just tried to get that feeling more comfortable and getting stuck like that here is huge. We made great improvements from the Dash to the Feature. I feel like I could move around a lot more and turn down and not get too free and make speed off the bottom, which is something I’ve struggled with here even in Midgets.”

Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 17th to 11th run gave Donny Schatz the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

David Gravel picked up his second Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 112th of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to David Gravel (249th Heat Race win of career), Danny Sams III (first of career), Sheldon Haudenschild (105th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Carson Macedo (118th of career).

David Gravel won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Brock Zearfoss won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make a springtime stop at Knoxville Raceway for two nights (April 26-27) next weekend. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

Haubstadt IN 4/20/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 7. 16T-Cole Macedo[12]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[13]; 10. 27-Emerson Axsom[6]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[17]; 12. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[14]; 13. 70-Kraig Kinser[11]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[18]; 15. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[15]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 17. 122-Joe B Miller[16]; 18. 12-Robert Ballou[23]; 19. 97-Scotty Milan[10]; 20. 7S-Landon Crawley[24]; 21. 16TH-Kevin Newton[19]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[21]; 23. 23B-Brian Bell[20]; 24. 15K-Creed Kemenah[22]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]; 2. 15K-Creed Kemenah[2]; 3. 12-Robert Ballou[6]; 4. 7S-Landon Crawley[10]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[1]; 6. 17GP-Jadon Rogers[12]; 7. 6-Bill Rose[5]; 8. 29X-Brayton Lynch[11]; 9. 34-Sterling Cling[7]; 10. 42-Andy Bishop[8]; 11. 29-Logan McCandless[4]; 12. 5K-Kevin Thomas Jr[9]

Toyota Dash (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 3. 21H-Brady Bacon[6]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III[7]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 21H-Brady Bacon[4]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[8]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson[3]; 8. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 3. 97-Scotty Milan[3]; 4. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[6]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee[7]; 6. 29-Logan McCandless[8]; 7. 34-Sterling Cling[5]; 8. 15K-Creed Kemenah[4]

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 24D-Danny Sams III[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 70-Kraig Kinser[3]; 4. 12S-Adyn Schmidt[5]; 5. 16TH-Kevin Newton[6]; 6. 6-Bill Rose[7]; 7. 42-Andy Bishop[8]; 8. 29X-Brayton Lynch[4]

Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 3. 16T-Cole Macedo[4]; 4. 122-Joe B Miller[3]; 5. 23B-Brian Bell[6]; 6. 12-Robert Ballou[7]; 7. 5K-Kevin Thomas Jr[5]; 8. 17GP-Jadon Rogers[8]

Sea Foam Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:12.761[31]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:12.766[17]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:12.837[23]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:12.841[10]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:12.872[4]; 6. 27-Emerson Axsom, 00:12.937[26]; 7. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:12.950[8]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:12.986[6]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:12.993[1]; 10. 97-Scotty Milan, 00:13.044[5]; 11. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.076[28]; 12. 122-Joe B Miller, 00:13.092[2]; 13. 21H-Brady Bacon, 00:13.093[32]; 14. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.100[22]; 15. 29X-Brayton Lynch, 00:13.111[16]; 16. 16T-Cole Macedo, 00:13.134[7]; 17. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.168[30]; 18. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:13.247[18]; 19. 12S-Adyn Schmidt, 00:13.271[15]; 20. 5K-Kevin Thomas Jr, 00:13.278[29]; 21. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.279[20]; 22. 3-Ayrton Gennetten, 00:13.279[12]; 23. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:13.307[13]; 24. 23B-Brian Bell, 00:13.314[3]; 25. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.316[24]; 26. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:13.464[14]; 27. 6-Bill Rose, 00:13.539[19]; 28. 12-Robert Ballou, 00:13.715[25]; 29. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.792[11]; 30. 29-Logan McCandless, 00:13.919[21]; 31. 42-Andy Bishop, 00:13.930[9]; 32. 17GP-Jadon Rogers, 00:14.000[27]

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON: Sheldon Haudenschild Rides the Haud Line to Paducah Victory

Haudenschild rips by Bill Balog early and drives to third World of Outlaws win of 2024 (Trent Gower Photo)

PADUCAH, KY (April 19, 2024) - The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the Haudenschild family.

Almost 14 years to the date that Jac Haudenschild drove to the win at Kentucky’s Paducah International Raceway, his son – Sheldon Haudenschild – put together a very similar race to make his own trip to Victory Lane.

Back in 2010, Jac slipped by Jason Sides exiting Turn 4 on the opening lap and led the entire distance for the win. On Friday night, Sheldon blasted by Bill Balog in Turn 4 on Lap 2 and controlled the remainder of the race to triumph with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. In Haudenschild fashion, neither shied from Paducah’s intimidating topside on their path to victory.

The Paducah crowd that hadn’t seen The Greatest Show on Dirt come to town since 2012 erupted as Haudenschild climbed atop the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 in Victory Lane.

“Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Steve (Kinzer Dussel), and Luke (Vaughn),” Haudenschild said. “They’ve been putting the work in, and it pays off. Happy to get this whole NOS Energy Drink team back in Victory Lane. We’ve got all the guys from J&J (Auto Racing) here. I’m so happy to be back in their cars and on a good program.”

Haudenschild is up to 37 career World of Outlaws wins, giving him sole possession of 20th on the all-time win list. It was the Wooster, OH native’s first win in the state of Kentucky, making the “Bluegrass State” the 17th different he’s won inside the borders of. Paducah is the 24th different racetrack where he’s topped a World of Outlaws race. After winning three races all of last year, Haudenschild has already reached three victories through only 14 races in 2024.

Bill Balog and Haudenschild brought the 30-lapper to green. The “North Pole Nightmare” jumped out to the early advantage, but Haudenschild didn’t let him get far. The 30-year-old fired a slide job in Turn 1 on the second lap that cleared the Anderson’s Maple #17B. Balog battled back down the back straightaway with a crossover to regain the spot. Balog slid toward the top in Turns 3 and 4, but Haudenschild roared around him on the top exiting the corner to secure the lead.

Throughout the opening laps Haudenschild opened up the advantage as he ripped the cushion. While Haudenschild set sail up front, battles broke out behind him all over the 3/8-mile. Shortly before Haudenschild put 10 laps in the books he began to encounter traffic. The slower cars along Balog to close back in, trimming the lead from nearly two seconds to under a second in only a couple laps.

But right when it appeared a battle for the lead may be shaping up, Haudenschild put multiple lapped cars between himself and Balog to extend the lead as they neared the halfway mark.

Carson Macedo and David Gravel began to close in on Balog to create a three-car battle for second. Gravel slipped ahead of Macedo for third, and then a couple laps later the trio started to slice and dice leading them to driving three-wide down the back straightaway for the spot. A caution for a spinning Danny Sams III put the battle on hold.

The ensuing restart brought chaos. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid took advantage of a huge run down the back straightaway to slide both Gravel and Balog to take second. The Roth Motorsports #83 narrowly cleared Balog, who looked to turn underneath Kofoid but made contact with Gravel. The impact sent Gravel spinning toward the infield and led to contact with Brock Zearfoss, sending them both over and bringing out the red flag. Gravel’s night was done, and his point lead shrank to 16 markers as a result.

The crash lined the field up for a restart with 13 laps remaining, but Haudenschild had no intentions of allowing any late-race drama. The 2017 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year took off on his way to a commanding victory as the World of Outlaws returned to Paducah for the first time in a dozen years.

“I felt like it was a little hard to pass, and I felt like if anybody was going to pass me with how fast I was able to rip the top, it would’ve been pretty difficult to throw a slider,” Haudenschild said. “I felt like my entry was really good, so if I needed to I could kind of come off of it a little bit and be a little safer. When you know you’ve got to make speed, you’ve got to keep it straight up there and not drag the wall.”

Balog held on to notch the runner-up spot, marking his best finish of the year and first podium outing. He’s now posted three consecutive top five finishes after a pair last weekend in Pevely. Balog continues to exceed his own expectations with yet another strong run with his B2 Motorsports team.

“It’s awesome,” Balog said of his night. “This has been just an awesome adventure. I’m as surprised as you are some of these nights. The car has been good, and we keep getting greedier and greedier. I didn’t really have anything for Sheldon there, but we were able to race pretty good and hang on to second.”

Kofoid brought the Roth Motorsports #83 home third. He and the Roth crew continue to build momentum with three consecutive World of Outlaws podiums.

“I can’t thank Dennis and Teresa Roth enough for the opportunity to drive this iconic, beautiful race car,” Kofoid said. “And Mobil 1 and Toyota for continuing to back us and make it possible.”

The brothers Cole and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

A 13th to sixth effort aboard the KCP Racing #18 earned Giovanni Scelzi the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo snagged his fourth Simpson Quick Time of the year in Seafoam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Carson Macedo (117th Heat Race win of career) and David Gravel (248th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Buddy Kofoid (20th of career).

Bill Balog won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kevin Newton won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Brock Zearfoss earned the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only 2024 Indiana visit with a night at Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, April 20. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

Paducah International Speedway KY 4/19/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 4. 16T-Cole Macedo[9]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[13]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 9. 97-Scotty Milan[7]; 10. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[3]; 11. 21H-Brady Bacon[8]; 12. 15K-Creed Kemenah[11]; 13. 70-Kraig Kinser[17]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[18]; 15. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[10]; 17. 34-Sterling Cling[20]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee[21]; 19. W20-Greg Wilson[24]; 20. 29-Logan McCandless[16]; 21. 16TH-Kevin Newton[19]; 22. 6-Bill Rose[23]; 23. 2-David Gravel[5]; 24. 122-Joe B Miller[22]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 16TH-Kevin Newton[1]; 2. 34-Sterling Cling[4]; 3. 99-Skylar Gee[3]; 4. 122-Joe B Miller[2]; 5. 6-Bill Rose[5]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[7]; 7. 17GP-Cole Duncan[8]; 8. 3M-Howard Moore[6]; 9. 37-Ayden Gatewood[10]; 10. 42-Andy Bishop[11]; 11. 23B-Brian Bell[9]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 3. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[6]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 5. 2-David Gravel[3]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 3. 97-Scotty Milan[3]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 6. 29-Logan McCandless[8]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[7]; 8. 122-Joe B Miller[4]; 9. 17GP-Cole Duncan[10]; 10. 42-Andy Bishop[9]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[4]; 3. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 4. 15K-Creed Kemenah[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 6. 70-Kraig Kinser[8]; 7. 34-Sterling Cling[10]; 8. 3M-Howard Moore[9]; 9. 23B-Brian Bell[6]; 10. 16TH-Kevin Newton[2]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 3. 16T-Cole Macedo[3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 5. 24D-Danny Sams III[6]; 6. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 7. 6-Bill Rose[7]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson[9]; 9. 37-Ayden Gatewood[8]

Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:14.212[6]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:14.393[14]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.432[2]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.546[8]; 5. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.571[4]; 6. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.633[26]; 7. 97-Scotty Milan, 00:14.758[7]; 8. 21H-Brady Bacon, 00:14.763[1]; 9. 16T-Cole Macedo, 00:14.763[23]; 10. 122-Joe B Miller, 00:14.899[5]; 11. 3-Ayrton Gennetten, 00:15.072[9]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:15.089[21]; 13. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:15.129[16]; 14. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:15.147[28]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:15.162[12]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:15.221[17]; 17. 23B-Brian Bell, 00:15.281[19]; 18. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:15.337[13]; 19. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:15.380[29]; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:15.493[22]; 21. 6-Bill Rose, 00:15.554[24]; 22. 29-Logan McCandless, 00:15.606[20]; 23. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:15.645[18]; 24. 37-Ayden Gatewood, 00:15.666[15]; 25. 42-Andy Bishop, 00:15.707[10]; 26. 3M-Howard Moore, 00:15.723[3]; 27. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:16.010[11]; 28. 17GP-Cole Duncan, 00:16.010[25]; 29. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:16.182[27]

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Make Lone 2024 Stops in Kentucky, Indiana

Paducah brings the Series to Kentucky for the first time since 2012 while Tri-State makes its annual spring appearance

PADUCAH, KY (April 16, 2024) - The only 2024 trips to Kentucky and Indiana are up next for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

First up is a Friday, April 19, visit to Kentucky’s Paducah International Raceway to bring The Greatest Show on Dirt back to the “Bluegrass State” for the first time in 12 years.

Then, a trip north across the Ohio River takes the tour to the “Hoosier State.” Indiana may be known for basketball, but in the Sprint Car world it’s known for bullrings, and down in southern Indiana Haubstadt is home to one of the best – Tri-State Speedway. The quarter mile welcomes the World of Outlaws for the 45th time on Saturday, April 20.

A highly anticipated return to a state starved of the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers and one of the most anticipated races of the year is set to create a thrilling double header this weekend.

BUY PADUCAH TICKETS HERE
BUY TRI-STATE TICKETS BY CALLING (812) 768-6025

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

BACK IN THE BLUEGRASS: A dozen long years have passed since The Greatest Show on Dirt has competed in the state of Kentucky, but Paducah’s Friday event is set to welcome the tour back to the “Bluegrass State.”

Back in 2012 when the World of Outlaws last visited, Paducah was also the destination, and Joey Saldana drove the Kasey Kahne Racing #9 to his 87th career win. Of the 2024 roster, only Donny Schatz, Kraig Kinser, and Bill Rose were full-time for the most recent Kentucky trip.

The World of Outlaws have completed 10 races in the state of Kentucky at two tracks – seven at Paducah and three at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway (Calvert City, KY). The first was hosted by Paducah in 1998 and won by Jeff Swindell. All 10 races have produced a different name in Victory Lane, and the trend will continue Friday as none of the previous Kentucky winners will be in the field.

TRI-STATE TRIUMPHS: Only two of the current crop of World of Outlaws stars have been to Tri-State Speedway Victory Lane, and they’re two of the best on a quarter-mile – Carson Macedo and David Gravel.

The Haubstadt bullring has been one of Macedo’s best tracks throughout the years. The Lemoore, CA driver topped three consecutive trips to Tri-State from 2020-2022. He hasn’t finished worse than fourth at the quarter mile in his last five attempts, and he’s led laps in the last four. The three wins put Tri-State in a tie with Eldora Speedway and Jackson Motorplex for the winningest track on his Series résumé. He’s also tied with Mark Kinser for the fourth most victories. Only Steve Kinser (eight wins), Sammy Swindell (five wins), and Craig Dollansky (four wins) own more.

Macedo enters this weekend on a roll of nine consecutive top 10s, including a pair of podiums this past weekend at I-55.

Gravel has twice conquered Tri-State (2016 & 2018), and both came when he was behind the wheel of the CJB Motorsports #5. The current point leader has been in the top five in six of his 14 Haubstadt starts.

The Watertown, CT native carries the momentum of seven consecutive top fives including a run of five straight top twos at one point during the stretch. His win last Friday at I-55 pushed Big Game Motorsports to 97 World of Outlaws wins as they continue to near the rare triple-digit territory.

HAUBSTADT HEARTBREAK: There’s no doubt that Sheldon Haudenschild knows his way around Tri-State Speedway, but a win has eluded him in seemingly every way possible.

Back in 2017, Haudenschild led 13 laps before contact with a lapped car left him with a sixth-place finish. The following year he led seven laps before contact with Justin Peck on a restart with 10 laps to go gave him a DNF. The next two visits he finished second including a drive from 18th in 2019. The Wooster, OH native led 10 laps in 2021 before a flat tire with less than 10 laps remaining dropped the heartbreak. And most recently Haudenschild led 16 laps last year before Brady Bacon snuck by with only a few circuits remaining.

Overall, he’s led 46 Feature laps and finished runner-up on three occasions, but he’s yet to grasp a checkered flag. He’ll look to change that this weekend with the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing crew as he makes his 11th Haubstadt visit.

A RARE DONNY DOUBLE: Not often do the World of Outlaws visit two tracks where Donny Schatz is yet to win, but that’s exactly the scenario this weekend.

The 10-time Series champion has been in the pit area for all seven visits to Paducah. After missing the top 10 in the first two, Schatz found consistency with five straight finishes of seventh or better highlighted by a runner-up in 2009.

Tri-State Speedway has been the closest thing to kryptonite for the living legend. It’s the track where he’s made the most starts (26) without a win. He’s knocked on the door a handful of times with six top fives, peaking at third in 2008.

The Fargo, ND driver has been strong all of 2024 with a 5.46 average finish through the first 13 races. He’ll head to Paducah and Tri-State fresh off an I-55 win looking to challenge for his first victory at both facilities.

BUDDY BREAKTHROUGH?: The 2024 season started with some ups and downs for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports, but over the last few weeks they’ve locked into a strong groove.

The rookie hasn’t missed the top 10 since a cut tire ended a potential winning run at Volusia in early March. As the weeks continue Kofoid and his team look to be gaining more and more steam toward their first win of the season. Three of the last four races have resulted in podium runs for the Penngrove, CA driver.

Friday will mark Kofoid’s Paducah debut, but he’s got plenty of Tri-State experience. He finished 13th with the World of Outlaws last year at Haubstadt. He’s also competed there six times with the USAC National Midgets, bagging a trio of runner-up finishes.

PRIMED FOR A FIRST-TIME: There’s something about Tri-State Speedway that makes it a prime location for first-time Series winners. Whether it’s the surface, size, shape, or all three combined, the Indiana oval tends to put new faces in Victory Lane.

Six times the quarter mile has provided a driver’s first World of Outlaws win. The trend began with the track’s first race when Lee James won on May 13, 1979. Three months later it was Larry “Buckwheat” Gates taming Tri-State for his one and only Series victory. Fast forward to 1992 when Texan Gary Wright snagged his first checkered flag with The Greatest Show on Dirt at Haubstadt.

The latest three new winners have all arrived in the last decade. Indiana’s own Parker Price-Miller went to Victory Lane in August of 2017. Then, in 2020, Marion, IL’s Carson Short traveled one state east for Tri-State glory. Most recently, Brady Bacon topped the 2023 visit to become the 150th different winner in Series history.

Saturday offers the next opportunity for another potential new winner to arise from Tri-State Speedway.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, April 19 at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY
Saturday, April 20 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (13/82 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (1860 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-48 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-72 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-88 PTS)
5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-100 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-146 PTS)
7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-188 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-244 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-288 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-370 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers):

3 Wins – David Gravel
2 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu

FEATURE LAPS LED (12 Drivers):

80 Laps – David Gravel
56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
42 Laps – Donny Schatz
48 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
10 Laps – Bill Balog
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (8 Drivers):

3 Quick Times – Carson Macedo
2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, David Gravel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (19 Drivers):

6 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel
5 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Michael Kofoid
3 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Landon Crawley
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Donny Schatz

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (26 Drivers):

11 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
10 Dashes – David Gravel
8 Dashes – Carson Macedo
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
6 Dashes – Bill Balog
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley
4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Logan Schuchart
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Logan McCandless

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (10 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Logan McCandless, Garet Williamson

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (11 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl

PODIUM FINISHES (13 Drivers):

7 Podiums – David Gravel
5 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel

TOP 10 FINISHES (31 Drivers):

12 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi, David Gravel
11 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
10 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
9 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
7 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu
4 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss
3 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel
2 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Chase Randall
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, James McFadden, Joe B. Miller, Kraig Kinser

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

PEVELY POWERHOUSE: Donny Schatz Drives Away to I-55 World of Outlaws Victory

Schatz takes the lead early and builds a commanding lead on his way to third win at the Pevely, MO oval (Trent Gower Photo)

PEVELY, MO (April 13, 2024) - Donny Schatz is undeniably one of the best to ever drive a Sprint Car. And the 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion gave yet another example of why on Saturday night.

The Greatest Show on Dirt invaded Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the second straight night, and Schatz gave the huge crowd a show. The Fargo, ND driver started fourth for the 40-lap finale, took the lead on Lap 11, and stretched his advantage to nearly five seconds at one point before taking the checkered flag for his second win of 2024.

The trip to Victory Lane felt especially rewarding after a 20th place Qualifying effort left him and the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing team playing catch up early in the night.

“If you were near my trailer after Qualifying, you probably heard some choice words, so I apologize for that,” Schatz said. “It just shows the heart of this team. It’s such a double-edged razor blade somedays. We dug out of a huge hole tonight and got a win at a racetrack we typically don’t run good on. We threw two kitchen sinks at it tonight. This place is demanding, and we haven’t been to Victory Lane here in a long time and didn’t really know what the track was going to do. I just went where everybody wasn’t, and it actually felt pretty good.”

Schatz upped his World of Outlaws win total to 313. The victory was his third at I-55 and first since 2015. It also marked his 50th top-10 finish at the Pevely, MO bullring – making it the fifth track where he’s reached the impressive feat. Win number two of 2024 makes it 26 consecutive seasons of multiple World of Outlaws checkered flags.

The 40-lap main event got off to a wild start. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led the field to green with Logan McCandless – making only his sixth Series appearance – to his outside. McCandless slipped up down the front straightaway allowing the second row of Bill Balog and Donny Schatz to his inside. In the first set of corners, Kofoid got tight which let Balog roll by him down the back straightaway to take the lead and pace the opening circuit.

An early restart saw near disaster at the front of the field. Kofoid used a huge run to attack Balog for the lead exiting Turn 2. Balog slid up, and Kofoid used evasive action to avoid making contact with the Anderson’s Maple #17B. Behind the top two Schatz stuck the bottom and rolled right by Kofoid to snag the runner-up spot.

Over the next few laps Kofoid challenged Schatz in an attempt to regain second, but Schatz fended him off and set his sights on Balog. The “North Pole Nightmare” kept a solid advantage, but Schatz began to close in as traffic thickened ahead.

On the 11th circuit, Balog found himself caught up behind a lapped car which opened the door for Schatz. The pilot of the Carquest #15 fired a slide job in Turns 3 and 4 and cleared both Balog and the slower car.

Balog stayed right with Schatz throughout the next couple circuits. But it didn’t take long for Schatz to establish a rhythm and begin to look like prime Donny Schatz. He put a pair of lapped cars between himself and Balog and began to pull away.

From there, Schatz sliced his way through the tail of the field with precision. If they were running high in front of him, he went low. If they were low, he went high. If they were in the middle, he could choose either the top or the bottom. Schatz’s lead bloomed to as much as 4.6 seconds.

Carson Macedo took the second spot from Balog on Lap 25 and looked to bring a battle to Schatz. As the race dipped inside 10 laps remaining, the Jason Johnson Racing pilot began to take chunks out of the margin. He cut it below two seconds on Lap 36, but it was too little, too late as Schatz rolled to his third I-55 win.

“Sometimes it’s probably better to be in the position where you’re in that second row not knowing what the racetrack is going to do,” Schatz said. “And I think that was a huge thing tonight. The #41 there he was pretty good on the bottom early, and I couldn’t ever really get down there. I was worried about the hole off of (Turn) 2. Hats off to the whole Carquest team. It was actually a pretty fun race. Normally when we come here it’s up near the fence. And tonight, we could roll around on the fence, on the bottom, kind of anywhere. So that felt really good.”

Macedo’s runner-up gave him back-to-back podium efforts with the JJR crew. He’s still yet to miss the top-10 since the finale of DIRTcar Nationals in early February. Another strong Albaugh #41 machine led Macedo to another solid outing, his sixth top three in the last eight I-55 races.

“I feel like we had a strong race car there throughout that whole race,” Macedo said. “I was able to move around a lot in traffic. Philip Dietz did an incredible job there. I feel like we made some good adjustments in the Dash and got even better there in the Feature, which feels really good.”

Rounding out the top three was Buddy Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports crew. The pairing continues to build momentum with their third podium in the last four races. A win seems imminent for the Penngrove, CA native. After the race, a contrite Kofoid offered apologies for some late contact with David Gravel.

“First off I just want to apologize to David and his whole crew,” Kofoid said. “Obviously, that was not my intention. I feel really bad about that. I know saying that isn’t going to change anything… We were good all day. Good weekend for our Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1, Toyota guys. I don’t know if we were good enough to win, but I felt like I kind of made a couple of mistakes early and then got going in the middle and end, but it wasn’t quite enough to get there.”

David Gravel and Bill Balog completed the top five.

A 23rd to 11th drive gave Austin McCarl the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his third Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 36th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Carson Macedo (116th Heat Race win of career), Giovanni Scelzi (44th of career), and Landon Crawley (second of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to David Gravel (247th of career).

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their only appearances of 2024 in Kentucky and Indiana next weekend. First, the tour invades Kentucky’s Paducah International Raceway for the first time since 2012 on Friday, April 19. Then it’s the annual stop at Haubstadt, IN’s Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, April 20. For tickets to Paducah, CLICK HERE. For tickets to Tri-State, call (812) 768-6025.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 4. 2-David Gravel[6]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[9]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel[19]; 9. 70-Kraig Kinser[12]; 10. 2KS-Chase Randall[16]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl[23]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 13. 7S-Landon Crawley[8]; 14. 29-Logan McCandless[2]; 15. 22-Riley Goodno[13]; 16. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[15]; 17. 122-Joe B Miller[14]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[25]; 19. 23B-Brian Bell[10]; 20. 37-Ayden Gatewood[18]; 21. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 22. 6-Bill Rose[17]; 23. 95-Matt Covington[20]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[22]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[11]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Ashton Torgerson Scores First Career Xtreme Outlaw Series Win in Farmer City Finale

Arizona driver becomes sixth different winner in first six races of 2024

FARMER CITY, IL (April 13, 2024) – The signs were there. Mid-pack runs turned to podium finishes, and it seemed it was only a matter of time before Ashton Torgerson broke through to Victory Lane.

On the night following a runner-up finish at Farmer City Raceway, the 17-year-old national Midget series rookie from Glendale, AZ, proved he had the skill to be one spot better, taking the green from the pole and leading all but one lap en route to his first career Feature win with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

The win gained other accolades as well, as Torgerson continued the parity streak in becoming the sixth different winner in the first six races of the season. It also counted as his second win of the year with the co-sanctioning POWRi National Midget League and, with the help of Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) teammates Cannon McIntosh and Ryan Timms, gave the Indiana-based team a sweep of the podium.

After taking the checkered, Torgerson gave praise to the KKM team, which he joined as a driver in March. Torgerson first made his debut with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in May 2023 with Tanner Thorson Racing, and notched his first podium in the car, but expressed that his time at KKM thus far has been of utmost importance.

“This year, with Keith, I just feel super comfortable and keep getting better each time,” Torgerson said. “I can’t thank Keith and the whole crew enough for getting me this comfortable.”

From the pole on the starting grid, Torgerson jumped out to the early lead and quickly encountered pressure from fifth-starting Chase McDermand. The two traded passes for the lead before Torgerson gained enough momentum on the top side to zoom past McDermand for good on Lap 5.

As the race neared halfway, Timms had already entered the podium from 11th on the starting grid, and on Lap 11 made the pass on McDermand to take second. He began to cut into Torgerson’s lead and had it down to a half-second before the race’s only yellow flag was displayed on Lap 18.

Torgerson knew his car was fast, but also knew of the competition he had directly behind him.

“Under the yellow, I was listening to the [driver radio] and they said, ’67 of Timms,’ and I was like, ‘Well, I know he’s gotta be fast,’” Torgerson said. “I knew he’d be quick, and I knew I had to hit my marks, or he’d be there to capitalize on it.”

On the restart, Timms lunged at an opportunity to make the pass, trying a slide job in Turns 3 and 4, but was unable to get enough speed to slide in Torgerson’s path. As Torgerson began to pull away in the closing laps, Timms encountered pressure from behind from teammate McIntosh.

“I changed my line in (Turns) 3 and 4; I was entering in on it and turning down and it gave me a lot of speed going into 1,” Timms said. “I was slowly catching [Torgerson], but it allowed Cannon to catch me.

“We got side-by-side and there was kind of a single-file line on the bottom of lapped cars, and it was kind of narrow to try and race each other, and he got by me.”

McIntosh used the slower cars ahead of him to his advantage, completing the pass on Lap 28 by going around Timms on the outside through Turns 3 and 4 while Timms stayed low behind the lapped cars.

“I think we were both catching the leader and Ryan made a couple mistakes and I was able to get by him,” McIntosh said. “Ultimately, just ran out of time to have a chance to run Ashton down.”

McIntosh pinned the throttle in pursuit of Torgerson out front, but his time expired. The Oklahoma racer crossed the stripe in second over Timms, expanding his points lead over Timms by 10 up to a total of 27 points.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will get nearly a month off before returning to action in a two-race swing through Kansas – Friday, May 10 at Humboldt Speedway and Saturday, May 11 at 81 Speedway.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[1]; 2. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[3]; 3. 67-Ryan Timms[11]; 4. 56D-Mitchell Davis[13]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[5]; 6. 97-Gavin Miller[8]; 7. 56-Tyler Edwards[9]; 8. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[2]; 9. 97K-Kale Drake[4]; 10. 43-Gunnar Setser[22]; 11. 7U-Zach Daum[6]; 12. 21K-Karter Sarff[12]; 13. 13-Elijah Gile[18]; 14. 55-Trevor Cline[7]; 15. 1K-Brayton Lynch[15]; 16. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[14]; 17. 14S-TJ Smith[17]; 18. 66-Jayden Clay[25]; 19. 5U-Peter Smith[20]; 20. 98-Luke Drotschie[16]; 21. 71-Jade Avedisian[10]; 22. 57-Mark McMahill[23]; 23. 10C-Dalton Camfield[24]; 24. 16C-David Camfield Jr[19]; 25. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[26]; 26. 17C-Devin Camfield[21]

BIG GAME BEATDOWN: David Gravel Leads Every Lap for I-55 Victory

The point leader picks up his third victory of the season in impressive fashion

PEVELY, MO (April 12, 2024) - Nothing is slowing David Gravel right now. And that held true again on Friday night.

Lapped traffic couldn’t slow him. Cautions that erased his lead couldn’t slow him. Even a slide job that briefly cost him the lead couldn’t slow him at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

Gravel started on the front row of the Feature and drove a masterful 40 laps on his way to a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory at the Pevely, MO bullring. The Watertown, CT native sliced the Big Game Motorsports machine through heavy traffic and held off one strong challenge from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid to secure his third win of 2024.

“What a car we had tonight,” Gravel said. “I was nervous early on. Qualifying didn’t go very good, but we were still able to get a good Qualifying effort there. Cody (Jacobs) kept working on it, and in the Dash I knew we had something really good. It feels good to win one here. I haven’t won here since like 2016. It’s been way too long.”

The win marked the 91st of Gravel’s career with The Greatest Show on Dirt, equaling him with Brad Sweet for ninth on the all-time win list. It also was his 33rd since joining Tod Quiring’s Big Game team, making the organization the team he’s won the most often with in World of Outlaws competition. Gravel now owns a pair of I-55 checkered flags, and the track is the 19th in which he’s won at multiple times in Series competition.

Gravel started the race in the second position as Toyota Racing Dash winner – Giovanni Scelzi – led the field to green. Right away Gravel flexed his muscle by powering around Scelzi on the top to secure the top spot and lead the opening lap.

As they worked through the opening circuits Gravel committed to the low line while Scelzi worked to build momentum on the top. Scelzi kept the KCP Racing #18 glued behind Gravel, but Buddy Kofoid began to reel them both in quickly. On the sixth lap Kofoid slipped under Scelzi to take over the runner-up spot.

Up ahead Gravel began to negotiate heavy lapped traffic. Kofoid started to close in for the top spot, but the race’s first caution on Lap 9 gave Gravel a clear track again.

On the restart Gravel moved to the topside, and Kofoid fired a slider at him aboard the Roth Motorsports #83. The Penngrove, CA native couldn’t quite clear Gravel as Kofoid settled back into second down the back straightaway. It only took a few laps before Gravel neared the tail of the field, but it was déjà vu as the yellow lights again flashed right when the leaders were staring at heavy traffic.

The next restart served up Gravel’s biggest challenge of the night as he again went for the cushion in Turn 1. Kofoid tossed another slide job and cleared him with this attempt. As they exited Turn #2, Gravel aimed the Huset’s Speedway #2 low and drove back by Kofoid down the back straightaway.

When the race entered the second half, Gravel truly began to show what his machine was capable of. He dipped and dived his way through traffic, stretching his advantage to nearly three seconds at times. Behind him, a war between Kofoid, Scelzi, Bill Balog, and Carson Macedo broke out for positioning inside the top five. The group swapped many sliders and crossovers as they jockeyed for spots while Gravel drove away.

A late caution with seven laps remaining gave Kofoid and the rest of the frontrunners one last shot at Gravel, but he wasted no time pulling ahead on the final restart. Kofoid and Macedo went to battle for second as Gravel drove away to the win and his fifth consecutive top-two finish.

“It’s a lot of fun to drive this #2 car right now. I feel like we’ve kind of been there the whole year other than Cotton Bowl when we got into a crash and had to come to the work area,” Gravel said. “Everything has been going really good. We’re just going to stay focused, put our heads down, and keep working.”

Kofoid fended off Macedo’s late challenge to claim the runner-up spot, marking his best finish of his rookie season. The 22-year-old is now on a roll of seven straight top 10s with a 6.29 average finish over that span. Kofoid found that the race’s cautions came during inopportune moments that might’ve prevented him from mustering a better challenge for the win.

“I feel like we were every bit as good as them (Gravel), maybe more towards the end,” Kofoid said. “Lapped traffic is kind of where I thrive and where our car seems to be really good right now. We’d get to traffic and get to him, and then the yellow would come out. It kept repeating itself a few times. I think we definitely got a lot better throughout the night. I went from being very uncomfortable to having a chance to win.”

Completing the top three was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team. Macedo hasn’t missed the top 10 since the final night of DIRTcar Nationals in early February as he continues to build momentum. The Lemoore, CA native owns podiums in five of the last seven World of Outlaws races at I-55. He used some strong restarts to climb from the fifth starting spot to second at one point before settling for third.

“I think plugging the bottom was kind of my goal there,” Macedo said of his restarts. “I felt like a lot of guys would kind of sling around the top, and if I could hit it down there right and not grab that little lip and get my front end over, I could execute down there pretty nice, get down the back stretch, and beat them into Turn 3. Hats off to Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn. They worked hard all night.”

Bill Balog and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

A 24th to 12th drive in his first Series start of the season gave Noah Gass the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Giovanni Scelzi claimed his second Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 13th of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Giovanni Scelzi (43rd Heat Race win of career), Carson Macedo (115th of career), and David Gravel (246th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to Donny Schatz (522nd of career).

Logan McCandless won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finish up the weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Saturday, April 13. 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. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]; 10. 122-Joe B Miller[12]; 11. 70-Kraig Kinser[17]; 12. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 13. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 14. 24D-Danny Sams III[22]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 16. 23B-Brian Bell[15]; 17. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[10]; 18. 23-Garet Williamson[9]; 19. 29-Logan McCandless[21]; 20. 99-Skylar Gee[23]; 21. 21R-Gunner Ramey[16]; 22. 24T-Christopher Thram[19]; 23. 73-Scotty Thiel[20]; 24. 87-Aaron Reutzel[8]

For full results, CLICK HERE.

Ryan Timms Wins Farmer City Opener, Becomes Fifth Different Winner in Five Races

Timms’ win, McIntosh’s fifth-place finish cuts points gap down to 17

FARMER CITY, IL (April 12, 2024) – Ryan Timms took a big step in pursuit of his first national Midget series championship Friday night, winning the opening round of racing at Farmer City Raceway.

The 17-year-old rising open-wheel talent from Oklahoma City, OK, owned the night, setting the fastest lap time in his Qualifying group, winning his Heat Race from fourth, passing for the lead in the Feature on Lap 10 and leading the rest of the way for his first win of the season with both the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and the POWRi National Midget League.

Timms’ win makes him the fifth different winner in the first five races of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series season, joining Thomas Meseraull, Cannon McIntosh, Karter Sarff and Kale Drake as Victory Lane occupants.

Early in the program, Timms noted the speed of the Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM), LynK/Toyota #67 and took advantage of it immediately, jumping off to a fast start in the 25-lap main event.

“After the Heat Race, I had a lot of confidence going into the main,” Timms said.

Kale Drake – Timms’ teammate – jumped to the early lead at the drop of the green and led the opening circuits ahead of Chase McDermand and Ashton Torgerson. Timms quickly found the top lane to his liking and devised his plan to start making passes.

“Once we went into (Turns) 3 and 4, I was able to just rail the top and I saw how much of the gap between me and the lead cars closed,” Timms said. “I knew we were gonna be passing for the lead soon.”

After getting by Torgerson for third, Timms threw his first big slide job on McDermand, diving deep into Turn 3 on the bottom and sliding up in front of McDermand to take his line away out of Turn 4.

“It’s a lot wider in (Turns) 3 and 4 and it was really hooked-up on the bottom to the middle getting into 3, so I could just sail it in wide-open,” Timms said. “I could be five-to-six car-lengths back and I could clear the guy. I knew that was where I was gonna be able to pass guys.”

Three laps later, Timms pulled the slide job again in 3 and 4, this time on his KKM teammate Drake for the lead.

Now in control of the field, Timms pinned the throttle, opening up a 1.5-second advantage on the field before a caution period restacked the field with only seven laps remaining.

On the Lap 19 restart, Torgerson took the green from third with McDermand in front of him. Torgerson stuck to the top side and zoomed past McDermand off Turn 4 to take second at the line. McDermand tried to take the spot back with a slider of his own the next lap in Turn 3, but Torgerson crossed him over to retain second place out of Turn 4.

“I saw [McDermand] running kind of the lower line down there in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I felt like I was probably one of the faster cars up there in 3 and 4,” Torgerson said. “I just knew that if I hit my line up there, it’d be pretty hard for him to get around me.”

With 20 laps down and five remaining, one final yellow flag was displayed, putting Torgerson on Timms’ rear bumper for the restart. Despite his teammate Torgerson’s speed behind him, Timms stuck to his preferred groove at the drop of the green and held the lead.

“I just stuck to running the bottom, and I knew if anyone was going to pass me, it was gonna be in (Turn) 3,” Timms said. “I’d run it in wide-open getting into 3 and 4 around the top and I’d be looking to my inside to see if anyone was sliding me so I could turn and get a run down the hill, but that never happened.”

Though he was unable to get close enough to Timms to challenge for the led, Torgerson said he felt like he should have been.

“A little bit longer, I think we might’ve had something for him,” Torgerson said.

Timms crossed under the checkered flag and bagged the $4,000 check and his first career victory with in the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series with Torgerson second, McDermand third, Zach Daum fourth and Cannon McIntosh completing the top five.

With the win, Timms chopped his points gap down to only 17 points – a 30-point gain on leader McIntosh. McDermand also slimmed his gap to McIntosh down to 42, still riding third in the standings.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets and POWRi National Midgets are back in action at Farmer City alongside the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models for another round of racing on Saturday night, April 13. Tickets are available at XtremeOutlawSeries.com; stream available on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 67-Ryan Timms[4]; 2. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[3]; 3. 40-Chase McDermand[1]; 4. 7U-Zach Daum[5]; 5. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[10]; 6. 97-Gavin Miller[9]; 7. 9-Kevin Thomas Jr[6]; 8. 56-Tyler Edwards[7]; 9. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[16]; 10. 56D-Mitchell Davis[14]; 11. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[17]; 12. 21K-Karter Sarff[11]; 13. 4K-Kayla Roell[21]; 14. 14S-TJ Smith[12]; 15. 1K-Brayton Lynch[15]; 16. 5U-Peter Smith[18]; 17. 66-Jayden Clay[24]; 18. 13-Elijah Gile[19]; 19. 55-Trevor Cline[23]; 20. 57-Mark McMahill[22]; 21. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[25]; 22. 43-Gunnar Setser[8]; 23. 97K-Kale Drake[2]; 24. 98-Luke Drotschie[13]; 25. 71-Jade Avedisian[20]

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws, PA Posse Set to Clash at Lincoln Speedway on May 8

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (April 10, 2024) – The World of Outlaws and PA Posse will meet for the first time this season at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA for the Federated Auto Parts Gettysburg Clash.

Pennsylvania fans will be treated to a special midweek show with the best Sprint Car drivers in the country dueling for a $12,000 payday.

The last time the Series visited Lincoln, the PA Posse walked away with the win in dramatic fashion. Anthony Macri made a last corner, last lap, pass on Brent Marks to bring the crowd to their feet for a wild finish.

Of the current full-time drivers, David Gravel, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Sheldon Haudenschild have each picked up a Series win at the 3/8-mile track. Logan Schuchart, of Hanover, PA, has two victories at the track, but will be on the hunt for his first win there with the World of Outlaws.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Wednesday, May 8
Location – Abbottstown, PA
Track Record – 12.577 seconds by Greg Hodnett on April 30, 2016

Times (ET) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (May 10, 2023)–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNN-Fcgt_7c

Previous World of Outlaws Lincoln Speedway Winners –
2023 – Rico Abreu on March 18, Anthony Macri on May 10
2022 – Jacob Allen on May 11
2021 – Brad Sweet on May 12
2020 –Sheldon Haudenschild on July 23
2019 – Lance Dewease on May 15
2018 – Freddie Rahmer on July 19
2017 – David Gravel on May 17
2016 – Donny Schatz on May 19
2015 – Greg Hodnett on May 13
2014 – Stevie Smith on May 14, Daryn Pittman on July 17
2013 – Danny Dietrich on May 16
2012 – Danny Dietrich on May 10
1998 – Fred Rahmer on May 30
1997 – Mark Kinser on May 31
1996 – Mark Kinser on June 1
1995 – Steve Kinser on June 3, Dave Blaney on Aug. 6
1994 – Steve Kinser on June 4, Steve Kinser on Aug. 7
1993 – Andy Hillenburg on June 5, Bill Brian Jr. on Aug. 8
1992 – Steve Kinser on May 25
1991 – Sammy Swindell on May 25
1989 – Chris Eash on May 20, Don Kreitz on May 27, Bobby Davis Jr. on July 29
1988 – Sammy Swindell on May 28, Stevie Smith on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 30
1987 – Bobby Allen on May 23, Steve Kinser on May 30, Steve Kinser on Aug. 1
1986 – Bobby Davis Jr. on May 24, Bobby Davis Jr. on May 31, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 2
1985 – Bobby Allen on May 25, Steve Kinser on June 1, Bobby Allen on Aug. 3
1984 – Steve Kinser on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr. on Aug. 4
1983 – Brad Doty on May 30, Steve Kinser on Aug. 6
1981 – Steve Kinser on June 6
1980 – Sammy Swindell on May 17, Steve Kinser on July 19
1979 – Rick Ferkel on July 21
1978 – Steve Smith on June 24, Steve Smith on July 29

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Two Nights of I-55 Action on Tap for World of Outlaws

The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its annual springtime stop at the exciting Missouri oval (Trent Gower Photo)

PEVELY, MO (April 10, 2024) - One of the country’s most exciting racetracks is ready to welcome the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

Pevely, MO’s Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 is The Greatest Show on Dirt’s destination this weekend. The “Show-Me State” bullring will host the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers for two nights (April 12-13) of action.

The track is full of Sprint Car history. The World of Outlaws first visited I-55 in 1987 and have made at least one stop at the 1/3-mile every year since 1996. The track is the seventh most visited in Series history, and Friday and Saturday will mark trips 72 and 73.

I-55 always delivers some of the most exciting action of the season and expect no different this weekend. The track just south of St. Louis offers up high banks, high speeds, and hold your breath sliders.

The two nights of racing ahead not only present the chance to conquer the historic oval, but it also serves as a preview for August’s Ironman 55.

BUY TWO-DAY I-55 TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY I-55 TICKETS HERE
BUY SATURDAY I-55 TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

BIG GAME HUNTING: There’s been no slowing David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew in recent weeks as they chase their first World of Outlaws championship.

After a slight stumble three weeks ago that saw Gravel collected in a Cotton Bowl crash and finish 12th, there have been no hiccups from the Huset’s Speedway #2. Gravel hasn’t missed the top five since that night and is currently on a roll of four consecutive top two finishes. The hot streak has extended his advantage atop the standings to 40 points.

Gravel has displayed consistency throughout the years at I-55. The Watertown, CT native owns 21 top 10s in 29 Feature starts at the 1/3-mile including a trio last year. Back in August of 2016 he picked up his one I-55 victory.

MASTER IN MISSOURI: It’s tough to find a racetrack that suits a driver better than how I-55 suits Sheldon Haudenschild. His famed driving style works well on the intense bullring.

The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing driver has visited I-55 Victory Lane on four occasions. Back in 2019 he delivered an unforgettable drive when he won the Ironman 55 by more than a 10-second advantage. The four wins are tied for the most Haudenschild has collected at one track with Beaver Dam Raceway being the other. Only the duos of Sammy Swindell and Brad Sweet (six wins) and Craig Dollansky and Steve Kinser (five wins) own more Pevely victories than Haudenschild. Overall, Haudenschild has six wins in the state of Missouri to his credit, the most he's chalked up in any state.

The early season speed out of the NOS Energy Drink #17 suggests Haudenschild will be in the running for wins number five and six in Pevely this weekend. He’s the most recent Series winner having topped the Jason Johnson Classic at Arrowhead Speedway for a $20,000 payday. He’s also the only driver to have led laps in four different Features through 11 races.

PEVELY PRO: Another driver who has taken a liking to I-55 is Lemoore, CA’s Carson Macedo.

The 27-year-old made a pair of trips to Victory Lane at Pevely in 2022, including a wild last lap, last corner, pass for the win at the Ironman 55 opener. Those victories are part of a pattern of running up front for Macedo. In his last 13 Pevely starts, he’s only missed the top 10 once and boasts a 5.62 average result.

Macedo carries the momentum of seven straight finishes of ninth or better into the weekend. He and Jason Johnson Racing continue to dig out of a hole dug at DIRTcar Nationals and currently reside fifth in points – 98 markers behind Gravel.

SHARK STRENGTH: Federated Auto Parts driver Logan Schuchart always brings out his A-game when the tour rolls into Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

The Hanover, PA native struggled a bit early in his career at Pevely, but he’s since turned things around to be one of the track’s strongest competitors. Schuchart’s first 10 I-55 Feature starts resulted in two top 10 finishes. He’s since taken 18 more green flags and picked up a 2018 win, logged 14 top fives, and posted a 5.83 average finish.

It’s been a consistent start to 2024 for Schuchart. He’s taken the Shark Racing #1S to nine top 10s through 11 races, highlighted by four top fives. His I-55 résumé says the consistent start should continue and potentially put him in contention for his first victory of the season.

ROOKIE RHYTHM: The 2024 campaign didn’t get off to the start Michael “Buddy” Kofoid had hoped for with Roth Motorsports, but they’ve found a recent rhythm.

An up and down start saw Kofoid post finishes of 24th, ninth, 17th, fifth, and 16th in the season’s opening five races. It’s been stable consistency ever since with six consecutive top 10s and an average finish of seventh in the last six races. A third place run at US 36 this past weekend gave him his best finish of the year so far. Kofoid’s eight top 10s in 2024 are the fifth most.

The Series rookie looks to keep rolling at I-55 where he’s been solid with limited laps. Kofoid debuted at the Missouri facility last April with a 15th to sixth drive. He returned for the Ironman 55 and came home 10th and eighth.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, April 12-13 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, MO

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (11/82 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (1562 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-40 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-58 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-68 PTS)
5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-98 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-136 PTS)
7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-144 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-234 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-242 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-322 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers):

2 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Win – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):

56 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
48 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
40 Laps – David Gravel
25 Laps – Brad Sweet
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
12 Laps – Donny Schatz
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (8 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (18 Drivers):

5 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel, Michael Kofoid
3 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Carson Macedo, Ryan Timms, Landon Crawley

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (25 Drivers):

9 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Dashes – David Gravel
7 Dashes – Rico Abreu
6 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid
4 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Bill Balog, Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Logan Schuchart
3 Dashes – Donny Schatz
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Bill Rose, Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, James McFadden

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (8 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (9 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom

PODIUM FINISHES (13 Drivers):

6 Podiums – David Gravel
4 Podiums – Donny Schatz
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid

TOP 10 FINISHES (29 Drivers):

10 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi, David Gravel
9 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
8 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
7 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
6 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild, Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Bill Balog, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu
4 Top 10s – Anthony Macri
3 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
2 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Timms
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson, Chase Randall, James McFadden

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws, PA Posse Set to Clash at Lincoln Speedway on May 8

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (April 10, 2024) – The World of Outlaws and PA Posse will meet for the first time this season at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA for the Federated Auto Parts Gettysburg Clash.

Pennsylvania fans will be treated to a special midweek show with the best Sprint Car drivers in the country dueling for a $12,000 payday.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Wednesday, May 8
Location – Abbottstown, PA
Track Record – 12.577 seconds by Greg Hodnett on April 30, 2016

Times (ET) –
2PM Pit Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (May 10, 2023)–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNN-Fcgt_7c

Previous World of Outlaws Lincoln Speedway Winners –
2023 – Rico Abreu on March 18, Anthony Macri on May 10
2022 – Jacob Allen on May 11
2021 – Brad Sweet on May 12
2020 –Sheldon Haudenschild on July 23
2019 – Lance Dewease on May 15
2018 – Freddie Rahmer on July 19
2017 – David Gravel on May 17
2016 – Donny Schatz on May 19
2015 – Greg Hodnett on May 13
2014 – Stevie Smith on May 14, Daryn Pittman on July 17
2013 – Danny Dietrich on May 16
2012 – Danny Dietrich on May 10
1998 – Fred Rahmer on May 30
1997 – Mark Kinser on May 31
1996 – Mark Kinser on June 1
1995 – Steve Kinser on June 3, Dave Blaney on Aug. 6
1994 – Steve Kinser on June 4, Steve Kinser on Aug. 7
1993 – Andy Hillenburg on June 5, Bill Brian Jr. on Aug. 8
1992 – Steve Kinser on May 25
1991 – Sammy Swindell on May 25
1989 – Chris Eash on May 20, Don Kreitz on May 27, Bobby Davis Jr. on July 29
1988 – Sammy Swindell on May 28, Stevie Smith on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 30
1987 – Bobby Allen on May 23, Steve Kinser on May 30, Steve Kinser on Aug. 1
1986 – Bobby Davis Jr. on May 24, Bobby Davis Jr. on May 31, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 2
1985 – Bobby Allen on May 25, Steve Kinser on June 1, Bobby Allen on Aug. 3
1984 – Steve Kinser on May 26, Bobby Davis Jr. on Aug. 4
1983 – Brad Doty on May 30, Steve Kinser on Aug. 6
1981 – Steve Kinser on June 6
1980 – Sammy Swindell on May 17, Steve Kinser on July 19
1979 – Rick Ferkel on July 21
1978 – Steve Smith on June 24, Steve Smith on July 29

Farmer City Thursday Practice Night Canceled; Focus Shifts to Exciting Illini 100 Weekend

FARMER CITY, IL (April 10, 2024) – With heavy rain moving into Farmer City Wednesday night and continuing throughout the day on Thursday, according to Precision Weather Service, World of Outlaws, Xtreme Outlaw and track officials have agreed to cancel Thursday’s Illini 100 practice night.

The decision comes after consulting Wayne Mahar of Precision Weather Service. With rain Wednesday and Thursday, but sunny weather Friday and Saturday, officials wanted to preserve the facility and track, so fans and drivers are given the best conditions for the Illini 100 weekend at Farmer City Raceway.

With this move, the focus now shifts to Friday and Saturday’s racing events, which will feature the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models, Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and MARS Modifieds.

RELATED: Farmer City Raceway Back to Host World of Outlaws’ Illini 100 For First Time Since 2021

A stout field is expected in each field with multiple Illinois stars such as four-time World of Outlaws champion Brandon Sheppard, reigning World of Outlaws champion Bobby Pierce, 2022 World of Outlaws champion Dennis Erb Jr., 2022 Xtreme Outlaw Midget champion Zach Daum and more.

The weekend will also feature the return of reigning Xtreme Outlaw champion Jade Avedisian as she joins the Series for its debut at Farmer City Raceway.

Pit gates will open at 12 p.m. (CT) and grandstands will open at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hot Laps are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. There will be an autograph session on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with World of Outlaws and Xtreme Outlaw Midget drivers.

For tickets to the Illini 100 weekend, CLICK HERE.

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

Federated Auto Parts Becomes Title Sponsor of Five Additional 2024 World of Outlaws Events

CONCORD, NC (April 9, 2024) – Federated Auto Parts will have a prominent presence throughout the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season, sponsoring five events across five states.

The premier auto parts company will be the title sponsor for the events at Lincoln Speedway (May 8), Wilmot Raceway (July 12-13), Merced Speedway (Sept. 14), Sharon Speedway (Sept. 28) and Dirt Oval 66 (Oct. 18-19).

This is in addition to its continued sponsorship of Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, which hosts the World of Outlaws in April and in August for the prestigious Ironman 55. The two-day Ironman event (Aug. 2-3), has become a marquee stop on the World of Outlaws tour, boasting large paydays and some of the most exciting racing all year around the 1/3-mile bullring.

With that, their sponsorship spans across the country, reaching fans in California, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And in February, Federated Auto Parts was title sponsor of DIRTcar Nationals in Florida for the second straight year.

“We’re excited to continue our support of the World of Outlaws and dirt racing by reaching fan across the country at some of the World of Outlaws’ biggest events this year,” said J.R. Bishop, director of event marketing & member services for Federated Auto Parts. “We share the World of Outlaws’ passion for creating a healthy and thriving dirt racing community, and by having Federated Auto Parts’ branding on these events, it is a perfect way to support that cause while introducing new fans to the company.”

Federated Auto Parts joined the World of Outlaws in 2023, becoming the title sponsor of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals and several other events throughout the year. Their iconic orange and blue colors will also be on Logan Schuchart’s No. 1S Shark Racing Sprint Car throughout the season.

For tickets to the Federated Auto Parts sponsored events, visit WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.

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

About Federated Auto Parts
Federated Auto Parts, headquartered in Staunton, Virginia, is one of the largest auto parts distribution and marketing organizations in North America. Federated is dedicated to supporting its customers with quality name brand parts, programs designed to grow their businesses, and experienced counter people who are knowledgeable in today’s evolving automotive technology. For more information, visit www.federatedautoparts.com.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Debut at Farmer City for Illini 100

CONCORD, NC (April 9, 2024) – The April racing schedule for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota continues with a visit to another track brand-new to the Series – Farmer City Raceway for the annual Illini 100.

Standing as one of the most prestigious dirt track racing events in the state of Illinois, the Illini 100 has traditionally been billed as a Super Late Model and DIRTcar UMP Modified event. But in 2024, the event welcomes Midget racing to the card for the first time, joining the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and the MARS Modified Championship.

The stars of Midget racing’s newest national tour take on the 1/4-mile bullring for back-to-back nights of racing this Friday and Saturday, April 12-13. Preceded by an evening of practice on Thursday, April 11, Friday’s program kicks off the racing action with a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win main event, leading up to a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win finale on Saturday.

Both nights will be sanctioned in conjunction with the POWRi National Midget League, marking Rounds 1-2 of competition in the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series. This 10-race miniseries awards a $2,500 check to the driver with the most points accumulated after all events are complete in addition to checks for each of the drivers in the top-five of final points.

Tickets for this weekend’s events are on sale in advance for $5 off at the links below and will also be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BUY FRIDAY TICKETS

BUY SATURDAY TICKETS

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

HOT STREAK – Through the first four races of 2024, no driver owns more top-five finishes than the current Series points leader, Cannon McIntosh.

The 21-year-old has not finished outside of the top five yet and boasts the win in the season-opening weekend in Du Quoin last month. He led laps in both Features last weekend at US 36 Raceway and Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex en route to his second pair of top-five finishes, boosting his lead in the points standings to 47 over Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate Ryan Timms.

Farmer City will be a track brand-new to McIntosh this weekend. The 1/4-mile bullring has never hosted a national Midget series event, and the young Oklahoma racer will be among the favorites to become its first winner.

BOUNCE BACK – Zach Daum has climbed back from large points deficits before and now prepares to do it again after a weekend gone bad in Missouri.

A sixth-place finish last Friday at US 36 kept him in the thick of the battle for the points lead but internal mechanical failure struck him early in the program Saturday at Sweet Springs, taking him out of competition and leaving him with his first DNS of the season. That cost him almost 200 points in the standings as he fell from 16 points out of the lead in second-place, down to eighth-place where he now sits 215 points behind McIntosh.

Despite his misfortune, the 32-year-old returns to racing in his home state of Illinois this weekend with a fresh power plant inside the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U. While he starts a climb back in the Xtreme Outlaw standings, he’ll start fresh with the first race of the Challenge Series with POWRi, of which he was the champion in 2023.

SHARK’S TANK – Karter Sarff is back on the Xtreme Outlaw Series roster for the third weekend in-a-row as he prepares to take on one of his home-state tracks at Farmer City.

Sarff, 21, of Mason City, IL, has made his presence felt early this season, knocking off the Series regulars last Friday at US 36 for his third career Xtreme Outlaw win. He followed that up with an eighth-place effort the next night at Sweet Springs, vaulting him up to fourth in the points standings.

Fitting for the first race of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series, Sarff enters Farmer City representing the POWRi side its defending national champion – an honor he clinched in the final race of the season last October.

CHAMP RETURNS – Jade Avedisian returns to the Xtreme Outlaw Series roster this weekend after spending a week on the asphalt in Sonoma, CA, for the opening round of the Toyota GR Cup.

The reigning Series champion from Clovis, CA, will return to the Keith Kunz Motorsports stable for both races in Farmer City following finishes of 14th and fourth in the season opener in Du Quoin last month.

Like most others in the field, Avedisian does not have any laps in a Midget at Farmer City but has been strong on the banked bullrings in the past with wins at Jacksonville Speedway, Southern Illinois Raceway and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

BACK IN THE SADDLE – Gavin Miller has healed from surgery and has been cleared to compete this weekend, returning to the seat of the KKM LynK/Toyota No. 97 after missing the past two races.

Miller, 17, of Allentown, PA, posted finishes of second and 11th in the season opener last month and sat fourth in points – a great start for the championship hopeful. However, a crash in a Micro Sprint event in California two weeks later took him out of action due to an injury suffered in the incident and put teammate Kale Drake in the seat of his No. 97 for races at US 36 and Sweet Springs.

Drake, 18, of Collinsville, OK, took the opportunity and ran with it, bagging a Heat win and a seventh-place result in the Feature at US 36 before scoring his first national Midget series win with a last-lap pass on teammate Taylor Reimer the next night at Sweet Springs.

While Miller reassumes his normal driving duties in the No. 97, Drake has earned the right for more seat time and will also pilot a KKM car of his own at Farmer City, making seven total KKM cars on the roster this weekend – comprised of himself, Ryan Timms, Cannon McIntosh, Luke Drotschie, Ashton Torgerson, Jade Avedisian, and Gavin Miller.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday-Saturday, April 12-13 at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 872 points (Keith Kunz Motorsports #71K)
Ryan Timms: -47 points (Keith Kunz Motorsports #67)
Chase McDermand: -59 points (CMR-Mounce/Stout Motorsports #40)
Karter Sarff: -82 points (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K)
Taylor Reimer: -90 points (Keith Kunz Motorsports #25K)
Ashton Torgerson: -163 points (Keith Kunz Motorsports #67K)
Hayden Reinbold: -180 points (Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19AZ)
Zach Daum: -215 points (Trifecta Motorsports #7U)
TJ Smith: -239 points (Mounce/Stout Motorsports #14S)
Trevor Cline: -257 points (Cline Racing #55)

Toyota Feature winners (4 drivers)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing), Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz Motorsports), Karter Sarff (Karter Sarff Motorsports #21K), Kale Drake (Keith Kunz Motorsports #97)

Toyota Feature laps led (4 drivers)
36 laps – Cannon McIntosh
35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull

12 laps – Taylor Reimer
11 laps – Karter Sarff

4 laps – Tyler Edwards

1 lap – Kale Drake

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (2 drivers)
3 awards – Ethan Mitchell
1 award – Cannon McIntosh

Heat Race winners (16 drivers)
2 wins – Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand

1 win – Ryan Timms, Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, Gavin Miller, TJ Smith, Cannon McIntosh, Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Ashton Torgerson, Kale Drake, Zach Daum, Karter Sarff, Kyle Jones, Taylor Reimer

High-points honors (4 drivers)
1 honor – Cannon McIntosh, Tyler Edwards, Chase McDermand, Karter Sarff

Last Chance Showdown wins (6 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell

DIRTVision Hard Charger Awards (4 drivers)
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms, Ryan Timms, Hayden Reinbold

Podium finishes (9 drivers)
2 podiums – Zach Daum, Ryan Timms, Cannon McIntosh
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Gavin Miller, Kale Drake, Taylor Reimer, Karter Sarf, Chase McDermand

Top-10 finishes (23 drivers)
4 top-10s – Cannon McIntosh, Chase McDermand
3 top-10s – Zach Daum
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Ryan Timms, Karter Sarff, Taylor Reimer, Kale Drake, Ashton Torgerson
1 top-10 – Gavin Miller, Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Jade Avedisian, Will Armitage, Mitchell Davis, Trey Marcham, Rylan Gray, Hayden Reinbold, TJ Smith, Ethan Mitchell, Gunnar Setser, Todd McVay, Kyle Jones

3. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Karter Sarff (1)
4. Sat, April 6 / Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex / Sweet Springs, MO / Kale Drake (1)

HAUD HANGS ON: Sheldon Haudenschild Survives to Top Arrowhead’s Jason Johnson Classic

Haudenschild holds off Gravel’s challenge for second $20,000 World of Outlaws win of 2024

COLCORD, OK (April 6, 2024) - What a difference a night makes for Sheldon Haudenschild.

Friday ended in heartbreak when an incident in lapped traffic cost him a potential win at US 36 Raceway. There would be no heartbreak at Saturday night’s Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into Colcord, OK to debut at Arrowhead Speedway with $20,000 on the line. Haudenschild snatched the top spot halfway through the main event and held off a fierce charge from David Gravel on the final lap.

The packed grandstands roared as Haudenschild climbed atop the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17. Jason Johnson’s son – Jaxx – handed off the trophy in Victory Lane to an ecstatic Haudenschild.

“It’s huge,” Haudenschild said of winning the Jason Johnson Classic. “Obviously, getting to race my first couple years with Jason was a blast. Seeing Jaxx grow up over the years has been awesome. I have some good memories with Jason and love getting this trophy. I know I ran second to David (Gravel) at (Lake) Ozark, so it’s good to get him this time.”

Haudenschild’s victory was his 36th with The Greatest Show on Dirt, equaling him with Shane Stewart and Carson Macedo for 20th all-time. Arrowhead became the 23rd different track he’s won at and first in the state of Oklahoma. The Jason Johnson Classic is still yet to see a repeat winner through six editions as Haudenschild claimed his first.

Toyota Racing Dash winner – Giovanni Scelzi – led the field to green for the 30-lap Feature with Haudenschild alongside. Scelzi slid up ahead of Haudenschild on the opening circuit to secure the top spot.

As the early laps unfolded Haudenschild quickly began to flex his muscle. He kept the NOS Energy Drink machine right in the tire tracks of Scelzi’s KCP Racing #18 as they both hammered the cushion. It didn’t take long before Haudenschild fired a slider at Scelzi in Turns 3 and 4 and cleared him, but Scelzi managed to counter with a crossover to reclaim the lead.

Scelzi stared down a heavy group of lapped traffic as the halfway point neared. Behind Scelzi and Haudenschild, a rapidly charging Jacob Allen threw his name into the fight for the win. The Shark Racing driver started 10th and climbed to fourth by Lap 10.

Up front Haudenschild began to build momentum on the bottom of the racetrack while Scelzi stayed up top. The margin between the two shrank until they found themselves side by side for nearly a full rotation on Lap 16. Haudenschild used the bottom to muscle ahead and lead Lap 17.

Scelzi didn’t let Haudenschild pull too far ahead, but he quickly found himself in a three-car battle for second as David Gravel and Jacob Allen closed in. Allen snagged third on Lap 18 and looked poised to make a run at the win. On the 20th circuit Allen rolled by Scelzi for second in Turns 1 and 2. But in the next set of corners Allen slipped out of the groove opening the door for both Gravel and Scelzi to drive under him exiting Turn 4. The trio roared three-wide down the front straightaway, and Scelzi made contact with Allen’s left front entering Turn 1. The resulting damage to Allen’s car knocked him out of the race and brought out a yellow flag.

The caution set the stage for a 10-lap dash to the finish. When the green flag flew, Haudenschild wasted no time darting ahead of Gravel to get some breathing room.

The closing laps waned, and Haudenschild appeared as if he may cruise to the $20,000 payday, but lapped traffic became a factor. Haudenschild managed to sneak by a slower car with three laps to go but slipped up in Turns 1 and 2 as the next lap began, allowing Gravel to close on his tail tank.

The white flag flew, and Gravel drove the Big Game Motorsports #2 to Haudenschild’s outside in Turns 1 and 2 and nearly nosed ahead. Haudenschild powered ahead slightly down the back straightaway. Gravel threw one last Hail Mary in Turns 3 and 4 and briefly pulled alongside again, but Haudenschild’s speed on corner exit was too strong as he sped away to the checkered flag.

The joy of the win helped erase the dejection of the night before.

“After nights like last night, it’s tough,” Haudenschild admitted. “So, to rebound and get a win is great. We know we’ve been fast, so our spirit has been good. It’s always good beating the #2 (Gravel). He’s so good this year and all the past years.”

Gravel was in good spirits despite coming up just short of back-to-back victories after topping Friday’s visit to US 36. The Watertown, CT native has caught fire with four consecutive top two finishes, and his point lead has ballooned to 40 markers. Gravel thought he might be able to drive by for the win on the final lap but couldn’t quite find the speed needed.

“You had to conserve some tires, and I was saving there for a little bit at the end,” Gravel said. “I thought I was maybe going to be able to get him (Haudenschild) on the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2 then he moved down. That one lapped car I lost a lot of time with and wasn’t able to clear him. Then I was able to get around the #7S and thought I was going to be able to go around him in (Turns) 1 and 2 and just couldn’t quite clear him. Man, the guys have been giving me a great race car. It’s been fun driving the past couple weeks.”

After leading early, Giovanni Scelzi completed the top three. The result marked Scelzi’s third podium of the season and served as a nice bounce back after two straight subpar showings for the KCP #18.

“I couldn’t tell in (Turns) 3 and 4 if I needed to get all the way down or just move a lane off the cushion,” Scelzi said. “I don’t know. It sucks. Obviously, they’re (Haudenschild and Gravel) veterans. They have a lot more laps than me. They just drove smarter races.”

Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo completed the top five.

David Gravel grabbed his first Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 111th of his career.

A 24th to 14th run earned Chris Windom the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Brian Brown. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Landon Crawley claimed the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars invade Pevely, MO’s Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for two nights of bullring action on April 12-13. 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. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[6]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu[8]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 8. 21-Brian Brown[4]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[12]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri[13]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[19]; 13. 25-Kerry Madsen[16]; 14. 55-Chris Windom[24]; 15. 88T-Tanner Thorson[14]; 16. 70-Kraig Kinser[20]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[18]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[17]; 19. 83SR-James McFadden[11]; 20. 88-Austin McCarl[22]; 21. 24D-Danny Sams III[23]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen[10]; 24. 23-Garet Williamson[9]

For full results, CLICK HERE.

HOW SWEET IT IS: Kale Drake Wins Xtreme Outlaw Debut at Sweet Springs on Last-Lap Pass

Drake, subbing for injured teammate Gavin Miller, joined KKM this year and wins in fourth career Series start

SWEET SPRINGS, MO (April 6, 2024) – White flag in the air, one-fifth of a mile remaining. Kale Drake had reeled-in leader Taylor Reimer from over a full second behind in 10 laps and was staring down an opportunity at the biggest win of his young career.

Drake – the 18-year-old national Micro Sprint champion from Collinsville, OK – drove it in deep on the bottom in Turn 1 while Reimer – the 24-year-old from Tulsa, OK, who had led most of the race – gassed it through the middle. A great drive off Turn 2 gave Reimer the advantage heading into the final two corners, but Drake was strong on the bottom.

Again, Drake dove low with speed into the corner, hugging the dirt mound that separated the track from the infield as he rounded Turns 3 and 4. Reimer tried the top lane one more time in an effort to keep her speed up, but it was not enough. Drake pulled even with Reimer off Turn 4 and beat her in the drag race to the finish line by .020 seconds to steal the win and his first career national Midget series victory with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Saturday night at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

Victory Lane painted a vivid picture of two fierce competitors on opposite ends of an incredible finish – one relishing in the taste of victory, and the other awash in the agony of defeat.

“I honestly don’t have words for it at the moment,” Drake said. “It’s pretty surreal, to be honest.”

“I didn’t come here to run second,” Reimer said. “I’m pretty pissed off. Couldn’t get around the lapped car. Gave it up on the last lap.”

Drake joined the Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) team as a driver for the first time at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January – where he was named Rookie of the Year after his 14th-place finish in the A-Main – and was hired soon after as a full-time crew member with a few opportunities to do more Midget racing included.

When Xtreme Outlaw full-timer Gavin Miller was injured in a crash at a Micro Sprint event in California three weeks ago, Drake was given the nod to step into Miller’s ride for this weekend’s events while Miller continues to heal in recovery and did not forget to acknowledge his teammate after the big moment.

“He’s one of my really good friends and it sucks not having him here to race against because he is an amazing competitor, super good driver and only getting better as well,” Drake said about Miller. “I wish him a speedy recovery. We want to see him back at the track with us, and the season’s gonna be fun together.”

With that unexpected opportunity, Drake made the most of it, notching a seventh-place finish Friday at US 36 Raceway before breaking through for the win Saturday night.

From third on the Feature starting grid, Drake stayed patient inside the top three for two-thirds of the 30-lap main event. Reimer fired-off well in the opening laps, advancing from fifth on the grid up to second on Lap 11, getting around Drake with top-lane momentum. Two laps later, she drove around McIntosh for the lead in the same fashion, feeding from the top lane speed.

Drake was next to get by McIntosh, taking second from his KKM teammate with a big move to his inside in Turns 1 and 2. From there, Drake watched Reimer jump out to a lead of over 1.6 seconds at its largest in lapped traffic with only 10 laps left.

That’s when Drake turned on the jets.

“I saw Taylor just kinda become like sitting still in the middle of the track,” Drake said. “Lapped traffic was playing a huge factor there.

“Once I got clear past a few of them, I just started driving as hard as I possibly could and started hitting my marks just like I did that first lap. I got the feeling back in, and once I did, it was just a matter of putting laps down.”

That gap shrunk all the way down to under a half-second by the time Drake took the white flag.

“I saw the white, and I was like, ‘I think she’s gonna get away from us, really,’” Drake said. “I think she just missed her marks, and we were able to capitalize on that and really put down a solid lap. I made sure to burn it in super hard going into (Turns) 3 and 4 to make sure that I was gonna come off straight as an arrow coming out of 4.”

Drake crossed the finish line .020 seconds ahead of Reimer, followed by fellow KKM teammate Ryan Timms, making for an all Oklahoma-born podium.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, had ran fourth for most of the race and made the move on McIntosh for third on Lap 23 to capture his second podium of the season, cutting his points gap to McIntosh down to 47 in the Series standings.

“[McIntosh] moved up, and I went down to the bottom in lapped traffic and was able to use some lapped cars to get by him,” Timms said. “I felt like I was maybe catching Kale and Taylor there at the end. A lot of that was caused by being in lapped traffic as well. But we had a good car and was fast all night.”

McIntosh crossed the stripe in fourth and kept his points lead, while Chase McDermand completed the top-five.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets are back in action next Friday-Saturday, April 12-13, for the two-day Illini 100 event at Farmer City Raceway alongside the World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series.

Tickets are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 97-Kale Drake[3]; 2. 25K-Taylor Reimer[5]; 3. 67-Ryan Timms[4]; 4. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[1]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[6]; 6. 16-Kyle Jones[2]; 7. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[7]; 8. 21K-Karter Sarff[8]; 9. 89-Todd McVay[11]; 10. 43-Gunnar Setser[9]; 11. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[17]; 12. 13-Elijah Gile[15]; 13. 5U-Peter Smith[12]; 14. 1K-Brayton Lynch[13]; 15. 44-Branigan Roark[18]; 16. 66-Jayden Clay[22]; 17. 55-Trevor Cline[14]; 18. 41-Brad Wyatt[21]; 19. 11A-Andrew Felker[20]; 20. 14S-TJ Smith[10]; 21. 88A-Austin Torgerson[19]; 22. 98-Luke Drotschie[16]; 23. 11J-Todd Jackson[23]

RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME: David Gravel Conquers US 36 After Inheriting the Lead

Sheldon Haudenschild’s misfortune is Gravel’s good luck as he earns his 90th World of Outlaws win.

OSBORN, MO (April 5, 2024) - A little luck never hurts, especially in Sprint Car Racing.

Sheldon Haudenschild appeared poised for a third straight US 36 Raceway victory on Friday night. He’d taken the lead early and sliced through plenty of traffic as he led the opening 20 circuits. But an incident with a lapped car left him spun between Turns 1 and 2 and ended his hopes of a three-peat at the 3/8-mile.

The biggest beneficiary to Haudenschild’s troubles? David Gravel. The Watertown, CT native had clawed his way from fourth to second in the Big Game Motorsports #2. When Haudenschild spun, the gift of the lead fell into Gravel’s lap.

After inheriting the top spot, Gravel never looked back on his way to his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car win of 2024. Last year Gravel’s visit to US 36 resulted in a DNF. This year it resulted in redemption.

“I was just kind of searching around racing with those guys, and we were able to get to third and then get to second,” Gravel said. “And then Sheldon got into the lapped car there, but I felt like we were right there and could pace him well. I liked my chances. I wish we got to race it out. But the guys gave me a really good car.”

The triumph marked Gravel’s 90th with The Greatest Show on Dirt, making him only the 10th driver to reach 90. US 36 Raceway became the 46th different track he’s won at in World of Outlaws competition. Gravel’s car owner – Tod Quiring – is up to 96 Series victories as he gets closer to making Big Game Motorsports only the sixth team in Series history with triple digit wins.

An all-NOS Energy Drink front row consisting of Tyler Courtney and Sheldon Haudenschild led the field to green for the 35-lap finale. “Sunshine” jumped ahead on the initial start, but a crash on the front straightaway before the lap was complete caused a complete restart.

The opening lap not being finished before the red flag was Gravel’s first piece of good fortune in the Feature. He had slipped all the way to seventh from the second row on the first lap, but the wreck gave him a second chance at a strong start – a chance he took advantage of.

“That first start was really bad, and I fell back to seventh,” Gravel explained. “Luckily, there was a red right before everybody crossed the start finish line or I definitely wouldn’t have won this race here tonight. Luckily, we were able to get a redo there.”

On the full restart Haudenschild got the advantage on the outside and led the first lap. As they clicked off the early laps Haudenschild committed to the cushion while Courtney stayed low. Courtney closed on Haudenschild and nearly took the top spot out of Turn 4 on Lap 7, but Haudenschild moved low to protect and began to pad his lead.

Behind the lead duo Gravel found some grip in the center of Turns 1 and 2 and used it to drive around James McFadden for third on Lap 9. Only six laps later Gravel drove around Courtney to climb into the runner-up spot. Behind Gravel a charging Donny Schatz followed Gravel’s path to the front as Schatz moved into third on Lap 17 after starting seventh.

Only six laps after Gravel took second was when Haudenschild came together with the lapped car of Chris Windom in Turns 1 and 2. The resulting spin dropped him from contention and left nose damage on the NOS Energy Drink 17.

The incident handed the lead right over to Gravel who planned to take full advantage.

Gravel drove away early on the following restart. A handful of cautions interrupted Gravel’s progress toward the checkered flag, but he still mastered each restart as he left Schatz no openings to make a move.

Schatz closed a couple times as the two navigated traffic, but he could never near Gravel enough to truly challenge. Gravel took off on one last restart with four laps to go and held on to win by just north of one second.

Gravel has collected three straight podiums as he continues to build momentum in search of his first World of Outlaws title. The win allowed him to slightly extend his point lead to 22 markers ahead of Schatz. He’s locked in and ready for that title and the results show.

“It’s been a good year,” Gravel said. “We stubbed our toe one night, but other than that I feel like we’ve been on our game. Donny has been running strong, too, so I know it’s going to be a battle all year long.”

Schatz brought the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 home second for his fourth podium in the last six races as the 10-time champion continues to get hot early. Schatz felt that a late wreck that took the leaders out of lapped traffic and caused an open red hurt his chances of winning.

“My guys did a great job,” Schatz said. “I felt like we were coming there in traffic, and that momentum kind of went away on the open red. We had to make an adjustment. That’s what you have to do. You have to go for it. We went for it, and it helped me in one corner and hurt me in the other.”

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid completed the top three at US 36. The result marked the Roth Motorsports driver’s best result of the season. Kofoid has now pieced together five consecutive top 10 finishes including top fives in the last two. The Penngrove, CA driver credited a pivotal restart for helping him secure the podium.

“I knew we were restarting sixth and I finally had the outside,” Kofoid said. “I was thinking if I could snooker a couple guys there we should be good because I could carry so much speed into (Turn) 1 and almost slide through the center and if somebody was on the outside or inside, kind of shoot the gap and do that most of the race.”

James McFadden and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

A huge 24th to sixth run gave Chase Randall the night’s KSE Hard Charger aboard the TKS Motorsports #2KS.

Buddy Kofoid earned Simpson Quick Time honors.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Buddy Kofoid, Tyler Courtney, and Rico Abreu. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild.

Anthony Macri won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars debut at Arrowhead Speedway on Saturday, April 6 for the $20,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic. 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. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 4. 83SR-James McFadden[4]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 6. 2KS-Chase Randall[24]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[25]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 11. 8-Cory Eliason[19]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[21]; 14. 55-Chris Windom[13]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog[22]; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[23]; 17. 23-Garet Williamson[14]; 18. 88-Austin McCarl[10]; 19. 18T-Tanner Holmes[18]; 20. 45X-Jace Park[20]; 21. 70-Kraig Kinser[26]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[17]; 23. 5T-Ryan Timms[9]; 24. 24-Rico Abreu[8]; 25. 1A-Jacob Allen[15]; 26. 26-Zeb Wise[16]

For full results, CLICK HERE.

Karter Sarff Opens April with Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win at US 36

Toyota Racing Development reaches 500-win mark with national Midget engines

OSBORN, MO (April 5, 2024) – Twice a winner with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota last year, Karter Sarff has stepped up his game early in 2024, taking his first trip of the season to Victory Lane Friday night at US 36 Raceway.

Sarff, 21, of Mason City, IL, was relentless with the speed and pressure on the leaders through the first half of the main event, eventually breaking through with a successful slide job on Cannon McIntosh with 10-to-go and driving away with his third career Series victory.

In 2023, it took he and his family-owned operation several appearances with the Series before he finally broke through for a win during the World of Outlaws Ironman 55 weekend in August. Now, only three races into the new season, Sarff is already up on the board.

“It feels super good to win one in the third race of the year,” Sarff said. “Hopefully, it leads to even more this year. Last year, we won two of them, so this year we’re hoping we can win even more than two.”

Notably, Sarff utilizes a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) engine under the hood of his No. 21K. Coming into Friday, the TRD program was sitting at a grand total of 499 national Midget series Feature wins with their engines – the first coming in 2006 on pavement with multi-time national champion Dave Steele – and Sarff has now delivered the milestone 500th to the program with the win.

After turning the quickest lap in his Qualifying group, winning his Heat Race and claiming high-points honors, Sarff took the green flag for the Feature from outside Row 2 and immediately put the pressure on early leader McIntosh, hounding the Keith Kunz Motorsports #71K nearly non-stop over the first half of the 30-lap race.

Inside and outside, Sarff tried several routes to make the pass but was unable to do so. That was until Lap 17 – five laps after a restart – when Sarff finally got close enough to execute his first slide job maneuver in Turn 3, which McIntosh immediately denied with a crossover move out of Turn 4.

“[McIntosh] was running the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2, so I couldn’t slide him there, which was the best spot to do it,” Sarff said. “So was sliding him there in 3 and 4, and it just got so tight off of 4 that he was able to run down the hill back across me every time.”

But Sarff gathered his wheels back in and wound the car up on the top lane again in preparation to throw another slider two laps later, which was successful. With a burst of speed off Turn 2, Sarff drove deep into Turn 3 on the bottom and slid ahead of McIntosh by several car-lengths to take over the lead.

“We struggled a little on the bottom – it was a little boggy – so right through the middle and the top, the thing would just carry so much speed,” Sarff said. “It was just an amazing racecar.”

Despite Sarff’s repeated challenges, the move was much to McIntosh’s surprise.

“I felt like after the restart, I was really good,” McIntosh said. “I changed my line up, just started doing something different, and I felt like it was a lot better and I was carrying good speed. I was honestly surprised when I saw Karter poke his nose to the inside because I felt so good.

“At that point, I was trying to just play defense, and once he got by, I really didn’t have anything for him.”

Now with the lead, Sarff began to drive away from the field, turning laps multiple tenths quicker on average than those behind him as he cruised to a first Feature win of the year.

Behind him, Chase McDermand was making his presence felt as well, capitalizing on the lower-lane momentum around the 3/8-mile high-banks to get by McIntosh for second on Lap 26.

“I was trying to figure out [McIntosh’s] weakness and where I could gain on him a little bit,” McDermand said. “Just making different lines, trying to make speed down the straightaway.

“I was able to get him in (Turns) 3 and 4, which was kind of where I was thinking. I feel like we were close to the same pace in 1 and 2, but I just chose a different line there in 3 and 4 and was able to get a really good run off the corner. He kinda slipped-up there off of 4 and didn’t quite have the run down the straightaway that I had.”

McDermand held on for second while McIntosh settled for third with 19 total laps led. Still, McIntosh built on his points lead slightly, now tallying in 16 points ahead of runner-up Zach Daum.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets complete the trip through Missouri with a visit to Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex on Saturday, April 6. Tickets are on sale in advance at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will also available at the gate. If you can’t be there, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 21K-Karter Sarff[4]; 2. 40-Chase McDermand[5]; 3. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[2]; 4. 25K-Taylor Reimer[8]; 5. 67-Ryan Timms[10]; 6. 7U-Zach Daum[1]; 7. 97-Kale Drake[3]; 8. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[9]; 9. 14S-Tyler Smith[11]; 10. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[6]; 11. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[7]; 12. 1K-Brayton Lynch[14]; 13. 5U-Peter Smith[17]; 14. 55-Trevor Cline[22]; 15. 88A-Austin Torgerson[13]; 16. 98-Luke Drotschie[16]; 17. 66-Jayden Clay[21]; 18. 938-Bradley Fezard[20]; 19. 89-Todd McVay[19]; 20. 92-Josh Most[18]; 21. 44-Branigan Roark[15]; 22. 13-Elijah Gile[12]; 23. 56-Tyler Edwards[23]

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Return to Eldora For May Doubleheader

ROSSBURG, OH (April 4, 2024) – Legends will collide when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Eldora Speedway for the #LetsRaceTwo doubleheader, May 3-4.

The best Sprint Car drivers in the country will gather in Ohio for the Series' first of two weekend stops at the iconic "Big E."

Both nights post $12,000 to win top prizes, along with key championship points for Series contenders. Of the top current championship contenders, five have picked up wins at Eldora in the last three years – Carson Macedo, David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart and Ohio's Sheldon Haudenschild.

The World of Outlaws will return to Eldora for the marquee Kings Royal weekend, July 19-20.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Friday-Saturday, May 3-4
Location – Rossburg, OH
Track Record – 12.599 sec. by David Gravel on Sept. 23, 2020

Times (CT) –
1:30PM Ticket Sales Begin (Main Gate, Turn 4, Pit Gate)
2PM Spectator Gates Open
6PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com.
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (May 6, 2023 - #LetsRaceTwo) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-Xt-Yq7LE

Previous World of Outlaws winners at Eldora –
2023 – Logan Schuchart on May 5, Rico Abreu on May 6, Carson Macedo on July 14, Donny Schatz on July 15, Rico Abreu on Sept. 22
2022 –David Gravel on July 13, Brent Marks on July 14, David Gravel on July 15 (Day), Brent Marks on July 15 (Night), Rico Abreu on Sept. 23
2021 – Brent Marks on May 8 (Day), Sheldon Haudenschild on May 8, Carson Macedo on July 14, Tyler Courtney on July 17 (Day), Kyle Larson on July 17, Carson Macedo on July 18, Logan Schuchart on Sept. 24
2019 – Donny Schatz on May 10, Donny Schatz on July 17, Brad Sweet on July 18, Donny Schatz on July 19, Brad Sweet on July 20, Logan Schuchart on Sept. 27
2018 – Donny Schatz on May 11, Donny Schatz on May 12, Shane Stewart on July 12, Donny Schatz on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Brent Marks on Sept. 21, Christopher Bell on October 14
2017 – Logan Schuchart on May 12, Donny Schatz on May 13, Kerry Madsen on July 13, Christopher Bell on July 14, Donny Schatz on May 15, Tim Shaffer on Sept. 22
2016 – Kerry Madsen on May 6, Kerry Madsen on May 7, David Gravel on July 14, Daryn Pittman on July 15, Donny Schatz on July 16, Shane Stewart on Sept. 23
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 8, Donny Schatz on May 9, Shane Stewart on July 17, Shane Stewart on July 18, Greg Wilson on Sept. 25
2014 – Shane Stewart on May 2, David Gravel on May 3, Sammy Swindell on July 11, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2013 – Kerry Madsen on May 3, Daryn Pittman on May 4, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Brad Sweet on July 13
2012 – Chad Kemenah on May 4, Sammy Swindell on May 5, Joey Saldana on July 13, Sammy Swindell on July 14
2011 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Tim Shaffer on July 15, Tyler Walker on July 16, Joey Saldana on Sept. 23
2010 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Paul McMahan on May 9, Joey Saldana on July 16, Steve Kinser on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 24
2009 – Donny Schatz on May 9, Terry McCarl on July 17, Donny Schatz on July 18, Jason Sides on Sept. 25
2008 – Craig Dollansky on April 11, Donny Schatz on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 11, Daryn Pittman on July 13, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2007 – Jason Meyers on April 13, Paul McMahan on June 2, Steve Kinser on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 21
2006 – Sammy Swindell on April 7, Sammy Swindell on April 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 – Sammy Swindell on April 8, Steve Kinser on April 9, Sammy Swindell on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 15, Steve Kinser on July 16, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 5
2004 – Steve Kinser on April 9, Steve Kinser on April 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 – Donny Schatz on April 18, Sammy Swindell on April 19, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Jason Meyers on Aug. 8
2002 – Craig Dollansky on April 13, Steve Kinser on June 1, Daryn Pittman on July 19, Joey Saldana on July 20, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2001 – Stevie Smith on April 13, Mark Kinser on April 14, Andy Hillenburg on June 2, Andy Hillenburg on July 20, Mark Kinser on July 21, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
2000 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Mark Kinser on June 3, Johnny Herrera on July 13, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 – Steve Kinser on April 2, Tim Shaffer on June 5, Mark Kinser on July 15, Greg Hodnett on July 16, Sammy Swindell on July 17, Stevie Smith on Aug. 6
1998 – Joey Saldana on April 10, Sammy Swindell on April 11, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Jac Haudenschild on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on July 18, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 7
1997 – Sammy Swindell on April 4, Dave Blaney on June 14, Dave Blaney on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8
1996 – Sammy Swindell on April 5, Steve Kinser on June 15, Mark Kinser on July 19, Johnny Herrera on July 20, Mark Kinser on Aug. 9
1995 – Dave Blaney on April 14, Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 – Jeff Swindell on April 16, Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 – Dave Blaney on Dave Blaney on April 17, April 18, Dave Blaney on June 11, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on April 20, Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 – Steve Kinser on April 21, Steve Kinser on April 22, Rickey Hood on June 8, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 – Lee Brewer on April 22, Jeff Swindell on April 23, Bobby Davis, Jr. on June 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 – Sammy Swindell on April 9, Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 26, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 – Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Kenny Jacobs on Aug. 8, Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 – Doug Wolfgang on April 13, Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 – Sammy Swindell on April 7, Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 – Steve Kinser on May 21, Brad Doty on May 22
1982 – Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 4, Ronnie Daniels on Aug. 5, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 6, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 7, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 17, Steve Kinser on Oct. 18
1980 – Sammy Swindell on April 13, Steve Kinser on May 3, Steve Kinser on May 4, Steve Kinser on May 24, Steve Kinser on July 5, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 7, Sammy Swindell on Aug.8, Steve Kinser on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 30, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 31, Steve Kinser on Oct. 19
1979 – Ron Shuman on April 15, Dub May on May 27, Steve Kinser on July 3, Sammy Swindell on July 14, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 1, Shane Carson on Oct. 21
1978 – Bobby Allen on April 16, Rick Ferkel on April 30, Steve Kinser on May 21, Rick Ferkel on July 3, Randy Ford on Aug. 3, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 4, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 3, Shane Carson on Oct. 29

PASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM: Continuing the Legacy of Jason Johnson

Jason Johnson Racing has established itself as one of the sport’s premier teams and continues to uphold Johnson’s standards.

OSBORN, MO (April 4, 2024) - Jason Johnson was determined to carve out a path in Sprint Car Racing. Every step of the way in his career he displayed dedication to the sport. Eventually, he worked his way to the opportunity to start his own team. Powered by passion and founded on principles of professionalism, Jason Johnson Racing was born in 2010.

The team continues to operate based on the foundation Johnson laid as they’ve become one of the sport’s powerhouses with Philip and Brooke Dietz in ownership and Carson Macedo driving. And this Saturday at Arrowhead Speedway, they’ll look to honor Johnson by topping the Jason Johnson Classic.

With Johnson holding his team to a high standard, success came right away. The 2010 American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) championship belonged to Johnson. The JJR #41 took a total of 19 trips to Victory Lane during its debut season.

For almost the entire time Johnson raced, his cousin – Philip Dietz – was right alongside him on the mechanical side. There were times early in Johnson’s career when Dietz slept on the floor to have the opportunity to join his cousin at the racetrack. Even though Dietz was with Kasey Kahne Racing when JJR came to life, he recalls how Johnson designed his team for success.

“He set the bar pretty high years ago,” Dietz said. “In his early days, he worked for some pretty reputable teams, one being Steve Kinser Racing. How they ran their team and everything they did during that time; Jason took notes of it all. When that opportunity came to start up his own team, he applied a lot of those same things. He was obviously very particular about the cleanliness of all the gear and having everything look nice and professional to represent our sponsors the best way possible. And on top of that, there was a lot of effort that went into performance and never being content with settling for anything other than being a contender.”

The team philosophy led to continued success for Johnson throughout the team’s early years. He reeled off three consecutive ASCS championships from 2012 through 2014. And then Johnson decided to take the step to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2015.

An injury at Placerville disrupted Johnson’s first season, but in March of 2016 he tasted redemption when he scored JJR’s first World of Outlaws win as a team at none other than Placerville. Later that year, Johnson summited Sprint Car Racing’s mountaintop with a thrilling Knoxville Nationals win and delivered five words that’ll echo forever, “Shit, I wanted to win!”

Johnson went on to tally two more wins in 2016 and added another six over the next year and a half before his tragic passing in June of 2018.

But that night would not signal the end of Jason Johnson Racing. His family wouldn’t allow it. They wanted to keep Johnson’s legacy going on the racetrack just how he would’ve preferred. His wife – Bobbi – continued to field the car as they hired Carson Macedo to finish out 2018. Right off the bat, Macedo took the #41 to Victory Lane at Knoxville Raceway in his 360 Nationals Preliminary Night.

“I could see it right away in 2018 when I came and drove for Philip and Bobbi, who at the time was the owner of the team,” Macedo recalled. “It was clear cut. They were just professional. Phil was just on top of his game. You could tell their car was just sound every time in hit the racetrack. Phil’s attention to detail was extraordinary. It was just a mold I fit into so easily.”

Throughout the entire existence of JJR, the team has prioritized representing their sponsors in the best way possible. Mesilla Valley Transportation has been a longtime supporter, and Royal Jones – company CEO – has found it incredibly easy to work with them and been impressed by their professionalism and dedication.

“It was easy from the start when I first met Jason,” Jones said. “He walked in my office. I’d never met him. He gave me a proposal to sponsor him for the next year. I got to know him that way. He was just so sincere, so honest, and just down to earth and always trying to do the right thing. I couldn’t help but take a liking to him, so we sponsored him the next couple years in ASCS until he moved onto the Outlaws.

“When he was going to go to the Outlaws, he brought me sheets of what he thought it was going to cost and how he was going to do things. It was like, ‘Wow, these are quite the proposals. You could be working for me getting me business.’ This guy had it all down to a science. He was just so amazing in how he looked at it. You could just tell he was going to be successful.”

When 2018 came to a close, Macedo had already inked a deal to drive for Kyle Larson Racing with the World of Outlaws in 2019. That opened the door for JJR to bring David Gravel aboard for the next two years. Gravel pieced together a strong pair of seasons that saw him bag 19 Series wins including the 2019 Knoxville Nationals.

“They’re a great family,” Gravel said. “I love Jason’s parents. They’re really good people. Phil’s a good guy. Bobbi is a hard-working person. They built something from really nothing. They didn’t have much, and they’ve kind of built a little empire over there and it’s still going today. I definitely had two great years of racing over there.”

Gravel’s departure for Big Game Motorsports presented the opportunity for Macedo to rejoin the team, and it’s been a wildly successful reunion. The Lemoore, CA native collected 11 checkered flags in 2021 and repeated the feat in 2022. He added another seven wins in 2023 and put together his third consecutive third place finish in the standings. Overall, Jason Johnson Racing now sits at 60 World of Outlaws victories, and Macedo is responsible for half.

The time with JJR continues to be a dream come true for Macedo who grew up with one goal in mind – becoming a World of Outlaws driver.

“I’m with a team that has really good, faithful people behind it,” Macedo said. “Philip is a great guy. He’s a good person. He’s a loyal person. I see the same thing in all the sponsors and partners that are part of the team. It just makes me happy. It makes me thankful for what I have every day. I just couldn’t be more appreciative to be a part of JJR, a team that has a lot of history behind it because of what Jason started.”

What Jason started continues to live on. Led by Dietz, the current version of JJR continues to carry the spirit of Johnson by upholding his standards and competing at the highest level. And they have no plans of slowing down as they chase Johnson’s goal of bringing a World of Outlaws title to his race team.

“It’s very important to us to carry on the JJR legacy and represent the team no different than how Jason would want it done,” Dietz said. “Our goal in 2015, when we first signed up with the Outlaws, was to run top 10. We knew that it was going to be a challenging year, and we were faced with so many different things between the engines and wing package.

“As time went on, we kept bumping our goals up more and more. I think the following year we were hoping to at least win three or five races, which we accomplished. Nowadays, if we don’t win at least five races a year we’re kind of disappointed. It’s pretty amazing that we hit 60 wins the other weekend. It’s very special to me to keep this team up front, keep it competitive. Hopefully, we can continue that on for many years and win many more races.”

Macedo and the team continue their championship pursuit this weekend at Osborn, MO’s US 36 Raceway on April 5 before the Jason Johnson Classic at Colcord, OK’s Arrowhead Speedway on April 6. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Begin April with Debuts at US 36, Sweet Springs

OSBORN, MO (April 3, 2024) – The 2024 season for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota rolls on with two brand-new stops in Missouri to kick off April.

First will be a visit to US 36 Raceway on Friday, April 5, and then a trip to Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex on Saturday, April 6.

The high-banked, 3/8-mile oval of US 36 Raceway has not hosted a national Midget series event since 2013 but welcomes the debut of the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets, featuring a 30-lap, $4,000-to-win, main event. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will also be in attendance racing adjacent to the Midgets in the first of five nights the two series will pair in 2024.

Then, it’s a trip to Sweet Springs, MO’s popular 1/5-mile bullring. A hotspot for local, regional and national Micro Sprint action, Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex has also been an annual host of national Midget racing with POWRi and USAC but welcomes the Xtreme Outlaws for the first time ever in a 30-lap, $4,000-to-win, main event alongside the WFO Micro Series.

Tickets for both events are on sale in advance at the links below and will also be on sale at the gates on race day. If you can’t be at the tracks to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BUY US 36 TICKETS ($5 cheaper when purchased in advance)

BUY SWEET SPRINGS TICKETS

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

COMING IN HOT – Cannon McIntosh is once again back on top of the Series points standings and is coming into the weekend with momentum from a strong showing of three-straight podium finishes last weekend with the POWRi National Midget League.

McIntosh, 21, of Bixby, OK, went back to Victory Lane with the Xtreme Outlaw Series on the second night of the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center, placing him atop the championship points standings by three over Zach Daum. This past weekend, McIntosh was automatic in the POWRi season openers in Oklahoma, posting a runner-up on Thursday at Creek County Speedway and back-to-back third-place finishes at Port City Raceway on Friday-Saturday.

Looking at past results, McIntosh has never competed in a Midget at US 36 but has been dominant at Sweet Springs over the past several seasons. In the 11 national Midget series Features he’s started at the 1/5-mile oval, he’s won five times – three more than the only other driver to win more than one national Midget race there, Buddy Kofoid (USAC 2020, USAC 2022).

BREAKOUT – Ashton Torgerson’s first few starts on the national Midget circuit have made a bold statement to each of his competitors.

The newest Keith Kunz Motorsports racer from Glendale, AZ, missed the transfer spot into the first Toyota Racing Feature of the season on Friday night of the season opener at the Southern Illinois Center but bounced back the next night, transferring to the Feature via a Heat win and then taking home a sixth-place finish in the main event.

He then took the momentum from that strong run in Du Quoin and carried it right into last weekend’s POWRi events in Oklahoma, posting back-to-back fourth-place finishes Thursday-Friday before holding off Tanner Thorson, McIntosh, Daum and more en route to his first career national Midget series Feature win Saturday at Port City Raceway.

He’s back in the Safety-Kleen, LynK/Toyota #67K on Friday at US 36, where he’s never raced, but tackles Sweet Springs on Saturday – a track he visited in 2021 in a Micro Sprint.

IN SYNC – Trifecta Motorsports is off to a solid start for their second season on the Xtreme Outlaw Series trail and has several reasons to look forward to US 36 and Sweet Springs.

Flagship car driver Zach Daum currently ranks second in championship points standings after posting back-to-back third-place finishes in Du Quoin. The inaugural Series champion from Pocahontas, IL, will be one of the few, if not the only driver in the field with prior laps in a Midget around US 36 Raceway, having placed third on two occasions (2011, 2012) and fourth in 2010. This Friday at US 36, he’ll double-dip with both the Midgets and with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, also piloting the McGarry Motorsports No. 31 Sprint Car.

Daum, team co-owner Steve Carbone and crew chief Bobby Milliser have collectively been working well together as of late, helping special guest driver and 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals winner Tanner Thorson get to Victory Lane last Friday night in the POWRi event at Port City Raceway – the team’s sixth career national Midget series win and first with the No. 5U car.

REBOUND RUN – The Mounce/Stout Motorsports fleet of drivers will be back in action with the Series this weekend, looking for a rebound after an up-and-down first weekend out in Du Quoin.

Tyler Edwards leads the charge for the Oklahoma-based team as they head for Missouri, sitting 17th in points – the highest of each of the four team cars. Edwards started off strong in the season opener three weekends ago, putting his No. 56E on the outside pole for the Feature, but ultimately fell back to a 15th-place finish after drawing a caution flag late in the race. A DNF cut his eighth-place starting efforts short the next night.

California racer TJ Smith qualified for both Features in Du Quoin but took DNFs in both after getting involved in incidents each night, while fellow teammate Austin Torgerson qualified for only Friday’s Feature and finished 13th. New for this week, the fourth teammate joins them on track, as young Oklahoman Jayden Clay makes his debut with the Series after missing the season opener.

FRONTRUNNERS – Keith Kunz Motorsports has three of the top five drivers in the championship points standings heading into Missouri, already on the path to defending the Series championship they clinched last year.

Reigning champion Jade Avedisian will be away from the team for the weekend, tending to her Toyota GR Cup commitments in Sonoma, CA. However, KKM will still take six cars with them to US 36 and Sweet Springs with McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Taylor Reimer, Luke Drotschie, Ashton Torgerson and Kale Drake on driving duties.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, currently sits fifth in Series points after finishes of 12th and second in Du Quoin. Last Thursday, Timms nearly won the POWRi season opener at Creek County, leading into the final laps before colliding with a lapped car that spun in front of him, ending his chances for victory. However, he bounced back with a runner-up finish to Tanner Thorson the next night at Port City before taking on the World of Outlaws on Saturday, capping his weekend with a 10th-place finish at 81 Speedway in his 410 Sprint Car.

Gavin Miller, 17, of Allentown, PA, sits one spot ahead of Timms in the standings but will not be racing this weekend as he continues his recovery from an injury sustained in an incident during the KKM Challenge Micro Sprint event in California two weeks ago. In his place, 16-year-old Kale Drake will drive Miller’s No. 97 for both races as he makes his first appearance with the Series since 2022.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

When and where
Friday, April 5 at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, MO
Saturday, April 6 at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in Sweet Springs, MO

On the internet
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota
Twitter – @Xtreme_Outlaw
Instagram – @XtremeOutlaw
Facebook – @XtremeOutlawSeries.WRG

Live broadcast
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com. Annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month.

Current championship points standings (view full standings)

Cannon McIntosh: 439 points | Keith Kunz Motorsports #71K
Zach Daum: 436 points (-3) | Trifecta Motorsports #7U
Shane Cottle: 410 points (-29) | Cottle Racing #86
Gavin Miller: 407 points (-32) | Keith Kunz Motorsports #97
Ryan Timms: 400 points (-39) | Keith Kunz Motorsports #67
Joe B. Miller: 389 points (-50) | Joe B. Miller Motorsports #51B
Thomas Meseraull: 387 points (-52) | Engler Racing #7x
Jade Avedisian: 380 points (-59) | Keith Kunz Motorsports #71
Chase McDermand: 379 points (-60) | Chase McDermand Racing #40
Karter Sarff: 363 points (-72) | Karter Sarff Motorsports #21

Toyota Feature winners (2 drivers)
1 win – Thomas Meseraull (Engler Racing), Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz Motorsports)

Toyota Feature laps led (4 drivers)
35 laps – Joe B. Miller

27 laps – Thomas Meseraull

5 laps – Cannon McIntosh

4 laps – Tyler Edwards

Whitz RC Racing Products Quick Time Awards (1 driver)
2 awards – Ethan Mitchell

Heat Race winners (11 drivers)
2 wins – Tyler Edwards

1 win – Ryan Timms, Thomas Meseraull, Shane Cottle, Gavin Miller, TJ Smith, Chase McDermand, Cannon McIntosh, Jade Avedisian, Nick Hoffman, Ashton Torgerson

High-points honors (2 drivers)
1 honor – Cannon McIntosh, Tyler Edwards

Last Chance Showdown wins (6 drivers)
1 win – Taylor Reimer, Gunnar Setser, Austin Torgerson, Gavin Miller, Shane Cottle, Ethan Mitchell

DIRTVision Hard Charger Awards (2 drivers)
1 award – Will Armitage, Ryan Timms

Podium finishes (5 drivers)
2 podiums – Zach Daum
1 podium – Thomas Meseraull, Gavin Miller, Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms

Top-10 finishes (16 drivers)
2 top-10s – Shane Cottle, Cannon McIntosh, Zach Daum, Chase McDermand
1 top-10 – Gavin Miller, Ryan Timms, Joe B. Miller, Thomas Meseraull, Jade Avedisian, Karter Sarff, Will Armitage, Taylor Reimer, Mitchell Davis, Trey Marcham, Ashton Torgerson, Rylan Gray

2023 Schedule & Winners – Race No. Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Fri, March 15 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Thomas Meseraull (1)
2. Sat, March 16 / Southern Illinois Center / Du Quoin, IL / Cannon McIntosh (1)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Bring Historic Streak to US 36, Make Arrowhead Debut for Jason Johnson Classic

An exciting Missouri bullring, and a new track for the $20,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic take center stage

OSBORN, MO (April 2, 2024) - The first weekend of April brings a huge weekend of action for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

First up is an all-out open-wheel assault at one of the country’s most exciting bullrings. Osborn, MO’s US 36 Raceway welcomes both the country’s top Sprint Car drivers and the stars of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota on Friday, April 5. The night marks the first of five in 2024 that the two Series will converge.

Saturday, April 6, brings one of the most anticipated events of the season. The Greatest Show on Dirt honors one of the most respected men to ever grace the pit area with the sixth running of the Jason Johnson Classic. This year’s edition shifts to a new track for the World of Outlaws with the Series heading to Colcord, OK’s Arrowhead Speedway for the first time. Saturday’s winner is walking away $20,000 richer.

A track already proven to provide some of the season’s most exciting racing and a Series debut with 20-grand on the line, what better way to kick off the month of April?

BUY US 36 TICKETS HERE
BUY ARROWHEAD TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

HAUD’S HOUSE: With a perfect batting average at US 36 Raceway, Sheldon Haudenschild will attract plenty of attention on Friday. The high banked 3/8 mile seems to suit his thrilling style behind the wheel perfectly.

Four years ago, the Wooster, OH native started fifth and secured a trip to Victory Lane with a last lap, last corner pass that brought the fans to their feet. Last year, the World of Outlaws returned to US 36 for the first time since that night, and Haudenschild topped a wild war with Carson Macedo, David Gravel, and Brad Sweet to make it two for two at the Osborn, MO oval.

Friday offers Haudenschild the chance to make it three in a row at US 36. The 30-year-old has built momentum with his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team by posting finishes of seventh or better in five of the last six races.

UNPRECEDENTED PARITY: Never before have the World of Outlaws seen the level of parity that 2024 has brought. Rico Abreu’s victory at 81 Speedway last weekend gave us nine different winners in the first nine races of the season, setting a record for the most to begin a year. The question now becomes how long will it last?

Friday’s race at US 36 could push to mark to 10 winners with many capable drivers still seeking their first win of the season. Logan Schuchart is still aiming for a 2024 victory. The Shark Racing pilot has competed at US 36 three times with a best run of third in 2020.

Buddy Kofoid is yet to make a Victory Lane visit during his first World of Outlaws campaign. He’s fresh off equaling his best finish of the season with Roth Motorsports by posting a fifth at 81 Speedway. The Californian’s one US 36 appearance resulted in a 16th to 10th drive last year.

Other gassers like Brock Zearfoss, Bill Balog, Kraig Kinser, and more are looking to be the 10th different winner.

STREAK STOPPERS: Nine different winners so far also means there have been plenty of talented drivers looking to be the first to two wins on Friday and end the streak.

David Gravel rolls into US 36 with the momentum of back-to-back runner-up finishes. A victory on Friday would serve as a measure of redemption as a US 36 crash last year was one of only a few issues that might’ve cost him the 2023 title.

Sheldon Haudenschild’s résumé at US 36 has already been mentioned, and he’s one of the nine that have been to Victory Lane in 2024. A win on Friday would mark the third time in Haudenschild’s career that he’s been the first to multiple checkered flags in a season.

Seven of Donny Schatz’s 312 career wins have come in the state of Missouri, but the 10-time champion is yet to conquer US 36. This year’s Volusia Bike Week victor has been solid in six starts at US 36, posting three top fives.

NO REPEAT WINNERS: This year’s lack of repeat winners isn’t the only parity pattern on the line this weekend. The Jason Johnson Classic has delivered a different name in the winner’s column every year through the first five editions. No driver has topped two of the events honoring the “Ragin’ Cajun.”

David Gravel claimed the first to complete a storybook night in 2019 when he was driving for Jason Johnson Racing. Since then, James McFadden, Brad Sweet, Jacob Allen, and Rico Abreu have won the prestigious event. The first four took place at Lake Ozark Speedway before moving to 81 Speedway last year.

Now, the event shifts to Arrowhead Speedway for the first time. With it being a new track for the World of Outlaws and a huge roster expected, the field will be wide open with many different competitors capable of adding their name as a Jason Johnson Classic winner.

CONTINUING JASON’S LEGACY: Saturday not only provides the opportunity to honor Jason Johnson, but it also allows the Sprint Car world to see Jason’s cousin – Philip Dietz – along with his wife Brooke continue the legacy of the #41 team.

Jason established a race team built on passion and professionalism capable of competing at the sport’s highest level. Jason Johnson Racing continues to uphold that standard with Carson Macedo behind the wheel. A week and a half ago Macedo collected his 30th World of Outlaws win since teaming with JJR, making him responsible for half of the team’s 60 Series victories.

Macedo looks to add another triumph aboard the Albaugh #41 to give the team a second win in the Jason Johnson Classic and first since Gravel’s in the inaugural event. Macedo has topped the two most recent Series debuts at a new track and could make it three in a row at Arrowhead.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, April 5 at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, MO
Saturday, April 6 at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, OK

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (9/82 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (1272 PTS)
2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-18 PTS)
3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-38 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-48 PTS)
5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-78 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-116 PTS)
7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-128 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-172 PTS)
9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-192 PTS)
10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports #7S (-238 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Rico Abreu

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):

55 Laps – Carson Macedo
54 Laps – Rico Abreu
40 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel
14 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
12 Laps – Donny Schatz
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (7 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks, Carson Macedo
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi

HEAT RACE WINNERS (18 Drivers):

4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi, David Gravel, Michael Kofoid
2 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Carson Macedo, Ryan Timms, Landon Crawley

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (24 Drivers):

8 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Dashes – David Gravel
5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Rico Abreu
4 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Carson Macedo
3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Donny Schatz
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Bill Rose, Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (6 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (7 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss

PODIUM FINISHES (12 Drivers):

4 Podiums – David Gravel
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel

TOP 10 FINISHES (27 Drivers):

9 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
8 Top 10s – Gio Scelzi, David Gravel
7 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
6 Top 10s – Buddy Kofoid
5 Top 10s – Bill Balog, Brent Marks, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet
2 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss, Ryan Timms
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Kick Off May With Weekday Visit to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, IL (April 2, 2024) – The first day of May will bring the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars back to Jacksonville Speedway for a Wednesday night special.

It'll be the Series' first time back at the 1/4-mile track since 2021 and fifth visit there overall. For Illinois race fans, it'll also be The Greatest Show on Dirt's first stop in the "Prairie State."

In the four Series races at Jacksonville, there has yet to be a repeat winner. NASCAR star Christopher Bell won the first event in 2014, Joey Saldana won in 2016, Carson Macedo grabbed the win in 2019 and Brad Sweet won the last event in 2021.

The event will see the biggest names in Sprint Car racing, such as David Gravel, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart and more, continue their championship quest. Along with battling for the $12,000 top prize.

EVENT INFO:
Date – May 1, 2024
Location – Jacksonville, IL
Track Record – 9.990 sec. by Sheldon Haudenschild on April 29, 2021

Times (CT) –
Pits Open 3pm
Grandstands Open 5pm
Hot Laps/Qualifying 6:00pm
Opening Ceremonies 6:50pm
Racing to Follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com
How to Watch – If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Last Race Video Recap (April 29, 2021) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bI1EvY09Jc

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at Jacksonville –
2021 - Brad Sweet on April 29
2019 - Carson Macedo on Sept. 25
2016 – Joey Saldana on May 4
2014 – Christopher Bell on May 7

AMKUS Helping to Power World of Outlaws' Safety Efforts as Official Rescue Tool Partner

CONCORD, NC (April 1, 2024) – AMKUS Rescue Systems has partnered with the World of Outlaws to become the Official Rescue Tool Partner and will help enhance safety efforts for World of Outlaws and DIRTcar series.

Officials with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, will have AMKUS’ state-of-the-art ION 650 Cutter (known to many as “jaws of life”) and reciprocating saw on hand for any emergency situations.

“AMKUS is thrilled to partner with the World of Outlaws to provide life-saving rescue equipment,” said Emilie Maheu, President of AMKUS Rescue Systems. “Establishing a relationship in the dirt racing community furthers our mission of making our communities safer, healthier and more productive."

AMKUS is one of the most revered and trusted names in the rescue equipment industry. The company has designed and manufactured simple, rugged, and reliable extrication tools for first responders that withstand the most severe conditions first responders face. A long standing supporter of motorsports, AMKUS first introduced their tools at raceways across the country in the 1980s. Their rescue equipment is used by NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and ARCA.

“As we continue to grow our safety efforts with every series, we sought out to work with AMKUS, knowing they have the most effective and reliable equipment in the industry,” said Tyler Bachman, safety director for World Racing Group. “We’re grateful AMKUS has agreed to partner with us and provide some of their top-of-the-line tools. And while we hope to never have to use those tools, if the need arises, we’ll be better equipped than ever before.”

Race fans will get to learn more about AMKUS’ safety equipment throughout the year on the World of Outlaws’ social channels and through AMKUS Safety Minute features on DIRTVision.

For more on AMKUS, visit amkus.com.

The full 2024 World of Outlaws Sprint Car and World of Outlaws Late Model schedules can be found, HERE. For more on the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets, visit xtremeoutlawseries.com, and for more on the Super DIRTcar Series, visit superdirtcarseries.com.

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

WICHITA WARRIOR: Rico Abreu Rolls to Second Consecutive 81 Speedway Victory

Abreu becomes the ninth different winner in nine races this year, setting a new record for the most to begin a season

WICHITA, KS (March 30, 2024) - Rico Abreu didn’t grow up racing at 81 Speedway. He doesn’t have many laps at the Kansas racetrack. But he continues to feel right at home at the 3/8-mile.

Two times Abreu has joined the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars for a night of racing at 81 Speedway. And two times he’s ended the night parked in Victory Lane. A year ago, the St. Helena, CA native debuted at the facility and led all 30 laps of the Feature on his path to victory. Nearly a year later to the date, Abreu again led The Greatest Show on Dirt for all 30 circuits to claim an 81 triumph in front of the largest crowd in track history.

This year’s win created a historic occasion. Abreu became the ninth different winner in the first nine races of the 2024 World of Outlaws season. The record heading into this year was eight different in 2015. The nation’s top Sprint Car Series has seen unprecedented parity in 2024 courtesy of Abreu’s victory. Oddly enough, Abreu was the eighth different winner in 2015 from the previous high mark.

“These are just very memorable wins,” Abreu said. “Back-to-back years. Nine winners in nine races. I think I was the eighth winner in the eighth race back in 2015 when that was going on. It just shows how hard we work at this stuff. We put in a lot of effort to this team on both the performance side and the marketing side. We just want to really elevate everything. It’s really good for the sport. It’s amazing to see this World of Outlaws race tonight sold out.”

Abreu is now up to 16 career World of Outlaws checkered flags. He joined Sammy Swindell (six wins) and Donny Schatz (two wins) as the only multi-time Series winners at 81 Speedway through 15 visits. The track also became the fifth in which Abreu owns multiple victories at joining Eldora Speedway, Thunderbowl Raceway, Silver Dollar Speedway, and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

The race began with Abreu leading the field to green courtesy of topping the Toyota Racing Dash. Abreu faced an early challenge in the form of Michael “Buddy” Kofoid who started the main event in second. Abreu opted for the low line in the opening laps as Kofoid built momentum up top. Right when it looked like Kofoid might drive by Abreu he shifted his line to the cushion. The two nearly made contact but avoided trouble as Abreu maintained the top spot.

An early restart allowed Abreu the opportunity to give himself a bit of breathing room as a battle for second broke out. David Gravel began to challenge Kofoid and managed to slide him for the spot before Kofoid countered with a crossover. Another early caution interrupted their battle.

On the ensuing restart Logan Schuchart emerged as a contender as he ripped by Gravel for third and quickly started to catch Kofoid. On Lap 8 Schuchart threw a successful slider on Kofoid to grab second.

A restart with 19 laps remaining brought a scary moment as Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo clipped wheels sending Scelzi on a wild tumble down the front straightaway. Scelzi hopped out of the car unharmed, but the moment caused a major shift in points as he went into the night tied for the lead and left third in the standings and 38 markers out of first.

Macedo managed to make it back out for the next restart after repairs were made to the rear end of the Jason Johnson Racing #41. Abreu continued to excel on restarts by pulling ahead yet again following the red flag. Gravel slid Kofoid for third, but Kofoid managed to cross him over before another yellow flag again put a stop to the battles.

The slider fest continued on the following restart when Gravel slid Schuchart to take the runner-up spot. Shortly after, Schuchart climbed the fence in Turns 1 and 2 but miraculously saved it before his car slowed to a stop and the yellow flew again.

The many cautions seemed to come at the perfect time for Abreu who would continue to be the beneficiary of clean air anytime the yellow flag necessitated a restart. Ultimately, Abreu went on to win by an advantage of nearly two seconds.

“The cautions kind of all fell in place every time we caught traffic, but that’s how some of these races go,” Abreu said. “You can’t give these guys behind you another opportunity to do something better and make a move. I was trying to change my restarts up. On the bottom, the closer I got to the tire, I could get squirt down the front stretch. Ricky (Warner), Zack (Middlebrooks), and Brady (Forbrook), they all just kind of work together on making this car better.”

David Gravel used a last lap pass on Donny Schatz to take the runner-up spot. The result marked back-to-back second place finishes for he and the Big Game Motorsports team. The Watertown, CT native came away happy with the result as he regained sole possession of the points lead.

“I thought he was going to go low or middle there on the last lap,” Gravel said of his late race battle with Schatz. “He went to the top, so I just kind of filled the gap there. I almost tried too hard there a couple restarts, jamming the cushion and getting the car out of shape. If I just followed Rico on the last restart on the top, I think I would’ve been better off.”

Rounding out the top three was Donny Schatz aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15. He brought home his third podium in the last five World of Outlaws races as his strong start to the season continues. He’s now the only driver with a top 10 in every race to this point. But even though the consistency is nice, Schatz wants to win.

“When you’re trying to win, you’re not really thinking about second or third.” Schatz said. “It’s all the same. All in all, a good night. We salvaged not getting Hot Laps. We ended up Qualiying well and just kind of battled a few gremlins all night long. My guys got a new race car built, so you’re going to have that. But past that, they did a great job.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.

A 22nd to eighth driver gave Brock Zearfoss the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo toppled 81 Speedway’s 20-year-old track record in Sea Foam Qualifying to take Simpson Quick Time for the second race in a row.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Buddy Kofoid (18th Heat Race win of career), Giovanni Scelzi (41st of career), and Landon Crawley (first of career). Milton Hershey Heat Two belonged to David Gravel (244th of career).

Jace Park won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Missouri for the first time in 2024 where Osborn’s US 36 Raceway will host the Series along with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets on Friday, April 5. The following night takes the tour to Colcord, OK’s Arrowhead Speedway for the $20,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic. 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. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 6. 55-Chris Windom[18]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[8]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[22]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 10. 5T-Ryan Timms[16]; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[23]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 13. 45X-Jace Park[21]; 14. 21-Brian Brown[24]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[11]; 16. 1-Brenham Crouch[15]; 17. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[17]; 18. 70-Kraig Kinser[19]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[6]; 20. 87-Aaron Reutzel[9]; 21. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 22. 18T-Tanner Holmes[14]; 23. 95-Matt Covington[20]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[10]

The focus shifts to Saturday’s visit to 81 Speedway

With the Precision Weather Service model showing sustained dangerous winds above 20 mph and occasional gusts over 40 mph throughout Friday night, creating hazardous racing conditions at Thunderbird Speedway, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials have agreed to cancel the Thunderbird Showdown in the interest of safety.

This decision comes after consulting with the race teams, track personnel, and local weather services.

If you purchased a ticket in advance through the World of Outlaws for the event, you will receive a face-value credit to your MyDirtTickets.com account – good for two years – to be used toward any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until April 29 to request a refund.

If you purchased a pit pass at the racetrack, the wristband must be mailed to 7575 West Winds Blvd NW Ste D Concord, NC 28027 in an envelope postmarked by April 29 for a refund.

The World of Outlaws now turns its attention to a trip to 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) on Saturday, March 30. For general admission tickets, CLICK HERE.

Giovanni Scelzi and David Gravel are currently tied atop the points. Donny Schatz is a close third, just 16 markers behind the top spot.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

SEIZING AN OPPORTUNITY: Bill Balog’s Rookie World of Outlaws Season Off to Hot Start

The North Pole Nightmare is making an impact as he lives out his dream.

MUSKOGEE, OK (March 28, 2024) - Bill Balog is living a dream in 2024. Traveling the country with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars has been a lifelong goal, but he doesn’t want to simply say he’s a part of The Greatest Show on Dirt. He wants to make an impact.

And that’s exactly what he’s done early in 2024.

The Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year candidate has established himself as a nightly contender. Through eight races, Balog has qualified sixth or better on five occasions, made four Toyota Dashes, and bagged five top 10s, including a season-best fourth this past weekend at Kennedale. Four of those top 10s have come in the last four races as the Wisconsin transplant by way of Alaska has found a rhythm.

“I guess top 10s were my goal and still are,” Balog said. “I think that’s realistic. If everything goes really good, that’s a realistic goal. Obviously, you get greedy and now I want top fives and want to win. It’s been good, but I haven’t been able to stay where I start each night. I started on the front row the other night and ended up fourth. I want to at least stay where I started.

“There’s a lot of pressure. This is something I’ve always wanted to do my whole life. Now that I’m doing it, I don’t want to waste any of it or squander any positions. I’m really paying attention and trying to make the right decisions and use whatever resources I have to make this work. I don’t want to waste any of it, and there might be something to that. Like I said, we’re still kind of wanting to at least stay where we started or pass some of these guys. It’s just a lot easier said than done.”

One of the most important pieces to Balog’s start is Qualifying. Any Sprint Car driver will tell you that your lap time to start the program can make or break your night. It can be the difference between setting yourself in prime position for a Dash birth or playing catch up all through the program.

Balog has slotted himself in the top five of the Qualifying charts on four occasions. His best effort of the season is third on two occasions. Those kinds of Qualifying efforts lead to front row starting spots in the Heat and make an easier path to the Dash. Balog credits staying on top of track conditions for his fast laps so far in 2024.

“Some of these racetracks kind of remind me of our tracks in Wisconsin,” Balog explained. “If you go out there before Qualifying and you have a plan, you know your car is going to be good. That’s a big part of it. I think if you push off and don’t have a good idea of what’s going on, you’re not going to qualify well. Everything’s just been working good for us. Like I said, I’m just trying to make the right decisions or at least get as close as I can. I’m really happy with the way we’ve been qualifying.”

Even with the impressive start, the beginning of the season has still presented its challenges. Nothing in Sprint Car Racing compares to the nine-month, coast-to-coast grind of The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s non-stop from state to state and track to track. It’s not easy for the organizations with an abundance of resources that have been doing it year after year, let alone a new team with an owner/driver like Balog.

“I should’ve decided to do this a lot earlier than I did,” Balog said with a laugh. “It’s just been 100 miles per hour since I made the decision in December. You’ve got to look a lot further ahead into the future. I’m not just a weekend racer anymore. Definitely a lot of preparation and a lot of planning that goes into this.”

Balog has plenty of time to adapt to the lifestyle and preparation required for the campaign. He’s eight races into an 86-night campaign.

And as Balog continues to tackle the tour, the 44-year-old is armed with plenty of perspective. He knows he’s not at the beginning of his racing career. He knows time is limited in the racing world. But right now, he’s living out his dream with the World of Outlaws. He’s ready to work as hard as possible to deliver a rookie season to remember.

“It’s not like I’m 20 years old and got all kinds of time to do this,” Balog said. “I think, more than anything, I’m going to try to keep my head down, keep my mouth shut, do what I’m supposed to be doing, try to be clean, but also kind of race these guys how they race you. So, I think if I can do those things, I should be fine.”

Balog’s rookie campaign continues this weekend with visits to Thunderbird Speedway (Muskogee, OK) on March 29 and 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) on March 30. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Thomas Meseraull Makes History With First Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win

Open-wheel veteran looks to win again with Tim Engler at US36 and Sweet Springs – April 5-6

CONCORD, NC (March 28, 2024) – Thomas Meseraull’s first career Feature win with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota two weeks ago in the Southern Illinois Center put him in rare air.

He now stands as the only driver in Xtreme Outlaw Series history to win with both Midgets and the Sprint Cars (Volusia Speedway Park 2022).

The 43-year-old from San Jose, CA, has accomplished plenty in his lengthy career, and though the Xtreme Outlaw Series is young – going on its third year of operation in 2024 – Meseraull knows the weight of the accolade and its distinction in the sport.

“It’s pretty cool to just get your name in the record books,” Meseraull said. “Because a lot of the time, that’s all people will ever remember is who won these races.”

The Midget win was the fourth in Meseraull’s career on the indoor oval at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds and second in-a-row driving the Tim Engler-owned MF1/EA Stealth No. 7x after he and the team were victorious in the Junior Knepper 55 event held at the venue in December.

Combined with 10 career Chili Bowl Nationals A-Main starts at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, Meseraull has become one of the best indoor Midget racers of the 21st century. Both tracks are home to some of the tightest and most intense action that Midget racing offers, and, over the years, Meseraull has developed a recipe for repeated success indoors.

“I feel like indoor races are really technical and some of the toughest because it’s so easy to overdrive,” Meseraull said. “I’m starting to get calmed down and be able to keep the car underneath me, and I feel like that helps me a lot at the indoor stuff.”

The car he drove to the win in Du Quoin is a new operation for Meseraull this year. Engler – founder of Engler Machine & Tool – partnered with NASCAR engine builder Joey Arrington to create the first editions of the EA Stealth Midget engine, which Meseraull helped test and debut on the national scene in 2023.

Fabricator Jon Farrell, of Farrell FrameWorks, assembled the chassis in which the EA Stealth engine sits. Known as the MF1 Chassis, Meseraull has been pleased with the combination of engine and car thus far, which his wins in Du Quoin are a testament to.

“We’re kind of outside of the box with our program,” Meseraull said. “Our Farrell FrameWorks MF1 is the only chassis there like it; I’ve been building the second one this week. But with the motor package, Midget racing is kind of cookie-cutter when it comes to everybody’s kind of running the same motor package and cars, so I feel like it was a big win for us because we’re starting to gain speed on our package.”

That speed has paid dividends for Meseraull and brought him his Xtreme Outlaw Series accolade as the first winner in both non-winged disciplines. He remembers his Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series win in 2022 well, driving the Chris Dyson Racing No. 20 Non-Wing Sprint Car to Victory Lane at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals for the first time in his career, making his first mark in the Xtreme Outlaw Series history books.

“I first think of Volusia – that was one of the most epic nights,” Meseraull said. “If you race 100 nights a year, you might have two or three nights where it’s just perfect. Volusia’s fast, and we were just so spot-on. I think we led most of the race, picked up the big win and we got a gator – this amazing trophy.”

Now, it’s all eyes on his next Xtreme Outlaw Series win. He and the Engler team are currently finishing a second MF1/EA Stealth car to take with them to several Series events in 2024 – the next of which comes Friday-Saturday, April 4-5 at US36 Raceway and Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

“I am super pumped to go to Sweet Springs; that’s one of my favorite tracks to run the Midget at,” Meseraull said. “It’s just a great, racey little track.

“It’s a racey place. It’s two lanes, it’s usually curbed-up, it’s always juiced-up. One of the highlight tracks of the year, honestly.”

Don’t miss Meseraull back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota next weekend. Tickets for both races are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will be available at the gate on race day.

If you can’t make it to the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Spring Into Knoxville, April 26-27

KNOXVILLE, IA (March 27, 2024) – The Sprint Car Captial of the World will welcome The Greatest Show on Dirt for a rare April doubleheader visit this year.

The first of three stops at Knoxville Raceway for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series comes during the Knoxville Spring Showdown, April 26-27.

The Series' biggest stars will compete against Knoxville's premier local talent for two $12,000-to-win shows. Multi-time track champion Brian Brown scored the first win against the World of Outlaws at Knoxville last year and then 2019 Knoxville Nationals winner David Gravel picked up the win the following night.

The last time the Series visited Knoxville, Kyle Larson was crowned the Knoxville Nationals winner for the second time, David Gravel charged from 22nd to second and 11-time Knoxville Nationals winner Donny Schatz finished third.

When the Series returns in April, it'll be the first time since 2016 that the World of Outlaws have raced at Knoxville in April.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Friday-Saturday, April 26-27
Location – Knoxville, IA
Track Record – 14.351 sec. by Brian Brown on May 22, 2021

Times (CT) –
Hot Laps at 6:45pm
-Racing to follow

Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix
How to Watch – You can watch every lap live on DIRTVision

Last Race Video Recap (Aug. 12, 2023) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfJ66-l-pLY

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Set for Thunderbird Debut, Trip to 81

The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its first 2024 Oklahoma and Kansas stops

MUSKOGEE, OK (March 26, 2024) - Oklahoma and Kansas will welcome The Greatest Show on Dirt this weekend for two nights in the country’s heartland.

First up is the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ debut at Thunderbird Speedway (Muskogee, OK) on Friday, March 29. The half mile will become the seventh “Sooner State” track visited by the World of Outlaws. Then, Kansas’ 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) awaits to host the Series for the 15th time on Saturday.

The 2024 campaign has already been full of action in 2024, and this weekend promises to deliver more of the same. The World of Outlaws roll into the weekend with a tie atop the standings, no repeat winners, and many more storylines that have set the stage for another can’t-miss two nights of racing.

BUY THUNDERBIRD TICKETS HERE
BUY 81 TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s take a look at the weekend’s top storylines:

THE VERGE OF HISTORY: The World of Outlaws have seen historic parity so far in 2024. The first eight races have yielded eight different winners, which ties the record for the most first established in 2015.

That means the stage is set for Thunderbird Speedway to potentially reach a new mark of nine. The first name that sticks out this year on the list of those without a win is Logan Schuchart. He and Shark Racing currently reside fourth in points with a 6.38 average finish. Schuchart is the owner of 41 career Series victories.

A pair of Series rookies – Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog – are also potential candidates to push the streak to nine. Balog has posted finishes of 10th, a pair of eighths, and fourth over the last four Features. Kofoid enters the weekend on a roll of three consecutive top 10s.

KNOTTED UP: Last week, David Gravel surrendered the points lead to Giovanni Scelzi as “Hot Sauce” took the top spot for the first time in his career. But Gravel rebounded with a runner-up at Kennedale while Scelzi came home 10th, leaving them tied atop the standings. Gravel owns six top fives in eight races this season while Scelzi is still yet to miss the top 10.

Now each head to Thunderbird and 81 looking to regain control. Neither has Thunderbird experience, but both have turned laps at the Kansas oval.

Gravel has twice taken on 81 Speedway, and twice he’s landed on the podium. The Watertown, CT native drove from seventh to third in 2017. When the Series returned last year, he completed the top three again aboard the Big Game Motorsports #2.

Scelzi also owns a pair of starts at the 3/8-mile. First, he finished 17th aboard his family’s car during a 2020 All-Start Circuit of Champions race. Then, last year, the 22-year-old came home sixth with KCP Racing.

ONE WICHITA WINNER: There’s only one full-time 2024 World of Outlaws driver with an 81 Speedway win with the Series, and it’s the 10-time champion – Donny Schatz. In fact, he’s visited 81 Victory Lane twice.

Schatz’s first 81 victory came in 2006 on his way to his first title. An 11-year absence from the track followed before Schatz won The Greatest Show on Dirt’s return in 2017 on the path to his ninth championship. If Schatz can win on Saturday at 81, it would be his 14th victory in the state of Kansas and break a tie with Sammy Swindell for the most all-time in the “Sunflower State.”

The Fargo, ND driver is off to a strong start to 2024 as he pursues an 11th championship. A win, three top fives, and zero finishes outside the top 10 have slotted him third in points, trailing Gravel and Scelzi by only 16 markers.

MACEDO’S MOMENTUM: The slow start to 2024 feels long gone for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing.

There’s been no driver on the tour hotter than the Lemoore, CA gasser in recent weeks. The last four races have seen Macedo drive the #41 to a Kennedale win, three podiums, and a 3.5 average finish. He had fallen behind the top spot in the standings by as many as 84 points early in the season and has trimmed the gap to 64 in only four races.

Recent history suggests Macedo could be in the hunt for the Thunderbird checkered flag. He doesn’t have any laps at the half mile like many others, but he’s won the two most recent track debuts with the World of Outlaws – Kennedale this past weekend and Ogilvie in 2023. Macedo’s lone 81 appearance resulted in a runner-up (2023).

SOONER STRENGTH: Oklahoma has supplied its fair share of talent to the Sprint Car landscape. The state has provided eight different World of Outlaws winners totaling 179 triumphs. And some of the current crop of Sooners will be looking to contribute to the state’s success on home turf at Thunderbird.

Oklahoma City’s Ryan Timms stands out as a candidate for a good run and potentially his first career World of Outlaws win. The talented teenager is fresh off an impressive sixth place run at Kennedale on a night he climbed as high as third.

2020 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year – Wayne Johnson – is a former Thunderbird winner, topping an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) race back in 2000. He also finished fourth in an ASCS Sooner Region race there last year.

Noah Gass is expected to make his 2024 World of Outlaws season debut at Thunderbird. The Mounds, OK native with two years of full-time experience on the tour is already a winner in 2024 with an ASCS Elite Outlaw victory at Hunt County Raceway under his belt.

Another driver planning to make his season debut is Sapulpa’s Blake Hahn. Last year, Hahn drove from 12th to third for an ASCS Sooner Region podium at Thunderbird. The two-time ASCS champion also displayed some prowess in a 410 last season by picking up his first two World of Outlaws top 10s.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, March 29 at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, OK
Saturday, March 30 at 81 Speedway in Wichita, KS

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (8/83 Races):

1. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (1126 PTS)
2. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (1126 PTS)
3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-16 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-28 PTS)
5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-64 PTS)
6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-112 PTS)
7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-122 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-128 PTS)
9. Brent Marks – Murray Marks Motorsports #19 (-166 PTS)
10. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-180 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (8 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):

55 Laps – Carson Macedo
40 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi
25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel
24 Laps – Rico Abreu
14 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid
12 Laps – Donny Schatz
3 Laps – Brent Marks
1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (7 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks
1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo

HEAT RACE WINNERS (16 Drivers):

4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Michael Kofoid
1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Bill Rose, Carson Macedo

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (23 Drivers):

7 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
5 Dashes – David Gravel, Brent Marks
4 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Carson Macedo, Bill Balog
2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Buddy Kofoid, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart
1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Bill Rose, Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Timms

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (5 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (6 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr.

PODIUM FINISHES (12 Drivers):

3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, David Gravel
2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks
1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel

TOP 10 FINISHES (25 Drivers):

8 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi
7 Top 10s – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart
5 Top 10s – Bill Balog, Brent Marks, Buddy Kofoid
4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo
3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu
2 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel,
1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss, Jacob Allen, Ryan Timms

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE

CONQUERING KENNEDALE: Carson Macedo Holds Off Gravel to Top World of Outlaws Kennedale Debut

The Lemoore, CA native brings Jason Johnson Racing their 60th World of Outlaws win (Trent Gower Photo)

KENNEDALE, TX (March 23, 2024) - There’s no denying 2024 didn’t begin the way Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing had hoped it would.

The championship caliber crew stumbled out of the gate with four straight finishes of 12th or worse. But on Saturday night at Kennedale Speedway Park, the pairing put the exclamation mark on a recent stretch that’s made them forget all about the subpar start.

The driver of the Albaugh #41 started on the pole of the Series debut at Kennedale, stayed out front, and held off a charging David Gravel on the final lap for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car win. With finishes of third, second, eighth, and first in the last four races, the rough beginning to the season feels long gone.

“What a great job by this JJR race team,” Macedo said. “Philip Dietz just did an incredible job, communicated well and made really good adjustments all night. I feel like my car was exceptional, laying down a good lap (in Qualifying) and just kind of took it from there. Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn, they worked extremely hard and did a great job. We’re all gelling together, and the JJR team is coming together really nice.”

The victory marked Macedo’s 36th with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Kennedale became the 24th different track where Macedo has visited Victory Lane and third in the state of Texas. He’s also now topped the two most recent Series debuts at a new track after claiming the inaugural Ogilvie Raceway visit last June. Jason Johnson Racing is now up to 60 total World of Outlaws wins with Macedo supplying half of them.

Macedo also continued the streak of different winners to begin the year and tied the record. We’re up to eight different names to claim checkered flags to start the season, matching the mark established in 2015.

The 35-lap race was brought to green by Macedo with Bill Balog to his outside. Macedo roared ahead when the green lights flashed and led the first lap.

As the field navigated the opening circuits, Balog kept Macedo within striking distance with traffic ahead. The “North Pole Nightmare” closed in as lapped cars began to be a factor. Disaster nearly struck Macedo on the eighth lap when the lapped car of Jason Martin slowed ahead of him on the back straightaway. Macedo clipped Martin’s right rear tire, but not only did he save the car, he managed to hold the lead.

A lap after Macedo’s close call Sheldon Haudenschild muscled by Balog for the second spot and put Macedo in the crosshairs. Macedo managed to pad his advantage by slicing through a few slower cars. But at the halfway point of the main event Haudenschild began to close back in. Right when it looked like a battle for the lead was shaping up, heartbreak hit Haudenschild as a mechanical failure caused him to slow on the front straightaway and ended his night.

Haudenschild’s misfortune handed the runner-up spot to Aaron Reutzel for the ensuing restart. Macedo pulled ahead once again when the green flag resumed the action.

The Lemoore, CA driver looked to be cruising toward a comfortable victory as the race dipped inside 10 laps remaining. But traffic again became a factor and set up an exciting finish. Lapped cars slowed Macedo allowing both Reutzel and David Gravel to reel him in. Reutzel began to make the top of the racetrack work. Macedo stuck with the bottom, which hadn’t failed him to that point, but Reutzel chipped away at the lead. The cushion was becoming the preferred line.

The margin between Macedo and Reutzel was a mere tenth of a second when the white flag flew. But David Gravel had other plans about who might steal the win. A lapped car held Reutzel up on the final lap in Turns 1 and 2. Gravel shoved his nose to Reutzel’s inside and secured the spot heading down the back straightaway.

In the final set of corners Gravel ripped the cushion with no fear but it was too little, too late as Macedo held on and crossed the finish line with only a couple car lengths between himself and the Huset’s Speedway #2.

“I was getting nervous,” Macedo admitted. “I just kept telling myself, ‘Be patient. Don’t get excited.’ The bottom was really good. When I hit it right, it was excellent, but it was really easy to miss especially off of (Turn) 4. I think that’s what kind of started happening there with Bill (Rose). I’d get behind him there into (Turn) 3 and just lose my nose just enough and kind of skate out and didn’t have quite enough squirt to get by him. I could see David on the big screen. I could see Aaron kind of pacing him. I was just watching it every lap hoping I could squeak by Bill and was thankful when I finally did. I looked over and saw I had a decent amount of space.”

Gravel’s runner-up finish marked his third podium of the season and first since winning night two of DIRTcar Nationals in February. The result coupled with Giovanni Scelzi’s 10th place run put Gravel back into a tie for the points lead. The Watertown, CT native felt that one extra lap might’ve led him to Victory Lane.

“The car came alive the last 10 (laps), and I was really able to drive the car once we got that fuel burnt off,” Gravel said. “I lost a couple spots on those early starts. I didn’t want that to happen, but I knew (Turns) 3 and 4 were getting slick and technical. I figured the guys in front of me I could probably pick off there towards the end. I was probably going to run third there, and then Aaron got stuck behind a lapped car. The top was coming in in (Turns) 3 and 4, and Carson had no idea. It just sucks it’s not a 36-lap race.”

Reutzel completed the podium in the Ridge & Sons Racing #87. The Clute, TX native was definitely hungry for a home state World of Outlaws win, but overall he came away satisfied with the speed he and the team displayed.

“We had a shot. We had a phenomenal car that came in really good at the end there when I found the top and Carson didn’t know it was there yet,” Reutzel said. “It feels good to be in contention to win. It’s just a huge team effort.”

Bill Balog and Brent Marks completed the top five.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. grabbed the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 24th to 11th run.

Carson Macedo grabbed Simpson Quick Time honors.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Bill Rose, Carson Macedo, and Ryan Timms. Milton Hershey Heat Two went to Brent Marks.

Koty Adams won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their debut at Thunderbird Speedway (Muskogee, OK) on Friday, March 29 before a stop at 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) on Saturday, March 30. 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. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[6]; 6. 5T-Ryan Timms[7]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[18]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 10. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[20]; 11. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[24]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[23]; 13. 73-Scotty Thiel[11]; 14. 1-Brenham Crouch[16]; 15. 6-Bill Rose[8]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[15]; 17. 70-Kraig Kinser[13]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[22]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 20. 45X-Jace Park[12]; 21. 88-Austin McCarl[10]; 22. 36-Jason Martin[17]; 23. 6A-Koty Adams[21]; 24. 2B-Brett Becker[19]

Reunited with Keith Kunz Motorsports, Cannon McIntosh Has Returned to Form with Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

Oklahoma racer also dipping into driver coaching in weekly Micro Sprint races at Millbridge Speedway

CONCORD, NC (March 22, 2024) – Cannon McIntosh’s climb back to the top of the points standings with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota has not been easy, considering where he was only six months ago.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, watched his championship hopes evaporate in the final race of the season last October, suffering an early DNF while Jade Avedisian completed a comeback of her own to clinch the Series title with Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM).

Fast forward to March, and McIntosh has reunited with his former team at KKM – where he’d not raced in over three years – and has already been to Victory Lane. His Feature win last Saturday inside the Southern Illinois Center marked his first in 23 starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in his first weekend back in national Midget series competition with KKM.

After so much time apart, why was 2024 the year for his return to Midget racing’s most decorated team?

“I needed a change anyway; just a good reset,” McIntosh said. “I feel like this was the place to land. No better place to land when you need a good reset than with the best team.”

McIntosh admits that after such a dominant start to 2023 – winning four of the first seven races which led to leading the points standings for most of the year – the second half of the season fell short of his standards.

Coming into championship weekend in October, he had not won a Feature on tour since May and had only seven top-five finishes in the previous 16 races. Even after climbing into a CB Industries-backed operation for the final weekend of the season, McIntosh’s efforts to untangle his late-season struggles proved fruitless as he dropped back to a fourth-place finish in the Series standings.

“I don’t know what exactly I was struggling with,” McIntosh said. “Obviously, I had made a team transition in the middle of a championship battle. There was just a lot of factors, and it was really, really tough. It definitely made a mental struggle as well, just trying to stay super motivated and trying to keep your confidence up when there was nothing to show for it.

“That was definitely a big battle for a long time, I felt like. But I felt like I never really stopped working, training and doing all the things I could do, and just waiting for the right things to fall into place.”

But that’s all behind him now. McIntosh said KKM co-owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby contacted him before the Chili Bowl Nationals in January and expressed their desire to have him return to the team for the marquee event and evaluate their options for regular season racing soon after.

They set up an agreement to race together in 2024 with numerous Xtreme and USAC events on the schedule, and McIntosh has never been more ready to take on the national scene.

“With the reset and going to Keith, I really had something to motivate me,” McIntosh said. “I know in the back of my head I have a whole team depending on me to go perform. So, when you have that, you want to push yourself whether it’s in the gym, whether it’s what you eat, what you watch… there’s plenty of factors.”

A fifth-place run on opening night in Du Quoin followed by a win the next night is a strong start for he and the team. But successful operations revolve around more than just results, and McIntosh has felt the communication, flow and comradery around the KKM pit already.

“Everyone showed up, worked hard and I feel like the chemistry was good all around,” McIntosh said. “From Beau [Binder] to Keith, to the tire guys, car chiefs, crew chiefs – it was good.”

To supplement his education as a driver, McIntosh has taken up crew chief and car ownership duties in 2024 as well with his all-new Cannon McIntosh Driver Development program. He and Robert Dalby – former crew chief at Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports – have reunited to take-in and coach up-and-coming racers via Millbridge Speedway’s weekly Micro Sprint events with equipment of their own.

McIntosh already has multiple drivers lined-up to take seat time in his program, keeping him occupied with racing seven days a week – in the shop or at the track.

“It really can help develop your people skills too,” McIntosh said. “You work on communication skills with the driver; you can kinda pick up things too as the night goes on in the race night with the new driver and learn new things in yourself.”

McIntosh and KKM are back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets in two weeks for a doubleheader in Missouri – Friday, April 5, at US 36 Raceway and Saturday, April 6, at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

Tickets for both events are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will also be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Series debut at Kennedale on March 23 is next.

With persistent rainfall throughout Thursday and heavy thunderstorms overnight into Friday, bringing more than an inch of rain to Big O Speedway, according to Precision Weather Service, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car and track officials have agreed to cancel the Bluebonnet Showdown.

The decision comes after consulting with Wayne Mahar of Precision Weather Service. Keeping the safety of traveling fans and teams in mind, along with the knowledge of the track’s grounds unable to handle continued rain, the decision to cancel was made.

If you purchased a ticket in advance for Friday’s Big O Speedway race, you will receive a face-value credit to your MyDirtTickets.com account – good for two years – to be used toward any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until April 22 to request a refund.

The World of Outlaws now shifts its focus to the Series debut at Kennedale Speedway Park on Saturday, March 23. For tickets , CLICK HERE.

Giovanni Scelzi leads the standings by 16 markers over David Gravel with Donny Schatz only two points behind Gravel in third.

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

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Return to Tri-State Speedway, April 20

HAUBSTADT, IN (March 21, 2024) – The winged warriors of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series are bringing their high-octane show back to Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, April 20.

The high-banked 1/4-mile track is a fan-favorite every year as its small scale and tight corners have produced some of the most thrilling Sprint Car races in Series history.

Series stars Carson Macedo and Sheldon Haudenschild put on an electrifying show last year, trading slide jobs corner after corner. However, Non-Wing Sprint Car star Brady Bacon stole the spotlight by charging up through the field to steal the win – his first with the Series.

Bacon was the third first-time Series winner at Tri-State Speedway since 2017 (Parker Price-Miller in 2017, Carson Short in 2020, and Bacon in 2023).

EVENT INFO:
Date – Saturday, April 20
Location – Haubstadt, IN
Track Record – 11.110 sec. by Sammy Swindell on Oct. 8, 2004

Times (CT) –
Pit Gates Open 2pm
Grandstands Open 5pm
Hot Laps/Qualifying 6:30pm
-Racing to Follow

Tickets – Available at the track
How to Watch – If you can't be at the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at Tri-State –
2023 - Brady Bacon on April 29
2022 - Carson Macedo on April 23
2021 – Carson Macedo on April 10
2020 – Carson Short on June 19, Carson Macedo on June 20
2019 – Christopher Bell on Oct. 13
2018 – David Gravel on May 13
2017 – Parker Price-Miller on May 14
2016 – David Gravel on May 14
2015 – Paul McMahan on May 3
2014 – Paul McMahan on May 10
2013 – Tim Kaeding on April 20
2012 – Craig Dollansky on April 21
2011 – Sammy Swindell on May 30
2010 – Craig Dollansky on Oct. 16
2009 – Steve Kinser on June 25
2008 – Craig Dollansky on July 6
2007 – Steve Kinser on April 21
2006 – Craig Dollansky on April 15
2005 – Steve Kinser on April 16
2004 – Tim Kaeding on Oct. 8
1999 – Mark Kinser on May 16
1998 – Mark Kinser on May 10, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1997 – Steve Kinser on May 11, Sammy Swindell on June 22
1996 – Mark Kinser on May 12
1995 – Stevie Smith on May 14, Steve Kinser on July 16
1994 – Andy Hillenburg on May 15, Dave Blaney on July 17
1993 – Dave Blaney on May 16, Andy Hillenburg on July 18
1992 – Gary Wright on May 10, Sammy Swindell on July 26
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on May 12, Steve Kinser on July 14
1990 – Doug Wolfgang on May 13
1989 – Steve Kinser on May 14
1988 – Bobby Davis, Jr. and Sammy Swindell on May 15 (co-winners)
1980 – Steve Kinser on May 11
1979 – Lee James on May 13, Larry Gates on Aug. 19

Last World of Outlaws Tri-State race video highlight –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLm4yx-ogRE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Big O, Kennedale Welcome World of Outlaws for the First Time

The Texas trip concludes with two new tracks for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

ENNIS, TX (March 19, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are heading from one Texas weekend to another.

After a thrilling two nights at Cotton Bowl Speedway, a pair of new tracks await The Greatest Show on Dirt. A Big O Speedway (Ennis, TX) visit is slated for Friday, March 22, and Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX) takes center stage on Saturday, March 23. The two will become the 12th and 13th Texas tracks visited by The Greatest Show on Dirt as the rich Sprint Car Racing tradition of the “Lone Star State” grows.

This weekend will mark the first time since March of 2021 that the World of Outlaws have checked off two new facilities on the same weekend when Sheldon Haudenschild topped the first trip to Magnolia Motor Speedway and David Gravel triumphed at Dirt on the Rev.

Big O and Kennedale will also be the final Texas appearances of 2024 for the World of Outlaws before the Series begins to invade the Midwest.

BUY BIG O TICKETS HERE BUY KENNEDALE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch:

LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE: A new driver arose atop the standings after Cotton Bowl, and his name is Giovanni Scelzi.

The Fresno, CA native continued his early season hot streak with KCP Racing by posting a third and a victory. He entered the weekend 12 markers behind Gravel for the top spot and left 16 markers ahead. It’s the first time in his career that the 22-year-old has led the Series standings. Scelzi has made every Toyota Racing Dash this season, finished seventh or better in every race, and owns an average finish of fourth. He and Donny Schatz are the only drivers with top 10s in all seven races to this point.

Like many others in the field, Scelzi will be getting his first look at Big O and Kennedale this weekend. He’ll look for solid debuts at both Texas tracks to maintain his early points lead.

BACK ON TRACK: After some struggles to start 2024, Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew are beginning to resemble the powerhouse team that they established themselves as upon partnering in 2021.

They kicked off the campaign with four straight finishes of 12th or worse. Since then it’s been an entirely different story. The last three races have seen the JJR #41 finish third, second, and eighth along with leading 20 Feature laps on the night Macedo finished second. The team continues to be led by owner/crew chief Philip Dietz and added Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman to fill voids left by Clyde Knipp and Nate Repetz. And the new nucleus looks to be gelling.

Macedo will make his first laps at both Big O and Kennedale this weekend. The Lemoore, CA driver is the most recent to top a World of Outlaws debut at a new track. He claimed the Series inaugural visit to Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway last June.

7 RACES, 7 WINNERS: The early season parity pattern continued over the weekend at Cotton Bowl. Brent Marks and Gio Scelzi gave us seven different winners in the first seven races of 2024. The stretch has put the World of Outlaws on the brink of history. This year is only the second time the season has started with seven different winners, and the record to begin the season is eight in 2015.

It’s a mark that could be reached this weekend and even potentially passed. Two drivers that stand out as favorites to continue the trend are Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo. The two have combined for 76 career World of Outlaws wins but each is still in search of their first of 2024.

Other full-time Series drivers that are former winners with the Series – Buddy Kofoid, Brock Zearfoss, Bill Balog, and Kraig Kinser – are still seeking their first wins of the season, too. And with a strong crop of locals and invaders expected this weekend, many competitors on the roster could add their name to the list of 2024 winners.

ROOKIE ROLL: It hasn’t taken long for Bill Balog to get comfortable on the World of Outlaws tour. The “North Pole Nightmare” started the year with a top 10 before experiencing engine troubles at DIRTcar Nationals but has since started to piece together a solid stretch.

Balog heads to Big O and Kennedale carrying the momentum of three consecutive top 10 finishes. Two weeks ago he came home 10th at Volusia. At Cotton Bowl, qualifying toward the front led to Dash births both nights resulting in finishes of eighth and seventh. It’s the first time in Balog’s career he’s strung together three straight top-10s with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Big O and Kennedale are set to be the second and third new tracks that Balog will visit with the World of Outlaws this year. He’s already proven he can quickly adapt to new facilities. This past weekend was his first time laying eyes on Cotton Bowl.

TEXAN TIME?: The last 2024 weekend in Texas for the World of Outlaws means the last opportunity for the “Lone Star State” contingent to top The Greatest Show on Dirt. Like last weekend, the locals will be led by Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Aaron Reutzel.

Hafertepe has already been to Kennedale Victory Lane in 2024, topping an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Elite Outlaw 410 race in early March. He showed speed on night one at Cotton Bowl last Friday, but a crash ended his weekend early.

Reutzel looked as if he may contend for Friday’s victory at Cotton Bowl after setting Simpson Quick Time, but a troublesome Heat Race derailed his night. Even with the problematic Heat, the Clute, TX native still rallied with a 22nd to fifth drive in the Feature. Reutzel doesn’t have any Big O laps, but he’s competed at Kennedale with ASCS.

They’re expected to be joined by plenty more Texas talents including Brenham Crouch (Lubbock, TX), Chase Randall (Waco, TX), John Ricketts (Burleson, TX), Blaine Baxter (Liberty Hill, TX), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, March 22 at Big O Speedway in Ennis, TX Saturday, March 23 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TX

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

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (7/84 Races):

1. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (996 PTS) 2. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (-16 PTS) 3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-18 PTS) 4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-34 PTS) 5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-84 PTS) 6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-94 PTS) 7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-126 PTS) 8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-140 PTS) 9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-168 PTS) 10. Brent Marks – Murray Marks Motorsports #19 (-176 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (7 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):

40 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi 25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel 24 Laps – Rico Abreu 20 Laps – Carson Macedo 14 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid 12 Laps – Donny Schatz 3 Laps – Brent Marks 1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (6 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks 1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi

HEAT RACE WINNERS (14 Drivers):

3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brent Marks 2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Michael Kofoid 1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (20 Drivers):

7 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi 4 Dashes – David Gravel, Rico Abreu, Brent Marks 3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Sheldon Haudenschild 2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart 1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart 1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park

PODIUM FINISHES (11 Drivers):

3 Podiums – Brad Sweet 2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks 1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri

TOP 10 FINISHES (24 Drivers):

7 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi 6 Top 10s – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart 4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Bill Balog, Brent Marks, Buddy Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild 3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Carson Macedo 2 Top 10s – Brian Brown 1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss, Jacob Allen

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Make Highly Anticipated Return to Paducah, April 19

PADUCAH, KY (March 19, 2024) – The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models will return to Paducah International Raceway for the first time since 2012 on Friday, April 19.

It'll also be the Series' lone stop to the Bluegrass State in 2024, making for a can't-miss night with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Of all active drivers on tour, none have won at the Kentucy track yet. And in seven previous visits to the 3/8-mile facility, there have been seven different winners. Joey Saldana won the last World of Outlaws event there in 2012.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday, April 19
Location – Paducah, KY
Track Record – 12.825 sec. by Joey Saldana on April 17, 2009

Times –
Pit Gates Open 2pm
Grandstands Open 5pm
Hot Laps/Qualifying 6:30pm
-Racing to Follow

Tickets – WorldofOutlaws.com/tix
How to Watch – Every lap live on DIRTVision

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at Paducah –
2012 – Joey Saldana on April 13
2010 – Jac Haudenschild on April 16
2009 – Jason Meyers on April 17
2008 – Craig Dollansky on July 28
2007 – Danny Lasoski on April 6
2001 – Andy Hillenburg on June 12
1998 – Jeff Swindell on April 17

MAC IS BACK: Cannon McIntosh Wins Xtreme Outlaw Series Finale at Southern Illinois Center

Race-long leaders Miller, Meseraull involved in incident with lapped traffic as McIntosh takes KKM to Victory Lane

DU QUOIN, IL (March 16, 2024) – The dry spell is over. Cannon McIntosh is once again in Victory Lane with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, had been shut out of Victory Lane with the Series for 23-straight races, dating back to May of last year when he completed a sweep of the weekend Millbridge Speedway. But Saturday night was his night at the Southern Illinois Center, as he inherited the lead in the final laps – after an incident involving the top-two cars took them out of contention – and held on to win his sixth career Series Feature.

The win stood as McIntosh’s first in his return to Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM), who he last drove for during the 2020 regular season and at the 2021 Chili Bowl Nationals.

“It feels amazing,” McIntosh said. “It feels like a long time since I’ve won. It feels a lot longer than it has been. It’s kind of been a journey all last year. Once we stopped winning, it was definitely dark times between switching teams and losing some relationships and that.

“But things circle back, and luckily, I feel like I’ve grown from a lot of losses in this timespan. It’s made me better as a driver, and I’m just thankful to be back in this position.”

Though McIntosh was victorious in the end, the majority of the race was controlled by front-row starters Joe B. Miller and Thomas Meseraull. The two open-wheel stars chased each other for the first 35 laps of the race, breaking only twice for cautions on Lap 4 and Lap 9.

After the caution periods, Miller – the polesitter – jumped out to a gap on Meseraull that grew nearly as large as a full second as the two began to break away from the field and enter lapped traffic. Inside and outside, Meseraull looked for any sliver of space to get by Miller but was unable to make the move.

That was until Lap 36, when Meseraull got a big run to the outside of Miller coming off Turn 4. Miller crossed the stripe first and entered Turn 1 hugging the inside berm. Meseraull swung it wide on the top lane through the corner and briefly took the lead out of Turn 2 as Miller was slowed-up by lapped cars in front of him.

As the two raced into Turn 3 nearly side-by-side, TJ Smith and Ethan Mitchell came together and flipped multiple times right in front of the leaders. Meseraull tried to evade on the outside but Smith came down on top of him. Miller locked-up and stalled on the bottom with Mitchell flipping in front of him as the red flag quickly came out.

All drivers were unharmed, but Smith, Mitchell and Meseraull were all towed off the track while Miller was ordered to restart from the tail of the field for his involvement in the incident as determined by race officials.

This incident handed the lead over to McIntosh, who was running in third place at the time.

“It didn’t matter to me, I just knew I was gonna be in whatever position was given to me,” McIntosh said. “Once I could hear them say I was the leader, I knew there wasn’t more than five laps to go, and I just had to execute, really.”

Now in control of the field with only five laps remaining, McIntosh began to devise his plan to keep the top spot.

“Once they said Ryan [Timms] was behind me, I knew he had probably been really good because he started pretty far back,” McIntosh said. “I knew I just couldn’t make any mistakes.

“[Timms] was obviously running a different line but Keith was basically telling me on the fence – stay on the bottom. It might not be better, but it’s gonna be hard for them to pass you if you hit your marks correctly.”

Ryan Timms had made the charge up to fourth by that time from his 12th-place spot on the starting grid and lined up to restart second, looking for a way to get by his KKM teammate.

“I thought I’d restart maybe fourth or fifth and then I heard over the PA I was restarting second,” Timms said. “I was definitely feeling good about it, especially with how fast I was up top in 3 and 4. But I knew it was going to be tough to beat Cannon if he just hit his marks on the bottom and didn’t make any big mistakes.”

Try as he may, however, Timms was unable to get by McIntosh in the end. McIntosh held off Timms’ challenges on the top and the bottom lanes to collect the $5,000 grand prize and the Series points lead by three points over Zach Daum.

“On that last lap, I just kinda went in full-send, wide-open on the top,” Timms said. “I really thought I was gonna get him. It seemed like to me we were side-by-side, at least in the middle of the corner and then he kinda pulled away going down the frontstretch.”

For the second night-in-a-row, Daum crossed the finish line third in the running order, this time coming in behind Timms. Jade Avedisian rebounded from her misfortunes on Friday night to finish fourth, while Trey Marcham crossed in fifth after starting 11th.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to action in three weeks’ time for a two-day swing through Missouri – Friday, April 5 at US36 Raceway and Saturday, April 6 at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

Tickets for both events are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will also be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

Duquoin IL 3/16

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms[12]; 3. 7U-Zach Daum[6]; 4. 71-Jade Avedisian[3]; 5. 32-Trey Marcham[11]; 6. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[7]; 7. 86-Shane Cottle[15]; 8. 25K-Taylor Reimer[21]; 9. 40-Chase McDermand[5]; 10. 06-Rylan Gray[19]; 11. 97-Gavin Miller[17]; 12. 51B-Joe B Miller[1]; 13. 2H-Nick Hoffman[9]; 14. 83-Will Armitage[20]; 15. 21K-Karter Sarff[18]; 16. 55-Trevor Cline[10]; 17. 56D-Mitchell Davis[14]; 18. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[22]; 19. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[2]; 20. 14S-Tyler Smith[13]; 21. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[16]; 22. 56-Tyler Edwards[8]

Last Chance Showdown 1 (10 Laps): 1. 86-Shane Cottle[4]; 2. 21K-Karter Sarff[2]; 3. 43-Gunnar Setser[1]; 4. 57A-Daniel Robinson[6]; 5. 5U-Peter Smith[5]; 6. 15-RJ Corson[3]; 7. 91-Alex Midkiff[7]; 8. 8X-Jeff Schindler[8]; 9. 57-Mark McMahill[9]; 10. 53-Sean Robbins[10]; 11. (DNS) 51R-Gedd Ross

Last Chance Showdown 2 (10 Laps): 1. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[1]; 2. 06-Rylan Gray[2]; 3. 25K-Taylor Reimer[4]; 4. 1K-Brayton Lynch[3]; 5. 50-Daniel Adler[5]; 6. 35-Tyler Robbins[6]; 7. 88A-Austin Torgerson[8]; 8. 9-Abby Hohlbein[7]; 9. 21G-Jimmy Guidry[9]; 10. (DNS) 92-Mike Hess; 11. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay

Last Chance Showdown 3 (10 Laps): 1. 97-Gavin Miller[1]; 2. 83-Will Armitage[3]; 3. 13-Elijah Gile[2]; 4. 3N-Jake Neuman[7]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[4]; 6. 4K-Kayla Roell[6]; 7. 31-Daltyn England[9]; 8. 7B-Cody Beard[5]; 9. 98-Luke Drotschie[8]; 10. 00-John Heitzman[10]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 40-Chase McDermand[2]; 2. 51B-Joe B Miller[4]; 3. 13-Elijah Gile[1]; 4. 06-Rylan Gray[3]; 5. 50-Daniel Adler[5]; 6. 9-Abby Hohlbein[6]; 7. 57-Mark McMahill[7]; 8. 00-John Heitzman[8]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 2. 56D-Mitchell Davis[1]; 3. 14S-Tyler Smith[3]; 4. 83-Will Armitage[5]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[2]; 6. 3N-Jake Neuman[6]; 7. 31-Daltyn England[7]; 8. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 71-Jade Avedisian[3]; 2. 32-Trey Marcham[2]; 3. 15-RJ Corson[1]; 4. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[4]; 5. 35-Tyler Robbins[8]; 6. 8X-Jeff Schindler[6]; 7. 21G-Jimmy Guidry[7]; 8. 98-Luke Drotschie[5]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[1]; 2. 55-Trevor Cline[2]; 3. 67-Ryan Timms[3]; 4. 86-Shane Cottle[7]; 5. 5U-Peter Smith[5]; 6. 25K-Taylor Reimer[4]; 7. 88A-Austin Torgerson[6]; 8. 92-Mike Hess[8]

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 56-Tyler Edwards[1]; 2. 7U-Zach Daum[3]; 3. 21K-Karter Sarff[2]; 4. 97-Gavin Miller[4]; 5. 57A-Daniel Robinson[6]; 6. 4K-Kayla Roell[5]; 7. 53-Sean Robbins[7]

Heat 6 (8 Laps): 1. 2H-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[4]; 3. 43-Gunnar Setser[3]; 4. 1K-Brayton Lynch[2]; 5. 7B-Cody Beard[6]; 6. 91-Alex Midkiff[5]; 7. (DNS) 51R-Gedd Ross

Qualifying 1 (2 Laps): 1. 51B-Joe B Miller, 00:09.841[8]; 2. 06-Rylan Gray, 00:09.845[6]; 3. 40-Chase McDermand, 00:09.855[3]; 4. 13-Elijah Gile, 00:09.957[7]; 5. 50-Daniel Adler, 00:10.089[2]; 6. 9-Abby Hohlbein, 00:10.136[1]; 7. 57-Mark McMahill, 00:10.162[5]; 8. 00-John Heitzman, 00:10.387[4]

Qualifying 2 (2 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh, 00:09.669[1]; 2. 14S-Tyler Smith, 00:09.810[2]; 3. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold, 00:09.922[8]; 4. 56D-Mitchell Davis, 00:09.925[7]; 5. 83-Will Armitage, 00:10.057[6]; 6. 3N-Jake Neuman, 00:10.138[5]; 7. 31-Daltyn England, 00:10.355[4]; 8. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay, 00:10.355

Qualifying 3 (2 Laps): 1. 19M-Ethan Mitchell, 00:09.645[4]; 2. 71-Jade Avedisian, 00:09.764[1]; 3. 32-Trey Marcham, 00:09.965[8]; 4. 15-RJ Corson, 00:10.040[7]; 5. 98-Luke Drotschie, 00:10.128[2]; 6. 8X-Jeff Schindler, 00:10.227[3]; 7. 21G-Jimmy Guidry, 00:10.268[6]; 8. 35-Tyler Robbins, 00:10.650[5]

Qualifying 4 (2 Laps): 1. 25K-Taylor Reimer, 00:09.718[4]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms, 00:09.748[6]; 3. 55-Trevor Cline, 00:09.917[7]; 4. 67K-Ashton Torgerson, 00:09.954[1]; 5. 5U-Peter Smith, 00:09.959[5]; 6. 88A-Austin Torgerson, 00:09.989[8]; 7. 86-Shane Cottle, 00:10.098[2]; 8. 92-Mike Hess, 00:10.150[3]

Qualifying 5 (2 Laps): 1. 97-Gavin Miller, 00:09.703[7]; 2. 7U-Zach Daum, 00:09.946[4]; 3. 21K-Karter Sarff, 00:10.028[2]; 4. 56-Tyler Edwards, 00:10.030[3]; 5. 4K-Kayla Roell, 00:10.147[1]; 6. 57A-Daniel Robinson, 00:10.402[6]; 7. 53-Sean Robbins, 00:10.545[5]

Qualifying 6 (2 Laps): 1. 7X-Thomas Meseraull, 00:09.748[6]; 2. 43-Gunnar Setser, 00:10.000[2]; 3. 1K-Brayton Lynch, 00:10.011[3]; 4. 2H-Nick Hoffman, 00:10.035[7]; 5. 91-Alex Midkiff, 00:10.198[5]; 6. 7B-Cody Beard, 00:10.327[4]; 7. (DNS) 51R-Gedd Ross, 00:10.327

TEXAS HEAT: Giovanni Scelzi Holds on for Cotton Bowl Speedway Victory

One night after taking the points lead Scelzi gets his first win of 2024. (Trent Gower Photo)

PAIGE, TX (March 16, 2024) - Cotton Bowl Speedway delivered yet again.

One night after a race of the year candidate, the Paige, TX oval provided another thriller that brought the crowd to its feet. Huge slide jobs. Crossovers to counter. Battles all over the track. And a second straight late-race duel to decide the Texas Two-Step winner.

This time it was Giovanni Scelzi making his way to Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The KCP Racing pilot started on the front row, pulled away early, and out-dueled a fast-charging Brent Marks to seal the deal. On Friday night he took the World of Outlaws points lead for the first time in his career, and on Saturday night he scored his first win of the season.

“I need to go find a top-dollar machine at the casino right now,” Scelzi said of a smile with his recent good fortune. “Man, the car is so fast. It minimizes the mistakes I make, so I can stick it in the slick part of the racetrack. Hats off to Adam (Clark). Bob (Curtis) if a new addition to the team, and he’s done an incredible job. And Aaron (Beiler) is doing great, too. Like I said, thank you to my guys.”

Scelzi is now up to seven career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt, equaling him with Jeff Sheperd, Chad Kemenah, and Brian Brown for 55th all-time. Last year it took the Fresno, CA driver 29 races before notching the first triumph of his rookie campaign. Seven races were all that was required for him to grab his first of the sophomore season. Scelzi’s early season points lead grew to 16 markers courtesy of his win.

The result also made it seven different winners through seven races in 2024. That moves within one of equaling the record of eight different winners in the first eight races of a season established in 2015.

After topping the Toyota Racing Dash, Donny Schatz led the field to green with Scelzi alongside. Schatz slid up in front of Scelzi in Turns 1 and 2, but Scelzi turned down the banking on corner exit and drove ahead of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15.

As the early laps unfolded, Schatz was able to stay close behind Scelzi. But as the leaders entered traffic Scelzi sliced through lappers to build his advantage north of a second. The lead grew as large as two-and-a-half seconds.

But on the 13th circuit a new contender began to emerge. Friday’s winner – Brent Marks – threw a slider on Schatz that stuck and quickly set his sights on Scelzi.

Lap by lap the margin between the two began to shrink. Marks worked through traffic masterfully as the Murray-Marks #19 began to reel Scelzi in. On Lap 15 the gap was under two seconds, and then six circuits later it dropped to under a second.

Then on Lap 24 the battle for the top spot heated up. Marks got a huge run down the back straightaway and launched a massive slider in Turns 3 and 4. Scelzi barely got back by on corner exit to retake the lead down the front straightaway. Then in the next set of corners Marks threw another slide job at “Hot Sauce.” Scelzi again turned low to counter and drove back ahead. Meanwhile, Logan Schuchart and David Gravel were engaged in just as intense of a duel for fourth behind them. The two traded several sliders and crossovers for the position.

More traffic waited ahead as the laps continued to wane. Scelzi made a few strong moves through the lappers and looked as if he had the win in the bag. But the red flag flew with two laps remaining as Gio’s brother – Dominic Scelzi – got upside down on the back straightaway.

The crash set up a green-white-checkered finish and gave Marks one last shot at Scelzi. But on the restart Schatz challenged Marks for second and forced him into a defensive mode. While Marks fended off the 10-time World of Outlaws champion, Scelzi pulled away to secure his first checkered flag of 2024.

“I just couldn’t get the thing squared up right to drive off the corner, and I started getting tight on entry,” Scelzi said of late struggles that allowed Marks to close. “Brent got to me and started bombing me and broke my momentum like he had to. I felt like once I got him the last time he didn’t slide me in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I was clear.”

Marks brought the Murray-Marks #19 home second, falling one spot short of a Texas Two Step sweep at Cotton Bowl. The “Myerstown Missile” had plenty of speed but couldn’t quite piece together a challenge for the victory on the final restart.

“We just needed to get a good start there,” Marks said. “Gio went pretty early in the corner and being the second guy on the start there it’s just really hard to judge where they’re going to take off. He did a good job at tricking me a little bit, and when he took off it kind of left me in the slick a little bit more than I wanted to be. I spun the tires and just couldn’t quite get down the straightaway and into (Turn) 1 like I wanted to have a shot at him.”

Rounding out the top three was Donny Schatz, marking his second podium of the season. The Fargo, ND native had high hopes of a win but still came away encouraged as his early season speed continues.

“I would’ve liked to have won that, but I guess third is better than fourth,” Schatz said. “You’ve got to think about the big picture. All in all a decent night. This isn’t one of my best places. I think everybody that has a cell phone could see that all weekend it didn’t look like we were going to get to race, and we got two great nights of racing.”

Logan Schuchart and David Gravel rounded out the top five.

A 22nd to 12th run gave Jace Park the KSE Racing Hard Charger in only his third career Series start.

Giovanni Scelzi took Simpson Quick Time honors in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three went to Brock Zearfoss (15th Heat Race win of career) and Brent Marks (33rd of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two was topped by Logan Schuchart (122nd of career).

UP NEXT: Two new Texas tracks are on tap for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars when the Series heads to Big O Speedway (Ennis, TX) on March 22 and Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX) on March 23. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

World of Outlaws

Cotton Bowl Speedway TX 3/16/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 2. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 2-David Gravel[8]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo[13]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[10]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel[16]; 12. 45X-Jace Park[22]; 13. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen[19]; 15. 6-Bill Rose[17]; 16. 25B-Blaine Baxter[21]; 17. 70-Kraig Kinser[15]; 18. 16TH-Kevin Newton[18]; 19. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[9]; 20. 23-Garet Williamson[14]; 21. 95-Matt Covington[11]; 22. 42P-Preston Perlmutter[20]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[5]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[2]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 7S-Landon Crawley[4]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[7]; 8. 45X-Jace Park[6]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[4]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[3]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 6. 6-Bill Rose[5]; 7. 42P-Preston Perlmutter[7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks[1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 3. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 5. 70-Kraig Kinser[5]; 6. 16TH-Kevin Newton[6]; 7. (DNS) 25B-Blaine Baxter

Sea Foam Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.677[8]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.805[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.897[22]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.904[13]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.939[4]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.955[5]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.983[18]; 8. 95-Matt Covington, 00:13.992[12]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.002[2]; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:14.086[16]; 11. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.111[21]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 00:14.116[7]; 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 00:14.172[20]; 14. 6-Bill Rose, 00:14.180[6]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:14.183[3]; 16. 45X-Jace Park, 00:14.219[10]; 17. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:14.237[11]; 18. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.298[9]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.418[19]; 20. 42P-Preston Perlmutter, 00:14.440[14]; 21. (DNS) 25B-Blaine Baxter; 22. (DNS) 41-Carson Macedo

Thomas Meseraull Opens 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Season in Victory Lane at Southern Illinois Center

DU QUOIN, IL (March 15, 2024) – When it comes to racing around the dirt oval inside the Southern Illinois Center, few have mastered its narrow, 1/6-mile confines like Thomas Meseraull.

Friday night, the 43-year-old open-wheel racing veteran from San Jose, CA, put on another display of indoor excellence in the season opener for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, taking the lead five laps into the race and holding off the field the rest of the way to capture the $4,000 grand prize and the fourth Midget win of his career in the building.

The win also came as Meseraull’s first with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series – a sudden surprise to him when DIRTVision reporter Peyton Williams informed him of the achievement in Victory Lane.

“When I heard that, I actually thought he lied,” Meseraull said. “I’m like, ‘Pffft, I’ve won an Xtreme race… maybe that was a Sprint Car race, maybe I haven’t won an Xtreme [Midget] race.’

“It’s always nice to like, etch your name in the history books, you know what I mean? ‘Cause nobody remembers who was second.”

From the outside pole on the starting grid, Meseraull immediately put pressure on polesitter Tyler Edwards – making his national Midget series debut for Mounce/Stout Motorsports. Edwards led the first four circuits of the 30-lap main event, but Meseraull was right behind the entire time, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

“We had a yellow and he ended up at the front and I thought, ‘Okay Thomas, you really need to calm down, there’s no need to be doing sliders on Lap 1 and 2. Let’s just try to work the bottom and see if he makes a mistake,’” Meseraull said. “I was able to kinda sneak by him.”

Meseraull was strong on the bottom and took advantage of the shortest line around, throwing a slide job on Edwards to take the lead away on Lap 5. From there on out, it was smooth sailing for the Tim Engler-owned No. 7x as he controlled the race the rest of the way.

“We started up front and it just worked out,” Meseraull said. “Track position is so important in indoor racing. I’ve been, I feel like, one of the fastest cars here several nights and ended up just in a traffic jam.”

Behind him, a battle for position raged on between several racers in the top five. After starting third on the grid and dropping back to fifth, Gavin Miller found speed on the top side of the track and used it to power around Ethan Mitchell, Tyler Edwards and later Shane Cottle on Lap 18 to take over second.

“I just had to play my cards right – pick the bottom here, pick the bottom there,” Miller said. “Just play your cards right and stay out of trouble.”

Throughout the final 12 laps, Miller searched for a way around leader Meseraull but was met with brute resistance.

“I tried getting to the top before he did so I could get to it faster and cut across and possibly pass him,” Miller said. “He was just as even as us, and he would have been really hard to pass without getting into, and I’m not going to ruin my shot to… we’ve got a whole season ahead of us and a lot more races, so I’m not gonna pull anything stupid or wreck him or wreck myself for the win.”

Even on the final restart, in green-white-checkered fashion, Meseraull held strong out front as Miller fought to keep his own spot in second as Zach Daum gave him a challenge on the final lap.

“Luckily for [Meseraull], he didn’t really make any many mistakes for me to get and advantage and pass him,” Miller said. “He did a good job, congrats to him, and we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Daum poked his nose to the inside of Miller after taking the white flag and appeared to have the advantage coming out of Turn 2, but Miller made use of the top-side momentum to retain second as Daum crossed behind him in third.

UP NEXT

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is back in action Saturday night, March 16, at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, for a 40-lap, $5,000-to-win program.

Tickets will be on sale at the door. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

Duquoin IL

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[2]; 2. 97-Gavin Miller[3]; 3. 7U-Zach Daum[7]; 4. 86-Shane Cottle[6]; 5. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[13]; 6. 51B-Joe B Miller[10]; 7. 83-Will Armitage[18]; 8. 21K-Karter Sarff[11]; 9. 56D-Mitchell Davis[22]; 10. 40-Chase McDermand[19]; 11. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[20]; 12. 67-Ryan Timms[8]; 13. 88A-Austin Torgerson[17]; 14. 71-Jade Avedisian[21]; 15. 56-Tyler Edwards[1]; 16. 43-Gunnar Setser[16]; 17. 25K-Taylor Reimer[15]; 18. 5U-Peter Smith[14]; 19. 14S-Tyler Smith[9]; 20. 35-Tyler Robbins[12]; 21. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[4]; 22. 55-Trevor Cline[5]

Last Chance Showdown 1 (10 Laps): 1. 25K-Taylor Reimer[1]; 2. 83-Will Armitage[4]; 3. 13-Elijah Gile[2]; 4. 32-Trey Marcham[6]; 5. 2H-Nick Hoffman[3]; 6. 1K-Brayton Lynch[5]; 7. 3N-Jake Neuman[7]; 8. 8X-Jeff Schindler[9]; 9. 51R-Gedd Ross[8]; 10. 57-Mark McMahill[10]; 11. 00-John Heitzman[11]

Last Chance Showdown 2 (10 Laps): 1. 43-Gunnar Setser[1]; 2. 40-Chase McDermand[3]; 3. 15-RJ Corson[2]; 4. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[4]; 5. 50-Daniel Adler[5]; 6. 56D-Mitchell Davis[7]; 7. 92-Mike Hess[6]; 8. 9-Abby Hohlbein[8]; 9. 21G-Jimmy Guidry[9]; 10. 98-Luke Drotschie[10]; 11. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay

Last Chance Showdown 3 (10 Laps): 1. 88A-Austin Torgerson[1]; 2. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[5]; 3. 71-Jade Avedisian[6]; 4. 7B-Cody Beard[4]; 5. 06-Rylan Gray[7]; 6. 4K-Kayla Roell[3]; 7. 31-Daltyn England[9]; 8. 53-Sean Robbins[8]; 9. 91-Alex Midkiff[10]; 10. 57A-Daniel Robinson[2]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 67-Ryan Timms[1]; 2. 7U-Zach Daum[3]; 3. 5U-Peter Smith[2]; 4. 71K-Cannon McIntosh[4]; 5. 50-Daniel Adler[6]; 6. 3N-Jake Neuman[5]; 7. 21G-Jimmy Guidry[7]; 8. 98-Luke Drotschie[8]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 86-Shane Cottle[2]; 2. 19M-Ethan Mitchell[4]; 3. 57A-Daniel Robinson[1]; 4. 15-RJ Corson[3]; 5. 32-Trey Marcham[5]; 6. 51R-Gedd Ross[7]; 7. 8X-Jeff Schindler[6]; 8. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 56-Tyler Edwards[4]; 2. 21K-Karter Sarff[5]; 3. 88A-Austin Torgerson[2]; 4. 7B-Cody Beard[1]; 5. 92-Mike Hess[6]; 6. 1K-Brayton Lynch[3]; 7. 57-Mark McMahill[7]; 8. 91-Alex Midkiff[8]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 7X-Thomas Meseraull[3]; 2. 35-Tyler Robbins[1]; 3. 13-Elijah Gile[5]; 4. 4K-Kayla Roell[2]; 5. 2H-Nick Hoffman[4]; 6. 06-Rylan Gray[6]; 7. 31-Daltyn England[7]; 8. 00-John Heitzman[8]

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 14S-Tyler Smith[1]; 2. 51B-Joe B Miller[6]; 3. 25K-Taylor Reimer[2]; 4. 83-Will Armitage[5]; 5. 40-Chase McDermand[4]; 6. 9-Abby Hohlbein[7]; 7. 71-Jade Avedisian[3]

Heat 6 (8 Laps): 1. 97-Gavin Miller[3]; 2. 55-Trevor Cline[4]; 3. 43-Gunnar Setser[2]; 4. 67K-Ashton Torgerson[1]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold[5]; 6. 56D-Mitchell Davis[7]; 7. 53-Sean Robbins[6]

Qualifying 1 (2 Laps): 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh, 00:09.567[3]; 2. 7U-Zach Daum, 00:09.594[8]; 3. 5U-Peter Smith, 00:09.643[4]; 4. 67-Ryan Timms, 00:09.731[6]; 5. 3N-Jake Neuman, 00:09.784[7]; 6. 50-Daniel Adler, 00:09.876[2]; 7. 21G-Jimmy Guidry, 00:10.043[1]; 8. 98-Luke Drotschie, 00:10.356[5]

Qualifying 2 (2 Laps): 1. 19M-Ethan Mitchell, 00:09.459[4]; 2. 15-RJ Corson, 00:09.859[5]; 3. 86-Shane Cottle, 00:09.908[3]; 4. 57A-Daniel Robinson, 00:10.078[8]; 5. 32-Trey Marcham, 00:10.080[7]; 6. 8X-Jeff Schindler, 00:10.236[1]; 7. 51R-Gedd Ross, 00:10.236[2]; 8. (DNS) 66-Jayden Clay, 00:10.236

Qualifying 3 (2 Laps): 1. 56-Tyler Edwards, 00:09.793[8]; 2. 1K-Brayton Lynch, 00:09.919[4]; 3. 88A-Austin Torgerson, 00:09.938[6]; 4. 7B-Cody Beard, 00:09.952[1]; 5. 21K-Karter Sarff, 00:10.008[3]; 6. 92-Mike Hess, 00:10.130[5]; 7. 57-Mark McMahill, 00:10.522[2]; 8. 91-Alex Midkiff, 00:10.990[7]

Qualifying 4 (2 Laps): 1. 2H-Nick Hoffman, 00:09.576[6]; 2. 7X-Thomas Meseraull, 00:09.680[5]; 3. 4K-Kayla Roell, 00:09.895[3]; 4. 35-Tyler Robbins, 00:10.036[4]; 5. 13-Elijah Gile, 00:10.097[2]; 6. 06-Rylan Gray, 00:10.231[7]; 7. 31-Daltyn England, 00:10.287[8]; 8. 00-John Heitzman, 00:11.145[1]

Qualifying 5 (2 Laps): 1. 40-Chase McDermand, 00:09.596[3]; 2. 71-Jade Avedisian, 00:09.644[2]; 3. 25K-Taylor Reimer, 00:09.714[4]; 4. 14S-Tyler Smith, 00:09.763[6]; 5. 83-Will Armitage, 00:09.855[5]; 6. 51B-Joe B Miller, 00:09.948[7]; 7. 9-Abby Hohlbein, 00:10.387[1]

Qualifying 6 (2 Laps): 1. 55-Trevor Cline, 00:09.801[4]; 2. 97-Gavin Miller, 00:09.812[1]; 3. 43-Gunnar Setser, 00:09.835[5]; 4. 67K-Ashton Torgerson, 00:09.890[6]; 5. 19AZ-Hayden Reinbold, 00:10.014[7]; 6. 53-Sean Robbins, 00:10.109[2]; 7. 56D-Mitchell Davis, 00:10.171[3]

Hot Laps 1: 1. 71K-Cannon McIntosh, 00:09.839[3]; 2. 67-Ryan Timms, 00:09.959[6]; 3. 7U-Zach Daum, 00:10.162[8]; 4. 5U-Peter Smith, 00:10.228[4]; 5. 3N-Jake Neuman, 00:10.365[7]; 6. 50-Daniel Adler, 00:10.389[2]; 7. 21G-Jimmy Guidry, 00:10.793[1]; 8. 98-Luke Drotschie, 00:10.881[5]

BIGGER IN TEXAS: Brent Marks Comes Out on Top of Wild Cotton Bowl Thriller

The Myerstown, PA native bests Carson Macedo and Sheldon Haudenschild for 15th career World of Outlaws win

PAIGE, TX (March 15, 2024) - They say everything is bigger in Texas. And the action on track Friday night at Cotton Bowl Speedway lived up to that reputation.

Sliders everywhere. Crossovers everywhere. Mind-blowing saves. A late pass for the win. The racing couldn’t have been any bigger and better at the Paige, TX oval.

When the checkered flag waved on the 30-lap thriller, it was Brent Marks who arose victorious after a spirited charge from the fourth row. The “Myerstown Missile” worked his way forward in the Murray-Marks #19 and sealed the deal by topping a wild late-race duel with Carson Macedo. The winner of night one of the Texas Two Step rolled into Victory Lane and celebrated in front of a roaring crowd.

“It was a lot of fun,” Marks said. “Hats off to this team. They just have worked their butts off all year so far. We’ve been qualifying a little bit better but haven’t been good in our race trim, and we just made the necessary changes coming into this weekend, and here we are. This is amazing.”

The victory was Marks’ 15th with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and second in the state of Texas. He became the fifth different driver to top a race with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Marks also continued the early streak of no repeat winners as six different competitors have topped the first six races of the year. It’s only the sixth time in Series history we’ve seen that accomplished. The record is eight winners in the first eight races (2015).

A front row consisting of Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo brought the field to green. It was two-time Cotton Bowl winner – Haudenschild – darting out to the early advantage.

Haudenschild pulled ahead in the opening laps and quickly began to approach the tail of the field. Right as the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing pilot started to navigate traffic, disaster nearly struck. Haudenschild got sideways in Turns 3 and 4 and nearly spun the NOS Energy Drink #17. The Wooster, OH native managed to hang on and also maintain the lead. Right after Haudenschild’s save, the race’s first yellow came out for two cars spinning in Turns 1 and 2.

On the ensuing restart Macedo took a shot at Haudenschild with a slide job in the first corner. Macedo managed to clear him, but Haudenschild promptly countered with a crossover down the back straightaway to regain the lead. The yellow came back out with eight laps complete for Jacob Allen spinning in Turn 4.

The next restart saw Macedo snatch the lead from Haudenschild as he was able to dip under the #17 exiting Turn 2 and drive by heading down the back straightaway. Giovanni Scelzi briefly squeezed ahead of Haudenschild in Turns 3 and 4, but Haudenschild powered back by exiting the corner.

The methodical Brent Marks had worked his way from seventh to third by the halfway point and began closing on the top two of Macedo and Haudenschild. Once the leaders entered traffic, the action warmed up.

Marks threw a slider at Haudenschild in Turns 3 and 4. Haudenschild not only crossed him over, but he also found the speed to launch a slide job at Macedo for the lead in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo crossed back over to retake the lead. On the next circuit, Marks attempted a slider on Haudenschild but made contact with a lapped car. Both held on, but behind them a three-car crash that involved point leader David Gravel, Donny Schatz, and Sam Hafertepe Jr. brought out the red flag.

When racing resumed Marks used a huge run on the bottom to roll ahead of Haudenschild for second entering the first set of corners and immediately set his sights on Macedo. Marks could move his machine anywhere on the racetrack and began to track down the Jason Johnson Racing #41 primarily by using a unique line in Turns 3 and 4.

As the race dipped inside 10 laps to go, a war between Macedo and Marks began. Marks used his line in Turns 3 and 4 to get a run on Macedo down the front straightaway and toss multiple sliders at him in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo used multiple crossovers to maintain the top spot. But with only three laps remaining, Marks found the momentum he needed and made a slide job stick that Macedo couldn’t counter.

“It was just about finding enough grip there on exit,” Marks explained. “That was a pretty wild race. That was really fun, especially when we got in lapped traffic there. Hats off to the Cotton Bowl track crew for doing an amazing job.”

The yellow flag flew one lap after Marks secured the top spot setting up a two-lap dash to the finish, but Marks had no plans of an exciting final restart. He mashed the gas when the green lights flashed and pulled away to victory.

“It was just really about finding the right line that worked best for my car,” Marks said. “Carson was really good. I was able to roll the middle really well down here through (Turns) 3 and 4, but once we got to exit it was hard to get ahold of anything. I showed my nose to Carson a couple times, and he started taking my line there, so I had to try to get creative a little bit. I started coming off of (Turn) 4 a little higher sooner and catch the moisture right up against the wall just enough to shoot me down the front stretch and get some runs on him. That was a hard fought race.”

Macedo held on for the second spot after leading 20 laps aboard the Albaugh #41. The result marked his second consecutive podium as he and the JJR crew begin to get some momentum rolling. Macedo felt he did all he could to hold off Marks but just didn’t have quite enough.

“I feel like we were pretty solid,” Macedo said. “Once we took the lead I thought it would be really tough to get by us. And then he started pressuring me, and I could see him almost the first run he made at me. I was trying everything I could. I felt like I was moving around, trying different lines, trying to get my wing back a little bit. Then I felt I’d get a little tight in (Turns) 1 and 2, so it was like a give and take. He just did a good job. His car was really good there at the end. My guys did an incredible job, too.”

Rounding out the top three was Giovanni Scelzi as he put the KCP Racing #18 on the podium for the first time this year. The Fresno, CA driver made an incredible save early in the race that saw him drive off the wall on the back straightaway. Scelzi’s strong effort combined with Gravel’s misfortune gave him the points lead for the first time in his career.

“Man, it’s awesome,” Scelzi said of taking the point lead. “I escaped death a few times there. My car was awesome all night. This place seemed to give me some fits over the last couple years we’ve been here. Hats off to my guys… It’s cool to be as consistent as we’ve been just kind of rolling with the punches right now I feel like. We’re making Dashes and putting ourselves in position.”

Logan Schuchart and Aaron Reutzel completed the top five. Reutzel drove all the way from 22nd to fifth, giving him the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Reutzel also snagged his ninth career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Bill Balog (eighth Heat Race win of career) and Sam Hafertepe Jr. (52nd of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (102nd of career).

Haudenschild also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

World of Outlaws

3/15/24 Cottonbowl Speedway TX

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks[7]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel[22]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 10. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[14]; 12. 2-David Gravel[8]; 13. 95-Matt Covington[11]; 14. 70-Kraig Kinser[20]; 15. 23-Garet Williamson[13]; 16. 7S-Landon Crawley[12]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[15]; 18. 45X-Jace Park[18]; 19. 6-Bill Rose[23]; 20. 25B-Blaine Baxter[19]; 21. 16TH-Kevin Newton[16]; 22. 42P-Preston Perlmutter[21]; 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[6]

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 6. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[5]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 6. 16TH-Kevin Newton[8]; 7. 25B-Blaine Baxter[7]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[6]; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[5]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen[4]; 7. 70-Kraig Kinser[8]; 8. 6-Bill Rose[7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 4. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[2]; 6. 45X-Jace Park[6]; 7. 42P-Preston Perlmutter[7]

Sea FOam Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 00:14.194[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.329[12]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:14.383[4]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.409[3]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:14.418[13]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:14.429[6]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:14.457[19]; 8. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.472[18]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:14.493[21]; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 00:14.506[15]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.531[1]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:14.763[20]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.777[5]; 14. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 00:14.815[9]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:14.902[23]; 16. 23-Garet Williamson, 00:15.007[8]; 17. 95-Matt Covington, 00:15.251[11]; 18. 45X-Jace Park, 00:15.350[22]; 19. 25B-Blaine Baxter, 00:15.373[16]; 20. 6-Bill Rose, 00:15.394[17]; 21. 42P-Preston Perlmutter, 00:15.471[10]; 22. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:15.512[14]; 23. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:15.531[7]

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Set to Thrill at I-55 in April

PEVELY, MO (March 13, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to the fan-favorite Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for a doubleheader in April. The high-banked, 1/3-mile oval, continually produces some of the most exciting Sprint Car races every year – from Sheldon Haudenschild's 10-second lead domination to Kyle Larson and Logan Schuchart's epic battle last year, causing Larson to say it was the "most fun Sprint Car race" he'd ran. This year will again see drivers like David Gravel, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Schuchart, Haudenschild and more battle like fighter jets in a gymnasium around the Missouri track. EVENT INFO Date – Friday-Saturday, April 12-13 Location – Pevely, MO Track – High-banked, 1/3-mile oval Track Record – 9.995 sec. set by Kyle Larson on May 22, 2020 Times (CT) – Pits Open 2pm Grandstands Open 5pm Hot Laps/Qualifying 6:30pm -Racing to follow Tickets – Available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix ($5 off with advanced purchase) How to Watch – Every lap live on DIRTVision

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at I-55 – 2023 – Brad Sweet on April 14, Spencer Bayston on Aug. 4, Kyle Larson on Aug. 5 2022 –Carson Macedo on April 16 & August 5, Brad Sweet on August 6 2021 – Brad Sweet on April 2, Brad Sweet on April 3, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 6, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 7 2020 – Brad Sweet on May 22, Kyle Larson on May 23, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 7, Kyle Larson on Aug. 8 2019 – Brad Sweet on Aug 2, Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 3 2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 21, Rico Abreu on Aug. 3, Logan Schuchart on Aug. 4 2017 – Daryn Pittman on Aug. 4 2016 – David Gravel on Aug. 5, Rico Abreu on Aug. 6 2015 – Christopher Bell on May 2, Donny Schatz on Aug. 7, Shane Stewart on Aug. 8 2014 – Sammy Swindell on April 26, Paul McMahan on Aug. 1, Kerry Madsen on Aug. 2 2013 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 3 2012 – Craig Dollansky on Oct. 13, Jason Sides on Oct. 13 2011 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 5 2010 – Joey Saldana on April 17, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 6, Jason Meyers on Aug. 7 2009 – Craig Dollansky on Aug. 7, Joey Saldana on Aug. 8 2008 – Jason Meyers on April 5 2007 – Joey Saldana on July 7 2006 – Donny Schatz on April 1, Brooke Tatnell on July 8 2005 – Kraig Kinser on April 2, Chad Kemenah on July 8 2004 – Craig Dollansky on April 17, Danny Lasoski on Aug. 7 2003 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Tyler Walker on July 12 2002 – Jac Haudenschild on March 30, Daryn Pittman on July 13 2001 – Randy Hannagan on March 24, Stevie Smith on July 14 2000 – Jac Haudenschild on July 22 1999 – Jac Haudenschild on July 24 1998 – Stevie Smith on July 25, Andy Hillenburg on Oct. 10 1997 – Mark Kinser on May 18, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 11 1996 – Mark Kinser on June 12 1992 – Steve Kinser on June 10 1991 – Sammy Swindell on May 4 1990 – Sammy Swindell on April 14 1989 – Doug Wolfgang on April 15, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 11 1988 – Steve Kinser on April 23 1987 – Brad Doty on April 22, Steve Kinser on Sept. 25

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Lonestar Sooner Stampede Continues with Two Night Cotton Bowl Trip

The World of Outlaws return to the Paige, TX oval after a one-year absence.

PAIGE, TX (March 12, 2024) - Time to put on the cowboy boots. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready to go Texas Two-Steppin’.

The Lonestar Sooner Stampede rolls into Cotton Bowl Speedway this weekend (March 15-16) for two nights of Texas-sized action. The Paige, TX facility returns to The Greatest Show on Dirt’s calendar after a year break. The Series first visited Cotton Bowl in 2016 and has made six overall appearances at the 3/8-mile.

The stars of the World of Outlaws tour are expected to be joined by a healthy contingent of locals along with a cast of invaders from various states to create a star-studded field ready to dance for a Texas Two-Step triumph.

BUY TWO-DAY COTTON BOWL TICKET PACKAGE HERE BUY FRIDAY COTTON BOWL TICKETS HERE BUY SATURDAY COTTON BOWL TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

TWO-TIME TWO-STEPPER: Only one current full-time Series competitor has tamed Cotton Bowl twice through the six World of Outlaws visits to date – Sheldon Haudenschild.

The Wooster, OH native drove the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 to victories on opening night of the Texas Two-Step in 2021 and 2022. In typical Haudenschild fashion, both wins were filled with excitement as he charged from sixth in 2021 and seventh the next year.

Haudenschild enters the weekend riding the momentum of consecutive top two finishes. He closed out Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals with a $20,000 victory last month then came home runner-up during Bike Week at the Florida oval. A win this weekend would make Cotton Bowl the fifth facility where he’s topped at least a trio of races.

ONE COWBOY BOOT: Haudenschild may the only current World of Outlaws driver with a pair of Cotton Bowl wins, but two more on the roster have made a Victory Lane visit.

Six years ago, David Gravel led flag to flag for his one Cotton Bowl triumph. That was aboard the CJB Motorsports #5, and this weekend he’ll look to replicate the feat but behind the wheel of the Big Game Motorsports #2. The Watertown, CT driver is always strong at Cotton Bowl with a 4.83 average finish in six tries. The point lead currently belongs to Gravel.

It was Carson Macedo most recently claiming a Cotton Bowl checkered flag. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot wheeled the #41 to a win during the Series’ most recent trip in 2022. The victory was a major improvement for Macedo whose previous best Cotton Bowl result was 11th. The Lemoore, CA native is coming off his first podium of the season at Volusia.

COTTON BOWL CONSISTENCY: While only three of the 2024 World of Outlaws roster have won at Cotton Bowl, plenty of others have been consistent and shown they’re plenty capable of breaking through for a win.

Donny Schatz has been in attendance for all six Cotton Bowl races, and he’s yet to finish outside the top 10. The 10-time champion has put the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 in the top five during three of those tries and owns a 6.5 average finish.

Like Schatz, Logan Schuchart hasn’t missed the top 10 in six Cotton Bowl tries but is still seeking Victory Lane. The Shark Racing driver owns a best finish of fourth at the facility, which he achieved twice at the most recent Texas Two-Step in 2022.

Giovanni Scelzi has taken on Cotton Bowl on four occasions. Each start has been with his current team – KCP Racing – and he’s put the orange #18 in the top 10 three times and peaked at sixth twice. Scelzi enters the weekend as one of only three drivers that haven’t missed the top 10 in 2024.

Cotton Bowl has also been kind to Jonestown, PA’s Brock Zearfoss. The 3/8-mile is home to a trio of his 60 career World of Outlaws top 10 finishes. He’ll look to crack the top 10 for the first time this season with the trip to Cotton Bowl.

ONE STEP SHORT: Twice Cotton Bowl has nearly been the site of what would’ve been popular home state victories.

In 2021 it was Aaron Reutzel who came up one step short of the podium’s top step. The Clute, TX driver led a dozen laps aboard the Roth Motorsports #83 before Sheldon Haudenschild prevailed.

Then, during the most recent Cotton Bowl race, Sam Hafertepe Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX) had victory pried from his grasp as the race wound down. Hafertepe Jr. led the opening 26 circuits before Carson Macedo drove by and forced him to settle for second.

To date, Gary Wright is the only Texas native to win a World of Outlaws race within the borders of the “Lone Star State.” The Hooks, TX pilot mastered Mesquite’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway to the tune of five wins. Of the two above, Reutzel will return wheeling the Ridge & Sons Racing #87 looking to finish the job, but Hafertepe has RPM Speedway’s American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) action on his itinerary.

TEXAS TALENT: Reutzel won’t be the only Texan looking to make the home state fans proud.

Waco’s Chase Randall is set for battle behind the wheel of the TKS Motorsports machine. The 19-year-old has established himself as one of the sport’s top rising talents and looks to build that reputation even more with a strong showing this weekend.

Another Texas competitor in the realm of Sprint Car racing’s blooming stars is Brenham Crouch. He’s already impressed in 2024 by making three of the four DIRTcar Nationals Features at Volusia against one of the toughest fields the sport sees all year.

More locals expected to fill the pits include Brett Becker (Odessa, TX), John Ricketts (Burleson, TX), Marcus Thomas (Corsicana, TX), Blaine Baxter (Liberty Hill, TX), Dalton Stevens (Scurry, TX), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, March 15-16 at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, TX

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

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (5/84 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (572 PTS) 2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-12 PTS) 3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-12 PTS) 4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-36 PTS) 5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-82 PTS) 6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-86 PTS) 7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-106 PTS) 8. Corey Day – Jason Meyers Racing #14 (-110 PTS) 9. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-128 PTS) 10. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-132 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (5 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz

FEATURE LAPS LED (9 Drivers):

25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel 24 Laps – Rico Abreu 13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid 12 Laps – Donny Schatz 10 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi 7 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (4 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks 1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid

HEAT RACE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu 2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild 1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown,

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (17 Drivers):

5 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi 4 Dashes – David Gravel, Rico Abreu 3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley 2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid 1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (3 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart 1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz

PODIUM FINISHES (9 Drivers):

3 Podiums – Brad Sweet 2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild 1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo

TOP 10 FINISHES (21 Drivers):

5 Top 10s – David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi 4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Logan Schuchart 3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu 2 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild 1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley

2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

World of Outlaws Shift March 23 Event to Kennedale after Lawton Fire

CONCORD, NC (March 12, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is shifting its event on March 23 from Lawton Speedway to Kennedale Speedway Park, creating a huge two-day weekend in the Dallas-Fort Worth region with Big “O” Speedway.

The event at Lawton was canceled because a recent fire at the track resulted in the loss of the facility’s press box and more than 60 reserved seats, along with smoke damage to the concessions. Working with track and series officials, the event was able to shift to Kennedale.

Lawton track personnel worked diligently in the fire’s aftermath to prepare the facility but determined the damage to be too extensive and severe to have it ready by race day.

The new doubleheader weekend in Texas kicks off Friday, March 22, at Big “O” Speedway in Ennis before heading an hour northwest to the Saturday night Cowtown Roundup at Kennedale. Both events will pay $12,000 to win.

If you purchased a ticket in advance for the Lawton Speedway event, you will receive a face-value credit to your MyDirtTickets.com account – good for two years – to be used toward any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until April 12 to request a refund.

Tickets for the new Kennedale race will go on sale Thursday, March 14. Fans who had purchased tickets to the previously canceled Kennedale weekend can use the credit on their account to buy tickets for the new March 23 race. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series was meant to make its debut at Kennedale Speedway Park earlier this month before weather hindered those plans. Now, Texas fans get another chance to see The Greatest Show on Dirt during the one-day Cowtown Roundup.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 2024 Season Opener in Du Quoin Features Midget Veterans, Micro Sprint Talents

CONCORD, NC (March 12, 2023) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota begins its second full-length national Midget schedule this weekend with the season opening events inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL.

For the second-straight year, the Series opens competition with back-to-back nights of racing on the temporary 1/6-mile oval constructed on the concrete floor of the Center, located on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Both Friday and Saturday programs will be conducted nearly identically, with Group Qualifying and Heat Races (both with passing points), Last Chance Showdowns and a Feature. Friday’s 30-lap Feature is $4,000-to-win, while Saturday’s 40-lap Feature will pay $5,000 to the winner.

The 2024 championship chase also features an upgrade in points fund money, now awarding $30,000 to the Series champion at season’s end, $15,000 to the runner-up and $10,000 to third-place, while the rest of the top-10 in points will collect a check for their season-long efforts as well.

Tickets for this weekend’s events in Du Quoin will be available at the door on race day – $25 for General Admission; kids 12-and-under are free. Friday Hot Laps set for 5pm; Saturday Hot Laps at 4:30pm. If you can’t be there in person, DIRTVision has live coverage throughout the weekend and at all 30 Series events in 2024.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this weekend:

THE CHAMP IS HERE – Jade Avedisian returns to Xtreme Outlaw Series competition for the first time since October when she clinched the 2023 Series championship, piloting the Mobil 1, LynK/Toyota No. 71 for the start of her second season with Keith Kunz Motorsports.

While she’ll be fulfilling commitments to the GR Cup schedule with Toyota Racing this year, the 17-year-old from Clovis, CA, is slated to compete in approximately 25 of the 30 Series events. The first two of which comes in Du Quoin, where she was victorious on Saturday night of the Xtreme season opener last year – a race that featured a wild ending with veteran racer Thomas Meseraull.

Since wrapping up her first national championship five months ago, Avedisian has signed on as an official athlete of the Toyota Driver Development program, tested in multiple different car classes – including Legend Cars and her GR Cup car on ice – and most recently took home a silver medal in the 82nd Australian Speedcar Championship at Perth Motorplex in Perth, Western Australia, piloting a Midget for California-based Dyson Motorsports alongside teammate Justin Grant.

MICRO SPRINT MADNESS – Micro Sprint talents from across the country have been filling Midget seats over the past several years, and the Xtreme Outlaw Series is taking on several new faces from its national and regional ranks.

Mounce/Stout Motorsports (MSM) will house four Micro Sprint racers, all of whom are rookies on the national Midget scene this year. The Tulsa, OK-based team housed only Chase McDermand as a full-time racer in 2023 but expands in 2024 with the addition of multi-time California Micro champion TJ Smith, Oklahomans Tyler Edwards and Jayden Clay, and the newest member from Glendale, AZ, Austin Torgerson.

Outside of MSM, Oklahoma Micro racer Peter Smith has joined Trifecta Motorsports as a teammate to 2022 Series champion Zach Daum for the season. Two-time Millbridge Speedway Micro Sprint champion Trevor Cline will take his family-owned operation on the road this year, as well as 14-year-old Arizonan Elijah Gile.

PACKED HOUSE – In addition to Avedisian, the Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) stable will feature six additional teammates for a total of seven cars on the team for this weekend’s events. Keith, along with longtime team co-owner Pete Willoughby, led the team to the Xtreme Outlaw Series championship last year and will return with four drivers scheduled to compete in all 30 races in 2024 – Ryan Timms, Gavin Miller, Ashton Torgerson and Luke Drotschie.

• Ryan Timms, of Oklahoma City, OK, begins his march toward an Xtreme Outlaw Series championship this weekend in his second full season with KKM. The 17-year-old racer broke through for his first career Series win last year at Port City Raceway but has not been to Victory Lane in Du Quoin, posting a best finish of seventh at the Junior Knepper 55 event with POWRi in December.

• Gavin Miller, of Allentown, PA, begins his sophomore season on the national Midget circuit, returning to the seat of the Eibach Springs, LynK/Toyota No. 97 following a full-time run last year that ended with a third-place finish in the final points standings and two Feature wins. The 17-year-old finished eighth and ninth in the Du Quoin races one year ago.

• Ashton Torgerson, of Glendale, AZ, is newest addition to the KKM squad, announcing last Thursday he’s signed with the team to contest the entire Xtreme schedule this year. It’s a quick switch for the 17-year-old, who in January confirmed that he’d agreed to join Mounce/Stout Motorsports camp. His older brother, Austin Torgerson, has since filled that spot at MSM, and will take his wealth of Micro Sprint experience out on the road competing against his brother in their rookie national Midget campaigns.

• Luke Drotschie, of Cape Town, WC, South Africa, makes his KKM debut and first career Midget start in the U.S. this weekend. The 20-year-old made scattered Micro Sprint starts in the States last year and brings indoor racing experience from the 2023 Tulsa Shootout with him as he begins his rookie campaign on the national Midget circuit.

• Taylor Reimer, of Tulsa, OK, will make only scattered starts for KKM this year – piloting her signature pink, BuzzBallz-sponsored LynK/Toyota No. 25K – as she begins a full-time transition to the asphalt world. The 24-year-old placed 17th and ninth in Du Quoin last year en route to a sixth-place finish in the 2023 points standings.

• Cannon McIntosh, of Bixby, OK, has rejoined the 17-time national Midget championship-winning team and will race under the KKM banner at the national level for the first time since 2020 (excluding the 2021 Chili Bowl Nationals) this weekend. Last year, the 21-year-old racer went to Victory Lane in the season opener in Du Quoin – his second career Feature win in the Center, four years after his first with USAC in the 2019 Shamrock Classic.

BACK FOR MORE – Three Xtreme Outlaw Series championship chasers from last year have returned to the full-time roster in 2024, each sporting their familiar colors for the opening race of the new season.

Inaugural Series champion Zach Daum is back behind the wheel of the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U for his second season with the team after a runner-up finish in the points standings last year. The 32-year-old from Pocahontas, IL, has made several Midget starts at the Center in his career but has yet to reach Victory Lane. He ran fifth in the opening night of action at the Center one year ago.

Fellow Illinoisan Chase McDermand is slated to pilot his own McDermand Plumbing, Spike/Stanton No. 40 for the start of the season – a change from his original plans to contest the Series with Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports. He missed the Feature on opening night last year but bounced back on Saturday, driving from 12th on the starting grid up to a second-place finish.

Twenty-year-old Hayden Reinbold saddles up with the Series for the second-straight year, following his first career national Midget Feature win in the season finale last October. The Arizona racer drove the Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports No. 19AZ to finishes of 12th and 14th in the Center one year ago.

LOCAL FLAVOR – Brayton Lynch, of Springfield, IL, is set to return to Du Quoin for his first Midget start in the Center since 2021. Armed with the knowledge of his grandfather – famed crew chief Rusty Kunz – Lynch aims to better his best career finish in the building of 10th, garnered in a 2021 USAC regional event.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Return to US 36 Raceway With Xtreme Outlaw Midgets

OSBORN, MO (March 7, 2024) – For one night only on April 5, Missouri fans will get to see the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota on the same night at US 36 Raceway.

The event will be the first time the two Series visit the high-banked 3/8-mile track together and the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets' debut there.

Sheldon Haudenschild put on a show for fans last year, dueling with Carson Macedo and David Gravel for the win – scoring his second straight World of Outlaws victory at the track.

They'll be back to battle again against fellow Series stars like 10-time champion Donny Schatz, 2023 Rookie of the Year Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid and more.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will also have a star-studded field with 2022 Series champion Zach Daum back to score another title against an abundance of new contenders like Brayton Lynch, TJ Smith, Trevor Cline, Peter Smith and South Africa's Luke Drotschie.

It'll be a true showcase of the open-wheel ladder system as many of the Midget drivers may find themselves as the future stars of the World of Outlaws tour, taking the same path as Kofoid.

The event will also be the site of the World of Outlaws' next documentary, which will air on CBS later this year, giving fans a chance to see themselves on the prime network.

EVENT INFO: Date – Friday, April 5 Track – 3/8-mile oval Track Record (Sprint Cars) – 9.846 sec. by Paul McMahan on May 5, 2006

Tickets – WorldofOutlaws.com/tix How to Watch – DIRTVision.com / download the DIRTVision App

Times (Central) 2PM Gates Open 5PM Grandstand Gates Open 6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying –Racing to follow

Last Year's Replay (Sprint Cars) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nxiKJAF1S4

Previous Winners (Sprint Cars): 2023 – Sheldon Haudenschild on April 7 2020 – Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 29 2016 – Joey Saldana on Sept. 17 2009 –Joey Saldana on June 26 2007 –Jason Meyers on May 11 2006 – Jac Haudenschild on May 5

Historic Little 500 at Anderson Speedway Races to DIRTVision Airwaves

Dirt racing’s premier broadcaster adds top pavement series 500 Sprint Car Tour to lineup

CONCORD, NC (March 7, 2024) – The 500 Sprint Car Tour, a pavement non-wing Sprint Car series which features the famed Little 500, will be broadcast on DIRTVision in 2024.

Formed by Anderson Speedway in Indiana, the 500 Sprint Car Tour includes 10 race days across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The first two champions of the series were three-time Little 500 winner Kody Swanson and two-time Little 500 Winner Tyler Roahrig. The legendary 76th Little 500 runs May 25 at Anderson Speedway.

The Little 500 was first run in 1949 with Sam Skinner earning the victory. Many of racing’s legendary drivers have competed in the event, dating back to the likes of Parnelli Jones and Johnny Rutherford.

The 500 Sprint Car Tour is the first major pavement series DIRTVision will broadcast.

“In the storied history of the Little 500, many dirt Sprint Car drivers have crossed over and raced this event on pavement,” DIRTVision’s Brian Dunlap said. “The Little 500 and the 500 Sprint Car Tour is the pinnacle of open wheel paved short track racing, it’s an honor to be chosen as their broadcast partner and showcase their events alongside The Greatest Shows on Dirt.”

The first event will be Saturday, April 6, at Anderson Speedway. Other venues on the tour include Berlin Raceway and Kalamazoo Speedway in Michigan, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Salem Speedway in Indiana, and Toledo Speedway in Ohio.

“We are very excited to bring DIRTVision on as our broadcast partner for the 2024 season,” said Jared Owen, 500 Sprint Car Tour Series Director. “As a pavement series, we will be exposed to an entirely new demographic being on a predominately dirt racing platform. We can't wait to put on a great show for all the fans out there.”

Fourteen-Year-Old Elijah Gile to Tackle Rookie National Midget Season with Xtreme Outlaw Series

CONCORD, NC (March 7, 2024) – The wave of youth in national Midget racing continues to sweep through the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota with the addition of 14-year-old Elijah Gile to the list of 2024 championship chasers.

Gile, of Phoenix, AZ, has been a presence in the Micro Sprint ranks for the past two years and will take on the biggest challenge of his career this year, piloting the Racecraft-sponsored Spike/Stanton No. 13 Midget for all 30 races on the Series schedule.

“I’ll give it my all, and I feel like we’ll have a really good year,” Gile said. “I’m excited to run with them. I’m glad I have this opportunity and can’t wait for the races coming up.”

Elijah will hit the road with his father, Dennis Gile, sporting the colors of Dennis’ newly founded motorsports coaching brand Racecraft. Elijah was one of the first students of the program – which pairs young drivers with an experienced professional for one-on-one, at-track coaching – and received his first lessons with World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver Logan Schuchart during the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout at Volusia Speedway Park in January.

“We didn’t make the A-Main the first night but we for sure improved the second night,” Elijah said. “We got faster in Qualifying; we did a little bit better in the Heat Race, we made the A-Main. We got laps under our belt, and it was just a good week; a lot of learning.”

Elijah also has plans to contest several dates with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS), which World Racing Group recently acquired, in addition to the Xtreme Outlaw Midget schedule. He posted his best career finish on the national scene during the Xtreme Outlaw season finale last October at I-44 Riverside Speedway, starting 21st on the grid and advancing to 10th by the checkered flag.

“I got into the A-Main, got some laps down and got a top 10,” Gile said. “We were racing with Daison Pursley, throwing slide-jobs. I was just trying to get around the pack to get up front. That boosted my confidence, and that’s what I can hope we do this year to get a championship.”

Now, the young Arizonan turns his attention to the 2024 regular season, where he’ll encounter several tracks he’s yet to race at. He’s ready for the challenge of racing against some of the best drivers the national Midget circuit has to offer each night, and above all, is looking to learn as he navigates his most hectic season planned to-date.

“Just go out there, have fun, and if we have our downs, we can get it next time,” Gile said. “Pass as many cars as we can, get the best finishing spots. Every race, just be confident and tell yourself you’re good enough to race with these guys, you’ve proved it before, and see what we can do from there.”

Elijah Gile begins his season with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota with the opening events – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16, inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Photo credit – Jacy Norgaard

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Head to Texas for Kennedale Speedway Park Debut

The first of four new tracks on the schedule brings the tour to a Texas bullring

KENNEDALE, TX (March 6, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are trucking to Texas.

Five nights of Florida racing opened the 2024 campaign, and now the tour is bound for the “Lone Star State” where a new track awaits. The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to invade Kennedale Speedway Park for the first time in Series history this weekend (March 8-9).

The 1/4-mile track, located just south of Fort Worth, joins the state’s rich history of Sprint Car Racing as the 12th Texas track to welcome the World of Outlaws. The state has hosted 206 World of Outlaws races (fifth most all-time) including the first in 1978.

The two nights will ignite the Lonestar Sooner Stampede for the World of Outlaws – a three week stretch of racing in Texas and Oklahoma that also includes stops at Cotton Bowl Speedway (March 15-16), Big O Speedway (March 22), and Lawton Speedway (March 23).

A new track means empty notebook pages, no data to pull from, and no on-paper favorites to win. It’s the opportunity to watch the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers battle to forever cement their name as the first World of Outlaws winner at Kennedale. Throw in the fact that the oval is a racy bullring, and it’s bound to be a thrilling debut.

BUY TWO-DAY KENNEDALE TICKET PACKAGE HERE

BUY FRIDAY KENNEDALE TICKETS HERE

BUY SATURDAY KENNEDALE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CLEAN SLATE: One of the most interesting aspects of venturing to a new facility is the lack of statistics. There’s no driver to highlight as a clear-cut favorite due to an impressive résumé. Many of the group of full-time World of Outlaws drivers for 2024 will be laying eyes on Kennedale for the first time.

Even looking at the latest drivers to win at a new track doesn’t lend any insight as to who a favorite might be. There hasn’t been a repeat winner at the last five tracks where the World of Outlaws have debuted.

The most recent driver to claim the debut at a new track is Carson Macedo. The Lemoore, CA native won the inaugural visit to Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway last June. The four prior to Macedo are Brad Sweet (Vado Speedway Park), Donny Schatz (Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway), David Gravel (Dirt on the Rev), and Sheldon Haudenschild (Magnolia Motor Speedway).

TEXAS TITANS: None of the current World of Outlaws drivers may have had the chance to conquer Kennedale yet, but a handful of them have experienced success when visiting Texas.

Donny Schatz has topped seven races in the state. The 10-time Series champion has made a trio of Victory Lane visits at Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX), twice came out on top at Royal Purple Raceway (Baytown, TX), and won once apiece at Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) and Lone Star Speedway (Kilgore, TX). Schatz’s seven Texas wins are tied for the sixth most.

Series veterans David Gravel and Logan Schuchart both own three Texas victories. Gravel’s first two came at Gator Motorplex (Willis, TX) and Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX). Then, most recently, the Big Game Motorsports pilot claimed the final race in Devil’s Bowl Speedway history last October. And speaking of Devil’s Bowl, that’s where all three of Schuchart’s victories occurred. The Hanover, PA native took the Shark Racing #1S on three consecutive trips to Victory Lane (2019-2021) at the birthplace of the Series.

Two-time Texas winners include Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo. Haudenschild’s both came at Cotton Bowl Speedway in 2021 and 2022. Macedo has won in Texas once in each of the last two seasons, topping a Cotton Bowl Feature in 2022 and the penultimate Devil’s Bowl race last year.

FIVE RACES, FIVE WINNERS: Parity has been the name of the game so far in 2024 for the World of Outlaws. The first five races have failed to produce a repeat winner with Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Donny Schatz claiming checkered flags.

It’s only the 10th time in 47 seasons of racing that the first five Features didn’t see anyone pick up multiple wins. If another different name parks in Victory Lane on Friday at Kennedale, it will mark just the sixth time the season has started with six different winners.

Looking a little further ahead, the record for different winners to start the season is eight in 2015. New winners would be needed both nights and Kennedale and both nights at Cotton bowl next weekend to establish a new mark.

LONE STAR LOCALS: Texas may not be a Sprint Car hotbed in the realm of Pennsylvania or California, but the “Lone Star State” has produced its fair share of talent. A handful of notable names come from Texas and will be looking to top the World of Outlaws at Kennedale.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. headlines the local contingent entering the weekend. The Sunnyvale, TX native is fresh off topping this past weekend’s American Sprint Car Series Elite Outlaw race at Kennedale. That win came against a tough field, and this weekend he aims for his first World of Outlaws triumph since 2011.

Another top Texan heading to Kennedale is Chase Randall with TKS Motorsports. He may make most of his laps in the Knoxville region these days, but he comes from Waco and has Kennedale success in his past. Back in 2021 Randall won a 410 race at Kennedale when he was only 16 years old.

Aaron Reutzel plans to make his way to Kennedale aboard the Ridge & Sons Racing #87. The Clute, TX driver has competed at Kennedale with ASCS in the past but is yet to pick up a win at the bullring.

INVADERS: Along with the stars of the World of Outlaws and the healthy crop of locals, drivers from many states plan to partake in the Series debut at Kennedale.

Oklahoma is sending plenty of talent capable of winning in Texas for the “Sooner State.” Oklahoma City’s Ryan Timms is yet to miss a World of Outlaws race in 2024 and will continue that trend. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) plans to make his first Series appearance of the season driving the TKH Motorsports #21H. Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK) also intends to join the cast of Sooners.

Pennsylvania will have some representation in the form of Brent Marks (Myerstown, PA) and Jacob Allen (Hanover, PA). Both are proven winners at the highest level of the sport and could be threats to take the Series debut at Kennedale.

Outside of the trio of Californians full-time on the tour, the “Golden State” will be represented by Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi. He’s brought the Scelzi Motorsports #41 out for a five-week stretch with the World of Outlaws beginning at Kennedale. This past weekend he finished third at Kennedale’s ASCS Elite Outlaw race.

Many more are expected to be among a healthy group of invaders filling the Kennedale pit area.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday-Saturday, March 8-9 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TX

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

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (4/86 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (572 PTS)

2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-12 PTS)

3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-12 PTS)

4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-36 PTS)

5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-82 PTS)

6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-86 PTS)

7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-106 PTS)

8. Corey Day – Jason Meyers Racing #14 (-110 PTS)

9. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-128 PTS)

10. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-132 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (5 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz

FEATURE LAPS LED (9 Drivers):

25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel

24 Laps – Rico Abreu

13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid

12 Laps – Donny Schatz

10 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi

7 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild

1 Lap – Tyler Courtney

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (4 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks

1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid

HEAT RACE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu

2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild

1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown,

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (17 Drivers):

5 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi

4 Dashes – David Gravel, Rico Abreu

3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley

2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid

1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (3 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart

1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz

PODIUM FINISHES (9 Drivers):

3 Podiums – Brad Sweet

2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild

1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo

TOP 10 FINISHES (21 Drivers):

5 Top 10s – David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi

4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Logan Schuchart

3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu

2 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild

1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley

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)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

South African Luke Drotschie Ready for 2024 Xtreme Midgets Campaign with Keith Kunz Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (March 6, 2024) – Living and racing around South Africa for most of his life, Luke Drotschie longed for an opportunity to race consistently on the dirt and take his motorsports career to the next level.

In 2024, the 20-year-old is cashing in on an opportunity to race for Keith Kunz Motorsports and chase the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, joining full-time teammates Ryan Timms and Gavin Miller for his national Midget rookie campaign.

“It’s definitely a huge undertaking,” Drotschie said. “I’m pretty nervous going into this, but also at the same time, I have a lot of confidence going into this with a team like KKM, knowing I’ve got some of the best guys guiding me and some of the best cars on the track.”

Hailing from the city of Cape Town – South Africa’s legislative capital – Drotschie is a third-generation racer who spent much of his youth as a kart racer on both asphalt and dirt around his homeland. After some time in his late teens piloting Outlaw Karts and even a brief stint in a Super Late Model, he came to the US in 2022 for his first test session in a Micro Sprint with renown champion Frank Flud before landing a ride with Mooresville, NC-based Micro team Dave Mac-Barnhill Motorsports in July 2023.

Right away, Drotschie noticed the differences in the car, track and the flow of the race program as he competed in weekly events at nearby Millbridge Speedway.

“It was definitely quite a learning experience,” Drotschie said. “It’s quite a lot, just getting into a Micro from an asphalt kart is quite a big difference. All the suspension, the way the car reacts, the way it drives.

“Also, the way the racing works here. The racing format that we run back home is a little different, so just getting used to all of that was definitely a big learning experience. But I also felt like it gave me a good base to work off of for this year for the Midget season.”

Luke’s father, Gunter Drotschie, lit the flame early on in his son’s career and helped pave the way for it to blossom in the U.S. As owner of Cape Town-based G+A Motorsport – an international fire suit manufacturing and racing parts retailer – Gunter has been a frequent visitor to the States over the last 15 years. In his travels, he met American open-wheel racing industry professionals like Flud, Dave McIntosh, Bundy Mitchell and Keith Kunz, who Luke will receive tutelage from this season.

“The goal has always been to race Midgets and to be running half-decently or up front in the Midget,” Luke said. “I think what we’re doing this year, partnering up with Keith and everything, we’re doing the best thing to achieve that.”

While nearly every track on the 2024 Series schedule will be new to him, Luke is embracing the challenge with confidence. He’s come to the US to chase a dream and said it’s about time to make it reality.

“One thing is the age thing,” Luke said. “I’m getting a little older, I’m not super young anymore. I think there’s no time like the present to jump on the bandwagon, pull the trigger and make it happen.”

Watch Luke Drotschie and the Keith Kunz Motorsports team take on the entire Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota schedule in 2024, starting with the season opener Mach 15-16 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

500: Donny Schatz Reaches Massive Milestone with Volusia Victory

The 10-time champion earns his 500th overall Sprint Car win at the Bike Week Jamboree

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 4, 2024) - At one point in time Donny Schatz was a North Dakota kid in the stands watching races as Sprint Car dreams bloomed within his mind. Now, he’s a 500-time Sprint Car Feature winner.

He fought through early struggles that every driver combats. He began to collect some checkered flags in the 1990s. He ascended to the highest level of the sport with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and eventually became the most dominant force with the Series for a stretch. Wins on the sport’s biggest stages at the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal, National Open piled up along with so many more. And on Monday at Volusia Speedway Park, he made his 500th trip to Victory Lane and 312th with the World of Outlaws.

The 10-time Series champion lined up fourth on the grid, got a strong start, and was at the right place at the right time when misfortune struck a leading Michael Kofoid. A shredded tire gifted Schatz the lead, and he never looked back on his way to win number 500.

Volusia has been a helpful racetrack for Schatz on his path to 500. Monday’s Bike Week Jamboree marked his 24th overall Sprint Car victory at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” The driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 has earned 15 of those with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Volusia is the fourth winningest track on Schatz’s World of Outlaws résumé, trailing only Williams Grove Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, and Eldora Speedway.

But even with the enormous magnitude of the achievement, it was business as usual for Schatz when the race concluded. He’s not focused on any milestones. He’s focused on getting the next win and the many more that will surely follow.

“I really don’t want to think about it,” Schatz said. “I feel like I’ve got a lot of years left in me. I’ve got a lot of good racing left in me because I still love to race. That’s the important part. Numbers are numbers. That’s the stuff that I’m probably going to roll over to Steve Kinser’s bus someday when we’re sitting here at Volusia watching our kids or our kids’ kids and we’ll have talks about it. But for now, it’s just a number you don’t even want to think about. I’ve been very fortunate to race with a lot of great people and have great partners behind us.”

The front row consisting of Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid brought the field to green for the 25-lapper. The outside line proved to be the place to be as Kofoid blasted by Haudenschild for the lead while Schatz ripped ahead of both Giovanni Scelzi and Haudenschild to take second from the fourth starting spot.

As the opening laps clicked away Kofoid set a torrid pace in the Roth Motorsports #83. He remained glued to the high side and on rails. Behind him, Schatz tested different lines as he’s known to do and didn’t let Kofoid build too much of an advantage.

When the lead duo entered traffic, Kofoid managed to extend his lead at first as the gap grew to just over a second on Lap 9. But Schatz began to regain his footing and cut away at the margin as the race neared the halfway mark. Only two laps later, he had sliced Kofoid’s one second advantage in half.

Right when it looked as if a battle may be brewing between the rising star and the living legend, heartbreak hit Kofoid. The left-rear tire on his machine let go entering Turn 1, sending him spinning and backing into the fence. Adding salt to the wound, the incident occurred a lap after the halfway point meaning no guaranteed time in the Federated Car Care Work Zone. His team wasn’t able to make repairs in time for the restart, leaving him trapped in the Work Zone as the field came back to green.

Kofoid’s misfortune was Schatz’s benefit as the Carquest #15 inherited the top spot with 12 laps remaining. The Fargo, ND driver wasted no time pulling ahead when the green lights flashed. In two laps he held more than a one second lead. Even when he made his way back into traffic, no lapped cars slowed him.

A late caution for Jacob Allen set up the potential for a dramatic finish with only three laps to go. But Schatz had no intentions of allowing any drama to intervene between himself and the finish line. Schatz powered ahead on the final restart and cruised to a comfortable win and joined the 500 club.

“I wasn’t really worried about what was behind me,” Schatz said. “As long as I could focus on out in front of me and do what I was doing we were going to be alright. You know somebody is going to maybe try the slider, but there isn’t anything you can do about what other people are doing. He (Haudenschild) must’ve spun his tires on the start. Man, we got a hell of a run and went right to second, and I can’t ever remember running a car that hard that long. It’s hard on tires and hard on wheels. It’s hard on everything.

“We kind of capitalized on the misfortune of the #83. We were getting to the point where we were having a lot of wheel spin. When your right side is up against something, the left side is the one that spins, and that’s generally where a problem happens. And obviously, that’s what happened there and we capitalized on that. Hats off to my guys. They just keep digging and digging and digging.”

Haudenschild claimed the runner-up spot for his second consecutive strong run at Volusia. The pilot of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17 capped DIRTcar Nationals with a win last month and came up one spot short of back-to-back wins. The result marked his 95th career World of Outlaws podium. The Wooster, OH native noted that track position might’ve prevented him from grabbing the win.

“The outside just seemed like you could kind of keep your speed up a little bit better,” Haudenschild said. “Definitely in (Turns) 1 and 2 you could roll it way faster at the start of the race. Don’t think there’s much I could’ve changed there. I feel like my car was really good, and whoever was out front was going to be really fast and hard to catch. The #83 was scooting pretty good, and so was Donny when he got out front.”

Rounding out the top three was Carson Macedo aboard the Jason Johnson Racing #41. The result served as a revitalizing boost for Macedo who struggled to start the season last month. He and the team put in plenty of work throughout the three off weeks, and their efforts immediately paid off with their first podium of the year and the 88th of Macedo’s career.

“We worked really hard,” Macedo said. “I think we were as good as the other two here in the Feature. It’s just once we get strung out at this place it’s crazy. You kind of hit that air barrier and you can’t go any faster. All in all, we took those three weeks to do all we could. Luckily, Tim Engler and Paul Kistler, we were able to meet them at the chassis dyno and kind of do some work on our engine package. I feel like we’re getting closer and closer.”

David Gravel and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

The fourth place result allowed Gravel to maintain his early season points lead. Schatz and Scelzi sit in a tie for second, 12 markers behind Gravel.

Logan Schuchart picked up his second KSE Racing Hard Charger of the season.

Buddy Kofoid claimed his first Simpson Quick Time of the year and the sixth of his career.

Sheldon Haudenschild won the Toyota Racing Dash.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One belonged to Kofoid (16th Heat Race win of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (100th of career).

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Micro-Lite Qualifier.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Texas for The Greatest Show on Dirt’s debut at Kennedale Speedway Park on March 8-9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

Volusia Speedway Park FL 3/4/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[7]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 7. 14-Corey Day[12]; 8. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 9. 8-Cory Eliason[9]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 11. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 12. 70-Kraig Kinser[14]; 13. 15K-Creed Kemenah[16]; 14. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[17]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen[10]; 16. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 17. 6-Bill Rose[19]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]; 19. 5T-Ryan Timms[18]

Qualifiers Race (10 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason[5]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen[9]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 8. 14-Corey Day[7]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 10. 70-Kraig Kinser[10]; 11. 24D-Danny Sams III[12]; 12. 15K-Creed Kemenah[14]; 13. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[13]; 14. 5T-Ryan Timms[11]; 15. (DNS) 6-Bill Rose

Toyota Dash Dash (6 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[3]; 5. 7S-Landon Crawley[4]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason[2]; 6. 14-Corey Day[7]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[6]; 8. 5T-Ryan Timms[8]; 9. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]; 10. (DNS) 6-Bill Rose

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 7S-Landon Crawley[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 7. 70-Kraig Kinser[5]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 9. 15K-Creed Kemenah[9]

Sea Foam Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.305[5]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.313[14]; 3. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:13.416[13]; 4. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.447[8]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.467[2]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.486[7]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.507[15]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.522[9]; 9. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.524[3]; 10. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.550[11]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.567[19]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.608[16]; 13. 14-Corey Day, 00:13.635[17]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.644[12]; 15. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:13.739[1]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.745[6]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.795[4]; 18. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:13.798[10]; 19. 6-Bill Rose, 00:13.920[18]

California Micro Sprint Veteran TJ Smith to Pilot Mounce/Stout Entry for 2024 Xtreme Midget Campaign

CONCORD, NC (March 1, 2024) – Nearly 20 years of Micro Sprint experience for TJ Smith has led him to one of the biggest opportunities of his career in 2024.

The 33-year-old from Fresno, CA, will pilot the Mounce/Stout Motorsports, Spike/Stanton No. 14S with support from Jeff Taylor of Rockwell Security and Rick Young of RAMS Racing on the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota for his first season following a national Midget tour.

“I can’t say enough about how much gratitude I have to do something like this,” Smith said. “Being a low-budget racer all my life and just racing when I can and where I can, hopping from car-to-car – it’s finally starting to work out that we’re getting more rides and getting to run with these quality teams. It’s awesome to be able to do something like this.”

Smith has evolved into one of the veterans of the Micro Sprint circuit on the West Coast over the past decade, amassing hundreds of Feature wins and several California track and series championships. Most notably, Smith scored the biggest win of his career in taking the checkered in the Outlaw Non-Wing A-Main at the 2023 Tulsa Shootout.

He becomes the fourth driver in the Mounce/Stout lineup on the trail of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series in 2024, joining teammates Ashton Torgerson, Jayden Clay and Tyler Edwards for the entire 30-race schedule. Armed with the expertise, leadership and resources of team co-owners Jay Mounce and Gavin Stout, Smith is eager to tackle his first national tour.

“I think we have a really good group of guys,” Smith said. “Jay Mounce, obviously, and his crew at Mounce/Stout [Motorsports], being able to run out of their stable – I think they have a lot of knowledge. It just so happened that we all got along really good; everyone clicked really well.”

Smith will also receive support from Taylor and Young during his rookie Midget campaign. Taylor, owner and founder of Kansas City-based Rockwell Security, has been a supporter of up-and-coming talents in motorsports for several years, most notably backing the careers of Logan Seavey, Justin Grant, Ryan Bernal, Nick Hoffman, Zach Daum and various others in their rise to dirt track racing’s upper echelons.

Smith, Mounce and Taylor/Young’s first collaborative effort came at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January, which had been a long time coming.

“Jeff and I have talked about putting something together for probably the last three or four years now,” Smith said. “This year, everything kinda lined up. He put me in touch with Jay and Jay put me in touch back-and-forth with Jeff and we all kinda met in the middle and decided to make something happen.”

Though his Chili Bowl did not get going with the start he was hoping for on Monday night of the weeklong event, Smith was able to rebound on Saturday, appearing in five total lower mains before falling short of a transfer in a G-Main.

His comeback efforts did not go unnoticed, however. Smith’s resilient attributes have stuck with his supporters throughout his career, including Taylor.

“TJ just always stood out,” Taylor said. “Work ethic, salt-of-the-Earth kind of guy, hard racer, a clean racer. I know when he shows up, he’s there to win. That’s what we like to do, and that’s why we picked him to do that.”

While his opportunities to race Midgets outside of Tulsa have generally been sparse, Smith became more involved than ever last year, making four starts with the USAC Western States Midgets. In only his second start, Smith put the flagship Six8 Motorsports No. 68 in Victory Lane at Antioch Speedway, leading flag-to-flag for his first career Midget win – a statement to the Midget world and a sign of his potential.

“We held [Jake] Andreotti off for the last two or three laps; I just had to hit my marks and make sure I knew what I was doing,” Smith said. “Everyone was excited, and we had a lot of congratulations from a lot of people around, so it felt good to know that we were capable of running with those guys.”

Smith’s rookie season aboard the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota begins with the season opener at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16.

Tickets for the event will be available at the gate. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

World Racing Group Acquires American Sprint Car Series in Move to Protect Sport’s Future

Key stakeholder in Sprint Car racing’s hierarchy joins World of Outlaws organization

CONCORD, NC (March 1, 2024) – World Racing Group has finalized the acquisition of the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) from series founder Emmett Hahn. This is the latest in World Racing Group’s continued efforts and investment to help grow and strengthen Sprint Car racing.

With a goal to protect the future of the sport for drivers and tracks alike, especially for regional events and tracks, the premier 360 Sprint Car series, and its regions, are now under the same roof as series like the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and Super DIRTcar Series.

“The ASCS is vitally important to Sprint Car racing, creating opportunities for tracks to have a big show while giving drivers a chance to compete and develop in regional and national events,” World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter said. “Emmett and his family have created something special, and we all agree how important it is to ensure the success of the ASCS in the larger scope of the sport. At World Racing Group, we have built the infrastructure needed to be in the unique position take on the ASCS as it exists and work with its tracks and competitors to solidify its future.”

The ASCS was founded in 1992 by Hahn with the same mission World Racing Group has today: promoting and growing the sport of Sprint Car racing at all levels for drivers and teams, as well as the tracks and communities they are part of.

“I have known Brian and his World Racing Group team for many years, and I know this is the right fit to take what we’ve built over the past 30-plus years and move it forward in conjunction with the tracks and drivers. They have been the backbone of our national series and regional tours, and I know that World Racing Group is the right home for the ASCS,” said Hahn, a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. “The ASCS is in great hands for the next several generations of promoters and drivers.”

The first official season was a combination of regional races in 1992. Garry Lee Maier, of Dodge City, KS was the inaugural champion. Then, the series went national in 1993 with I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, AR hosting the first event — won by Mike Ward, of Memphis, TN. John Hunt, of Tulsa, OK, won the Series’ first national championship.

Regional racing is still an important element of ASCS with currently 12 regions, covering 14 states – spanning from Montana to Alabama. Under World Racing Group, those regions will continue to provide opportunities for their tracks and local stars to flourish.

More than 1,300 drivers have competed with ASCS since its inception, including national stars like Jason Johnson, Daryn Pittman, Jason Sides, Tim Crawley, Shane Stewart, Aaron Reutzel, Wayne Johnson, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Blake Hahn.

The Series continues to be a breeding ground for the next biggest names in Sprint Car racing, such as Jason Martin, of Liberal, KS, who went from ASCS Rookie of the Year in 2022 to Series champion last year.

A more than 40-race tour across 10 states will make up ASCS’ 2024 national championship season. Of those includes the prestigious $20,000-to-win 360 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, Aug. 1-3.

The 2024 ASCS national championship season will commence at RPM Speedway, March 15-16, marking the Series’ inaugural event under the World Racing Group banner.

To watch every national American Sprint Car Series race live, visit DIRTVision.com or download the DIRTVision App.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Bike Week Brings World of Outlaws Back to Volusia for Two Nights of Racing

For the second year in a row, The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to visit Florida alongside Bike Week

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 1, 2024) - Three weeks off was plenty. The Greatest Show on Dirt is ready to get 2024 rolling again.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars invade Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park next week for a Sunday-Monday (March 3-4) showdown. It’s a collision of the four-wheel and two-wheel worlds with Florida’s famed Bike Week taking place at nearby Daytona Beach while the four-wheeled 410 Sprint Cars rip around Volusia.

The two nights will mark visits 61 and 62 to “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” for The Greatest Show on Dirt. Volusia kicked off the 2024 World of Outlaws season with the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals two weeks ago, and those four nights of racing helped set the stage for the coming action.

The Bike Week Jamboree will ignite a stretch of 18 consecutive weekends of World of Outlaws racing with many weekday races scattered through the calendar during the stretch.

BUY TWO-DAY VOLUSIA TICKET PACKAGE HERE

BUY SUNDAY VOLUSIA TICKETS HERE

BUY MONDAY VOLUSIA TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch:

OPENING STATEMENT: Plenty of eyes were on David Gravel to see how he’d begin the 2024 season with many looking at him as the championship favorite. And Gravel delivered.

The Watertown, CT driver didn’t finish worse than sixth in the opening four races at Volusia. On the second night of DIRTcar Nationals he escorted the Big Game Motorsports #2 to Victory Lane. Gravel’s efforts earned him a third Big Gator championship and the Series points lead.

Numbers say Gravel should continue his early season roll as the Series returns to the Barberville, FL oval. In his last 20 Volusia Sprint Car starts, Gravel owns five wins, nine podiums, 16 top fives, and a 3.95 average finish.

He’s currently tied with Daryn Pittman and Steve Kinser for the third most World of Outlaws victories at the facility, and one more would give him sole possession of that spot. A two-night sweep could equal him with Brad Sweet for the second most.

SOPHOMORE SURGE: A year ago, Volusia left Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing scratching their heads. Fast forward 12 months, and the orange #18 kicked off 2024 by being one of the fastest cars circling “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”

Scelzi’s first four races of 2023 consisted of a best result of 11th with a 17.25 average finish. The start of 2024 told an entirely different story with a trio of fourth-place runs and an average finish of 4.75 through four Features. He also made the Toyota Racing Dash every night.

The success slotted Scelzi second in points heading back to Volusia. The Fresno, CA native has never led the World of Outlaws standings in his career, but two more effective outings on the coming Florida trip could elevate him to the top. He’s currently 10 markers behind Gravel.

COMING IN HOT: Heading into the Bike Week Jamboree Sheldon Haudenschild owns the title of most recent World of Outlaws winner. The 30-year-old wheeled the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 to a thrilling $20,000 triumph to conclude DIRTcar Nationals.

Haudenschild’s victory came on the heels of three nights of struggles to start his eighth season on tour. With those woes behind them, Haudenschild looks to build even more momentum as he returns to what’s been one of his best tracks.

Volusia is now home to three of Haudenschild’s 35 career checkered flags including his first back in 2018. A win on Sunday would make him the sixth driver to top back-to-back Volusia World of Outlaws races and own at least four Series wins there.

ON THE MOVE: Two members of the World of Outlaws roster put on a show nearly every night when Feature time arrived at Volusia during DIRTcar Nationals.

Donny Schatz and Logan Schuchart each passed a combined 29 cars across the four main events. Their nightly charges were both highlighted by a plus-12 effort. Schuchart climbed from 18th to sixth on night two. Schatz did the same the following evening. Each of those outings earned them a KSE Hard Charger Award.

The duo will no doubt be looking to start closer to the front during the coming Volusia visit and add to their résumés at the facility. Schatz owns a whopping total of 23 Volusia Sprint Car victories while Schuchart boasts a trio.

BOUNCING BACK: There’s no denying the DIRTcar Nationals didn’t yield the results Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing hoped for. Over the four nights Macedo averaged a 14th place result with a best run of 12th.

But there’s reason for optimism in the JJR camp. First, Macedo proved the #41 has the speed to move forward despite their issues. The Lemoore, CA native collected a pair of Hard Chargers by driving from 25th to 14th the first night and 23rd to 14th the final night. Second, Macedo’s career is full of Volusia success, suggesting he’s bound to escape the slump. Prior to DIRTcar Nationals, he recorded nine consecutive top 10 finishes at the half mile, including a win during Bike Week last year.

The troubles in February dug Macedo an early hole, but every World of Outlaws campaign is long and full of ups and downs. There’s no doubt that this championship caliber crew can turn things around in a big way at Volusia.

TURNING HEADS: Landon Crawley wasted no time making his presence felt at Volusia during DIRTcar Nationals. The 16-year-old made his Series debut with a bang by setting Simpson Quick Time before locking into the Toyota Racing Dash. The Benton, AR native wasn’t done yet as he secured the pole of the Feature two nights later by topping the Dash.

A bit of inexperience hindered him in the main event each night as he slid down the running order, but the talented teenager proved he belongs on the World of Outlaws tour. He’ll return to Volusia aboard the Sides Motorsports #7S looking to make even more noise during Bike Week.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Sunday-Monday, March 3-4 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

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (4/86 Races):

1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (572 PTS)

2. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-10 PTS)

3. Brad Sweet – Kasey Kahne Racing #49 (-10 PTS)

4. Tyler Courtney – Clauson Marshall Racing #7BC (-14 PTS)

5. Rico Abreu – Rico Abreu Racing #24 (-20 PTS)

6. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-20 PTS)

7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-32 PTS)

8. Anthony Macri – Macri Motorsports #39M (-42 PTS)

9. Brent Marks – Murray-Marks Motorsports #19 (-48 PTS)

10. Brian Brown – Brian Brown Racing #21 (-58 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (4 Drivers):

1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild

FEATURE LAPS LED (7 Drivers):

25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel

24 Laps – Rico Abreu

13 Laps – Anthony Macri

10 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi

7 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild

1 Lap – Rico Abreu

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICK TIME AWARDS (3 Drivers):

2 Quick Times – Brent Marks

1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown

HEAT RACE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu

2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Brent Marks

1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (15 Drivers):

4 Dashes – David Gravel, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu

3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown

2 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brad Sweet

1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):

1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (4 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo

1 Hard Charger – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz

PODIUM FINISHES (7 Drivers):

3 Podiums – Brad Sweet

2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu

1 Podium – Justin Peck, Sheldon Haudenschild, Anthony Macri

TOP 10 FINISHES (17 Drivers):

4 Top 10s – David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi, Tyler Courtney

3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu

2 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Buddy Kofoid

1 Top 10 – Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sheldon Haudenschild, Zeb Wise

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)

For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

TWO WHEELS TO FOUR WHEELS: Sheldon Haudenschild’s Youth on Dirt Bikes Produced Key Skills For Sprint Car Career

The exciting driver credits his childhood on dirt bikes for shaping him as a driver

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 29, 2024) - Not often do dirt bike roots lead to Sprint Car stardom. But Sheldon Haudenschild is accustomed to reaching uncommon feats.

Before he became one of the most thrilling gassers in a Sprint Car, Haudenschild embraced a different dirt discipline – dirt bike racing. He first hopped in a go kart to begin his racing experience, but the nearby dirt bikes caught his eye.

“I actually started racing go karts when I was real young, probably four or five years old,” Haudenschild recalled. “The go kart track was right beside the dirt bike track when I was a kid, and I kind of just found myself always going over to watch the dirt bikes. Pretty much from then on, I had a dirt bike. I started racing those when I was five. It’s pretty much all I did from five to 16 years old. We raced dirt bikes my whole childhood and pretty much every single weekend.”

Haudenschild has the opportunity to blend the past with the present this weekend. Before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars invade Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on March 3-4, AMA Supercross makes a trip to Daytona International Speedway on March 2.

The Wooster, OH native enjoys the chance to revisit his roots by taking in the sport’s top level as a fan. Dirt bikes shaped him as a driver. They’re a big part of the reason why Haudenschild has gained his reputation as fearless behind the wheel of a Sprint Car.

“For me I think a dirt bike teaches you way more than what go kart racing, or even Micro or Midget racing would,” Haudenschild explained. “And a lot converts over. A dirt bike track is like no other. I don’t think people quite realize how rough they are, how many lines there are, and how long the tracks really are. I think, for me, it gives me a whole different mentality when racing a Sprint Car than what a lot of these other guys have. A dirt bike is just gnarly. Nothing really compares to it.”

Not only did dirt bikes build Haudenschild as a driver, but they also equipped him with a sense of financial responsibility. With his dad – Jac Haudenschild – still building his own historic Sprint Car career during Sheldon’s younger years, Jac couldn’t always be at the dirt bike track with him. So, Jac would supply him a budget. These lessons proved to be vital later when Sheldon began his own Sprint Car operation.

“Racing dirt bikes probably taught me more of money management and things like that,” Haudenschild said. “My dad would send me racing on the weekends with buddies and hand me $500 bucks as a 14-year-old and make me manage that money and figure out how to make it last over the weekend. I think that’s a lot of what people don’t realize that kind of converted over to me being able to start a team when I was young and manage that at a young age and get into the sport a little different way.”

Skills provided through dirt bike racing, combined with lessons learned from his Hall of Fame father, paved the path for a smooth transition to Sprint Cars when the time came. Haudenschild might’ve focused on racing dirt bikes as a kid, but he still watched and learned plenty from Jac.

“Still to this day I’d say I’ve watched more Sprint Car races than I’ve raced,” Haudenschild said. “Kind of being able to grow up watching Sprint Cars and also grow up racing dirt bikes was kind of a perfect combination. I don’t think the transition was easy by any means. I just think a dirt bike toughens you up in different ways than growing up racing with a cage… Just growing up racing gnarly racetracks as a little kid and never complaining about it. It could be pouring down rain, mud races, it didn’t matter.”

Haudenschild’s Sprint Car career is a testament to his dirt bike talents translating when he made the switch. He’s always been known for being unafraid to venture anywhere on the racetrack no matter how on edge or rough. It’s led to him supplying some of the sport’s most mind-blowing moments including a charge from 16th to the win last year at Skagit. And most recently a thrilling victory at Volusia in early February to cap DIRTcar Nationals – making him the most recent winner heading into the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree.

But before he gets back to competing with the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers, he’ll return to his two-wheel roots on Saturday at Daytona.

“These last couple years when we’ve paired up with Bike Week is awesome,” Haudenschild said. “I’ve still got some buddies that will be racing at Daytona and working on bikes, mechanics and what not. So that’s pretty cool for me to get to go there, see a couple friends, and hang out a little bit. It’s kind of cool. Right now, I’m 30 years old, and there’s a couple dudes out there that I grew up racing with every weekend that are still racing and making them 450 main events every week. It’s cool to see them be able to do it for a living and then getting there this weekend and watching them.”

For tickets to the Bike Week Jamboree, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Millbridge Micro Sprint Champion Trevor Cline Joins Xtreme Outlaw Series for Rookie National Midget Season

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 29, 2024) – Trevor Cline’s roots will grow beyond Millbridge Speedway in 2024 as the Micro Sprint champion is set to join the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota full-time.

The 16-year-old, from Mooresville, NC, will trade in his Micro experience and take the family-owned Bellwood Auto Body, Spike/Stanton #55 on the road with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in his first venture on a national Midget tour.

“We’ve learned a lot through Millbridge and racing with all the guys; a lot of the national Midget guys run there all time,” Cline said. “I’ve already been able to race a bunch of them, and I know what to expect going into the year.”

Cline, along with his father and brother, make up one of the few teams coming from the East Coast to race at the national level this year, which was a big factor in their decision to chase the Xtreme Outlaw Series schedule.

“I feel like that the best option was to go with the Xtreme [Outlaw Series], just for how many races they run, all the two-day shows, and it makes it worth our time with how far we’ve got to drive,” Cline said.

He’s raced at Millbridge, in Salisbury, NC – where the Series ran its inaugural event in 2022 – for eight seasons, competing in several of the track’s weekly divisions before his climb to the top of the 600cc Non-Wing Micro Sprint ranks.

Cline logged one of the best seasons of his career at Millbridge in 2023, collecting two wins and the most top-fives and top-10 finishes of any driver en route to his second Millbridge Micro Sprint championship. He’ll take that accolade with him when the Series visits the track for the third annual DIAEDGE Double Down Showdown – Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22 – aiming for his first career Midget win.

“Millbridge is pretty early on in the season; I think that’ll be our best shot,” Cline said. “I’ve got more laps there than probably anybody there in a Micro. I’ve ran almost all the Midget races we’ve ran there.”

Cline made his Midget debut with the Xtreme Outlaw Series last year inside the Southern Illinois Center, counting for two of his 11 total starts with the Series. His best finish was an eighth-place run on two occasions – first at Paragon Speedway in Indiana and again two weeks later at Highland Speedway in Illinois. He’s got higher goals for his second season in the Midget but is keeping it realistic for his first year on a national tour.

“Obviously, everybody wants to get out there and win, but [it’s] our first year, and I don’t have many races in a Midget,” Cline said. “I think we’ll be pretty good just with all my experience coming up from the Micro ranks. I don’t think we’re gonna go out there and win a national championship, but I think we can compete for wins, [good finishes], and hopefully be pretty good.”

Cline begins his first venture on the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota with the season opener – March 15-16 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL. Tickets for both days will be available at the gate. If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars to Debut at Thunderbird Speedway on March 29

MUSKOGEE, OK (Feb. 29, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Oklahoma for its debut at Thunderbird Speedway on Friday, March 29. While The Greatest Show on Dirt is no stranger to the "Sooner State," Thunderbird will be a brand new stop for the Series, leveling the playing field for its elite roster of drivers. Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, CA, is the last World of Outlaws driver to win in Oklahoma, having won at Lawton Speedway in 2021. The Jason Johnson Racing driver has finished third in points the last three years and will be on the hunt for early season wins as he searches for his first World of Outlaws championship.

The Thunderbird Showdown will also mark the first time since 2022 that the track has hosted a national Sprint Car event. The last was an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) race in 2022, won by Texas-native Sam Hafertepe Jr. EVENT INFO Location: Muskogee, OK Date: Friday, March 29 To Win: $12,000 Times: 2pm - Pit Gates Open 5pm - Grandstand Gates Open 6:30pm - Hot Laps/Qualifying -Racing to follow Tickets ($5 off with advanced purchase): WorldofOutlaws.com/tix How to watch: If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Brayton Lynch, Rusty Kunz Taking Rexroad Racing No. 1K on 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series Trail

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 28, 2024) – A full national midget series has been absent from Brayton Lynch’s schedule for almost six years. But 2024 is his comeback season, and he’s bringing his grandfather, famed Midget crew chief and car owner Rusty Kunz, with him on the trail of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

Lynch, 24, of Springfield, IL, will pilot the Rexroad Racing, Bullet/Toyota No. 1K at all 30 Series events in 2024 with help on the wrenches from Kunz – the multi-time Chili Bowl Nationals winning crew chief and brother of Keith Kunz Motorsports co-owner, Keith Kunz.

The two have been away from full-time national Midget series competition since 2018. So, what brings them back?

“I’m coming back because Brayton wants to race,” Rusty said. “He’s a young guy and doesn’t get many opportunities.

“He’s got the opportunity, and I figured if he gets the opportunity, I might as well come and do it with him.”

Lynch made his Series debut last year, recording two top-10 finishes in four starts with a best finish of seventh at Red Hill Raceway, where he won a Heat Race during the program. He’s also been a Chili Bowl Nationals entrant every year from his rookie debut in 2017, keeping his grandfather’s legacy going every January.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself just to keep his reputation upheld, even though I probably don’t even have to,” Lynch said. “It’s special. It was different growing up with him as my mechanic and everybody wishing they were in my car.”

Since the 1970s, Rusty has been carving his own legacy as both a car owner and crew chief, collecting a long list of accomplishments in the national Midget ranks that includes wins with Page Jones, Kevin Doty, Johnny Parsons, Jason Leffler, Jerry Coons Jr. and, most recently, the late Bryan Clauson.

Lynch spent many years around the racetrack watching Rusty manage his cars and drivers, learning the intricacies of the sport with which he continues to shape his own career.

“You just kinda learn from them, and I’ve watched and helped out when I was younger and growing up, so I was able to kinda visualize and see what [Rusty] does, what they do, [hear] their feedback and stuff,” Lynch said. “Just learning how to give [Rusty] feedback, really.”

In his first year back on the road, the 73-year-old Kunz has some goals set with his grandson as they enter their 10th season of racing together – all in the name of improving. While Lynch still hunts for his first Feature win on the national circuit, Rusty said it’s the fundamentals they’re looking for – qualifying for every Feature, completing every lap, and posting top-five and top-10 finishes.

“I’d like to see him advance,” Rusty said. “The better he gets, who knows what happens. But he can’t get any better if we don’t go racing.”

Lynch and Kunz kick off their 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota campaign with the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16.

Tickets for the two-day event will be on sale at the gate. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Peter Smith to Pilot Second Trifecta Motorsports Entry on 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Trail

The 19-year-old Micro Sprint racer will pilot Trifecta’s No. 5U starting March 15 in Du Quoin

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 23, 2024) – Trifecta Motorsports’ 2023 campaign with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota was set to be the team’s first and only run on a national Midget series. And then, they almost won the championship.

Now, they’re returning with two cars for the 2024 tour, adding Micro Sprint racer Peter Smith to the team.

“We went into those last couple nights leading the owner’s championship with a real shot at the driver’s championship,” said team co-owner Steve Carbone. “We’re all very motivated, and finishing second in both spots was fantastic, but we just want more.”

Smith, 19, from Anthony, NM, will contest the entire 30-race schedule at the controls of the Spike/Stanton No. 5U alongside veteran teammate and inaugural Series champion Zach Daum in the team’s signature No. 7U Midget.

“I think I’ll fair fairly well,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to be very tough and the competition’s going to be very good, but I feel like I can stack-up against any of them.”

For his first season on the national Midget trail, Smith brings with him brother Mark Smith to handle car chief duties alongside longtime 7U team crew chief Bobby Milliser. The brothers previously worked alongside Milliser as crew members during Milton Hershey School Appalachian Midget Week in 2023 and got their first experiences working as part of the Trifecta team.

“Being able to stay in the grind and not cut corners is a huge thing that they believe in, and working as hard as possible to make sure cars put on the track are 100 percent,” Peter said. “I feel like they have some of the best equipment, and the results of the team speak for themselves.”

That weeklong racing trip to Pennsylvania later evolved into Peter’s first time in the seat of the 5U car alongside Daum during the Xtreme Outlaw Series championship weekend in Oklahoma last October. In a field of over 30 cars each night, Peter qualified for every Feature and turned the third-fastest lap in Qualifying during Saturday’s program at I-44 Riverside Speedway in only his fourth Midget start.

“It was pretty cool,” Peter said. “I know I can drive a car very fast, and that just proves that. I hope to be able to do it again this year.”

Peter’s fast start and Mark’s commitment to helping the team laid the foundation on which their partnership has extended for 2024.

“If we didn’t see something in Peter and Mark, we would just be a one-car deal. One hundred percent,” Carbone said. “They’re the only ones that we were willing to do this with.”

“Mark and Peter know that the opportunity they’ve been given is directly correlated to their work ethic,” Milliser said. “I think that should be rewarded, especially in today’s age.”

While Peter’s racing background is rooted in Legend Cars and Micro Sprints, Mark has spent several seasons behind the wheel of Stock Cars and dirt Modifieds around the local New Mexico and Texas tracks. He’ll turn in his steering wheel for a set of wrenches this year, learning from Milliser’s experience with setup, maintenance and driver communication.

“With Mark, he’s a workhorse, and he’s a sponge,” Milliser said. “He’s come to me willing to learn; he’s humble. He’s got his opinion, but he’s not trying to inset his opinion into an operation that he knows is already successful. And that humility, to me, goes a long way.”

Since the dawn of their presence in the Midget world as a Chili Bowl Nationals-only team in the 2010s, Trifecta Motorsports was a single-car team that later ventured out to a handful of national Midget series events before going full-time in 2023. Rolling a second car into the trailer for each race weekend this year means twice the work for the team, but there’s an upside to that challenge that will help them immensely.

“The challenge is probably part of what we like about it,” Carbone said. “We’ve learned the past few years at Chili Bowl having multiple cars. I’ve always seen the value and the feedback of multiple cars, but to be on the road with multiple cars, I think our notebook is going to get really, really good. Not that they’re not good now, but I think they’re going to get even better.”

The two-car team will begin their chase for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship with the season opener inside Du Quoin, IL’s Southern Illinois Center – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16.

Tickets for both days will be on sale at the gate. If you can’t be in the building to watch in person, stream all weekend long with a subscription to DIRTVision.

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Partners with Quartz Hill Records, Stone Country Records For 4-Wide Salute

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 23, 2024) – Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records are bringing the biggest names in country music to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ "4-Wide Salute to the Fans" in 2024.

The two record labels – part of Benny Brown’s Brown Sellers Brown, LLC – will present the famous "4-Wide Salute" at every World of Outlaws Sprint Car race, featuring music from their all-star roster of artists, including GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist Joe Nichols, platinum-selling artists Thompson Square, Easton Corbin and Runaway June, along with newcomers Ben Gallaher, Annie Bosko and more.

“We’re excited to partner with the World of Outlaws,” said Tina Hill, manager at Brown Sellers Brown, LLC. “We have a long-standing relationship with the racing world and look forward to carrying on the traditions both companies are known for."

Company owner Benny Brown has a rich racing background, having previously raced in California and is the grandfather of NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick.

Johnny Gibson’s famous "4-Wide Salute" call is one of the most iconic in all of motorsports, setting the stage for the night’s action with words like “Often imitated, never duplicated. The Greatest Show on Dirt!” And now, combined with Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records' collection of high-profile artists, fans will be treated to an electric start to every World of Outlaws Feature event.

For more about Quartz Hill Records and its artists, visit quartzhillrecords.com. And for more about Stone Country Records and its artists, visit stonecountryrecords.com.

To see, and hear, every 4-Wide Salute in person, get your tickets to World of Outlaws events at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can still experience every World of Outlaws race live on DIRTVision.

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws to Make Big O Speedway Debut March 22

ENNIS, TX (Feb. 22, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will make its final Texas stop of 2024 at Big O Speedway for the Bluebonnet Showdown on Friday, March 22. It'll be the Series' first time visiting the 1/4-mile track in Ennis, TX – 40 minutes from Dallas – and it'll be the track's first time hosting a national Winged Sprint Car series. Twenty-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser has the most Series wins in Texas, but of active drivers, that title belongs to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who has seven wins in the state. Current Series points leader, David Gravel, is the most recent Texas winner, having won the World of Outlaws' final race at Devil's Bowl Speedway last year. Overall, he has three wins in the state. Other Outlaw Texas winners include Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild. EVENT INFO: Schedule 2pm Gates Open 5pm Grandstands Open 6:30pm Hot Laps/Qualifying (Racing to follow) *All Central Times To Win: $12,000 Tickets: https://bit.ly/3uHOqSB How to Watch: DIRTVision.com More Info: https://bit.ly/3UONXc3

SOPHOMORE SURGE: Inside Gio Scelzi’s Strong Start After 2023 Volusia Troubles

Scelzi sits second in points following the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 22, 2024) - What a difference a year makes for Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing.

Rewind 12 months to 2023 when Volusia Speedway Park left them scratching their heads. After five nights with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the track, Scelzi could only muster a best run of 11th and an average finish of 16th.

Fast forward to 2024, and the stats tell a different story after four nights at Volusia during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Scelzi put the KCP #18 in the Toyota Racing Dash every night, only missed the top five once, and walked away with a 4.75 average finish.

A variety of factors contributed to the 2023 struggles before turning things around this year.

“I think the biggest thing that kind of caught me off guard in 2023 was we ran second in the last race of the year in Charlotte in 2022,” Scelzi recalled. “So, we ended the year really strong. Obviously, there’s not much in common between The Dirt Track at Charlotte and Volusia, but you get kind of a package that works, and that’s kind of what we tried to stick with. We had the same car, same engine but unloaded absolutely horrible. We changed cars down there. It wasn’t due to lack of effort. The package that we went down there with in our minds just was not the right package.

“When we came back to Iowa, we had a conversation – me, Adam (Clark), and my car owner. We just had a healthy conversation of how to get better. It wasn’t pointing the finger. It was just how do we get faster because in the end we’re all working toward one goal of getting faster. I guess to answer the question of how do you turn it around, I guess so much time has passed between then and Volusia is a track I really like. And what I had seen from the 360 races earlier in 2024, the track looked awesome. So, if the track is two lanes and racy, there’s really no reason not to be fast.”

Another key piece to the improvement is Scelzi’s crew chief – Adam Clark. The Missouri native is amid his second full year calling the shots on the KCP #18. Not only is Clark strong on the wrenches, he exhibits a calm demeanor that blends well with Scelzi’s personality.

“Honestly, what I love about Adam is the morale is not much different than it was last year after Volusia,” Scelzi said. “Whether we win or whether we crash or whether something stupid happens, he’s a really even keeled person. He’s not one to yell at me or to get overly excited or overly upset, which I think helps keep me even keeled because I can easily get emotional.”

Perhaps the biggest benefit to starting the year on a hot streak is where Scelzi is slotted in the standings. The productive trip to Florida placed him second in points – 10 markers behind David Gravel.

With the quality of field at DIRTcar Nationals, finishing up front is a tall task, especially over four consecutive nights. It’s easy to dig yourself an early hole in the standings racing against a roster of more than 40 drivers with all the nation’s best talent filling the field.

“I think the way I look at it is the races like Volusia, like Charlotte, like the National Open, the races where there’s a lot of cars and they are points races, you can get yourself in trouble,” Scelzi said. “At Volusia, there was 30 cars that were fast that might not be able to win on any given night but can easily run inside the top 10. Those are the nights you have to run good because on the nights where there’s only 24 or 25 cars, Gravel is not going to run worse than 10th. If he has a catastrophic night, he’ll run 10th.

“The nights in Volusia where there’s 24 legitimate contenders in a Feature, you can run 18th, you can run 20th, you can miss a show. What I’m getting at is there can be huge points swings in those races. In the races throughout the year where there’s only 30 cars, it’s very hard to gain those points.”

Scelzi will have an opportunity to continue the early season Volusia success when the World of Outlaws return in just over a week for the Bike Week Jamboree, March 3-4. And even though he was as consistent as anybody to start the year, Scelzi wants more. The strides from 2023 to 2024 were encouraging, but he craves continued progress. The 22-year-old is a perfectionist with one goal in mind – winning.

“In the end, we didn’t win a race,” Scelzi said. “That’s my goal is to win races. Yeah, we were super consistent. Yes, we had a great week and all that looking at the positive and not being a negative Nancy, but we didn’t break through to get a win. The goal is to win as much as we possibly can this year.”

For tickets to Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Sage Fruit Increases World of Outlaws Involvement, Joins Weis Markets as National Open Sponsor $100,000 added to overall purse of Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit Weekend

MECHANICSBURG, PA (Feb. 19, 2024) – Sage Fruit is upping the ante with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars by sponsoring the 2024 National Open at Williams Grove Speedway and bringing fans closer to the drivers with the Sage Fruit Stage at multiple events.

In addition to Sage Fruit’s sponsorship of the National Open, Weis Markets has joined as title sponsor of the historic Pennsylvania event, making it the Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit – bringing a $100,000 increase to the overall purse.

“Weis Markets are a great partner of ours,” said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit. “They run fantastic stores and drive incredible volumes of our Sage Fruit apples, pears and cherries. To partner with them on the National Open made a lot of sense and will hopefully drive increased traffic from Sprint Car fans to shop their stores.

“Williams Grove and Weis are two highly recognized brands in the state of Pennsylvania and Sage Fruit is excited to be a part of these brands.”

“We’re thrilled to be the title sponsor of this year’s National Open at Williams Grove Speedway, one of the most authentic racetracks in the country,” said Weis Markets Vice President of Marketing and Advertising Maria Rizzo. “As a company founded in Pennsylvania, we pride ourselves on being able to have partnerships where our roots are. We are proud to work alongside Sage Fruit and join this highly anticipated event that will be watched by many of our consumers.”

With the sponsorships, $100,000 has been added to the two-day event with a $60,500 purse for Friday night’s Feature, paying $12,000 to win and $1,200 to start, and a $191,700 purse for Saturday’s Feature, which pays $75,000 to win and $2,500 to start.

Several positions have been given an upgrade for both days, such as Saturday’s purse paying $30,000 for second, $15,000 for third, $10,000 for fourth, $7,500 for fifth, and more impressive increases down the finishing order. The increases are also reflected in the Last Chance Showdowns as the first non-transfer will leave with $800 both days.

The Weis Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit, Oct. 4-5, will be the 62nd running of the Sprint Car crown jewel and pinnacle of the World of Outlaws vs. PA Posse rivalry. It also showcases some of the most passionate fans in racing and provides an electric atmosphere like no other.

“Williams Grove Speedway is excited to have Sage Fruit and Weis Markets come on board as the title sponsor of the National Open,” said Justin Loh, Williams Grove general manager. “It is exciting to see these great companies elevate the fan and driver experience. Their support and sponsorship will play a key role in the continued success of this historic, marquee event.”

Sage Fruit will also be a leader in providing the ultimate fan experience with the Sage Fruit Stage Show. It will be utilized at four events throughout the 2024 season, featuring an hour-long show with fan-favorite drivers and crew members.

The Sage Fruit Stage made its 2024 debut at DIRTcar Nationals and will also be at the Huset’s High Bank Nationals, (June 19-22), Knoxville Nationals (Aug. 7-10) and World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 6-9).

“The Stage Show lineup this year with DIRTVision is spectacular,” Sinks added. “We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Stage Shows, listen to the incredible talent that they will have lined up and share it with all of the race fans either in person or on the DIRTVision broadcast.

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about your favorite drivers and crew members, before they hit the track.”

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series continues its 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park during the second annual Bike Week Jamboree, March 3-4. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every race and every Stage Show live on DIRTVision.

MAKING NOISE: Landon Crawley Impresses During First World of Outlaws Races

The 16-year-old silenced many doubters with speed and maturity as his rookie campaign began

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 16, 2024) - A week ago, Sprint Car fans across the nation were left stunned.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars unleashed its first Sea Foam Qualifying session of the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park and when the final car took the checkered flag, it wasn’t one of the usual suspects laying down the fastest lap. Neither qualifying master David Gravel nor Carson Macedo stood atop the speed chart. That spot belonged to 16-year-old Landon Crawley.

The Benton, AR native came out with a bang in his first laps with The Greatest Show on Dirt. And he wasn’t done yet. Crawley finished second in his Heat race to qualify for the Dash in his first appearance. Two nights later he qualified fourth fastest in his Flight and again made the Dash. This time he topped the Dash to sit on the pole of only his third World of Outlaws Feature. Heads were turned and doubters silenced.

“Blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I just happened to find two this week,” Crawley joked. “I don’t know how long I can keep it up, but I’m going to do my best and just take it one night at a time.”

The teenager is wise beyond his years and taking a healthy approach to his rookie World of Outlaws campaign. A one-night-at-a-time outlook is exactly what’s required to tackle the demanding 80-plus race calendar. Crawley displays a maturity that didn’t go unnoticed by Jason Sides as the longtime driver for his own team put him in the seat of the #7S for 2024.

“It definitely helps,” Crawley said of working with Sides. “As far as driving, he kind of just lets me do my thing and learn as I go. As far as setup and car, I feel like I’ve had probably one of the best race cars right now. This thing practically drives itself. I had probably one of the best cars I’ve ever had in my life last weekend. Everything has gone over so well.”

Crawley entered this year with only one night’s worth of 410 Sprint Car experience. Prior to making the leap to full-time 410 racing, Crawley followed in his father’s footsteps with success in the 360 ranks. His dad – Tim Crawley – is a three-time American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) champion.

The blooming racer’s mature mindset wasn’t only apparent on the track at Volusia. He came across well-spoken and articulate in interviews. He also made it clear he still has plenty of improving to do and a long road ahead. He doesn’t merely want to start first in World of Outlaws Features. He wants to finish up front, too.

“The biggest thing right now is I run up front, but I’m struggling with restarts and struggling with dirty air,” Crawley admitted. “The first night dirty air was my biggest problem on top of some motor problems, but I also had to fight some issues driving. I’m kind of just learning as I go.

“I’ve got to stay out of my own head. I beat myself down and get in my head then I lose 20 spots in a Feature. But at the same time, I’ve hardly ever done this before. I’ve only ran five 410 races in my life. It’s all just a learning process, and it’s going to take time.”

Track time is something Crawley will have plenty of as the season continues. The nine-month campaign takes the tour to 41 ovals of various shapes and sizes in 19 different states. Many new tracks await Crawley during his debut year with the World of Outlaws. But fortunately for him, the schedule also takes him to familiar territory soon. March and April boast a dozen races combined in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri – all not far from home for the Arkansas driver.

“I think I should be alright at some of those places,” Crawley said. “It’s more similar to what I’m used to. The biggest thing is just going to be the power difference for me. It may take three or four nights to get comfortable again, but I think all of that will go over decent. There’s definitely some Oklahoma tracks that I’ve already been to that I’m really looking forward to, Muskogee (Thunderbird Speedway) and 81 (Speedway) in Kansas, some of those places. They’re bigger tracks, but I feel like I’m a little bit better on the bigger tracks here recently.”

The 2024 season currently sits in a small break as teams regroup from four straight nights of racing during DIRTcar Nationals. The grind resumes in two weeks with another trip to Volusia, and Crawley isn’t thinking about replicating his Qualifying speed. He’s ready to put a full night together. He’s ready to learn what it takes to run up front with The Greatest Show on Dirt on a nightly basis.

“I’m just trying to get a little bit more consistent, put together some good laps, and get some better results.”

Crawley’s rookie World of Outlaws campaign continues in two weeks at Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree (March 3-4) in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

GRABBIN’ GATORS: Sheldon Haudenschild Tops Wild DIRTcar Nationals Finale; David Gravel Secures Third Big Gator

Haudenschild puts on a show with late charge to victory while Gravel wraps up record-tying third Big Gator championship

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 10, 2024) - Sheldon Haudenschild can’t help but make any race he wins exciting. Whether he’s leading the whole race and slicing through traffic or he’s working his way through the field, Haudenschild never fails to send thrills through the stands. And Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars was no different.

The 30-year-old started third, slipped to fourth early, and then pieced together a ferocious charge in the second half of the 30-lap Feature to arise victorious. Haudenschild sealed the deal with a Lap 24 slider on Anthony Macri to top the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals finale and bank $20,000.

The fans roared for one of their favorites as Haudenschild rose atop the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17 machine in Victory Lane. His smile was ear to ear as he and the team bounced back in the best way possible from what had been a rough week.

The win marked the 35th of Haudenschild’s career with The Greatest Show on Dirt and third at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”

“Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Steve (Kinzer Dussel), and Luke (Vaughn),” Haudenschild said. “We had a hell of a week and a lot of work. They never gave up. We never give up and just keep on ripping.”

A little way behind Haudenschild, David Gravel had to make some moves of his own. The Big Game Motorsports driver entered the main event with a 14-point lead over Giovanni Scelzi in the Big Gator standings. But Scelzi started on the pole and led early while Gravel got stuck in eighth. If they finished in those two spots, Scelzi would’ve snatched the title and extra $3,000 prize.

But Gravel rallied as Scelzi faded late in the main event. The Big Game Motorsports driver worked his way up to sixth while Scelzi slipped to fourth when the checkered flag flew. The results gave Gravel his third Big Gator title, which equaled him with Daryn Pittman for the most. Consistency carried the Watertown, CT native. He finished no worse than sixth in four nights and highlighted the week with a win on Thursday.

“We battled hard. That was an intense Feature,” Gravel said. “I nearly got passed in the beginning by Sunshine (Tyler Courtney) and Donny (Schatz) but was able to get in front of them. My car really came to life there at the end of the Feature. I wish it was a 40-lap race.

“It was a really good week. Started the week off with a third and a first. Obviously, couldn’t ask for much better than that. And then last night with a fifth and tonight with a sixth. It was a very strong week and good way to start the year.”

Before Haudenschild and Gravel made their moves forward, the race’s opening half was highlighted by plenty of action from other competitors up front.

Giovanni Scelzi led from the pole through the opening laps and held firm control of the top spot until a caution 10 laps in bunched the field together.

On the restart the outside-pole starter – Anthony Macri – powered by “Hot Sauce” on the outside to take the lead. Only a few laps later Michael “Buddy” Kofoid drove around Scelzi to grab second and began to reel in Macri.

Then the race moved beyond halfway, and it’s as if that was Haudenschild’s cue to go as he went to work on Scelzi for third. On Lap 17 he took the spot to climb into a podium position. A lap later Kofoid surrendered second to the Wooster, OH gasser.

Behind Haudenschild a fast-approaching Brad Sweet made his presence felt. He followed Haudenschild through the top five and claimed third on Lap 19. He even managed to drive by Haudenschild on the 20th circuit, but Haudenschild countered and was able to keep back around him – a move he knows was crucial.

“I was more worried about Brad than anything,” Haudenschild admitted. “I knew if he cleared me, he was probably winning that race. Me and him had a great race.”

After reclaiming second from “The Big Cat,” Haudenschild knew he needed to go and set the leading Macri in his crosshairs. On Lap 24, Haudenschild delivered the winning move with a slide job exiting Turn 4. He cruised through some lap traffic over the final six circuits and took the checkered flag on what was a tricky track to conquer.

“The #39(M) just missed the bottom a couple times, and I was able to get under him,” Haudenschild explained. “I was a little nervous of it (the cushion) in (Turns) 3 and 4. It’s gnarly up there. It’ll eat you up over there and the same over here. For the first five laps. I struggled in (Turns) 1 and 2. The bottom is just so much easier to run, and it was faster tonight.”

Macri made the Pennsylvania Posse fans proud with a valiant effort of leading 13 laps before finishing second. The Dillsburg, PA native thought the closing laps were a prime example of why it can be better to be running second in a Sprint Car race as he struggled to handle traffic.

“Obviously, he’s in the better position there running second,” Macri said. “I knew I needed to be on the bottom, but I didn’t want to risk following lapped cars on the bottom and have somebody blow around the top of me. I’m pretty sure I tripped on the curb the lap Sheldon got by me. He hammered it in there on the bottom and got by us, and that’s pretty much all she wrote.”

Brad Sweet completed the top three, notching his third podium of DIRTcar Nationals week. The five-time World of Outlaws champion thought he might have a shot at the win, but a slight hiccup in traffic allowed Haudenschild to put himself in a better position.

“I love coming here. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a high-speed chess match out there,” Sweet said. “Sheldon did a great job. He moved around, found some lines, and kind of kept me behind him. I finally got by him and thought we were going to have a chance at Anthony there. And I just got held up with a lapped car. I don’t know if I made a bad move there or what, but it opened the door back up for Sheldon, and he got really going there and was able to get through the lapped cars. Hats off to him. He drove a great race. We gave it our all, but sometimes you just don’t get it done.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Buddy Kofoid rounded out the top five.

Carson Macedo earned his second KSE Racing Hard Charger of the week with a drive from 23rd to 14th.

Brent Marks claimed his second straight Simpson Quick Time Award in Sea Foam Qualifying and the fifth of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four were topped by Sheldon Haudenschild, Rico Abreu, and Buddy Kofoid. Milton Hershey School Heat Two belonged to David Gravel.

Giovanni Scelzi won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kasey Kahne claimed the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take two weekends off before returning to Volusia Speedway Park for the Bike Week Jamboree (March 3-4). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[8]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 6. 2-David Gravel[7]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu[5]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[10]; 10. 26-Zeb Wise[15]; 11. 19-Brent Marks[6]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 13. 13-Justin Peck[16]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[23]; 15. 5-Spencer Bayston[18]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[25]; 17. 9-Kasey Kahne[21]; 18. 14-Corey Day[12]; 19. 24D-Danny Sams III[24]; 20. 8-Cory Eliason[17]; 21. 21-Brian Brown[14]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[13]; 23. 1-Brenham Crouch[20]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[19]; 25. 6-Bill Rose[26]; 26. (DNS) 48-Danny Dietrich

SUNSHINE STEALS ONE: Tyler Courtney Sneaks by Abreu in Final Corner for Volusia Victory

The Hoosier leads the final few hundred feet of the race to add his first gator to the trophy room

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 9, 2024) - You can’t ever give up in Sprint Car Racing. Action happens so fast all over the track that a driver’s outlook can change in an instant. And that’s exactly what happened on Friday night to send Tyler Courtney to World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Victory Lane.

Courtney chased after race-long leader Rico Abreu for nearly all 25 laps at Volusia Speedway Park. He’d come close to Abreu multiple times, but the chance at a win appeared gone as the checkered flag began to wave. But in the final corner Abreu tripped on the huge cushion, and Courtney capitalized on the bottom to roll right on by.

The wild drag race to the finish brought the massive crowd to its feet as Courtney claimed night three of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. “Sunshine” himself stole one in the “Sunshine State.”

The win moved Courtney’s total with The Greatest Show on Dirt to three. The entire trio have come on three of the country’s fastest half miles – Eldora Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, and now Volusia. The Indianapolis, IN native became the 21st different driver to top a World of Outlaws race at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” Friday was Courtney’s 15th Sprint Car appearance at Volusia.

“I saw the double checkers, and I didn’t know if we’d already gone another lap or that was actually the end of the race,” Courtney said. “And I looked at the board and saw the #7 (BC) was number one. It’s just awesome man.”

Bringing the field to green was 16-year-old Landon Crawley on the pole with Abreu to his outside. Crawley attempted to slide in front of Abreu in Turns 1 and 2, but the St. Helena, CA native ripped by the teenager on the top to take the early lead. Courtney, who started third, also slipped by Crawley on the opening lap to grab second.

A caution and then a red flag for a huge pileup on the front straightaway interrupted the flow of action in the first half of the race.

On a restart with 19 laps to go, another contender began to assert himself while Abreu and Courtney maintained the top spots up front. After starting 10th, Brad Sweet powered by both Giovanni Scelzi and Landon Crawley to rise into fourth with plenty of time remaining. Another yellow with 15 to go opened the door for Sweet to power ahead of David Gravel for the third spot.

Disaster nearly struck Abreu with 10 laps remaining. After clearing two lapped cars, Abreu stumbled on the cushion in Turn 4 and got sideways, leaving Brenham Crouch nowhere to go. Crouch slammed into Abreu’s side and spun to bring out the yellow. Fortunately for Abreu, his car left the scene unharmed allowing him to maintain the lead.

On the restart Abreu darted ahead of Courtney who found himself having to fend off Sweet. “The Big Cat” began to work the bottom and showed Courtney a nose, which wound up benefitting Courtney. He quickly adjusted the Clauson Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #7BC to prevent Sweet from passing him and found speed on the low line in Turns 1 and 2.

“I knew I was getting tight behind him (Abreu) in traffic on the top of (Turns) 3 and 4,” Courtney said. “Luckily Brad showed me the bottom, and so I moved down there. I knew I was making ground up in (Turns) 1 and 2, but in (Turns) 3 and 4 I just started going to the bottom to see if I could do something different. Honestly, I didn’t know how many laps were left, but I knew if I could get him to mess up or let him mess up somehow, running the bottom was going to be much safer.”

Safer is exactly what the bottom turned out to be. Courtney closed in on Abreu’s tail tank in traffic as the white flag flew. Abreu opted to protect the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 which worked as he pulled ahead down the back straightaway. But in Turns 3 and 4 he returned to the cushion and went slightly above it leaving the lane for Courtney to steal the victory.

“I didn’t know it was that exciting until I realized what we did there at the end,” Courtney said. “That was fun. It was non-stop the whole time. Even though we were just running around the top, it’s a lot harder than people think. That top was real treacherous. You get your right-rear (tire) just over it a little bit, it sucks you over.”

For the second straight night Abreu was forced to settle for the runner-up spot. He admitted he could’ve driven a little more reserved in the final set of corners but also acknowledged you can’t ever let up in a Sprint Car race.

“It’s just tough racing, just trying to process keeping your momentum up in traffic and hitting your marks,” Abreu said. “It’s the last lap, and you’re still racing hard. We’re Sprint Car Racing here, so we’re racing as hard as we can for 25 laps on a demanding and technical track. I felt pretty sporty on the cushion. I knew I was good off of (Turn) 2, but I never ran the bottom all race in (Turns) 3 and 4. I should’ve just drove a little bit more secure on the white flag lap, but you never know who is behind you and how close they are.”

Rounding out the podium after his charge from 10th was Brad Sweet. The five-time World of Outlaws champion came away a little disappointed with himself after a small mistake cost him a chance to potentially be the one driving by Abreu coming to the finish line.

“I’m a little disappointed in myself,” Sweet admitted. “I felt like I had kind of found the groove on the bottom of (Turns) 1 and 2 and put myself in a good position, but then got in the grease just a little bit and overdrove (Turn) 3 just a little bit and got out. And Tyler got back by me, but then once he knew where the line was he covered it really well and ultimately won the race.”

Giovanni Scelzi and David Gravel completed the top five.

Gravel’s effort allowed him to maintain his lead in the Big Gator standings. Courtney sits second eight points back. Giovanni Scelzi (-14), Rico Abreu (-16), and Donny Schatz (-18) complete the top five with one night to go.

Donny Schatz earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a drive from 18th to sixth.

Brent Marks claimed his fourth career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four were topped by Brent Marks, Brian Brown, and Rico Abreu. Giovanni Scelzi claimed Milton Hershey School Heat Two.

Landon Crawley won the Toyota Racing Dash.

Corey Day won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up their portion of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals with a $20,000-to-win, $1,500-to-start finale on Saturday, Feb. 10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[10]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 5. 2-David Gravel[4]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[16]; 8. 19-Brent Marks[5]; 9. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[9]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri[14]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 12. 26-Zeb Wise[7]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 14. 14-Corey Day[21]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich[24]; 16. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 17. 83-Michael Kofoid[17]; 18. 22-Riley Goodno[20]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[1]; 20. 17B-Bill Balog[27]; 21. 1-Brenham Crouch[22]; 22. 88-Austin McCarl[13]; 23. 13-Justin Peck[15]; 24. 5-Spencer Bayston[19]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[25]; 26. 0-Justin Whittall[23]; 27. 6-Bill Rose[26]

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Volusia Speedway Park FL 2/9/24

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 14-Corey Day[2]; 2. 1-Brenham Crouch[1]; 3. 0-Justin Whittall[3]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich[5]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason[4]; 6. 70-Kraig Kinser[8]; 7. 5T-Ryan Timms[7]; 8. 11M-Brendan Mullen[6]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III[14]; 11. 10X-Reese Nowotarski[12]; 12. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]; 13. 16TH-Kevin Newton[11]; 14. (DNS) 44-Chris Martin

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 44-Chris Martin[2]; 2. 24D-Danny Sams III[7]; 3. 6-Bill Rose[1]; 4. 15K-Creed Kemenah[6]; 5. 7B-Ben Brown[5]; 6. 16G-Austyn Gossel[3]; 7. 64-Andy Pake[9]; 8. 6G-Bryan Gossel[11]; 9. (DNS) 17-Sheldon Haudenschild; 10. (DNS) 9-Kasey Kahne; 11. (DNS) 2C-Wayne Johnson; 12. (DNS) 1A-Jacob Allen

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 7S-Landon Crawley[1]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 7. 26-Zeb Wise[7]; 8. 21-Brian Brown[6]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks[1]; 2. 26-Zeb Wise[2]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 6. 0-Justin Whittall[7]; 7. 5T-Ryan Timms[8]; 8. 1-Brenham Crouch[3]; 9. 6-Bill Rose[9]; 10. 7B-Ben Brown[11]; 11. 64-Andy Pake[10]

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 4. 13-Justin Peck[4]; 5. 5-Spencer Bayston[5]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich[7]; 7. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[8]; 8. 16TH-Kevin Newton[9]; 9. 16G-Austyn Gossel[11]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III[6]; 11. 6G-Bryan Gossel[10]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[2]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 6. 8-Cory Eliason[7]; 7. 14-Corey Day[6]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[11]; 9. 44-Chris Martin[8]; 10. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 11. (DNS) 2C-Wayne Johnson

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 7S-Landon Crawley[2]; 3. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 22-Riley Goodno[7]; 6. 11M-Brendan Mullen[8]; 7. 70-Kraig Kinser[9]; 8. 10X-Reese Nowotarski[10]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 10. (DNS) 9-Kasey Kahne; 11. (DNS) 1A-Jacob Allen

Sea Foam Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.199[10]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.279[9]; 3. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:13.305[14]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.336[6]; 5. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.339[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.370[15]; 7. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.381[13]; 8. 13-Justin Peck, 00:13.418[1]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.422[17]; 10. 5-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.455[11]; 11. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.588[22]; 12. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.601[20]; 13. 0-Justin Whittall, 00:13.624[19]; 14. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.642[16]; 15. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:13.667[4]; 16. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.848[12]; 17. 6-Bill Rose, 00:13.872[8]; 18. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:13.928[18]; 19. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.964[21]; 20. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:14.071[2]; 21. 7B-Ben Brown, 00:14.141[5]; 22. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:14.158[3]

Sea Foam Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.287[21]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:13.342[11]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.359[8]; 4. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.409[7]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.409[1]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.427[9]; 7. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.456[12]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.481[4]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.502[18]; 10. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.520[20]; 11. 14-Corey Day, 00:13.555[3]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.562[19]; 13. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:13.727[14]; 14. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:13.742[17]; 15. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.760[10]; 16. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:13.843[6]; 17. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 00:13.934[15]; 18. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.936[2]; 19. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:14.008[13]; 20. 10X-Reese Nowotarski, 00:14.143[16]; 21. (DNS) 17B-Bill Balog; 22. (DNS) 1A-Jacob Allen

BIG GAME GATOR HUNT: David Gravel Cruises to Volusia DIRTcar Nationals Victory on Night Two

Gravel leads flag to flag for fifth World of Outlaws win at Volusia in last eight attempts

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 8 , 2024) - All through the off-season David Gravel made it clear he had one goal in mind for 2024 – a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

Three consecutive runner-up finishes in the points have continued to build his hunger. He’s ready to make that step. And it took him only two races in the season to make an early statement that he intends for 2024 to be his year.

Gravel led every lap of Thursday’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Feature at Volusia Speedway Park. The Watertown, CT native started on the pole and drove a flawless 25 laps on his way to win number one of the year with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The victory marked the latest in a recent hot streak for Gravel at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” After going winless in his first 37 Volusia attempts with the Series, Gravel has now reeled off five triumphs in his last eight tries. The five wins are enough to equal him with Daryn Pittman and Steve Kinser for the third most at Volusia with the World of Outlaws. Gravel now owns 89 career Series victories, and his team – Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports – is up to 95.

It's still extremely early in the season, but Gravel's win moved him into the points lead by 16 markers. That also means he's ahead in the Big Gator title hunt at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

“I felt like they did a pretty good job with the racetrack,” Gravel said. “I’ve just got to thank Cody (Jacobs), Zach (Patterson), Scott (Vogelsong), and Stephen (Hamm-Reilly) for working really hard. They’ve given me a great race car since we unloaded on Tuesday night. I’ve also got to thank Tod and his family.”

Gravel’s biggest challenge of the night came right when the green flag flew. The 31-year-old led the way from the pole position with Giovanni Scelzi to his outside. On the opening lap Scelzi managed to muscle his way by Gravel on the top side. But the yellow flag flew right before the lap could be completed as Cory Eliason wound up stopped in Turn 3.

The caution re-racked the field for a complete restart, and Gravel refused to allow Scelzi by on attempt number two. He darted ahead down the front straightaway and slid ahead of Scelzi’s KCP Racing #18 to break his momentum in Turns 1 and 2.

“I was probably a little bit too nice for him going into (Turn) 1 and (Turn) 3,” Gravel said of the first start. “I just knew if I beat him on the start I was going to slide across and take away his momentum that time. Luckily I got a retry.”

From there Gravel got to work building an early lead while behind him Rico Abreu arose to face off with Scelzi for second. On Lap 2 Abreu cleared Scelzi with a slider to settle into the second spot.

As the early laps clicked away Gravel’s lead stayed steady around a second. Normally lapped traffic can cause problems for the leader, but once Gravel reached the tail of the field he actually began to grow his advantage even more as he expertly sliced through traffic. Slightly beyond the halfway point of the main event the distance between Gravel and Abreu ballooned over two seconds.

Right when Gravel appeared headed towards a comfortable win, the yellow lights flashed when Kasey Kahne slowed with issues. The caution set up a seven-lap dash to the finish with Abreu – one of the sport’s current best – right on his tail.

Gravel didn’t flinch on the restart. He powered the Huset’s Speedway/Billion Automotive #2 ahead of Abreu’s #24 machine right away. Abreu remained within striking distance for the first couple laps following the restart. But Gravel proved to be too strong as he stretched the lead over a second and claimed his first checkered flag of 2024.

“I figured Rico probably had a good car late in the race,” Gravel explained. “Ricky (Warner) sets his cars up for the end of those races. I was just hoping I got a really good launch. I got a really good launch, and then I kind of opened the door for him where he could slide me going into (Turn) 1. But I felt like I got a good enough launch, and I wanted to get down that backstretch really, really strong. I wouldn’t open up another opportunity for him, so I risked it going into (Turn) 1 and I knew it would pay off after that.”

Abreu held on to the runner-up spot which pushed his career podium total with the World of Outlaws to 46. After struggling on Wednesday night, Abreu felt encouraged to rebound with an impressive outing despite coming up short of victory.

“He (Gravel) really got away from us and hit his marks,” Abreu said. “When you catch traffic the aero really affects these cars especially when they’re packed like that at the back of the field. It creates all of this turbulence that we have to manipulate as race car drivers to get a little clean air on our nose. I’m just happy with how we’ve performed throughout the week here from last night to tonight. That’s a big positive for our team.”

Completing the top three after starting fifth was Justin Peck aboard the Buch Motorsports #13. It marked Peck’s fourth career podium with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Like Abreu, Peck was happy to bounce back after a sub-par Wednesday showing.

“The thing was maneuverable,” Peck said. “I could run the top pretty good. I could run the bottom pretty good. When I was trying to throw sliders, I didn’t necessarily have to slide across the slick. I could kind of keep the left-rear (tire) planted and drive up across the track. Hats off to my guys. I didn’t feel like we were really good yesterday at all. The thing seemed to be pretty fast all night. Qualified good, and it raced good in dirty air.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

An 18th to sixth run gave Logan Schuchart the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Brian Brown snagged Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying – the eighth of his career.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four were claimed by Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, and Justin Peck. Corey Day topped Milton Hershey School Heat Two.

David Gravel won the Toyota Racing Dash.

The Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown belonged to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals for the third consecutive night on Friday, Feb. 9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Volusia Speedway Park FL 2/8/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[1]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[3]; 3. 13-Justin Peck[5]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[16]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[18]; 7. 21-Brian Brown[4]; 8. 19-Brent Marks[6]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[22]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[10]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[11]; 14. 14-Corey Day[8]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet[14]; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich[19]; 17. 26-Zeb Wise[20]; 18. 5T-Ryan Timms[17]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 20. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[15]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[25]; 23. 8-Cory Eliason[23]; 24. 9-Kasey Kahne[24]; 25. 1-Brenham Crouch[13]; 26. 6-Bill Rose[26]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 3. 8-Cory Eliason[4]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne[5]; 5. 70-Kraig Kinser[3]; 6. 88-Austin McCarl[7]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[6]; 8. 22-Riley Goodno[8]; 9. 5-Spencer Bayston[13]; 10. 44-Chris Martin[9]; 11. 0-Justin Whittall[14]; 12. 24D-Danny Sams III[10]; 13. 11M-Brendan Mullen[11]; 14. 16TH-Kevin Newton[12]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 5-Spencer Bayston[1]; 2. 0-Justin Whittall[2]; 3. 6G-Bryan Gossel[3]; 4. 7B-Ben Brown[7]; 5. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[10]; 6. 64-Andy Pake[5]; 7. 16G-Austyn Gossel[4]; 8. (DNS) 6-Bill Rose; 9. (DNS) 7S-Landon Crawley; 10. (DNS) 15K-Creed Kemenah

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu[4]; 4. 21-Brian Brown[6]; 5. 13-Justin Peck[7]; 6. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 8. 14-Corey Day[5]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[4]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 4. 1-Brenham Crouch[2]; 5. 5T-Ryan Timms[8]; 6. 70-Kraig Kinser[7]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[3]; 8. 44-Chris Martin[11]; 9. 5-Spencer Bayston[6]; 10. 64-Andy Pake[9]; 11. (DNS) 15K-Creed Kemenah

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 14-Corey Day[1]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[2]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[6]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich[3]; 6. 9-Kasey Kahne[5]; 7. 88-Austin McCarl[7]; 8. 11M-Brendan Mullen[8]; 9. 6G-Bryan Gossel[9]; 10. 7B-Ben Brown[10]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 2. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen[7]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 9. 0-Justin Whittall[10]; 10. 6-Bill Rose[11]; 11. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 13-Justin Peck[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[1]; 3. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[4]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[5]; 5. 26-Zeb Wise[3]; 6. 8-Cory Eliason[7]; 7. 22-Riley Goodno[8]; 8. 16TH-Kevin Newton[10]; 9. 16G-Austyn Gossel[9]; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley[6]

Sea Foam Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:13.342[14]; 2. 14-Corey Day, 00:13.389[11]; 3. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.398[18]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.433[1]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.442[19]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.453[8]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.473[16]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.475[5]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.501[3]; 10. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.518[9]; 11. 5-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.526[10]; 12. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.591[15]; 13. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.715[4]; 14. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.734[2]; 15. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:13.801[6]; 16. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:13.889[13]; 17. 64-Andy Pake, 00:13.971[7]; 18. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:14.102[17]; 19. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:14.123[12]; 20. 7B-Ben Brown, 00:14.140[20]; 21. 44-Chris Martin, 00:14.216[21]

Sea Foam Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.222[12]; 2. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.378[13]; 3. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.395[15]; 4. 13-Justin Peck, 00:13.399[1]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.430[18]; 6. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:13.471[21]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.483[3]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.497[6]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.509[9]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.523[17]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.617[4]; 12. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.649[7]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.668[8]; 14. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:13.754[2]; 15. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.797[16]; 16. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:13.825[14]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.888[10]; 18. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:14.009[5]; 19. 0-Justin Whittall, 00:14.058[19]; 20. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.170[11]; 21. 6-Bill Rose, 00:14.444[20]

1 MONTH ALERT: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Debut at Kennedale Speedway Park in March

KENNEDALE, TX (Feb. 8, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will bring the best Sprint Car drivers in the country to Kennedale Speedway Park for the first time, March 8-9.

The doubleheader weekend will be the Series' first Texas stop of 2024, boasting two $12,000 to win Feature races.

Series stars like 10-time champion Donny Schatz, who drivers for Tony Stewart's Sprint Car team, David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuhcart, Sheldon Haudenschild and more will duel for the big prize money and key points toward the championship battle.

Fans will be treated to non-stop excitement on, and off, the track with a midway loaded with driver merchandise and fan activites and then heart-pounding, wheel-to-wheel, action around the 1/4-mile track.

Race Schedule: 2PM Gates Open 5PM Grandstand Gates Open 6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying Opening Ceremonies and racing to follow

Tickets are on sale now at WorldofOutlaws.com/Tix.

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

NOS Energy Drink Extends Partnership With World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, Becomes Longest Running Title Sponsor

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 8, 2024) – NOS Energy has extended its partnership with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in a multi-year deal that will make it the Series’ longest running title sponsor.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series welcomed NOS Energy as its title sponsor in 2019 and extended the partnership only a couple years later. With the new deal, NOS Energy will surpass Pennzoil’s previous six-year span as the Series’ longest running primary partner.

“NOS loves racing, and NOS loves dirt,” said NOS Energy CMO Dan McHugh. “The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has been a perfect partner for NOS Energy since day one. We are excited to extend our sponsorship and engage with the awesome World of Outlaws fans.”

NOS Energy began working with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars in 2018, becoming the Series’ Preferred Energy Drink – also signing on as primary sponsor of Stenhouse Jr/Marshall Racing’s #17 driven by Sheldon Haudenschild in the same year. Since then, NOS Energy has created a strong fan presence on, and off, the track at every World of Outlaws Sprint Car event.

NOS Energy has been fueling hearts and engines with its unique blend of CMPLX 6 and four varieties of flavors. Its sampling station is a World of Outlaws staple, becoming a prime fan engagement initiative. With the extended partnership, fans will continue to get a complimentary NOS Energy Drink – of any flavor – at every World of Outlaws Sprint Car event.

“NOS Energy has been an exceptional partner, and spectacular ambassador for dirt racing,” said Tish Sheets, executive director of client services at World Racing Group. “Their commitment to growing the sport has been evident since their first year with the World of Outlaws. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with everyone at NOS Energy in this historic agreement.”

NOS Energy will continue to be a key contributor in seeing the Series expand and grow as The Greatest Show on Dirt nears 50 years of racing – this year will be its 47th season.

“This is an exciting time for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars as we continue to enhance our events for fans and teams, and having NOS Energy be part of that for several years to come will allow us to take broader steps year after year,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “Becoming the World of Outlaws’ longest running title sponsor says a lot about NOS Energy Drink’s investment into the Series and the health of Sprint Car racing.”

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series' 2024 season-opening week continues through Saturday at Volusia Speedway Park's Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets to all the 2024 World of Outlaws events, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series race live on DIRTVision.

PREYING ON GATORS: Brad Sweet Claims Another Volusia Victory in World of Outlaws Season Opener

The five-time champion holds off Tyler Courtney for seventh Series win at the half mile

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 7, 2024) - Brad Sweet loves to go gator hunting at Volusia Speedway Park.

The five-time and reigning World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion consistently contends for the win whenever visiting the Barberville, FL oval. And Wednesday night proved to be no different when The Greatest Show on Dirt unleashed its 47th season.

Sweet led all 25 laps as the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals kicked off the World of Outlaws campaign to bank a $12,000 payday. “The Big Cat” started on the pole in the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 and held off a strong challenge from Tyler Courtney to make his 91st trip to Victory Lane with the Series.

“It’s just a lot of fun to come here and start out so strong,” Sweet said. “We’ve had a lot of success here at Volusia over the years. It’s going to be a long week, so hopefully we can keep celebrating in Victory Lane.”

The win marked Sweet’s 10th overall at Volusia and seventh with the World of Outlaws. That equals the track with Cedar Lake Speedway as the winningest on his résumé. Only Donny Schatz’s total of 14 Volusia victories with the World of Outlaws outranks the Grass Valley, CA native’s mark.

Sweet brought the field to green in the NOS Energy Drink Feature with Tyler Courtney alongside after the two claimed the top two spots in the Toyota Racing Dash. The duo raced wheel-to-wheel through Turns 1 and 2, and Courtney managed to nose ahead down the back straightaway. Sweet quickly responded by powering right back by the Clauson Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #7BC Turns 3 and 4.

In the early portion of the race Sweet set a solid pace, but Courtney wouldn’t let him escape. One lap Sweet would be faster. Then Courtney would clock a quicker lap. The gap stayed below a second throughout the opening 10 laps and as they begin to navigate traffic.

A yellow flag on Lap 12 for a slowing Sheldon Haudenschild appeared to give Sweet a break as it removed him from traffic and provided clean air. But on the restart Courtney flexed his muscle with a challenge for the top spot.

Courtney got his momentum built up around the cushion while Sweet remained committed to the bottom. The margin shrank as the two worked opposite lines of the racetrack. On the 15th lap Courtney pulled alongside Sweet and looked poised to snag the lead. But a yellow flag spoiled those hopes when Michael “Buddy” Kofoid slowed to a stop on Lap 16.

Having seen Courtney’s challenge, Sweet opted for the top when the green flag brought the field back to life. And Courtney wasn’t able to find the run he had before as Sweet moved around the racing surface.

“I could hear him (Courtney) on my outside at the end of the back straightaway,” Sweet explained. “It’s just a lot of experience. Obviously, I’ve raced here a lot. I was making good speed. My car was really good on the bottom, but sometimes momentum just starts to build. I could hear him, and when that yellow came out I looked over at the screen and saw he was right there. So, then I opened my entry in (Turn) 1 and started using the banking to create momentum, and I think it just kind of took the air that he had.”

Courtney began to fade as Sweet stretched the advantage north of a second on Lap 19. But hope was restored as traffic became a factor late. Sweet struggled to navigate a slower car and allowed Courtney to cut the margin to less than half a second with only two laps remaining. But it was too little, too late as Sweet held on to secure the first checkered flag of 2024.

“My car was just phenomenal,” Sweet said. “We made it better all night. Eric (Prutzman, crew chief). It’s Tye’s (Wolfgang, car chief) birthday, so happy birthday to Tye. And we’ve got a new tire guy, Zane. Happy to get in Victory Lane for them. Happy that my wife and daughter are here.”

Courtney held on for second to begin his 2024 Sprint Car season. The runner-up result gave the Indianapolis, IN driver seven career World of Outlaws podiums. The ill-timed caution when challenging Sweet left Courtney a little disappointed, but he wasn’t sure that he would’ve gotten by Sweet even if the race remained green.

“I think one more lap he was going to keep hearing me and probably move up and just take my air away like he did there after the caution,” Courtney said. “When you’re racing a guy like him that’s done this a lot and has a lot of success, it’s tough to pull one over on him. I’m just excited about our whole Clauson Marshall, NOS Energy Drink, Elliott’s Custom Trailers team. We came down here last year and were just barely making the shows.”

Rounding out the first podium of the season was David Gravel aboard the Big Game Motorsports/Huset’s Speedway #2. The Watertown, CT driver admitted they may have gone slightly the wrong direction with the car ahead of the Feature with how track conditions played out. But even with that, Gravel came away encouraged with the top three run.

“I just think that was the fastest and stickiest track we had nearly all night long,” Gravel said. “We didn’t think it was going to stay that wet, so we just got too tight when we got close to those guys. In open track our car was really, really good. But once we got close to Tyler or lapped traffic and restarts I just couldn’t get going that good. Still a really strong night.”

Brian Brown and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

A 25th to 14th drive gave Carson Macedo the first KSE Racing Hard Charger of the year.

Making his World of Outlaws debut, Landon Crawley set Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying aboard the Sides Motorsports #7S.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three and Four went to Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, and David Gravel. Tyler Courtney topped Milton Hershey School Heat Two.

Austin McCarl won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday, Feb. 8 for night two of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Volusia Speedway Park FL 2/7/24

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[10]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 8. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne[16]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri[9]; 11. 19-Brent Marks[12]; 12. 24-Rico Abreu[7]; 13. 13-Justin Peck[13]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[25]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich[22]; 16. 55-Chris Windom[15]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen[11]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 19. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[17]; 20. 14-Corey Day[20]; 21. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 22. 26-Zeb Wise[23]; 23. 6-Bill Rose[26]; 24. 83-Michael Kofoid[19]; 25. 88-Austin McCarl[21]; 26. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]

MicroLite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps): 1. 88-Austin McCarl[1]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich[2]; 3. 26-Zeb Wise[4]; 4. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason[6]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 7. 5T-Ryan Timms[11]; 8. 5-Spencer Bayston[5]; 9. 24D-Danny Sams III[12]; 10. 44-Chris Martin[13]; 11. 22-Riley Goodno[8]; 12. 70-Kraig Kinser[9]; 13. 1-Brenham Crouch[14]; 14. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[10]

C Feature (10 Laps): 1. 44-Chris Martin[1]; 2. 1-Brenham Crouch[2]; 3. 0-Justin Whittall[3]; 4. 11M-Brendan Mullen[7]; 5. 16T-Jake Swanson[8]; 6. 6G-Bryan Gossel[9]; 7. 7B-Ben Brown[12]; 8. 15K-Creed Kemenah[5]; 9. 64-Andy Pake[6]; 10. 16G-Austyn Gossel[10]; 11. 16TH-Kevin Newton[11]; 12. (DNS) 6-Bill Rose; 13. (DNS) 2C-Wayne Johnson

Toyota Dash (6 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 3. 2-David Gravel[5]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 5. 7S-Landon Crawley[4]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[6]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu[7]; 8. 21-Brian Brown[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 2. 7S-Landon Crawley[1]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[2]; 4. 13-Justin Peck[6]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 6. 88-Austin McCarl[5]; 7. 5-Spencer Bayston[7]; 8. 70-Kraig Kinser[8]; 9. 44-Chris Martin[9]; 10. 15K-Creed Kemenah[10]; 11. 6G-Bryan Gossel[11]; 12. (DNS) 2C-Wayne Johnson

Milton Hershey School Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet[2]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen[4]; 4. 55-Chris Windom[3]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[6]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 8. 5T-Ryan Timms[9]; 9. 0-Justin Whittall[11]; 10. 11M-Brendan Mullen[8]; 11. 16TH-Kevin Newton[10]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich[6]; 7. 8-Cory Eliason[7]; 8. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[9]; 9. 1-Brenham Crouch[8]; 10. 64-Andy Pake[10]; 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel[11]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne[4]; 5. 14-Corey Day[5]; 6. 26-Zeb Wise[7]; 7. 22-Riley Goodno[6]; 8. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 9. 6-Bill Rose[9]; 10. 16T-Jake Swanson[10]; 11. 7B-Ben Brown[11]

Sea Foam Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:13.346[3]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.448[7]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:13.507[14]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.513[6]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.521[12]; 6. 55-Chris Windom, 00:13.542[5]; 7. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:13.549[15]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:13.551[8]; 9. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:13.621[11]; 10. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.640[21]; 11. 13-Justin Peck, 00:13.659[22]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:13.677[16]; 13. 5-Spencer Bayston, 00:13.688[17]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.752[20]; 15. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:13.756[2]; 16. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:13.815[9]; 17. 44-Chris Martin, 00:13.866[13]; 18. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:13.983[4]; 19. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:14.227[19]; 20. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:14.308[1]; 21. 6G-Bryan Gossel, 00:14.607[18]; 22. (DNS) 2C-Wayne Johnson, 00:14.607; 23. (DQ) 0-Justin Whittall, 00:13.377[10]

Sea Foam Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:13.378[6]; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 00:13.399[17]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:13.423[4]; 4. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.480[10]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:13.514[3]; 6. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.514[7]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:13.548[8]; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:13.600[15]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.616[1]; 10. 14-Corey Day, 00:13.657[19]; 11. 48-Danny Dietrich, 00:13.704[20]; 12. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:13.744[2]; 13. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:13.757[16]; 14. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:13.776[11]; 15. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:13.778[22]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:13.939[5]; 17. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:13.980[9]; 18. 6-Bill Rose, 00:14.100[14]; 19. 64-Andy Pake, 00:14.107[13]; 20. 16T-Jake Swanson, 00:14.153[21]; 21. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:14.328[12]; 22. 7B-Ben Brown, 00:14.434[18]

Sea Foam Enhances World of Outlaws Partnership
CONCORD, NC (Feb. 7, 2024) – Sea Foam is taking its partnership with the World of Outlaws to the next level in 2024 by sponsoring Qualifying and Engine Heat each race night.
Fans will see Sea Foam mentioned as the entitlement sponsor for both moments of the race night during World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series events.
“We are thrilled to expand Sea Foam’s presence with the World of Outlaws, further showcasing what we have to offer to the ever-growing motorsports fanbase,” said Brian Miller, director of marketing for Sea Foam. “Our partnership with the World of Outlaws has allowed us to reach race fans across the country and we look forward to expanding that reach this year.”
Sea Foam first joined the World of Outlaws in 2020 and has been a prominent name every year through its digital presence and fan initiatives.
Sea Foam has been part of the automotive industry for more than 75 years and is one of the best-selling automotive additives in North America. Sea Foam products have attracted a passionate following as the proven choice for mechanics, vehicles enthusiasts and many more who love or depend on engines.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Feb. 7-10) and World of Outlaws Late Models (Feb. 15-17) continue their 2024 season at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, visit dirtcarnationals.com.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision. And make sure to follow the World of Outlaws social channels to see every Sea Foam Engine Heat and Qualifying post.

LAYING DOWN A LAP: World of Outlaws Hit the Track for DIRTcar Nationals Practice

Brent Marks leads the way in Tuesday practice sessions at Volusia

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 6, 2024) - Racing doesn’t start until Wednesday, but the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars hit the track Tuesday night for Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals practice.

Nearly 40 cars unloaded in the Volusia Speedway Park pit area to get their rides dialed in for the start of 2024. Three practice sessions set the stage for who to potentially expect to compete for the Big Gator championship.

SESSION ONE

Brent Marks opened the practice night by topping the charts in the first session. The Myerstown, PA native ripped a 13.752 around “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” Californians claimed three of the remaining top five spots with Rico Abreu (13.921) going second quickest, Buddy Kofoid (13.961) third, and Cory Eliason (14.007) fifth. David Gravel (14.004) was fourth.

Another noteworthy name could be found in the ninth position. 18-year-old Brenham Crouch laid down a 14.141 in the CMS Racing #1 to place himself in the top 10. The reigning Interstate Racing Association (IRA) champion has less than 10 appearances with the World of Outlaws.

FULL RESULTS:

Practice Session 1: 1. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.752; 2. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:13.921; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:13.961[13]; 4. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.004[12]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:14.007; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.078[5]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:14.116[14]; 8. 21-Brian Brown, 00:14.122[4]; 9. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:14.141; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:14.144; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:14.145; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:14.152; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:14.170[2]; 14. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:14.187[8]; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.216[3]; 16. 13-Justin Peck, 00:14.232; 17. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:14.280; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:14.281; 19. 14-Corey Day, 00:14.325; 20. 55-Chris Windom, 00:14.345[6]; 21. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:14.400; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:14.432[11]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.442; 24. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:14.519; 25. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:14.596; 26. 0-Justin Whittall, 00:14.735; 27. 44-Chris Martin, 00:14.737; 28. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.945[10]; 29. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:14.980; 30. 7B-Ben Brown, 00:15.115[7]; 31. 16T-Jake Swanson, 00:15.125; 32. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:15.212; 33. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:15.264; 34. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:15.323; 35. 64-Andy Pake, 00:16.038[1]; 36. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:16.047; 37. (DNS) 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:16.047; 38. (DNS) 16G-Austyn Gossel

SESSION TWO

The second session provided the same name atop the charts as Brent Marks laid down a 14.218 to lead the way. Marks has never won at Volusia with a best finish of second in 28 Feature attempts, but the stopwatch suggests he has a favorable chance at his first Volusia victory.

Many of the same drivers maintained speed from the first to second session with seven competitors fixing themselves inside the top 10 in both. The three new names to enter the top 10 were Anthony Macri (14.292, third quick), Landon Crawley (14.500, ninth quick), and Zeb Wise (14.525, tenth quick).

FULL RESULTS

Practice Session 2: 2. 19-Brent Marks, 00:14.218; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:14.224[7]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:14.292; 5. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:14.319[4]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.364; 7. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.377; 8. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:14.417; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 00:14.482; 10. 7S-Landon Crawley, 00:14.500; 11. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:14.525; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:14.527; 13. 13-Justin Peck, 00:14.538; 14. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:14.542; 15. 1-Brenham Crouch, 00:14.550[8]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:14.596[3]; 17. 14-Corey Day, 00:14.600; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.601; 19. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:14.604; 20. 55-Chris Windom, 00:14.644; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.667[5]; 22. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:14.710; 23. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:14.814[9]; 24. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:14.880; 25. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 00:14.954[13]; 26. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:15.027[2]; 27. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:15.068; 28. 70-Kraig Kinser, 00:15.131; 29. 44-Chris Martin, 00:15.159; 30. 0-Justin Whittall, 00:15.251; 31. 16T-Jake Swanson, 00:15.497; 32. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:15.831[6]; 33. 7B-Ben Brown, 00:15.962; 34. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:16.322; 35. 16G-Austyn Gossel, 00:16.358[11]; 36. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:16.385[10]; 37. 64-Andy Pake, 00:17.059; 38. 97UK-Ryan Harrison, 00:17.059[12]; 39. 6-Bill Rose, 00:17.059[1]

SESSION THREE

Brent Marks departed prior to the final session leaving the top spot up for grabs. Buddy Kofoid capitalized aboard the Roth Motorsports #83 with a lap of 15.114 to top the charts.

Rico Abreu continued to display plenty of speed by running a 15.155 – the second quickest of the session. Abreu’s average spot on the charts over the three sessions was a stout 3.0.

The final session brought a handful of new names toward the top as Justin Peck (15.186, third quick), Kasey Kahne (15.243, fourth quick), and Corey Day (15.318, fifth quick) all made their way into the top five.

FULL RESULTS

Practice Session 3: 1. 83-Michael Kofoid, 00:15.114; 2. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:15.155; 3. 13-Justin Peck, 00:15.186[5]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:15.243[11]; 5. 14-Corey Day, 00:15.318[10]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:15.336; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:15.372; 8. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:15.474; 9. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:15.477; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:15.479; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:15.611; 12. 21-Brian Brown, 00:15.643; 13. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:15.646; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:15.709; 15. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 00:15.888[3]; 16. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:15.893; 17. 0-Justin Whittall, 00:16.014[9]; 18. 34-Sterling Cling, 00:16.180; 19. 16T-Jake Swanson, 00:16.694[6]; 20. 16TH-Kevin Newton, 00:17.048[4]; 21. 64-Andy Pake, 00:17.066; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 00:17.066[1]; 23. 44-Chris Martin, 00:17.066[2]; 24. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:17.066[12]; 25. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:17.066[7]; 26. 5T-Ryan Timms, 00:17.066[8]; 27. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:17.066[13]

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are set for four straight nights (Feb. 7-10) of racing at Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals Set to Kickoff 2024 World of Outlaws Season

The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 47th season begins with four nights of racing at Volusia

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 5, 2024) - The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready to go gator hunting to kickoff Year 47.

Sprint Car teams from all over will converge on Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park this week for the 53rd Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. A practice night (Feb. 6) precedes four consecutive nights of racing (Feb. 7-10) to get the 2024 campaign rolling for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The Wednesday through Saturday slate of racing boasts nearly a $300,000 total purse. The opening three nights showcase $12,000-to-win, $1,200-to-start Features before the week wraps up with a $20,000-to-win, $1,500-to-start finale. In addition to chasing the Big Gator, drivers are also pursuing a DIRTcar Nationals point fund allocated to the top three drivers when the event concludes.

A stacked roster is expected; plenty of money is up for grabs; all during four straight nights of high speed, half-mile racing. The 2024 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals promises to provide a week of action you don’t want to miss.

BUY DIRTCAR NATIONALS TICKETS HERE

Let’s look at the week’s top storylines:

GRAVEL’S GATORS: There may be no driver hungrier to make a strong opening statement than David Gravel. Three runner-up finishes in the standings over the last three years have elevated the desire for a championship more and more. And the pursuit of a title begins at Volusia.

Last year, Gravel came out on fire, topping the first two Features of the season in Florida. The Watertown, CT native owns four total Series victories at the half mile, good enough for the fifth most all-time through 56 visits.

Gravel also has his sights on DIRTcar Nationals history this week. The 2017 and 2022 Big Gator champion looks to join Daryn Pittman (2013, 2015, 2019) as the second driver with a trio of the coveted Big Gators.

SUNSHINE STATE SCHATZ: There has been no driver more comfortable with the high speeds of Volusia than Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion has been dominant at the half-mile track throughout his illustrious career.

He owns 23 overall Sprint Car triumphs at the facility. A Series-high 14 of those have come with the World of Outlaws, which outranks the second highest total by more than double. The team Schatz drives for – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing – holds the most Series wins for a team at Volusia with 17.

The Fargo, ND native is a one-time winner of the Big Gator, claiming the 2017 DIRTcar Nationals championship.

SHARK CHASING GATORS: There’s a Shark following the World of Outlaws tour who’s had plenty of success hunting gators in the past and looks to continue the trend.

Logan Schuchart – driver of the Shark Racing #1S – is the defending Big Gator champion. A trio of top fives fueled Schuchart’s 2023 DIRTcar Nationals title run. The 2021 Big Gator is also in Schuchart’s trophy room, so he’ll join Gravel in the hunt to become the second with three.

The Hanover, PA native is also a multi-time Feature winner at Volusia. Schuchart topped three Sprint Car main events during a remarkable stretch from 2020 to 2021 in which he finished outside the top two only once in seven races.

VOLUSIA VICTORY: Two more competitors among the full-time World of Outlaws roster for 2024 have been to Volusia Victory Lane with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

It took Carson Macedo some time, but he’s gotten comfortable at the half mile. In his first 10 Volusia Sprint Car starts, the Lemoore, CA native cracked the top five only once with a 9.2 average finish. The 14 starts since have yielded four wins, eight top fives, and a 5.2 average result. Two of those wins have come in World of Outlaws competition.

Back in 2018, Sheldon Haudenschild bagged the first of his now 34 career World of Outlaws wins at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” The 30-year-old returned to the Volusia winner’s circle in 2022 and aims to do so again this week aboard the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing NOS Energy Drink #17.

Both Macedo and Haudenschild are in search of their first Big Gator championship.

COMING OUT HOT: Year two with the World of Outlaws begins this week for Giovanni Scelzi, and “Hot Sauce” is looking for a hot start to his sophomore season.

His rookie campaign got off to a slow start at DIRTcar Nationals last year, mustering a 15.7 average finish. However, his whole season told another story. Scelzi posted a season-long 9.13 average finish.

The Fresno, CA pilot has previous strong outings in his Volusia attempts, including posting one of his 21 career Series podiums in 2021.

ROOKIE STRIPES: A diverse battle for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year will ignite when the green flag waves on the 2024 season this week.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid headlines the trio of contestants. He’ll embark on his inaugural campaign behind the wheel of the Roth Motorsports #83. Last year, Kofoid competed at DIRTcar Nationals and posted back-to-back runner-up finishes along with leading 11 Feature laps.

Bill Balog is taking his family-owned B Squared Motorsports team on the road with the World of Outlaws for the first time. “The North Pole Nightmare” made his first visit to DIRTcar Nationals last year and will kick off his 2024 campaign at Volusia.

Freshly turned 16-year-old – Landon Crawley – completes the 2024 rookie class. He’s teamed with Sides Motorsports and ready to take a major step on his racing career. The Benton, AR teenager has impressed behind the wheel of a 360 and joins the nation’s best 410 drivers for 2024.

HEADIN’ SOUTH: The full-time stars of the World of Outlaws will be accompanied by many more of the sport’s top talents in the journey to Florida this week.

Five-time and reigning World of Outlaws champion – Brad Sweet – plans to get his 2024 Sprint Car slate in the States rolling at Volusia. The Kasey Kahne Racing pilot is a six-time World of Outlaws Feature winner at the Barberville, FL oval (second most). The "Big Cat" is also a two-time Big Gator champion (2016 & 2020).

A handful of competitors that took part in Volusia’s Southern Sprint Car Shootout (SSCS) two weeks ago plan to return for DIRTcar Nationals. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX), Austin McCarl (Altoona, IA), and Ryan Timms (Oklahoma City, OK) were all victorious during the event, and the entire trio aims for more trips to Volusia Victory Lane this week. Justin Peck (Monrovia, IN) and Danny Dietrich (Gettysburg, PA) were also present at the Sprint Car Shootout and will be back in action.

Many more are expected to fill the Volusia pit area this week including Spencer Bayston (Lebanon, IN), Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO), Anthony Macri (Dillsburg, PA), Corey Day (Clovis, CA), Brent Marks (Myerstown, PA), Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN), Zeb Wise (Angola, IN), and more.

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

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE:

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday – Saturday, Feb. 7-10 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL

TRACK INFO

Track Record: 12.569s by Paul McMahan on 2-10-11
Online: VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com

SPRINT CAR BIG GATOR CHAMPIONS

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

ON THE INTERNET

Fremont Speedway Joins DIRTVision’s Premier Lineup of Weekly Racing

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 2, 2024) – Fremont Speedway is bringing its entire schedule to DIRTVision in 2024, joining fellow iconic Ohio tracks, Attica Raceway Park and Sharon Speedway, on the premier streaming platform.

Weekly racing from the northern Ohio track will be streamed live on DIRTVision, including its marquee Sprint Car events, such as the Rick Ferkel Tribute with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on May 27 and its Ohio Speedweek race on June 8.

“This is an exciting opportunity to show fans around the world what Fremont Speedway has to offer on a weekly basis, in addition to its national events,” said Rich Farmer, Fremont Speedway promoter. “I’m grateful for everyone at DIRTVision welcoming Fremont to its family of weekly racing, helping fans that can’t make it to the track fell like they’re still there.”

Fremont Speedway, known as “The Track That Action Built,” opened in 1951 and hosted its first touring event on June 6, 1952 – a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race. The 1/3-mile track has welcomed the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars eight times and featured winners such as Doug Wolfgang, Frankie Kerr, Stevie Smith, Jason Meyers, Donny Schatz and Chad Kemenah.

The Rick Ferkel Tribute on Memorial Day will be the World of Outlaws’ first time back at Fremont since 2016.

Along with the World of Outlaws event, Fremont Speedway will have a robust schedule, featuring Winged and Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Late Models and Midgets. On a weekly basis, the track will have 410 Sprint Cars, 305 Sprint Cars and dirt trucks.

September will feature the richest race in the track's history with the Jim Ford Classic, Sept. 13-14. Saturday's finale will pay $20,000 to win for the 410 Sprint Cars.

“Fremont Speedway is a great addition to our premier lineup of weekly racing and further expands DIRTVision’s catalog of 410 Sprint Car action from across the country,” said Jim Chiappelli, DIRTVision general manager. “We recognize Ohio’s rich racing history and its importance to regional drivers and teams.”

Whether online or through the DIRTVision App, fans can watch every race from Fremont Speedway live with DIRTVision’s annual Platinum FAST Pass.

Fremont Speedway joins DIRTVision’s growing list of premier tracks like Attica Raceway Park, Beaver Dam Raceway, Huset’s Speedway, Jacksonville Speedway, Jackson Motorplex, Knoxville Raceway, Land of Legends Raceway, Millbridge Speedway, Sharon Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway and Volusia Speedway Park. Fans with a FAST PASS subscription can also access every race for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, Super DIRTcar Series, Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and DIRTcar Summer Nationals.

CLASS OF 2024: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Season Preview

Plenty of interesting stories will begin to unfold when the 2024 season unleashes next week

CONCORD, NC (February 1, 2024) - The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign is less than a week away from unleashing.

Next week’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals will signal the start of The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 47th season of racing. An 86-race schedule will take the tour to 41 different tracks in 19 states.

A stout roster filled by a Series legend, drivers hungry for a first title, seasoned veterans, drivers on the rise, and more has been assembled for 2024. A diverse group of competitors has created a bevy of storylines that will unfold over the course of the nine-month journey.

The title favorites are clear, but could a 10-time champion return to peak form? Or might last year’s impressive rookie make himself a championship contender in year two? These questions along with many others will be answered over the course of the nine-month 2024 campaign.

GRAVEL’S TIME?: Plenty of eyes will be on David Gravel this year as he assumes the role of the championship favorite in 2024 – by virtue of finishing second in points the last three years.

Gravel has been consistently one of the fastest cars on a nightly basis since teaming with Big Game Motorsports in 2021. The pairing has collected 30 World of Outlaws victories including a Series-high 12 in 2023. Cody Jacobs will continue to turn the wrenches on the Tod Quiring-owned #2 as Gravel aims to secure his first title.

Gravel’s career in its entirety has produced 88 World of Outlaws wins, more than 100 Quick Times, and multiple crown jewel triumphs. A championship would further cement his status as one of the best to ever wheel a Sprint Car.

MACEDO’S MOMENT: The same name has been right behind Gravel in the standings over the last three years. Each time it’s been Carson Macedo possessing the third spot, and he’s also ready to challenge for his first championship.

Macedo and his Jason Johnson Racing crew have established themselves as annual title contenders after partnering the same year as Gravel and Big Game. They boast 29 victories as a team and have tallied the most Quick Times (25) over the past two years.

Philip Dietz remains car owner and crew chief of the #41 as he continues to pursue his late cousin’s dream of a World of Outlaws championship with Macedo in the driver’s seat.

RETURN TO FORM?: Gravel and Macedo may be favorites, but there’s a driver with 10 titles to his name and he’s hungry for an 11th. Donny Schatz is set for his 28th consecutive season with the World of Outlaws and 17th since teaming with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing.

The Sprint Car legend’s résumé speaks for itself – 311 World of Outlaws wins (third most); 11 Knoxville Nationals (second most); six Kings Royals (second most); six National Opens (most); countless other accomplishments.

Consistency hasn’t been in his favor the last few years, but moments of his legendary talent persist every season. The Fargo, ND driver will look to string together an entire campaign for a resurgent rise back to the top.

SOPHOMORE STRIDES: Last year, Giovanni Scelzi delivered one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in World of Outlaws history aboard the KCP Racing #18. And the 22-year-old is hoping to top it with an even better sophomore season.

Scelzi was one of the most consistent drivers in 2023, tallying 48 top 10s on his way to a fourth-place finish in points. The mark tied the highest finish for a rookie in Series history. He’ll be looking to improve in the win and podium columns to present a threat for the championship. The Fresno, CA native’s lone victory of his inaugural season came in June at Beaver Dam Raceway.

All signs point to an improved Year Two. The KCP crew will look slightly different with a new car chief stepping in, but Adam Clark will still call the shots as he enters his second full season as the team’s crew chief.

SHARK RESURGENCE: Four years ago, Logan Schuchart nearly claimed a World of Outlaws title, finishing second by a mere 46 markers in 2020. He’s slipped slightly over the three seasons since, but he’s ready to elevate back into championship consideration in 2024.

Schuchart is entering his 11th year on tour with Shark Racing. The grandson of Bobby Allen has tallied 41 World of Outlaws wins (19th most all-time) including six last season. He also topped the Eldora Million in 2023 to take home the largest payday in Sprint Car history.

The Hanover, PA native has assembled a lengthy résumé, but he’s hungry to add a World of Outlaws championship. Schuchart heads into 2024 with team members Lonnie Judy and Brendan Collum returning to the Shark Racing #1S.

#GETAFTERIT: Sheldon Haudenschild slipped to seventh in the 2023 standings after three consecutive finishes of sixth or better including a personal-best fourth in 2020. But he’s confident he and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team are set for a strong 2024.

There’s no denying Haudenschild is one of the most talented drivers capable of incredible feats. One of his three wins last season saw him drive from 16th at Skagit braving an area of the track no other driver tested. It’s all about putting a full season together for the Wooster, OH native.

Haudenschild heads into 2024 as the owner of 34 World of Outlaws victories including at least one in each of the last seven seasons.

JETTIN’ IN YEAR FOUR: Brock Zearfoss will tackle his fourth consecutive season with The Greatest Show on Dirt aboard his family-owned #3Z.

Year three didn’t go according to plan for the “Jonestown Jet.” Zearfoss’ numbers saw a slight dip compared to his rookie and sophomore seasons. But he did put together a handful of strong performances, including a top five effort at US 36 Raceway.

Despite the 2023 woes, Zearfoss is confident he can rise to new heights and make 2024 his best year yet with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’ll have Todd Berkheimer on the wrenches for the second consecutive season.

BILL’S BACK: A fiery passion for Sprint Car Racing will bring Bill Rose back to the World of Outlaws tour again in 2024. The Plainfield, IN driver is set to take his self-owned #6 on the coast-to-coast journey once again.

The 59-year-old combatted multiple injuries that sidelined him in 2023, but he’s healed up and ready for his fifth consecutive season competing with the nation’s top drivers.

Rose hopes to rekindle his 2012 form that saw him have his best year thus far in World of Outlaws action. The former Interstate Racing Association (IRA) champion posted 10 top-10 finishes that year.

ROOKIE BATTLE: The chase for the 2024 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presents an interesting blend of storylines. Three drivers are set to compete for the coveted honor, and all three have very different circumstances surrounding their entrance to the Series.

Buddy Kofoid leads the trio of contestants. The Penngrove, CA gasser makes one of the most anticipated debut seasons in Series history as he pilots the Roth Motorsports #83 on tour. The 22-year-old enters the year with three wins to his credit along with a Gold Cup prelim victory.

Bill Balog will also be making his maiden voyage on the tour. The 10-time Interstate Racing Association (IRA) champion will take his own B Squared Motorsports #17B on the road full-time. Balog owns one World of Outlaws win at Beaver Dam Raceway in 2016.

Landon Crawley was tabbed as the driver of the Sides Motorsports #7S for 2024. The talented 16-year-old has turned heads in the 360 ranks. Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park will be his first race as a full-timer and his World of Outlaws debut.

The 2024 World of Outlaws campaign kicks off at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 7-10). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Mounce/Stout Motorsports Taps Oklahomans Jayden Clay, Tyler Edwards for 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Campaign

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 29, 2024) – Mounce/Stout Motorsports has added two more rookie contenders to its stable for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota season – one at the beginning of his career and the other well into his.

The Tulsa-based team has tapped fellow Oklahoma natives Jayden Clay, 16, of Newcastle, OK, and Tyler Edwards, 30, of Salina, OK, to follow the entire 30-race schedule.

Clay has a deep background in Micro Sprint racing and will make his debut in a Midget at the Xtreme Outlaw Series season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, March 15-16.

“My dad told me, and I immediately said, ‘Yes.’ I’m super excited for it,” Clay said. “I can’t thank (team owners) Jay [Mounce] and Gavin [Stout] enough for this opportunity. It is super cool.”

Edwards has worked as a crew member for many years with several different drivers and teams, including Mounce/Stout Motorsports, in various capacities over the last several seasons. He also brings a resume of part-time Sprint Car and Micro Sprint experience to the table.

“Jay and I are good friends; turned out to be good working buddies too,” Edwards said. “It’s worked out pretty good. That’s kind of what led to this deal too. Jay trusts me with everything, all his equipment already. He knows my driving ability.”

Together, they’ll join forces with Arizonan Ashton Torgerson to make up a three-car squad following the Xtreme Outlaw Series in 2024. Each come with an impressive resume, but none of them have competed on the national Midget scene.

For Mounce and Stout, its exactly the kind of talent they’re looking to foster as they push to grow the next generation in motorsports.

“I think that’s more of it more than anything – just having a passion for Midget racing in general and understanding what it feels like to be the little guy, waiting and hoping and wishing for an opportunity that may never come,” Mounce said. “It’s no longer about how much money you have in your equipment. It’s more about giving the guys the opportunity to showcase what they can do in the seat.”

The Mounce/Stout partnership was founded when former Midget racers Jay Mounce and Gavin Stout came together for the 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals. Mounce was offering to help maintain more cars at his shop in advance of the indoor Midget event, and Stout – in his final Chili Bowl as a driver – took up the offer.

The two went into official team co-ownership that year, strongly built on the principles of leadership and development of the sport’s future. Today, Mounce is most often seen providing the team with his technical expertise – making car setup calls and carrying out various crew member functions on his cars at the track – while Stout works his full-time position as an electrical lineman in Tulsa, providing the team with the resources it needs and coming to the track as his schedule allows.

Young or aged, rookie or experienced – Mounce/Stout Motorsports has taken in drivers at all skill levels and given them a place to develop their abilities, and the same runs true with Clay and Edwards in 2024.

“That’s the coolest part, because everybody remembers where they came from,” Stout said. “Everybody remembers who they got their first win with, who helped them cross that bridge from being just a weekend racer to now being a professional – somebody who’s on the map. That’s the most important thing.”

Clay is the newest face to Midget racing on the team and, like Torgerson, is a continuation of the youthful wave sweeping the national Midget circuit over the past several seasons. While he’s only tested in a Midget thus far, he’s ambitious to get started.

“I feel like there’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve from a Micro to a Midget, but I think the quicker I can get into it and the more races I have, then I’ll be comfortable quicker and get up to speed a lot quicker,” Clay said.

Clay began his career racing in the Junior Sprint and Restricted Micro Sprint classes around his native Oklahoma, favoring Micro Sprint hotspots like Port City Raceway in Tulsa and I-44 Riverside Speedway in Oklahoma City. Since then, he’s been gradually venturing out to new places including tracks in Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Texas and California during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

“Throttle control and just being around race cars and racing around other people, kind of how you want to be raced and being aggressive,” Clay said of the skills he’s learned. “The Midget series is going to be a big jump in being aggressive and putting your nose in spots that maybe you might be able to, maybe you won’t. Just learning that situation. Micro Sprints have taught me throttle control and how to keep the car underneath me.”

He'll be teammates with the experienced Edwards, who has been around the block in open-wheel racing. Edwards first established a working and friendly relationship with Mounce at 18 years old and has been a childhood friend of Stout. He dipped into Micro Sprint and Sprint Car racing as a driver, but later began to split time being in the seat and on the wrenches, picking up mechanic duties for some open-wheel racing standouts including Dave Darland, Cory Kruseman, Kevin Thomas Jr, and most recently Chase McDermand during his 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Series campaign.

However, his expertise as a crew member will be on the backburner in 2024, as Edwards plans to let Mounce and the other crew members handle setup calls and other mechanical involvement during the program.

“That’s something I’ve also lacked in a lot of the teams I have drove for in the past – I do both,” Edwards said. “I think some nights I’ve struggled because I’ve had to focus on too many things. I don’t just get to focus on the driving part of it. But with this opportunity I think I’ll be able to shine and get better at the driving part of it.”

Edwards has also remained a yearly competitor at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January, once posting a fourth-place finish in a 2012 Prelim Feature. This past Chili Bowl, he again qualified for his Prelim Feature and finished in a D-Main on Saturday in his first outing in his new Mounce/Stout ride. Now that his full-time deal with the team is inked, Edwards is all eyes on the 2024 season.

“I would like to compete for a few wins. That’s the ultimate goal, win a race or two,” Edwards said. “If I can be in the top five in points at the end of the year, I would be extremely happy. But my ultimate goal is to run up front most nights, try not to DNF.”

Despite the age and experience gaps between the team’s new national Midget series rookies – Clay, Edwards and Ashton Torgerson – Mounce is confident in each of their abilities to contend for wins and potentially a points championship with the Xtreme Outlaw Series.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Mounce said. “Ashton hasn’t been in a Midget very much at all. The first time I ever got to work with him is this year at the Chili Bowl. Very nice family; Danny (father) is a very nice guy. He’s given me free reign to basically start from the beginning with Ashton.

“A lot of people don’t know who [Edwards] is, and he is going to be a new face on the scene, so to speak. But he’s going to be one of these guys the younger kids can lean on for advice and have a better understanding of what it’s going to take to be a race car driver at this level.”

Don’t miss Clay and Edwards in their Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota debut – March 15-16 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

SHOOTOUT SHOW OUT: Impressive Drive Leads Ryan Timms to Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout Crown

Timms builds huge lead and survives late restart to collect $10,000 Volusia payday (Trent Gower Photo)

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 27, 2023) – Last year Ryan Timms impressed by winning night one of the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout in his Volusia Speedway Park debut. But the teenage phenom wanted more in 2024.

The 2023 prelim win was nice. But Timms’ focus was firmly fixed on the $10,000-to-win finale this time around. And the Oklahoma City, OK gasser pieced together an excellent drive win and bank the $10K on Saturday night.

Timms started the 30-lap Feature fifth and took over the lead on the 18th lap. He then built a huge lead and held on for the victory on a green-white-checkered restart to seal the deal.

“I’m just so stoked to be able to park this thing in Victory Lane and be up here on the podium in first place,” Timms said. “After the Heat Race and Qualifying and the first few laps of the main, I knew we had a fast car. I’m just so excited to be up here.”

Austin McCarl and Justin Peck led the field to green. It was Friday’s winner – McCarl – taking the early lap to pace the opening lap. But Peck ripped around him to take over the top spot on the second circuit.

Behind the lead duo both Timms and Sam Hafertepe Jr. were on the move. Timms leaped from fifth to third by the fourth lap. Hafertepe Jr. managed to roar from eighth to second in the same amount of laps. Timms and Hafertepe were both aided by heartbreak for McCarl on the fourth lap as “The Big Unit” spun while running second in Turn 4.

On the restart Peck pulled ahead while Hafertepe and Timms pursued. While Peck maintained a steady advantage, Timms went to work on finding a way by Hafertepe. The teenager worked the bottom of “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” while Hafertepe committed to the top. On Lap 11 Timms managed to slip ahead of Hafertepe for the runner-up spot.

When Timms first grabbed second, Peck pulled ahead and added a few more tenths to his lead. But Timms quickly got in the groove and began to chase him down. On Lap 18 Timms rolled the bottom to perfection to drive ahead of Peck for the top spot.

Timms then began to work through traffic flawlessly. Only two laps after wrestling the lead from Peck, Timms was over a second ahead. The gap ballooned to over two seconds two laps later. The phenom moved wherever he needed to navigate traffic as he distanced himself from the field. When he took the white flag, he was more than four seconds ahead of Peck.

But as he was in Turns 3 and 4 heading toward the checkered flag, the caution lights flashed for a car slowing on the back straightaway. The yellow erased Timms’ lead and set up a green-white-checkered dash to the finish.

When the green flag brought the action back to life, Peck stayed close to Timms’ tail tank. But ultimately he couldn’t build enough momentum to challenge on the final lap. Timms held him off to claim the finale and $10,000.

“I was pretty frustrated,” Timms said of the late caution. “But I knew the slider line wasn’t necessarily faster in (Turns) 3 and 4, but I knew it was fast enough where I could hold off second for two or three laps. I knew the main deal was not missing the bottom. It was getting kind of thin in the middle of (Turns) 1 and 2 where it was easy to miss.”

Peck held onto the runner-up spot after leading 16 laps. The Monrovia, IN native felt that missing a small amount of comfort in the car and troubles navigating traffic cost him a better shot at challenging for the win.

“Once I caught traffic I was a bit snug,” Peck said. “Ultimately, Ryan just ran a better race there in traffic. It seemed like every time a lapped car in front of me would go to the top so I’d go to the bottom, and the lapped car in front of them would hold me up on that same corner. I just didn’t pick my spots right, I guess. Like I said, he must’ve done a better job at that than me.”

Rounding out the top three was Hafertepe Jr. aboard the Hills Racing #15H. The Sunnyvale, TX native showed speed all week, driving onto the podium from row four each of the three nights. Like Peck, Hafertepe combatted handling troubles in traffic.

“We were just really tight behind guys,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “And when Timms got by us after that restart there, it really kind of botched us up. And then we got up to Peck a couple of times and just lapped traffic was really, really treacherous for us. It being in dirty air was really bad. We tightened the car up too much. Didn’t really anticipate the track doing what it did.”

Austin McCarl rebounded from his early spin to finish fourth. Danny Dietrich drove from 14th to fifth to earn the Hard Charger.

Heat Races were claimed by Austin McCarl, Justin Peck, Cameron Martin, and Sam Hafertepe Jr.

UP NEXT: Volusia Speedway Park comes back to life when the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 5-17) begin. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout (30 Laps): 1. 5T-Ryan Timms[5]; 2. 20-Justin Peck[4]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[8]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[1]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich[14]; 6. 4-Cameron Martin[3]; 7. 28F-Davie Franek[10]; 8. 24-Danny Martin Jr[12]; 9. 6-Tyler Clem[7]; 10. 47-Eric Riggins Jr[9]; 11. 44-Chris Martin[13]; 12. 15-Ryan Turner[2]; 13. 7S-Landon Crawley[6]; 14. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr[20]; 15. 9-Liam Martin[17]; 16. 97-Ryan Harrison[18]; 17. 0-Glenn Styres[15]; 18. 13-Elijah Gile[26]; 19. 23-Lance Moss[24]; 20. 3-Dennis Misuraca[25]; 21. 23R-Ryan Roberts[16]; 22. 24D-Danny Sams III[19]; 23. 2C-Wayne Johnson[21]; 24. G6-Brandon Grubaugh[22]; 25. 24T-Christopher Thram[11]; 26. 10-Terry Gray[23]

REDEMPTION: Austin McCarl Holds Off Hafertepe to Top Night Two of Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout

McCarl beats Hafertepe by seven hundredths of a second in thrilling Volusia finish

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 26, 2023) – On Thursday night Austin McCarl watched victory slip from his grasp in the waning laps, and Friday looked as if it may produce a case of déjà vu. But “The Big Unit” refused to accept the same fate.

McCarl barely held off Sam Hafertepe Jr.’s late charge to secure victory on night two of Volusia Speedway Park’s Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. The margin of victory was seven hundredths of a second as Hafertepe pulled alongside coming to the checkered flag but couldn’t quite nose ahead.

Before Thursday’s race, McCarl hadn’t visited Volusia since 2016. He’s quickly gotten reacquainted by leading 44 of 50 Feature laps over the last two nights and earning a runner-up and Friday’s victory.

“Those first couple laps I kind of moved around,” McCarl explained. “I felt like I got a really good start on Cameron. He did a really good job, and I feel like we kind of took off together. I kind of just wanted to take the air off him. And once I got to the lead I just wanted to move around early. I used to get mad at my dad (Terry) for moving around early, and he said, ‘I’ve got to know where I’m good when I get to traffic,” and I just kept thinking of that.

“A couple times I could roll down here (the bottom) really, really good and really, really hard. And I thought if I can run it that hard, you’ve got to take the shortest way around. I feel like Sam kind of taught me that last night, too. You get kind of complacent up there (the top) ringing around the rosie and feeling really comfortable like you’re making speed. But sometimes the shortest way is the fastest way.”

It was an all-Iowa front row with Cameron Martin leading the field to green with McCarl alongside. Martin managed to slip ahead in Turns 1 and 2, but McCarl powered into the lead in the next set of corners to lead the opening lap.

After securing the top spot, McCarl began to build a solid advantage. Behind him Christopher Thram moved by Martin to snag second. By the fifth lap McCarl’s lead had already climbed to nearly two seconds.

Similar to his drive from seventh to Victory Lane the night before, Hafertepe Jr. was on the move early. He started the main event eighth and was up to fourth on Lap 5. Five laps later he cracked the top three. And only one lap later the Sunnyvale, TX native snagged second.

Up ahead McCarl sliced through traffic with more than a two-second advantage. But a couple slip ups with lapped cars and a couple strong laps by Hafertepe brought the gap down to a second on Lap 15.

“I felt like I was really cruising through traffic, and a couple of times a guy would get squirrely down here and I’d have to move around,” McCarl noted. “It’s just so easy to get rolled up behind somebody. Air plays such a big part of these cars.”

A motivated McCarl maintained focus even with the troubles in traffic. He quickly reestablished his rhythm, passed a couple slower cars, and grew his lead back over two seconds.

A pivotal yellow flag for a crash on the front straightaway set up a restart with three laps to go and a finish that brought the crowd to its feet.

The green lights flashed, and McCarl committed to the bottom groove. Hafertepe opted for the top and put together some momentum. The gap between the two was only two tenths of a second when the white flag flew. Hafertepe nearly pulled next to McCarl down the back straightaway. The two exited Turn 4, and Hafertepe managed to draw his nose alongside McCarl’s right rear tire but couldn’t quite make the pass as McCarl held on.

With a win under his belt and a fast Country Builders Racing #88 to drive, McCarl is now completely focused on going back to Victory Lane on Saturday in the $10,000-to-win finale.

“Hopefully we can keep this speed up,” McCarl said. “Tomorrow is the big day. The big money. We’ve started on the front row two days in a row. Hopefully we can lay down another qualifying lap and put ourselves in position. That’s where it starts.”

Hafertepe Jr. came within less than a car length of sweeping the first two nights aboard the Hills Racing Team #15H. He again proved he’s one of the fastest cars in the Volusia pit area this week and will be a threat for the $10,000 on Saturday.

“I feel like we’re moving around about as good as anybody,” Hafertepe said. “Like I said, he got through traffic way better tonight and made me work for it. I thought, ‘Well, we’re going to get lucky and catch this caution.’ Clean air is pretty important, and he did exactly what he needed to do.”

A strong 10th to third drive led Justin Peck to the final spot on the podium behind the wheel of the Chris Dyson #20. The Monrovia, IN native made some moves on the last restart to climb into the third spot.

“I kind of just went around the bottom,” Peck said of the final restart. “That was the gameplan. I watched those two cars in front of me for a couple laps before that caution. They were kind of sweeping out a little bit, maybe trying to open their entry up a little bit more than I was. I knew if I could get a nose in there, I could kind of keep them up off the bottom. That was kind of the gameplan going into that and it worked.”

Cameron Martin and Danny Dietrich completed the top five.

Heat Races were won by Ryan Timms, Eric Riggins Jr., Tyler Clem, and Liam Martin.

Danny Sams III earned the Hard Charger by driving from 17th to ninth.

UP NEXT: Volusia Speedway Park welcomes the USCS Sprints again tomorrow for the $10,000-to-win finale of the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 88-Austin McCarl[2]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[8]; 3. 20-Justin Peck[10]; 4. 4-Cameron Martin[1]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich[12]; 6. 24T-Christopher Thram[4]; 7. 5T-Ryan Timms[7]; 8. 6-Tyler Clem[5]; 9. 24D-Danny Sams III[17]; 10. 2C-Wayne Johnson[16]; 11. 47-Eric Riggins Jr[3]; 12. 11M-Brendan Mullen[11]; 13. 9-Liam Martin[6]; 14. 44-Chris Martin[9]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[21]; 16. 63-Josh Weller[18]; 17. 15-Ryan Turner[19]; 18. 13-Elijah Gile[22]; 19. 10-Terry Gray[15]; 20. 34-Sterling Cling[14]; 21. 23-Lance Moss[24]; 22. 28-Jeff Willingham[25]; 23. (DNF) 28F-Davie Franek[20]; 24. (DNF) 24-Danny Martin Jr[13]; 25. (DNS) 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse Jr

SOUTHERN CHARGE: Sam Hafertepe Jr. Rolls to Victory on Night One of Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout

Night one of the Southern Sprint Car Shootout belongs to Hafertepe Jr. after driving from row three

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 25, 2023) – Sam Hafertepe Jr’s Feature nearly ended before it started on Thursday night. He lined up sixth for Volusia Speedway Park’s Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout opener. And in the opening corner he hopped the tire of a competitor.

Hafertepe Jr’s Hills Racing #15H darted across the track. Miraculously, he avoided further contact and regained control. Once in control, there was no stopping one of the best drivers to ever pilot a 360 Sprint Car.

The Sunnyvale, TX native charged to the front of the United Sprint Car Series (USCS) main event with a car that could move anywhere he chose. He went high and low on his route to a pass for the lead around Austin McCarl in traffic on Lap 20 and holding on for a thrilling victory.

“You definitely need lapped cars, especially with Austin. He’s a good race car driver,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “I showed him a nose down there and he moved down. Honestly, I kind of wanted him to move down because I felt like I could get some momentum on the top. We actually kind of reeled him in there for a few laps, and then the bottom dirtied the top up, and then we would just keep getting over the cushion. Once we moved back down and the lapped cars kind of picked him for me, I was able to get right in the middle of them there, and we got to the lead and then just protected from there.”

McCarl and Justin Peck led the field to green for the 25-lap finale. The initial start saw McCarl leap out to a quick advantage. Ryan Timms, who was attempting to sweep the night after setting QuickTime and winning his Heat, blasted from eighth to fourth in a lap and a half.

Timms appeared destined for a drive to the lead as two circuits later the 17-year-old rolled by Sterling Cling to takeover third. He quickly began to cut into the gap between himself and second-running Peck.

But behind Timms Hafertepe’s machine began to come to life in a hurry. He moved into the fifth spot on Lap 3. Two more laps led him to fourth. On Lap 10 he slipped by Timms to climb into a podium spot.

Shortly after taking over third, the race’s only caution flew when a car slowed on the back straightaway.

The restart looked similar to the initial start as McCarl powered way ahead of Peck. Hafertepe took advantage of Peck’s misstep on the restart to swipe the second spot heading into Turns 1 and 2.

After stepping into the runner-up position, Hafertepe had McCarl in the crosshairs as “The Big Unit’s” lead started to dwindle. Hafertepe worked the low line while McCarl remained committed to the top. On the 15th lap Hafertepe had trimmed the advantage under a tenth of a second.

Hafertepe showed McCarl a nose causing him to move the Country Builders Racing #88 to the bottom to take Hafertepe’s line. But Hafertepe adjusted without issue as he veered to the top and continued the pursuit. McCarl was able to fend him off for a few more laps, but on the 20th circuit he moved back to the top to pass a lapped car and Hafertepe pounced. He slid in front of McCarl exiting Turn 4, and McCarl was unable to maintain enough momentum to counter with a crossover.

With the lead secured, Hafertepe began to drive away. He had to navigate a small swarm of lapped traffic but managed to get through unscathed on his way to a 1.5 second advantage as the took the checkered flag.

Hafertepe now has all the momentum courtesy of his victory, and his focus is squarely on the main goal. Thursday’s $2,500 prize was nice, but he’s ready to contend for $10,000 on Saturday.

“These first two nights are like test nights for us,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “I felt like we did a lot of good testing tonight, made a lot of good changes. I haven’t been used to making my own calls the last two years, and we hadn’t run as good. I know what I like, and it’s nothing against anybody that’s worked for me, but it’s just you know what kind of feel you want when I’ve done it for as long as I have. We’re just going back to the basics of what I know how to do and what works for me the best. We’ll see where this year takes us.”

Austin McCarl held on for the second spot. Leading the opening 19 laps and coming up short left the Altoona, IA native feeling a bit down, but the result was an encouraging one considering it was his first Volusia laps in eight years.

“That definitely stings,” McCarl admitted. “But at least if we’re going to get beat by somebody, it’s one of the best in a 360. We’re learn from it, and we’ll bring the Country Builders car back tomorrow.”

Rounding out the podium was Ryan Timms. The Oklahoman teenager came up a mere two spots short of sweeping the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout opener. He showed he undoubtedly has the speed to challenge for the win in Saturday’s finale.

“I felt like we had one of the fastest cars here tonight if not the fastest,” Timms said. “Hopefully we can get a couple spots better comes Saturday.”

Justin Peck and Danny Sams completed the top five.

Heat Races were claimed by Justin Peck, Austin McCarl, Ryan Timms, and Christopher Thram.

An 18th to eighth drive netted Wayne Johnson the Hard Charger.

UP NEXT: Volusia Speedway Park welcomes the USCS Sprints again tomorrow for the second night of the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. Then Saturday will bring the $10,000-to-win finale. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Hayden Reinbold Returns to Chase 2024 Xtreme Midget Championship with Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 24, 2024) – After a strong ending to his first season on the national Midget scene, Hayden Reinbold is ready to take the next step in his career.

“We just want to try and win the championship,” Reinbold said. “I’m super excited to come back and I’m ready to battle for the championship.”

The 19-year-old driver from Chandler, AZ, will return to the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota in 2024 to chase the points title, riding a wave of confidence after breaking through for his first career Series victory in the season finale last October.

That win was more than just a new face in Victory Lane. It was concrete evidence of the progress he’d made behind the wheel throughout the season.

“Last year, I struggled to make Features,” Reinbold said. “I wasn’t even worried about the points; I was just trying to get races under my belt. Now that I have some good finishes and have been running pretty good as of late, I’m super excited to go back out. My confidence is a lot higher than it was a year ago.”

He clinched a seventh-place finish in the 2023 championship standings on the back of one win, four top-fives and 12 top-10s. Each of those four top-fives came in the second half of the season, contributing to an average finish of 7.6 – a massive turnaround from his average finish through the first half of the season (14.6).

“This time last year we were struggling to make Features, let alone win a race or go top 10,” Reinbold said. “Now, we have a bunch of top 10s, top fives and even a win.”

Reinbold will also take his next step up outside the Midget world in 2024. Father and team co-owner, Andy Reinbold, will put Hayden at the controls of a Winged Sprint Car this season with plans to run a variety of events throughout the Midwest.

“My whole racing career was just Midgets. I never raced anything else,” Hayden said. “I’m super excited to get into another type of racecar. Winged cars look super fascinating to me.”

Though he’s breaking new ground with a potential career in Sprint Cars, he’s not letting that create any pressure. He’s just going to enjoy every lap he gets.

“I don’t feel any pressure or anything, I’m just super excited to go out and race Midgets more,” Reinbold said.

Reinbold and the Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports team begin their chase for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship at the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be in the building in person, watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Tyler Clem Hoping December Laps Give Him Upper Hand on Southern Sprint Car Shootout Field

BARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 24, 2024) – Since winning the inaugural Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout finale last January, Tyler Clem has climbed backed behind the wheel of his #14 Sprint Car about only a dozen times.

Two of those races were during Volusia Speedway Park’s Battle in Barberville 360 Sprint Car event in December. And they’re two races he hopes give him enough of an advantage over the full-time national competitors he’ll be up against during the second annual Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, Jan. 25-27.

“It’s tough. I don’t race much with those guys either,” Clem said. “They race every weekend. I’m lucky to race once or twice a month in this thing. They’re the best in the world for a reason, obviously. They’ve won Outlaw races. They’ve won big races like that. Obviously, the confidence that we got from winning the race [last January] and having the speed that we do here, obviously, it helps us. I think we’ll be fine when that time comes and do what we do this year.”

While his overall track time in a Sprint Car might not match drivers like Austin McCarl, Justin Peck or Ryan Timms, Clem – a Florida native from St. Petersburg – considers Volusia a home track. He has five wins at the half-mile, three coming last year – his Southern Sprint Car Shootout win, a Top Gun Sprint Car Series win and a 604 Late Model victory.

Home-field advantage played a part in Clem’s Sprint Car Shootout win last year, but he acknowledged a bit of luck did too. After drawing the pole for the 30-lap race, he launched ahead of the field at the start and never looked back.

Because of that, he benefited from clean air all race, never having to struggled with the aerodynamics of having to pass another car. However, that experience came during December’s Battle in Barberville. Clem finished third the first night and then second the next, having to race his way from sixth both nights.

“You’re at a half-mile here, so it is very aero dependent,” he said. “Once you get racing with guys, you’re not in clean air and the car handles different.

“You’re going to get the best guys in the world coming for [the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout], kind of like there was this year. Definitely getting laps [during the Battle in Barberville] can build your notebook for that weekend.”

To Clem, his Southern Sprint Car Shootout victory ranks atop all other accomplishments. “The biggest win of his career,” he called it in Victory Lane. And now, with nearly 50 cars set to tackle the 2024 edition of the event, which features three days of racing and the biggest purse in United Sprint Car Series history – boasting a $10,000-to-win finale – he’s eager to put his notebook to work for another big night.

“Everybody is excited for that race,” he said. “It’s probably the biggest 360 race you’ll have around this area. I feel like the quality of cars that come here for this race in January are better than [what’s at East Bay]. You have like Ryan Timms and [Ricky Stenhouse Jr.] and all these guys are going to show up for that race, guys that run 410s. The quality of the field is going to be really good and we’ll just try to do what we did [in 2023].”

For tickets to the second annual Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, CLICK HERE.

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

Ryan Timms Looks to Notch Another Historic Marker at Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout

BARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 22, 2024) – Ryan Timms made history at the inaugural Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout and returns this year for a piece of the event's historic purse.

At 16 years old, the Oklahoma-born driver won the first Southern Sprint Car Shootout race in his first start at Volusia Speedway Park in 2023. This year, knowing his winning potential at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile,” Timms, now 17, hopes to capitalize on the event’s increased payout.

“It’s always good to start a year off with a win,” Timms said. “Last year was cool. There were some pretty good guys there. (Ricky) Stenhouse was there. Guys like that. It felt really good to pick up a win early. I’m looking to do the same this year. It’s one night extra, three nights, instead of two, and it’s paying a lot more this year.”

The second annual Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, Jan. 25-27, will see nearly 50 of the best 360 Sprint Car drivers compete for three straight nights with the United Sprint Car Series at Volusia, boasting a more than $65,000 overall purse – the biggest in USCS history. Thursday and Friday’s Features will pay $2,500 to win, before Saturday’s massive $10,000 payday.

Entering the Southern Sprint Car Shootout last year, Timms said he didn’t expect to win, or even be fast. Along with it being his first trip to the Florida facility, his experience on half-mile tracks was limited. But now, he expects nothing less than another win.

“We had a ton of speed the last time we were there,” Timms said. “I didn’t expect to be that fast there. Now, going into it this year, knowing how fast I was last year, I know I should be even faster this year. The big deal is just putting a full night together. You got to qualify good, you got to run a good Heat Race. That’s how every night is. That’s another struggle. I’ll have one night where I can’t be beaten and another night where I don’t qualify so good and it kind of messes up the rest of your night. I just need to work on putting full nights together. The better we do that, we can get some pretty good results.”

After winning the first night of the 2023 event by more than seven seconds, Timms went on to finish fifth the second night. However, he charged from 17th to do so. Between those two days, Timms said he learned a lot about racing at Volusia and what it’s going to take to stay up front all three nights this year.

“It’s just about putting yourself in the right position,” Timms explained. “On those half miles, there’s a lot of dirty air. Volusia kind of has a weird shape to it. For whatever reason, to me, dirty air there is a lot more extreme than at other places. There’s a couple things to learn there.

“Going into it this year, we have a new set of guys with us. I’m going into it feeling really good about it. I love running the 360 stuff. It’s what I started running and it feels really natural. I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully we can improve on what we weren’t so good at last year.”

The Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout will also be a good test session before he returns to the 410 Sprint Car ranks with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10, and begins his quest for a national Midget championship with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

“As long as you’re getting laps at all, no matter what car it is in, or what track you’re at, just in anything, it’s going to help you more than sitting at home doing nothing,” Timms said. “Any time you can get laps, the more racing you can do the better. I know not everyone can race as often as they want.

“I think a lot of guys aren’t starting their season up that early. To go there and run one of the first races of the year puts you that much further ahead of everyone else.”

For tickets to the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, Jan. 25-27, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Volusia’s Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout Set to Offer Largest Purse in USCS History

A healthy field of 360 Sprint Cars is expected to fill the Volusia pit area for three nights of racing

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 23, 2024) – Sprint Cars are ready to invade Volusia Speedway Park for the first time in 2024 with the second annual Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout.

The 360 Sprint Car event will bring a strong field of drivers to the Barberville, FL oval this week to compete for the largest purse in United Sprint Car Series (USCS) history. Teams will battle three nights (Jan. 25-27) for their share of the more than $65,000 purse, capped by a $10,000-to-win finale. The race will give several drivers a tune up for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car portion of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 7-10).

Competitors from across the country are expected to invade the “Sunshine State,” featuring some of Sprint Car racing’s best young talent, a Daytona 500 winner, legends of the sport, and more.

The USCS Sprint Cars will be accompanied by 3/4 Modifieds all three nights.

Here are the top storylines to follow:

DAYTONA 500 CHAMP RETURNS: Before claiming the 2023 Daytona 500, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. claimed two podium finishes at the Southern Sprint Car Shootout. This year, the NASCAR Cup Series star is back for more before trying to defend his 500 title.

The Olive Branch, MS native finished third both nights in 2023 with his dad on the wrenches. This time around he’ll have a trio of opportunities to take the NOS Energy Drink #17 to Victory Lane.

DEFENDING WINNERS: Last year’s inaugural Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout featured two nights of action with wins belonging to Ryan Timms and Tyler Clem. Both are planning to return this week with hopes to defend their triumphs.

Timms’ victory in 2023 was also his debut at the Florida half-mile. The Oklahoma City, OK native engineered an excellent drive, taking the checkered flag with more than a seven-second lead.

Clem on the other hand has plenty of laps around Volusia and is a favorite to defend his crown and take home the ultimate $10,000 prize. The St. Petersburg, FL native hasn’t finished worse than third in his last four Volusia Sprint Car starts.

LOCKED IN: The pressure to lock into the $10,000-to-win finale is off the shoulders of one driver. Danny Martin Jr. topped December’s Battle in Barberville at Volusia to punch an automatic ticket should he need it. In fact, Martin Jr. swept both nights of last month’s event.

The local powerhouse from Sarasota, FL carries plenty of momentum into the week with those two wins in his back pocket. Martin Jr. will look to top his best effort of 12th from last year’s Southern Sprint Car Shootout.

STAR-STUDDED: Along with NASCAR stars and Sprint Car champions, the prospective entry list includes more than 40 all-star names that represent 14 states and three countries.

Justin Peck, of Monrovia, IN, will trade his normal ride – the Buch Motorsports #13 – for the Sean Michael #20. Peck owns plenty of 410 laps around Volusia highlighted by top five runs with both the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC).

World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year contender Landon Crawley will make his Volusia debut. He’ll pilot the Sides Motorsports #7S, the same car he’ll wheel during his inaugural World of Outlaws campaign. The 15-year-old Crawley is already a USCS winner, courtesy of topping a race at Magnolia Motor Speedway last year.

15-time and defending USCS champion – Terry Gray – plans to make the trip to Florida to kickoff 2024. The Bartlett, TN driver has accumulated dozens of USCS wins in his historic career including one at Volusia back in 2004.

The Southern Sprint Car Shootout will also welcome of pair of McCarls. Father and son duo Terry and Austin are expected to make the tow. Austin’s Volusia experience is somewhat limited, but Terry has won at the half-mile with the World of Outlaws, ASCoC, and USCS.

FROM FAR AND WIDE: Not only will the Southern Sprint Car Shootout invite plenty of talent, but the field will also be incredibly diverse with drivers coming from all regions of the country to compete.

Fourteen different states will be represented along with two Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. Glenn Styres, Jacob Dykstra, and Tyeller Powless plan to represent Canada, while Ryan Harrison will represent the UK.

Teams will be journeying from as far west as Arizona with Brandon Sampson and Elijah Gile carrying the flag for AZ. Other distant states such as Iowa (Riley Goodno and Chris Martin), Pennsylvania (Mark Smith and Josh Weller), and Nebraska (Ryan Roberts) will also be represented.

For tickets to the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision. Volusia Speedway Park — The World’s Fastest Half Mile — has been in operation for racing since 1968. The track was originally built by Benny Corbin as a way for dirt racing to grow in the Volusia County area. He owned the facility until 1982. Today, World Racing Group owns and operates Volusia Speedway Park, which plays host to the prestigious DIRTcar Nationals, Sunshine Nationals and Dale & Emil Reutimann Memorial in addition to its weekly racing program.

ON THE WRENCHES: Southern Sprint Car Shootout Allows Schuchart to Mentor Aspiring Driver, Sharpen Setup Skills

Schuchart set to help Elijah Gile before beginning World of Outlaws title hunt

BARBERVILLE, FL (January 19, 2024) - Most know Logan Schuchart for his talents behind the wheel with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. But the Shark Racing driver is trading the steering wheel for the wrenches next week.

Before his 11th season with The Greatest Show on Dirt gets rolling, Schuchart has linked with Elijah Gile to offer guidance and setup help for the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. The three-night event is slated for Jan. 25-27 at Volusia Speedway Park and boasts the largest purse in United Sprint Car Series (USCS) history.

The opportunity comes via Elijah’s father – Dennis Gile – and his newly launched Racecraft brand that allows aspiring drivers to learn from professionals through a variety of avenues. Dennis is a former NFL quarterback that has coached some of football’s top talents and aims to bring a similar method of training to his first love – dirt track racing.

“I’m going to go down and help maybe guide them and point them in the right direction,” Schuchart explained. “If they want some help or an opinion on certain things, hopefully I can help or lend a hand. I got to watch Chili Bowl a good bit, and I got to watch Elijah there. With what Dennis is trying to do with Racecraft, I think it’s a really cool thing and a way that myself and other drivers can kind of give back and help the next upcoming generation.”

With Schuchart acting as mentor, it’s a chance for Dennis to just be “dad” and watch Elijah learn from a professional in the sport.

“That’s going to be pretty awesome to kind of step back as a dad,” Dennis Gile said. “To be able to sit back and watch someone like [Schuchart] with that much, not only ability of how to drive a race car, but knowledge of how to set it up, where to run on the track, how to set people up to pass them. He’s kind of the complete package when you talk about a complete athlete. He doesn’t only have the athleticism; he has the mindset and the knowledge as well.

“Learning from someone like Logan, like Elijah has, gives him some sort of comfort that when he tells him to do it that he can go out there and do it because he’s seen that guy do that before.”

The experience won’t be entirely new for Schuchart. The 41-time Feature winner with World of Outlaws often calls the shots on his Drydene/Duramax #1S. His mechanical inclination stemmed from his grandfather – the legendary Bobby Allen – and now Schuchart finds himself as a respected veteran with an opportunity to help the next generation.

“Part of it’s kind of weird to me because I feel still fairly young and that I haven’t been around that long, but at the same time I know that I have. I’ve been around the sport for a bit,” Schuchart said. “I still feel like I’m learning every day. I feel like I learn something every time I go to the racetrack and continue to get better. But it’s also very rewarding and feels very good that certain people, especially up and coming racers, can look at me and feel like they can use my guidance as a way to help them improve.”

It's never too early to start thinking about the future. And that’s another motivating factor in Schuchart offering help to Gile. The 31-year-old is many years away from hanging up the driver’s suit, but that doesn’t mean he can’t begin the earliest preparations for life after the steering wheel. He’s a competitor. And he expects that competitive drive to always follow him.

Right now, that drive has him focused on becoming a World of Outlaws champion in 2024 and will continue to fuel him as a driver for the foreseeable future. And that quest begins two weeks after the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout when The Greatest Show on Dirt heads to Volusia for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 7-10).

“It’s something I’ve thought about. At some point in time, I’m not going to be racing anymore, so I’ve thought about what I’m going to be doing after racing,” Schuchart said. “It’s definitely something I could see myself doing. It’s still competing in a way, just maybe not from the driver’s seat. And it’s not something I plan on doing for a long, long time. But at some point in time, maybe that opportunity is there and will work itself out.”

For tickets to watch Schuchart help Gile at the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, CLICK HERE. For tickets to the World of Outlaws season-opener at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap of both events live on DIRTVision.

Ashton Torgerson Chasing Xtreme Outlaw Series Championship with Mounce/Stout Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 19, 2024) – After several seasons cutting his teeth in the Micro Sprint ranks, Ashton Torgerson is taking the next step in his career, joining the chase for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship.

The 17-year-old from Glendale, AZ, has partnered with team owners Jay Mounce and Gavin Stout of Mounce/Stout Motorsports to pilot the Eibach Springs, Safety-Kleen, Spike/Stanton #02 in his first national Midget series season.

“I’ve been watching all the races and always see [Mounce/Stout] cars up front,” Torgerson said. “I’ve got no reason not to win with these guys behind me and the equipment that I have. I’m super pumped to have them.”

Torgerson brings a wealth of open-wheel racing experience to the table as a former full-time Micro Sprint racer, claiming multiple track championships on the ovals of California in both the Winged and Non-Wing divisions. Last year, he dipped into Winged 360 Sprint Car racing, making over 35 starts at tracks in Washington, Oregon and California, and scored two Feature wins in the Torgerson Racing #02 – one at Southern Oregon Speedway and another at Placerville Speedway.

His biggest career accomplishment came nearly three weeks ago when he scored the win in the Restricted ‘A’ Class division at the Tulsa Shootout, bringing his name into the spotlight of Micro Sprint racing as he prepared for his second Chili Bowl Nationals appearance two weeks later.

Torgerson suited up for Mounce/Stout for the first time inside the SageNet Center and garnered his best results in the marquee Midget event, finishing 11th in his Prelim Feature Thursday night before falling shy of a transfer spot in a C-Main on Saturday. Still, he ranked in the top half of the 350-plus car field and showed great potential to compete with the best in the sport.

“I feel like Midgets are the most fun thing I’ve driven so far,” Torgerson said. “I feel like if I can get good in these, maybe it’ll help me out everywhere else.”

Torgerson’s also made two previous starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Series. He teamed with former Chili Bowl Nationals champion Tanner Thorson for two races last year in Kansas and saw success right from the start, leading the first 21 laps of the Toyota Racing Feature at Humboldt Speedway before recording his first podium finish with a third-place finish.

“I just hopped in with Thorson last year and we were running up front pretty much both nights,” Torgerson said. “I know me and Jay can be up front every night, we’ve just gotta be smart and have luck go our way.”

Torgerson and Mounce/Stout will make their national Midget series debut together in the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, as part of a two-day program – Friday-Saturday, March 15-16.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Ryan Timms Chasing 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series Championship with Keith Kunz Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 15, 2024) – Ryan Timms is returning to the national Midget circuit in 2024, chasing the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship.

Timms, 17, of Oklahoma City, OK, is one of the brightest young stars in open-wheel racing and has renewed his partnership with Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) to pilot the JBL Audio, LynK/Toyota #67 in all 30 races on the Xtreme Outlaw Series calendar.

“I’m to the point where I really want it, and I’m putting in as much work as I can to get better,” Timms said. “This coming season, I’m really trying to make a statement throughout the whole year.”

Timms contested the entire USAC National Midget Series schedule in 2023, winning three Features and clinching fourth place in the championship points standings. He also mixed in 11 starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Series and, after repeated misfortune racing for the win, finally scored his first Series win at Port City Raceway in October, leading all 55 laps of the Donnie Ray Crawford Sooner State 55.

“It shows the speed we had,” Timms said. “To be up front at 90 percent of the races we were at, it makes me feel really good for this year.”

This year will mark Timms’ second consecutive full-time season as part of Midget racing’s most decorated team at Keith Kunz Motorsports. He and KKM crew chief Beau Binder are aiming to build on the progress they made last season, which was Timms’ best thus far.

“All the races we were at [in 2023], I was either leading or, at the worst, I was in a top-10 or top-eight spot,” Timms said. “Most of the time, me and Beau were just getting more and more comfortable working together, and he’s just getting me faster and faster every night.”

While he amps-up his Midget efforts, Timms won’t neglect the Sprint Car. He’s set to drive his family-owned #5T at a variety of 410 and 360 races this season, including the upcoming Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout at Volusia Speedway Park, Jan. 25-27.

Since his breakout season in 2022, Timms has been turning heads across the country in both the winged Sprint Car and Midget ranks – most notably recording a second-place finish in his second career start with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. He’s bagged several Feature wins at the regional and national level and established himself as a major player at nearly every event he competes in.

While he navigates what is set to be the busiest season of his career, Timms recognizes the challenges he’ll face and the opportunity to better himself as he continues to try and move up the motorsports ladder.

“When you go from a Sprint Car to a Midget, it takes a few races to get used to the feel of a Midget again,” Timms said. “Now that I’m doing both, I’ll be running just as many Midget races as I am Sprint Car races – probably more.”

Despite some of his misfortunes with the Xtreme Outlaw Series last year, Timms has put it all behind him. A flat tire, a mechanical malfunction, even a late-race pass for the win – he’s not letting any of those past results get in the way of his pursuit of a national Midget series championship in 2024.

“The big deal when it comes to the championship is gonna be luck,” Timms said. “Performance too, obviously, but I had a lot of bad luck last year. Hopefully, we have some good luck this year and can put some solid runs together and put a good season together.”

Timms’ run to the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota championship begins with the 2024 season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, March 15-16, live on DIRTVision.

Milton Hershey School Continues World of Outlaws Partnership, Enhances Plans For 2024

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 15, 2024) – Milton Hershey School (MHS) and World of Outlaws will continue their partnership in 2024, enhancing initiatives for fans and the school’s students.

Along with serving as the “Official Education Partner” of the World of Outlaws, the top-tier private school’s 2024 plans are highlighted by Pit Crew Experiences for its students and the second annual Hershey Sprint Car Experience.

“We’re thrilled to team with World of Outlaws again this year to provide our students with career-focused learning and to share the life-changing mission of our school with racing fans across the nation,” said Kristina Pae, vice president of communications and marketing at MHS. “Our school is grateful to World of Outlaws for its tremendous support, and we look forward to a banner year of events and experiences ahead.”

After a successful debut in 2023, the school’s Hershey Sprint Car Experience returns on Monday, May 13, featuring meet and greets with the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at Hersheypark Stadium – which was built in 1937 by Milton S. Hershey to be a speedway. Fans and students will get to spend time with the drivers and their cars throughout the day while learning about MHS. The event celebrates modern-day racing while paying tribute to those who raced here more than 80 years ago.

For the third straight year, eight MHS students will get a once-in-a-lifetime Pit Crew Experience with a World of Outlaws Sprint Car team at the historic Williams Grove Speedway. Four students will get hands-on experience with a team during the Morgan Cup event at Williams Grove on May 11 and another four will get to do the same in October during Williams Grove’s National Open crown jewel race.

“Through the MHS partnership with World of Outlaws, our students have access to fun, one-of-a-kind experiences,” said Nadine Krempa, senior director of admissions at MHS. “By supporting our students through these experiences, we are growing awareness as we grow our school.”

MHS will also expand its World of Outlaws presence in 2024, serving as the sponsor of Heat Race #2 for every World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event.

In addition to its World of Outlaws partnership, Milton Hershey School will grow its motorsports reach in 2024, serving as title sponsor for the second annual Appalachian Midget Week with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota. The four-race Pennsylvania speedweek consists of races at Action Track USA (Aug. 7), Linda’s Speedway (Aug. 8), Path Valley Speedway Park (Aug. 9) and Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Aug. 10).

Fans will also see MHS at several World of Outlaws events throughout the country this year, educating fans and handing out HERSHEY’s chocolate and candy.

“Milton Hershey School has been an exceptional partner, bringing new and creative ideas every year that not only benefit fans and their students, but also our race teams,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “We’re excited to again help elevate their initiatives and build the Hershey Sprint Car Experience into a one-of-a-kind event.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season commences at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE. If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision – which will also feature multiple Milton Hershey School Education Moments throughout the year.

Drivers Excited by Potential of Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout For 360 Racing

BARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 12, 2024) – With the growth of 360 Sprint Car racing in Florida, drivers are looking at the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout as a potential crown jewel event to bring the division to the next level.

The second running of the event brings back the United Sprint Car Series (USCS), but now for three days (Jan. 25-27). It’ll boast a more than $65,000 purse – the largest ever in USCS history – with Thursday and Friday’s Features paying $2,500 to win, while Saturday’s finale will pay $10,000 to win.

“Everybody is excited for that race,” said Tyler Clem, who won the Sprint Car Shootout finale last year. “It’s probably the biggest 360 race you’ll have around this area. I feel like the quality of cars that come here for this race in January are better than [what you’ll find at other Florida 360 Sprint Car events]. You have like Ryan Timms and (Sam) Hafertepe and all these guys are going to show up for that race. Guys that run 410s. The quality of the field is going to be really good, and we’ll just try to do what we did [in 2023].”

The event is already attracting national names like 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., two-time 360 Knoxville Nationals winner Wayne Johnson, and inaugural Sprint Car Shootout winners Ryan Timms and Clem, along with international attention from England’s multi-time BriSCA F1 champion Ryan Harrison and several regional stars. Pete Walton, founder of USCS, said he expects to see about 50 or more drivers, representing at least 20 states.

“You get some big names down here,” said Danny Martin Jr., of Sarasota, FL, who swept the Battle in Barberville 360 Sprint Car races in December. “You get people in the stands and get more people interested. The more people in the stands, that helps the tracks. Then, they want to put on more shows. You get names, like last year we had Ricky Stenhouse. Things like that, they hear he’s coming and you get more people in the stands and that helps the whole sport grow.

"In Florida, there are so many things to do. There are the beaches and the boats. There’s just so much stuff to do. Up north, it seems like racing is all they got in their towns. So, when they say like, ‘Ricky Stenhouse,’ there might just be a NASCAR fan that’s going to a dirt race and he gets hooked and starts bringing people and that helps the sport grow. In Florida, that’s what we need."

The Sunshine State is set for an increase in 360 Sprint Car racing this year with the Top Gun Sprint Car Series going from a limited 360 c.i. engine to the 360-engine package already used with USCS and the American Sprint Car Series. The change puts a brighter spotlight on the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout as it becomes a prime destination for all drivers utilizing the 360 program. It already brought USCS back to Volusia for the first time in 18 years last season and brought 360 racing to a national viewership with the race live on DIRTVision.

“It’s actually great because we haven’t had a lot of 360 stuff down here,” said Shawn Murray, a 360 Sprint Car veteran of Jacksonville, FL. “Last year was 18 years since 360s were able to race here. We’ve been wanting to do it forever. We were thinking we’re going to have to buy a 410 (Sprint Car engine) to get laps at Volusia.”

On top of racing in a bigger spotlight and for a large purse, regional drivers said they're looking forward to race and learn from the national series drivers – an opportunity they rarely get from regional events.

“Honestly, everybody probably says this, but it’s going to make us all better drivers,” Murray added. “We’re going to be able to race with the best of the best down here where home is. All of that high prize money will attract all those guys down here. Especially with the start of Winter Nationals.”

And for drivers like Stenhouse, the race is a good chance to have fun and get some early laps before his 2024 NASCAR season begins.

“I know they’ve put a lot more effort into the event,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “I’m sure we’ll have a lot of race cars there, and it should be a good time. I’m looking forward to it. My dad is getting our car put back together and going through everything, making sure our engine is where it needs to be. He’s pumped up about it, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting back down there.”

The event will help kick off the 2024 season for USCS and its Winter Heat Series, along with serving as one of the first Sprint Car races of the year in the U.S. With that, Walton said the Sprint Car Shootout has already become a Daytona 500-like event for the Series.

"It’s huge, you know," Walton said. "It’s the biggest purse we ran for ever. We’re really excited. I think it is going to be a great event.

"It's a great way to kick off the 360 racing season for everybody."

For more information and tickets to the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

CHASING 100: Gravel, Quiring Have Rare Milestone Within Sight

The Big Game Motorsports pairing could both reach 100 World of Outlaws victories this year

CONCORD, NC (January 11, 2024) - The 100-win mark is an exclusive club with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, eclipsed by only seven drivers and five car owners in the Series’ 46 years of history. But a driver and team owner that connected three years ago have a chance to reach the milestone together in 2024.

David Gravel heads into the season with 88 victories under his belt. The team he competes for – Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports – is home to 94 wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The 2024 championship may be at the forefront of each of their minds, but both are also eying the milestone that lies ahead.

“It would be very cool,” Gravel said. “It’s definitely one big goal that I would like to reach in my career. It would be awesome to get that done. We’ll see if we can. I know Tod will get there before I do. I believe I’m the winningest driver with Big Game Motorsports, so that’s pretty cool. He had a lot of really good drivers drive for him for a decent amount of time as well. It’s always fun when you’re winning races. I think we’re on the cusp of doing something really great.”

“It’s pretty incredible,” Quiring said of nearing 100. “I’ve always had a lot of passion for the World of Outlaws. Obviously, the teams ahead I have a great deal of respect for how they have operated and ran their teams.”

Their dedication to Sprint Car Racing may be through different avenues, but similar paths have led Gravel and Quiring to this point.

Gravel ascended the ranks, climbing into many quality rides along the route to joining forces with Quiring. The Watertown, CT native has won World of Outlaws races with seven different teams – CJB Motorsports (32 wins), Big Game Motorsports (30), Jason Johnson Racing (19), Roth Motorsports (4), DDR Motorsports (1), Bill Rose Racing (1), and Rod Tiner Racing (1).

Quiring turned his lifelong fandom into involvement via sponsorship which eventually evolved into team ownership. He’s established his team as a top-tier organization with six elite drivers taking a Big Game Motorsports machine to World of Outlaws Victory Lane – David Gravel (30 wins), Craig Dollansky (28), Sammy Swindell (26), Kerry Madsen (6), Terry McCarl (3), and Danny Lasoski (1).

And now their various chapters have brought them to a chance to reach 100 wins in the same season.

“I think that would be really cool,” Quiring said of potentially reaching the mark together this year. “Obviously, David is one of the top few drivers in the world right now. Unless something strange happens, I think we hit our 100 this year. I feel David has a good chance to hit his 100 this year. It’s cool to do it together.”

“It would definitely be cool,” Gravel said. “It’s definitely important for me and him and definitely something to be proud of. I feel like I’ve got a long way to go still, too. I’m really excited to see where this racing career takes me.”

(Related: for the all-time driver win list, CLICK HERE)

If last season is any indicator, both Gravel and Quiring are on pace to climb to 100 checkered flags in 2024. It took Gravel only 28 races to bag six wins in 2023 – the amount Quiring currently needs. Gravel requires 12 victories to become only the eighth driver to crack triple digits, which is exactly how many he collected last year.

If Quiring is able to get six, he’ll join fellow owners Karl Kinser, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Steve Kinser, and Dennis Roth in the 100 club. And a dozen wins would put Gravel alongside Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Donny Schatz, Mark Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, Danny Lasoski, and Joey Saldana.

All signs point to Gravel being as strong if not better than 2023. Veteran crew chief Cody Jacobs continues to call the shots on the Huset’s Speedway/Billion Automotive #2. Another year of working together could strengthen their dynamic even more.

And while the 100-win milestone will be a moment to soak in, should they each reach it, their focus continues to be fully positioned on a championship. Three consecutive runner-ups in the standings have them hungrier than ever to make the final step to the top no matter how many wins it takes.

“Wins are definitely cool,” Gravel said. “But we want that championship.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Evolve Transporters Becomes World of Outlaws’ Preferred Transporter Partner

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 11, 2024) – The World of Outlaws has partnered with Evolve Transporters in a new multi-year agreement that sees the company become the organization's “Preferred Transporter Partner.”

Evolve Transporters specializes exclusively in motorsports, fabricating, and servicing world-class racing transporters with a focus on superior design and functionality.

“This is an exciting opportunity to work with the World of Outlaws and showcase to the dirt racing community Evolve's passion and creativity,” said Brad Kossow, Evolve Transporters CEO. “The World of Outlaws has a rich motorsports history and we’re looking forward to being a part of that for many years.”

Evolve’s innovative transporters have been the choice of many elite motorsports organizations recently like Andretti Global, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Toyota Racing Development, and 23XI. Later this year, fans will see one of Evolve’s purpose-built racing transporters on the road with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in the form of a new 53-foot bespoke transporter used for the Series’ equipment and technical needs.

“Along with the quality of the product everyone at Evolve produces, we’ve also been impressed with the level of commitment they bring to their work,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “Evolve Transporters is an industry leader and we’re thrilled to have them be a part of the World of Outlaws family.”

Along with the new trailer, fans will see Evolve branding at each track, on DIRTVision and on the World of Outlaws’ social channels.

For more about Evolve Transporters, visit evolvetransporters.com.

The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model season begins at Volusia Speedway Park’s Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 17-20, and the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series commences at Volusia’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Buddy Kofoid Tackling First World of Outlaws Campaign with Roth Motorsports in 2024

Kofoid joins the list of legends who have wheeled Dennis and Teresa Roth’s Sprint Car with the World of Outlaws

CONCORD, NC (January 9, 2024) - Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, one of Sprint Car racing’s top young talents, is set to compete full-time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2024.

The 22-year-old will wheel the Roth Motorsports #83 powered by Toyota Racing engines for his first full run with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s a dream come true for the Penngrove, CA driver to pilot Dennis and Teresa Roth’s car on the tour.

The California kid fell in love with the sport going to World of Outlaws races whenever they visited “The Golden State.” And Roth’s cars, out of Fresno, CA, have been a staple of both the World of Outlaws and west coast scene for three decades.

“It means a lot to me,” Kofoid said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I started racing. Being a kid and going to Gold Cup, we used to go every year as a family. We’d do it every year. I became even more attached and grew more fond because you got to see the Outlaws so few times. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do. That’s what I want to be one day is an Outlaw.’

“To do it with Dennis and Teresa Roth makes it even more special being from California and growing up watching that car and everyone that they had that made an impact on the sport. It’s an iconic car from California, but I always appreciate how iconic they are in Sprint Car racing in general.”

“Buddy and Toyota have a long history of success together in multiple dirt racing disciplines, including multiple national midget championships,” said Jack Irving, Executive Commercial Director, TRD. “Buddy’s talent behind the wheel of a Sprint Car is clearly evident and everyone at TRD looks forward to supporting his full-season effort with Roth Motorsports. Their win last fall at Placerville showed what the team is capable of, and we are confident Buddy will celebrate many more victories this season under the Toyota umbrella.”

Kofoid has assembled quite the résumé in his young career. He topped a Trophy Cup prelim at Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) at 14 years old in 2016 – then won the event in 2021. He’s one of 12 competitors who’ve claimed back-to-back USAC National Midget championships (2021-2022). And his first World of Outlaws triumph came in only his 16th Feature start with the Series in 2022 at Huset’s Speedway.

He joined Roth Motorsports midway through 2023 and hit the ground running, winning an All Star Circuit of Champions race at I-70 Motorsports Park in July. Then, Kofoid became the 16th different driver to usher Roth’s #83 to World of Outlaws Victory Lane with a win at Placerville Speedway in September. He’ll enter the new year with three World of Outlaws Feature wins already in his back pocket (Huset’s in 2022, Talladega Short Track in 2023 and Placerville in 2023).

Dylan Buswell, Roth’s esteemed mechanic, helped lead “Buddy” to his early success with the team as the two found instant chemistry. He’ll continue to lead the way on the wrenches in 2024, giving Kofoid another level of confidence for his debut campaign.

“That comfort came almost instantly, and it was a package that I was kind of used to and fond of,” Kofoid said. “But I think that’s kind of a testament to the team that Dennis, Teresa, Todd (Ventura), and everyone at Toyota provides for us. But then also I think it’s a testament to Dylan’s skill and his talent. I believe in Dylan a lot. I’ve always wanted to work with him and was super thankful that it worked out last year. But I had no idea it would lead into this. I think having the right people in your corner that believe in you and people that want to win just as bad as you is how you be successful.”

The 2024 season will take Kofoid from coast to coast and to a handful of new and familiar tracks along the way. Among those they’ll have circled will undoubtedly be the $83,000-to-win Dennis Roth Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway (Sept. 20-21) – an event saluting their legendary owner at one of Kofoid’s favorite tracks.

Over the course of the grind of the 86-night campaign, Kofoid plans to take a balanced approach. His USAC titles taught him blending the race by race focus with mindfulness of the year-long points outlook is vital for a successful season.

“Obviously, I feel like you’ve got to take it race by race and focus on the task at hand,” Kofoid said. “I kind of set small goals. Work on that one and move to the next one and try to accomplish each small goal. But also, at the same time I feel like in a season like that for points it’s hard to not look ahead. I learned that with my USAC races racing for points and trying to compete for that. You’ve got to look ahead and work on your weaknesses but also try to improve your strengths at tracks that my lie ahead.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

England’s Ryan Harrison ‘Having a Go’ at Racing Sprint Cars in America; First Stop of 2024 is Volusia

BARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 8, 2024) – Dollar signs haunt Ryan Harrison’s mind. He has money into a new house, money into a new race car and money into motor work; on top of thousands needed for he and his family’s travels from England to America for a few weeks of Sprint Car racing.

“Financially it’s ridiculous,” said Harrison, of North Hampshire, UK. “If you actually stopped and thought about what it costs us, flights, accommodation, running the cars, all of us away, and everything else, if you added it up, you’d probably never do it again and think this is f@#king stupid.

“But you’re only here once.”

Harrison, a multi-time BriSCA F1 champion in England, has traveled to the United States to race Sprint Cars for the past seven years and raced Florida’s winter events since 2019. He earned his first Sprint Car win in 2022 with the United Sprint Car Series, which he considers his biggest career triumph. Last year was his first appearance at Volusia Speedway Park during the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals – two events he’ll return to this year.

His conscience told him to stay home this winter and save money, but his dad pushed him to race.

“My dad said he’s getting older, and we need to do it,” Harrison said.

Whether in England or the United States, Harrison, now 32 years old, has never raced without his parents. And unless extra sponsorship is found, Harrison admitted he’s not sure how many more winter Speedweeks he’ll be able to attend. So, despite having to borrow money to make the trip this year, Harrison wasn’t going to deny his dad – and himself – another shot at doing what they love.

“We’re just trying to go there to have some fun and go full on, just absolutely full on,” Harrison said. “I mean, we love it. We absolutely love it.”

He made some changes and upgrades to his Sprint Car program last year, moving all his equipment from a friend’s shop in Florida to Chad Kemenah’s shop in Ohio. The move allows Harrison to make the most of his U.S. visits by hitting multiple Ohio races in a weekend, while benefiting from the help of the six-time All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car champion.

“[Chad’s] doing heaps to help us,” Harrison said. “It’s unbelievable. We’re renting a bit of space from them to keep the race trailer and stuff. Use a bit of his workshop. I was just over there during Thanksgiving, working on the car and switching some things around. They’re so much fun. Good help for us.”

He’s also added a new car to his stable. Last year, Harrison ran a car he purchased from NASCAR star Alex Bowman. This year, he’s dedicating that car to his 360 Sprint Car races, while the new car he bought from Crouch Motorsports will be his new 410-powered #97UK.

Harrison hopes to make at least five trips to the U.S. this year, first for Florida Speedweeks and then for various Ohio race weekends at tracks like Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway.

The move to Ohio also means 2024 will see Harrison predominantly run 410 Sprint Car races for the first time. And while he’s having his motor freshened for the new adventure, Harrison said he knows it won’t be at the same level of the bigger teams.

But he’s not letting that deter his competitive curiosity.

“You know your arms are tied behind your back a little bit,” he said. “But all you do is see how close you can get to them. That’s our goal, see how close can you get? It’s not about beating them, it’s about how close you can get.”

In doing so, he still needs to keep the car in one piece. If he wrecks, he has to wait until he’s raised enough funds to fix the car before he can return. If he loads the car in the trailer at the end of the night with no issues, he’s planning his next trip before he’s on his flight home.

“What sometimes bothers me about the racing side is you’re racing against (many) guys who don’t pay for the cars,” he said. “They’re paid drivers, I guess. If they flip it, they just get out and get into the next one, where I’m thinking, ‘F@#k, I can’t afford to flip this or wreck this.’ You don’t go for some of the gaps and moves you should do, really. I said to my dad, ‘Maybe we need to be a little bit ruthless.’ But when we start being a little bit more ruthless it’s going to bit me.

“But in the same token, there’s no point in driving around like Miss F@#king Daisy and not going anywhere. You’re in between a rock and hard place sometimes.”

He said he’s excited to get back to Volusia, though, for the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout – boasting the biggest purse in USCS history, including a $10,000 to win finale – and to race with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series during DIRTcar Nationals. While Volusia is “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” Harrison said it almost fells slower than other tracks to him because of how wide it is.

If he makes the Features for both events, he’ll consider that a successful trip, he said, easing the weight of dollar signs on his conscience.

With his family by his side and sponsorship from friends in England – KBTS, Hambridge Transport and Bensons Products – Harrison said he knows no matter what happens, he’s still living a dream many will never get to see.

“I always say, I’m a little bloke from England, fat as f@#k, having a go,” he said.

For tickets to the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout (Jan. 25-27) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to Volusia Speedway Park, you can watch both events live on DIRTVision.

DIRTcar Nationals Boasts More Than $970,000 Overall Purse; Points Fund Added to Big Gator Championships

BARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 5, 2024) – When the best teams in the country venture to the 53rd Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, they’ll benefit from the event’s more than $970,000 overall purse, which now includes a Big Gator Championship points fund.

The massive two-week spectacle at Volusia Speedway Park will again feature the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds during the first week (Feb. 5-10), and then USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars, DIRTcar Late Models, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds during the second week (Feb. 12-17).

Drivers in each division will battle each week for the prestigious Big Gator Championship, and this year, along with the iconic gator trophy, checks will be handed out to the top-three in Big Gator points.

The Big Gator champions for the Sprint Cars and Late Models will each receive $3,000, while second gets $2,000 and third gets $1,000. For the Big Block drivers, the champion will get $2,000, second will get $1,000 and third gets $500. The DIRTcar UMP Modified Big Gator champion will get $1,000, while second gets $750 and third gets $500.

An increase in funds doesn’t stop there either for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models. Both receive purse increases for their races leading up to the final day.

The first three days of World of Outlaws Sprint Car events will boast a $60,500 Feature purse ($66,325 overall, including the Last Chance Showdown and C-Main) with the Features paying $12,000 to win and $1,200 to start. Saturday’s finale (Feb. 10) will pay $20,000 to win and $1,500 to start. In total, it’s a $286,300 overall purse for the four days (Feb. 7-10).

RELATED: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars Add Fourth Event at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

For the World of Outlaws Late Models, their first two days will now pay $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start. And like the Sprint Cars, their Saturday finale will also pay $20,000 to win and $1,500 to start. For the three days (Feb. 15-17), it adds up to a $223,340 overall purse.

“DIRTcar Nationals is two of the biggest weeks of racing for fans and drivers alike, and we strive every year to offer a healthy purse for all competitors,” said Jeff Hachmann, DIRTcar Nationals Executive Director of Events. “With support from great partners and the best fans in motorsports, we’re able to accomplish that, such as establishing a points fund for the Big Gator Championship.”

DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will again have six Features each day, Monday through Friday, leading to Saturday’s $5,000-to-win Gator Championship Feature. The format will be the same as last year with Thursday's Features being lined up based on points from the first three nights (highest to lowest with a 10 car invert) and Friday seeing the top-three in each Feature locked into Saturday's Gator title race.

The second week of racing will open with USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars (Feb. 12-13) and DIRTcar Late Models (Feb. 12-14). The Non-Wing Sprint Cars will run for a $6,000 check and then a $10,000 payday. The DIRTcar Late Models will again run $7,000-to-win Features on Monday and Tuesday, and then three $5,000-to-win Features on Wednesday.

Then, the Super DIRTcar Series (Feb. 14-17) and World of Outlaws Late Models (Feb. 15-17) will help cap off the event. The Big Blocks will have three straight nights of $5,000-to-win Features, Wednesday through Friday, and then compete for a $7,500 check on Saturday.

Gates open at 4 p.m. (ET) each day. For the full schedule, visit DIRTcarNationals.com/schedule.

Tickets to the 53rd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park are now on sale at DIRTcarNationals.com/Tickets. If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Full Schedule & Feature Purses:

Monday, Feb. 5:
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Features 1-6: $600 to win | $21,900 overall purse)

Tuesday, Feb. 6:
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Features 1-6: $700 to win | $23,100 overall purse)
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars (Practice)

Wednesday, Feb. 7:
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars ($12,000 to win | $60,500 Feature purse)
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Features 1-6: $1,000 to win | $30,720 overall purse)

Thursday, Feb. 8:
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars ($12,000 to win | $60,500 Feature purse)
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Features 1-6: $600 to win | $21,900 overall purse)

Friday, Feb. 9:
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars ($12,000 to win | $60,500 Feature purse)
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds (Features 1-6: $1,000 to win | $30,720 overall purse)

Saturday, Feb. 10:
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars ($20,000 to win | $81,500 Feature purse)
DIRTcar UMP Modified Gator Championship ($5,000 to win | $20,450 Feature purse)

Sunday, Feb. 11: No Racing

Monday, Feb. 12:
DIRTcar Late Models ($7,000 to win | $27,200 Feature purse)
USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars ($6,000 to win | $25,825 Feature purse)

Tuesday, Feb. 13:
DIRTcar Late Models ($7,000 to win | $27,200 Feature purse)
USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars ($10,000 to win | $37,875 Feature purse)

Wednesday, Feb. 14:
DIRTcar Late Models (Features 1-3: $5,000 to win | $22,800 purse per Feature)
Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds ($5,000 to win | $19,575 Feature purse)

Thursday, Feb. 15:
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models ($12,000 to win | $57,600 Feature purse)
Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds ($5,000 to win | $19,575 Feature purse)

Friday, Feb. 16:
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models ($12,000 to win | $57,600 Feature purse)
Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds ($5,000 to win | $19,575 Feature purse)

Saturday, Feb. 17:
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models ($20,000 to win | $81,500 Feature purse)
Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds ($7,500 to win | $30,200 Feature purse)

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: NOS Energy Drink (Official Energy Product), CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier), Simpson Performance Products (Preferred Safety Gear Partner), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ACME Trading, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Federated Auto Parts, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), Lifeline USA, Low-E Insulation, Micro-Lite LLC, Milton Hershey School, MSD, Smith Titanium Brake Systems, and Whiskey Myers; manufacturer sponsors include, FIREBULL, Intercomp, and Sea Foam.

The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fox Factory (Hard Charger Award), Low-E Insulation, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Swift Springs, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Capital Race Cars, FIREBULL, Germfree, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis, and Sea Foam.

The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and Low-E Insulation. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DIG Race, Fox Factory, MSD, SRI / SCAS, Swift Springs, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: ButlerBuilt, FIREBULL, HYTORC of New York, Intercomp, and Racing Electronics.

DIRTcar Racing is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Chevy Performance (Official Vehicle), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Bassett Racing Wheel, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, CASE No.1 Engine Oil, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fast Shafts, Fox Factory, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, KSE Racing Products, Lifeline, MSD, Multi FireX, Quarter Master, Schoenfeld Headers, Summit Racing Equipment, Swift Springs, Velocita USA, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum), and Xceldyne. Along with manufacturer sponsors, including: FIREBULL, Intercomp, and Simpson Racing Products.

Stenhouse Jr.’s 2024 Sprint Car Slate Begins with Volusia’s Southern Sprint Car Shootout

By Alex Nieten

The NASCAR full-timer’s plans for more Sprint Car racing starts by chasing the biggest purse in USCS history in three weeks (Jacy Norgaard Photo)

The grind of a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver doesn’t often allow for much extracurricular racing. But that’s not stopping Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from extending his Sprint Car calendar in 2024.

The pilot of the JTG Daugherty Racing #47 at NASCAR’s top level has hopes of more returns to his roots throughout the year. That mission begins with a trip to Volusia Speedway Park’s Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout in three weeks (Jan. 25-27). The three nights of 360 Sprint Car action features the richest purse in United Sprint Car Series (USCS) history and concludes with a $10,000-to-win finale.

A couple weeks before winning his first Daytona 500 last year, Stenhouse Jr. posted a pair of podiums at the inaugural Southern Sprint Car Shootout. Coming close to victory in 2023 has the Olive Branch, MS native eager for a return to the half mile with Victory Lane on his mind.

“I like getting in a race car before, I guess, the real season starts for me,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “Anytime I get in a Sprint Car I feel like it keeps me sharp. I definitely think I’m more prepared for anytime I get in my Cup car. So, going and racing Volusia is going to be a lot of fun. Racing with my dad, we had a lot of fun there last year. We came up a few spots short a couple of the nights and felt like we had a car capable of winning, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back down there.”

The trio of races will be the first of what Stenhouse Jr. intends to be a larger presence behind the wheel of a Sprint Car this season. He stays closely involved in the sport all year long via ownership of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 wheeled by Sheldon Haudenschild. As an owner, Stenhouse Jr. has collected 35 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victories. But he’s been making the effort for his involvement to grow with more laps of his own.

“We definitely have a schedule that we’re working on,” Stenhouse Jr. explained. “Things are looking good to run more Sprint Car races. I got my dad’s operation a little bit more dialed in, and he’s ready to go race as much as we can.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Stenhouse Jr. plans for more Sprint Car races in 2024 (Chris Owens Photo)

Stenhouse Jr. climbed aboard a Sprint Car nine times in 2023 and collected a pair of wins at Talladega Short Track with USCS. He’s found that while readjusting to a Sprint Car can present challenges, it’s beneficial overall.

“Sometimes I would say it’s pretty easy, and sometimes I would say no it’s pretty difficult,” Stenhouse Jr. said of regaining the feel of a Sprint Car. “It just kind of depends. I felt like last year anytime we jumped in the 360 I felt pretty comfortable, and I would say it’s kind of 50/50 on the 410 stuff.

“Things happen so fast in Sprint Car racing. Lines change. You’ve got to adjust what you’re doing in the race car. The horsepower to weight ratio compared to the Cup cars. Things just happen really fast. I think that’s what helps be race ready when it comes to getting in the stock car on Sundays. I feel like even though we’re going faster, things almost happen a little bit slower.”

Stenhouse Jr. will get reacquainted with a Sprint Car in a few short weeks when the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout gets rolling. He expects to be among a stout field that’s ready to chase their share of the richest event in USCS history.

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

BEST OF THE YEAR: Exciting 2023 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Moments Set Stage For Big 2024

The 46th season of racing produced many historic and memorable moments

CONCORD, NC (December 26, 2023) - The turn of the calendar to 2024 is near, and the new World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season will arrive in a mere six weeks. But before then, let’s look at the top moments of 2023 that helped get us there.

This year’s campaign delivered monumental milestones and unforgettable action that won’t soon be forgotten. From a legendary car owner reaching rare territory in Florida to a historic fifth straight championship in Charlotte, 2023 gave us moment after moment from beginning to end.

Roth Gets 100, Toyota Gets First

Few car owners have been as dedicated to Sprint Car racing as Dennis and Teresa Roth. That dedication led to Roth Motorsports earning a milestone of excellence and longevity at Volusia Speedway Park early in 2023.

The rain-postponed finale of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals was completed on March 5 at the Florida facility. James McFadden led every lap of the Feature on his way to victory, piloting the Roth #83. The win was Dennis and Teresa’s 100th with The Greatest Show on Dirt, making them the fifth car owners to reach triple digits. Only Karl Kinser, Tony Stewart, Steve Kinser, and Kasey Kahne are ahead. Fittingly Danny Lasoski – the first to put Roth Motorsports in World of Outlaws Victory Lane in 1998 – was in attendance for the historic happening.

The win was also a sign of new beginnings as it marked the first World of Outlaws victory for the Toyota Racing Development 410 engine. That tally grew to seven before the year ended, courtesy of five more from McFadden and one from Buddy Kofoid.

The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals will kickoff the 2024 campaign at Volusia on Feb. 6-10.

150+ Winners

Thousands have entered World of Outlaws races since the first in 1978, but Victory Lane has been reserved for the sport’s elite. A milestone was hit early in 2023 when the list of total winners grew to 150. And then, beyond.

After coming close so many times, Brady Bacon finally broke through at Tri-State Speedway on April 29 to become the 150th different winner. “The Macho Man” wheeled the Kelly and Lora Hinck-owned TKH Motorsports #21H to a thrilling triumph at the Haubstadt, IN bullring.

The number of winners rose to 152 by the time 2023 concluded. Corey Day topped the Gold Cup finale at Silver Dollar Speedway in September aboard the Jason Meyers Racing machine. A month later, Zeb Wise grabbed his first Series victory by besting the PA Posse at Port Royal Speedway with Rudeen Racing.

Huset’s Opens The Bank

The stage was set for the largest payday in World of Outlaws history in late June. The second running of the Huset’s High Bank Nationals brought the country’s top teams to Brandon, SD with hopes of cashing a $250,000 check.

Three prelim nights each dished out $20,000 to the winner and positioned teams for the finale. Buddy Kofoid led the main event before mechanical woes with 11 laps to go left him heartbroken. His misfortune was David Gravel’s gain as he inherited the lead and held on for the quarter of a million dollars win.

It was a storybook night for Gravel due to multiple reasons. He had finally broken through after finishing second on two of the three prelims. The win came aboard the Tod Quiring-owned Big Game Motorsports #2 at the Tod Quiring-owned Huset’s Speedway with both Gravel and Quiring’s families at the track.

The 2024 Huset’s High Bank Nationals will again offer $250,000 to the winner, and the event has also added the $100,000-to-win Huset’s High Bank Hustle during the four-night week (June 19-22).

Schatz’s Sixth Crown

Donny Schatz is always one to watch when the lights are at their brightest. And he proved why yet again in July at Rossburg, OH’s Eldora Speedway.

The 10-time Series champion dominated the 40th running of the Kings Royal, leading flag to flag on his way to a $175,000 payday at “The Big E.” The victory was his sixth at the crown jewel.

Upping his total to six crowns moved Schatz within one of tying Steve Kinser for the most. Schatz already owns the most National Open wins with six. And now he trails “The King” by only one for both the Kings Royal and Knoxville Nationals and will have the chance to equal Kinser in 2024.

History at Knoxville

The 62nd chapter of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals was written in August and history was made. Kyle Larson led from green to checkered to claim his second triumph in “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All.” The Elk Grove, CA driver became only the eighth driver with multiple Knoxville Nationals victories. “Yung Money” also joined Donny Schatz as the only competitors to lead every lap of the finale since it was elevated to 50 laps in 2010.

The win for Larson was worth $185,000, and Knoxville has raised the stakes again in 2024. The 63rd running, set for Aug. 7-10, 2024, will award $190,000 to the winner. Continuing to build the prestige of the event, the Knoxville Nationals was also voted to third on USA Today’s 2023 10Best Reader’s Choice list for Best Motorsports Race – behind only the Indianapolis 500 and Formula 1’s Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.

Haud Line at Skagit

Sheldon Haudenschild is beloved among the fans for his abilities to bring them to their feet with his driving style. The Wooster, OH native is known for venturing to areas of the track no other driver is bold enough to try. This trait has perhaps never been on better display than on his birthday at Skagit Speedway this year.

While the entire field opted for the bottom and middle grooves in the Feature, Haudenschild braved the tricky topside. It paid off in remarkable fashion. He drove all the way from 16th to the win, sealing the deal with a last lap pass for the lead on the back straightaway.

The always exciting Haudenschild will take on his eighth World of Outlaws campaign in 2024.

Saying Goodbye to Devil’s Bowl

The World of Outlaws were born in 1978 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. And 45 years later the track being sold forced the Series to say goodbye to the historic half mile. The Greatest Show on Dirt invaded the Mesquite, TX oval in October to give Devil’s Bowl a proper sendoff.

Carson Macedo claimed the first of two nights. And then Devil’s Bowl went out in style in the finale when David Gravel made a last lap pass on James McFadden coming to the checkered flag to win in a photo finish.

In another storybook element to the finish, Riley Goodno, who was donning a tribute livery to the car that Jimmy Boyd won the first World of Outlaws race in, was right alongside the lead duo as they came to the finish line.

Even without Devil’s Bowl, Texas will still host the World of Outlaws for five nights of racing at three different tracks in 2024 – Kennedale Speedway Park (March 8-9), Cotton Bowl Speedway (March 15-16), and Big O Speedway (March 22).

Five in a Row

Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne Racing continued to cement their legacy of excellence in 2023 with a fifth straight championship. “The Big Cat” held off David Gravel at the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte to wrap up the title.

It was a historic campaign for both Sweet and Kahne. Sweet matched the second longest streak of World of Outlaws championships in Series history. And Kahne’s sixth World of Outlaws championship as an owner equaled him with Steve Kinser for the third most in the record books.

The World of Outlaws World Finals in Charlotte will again determine the 2024 title battle with four nights of action (Nov. 6-9).

Looking Ahead

With 2023 in the books, the stage is set for an even better 2024. A new championship battle is upon us headlined by favorites David Gravel and Carson Macedo. But could the 10-time champ – Donny Schatz – return to championship form to grab another?

More heavyweights in the form of Logan Schuchart, Giovanni Scelzi, and Sheldon Haudenschild will be in the mix. Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, and Bill Rose have strides on their minds. Rookies Bill Balog and Landon Crawley look to make an immediate impact. And more are expected to join the cast of full-timers.

More moments will be made and chapters of history written when the 2024 season unfolds for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

For tickets to 2024 events, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can still watch every lap live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or on the DIRTVision App.

Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series Features 10 Races Across 2024 Schedule

Separate points fund established to reward top-five finishers

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 22, 2023) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and the POWRi National Midget League have renewed their partnership for the 2024 season to present a slate of 10 co-sanctioned races in the second iteration of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series.

The co-sanctioned series kicks off with the first event on Friday, April 12 at Farmer City Raceway and will again award a $2,500 check to the champion after the final event at Highland Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 14. New for 2024, the top-five finishers in the separately kept points standings will also be awarded cash prizes for their season-long efforts according to the scale below:

2024 Challenge Series points fund:

1. $2,500

2. $1,250

3. $600

4. $400

5. $250

“The first edition of the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series was a great success, and we’re building on it in 2024 with this new points fund,” said Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series Director Tyler Bachman. “Over 75 different drivers came out to compete in at least one of the 10 co-sanctioned races we ran last year, and we want to reward that support both sanctioning bodies have received with more cash bonuses throughout the field.”

The 2024 Challenge Series schedule includes races at seven different tracks across Illinois and Missouri, including three two-day events at Farmer City (April 12-13), Spoon River Speedway (July 19-20) and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the marquee Ironman 55 event with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars (Aug. 2-3) – all three of which feature $5,000-to-win main events in the Saturday portion of the doubleheader specials.

Zach Daum, of Pocahontas, IL, captured the inaugural Challenge Series championship in the final race of the 2023 season, clinching the $2,500 grand prize by 13 points over Jade Avedisian.

“We’re excited to renew the partnership between POWRi and the Xtreme Outlaw Series for 2024, and we hope our drivers are just as eager to get the season started,” said POWRi National Midget League Director, Kenny Brown. “This lineup of racetracks is a tour of some of the best race places in Illinois and Missouri, which we know will put on a great show when the stars of both national tours collide.”

Tickets for the Farmer City and I-55 Raceway events are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com, or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. Tickets for all 10 events will also be on sale at the gate on race day.

If you can’t be at your favorite track to watch in person, stream all 10 events live on DIRTVision.

2024 Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series schedule:

Friday, April 12 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $4,000-to-win

Saturday, April 13 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $5,000-to-win

Thursday, May 30 | Doe Run Raceway | Doe Run, MO | $4,000-to-win

Friday, May 31 | Coles County Speedway | Mattoon, IL | $4,000-to-win

Friday, July 19 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $4,000-to-win

Saturday, July 20 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $5,000-to-win

Friday, Aug. 2 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $4,000-to-win

Saturday, Aug. 3 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000-to-win

Friday, Sept. 13 | Southern Illinois Raceway | Marion, IL | $4,000-to-win

Saturday, Sept. 14 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | $4,000-to-win

KKM Leaders Never Doubted Jade Avedisian’s Championship Potential
Former Keith Kunz Motorsports driver Christopher Bell praises Avedisian’s growth into championship winner

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 21, 2023) – Seventeen national Midget series championship trophies line the showroom of the Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) shop. But the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota trophy may be one of the most unique in the collection.

The three-foot-high display is much more than another centerpiece greeting visitors in the lobby of the Columbus, IN facility. It’s a symbol of the unprecedented feat in motorsports history achieved in 2023 under American open-wheel dirt racing’s most decorated team owners – Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby.

Their hand-picked driver – 17-year-old Jade Avedisian from Clovis, CA – is the first female in motorsports history to win a national dirt racing series championship.

And that accolade isn’t lost on them.

“It’s pretty rewarding because we’ve been trying so long to get a girl to that level that is right up there with the best of them,” Kunz said. “Two or three years ago seeing Jade come up through, we knew that she was probably going to be that one exception that was gonna take it to the next level. And, of course, she has.”

In KKM’s 30 years of operation, it’s fielded cars for several female talents, dating back to the early 2000s when Sarah McCune raced alongside multi-time champion and present-day KKM team member Jay Drake. More recently, the team has seen success with former full-timers Holly Shelton and Kaylee Bryson in the seat, but Midget racing had yet to meet its first female breakthrough star.

Enter 15-year-old Avedisian, who sprung onto the national Midget scene for her first full campaign in 2022 after several years in the Micro Sprint ranks. She won two Xtreme Outlaw Series races that year for car owner Chad Boat before signing with KKM in February.

Endorsed by Toyota Racing, Avedisian was given a primary goal of winning the 2023 Series championship with KKM and did so on the back of five Feature wins, 16 top-fives and 26 top-10s in 29 races. Her efforts captivated the attention of the entire open-wheel racing world, and even some of the country’s most high-profile names in motorsports.

“Jade has been, I would say, one of the first [women] to [contend for wins] on a week-in and week-out basis,” said Christopher Bell, current NASCAR Cup Series star and former KKM graduate. “I think that she’s just going to continue to improve as she matures and learns how to harness that speed and know when is important to be pushing and when’s not important to be pushing. She’s done a great job and is certainly different than the girls we’ve seen in the past.”

Bell captured the 2013 USAC National Midget Series championship during his three-year tenure at KKM before ascending into the NASCAR ranks. He, like another of his fellow KKM graduates, drew some comparisons to Avedisian and her full-throttle, race-all-out, driving style.

“She definitely became more patient as the year went,” said Willoughby, who was a frequent team presence around the track in 2023. “I think when we got Jade, she was racing at 102 percent every lap.

“In that respect, she’s a lot like Kyle Larson. He was going for a new track record every lap he ran.”

Her breakneck tendencies and love for the top lane at any racetrack did get her into trouble a few times throughout the year – most notably her two-flip incident during the Feature at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in August.

“She’s able to shake those off and get right back on the horse and go again; it doesn’t slow her down, and that’s the big thing,” Kunz said. “It’s easier to reign them in; it’s harder to get them to do that.”

However, building discipline inside the racecar was a focal point of Avedisian’s training in her first season with the team.

“We’ve kind of got her to back down, where she was running 110 percent every lap, and that’s just the natural racer,” Kunz said. “We’ve got her to back that down to make her understand that you’ve only gotta run 90 percent, and then turn it up when you’ve got to.

“In racing for a championship, also just making sure that you finish races. If you can win the race, that’s great. But you’ve gotta take your seconds, thirds, fourths, and accumulate points. You have to be there at the end of the race. I think she learned that more and more as the year went on.”

Avedisian was paired with top KKM crew chief Jarrett Martin at the beginning of the season, and the two began work on her skills immediately. Kunz said her willingness to learn from the team’s mentorship was key in her development as a driver throughout the year.

“She’s kind of a student of it,” Kunz said. “She wants to know what she did. She’s always wanting advice; she’s always watching videos to learn from what’s going on. And that’s good huge with the ones we always see coming up that are really good – they’re always trying to watch the videos.”

“She’s not one that comes in, gets out of the car and goes away. She’s constantly wanting to learn and figure out how to do something better.”

Since their partnership was forged in the late 1990s, Kunz and Willoughby have seen some of the sport’s brightest stars come through their program and be a student to their mentorship. They’ve broken numerous records and made several historic moments in Midget, Champ Car and Non-Wing Sprint Car racing, and their alumni know best – that success didn’t fall from the sky.

“I think they’ve just hit the perfect chemistry,” Bell said. “It takes multiple people to do it, and the way Keith and Pete have set up their system with Keith managing the car side of things and Pete managing the business side of things, they’re able to stay in their own lane and really get along well for a really long period of time now. You don’t see that in most teams.”

Avedisian recently took the next step for her career, signing a multi-year agreement with Toyota Racing to continue her progress in the Toyota Driver Development program. She’ll take on a variety of national Midget series events in 2024 for KKM while also dipping into road course racing, piloting the Toyota GR86 for Nitro Motorsports on the entire Toyota GR Cup schedule.

For Kunz and Willoughby, Avedisian will also hold a special spot in the team’s history. And the three-foot tall Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series championship trophy in their lobby will forever be a reminder of that.

“I’m like Toyota – I believe in her, and I think she will be the best female we’ve had yet,” Willoughby said. “When she’s out there racing, I don’t think of her as a girl. She’s just one of the guys.”

Carson Macedo, JJR Ready to Chase World of Outlaws Championship in 2024

The Californian is looking forward to a fresh start next season with a first championship on his mind

CONCORD, NC (December 18, 2023) - Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing are set to return to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024, committed to achieve their goal of winning a Series title.

It’s a dream the Lemoore, CA driver has had since he was a kid, and one he inches closer and closer to every year with JJR.

“I know it’s been my dream since day one. I’ve always wanted to be a World of Outlaws champion,” Macedo said. “For the longest time, it’s been the ultimate place in the sport, and I think it still is. There’s just a lot of history there, and it’s the reason we’re so excited about going Outlaw racing.”

This season will mark Macedo’s sixth consecutive with The Greatest Show on Dirt and fourth since partnering with the team formed by the “Ragin’ Cajun.” Led by team co-owner and crew chief Phillip Dietz, Macedo and JJR have been one of the tour’s strongest forces over the past few years. Of Jason Johnson Racing’s 59 World of Outlaws wins, Macedo has supplied the most with 29.

The duo emerged as early title favorites in 2023 after 16 consecutive top 10s and multiple weeks atop the standings. But a pair of accidents resulted in injuries that kept him from competing at his highest level.

“There were some ups and downs, obviously, but ultimately I was happy with how we ended up considering all the stuff that happened,” Macedo said of 2023. “My wreck at Knoxville was unfortunate. We were leading the points at that point, and I felt like we had a lot of momentum on our side. That kind of knocked me back. It took me a little while to recover. I had another wreck in Skagit where I fractured my vertebrae but kept racing. I feel like there were a lot of trials and tribulations on my part as a driver. I kind of felt really bad for my team because unfortunately they were having to deal with me being not 100%. All in all, though, it was still nothing to hang our hat about.”

With 2023 behind him, Macedo is eager for 2024 to get rolling. However, he’s not waiting for the new year to get back racing. Macedo is currently partaking in a small slate of Sprint Car races in Australia with Dyson Motorsport. It’s all about ensuring he’s ready for next season, both mentally and physically.

“What I’m looking forward to the most about 2024 is being in a fresh state of mind and fresh body and being healed up and being 100%,” Macedo said. “I’ve taken a lot of action in my personal life to try and work out with a bit of a better routine and do more stretching and do a lot more to heal my body up.”

The JJR #41 has its main cast of supporters returning along with a new addition in the form of the Scott Boyd family. All of the pieces are there. And as 2024 unfolds Macedo and company hope to complete the puzzle to reach one of Jason Johnson’s highest goals when he established JJR in 2010 – a World of Outlaws championship.

“I think what’s so unique about the World of Outlaws is the history and the brand behind it,” Macedo said. “You look at the past champions over the years, and they’re incredible race car drivers. That list is so short of World of Outlaws champions that you realize how tough it is to accomplish something like that. I think for JJR it would mean the world to everybody. I know that was Jason’s dream.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Conner Wade Following Great-Grandfather’s ‘Outlaw’ Path With New Pit Reporter Role

By Nick Graziano

Conner Wade may be 19 years old, but his history with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series goes back to 1978.

Wade is the great-grandson of Chuck Amati, one of the “Original Outlaws” that competed in the first World of Outlaws race at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in ’78. And now, the teenager is taking his own turn as an Outlaw, becoming DIRTVision’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Pit Reporter in 2024.

“It’s a huge, huge honor to be able to cover the World of Outlaws,” Wade said. “I’ve been a fan of the World of Outlaws, a diehard fan, since I was seven or eight years old. Whenever I was a kid, I would get up every Saturday and Sunday morning, before races were streamed, and I was too young to be on social media, too young to have Facebook or Twitter, so I would run to the computer every Saturday and Sunday morning, get on WorldofOutlaws.com to see who won the night before, keep track of points and stuff like that.”
Conner Wade Interivewing

Wade only got to spend a short amount of time with his great-grandfather, but his father, Shane Wade, helped continue Amati’s path by racing and owning cars himself. Shane won the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series championship in 2022 with Shane Cockrum driving for him.

Now, Conner is taking his own path, which, arguably, started at birth but took shape when he was about 4 years old. At home, hosting races with his diecast cars, Wade knew something was missing. His races needed an announcer. So, lap after lap, he called the action, unaware his parents were recording him do so.

They uploaded the videos to YouTube, and eventually garnered enough attention that Wade was asked to help get video content at the 2015 Chili Bowl when he was 11 years old – an opportunity that kicked started his career.

“So, I went to Chili Bowl, probably my first Chili Bowl in 2015, and just did some random interviews with I think, (Kyle) Larson, (Christopher) Bell, Kevin Swindell and Bryan Clauson and we just put those out on Facebook and they got their reviews and shares,” Wade said. “After that, the right people from Southern Illinois Raceway saw them and was like, ‘Hey, we should hire this 11-year-old kid to be our announcer.’ So, that’s kind of how that got started.”

Wade announced every division at Southern Illinois Raceway (SIR) for five years, including the track’s biggest events like the Highbanks Hustle and Terry Sprague Memorial.

“Doing SIR weekly for five years, specifically those two (marquee) events that they had, that would be live streamed, got a lot of viewers and attention from really the entire industry,” Wade said. “Those two races are what kind of got my name out there at little bit and kind of started introducing me to more viewers.”

From there, Wade continued to climb the ladder year after year. He worked as a pit reporter with POWRi and the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series before finding his way to DIRTVision this year where he helped pit report for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, some Super DIRTcar Series events – including Super DIRT Week – and the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota. He also worked in the DIRTVision studio during World of Outlaws World Finals.

He’ll take his next step with DIRTVision in 2024, becoming the full-time pit reporter for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, working hand-in-hand with World of Outlaws announcer Johnny Gibson each race night.

“Conner has impressed me with his work with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series and with this studio work during World Finals,” Gibson said. “He’s knowledgeable, professional, and one of the future stars in this industry. I look forward to working with him and continuing the tradition of providing excellent coverage of The Greatest Show on Dirt to our fans in the stands and on DIRTVision.”

For Wade, it’s a dream opportunity to work with the voice he’s listened to on DIRTVision since he was young and a chance to add another chapter in his family’s legacy with the Outlaws.

“I specifically remember the first World of Outlaws race I ever watched on DIRTVision,” Wade said. “I don’t know if it is weird that I remember that or not… But I just thought it was the coolest thing ever that I could watch the World of Outlaws live from home. I never would have dreamed that 13 years later, I’d be working for the same streaming service, covering that same series. It’s really really cool and covering the top Sprint Car series in the country is a huge responsibility, something I honestly already feel, and we haven’t even started the season yet. Something I’m really, really looking forward to. The race fan inside of me is really, really excited as well.”

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series kicks off its 2024 schedule at Volusia Speedway Park during the 53rd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10). If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Bill Balog Ready for Rookie Campaign with the World of Outlaws in 2024

The 10-time IRA champion is set for a run at the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year

CONCORD, NC (December 15, 2023) - “The North Pole Nightmare” is set to invade The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2024 as Bill Balog commits to his first full season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

The North Pole, AK native, who now calls Wisconsin home, will take his Anderson’s Maple Syrup #17B on the road, joining Landon Crawley in the race for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title.

Balog has piloted Sprint Cars for nearly two decades and joining the World of Outlaws will fulfill a lifelong goal.

“Something I’ve always dreamed of doing is running with the World of Outlaws,” Balog said. “This just seemed like a good year. I’ve ran for a couple decades, and I’ve really wanted to do this at some point in my life. This year just looked good. I always like to run for points. I like the structure. You’re here at this time and there at that time. This is where you’re sitting at in points. I just always liked that part of points racing, and there’s other things I like. The main thing is it looks like the Outlaws look out for you.”

The 44-year-old brings a stout résumé to the World of Outlaws tour. Balog has dominated the northern region of the country over the past several years, racking up 10 Interstate Racing Association (IRA) championships since 2008, and leads the all-time IRA win list by a wide margin with 138 victories. He’s taken on the All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) campaign twice and finished a personal best of fifth in the standings in 2021. Balog owns five career ASCoC wins, including at least one in each of the past three seasons. He also topped the World of Outlaws at Beaver Dam Raceway for his first Series victory in 2016.

Making the jump to the World of Outlaws was the natural progression for Balog with his success and recent endeavors with the All-Stars. He’s aware next year will present an entirely new challenge, but it’s one he’s looking forward to conquering.

“It’s a little bit scary honestly,” Balog said of taking on the World of Outlaws. “It’s a big challenge. That’s what, I think, most of our Sprint Car teams in the United States crave is that challenge. I think it’s the right time with the equipment we’ve built up over the years and have a truck that we can get up and down the road with a little better.”

An aspect that has Balog eager to get 2024 rolling is the travel. His previous experience has taken him to most of the country’s Sprint Car racing regions. But now he’ll get to visit them all in one season and experience 14 new tracks along the way.

“I want to do good at my home tracks here in Wisconsin,” Balog said. “But I also think California will be cool and Texas. Some of those places I’ve never been. I haven’t been to quite a few of those tracks. I always like to go to Pennsylvania. I didn’t get to go to Pennsylvania in 2023, so I’m looking forward to going back there a couple times. Just the whole thing. I think it’ll be an exciting adventure.”

The Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title is firmly fixed in Balog’s sight. The list of winners features many Hall of Famers, along with current stars of the sport. And it’s a list Balog hopes to add his name to.

“I’d probably be the oldest one ever,” Balog said with a laugh (although that stat belongs to Wayne Johnson, who won it in 2020 at 49 years old). “It would be cool. Obviously, that’s the goal is to do the best we can in points and use the experience that I have to hopefully win the Rookie of the Year.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

INDOOR SEASON: Jade Avedisian, Zach Daum, Taylor Reimer Talk Indoor Racing in Du Quoin, Chili Bowl

Watch Junior Knepper 55, 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series season opener on DIRTVision

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 14, 2023) – While most of the motorsports world goes dormant for the winter, Midget racing keeps its wheels turning with some of the biggest indoor events in dirt track racing.

From the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, where the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota season opener takes place in March, to the SageNet Center in Tulsa, OK, for the 38th running of the Chili Bowl Nationals, indoor Midget racing is home to some of the most unique events of the entire year.

“You still have kind of the same vibe with being indoors and all the people watching, but from the track standpoint, I think [Southern Illinois Center] a little bit different,” said 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Series champion Jade Avedisian. “Du Quoin is super small. Last year, it didn’t get too wide, so it kind of made it tricky throughout the Heat Races to get by people. Come Feature time, it started widening out and it was actually a really good race.

“It’s a lot smaller than Chili Bowl, in my opinion, it races a lot tighter. At Chili Bowl, you’re right against the fence or riding on the berm. At [Du Quoin], there’s only two or three cars [wide] from the berm. It made the racing really tight, which I thought was really good.”

Before 300-plus teams make the annual expedition to Oklahoma for the Chili Bowl in January, POWRi Racing presents the first indoor racing event in the lineup with the sixth running of the Junior Knepper 55 this Saturday, Dec. 16, on the indoor 1/6-mile oval in Du Quoin – live on DIRTVision.

Since 2015, the winter season special has honored Walter “Junior” Knepper, the famed Illinois car owner of Midgets and Non-Wing Sprint Cars, whose career spanned several decades and accumulated over 50 Feature wins with USAC. A $5,000 grand prize is on the line for the winner of the 55-lap main event.

The Junior Knepper 55 is set to feature several drivers also projected to compete in the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Series opener in March; one of which is inaugural Series champion, Zach Daum.

Daum, 32, of Pocahontas, IL, made his first appearance in the event last year and will pilot the Spike Chassis No. 91 for Harris Racing for the second-straight year. Come March, he’ll begin his quest for a second Xtreme Outlaw Series championship in Du Quoin behind the wheel of the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U.

Driving a brand-new King Chassis No. 5d for his own team, Daum drove to a fifth-place finish in the 2023 Xtreme season opener in Du Quoin but fell victim to engine issues the following night. Though he did make some progress forward from eighth on the starting grid to finish fifth, Daum still recognizes the challenges the tricky, semi-narrow oval presents.

“You can get stuck in a bad Heat… there’s just so many factors that play into your night there, and it’s all multiplied so much there,” Daum said. “You’re probably paying a lot more attention at Du Quoin because it’s a lot easier to stall the motor out. It’s such a tall gear you run there, you jab the brake and you can stall the motor there a lot quicker than other places.”

Keith Kunz Motorsports pilot Taylor Reimer also endured the challenges of the Southern Illinois Center for her first time in 2023 with finishes of 17th and ninth in the two-day event last March.

“Du Quoin is quite a bit smaller than Chili Bowl,” Reimer, of Tulsa, OK, said. “Usually by the end of the night at Chili Bowl, the track widens out quite a bit and you’re able to run top to bottom, slide jobs. Whereas Du Quoin, it’s usually a one-lane type of track. It makes it tougher to pass people, and you kinda just have to be there waiting for someone to mess up, or just slide them and hope it sticks.”

Over 450 miles southwest of Du Quoin lies the SageNet Center in Tulsa, OK – a 446,400 square-foot building home to a temporary 1/4-mile oval and the biggest Midget race in the world. Over 300 drivers make the trip annually to the Chili Bowl Nationals, fighting for only 24 spots in the main event and one of open wheel racing’s most coveted prizes – the golden driller trophy.

“It’s the one thing I want more than anything in motorsports is a driller,” Daum said. “Hopefully, one of these days, we’ll put ourselves in position to get one. I’d probably retire on the spot if that happened.”

Since his event debut in 2006, Daum has qualified for the main event eight times and finished inside the top-five twice with a best finish of third in 2016. He’s traded rides a few times since then, but the mentality remains the same – always be looking for ways to get better in Tulsa, even during the regular national Midget season.

“How to be better at Chili Bowl, how to get a driller, how to put yourself in a position on Saturday night to get a driller, what you can do to your car to make it better throughout the year to go there,” Daum said. “It’s just a lot of things that go into Chili Bowl for me.”

This past January, Avedisian made her Chili Bowl debut at 16 years old and finished 18th in the main event – tying the record for the highest-finishing female in event history and collecting Rookie of the Year honors.

This time around, she’s coming into the event as one of the three national Midget Series champions. 2024 will also mark her first Chili Bowl appearance as part of the Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) stable – the most decorated team in event history with eight main event wins between co-owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby.

Given the credentials of both her and her team, Avedisian knows the pressure she’s facing in this year’s event.

“I try not to put too much [overthinking] into it,” Avedisian said. “I know I had a lot of pressure on me this year especially – that was a huge part of my career. I was told to get a championship, and we did. We put a lot of hard work into it, and now that box is checked off.”

As one of Avedisian’s teammates at KKM, Reimer has also felt the heat of the spotlight in Tulsa. She came up a few spots short of a transfer into the main event in 2023 but has since added a second full season on the Xtreme Outlaw Series to her resume, priming her for a better result as a hometown star in 2024.

“I think the pressure comes from just knowing that I have a really good team behind me and when I get out there, it’s really all up to me,” Reimer said. “They give me everything that they possibly can to succeed. At that point, it all comes down to my driving abilities.”

Tune into DIRTVision to watch both winter Midget specials – the Junior Knepper 55 (Dec. 16) and the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series season opener (March 15-16) – in Du Quoin, IL.

Noah Gass Commits to Third World of Outlaws Season for 2024

By Alex Nieten

Noah Gass driving his family-owned #20G The Oklahoman wants to mix hard work with fun next year as he continues with the World of Outlaws

Noah Gass is set for his third consecutive season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2024.

The Mounds, OK native will continue to follow in the footsteps of fellow “Sooner State” drivers who competed with the World of Outlaws over multiple years like Daryn Pittman (Owasso), Andy Hillenburg (Broken Arrow), Shane Stewart (Bixby), and more.

The 20-year-old has finished 12th in the standings in both of his first two campaigns with The Greatest Show on Dirt. This season showed signs of improvement with Gass qualifying for more shows and scoring a career-best finish of seventh on night one of the Ironman 55. Another highlight came when he picked up a top 15 on the final night of the Huset’s High Bank Nationals to cap a strong week against one of the toughest fields of the season.

While there were bright moments, Gass admitted he did allow the difficult moments to cloud his focus at times.

“No doubt 2023 was a hard season on not only myself, but my team,” Gass said. “Cody (Cordell), Robby (McQuinn), and my dad never gave up on me and kept our program going. Looking back, I was very hard on myself, and I need to remember the positives and learn from the negatives. We had our ups and downs, but we did it, and I am so damn proud of our team for another great year on the tour.”

Gass is now fully focused on next season with 2023 behind him. He knows he and his team are capable of taking more strides in 2024. He’s ready to come out with a clear mindset, work hard, and have a little fun as he continues life on the road with the World of Outlaws.

“Going into 2024, our goal is to have more fun all while continuing to work hard,” Gass said. “Being on the tour is definitely hard work but you need to have fun while doing it. I’m very fortunate to have such great people behind me that remind me of that. I am pumped for 2024 and going full-time with the World of Outlaws for our third season.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Donny Schatz Set for 28th World of Outlaws Season in 2024

By Alex Nieten

Donny Schatz will be on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour for his 28th consecutive year in 2024, continuing to pilot the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15.

For Schatz, who grew up admiring the stars of the World of Outlaws, next year serves as a continuation of living out his childhood dream, while chasing an 11th title.

“Once you get that knowledge in the Sprint Car world, the premiere drivers were the Steve Kinsers and the Sammy Swindells and Doug Wolfgangs, the guys that ran the World of Outlaws,” Schatz said. “That was what my goal and my vision and dream was as a young child. So, getting into racing and doing all that you realize that under this World of Outlaws banner the man with the vision was Ted Johnson. I got the great fortune of meeting Ted.”

The 10-time Series champion finished sixth in the 2023 standings with four victories, including his sixth Kings Royal crown at Eldora Speedway, worth $175,000. Schatz bumped his career win total to 311 (third all-time), and he helped Tony Stewart up his total as an owner to 325 with the World of Outlaws. Schatz supplied 229 of those since joining forces with “Smoke” in 2008.

Despite some bright spots throughout the year, there were challenges that Schatz and his team strived to work through.

“We’ve had some challenges the last several years,” Schatz said. “Part of the engine development program has been real tough on all of us. And I’m not getting any younger, but I don’t feel like I’m getting any slower. Things have changed. This and that. It’s on all of us. It’s not just having performance lacking from engines. Ford has worked hard on getting us what we want. We’ve made some changes We had to change the person doing it halfway through some of this stuff.”

Looking ahead to 2024, Schatz is confident he and his team are close to returning to championship form.

“We have all these pieces to the puzzle that got scattered out across the table,” Schatz explained. “And now I feel like we have them all in the same spot where we can see the colors and align the corners… I know what I’m capable of. I know what my guys are capable of. I know what our equipment is capable of. We’ve got that stuff in a way better position than we were, and the guys feed off me. You’re going to see a different Donny Schatz in 2024. I need to lead my guys better. My focus has maybe been a little shifted for reasons outside of racing or this or that. I worked on it hard trying to make sure we got all of that right. You definitely will see better results.”

Schatz is as eager as ever to get 2024 rolling. His hunger is there. And his fire burns bright. The legendary figure has everything aligned to chase an 11th championship.

“When I wanted to win Rookie of the Year and did, I didn’t win a race that year,” Schatz said. “Then you want to win a race. Then you win a race. Once you achieve a goal, that doesn’t mean you feel complete. I wanted to win a championship. I won a championship. All it did was fuel the fire to want more. You want to do it again. I think the thing that’s hardest to portray to young guys, to fans, to whoever is just because you’ve won one championship doesn’t mean you don’t want to do it anymore. You don’t have less desire. You actually have more. I’ve won 10. I want to win 11.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

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

Donny Schatz Set for 28th World of Outlaws Season in 2024

The Series legend is hungry to chase an 11th title next year

FARGO, ND (December 8, 2023) - Donny Schatz will be on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour for his 28th consecutive year in 2024, continuing to pilot the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15.

For Schatz, who grew up admiring the stars of the World of Outlaws, next year serves as a continuation of living out his childhood dream, while chasing an 11th title.

Looking ahead to 2024, Schatz is confident he and his team are close to returning to championship form.

Schatz is as eager as ever to get 2024 rolling. His hunger is there. And his fire burns bright. The legendary figure has everything aligned to chase an 11th championship.

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Championship Points Fund Increased, Milton Hershey School Sponsoring Appalachian Midget Week for 2024

$30,000 awarded to Xtreme Outlaw Series champion, $5,000 to Midget Week champion

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 7, 2023) – The 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota season is going to be a bit sweeter for drivers with increased points funds for the championship and Appalachian Midget Week.

Ten-thousand dollars have been added to the championship points fund and Milton Hershey School (MHS) has partnered with the Series to help double the Appalachian Midget Week fund.

A grand total of $90,000 – up 12.5% from 2023 – will be distributed amongst the top-10 drivers who contest all 30 events on the 2024 schedule. The champion will receive $30,000, with second taking home $15,000 and $10,000 for third place.

The new distribution works in conjunction with the Series’ tow money program started in March, awarding a cash bonus to each driver with perfect attendance for each track traveled to on the schedule.

FULL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS FUND

The second annual Appalachian Midget Week, the four-race swing through Pennsylvania, Aug. 7-10, will be sponsored by Milton Hershey School. The payout will be a $10,000 points fund to the miniseries’ top-five points earners. Drivers will be rewarded after the final race with the payouts being: $5,000 to the champion, $2,500 for runner-up, $1,250 to third, $750 for fourth and $500 for the fifth-place driver.

Chase McDermand captured the inaugural Midget Week crown in August, winning two of the three races contested en route to the championship check.

“As our partnership continues to evolve with World of Outlaws, we are thrilled to be part of this year’s race week in Pennsylvania,” said Nadine Krempa, MHS Senior Director of Enrollment Management and Family Relations. “World of Outlaws drivers have invested their time on and off the track to give our students hands-on learning experiences and introduce them to the racing industry. As a residential school, the race locations for this series are also some of our students’ hometowns, so it will be special for the communities to come together to support these drivers.”

The 2024 Milton Hershey School Appalachian Midget Week begins Wednesday, Aug. 7 at Action Track USA in Kutztown, PA, followed by visits to Linda’s Speedway (Jonestown, PA) on Aug. 8, Path Valley Speedway Park (Spring Run, PA) on Aug. 9, and closes with a visit to Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Newmanstown, PA) on Aug. 10.

Founded by Milton S. Hershey, and his wife Catherine, in 1909, Milton Hershey School is one of the nation’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-k through 12th grade live on campus in Hershey, PA and receive a high-quality education at no cost to the students or their families.

MHS has been a strong partner of the World of Outlaws family, forging a relationship in 2022 with its first at-track experience with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. This past May, multiple full-time Outlaws made a visit to the campus and students’ classes before taking part in the Hershey Sprint Car Experience at Hersheypark Stadium.

The school has also sponsored World of Outlaws CASE Late Models events, including the MHS Back-to-Class Showdown in September.

To learn more about Milton Hershey School, visit MHSkids.org.

OUTLAW BUILT: Andrew Bowman’s Journey from Sprint Cars to NASCAR

After five consecutive World of Outlaws championships with Kasey Kahne Racing, Bowman is joining TRICON Garage for next season

MOORESVILLE, NC (December 5, 2023) - Andrew Bowman has found himself on an interesting journey. A journey that’s led from Sprint Cars to NASCAR.

After five consecutive World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car titles with Kasey Kahne Racing, TRICON Garage has brought Bowman aboard Tanner Gray’s NASCAR Truck Series team for the 2024 season.

The starting line for Bowman’s journey was painted in a small western Ohio town named Elida. Born into a racing family, and surrounded by Sprint Car racing, his path to a motorsports career was forged early on.

“I started when my dad took my brother and I to the shop where he was working on Sprint Cars since basically my brother and I were born,” Bowman recalled. “Going there and learning growing up. The guy that he was working for – Mark Long – decided to retire from Sprint Car racing and sell his stuff to his cousin – Darren Long. That was in ’99, I believe. From there on, we just went to the shop every single night learning the ins and outs of Sprint Cars.”

Throughout his youth, Bowman soaked up knowledge and experience working with his father. Once Darren Long retired, Bowman and his brother – Trey – went out on their own working with Shawn Dancer. Eventually, Bowman graduated college and came to a fork in the road.

“By that time, I’m graduating college, which has nothing to do with racing at all,” Bowman explained. “So, I got a message from, I believe my brother, saying he saw on Twitter that Joe Trenca from New York was hiring. So, at that point I’m wondering do I go ahead and make my decision to go Sprint Car racing as a career? So, I did. I got hired by the Mucci Motorsports #98 with Joe Trenca behind the wheel.”

It wasn’t long before Bowman was introduced to Justin Adams with Kasey Kahne Racing, who brought him aboard to join Brad Sweet’s #49 team as a Tire Specialist for the 2018 season. Since then, a magical run followed. The team won nine races that year and finished second in points before going on a run of five straight championships with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Bowman has been a part of 65 World of Outlaws Feature victories with KKR.

“It’s kind of like a dream come true, but sometimes I still feel like I’m living in a dream,” Bowman said of the run. “I just remember at the 2018 World Finals when Donny (Schatz) had his 200-plus point lead. Going into it, I remember being really mad that it wasn’t us. I wanted to work harder to achieve that, which we did.”

Now, Bowman is set to take on a new challenge by joining TRICON. The move was primarily motivated by his desire to focus more on family. Transitioning to the NASCAR Truck Series allows him to remain in racing while having more time at home.

“When I found out my girlfriend was pregnant, I still wanted to Sprint Car race, but I knew at some point I’d probably need to come off the road full-time to tend to my kid,” Bowman said. “And at that point, George Loux from KKR spoke to me and basically said if I ever want to come off the road, he could help me get into the NASCAR world. So, I’d say probably sometime between California and World Finals I got ahold of him and he vouched for me. Right away he told me to come to the shop and talk to one of the crew chiefs and I did. One thing led to another and they hired me a couple days later.”

The Trucks will tackle a 23-race schedule next year, making Bowman’s travel much less extensive. He’ll be an at-track Tire Specialist, similar to his role with KKR, while also helping in the Mooresville, NC-based shop. After a life spent in Sprint Car racing, Bowman is looking forward to learning more with a new opportunity.

“I’ll be a mechanic as well as a Tire Specialist at the racetrack,” Bowman said. “So, I’ll be at the shop and part of the track crew. I’ll be able to fly in and fly right back out and still have a home life… I’m looking forward to learning how the Trucks work. I don’t know anything on the asphalt side of racing. I’ve always been on the dirt side of everything, so I’m interested to see how those type of race cars react on racetracks or in different situations.”

While Bowman is excited for the next chapter, it also brings a bittersweet side. He’s spent his entire life in the Sprint Car pit area, and over the last several years has been at Sprint Car races nearly every weekend. There was a family atmosphere to it, he said, one aspect he’ll miss.

“I feel like everybody in the Sprint Car world is one giant family,” Bowman said. “I just feel like in the dirt world the teams are basically family. Everybody loves each other and everything. I think that’s going to be the most difficult for me.”

But even though it won’t be the focal point of his life anymore, Bowman still intends to take in some Sprint Car races when time permits. He may not work in the dirt side of the racing world anymore, but he’ll always be a part of the Sprint Car family.

“Oh yeah, I’m going to try to get to some World of Outlaws events as time allows me,” Bowman said.

Bowman’s NASCAR season will begin a week after the World of Outlaws kick off the 2024 campaign at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 7-10). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Landon Crawley Announces Plan to Join World of Outlaws With Sides Motorsports

By World of Outlaws
Published: December 5, 2023

Landon Crawley has joined Sides Motorsports with plans to run full-time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024.

Set to turn 16 in January, Crawley, of Benton, AR, will run for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title, piloting Jason Sides’ famed #7S Sprint Car.

When the 2024 season commences at Volusia Speedway Park for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10, it’ll also be Crawley’s debut with the World of Outlaws. However, it won’t be his first time working with Sides.

Crawley made his 410 Sprint Car debut at Oklahoma’s Tri-State Speedway with the POWRi 410 Wing Outlaw Sprint League in November, driving for Sides. In the two races, he finished 21st and sixth.

“Jason gave me a great opportunity to make my 410 debut,” Crawley said. “I learned a lot driving his car those two nights against guys like Aaron Reutzel and Cory Eliason. It’s been a dream to get behind the wheel in a 410 and I can’t thank Jason enough for giving me this opportunity.

“I never dreamed an opportunity like this would come so early in my career. I can’t thank my family, friends and marketing partners for helping my dreams become a reality. I am looking forward to the Chili Bowl and the 2024 World of Outlaws season opener at Volusia. I am excited to drive for [Sides Motorsports] knowing the vast amount of knowledge and experience that Jason and his team have with the World of Outlaws over the years.”

Crawley, son of three-time American Sprint Car Series National Tour champion Tim Crawley, began racing go-karts at 7-years-old. Rising through the ranks, Landon joined the ASCS National Tour at 14-years-old, racing alongside his father. This year, he won the Greg Hodnett Memorial at Riverside International Speedway and won with the United Sprint Car Series at Magnolia Motor Speedway.

Next year will mark the 25th season Sides has been a part of the World of Outlaws, whether as a driver or owner. He stepped away from driving in 2022, retiring with 15 career Series wins – including the 2004 Kings Royal. He also won the World of Outlaws’ Crew Chief of the Year Award in 2022.

If Crawley can win the Rookie of the Year title, he’ll join Sides (the 2003 ROTY) on the list of drivers who’ve accomplished the illustrious feat.

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season will commence at Volusia Speedway Park with drivers chasing the Big Gator Championship during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Passion Brings Bill Rose Back to World of Outlaws in 2024

The Indiana native’s love of the sport and lifestyle has him ready for another season with The Greatest Show on Dirt

PLAINFIELD, IN (December 4, 2023) - Bill Rose has an unshakeable passion for racing. It’s been a part of his life for so many years. And his love and commitment to the sport will lead him to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour once again in 2024.

“It’s just the drive,” Rose said. “I just love the people and the excitement of it. This is going on my 49th year of racing, and I still desire just as much now as I did then. That’s how crazy I am. I live and breathe this stuff, and I love to do it. Maybe I need to take up fishing or something, but I’ve tried that and get bored, so I don’t do it. I just love to race.”

Next season will mark Rose’s fifth consecutive year of committing to The Greatest Show on Dirt. He’ll again pilot his personally-owned #6 machine.

This past season didn’t go as Rose hoped. Much of the campaign presented a puzzle as he struggled to get a handle on his cars and dealt with the challenge of learning the new Hoosier tire.

“Well, it sucked,” Rose said with a laugh of 2023. “We just never could get a handle on the cars. I even switched brand of cars. We got better with it, but it’s just so tough. We’re going to continue on the way we are right now. I’m trying to hire a couple more guys. Trying to do it with just myself and Amanda (Hoegsted) pretty much is tough.

“I just couldn’t get the handle on getting the setup right on the car. I’ve got good cars. I’ve got good motors. We’ve got the package. Getting it all flowed together is our problem. But we’re not going to give up.”

Rose also combatted injuries in the latter half of the campaign, leading to Tim Kaeding, Brian Paulus, and Kody Hartlaub all stepping in to make sure the #6 continued to compete. While Rose didn’t enjoy having to miss action behind the wheel, he found being able to operate as a crew chief and watch his car with different drivers to be beneficial.

“For sure I learned because all three of them are different drivers,” Rose said. “Tim, of course he’s got so much experience, and there’s certain ways he wants things to be done, and I learned a lot by the way he wanted stuff… Brian, he hadn’t been in a 410 in a while, so I didn’t learn as much from him. But he still had enough knowledge with the fueling and things like that to help me out. And Kody, oh my god that kid is going to be a talent coming up. He’s a good kid, and that was only like the second or third time he’d ever been in a 410.”

A bright of the 2023 season for Rose was Amanda Hoegsted’s continued presence. She is Rose’s primary team member and stayed as dedicated and helpful as always through the rotation of drivers filling in while Rose was injured. Her commitment and positive attitude led to her receiving the Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award this year, and she’ll be back with Rose in 2024.

Since the 2023 campaign ended a month ago, it’s been a busy off-season for Rose as he continues to work his normal job and prepare for next year. The 59-year-old is in the process of gathering more support both on the financial and crew sides. With another year of experience under his belt, Rose is hopeful he can piece together a 2024 package that allows him to take a big step forward from 2023.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Rose said. “Like I said, I learned a lot from putting those guys in the car. We’ve got a lot better notes after last year. We’ve got good equipment, good cars, and good motors. We’ve just got to put the whole package together. We’re working on quite a bit of stuff right now. We’ll see what happens before the season starts. We’re trying to get some more partners to come and help me out. We’re trying to get some crew together to help make it easier on Amanda and I. Here in the next couple weeks, we should have some things finalized. We’ll be ready. We’ll be ready for Florida for sure.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

PLANS COME TOGETHER: Chase McDermand Looking Toward Future with Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports

A chat at Millbridge Speedway led to a new partnership for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw season

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 1, 2023) – Chase McDermand is coming back in 2024 with a new team, a new home base and a new plan for the future.

The 23-year-old is relocating from his home in Springfield, IL, to join Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports (DMD) in Mooresville, NC, and pilot the team’s flagship Toyota-powered Spike Chassis for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota campaign.

As fate would have it, their partnership was forged at the birthplace of the Series – Millbridge Speedway. McDermand and team owner Dave McIntosh paired for a Micro Sprint event at the North Carolina oval in October, and it was there they spoke and discovered a shared vision for 2024.

“They kind of aligned, what both of us wanted to do,” McDermand said. “I was looking for something different and he was having a fresh start with things. That kinda meshed, and that’s where it started.”

McDermand landed in the hunt for his first national Midget series championship this year, scoring the most Feature wins, most Quick Time awards with a fifth-place finish in points in his second season with Mounce/Stout Motorsports. But he felt it was time for a change, and it just so happened McIntosh did as well.

Following the departure of son Cannon McIntosh from DMD in September, Dave was in need of a new driver to fill the seat for the upcoming season. And with crew chief and business partner Robert Dalby taking up an opportunity in NASCAR next year, the team was in need of some multi-faceted help.

McDermand is a two-way racer, excelling both as a driver and his own crew chief. It’s an attribute few other young drivers in the pit area possess, and one that has always stood out to McIntosh.

“When we started thinking and talking about Chase – this is a guy that can take on more,” McIntosh said. “I think we’ve made it pretty clear that he’s coming to drive for our team, but he’s gonna be a very crucial part of the day-to-day stuff as well.”

Wrenching on and maintaining his own equipment is how McDermand has built his career, going back to his days as a multi-time D2 Midget champion. He’ll do the same in his new position at DMD, trying to gain an advantage on his competition.

“Being a driver and a crew chief, I feel like both of them help each other,” McDermand said. “You can apply things differently when you look at it from a different angle.”

During the week, McDermand will be hands-on with DMD’s newly formed Micro Sprint division, Dave Mac-Barnhill Motorsports, preparing the team’s fleet of Micro Sprints for weekly competition at Millbridge in addition to his Midget. Heading into year two of operation, the team is aiming to handle an influx of new Micro Sprint racers even greater than they hosted in 2023.

“We want to work with drivers and see them develop from our Micro program and carry that on into a prepared racecar driver that’s ready to go race Midgets,” McIntosh said. “I look back on working with Cannon when he was little and some other drivers we worked with, just seeing when it all clicks – that’s what it’s all about for me.”

Likewise, McDermand has plans to become an owner, and feels his time at DMD will also help in laying down the foundation of principles on which he’ll build his own team in the future.

“My ultimate goal is to give someone an opportunity that may not be able to afford one or have the right connections to work something out,” McDermand said. “It’s what I’ve done in the past a few times this year, and I really enjoyed doing that alongside racing myself.”

But until then, McDermand is focused on his own driving career. His next step – debuting with Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports at the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, March 15-16, where his path to a first Xtreme Outlaw Series championship begins.

“I’m confident that we have everything we need to win the championship with Xtreme next year,” McDermand said. “We just need to put all the pieces together, and I’m really confident that we can do that.”

“I don’t think we’d be doing this if we didn’t feel like we could compete for a title,” McIntosh said. “We share that same drive, and that’s what we’re pushing for.”

Stream all 30 races of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota campaign live on DIRTVision.

2024 SCHEDULE: 86-Night Calendar Highlighted by Crown Jewels, New Tracks, Returning Favorites

The World of Outlaws will visit more than 40 racetracks in 2024

CONCORD, NC (November 30, 2023) - The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule is set to bring The Greatest Show on Dirt coast to coast with new tracks, multiple six-figure crown jewels and iconic venues.

From Volusia Speedway Park in February to the championship finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in November, the 2024 season will have 86 race nights at 41 different tracks and 19 different states.

Along the way, the nation’s top Sprint Car drivers will take on new tracks, make long-awaited returns, compete in the sport’s most prestigious crown jewels, and race in many events that have become staples of the calendar.

“We’re really looking forward to the robust schedule assembled for 2024,” Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “We listened to both teams and fans and put together a calendar featuring the biggest crown jewel events in the sport and exciting new facilities, while returning to fan favorites. Every year we strive to make sure fans in all regions of the country get to enjoy The Greatest Show on Dirt.”

GETTIN’ STARTED:

For the 20th year in a row, the World of Outlaws campaign will kick off in Florida with Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) hosting the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 7-10. The four nights will culminate in the crowning of the Big Gator champion.

Then, four wheels will meet two wheels for the second straight year when the Series returns to Volusia for the Bike Week Jamboree, March 3-4, occurring in conjunction with the iconic Bike Week, which takes place throughout the Daytona Beach region.

NEW ADDITIONS:

Kennedale Speedway (March 8-9) – The first of four new facilities The Greatest Show on Dirt will visit in 2024 begins a spring swing in the south. Kennedale Speedway – a Texas quarter mile – will host the Series for two nights of action in “The Lone Star State.”

Big O Speedway (March 22) – Two weeks after Kennedale, the tour tackles another new Texas track. The World of Outlaws will invade Ennis, TX’s Big O Speedway for a Friday night battle at the quarter mile in late March.

Thunderbird Speedway (March 29) – The third new track on the 2024 calendar takes the tour to the “Sooner State.” Muskogee, OK’s Thunderbird Speedway will host the World of Outlaws for the first time ever on March 29. The half mile recently welcomed the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) with Sam Hafertepe Jr. winning.

Arrowhead Speedway (April 6) – The last of the four tracks that the World of Outlaws will debut at in 2024 is Arrowhead Speedway. Like Thunderbird, Arrowhead also recently hosted ASCS. The Series will make a springtime visit as the Colcord, OK 1/3-mile has the honor of hosting the sixth Jason Johnson Classic.

BACK ON THE SCHEDULE:

Paducah International Raceway (April 19) – The World of Outlaws are returning to “The Bluegrass State” for the first time since 2012 with a visit to Kentucky’s Paducah International Raceway. The trip promises to provide a new winner at the track as all four previous winners are not active competitors.

Jacksonville Speedway (May 1) – Illinois race fans are in for a treat as the World of Outlaws return to the endlessly exciting Jacksonville Speedway for some midweek racing in May. Brad Sweet topped the most recent trip to the quarter mile.

Fremont Speedway (May 27) – Memorial Day takes the tour to an Ohio destination that hasn’t been visited since 2016 – Fremont Speedway. The Monday night race will be the ninth in Series history at “The Buckeye State” 1/3-mile.

Selinsgrove Speedway (Oct. 11-12) – It’s been 32 years since the World of Outlaws last visited PA’s Selinsgrove Speedway, but that’ll change next year. The half mile will host the Series for the Jim Nace Memorial in mid-October with a $30,000-to-win finale. When the World of Outlaws made their last trip to Selinsgrove, Todd Shaffer drove Gary Turnbaugh’s #11 to his only Series win on June 1, 1991.

Dirt Oval 66 (Oct. 18-19) – The second and final Illinois stop of the season will see the Series return to Joliet’s Dirt Oval 66 for a pair of races in the fall. Donny Schatz topped the last event at the 3/8 mile in 2017.

Riverside International Speedway (Oct. 25-26) – The end of October will bring the Series to Arkansas’ Riverside International Speedway for the first time since 2018. The two nights will be the 16th and 17th World of Outlaws races at the quarter mile.

MAINSTAYS:

Tri-State Speedway (April 20) – Southern Indiana will see the World of Outlaws come to town when Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway hosts its annual World of Outlaws race in the spring. The 1/4-mile track also produces some of the best racing of the season.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (April 12-13/Aug. 2-3) – The World of Outlaws make their standard springtime stop at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in mid-April. The two nights at the Pevely, MO bullring serve as a precursor to August’s Ironman 55.

16th Ironman 55 – The Ironman 55 isn’t for the faint of heart as it ignites a 55-lap battle on one of the fastest bullrings in the country – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. The two-nights conclude with the longest Feature of the season in terms of laps, and the winner goes home with the iconic dumbbell trophy and $20,000. This year, Kyle Larson bested Logan Schuchart in a race he called “the most fun Sprint Car race I’ve ran maybe ever.”

Beaver Dam Raceway (May 31-June 1) – The first trip to “The Badger State” in 2024 takes the tour to Beaver Dam Raceway. The Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial will take place slightly earlier than normal in 2024 but still feature all the same action Beaver Dam offers with $20,000 going to the winner of the finale.

Knoxville Raceway (April 26-27/June 14-15/Aug. 7-10) – The World of Outlaws will get three trips to “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” in 2024. First, the Series will visit Knoxville Raceway for a doubleheader, April 26-27. Then, the usual June visit moves back a week (June 14-15) in 2024 with an exciting schedule alignment. The World of Outlaws will compete for a pair of nights at Knoxville during NASCAR’s Cup Series debut at nearby Iowa Speedway. In August, Knoxville will welcome the World of Outlaws back for the prestigious Knoxville Nationals.

Cedar Lake Speedway (June 28-29) – Expect fireworks on and off the track when the World of Outlaws journey to Cedar Lake Speedway at the end of June. On top of providing thrilling racing, the New Richmond, WI facility also puts on a can’t-miss fireworks show with the Fourth of July right around the corner.

Wilmot Raceway (July 12-13) – After taking Fourth of July weekend off, the Series heads to another familiar facility when Wilmot hosts the Larry Hillerud Memorial. The event will grow in 2024 as it becomes a two-night visit to the Wisconsin oval.

Brad Doty Classic (July 16) – The World of Outlaws salute the kid from Apple Creek, OH on a Tuesday summertime with the Brad Doty Classic. Attica Raceway Parks hosts the highly anticipated event that saw Kyle Larson become the first to win two in a row this past season.

Williams Grove Speedway (May 10-11/July 26-27/Oct. 4-5) – The famed half-mile track will continue to host the World of Outlaws for its three marquee events against the PA Posse. First will be the Morgan Cup in May before the Summer Nationals in late July. The epic Outlaw versus PA Posse battle will see its biggest fireworks of the year at the National Open in October.

CROWN JEWELS:

Huset’s High Bank Hustle/Nationals (June 19-22) – The 2024 Summer of Money will begin in a massive way as the Huset’s High Bank Nationals will grow even more. Next season’s edition will be two events within one. Wednesday’s $20,000-to-win opener will lead into Thursday’s $100,000 payday in the Huset’s High Bank Hustle. Then Friday will transition to the Huset’s High Bank Nationals with another $20,000 on the line before Saturday’s finale puts up another $250,000 to the winner.

41st Kings Royal (July 19-20) – The 41st King will be crowned a week later than usual as Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal moves seven days from its normal mid-July slot on the calendar. Per usual, Friday’s Knight Before will precede the Kings Royal. And then, on Saturday, King XLI will be decided and bank a six-figure payday. This July, Donny Schatz claimed his sixth crown and could tie Steve Kinser’s record of seven in 2024.

63rd Knoxville Nationals (Aug. 7-10) – The entire Sprint Car world will converge on Knoxville, IA in early August for the 63rd running of the The Granddaddy of ‘em All. The Knoxville Raceway crown jewel will again offer a huge, balanced purse across the four-day event with the champion claiming of the year’s biggest checks. Kyle Larson topped the most recent running for his second NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals title.

46th Jackson Nationals (Aug. 16-17) - After the Knoxville Nationals, it’s straight to another crown jewel as Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex hosts the 46th Jackson Nationals. The last two editions of the prestigious event have belonged to Carson Macedo.

62nd National Open (Oct. 4-5) – The 62nd running of the Champion Racing Oil National Open at Williams Grove Speedway falls just outside of summer’s space on the calendar. But one of the sport’s most historic crown jewels belongs in the list of major money events. The finale will hand out another huge payday to the winner.

CALIFORNIA LOVE:

Stockton Dirt Track (Sept. 6) – The California swing will kick off with a track that the World of Outlaws haven’t invaded since 2019 – Stockton Dirt Track. The 3/8-mile was an annual staple from when it opened in 2013 through 2019, and the Series will return in early September.

Tom Tarlton Classic (Sept. 7) – Night two of the “Golden State” stay takes the teams south to Hanford, CA’s Kings Speedway for the fifth Tom Tarlton Classic. As a tribute to Tom and Tommy Tarlton’s famed all black Sprint Car, the winner will again take home $21,000.

Bakersfield Speedway (September 13) – After being absent last year, the World of Outlaws are back to Bako in 2024. Bakersfield Speedway will host the Series for the 12th time. California’s own Giovanni Scelzi topped the 2022 event at the 1/3 mile.

Merced Speedway (September 14) – Another “Golden State” oval back after a one-year hiatus is Merced Speedway. The high-banked quarter mile bullring hosts the World of Outlaws for the sixth time and first since Carson Macedo’s 2022 triumph.

Dennis Roth Classic (Sept. 20-21) – The World of Outlaws will invade Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway for the third running of the Dennis Roth Classic in late September. As a nod to Roth’s iconic #83 that has toured with the Series for decades, the finale will award a huge $83,000 paycheck to the winner.

FULL 2024 SCHEUDLE:

Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 7-10 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Sunday-Monday, March 3-4 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL)
Friday-Saturday, March 8-9 – Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX)
Friday-Saturday, March 15-16 – Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX)
Friday, March 22 – Big O Speedway (Ennis, TX)
Saturday, March 23 – Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK)
Friday, March 29 – Thunderbird Speedway (Muskogee, OK)
Saturday, March 30 – 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS)
Friday, April 5 – US 36 Raceway (Osborn, MO)
Saturday, April 6 – Arrowhead Speedway (Colcord, OK)
Friday-Saturday, April 12-13 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Friday, April 19 – Paducah International Raceway (Paducah, KY)
Saturday, April 20 – Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
Friday-Saturday, April 26-27 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Wednesday, May 1 – Jacksonville Speedway (Jacksonville, IL)
Friday-Saturday, May 3-4 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, May 8 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA)
Friday-Saturday, May 10-11 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Friday, May 17 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Saturday, May 18 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Friday-Saturday, May 24-25 – Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH)
Monday, May 27 – Fremont Speedway (Fremont, OH)
Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 – Beaver Dam Raceway (Beaver Dam, WI)
Friday, June 7 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, June 8 – Ogilvie Raceway (Ogilvie, MN)
Friday-Saturday, June 14-15 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)\
Wednesday-Saturday, June 19-22 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday-Saturday, June 28-29 – Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI)
Friday-Saturday, July 12-13 – Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, WI)
Tuesday, July 16 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH)
Friday-Saturday, July 19-20 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Wednesday, July 24 – BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA)
Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Sunday, July 28 – Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, NY)
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 2-3 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 7-10 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 16-17 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN)
Friday, Aug. 23 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND)
Saturday, Aug. 24 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND)
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD)
Friday, Sept. 6 – Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA)
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Kings Speedway (Hanford, CA)
Friday, Sept. 13 – Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, CA)
Saturday, Sept. 14 – Merced Speedway (Merced, CA)
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21 – Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA)
Friday, Sept. 27 – Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH)
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, CA)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 11-12 – Selinsgrove Speedway (Selinsgrove, PA)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19 – Dirt Oval 66 (Joliet, IL)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26 – Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR)
Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 6-9 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC)

Tickets to these events will be available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. Keep an eye on our social media channels for ticket renewals.

If you can’t make it to the track, every lap of every race will be live on DIRTVision.

Logan Schuchart Hungry Heading Into 11th World of Outlaws Campaign

The veteran is more motivated than ever for his first championship heading into next season

Continuing to chase a dream, Logan Schuchart will return to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour in 2024 with Shark Racing.

The Hanover, PA native heads into his 11th season with The Greatest Show on Dirt searching for the elusive World of Outlaws title he’s heard about since he was young.

“I was pretty young when my grandfather (Bobby Allen) was racing, but he’d take me to the races and we’d talk about racing, and I’d hear the stories about him,” Schuchart reflected. “And the World of Outlaws were the best of the best. Since I was a little kid, if I could get to the point where I won World of Outlaws championships, that would mean more to me than going to NASCAR and to win the Daytona 500 or something like that. Sprint Car racing has been a big part of my heart since I was a young kid, and if you could be the best of the World of Outlaws, it doesn’t get much cooler than that.

“That’s where I want to be. That’s part of the decision making that brings me to where I am. I think the Outlaws create the best drivers.”

Since Shark Racing’s debut in 2014 as a team many weren’t sure would make it through the first year, Schuchart and team owner Bobby Allen have constructed a winning pedigree, becoming one of the strongest cars on tour with a wealth of support.

“We’ve got a lot of partners that are going to come back with us in 2024,” Schuchart said. “This is the seventh year that we’ve had Drydene/Duramax. That whole organization, partner has been awesome for us to have them around that long. C&D Rigging is coming back for a fifth season. Doug (Hetrick) and Kevin (Sassaman) have been a big part of Shark Racing and dirt track racing in our area. It’s really neat to be a part of that group of people. Federated Auto Parts is coming back for a second year. It’s really special. I think we’ve got a great group of partners and experience, and we’re hopefully gelling as a team to come back and be better next year.”

Schuchart is coming off a fifth-place finish in the 2023 standings – his fourth time finishing within the top five. The 30-year-old topped six World of Outlaws races this year, including three tracks where he hadn’t previously won – Huset’s Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway and Red River Valley Speedway. Schuchart ended the year tied for the fifth most podium finishes with 15 and locked into the fourth most Dashes with 31 appearances. He also picked up $1 million at the Eldora Million.

“I’m proud of a lot of accomplishments that we had this year,” Schuchart said of 2023. “I worked with two new guys in Brendan Collum and Lonnie Judy. I thought we did a great job. I liked the way our team chemistry was. I thought everybody got along really well. We worked well together and built a new team. I feel like tires had a little bit to do with inconsistency at the beginning of the year. I just think we’re always still learning. We’re trying to get better. Like I said, I really like the guys I’m working with. I feel like the more we grow together and kind of learn things, I feel like we’re going to continue to get better.”

While happy with their performance in 2023, Schuchart hopes next year they can elevate themselves closer to their 2020 level that saw him in championship contention and miss out on the title by only 46 points. He’s confident they aren’t far from where they need to be, and a little more consistency and minimizing the bad nights should make them contenders in 2024.

“There’s definitely some areas we need to improve on if we’re going to make it happen,” Schuchart said. “Consistency is definitely where it needs to come from. There’s tracks we run well at, and there’s others that we seem to be up and down. But most of them, I feel like, we’ve had a successful run somewhere in the past. So, I feel like we can get there. We can be where we want to be and kind of be a better version of what we were in 2020 when it seemed like we were on the podium every other night or running up front.

“It seemed like our bad nights (in 2023) were very bad. We would be very far back in Qualifying, or in the Feature event something happened, DNFs and that kind of thing. I feel like we did a lot better as far as improving in the DNF category this past season. I feel like our mechanical failures went down, but we got in a crash or something happened that led to a bad night. That’s the part we need to clean up.”

Roughly two months of off season remain for Schuchart and the Shark team to prepare for the 2024 season. And when the first green flag flies in Florida, Schuchart will resume the pursuit of a childhood dream – becoming a World of Outlaws champion.

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Sheldon Haudenschild Ready for Eighth World of Outlaws Season in 2024

By Alex Nieten

The Wooster, OH native will head into next year hoping to bounce back

For the eighth consecutive year, Sheldon Haudenschild will be on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour. The always exciting wheelman will be aboard the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing #17 machine in 2024, marking his seventh straight year in the ride with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Haudenschild said of heading into year eight. “Time flies. I feel like I still am just getting going in this. It feels like just yesterday I was out there in the 93 car and the first year with the 17. To be able to be with them for seven years now and be on the road this long feels great. You learn something every year. I’m very grateful for that. Not a lot of people get to do that and live out their childhood dream.”

Haudenschild is fresh off wrapping up a seventh place finish in the 2023 standings. The Wooster, OH native tallied a trio of victories this season including an unforgettable drive from 16th to the win at Skagit Speedway. He also scored 10 podiums and 44 top 10s.

Despite the solid statistics, Haudenschild came away a little disappointed with how 2023 unfolded. But he’s confident he and the NOS Energy Drink team built their notebook up in a way that will allow them to come out swinging next season.

“It’s probably not the year that we wanted,” Haudenschild said. “But I think we learned a lot of what not to do and kind of just took it as almost a testing year once we got to a certain part of the year and kind of struggled. We kind of just tried a lot of things in 2023 and like I said some stuff that we probably won’t try again. And we’ll change our package up a little bit for 2024 back to some stuff that we know for sure works. Overall, probably not the year that we wanted but still a learning year.”

Haudenschild hopes a return to a package they’re more confident in will allow him to return to his peak form. Back in 2022, he topped a personal-best nine races and came home fifth in the standings.

“We’re really looking forward to 2024 and going back to some cars that we know work for us, little different shock package,” Haudenschild said. “We’re getting back to our old baseline to know it’s a package we can win with consistently and be up front consistently. That’s what we struggled with all of 2023 – consistently being up front and fighting for wins like we should.”

Haudenschild enters 2024 with 34 career victories in 517 Feature starts, good enough for 22nd on the all-time win list. He’s also amassed 93 podiums, 29 QuickTimes, and 320 top 10s.

With a high level of motivation and plans to return to a more comfortable setup, fans can be sure they’ll see the son of the legendary Jac Haudenschild put on a show with the Haud Line in 2024.

“I think next year is as open as it’s ever going to be,” Haudenschild said. “My goals are high and up there, and we’re going to do the best we can to achieve them. I look forward to it.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) on Feb. 7-10 for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

Giovanni Scelzi Set to Return for Sophomore World of Outlaws Campaign in 2024

The Californian had a historic rookie season in 2023 and has high hopes for an even better 2024

CONCORD, NC (November 27, 2023) - A record-tying fourth place rookie campaign this year fueled Giovanni Scelzi’s hunger. A hunger he intends to satisfy by returning to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour in 2024 with KCP Racing

“All that does is mean we’ve got to run third or second or win the points next year,” Scelzi said of finishing fourth. “Obviously, we set the bar really high points wise for our first year out here. It’s definitely not going to be easy. Running fourth in points with the Outlaws is not easy whether it’s your 20th season or your first season. I think it’s something we have to look at and appreciate what we’ve done and not go so much head done into next year that we don’t really enjoy what we did this year.

“But I think at the same time, if you’re comfortable and you’re happy with running fourth, then you shouldn’t be driving a Sprint Car. I think you’re not happy unless you win. That’s the way I look at things.”

Consistency carried Scelzi and the Adam Clark-led crew in 2023. Scelzi amassed 48 top 10 finishes in 71 races and rarely ended the night with a DNF. The highlight of his year came in June at Beaver Dam Raceway when he topped the opening night of the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial.

The Beaver Dam triumph was the sixth of his career but wound up being the only Victory Lane visit of his maiden voyage with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Heading into his fourth full year with KCP, Scelzi is well aware of he and the team’s potential and has a plan to improve in 2024.

“That hunger I have is only growing,” Scelzi said. “I see the capabilities we have in our team, and it only makes me hungrier to win more races. I feel like really the only place we were lacking was wins. I feel like the nights where I started second or third or fourth I needed to win those races, and I ran third fourth or fifth. So, I think I need to turn my good nights into great nights.

“I feel like the more you put yourself in the Dash, the more you put yourself up front it’s like anything. You become more comfortable up there, and you’re racing with David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz. Those elite cars. You learn so much more not having to come from 12th or 15th or whatever. You waste half your race trying to get to those guys. If you can start around those guys, it definitely makes the curve a lot easier. I feel like I didn’t capitalize on my really good opportunities this year.”

With plenty of success in his past, a full year with the Series under his belt, and a proven team behind him, Scelzi is primed to be a contender when the 2024 World of Outlaws campaign launches.

Scelzi will begin his second season at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 7-10 at Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

DIRTVision Set to Broadcast 2024 Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon Speedway; Event Will Celebrate Ryan Blaney’s NASCAR Championship

HARTFORD, OH (Nov. 24, 2024) – The 16th annual Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon Speedway will feature a special purse for its 410 Sprint Car race to celebrate Ryan Blaney’s 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. The race on Saturday, Aug. 17, will pay $12,000-to-win/$1,200-to-start, and have the entire night streamed live on DIRTVision.

In addition to the increased purse, Ryan Blaney will also be on hand as a special guest during the night that honors his Hall of Fame grandfather.

“I’m happy for his accomplishment,” said Dave Blaney, Ryan’s father, and owner of Sharon Speedway. “That’s a huge accomplishment. It’s going to be with him forever. It’s a great way to celebrate it. And the cool thing is, he’s the Cup champ for a year.

“There’s a lot of fans and family up there that don’t get to see him much, so that will be cool… For us these days, it’s our biggest race of the year, dad’s memorial.”

There have been 14 different Sprint Car winners of the Lou Blaney Memorial in its 15-year history, including the likes of Tony Stewart, Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild and Christopher Bell. Tyler Courtney won the race in 2023. Dave Blaney is currently the only driver to have won it twice (2014 and 2018). His brother, Dale Blaney, also won it in 2019.

Dave Blaney said he plans to compete in the event again in 2024. The last time Ryan got to attend the race, his dad won.

In addition to 410 Sprint Cars, Big Block Modifieds with the BRP Modified Tour will also be in attendance. Three-time and defending Super DIRT Week champion Mat Williamson won the Modified portion of the Lou Blaney Memorial in 2023.

For more information on the event and to get tickets, stay tuned to SharonSpeedway.com. Further ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.

If you can’t make it to the track, you’ll be able to watch every lap live on DIRTVision – by downloading the DIRTVision App or watching at DIRTVision.com.

MOVING UP: Several Drivers Take Steps Up All-Time Win List in 2023

CONCORD, NC (November 21, 2023) - The 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season offered 71 opportunities at official Series victories. As a result, many competitors bagged multiple checkered flags and elevated their name on the all-time win list that accounts for more than 3,600 races.

This season offered plenty of parity in the win column. A total of 19 different drivers visited Victory Lane with The Greatest Show on Dirt this year, the most since 2019 and tied for the 10th most in one season.

Donny Schatz (311 wins): While Donny Schatz didn’t gain any spots, he did add to his incredible win total. The 10-time Series champion won four times in 2023 including his sixth Kings Royal, this one worth $175,000. Schatz is 83 behind Sammy Swindell (394 wins) for the second most in Series history.

Brad Sweet (90 wins): The now five-time World of Outlaws champion reached a coveted top 10 spot on the list in 2023. Sweet’s sixth victory of the year came at Cedar Lake Speedway in late June and moved him ahead of Stevie Smith (84 wins). Then a win in his home state of California at Kings Speedway in September elevated him above former teammate – Daryn Pittman (86 wins) – for ninth on the list. “The Big Cat” added three more before the year was over to bring his tally to 90, only five away from equaling Dave Blaney for eighth.

David Gravel (88 wins): Three wins in the first five races of 2023 brought Gravel into a tie with Sweet for career wins before Sweet managed to inch ahead with Gravel right behind him all year long. Like Sweet, Gravel moved ahead of both Smith and Pittman to crack the top 10. A dozen victories for Gravel led the Series this year, and his career total of 88 is currently good enough for 10th all-time.

Logan Schuchart (41 wins): During his 10th year on tour, Logan Schuchart racked up six wins with his Shark Racing team. The second of those put him ahead of Shane Stewart for 19th most. The Hanover, PA native will enter 2024 only one behind Andy Hillenburg (42 wins) for 18th on the list.

Carson Macedo (35 wins): It was another strong year for Carson Macedo aboard the Jason Johnson Racing #41 as the pairing bagged seven victories. His first of the year in March broke a tie with fellow Californian – Kyle Larson – on the all-time list. Macedo also went on to surpass Bobby Allen (30 wins) and Sheldon Haudenschild (34 wins) and now sits 21st all-time, only one away from tying for 20th.

Sheldon Haudenschild (34 wins): The exciting talent from Wooster, OH may have not gained any positions on the all-time list, but Sheldon Haudenschild did add to his career total. He tallied a trio of triumphs this year including a memorable charge from 16th to victory at Skagit Speedway.

Kyle Larson (32 wins): While Macedo moved ahead of him, Kyle Larson still managed to make his own climb in 2023 with four wins. He broke a tie with Kerry Madsen (28 wins) and leaped ahead of Bobby Allen. “Yung Money” owns 32 triumphs in 136 career Feature starts (23.5%) and is 23rd on the all-time win list.

Rico Abreu (15 wins): This year proved to be Rico Abreu’s best by far. Competing on a part-time basis, the St. Helena, CA driver claimed six victories in 2023. His previous high for one season was two. Abreu’s efforts allowed him to move up more than 10 spots into a tie for the 36th most wins.

Brent Marks (14 wins): The former full-timer with the Series added two more tallies to his win column. Brent Marks grabbed his second National Open title and night two of the World Finals in November to go from 12 to 14 wins, giving him possession of the 38th most.

James McFadden (11 wins): In his second year piloting the Roth Motorsports #83, James McFadden made a huge climb up the list. “J-Mac” entered 2023 with five career wins and more than doubled that mark with six this year. He went from outside the top 60 to a tie for 46th.

Buddy Kofoid (3 wins): The only driver to wheel two different machines to a win in 2023 was Buddy Kofoid. The Californian topped Talladega in March with CMS Racing and Placerville in September aboard a second Roth Motorsports entry. Kofoid’s three career wins puts him in a tie with seven others for the 75th most.

More Movers: On top of those who made big leaps on the list, many drivers topped one race in 2023 to make a small step forward. The following five competitors made one trip to Victory Lane this year – Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Giovanni Scelzi, Spencer Bayston, and Tyler Courtney.

First-timers: In addition to the many movers, the all-time win list also grew by three in 2023 as a trio of drivers notched their first Series victory. Brady Bacon topped Tri-State Speedway. Corey Day claimed the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway. And Zeb Wise beat the best of the World of Outlaws and PA Posse at Port Royal Speedway. Now, 152 competitors have won a World of Outlaws race.

For the complete all-time Series win list, CLICK HERE.

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins on Feb. 7-10 at Volusia Speedway Park with the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the racing live on DIRTVision.

2024 SCHEDULE: Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Bringing New Thrills, Big Events in Third Season

30-Race schedule visits nine new tracks, begins March 15 indoors in Du Quoin

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 20, 2023) – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota has another historic season in store for 2024 with 30 races planned for the new year.

That journey will take the Series to 22 different tracks – nine new venues – seven different states and see the return of the Appalachian Midget Week.

Zach Daum made history as the first Xtreme Outlaw Midget champion in 2022 and then Jade Avedisian dominated headlines with the Series this year as the first woman to win a national dirt racing title. From March to October in 2024, the best Midget drivers in the country will have 30 chances to make their own history, navigating a schedule that will showcase their skills on a national stage.

“It’s exciting to see the rapid growth of the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets in only two years, providing a unique framework for rising stars and seasoned veterans to flourish, while expanding the notoriety of Midget racing in the motorsports world,” said Tyler Bachman, Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series Director. “I’m thrilled to continue that growth in 2024 with the addition of several new tracks and the return of marquee events.”

The season will again commence at the Southern Illinois Center in March and make a few appearances with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models throughout the year before crowning the 2024 champion at Jacksonville Speedway in October – the Series’ new championship finale location.

If you can’t be at the track to see the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota in 2024, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision – by downloading the DIRTVision App or at DIRTVision.com.

What’s New:

Spring Missouri Weekend – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota will make its debut at two new Missouri tracks in April for a doubleheader weekend. First, the Series will visit US 36 Raceway on Friday, April 5, and then venture to Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex on Saturday, April 6 – both $4,000 to win races.

US 36 is a 3/8-mile track in Osborn, MO. Its last national Midget race was held in 2013, and hosted a thriller with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars this year.

Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex, in Sweet Springs, MO – just under two hours south of US 36 – is a 1/6-mile track, famously known for producing three- and four-wide racing with its wide corners.

New Illinois Stops – Illinois has become a staple on the Xtreme Outlaw tour with eight tracks on the 2024 schedule housed in the “Prairie State” – four of them new for the Series.

Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL will be the first new stop for the Series, during the marquee Illini 100 weekend, April 11-13. Thursday will be a practice day, while Friday will showcase a $4,000-to-win Feature and Saturday a $5,000-to-win Feature. The World of Outlaws Late Models will accompany the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets at the 1/4-mile track both days.

Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, IL will be the next new Illinois stop on Friday, May 31. The 1/8-mile track will host a $4,000 to win race during a tripleheader weekend, which starts with Doe Run Raceway on Thursday, May 30, and ends with Wayne County (IL) Speedway on Saturday, June 1.

Then, Spoon River Speedway will host a new doubleheader spectacular, July 19-20. The 3/8-mile track in Lewistown, IL will see Midget drivers compete for a $4,000 payday on Friday and a $5,000 check on Saturday.

The Series will wrap up September with a stop at Adams County (IL) Speedway (Sept. 15). The 1/4-mile track has been a popular stop on the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour. Next year will be the first time since 2016 it has hosted a national Midget race.

Summer Oklahoma Doubleheader – The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will return to Oklahoma in 2024, but this time in the summer for a doubleheader weekend at two new tracks. First, the Series will visit Arrowhead Speedway on Friday, July 26, and then debut at Tulsa Speedway on Saturday, July 27.

Arrowhead Speedway is a 1/3-mile track in Colcord, OK and Tulsa Speedway is a 1/4-mile track in Tulsa, OK. Both will showcase $4,000-to-win Features.

Jacksonville Finale – Jacksonville Speedway will host the Xtreme Outlaw Midget’s championship finale for the first time in 2024 during a doubleheader weekend, Oct. 4-5. The popular 1/4-mile track will host a $4,000-to-win Feature on Friday and then a $5,000-to-win Feature on Saturday before crowning a new Series champion.

Returning Favorites:

Starting Indoors – The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series will commence its season at the indoor track in the Southern Illinois Center (March 15-16) for the second straight year.

It’s one of the most unique tracks on the schedule as a temporary 1/6-mile track inside the Southern Illinois Center on the Du Quoin Fairgrounds. It produced wheel-to-wheel, bumper-to-bumper action at the beginning of the 2023 season with Cannon McIntosh and Jade Avedisian as winners of the event.

Back to Millbridge – Millbridge Speedway, which hosted the first-ever Xtreme Outlaw Midget event in 2022, returns to the schedule for another doubleheader event, Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22.

The North Carolina track, near the heart of NASCAR country, attracts some of the biggest names in motorsports as drivers like Chase Briscoe and Carson Hocevar joined the field this year.

Double at Atomic – Atomic Speedway’s first-ever national Midget series event thrilled fans across the country last July when Jade Avedisian won a fierce battle for the lead with Daniel Whitley out of Turn 4 on the final lap to steal the win.

The Xtreme Outlaw stars will double the excitement with a two-day show on the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval in Chillicothe, OH, next year – Friday-Saturday, May 24-25 – with a $4,000 winner’s share on the line both nights.

Ironman 55 – The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will join the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 during the Ironman 55 weekend (Aug. 2-3) for the third straight year.

The iconic 1/3-mile produces some of the most exciting racing all year with its wide, high-banked corners, putting a driver’s physicality to the test.

Appalachian Midget Week – The popular Pennsylvania speedweek returns in 2024 for a four-race adventure through the “Keystone State.”

The week includes races at Action Track USA (Wednesday, Aug. 7), Linda’s Speedway (Thursday, Aug. 8), Path Valley Speedway (Friday, Aug. 9) and Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Saturday, Aug. 10). All four races are co-sanctioned with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) and will pay $4,000 to win.

Chase McDermand won the inaugural Appalachian Midget Week championship in 2023, taking home an extra $2,500 for the title. More information to come on the Midget Week’s 2024 championship purse.

2024 SCHEDULE

Date | Track | Location | To Win

Friday, March 15 | Southern Illinois Center | Du Quoin, IL | $4,000

Saturday, March 16 | Southern Illinois Center | Du Quoin, IL | $5,000

Friday, April 5 | US 36 Raceway | Osborn, MO | $4,000

Saturday, April 6 | Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex | Sweet Springs, MO | $4,000

Thursday, April 11 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | Practice

Friday, May 10 | Humboldt Speedway | Humboldt, KS | $4,000

Saturday, May 11 | 81 Speedway | Wichita, KS | $4,000

Tuesday, May 21 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $4,000

Wednesday, May 22 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $5,000

Friday, May 24 | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, OH | $4,000

Saturday, May 25 | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, OH | $4,000

Thursday, May 30 | Doe Run Raceway | Doe Run, MO | $4,000

Friday, May 31 | Coles County Speedway | Mattoon, IL | $4,000

Saturday, June 1 | Wayne County Speedway | Wayne County, IL | $4,000

Friday, July 19 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $4,000

Saturday, July 20 | Spoon River Speedway | Lewistown, IL | $5,000

Friday, July 26 | Arrowhead Speedway | Colcord, OK | $4,000

Saturday, July 27 | Tulsa Speedway | Tulsa, OK | $4,000

Friday, Aug. 2 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $4,000

Saturday, Aug. 3 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000

Wednesday, Aug. 7 | Action Track USA | Kutztown, PA | $4,000

Thursday, Aug. 8 | Linda’s Speedway | Jonestown, PA | $4,000

Friday, Aug. 9 | Path Valley Speedway | Spring Run, PA | $4,000

Saturday, Aug. 10 | Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway | Newmanstown, PA | $4,000
Friday, Sept. 13 | TBA

Saturday, Sept. 14 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | $4,000

Sunday, Sept. 15 | Adams County Speedway | Quincy, IL | $4,000

Friday, Oct. 4 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | $4,000

Saturday, Oct. 5 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | $5,000

ROOKIE ROLL: Scelzi Excels in First World of Outlaws Campaign with KCP Racing

By Alex Nieten

The expectations for Giovanni Scelzi were sky-high entering 2023. The Fresno, CA phenom has “wowed” the industry since first stepping behind the wheel of a 410 Sprint Car at 15 years old.

After a few years of a pick and choose schedule, Scelzi decided 2023 was the right time for a rookie run with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. He set his own bar high and leaped over it with a historic rookie run, finishing fourth in Series points.

Since teaming with the Iowa-based KCP Racing in mid-2020, Scelzi has been a force behind the wheel of the bright orange #18. The pairing picked up 13 wins across the 2021-2022 race seasons including a trio with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

After getting off to a rocky start to 2023 in Florida, Scelzi and his team, consisting of Adam Clark, Jett Carney, and Aaron Beiler, quickly turned things around. Over the next 12 races, Scelzi missed the top 10 only once. In the latter part of May into late June, Scelzi pieced together 10 consecutive top 10 finishes including his one win of the campaign at Beaver Dam Raceway.

The consistency they showed early in the season became the theme of their entire campaign. Rarely did the Aspen Aire/Logan Contractors Supply machine finish outside the top 10. And the team seldom got collected in crashes or posted DNFs.

“Honestly, I feel like with the night-to-night grind, it felt like we were spinning our wheels for a decent portion of it,” Scelzi said. “But I felt like in the big picture with the points and where we ended up, we had a great season.”

That great season resulted in his fourth-place finish in the standings – equaling the best Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year run of all-time. The other two occurrences of a rookie finishing that high happened over 40 years ago – Jeff Swindell in 1981 and Brad Doty in 1982.

“I think it’s great, and I really do appreciate the history of the sport,” Scelzi said of tying the record. “Obviously, we set the bar really high points-wise for our first year out here. Running fourth in points with the Outlaws is not easy whether it’s your 20th season or your first season. I think it’s something we really have to look at and appreciate what we’ve done and not go so head down into next year that we don’t really enjoy what we did this year.”

For KCP, 2023 marked their third year fielding a full-time car with the World of Outlaws. The team owned by Matt Barbara and Bret Nehring hit the road with Ian Madsen in 2018-2019. Along with Scelzi tying the record for the top finishing rookie, KCP also reached an impressive feat in 2023.

Madsen also earned Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors with KCP in 2018. So, with Scelzi taking the award this year, Barbara and Nehring’s team became the third in Series history to field multiple World of Outlaws Rookie of the Years, joining Kasey Kahne Racing with a trio of winners – Cody Darrah (2011), Brad Sweet (2014), and James McFadden (2021) – and Dave Helm with Tim Shaffer (1999) and Kerry Madsen (2007).

“I look at it as a testament to our partners for allowing us to do it for this long,” Barbara said of the feat. “We’ve got sponsors that have been on our car since day one. To be with Kasey Kahne Racing and Dave Helm is incredible. The world probably doesn’t know it, but I’ve got kind of a weird background. I spent a year on the World of Outlaws tour under Sonny Kratzer, who was Dave Helm’s main guy that worked for him. I was fortunate enough to go to Dave’s house and see all of his hunting trophies and everything like that when I was out in Selma (CA). So, it’s cool in that avenue. It’s cool to be associated in that way.”

Barbara views Scelzi in the brightest of lights. Considering Scelzi’s youth and the team’s commitment to him, the pairing is building the foundations of a potential powerhouse of the sport for years to come.

“It’s been a blessing and really kind of rejuvenated the spark that our team needed,” Barbara said of working with Scelzi. “He’s very wise beyond his years. He’s 21 going on 35 when it comes to maturity. He kind of gets overlooked as a young gun anymore because of that. With the Corey Days and them guys that are phenomenal race car drivers, but Gio’s only 21, fourth in points, and Rookie of the Year. He just really wants nothing but to win and to be the best he can be, and he doesn’t take shortcuts to get there.”

Like any race team, a taste of success only has Scelzi and his crew hungrier for more. Scelzi set a high bar in 2023, and his sights are even higher as 2024 nears.

“I think it’s kind of the mindset of any racer,” Scelzi said. “If you finish second in points, it’s we should’ve won. Or if you won the points, it’s we didn’t win by enough. I think that hunger I have is only growing. I see the capabilities we have with our team, and it only makes me hungrier to win more races.”

The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season commences at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 6-10. For tickets, visit DIRTcarNationals.com.

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

David Gravel Announces Plan to Return to World of Outlaws in 2024

By World of Outlaws

David Gravel announced Thursday evening that he and Big Game Motorsports plan to return to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024 to chase their first Series title.

It will mark his 12th full season on the World of Outlaws tour and fourth straight year with Big Game Motorsports.

“We’re going to be back on the World of Outlaws tour next year,” Gravel said on his YouTube channel. “What’s really important to me and Tod Quiring and Big Game Motorsports is winning that World of Outlaws championship. It’s really important and it is a very prestigious thing. It’s where we want to be right now…

“I want to get to 100 wins. That’s important to me. And to be a World of Outlaws champion. I feel like we’re more than capable of doing that.”

Gravel finished second in points for the third straight year this season and currently sits 10th on the all-time wins list with 88 victories. Thirty of those victories came in his three years with Big Game Motorsports – one being the Huset’s High Bank Nationals and it’s $250,000 payday, which returns in 2024, along with the $100,000 to win Huset’s Hustle the same week (June 19-22).
“What’s really important to me and Tod Quiring and Big Game Motorsports is winning that World of Outlaws championship.”

He’s picked up several milestone accomplishments throughout his career with the Series, including the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title with the World of Outlaws in 2013, the 2019 NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals title and two National Open victories at Williams Grove Speedway (2014 and 2017).

Now, all eyes are on a coveted World of Outlaws title with a chance to become only the 11th different champion in Series history.

“We’re committed to the World of Outlaws right now,” Gravel continued on his show. “We have a great nucleolus of drivers. No matter if Brad is there or not, I feel like we’re going to have a lot of the best teams with us, and the points fund is really strong…

“I still have stuff to prove and want to check that off the list of achievements.”

Gravel will kick off his 2024 season with the World of Outlaws at Volusia Speedway Park during the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 7-10.

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars Add Fourth Event at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

BARBERVILLE, FL (Nov. 9, 2023) – For the first time in the 53-year history of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will race four consecutive nights.

The premier 12-night dirt track racing event will kick off on Monday, Feb. 5, with DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, followed Tuesday with DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and a World of Outlaws Sprint Car tune-up. Then it’s four straight nights of The Greatest Show on Dirt together with DIRTcar UMP Modifieds to chase Big Gator championships during the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals opening week at Volusia.

The second week of action will see three-nights of DIRTcar Late Models (Feb. 12-14) and two nights of USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars (Feb. 12-13) setting the stage for World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models (Feb. 15-17) and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds (Feb. 14-17). All three divisions will be competing for a Big Gator trophy, too.

For tickets, camping and more visit DIRTcarNationals.com.

Monday, Feb. 5: DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Tuesday, Feb. 6: DIRTcar UMP Modifieds & World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car practice
Wednesday, Feb. 7: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Thursday, Feb. 8: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Friday, Feb. 9: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Saturday, Feb. 10: World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars & DIRTcar UMP Modified Gator Championship
Sunday, Feb. 11: No Racing
Monday, Feb. 12: DIRTcar Late Models & USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars
Tuesday, Feb. 13: DIRTcar Late Models & USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars
Wednesday, Feb. 14: DIRTcar Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds
Thursday, Feb. 15: World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds
Friday, Feb. 16: World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds
Saturday, Feb. 17: World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models & Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds

CATCHING KINSER: Kahne Reflects on Journey to Six World of Outlaws Championships

Kasey Kahne equals Steve Kinser for third-most championships as an owner after 2023 title

MOORESVILLE, NC (Nov. 9, 2023) - Not often are any of Steve Kinser’s accomplishments touched. The Bloomington, IN native cemented himself as the most dominant figure in Sprint Car racing, racking up 20 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championships and nearly 700 Feature victories. But Kasey Kahne equaled Kinser in an important category last week.

Brad Sweet wrapped up his fifth consecutive title with The Greatest Show on Dirt in grand fashion by winning the final race of the 2023 season. All five have come under the Kasey Kahne Racing banner. Add in the championship with Daryn Pittman in 2013 and Kahne’s total now sits at six – tying him for the third most titles as an owner with “The King.”

Kinser collected 14 of his championships while driving for Karl Kinser and then added six more after starting his own team. Karl leads the list with 16 titles – 14 with Steve and an additional two with Mark Kinser driving for him. Tony Stewart owns the second most with nine.

“It feels really good to be part of anything with Steve Kinser,” Kahne said. “He’s got way more championships than that, but as Steve being the owner/driver, it’s really cool to be tied with him on something. But if he adds in the rest of his we’re far from where he’s at. He’s something else in the Sprint Car world over the years. But, yeah, to be tied for third is great.”

It’s been a long journey for KKR since they first fielded cars in World of Outlaws races in 2005 and took on the full-time tour in 2006 with Joey Saldana behind the wheel. Race wins came early, but it took eight years of trying before Pittman brought the first championship trophy back to the Mooresville, NC shop. Over time, Kahne has assembled an organization capable of maintaining a championship pedigree.

“We started KKR to win and win as much as the team possibly could every single year and win championships,” Kahne said. “Something we were able to do was win races, but to win championships was much harder to do. It took time. It took people and time.”

Kahne emphasizes the importance of having the right people in the right places, which played a key role in securing the 2023 title. The trio of Eric Prutzman, Joe Mooney, and Andrew Bowman had been the crew of the Napa Auto Parts #49 for all four of Sweet’s previous championships, but Mooney departed for another opportunity this year. Kahne selected Tye Wolfgang who smoothly filled the car chief void.

“To see what the #49 has done the last five (years) is pretty incredible,” Kahne said. “I think, from the crew chief standpoint, Eric Prutzman and his preparation and his mindset, work ethic, everything that he brings to the team sets up for Tye Wolfgang and Andrew Bowman. And just how they attack every race throughout the entire season is pretty incredible with their performance and just how put together the team and cars are.”

Over the last few years, Kahne has been able to enjoy his team’s work from a much closer view. Early in Kahne’s tenure as an owner, NASCAR Cup duties kept him away from the track. But as he’s transitioned to full-time Sprint Car driver, Kahne has often shared the pit area with Sweet and the #49 team as they’ve been on their run.

“To start, I listened to… I would say every single Outlaw race, just Johnny Gibson announcing the races,” Kahne recalled. “Then, three or four years into it the big races were on DIRTVision. I was starting to see some video of my cars racing. And then as time went on you could watch every race. That’s how I did it for years. It was great. I was in the motorhome at the NASCAR track, and that was what I did on a Friday or Saturday night is paid attention to what was going on at the World of Outlaws race, just how my guys are doing. Over the last couple years, I’ve been able to be a big part of that in person and get to watch them firsthand and get to support them that way.

“But since the start, I was always, whether it was a phone call after the race or a text the next morning, very close to my team and very supportive and just always want the best for them and to get the best out of them. Now, it’s a little different being there. It’s still the same mentality. I’m just able to watch a lot more of the success that they’ve had.”

That mentality and commitment to the sport has led Kahne to cementing his place among the most impactful figures in Series history. A place that’s aligned him next to Steve Kinser with six owner championships. A place reached by unwavering dedication to Sprint Car racing.

“I’m very fortunate and really happy that I’ve been able to try to give as much to the teams and to Sprint Car racing as I can,” Kahne said. “I really enjoy it and really love doing it. But at the end of the day, it’s just about the people that have been at KKR from drivers to all the crew members and team members.”

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will commence its 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park during the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 8-10, 2024. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

MORE TO COME: Volusia Speedway Park Bringing Marquee Races During Winter Months
The World’s Fastest Half-Mile will be home to seven of the biggest races this coming winter

BARBERVILLE, FL (Nov. 9, 2023) – While motorsports series across the country are winding down their seasons, racing action in the Sunshine State is heating up with Volusia Speedway Park set to host several marquee events during the winter months.

On that list includes the Veteran’s Day Classic (Nov. 11), 10th anniversary of the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial (Nov. 16-18), second annual Battle in Barberville (Nov. 30-Dec. 2), DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Jan. 17-20), Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout (Jan. 25-27), Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 5-17) and the World of Outlaws Bike Week Jamboree (March 3-4).

VETERAN’S DAY CLASSIC (Nov. 11)

Volusia’s months of big events kicks off with the special Veteran’s Day Classic on Saturday, Nov. 11, featuring five local favorite divisions. Competing in the event will be DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, 3/4 Modifieds and the Pick Your Part Street Stocks. Honoring those who have served, any U.S. veteran, or current member of the United States Military carrying a valid I.D. will receive free admission.

10TH ANNIVERSARY EMIL & DALE REUTIMANN MEMORIAL (Nov. 16-18)

The following week, Volusia Speedway Park will honor one of racing’s most legendary families with the 10th annual Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 16-18. The marquee DIRTcar UMP Modified event will see the country’s top Modified drivers compete for a $10,000 payday in the 50-lap event. Ethan Dotson earned his first Reutimann Memorial victory last year, adding his name to a prestigious list of winners, which includes Nick Hoffman, David Stremme, Tyler Nicely, Kyle Strickler, David Reutimann, Jeff Mathews and Austin Sanders.

BATTLE IN BARBERVILLE (Nov. 30-Dec. 2)

Before the calendar turns to 2024, Volusia Speedway Park will cap off the 2023 with the second annual Battle in Barberville, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. The December event brings 360 Sprint Cars, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and 3/4 Modifieds to The World’s Fastest Half Mile for a practice night on Thursday and then Feature events on Friday and Saturday.

The winner of Saturday’s 360 Sprint Car Feature will lock into January’s Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout. Last year, Petersburg, Florida’s Tyler Clem won the inaugural Battle in Barberville 360 Sprint Car and then went on to win the Southern Sprint Car Shootout finale.

DIRTcar SUNSHINE NATIONALS (Jan. 17-20)

Volusia Speedway Park’s Late Model Palooza is back, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 17-20. The premier Late Model event will feature DIRTcar Pro Late Models, 602 Late Models and the season kickoff for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models.

The best Late Model drivers from around the country will gather in Barberville with a practice night on Wednesday, Jan. 17, and then three straight nights of Feature action, Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 18-20. Last year, Devin Moran scored back-to-back wins with the World of Outlaws, while Kyle Bronson, Jensen Ford and David Showers Jr. picked up wins in the other divisions.

GERMFREE SOUTHERN SPRINT CAR SHOOTOUT (Jan. 25-27)

The Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout returns after a successful debut in 2023, bringing back the United Sprint Car Series for a marquee three-day event, Jan. 25-27. Sprint Car drivers from around the country – and beyond as drivers from Australia and England participated in the first event – will compete for a more than $65,000 overall purse, paying $2,500 to win Thursday and Friday night, and then a massive $10,000 payday on Saturday – the largest purse in USCS history.

Last year, the event also saw the likes of Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Anthony Macri and Ryan Timms participate in the event.

Local division, 3/4 Modifieds are set to race alongside the high-flying 360 Sprint Car series as well.

FEDERATED AUTO PARTS DIRTcar NATIONALS (Feb. 5-17)

Florida Speedweeks returns in 2024 with the running of the 53rd Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 5-17, 2024. The 12-day event will feature hundreds of drivers from the premier divisions in racing with them all vying for a Big Gator championship. The first week (Feb. 5-10) will see racing action all week with the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and three days of The Greatest Show on Dirt with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

Then, the DIRTcar Late Models and USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars will kick off the second week (Feb. 12-17) before turning it over to the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS BIKE WEEK JAMBOREE (March 3-4)

Two wheels and four wheels collide once again in March, with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars returning to Volusia Speedway Park in March for the World of Outlaws

Bike Week Jamboree (Sunday-Monday, March 3-4). Adding another exciting element to Bike Week, the World of Outlaws welcomes all bikers to The World’s Fastest Half Mile for two nights of high-octane, wheel-to-wheel, action. Earlier this year, Carson Macedo and David Gravel won the inaugural World of Outlaws Bike Week Features.

For tickets to these events, CLICK HERE.

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

Huset’s Speedway Adds $100,000-to-Win Huset’s High Bank Hustle to $250,000-to-Win BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals; Track Hosts Six World of Outlaws Races in 2024

BRANDON, SD (Nov. 8, 2023) – A pair of six-figure World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series events will highlight the four-day BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals, June 19-22, 2024.

In addition, The Greatest Show on Dirt will return Labor Day Weekend for a new two-day Huset’s Shootout, with the finale paying $40,000 to win, marking six Feature races for the World of Outlaws this year at Huset’s Speedway.

The marquee event in June kicks off with a new two-day $100,000-to-win Huset’s High Bank Hustle (June 19-20), followed by the even bigger two-day $250,000-to-win, $5,000-to-start BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals (June 21-22). The $250,000 check equals the largest payout in World of Outlaws history, established last season with this event. Each of the opening night races (June 19 and June 21) will pay $20,000 to the winner.

A complete format for each event during the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals week will be released closer to the crown jewel event.

Four-day ticket packages are currently on sale at http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.

The new two-day Huset’s Shootout on Labor Day Weekend will run Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, with the winner of the event finale receiving $40,000.

The event is part of a tripleheader with action beginning on Friday, Aug. 30, when the Cressman Sanitation 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars kick off the weekend with the Bull Haulers Brawl Season Championship presented by Folkens Bros. Trucking.

Three-day ticket packages and camping for the Huset’s Shootout go on sale Thursday, Nov. 9, at http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.

If you can't make it to the track, you can watch every lap of each event live on DIRTVision.

HUSET’S SPEEDWAY – Huset’s Speedway is a dirt oval located in Brandon, S.D. The track opened in 1954 and has undergone a large renovation within the last few years, making it a premier destination for both marquee racing events and weekly programs.

HAND OUT THE HARDWARE: Awards Banquet Celebrates 2023 World of Outlaws Season

Drivers, team members, and more were honored at the 2023 World of Outlaws Awards Banquet

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 6, 2023) - After the long grind of the 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour, drivers and teams gathered for the Awards Banquet to celebrate completing another year of The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Along with every full-time competitor honored for their performance this year and handed their point fund check, a handful of other awards were handed out to those who’ve made special contributions to the Series and Sprint Car racing as a whole.

Champion: For the fifth consecutive season, Brad Sweet claimed the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing #49. Five straight championships equaled him with Donny Schatz for the second longest streak of all-time. Only Steve Kinser’s six consecutive titles between 1983-1988 outranks Sweet’s stretch.

“The Big Cat” proved to be the model of consistency yet again as he led the Series in top 10 finishes and posted no DNFs on his way to the title.

“Can’t do it without good people,” Sweet said. “Kasey Kahne gave me an opportunity dang near 15 years ago now. It was a USAC (United States Auto Club) car at the beginning in non-wing. And he helped me get some pavement opportunities. He’s been my best friend and stuck behind me through thick and thin and just kept working toward the same goal. We both have an immense passion for Sprint Cars and Sprint Car racing.”

Not only did winning the title include all the prestige of being a World of Outlaws champion, but it also came with a massive payday. Sweet and the KKR crew were presented a check for $350,000 for their efforts.

NOS Energy Drink Human Horsepower Awards: Series announcer – Johnny Gibson – and NOS Energy Drink’s Marketing Director Lauren Albano presented a pair of Human Horsepower Awards.

One went to Eloy Gutierrez, who was instrumental in the creation of the electronic timing and scoring system that has become a vital part of the sport. Not only did Gutierrez play that important role, but he’s also dedicated multiple decades of his life to working for the World of Outlaws.

The second was presented to Jason Sides. After many years of driving, the charismatic competitor from Tennessee has transitioned to a crew chief role over the last year and a half as he’s stepped out of the seat. Even with the different role, Sides has continued to show the passion and dedication that he exhibited behind the wheel.

Crew Chief of the Year: For the second time in his career, Eric Prutzman was awarded the Crew Chief of the Year. The Pennsylvanian has led the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 crew as they’ve collected five consecutive World of Outlaws championships.

Fan Favorite Award: Excitement is a way to get the fans on your side, and excitement is exactly what defines Sheldon Haudenschild’s driving style. And it comes as no surprise that the fans voted Haudenschild the Fan Favorite driver for 2023. The son of the legendary Jac Haudenschild also receives one of the largest cheers whenever he’s introduced at any World of Outlaws event.

KSE Hard Charger: Sheldon Haudenschild also used that exciting driving style to help him earn the 2023 KSE Hard Charger Award. The Wooster, OH native claimed the honor seven times this season, most notably making a memorable drive from 16th to the win at Skagit Speedway on August 31.

Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award: One of the highest honors of the night belonged to Amanda Hoegsted as she was given the Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award. Not only does she remain dedicated in being a vital piece of Bill Rose’s team, she’s also one of the pit area’s brightest presences this year. Even this year as Rose combatted injuries and multiple drivers had to help fill in, Hoegsted maintained her bright disposition all season long.

Social Ambassador Award: Donny Schatz elevated his social media to another level in 2023 and was given the Social Ambassador Award as a result. The 10-time Series champion maintained an active, daily presence on various social platforms.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year: One of the most anticipated rookie seasons in Series history came along this season when Giovanni Scelzi and KCP Racing committed to the tour, and Scelzi delivered.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Scelzi admitted. “I’d run a handful of Outlaw races, but hadn’t really run for a points championship since I was 15 years old racing for NARC (Northern Auto Racing Club). It was unbelievable for sure. I know it was definitely one of the hardest years I’ve had in my life on and off the racetrack. Driving up and down the road with you guys and really racing against the best drivers and best teams in the world.”

Consistency all year long led him to a fourth-place finish in the points, which equaled Jeff Swindell (1981) and Brad Doty (1982) for the highest finishing World of Outlaws rookie ever.

It was also the second time KCP fielded a Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year driver with the other being Ian Madsen in 2018. Only Kasey Kahne Racing, Dave Helm, and KCP have multiple Rookie of the Year drivers.

Ted Johnson Award: Every year the Ted Johnson Award is given as a way to recognize an individual’s outstanding contribution to the sport, and this year’s went to Brad Doty.

From driving to announcing to promoting and much more, Doty’s passion for Sprint Car racing is unparalleled, and he’s dedicated so much of his life to helping the sport he loves.

“I’m honored and humbled to win this award,” Doty said. “Probably not a lot of people in this building old enough to remember Ted. He was a character for sure. I got Rookie of the Year with the World of Outlaws in 1982, which was their fifth year of existence. I was just trying to get to the next race and never dreamt what the World of Outlaws would become and what it is today. I want to thank World Racing Group and the World of Outlaws for this award. I’m truly honored and humbled. It means a lot.”

Engine Builder of the Year: Cappetta Engines powered the championship winning machine driven by Brad Sweet, and as a result Rob Cappetta accepted the 2023 Engine Builder of the Year.

Chassis Builder of the Year: The 2023 Chassis Builder of the Year belonged to Maxim Chassis. Maxim has become synonymous with quality chassis in Sprint Car racing, and many of the top teams on the World of Outlaws tour go with Maxim.

Below is the list of the 14 full-time World of Outlaws competitors in 2023, where they finished in the standings, and the point fund check amount they received at the Awards Banquet:

1. Brad Sweet ($350,000)

2. David Gravel ($210,000)

3. Carson Macedo ($140,000)

4. Giovanni Scelzi ($122,500)

5. Logan Schuchart ($113,750)

6. Donny Schatz ($109,375)

7. Sheldon Haudenschild ($105,000)

8. Spencer Bayston ($100,625)

9. Brock Zearfoss ($96,250)

10. James McFadden ($87,500)

11. Robbie Price ($70,000)

12. Noah Gass ($52,500)

13. Jacob Allen ($43,750)

14. Bill Rose ($35,000)

SEALING THE DEAL: Brad Sweet Punctuates Fifth Straight World of Outlaws Championship with Wild World Finals Win

Sweet slips by Rico Abreu late to top final night of the 2023 season and clinch fifth championship

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 4, 2023) - Brad Sweet could’ve been careful. He could’ve put the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 in cruise control. With a front row starting spot, all he needed was to finish 22nd or better to seal a fifth consecutive World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

But “The Big Cat” had no intentions of taking it easy to close out 2023. He gave the sold-out grandstands what they paid for.

Sweet slipped back slightly to start the 25-lapper on Saturday night. But the Grass Valley, CA native rallied back to snatch the lead late from Rico Abreu after a side-by-side duel. Sweet then held on to put the exclamation mark on his title campaign with his first win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“Just happy to be here in front of this large crowd,” Sweet said. “Happy we were able to get our NAPA Auto Parts car in Victory Lane. We’ve been trying here for a long time. I think with the points you’re always so conservative, but tonight we had a car capable of doing it. I was able to be pretty conservative on the bottom and keep my tires under me and just kind of snuck by Rico there at the end and tried to just hold him off there coming to the checkered.”

Sweet’s 11th victory of 2023 with The Greatest Show on Dirt elevated his career total to 90, moving him within five of Dave Blaney’s total of 95, which is eighth all-time. It was also his first triumph at the Charlotte oval in his 38th attempt. With the fifth consecutive championship, Sweet equaled the second longest streak of all-time and is one away from Steve Kinser’s record mark of six straight.

Brian Brown and Sweet brought the field to green for the season finale, and it was Brown leading the way on the opening lap. On the second circuit, Abreu ripped the top around Sweet to take over the runner-up spot.

Abreu quickly began his pursuit of Brown and closed in little by little over the next few laps. The St. Helena, CA native attempted a slider on Brown early but couldn’t clear him. Only a couple laps later, traffic presented an issue for Brown and allowed Abreu to roar around him on the top for the lead.

Behind the two leaders, Friday’s winner – Brent Marks – was coming to life as he rolled by Sweet for third on Lap 9. Then only one lap later, he slid Brown to take control of second. Sweet followed suit by making a move on Brown to climb into the third spot.

Both Marks and Sweet began pursuit of Abreu as the race crossed the halfway point. The Pennsylvanian trimmed Abreu’s lead all the way down to barely more than two tenths on Lap 16. But he saw a surging Sweet drive by him for second on the next time around.

Sweet then began to cut into Abreu’s lead as the two used entirely different lines. Abreu pounded the top around the fence while Sweet patiently rolled the bottom. With only four laps remaining, Sweet had knocked Abreu’s lead under two tenths of a second as the two went side by side.

“I think it takes two different setups. You’re either set up to run the top and go real fast, or you’re set up to go real slow around the bottom,” Sweet said. “I just felt like we needed to be on the bottom there with everything we had going. I feel like you can keep your tires under you and keep them cool down there, and it seems to pay off. It seems like passing lapped cars is even harder on the top when the guy is real patient on the bottom. So, I just tried to be patient.”

Ultimately, patience paid off for Sweet. Coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 23, Abreu didn’t hit the top as smoothly as he had been, and Sweet capitalized by completing the pass on the front straightaway.

With the lead in his possession, only two more laps stood between him and closing out his title campaign with a trip to Victory Lane. He wheeled the Napa Auto Parts #49 smoothly around the 4/10-mile two more times to claim the checkered flag.

“It’s just really neat to cap it off with a win like this, and it’s basically like a walk-off homer,” Sweet said. “It just feels really good, and were going to celebrate… I’m just super happy. It’s just such a relief. These seasons are so long and so grueling and so hard. It’s just unbelievable that we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

For the second time in three nights, Abreu brought home the runner-up spot, marking his 17th World of Outlaws podium of the year – by far the most for any competitor not running the full schedule. Despite losing out on a potential win late, Abreu kept his head up and looked at the result as an opportunity to absorb a lesson.

“I think you learn more losing these races than you do winning them,” Abreu said. “You’re racing the best in the country, so your margin for error is so minimal. You have lapped traffic running side-by-side in front of you eight laps into the race. You’re just trying to manipulate and pick and choose which lanes to run. My car was set up to run the top, and I committed up there. You win and lose those races. It’s just part of it.”

Rounding out the final podium of the 2023 World of Outlaws season was Logan Schuchart aboard the Shark Racing #1S. The result helped him lock up the fifth spot in points as he entered the night in a close battle with Donny Schatz for the spot. The Hanover, PA native found speed on the top and stuck to it throughout the race.

“When I was racing with Carson a little earlier in the race, he kind of went to the bottom and that’s why I got by him. It looked like he slipped off the bottom a little bit,” Schuchart explained. “So, I didn’t want that to happen to me, and I didn’t know what it felt like. I didn’t want to go somewhere I didn’t want to go. So, I just kind of stuck to pounding the top of the racetrack and seeing what I could make happen up there. Once the tires started going away the last couple laps, I couldn’t run it in there as hard as I wanted to anymore. But all in all, a great end to our season to finish on the podium.”

Brent Marks and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

David Gravel drove from 21st to seventh to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger. Gravel’s result made the final margin between himself and Sweet 60 points, which is the fifth straight year it has been within 100 and the eighth closest ever.

Giovanni Scelzi completed his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign with a fourth place finish in points, equaling both Jeff Swindell (1981) and Brad Doty (1982) for the best debut season in Series history.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Rico Abreu. NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney, and Brad Sweet.

David Gravel won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Brian Brown claimed the Toyota Racing Dash.

UP NEXT: The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign will begin on with the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 8-10 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[2]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 4. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 7. 2-David Gravel[21]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 9. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[10]; 10. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 11. 5-Spencer Bayston[16]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[15]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 14. 13-Justin Peck[6]; 15. 83-James McFadden[25]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[23]; 17. 2MD-Cap Henry[12]; 18. 69K-Justin Henderson[18]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 20. 8-Cory Eliason[14]; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[11]; 22. 1T-Tanner Holmes[17]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee[19]; 24. 9-Kasey Kahne[22]; 25. 7S-Robbie Price[26]; 26. 42-Sye Lynch[24]; 27. (DNS) 20G-Noah Gass

CHARLOTTE SWEEP: Marks Outlasts Peck, Courtney for Thrilling Charlotte World Finals Victory

Marks, Peck, and Courtney trade the lead multiple times before Marks secures his second win of the year

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 3, 2023) - The World of Outlaws World Finals means only a few chances remain to pick up a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car win this year. And that also means the intensity rises each and every lap.

That heightened intensity was on complete display Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. An all-out war erupted between Brent Marks, Justin Peck, and Tyler Courtney for a $15,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane.

Sliders. Crossovers. More sliders and crossovers. Cars using multiple grooves. Endless action led to a thrilling 25-lap main event on the penultimate night of the 2023 campaign for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

When the dust settled, Brent Marks claimed the checkered flag narrowly ahead of Peck to snag a win for the Pennsylvania Posse. As Marks rose atop his wing in Victory Lane, the massive crowd on hand erupted in appreciation for the show he and his fellow competitors had delivered.

“It feels amazing,” Marks said. “To win in front of this crowd is an amazing moment. Standing up here on this stage at this racetrack means a lot to me. To get another World of Outlaws victory also means a lot to me. That was a really fun race.”

The win was Marks’ second of the season, marking the third consecutive year he’s notched multiple World of Outlaws wins. Adding to his 2021 Charlotte victory, Marks became the 12th driver to own multiple Series triumphs at the 4/10-mile. His win also completed a clean sweep of the program as he set QuickTime, won his Heat, topped the Dash, and finished it off with the Feature victory.

Marks earned the pole of the Feature after topping the Toyota Racing Dash. Courtney slid ahead of “The Myerstown Missile” in Turns 3 and 4, but Marks dipped under him to lead the opening lap by a hair and slide back in front in Turns 1 and 2.

As the early laps unfolded, Marks couldn’t shake Courtney as Marks opted for the cushion while “Sunshine” tiptoed the bottom. Courtney pulled alongside Marks multiple times within the first handful of laps but couldn’t quite make the move.

But then on the 10th lap, Marks tripped up in traffic as he went through the slick in Turns 3 and 4, allowing Courtney to sneak by on the bottom and claim the top spot aboard the Clauson Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #7BC.

Quickly changing track conditions allowed Peck to surprise both Marks and Courtney. While the lead duo committed to the bottom, Peck ripped the top in the Buch Motorsports #13 and went around Marks on Lap 12. One lap later, Peck blasted by Courtney for the lead.

Two laps later, Marks surged back into contention as he rolled the bottom to pass Courtney coming to the line and pull alongside Peck, In Turns 1 and 2, Marks pulled the trigger on a slide job to reclaim the lead. Peck returned the favor the next time around in the same set of corners. Marks crossed over out of Turn 2 and aimed for the top in Turn 3, so Peck threw another slider. Marks again dipped under Peck and then fended off his next move in Turn 1.

“I was running the top there in the beginning and saw Tyler down on the bottom there a couple times,” Marks recalled. “So, I switched my line up and felt pretty good. And then I think I slipped up and he got by me and fell back to second. I just tried to work that in down there a little more, and Justin railed around both of us on the top, so I fell back to third. I just started moving around just trying to figure out what was going to work best for my car. I felt like I could go anywhere but was definitely better up top. I just knew we needed to stick to that, and that’s what we did and ended up racing our way back up through there.”

Following the intense battle with Peck, Marks built a decent lead as the laps faded late in the going. But suddenly lapped traffic became an issue again.

Marks stared down cars using both his preferred high line and the low line. Peck chipped away at the gap, and when the white flag flew he found himself within striking distance. Marks thought the lapped car ahead would go low in the final set of corners but guessed wrong, causing him to drift through the slick in Turns 3 and 4. Peck closed fast and looked under Marks coming to the checkered flag but came up slightly short as Marks grabbed the win.

“I felt like the track crew did an amazing job there at getting the track two lanes of racing and getting it pretty tricky around the top,” Marks said. “Man, I just got to lapped traffic there and wanted to make sure I didn’t get off the top. I just felt like my pace slowed up too much. I was getting a little worried about Justin behind me closing in on us. Then I had a run on Logan (Schuchart) going down the backstretch on the last lap, and last minute he pulled off to go to the bottom, and I had already set up to try to slide him. That just kind of got me stuck in the middle a little bit. I knew he was going to have a head of steam. Fortunately, we hung on there at the end and won us this race.”

A second place run for Peck equaled his best World of Outlaws finish. While proud of he and the Buch team’s efforts, Peck couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed with coming so close to what’s become an elusive first Series victory.

“My guys gave me a really good race car,” Peck said. “Me, Brent, and Sunshine raced each other pretty hard there. It’s just one of those deals where it’s got to come sometime, right? It feels like we’ve run second quite a few times now and been on the podium but just can’t seem to pull off a win.”

Courtney rounded out the top three to post his sixth career World of Outlaws podium. The Indianapolis, IN native felt he was missing just a little speed to lock up his second Series win of the year.

“Once Brent cleared Justin there, we just got back around the top,” Courtney said. “We were running really fast laps up there. We’re set up a little bit more to run down off the top, so I was a little too tight to run around the top there.”

Brad Sweet and James McFadden completed the top five. Sweet’s result combined with David Gravel’s sixth place run pushed Sweet’s lead atop the standings to 46 points. Sweet now needs a finish of 22nd or better in the season finale to lock up his fifth straight championship with Kasey Kahne Racing.

Donny Schatz earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 25th to 13th drive.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Rico Abreu (48th Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Brian Brown (82nd of career), Brent Marks (29th of career), and Tyler Courtney (13th of career).

Hunter Schuerenberg won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the 2023 season with a $25,000 to win finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte's World Finals on Saturday, Nov. 4. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks[1]; 2. 13-Justin Peck[5]; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[11]; 5. 83-James McFadden[10]; 6. 2-David Gravel[9]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu[6]; 9. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[15]; 10. 69K-Justin Henderson[4]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[13]; 12. 21-Brian Brown[3]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 14. 5-Spencer Bayston[22]; 15. 9R-Chase Randall[7]; 16. 14-Cole Macedo[17]; 17. 88-Austin McCarl[8]; 18. 8-Cory Eliason[20]; 19. 39M-Anthony Macri[16]; 20. 71-Parker Price Miller[24]; 21. 2MD-Cap Henry[19]; 22. 9-Kasey Kahne[18]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 24. 7S-Robbie Price[27]; 25. 20G-Noah Gass[28]; 26. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[21]; 27. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[26]; 28. 99-Skylar Gee[23]

NOT DONE YET: Gravel Perfects the Low Line for World Finals Victory

Gravel opens World Finals with his 12th win of the year and cuts into Sweet’s point lead

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 2, 2023) - All the focus entering the 2023 World Finals was squarely on Brad Sweet and David Gravel. The two rolled into The Dirt Track at Charlotte engaged in battle for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship for the third year in a row. Sweet held a solid but not insurmountable 50-point lead. Who would make the opening statement with three races ahead?

Give round one to Gravel.

The Watertown, CT native rolled the bottom of the Charlotte oval to perfection on Thursday night. He wheeled the Big Game Motorsports machine by Rico Abreu on the 14th circuit of the 25-lapper and held off Abreu’s late charge to secure the victory. The triumph coupled with Sweet’s fourth allowed Gravel to cut the margin down to 42 markers with two nights to go.

But Gravel isn’t looking at the points gap. His focus rests entirely on doing all he and the Big Game crew can do. And on the first night, they did absolutely everything they could do by maximizing points with a win.

“We just got to worry about winning races and having fun, and whatever happens happens,” Gravel said. “It’s good to get those extra two points for winning. Obviously, it’s still a bit of a long shot.

“I’m really glad they went and did that prep to the track. It maybe was a little bit dominant around the bottom there once it really came in, but it worked out for us.”

Gravel’s win moved him up to a dozen in 2023 with The Greatest Show on Dirt, which guarantees him at least a tie for the most this year. His 88th career World of Outlaws victory was also his 30th since joining Big Game Motorsports, the most any driver has tallied with Tod Quiring’s team that now owns 94 Series victories. It was also his sixth triumph at the Charlotte oval, giving him sole possession of the second most.

Gravel began the race in the third spot and slipped back fourth early while Rico Abreu rocketed by pole-sitter – Sheldon Haudenschild – to the early lead. Plenty of slicing and dicing took place for spots within the top five, and Gravel even fell back to fifth early on as Brad Sweet began to charge.

“The Big Cat” found the bottom line before any of the other competitors toward the front and quickly got to work. On the eighth circuit, Sweet powered the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 from fourth to second and set his sights on Abreu.

But before Sweet could get to Abreu’s tail tank, lapped traffic caused him to shift his lane. That opened the door for a fast-closing Gravel who mimicked Sweet’s early route on the bottom.

On Lap 14, Gravel looked under Sweet as they entered Turn 1. And he not only cleared Sweet down the back straightaway, he used his momentum to slip under Abreu heading into Turn 3 and snatch the lead.

“Brad found the bottom first, and then he kind of gave up on it,” Gravel explained. “I don’t know why nobody ran low on (corner) exits. I kind of had the exits to myself way low and used that drive to get down the straightaway. Cody (Jacobs), Scott (Vogelsong), and Zach (Patterson) gave me a great car.

“(Turns) 3 and 4 was a lot thinner than 1 and 2. It was a lot easier to hit it in 1 and 2, and when I missed it in 3 and 4, you about stopped. It feels terrible. You’ve got to make sure you slow down enough. So, I figured let me over-slow it to not miss it. I’d rather not miss it and go too slow than go too hard and miss it.”

After taking the top spot, Gravel began to put together a lead as he continued to roll the bottom and work through traffic. Carson Macedo looked poised to challenge Gravel when he rolled by Abreu for second with five laps remaining.

But then Abreu roared back around Macedo two laps later to reclaim runner-up. The St. Helena, CA driver managed to close in within a second, but Gravel held on to top the opening night of the World of Outlaws World Finals.

“We were okay early but great from halfway on,” Gravel said. “Our car was really, really good. It feels good to pass those guys and earn a win like that.”

Abreu took home the second spot aboard his own #24 machine. The result marked his 16th podium of the season with the World of Outlaws. Abreu felt happy with the speed of his car but felt he needed to navigate traffic better to have a better shot to win.

“You can judge a lot off lapped traffic,” Abreu said. “I felt like I needed to just be a little more patient in (Turns) 3 and 4. I was getting a little antsy when the #3 kept getting to my inside, and I tried running harder, and it just didn’t like that. We put ourselves in position, and track position was really key tonight. As a race leader you just work on processing those times when you’re leading and logging laps and trying to set a torrid pace. Your car gets so aero dependent when you catch traffic.”

Rounding out the top three was Carson Macedo aboard the Jason Johnson Racing #41. The Californian notched his 20th podium of the year, becoming the third driver to reach the mark. Macedo found the track conditions tricky especially early in the race in determining where to be.

“It just changed a lot,” Macedo noted. “You had to stay up on it, and it wasn’t easy. I feel like early in the race I thought the bottom was going to take over. I was able to get a good start and jump right there into third and got Sheldon (Haudenschild) on the bottom in (Turns) 3 and 4 and thought I’d just start plugging the bottom and catch him (Abreu). And then Sheldon went flying around me, and I thought the top had come in first. So, I got up, and then it was so quick. We got to traffic, and the bottom kind of gripped up. I couldn’t believe when I moved down in 3 and 4 how grippy it was down there for a little while.”

Sweet and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

A massive drive from 26th to sixth earned James McFadden the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One (97th Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four went to Rico Abreu (47th of career), Brad Sweet (238th of career), and David Gravel (239th of career).

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for night two of the 2023 World Finals on Friday, Nov. 3 for another $15,000 to win Feature before Saturday's $25,000 to win season finale. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 6. 83-James McFadden[26]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 9. 19-Brent Marks[11]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 12. 13-Justin Peck[10]; 13. 14-Cole Macedo[5]; 14. 69K-Justin Henderson[15]; 15. 8-Cory Eliason[13]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen[23]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri[16]; 18. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[9]; 19. 2MD-Cap Henry[20]; 20. 21-Brian Brown[12]; 21. 20G-Noah Gass[17]; 22. 9-Kasey Kahne[19]; 23. 42-Sye Lynch[22]; 24. 1T-Tanner Holmes[18]; 25. 5-Spencer Bayston[25]; 26. 7S-Robbie Price[27]; 27. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]

STARTING STRONG: Haudenschild, Marks Lead World Finals Low-E Insulation Qualifying Night

Wednesday’s pair of Charlotte Qualifying sessions set the stage for Thursday and Friday Heat Races

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 1, 2023) - The on-track action of the World of Outlaws World Finals got rolling with Low-E Insulation Qualifying Night on Wednesday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. All 53 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car teams checked in took part in two split Qualifying sessions to set the lineups for Thursday and Friday Heat Races.

In the opening session for Thursday’s lineups, Sheldon Haudenschild led the way with a 13.694 in Flight A. The effort marked Haudenschild’s fourth Simpson Performance Products QuickTime of the year and the 29th of his career.

“That’s always the goal,” Haudenschild said of his QuickTime. “And it’s what we’ve been working on all year. We got some other pieces in place. We’ve been focusing on next year a lot and what we want to do, so this is steps in the right direction, and we’ll try to end this week on a high note.”

In the second Flight of the first session, Tyler Courtney laid down the fastest lap with a 13.843. “Sunshine’s” lap gave the team NOS Energy Drink cars a sweep of Thursday’s Qualifying.

Championship leaders Brad Sweet and David Gravel were right next to each other as Sweet set the third fastest lap with Gravel a spot ahead in second.

Cory Eliason, making his debut in the Ridge & Sons Racing #8, timed in fifth quick in Flight A. Also worth noting was Justin Henderson going eighth fastest in the same flight aboard the Kreitz Racing #69K.

The session to set Friday’s lineups belonged to the Pennsylvania Posse as Brent Marks put down a 14.149 in Flight B. With the lap, Marks nabbed his first Simpson Performance Products QuickTime of the year and the third of his career.

“We’re starting this week off a lot better than we did last year,” Marks said. “Really proud of this Murray-Marks Motorsports team for working hard and giving me a good car tonight to qualify with. Our engine ran really good. It’s very cold and really good air, so to get out there and rip around the top and feel comfortable that close to the wall and our engines running really good with everything tuned up, it just felt effortless for me.”

In Flight A of Friday’s session, Gravel topped the charts with a 14.163. He distanced himself a little from Sweet who’s 14.658 slotted him ninth fastest in Flight A.

Knoxville Raceway regulars – Brian Brown and Chase Randall – claimed the second and third spots in Flight A.

Over in Flight B, Courtney missed claiming both flights by one spot as he set the second fastest lap behind Marks with another Knoxville driver – Austin McCarl – in third.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for night two of the World of Outlaws World Finals, and first night of Feature action, on Thursday, Nov. 2. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can't make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Qualifying A - Thursday: 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:13.694[12]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:13.722[27]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:13.847[16]; 4. 19-Brent Marks, 00:13.888[24]; 5. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:13.956[3]; 6. 14-Cole Macedo, 00:13.987[15]; 7. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:14.003[4]; 8. 69K-Justin Henderson, 00:14.023[26]; 9. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:14.036[23]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:14.056[21]; 11. 20G-Noah Gass, 00:14.064[11]; 12. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:14.066[22]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.077[19]; 14. 9R-Chase Randall, 00:14.113[9]; 15. 12-Lance Dewease, 00:14.162[17]; 16. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:14.189[1]; 17. 83-James McFadden, 00:14.200[18]; 18. 5-Spencer Bayston, 00:14.245[20]; 19. 7S-Robbie Price, 00:14.315[10]; 20. 42-Sye Lynch, 00:14.369[7]; 21. 18R-Ryan Roberts, 00:14.401[25]; 22. 12S-Brent Shearer, 00:14.419[6]; 23. 47-Eric Riggins Jr, 00:14.502[8]; 24. 33-Derek Hauck, 00:14.516[2]; 25. 14T-Tim Estenson, 00:14.669[5]; 26. 77-Geoff Dodge, 00:14.701[13]; 27. 17H-Wout Hoffmans, 00:15.268[14]

Qualifying B - Thursday: 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:13.843[5]; 2. 2-David Gravel, 00:13.903[3]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:13.986[4]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:13.987[6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:14.069[9]; 6. 21-Brian Brown, 00:14.105[16]; 7. 13-Justin Peck, 00:14.279[14]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:14.279[26]; 9. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:14.283[1]; 10. 2MD-Cap Henry, 00:14.296[10]; 11. 23-Devon Borden, 00:14.319[19]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.356[24]; 13. 1T-Tanner Holmes, 00:14.505[21]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:14.548[12]; 15. 6Z-Zane DeVault, 00:14.715[8]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:14.729[18]; 17. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:14.762[17]; 18. 20-Tim Buckwalter, 00:14.899[13]; 19. 5D-Jacob Dykstra, 00:14.963[23]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:15.004[7]; 21. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:15.015[15]; 22. 40-George Hobaugh Jr, 00:15.163[22]; 23. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 00:15.354[25]; 24. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:15.429[20]; 25. 23M-Lance Moss, 00:15.530[2]; 26. 7N-Darin Naida, 00:15.817[11]

Qualifying A - Friday: 1. 2-David Gravel, 00:14.163; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 00:14.175; 3. 9R-Chase Randall, 00:14.181; 4. 69K-Justin Henderson, 00:14.342; 5. 24-Rico Abreu, 00:14.427; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi, 00:14.457; 7. 41-Carson Macedo, 00:14.484; 8. 26-Zeb Wise, 00:14.527; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 00:14.648; 10. 5-Spencer Bayston, 00:14.664; 11. 2MD-Cap Henry, 00:14.693; 12. 14-Cole Macedo, 00:14.743; 13. 23-Devon Borden, 00:14.747; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 00:14.785; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 00:14.820; 16. 1T-Tanner Holmes, 00:14.842; 17. 6Z-Zane DeVault, 00:14.852; 18. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 00:14.858; 19. 42-Sye Lynch, 00:14.876; 20. 20G-Noah Gass, 00:14.977; 21. 5D-Jacob Dykstra, 00:15.173; 22. 23M-Lance Moss, 00:15.205; 23. 47-Eric Riggins Jr, 00:15.260; 24. 17H-Wout Hoffmans, 00:15.473; 25. W20-Greg Wilson, 00:15.635; 26. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 00:15.804; 27. 7N-Darin Naida, 00:16.161

Qualifying B - Friday: 1. 19-Brent Marks, 00:14.149; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 00:14.259; 3. 88-Austin McCarl, 00:14.275; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri, 00:14.347; 5. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg, 00:14.402; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 00:14.435; 7. 83-James McFadden, 00:14.445; 8. 13-Justin Peck, 00:14.531; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 00:14.582; 10. 8-Cory Eliason, 00:14.603; 11. 9-Kasey Kahne, 00:14.607; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 00:14.617; 13. 71-Parker Price Miller, 00:14.735; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen, 00:14.746; 15. 7S-Robbie Price, 00:14.858; 16. 12-Lance Dewease, 00:14.895; 17. 77-Geoff Dodge, 00:14.962; 18. 22-Riley Goodno, 00:15.091; 19. 14T-Tim Estenson, 00:15.156; 20. 24D-Danny Sams III, 00:15.279; 21. 12S-Brent Shearer, 00:15.565; 22. 28M-Conner Morrell, 00:15.571; 23. 18R-Ryan Roberts, 00:15.583; 24. 40-George Hobaugh Jr, 00:15.757; 25. 20-Tim Buckwalter, 00:15.818; 26. (DNS) 33-Derek Hauck, 00:15.818

HERstory: Jade Avedisian’s Championship Marks New Height for Women in Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 1, 2023) – Rarely in professional sports does a player or team come along and transcend the boundaries of the game, accomplishing what was once only a passing thought or a dream in the minds of those involved.

American motorsports has found that player this year in 17-year-old Jade Avedisian – the first female national Midget series champion.

Avedisian claimed the 2023 Xtreme Outlaws Midget Series presented by Toyota championship in her first season with Indiana-based Keith Kunz Motorsports – breaking the mold for a rising presence of female drivers in motorsports.

“It’s a dream come true, honestly,” she said.

While Avedisian is the first woman ever to win a national dirt racing championship, her accomplishment expands upon the foundation laid by several women who have come before and found success in their own way.

Open the World of Outlaws history books to Oct. 29, 2004, and you’ll find another first for women in motorsports. On that day at Thunderbowl Raceway, Erin Crocker-Evernham became the first woman to win a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Feature event.

At 23 years old, she beat Steve Kinser; she beat Danny Lasoski; she beat Donny Schatz. Evernham made her own mark in open-wheel racing, paving the way for a future generation of female stars in the sport like Avedisian.

“I do see a little bit of myself in her, and I think that’s why I’ve taken to following her and what she’s doing,” Evernham said.

Still an avid open-wheel racing enthusiast and present-day host of Winged Nation on the Motor Racing Network, Evernham kept up with Avedisian’s run to the Xtreme Outlaw Series title this year. While she immediately recognized the unprecedented achievement, she also noticed a striking resemblance.

“What she did this year is really significant and I think it truly shows the natural ability she has,” Evernham said. “I love the way she carries herself. She wants to be known as a racer, not as ‘I’m the woman racer,’ which is how I always felt throughout my career. Like, I want to be a racer, and I want to go out there and win. And I get that feeling from her.

“I think it’s huge – she gives me a lot of hope for women in the future.”

Avedisian’s road to the future began in February with the announcement of her signing with KKM – the 17-time national Midget championship-winning team – for 2023 and their plans to chase the Xtreme Outlaw Series title in its first full-length schedule. Fast forward eight months, and Avedisian was hoisting the championship trophy after a season of five Toyota Racing Feature wins, 16 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes.

“I’m just super grateful to even be in contention to win a championship,” Avedisian said. “To capitalize on it just means the world to me.”

For several weeks during the season, she questioned whether or not she’d even be in title contention by the end of the year.

A win inside the Southern Illinois Center in March bolstered her into the Series points lead to start the season, but an average finish of 8.9 and only one top-five result over the next eight Series races dropped her back to fourth in the standings – 180 points behind the leader.

With the schedule already a third of the way complete and a mountain in front of her to climb, Avedisian turned to the one mantra that’s repeatedly defined her season.

“I knew just had to put our heads down and never give up,” she said.

Standing right behind her was the deep roster of KKM crew members with a matching appetite for victory. For her first season with the team, Avedisian was paired with car chief Jarrett Martin – a five-year expert on the wrenches with KKM. Right away, and more frequently as the season progressed, he noticed Avedisian’s never-say-die mentality.

“She wants to make sure she never loses the will to always get better,” Martin said. “That’s one thing I’ve noticed about her that sets her apart – she never wants to give up, she never wants to slow down.

“She works at getting better and wants it as bad as us, so that makes it easier for all of us when we do have a bad night to know that she’s upset too. She’s working hard as well.”

Throughout the year, Martin also helped coach Avedisian through many of the darkest moments of her season – including the Appalachian Midget Week opener at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway, where she crashed and flipped while leading, then did it again from the tail of the field only two laps later.

“She’s up front leading the thing, and she said she just felt so good that she wanted to go faster and faster,” Martin said. “By the end of that night, we had the talk about knowing when to when to slow down and knowing when to push it.”

“I feel like those kinds of moments could’ve thrown the championship away,” Avedisian said. “Luckily, it didn’t.”

After several months of working together, the duo had made significant progress – improving their average finish to 4.6, collecting four additional Feature wins and climbing all the way back from 180 points down, up to the top of the Series points standings coming into the final race weekend of the season in Oklahoma.

“The second half [of the season], I really started to take the stuff I learned and apply it,” she said. “I feel like I was two different drivers from the first half to the second half.”

From 11 points up, Avedisian had expanded that gap to 59 by the time the weekend was out. In Victory Lane, she exchanged hugs, tears and endless smiles with the KKM crew and her family as the celebration began.

“To get it done for her, for the people around her and around us that wanted it just as bad as everybody else – that feels good, for sure,” Martin said.

But the next day, it was right back to business. Business with her future as part of the Toyota Racing Development lineup and working on what’s next for The First Lady of the Xtreme Outlaw Series. Life for the teenager from Clovis, CA has changed dramatically in the past year, and she’s taking it all in stride.

“To have Toyota give me a lot of opportunities… me doing a commercial the other day – obviously a lot has changed,” she said. “I’m a lot more busy now, but it’s a good busy, that’s for sure.”

While Avedisian spends the next few months solidifying exactly what her 2024 racing season will look like, one thing is for certain – she’ll have the attention of Evernham and her other female racers as the motorsports world awaits her next potential historic achievement.

“I’m really excited to watch her in the following years,” Evernham said.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Thursday, Friday Start Times Moved Up; Wednesday Fan Fest Moved to Afternoon

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 31, 2023) – Keeping the best interest of drivers and fans in mind, officials have adjusted the World of Outlaws World Finals schedules on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to extreme cold temperatures expected at night. Saturday’s schedule remains the same.

Wednesday (Nov. 1) will now see the Fan Fest party start at 12 p.m. (ET) in the midway at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a live concert at 1:30 p.m. and the Race Day Live show on the Sage Fruit Stage at 3 p.m. Opening Ceremonies will still begin at 4:45 p.m., followed by qualifying for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series.

Then, Opening Ceremonies on Thursday (Nov. 2) and Friday (Nov. 3) will now start at 4 p.m., followed by racing for the three premier series. The Race Day Live show on the Sage Fruit Stage has also been moved up to 2:30 p.m. those two days.

The fan-favorite 3X4 Wide Parade Lap remains on Friday before the start of the three Feature events.

Saturday’s schedule will still see Opening Ceremonies start at 3 p.m. with racing to follow. Champions for the three series will crowned on the front stretch after the final Feature of the night.

For the full 2023 World of Outlaws World Finals schedule, CLICK HERE.

For tickets to the World of Outlaws World Finals, CLICK HERE. But if you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: 2023 Championship, Big Paydays, Historic Wins Await at World of Outlaws World Finals

Gravel and Sweet’s championship fight headline The Dirt Track at Charlotte’s season-ending World Finals

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 30, 2023) - All Dirt Roads have led the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars to Charlotte, NC.

This year has taken the tour through 18 states from coast to coast and 34 different racetracks. Now, the thousands of miles and hundreds of laps will culminate in the World of Outlaws World Finals. The Dirt Track at Charlotte takes center stage for the four-night sendoff of the 2023 season.

The on-track action gets going on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with two Low-E Insulation Qualifying sessions to line up Heat Races for Thursday and Friday’s racing programs. Points accumulated on those two nights will set the lineups for Saturday and one final night to punctuate the World of Outlaws’ 46th season of racing.

Teams from all over will gather to chase their share of the more than $250,000 purse up for grabs. The first two nights of racing will be capped with $15,000-to-win Features before Saturday’s $25,000-to-win finale wraps up the 2023 World of Outlaws season.

In addition to the Sprint Car action, fans will be treated to the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds all four nights.

BUY WORLD FINALS TICKETS

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

SWEET VS. GRAVEL: For the third consecutive season, the World of Outlaws championship will come down to a duel between Brad Sweet and David Gravel. Heading into the final event of the season, Sweet owns a 50-point advantage, and Gravel has three nights to erase the gap.

Sweet is looking to complete his Drive for Five as he eyes a fifth straight title with Kasey Kahne Racing. Five straight championships would tie Sweet with Donny Schatz (2014-2018) for the second longest streak and move him within one of Steve Kinser’s record of six consecutive titles (1983-1988).

On the other hand, Gravel is chasing his first championship aboard the Big Game Motorsports #2 after finishing runner-up in the past two seasons. If he can pull it off, Gravel would become the 11th different competitor to claim a World of Outlaws championship.

In terms of overall body of work at Charlotte, Gravel has the upper hand with five victories on his résumé (tied for second most in track history) including a stretch of three straight from 2019 to 2020. Sweet is yet to win in Charlotte, but he’s been consistent as of late with nine consecutive top 10s, including seven top fives.

Not only does the championship include all of the prestige of being at the pinnacle of Sprint Car racing, it also comes with a $350,000 payday.

CATCHING KINSER: A potential fifth championship for Sweet would also make history for car owner – Kasey Kahne.

Kahne has already earned five titles as an owner with Sweet’s four and one with Daryn Pittman in 2013. If Sweet can supply him with a sixth, Kahne will equal Steve Kinser Racing for the third most World of Outlaws championships as a car owner. “The King” was champion 14 times driving for Karl Kinser and six times under his own banner.

Karl leads the way in the category with 16 titles. Tony Stewart Racing’s nine championships rank second.

FIGHT FOR FOURTH: In addition to the battle for the title, there’s a three-man war for the fourth spot in the standings. Currently, Giovanni Scelzi owns the position with Logan Schuchart 34 points behind and Donny Schatz trailing Schuchart by 20 markers. The trio are separated by a total of 54 points.

There’s history on the line for Scelzi if he can hold on. The Californian is wrapping up his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign, and fourth would equal the best rookie finish in history. Both Jeff Swindell (1981) and Brad Doty (1982) hit the mark. KCP is about to claim their second Rookie of the Year as a team after earning the honor with Ian Madsen in 2018, which will make KCP only the third team/car owner to supply multiple Rookie of the Year winners. Kasey Kahne Racing has had three while Dave Helm’s team produced a pair. Scelzi has been strong in 10 Charlotte starts with six top fives, including a 2019 victory.

A fourth-place finish in points would be Schuchart’s second best result for a World of Outlaws campaign. The Shark Racing pilot has won four times at the North Carolina 4/10-mile, most recently at last year’s World Finals opener. The Hanover, PA native has also podiumed 11 times in 28 Feature starts.

Over the years, Schatz has owned The Dirt Track at Charlotte. His 14 wins outrank the second most by nine. Two of those victories came during the final two nights of 2022. The 10-time Series champion is looking to keep his streak of 20 straight years of finishing in the top five in Series points alive.

ENDING STRONG: While some have their points position essentially settled, there’s still plenty of hunger in those drivers to close out 2023 strong for an even better 2024.

Carson Macedo was in contention for the championship throughout the first half of the campaign but has slipped out of reach in the second half as he’s 140 points behind Sweet. It’s still been another stout season with Jason Johnson Racing for Macedo as he’s won seven times, set Simpson Quick Time on 14 occasions, and grabbed 19 podiums. The Lemoore, CA native is yet to win at Charlotte, but has been in the top five in four of his last five tries including a runner-up last year.

Sheldon Haudenschild sits seventh in points in his seventh year on the tour. The Wooster, OH native has collected a trio of victories in 2023 and looks to add to that total before the season ends. Charlotte hasn’t been the kindest to him, but he did pick up his second-best finish at the track with a third-place effort to conclude last season.

Spencer Bayston will cap his sophomore season with an eighth-place finish in points. The CJB Motorsports pilot has finished eighth in three of his last four Features in Charlotte and owns a best finish of fourth (2018) at the facility.

FIRST-TIME WINNER?: Since its opening in 2000, The Dirt Track at Charlotte has produced a few notable first-time World of Outlaws winners.

Back in 2003, Blake Feese led all 22 laps of a rain-shortened main event for his one and only Series victory in his 29th Feature start. Three years later, Kevin Swindell went to Victory Lane to become, at the time, the youngest winner in Series history. Fast forward nine years to when Dusty Zomer wheeled the Blazin’ Racin’ machine to his first win at Charlotte.

Three first-time winners – Brady Bacon, Corey Day, and Zeb Wise – have already arose from the 2023 campaign, and Charlotte’s history suggests we could see another before the year is done. Full-time Series drivers – Robbie Price, Noah Gass, and Bill Rose – are still seeking their first win. And World Finals always attracts drivers from all over, plenty of which will be chasing their first victory this week.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the World Finals racing live on DIRTVision.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Wednesday – Saturday, Nov. 1-4 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC

ON THE INTERNET

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
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Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
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DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (68/71 Races):

1. 49 – Brad Sweet (9226PTS) 2. 2 – David Gravel (-50PTS) 3. 41 – Carson Macedo (-140PTS) 4. 18 – Gio Scelzi (-452PTS) 5. 1S – Logan Schuchart (-486PTS) 6. 15 – Donny Schatz (-506PTS) 7. 17 – Sheldon Haudenschild (-586PTS) 8. 5 – Spencer Bayston (-760PTS) 9. 3Z – Brock Zearfoss (-1320PTS) 10. 83 – James McFadden (-1788PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (19 Drivers):

11 wins – David Gravel (Big Game Motorsports #2)

10 wins – Brad Sweet (Kasey Kahne Racing #49)

7 wins – Carson Macedo (Jason Johnson Racing #41)

6 wins – James McFadden (Roth Motorsports #83), Logan Schuchart (Shark Racing #1S), Rico Abreu (Rico Abreu Racing #24)

4 wins – Kyle Larson (Silva Motorsports #57), Donny Schatz (Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15)

3 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild (Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17)

2 wins – Buddy Kofoid (CMS Racing #11, Roth Motorsports #83JR)

1 win – Brady Bacon (TKH Motorsports #21), Anthony Macri (Macri Motorsports #39), Brian Brown (Brian Brown Racing #21), Gio Scelzi (KCP Racing #18), Spencer Bayston (CJB Motorsports #5), Corey Day (Jason Meyers Racing #14), Brent Marks (Murray-Marks #19), Tyler Courtney (Clauson Marshall Racing #7BC), Zeb Wise (Rudeen Racing #26)

FEATURE LAPS LED (25 Drivers):

335 laps – Brad Sweet

268 laps – James McFadden

234 laps – Rico Abreu

220 laps – Carson Macedo

210 laps – David Gravel

172 laps – Logan Schuchart

118 laps – Kyle Larson

114 laps – Buddy Kofoid

108 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild

104 laps – Donny Schatz

62 laps – Brent Marks

57 laps – Gio Scelzi

40 laps – Spencer Bayston, Corey Day

31 laps – Brian Brown

19 laps – Tyler Courtney

18 laps – Lance Dewease

15 laps – Cole Macedo

11 laps – Anthony Macri, Daryn Pittman

10 laps – Cory Eliason

3 laps – Brady Bacon, Danny Varin, Justin Peck

1 lap – Austin McCarl

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (17 Drivers):

14 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo

13 QuickTimes – David Gravel

6 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet

5 QuickTimes – Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu

3 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid

2 QuickTimes – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Gio Scelzi, Tanner Holmes

1 QuickTime – Brian Brown, Donny Schatz, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Kyle Larson

HEAT RACE WINNERS (46 Drivers):

29 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, David Gravel

20 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet

15 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, James McFadden

14 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz

13 Heat Wins – Buddy Kofoid, Gio Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild

12 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu

9 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston

6 Heat Wins – Brian Brown

5 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Brent Marks

4 Heat Wins – Cory Eliason

3 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Parker Price-Miller

2 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Kerry Madsen, Robbie Price, Tim Kaeding, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Tyler Courtney, Kasey Kahne

1 Heat Win – Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, Mark Dobmeier, Austin McCarl, Lachlan McHugh, Ryan Timms, Tim Estenson, Kyle Larson, Shane Stewart, Lance Dewease, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Ian Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Dominic Scelzi, Kalib Henry, Dylan Bloomfield, Justin Sanders, Zeb Wise

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (51 Drivers):

45 Dashes – Carson Macedo, David Gravel

43 Dashes – Brad Sweet

30 Dashes – Logan Schuchart

29 Dashes – Gio Scelzi

27 Dashes – James McFadden

26 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild

23 Dashes – Donny Schatz

22 Dashes – Rico Abreu

20 Dashes – Spencer Bayston

17 Dashes – Buddy Kofoid

9 Dashes – Brent Marks

8 Dashes – Jacob Allen, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss

7 Dashes – Justin Peck, Brian Brown

6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Robbie Price, Kasey Kahne

5 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Corey Day

4 Dashes – Justin Sanders, Parker Price-Miller

3 Dashes – Danny Dietrich, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo, Tanner Holmes

2 Dashes – Garet Williamson, Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Dominic Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Devon Borden

1 Dash – Brady Bacon, Chad Trout, Dylan Norris, Cap Henry, Stuart Brubaker, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Shane Stewart, Danny Varin, Ian Madsen, Shane Golobic, Kalib Henry, Dylan Bloomfield, Daryn Pittman, Sye Lynch, Zeb Wise

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (37 Drivers):

5 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild

4 LCS Wins – Spencer Bayston, Robbie Price

3 LCS Wins - Noah Gass, James McFadden, Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart

2 LCS Wins – Parker Price-Miller, Carson Macedo, Brock Zearfoss, Tim Estenson, Donny Schatz, Kerry Madsen

1 LCS Win – Hunter Schuerenberg, Wayne Johnson, Ryan Timms, Ayrton Gennetten, Kraig Kinser, Freddie Rahmer, Henry Malcuit, Cole Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Sye Lynch, Cory Eliason, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Jacob Allen, Daryn Pittman, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Jamie Veal, Kaleb Johnson, Lachlan McHugh, Tanner Holmes, Austen Wheatley, Buddy Kofoid, Danny Dietrich, Dusty Zomer

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (35 Drivers):

7 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild

6 Hard Chargers – James McFadden

5 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz

4 Hard Chargers – Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney

3 Hard Chargers – Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Danny Dietrich

2 Hard Chargers – Justin Peck, David Gravel, Spencer Bayston, Corey Day, Robbie Price, Gio Scelzi

1 Hard Charger – Blake Hahn, Buddy Kofoid, Joe B. Miller, Kyle Larson, Hunter Schuerenberg, Kyle Moody, Freddie Rahmer, Skylar Gee, Cole Duncan, Austin Pierce, Brenham Crouch, Tim Kaeding, Jacob Allen, Caden Englehart, Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Dale Blaney, Tasker Phillips, Brent Marks, Kaleb Johnson, Tanner Holmes

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

34 Podiums – David Gravel

29 Podiums – Brad Sweet

19 Podiums – Carson Macedo

15 Podiums – Rico Abreu, Donny Schatz

14 Podiums – Logan Schuchart

11 Podiums – James McFadden

10 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild

9 Podiums – Buddy Kofoid

7 Podiums – Gio Scelzi

6 Podiums – Kyle Larson, Brent Marks

4 Podiums – Spencer Bayston

3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Jacob Allen, Corey Day

2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney

1 Podium – Danny Dietrich, Kasey Kahne, Devon Borden, Parker Price-Miller, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson, Dave Blaney, Tanner Holmes, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi, Daryn Pittman, Zeb Wise

TOP 10 FINISHES (64 Drivers):

60 Top 10s – Brad Sweet

57 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, David Gravel

46 Top 10s – Gio Scelzi

43 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart

42 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild

41 Top 10s – Donny Schatz

39 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston

38 Top 10s – James McFadden

33 Top 10s – Rico Abreu

25 Top 10s – Buddy Kofoid

15 Top 10s – Justin Peck

14 Top 10s – Jacob Allen, Brent Marks

11 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Kasey Kahne, Cory Eliason

8 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Brock Zearfoss

7 Top 10s – Danny Dietrich, Brian Brown, Tanner Holmes

6 Top 10s – Corey Day

5 Top 10s – Dominic Scelzi, Justin Sanders

4 Top 10s – Zeb Wise, Lance Dewease, Robbie Price

3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Freddie Rahmer, Parker Price-Miller

2 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Blake Hahn, Brady Bacon, Tim Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Cole Duncan, Daryn Pittman

1 Top 10 – Devon Borden, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Joe B. Miller, Hunter Schuerenberg, Brandon Rahmer, Chad Trout, Cap Henry, Stuart Brubaker, Skylar Gee, Austin McCarl, Garet Williamson, Shane Stewart, Larry Wight, Noah Gass, Rusty Hickman, Kerry Madsen, Jason Solwold, Chase Johnson, T.J. Stutts, Scott Bogucki, Brenham Crouch

2023 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)

2. Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (2)

3. Sat, Feb 11* / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / James McFadden (1)

4. Sun, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)

5. Mon, March 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (3)

6. Sat, March 18 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Rico Abreu (1)

7. Fri, March 24 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Buddy Kofoid (1)

8. Sat, March 25 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Brad Sweet (1)

9. Fri, March 31 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brad Sweet (2)

10. Sat, April 1 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / James McFadden (2)

11. Fri, April 7 / U.S. 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)

12. Sat, April 8 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (2)

13. Fri, April 14 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (3)

14. Fri, April 28 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL / David Gravel (4)

15. Sat, April 29 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)

16. Fri, May 5 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)

17. Sat, May 6 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (3)

18. Wed, May 10 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Anthony Macri (1)

19. Fri, May 12 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (4)

20. Fri, May 19 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Donny Schatz (1)

21. Sat, May 20 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Donny Schatz (2)

22. Fri, May 26 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Brad Sweet (5)

23. Sat, May 27 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Carson Macedo (2)

24. Mon, May 29 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / James McFadden (3)

25. Fri, June 2 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / David Gravel (5)

26. Sat, June 3 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Carson Macedo (3)

27. Fri, June 9 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1)

28. Sat, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (6)

29. Fri, June 16 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Gio Scelzi (1)

30. Sat, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)

31. Wed, June 21 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Kyle Larson (1)

32. Thurs, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / James McFadden (4)

33. Fri, June 23 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Logan Schuchart (2)

34. Sat, June 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (7)

35. Fri, June 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (6)

36. Sat, July 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (8)

37. Sat, July 8 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (4)

38. Tues, July 11 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2)

39. Fri, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (5)

40. Sat, July 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Donny Schatz (3)

41. Thurs, July 20 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / David Gravel (9)

42. Fri, July 21 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Logan Schuchart (3)

43. Sat, July 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Rico Abreu (4)

44. Sun, July 30 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (10)

45. Fri, Aug 4 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Spencer Bayston (1)

46. Sat, Aug 5 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (3)

47. Sat, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (4)

48. Thurs, Aug 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / James McFadden (5)

49. Fri, Aug 18 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / James McFadden (6)

50. Sat, Aug 19 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (6)

51. Fri, Aug 25 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Logan Schuchart (4)

52. Sat, Aug 26 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Logan Schuchart (5)

53. Thurs, Aug 31 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)

54. Fri, Sept 1 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Rico Abreu (5)

55. Sat, Sept 2 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Brad Sweet (7)

56. Mon, Sept 4 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Logan Schuchart (6)

57. Sat, Sept 9 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / Corey Day (1)

58. Fri, Sept 15 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Brad Sweet (8)

59. Sat, Sept 16 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, CA / Buddy Kofoid (2)

60. Fri, Sept 22 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (6)

61. Sat, Sept 23 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Brad Sweet (9)

62. Fri, Sept 29 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (10)

63. Sat, Sept 30 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (1)

64. Fri, Oct 6 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Tyler Courtney (1)

65. Sat, Oct 7 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Zeb Wise (1)

66. Sat, Oct 14 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Donny Schatz (4)

67. Fri, Oct 20 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Carson Macedo (7)

68. Sat, Oct 21 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / David Gravel (11)

CAREERS INTERTWINED: Sweet, Gravel Again Set to Battle for World of Outlaws Championship

The duo is separated by 50 points heading into the World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 1-4

CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2023) - Brad Sweet and David Gravel can’t seem to get away from each other.

For the third consecutive year, the two are heading to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World Finals (Nov. 1-4) engaged in a war for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship. Sweet – the four-time and reigning titlist – holds a 50-marker advantage with a trio of points-paying races remaining.

It should come as no surprise that these two are once again locked in battle. After all, their careers with the World of Outlaws boast many similarities. Being born on opposite coasts led them down different paths to The Greatest Show on Dirt. But ever since they arrived, Sweet and Gravel have climbed the record books alongside each other.

Gravel grabbed the 2013 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, then Sweet did the same in 2014. Both have remained consistent forces in the years since as they’ve become the two leading drivers on the tour.

Sweet is up to 89 career wins while Gravel sits close behind at 87. They both cleared the 800 Feature starts milestone this season. Both have won two legs of the sport’s Triple Crown with Gravel owning Knoxville Nationals and National Open titles, while Sweet has topped Knoxville and the Kings Royal. “The Big Cat” holds the lead in career podiums with 286 to Gravel’s 225. But Gravel has the advantage in Quick Times with 110 over Sweet’s 75. Throughout their careers, as they’ve both improved, they’ve forced each other to elevate their game.

“David’s a great racer and has a lot of experience as do I now,” Sweet said. “He has his strong suits as do I. We’re just pretty evenly matched. A lot of it comes down to just a few little things throughout a season that kind of separates us. I feel like he’s really stepped his program up, and they’ve definitely kept us on our toes. It’s been fun competing. I love the competition. I love that we’re pushing each other to be better.”

“Our win totals are close,” Gravel said. “We used to run third and fourth in points it seemed like every year. It was Daryn (Pittman) and Donny (Schatz) up front. Then, we kind of took the jump to get ahead of Daryn and run second and third every year for a while. Now, Brad’s been able to win the last several championships. I feel like we’re both at the top of our games. We’re just a half a step behind in points. But as far as wins and big wins, we’re right there.”

They’ve been neck and neck once again all throughout 2023. Through 68 races, Gravel is slightly ahead in wins (11 to Sweet’s 10) and podiums (34 to 29). But Sweet has been in the top 10 more often (60 to Gravel’s 57) and has zero DNFs. Gravel didn’t finish didn’t finish at U.S. 36 Raceway and Tri-State Speedway in the spring and then at Jackson Motorplex one night in August.

“It’s not been our best season we’ve ever had, but it’s certainly not been our worst,” Sweet said. “I think every Outlaw tour has its peaks and valleys. Really, what defines a season, I think, is how you get through the adversity. I’ve said that for a lot of years. Typically, when you’re running good, things are easy. It’s when you have to go through hard nights or hard stretches and wrecks and things like that, that’s what’s going to win or lose you a championship.”

Sweet and his team are fresh off combatting adversity at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. A Feature flip left them with a severely damaged race car. But they managed to make repairs and salvage a seventh-place finish with his NAPA Auto Parts #49 machine, limiting the amount Gravel was able to cut into their lead.

For Gravel, he feels that his Huset’s Speedway/Billion Automotive #2 has been the fastest ride throughout the year, but a handful of unfortunate nights have caused his current deficit in the standings.

“I think it’s definitely our best season to date,” Gravel said. “I feel like we’ve been the best car all year long. We’ve just had a lot more bad nights that sadly we can’t take away. We’ve had a couple part failures. A couple people crashing in front of us. Crashing one night at U.S. 36. There’s probably about six nights this year that kind of wavered our year. The DNFs and blowing a tire halfway at Jackson then getting crashed the next night. A lot of bad nights. It’s not just one night. I think it’s really impressive that we’re still in the hunt with all the things we’ve had to battle through all year.”

Now, Sweet and Gravel are fully focused on four nights of World of Outlaws World Finals action on The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The two will lay down laps on Wednesday, Nov. 1, on Low-E Insulation Qualifying Night to position themselves for the three points-paying races on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 2-4. And then one man will stand atop the championship stage when the dust settles on Saturday night.

Gravel’s overall résumé at Charlotte suggests he has the upper hand with five victories at the 4/10-mile, good enough for second most. Sweet is yet to win at Charlotte but has podiumed four times in his last nine starts and hasn’t missed the top 10 over that stretch.

“We’re continuing to fight,” Gravel said. “We’ve had a great stretch here the last month or so. We’re going to keep putting our head down and control what we can control. It would be very satisfying to beat him, but he still hasn’t had a DNF this year and we have three. I feel like when you’ve got a guy that’s as consistent and there every night, it’s hard to make that up. We’re going to try to win three races at Charlotte, and wherever we end up is where we end up.”

For tickets to the World of Outlaws World Finals, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the racing live on DIRTVision.

ARIZONA SUN RISING: Hayden Reinbold’s I-44 Win Shines Light on 2023 Progress

Crew chief Connor Ridge, father Andy Reinbold reflect on driver’s fledgling talent

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 25, 2023) – As Hayden Reinbold climbed atop the cage of his Midget, checkered flag in hand, the annoying ‘0’ in his win column finally turned to ‘1’.

In the final race of the 2023 season for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota at I-44 Riverside Speedway, Reinbold scored his first career national Midget Feature win.

Showered in red and white confetti, the moment was more like a cherry atop the sundae, highlighting the improvement he and the Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports team had spent all season concocting.

“I was excited, but I felt like it was well-deserved – we worked really hard this season,” Reinbold said. “We came a really long way.”

In the first half of the Xtreme Outlaw season, his rookie struggles entangled him, compiling an average finish of 14.6 with only two top-10 finishes through the first 15 races. But Reinbold spawned a dramatic turnaround through the last 14 events on the schedule, notching three podium finishes, 10 top-10s and an average finish of 7.6.

An improvement of that caliber midway through the season is a rarity in motorsports. So, what parted the clouds for his “Arizona sun” to shine so suddenly?

“Comfortableness,” Reinbold, of Chandler, AZ, said. “I feel like Connor (Ridge) and Jacob (Johnston) kept giving me consistent cars, and it just allowed me to keep improving and getting better.

“They just kept pushing me. They never gave up on me.”

Standing by his side for Victory Lane photos after I-44 was crew chief Connor Ridge, who had coached the 19-year-old since 2021 after joining the Reinbold/Underwood team the year prior. Earlier, he and Reinbold went through their pre-race routine, but the feeling was a little different this time. The AME Electrical, Spike/Stanton No. 19AZ was starting on the pole with a massive championship battle going on behind him.

“I always push him out on the four-wheeler, and I just tell him, ‘Give me 30 good laps, and I’ll see you on the front stretch,’” Ridge said.

Reinbold responded with 30 good laps. Thirty untouched laps. Nobody, not even newly crowned champion Jade Avedisian, could get close enough to make a move for the lead by the checkered.

Though the race on the track was over, Ridge’s heartbeat still raced within.

“There were a couple times when I was like, ‘Come on Hayden, keep rolling, keep up your tempo, keep doing your thing,’” Ridge said. “There was a point in time where I was like, ‘Oh man, we’re gonna throw this thing away and all this work’s gonna be for nothing.’

“But he pulled through and did his job like he should’ve done. I’m very proud of his efforts; very proud to be in the role that I am here at Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports.”

While the team rode the rollercoaster of emotions at the track, quite the opposite emotion was shown from Hayden’s father and team owner, Andy Reinbold, who was watching live on DIRTVision.

“I really felt pretty comfortable about it the whole race; didn’t really worry too much,” he said. “It was apparent to me that he was the best car and the best driver on the track that day.”

Growing up, Hayden was a basketball and football player. It wasn’t until shortly after the pandemic restrictions of 2020 were lifted that he asked Andy to try racing for himself. The two went out on the road with a Midget for Hayden’s first season, and right away, Andy saw the signs of a future national Midget series competitor.

“When he started – at the time, I had a crew chief that worked on Sprint Cars for me, and Hayden and I just messed around with Midgets for a very small part of time, about a year,” Reinbold said. “I could just tell he had what it took. I could tell when he’s there to race and when he’s there to win, or when he’s struggling. As a parent, you can see that.”

Andy was a Non-Wing Sprint Car racer himself in the early 2000s before expanding ownership into the Midget world and handing off the driving duties to other drivers – several of which served as teammates to Hayden when he first got behind the wheel.

“His teammates have always been Tanner Thorson, Logan Seavey, Daison Pursley – it’s never been able to be just Hayden Reinbold,” Andy said. “We always have a high-caliber driver as a teammate. He doesn’t whine or complain about that stuff. He just stays even keeled.”

When Hayden was paired with Ridge as a driver-crew chief duo during the 2021 season, the two started taking steps down the long-and-winding road to the top of the national Midget scene. A couple wins notched in local competition at Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois in 2022 were among the first saplings of success they saw and continued to build on in 2023.

“Every night when we get done racing, we always try and take a step back and say, ‘What’s something I need to get better with on the car?’ or ‘What’s something that [Hayden] needs to get better with his driving?’” Ridge said. “He’s a good enough kid and recognizes when it’s him or it’s the car, and he has no problem saying one or the other. I think that helps us out a lot.”

Through Chili Bowl Nationals, the 29-race Xtreme Outlaw Series plus several starts with USAC and POWRi, the two have refined their at-track dynamic in 2023. Ridge said it’s been a tough task at times balancing his own instincts as a crew chief and Reinbold’s needs as a driver, but it was that balance they found in the second half of the season that brought them more consistent, competitive finishes.

“What Hayden wants sometimes isn’t the same thing that I see the car needs,” Ridge said. “So, a lot of times, I just started giving him what he wants.

“If he wants a little bit better of this, or a little bit more of that, I have no problem giving him that. At the end of the day, he’s the one driving it.”

From where they began 2023, Reinbold/Underwood’s Midget operation has improved throughout, boasting Xtreme Outlaw wins with Daison Pursley in August and Reinbold’s first only two weeks ago. Now, it’s all eyes on taller mountains in 2024.

“At the beginning of the year, it was just keep getting laps, keep improving, keep getting better,” Reinbold said. “I never would have thought the improvement would have come so fast.”

“As relieved as I was to get the big win, I’m even more excited to see what the future holds for us,” Ridge said.

GOING OUT IN STYLE: Gravel Nips McFadden at Checkered Flag for Final Devil’s Bowl Victory

Gravel snags first Devil’s Bowl win with thrilling finish in the track’s final race

MESQUITE, TX (Oct. 21, 2023) - The anticipation was sky high. The final race at the birthplace of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 1978 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The stands were filled to capacity. Could the finale live up to the hype?

Absolutely it could.

After chasing James McFadden for the entirety of the 30-lap finale, David Gravel saw an opening on the final lap and capitalized. With the checkered flag in sight, Gravel slipped to McFadden’s outside coming out of Turn 4, the two touched wheels, and Gravel stole the victory at the finish line.

The thousands of fans rose to their feet to watch a photo finish with a .015 second margin of victory. Oddly enough, the lapped car right next to them was none other than Riley Goodno, who was driving a car that paid tribute to Kenny Woodruff’s machine that Jimmy Boyd took to Victory Lane in the first ever World of Outlaws race at Devil’s Bowl. The perfect punctuation to the decades of Devil’s Bowl history.

“What a way to send off Devil’s Bowl. How about that?” Gravel said., “I’m sick of running second. I saw a stat that I ran six seconds in the last 10 races, so that was way too many. I was sending it no matter what. I know Carson (Macedo) and Brad (Sweet) were having trouble, but at the end of the day, I’ve just got to try to win races no matter what they do. Happy to finally get one.”

Gravel’s win at Devil’s Bowl marked his first at the Mesquite, TX track in his 17th attempt with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Watertown, CT’s 87th career Series victory gives him sole possession of 10th all-time, breaking a tie with Daryn Pittman. On the track’s final night of racing, the Big Game Motorsports driver became the 30th different competitor to win a World of Outlaws race at the birthplace of the Series.

Gravel started the race in the second spot with McFadden to his inside on the pole after the two ran first and second in the Toyota Racing Dash. McFadden jumped ahead early on, but a major moment in the race came on a restart with 2 laps complete. Lining up in the second row, teammates Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne came together resulting in both of them flipping on the front straightaway.

Sweet, the points leader, brought the battered KKR #49 to the Federated Car Care Work Zone in need of many repairs. After non-stop thrashing on the Napa Auto Parts machine, Sweet was able to rejoin the field.

On the ensuing restart, McFadden again powered ahead of Gravel to maintain the top spot. Way back in the field, Sweet began picking through cars. But trouble struck again for the four-time champion as his left rear tire shredded on the eighth lap. Back to the Work Zone Sweet went, and back to the track be returned with a new tire.

The race endured a couple more yellow flags over the next dozen laps, and the last one helped set up a finish for the ages.

McFadden favored the low line of the racetrack in the latter stages while Gravel looked to the top to locate a potential lane by McFadden. As the laps dwindled, Gravel managed to continue cutting into McFadden’s advantage. When the two reached traffic with only a handful of laps to go, Gravel had his momentum built up and was ready to make a move.

On the final lap, McFadden found himself stuck behind a slower car in the preferred inside line. While the bottom might’ve been faster, Gravel had no intentions of staying behind and settling for second after posting six runner-ups in the previous 10 races.

As the two screamed out of Turn 4 on the last lap, Gravel found enough momentum and space to squeeze through to the outside. McFadden stayed heavily on the gas, but the momentum and win belonged to David Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team by inches over McFadden.

Gravel put his name in the record books as the final driver to top a World of Outlaws race at Devil’s Bowl with an all-time finish.

“Obviously, I wasn’t alive in 1978,” Gravel said. “But this is where it all started. It’s cool to put my stamp on the end of the race. What a great crowd tonight, probably the biggest crowd ever in the history of Devil’s Bowl.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow for McFadden who claimed the runner-up spot after leading the entire race except the final few feet in the Roth Motorsports #83. And even though disappointed, McFadden kept the larger perspective in mind of the fans being treated to a memorable conclusion to Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s last race.

“It sucks to lose it by a nose,” McFadden said. “But it’s a good way to send the place off. Hopefully the fans enjoyed that. My car was really, really good, but then sort of over the last eight laps I got really, really tight.”

Rounding out the final Devil’s Bowl podium was Donny Schatz aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15. The 10-time champion moved forward from ninth and even passed Gravel at one point for second before slipping back a spot.

“We thought when we got racing with David there we were going to have a chance to get going,” Schatz explained. “I moved up the racetrack a little bit and got in his dirty air, and for some reason I was just stuck. I kept trying it. We got by him, but once I got myself back in clean air I was kind of in trouble and he went back by.”

Giovanni Scelzi and Cory Eliason completed the top five. Scelzi also claimed the KSE Racing Hard Charger after advancing from 15th to his fourth place finishing position.

After flipping and two trips to the Federated Car Care Work Zone, Brad Sweet managed to drive all the way back up to seventh. Gravel’s win brought him within 50 points of Sweet with only the World Finals remaining.

Sweet snagged the Simpson Performance Products QuickTime Award, his fourth in the last five races.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Kasey Kahne. NOS Energy Drink Heats Two and Three were topped by Sheldon Haudenschild and Spencer Bayston.

Logan Schuchart won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up the 2023 season and crown a champion with four nights of World Finals action at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Nov. 1-4. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 83-James McFadden[1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 4. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[15]; 5. 11-Cory Eliason[14]; 6. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[19]; 9. 7S-Robbie Price[20]; 10. 1-Brenham Crouch[16]; 11. 20G-Noah Gass[10]; 12. 4-Austin Mundie[22]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[13]; 15. 1J-Danny Jennings[18]; 16. J2-John Carney II[8]; 17. 21W-Riley Goodno[21]; 18. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[17]; 19. (DNF) 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 20. (DNF) 95-Matt Covington[24]; 21. (DNF) 9-Kasey Kahne[6]; 22. (DNF) 84-Scott Bogucki[7]; 23. (DNF) 52-Blake Hahn[12]; 24. (DNF) 19-Ayrton Gennetten[23]

COWBOY CARSON: Macedo Masters Traffic for First Devil’s Bowl Speedway Victory

Macedo takes the Jason Johnson Racing #41 back to Devil’s Bowl Victory Lane for seventh with of the season

MESQUITE, TX (Oct. 20, 2023) - Throughout his time in racing, Jason Johnson always viewed Devil’s Bowl Speedway as one of his favorite tracks. The Mesquite, TX oval is roughly five hours from Johnson’s hometown of Eunice, LA. The “Ragin’ Cajun” experienced plenty of success at the half mile including a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory in 2017.

And on Friday night, current Jason Johnson Racing pilot – Carson Macedo – honored Johnson with a win at Devil’s Bowl on night one of the Sprint Car Stampede.

The Lemoore, CA native started on the pole of the 25-lap Feature and delivered a phenomenal drive. A strong start. A timely lane change. And excellent movement through traffic ushered Macedo to his first checkered flag at the historic facility during the track’s final weekend.

After the checkers, members of Johnson’s family joined the celebration. A jubilant Jaxx (Jason’s son) rose atop the wing of the Albaugh #41 with Macedo as the crowd roared. The Jason Johnson Racing machine made it back to Devil’s Bowl Victory Lane.

“It’s really special,” Macedo commented. “Devil’s Bowl has got a lot of history. The Johnson family, a lot of them are from this area or close to it and it’s special for them. Craig and Debra are here – Jason’s parents. Bobbi and Jaxx. Jaxx was able to get up on the wing with me.

“My guys just did an incredible job. Philip and Brooke (Dietz) owning this #41 car, they give us first class equipment. And Philip, Clyde (Knipp), and Nate (Repetz) just executed all night. I feel like we laid down a really respectable lap in Qualifying. We were able to get into the Dash, win the Dash from second, and then capitalize on that pole starting spot and lead every lap of the Feature.”

Macedo is up to 35 career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt, moving him within one of tying Shane Stewart for 20th on the all-time win list. Devil’s Bowl becomes the 23rd different track where Macedo owns a World of Outlaws triumph. It’s Macedo’s second win in the state of Texas, and this one makes him and the JJR crew $12,000 richer.

Courtesy of topping the Toyota Racing Dash, Macedo led the field to green and jumped out to an early advantage.

An early caution with five laps complete set up a pivotal restart. Macedo darted ahead again, but second-starting David Gravel didn’t allow him to escape. Gravel ripped the cushion aboard the Big Game Motorsports #2 while Macedo stayed in the grip down low. The different lines allowed Gravel to close in. But right when it looked as if he may slip around him, Macedo shifted to the top to take the line.

“I didn’t really know where to be in (Turns) 3 and 4, especially early. It seemed to kind of be letting go on me a little bit there off of (Turn) 4,” Macedo explained. “I didn’t feel like I could get off that corner as nice as I wanted to. I could look over and see Gravel kind of trailing my right rear (tire) on the top and decided it was time to move up and felt pretty good after that.”

After moving to the top, Macedo began to pull away again as the race cleared the halfway mark. Behind him, Gravel and a surging Brad Sweet were in a duel for second. Sweet closed on Gravel’s tail tank multiple times but couldn’t quite find a lane around.

As the race dipped inside of five laps to go, both Gravel and Sweet closed on Macedo as he struggled with a slower car. The lead was trimmed below half a second with only three circuits remaining. But Macedo delivered the winning move by clearing the lapped car coming to the white flag and driving by another in the final set of turns to keep the challengers behind him and lock up the victory and end a 16-race winless streak.

“I was really nervous at the end there,” Macedo admitted. “That lapper at the end there, I was having a really hard time guessing where he was going to go. He’d kind of last minute lane change down to the bottom and kind of halfway miss it, but then grab the grip and just mess up my air enough to where my pace was slowing way down.

“Sprint Car racing is a weird thing. You could have all the tools in the world, good equipment, an amazing mechanic in Phil Dietz, and two great guys in Clyde and Nate, and I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job, but still just not quite get the job done, not winning races. And you start to kind of doubt yourself and get in a little bit of a slump. But, man, Devil’s Bowl is a great place to get out of that.”

Behind Macedo, Gravel held off Sweet to claim the runner-up spot, his sixth second place finish in the last 10 races. The Watertown, CT native increased his Series-leading podium total to 33 in 2023. The repeated runner-ups without a win continued to fuel Gravel’s hunger for a trip back to Victory Lane before the season wraps up.

“I felt like Carson was just as good as us, and I thought Brad was just as good. I heard him a few times, as well,” Gravel said. “It’s just like playing a game of chess. A guy goes high and you go low and vice versa. It sucks. We’ve finished second a lot this year. It’s not a bad thing, but you definitely want to win.”

Rounding out the top three was the championship point leader – Sweet. Another solid run contributing toward his ongoing effort of a fifth straight title as he allowed Gravel to only take two points out of the gap between the two. The difference now sits at 64 points with four races to go. Sweet felt if he could’ve lined up a little closer to the front, he might’ve been able to wheel the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 to the win.

“We made some really good adjustments for the A (Feature) and were able to kind of drive up through there and honestly contend there for second,” Sweet said. “And I didn’t feel like Carson was pulling away. I felt like we had a car capable of winning, just needed a little track position. It was definitely getting slicker and more technical.”

Completing the top five was Spencer Bayston and Robbie Price notching a season-best run of fifth.

Sheldon Haudenschild grabbed the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 19th to 13th drive, his Series-leading seventh Hard Charger of the year.

Brad Sweet snagged his third Simpson Performance Products QuickTime in the last four races, fifth overall in 2023, and the 74th of his career.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to David Gravel. James McFadden and Spencer Bayston topped NOS Energy Drink Heats Two and Three.

Sheldon Haudenschild won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Noah Gass after he climbed as high as eighth in the Feature before slipping to 20th.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 21 for the final race at the birthplace of the Series. The finale of the Sprint Car Stampede will pay $20,023 to the winner and $1,978 to start. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 4. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]; 5. 7S-Robbie Price[3]; 6. 83-James McFadden[5]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 8. 1T-Tanner Holmes[8]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 10. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 11. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[15]; 12. 52-Blake Hahn[11]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[19]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart[13]; 15. 1-Brenham Crouch[7]; 16. 95-Matt Covington[17]; 17. 84-Scott Bogucki[21]; 18. 9-Kasey Kahne[20]; 19. 11-Cory Eliason[18]; 20. 20G-Noah Gass[10]; 21. 72-Harli White[16]; 22. 87J-Jace Park[23]; 23. J2-John Carney II[22]; 24. 19-Ayrton Gennetten[24]

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: Revisiting the World of Outlaws’ Inaugural Devil’s Bowl Race

The World of Outlaws will sendoff the track that was the birthplace of the Series, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, this weekend

MESQUITE, TX (Oct. 19, 2023) - The year is 1978. It’s mid-March in Texas, and race season is blooming like the bluebonnets.

Roughly 90 competitors representing 20 states have gathered in a town 20 minutes east of Dallas named Mesquite. Among the roster are some of the country’s greatest drivers. They’ve all made the journey to take on the Spring Nationals hosted by Devil’s Bowl Speedway. A 22-year-old from Tennessee is the defending event champion. His name is Sammy Swindell.

But this edition of the Spring Nationals isn’t the same as the year prior. Ted Johnson – a salesman and motorsports enthusiast from Beloit, WI – has worked together with a handful of the drivers to construct a organization. A way for the best traveling talents to collectively compete for big purses in pursuit of a championship and attract big crowds. They call it the World of Outlaws.

Johnson and the drivers come up with a number. To be considered a World of Outlaws points paying event, the Feature must award at least $2,000 to the winner. The first race to meet the criteria? The final night of the Spring Nationals at Devil’s Bowl.

Among those who’ve made the trip is an accomplished racer from California – Jimmy Boyd.

“The main thing I remember about that race is everybody that was anybody in Sprint Car racing at that time was there,” Boyd recalled during an interview on Open Red. “Rick Ferkel, (Doug) Wolfgang, (Steve) Kinser, and there’s a lot of people that guys don’t know about that were fast. Just everybody that was anybody was there.”

The pre-race promotion and press doesn’t often mention the unproven idea of the World of Outlaws in the lead up to the race. Two preliminary nights are run, but neither meet the $2,000 mark to be considered a World of Outlaws race. A local Devil’s Bowl regular – Norman Martin – claims the first on Thursday, March 16. The following night, South Dakota’s Doug Wolfgang bests Steve Kinser for the win.

Then, the focus shifts to Saturday, March 18. The day the World of Outlaws are truly born. A 50-lap finale around the Mesquite half mile sets the stage for the first race in Series history. Prelim winners – Martin and Wolfgang – make up the front row.

Martin gets the jump and leads the opening 23 circuits. But on the 24th lap, third-starting Jimmy Boyd moves into the lead. The Californian holds off Wolfgang to take the checkered flag and bank $2,000. He also leaves Devil’s Bowl as the first World of Outlaws winner and points leader.

“There’s a track out in Sacramento (CA) called West Capital Raceway. It’s closed down now, but the dirt (at Devil’s Bowl) was kind of similar to that,” Boyd said, looking back. “I was always better on a heavy track. I kind of suffered when it got dry slick. Devil’s Bowl reminded us a lot of West Capital. It was a little bigger than West Capital Raceway but pretty much the same. We took to it real good.”

Racers and fans alike didn’t yet understand the significance of that first race. The lack of coverage focusing on the World of Outlaws continues post-race. But it’s not long before the racing community grows aware of Johnson’s band of travelers. More events at premier facilities quickly elevates notoriety, and fans prioritize attending World of Outlaws races. As Jerry Clum wrote, “A strong heartbeat was heard, and the World of Outlaws was very definitely alive and kicking up a storm.”

Fast forward 45 years and more than 3,600 races, and Johnson’s vision still exists within today’s World of Outlaws. It remains the home to the country’s top Sprint Car drivers traveling the nation each and every year. But this weekend, the piece of history that started it all will conclude its final chapter.

The Greatest Show on Dirt is heading to Devil’s Bowl for two nights (Oct. 20-21). The track’s recent sale means the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Stampede will be the final event hosted by the historic facility. It’s only right that the Series that had its doors opened by Devil’s Bowl is there to help close the track’s doors. As a nod to both the first and final year of Devil’s Bowl hosting a World of Outlaws race, Saturday’s Feature pays $1,978-to-start and $20,023 to the winner.

And much like that race on March 18, 1978, the track will welcome many of the country’s best Sprint Car drivers ready to battle for the honor of the final winner at the Mesquite oval. Devil’s Bowl’s time may be coming to an end this weekend, but its impact and significance within the racing world will never be forgotten.

For tickets to the final race weekend at Devil’s Bowl, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Head to Devil’s Bowl One Last Time

The Sprint Car Stampede brings the World of Outlaws to their birthplace for the track’s final event with a special purse up for grabs

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars were born on March 18, 1978, at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. This weekend (Oct. 20-21), the Series’ long-standing history at the track will come to an end.

It all began with roughly 90 racers from across the country journeying to Mesquite, TX for a three-night event at the speedway, culminating in a $2,000-to-win finale.

That race, topped by Jimmy Boyd, was the first of what would become The Greatest Show on Dirt – the best drivers traveling the nation in search of Sprint Car stardom and big money.

This weekend, the Series heads to the Mesquite oval for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Stampede. The pair of nights will be the final two races held at the historic track as track promoter Lanny Edwards recently confirmed the sale of the facility. The event will offer a special purse with Friday handing out $12,000 to the winner, and on Saturday, as a nod to both the first and last World of Outlaws visits, the Feature will pay $20,023-to-win and $1,978-to-start.

It's set to be an emotional weekend with competitors from all over making the trip to Texas to try and be the last driver to win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

BUY DEVIL’S BOWL TICKETS

EVENT NOTES: In addition to the on-track action, comedian Jerry Longmire will be at Devil’s Bowl Speedway all weekend and will be doing a meet and greet at the World of Outlaws souvenir trailer on Saturday at 5pm (CT).

Also, to accommodate the increased number of fans expected for the event, the camping lot will be used for parking and there will be no on-site camping. Spectators can also park in the pit area for $10 a day.

Let’s look at the weekend’s top stories:

WHO WILL BE THE LAST?: Jimmy Boyd forever etched his name in Sprint Car history with his win in the first World of Outlaws race at Devil’s Bowl in 1978. And now a hungry group of drivers will be vying for the honor of topping the final race at the half mile.

Sadly, Devil’s Bowl will join a list of iconic racetracks that have closed over the course of history. Jac Haudenschild was the last to win with the World of Outlaws at the famed San Jose Speedway in California (1999). Chad Kemenah claimed the final at Phoenix, AZ’s Manzanita Speedway. Only a year ago, David Gravel made the trip to Victory Lane in the I-80 Speedway sendoff in Greenwood, NE.

Winning the final World of Outlaws race at any track locks up a meaningful spot in the record books. And doing so at the place where it all began for The Greatest Show on Dirt would make that honor even more special.

MESQUITE MASTERS: While Sammy Swindell will go down as the king of Devil’s Bowl with his 18 victories, a pair of current World of Outlaws full-timers have stood out from the rest heading into the weekend. Both Donny Schatz and Logan Schuchart own a trio of Devil’s Bowl triumphs.

Schatz found his success during the 2010s. The 10-time Series champion picked up wins in 2014, 2015, and most recently in 2018. Schatz enters the weekend fresh off his fourth win of the season at Lakeside.

Schuchart owned the Mesquite oval from 2019-2021, stringing together three consecutive victories aboard the Shark Racing #1S. Schuchart is in the company of Sammy Swindell and Mark Kinser as the only drivers to ever win three straight.

A single victory would equal Schatz or Schuchart with Danny Lasoski for the fifth most Devil’s Bowl wins. A weekend sweep would place either alongside Texan Gary Wright for the fourth most.

COWBOY CAT: Brad Sweet is undoubtedly among the favorites to wear the final cowboy hat handed out at Devil’s Bowl.

“The Big Cat” picked up his second Devil’s Bowl win in March as a part of his remarkable résumé at the Texas oval. In 15 career World of Outlaws starts, Sweet owns eight top fives, a 5.07 average finish, and has only missed the top 10 once.

Sweet also enters the weekend amid the hunt for his fifth consecutive championship. He and his Kasey Kahne Racing crew sit 66 markers ahead of David Gravel with five races remaining.

LAST CHANCE: In addition to those who’ve already collected checkered flags at Devil’s Bowl, there are a handful looking for their first trip to Victory Lane before it’s too late.

Current runner-up in points – David Gravel – has been beating on the door of a win with two Devil’s Bowl second place runs to his credit (2017 & 2020). The Big Game Motorsports pilot also posted a pair of fourths in the spring.

Through six attempts, Carson Macedo is yet to finish worse than seventh at Devil’s Bowl, but he’s also yet to stand atop the podium. The driver of the Jason Johnson Racing #41 has been on the two other steps of the podium – third (2023) and second (2021).

Quietly, Spencer Bayston has been a consistent force in limited action at Devil’s Bowl. The Lebanon, IN has made a trio of starts at the half mile and never finished worse than ninth. The Series sophomore is looking for a strong finish to his season.

LONE STAR STATE STAR: There are no Texas natives following the World of Outlaws tour, but there’s one Lone Star wheelman that could represent the host state with a Victory Lane visit in the final Devil’s Bowl race.

Sunnyvale, TX is a mere 10-minute drive from Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and it’s where Sam Hafertepe Jr. calls home. Throughout his career, Hafertepe has experienced plenty of success at his home track. Among that success is many wins including a complete sweep of this past weekend’s final running of the Winter Nationals featuring the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS).

In World of Outlaws competition, Hafertepe has made 10 starts at the half mile. In those attempts he’s posted four top 10s with a best of sixth, which occurred earlier this year.

TRAVELIN’ TO TEXAS: In addition to the World of Outlaws full-time roster and a handful of Texas locals, drivers are expected to invade from other states for the special occasion.

Coming from Missouri will be Ayrton Gennetten aboard the Hayward Motorsports #19. Two years ago, Gennetten led 23 laps of a Devil’s Bowl World of Outlaws Feature before finishing a career best fourth.

Sapulpa, OK's Blake Hahn will make the trip one state south for the Sprint Car Stampede. Like Hafertepe, Hahn recently swept the Winter Nationals at Devil's Bowl, claiming both nights in 2022. Back in March, Hahn earned his first World of Outlaws top-10 at Devil's Bowl.

Cory Eliason plans to be in attendance behind the wheel of the Crouch Motorsports #11. The Visalia, CA native has made a pair of World of Outlaws starts at Devil’s Bowl, both in 2018, with a best run of 12th. In 2020, Eliason competed at the Mesquite track with the All-Star Circuit of Champions there and finished fourth.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday & Saturday, Oct. 13-14 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX

ON THE INTERNET

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (66/71 Races):

1. 49 – Brad Sweet (8946PTS) 2. 2 – David Gravel (-66PTS) 3. 41 – Carson Macedo (-132PTS) 4. 18 – Gio Scelzi (-444PTS) 5. 1S – Logan Schuchart (-462PTS) 6. 15 – Donny Schatz (-502PTS) 7. 17 – Sheldon Haudenschild (-542PTS) 8. 5 – Spencer Bayston (-760PTS) 9. 3Z – Brock Zearfoss (-1300PTS) 10. 83 – James McFadden (-1792PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (19 Drivers):

10 wins – David Gravel (Big Game Motorsports #2), Brad Sweet (Kasey Kahne Racing #49)

6 wins – James McFadden (Roth Motorsports #83), Carson Macedo (Jason Johnson Racing #41), Logan Schuchart (Shark Racing #1S), Rico Abreu (Rico Abreu Racing #24)

4 wins – Kyle Larson (Silva Motorsports #57), Donny Schatz (Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15)

3 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild (Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17)

2 wins – Buddy Kofoid (CMS Racing #11, Roth Motorsports #83JR)

FEATURE LAPS LED (25 Drivers):

335 laps – Brad Sweet

239 laps – James McFadden

234 laps – Rico Abreu

209 laps – David Gravel

195 laps – Carson Macedo

172 laps – Logan Schuchart

118 laps – Kyle Larson

114 laps – Buddy Kofoid

108 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild

104 laps – Donny Schatz

62 laps – Brent Marks

57 laps – Gio Scelzi

40 laps – Spencer Bayston, Corey Day

31 laps – Brian Brown

19 laps – Tyler Courtney

18 laps – Lance Dewease

15 laps – Cole Macedo

11 laps – Anthony Macri, Daryn Pittman

10 laps – Cory Eliason

3 laps – Brady Bacon, Danny Varin, Justin Peck

1 lap – Austin McCarl

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (17 Drivers):

14 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo

13 QuickTimes – David Gravel

5 QuickTimes – Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu

4 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet

3 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid

2 QuickTimes – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Gio Scelzi, Tanner Holmes

1 QuickTime – Brian Brown, Donny Schatz, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Kyle Larson

HEAT RACE WINNERS (46 Drivers):

29 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo

28 Heat Wins – David Gravel

20 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet

15 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart

14 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, James McFadden

13 Heat Wins – Buddy Kofoid, Gio Scelzi

12 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Rico Abreu

7 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston

6 Heat Wins – Brian Brown

5 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Brent Marks

4 Heat Wins – Cory Eliason

3 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Parker Price-Miller

2 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Kerry Madsen, Robbie Price, Tim Kaeding, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Tyler Courtney

1 Heat Win – Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, Mark Dobmeier, Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Lachlan McHugh, Ryan Timms, Tim Estenson, Kyle Larson, Shane Stewart, Lance Dewease, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Ian Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Dominic Scelzi, Kalib Henry, Dylan Bloomfield, Justin Sanders, Zeb Wise

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (51 Drivers):

44 Dashes – Carson Macedo

43 Dashes – David Gravel

41 Dashes – Brad Sweet

30 Dashes – Logan Schuchart

29 Dashes – Gio Scelzi

25 Dashes – James McFadden, Sheldon Haudenschild

23 Dashes – Donny Schatz

22 Dashes – Rico Abreu

18 Dashes – Spencer Bayston

17 Dashes – Buddy Kofoid

9 Dashes – Brent Marks

8 Dashes – Jacob Allen, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss

7 Dashes – Justin Peck, Brian Brown

6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney

5 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Robbie Price, Kasey Kahne, Corey Day

4 Dashes – Justin Sanders, Parker Price-Miller

3 Dashes – Danny Dietrich, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo, Tanner Holmes

2 Dashes – Garet Williamson, Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Dominic Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Devon Borden

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (37 Drivers):

4 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Spencer Bayston, Robbie Price

3 LCS Wins - Noah Gass, James McFadden, Gio Scelzi

2 LCS Wins – Parker Price-Miller, Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Brock Zearfoss, Tim Estenson, Donny Schatz, Kerry Madsen

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (35 Drivers):

6 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden

5 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz

4 Hard Chargers – Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney

3 Hard Chargers – Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Danny Dietrich

2 Hard Chargers – Justin Peck, David Gravel, Spencer Bayston, Corey Day, Robbie Price

1 Hard Charger – Gio Scelzi, Blake Hahn, Buddy Kofoid, Joe B. Miller, Kyle Larson, Hunter Schuerenberg, Kyle Moody, Freddie Rahmer, Skylar Gee, Cole Duncan, Austin Pierce, Brenham Crouch, Tim Kaeding, Jacob Allen, Caden Englehart, Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Dale Blaney, Tasker Phillips, Brent Marks, Kaleb Johnson, Tanner Holmes

PODIUM FINISHES (30 Drivers):

32 Podiums – David Gravel

28 Podiums – Brad Sweet

18 Podiums – Carson Macedo

15 Podiums – Rico Abreu

14 Podiums – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz

10 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden

9 Podiums – Buddy Kofoid

7 Podiums – Gio Scelzi

6 Podiums – Kyle Larson, Brent Marks

4 Podiums – Spencer Bayston

3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Jacob Allen, Corey Day

2 Podiums – Tyler Courtney

TOP 10 FINISHES (63 Drivers):

58 Top 10s – Brad Sweet

56 Top 10s – Carson Macedo

55 Top 10s – David Gravel

44 Top 10s – Gio Scelzi

42 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart, Sheldon Haudenschild

39 Top 10s – Donny Schatz

37 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston

36 Top 10s – James McFadden

33 Top 10s – Rico Abreu

25 Top 10s – Buddy Kofoid

15 Top 10s – Justin Peck

14 Top 10s – Jacob Allen, Brent Marks

11 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Kasey Kahne

10 Top 10s – Cory Eliason

8 Top 10s – Kyle Larson

7 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Danny Dietrich, Brian Brown

6 Top 10s – Corey Day, Tanner Holmes

5 Top 10s – Dominic Scelzi, Justin Sanders

4 Top 10s – Zeb Wise, Lance Dewease

3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Freddie Rahmer, Parker Price-Miller

2 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Blake Hahn, Brady Bacon, Robbie Price, Tim Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Cole Duncan, Daryn Pittman