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Sheldon Haudenschild blows away competition at Ironman 55
Haudenschild earns $20k and Ironman title with dominating performance at Federated Auto Parts Raceway
PEVELY, MO – Aug. 3, 2019 – Ironman; a title earned, not given.Earned with the display of great strength. Earned with the display of great endurance. And earned with the display of great will power.
Sheldon Haudenschild displayed all three traits during Saturday's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Ironman 55 event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.
On the 70-degree night with 90% humidity, Haudenschild led 45 of the 55 laps in the caution free Feature, sprinted to the finish with an unprecedented 10.3 second lead over runner-up Donny Schatz and lapped up to fifth-place – including Series points leader and Friday night's winner at the raceway Brad Sweet.
"That right there was just a great car, me feeling comfortable and having a lot of fun," Haudenschild said.
The fun started for the Wooster, Ohio-native and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team Friday night with a runner-up finish to Sweet in the Night Before the Ironman 35-lap event. Haudenschild then backed up his performance with a second-place finish in his Drydene Heat race, coming to the finish side-by-side with Daryn Pittman. He then charged from fifth to the win in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – a victory he initially didn't want.
"I wanted to win the Heat race to get a better draw," Haudenschild said. "Once I didn't win the Heat my mindset kind of changed starting in the back of that Dash. I really didn't want to win the Dash. I was thinking a third-place start would be good to see what they (the leaders) were doing.
"But after the track prep, I think winning the Dash was a good move."
The entire 1/3-mile track was worked on before the 55-lap Feature, creating a new tacky racing surface.
When the 55-lap Feature went green, Schatz rocketed around the outside of Haudenschild on the exit of the first corner to take the lead. Tim Shaffer did the same the next corner, moving Haudenschild to third.
Five laps into the race – which saw lap times in the low 11 second bracket for the majority of it – Schatz caught lap traffic. At the same time, Haudenschild found his rhythm and charged his way back by Shaffer for second.
Then, in the time it takes to snap your fingers, the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 was on Schatz's bumper. No matter where Haudenschild placed his car on the track he found grip. The 10-time Series champion was prey with no protection.
On Lap 10, Schatz covered the high side into turn one, while Haudenschild launched his car to the middle lane. Haudenschild's tires held the better relationship with the clay surface and powered him by the Toco Warranty No. 15 car.
"I was really worried once [Shaffer] and Donny got by me," Haudenschild said. "I didn't quite know what to do. Once we got into traffic, I had the mindset I was going to get around them and run consistent laps."
From there, Haudenschild showed his strength. Showed his endurance. And showed his will power. He was the man without fear. His charge through lapped cars looked more like a game than a challenge. Whether it was a slide job to drive by several cars at a time or going three-wide between two lapped cars, Haudenschild didn't hesitate to make the move.
Once he lapped his way to the top-10, Sweet gave him his biggest challenge of the night. The two dueled for laps, with Sweet aggressively charging his way back by Haudenschild several times to remain on the lead lap. However, no one could match the No. 17 car.
Haudenschild eventually slid his way by Sweet with 17 laps to go and continued his hunt through the field. Schatz and Pittman's battle for second-place was quickly going from being a battle behind Haudenschild, to one in front of him.
The two series champions dueled for the position throughout the race, but Schatz prevailed with Pittman never finding a strong enough run to get by the reigning champion. However, with Haudenschild out of sight, they thought they were potentially battling for the win.
"I thought I actually won; I couldn't see him," Schatz said. "I thought maybe he had run out of fuel or pulled off or something. I can't believe it went green to checkered."
He added all he could do was commend Haudenschild on his performance and applaud him.
"That was a whoopin' right there," said Schatz, who is now two points behind Sweet in the Series point standings.
Pittman also stated he thought he was battling Schatz for the win at the end. He was happy with the result, though, after a few weeks of undesired finishes.
Nothing surprised Haudenschild. The heat didn't get to him. The long duration of the race didn't get to him, and he knew he had a good car underneath him.
"Really, it wasn't that physical at all," Haudenschild said. "Keeping your mind right, making smart moves. I looked up at the board on Lap 51 and I probably shouldn't have, 'cause I think I did make one mistake after that. When the board is right in front of your face it's hard not to. Especially in this long of a race. I was trying to play it cool and wanted to get it over with. Fifty-five laps is a long race."
At the end of those 55 laps, though, celebration. After climbing to the top wing of his Sprint Car, spewing NOS Energy Drink all around Victory Lane, Haudenschild was greeted with congratulatory remarks and a hug from his hero – his dad.
"It was pretty awesome," Jac Haudenschild said about his son's win. "He lapped me a couple of times, so I know he must have been going pretty good."
Haudenschild's victory earned him a $20,000 payday and his second win of the season – seventh career World of Outlaws win overall. After some struggles in the first half of the season – missing five Features – he and his team have been building momentum in the summer months.
"It's huge," Haudenschild said about the win. "Just to get it for our guys. Build a little bit of confidence. Put another win on the calendar and just keep working on it. I feel like we still have work to do on different kinds of tracks. Definitely this track is kind of my style.
"It's been a little bit of a struggle the beginning of the year. We're not quite where we want to be win wise, but we're working at it and I feel like we're doing it at the right time."
He's leaving Missouri not only with the confidence of another win, but the prestige of a new title.
He earned it by showing his strength. Earned it by showing his endurance. And earned it by proving his will power.
Sheldon Haudenschild is the new Ironman.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series from Wednesday, Aug. 7, to Saturday, Aug. 10 will be at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa for the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Knoxville Nationals action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (55 Laps) – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$20,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$6,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$3,750]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$3,250]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [4][$2,750]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,500]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu [7][$2,400]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$2,300]; 9. 41-David Gravel [10][$2,200]; 10. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg [8][$2,100]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,700]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [16][$1,400]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,300]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [13][$1,200]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$1,100]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,000]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$1,000]; 18. 91-Cale Thomas [18][$1,000]; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [21][$1,000]; 20. 51B-Joe B.Miller [24][$1,000]; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny [19][$1,000]; 22. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle [22][$1,000]; 23. 3-Jac Haudenschild [12][$1,000]; 24. 71M-Paul May [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-10, Sheldon Haudenschild 11-55; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+9]
Qualifying – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 10.761; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 10.784; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 10.786; 4. 41-David Gravel, 10.798; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.798; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.804; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.822; 8. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg, 10.879; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.909; 10. 24-Rico Abreu, 10.921; 11. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.939; 12. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 10.968; 13. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.987; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 10.989; 15. 91-Cale Thomas, 10.997; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.009; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.079; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.133; 19. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.149; 20. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 11.318; 21. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.35; 22. 71M-Paul May, 11.357; 23. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 11.422; 24. 14T-Jimmy Bridgeman, 11.473; 25. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 11.483; 26. 8S-Steve Short, 11.66; 27. 56-Jeff Asher, 12.173
Brad Sweet earns first Federated Auto Parts Raceway win
Sweet holds off Sheldon Haudenschild and Donny Schatz for 12th win of the season
PEVELY, MO – Aug. 2, 2019 – Brad Sweet's 2019 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series "dream season" has so far seen the Grass Valley, Calif.-native lead laps, take home big paychecks and now earn a first win.
Leading all 35 laps of the Night Before the Ironman Feature at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Friday night, Sweet rolled into Victory Lane at the Pevely, Mo. track for the first time in his career – his 12th win of the season.
"Pevely is a really awesome race track," Sweet said. "I remember the first time I came here I was just in awe of the place. I've led a lot of laps here. I either stuff it in the fence or we got beat at the end. It's nice to get the first one out of the way."
While he led every lap en route to the victory, the Kasey Kahne Racing driver was not handed the victory with ease.
Missouri-native Hunter Schuerenburg started on the pole for the Feature, after winning his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and rocketed to the lead on the initial start. However, he hit the launch button too early. That forced the race to be restarted with Donny Schatz moved up to the front row and Schuerenburg moved behind him in the second row.
The front row was now Schatz and Sweet – the top two in the point standings. The two have been almost inseparable on the race track, having to race each other for position every week.
Schatz darted to the lead on the restart. Going into turn one, he chose low, while Sweet chose high. The Toco Warranty No. 15 car slid up the track exiting turn two, allowing the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 of Sweet to charge off the high side and bolt underneath Schatz down the backstretch.
Sweet then launched his car into turn three, sliding past Schatz and up in front of him exiting turn four. Like Sweet's corner before, Schatz had the momentum on the high side and snuck underneath Sweet for a drag race down the front straightaway. The lap went to Sweet, but only by inches.
The 10-time Series champion went side-by-side with Sweet into turn one and, again, was beat by the speed Sweet could maintain running the high line. Sweet's lead went from inches to feet to yards over the reigning champion. Schuerenburg also pulled a slide job on Schatz to take second the next lap.
Five laps into the race, the first caution came out for Joe B. Miller coming to a stop on the track. On the restart, Schuerenburg went for the lead, attempting to pull off a slide job on Sweet into the first corner. However, his dive bomb was still not enough to clear Sweet before the No. 49 charged off the turn with a head of stream around the high side.
Before being able to get into a rhythm, the caution came out again. This time for Cale Thomas landing on his side in turn four.
When the green flag flew again, Sweet wasted no time stretching his lead over Schuerenburg. Schatz found his way around the No. 11 for second-place the next lap, too.
The top three remained in their running order for the remainder of the first half of the race. Behind them, though, Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild were making their trek to the front. By the halfway point, Schuchart found his was to fourth – from fifth – and Haudenschild fifth – from eighth.
After a caution at the halfway point, both Schuchart and Haudenschild made their way by Schuerenburg to move up a position. Haudenschild didn't just use his run to put Schuerenburg, behind him, though. He threw a daring slider at Schuchart into turn one and made it work. With 16 laps to go, he found himself in third and closing on second-place Schatz.
With 12 laps to go, Haudenschild threw a slide job at Schatz in turns three and four, and again made it work. Schatz couldn't make the top work as well as Sweet and Haudenschild to challenge for the position back.
"Trying to hit a little one-inch spot with your right rear... is tough to do," Schatz said. "Obviously, Brad and Sheldon are good at that kind of stuff. Me, I try to stay in a little bit more control."
With Schatz behind him, the Wooster, Ohio-native was now in second-place and eager to hunt down his second win of the season.
Lap traffic plagued Sweet's quest for victory. The slower cars forced him to move around and break out of his rhythm to find his way around them. That allowed Haudenschild to slowly work his way toward Sweet.
Haudenschild had Sweet in sight with five laps to. But Sweet was strong every time he ran the high side, able to carry enough momentum around the track to leave a few cars lengths distance between he and the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 car.
With three laps to go Haudenschild was building a run to catch Sweet. However, before he could fully execute on it, the caution came out for Carson Macedo flipping in turn two.
On the final restart, Sweet chose the middle of the track in the first corner, trying to block a big run by Haudenschild. It worked. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall driver looked underneath Sweet, but couldn't put anything together to challenge him in the remaining laps.
"I thought with the restart we would have a little bit better of a shot," Haudenschild said. "I knew I was running out of laps there. I didn't really care either way with the caution or not. Brad was a little bit better than us. I feel like I got by Donny at the right time to make some ground up on Brad, but just finished second."
Sweet sped off to his first Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 win and 46th career win overall.
"The restarts were making me the most nervous," Sweet said. "Didn't know if I should be choosing the bottom or the top, you're just real vulnerable into (turn) one there. Kind of found that line where I was driving across into one and felt a little better about the restarts. I could get to the cushion off (turn) two and as long as I could get a good run, I felt like I was pretty good on top of turns three and four."
His win also helped his extend his points lead on Schatz – who finished third – after losing points to the Fargo, N.D. driver last weekend.
The focus for all of the drivers is now on Saturday night's 55-lap $20,000-to-win Ironman event at the 1/3-mile track. A win at the Ironman 55 would be another ideal addition to Sweet's dream year. Even with a dominating performance Friday night, he knows there could be room for improvement.
"We'll go back and watch the video and make sure I was going everything right and hopefully come back and get us an Ironman tomorrow," Sweet said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, Aug. 3, will return to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the Ironman 55. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$8,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$4,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$2,500]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$2,200]; 5. 41-David Gravel [6][$2,100]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [13][$2,000]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4][$1,800]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [15][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [14][$1,500]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [17][$1,300]; 11. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg [1][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,100]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$1,000]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [19][$700]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee [18][$600]; 17. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle [23][$600]; 18. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$600]; 19. 14M-Marcus Dumesny [21][$600]; 20. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$600]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [16][$600]; 22. 91-Cale Thomas [12][$600]; 23. 51B-Joe B.Miller [24][$600]; 24. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [22][$600]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+7]
Qualifying – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.115; 2. 41-David Gravel, 10.212; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.235; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.279; 5. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg, 10.292; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.311; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 10.318; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.333; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 10.35; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.376; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 10.377; 12. 91-Cale Thomas, 10.394; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 10.395; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 10.435; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 10.451; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 10.462; 17. 7S-Jason Sides, 10.47; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 10.47; 19. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.471; 20. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 10.523; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 10.528; 22. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 10.551; 23. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 10.705; 24. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 10.736; 25. 14T-Jimmy Bridgeman, 10.909; 26. 8S-Steve Short, 11.033
Results Williams Grove Speedway July 27th (25 laps): 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Sheldon Haudenschild, 3. Brad Sweet, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. David Gravel, 6. Lance Dewease, 7. Danny Dietrich, 8. Ian Madsen, 9. Freddie Rahmer, 10. Carson Macedo, 11. Brian Montieth, 12. Brent Marks, 13. Anthony Macri, 14. Robbie Kendall, 15. Logan Schuchart, 16. Shane Stewart, 17. Cory Haas, 18. TJ Stutts, 19. Landon Myers, 20. Kyle Moody, 21. Jeff Halligan, 22. Kody Lehman, 23. Jesse Attard, 24. Jacob Allen, 25. Tim Shaffer, 26. Chad Trout
DNQ: Jason Sides, Adrian Shaffer, Alan Krimes, Nicole Bower, Kraig Kinser, Troy Fraker
Tim Shaffer wins at Williams Grove Speedway
Pennsylvania-native Shaffer holds off late race attack by David Gravel to claim second World of Outlaws win this year
Crew members from the Roth Motorsports team jumped into Tim Shaffer's trailer and scurried to the sweat drenched driver.With his arms out and a smile just as wide, Shaffer embraced the two crew members and thanked them for helping him get back on track.
The Aliquippa, Pa.-native had just left Victory Lane at Williams Grove Speedway for the second time in his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series career – first time since 2001. The win was also his second Series victory of the year – the first was at Las Vegas in February.
"They're hard to get," Shaffer said about winning in general. "This place is really special. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I won here. It goes back to a great car, great engine, great team. It's funny, we struggled this year. We started good, struggled mid-season and it seems like we're coming back to life."
What the Roth Motorsports crew did to help Shaffer had nothing to do with car set up, the engine or tires. They simply helped him have fun again.
"Basically, they've been hanging out at my house and having fun," Shaffer said. "Running go-karts and just having fun again. It's neat to have friends like that. They enjoy racing and love it as much as you do and get to have fun with other things instead of being around racing all of the time, and we had a blast.
"You kind of loosen up. We came here already in a good mood, having fun, and it's carrying on."
That showed in Shaffer's performance throughout the night. He finished second to Brad Sweet in his Drydene Heat race but tested Sweet for the lead in the early stage of the eight-lap race. Shaffer then went on the win the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash from the pole and the Feature, leading all 25 laps.
However, Watertown, Conn.-native David Gravel – who was coming off a win at Lernerville Speedway and eight top-five finishes in a row, with seven of them being podium finishes – did not let Shaffer cruise to the victory.
In the early stage of the Feature, Shaffer powered around the high side of the track with a blistering pace that left about a straightaway distance between he and second-place Freddie Rahmer. His pace also put him in lap traffic by Lap five on the half-mile speedway.
Rahmer held on to second-place for the first 11 laps before 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz dove underneath the PA Posse member in turn three and powered by him off turn four. The next corner, Gravel charged around the outside of Rahmer and stole third-place.
Gravel worked on Schatz's bumper for the next few laps until the caution came out for Daryn Pittman having a flat right front tire.
The group of 25 cars lined back up two-by-two for the restart. Shaffer crept the field around turns three and four before mashing the throttle and launching back to the lead down the front stretch. Behind him Schatz and Gravel raced side-by-side through turns one and two – Gravel low, Schatz high. The high side had been the fastest way around all night, but Gravel made the bottom work and darted to second off the corner.
The track widened as the race progressed. Shaffer stayed high, testing the limits of the cushion. Gravel, however, was perfecting the bottom line. The Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 car worked its way to within striking distance of Shaffer and waited for an opportunity to pounce.
There were no mistakes, though. Shaffer was smooth around the top and aggressive with laps cars. If there was an opening, he threw his Rudzik Excavating No. 49x into the gap without hesitation. There was no time to be cautious. Gravel was coming, and he knew it.
"I seen the board that the 41 got by [Schatz] on that yellow," Shaffer said. "I said 'Oh, he's hunting me down.' I was just trying to make good laps and I knew we'd be hard to beat."
With Shaffer not making any mistakes, Gravel knew he had to do something drastic if he wanted another Williams Grove victory.
Coming to the white flag, Gravel rocketed his car underneath Shaffer into turn three – closing about a four-car length gap. The momentum slid his car up the track and he went side-by-side with Shaffer, about a foot a part, through turn four. Shaffer held his line – and his eyes closed, he said jokingly. That hindered Gravel's charge and forced him to fall in line behind the orange and black No. 49x.
"I was close, I didn't see him there for a second," Gravel said. "I obviously just gave him a little bit of room to get back by me. If it was twenty or fifty grand (to win) I probably would have slid up here. But it was a good night. We were fast all night long. I feel like we were the only car to run on the bottom of the race track."
Shaffer pulled away with the lead and the $8,000 win at the opening night of the Champion
Racing Oil Summer Nationals doubleheader – his 27th career Series victory.
With Schatz – second in points – finishing third and Series points leader Brad Sweet finishing seventh, Gravel bested the top two in points for the second straight night and continues to inch his way into the championship battle. He is now 102 points behind Sweet and 88 points behind Schatz.
The reigning champion has also closed the gap to Sweet, now 14 points behind him.
Shaffer isn't running for points. He's racing to have fun. He'll have even more fun if he can get back-to-back wins at Williams Grove Speedway and collect Saturday's $20,000 winnings. But for now, with the support of fellow racers and friends, he's just relishing in what he does.
"It's just about enjoying it," Shaffer said. "I've been doing this for 36 years. That's why I don't run a grueling schedule. I run my own grueling schedule. If I want to take a weekend off and go boating, I'm going to do it. But this is what I've done my whole life and I'm really enjoying it."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, July 27, will return to Williams Grove Speedway for the final night of the Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$8,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$4,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$2,500]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [2][$2,200]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [7][$2,100]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [12][$2,000]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$1,800]; 8. 21-Brian Montieth [5][$1,600]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,500]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,300]; 11. 39-Cory Haas [13][$1,200]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$1,100]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [14][$1,000]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri [20][$700]; 15. 1X-Chad Trout [8][$600]; 16. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$600]; 17. 11-T.J. Stutts [15][$600]; 18. 5-Shane Stewart [21][$600]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [17][$600]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$600]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$600]; 22. 99M-Kyle Moody [24][$600]; 23. 5H-Jeff Halligan [23][$600]; 24. 19M-Landon Myers [19][$600]; 25. 12W-Troy Fraker [25][$600]; Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 69K-Lance Dewease[+6]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 16.784; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 16.797; 3. 21-Brian Montieth, 16.901; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 17.033; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.036; 6. 1X-Chad Trout, 17.042; 7. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 17.045; 8. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 17.098; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 17.121; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 17.129; 11. 11-T.J. Stutts, 17.148; 12. 69K-Lance Dewease, 17.157; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.186; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 17.235; 15. 19M-Landon Myers, 17.262; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 17.279; 17. 39-Cory Haas, 17.28; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.296; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.342; 20. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.356; 21. 5-Shane Stewart, 17.374; 22. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.415; 23. 5H-Jeff Halligan, 17.454; 24. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.457; 25. 99M-Kyle Moody, 17.501; 26. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 17.572; 27. 53-Jesse Attard, 17.637; 28. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 17.694; 29. 23-Chris Arnold, 17.768; 30. 47K-Kody Lehman, 17.884; 31. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.956; 32. 91-Kyle Reinhardt, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Gravel claims fifth win of the season and second Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup victory
by Nick Graziano July 24, 2019
The No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing Sprint Car roared around Lernerville Speedway with the ferocity of a starved stomach. It was a manifestation of the driver’s mentality.
David Gravel was hungry for a big win. After three podiums in-a-row at Eldora Speedway, leading up to the Kings Royal, he had to settle for a fifth-place finish at the prestigious event. His appetite was not appeased.
On Tuesday night at the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, the Watertown, Conn.-native was not going to let his hunger go untamed again. He led 26 laps of the 40-lap Feature, lapped up to 13th and crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of second-place to claim his third win at Lernerville Speedway and fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory of the year.
“Our team deserves a win after a week like last week (at Eldora),” Gravel said. “To make it a $25,000 win is good. You want to win Jackson (Nationals). You want to win the Kings Royal. But this will do for now.”
He secured the win by finding grip where few others could.
“I didn’t have to rely on the top,” Gravel said. “I think 90 percent of the guys relied on the top in the Heat race, relied on the top in the Dash and there in the beginning of the [Feature]. I didn’t have to. I think it (the top) was just going to get thinner and thinner as it went on. I just never relied on it all night. We just kept working below it.”
He nearly won his Drydene Heat by running the middle and bottom of the track, while leader Donny Schatz relied on the top. Gravel then went on to finish fourth in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, continuing to test the lower groove of the track.
He was picky with the set up, he said. The Jason Johnson Racing team worked on it all night to get the car right for the Feature.
When the 40-lap event went green, second-place James McFadden, in the Wicked Energy Gum No. 9 car, blasted by polesitter Shane Stewart for the lead and clung to the high side of the track. Running the middle lane behind him, Gravel went from fourth-place to second in the first corner.
Neither could build run as the caution came out on the first lap for a car stopped in turn two.
When the race went back green, Gravel dove under McFadden in turn one, but didn’t have a strong enough run off the corner that could compete with the momentum McFadden carried around the high side of the track.
McFadden began to pull away running the top, while Gravel worked the middle of the track. Five laps later, another caution.
On the restart, Gravel attempted another dive bomb underneath McFadden into turn one. This time, he was ahead of the Australian exiting turn two, but McFadden, again, had the faster run off the corner and sprinted back to the lead.
Behind them, Kyle Larson lurked. He had already made his way from sixth to third. The NASCAR-star, and Series team owner, poked his nose under Gravel into turn one, but Gravel got to the throttle quicker and launched off the corner.
While McFadden mostly stuck to the high line, Gravel found his rhythm through the middle lane. With 25 laps to go, Gravel placed his Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 in McFadden’s peripheral view through turns three and four. McFadden had the stronger run off the corner and ducked to the bottom of the track in turn one. Gravel switched his line to the high side and drove around McFadden for the lead off turn two.
“I think he never ran the line I did,” Gravel said. “He ran high and he kind of ran lower. Sometimes it’s better to run second. Kind of had a line figured out that I ran all night long. We got the car better to run it.”
Four laps later, Larson made his way by McFadden for second and began his quest for back-to-back Silver Cup victories. Halfway through the race he began to close the gap on Gravel. And lap traffic was in sight.
However, the slower traffic seemed to only make Gravel faster. With 11 laps to go he began to extend the distance between he and Larson. With three laps to go, he had a 4.6 second advantage over the No. 57 car and had lapped 13th-place Ian Madsen.
“I thought I had a shot the first time we got to little bit heavy traffic, but once we got to the heavier stuff he did a really good job getting through it,” Larson said. “I didn’t really feel like I got hung up, he just got through it really fast. I just needed a little bit more to be able to move around and run the lines he was running.”
The last five laps were tricky, though. Gravel said the track got slick and he “was just holding on” at the end. Larson closed the gap to about four seconds at the end, but Gravel held on to claim his second Silver Cup win and 44th career victory.
“It’s awesome to win another one of these,” Gravel said.
With two wins in the last seven races and a string of 13 top-five finishes in the last 14 races, Gravel has slowly been working his way into the battle for the points lead with current leader Brad Sweet, and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. With Sweet finishing fourth and Schatz finishing fifth at Lernerville, Gravel is now 112 points behind Sweet, and 90 points behind Schatz. He’s gained 48 points on Sweet in the last 11 races.
However, points aren’t the main focus at the moment. He wants to win. With $28,000 on the line this weekend during the doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway and the $150,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals coming up, there are still several big races to crave during the “months of money.”
“There’s more money on the line the rest of the year, so hopefully we can keep this rolling and win some more big races,” Gravel said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27, will be at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. for the Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [4][$25,000]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [6][$7,000]; 3. 9-James McFadden [2][$5,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$4,000]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,000]; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,900]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$2,800]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$2,700]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [11][$2,600]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [21][$2,500]; 11. 1-Logan Wagner [9][$2,400]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$2,300]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,200]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [8][$2,100]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$2,000]; 16. 4N-Dale Blaney [17][$1,500]; 17. 7K-Dan Shetler [16][$1,300]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [15][$1,200]; 19. 2AJ-A.J. Flick [14][$1,200]; 20. 3C-Cale Conley [23][$1,200]; 21. K4-Chad Kemenah [24][$1,200]; 22. 42-Sye Lynch [22][$1,200]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$1,200]; 24. 13-Brandon Matus [20][$1,200]; 25. 11-Carl Bowser [25]; Lap Leaders: James McFadden 1-14, David Gravel 15-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+11]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.838; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.844; 3. 9-James McFadden, 13.99; 4. 19-Brent Marks, 14.166; 5. 4N-Dale Blaney, 14.236; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich, 14.239; 7. 1-Logan Wagner, 14.25; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.301; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.498; 10. 42-Sye Lynch, 14.536; 11. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 14.615; 12. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.061; 13. 11-Carl Bowser, 15.074; 14. C1-Clay Riney, 15.124; 15. J4-John Garvin, 15.425; 16. O8-Dan Kuriger, 15.514; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.515; 18. 250-Jared McFarland, 15.541; 19. 14-Jeremy Hill, 15.767; 20. 76-Davey Jones, 16.388; 21. 4K-Bill Kiley, 16.459
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.939; 2. 41-David Gravel, 13.994; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 14.014; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.395; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.447; 6. 3C-Cale Conley, 14.499; 7. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.689; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.827; 9. 2AJ-A.J. Flick, 14.912; 10. 40-George Hobaugh, 15.073; 11. K4-Chad Kemenah, 15.13; 12. 13-Brandon Matus, 15.19; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.24; 14. 7K-Dan Shetler, 15.266; 15. 53-Jesse Attard, 15.609; 16. 33-Brent Matus, 15.88; 17. 91-Tony Fiore, 15.891; 18. 55-Dallas Schott, 16.284; 19. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, 16.351; 20. 55K-Gary Kriess, NT
Sweet wins the biggest purse in Sprint Car history and his second Kings Royal victory
by Nick Graziano
Flaming towers burst into the air around the prestigious wooden throne. It was a signal. A celebration. The throne had a new king.
King Brad Sweet.
“Holy shit! Yeah!” Sweet yelled with the last few pockets of air in his lungs.
The Grass Valley, Calif.-native won his second Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway Saturday night. And this time it paid an unprecedented $175,000 to win.
“A hundred and seventy-five mother grand!” Sweet bellowed out once he regained his breath.
Since the inception of the prestigious event in 1984, it has always paid $50,000 – which was still one of the largest paying purses for Sprint Car racing in the country last year. But for the 36th year of the race, track owner Tony Stewart raised it to be the largest.
“Sprint car racers make money based off how they finish,” Sweet said. “When you have a race that pays $175,000 to win and basically $20,000 for second, it’s kind of all or nothing coming in here. I’m a fan of it. It’s nerve-racking. It gets the fans’ attention. It’s what we need in this sport.
“It’s intense all night long. All day. Under the red. Basically, if you don’t win the race it’s a missed opportunity. You only get so many of these opportunities. So, I’m just happy and want to cherish the moment.”
Claiming his second Kings Royal victory – 11th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory of the year and 45th Series win over all – required Sweet to battle all night long. Battle the competition and battle through the Kings Royal’s 2019 format.
He started the long night qualifying 18th, which placed him in the fourth starting position for his Drydene Heat race. With a daring slide job on the first lap to go from fourth to the lead, Sweet cruised to the Heat win.
With his Heat race being the first one of the night, under the event’s format, he was placed sixth in the line up for the 40-lap Feature.
On the pole was three-time Kings Royal winner Sammy Swindell, in his son Kevin Swindell’s No. 39 car. To his outside was 10-time Series champion and five-time Kings Royal winner Donny Schatz – who had also won two of the last three races at Eldora during the week; Sweet won the other race.
Once the final sparks of fireworks fell into the dark of the night and the field of 24-cars filed back in line two-by-two, the anxiety and anticipation of the night was about to fade away with the drop of the green flag.
Leading the charge off turn four, Swindell charged to the high side on the start, while Schatz dove underneath him. Swindell had the better run on the top, though, and powered to the lead off turn two.
Behind them, Sweet split Cory Eliason and Aaron Reutzel, charging between them down the front stretch and launched to fourth-place in the first corner.
Swindell maintained his lead over Schatz for the next three laps, before the first caution of the night flew for Tom Harris coming to a stop on the track. When the race went back green Sweet threw another massive slide job into turn one, going from fourth to the lead. However, another caution came out before the lap was complete – placing cars back in their starting order before the restart.
The field lined up single file and Swindell pulled away from Schatz on the start, putting about a three-car length distance between them.
While Swindell led, Schuchart was forging a strong run. By Lap eight, the Drydene No. 1s car had already made its way from 12th to fourth and then bolted by Sweet for third. Two laps later he torpedoed his car into turn three, diving past Schatz and Swindell by the exit of turn four.
After not transferring into the Kings Royal last year, Schuchart was now leading and running away with the event this year.
Sweet fought his way past Schatz for second-place by Lap 15, but couldn’t match Schuchart’s pace. By Lap 25, Schuchart had a 2.5 second lead over Sweet and was poised to increase it riding the cushion around the track.
However, with the flash of yellow lights around the speedway, “The Big Cat” Sweet was brought to the bumper of the Shark Racing car.
Due to the long nature of the race, an open red was called, giving crews the chance to add fuel to their car, insuring it could make it to the end of the 40-lap race around the half-mile track.
On the restart, with 15 laps to go, Sweet continued to make a case for claiming the title of “restart king.” He throttled passed the outside of Schuchart before the flag stand and latched on to the cushion for momentum to pull away.
“Honestly, to be dead honest, I didn’t want to see the red,” Sweet said. “I felt like I just found the top in (turns) three and four and Logan hadn’t known about it. I think I found some speed there I was going to be able to make some moves with. We didn’t touch the race car, we put five gallons of fuel in it. I told my guys I was just going to put it to the fence and go for it.”
Schuchart said restarts had been an issue for him all week long. His car struggled to take off from the start.
“That’s part of the game,” Schuchart said. “We didn’t get the job done in that part of the race.”
Sweet used the high line during Wednesday’s Jokers Wild event to out duel Schatz for the win and it was working for him again Saturday night. Schuchart couldn’t build enough of a run again to make a charge at the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car.
With about eight laps to go, a new winged-warrior joined the battle. From his 16th starting position, Brent Marks drove by Schatz for third-place like he founded 10 extra horsepower on the track. Schuchart was next. With three laps to go, the two Pennsylvania-natives waged war for second-place. Marks pulled a slide job on Schuchart in turn one and had the position exiting turn two, but Schuchart had the better run down the backstretch and reclaimed second. Marks wouldn’t let Schuchart out of his sight, staying within striking distance lap after lap. However, the laps ran out.
Sweet left the Pennsylvanians to battle for second, while he charged to the Kings Royal victory and the big $175,000 check.
“You have to pinch me. It feels surreal,” Sweet said.
Schuchart crossed the line second with Marks two-tenths of a second behind him in third.
“Hell, we started twelfth and led the Kings Royal, that’s something to be proud about,” Schuchart said. “To be leading this race with all of the people in this pit supporting me, it’s a great feeling. I didn’t make the show last year. We went from not making the show to out here in the top-five every single night.”
While Marks ran out of time to try and make a run at Sweet, he left with confidence in his strong run and the hard charger award.
“This car was badass tonight,” Marks said. “That was a fun race. The track was perfect tonight. You could get up against that wall and just hold the throttle down and carry the momentum. I was trying like hell to get to second.”
When Sweet won the first big paying race of the year, the $41,000-to-win Jackson Nationals, he was jubilant. After winning the $175,000 at Eldora Speedway, jubilant would only be strong enough to describe his smile. After climbing out of his car, Sweet leaped about a foot in the air onto the Victory Lane stage with his arm held high. He couldn’t inhale air fast enough to continue his joyous yelling spree.
With the cloak on his back and the crown placed on his head, he was king. The wooden throne was his – for a few minutes. The $175,000 check, though, is going home with him.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, July23, will be at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. for the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$175,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$20,000]; 3. 19-Brent Marks [16][$15,000]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [9][$12,500]; 5. 41-David Gravel [11][$10,000]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$7,500]; 7. 39-Sammy Swindell [1][$6,500]; 8. 3-Jac Haudenschild [10][$6,000]; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8][$5,500]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [3][$5,000]; 11. 12N-Joey Saldana [18][$4,750]; 12. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$4,500]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$4,000]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [24][$3,750]; 15. 11-Dale Blaney [14][$3,500]; 16. 24-Rico Abreu [17][$3,450]; 17. 26-Cory Eliason [5][$3,400]; 18. 91-Cale Thomas [7][$3,350]; 19. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$3,300]; 20. 70-Brock Zearfoss [23][$3,250]; 21. 92-Sye Lynch [19][$3,200]; 22. 70X-Justin Peck [22][$3,150]; 23. 84-Tom Harris [20][$3,100]; 24. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-10, Logan Schuchart 11-25, Brad Sweet 26-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Qualifying – 1. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.019; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.127; 3. 84-Tom Harris, 13.148; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.159; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.16; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.191; 7. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.215; 8. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.217; 9. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.225; 10. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.226; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.228; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.239; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.244; 14. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.27; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.273; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.284; 17. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.302; 18. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.302; 19. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.305; 20. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.309; 21. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.321; 22. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.327; 23. 21-Brian Brown, 13.334; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.349; 25. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.36; 26. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.367; 27. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.371; 28. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.38; 29. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.383; 30. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.399; 31. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.404; 32. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.42; 33. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.435; 34. 9-James McFadden, 13.441; 35. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.457; 36. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.463; 37. 7-Jason Sides, 13.474; 38. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.475; 39. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.495; 40. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.5; 41. 41-David Gravel, 13.502; 42. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.512; 43. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.513; 44. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.537; 45. 23-Hunter Schuerenburg, 13.551; 46. 71M-Paul May, 13.588; 47. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.595; 48. 17XL-Caleb Helms, 13.604; 49. 4-Cap Henry, 13.635; 50. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.64; 51. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.658; 52. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.673; 53. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.708; 54. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 13.721; 55. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.737; 56. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.743; 57. 64-Scotty Thiel, 13.752; 58. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.814; 59. 33W-Michael Walter, 13.847; 60. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 14.059; 61. 25R-Mitchell Harble, 14.228; 62. 10P-Jim Perricone, 14.962
Donny Schatz wins at Eldora Speedway for third time this year
Schatz holds off charge by David Gravel to win The Knight Before the Kings Royal
The duty of a knight is to protect their king and his castle.
At the Tony Stewart owned Eldora Speedway Friday night, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver Donny Schatz claimed his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory at the Ohio track this year. It was also the 300th Series career win for Tony Stewart as a car owner.
"Eldora has always been really good to me," said Schatz, who's now won at the speedway 18 times and has an average finish of 1.25.
He led every lap of The Knight Before the Kings Royal 30-lap Feature, but his reign of the night wasn't an easy task.
Hunting the 10-time Series champion all night was a fierce David Gravel. Coming off two podium finishes in-a-row at Eldora, the Jason Johnson Racing driver was eager to claim his third victory at the speedway – his last coming in 2016.
Schatz, of Fargo, N.D., started on the pole for the Feature – a virtue of winning the first DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash; Daryn Pittman, of Owasso, Okla., won the second Dash and lined up on the outside pole. When the race went green, Schatz jumped to the lead and immediately began to put distance between he and Pittman.
The reigning champion had a horse capable of charging to the victory. However, 10 laps into the run, Pittman and third-place Gravel began reeling in Schatz.
While Schatz rode the bottom lane, Pittman powered along the cushion – the same line Brad Sweet used to win at Eldora the night before. The Roth Motorsports No. 83 had a run brewing to challenge for the lead. But while he tried to focus on catching Schatz, Gravel continued to poke his nose under Pittman lap by lap, looking to find enough grip on the bottom to make the pass for second.
With 19 laps to go Pittman came within feet of Schatz's bumper going into turn one, but unlike the lap before Schatz chose the high line. That decision gave Schatz a strong enough run off turn two to put about a six-car length distance between he and Pittman. Then Gravel dove underneath Pittman the next corner and took the position on the exit.
However, Pittman charged back, driving underneath the Watertown, Conn.-native down the front stretch and back by him into turn two. The next time into turn three Gravel mimicked his previous lap, again, diving underneath Pittman. This time it worked, though. He cleared him off the corner and maintained the position into turn one with 14 laps to go.
The hunt for Schatz was on. Lap after lap, running the bottom in turns one and two and the high side in turns three and four, the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 crept closer and closer to the Toco Warranty No. 15 car.
Schatz said he and his team tried something new with the set up and while it worked in the Dash, he was just hanging on to his car throughout the Feature. He wouldn't have been surprised if someone drove by him.
With 11 laps to go, Schatz went from a dot in Gravel's line of sight to a boulder. But despite Gravel's charge, Schatz's proficiency with running the bottom of the speedway threw a shield in Gravel's run. A few car lengths distance was as close as Gravel could bring his car to Schatz.
To beat Schatz, he was going to need help. With six laps to go, he got it in the form of lap traffic.
Twenty-third-place Parker Price-Miller gave the leader his biggest challenge of the night. Schatz attempted to pass the slower No. 71p car on the bottom through turns one and two – where he struggled to find grip all night – but Price-Miller charged back in front of him down the backstretch. Into turns three and four Schatz, again, tried to pass Price-Miller on the bottom and, again, failed.
"I could make good laps in (turns) three and four and hold my own, but in turns one and two, I was just... I got to lap traffic and watched the 71 car drive by me," Schatz said. "I had to change everything I did. I was stomping and stabbing and slinging, doing everything I could. I just couldn't make it do what I wanted it to do."
Schatz's battle with Price-Miller put Gravel a car length behind him.
With five laps to, Schatz launched underneath Price-Miller into turn one, finally able to make the pass. However, he lost traction off turn two, allowing Price-Miller to charge underneath the No. 15 car with Gravel following his trail.
Choosing the middle lane of the track in turn three, Schatz cleared Price-Miller and pulled away from him and Gravel, who had to make a split-second evasive maneuver around the slower Price-Miller into turn three.
Behind them, Pittman and Logan Schuchart traded slide jobs lap after lap for third-place.
While they battled for third, Schatz had pulled back to a comfortable half a straightaway lead over Gravel. He looked to be en route for another Eldora Speedway victory, but with three laps to go the caution came out for Cory Eliason, who spun on the backstretch.
Gravel was now close enough to reach out and touch Schatz's bumper. When the race restart, Schatz chose the high line and Gravel launched his car to the bottom of the track in turn one, coming side-by-side with Schatz in the middle of the corner.
Schatz had the advantage, though, being able to carry the momentum of riding the high side down the backstretch, leaving Gravel to catch up.
The duo remained a few car lengths distance from one another the remaining two laps.
When the white flag was shown, Gravel made one last attempt at out dueling Schatz for the win by, again, diving underneath him in turn one. Like before, it wasn't enough. Schatz had the run on the high side and carried it the remainder of the circuit to his sixth win of the season – 289th career World of Outlaws win overall.
"My dad always taught me to worry about what's in front of me, not what's behind me," Schatz said. "It's paid off this long in my career."
Gravel picked up his sixth podium finish in-a-row, but he was left still hungry for more.
"I think we were good enough to win tonight," Gravel said. "I wish the yellow didn't come out. I liked the lap traffic. I had the shot to pass him (Schatz) that one time. I'm happy where we're at, though. Just a touch off."
Schuchart was able to make the pass on Pittman for third – collecting his third top-five in three races at Eldora Speedway.
"I just feel like we started too far back," said Hanover, Pa.-native Schuchart, who started ninth. "I feel like we might have had one of the fastest cars. On the last restart a bolt came out of the wing there and let it go the whole way back, so I got real tight. Before that, I feel like I was running right with those guys."
With Schatz's win and Series points leader Sweet finishing seventh, the gap between them has shrunk to 20 points.
But right now, Schatz isn't worried about points. He's not even engrossed in his second win in two races at the speedway. He's focused on Saturday's $175,000-to-win Kings Royal.
"Everything is about tomorrow night," said five-time Kings Royal winner Schatz. "The night is over. We'll forget about it. It's all about the Kings Royal now."
There's no points on the line. Just an unprecedented winning purse and the opportunity to go from a knight to a king.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, July 20, will return to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for the prestigious Kings Royal event. Get tickets and more information.
Learn more about the Kings Royal format.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$12,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,700]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$3,500]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu [8][$3,000]; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,600]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,400]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,300]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$2,200]; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [13][$2,150]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$2,100]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$1,600]; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss [9][$1,350]; 13. 21-Brian Brown [11][$1,300]; 14. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$1,200]; 15. 19-Brent Marks [25][$1,100]; 16. 5-Shane Stewart [16][$1,000]; 17. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [14][$900]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$850]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$800]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [24][$800]; 21. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [20][$800]; 22. 26-Cory Eliason [4][$800]; 23. 11-Dale Blaney [5][$800]; 24. 98H-Dave Blaney [23][$800]; 25. 92-Sye Lynch [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1A-Jacob Allen[+10]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.005; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.111; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.182; 4. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.187; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 13.191; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.204; 7. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.225; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.276; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.306; 10. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.31; 11. 84-Tom Harris, 13.321; 12. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.414; 13. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.418; 14. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.419; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.42; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.42; 17. 9-James McFadden, 13.422; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 13.435; 19. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.439; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel, 13.486; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.5; 22. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.507; 23. 33W-Michael Walter, 13.563; 24. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.589; 25. 71M-Paul May, 13.707; 26. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.774; 27. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 13.779; 28. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.833; 29. 10P-Jim Perricone, 14.237; 30. 3C-Cale Conley, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.167; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.295; 3. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.315; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.317; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.343; 6. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.353; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.361; 8. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.388; 9. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.405; 10. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.438; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.446; 12. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.453; 13. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.453; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.461; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.528; 16. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.567; 17. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.594; 18. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.639; 19. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.683; 20. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.726; 21. 17XL-Caleb Helms, 13.747; 22. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.752; 23. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.759; 24. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.792; 25. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.835; 26. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.982; 27. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 14.128; 28. J4-John Garvin, 14.194; 29. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.434; 30. 83C-Adam Cruea, 14.454
Brad Sweet out duels Donny Schatz for Jokers Wild win
After swapping the lead early in the race, Sweet holds off Schatz to win at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – July 18, 2019 – The flagman held the checkered flag tight, anxiously waiting to thrust it in the air and wave it over Eldora Speedway when the leader exited turn four.
The question of who that victor would be left the crowd of thousands in a knot throughout the 30-lap $10,000-to-win Jokers Wild Feature Thursday night.
Brad Sweet lead, but Donny Schatz – fresh off a win at Eldora from the night before – hung on to the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car's bumper throughout the race. The two swapped positions lap after lap in the early circuits.
However, Sweet found the 16-time Eldora Speedway winner's kryptonite – the high line up against the wall. If the walls of the half-mile track had eyes, Sweet made sure they were closed all race, leaving inches between the concrete barrier and his right rear tire most of the night.
Schatz wasn't able to run the top groove like Sweet, having to move off it and stick to the bottom. That allowed Sweet to use the momentum of the high side to fend of challenges by the 10-time Series champion and claim his 10th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of the season – 44th Series win overall.
"We held off Donny," Sweet said, after winning for the second time at the Ohio track. "That's what it takes to win at Eldora. He threw everything he had at me. I saw him multiple times. I just wasn't sure where to be on the race track there at the end. I felt pretty good on the top, but it's such a fine line."
The win was a rebound for Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team after a fourth-place finish at the speedway Wednesday night – which to Sweet and his crew was a disappointing run.
Withholding the fine details, Sweet said, they tried something different with the set up for Thursday night's race, and it worked.
He was second fastest in the first flight of Qualifying. Then went on to win his Drydene Heat race and the first of two DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash races. But every step Sweet made, Schatz was there following in his footsteps. The reigning champion went second fastest in the second flight of Qualifying. He, too, won his Drydene Heat race and claimed the win in the second Dash of the night.
That placed the two championship contenders on the front row together. The title match at Eldora Speedway was set.
When the flagman thrusted the green flag in the air, Sweet passed the flag stand first, but Schatz launched underneath the Grass Valley, Calif.-native looking to take the lead on the first lap in turn one. Sweet had the momentum on the high side, though. He charged around the Toco Warranty No. 15 down the backstretch and moved to the bottom of the track in turns three and four.
Schatz did the opposite. He ran the high line through turns three and four, giving him a strong enough run down the front stretch to again dive underneath Sweet in turn one. This time, Schatz had the lead.
Sweet wasn't about to let Schatz cruise to another Eldora win over him, though. He charged back around Schatz the next lap and began to put distance between the two.
"He makes it awful tough when he sets his pace and runs his lines," Sweet said. "It makes it real hard to pass. I wanted to get ahead and set a pace."
Ten laps into the Feature Logan Schuchart also made his way around Schatz by riding the high line. However, he got held up by a lap car going into turn three and Schatz took the opportunity to pounce. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver made a massive drive to the bottom of the track through turns three and four, blowing by Schuchart and gaining about four car lengths on Sweet off the corner.
He carried the momentum through the next corner, getting underneath Sweet and edging him by a nose off turn two with 19 laps to go. Sweet, again, used the high side to propel his car back in front of Schatz down the backstretch, though.
Into turn three the duo both slid their cars sideways to the bottom of the track, almost making contact at the apex. With Sweet blocking Schatz's lane, he charged off the corner to a comfortable lead and added to it from there.
Schatz then had to compete with Schuchart for second, eventually losing the position to the Drydene No. 1s car right before a caution with 11 laps to.
When the race resumed, Schuchart had a terrible restart, falling from second to fifth and stacking up the top line behind him. His mistake allowed Schatz an easy pass for second and another shot at Sweet.
While Sweet stayed high, Schatz was determined to make the low line work. He put together enough of a charge to get side-by-side with Sweet in turn one the next lap, but the run was still no match for Sweet's mastery of the high line.
"We stayed with him there, he was ripping the top, I had to get off it," Schatz said about the final restart. "We thought we were going to be a shot at him there, but for some reason when I got to traffic, I couldn't maneuver well or just kept making mistakes. You'll have that. If you're going to do it, I'd rather do it tonight than two nights from now."
Able to stay in clean air and see where lap cars were going to go, Sweet rode the cushion until the final corner when he moved down a lane to see how his car would do. He was satisfied as he drove by the waving checkered flag for the 10th time this year – the most wins he's collected in a season, so far.
While it's an accomplishment he's proud of, Sweet said there's still work to do. Still tweaks needed to make the car better. And still many big races on the line – including Saturday's $175,000-to-win Kings Royal.
"I'm not going to sit and dwell on it too much, because we're trying to just stay in the moment and keep winning," Sweet said. "I don't want to just settle in and say, 'That's great, I just won my 10th race.' Obviously, so far, it's a dream season, but all of the big races are coming up. I think we just try to keep our heads down and at the end of the season when it's time to look back at the stats we hope we'll have 10 more wins, or more, and a championship."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to Eldora Speedway Friday, July 19, for the Knight Before the Kings Royal. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [10][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$2,800]; 5. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$2,500]; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6][$2,300]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$2,200]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [9][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [25][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [15][$2,000]; 11. 11-Dale Blaney [8][$1,500]; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss [7][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [18][$1,100]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel [24][$1,050]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$1,000]; 16. 26-Cory Eliason [17][$900]; 17. 9-James McFadden [21][$800]; 18. 39-Sammy Swindell [11][$800]; 19. 92-Sye Lynch [12][$800]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [19][$800]; 21. 12N-Joey Saldana [3][$800]; 22. 21-Brian Brown [14][$800]; 23. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 24. 13-Paul McMahan [22][$800]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet1, 3-30; Donny Schatz 2; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+16]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.02; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.077; 3. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.099; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.108; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.14; 6. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.17; 7. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.222; 8. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.245; 9. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.28; 10. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.286; 11. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.292; 12. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.413; 13. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.462; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.476; 15. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.516; 16. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.552; 17. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.56; 18. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.591; 19. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.654; 20. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.695; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 13.727; 22. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.73; 23. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.787; 24. 71M-Paul May, 13.89; 25. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.91; 26. 33W-Michael Walter, 14.097; 27. 64-Scotty Thiel, 17.155
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.215; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.241; 3. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.279; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.31; 5. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.336; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.349; 7. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.374; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.39; 9. 9-James McFadden, 13.438; 10. 21-Brian Brown, 13.459; 11. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.459; 12. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.461; 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.462; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.463; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.473; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.481; 17. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.49; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 13.512; 19. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.585; 20. 7-Jason Sides, 13.629; 21. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.643; 22. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.69; 23. 84-Tom Harris, 13.784; 24. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.844; 25. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.968; 26. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 14.027; 27. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.37
LET'S MAKE IT TWO: Schatz goes two-for-two at Eldora
Donny Schatz sweeps the #LetsRaceTwo events at Eldora Speedway for second straight year
ROSSBURG, OH – July 17, 2019 – There's magic to Donny Schatz's dominate performances at Eldora Speedway.He used that "magic" to cruise to his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Eldora Speedway win of the year Wednesday night, during the make-up #LetsRaceTwo event – sweeping the #LetRaceTwo races for the second year in-a-row.
To Schatz, though, there is no "magic." It's a matter of knowing what to do, he said, and having the experience to do it.
"The misconception in this sport is there's always something magic, there's one thing you can do to make yourself better," said Schatz, 10-time Series champion from Fargo, N.D. "It's not. It's ten thousand little things and this team has learned that over the years.
"It's the same today. Probably even more so today. A quarter turn here or there makes a big difference."
That's what it took for Schatz to charge from fourth to win in the 30-lap Feature. He started the night winning his Drydene Heat race, and then went on to finish fourth in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – almost four seconds behind leader Carson Macedo.
Then "a quarter turn here and there" before the Feature. When field erupted into a thunderous echo across the half-mile speedway and charged to the green flag, it was already clear the adjustments worked.
When the field exited turn four at the start, the race took on a different appearance. Brad Sweet had darted by polesitter Carson Macedo for the lead and Schatz stole third from David Gravel. The reigning champion then tried to steal second away from Macedo in turn one, but the rookie had the stronger run off turn two. His Chevrolet Accessories No. 2 launched underneath Schatz's Toco Warranty No. 15 down the backstretch, and he cleared him into turn three.
The veteran and the rookie battled side-by-side for the next four laps with experience winning the fight. While Macedo played his luck, running as close as he could to the outside wall, Schatz cruised around the bottom line of the track – the same line he used to win at Eldora in May.
A lap after passing Macedo, Schatz, again, used the low line to his advantage, sneaking underneath leader Sweet in turn one and throttling past him off turn two.
From there, Schatz made being fast around Eldora look easy. Lap after lap, he added another car length distance between he and second-place. Even when the field was brought back together for a caution on Lap 15 – due to Kerry Madsen coming to a stop on the track – Schatz pulled away on the restart and left the field to fight for second.
Behind him, though, the hard charger of the year was coming. Logan Schuchart – who has earned the most Hard Charger awards this year, so far, with five – was making another impressive run to the front.
Schuchart started the race seventh and found himself in sixth when the caution for Madsen came out. On the restart, though, he wasn't going to let the leaders run away. With the throttle down, the Drydene No. 1s darted to fourth by the time the field reached turn one and carried that momentum off turn two to claim third from Gravel.
From there the hunt was one. With a head of steam, while rim riding around the track, Schuchart charged his way past Sweet for second with 12 laps to go. Next on his list, Schatz. Schuchart had finished second to Schatz for the last three #LetsRaceTwo events. It was time for a change.
However, even with finding speed along the high side of the track, it still wasn't enough to outpace Schatz.
"I was a little loose, and I think that's why I was good on the restarts," Schuchart said. "I'd be good for about three or four laps and then I'd start slowing down again, especially when I got the tires hot."
With eight laps to go, a new contender emerged. Gravel found traction and got in a rhythm, passing Sweet for third. Five laps later, he found himself in second after dueling with Schuchart for a couple of laps. He, too, marked Schatz next on his list, but, again, the reigning champion was still too strong. Even with trying different lines around lap cars.
"I closed a little, but lap cars slowed him down a little bit and he started moving around," Gravel said. "I have a good feeling we're really close, just going to keep tuning on this thing and hoping we can beat the 15 car."
Schatz held almost a straightaway lead over Gravel when he saw the checkered flags for the fifth time this year – becoming the second most winning driver, so far, behind nine-time winner Brad Sweet – and for his 288th career World of Outlaws win. It was also his second win in-a-row after winning the last Series race at Wilmot Raceway.
His win took a small bite out of Sweet's points lead, again, too. Schatz is now 30-points behind the Kasey Kahne Racing driver.
Even though he claimed his last two wins in dominating fashion, Schatz admitted a wrong "quarter turn here or there" can be the difference between winning and struggling.
With three more races at Eldora Speedway to go – leading up to the $175,000-to-win Kings Royal on Saturday – Schatz isn't looking to magic to keep his winning streak going. It's the determination of his team to never give up and never settle. Even after a win.
"Even though we won a race tonight, they're (the race team) going to go to bed tonight thinking about things to be better," Schatz said. "That's what it takes."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to Eldora Speedway Thursday, July 18, for the Jokers Wild. Get tickets and information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$3,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,700]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [9][$2,500]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [14][$2,200]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [10][$2,000]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [11][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [6][$1,600]; 10. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$1,450]; 11. 70-Brock Zearfoss [19][$1,300]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [18][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [13][$1,100]; 14. 12N-Joey Saldana [20][$1,000]; 15. 5-Shane Stewart [5][$950]; 16. 91-Cale Thomas [24][$900]; 17. 13-Paul McMahan [17][$850]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen [16][$750]; 19. 57-Kyle Larson [12][$725]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [8][$700]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$700]; 22. 26-Cory Eliason [21][$700]; 23. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$700]; 24. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-7, Donny Schatz 8-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 21-Brian Brown, 13.253; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.282; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.287; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.388; 5. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.407; 6. 19-Brent Marks, 13.426; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.445; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.445; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.446; 10. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.45; 11. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.462; 12. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.501; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.533; 14. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.537; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.554; 16. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.643; 17. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.712; 18. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 13.94; 19. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 14.077; 20. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.117; 21. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.371
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.194; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.325; 3. 41-David Gravel, 13.401; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.429; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.474; 6. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.479; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.48; 8. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.516; 9. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.566; 10. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.577; 11. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.613; 12. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.65; 13. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.651; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.657; 15. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.662; 16. 9-James McFadden, 13.694; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.792; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 13.843; 19. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.968; 20. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 14.056; 21. 84-Tom Harris, 14.177
Donny Schatz dominates at Wilmot Raceway
The 10-time Series champion claimed his first World of Outlaws Wilmot Raceway win
WILMOT, WI – July 13, 2019 – Donny Schatz couldn't hold back the emotion any longer.
With his arms raised and cheeks pushed up by a grin, Schatz yelled with a childlike giggle "Hell yeah, I won at Wilmot! That's off the books."
The 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion and now 287-time Series winner claimed his first victory at Wilmot Raceway Saturday night – and fourth win of the season.
"The older you get, you probably put more of a fine-tooth comb on places you haven't won at and this was one of them," Schatz said.
Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team unloaded Saturday evening with the finest comb they could build. He set the pace in Hot Laps and then Qualified second behind Series points leader Brad Sweet.
In his Drydene Heat race, Schatz won by 1.4 sec. He backed that performance up by winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash with a 2.7 sec. lead at the finish.
Dominating the night was not enough to convince Schatz he would excel in the Feature, though. He admitted he didn't know what to expect from the 1/3-mile track, anticipating lap times to drop during the Feature.
On the initial start, outside polesitter Daryn Pittman made a charge at Schatz for the lead. He kept pace with the reigning champion down the back stretch and dove underneath him in turn three. The two entered turn four side-by-side – the closest anyone came all night to passing Schatz. But the Fargo, N.D.-native had the better run off the corner and cleared Pittman down the front stretch.
For the remaining 39 laps, the only time drivers got close enough to see the bumper of Schatz's Toco Warranty No. 15 car was during a caution on Lap 13 for a car going off track in turn two. After that, Schatz spent his night methodically navigating lap traffic.
However, Friday night's Feature winner at Hartford Speedway, David Gravel, was not going to let Schatz cruised to the victory. Gravel, Sweet and Pittman traded positions in the top-four all night. After battling side-by-side for several laps, having to be gentle on the throttle through the tight slick corners, Sweet eventually passed Pittman for second on Lap 16. Gravel did the same a lap later, moving past the Roth Motorsports No. 83 car for third.
With 10 laps to go, Gravel finally put together a strong enough lap to work his way by Sweet and try to track down Schatz.
At that point there was about a two second gap between Schatz and second-place. Gravel slowly closed it lap by lap. Every lap car that halted Schatz's momentum was a few more tenths of a second gained by Gravel.
By the time the white flag came out, Gravel had made up close to a second on Schatz. It wasn't enough, though. He ran out of time.
"I couldn't get by Daryn very quick and then couldn't get by Brad," Gravel said. "Then it was just a little too late to make a charge a Donny."
He and his Jason Johnson Racing team were happy with the run, though, leaving the weekend with a win and runner-up finish.
By taking the win Schatz finally broke his winless streak he's had since the end of May when he won at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
"I'm sure somebody was coming there at the end," Schatz said. "I was kind of hanging. We could get through a few lap cars, but then when I had to move around in (turns) one and two I wasn't as good. But glad to get a win. It's been a while. Always feels good to get the win, especially here in Wisconsin."
Schatz's win put a small dent in Sweet's point lead over him – he's now 38 points behind the Kasey Kahne Racing driver.
Sweet still leads the Series as the winningest driver with nine wins, so far. Schatz's fourth victory of the year ties him with Gravel as the third winningest driver, behind Logan Schuchart, who has five wins.
For the past four years, Schatz has had double digit wins at this point in the season. He's also amassed 20 or more wins in a year since 2013. After winning at Wilmot, he acknowledged the level of competition in the World of Outlaws right now makes those statistics hard to live up to.
"I don't know how many guys there are capable of winning 20 races in a year," Schatz said. "There's some. But it's hard to live up to them standards and there's a lot of fast race cars out here right now. The parity in this sport is pretty crazy and to keep up with it is even more so."
That hasn't stopped he and his team from striving to do so, though. They continue to make changes and try new things with the car, he said.
At the moment, they've found a feel Schatz likes. He's now eager to carry his winning momentum into the upcoming weeks of prestigious and big paying races. And with another grin and a chuckle, Schatz said he's even looking forward to going to Tri-State Speedway in October – another track he hasn't one at.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, July 16 will venture to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio for the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic. To purchase tickets and get more information go to WorldofOutlaws.com.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,800]; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding [5][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,050]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,000]; 11. 9-James McFadden [8][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$1,050]; 15. 7-Jason Sides [10][$1,000]; 16. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [16][$900]; 17. 68-Dave Uttech [18][$800]; 18. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski [19][$800]; 19. 19T-Todd Daun [21][$800]; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder [20][$800]; 21. 23-Russel Borland [15][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$800]; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+6]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.563; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.587; 3. 41-David Gravel, 12.595; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.602; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 12.604; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.637; 7. 7-Jason Sides, 12.671; 8. 9-James McFadden, 12.746; 9. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.75; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 12.791; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.817; 12. 23-Russel Borland, 12.824; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.827; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.827; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.844; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.861; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.982; 18. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.982; 19. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer, 13.131; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 13.49; 21. 19T-Todd Daun, 13.491; 22. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 14.626; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
David Gravel makes late race pass to win at Hartford Speedway
Gravel sneaks under Logan Schuchart on a late race restart to take the lead and win his fourth race of the season
HARTFORD, MI – July 12, 2019 – Repeated speeches about strong podium runs and satisfying runner-up finishes became commonplace for David Gravel the past two months. A fourth win of the year was in his grasp on several occasions but lost in the closing stage of the race.
The same story was playing out again in the final three laps of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Hartford Speedway Friday night. But behind the façade of being content with another podium was the raging fire to win again.
"You never want to finish second. You want to win these races," Gravel said.
On the final restart of the race, with three laps to go, Gravel let the fire loose. He had worked too hard to put himself in a winning position and lose it again.
Gravel won his Drydene Heat race and finished second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – putting him on the front row for the 30-lap Feature. He had an advantage over the entire field, too – he's the only driver to have won on the track's 3/8-mile configuration.
On the initial start Gravel lost second-place to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who snuck under the Watertown, Conn.-native in turn one and cleared him down the back stretch. However, the red flag came out before a lap was completed.
Several cars were involved in an accident on the back stretch, including Series points leader Brad Sweet. The lengthy red flag period – to tow three cars off the track – allowed Sweet's Kasey Kahne Racing team, along with team members from several other teams, to get the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car fixed and back on track before the race went green again.
Since a lap was not complete, drivers lined back up in their initial starting order, putting Gravel back in second-place. This time, his lesson was learned. When the green flag flew again Gravel dove to the bottom of turn one, blocking any attempt by Schatz for another pass. It also allowed him to get a run underneath leader Carson Macedo down the back stretch and into turn three.
Gravel had his nose in front of Macedo exiting turn four, but Macedo had the better run off the corner and charged back to the lead down the front stretch.
From there, Macedo held command of the lead for the next seven laps before the caution flew again for a slowed Bill Balog. When the race restarted, Gravel, again, put pressure on Macedo. Inches were left between their bumper for the next two laps. Gravel dived underneath the rookie in turn three but like before Macedo prevailed.
They stayed first and second, respectively, to the halfway point of the Feature. In that time, Logan Schuchart quietly worked his way from ninth to third with the top two in sight.
With 14 laps to go, Gravel, not willing to settle for second, capitalized on a strong run. While Macedo searched for traction on the high side, Gravel had already found it on the bottom. He powered by Macedo and officially took the lead with 13 laps to go.
"Carson had a good pace. I think he just got free halfway through," Gravel said. "I just kept working him, working him, trying to keep the pressure up, hoping he would spin his tires and kind of wear his stuff out. Luckily we were able to get by him."
Gravel's fortunes looked to have finally turned in his favor. Instead of losing the race in the second half of the event, he was on track to win it. However, with nine laps to go, the "dun dun" of an imaginary bass played in your head. The Shark Racing No. 1s of Logan Schuchart was closing. Fast.
Cruising around the high side of the track, Schuchart caught Gravel with four laps to go and sped around him with ease through turns one and two. Before Schuchart could run away with his fifth win of the season, the caution came out again for Tim Kaeding coming to a stop in turn four.
With three laps to go and Schuchart now backed up to Gravel, the Jason Johnson Racing driver had one last chance to harness his fire to win.
Gravel timed the restart just right, sneaking a nose underneath Schuchart as they raced down the front stretch. On their charge into turn one, Gravel dove to the bottom leaving no time for Schuchart to attempt a block. They exited turn two side-by-side and remained that way down the backstretch.
When they made it to turn three Gravel, again, launched his car into the corner, pulling ahead of Schuchart, and maintained the run off turn four to clear Schuchart for the lead.
He could throw away the runner-up speech. The win at Hartford Speedway was his.
"We've been wanting to win so bad," Gravel said. "Finally getting the win, we've been so close. As a driver I've let a couple of wins get away. Just happy I can get another win. You never know when your next one is going to be."
While Gravel celebrated a special victory – which he got to do with Jason Johnson's son, Jaxx, for the first time this year in Victory Lane – Schuchart had to settle for another runner-up finish.
"That stings a little bit," Schuchart said. "We had one like that last week, we lost the race at the end and did it again tonight. Last week I feel like I blame that on myself. Tonight, the guys did a fantastic job... We qualified bad, didn't give up and raced hard all night."
He didn't leave Michigan without some kind of win, though. His charge from ninth to second earned him the KSE Hard Charger award.
Sweet also had an impressive charge after getting involved in the wreck – which required his front axle to be replaced and his top wing to be replaced – at the start of the race. He restarted at the back of the field and methodically made his way to sixth-place by the end of the race.
"Had a pretty nasty vibration. I think we bent a rear axle," Sweet said. "Honestly, a good salvage for us. Hung in there and tried not to shake my teeth out... Luckily, we were able to over come it. I think that's a good sign for us to overcome that adversity tonight."
He maintains his points lead over Schatz – who finished third – now 44 points over the reigning champion. Gravel still sits third in points – 130 points behind Sweet.
Gravel's win at Hartford was his second at track – the first driver to win more than one race at the speedway – his fourth win of the season and 43rd career World of Outlaws win – placing him 16th on the all-time wins list, passing Andy Hillenburg.
"Hopefully we'll get some more (wins) and get this thing rolling for the month of money," Gravel said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Saturday, July 13, will venture to Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. for the Badger 40. For tickets and more information, go to WorldofOutlaws.com.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 41-David Gravel [2][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$3,200]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [10][$2,500]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,200]; 8. 9-James McFadden [13][$2,100]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,050]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [8][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding [4][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [17][$1,100]; 14. 7-Jason Sides [5][$1,050]; 15. 81-Lee Jacobs [16][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$900]; 17. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$800]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [19][$800]; 19. 97-Max Stambaugh [11][$800]; 20. 2L-Landon Lalonde [18][$800]; 21. 28-Brian Paulus [21][$800]; 22. 39-Tyler Rankin [20][$800]; 23. 71H-Ryan Ruhl [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-16; David Gravel 17-26, 28-30; Logan Schuchart 27; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+7]
Qualifying – 1. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 14.014; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.53; 3. 7-Jason Sides, 14.664; 4. 9-James McFadden, 14.702; 5. 71H-Ryan Ruhl, 14.714; 6. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.787; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.823; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.824; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.859; 10. 17B-Bill Balog, 14.882; 11. 41-David Gravel, 14.915; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 14.948; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.122; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.202; 15. 97-Max Stambaugh, 15.206; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.363; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs, 15.492; 18. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.578; 19. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 15.653; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.702; 21. 39-Tyler Rankin, 15.893; 22. 28-Brian Paulus, 16.232; 23. 23-Russel Borland, 16.326
Huge payouts mean more than $2 MILLION on the line the next two months at World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series events
CONCORD, NC — July 12, 2019 — Brad Sweet's yell projected an octave higher than previous victory chants after winning at the Jackson Motorplex. Not only did he claim the Jackson Nationals, but the large $41,000 payday along with it.
The passion to win is instilled in all drivers, but when large paydays are on the line that passion reaches a new height. It was apparent in Sweet's charge to win the Jackson Nationals and in Shane Stewart's relentless pursuit of the $25,000 payday at Nashville Fairgrounds in June.
That passion is sure to be on display for the next couple of months in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series schedule with more than $500,000 on the line just to win and more than $2 million at stake overall.
RACE TRACK
WIN
START
PURSE
7/16 – Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic
Attica Raceway Park
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/17 – #LetsRaceTwo
Eldora Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/18 – Jokers Wild
Eldora Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/19 – Knight Before the Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway
$12,000
$800
$57,700
7/20 – Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway
$175,000
$3,000
$366,025 + $,5000 bonus
7/23 – Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup
Lernerville Speedway
$25,000
$1,200
$85,300
7/26 – Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals
Williams Grove Speedway
$8,000
$600
7/27 – Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals
Williams Grove Speedway
$20,000
$1,000
$124,900
8/2 – Night Before the Ironman
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
$8,000
$600
$42,050
8/3 – Ironman 55
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
$20,000
$1,000
$68,000
8/7 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$12,000
$1,000
8/8 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$12,000
$1,000
8/9 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$4,000
$1,000
8/10 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$150,000
$1,000
$957,320
8/16 – Gerdau Northern Tour
River Cities Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
8/17 – Duel in the Dakotas
Red River Valley Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
8/23 – NOS Energy Drink Rushmore Outlaw Showdown
Black Hills Speedway
$20,000
$800
$62,850
8/24 – The Brawl at Big Sky Speedway
Big Sky Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
TOTAL
$526,000
$17,800
$2,086,245
There are six races throughout the two months paying $20,000 or more to win, starting with the unprecedented $175,000-to-win Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 20. The payout is a drastic increase from the $50,000-to-win purse the event has had since it started in 1984.
"The Sprint Car world has never seen a winning share like that before," Shane Stewart said.
Before the prestigious event, drivers will have the chance to pocket $42,000 as there are three $10,000-to-win races and one $12,000-to-win race leading up to it.
On July 16 is the Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio. Then the three races at Eldora Speedway leading up to the Kings Royal — #LetsRaceTwo, Jokers Wild and the Knight Before the Kings Royal, the sole $12,000-to-win event.
"It's a great week to be able to run the Brad Doty on Tuesday and then four nights in-a-row at Eldora," Daryn Pittman said. "One hundred and seventy-five (thousand dollars), that'll change anyone's year."
Following the Kings Royal is the biggest weekday show of the year on Tuesday, July 23, the $25,000-to-win, $1,200-to-start Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
Immediately following the Silver Cup is the July 26-27 Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. There will be $28,000 on the line to win between the two nights — $8,000-to-win the first night and $20,000-to-win the second.
Drivers will, again, have the chance to earn another $28,000 the next weekend with the Aug. 2-3 Ironman event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Miss. Friday's Night Before the Ironman event will pay $8,000-to-win, while the main event on Saturday will pay $20,000-to-win.
Then, less than a month after the Kings Royal, drivers will find themselves battling to win another high-paying prestigious event – the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa.
From Wednesday, Aug. 7, to Friday, Aug. 9, drivers will compete for more than $30,000-to-win in the three preliminary races. Then on Saturday, Aug. 10, the passion to win will hit its zenith. Drivers will be competing for the illustrious Knoxville Nationals champion title and the extravagant $150,000 payday.
A string of $10,000-to-win races follow the Nationals. Until Friday, Aug. 23, when the World of Outlaws return to Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D. for the NOS Energy Drink Rushmore Outlaw Showdown. The purse will be $20,000-to-win, thanks in part to NOS Energy Drink sponsoring the event this year and adding another $10,000 to the winning purse.
By the end of August, one driver could potentially end the summer swing of races with more than $500,000. It'll be a challenging task, but there's no doubt every driver's passion to win will be peaked at each event.
"This is what it's all about as a race car driver is the big money races," Brad Sweet said. "It's great our sport has so many big paying races and they're all coming up."
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. As always, if you can't make it to the track watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Brad Sweet takes back-up car to Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway
Sweet rebounds from early night woes to win the second round of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown
The right rear tire of Brad Sweet's NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car sagged lower to the ground with every inch the car rolled into the infield.
Fortunate for Sweet, his infield trip was to Cedar Lake Speedway's Victory Lane Saturday night. It was his ninth win of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season – tying his win total last year and his record for most wins in a season – and his 43rd career Series win overall.
The image of Sweet waving the checkered flag atop his car with a flat tire was symbolistic of his path to victory.
Rain forced the remaining 28 laps of Friday night's FVP Platinum Battery Showdown Feature to be run Saturday evening – making Saturday a doubleheader event. Sweet restarted the race in fourth and kept pace with the leaders, eyeing his third win in-a-row and 14th top-five in a row.
But four laps into the race, Sweet slowed to a stop. A U-joint broke in the car, damaging it beyond a quick repair. Sweet was forced to take his first DNF of the season. His Kasey Kahne Racing team had to pull out the back-up car for the second Feature of the night.
"I was disappointed, but we win as a team, we lose as a team," Sweet said. "Every now and then you have a mechanical failure. We'll go back and look at it and make sure it doesn't happen again."
After about an hour turnaround to get the back-up car ready, he Qualified eighth and then finished second in his Dryden Heat race behind Sheldon Haudenschild – who won the first Feature of the night. If there were still any concerns about how the back-up car would run, they were extinguished in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
Sweet ran second to Dominic Scelzi for the first half of the Dash, but found grip riding the bottom of the track and reeled Scelzi in lap by lap. On the final lap, the two California-natives charged down the front stretch side-by-side with Sweet edging out Scelzi for the win.
Now with the pole position for the Feature, Sweet was in prime position to rebound from his 23rd-place finish earlier in the night.
He launched to the lead on the initial start. Scelzi didn't let Sweet get far, though. Five laps into the race, Scelzi snuck underneath Sweet in turns one and two. It wasn't enough. Sweet charged off the top side of the track and maintained the lead. Scelzi wasn't ready to give up. He charged back underneath Sweet, but, again, Sweet had the advantage on the high side. He shot to the lead and pulled away from Scelzi.
For the remaining 30 laps, Sweet held command of the race. Scelzi was left to fight for second-place, which he eventually lost to David Gravel. Carson Macedo wasn't far behind, stealing third from Scelzi, as well.
Lap traffic became an obstacle at times for Sweet, but had little effect on slowing him down. He was denied a chance at a win earlier in the night. That was not going to happen again. He crossed the finish line with about a straightaway lead, ending the long day with a win.
"It was pretty cool that a car that just sits in our trailer we can bring out first night out and get it going that good," Sweet said. "It's been a long day, but it's nice to celebrate another win. I want to keep it rolling. I have a great race car."
In the first Feature of the night, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz finished second – cutting Sweet's points lead in half. However with Schatz finishing seventh in the second Feature of the night, Sweet was able to maintain a 50-point lead over the Fargo, N.D.-native.
Gravel has moved into third – 142 points behind Sweet.
"We're happy with a second," said Gravel, who went Quick Time for both Features at Cedar Lake Speedway. "We didn't have a shot to win there. But happy with second. I think that was the best-case scenario for us. Brad got by a couple of lap cars and just wasn't able to get back by the cars he did and kind of got stuck there."
While Sweet dominated the race, leading all 35 laps, he said there is still room for improvement as his car lost grip throughout the run.
"If we keep fine tuning this thing, I think we can win a lot of races this year," Sweet said.
With nine wins halfway through the season – seven of them in the last 10 races – Sweet is already on track to a career best year.
"We've got a good thing going and all we want to do is keep the throttle down," Sweet said. "We just want to win as many of these races as we can. You don't get these opportunities like we have very often."
Sweet made the most of his latest opportunity with minutes to spare before his right rear tire gave out for the night in Victory Lane.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Friday, July 12, will be at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Mich. for the Battle of Michigan.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,000]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$3,000]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [2][$2,700]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,200]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,000]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [9][$1,800]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog [6][$1,600]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$1,450]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [15][$1,300]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [19][$1,100]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$1,000]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [17][$950]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$900]; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier [18][$850]; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild [22][$750]; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [24][$725]; 20. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12][$700]; 21. 9N-Wade Nygaard [16][$700]; 22. 19P-Paige Polyak [20][$700]; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$700]; 24. 23-Russel Borland [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.015; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.032; 3. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.295; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.32; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.48; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.501; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.551; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.553; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.562; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.619; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.657; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.66; 13. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 13.779; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.943; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.958; 16. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.985; 17. 21-Brian Brown, 14.003; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 14.005; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.382; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.394; 21. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 14.398; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 14.511; 23. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 15.319; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 15.385; 25. 23-Russel Borland, 15.589
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Haudenschild holds off Donny Schatz to win at Cedar Lake Speedway's rain delayed FVP Platinum Battery Showdown
Nerves set in for Sheldon Haudenschild in the closing laps of the early Saturday evening World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series FVP Platinum Battery Showdown at Cedar Lake Speedway.
While leading with less than 10 laps to go, he brushed the wall off turn four while trying to pass a lap car on one lap and jumped the cushion in turn one, upsetting his car, in another. With 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz lurking behind him – hungry to return to Victory Lane – Haudenschild knew errors were not an option.
"I made a couple of sloppy laps there honestly," Haudenschild said. "I was a little nervous. That's usually when Donny capitalizes. I wasn't very happy with myself making a few of those mistakes."
Schatz closed, but after the couple errors, Haudenschild in his NOS Energy Drink No. 17 was flawless. Powering around the high side of the speedway, the Wooster, Ohio-native cruised to his first win of the season – 6th career win – and first win since August.
It wasn't an easy drive though. Before having to hold off Schatz, he had to work his way from eighth-place past drivers like Brad Sweet, Shane Stewart, David Gravel and Schatz for the lead.
Rain was also a hinderance. Seven laps of the 35-lap Feature were completed Friday night before rain fell, postponing the race until Saturday evening – leaving 28 laps to go. Before the rain fell, Gravel had taken the lead and Haudenschild had moved his way to seventh.
"Starting seventh (when the race restarted) I wasn't really sure what to expect," Haudenschild said. "I had Brad, Donny, Gravel and the five-car up there. It definitely wasn't easy pickings to get up there. Luckily, I made a couple of passes on the bottom in (turns) one and two while it was still good, and I think I moved up at the right time.
"We've had a little bit of a down period. So, to get a win for them (Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team), and myself is huge."
When the Feature went back green early Saturday evening, Schatz launched by Gravel for the lead and never looked back. Pulling away from the field he looked poised to claim his fourth win of the season. However, a fast Haudenschild charged his way through the field and eventually worked his way around Schatz on the high side to steal the top spot and lead the final 19 laps.
While Schatz had to settle for second, he made a big gain in the points with Sweet breaking a part during the race and finishing 23rd.
"Wins is what keeps you a job and keep these teams going, keeps them motivated," said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D.-native. "So, we wanted to win. Sheldon did a better job. When he got up on the top there in three and four, he's good at that stuff."
Rounding out the podium was Kerry Madsen, who used a few late race slide jobs to secure the position.
"Just didn't get my rhythm until halfway," Madsen said. "The car came alive and started attacking."
With the new track conditions Saturday evening, versus Friday night, drivers were unsure what they would be faced with, but Haudenschild stayed confident throughout the delay. He knew he had a good car Friday night and knew he could keep his strong run going into Saturday.
With the sun's evening rays bathing him, his NOS Energy Drink can newly awarded glimmering gold trophy in Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway, Haudenschild's nerves were gone, replaced by relief and joy.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will complete the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown tonight at Cedar Lake Speedway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$5,000]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$3,000]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [16][$2,700]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$2,500]; 6. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 7. 41-David Gravel [2][$2,000]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$1,800]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [14][$1,600]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [6][$1,450]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$1,300]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [3][$1,100]; 14. 3-Jac Haudenschild [19][$1,000]; 15. 9N-Wade Nygaard [23][$950]; 16. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$900]; 17. 23-Russel Borland [21][$850]; 18. 13-Mark Dobmeier [22][$750]; 19. 29-Hunter Custer [24][$725]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$700]; 21. 21-Brian Brown [17][$700]; 22. O5-Colin Smith [18][$700]; 23. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$700]; 24. 55-Brooke Tatnell [9][$700]; 25. 14K-Tori Knutson [25][$700]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-7, Donny Schatz 1-16, Sheldon Haudenschild 17-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+12]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.072; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.079; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 11.127; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.129; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.136; 6. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.145; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.169; 8. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.183; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.21; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.219; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.231; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.239; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.258; 14. 21-Brian Brown, 11.275; 15. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 11.298; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.304; 17. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.309; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.332; 19. 19-Brent Marks, 11.367; 20. 23-Russel Borland, 11.412; 21. O5-Colin Smith, 11.429; 22. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 11.57; 23. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 11.658; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 11.975; 25. 14K-Tori Knutson, 12.718; 26. 17B-Bill Balog, NT
Sweet continues winning ways in South Dakota
Brad Sweet takes advantage of Logan Schuchart's mistake to get eighth win of the season at Brown County Speedway
Brad Sweet admitted running second isn't always a bad thing.
That's because he used it to his advantage to win six of the last eight races – including Wednesday night's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Brown County Speedway, in Aberdeen, S.D.
However, with a fifth-place starting position and several cautions, it took Sweet about half the race to make his way to second and catch leader Logan Schuchart.
His trek to the front took patience. And a few key adjustments by his Kasey Kahne Racing crew before the 35-lap Feature.
"We were awful in the Dash and the NAPA Auto Parts guys made a great adjustment for the [Feature] and we had a really good car," Sweet said.
Sweet started the night as the quickest car in Hot Laps and won his Drydene Heat race. The Dash was a drastic change of pace for the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 team, though. Sweet finished fifth out of six cars – falling from a third-place starting position.
Then the adjustments, and patience.
Schuchart jumped to the lead at the start of the Feature, but had pressure from Kraig Kinser for the position. Their runs were cut short with a caution on the first lap for Paige Polyak spinning in turn one. Before they could battle for the lead again, there was another. This time for Jac Haudenschild going off track – an issue several drivers had throughout the night.
When the race went green, Kinser fell victim to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Sweet, who passed Kinser for second and third, respectively. The trio of Schuchart, Schatz and Sweet remained in that running order until Lap 15.
With 20 laps to go, Sweet dove to the bottom of turn three, while Schatz ran high – the line just about every car was on – and slid up in front of the Fargo, N.D.-native to take second-place. He was now in a position to learn. To stalk. To hunt.
Lap traffic was a benefit to Sweet in previous races, helping him catch the leader. However, with multiple cautions for cars either spinning or going off track, Schuchart had little traffic to deal for the majority of the Feature. He never fumbled on the restarts, either. The rear tires of the Drydene No. 1s held on to clay surface with the grip of a shark biting into its prey, launching Schuchart to a multi-car length lead every time.
On the final restart with 19 laps to go, the race went green flag to checkered flag. Schuchart again launched to the lead and cruised around the high side of the track, while Sweet and Schatz followed in his footsteps.
With about 10 laps to go, Schuchart found himself having to navigate through heavy lap traffic. That brought Sweet and Schatz back into the battle for the lead. Sweet's patient was paying off.
Four laps later, Schuchart slid off the bottom of the track while trying to pass a slower car. His loss of momentum allowed Sweet to dart to the inside of the Shark Racing car. The duo drag raced down the front stretch of the quarter-mile track, neither willing to succumb to the other.
On their charge into turn one, Sweet used the middle lane to his advantage, powering by Schuchart for the lead and running away with it for the remaining five laps.
"I think he (Schuchart) thought he could get that lap car and it just allowed me to get the run," Sweet said.
Sweet went on to see the duel checkered flags waving over his car for the eighth time his year – and the 42nd time in his World of Outlaws career.
"I was just trying to be patient there," Sweet said. "Sometimes it's good to be second again. Logan wasn't sure what to do with the lap car. I knew there was no way to pass him. The rubber was starting to move down the race track and it was tricky to hit."
Schuchart, who led 30 laps, puts the blame on himself for letting the win slip away.
"I just got a little over anxious," Schuchart said. "It was a bad deal on my part. I thought I had to pass a lap car and I didn't. But I'm happy to be up here running second."
While Schuchart was still satisfied with his podium finish, Schatz, who ended up third – his second podium finish in-a-row – was left still looking for more.
"We're close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and we're not doing either of those, so we'll keep digging and trying to get the wins," Schatz said.
At this point last year, Schatz had double digit wins and the points lead. Currently, the Fargo, N.D.-native has three wins and sits second in points – now 78 points behind the KKR No. 49 car. Sweet is on an impressive run of 13 top-five finishes in-a-row and is already nearing his 2018 win total of nine victories.
"I've had years when we only win five races in a whole season," Sweet said. "I know how special it is when you get on a roll like this... This is what we're meant to be doing out here. It's fun to win these races. I'm not going to take it for granted and we're going to keep working hard."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6, will be a Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$3,200]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,800]; 5. 41-David Gravel [8][$2,500]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$2,300]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,200]; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman [11][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [17][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [18][$1,200]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$1,050]; 15. 13-Mark Dobmeier [16][$1,000]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [4][$800]; 18. 17B-Ryan Bickett [22][$800]; 19. 2K-Kevin Ingle [21][$800]; 20. 19P-Paige Polyak [19][$800]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [10][$800]; 22. 11M-Brendan Mullen [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-30, Brad Sweet 31-35 ; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+8]
Qualifying – 1. 7S-Jason Sides, 10.961; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.049; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.063; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.092; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.12; 6. 19-Brent Marks, 11.143; 7. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 11.152; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.154; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.168; 10. 19P-Paige Polyak, 11.168; 11. 41-David Gravel, 11.173; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.19; 13. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.19; 14. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.212; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.223; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.236; 17. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.258; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.295; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 11.474; 20. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 11.482; 21. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 11.734; 22. 17B-Ryan Bickett, 11.894
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Brad Sweet wins 2019 Jackson Nationals
By holding off 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz to win at Jackson Motorplex, Brad Sweet pockets $41,000 payday
The "Big Cat" Brad Sweet was starving for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win at Jackson Motorplex Saturday night.
He's tasted victory six times already this season – including a win Thursday night at Jackson Motorplex – but with $41,000 and the title of Jackson Nationals champion on the line, his appetite wouldn't be appeased until the night's entrée was his.
He had to battle through cautions, lap traffic, smoking tires and an equally as hungry Donny Schatz, but at the end of the 35-lap Feature, Sweet drove his NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car to Victory Lane for the seventh time this year, claiming the 41st Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals.
"Forty-one thousand, that's awesome," Sweet said. "These big money races are hard to win."
After winning opening night of the Jackson Nationals, Thursday, and finishing fifth Friday night, his total combined points locked him into the pole position for Saturday night's DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He dominated the field in the Dash, pulling away to a 3.5 second lead over second-place Daryn Pittman by the end.
Sweet had the plate of $41,000 in his hands and was ready to walk away with it. But when the Feature went green, he found himself having to brawl for it.
Pittman charged around the outside of Sweet through turns one and two to take the lead. The next time around, Sweet dove underneath Pittman in turn one, putting the two side-by-side at the exit of turn two. Neither were going to lift. But to avoid sliding up into Pittman, Sweet had to jerk his car sideways and allowed the Roth Enterprises No. 83 car to pull away.
Pittman held command of the lead for the next 11 laps before there was contact between he and the lap car of Austin McCarl, which sent McCarl rolling into turn one.
When the race went back green after the red flag, Sweet got the jump on Pittman, clearing him for the lead before they got back to the flag stand. Into turn one, Sweet moved to the top of the track, blocking Pittman's line. The Grass Valley, Calif-native then pulled away to about a four-car-length lead exiting turn two.
Pittman's fortunes continued to decline with Schatz working his way by the Oklahoma-native and dropping him to third – where he would remain for the rest of the Feature.
"I keep finding ways to lose races," said Pittman, whose third-place finish was his seventh top-five in-a-row. "Getting frustrating, but my Roth Motorsports guys keep working really hard. They're doing a great job."
Leaving Pittman in third, Schatz began his hunt of Sweet. With just three wins this season, so far, and his last win coming nine races ago, the 10-time Series champion was as hungry as Sweet to return to Victory Lane.
Sweet lost grip exiting turn two on the slick track while trying to pass a lap car, with 11 laps to go. That allowed Schatz to close on Sweet and dive underneath him in turn three. The two were side-by-side exiting turn four with Sweet smoking his tires on the rubbered down groove of the track and Schatz fighting to keep his car straight.
"It didn't surprise me one bit when the fifteen (car) was sneaking under me," said Sweet, who has battled Schatz for the points lead all season long. "He's got me chasing my tail a little bit."
After Schatz's attempt at passing the Kasey Kahne Racing car, Sweet got into a rhythm. He found his line and rode it for the remaining 10 laps to claim his 41st career Series win during the 41st Annual Jackson Nationals with a $41,000 payday.
"Once I got in clean track, I knew just to run right in the rubber and I didn't want to allow any runs to happen," Sweet said. "It was just one of those things where we were just good enough to get the win tonight. It wasn't pretty I don't think, but that's why you set yourself up all weekend to get in the right position and we were in the right position and we were able to get the win."
Schatz's second-place finish was a rebound from Friday when he blew a motor while leading the Dash and ended up eighth in the Feature.
"Hats off to these (Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing) guys," Schatz said. "They're digging. They've got an awesome race car. The driver's got to step up to the plate a little bit, start swinging a bigger bat. We'll work on that."
Sweet has now won five of the last seven races. That's resulted in him extending his championship lead to 72-points over Schatz.
"We've had a good little run here," Sweet said. "It's been a lot of fun."
While the "Big Cat's" winning appetite was appeased Saturday night, hunger is sure to return next week.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Wednesday, July 3, will return to Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D. for the Star Spangled Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$41,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$20,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$12,000]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3][$9,000]; 5. 9-James McFadden [9][$8,000]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [6][$7,000]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$6,500]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$6,000]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$5,500]; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer [21][$5,000]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$4,000]; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell [12][$3,700]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [16][$3,600]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [24][$3,500]; 15. 2M-Kerry Madsen [23][$3,400]; 16. 3-Jac Haudenschild [11][$3,300]; 17. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [18][$3,200]; 18. 4-Terry McCarl [10][$3,100]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$3,000]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$3,000]; 21. O9-Matt Juhl [20][$3,000]; 22. 7-Justin Henderson [15][$3,000]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$3,000]; 24. 2KS-Austin McCarl [22][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-11, Brad Sweet 12-35 KSE Hard Charger Award:49X-Tim Shaffer[+11]
Carson Macedo wins night two of the Jackson Nationals
Rookie Carson Macedo holds off veterans Logan Schuchart and Daryn Pittman for third career win
You couldn't see it, but Carson Macedo was standing up in the seat of his Kyle Larson Racing No. 2 car for all 30 laps of the Feature at Jackson Motorplex Friday night.
Or at least, that's how it felt to the rookie driver after holding off veterans Daryn Pittman and Logan Schuchart to claim his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race.
"I knew I needed to stand up in the seat and make it happen," Macedo said. "These Outlaw races are hard to win and you don't get those opportunities that often to be up front and be there to capitalize on a win."
The record book will officially show Macedo led all 30 laps. However, the sweat drenching down his forehead and the lack of breath in his speech know better.
Macedo started on the pole of the Feature, by virtue of winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash after Dash leader Donny Schatz blew a motor. When the green flag hit the air, Macedo and Pittman drag raced side by side down the front stretch. Macedo launched his car under Pittman into turn one, sliding ahead within inches of his bumper.
Macedo then sped away, leaving about a three-car gap between he and Pittman.
By Lap seven, Macedo's pace put him in lap traffic. Behind him, Pittman and Schuchart wrestled for second-place. Schuchart tried to slide in front of Pittman off turn two, but carried too much speed and exited the corner sideways, allowing Pittman to dart back by.
The top three remained unchanged for the next five laps with Macedo cautiously navigating his way through lap traffic. Within those five laps, Pittman closed to about a car length distance from Macedo, while Schuchart stocked them both. The veterans were ready to steal the rookie's win.
With 15 laps to go, Schuchart powered his Drydene No. 1s around the outside of Pittman in turn one. Then next lap, he attempted a slide job underneath Macedo in turn one, but the Chevrolet Accessories No. 2 car had a strong enough run on the outside to get beside Schuchart before he could slide up in front of him.
When they crossed the line for 13 laps to go, Macedo was given 14 seconds to breathe with no attempts for a pass. But Schuchart was still there. Lurking. Waiting.
With 12 laps to go, Macedo couldn't sit. Schuchart threw another slide job at him in turn one. This time, it worked. The Shark Racing car cleared Macedo exiting turn two and pulled away down the backstretch.
Macedo was determined to not let the win slip away. With a Hail Marry dive into turn three – closing about a three-car length gap – Macedo sped by Schuchart on the bottom of the track and reclaimed the lead on the exit of the turn.
They charged by the flag stand with 11 laps to go and Schuchart threw his car back underneath Macedo into turn one. They slid through the corner side by side, but Macedo had the advantaged against the cushion and powered to the lead down the backstretch. Behind them, Pittman won his own battle against Ian Madsen to remain third.
"Once I did get by Carson, I was maybe a little too conservative," Schuchart said. "I had one more shot after I passed him, when he passed me back, to try to throw one more slider on him. I was a little too hesitant to let it go up and I feel like I could have. Once he went by, I feel like he went by in a slower motion, a little bit further than I was expecting him to."
Six laps went by with Macedo continuing to balance maintaining the lead while negotiating lap cars. He put a comfortable gap between he and second-place, which became a three-way between Schuchart, Pittman and Madsen.
With three laps to go, Pittman slid by Schuchart for second and put together one last effort to run Macedo down. But it wasn't enough. Macedo cruised to the win during night two of the Jackson Nationals.
"I knew that if we could get in clean air and make good clean laps and get through traffic well we could run OK," Macedo said.
Pittman finished second and Schuchart held on to third – a big improvement from his 18th-place run during Thursday's opening night race for the Jackson Nationals.
Pittman's second-place finish was his fifth top-five in-a-row – after finishing fourth Thursday night. It's a positive trajectory toward his quest to return to Victory Lane.
"If we keep running, top-three, top-five every night, god, you got to think wins will come," Pittman said. "We're close. I think we were closer to winning tonight than we were last night, so I'm happy with the direction we're going."
Strong runs from Pittman and Macedo – who finished eighth Thursday night – during the two preliminary opening night Jackson Nationals races have garnered them enough points to lock themselves into Saturday's DIRTVision Fast Pass, along with David Gravel and Thursday night's winner Brad Sweet. The remaining four Dash starters will be determined by Saturday's Heat races.
When it comes to Saturday's 40-lap $41,000-to-win Feature, Pittman said he thinks he and his team are as good as anyone competing.
For Macedo, Friday night was all about his third Series win. The Lemoore, Calif.-native's first two Series wins came at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. With his win in Jackson, Minn., people can now stop asking him when he'll win at another track.
"A couple of people said, 'We need to see you win an Outlaw race somewhere other than Chico,'" Macedo said. "So, it feels good to do that. This is my third time ever racing at this track."
His relief and triumphant joy were clear for everyone to see when he went from "standing in his seat" to standing on the back of his car, arms in the air and a joyous yell loud enough to be heard through his helmet.
UP NEXT:
The 41st Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals at Jackson Motorplex will conclude Saturday, June 29.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$5,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,700]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [6][$2,000]; 7. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,800]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$1,500]; 10. O9-Matt Juhl [10][$1,400]; 11. 7-Justin Henderson [14][$1,300]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [13][$1,200]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer [15][$1,100]; 14. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$1,000]; 15. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [17][$950]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$925]; 17. 3-Jac Haudenschild [16][$900]; 18. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [19][$850]; 19. 44S-Trey Starks [22][$825]; 20. 2KS-Austin McCarl [23][$800]; 21. 55-Brooke Tatnell [20][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [24][$800]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$800]; 24. 19P-Paige Polyak [9][$800]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+4]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.744; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.798; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.943; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.954; 5. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.968; 6. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 13.008; 7. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.058; 8. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.105; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.106; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.129; 11. 4-Terry McCarl, 13.162; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.212; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 13.257; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 13.277; 15. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 13.331; 16. 9-James McFadden, 13.336; 17. 7W-R.J. Johnson, 13.422; 18. 5J-Jamie Ball, 13.442; 19. 44-Chris Martin, 13.475; 20. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 13.598; 21. 8-Jack Croaker, 13.844
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.011; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.017; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.04; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.064; 5. O9-Matt Juhl, 13.148; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.168; 7. 7-Justin Henderson, 13.17; 8. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.177; 9. 44S-Trey Starks, 13.235; 10. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 13.268; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.307; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 13.336; 13. 21-Brian Brown, 13.457; 14. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.486; 15. 16-Travis Whitney, 13.54; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.596; 17. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 13.784; 18. O5-Colin Smith, 13.894; 19. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 13.939; 20. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 14.259
Brad Sweet wins Jackson Nationals opening night
Brad Sweet makes late race pass on David Gravel to claim third win in-a-row, 40th overall
Questions with no clear answers lingered in heads of thousands like a painless headache during the final three laps of the Jackson Nationals opening Thursday night race at the Jackson Motorplex.
Could Brad Sweet catch David Gravel? Could Gravel hold Sweet off?
Gravel had the 4/10-mile tamed, leading every lap up until that point. But on a charge behind him, the untamable "Big Cat" Sweet.
With two laps to go, they were side by side down the back stretch. Gravel hesitated for a millisecond on a lap car's trajectory, while Sweet didn't blink, darting underneath the lap car and Gravel into turn three and claiming the lead off turn four.
From there the answer was clear. Sweet would go on to win his sixth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race of the season – his 40th career win and third win in-a-row.
"It's sure fun to drive this thing right now," said a jubilant Sweet. "We've really hit on some stuff. It's been a joy to drive good the last few weeks.
"I'm a little worn out, I was really clutching the wheel, trying to hit my marks there late in that race. I knew it was coming down to the white there."
The win may have been Sweet's sixth of the season – further extending his title as winningest driver, so far, this year – but it was one of the hardest wins he had to work for.
Starting sixth in the 30-lap Feature, Sweet had a host of competitive cars between he and the lead. Also, on the start, Gravel cruised by Donny Schatz on the outside for the lead and the two pulled away to about a straightaway gap on third-place Brian Brown.
It took Sweet two laps to make his way by Terry McCarl for fifth-place, but it was another nine laps before he caught Brown and Daryn Pittman who were battling for third. He made quick work of the two, passing them both with a daring drive through turn three and four, leaving inches between he and Pittman's car.
Three laps later Sweet made his way by second-place Schatz and set his sight on closing the half-a-straightaway gap between he and Gravel with 15 laps to go. However, Schatz, who hadn't won in seven races, was still determined to close that gap himself.
With Sweet getting held up by a lap car in turn four, Schatz throttled back by the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car and put his Toco Warranty No. 15 car back in second. Sweet had to regroup and find this rhythm riding the bottom of the track again. Two laps later, with a slide job through turns three and four, Sweet cleared Schatz on the front stretch and reclaimed second-place.
He now had 12 laps to catch the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 of Gravel.
Could he catch him? With three laps to go, Sweet had Gravel in sight. Two laps to go they were side by side. After Sweet darted by Gravel and a lap car in turn three, Gravel had to throw his car sideways on the exit of turn four to avoid hitting another lap car. From there, with one lap to go, Sweet pulled away to a half second lead and a $10,000 victory.
"I was hunkered down and determined to catch him (Gravel)," Sweet said. "It always helps sometimes to be in second, you can watch where he's not running and try to find a line."
Carrying the weight of defeat in every word, runner-up Gravel congratulated Sweet on the win, but knew the race should've been his.
"We had the race winning car there," said Gravel, who set Quick Time and won his Drydene Heat race earlier in the night. "That's not our issue. As a driver I've got to put myself in a better spot there. We'll come back tomorrow hungrier."
Schatz's third-place finish was his first podium finish since he won at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway at the end of May. However, he was still looking for more.
"You slip a little bit, and someone is going to take advantage of it," Schatz said. "So, it's one of them nights."
Sweet has extended his points lead over Schatz, the 10-time Series champion to a 60-point advantage. That stems from Sweet claiming 10 top-five finishes in-a-row and his determination to keep winning.
"When you start winning races you're just never satisfied unless you're winning," Sweet said. "I guess when you get beat down by Donny year after year you just try to keep getting better. I think this year, we're just a little bit better right now, but that doesn't mean a whole lot. Everybody's a half a turn or change or something away from putting the pressure back on us. We're just ahead right now and that allows me to keep leading laps and winning more race. It just gives me confidence."
With one more preliminary night of racing at the Jackson Motorplex on Friday, the question of who will win Saturday night's $41,000-to-win Jackson Nationals finale will linger for the next 48 hours.
However, with a win on night one, Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team have set themselves up to possibly answer that question, as well.
UP NEXT:
Night two of the Jackson Nationals at the Jackson Motorplex with the World of Outlaws will take place Friday, June 28.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [2][$5,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$3,000]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$2,700]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [3][$2,500]; 6. 9-James McFadden [9][$2,000]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,800]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [14][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$1,500]; 10. 4-Terry McCarl [4][$1,400]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,300]; 12. 7-Justin Henderson [7][$1,200]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [21][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$1,000]; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer [18][$950]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$925]; 17. O9-Matt Juhl [11][$900]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$850]; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$825]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$800]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$800]; 22. 3-Jac Haudenschild [23][$800]; 23. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [16][$800]; 24. 2KS-Austin McCarl [24][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-28, Brad Sweet 29-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2M-Kerry Madsen[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.752; 2. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.766; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.888; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.916; 5. 9-James McFadden, 12.922; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.943; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.001; 8. O9-Matt Juhl, 13.043; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.08; 10. 44S-Trey Starks, 13.181; 11. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.213; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.262; 13. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.414; 14. 44-Chris Martin, 13.467; 15. 8-Jack Croaker, 13.518; 16. 5J-Jamie Ball, 13.668; 17. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 13.677; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.706; 19. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 13.868; 20. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 14.029; 21. O5-Colin Smith, 14.059
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.811; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 12.966; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.969; 4. 7-Justin Henderson, 12.995; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.016; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.04; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.09; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 13.104; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.11; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.156; 11. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.178; 12. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.33; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 13.376; 14. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 13.468; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 13.496; 16. 7W-R.J. Johnson, 13.522; 17. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 13.563; 18. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 13.617; 19. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 13.618; 20. 16-Travis Whitney, 13.729; 21. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 14.024
Sweet wins at Beaver Dam for back-to-back wins
Brad Sweet continues early season dominance by winning at Beaver Dam Raceway, extending his points lead over Donny Schatz
In the words of Brad Sweet, "the more you lead, the better you get at it." The statement rings like a prophecy he wrote from himself.
Almost halfway through the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series 2019 season, Sweet has made leading a habit and gotten better at it each race.
With more than 100 laps led already this season, the Grass Valley, Calif.-native added another 38 laps to that total after claiming his fifth win of the season Saturday night at Beaver Dam Raceway – and his second win in-a-row.
"I'm just happy we're clicking them off and have a little bit of momentum on our side," said Sweet, after claiming his 39th career Series victory.
His second victory at the Wisconsin track wasn't earned without a few faults and lessons learned along the way.
The 1/3-mile track was slick and technical for the 40-lap Feature, he said. That meant finding the right line at the right time; a feat the Kasey Kahne Racing driver faults himself for not executing perfectly.
But before the track began to take rubber late in the race, forcing Sweet to contemplate the best line, he had to contest with DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash winner Shane Stewart for the lead.
On the initial start, Stewart jumped to the lead riding the high side of the track. Sweet chose the bottom. In two laps, the advantage proved to be Sweet's. The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 sped by Stewart, putting close to a second gap between them.
His newfound lead was cut short a few seconds later when Logan Schuchart brought out the first caution of the night by coming to a stop in turn three.
On the restart, Sweet returned to form. He shot to the lead, leaving the remaining 23 cars to content for second amongst themselves. Stewart held on to the position for the next few laps before trying the low line and bicycling his car off turn four, giving Daryn Pittman an easy pass for second-place.
For the remaining 33 laps, third-place was traded between Stewart, David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz and Ian Madsen. Each driver throwing a slide job on the next to try and claim the position.
By the halfway point, Sweet caught lap traffic and Pittman started to close in. However, navigating lap traffic – a situation Sweet has found himself in several times already this year while leading – only made him faster.
Pittman eventually transitioned to the high side and again began to close in on Sweet. But with 15 laps to go, Sweet also moved to the top and pulled away to the $20,000 victory.
"It was finesse. It was tricky," Sweet said about the race. "I had to move around on the race track. I think the bottom caught a few guys off guard. I don't know if they thought they should be on the bottom in (turns) three and four. I kind of had an idea. I did my warm up down there to see how much grip was down there.
"Luckily it was good down there early and I was able to get the lead. I made a couple of mistakes there. I probably stayed down there too long. But I didn't want to follow lap guys. It's just tricky sometimes leading and moving around."
While Pittman's second-place finish – his third podium finish in-a-row – was a momentum building performance with his Roth Motorsports team, he's hungry for more.
"It just feels like it's been a while since I won," said Pittman, who last won in Florida in February. "I've gone from, how do we turn things around, to being consistent, to now dammit I want to win. We've still got to get a little bit better, but we're close."
The duel for third was won by the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 car of Gravel. In JJR's return to Beaver Dam Raceway after Jason Johnson's fatal accident at the raceway last year, Gravel kept the No. 41 car up front all night. He was fastest in practice, went Quick Time in Qualifying, won his Drydene Heat race and fought hard for a podium.
"We wanted to win tonight, but we're happy with a podium," Gravel said. "Third is good. We've been rolling pretty good here. Just have to keep it going."
Gravel's podium finish leaves him fourth in points – 144 points behind leader Sweet. Pittman is third – 138 points back – and Schatz is second – now 54 points behind Sweet after finishing seventh.
Along with the points lead, Sweet now leads World of Outlaws drivers in the most laps led, the most podium finishes – with 12 – and most wins, so far, this year. To Sweet, though...
"It really doesn't mean a whole lot," Sweet said. "It's not a bad thing ever to, toward the end of June, have the most wins. But I've been there before. I'll keep saying it over and over and over, these next few months, July, August and in even September, those are the months that are going to make or break the season. You can run good all the way to July 1 and never win another race."
Consistency is key to Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team. Lead more, win
more.
The more he leads, the better he gets.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Sunday, June 23, will venture, for the first time, to Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$20,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$6,000]; 3. 41-David Gravel [6][$3,500]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$3,000]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$2,500]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [8][$2,050]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell [20][$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [16][$1,100]; 14. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [11][$1,050]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [21][$1,000]; 17. 25-Jake Blackhurst [14][$1,000]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [19][$1,000]; 19. 9-James McFadden [18][$1,000]; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel [17][$1,000]; 21. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [23][$1,000]; 22. 4B-Scott Biertzer [24][$1,000]; 23. 73-Ben Schmidt [22][$1,000]; 24. 2-Carson Macedo [12][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-2, Brad Sweet 3-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1-Sammy Swindell[+10]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.554; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.657; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.665; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.699; 5. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.711; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.752; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.803; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.806; 9. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.815; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.816; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.823; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.837; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.887; 14. 23-Russel Borland, 11.894; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.906; 16. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.915; 17. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.95; 18. 9-James McFadden, 11.963; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.196; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel, 12.259; 21. 73-Ben Schmidt, 12.309; 22. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 12.309; 23. 25-Jake Blackhurst, 12.389; 24. 4B-Scott Biertzer, 12.467; 25. 2W-Scotty Neitzel, 12.596; 26. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 12.965; 27. 68-Dave Uttech, NT
Brad Sweet wins second night of World of Outlaws doubleheader weekend at Knoxville Raceway
When the checkered flags waved over a victorious Brad Sweet at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night the time was close to 1 a.m. Central Time, due to Mother Nature's evening splash of rain.
Exhaustion had no presence on Sweet's face, though. Sweat and a big grin, yes. Maybe even a hint of relief. But no fatigue. For the Grass Valley, Calif.-native, his fourth win of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season was just another day in the office.
"We live a recluse life out here on the Outlaw tour where you pretty much train yourself to not get out of bed before 10 or 11 (in the morning) because all the work has to be done at night time," Sweet said. "This is pretty normal for us. Once you get in the seat of the race car, it's just like any other night."
While he cruised to the victory in the closing laps of the 25-lap Feature with no pressure from behind, the laps prior forced Sweet to earn the win.
In a rare start at Knoxville Raceway, polesitter Lance Dewease out dueled Sweet for the lead at the start of the Feature and pulled away by three car lengths. The Fayetteville, Pa.-native led the first 13 laps of the Feature – a drastic turn of events after Dewease failed to transfer to Friday night's Knoxville Feature.
"We made a lot of changes," said Dewease, who finished sixth. "I really screwed up in time trials (Friday night) and didn't run the right laps and corners. I knew tonight we were going to make that up, as far as me, personally. And they got the car a lot better from the drop of the green."
As laps clicked off during the Feature Dewease said he got too loose, and Sweet passed him for the lead with 12 laps to go.
Sweet only led the next two laps, before Logan Schuchart, who also got by Dewease, caught the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car.
Continuing to run the bottom of the track, Sweet bounced off the inside berm in turn one, slowing his momentum and allowing the Drydene No. 1s of Schuchart to charge by him on the outside. Sweet wasn't ready to let Schuchart drive away, though.
The two drivers traded lanes going into turn three; Sweet high, and Schuchart low. Sweet stayed within a car length of Schuchart exiting turn four and threw his car underneath him going back into turn one. His attack didn't work. Schuchart powered off turn two, maintaining the lead.
Sweet, still resilient, kept Schuchart in sight. In their return to turn three, Schuchart went high and Sweet back low. This time around, the advantage went to Sweet. He found enough grip to get side-by-side with Schuchart down the front stretch and dart by him for the lead in turn one.
Schuchart made one final attempt to pass Sweet exiting turn two, looking to his inside, but Sweet shut the door going into turn three. Schuchart was then left to fend off Daryn Pittman for second-place.
"He made me work for it," Sweet said about Schuchart. "About all I had there to beat him."
Once Sweet reclaimed the lead, he maintained it for the final seven laps, riding the bottom of the track – the key to his victory.
"When the track's fast like that it's tricky," said a nearly out of breath Sweet. "Everything happening way faster than you want it to. And you still have to try to hit that narrow bottom. That was the key tonight.
"I figured a few things out in the [Feature] and got the bottom to work. I still missed it about 50 percent of the time, So, we still got to get a little bit better. But I think we were better than most tonight."
Sweet's fourth victory of the season now ties him with Schuchart for the most wins this year. The win also helped Sweet extend his points lead over second-place Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion finished 15th, creating a 40-point deficit between he and Sweet.
While Schuchart missed out on his fifth win of the season, he still sees his performance as a positive to build off of.
"This [Brad Sweet team] won the Knoxville Nationals last year and we ran them down and passed them," Schuchart said. "That's something to be proud of."
Pittman ended up third, after starting 10th. It was his second podium finish in-a-row at Knoxville – a track he didn't feel like he was good at.
"Maybe I don't suck here after all," said Pittman with a smirk. "My car was really good. It was good last night. We really thought about some things that we needed to be better from last night."
Sweet's Knoxville victory is his 38th career Series victory and his eighth top-five finish in-a-row. With tricky track conditions and late nights yet to create any fatigue for Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team, they're poised to build upon their recent momentum.
"We've been on a stretch of good runs, just want to keep it going," Sweet said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, June 22, will venture to Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$5,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [10][$3,000]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,700]; 5. 41-David Gravel [8][$2,500]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [1][$2,200]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [6][$2,000]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [7][$1,800]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [11][$1,600]; 10. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [5][$1,450]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [25][$600]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [12][$1,200]; 13. 9-James McFadden [15][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [16][$1,000]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz [21][$950]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [19][$900]; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$850]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides [14][$750]; 19. 3P-Sawyer Phillips [9][$725]; 20. O9-Matt Juhl [13][$700]; 21. 7X-Justin Henderson [23][$700]; 22. 44S-Trey Starks [20][$700]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$700]; 24. 2M-Kerry Madsen [24][$700]; 25. 20-A.J. Moeller [22][$700] Lap Leaders: Lance Dewease 1-13; Brad Sweet 14-15, 18-25; Logan Schuchart 16-17 KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+14]
Qualifying Flight-A: 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.977; 2. 41-David Gravel, 14.981; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 15.004; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.014; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.089; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.091; 7. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 15.166; 8. 9-James McFadden, 15.228; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.232; 10. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 15.275; 11. O9-Matt Juhl, 15.286; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 15.3; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 15.335; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.383; 15. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 15.394; 16. 1-Sammy Swindell, 15.422; 17. 56N-Davey Heskin, 15.425; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.498; 19. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.681
Qualifying Flight-B: 1. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.112; 2. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.2; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.205; 4. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.247; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.282; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.375; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.375; 8. 4-Terry McCarl, 15.38; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.402; 10. 20-A.J. Moeller, 15.503; 11. 7X-Justin Henderson, 15.579; 12. 44S-Trey Starks, 15.628; 13. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 15.676; 14. 7SX-R.J. Johnson, 15.734; 15. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 15.783; 16. 44-Chris Martin, 15.884; 17. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 16.005; 18. 56-Joe Simbro, 16.009; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 16.604
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Brian Brown dominates World of Outlaws field to win at Knoxville Raceway
There was gravitas in Brian Brown's yell. After slapping the top wing of his Casey's General Stores/FVP No. 21 Sprint Car, he held his right fist in the air and stared out to the crowd with the expression of an alpha predator after claiming his territory.
Brown won his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race of 2019 at Knoxville Raceway Friday night, and his fourth win in four starts, this year at the iconic raceway.
"It's huge," Brown said, holding his emotion back with chuckles. "I dreamed of racing and saying, 'I hope when I win my first Outlaw show, I can win it at Knoxville.'"
It wasn't his first World of Outlaws win. Instead, his fifth. That doesn't make it any less special, though. He wanted a World of Outlaws win at the track he considers home.
"That was my goal," Brown said. "But I won at North Carolina. Then we won the next two in Arizona. Then I finally win one in Kansas, but it's still not home. This is."
To claim the win, he had to fend off Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart – both winners already this season – and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. Beating the eminent World of Outlaws competition meant Brown had to be aggressive.
"My mindset the whole while, really all night, was to just be aggressive," Brown said. "If there was an opportunity to do something, go."
He took that opportunity in the first turn on the initial start. Polesitter Daryn Pittman fired to the lead past second-place Shane Stewart and took his Roth Motorsports No. 83 to the high side going into turn one. At the same time, Brown had made his way underneath Stewart and threw a daring slide job into turn one, clearing Stewart and Pittman at the apex of the corner.
Brown's car then slid to the high side of turn two, a car length ahead of Pittman. Exiting the turn, Pittman could get as close as Brown's bumper before the white No. 21 rocketed down the back stretch, putting about a three-car length distance between first and second-place.
"We got a good start there and got by Shane, and I didn't really know what Daryn was going to do... I went on across," Brown said. "I thought that was very important."
Brown continued to grow his lead over Pittman until a caution on Lap two for Sammy Swindell who lost power on the front stretch.
On the restart, Brown launched to the lead, clearing Pittman going into turn one. Like the original start, Pittman closed to Brown's bumper exiting turn two, but that was as close as he would get to the lead again all night. Brown sped away, putting almost half a track distance between he and Pittman 10 laps into the 25-lap Feature.
The three-time Knoxville Raceway track champion – two in a 410 Sprint Car, one in a 360 – cruised around the half-mile raceway like it was a house he built. Lap cars only made Brown faster. He stayed aggressive, passing two or three of the slower cars at a time.
"I knew it was going to be tough to pass lap cars," Brown said. "I knew I had to make my moves count. If I could get a chance to get two or three at the same time, we had to do that. Because that just makes it harder for the guys behind."
Brown took the checkered flag four seconds ahead of second-place Pittman. He led all 25 laps. Stewart finished third, after dueling with Schatz for the position.
Pittman showed speed all night, finishing second in his Drydene Heat race and winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – after getting the outside pole starting position in the Dash draw.
While he didn't leave with the win, Pittman was still pleased with the overall performance.
"That's the closest I've ever been to the front or seeing the front here," Pittman said. "This is not a great race track for me. So, for me, to feel like I could keep him (Brown) in my sights was a huge accomplishment for myself and this race team. All and all, my car was pretty close. I've just got to make a few better decisions and maybe get our car a little better."
His second top-five in-a-row has now left him tied for third in points with David Gravel, who finished ninth. Brad Sweet continues to lead – now by 10 points over Schatz, who finished one spot ahead of him Friday night; Schatz, fourth, and Sweet, fifth.
Brown, not running full-time with the World of Outlaws, isn't concerned about points. He's here for wins. And when it comes to Knoxville Raceway, he's solidified himself as the current alpha.
"I've been here before where I've maybe been the fastest car at Knoxville, but come to these (World of Outlaws) races I kind of lay an egg, or finish fourth or fifth, which is laying an egg for us," Brown said. "It's good to be able to have a fast race car and capitalize on that. We'll celebrate tonight and get back to the drawing board tomorrow."
UP NEXT:
Brown will get the chance to double down for another World of Outlaws Knoxville win, when the Series returns Saturday, June 15, for the final race of the Brownells Big Guns Bash doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 21-Brian Brown [3][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [1][$5,000]; 3. 5-Shane Stewart [2][$3,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,700]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [4][$2,200]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,000]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,800]; 9. 41-David Gravel [10][$1,600]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [14][$1,450]; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [21][$1,300]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [11][$1,200]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$1,100]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [16][$1,000]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$950]; 16. 9-James McFadden [19][$900]; 17. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [18][$850]; 18. O9-Matt Juhl [23][$750]; 19. 1-Sammy Swindell [7][$725]; 20. 56N-Davey Heskin [17][$700]; 21. 33M-Mason Daniel [9][$700]; 22. 3P-Sawyer Phillips [13][$700]; 23. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [22][$700]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 41S-Dominic Scelzi[+10]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.735; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 14.906; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.037; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell, 15.13; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.143; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 15.197; 7. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.231; 8. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.238; 9. 7-Dustin Selvage, 15.281; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 15.281; 11. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 15.302; 12. 9-James McFadden, 15.302; 13. 56N-Davey Heskin, 15.323; 14. 44S-Trey Starks, 15.365; 15. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.376; 16. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 15.381; 17. 7X-Justin Henderson, 15.457; 18. 20-A.J. Moeller, 15.463; 19. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.503; 20. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.547; 21. 21K-Thomas Kennedy, 15.609
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.902; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.059; 3. 41-David Gravel, 15.099; 4. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.123; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.163; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.2; 7. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.21; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 15.348; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.386; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.534; 11. O9-Matt Juhl, 15.539; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 15.554; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 15.588; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 15.73; 15. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 15.766; 16. 44-Chris Martin, 15.902; 17. 5J-Jamie Ball, 15.966; 18. 7SX-R.J. Johnson, 16.012; 19. 56-Joe Simbro, 16.113; 20. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 17.819; 21. 35-Skylar Prochaska, NT
Brad Sweet overcomes mistake to win big at Granite City Speedway
A rapid of blood forced its way through hearts of thousands. Beats per minute spiked to the redline.
Leader Brad Sweet hit the cushion exiting turn four at Granite City Speedway Saturday night, launching his NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car several inches off the track. With David Gravel breathing down his neck, he was about to lose a jackpot of a night.
Not only was he en route to claiming another World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win, after four podium finishes in-a-row, he was destined to reclaim the points lead due to points leader Donny Schatz not finishing the race.
His error sent a wave of shock, excitement and qualm among the crowd.
Under Sweet's helmet, there was nothing but focus. No shock. No thrill. No qualm. His heart, beating as normal – as normal as a heart does in a 900hp Sprint Car.
"I've been on the tour long enough that I don't let the emotions get to me," Sweet said.
That mentality led to him overcoming his mistake and claiming his third Series win this season at the Sauk Rapids, Minn. speedway – his 37th career Series win overall. And the points lead.
"I was bound and determined I think to win that one," Sweet said. "I'm just happy to get the win."
At the start of the 35-lap Feature, Sweet was a cheetah among kittens. He rocketed by polesitter Gravel for the lead on the initial start and pulled away by half a track.
Sweet caught lap traffic by Lap six and was lapping up to 14th-place by Lap 15. There was no catching the blue and yellow Kasey Kahne Racing car.
However, once the race reached the halfway point, Gravel began to reel Sweet in. The obstacle course of lap cars Sweet had mastered became a cluster of road blocks.
Then, with 11 laps to go, the unimaginable happened. Ten-time Series champion Schatz hit the wall exiting turn four, destroying the rear end birdcage and ending his night.
On the following restart, Gravel snuck underneath Sweet, slid up in front of him in turn one and launched to the lead.
"I just spun my tires," Sweet said. "I was too anxious to make sure I got the jump. Once you get spinning there's really no way to get your tires back."
Sweet wasn't ready to let another win slip away. He followed Gravel's tracks, riding the high side of the speedway, keeping the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 in sight.
With seven laps to go, Gravel bounced his car off the cushion exiting turn four, drastically killing his speed. Sweet then threw his car underneath Gravel going into turn one and slid back in front of him.
Sweet's next trip around turn four crashed a wave of shock, excitement and qualm into the crowd. He hammered the cushion, sending his front end toward the wall. While he wrestled to stay off the white barrier, Gravel turned back underneath Sweet and reclaimed the lead.
Sweet was bound and determined, though.
With a Hail Mary slide job, he hurled his car to the bottom of the turn one and slid up in front of Gravel exiting turn two. The lead was his. And in the next few laps, the win was, too.
"All you can do is try your hardest and sometimes when you over try bad things happen," Sweet said about having to rebound from hitting the cushion. "I thought we had the superior car, so I was frustrated with myself I was even in that position. But it played out right. You're going to win some of those. You're going to lose some of those. Luckily, tonight we got the win."
When Sweet sped away with the lead, Gravel was left having to defend second from a hard charging Logan Schuchart in third-place.
"It was a good effort. It was a good race," Gravel said. "He (Sweet) just pulled away from us early, but I kind of let him go and hopefully I was going to be better than him."
Schuchart claimed his fourth win of the season Friday night at River Cities Speedway to become the winningest driver, so far, this year. However, he said then his team still needed to put together consistent podium finishes. Saturday night's third-place run was a good start to that.
"This is definitely what we're talking about," Schuchart said. "You always want to win, but this is the consistency we're talking about."
Sweet's consistency of five podium finishes in-a-row has led to him holding a 12-point lead over, now second-place, Schatz. He doesn't let the emotions of battling for the points lead get to him either.
"Honestly, I don't pay much attention to the points," Sweet said. "I don't want Donny to have a 200-point lead because our goal is to win the championship. But I also know that there are stretches of races that if you're not running good the points can shift so much.
"At the beginning of my career with the Outlaws, I would look at the points after every race. Now I'm lucky to look at it every three or four races and kind of see where things are at. I know if we're running good and (Schatz) is behind us we're going to be gaining. If he's in front of us every night, then he's going to be ahead of us. The points will take care of themselves. We're 26 races into an 80-race schedule. Really, June, July and August are what set the tone for the points. Honestly, we just want to win races."
They're bound and determined to do so.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws next heads to the iconic Knoxville Raceway on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [1][$5,500]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$2,800]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [7][$2,500]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$2,100]; 9. 9-James McFadden [10][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [12][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$1,100]; 14. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$1,050]; 15. 20A-Jordan Adams [19][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [15][$900]; 17. O-Nick Omdahl [20][$800]; 18. 35-Skylar Prochaska [13][$800]; 19. 11M-Brendan Mullen [23][$800]; 20. 9N-Wade Nygaard [18][$800]; 21. 91A-Reed Allex [24][$800]; 22. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [21][$800]; 23. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$800]; 24. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-24, 31-35; David Gravel 25-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.471; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.628; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.676; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.699; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.832; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.871; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.886; 8. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.898; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.936; 10. 9-James McFadden, 11.941; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.982; 12. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.007; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 12.011; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.091; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.092; 16. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 12.11; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 12.219; 18. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 12.254; 19. 8H-Jade Hastings, 12.296; 20. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 12.457; 21. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 12.564; 22. 20A-Jordan Adams, 12.82; 23. O-Nick Omdahl, 12.973; 24. 91A-Reed Allex, NT
Logan Schuchart holds off Kasey Kahne Racing teammates for River Cities Speedway victory
With his grinning shark teeth painted helmet in one hand and the checkered flag in the other in Victory Lane at River Cities Speedway Friday night, Logan Schuchart accomplished more than just another win.
He did what no World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver has done since 2014 – win more races than 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz a third of the way through the season.
By claiming his fourth win of the season at the Grand Forks, N.D. track, Schuchart is now the winningest driver this year. Schatz and David Gravel are behind him with three wins each.
"To lead the Outlaws in Series wins this time of the year is a pretty cool accomplishment, for where you look at where this team was six years ago and how it started and where we've come," Schuchart said.
Last year, the Shark Racing driver had two wins in total for the season. He won four races in total in 2017 but has yet to surpass that number in a single season. He's knocking on the door to beat that record now – especially with his performance on the 3/10-mile track to claim his 12th career Series victory.
He started the night winning his Drydene Heat race and then won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
In the 40-lap Feature, Schuchart did not favor sharing the lead. The record book will show he led every lap. However, Gravel and Australian James McFadden have stories that say otherwise.
At the start of the Feature, Schuchart was a shark racing minnows. He pulled away from second-place Brad Sweet by almost a straightaway, leaving the top-five to figure out their running order as they swapped positions lap after lap. Some cranked their car sideways to the bottom of the track, while others tempted disaster by riding the outside rim of the turns, hoping to not slide off track and down the steep embankment on the other side.
Hope was not enough to keep several drivers on track. Carson Macedo brought out the first of seven cautions by going off track in turn three. On the restart, Gravel went from fourth to second in the first turn, while Kasey Kahne Racing teammates McFadden and Brad Sweet battled for third.
Running the high side, Gravel found enough traction to eat into Schuchart's lead, getting to his outside by Lap 15. However, before he could attempt a pass. Another caution for a car going off track.
On the following restart, Gravel launched ahead of Schuchart, taking the lead and pulling away to a two-car length lead. It was short lived, though. Exiting turn two, Gravel slid off the corner allowing Schuchart to dart back by him.
The lap went to Schuchart. There was no sharing the lead.
"It's tough when you're leading to be able to tell where to go, when the rubber or where the rubber's coming in," Schuchart said. "Actually, in the beginning, when Dave got around me, I knew he got a run from the top of three and four, but it actually wasn't totally rubber, yet. I knew he had to get a run from the top, so I moved up in three and four and I wasn't going to move my line in one and two until I saw somebody or heard somebody."
While Schuchart put distance between himself and the top-five once again, the KKR teammates were now battling for second – continuing their spectacular battling from Tuesday night's race at Fairbury Speedway.
Riding the low line of the slick track, McFadden found enough traction to pull ahead of Sweet and begin his march toward Schuchart.
Round two of Schuchart versus McFadden, after the two raced for the win a couple of weeks ago at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Schuchart won that battle.
McFadden ran Schuchart down. He could stay on his bumper, but couldn't find a big enough run to get by the Hanover, Pa. driver.
Then, on a restart with 13 laps to go, McFadden found that run. He launched pass Schuchart on the outside and sailed away. This time, it looked like Schuchart would have to share the lead. But before McFadden could complete the lap, another caution.
McFadden showed his hand. Schuchart now knew what he had to do to win.
"I wasn't squirting off the bottom as hard as I needed to in (turns) one and two and it was cleaned off a little bit above the bottom," Schuchart said. "He (McFadden) showed me that, and lucky enough the caution did come out."
When the race went back green, McFadden could keep Schuchart close enough in sight to read the sponsors on his car, but never garnered enough of a run again to get back by him.
"Once Logan's out front on that kind of track, he's probably one of the best guys at racing that," McFadden said. "I think he was holding back, trying not to get to lap traffic, thinking if he didn't make a mistake, he wasn't going to get past. I was just sitting there waiting, and hoping, and it didn't happen. Still happy with second."
While Schuchart claimed his fourth win this season, Sweet, who ended up third, earned his fourth podium finish in-a-row.
"We'll keep plugging away," Sweet said. "As long as we're standing on the front stretch each and every night, the wins will start coming."
Sweet, with two wins this season, continues to sit second in points to Schatz. But with Schatz finishing fourth, the Grass Valley, Calif.-native gained two points on the reigning champion and is now 36 points behind him.
Being the winningest driver, so far, this season has injected Schuchart with pride and confidence. Although, the amount of wins he has won't mean anything if he can't find consistency. His performance this year has left him fifth in points -- 202 points behind Schatz.
"It seems one night we win, the next night we're fifteenth," he said. "We're going to keep working at it, try to figure it out and hopefully pick up some more wins."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will continue its tour through the Northwest on Saturday, June 8, at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minn.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$10,000]; 2. 9-James McFadden [3][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,800]; 5. 41-David Gravel [4][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,300]; 7. 4-Terry McCarl [6][$2,200]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [7][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$2,050]; 10. 13-Mark Dobmeier [13][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [23][$1,500]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,100]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [18][$1,050]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [12][$1,000]; 16. O-Nick Omdahl [19][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$800]; 18. 8-Jack Croaker [16][$800]; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams [22][$800]; 20. 31-Shane Roemeling [25][$800]; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings [24][$800]; 22. 2A-Austin Pierce [14][$800]; 23. 9N-Wade Nygaard [17][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$800]; 25. 11M-Brendan Mullen [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 10.399; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.432; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.47; 4. 9-James McFadden, 10.477; 5. 4-Terry McCarl, 10.624; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 10.648; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 10.68; 8. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 10.734; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.768; 10. 8-Jack Croaker, 10.819; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.836; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.841; 13. O-Nick Omdahl, 10.866; 14. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.915; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.928; 16. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 10.932; 17. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 11.015; 18. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.035; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams, 11.039; 20. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.057; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings, 11.057; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 11.22; 23. 2A-Austin Pierce, 11.361; 24. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.536; 25. 31-Shane Roemeling, 12.192
Kyle Larson out duels Kasey Kahne Racing teammates to claim first ever World of Outlaws back-to-back victories
Your heart tried to explode. If you stopped to think you'd realize you weren't breathing. But there was no time for that. Every lap, every corner, the potential for a new leader. A new reason to not blink.
James McFadden? Brad Sweet? Kyle Larson? Your mind spun with the question of who will win, unable to find a clear answer as the three drivers dueled with the intensity of gladiators fighting to be the last man standing.
Then the dust settled. A moment of quiet ease spread around the quarter-mile Fairbury Speedway arena. Climbing atop the wing of his No. 57 machine to thunderous applause and an explosion of confetti was Larson – claiming his eighth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win Tuesday night.
The win gives him back-to-back World of Outlaws victories, after winning his last Series race at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Memorial Day.
"Cool to get a win back-to-back with the Outlaws, I've never done that before," Larson said.
The last time he won more than one World of Outlaws race in a season was back in 2013 – a year before he went full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing.
Larson had to duel with fellow NASCAR competitor Christopher Bell and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz to claim the win at Lawrenceburg. This time around, he had to face the dominate Kasey Kahne Racing duo of McFadden and Sweet.
The KKR teammates started the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown event going first and second in practice with Sweet pacing the field. The No. 49 car then backed up its speed in Qualifying by setting Quick Time. McFadden was third. Larson seventh.
Sweet then won his Drydene Heat race with ease. Larson and McFadden dueled for the win in the third Drydene Heat race of the night with Larson dominating the field.
McFadden came back with force, charging to the win in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Sweet finished third, and Larson sixth – setting their starting position for the 40-lap Feature.
McFadden wrestled with his 900hp machine, taming it like a wild stallion at the start of the Feature to take the early lead. His run was cut short by a red flag on the first lap for Dylan Tuxhorn rolling over in turn one.
When the Feature went back green, heart rates amplified. Breaths were held. McFadden led, but Sweet was charging for a fight.
The two teammates traded lanes lap after lap, corner after corner. Sweet could power his way to either the inside or outside of the orange No. 9 car into the turn, but McFadden could launch off the exit with the power of the gods.
While they dueled, Larson slayed the competition between him and the leaders with ease. By Lap 13, he gave the KKR duo something else to fear. Going into turn three he forced his car under Sweet, making it a three-wide battle through the corner – a common theme throughout the next several laps.
Sweet built up a strong enough run to steal the lead from McFadden on Lap 17. He couldn't shake him, though. McFadden and Larson stayed on his bumper and the next time around they both snuck by him. McFadden threw his car low in turn three, while Larson squeezed his car between the outside of Sweet and the wall.
McFadden reclaimed the lead and now had a fierce Larson to contend with. The next lap, back in turns three and four, McFadden, again, went low and Larson high. The god-like launches McFadden could get exiting a corner were no match for the resilient throttle hungry Larson.
The two traded the lead for the next couple of laps with Larson eventually prevailing. McFadden still had fight left in him, though. And not far behind was Sweet, lurking. Waiting for another opportunity to strike.
In the closing laps, with the leaders having to navigate lap traffic, Larson couldn't lose McFadden. The Australian was building momentum lap after lap, inching closer and closer to Larson. But then, with eight laps to go, McFadden's battle came to an end.
While stuck behind a lap car through turns one and two, McFadden hit the corner tire and spun to a stop.
"Really fun race track," said McFadden, still with a smile, after the Feature. "It was awesome racing with Brad and Kyle. They're obviously a couple of the best guys in the country. I don't know if I just misjudged the lap car. He got the tractor tire I think and slowed him a bunch. I just got into the back of him and when I did that, the tractor tire came out, after he hit it, and I got it and that was that. At the end of the day, it was a positive step for the team."
In the remaining eight laps, Larson now had to contest with a hard charging Sweet.
Larson stuck to the bottom of the track – the least likely place for him to make a mistake, he said. Sweet took advantage of that, soaring around the outside of the speedway to find as much grip as he could to catch the white No. 57 Silva Motorsports car.
Coming to the checkered flag, Larson faltered. He slid off turn four, scrubbing speed and allowing Sweet the opportunity to strike one final time.
The distance between the leaders was still too much for Sweet, though. Like a warrior on a steed signifying his victory, Larson sprinted to the checkered flag with his front two wheels off the ground.
"That was just an exciting race from start to finish for me," Larson said. "Shoot, 40 laps around this place was crazy. It felt like we swapped the lead a lot. Just an awesome race track. Short tracks are always a blast."
Sweet's runner-up finish helped him cut into Schatz's points – now only 38 points behind the reigning champion. He said he felt like he had the better car, but probably got too timid in lap traffic, compared to Larson's maneuvers.
"He's crazy," Sweet said about Larson with a grin. "He was bouncing off the wall in (turn) one and bouncing off the wall in three and four."
Larson would agree with Sweet's sentiment.
"I'm always all out," Larson said. "I don't even know how I would be if I was running for points with the Outlaws. It would be hard for me to change my driving style. I'm just crazy, yeah."
That craziness makes speed though, he added.
The kind of speed that made your heart explode with excitement. Your breath run and hide. And your mind spin with questions. But there was no time to worry about that. Because every corner, every lap, there was the potential for a new leader. A new reason not to blink.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws will next trek to the Northwest on Friday, June 7, to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [6][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,100]; 9. 5-Shane Stewart [22][$2,050]; 10. 21-Brian Brown [7][$2,000]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog [2][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,100]; 14. 41-David Gravel [24][$1,050]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$1,000]; 16. 9-James McFadden [1][$900]; 17. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [14][$800]; 18. 5X-Justin Peck [18][$800]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$800]; 20. 70X-Spencer Bayston [21][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$800]; 22. 96-Parker Price-Miller [8][$800]; 23. 4-Terry McCarl [19][$800]; 24. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: James McFadden 1-15, 19, 21; Brad Sweet 16-18; Kyle Larson 20, 22-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+13]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.266; 2. 5X-Justin Peck, 11.305; 3. 9-James McFadden, 11.309; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.381; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 11.386; 6. 96-Parker Price-Miller, 11.433; 7. 57-Kyle Larson, 11.444; 8. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 11.449; 9. 19-Brent Marks, 11.45; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.455; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.472; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.493; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.497; 14. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.506; 15. 4-Terry McCarl, 11.508; 16. 17X-Aaron Reutzel, 11.522; 17. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.523; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.53; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.539; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.59; 21. 17A-Austin McCarl, 11.592; 22. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.604; 23. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 11.605; 24. 21X-Carson Short, 11.619; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.65; 26. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.661; 27. 41-David Gravel, 11.688; 28. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.709; 29. 98-Chad Boespflug, 11.722; 30. 26-Cory Eliason, 11.723; 31. 85-Mike Terry, 11.855; 32. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn, 12.183; 33. 5M-Max Stambaugh, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Shane Stewart beats Brent Marks for Music City Outlaw Nationals win in thrilling show
Among the music halls and concert venues of Nashville, there was no bigger stage than the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' Music City Outlaw Nationals at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday night.
Thousands of buoyant fans filled the grandstand. Spotlights gleamed off the brown clay quarter-mile oval surface. The prize, a guitar shaped trophy, $25,000 in winnings and the pride of making history; becoming an inaugural Music City Outlaw Nationals champion.
That kind of stage can birth a star. Rejuvenate a career.
Coming up on almost a year since winning a race, that's exactly what Shane Stewart needed.
His winning performance Saturday night showed it. In spectacular fashion, the Oklahoma-native claimed his first win of the season with his new CJB Motorsports team and his 34th career World of Outlaws win.
"Big stage, big win for this team," Stewart said.
With one win during the 2018 season, Stewart was released from his ride with Kyle Larson Racing at the end of the year. At the same time CJB Motorsports parted ways with its then driver, David Gravel – a pairing that never finished worse than third in points together.
The two paired together for the 2019 season, starting the season off strong in Volusia by leading laps and finishing second in the opening race. From there on out, races of disappointment and wins that could have been.
It was a scenario Stewart almost had to cope with again.
With a pinch of luck, Stewart's team drew an early Qualifying order position, leading to the No. 5 car being second fastest to Brad Sweet's track record breaking 14.083 sec. time. Stewart then went on to win his Drydene Heat race and finish second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – putting him on the outside pole for the 30-lap Feature.
Throwing his car around the tight turns of the quarter-mile track, Stewart took the lead on the first lap of the Feature and put distance between he and second-place lap after lap. His early run was cut short by Daryn Pittman spinning and bringing out the caution on Lap two.
On the restart, Stewart set sail again. Behind him, though, lurked another driver just as eager to return to Victory Lane.
In the early stage of year, Brent Marks missed two Features and didn't find the top-10 until the tenth race of the 2019 season. The Myerstown, Pa.-native earned his first top-five during the first round of the Music City Outlaw Nationals Friday night and was poised to do better on night two.
Marks methodically charged his way from fourth to second by Lap five. Two laps later, he found himself to the outside of Stewart down the front stretch. The two went side-by-side into turn one. Marks high. Stewart low.
Stewart slid up the track in turn two, allowing Marks to dart underneath him exiting the corner. But before he could complete the pass, a caution came out for several cars tangled in turn four.
Marks showed his hand. Stewart now knew there was no cruising to a win. The battle was on.
When the race went back green, Stewart stuck to the high side, while Marks ran low. The red No. 19 car showed its nose to Stewart turn after turn. Until Lap 11.
Marks finally found enough traction on the bottom of turns three and four to pull past Stewart for the lead. He cleared the No. 5 car the next corner, but Stewart wasn't ready to watch another potential win slip away. He launched his car around the outside of Marks through turns three and four and charged back to the lead.
Marks then returned the move by throwing his car to the bottom of turn one and sliding up in front of Stewart in the center of the turn. Stewart cut underneath Marks, but couldn't find enough traction to challenge Marks again for the position.
Marks was on his way to a historic win.
Lap traffic soon became an obstacle, though. Stewart kept Marks in his crosshairs, giving the Pennsylvanian no room for error while the track slicked up each lap.
With nine laps to go, Marks misjudged his drive into turn one around the outside of a lapped car and hit the cushion. His error allowed Stewart to dart past him and reclaim the lead, again.
The win wasn't his, yet. Marks stayed close behind and with three laps to go Sweet made it a three-horse race for the win, challenging Marks for second. And even though Stewart reclaimed the lead, he knew it was going to be a battle to keep it.
"I don't think I had the best car, but I knew once we got in to lap traffic, I had to be patient," Stewart said. "I knew the bottom was going to be key."
Stewart cautiously slid his car to the bottom of the track each turn and eased back on the throttle off of it, leaving no opening for Marks to make a run. He did that with fine-tuned precision, leading to a standing ovation by the crowd as he soared past the checkered flag.
"It's special," Stewart said about the win. "Being the inaugural race here at Nashville. So many people here that came out to support the World of Outlaws, which is really cool to see. Just a big win. I don't know where it ranks, but it's up there for sure."
For Marks, he was left meandering by his car, contemplating what could have been. But he still had fun.
"It actually was a lot of fun," Marks said. "I thought the track was in real good shape there for the Feature and made it racy for us. Sort of took a little bit of rubber there toward the end. It wasn't like lock down rubber, so when you're following lap cars around and keep hearing people behind you because obviously everybody is so close, you've got to try to outsmart them.
"Another good thing to do is put a lap car between them. That's what I tried to do and just caught the wall the wrong way."
Sweet, who finished third said he hopes to continue to build momentum with his team. He cut a small chuck out of Donny Schatz's points lead, now sitting 48 points behind the reigning champion in second.
Stewart's win also puts him into Nashville's history books. He became the second World of Outlaws driver to win on the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway dirt track, constructed on the speedway's quarter-mile asphalt track with about seven million pounds of dirt put on it. Schatz claimed the first night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals Friday night.
There was no bigger stage this weekend than the Music City Outlaw Nationals doubleheader. It birthed a new star of an event that left several fans asking when the Series will return to Nashville. And it rejuvenated Stewart's season with a guitar shaped trophy and $25,000 pay day. More importantly, just a win. Exactly what he needed.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will make its next trip on Tuesday, June 4, to Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, Ill. for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 5-Shane Stewart [2][$25,000]; 2. 19-Brent Marks [4][$7,000]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$5,000]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [5][$4,000]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$3,000]; 6. 41-David Gravel [3][$2,900]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [12][$2,800]; 8. 14X-Jeff Swindell [1][$2,700]; 9. 19X-Kevin Thomas [10][$2,600]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$2,500]; 11. 7-Jason Sides [6][$2,400]; 12. 9JR-Derek Hagar [23][$2,300]; 13. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$2,200]; 14. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,100]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$2,000]; 16. 23-Russel Borland [11][$1,500]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [19][$1,500]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,500]; 19. 98-Chad Boespflug [20][$1,500]; 20. 4X-Jim Stinson [21][$1,500]; 21. 9-James McFadden [22][$1,500]; 22. 90-Jordan Givler [18][$1,500]; 23. 21-Carson Short [24][$1,500]; 24. 64-Scotty Thiel [8][$1,500]; Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-10, 12, 22-30; Brent Marks 11, 13-21; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9JR-Derek Hagar[+11]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.083; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.094; 3. 14-Tony Stewart, 14.38; 4. 98-Chad Boespflug, 14.383; 5. 14X-Jeff Swindell, 14.498; 6. 19X-Kevin Thomas, 14.561; 7. 64-Scotty Thiel, 14.576; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 14.609; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.714; 10. 41-David Gravel, 14.724; 11. 23-Russel Borland, 14.762; 12. 4X-Jim Stinson, 14.771; 13. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 14.846; 14. 90-Jordan Givler, 14.881; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.888; 16. 21-Carson Short, 14.893; 17. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.993; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.031; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.121; 20. 7-Jason Sides, 15.147; 21. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 15.216; 22. 10P-Jim Perricone, 15.255; 23. 9-James McFadden, 15.256; 24. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.326; 25. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 15.33; 26. 17B-Bill Balog, 15.371; 27. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 15.441; 28. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.567; 29. 99-Brady Bacon, 15.602; 30. 4-Danny Smith, 15.626; 31. 28-Brian Paulus, 15.763; 32. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.781; 33. 4K-Kody Kinser, 15.785; 34. J4-Chad Kemenah, 15.851; 35. 71M-Paul May, 15.868; 36. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.982; 37. 6-Bill Rose, NT
Schatz wins first night of Music City Outlaw Nationals
Schatz makes late race pass on Bill Balog to be first World of Outlaws winner in Nashville
NASHVILLE, TN – Ballads of broken hearts and dirt roads are ingrained in Nashville's history. On Friday night, a new hit was written during the inaugural World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Music City Outlaw Nationals at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
It's intro, an impassioned announcer filling ear drums with a four-wide call. It's verse, thunderous 900-hp Sprint Cars shaking a packed grandstand for 30 laps. And its coda, a jubilant Donny Schatz exhaling a single "Woo!" from the top wing of his car with the checkered flag in hand and glimmering confetti floating around him.
"Anytime you go anywhere new it's always good to get a win," said 10-time Series champion Schatz, after claiming his 286th career win. "We're in an awesome market that we've never been to before. It's great to win the inaugural race here."
Schatz became the first World of Outlaws driver to win on the quarter-mile Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway track, which is an asphalt track that was covered with about seven million pounds of dirt to accommodate the Series.
The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver didn't just conclude the ballad of the historic race, he was the bridge – the turning point of the night that made fans' eye lids widen and heart rate increase.
He built to that point of the night by first winning his Drydene Heat race and drawing the third starting position for Feature.
From there he had to find his way around polesitter Bill Balog and outside polesitter Brad Sweet – who sits runner-up in points to Schatz – in order to claim the first night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals doubleheader.
On the first lap, Schatz worked his way under Sweet by hugging the bottom of turns one and two, clearing the Kasey Kahne Racing car before the next turn. The battle was then between the northerners – Fargo, N.D.-native Schatz and Wisconsin resident Balog.
Schatz rode the low line throughout the night, keeping a light right foot on the throttle around the tight slick track. Balog stayed a lane above the bottom, finding enough grip to stay ahead of the reigning Series champion, but not enough to increase the distance between them.
The duo reached a hoard of lap traffic by Lap nine – a scenario typically tightening the battle for the lead. However, Balog was able to use the traffic to his advantage. At times Schatz would close the gap, but with each lap car Balog passed he put a car length between he and Schatz.
Then on Lap 14, caution. Schatz was brought back to being inches away from the yellow No. 17B's bumper.
When the race resumed, Balog didn't give into the pressure. He maintained his lead and put about a two-car length distance between he and Schatz.
The race was building to be the song of Balog's second career Series win. Then the bridge.
With nine laps to go, Balog lost traction off turn four, exiting the corner sideways. By the time he straightened out the car, Schatz was there. His winning performance was over.
Schatz slid past Balog for the lead in turn one. Balog attempted to sneak underneath Schatz exiting turn two, but Schatz shut the door, briefly touching his left rear tire with Balog's right front.
"We probably tightened it up too much," said Balog, who ended up third. "But... leading some laps with the World of Outlaws is pretty awesome. It was disappointing, I made a couple of little mistakes and you can't do it with them guys. They're going to get you."
His mistake allowed Schatz to click off laps in the lead until reaching the checkered flag – picking up his third win of the season.
"My guys, it's incredible what they do," Schatz said. "They've been on their game. They've been making the race car better and better and better. And it's fun to drive."
Sweet followed Schatz passed Balog to finish second, but with the No. 15 car finishing one spot ahead of him, Sweet remains second in points, now with a 52-point deficit.
Behind the podium, Brent Marks
earned his first top-five of the season, finishing fourth, and Sheldon Haudenschild found his way back into the top-five, finishing fifth, after a tough month of May that saw him miss four Features in a row.
"It's definitely good. Good for our team," Haudenschild said. "I think anytime you get in the top-five is definitely a little bit of a confidence builder and something to build off."
Schatz is also looking to build off his Nashville win to turn his team's consistent run of top-five finishes into consistent wins.
"You've got to crawl before you can walk, and you've got to walk before you can run and I feel like we're walking pretty solid, so now it's time to get running," Schatz said.
With the air strumming of his newly earned metal guitar trophy in Victory Lane and $15,000 prize winnings, Schatz wrote a new ballad into Nashville's history books. A ballad of heart break. A ballad of dirt roads. And a ballad of outlaws. The World of Outlaws in Nashville.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will return to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday, June 1, for the final night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals with $25,000-to-win on the line.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$15,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$6,000]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog [1][$3,200]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [5][$2,800]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,500]; 6. 21-Carson Short [7][$2,300]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$2,200]; 8. 64-Scotty Thiel [8][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$2,000]; 11. 9JR-Derek Hagar [12][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [11][$1,200]; 13. 14-Tony Stewart [16][$1,100]; 14. 83-Daryn Pittman [15][$1,050]; 15. 19X-Kevin Thomas [14][$1,000]; 16. 91-Cale Thomas [10][$1,000]; 17. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$1,000]; 18. 2-Carson Macedo [23][$1,000]; 19. 5-Shane Stewart [19][$1,000]; 20. 9-James McFadden [21][$1,000]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$1,000]; 22. 51B-Joe B.Miller [18][$1,000]; 23. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [22][$1,000]; 24. 98-Chad Boespflug [24][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Bill Balog 1-22, Donny Schatz 23-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+5]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.32; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.324; 3. 19-Brent Marks, 15.328; 4. 41-David Gravel, 15.542; 5. 9-James McFadden, 15.818; 6. 21-Carson Short, 15.839; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.876; 8. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.905; 9. 99-Brady Bacon, 15.909; 10. 83-Daryn Pittman, 16.025; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 16.053; 12. K4-Chad Kemenah, 16.08; 13. 71M-Paul May, 16.142; 14. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 16.144; 15. 7-Jason Sides, 16.16; 16. 4-Danny Smith, 16.265; 17. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 16.327; 18. 4X-Jim Stinson, 16.383; 19. 28-Brian Paulus, 16.528; 20. 4K-Kody Kinser, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.857; 2. 64-Scotty Thiel, 15.972; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 16.256; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 16.269; 5. 91-Cale Thomas, 16.293; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 16.516; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 16.593; 8. J4-John Garvin, 16.651; 9. 19X-Kevin Thomas, 16.795; 10. 90-Jordan Givler, 16.859; 11. 2-Carson Macedo, 16.347; 12. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 16.87; 13. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 16.882; 14. 10P-Jim Perricone, 16.887; 15. 98-Chad Boespflug, 16.972; 16. 14X-Jeff Swindell, 16.972; 17. 17X-Josh Baughman, 17.209; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.253; 19. 23-Russel Borland, 17.418; 20. 6-Bill Rose, 17.525
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
NASCAR's Kyle Larson claims World of Outlaws win at Lawrenceburg Speedway after intense battle with Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson versus Christopher Bell. It's a tale that's been told many times, in many ways.
But Larson's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory Monday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway may be the most enticing tale of them, yet. And controversial.
Or as Larson put it, "It was a heck of a race."
The stage was set at the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash draw. Larson drew the second-place starting spot. Bell drew the pole. Behind them, an abundance of fast World of Outlaws stars, such as two-time winner at the speedway, Shane Stewart, and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz.
Bell dominated them all in the Dash. He was three-tenths of a second quicker than Larson and ended the eight-lap race more than two seconds in front of him. Larson's runner-up finish placed the two NASCAR stars back on the front row for the 35-lap Feature.
Larson versus Bell. Again.
This chapter of the tale usually ends in Bell's favor, though. During the Turkey Night Classic midget race last year, Bell beat Larson for the second consecutive year. And earlier this year, Bell denied Larson his first Chili Bowl Nationals win by passing him late in the race to claim his third Chili Bowl win in-a-row.
Larson also had to cope with defeat during the first night of the World of Outlaws Patriot Nationals race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Friday. After dominating the majority of the Feature, a late race mistake allowed Giovanni Scelzi to slip by the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series $1 million All-Star winner and roll into Victory Lane.
Bell and Larson were hungry for another win.
However, Stewart looked to spoil the NASCAR party in the early stage of the race by charging to second on the first lap and keeping pace with Bell – making it an Oklahoma-native shootout at the front.
No one could touch Bell, though. Once the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab car clicked off laps on the high side of the 12-degree banked track, he out paced Stewart every lap. Larson was mired in third-place watching another potential victory drive away.
However, cautions came to Larson's rescue. With 19 laps to go, Sheldon Haudenschild spun directly in front of Bell, bringing out the second caution of the night – the first being early in the race for Spencer Bayston breaking a rear end.
On the restart, Larson rode the cushion through turns one and two and carried enough momentum to throw a slide job underneath Stewart the next corner. Coming off turn four, the two made contact. Both kept control of their car, but it was to the benefit of Larson. He secured second-place, while Stewart eventually faded to fourth-place after an intense battle with Schatz for third.
From there, Larson seemed destined for another runner-up finish. There was no catching Bell.
Then came Lap 27. Bell slid up into the cushion in turn two, throwing his 27 laps of domination out the window. In the second it took Bell to correct his car, the white No. 57 was there. Larson torpedoed his car underneath Bell in turn three and cleared him through the center of the turn.
Bell charged back, getting a run to the outside of Larson down the front stretch. This was it. This was the battle fans waited at the edge of their seat for.
Side by side going into turn one, both were committed to their line. Bell pressed to the cushion. Larson a lane below. The two were close enough to grab each other's steering wheel. Then, those fans at the edge of their seat left them.
The hard racing between Larson and Bell resulted in the black No. 39 jumping the cushion and spinning through the air before tumbling to the center of the turn. Bell's night was over.
"I'm not sure what happened into (turn) one there," Larson said after the race. "He probably didn't know exactly where I was going. He thought I might slide myself or what, and I think I just entered in a spot that put him in a bad spot and he probably got tight on the cushion."
From Bell's point of view, "I didn't run him over, but I didn't have an option."
"My car was really fast," a dejected Bell said. "The thing was the best I've ever been here, for sure. Thank you to Kevin and Jordan (Swindell) for allowing me to drive their car. So, bummer we didn't win."
Larson said he didn't feel any contact between the two of them.
"It was unfortunate on his part to wreck," Larson said. "It would have been a good battle for the fans, but at the same time it's always nice when you don't have to battle Chris for a win because he's so good."
There were still seven laps to go, and Larson now had Schatz and Scelzi lurking behind him. But once the race went back green, Larson put a period on the night charging to his seventh career Series win at the Memorial Day Spectacular presented by KOI Auto Parts.
"These Outlaw wins are so hard to win," Larson said, while holding a new burgundy and gold trophy to add to his collection. "I mean, you've got Bell, leading, he's one of, if not the best drivers in the country or in the world right now, in open wheel cars. And Donny Schatz (the Series' points leader by 48 points), who's arguably the best in winged sprint cars. So, to beat those two feels really cool."
Larson versus Bell. It's a tale that's been told many times and will continue to be told for years to come.
This time, though, Larson won.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next make history by making its first trip to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for the inaugural Music City Outlaw Nationals on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [2][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$5,500]; 3. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [5][$3,200]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,500]; 6. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [7][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [14][$2,200]; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,100]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,000]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [21][$1,200]; 13. 41-David Gravel [13][$1,100]; 14. 91-Cale Thomas [12][$1,050]; 15. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [16][$1,000]; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen [18][$900]; 17. 2-Carson Macedo [22][$800]; 18. 26-Cory Eliason [15][$800]; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$800]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 21. A79-Brandon Wimmer [20][$800]; 22. 39-Christopher Bell [1][$800]; 23. 87-Aaron Reutzel [3][$800]; 24. 70X-Spencer Bayston [11][$800]; Lap Leaders:Christopher Bell 1-27, Kyle Larson 28-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.166; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.208; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 12.226; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.233; 5. 39-Christopher Bell, 12.321; 6. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.35; 7. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 12.36; 8. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 12.361; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.383; 10. 41-David Gravel, 12.387; 11. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.406; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 12.411; 13. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.423; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 12.425; 15. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.431; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.434; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.45; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.456; 19. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.48; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.489; 21. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 12.497; 22. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 12.534; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.542; 24. 6-Bill Rose, 12.557; 25. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.566; 26. 85-Mike Terry, 12.573; 27. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.624; 28. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.637; 29. 21-Brinton Marvel, 12.678; 30. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 12.701; 31. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 13.187
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Logan Schuchart fends off a hard charging James McFadden to win at Charlotte
Inches before Logan Schuchart claimed his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of the season, he could feel defeat breathing down his neck.
To it, he said, not today. Even with few options to stop it.
Life was close to leaving his right rear tire – a used tire from last year. It seemed inevitable. He claimed the lead with the assist of several drivers blowing a tire during the second night of the $15,000-to-win United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday.
That caused Schuchart's right foot to become wary of the throttle in the closing laps of the Feature.
"I was trying to be kind of conservative and not spin the tires, not run it into the corner very hard, try to not wear the tire very much," Schuchart said.
A second too long on the throttle or off it handed defeat the win.
That was not an option, though. He had something to lose. The top four in points blew a tire with a handful of laps to go, giving Schuchart the opportunity for a healthy points gain.
Behind him, though, defeat had nothing to lose. Australian James McFadden, running just his second race in the No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing car, is only driving the car until an injured Kahne is ready to return. Points are of no concern. He's there to win at no cost.
To McFadden, defeat was in front of him, and he was going to do whatever it took to beat it.
Having blown a tire in the early stage of the race, McFadden managed to stay on the lead lap and use his newly granted right rear grip to blow by anxiety-ridden drivers trying to save their tire.
"We just had nothing to lose, really," McFadden said. "Everyone was trying to conserve, and I wasn't."
With three laps to go, McFadden became the hare chasing tortoises. Due to his carefree ability to run his car as hard as he wanted and several drivers blowing a tire, he went from 16th on Lap 27 to 5th on Lap 28. A lap later he was in the podium.
A caution flew with one lap to go, setting up a green-white-checkered finished. On the start, he blew by Kerry Madsen on the high side to take second. Next became a duel between the Tasmanian devil and the shark.
McFadden had nothing to lose, but Schuchart said he was going to make his Shark Racing car as wide as he could. Coming off turn two on the final lap, McFadden launched off the corner and went from being two car lengths back to on Schuchart's bumper. Then into the final turn, both drivers threw their car into the turn. McFadden up top. Schuchart on the bottom.
A car length distance grew between the two through turn three, but coming off turn four McFadden had a race winning run. Schuchart knew it. Defeat was breathing down his neck. His only option was to move up a lane, blocking McFadden's run.
"I knew somebody would be coming, especially the guys who changed their tire," Schuchart said. "I heard James when we went through (turns) one and two. I just tried to make my car as wide as possible. Definitely if we had another corner, he would have got by me. But it all worked out great."
McFadden wishes there was that extra corner.
"It was good fun. I wish we had a couple of more laps," McFadden said. "We were pretty decent there."
McFadden did earn the hard charger award for the night, after starting 18th. Schuchart had his own impressive charge, coming from 14th to win – the furthest back a driver has come from this year to win.
His win leaves him fifth in points – 136 points behind leader Donny Schatz. It was more than a 20-point gain from the night before.
Schatz ended the race 11th, after being three laps from victory before blowing a tire. Brad Sweet, who sits second in points – 42 points behind Schatz – also blew a tire after taking the lead from Schatz, finishing 18th.
Schuchart's right rear tire resembled an asphalt modified tire more than a Sprint Car tire after the 31-lap Feature, making he and his team shake their head on how it survived.
"I knew I had a lot more rubber than the other cars, just by looking at them and when I go into the corner the last five laps it just felt like it wanted to drive right by them," Schuchart said. "I don't know why. This thing [the tire] was used. I'm pretty sure it was up in the rack from last year. So, maybe if it sits for a while it adds something to it.
"I actually wasn't real happy with the tire being put on before the race, but it lasted and it got us the win."
With defeat breathing down his neck, Schuchart and his used – now very used – right rear tire said, not today.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Memorial Day Monday, May 27, will next venture to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (31 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14]; 2. 9-James McFadden [18]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1]; 4. 98H-Dave Blaney [9]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [16]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [21]; 8. 7S-Jason Sides [15]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [13]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [11]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [20]; 15. 57-Kyle Larson [12]; 16. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [24]; 17. 41-David Gravel [8]; 18. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 19. 19-Brent Marks [10]; 20. 24-Rico Abreu [19]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [22]; 22. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [6]; 23. K4-Chad Kemenah [23]; 24. 22-Cole Duncan [17]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-16, Donny Schatz 17-27, Logan Schuchart 28-31; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-James McFadden[+16]
Qualifying – 1. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.11; 2. 41-David Gravel, 13.117; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.16; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.178; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.229; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.262; 7. 19-Brent Marks, 13.271; 8. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.282; 9. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.295; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.299; 11. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.318; 12. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.321; 13. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.368; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.368; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.372; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.373; 17. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.376; 18. 47-Eric Riggins, 13.42; 19. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.428; 20. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.51; 21. 9-James McFadden, 13.515; 22. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.528; 23. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.539; 24. 1-Jamie Myers, 13.569; 25. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse, 13.57; 26. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.702; 27. J4-John Garvin, 13.922; 28. 27G-Jay Galloway, 13.964; 29. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Giovanni Scelzi beats NASCAR's Kyle Larson to win first night of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals in Charlotte
A gasp echoed over the field of 24 thunderous Sprint Cars raging around the 4/10-mile Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Goliath fell. David won.
Seventeen-year-old Giovanni Scelzi did the unthinkable. He passed a dominate Kyle Larson in the closing laps of night one of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Friday night. In doing so, he claimed his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win.
"That's so cool," said Scelzi, choosing his words with hesitation, as those having to convince himself it actually happened. "I can't believe I got by him. Normally when he (Larson) gets away, he's gone."
Larson – still riding the momentum of his $1 million NASCAR All-Star win – showed no signs of rust in a Sprint Car by Qualifying fourth, finishing second in his Drydene Heat race and winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
With all of the attention on Larson, Scelzi quietly pieced together a competitive run. He also finished second in his Drydene Heat race and finished runner-up to Larson in the Dash.
When the 30-lap Feature went green, Larson left Scelzi to play with Brad Sweet and David Gravel for second-place. In the early stage of the race, Gravel looked to be the one potential car to challenge Larson, charging his way from fourth to second by lap four.
Scelzi shutdown Gravel's hope of another win the next lap with a slide job through turns one and two to reclaim second. Gravel made the same move the next lap, but Scelzi outpowered the No. 41 car again through turns three and four.
By the time Scelzi returned to second, Larson was gone. Riding the high side of the speedway, the No. 57 of Larson became a speck in the cloud of dust to Scelzi. However, the teenager's duel with Gravel taught him a lesson.
"David passed me and when I got by him, I knew it was time to go to the top," Scelzi said.
Moving to the top kept Scelzi on pace with Larson, but as the track began to rubber up, he moved a lane down again. His lane transitions proved beneficial. With about eight laps to go, Larson went from being a speck to a full frame picture. The NASCAR winner slid up off his line through turn two, making the back end step out and scrubbed off speed.
That gave Scelzi the advantage through turns one and two. He darted underneath Larson down the backstretch and slid by him in turns three and four to officially take the lead with five laps to go.
"I caught him in the rubber, and it looked like he was still searching, and I had the perfect opportunity to pull the trigger," Scelzi said. "I figured he'd chop me, but he's a very clean racer."
From there, Larson had nothing for the Fresno, Calif. native. Instead he had to fend off a hard charging Logan Schuchart, who came from seventh-place to third.
"Second is always a good spot to be because you can see the leader struggling and make your move, which Gio did." Larson said. "I made a mistake through that corner, I just go arched out too much and got the car bent and then I lost my right rear grip, which didn't help for my exit speed."
While Schuchart was happy with his strong run, he left knowing it could have been better. He said he needs to get better at Qualifying up front more to put himself in position to start further up front and have a better shot at the win.
His finish leaves him fifth in the Series' points standings – 158 points behind leader Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion currently sits 28 points ahead of second-place Brad Sweet.
The finish to the opening night of the inaugural United Rentals Patriot Nationals left many fans stunned, but it's not the first time Scelzi has pulled off an astonishing feat. Last year, he became the youngest ever World of Outlaws winner, at 16 years old, by winning his first Series race at the historic Williams Grove Speedway.
This time though, he had extra attention. NASCAR attention.
In the grandstands, the likes of Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney and Jeff Gordon watched on. While on the track, he had to compete with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Larson.
When the helmet goes on, Scelzi said he's just focused on the race, but he hopes his run gained him a little more attention.
"Man, I'd like to be over across the street at the NASCAR track," Scelzi said. "But who knows. I'm having a ball racing Sprint Cars. I'm just happy being here.
The crowd of thousands at the Charlotte dirt track knew the NASCAR names. When Larson was announced at the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash draw, the bleachers erupted into emphatic cheers. Scelzi was greeted with golf claps.
When he pulled into Victory Lane ahead of Larson that changed. Standing atop the wing of his car, taller than Goliath, those emphatic cheers became his.
Larson fell. Scelzi won.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will return to the The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday, May 25, for the final night of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals in Concord, NC.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 5. 41-David Gravel [5]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [11]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [9]; 10. 9-James McFadden [14]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen [10]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [3]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [13]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [16]; 15. 2-Carson Macedo [15]; 16. 22-Cole Duncan [12]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [20]; 18. 5-Shane Stewart [21]; 19. K4-Chad Kemenah [23]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [17]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [19]; 22. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [18]; 23. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [24]; 24. 24-Rico Abreu [22]; Lap Leaders: Kyle Larson 1-24, Giovanni Scelzi 25-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+4]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.871; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.01; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.044; 4. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.056; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.06; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.065; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.09; 8. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.096; 9. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse, 13.1; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.103; 11. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.112; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.125; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.141; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.146; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.175; 16. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.192; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.2; 18. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.311; 19. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.348; 20. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.361; 21. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.361; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 13.372; 23. 9-James McFadden, 13.426; 24. J4-John Garvin, 13.512; 25. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.622; 26. 5B-Justin Barger, 13.63; 27. 1-Jamie Myers, 13.685; 28. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.693; 29. 47-Eric Riggins, 13.694; 30. 27G-Jay Galloway, 13.863; 31. 49H-Bradley Howard, 14.102
NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY GETS DIRTY FOR THE MUSIC CITY OUTLAW NATIONALS
Putting dirt on top of asphalt is nothing new for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series; the practice dates back decades prior to the formation of the series. Bringing The Greatest Show on Dirt to the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on the other hand, is brand new.
The planning process began in 2018, long before the first dump truck full of Tennessee clay was dropped onto the quarter-mile bullring at the historic venue. While numerous players were involved in the process, World of Outlaws President Tom Deery credits Events Manager Megan Hazel with the idea.
"Megan lived here for a couple of years and knew how exciting the racing at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway was. She brought up the conversation. In the meantime, Matt Crews of Brewco Marketing Group, an event production company that has a long history with NASCAR events, was talking to (World of Outlaws CMO) Ben Geisler about an event in Nashville. Then, I was talking to Jason Rittenberry, a Nashville promoter, at a SEMA event about the idea, and the seed that Megan planted grew into this," said Deery
William Scogin, Clarksville Speedway owner and part-time track prepper, was on hand to help work the dirt and get the track configuration dialed in. Finding the right dirt for such an event was a logistical challenge. Originally, the dirt was going to come from nearby Nissan Stadium, where a SuperCross event was held just a few weeks prior.
"They [AMA Supercross] just put too much sand in it for us. So, we had to go to a backup option," said Scogin. "The backup option was to get freshly dug up dirt from further away. Yesterday we put on 72 loads, and we only had eight trucks running. Traffic is killing us. The dirt we were going to use is only a couple minutes away; we'd be halfway done by now. People don't realize how much work this is to do."
Moving enough dirt to cover the asphalt was a feat in and of itself. Over the course of four days, a constant stream of dump trucks shuttled the soil some 20 miles from Millersville, Tenn. Fighting traffic and weather, it took each truck about an hour to make a roundtrip. The man in charge of the move was Shane Trucking and Excavating owner Carl Shane.
A lifelong race fan, Shane dabbled in racing himself as a young man.
"I raced motorcycles in my younger days, and I've done a limited amount of dirt track racing in automobiles," Shane said. "We have worked with another group that does monster truck events, so not particularly a racing event like this with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car races. Our biggest challenge is the weather and the condition of the soil. This is pretty much like a typical construction project — except we're doing it on asphalt at a racing venue."
After heavy rains on Wednesday morning, the hauling was halted while a team of people worked the dirt that had already been put down. Using heavy equipment, they spent the better part of the afternoon driving back and forth over the clay surface to expel the moisture and allow the dirt to compact.
"It's easier to manage less dirt than more dirt. So, if it's already wet, the less you have, the less you have to dry. When they were driving over it yesterday it was still pretty spongy, so we're going to sheepsfoot it and roll it some more. It's firming up a lot, but it's still got some moisture in it," said Scogin.
While the dirt was being laid down another team worked to move two-ton barriers into place, reconfiguring the small track into a suitable course for the 900 horsepower sprint cars. During the weeks leading into the event, the crew will also add fencing, guardrail and cables.
The renewed interest in the speedway by community members and civic leaders is welcomed by everyone in the industry. The track has seen it's ups and downs over the last decade, and recent attempts by large organizations and politicians to improve the facility and preserve its history has brought renewed hope for fans and those in the industry.
"I've lived here all my life. It's good, we don't need to lose any more race tracks. All race tracks need to survive. Anything, whether it's asphalt or dirt, we need everybody's support in this industry," mused Scogin.
Asked about future plans to bring dirt to pavement Deery said, "We are always planning. We are always looking for new places to bring the World of Outlaws Sprints, the World of Outlaws Late Models, or DIRTcar Racing to introduce and show the race fans The Greatest Show on Dirt."
When the lights go on for the first event of the two-weekend show, 12 trucks will have made a combined 181 trips, hauling in a total of 3,500 cubic yards of dirt. That comes out to roughly 7,000,000 pounds of dirt.
For Hazel, seeing the project come to fruition has been a professional highlight. "Seeing the dirt starting to go down after 15 months of dreaming and planning is absolutely incredible," she said. "It has been a ton of work by so many to make this idea come to life. I'm so thankful for leadership that listened to an idea, believed in it and helped push it to become a reality."
More than $150,000 is up for grabs over the course of the event, making it one of the Outlaws' biggest racing weekends all year. Drivers like Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing's 10-time Champion Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne Racing's Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson Racing's Carson Macedo and Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing's Sheldon Haudenschild will all be trying to capture the Friday $15,000-to-win Feature and the Saturday $25,000-to-win Feature.
Tickets are available online or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
-- By James McMahen
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
John Rich's Redneck Riviera Welcomes World of Outlaws Race Fans to Downtown Nashville During Music City Outlaw Nationals
NASHVILLE, TN — May 23, 2019 — Music and racing have a long history together that will be amped up during the Music City Outlaw Nationals May 31-June 1 in Nashville. While the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their inaugural appearance at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the party will no doubt spread across the city.
Nowhere will it be bigger than John Rich's Redneck Riviera, which will have drink specials all week for those with passes to the VIP Party Deck at the Fairgrounds, which are available by calling 844-DIRT-TIX or even upgrading tickets at the event.
"The Redneck Riviera at 208 Broadway in Downtown Nashville is THE SPOT for Music City Outlaw RACE FANS," Rich exclaimed. "Coldest beer, hottest bartenders and best live music on the planet!!"
More than $150,000 is up for grabs over the course of the Music City Outlaw Nationals, making it one of the Outlaws' biggest racing weekends all year. Drivers like Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing's 10-time champion Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne Racing's Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson Racing's Carson Macedo and Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing's Sheldon Haudenschild will all be trying to capture the Friday $15,000-to-win Feature and the Saturday $25,000-to-win Feature.
Tickets are available online at WorldofOutlaws.com or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Lance Dewease out duels Donny Schatz for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway
The battle for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway Saturday night turned into the title match of the century between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse.
One the front row of the 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature, representing the World of Outlaws was 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and next to him, on the pole, representing the PA Posse was Lance Dewease – whose won more races than anyone at Williams Grove.
Dewease added another win to that list Saturday night, defeating Schatz to claim the Morgan Cup and his 17th career World of Outlaws victory. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver didn’t make it an easy fight, though.
Schatz got the first punch, jumping to the lead at the start of the race. From there, Schatz set a pace the No. 69K couldn’t match.
Dewease contributed that to his setup, stating it takes five or six laps for his car to get going. Because of that, he said he anticipated Schatz would get the jump on him. He knew the race he needed to run.
“The pace we were trying to run, we were going to be hard on tires at that whole 30 laps,” Dewease said about Schatz’s early run. “But hell, I wasn’t too easy with them.”
Schatz’s early lead didn’t last long, though. On Lap two, Logan Schuchart stopped on the front stretch due to an ignition box issue. The caution allowed the two front runners a quick rest to gauge their early run.
When the green flag flew again, Schatz landed another jab, jumping back to the lead. Dewease kept pace with him, though.
“I was shocked how good I hung with him there on the bottom,” Dewease said. “I thought we’d be alright if I could get by him (Schatz). He knows how to get around here when it’s slick.”
Like Dewease predicted, once he got in six consecutive laps, his car took off. While Schatz rode the high side, Dewease found enough grip on the bottom to wear out Schatz’s lead. By that time the two leaders entered lap traffic, which proved to be an advantage for Dewease.
Schatz struggled to navigate around lap traffic, allowing Dewease to plant the attack he needed on Lap 17 to charge by the No. 15 car and take the lead.
“It just came down to getting through lap traffic,” Schatz said. “I got to the 70 car and I didn’t push the issue, to go across the race car and go in front of him and I didn’t do it. It got me in a funk for a few laps and Lance got by. I got myself back going, but it was too late.”
Dewease then cruised to his second win in four days, after winning Wednesday’s night race at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. That night he heard the chant, “Posse! Posse! Posse!” in Victory Lane. Then heard it again Saturday night as the PA Posse fans were jubilant to retain the iconic Morgan Cup.
“This rivalry is pretty intense,” Dewease said. “It goes back a long way. We’re some of the few areas that can consistently win against these (Outlaws) guys. We were very fortunate to get it done tonight and keep the cup for another year. Beating Donny is always special because he gets around this place so good.”
While Schatz accepted his defeat, having to settle for second, he laid down a further challenge for the PA Posse fans.
“I hear all of that Posse chant, and I love that,” Schatz said. “Come August, I’m pretty sure he’s (Dewease) going to win the money to go to the Knoxville Nationals, so there’s going to be no damn reason every person in this place isn’t at the Knoxville Nationals watching it.”
While Schatz and Dewease put on a show at the front of the field, California-native Giovanni Scelzi was the show of the race behind them.
Scelzi won the C-Main, transferring to the rear of the 12-car Last Chance Showdown. He then made his way to fourth in the Showdown, transferring to the rear of the Feature. After starting 24th, he charged his way to a seventh-place finish in the Feature, earning the KSE Hard Charger award.
“Just qualified bad, and when you do that it puts you behind the eight-ball,” Scelzi said. “We just kept trucking in the Feature and kept going and going and going. I wish we had a yellow. I think we had something to get back in the top-five.”
Scelzi won his first Series victory at Williams Grove last year, becoming the youngest ever World of Outlaws winner at 16 years old. However, he’s not sure why he meshes with the Pennsylvania track so well.
“I just seem to have some natural speed,” Scelzi said, “I don’t know where it comes from. Seems to be a place I’m comfortable at.”
Both Schatz and Dewease – who credited each other as being exceptional drivers – said they’ve found the set up their comfortable with, leading to another potential title match when the Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway in July.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws will continue its Northeast swing Sunday, May 19, at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$5,500]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [6][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,800]; 5. 51-Freddie Rahmer [7][$2,500]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,300]; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [24][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [4][$2,100]; 9. 41-David Gravel [9][$2,050]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [14][$1,200]; 13. 24-Lucas Wolfe [8][$1,100]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,050]; 15. 72-Ryan Smith [11][$1,000]; 16. 39-Cory Haas [20][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$800]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [18][$800]; 19. 21-Brian Montieth [16][$800]; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$800]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney [22][$800]; 22. 1X-Chad Trout [25][$]; 23. 2-Carson Macedo [21][$800]; 24. 26-Cory Eliason [19][$800]; 25. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [12][$800]; 26. 70-Brock Zearfoss [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-12, Lance Dewease 13-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 71-G
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 19.334; 2. 72-Ryan Smith, 19.36; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease, 19.374; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich, 19.438; 5. 5-Shane Stewart, 19.441; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 19.523; 7. 41-David Gravel, 19.537; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 19.611; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 19.629; 10. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 19.667; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 19.716; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 19.742; 13. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 19.78; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 19.929; 15. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 19.944; 16. 19M-Landon Myers, 19.963; 17. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 20.023; 18. 11-T.J. Stutts, 20.071; 19. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 20.163
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 19.378; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 19.547; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 19.621; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 19.687; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 19.69; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 19.729; 7. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 19.792; 8. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 19.798; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 19.806; 10. 1X-Chad Trout, 19.822; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 19.969; 12. 39-Cory Haas, 19.97; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 20.017; 14. 47K-Kody Lehman, 20.082; 15. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 20.116; 16. 21-Brian Montieth, 20.125; 17. 98H-Dave Blaney, 20.186; 18. 73B-Brett Michalski, 21.304; 19. 12W-Troy Fraker, 21.427
David Gravel rides low line to Morgan Cup first round win
MECHANICSBURG, PA – May 17, 2019 – A simple point of the finger by Jason Sides gave David Gravel the assistance he needed to go on and win his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race this season.
Gravel lost the lead to Daryn Pittman at the start of the 25-lap Williams Grove Speedway Feature and 10 laps later lost second to Pennsylvanian Danny Dietrich. It looked like Gravel may have to settle for his second third-place finish in-a-row, but everything changed with 13 laps to go.
Dietrich and Gravel were nose to tail heading down the front stretch with the lap car of Sides in front of them.
"Going into (turn) one, Sides pointed low and I think Dietrich thought he pointed low like he was going to go low and Dietrich was going to go high, but he actually pointed low to pass him down low," Gravel said. "Dietrich followed him in the corner, and I went low. So, I'm glad it worked out for me and not for him."
That move allowed Gravel to slide back into second-place, while Dietrich fell several car lengths behind him after having to lift out of the throttle due to Sides blocking his line. Dietrich cited getting caught behind Sides was the one mistake that kept him from a potential win Friday night.
"That was the race I think for me," Dietrich said.
With Dietrich far behind, Gravel had breathing room to try and run Pittman back down. And he didn't waste any time. Two laps after passing Dietrich, he was on Pittman's bumper. Gravel stuck to the low line most of the race, while Pittman stayed high. But with 12 laps to go, the two swapped lanes in turns three and four. The advantage went to Gravel.
On Pittman's tail, he dove underneath the No. 83 Roth Motorsports car in turn one and charged his way back to the lead.
After the disappointment of losing a potential win at Lincoln Speedway Wednesday night, Gravel was not going to let another win slip through his fingers.
He prepared himself for the Feature throughout the night, studying how his car worked in different lanes. While he won his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash by riding the high line, he tested the bottom during the Dash.
"I was just trying it (different lines) out all night," Gravel said. "Luckily things worked out the way they did, and I found something better than they did."
Once he cleared Pittman and began to pull away with the lead, Dietrich wasn't letting him out of his sight. The blue No. 48 also got by Pittman and made his own charge for the lead. At times a blanket could be thrown over the top three.
Dietrich continued to run the high side, while Gravel stayed low. At times he would close on the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing car, but Gravel could always out power him out of the turn, leading to his 42nd career World of Outlaws victory – and fifth Series win at Williams Grove Speedway.
The ability of the No. 41 car to drive hard through the turn without any issues has Pittman scratching his head on how he can get his car to do the same.
"We didn't get from the center off very good," Pittman said. "My car would drop too far and not drive down the straightaway. I think the 41 drivers really hard, a lot harder than mine and we've got to figure out why that is. I just start spinning way too easy."
Gravel and his new Jason Johnson Racing team have found the level of consistency they were hoping to find at the start of the year. He's finished in the top-five in the last four races – three of those finishes being on the podium. And with three wins now, Gravel is the winningest driver, so far, this season.
"Man, we're trying all sorts of stuff," Gravel said. "Every night I don't think we run the same bar combination. Philip (Dietz, JJR crew chief) is always working, trying to make the car better. It works nine times out of 10. Hopefully we jot down the things that work really well and continue to grow as a team and keep winning races."
His Williams Grove win has propelled the Watertown, Conn.-native to be tied for third in the Series' points standings with Pittman – 64 points behind leader Donny Schatz, who only has a two-point lead over Brad Sweet.
With three wins in the early stage of the season, the championship isn't on Gravel's mind, yet. He's focused on staying consistent and winning races.
"The past couple of races have been really good," Gravel said. "We're qualifying well consistently now, which is a huge part of this. If we keep that up good things will happen. Where we end up in the points is where we end up. I just want to keep winning races and try to be as consistent as we can."
A simple point of the finger to the sky in Victory Lane Friday night made that clear.
UP NEXT:
Gravel will get the chance to sweep the weekend when the World of Outlaws return for the final round of the Morgan Cup Saturday, May 18, at Williams Grove Speedway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [1][$8,000]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich [4][$4,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,500]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$2,200]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [7][$2,100]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [10][$2,000]; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [5][$1,800]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$1,600]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,500]; 10. 1X-Chad Trout [6][$1,300]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,200]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [16][$1,100]; 13. 72-Ryan Smith [11][$1,000]; 14. 51-Freddie Rahmer [18][$700]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$600]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [24][$600]; 17. 2M-Kerry Madsen [17][$600]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [19][$600]; 19. 21-Brian Montieth [20][$600]; 20. 2-Carson Macedo [22][$600]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney [15][$600]; 22. 39-Cory Haas [21][$600]; 23. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [8][$600]; 24. 24-Lucas Wolfe [26][$]; 25. O7-Gerard McIntyre [23][$600]; 26. 11-T.J. Stutts [27][$]; 27. 7S-Jason Sides [25][$]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-14, David Gravel 15-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 16.854; 2. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 16.991; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 16.994; 4. 1X-Chad Trout, 17.1; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 17.108; 6. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 17.132; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 17.137; 8. 72-Ryan Smith, 17.168; 9. 2-Carson Macedo, 17.208; 10. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 17.312; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.314; 12. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 17.341; 13. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 17.38; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.394; 15. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 17.495; 16. 98H-Dave Blaney, 17.688; 17. 19M-Landon Myers, 17.821; 18. 47K-Kody Lehman, 17.913; 19. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.561; 20. 99M-Kyle Moody, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease, 16.761; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich, 16.96; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 16.983; 4. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 17.082; 5. 18-Ian Madsen, 17.103; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.122; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 17.144; 8. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.156; 9. 39-Cory Haas, 17.174; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 17.177; 11. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.201; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.206; 13. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 17.291; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 17.355; 15. 11-T.J. Stutts, 17.364; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.416; 17. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 17.449; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.475; 19. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.492; 20. 73B-Brett Michalski, 17.737
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Lance Dewease out duels World of Outlaws for PA Posse victory at Lincoln Speedway
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Thousands of fans lined the straightaway fence at Lincoln Speedway Wednesday night, testing the limit of how close they can get to pushing themselves through.
A faint cheer could be heard from the end of the line when the No. 69K of Lance Dewease came into sight, rounding the corner of turn four. The cheers and screams became a tidal wave down the front stretch as Dewease slowly rolled into Victory for the Gettysburg Clash presented by Drydene.
The local hero won. Dewease out dueled the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for his 16th career Series victory – moving past Jason Sides to sit 31st on the all-time wins list.
"It's means everything," Dewease said about claiming his first World of Outlaws win of the season. "It's a good rivalry (between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse). To me it's friendly. It's not like we hate each other, but we want to beat each other pretty bad."
Dewease showed how bad he wanted to win Wednesday night, wrestling with a competitive David Gravel all night.
Both won their respective Drydene Heat race and started on the front row for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Gravel won the battle in the Dash, passing Dewease on the high side and charging to the win. The start to the 35-lap was déjà vu with the two side-by-side and Gravel charging back to the lead.
The Watertown, Conn.-native pulled to about a two-car length lead over Dewease at the start and was able to maintain it while navigating through lap traffic in the early stage of the race.
Gravel was poised to claim his third win of the season, able to maintain the lead no matter what line he chose. Although, in similar fashion, no matter which line Dewease chose to run, he could keep Gravel close enough in sight that if the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing car made a mistake, he would be ready to capitalize.
And that mistake came with 17 laps to go. After sticking to the high side most of the race, Gravel tried the bottom through turns one and two. It didn't work for him this time. He slid off the bottom, dramatically slowing his pace and allowing Dewease an easy pass to the lead.
"I knew sooner or later we would have to be on the bottom," Dewease said. "I made my mind up I was going to go to the bottom, and he went at the same time, but he didn't stay there. He slid up and crossed and I got by him, which meant everything to me. I just made sure I didn't mess up in lap traffic."
While Dewease weaved through traffic seeming to know where each car would be before he got to them, the lap cars didn't always cooperate. One came close to ending Dewease's night, leaving centimeters between he and Deweases car off turn two.
"Laps cars were really hard for both David and me," Dewease said. "So, that last caution with six laps to go I decided I wasn't going to catch any lap cars if I didn't have to."
He didn't. After a couple of late race cautions, the Fayetteville, Pa.-native cruised with ease to another victory at Lincoln Speedway.
The late race cautions were no benefit to Gravel. After hitting the restart cone during one of the restarts, Gravel said he tried to just protect his second-place position, but ended up losing it to Ryan Smith and had to settle for third.
"I'm disappointed I lost second," Gravel said. "I wish I didn't make the mistakes I did. It's part of racing."
He's still holding his head high though, for having a strong night with being the fastest car in Flight 2 of Qualifying, winning his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He also sits fourth in the Series' points standing — 80 points behind Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz, who for the second time this year are tied for the points lead.
Schatz was the KSE Hard Charger of the night, racing from 25th to 11th, after having to use a provisional to start the Feature.
Dewease's win marks the first-round win for the PA Posse in the Series' Pennsylvania swing this month. The World of Outlaws will make its next trip Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. for the Morgan Cup.
As Dewease stood in Victory Lane holding the three-foot tall Gettysburg Clash presented by Drydene trophy, the hundreds of fans lined along the fence, and those that found their way to Victory Lane, not only drowned out the speedway with cheers for Dewease, they started the chant "Posse! Posse! Posse!"
"It's great to get this week started off good and hopefully if I can't win Friday or Saturday somebody else does," Dewease said about the PA Posse support. "It's a neat fanbase. We have the best fans in the world as far as I'm concerned. They love our racing. They come out in rain and snow. So, we're pretty fortunate."
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [2][$10,000]; 2. 72-Ryan Smith [12][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [1][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$2,500]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [6][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,200]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$2,100]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$2,050]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$2,000]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [25][$700]; 12. 19M-Landon Myers [19][$1,200]; 13. 87-Alan Krimes [26][$300]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri [18][$1,050]; 15. 75-Chase Dietz [16][$1,000]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [20][$900]; 17. 39-Cory Haas [22][$800]; 18. 1X-Chad Trout [10][$800]; 19. 2-Carson Macedo [27][$]; 20. 99M-Kyle Moody [24][$800]; 21. 21-Brian Montieth [9][$800]; 22. 83-Daryn Pittman [4][$800]; 23. 11-T.J. Stutts [21][$800]; 24. 59-Jim Siegel [28][$]; 25. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 26. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$800]; 27. 88-Brandon Rahmer [11][$800]; 28. 48-Danny Dietrich [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-18, Lance Dewease 19-35l KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+14]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.116; 2. 69K-Lance Dewease, 13.129; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.347; 4. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 13.413; 5. 21-Brian Montieth, 13.431; 6. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 13.441; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.455; 8. 19M-Landon Myers, 13.473; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.493; 10. 11-T.J. Stutts, 13.494; 11. 39-Cory Haas, 13.515; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.54; 13. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.545; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.572; 15. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 13.577; 16. 59-Jim Siegel, 13.649; 17. 15X-Adam Wilt, 13.672; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.683; 19. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.688; 20. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.691; 21. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.971; 22. 91-Tony Fiore, 18.514
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.349; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.49; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.556; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.607; 5. 1X-Chad Trout, 13.628; 6. 72-Ryan Smith, 13.629; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody, 13.644; 8. 75-Chase Dietz, 13.651; 9. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.662; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 13.688; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 13.694; 12. 69-Tim Glatfelter, 13.699; 13. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.808; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.81; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.837; 16. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 13.949; 17. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 13.971; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.995; 19. 90-Jordan Givler, 14.29; 20. 73B-Brett Michalski, 14.398; 21. 27G-Jay Galloway, 14.427
EVENING SHOWERS FORCE SECOND NIGHT OF #LETSRACETWO AT ELDORA TO BE POSTPONED
ROSSBURG, OH – While drivers dueled during the second Drydene Heat Race of the night, heavy persistent rain showers fell at Eldora Speedway forcing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to postpone Saturday's event at the speedway.
The event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 17, making it the kickoff to the 36th annual Kings Royal Weekend. The July 17 event will be an entirely new show.
Fans and competitors may use their tickets and wristbands as rainchecks for the rescheduled doubleheader on Wednesday, July 17 or redeem for admission towards any other event at Eldora Speedway by September 1.
If you have any further questions, call the track at 937-338-3815 or visit the track's website, EldoraSpeedway.com.
The Greatest Show on Dirt will continue its high-octane show Wednesday, May 15 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown,Pa.
For the latest on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, make sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Haudenschild earns $20k and Ironman title with dominating performance at Federated Auto Parts Raceway
PEVELY, MO – Aug. 3, 2019 – Ironman; a title earned, not given.Earned with the display of great strength. Earned with the display of great endurance. And earned with the display of great will power.
Sheldon Haudenschild displayed all three traits during Saturday's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Ironman 55 event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.
On the 70-degree night with 90% humidity, Haudenschild led 45 of the 55 laps in the caution free Feature, sprinted to the finish with an unprecedented 10.3 second lead over runner-up Donny Schatz and lapped up to fifth-place – including Series points leader and Friday night's winner at the raceway Brad Sweet.
"That right there was just a great car, me feeling comfortable and having a lot of fun," Haudenschild said.
The fun started for the Wooster, Ohio-native and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team Friday night with a runner-up finish to Sweet in the Night Before the Ironman 35-lap event. Haudenschild then backed up his performance with a second-place finish in his Drydene Heat race, coming to the finish side-by-side with Daryn Pittman. He then charged from fifth to the win in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – a victory he initially didn't want.
"I wanted to win the Heat race to get a better draw," Haudenschild said. "Once I didn't win the Heat my mindset kind of changed starting in the back of that Dash. I really didn't want to win the Dash. I was thinking a third-place start would be good to see what they (the leaders) were doing.
"But after the track prep, I think winning the Dash was a good move."
The entire 1/3-mile track was worked on before the 55-lap Feature, creating a new tacky racing surface.
When the 55-lap Feature went green, Schatz rocketed around the outside of Haudenschild on the exit of the first corner to take the lead. Tim Shaffer did the same the next corner, moving Haudenschild to third.
Five laps into the race – which saw lap times in the low 11 second bracket for the majority of it – Schatz caught lap traffic. At the same time, Haudenschild found his rhythm and charged his way back by Shaffer for second.
Then, in the time it takes to snap your fingers, the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 was on Schatz's bumper. No matter where Haudenschild placed his car on the track he found grip. The 10-time Series champion was prey with no protection.
On Lap 10, Schatz covered the high side into turn one, while Haudenschild launched his car to the middle lane. Haudenschild's tires held the better relationship with the clay surface and powered him by the Toco Warranty No. 15 car.
"I was really worried once [Shaffer] and Donny got by me," Haudenschild said. "I didn't quite know what to do. Once we got into traffic, I had the mindset I was going to get around them and run consistent laps."
From there, Haudenschild showed his strength. Showed his endurance. And showed his will power. He was the man without fear. His charge through lapped cars looked more like a game than a challenge. Whether it was a slide job to drive by several cars at a time or going three-wide between two lapped cars, Haudenschild didn't hesitate to make the move.
Once he lapped his way to the top-10, Sweet gave him his biggest challenge of the night. The two dueled for laps, with Sweet aggressively charging his way back by Haudenschild several times to remain on the lead lap. However, no one could match the No. 17 car.
Haudenschild eventually slid his way by Sweet with 17 laps to go and continued his hunt through the field. Schatz and Pittman's battle for second-place was quickly going from being a battle behind Haudenschild, to one in front of him.
The two series champions dueled for the position throughout the race, but Schatz prevailed with Pittman never finding a strong enough run to get by the reigning champion. However, with Haudenschild out of sight, they thought they were potentially battling for the win.
"I thought I actually won; I couldn't see him," Schatz said. "I thought maybe he had run out of fuel or pulled off or something. I can't believe it went green to checkered."
He added all he could do was commend Haudenschild on his performance and applaud him.
"That was a whoopin' right there," said Schatz, who is now two points behind Sweet in the Series point standings.
Pittman also stated he thought he was battling Schatz for the win at the end. He was happy with the result, though, after a few weeks of undesired finishes.
Nothing surprised Haudenschild. The heat didn't get to him. The long duration of the race didn't get to him, and he knew he had a good car underneath him.
"Really, it wasn't that physical at all," Haudenschild said. "Keeping your mind right, making smart moves. I looked up at the board on Lap 51 and I probably shouldn't have, 'cause I think I did make one mistake after that. When the board is right in front of your face it's hard not to. Especially in this long of a race. I was trying to play it cool and wanted to get it over with. Fifty-five laps is a long race."
At the end of those 55 laps, though, celebration. After climbing to the top wing of his Sprint Car, spewing NOS Energy Drink all around Victory Lane, Haudenschild was greeted with congratulatory remarks and a hug from his hero – his dad.
"It was pretty awesome," Jac Haudenschild said about his son's win. "He lapped me a couple of times, so I know he must have been going pretty good."
Haudenschild's victory earned him a $20,000 payday and his second win of the season – seventh career World of Outlaws win overall. After some struggles in the first half of the season – missing five Features – he and his team have been building momentum in the summer months.
"It's huge," Haudenschild said about the win. "Just to get it for our guys. Build a little bit of confidence. Put another win on the calendar and just keep working on it. I feel like we still have work to do on different kinds of tracks. Definitely this track is kind of my style.
"It's been a little bit of a struggle the beginning of the year. We're not quite where we want to be win wise, but we're working at it and I feel like we're doing it at the right time."
He's leaving Missouri not only with the confidence of another win, but the prestige of a new title.
He earned it by showing his strength. Earned it by showing his endurance. And earned it by proving his will power.
Sheldon Haudenschild is the new Ironman.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series from Wednesday, Aug. 7, to Saturday, Aug. 10 will be at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa for the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Knoxville Nationals action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (55 Laps) – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$20,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$6,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$3,750]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$3,250]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [4][$2,750]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,500]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu [7][$2,400]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$2,300]; 9. 41-David Gravel [10][$2,200]; 10. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg [8][$2,100]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,700]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [16][$1,400]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,300]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [13][$1,200]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$1,100]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,000]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$1,000]; 18. 91-Cale Thomas [18][$1,000]; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [21][$1,000]; 20. 51B-Joe B.Miller [24][$1,000]; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny [19][$1,000]; 22. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle [22][$1,000]; 23. 3-Jac Haudenschild [12][$1,000]; 24. 71M-Paul May [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-10, Sheldon Haudenschild 11-55; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+9]
Qualifying – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 10.761; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 10.784; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 10.786; 4. 41-David Gravel, 10.798; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.798; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.804; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.822; 8. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg, 10.879; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.909; 10. 24-Rico Abreu, 10.921; 11. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.939; 12. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 10.968; 13. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.987; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 10.989; 15. 91-Cale Thomas, 10.997; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.009; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.079; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.133; 19. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.149; 20. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 11.318; 21. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.35; 22. 71M-Paul May, 11.357; 23. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 11.422; 24. 14T-Jimmy Bridgeman, 11.473; 25. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 11.483; 26. 8S-Steve Short, 11.66; 27. 56-Jeff Asher, 12.173
Brad Sweet earns first Federated Auto Parts Raceway win
Sweet holds off Sheldon Haudenschild and Donny Schatz for 12th win of the season
PEVELY, MO – Aug. 2, 2019 – Brad Sweet's 2019 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series "dream season" has so far seen the Grass Valley, Calif.-native lead laps, take home big paychecks and now earn a first win.
Leading all 35 laps of the Night Before the Ironman Feature at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Friday night, Sweet rolled into Victory Lane at the Pevely, Mo. track for the first time in his career – his 12th win of the season.
"Pevely is a really awesome race track," Sweet said. "I remember the first time I came here I was just in awe of the place. I've led a lot of laps here. I either stuff it in the fence or we got beat at the end. It's nice to get the first one out of the way."
While he led every lap en route to the victory, the Kasey Kahne Racing driver was not handed the victory with ease.
Missouri-native Hunter Schuerenburg started on the pole for the Feature, after winning his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and rocketed to the lead on the initial start. However, he hit the launch button too early. That forced the race to be restarted with Donny Schatz moved up to the front row and Schuerenburg moved behind him in the second row.
The front row was now Schatz and Sweet – the top two in the point standings. The two have been almost inseparable on the race track, having to race each other for position every week.
Schatz darted to the lead on the restart. Going into turn one, he chose low, while Sweet chose high. The Toco Warranty No. 15 car slid up the track exiting turn two, allowing the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 of Sweet to charge off the high side and bolt underneath Schatz down the backstretch.
Sweet then launched his car into turn three, sliding past Schatz and up in front of him exiting turn four. Like Sweet's corner before, Schatz had the momentum on the high side and snuck underneath Sweet for a drag race down the front straightaway. The lap went to Sweet, but only by inches.
The 10-time Series champion went side-by-side with Sweet into turn one and, again, was beat by the speed Sweet could maintain running the high line. Sweet's lead went from inches to feet to yards over the reigning champion. Schuerenburg also pulled a slide job on Schatz to take second the next lap.
Five laps into the race, the first caution came out for Joe B. Miller coming to a stop on the track. On the restart, Schuerenburg went for the lead, attempting to pull off a slide job on Sweet into the first corner. However, his dive bomb was still not enough to clear Sweet before the No. 49 charged off the turn with a head of stream around the high side.
Before being able to get into a rhythm, the caution came out again. This time for Cale Thomas landing on his side in turn four.
When the green flag flew again, Sweet wasted no time stretching his lead over Schuerenburg. Schatz found his way around the No. 11 for second-place the next lap, too.
The top three remained in their running order for the remainder of the first half of the race. Behind them, though, Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild were making their trek to the front. By the halfway point, Schuchart found his was to fourth – from fifth – and Haudenschild fifth – from eighth.
After a caution at the halfway point, both Schuchart and Haudenschild made their way by Schuerenburg to move up a position. Haudenschild didn't just use his run to put Schuerenburg, behind him, though. He threw a daring slider at Schuchart into turn one and made it work. With 16 laps to go, he found himself in third and closing on second-place Schatz.
With 12 laps to go, Haudenschild threw a slide job at Schatz in turns three and four, and again made it work. Schatz couldn't make the top work as well as Sweet and Haudenschild to challenge for the position back.
"Trying to hit a little one-inch spot with your right rear... is tough to do," Schatz said. "Obviously, Brad and Sheldon are good at that kind of stuff. Me, I try to stay in a little bit more control."
With Schatz behind him, the Wooster, Ohio-native was now in second-place and eager to hunt down his second win of the season.
Lap traffic plagued Sweet's quest for victory. The slower cars forced him to move around and break out of his rhythm to find his way around them. That allowed Haudenschild to slowly work his way toward Sweet.
Haudenschild had Sweet in sight with five laps to. But Sweet was strong every time he ran the high side, able to carry enough momentum around the track to leave a few cars lengths distance between he and the NOS Energy Drink No. 17 car.
With three laps to go Haudenschild was building a run to catch Sweet. However, before he could fully execute on it, the caution came out for Carson Macedo flipping in turn two.
On the final restart, Sweet chose the middle of the track in the first corner, trying to block a big run by Haudenschild. It worked. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall driver looked underneath Sweet, but couldn't put anything together to challenge him in the remaining laps.
"I thought with the restart we would have a little bit better of a shot," Haudenschild said. "I knew I was running out of laps there. I didn't really care either way with the caution or not. Brad was a little bit better than us. I feel like I got by Donny at the right time to make some ground up on Brad, but just finished second."
Sweet sped off to his first Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 win and 46th career win overall.
"The restarts were making me the most nervous," Sweet said. "Didn't know if I should be choosing the bottom or the top, you're just real vulnerable into (turn) one there. Kind of found that line where I was driving across into one and felt a little better about the restarts. I could get to the cushion off (turn) two and as long as I could get a good run, I felt like I was pretty good on top of turns three and four."
His win also helped his extend his points lead on Schatz – who finished third – after losing points to the Fargo, N.D. driver last weekend.
The focus for all of the drivers is now on Saturday night's 55-lap $20,000-to-win Ironman event at the 1/3-mile track. A win at the Ironman 55 would be another ideal addition to Sweet's dream year. Even with a dominating performance Friday night, he knows there could be room for improvement.
"We'll go back and watch the video and make sure I was going everything right and hopefully come back and get us an Ironman tomorrow," Sweet said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, Aug. 3, will return to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the Ironman 55. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$8,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$4,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$2,500]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$2,200]; 5. 41-David Gravel [6][$2,100]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [13][$2,000]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4][$1,800]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [15][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [14][$1,500]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [17][$1,300]; 11. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg [1][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,100]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$1,000]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [19][$700]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 16. 99-Skylar Gee [18][$600]; 17. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle [23][$600]; 18. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$600]; 19. 14M-Marcus Dumesny [21][$600]; 20. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$600]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [16][$600]; 22. 91-Cale Thomas [12][$600]; 23. 51B-Joe B.Miller [24][$600]; 24. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [22][$600]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+7]
Qualifying – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.115; 2. 41-David Gravel, 10.212; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.235; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.279; 5. 11-Hunter Schuerenburg, 10.292; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.311; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 10.318; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.333; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 10.35; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.376; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 10.377; 12. 91-Cale Thomas, 10.394; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 10.395; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 10.435; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 10.451; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 10.462; 17. 7S-Jason Sides, 10.47; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 10.47; 19. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.471; 20. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 10.523; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 10.528; 22. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 10.551; 23. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 10.705; 24. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 10.736; 25. 14T-Jimmy Bridgeman, 10.909; 26. 8S-Steve Short, 11.033
Results Williams Grove Speedway July 27th (25 laps): 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Sheldon Haudenschild, 3. Brad Sweet, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. David Gravel, 6. Lance Dewease, 7. Danny Dietrich, 8. Ian Madsen, 9. Freddie Rahmer, 10. Carson Macedo, 11. Brian Montieth, 12. Brent Marks, 13. Anthony Macri, 14. Robbie Kendall, 15. Logan Schuchart, 16. Shane Stewart, 17. Cory Haas, 18. TJ Stutts, 19. Landon Myers, 20. Kyle Moody, 21. Jeff Halligan, 22. Kody Lehman, 23. Jesse Attard, 24. Jacob Allen, 25. Tim Shaffer, 26. Chad Trout
DNQ: Jason Sides, Adrian Shaffer, Alan Krimes, Nicole Bower, Kraig Kinser, Troy Fraker
Tim Shaffer wins at Williams Grove Speedway
Pennsylvania-native Shaffer holds off late race attack by David Gravel to claim second World of Outlaws win this year
Crew members from the Roth Motorsports team jumped into Tim Shaffer's trailer and scurried to the sweat drenched driver.With his arms out and a smile just as wide, Shaffer embraced the two crew members and thanked them for helping him get back on track.
The Aliquippa, Pa.-native had just left Victory Lane at Williams Grove Speedway for the second time in his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series career – first time since 2001. The win was also his second Series victory of the year – the first was at Las Vegas in February.
"They're hard to get," Shaffer said about winning in general. "This place is really special. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I won here. It goes back to a great car, great engine, great team. It's funny, we struggled this year. We started good, struggled mid-season and it seems like we're coming back to life."
What the Roth Motorsports crew did to help Shaffer had nothing to do with car set up, the engine or tires. They simply helped him have fun again.
"Basically, they've been hanging out at my house and having fun," Shaffer said. "Running go-karts and just having fun again. It's neat to have friends like that. They enjoy racing and love it as much as you do and get to have fun with other things instead of being around racing all of the time, and we had a blast.
"You kind of loosen up. We came here already in a good mood, having fun, and it's carrying on."
That showed in Shaffer's performance throughout the night. He finished second to Brad Sweet in his Drydene Heat race but tested Sweet for the lead in the early stage of the eight-lap race. Shaffer then went on the win the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash from the pole and the Feature, leading all 25 laps.
However, Watertown, Conn.-native David Gravel – who was coming off a win at Lernerville Speedway and eight top-five finishes in a row, with seven of them being podium finishes – did not let Shaffer cruise to the victory.
In the early stage of the Feature, Shaffer powered around the high side of the track with a blistering pace that left about a straightaway distance between he and second-place Freddie Rahmer. His pace also put him in lap traffic by Lap five on the half-mile speedway.
Rahmer held on to second-place for the first 11 laps before 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz dove underneath the PA Posse member in turn three and powered by him off turn four. The next corner, Gravel charged around the outside of Rahmer and stole third-place.
Gravel worked on Schatz's bumper for the next few laps until the caution came out for Daryn Pittman having a flat right front tire.
The group of 25 cars lined back up two-by-two for the restart. Shaffer crept the field around turns three and four before mashing the throttle and launching back to the lead down the front stretch. Behind him Schatz and Gravel raced side-by-side through turns one and two – Gravel low, Schatz high. The high side had been the fastest way around all night, but Gravel made the bottom work and darted to second off the corner.
The track widened as the race progressed. Shaffer stayed high, testing the limits of the cushion. Gravel, however, was perfecting the bottom line. The Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 car worked its way to within striking distance of Shaffer and waited for an opportunity to pounce.
There were no mistakes, though. Shaffer was smooth around the top and aggressive with laps cars. If there was an opening, he threw his Rudzik Excavating No. 49x into the gap without hesitation. There was no time to be cautious. Gravel was coming, and he knew it.
"I seen the board that the 41 got by [Schatz] on that yellow," Shaffer said. "I said 'Oh, he's hunting me down.' I was just trying to make good laps and I knew we'd be hard to beat."
With Shaffer not making any mistakes, Gravel knew he had to do something drastic if he wanted another Williams Grove victory.
Coming to the white flag, Gravel rocketed his car underneath Shaffer into turn three – closing about a four-car length gap. The momentum slid his car up the track and he went side-by-side with Shaffer, about a foot a part, through turn four. Shaffer held his line – and his eyes closed, he said jokingly. That hindered Gravel's charge and forced him to fall in line behind the orange and black No. 49x.
"I was close, I didn't see him there for a second," Gravel said. "I obviously just gave him a little bit of room to get back by me. If it was twenty or fifty grand (to win) I probably would have slid up here. But it was a good night. We were fast all night long. I feel like we were the only car to run on the bottom of the race track."
Shaffer pulled away with the lead and the $8,000 win at the opening night of the Champion
Racing Oil Summer Nationals doubleheader – his 27th career Series victory.
With Schatz – second in points – finishing third and Series points leader Brad Sweet finishing seventh, Gravel bested the top two in points for the second straight night and continues to inch his way into the championship battle. He is now 102 points behind Sweet and 88 points behind Schatz.
The reigning champion has also closed the gap to Sweet, now 14 points behind him.
Shaffer isn't running for points. He's racing to have fun. He'll have even more fun if he can get back-to-back wins at Williams Grove Speedway and collect Saturday's $20,000 winnings. But for now, with the support of fellow racers and friends, he's just relishing in what he does.
"It's just about enjoying it," Shaffer said. "I've been doing this for 36 years. That's why I don't run a grueling schedule. I run my own grueling schedule. If I want to take a weekend off and go boating, I'm going to do it. But this is what I've done my whole life and I'm really enjoying it."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, July 27, will return to Williams Grove Speedway for the final night of the Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$8,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$4,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$2,500]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [2][$2,200]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [7][$2,100]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [12][$2,000]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$1,800]; 8. 21-Brian Montieth [5][$1,600]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,500]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,300]; 11. 39-Cory Haas [13][$1,200]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$1,100]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [14][$1,000]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri [20][$700]; 15. 1X-Chad Trout [8][$600]; 16. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$600]; 17. 11-T.J. Stutts [15][$600]; 18. 5-Shane Stewart [21][$600]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [17][$600]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$600]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$600]; 22. 99M-Kyle Moody [24][$600]; 23. 5H-Jeff Halligan [23][$600]; 24. 19M-Landon Myers [19][$600]; 25. 12W-Troy Fraker [25][$600]; Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 69K-Lance Dewease[+6]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 16.784; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 16.797; 3. 21-Brian Montieth, 16.901; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 17.033; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.036; 6. 1X-Chad Trout, 17.042; 7. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 17.045; 8. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 17.098; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 17.121; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 17.129; 11. 11-T.J. Stutts, 17.148; 12. 69K-Lance Dewease, 17.157; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.186; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 17.235; 15. 19M-Landon Myers, 17.262; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 17.279; 17. 39-Cory Haas, 17.28; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.296; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.342; 20. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.356; 21. 5-Shane Stewart, 17.374; 22. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.415; 23. 5H-Jeff Halligan, 17.454; 24. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.457; 25. 99M-Kyle Moody, 17.501; 26. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 17.572; 27. 53-Jesse Attard, 17.637; 28. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 17.694; 29. 23-Chris Arnold, 17.768; 30. 47K-Kody Lehman, 17.884; 31. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.956; 32. 91-Kyle Reinhardt, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Gravel claims fifth win of the season and second Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup victory
by Nick Graziano July 24, 2019
The No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing Sprint Car roared around Lernerville Speedway with the ferocity of a starved stomach. It was a manifestation of the driver’s mentality.
David Gravel was hungry for a big win. After three podiums in-a-row at Eldora Speedway, leading up to the Kings Royal, he had to settle for a fifth-place finish at the prestigious event. His appetite was not appeased.
On Tuesday night at the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, the Watertown, Conn.-native was not going to let his hunger go untamed again. He led 26 laps of the 40-lap Feature, lapped up to 13th and crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of second-place to claim his third win at Lernerville Speedway and fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory of the year.
“Our team deserves a win after a week like last week (at Eldora),” Gravel said. “To make it a $25,000 win is good. You want to win Jackson (Nationals). You want to win the Kings Royal. But this will do for now.”
He secured the win by finding grip where few others could.
“I didn’t have to rely on the top,” Gravel said. “I think 90 percent of the guys relied on the top in the Heat race, relied on the top in the Dash and there in the beginning of the [Feature]. I didn’t have to. I think it (the top) was just going to get thinner and thinner as it went on. I just never relied on it all night. We just kept working below it.”
He nearly won his Drydene Heat by running the middle and bottom of the track, while leader Donny Schatz relied on the top. Gravel then went on to finish fourth in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, continuing to test the lower groove of the track.
He was picky with the set up, he said. The Jason Johnson Racing team worked on it all night to get the car right for the Feature.
When the 40-lap event went green, second-place James McFadden, in the Wicked Energy Gum No. 9 car, blasted by polesitter Shane Stewart for the lead and clung to the high side of the track. Running the middle lane behind him, Gravel went from fourth-place to second in the first corner.
Neither could build run as the caution came out on the first lap for a car stopped in turn two.
When the race went back green, Gravel dove under McFadden in turn one, but didn’t have a strong enough run off the corner that could compete with the momentum McFadden carried around the high side of the track.
McFadden began to pull away running the top, while Gravel worked the middle of the track. Five laps later, another caution.
On the restart, Gravel attempted another dive bomb underneath McFadden into turn one. This time, he was ahead of the Australian exiting turn two, but McFadden, again, had the faster run off the corner and sprinted back to the lead.
Behind them, Kyle Larson lurked. He had already made his way from sixth to third. The NASCAR-star, and Series team owner, poked his nose under Gravel into turn one, but Gravel got to the throttle quicker and launched off the corner.
While McFadden mostly stuck to the high line, Gravel found his rhythm through the middle lane. With 25 laps to go, Gravel placed his Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 in McFadden’s peripheral view through turns three and four. McFadden had the stronger run off the corner and ducked to the bottom of the track in turn one. Gravel switched his line to the high side and drove around McFadden for the lead off turn two.
“I think he never ran the line I did,” Gravel said. “He ran high and he kind of ran lower. Sometimes it’s better to run second. Kind of had a line figured out that I ran all night long. We got the car better to run it.”
Four laps later, Larson made his way by McFadden for second and began his quest for back-to-back Silver Cup victories. Halfway through the race he began to close the gap on Gravel. And lap traffic was in sight.
However, the slower traffic seemed to only make Gravel faster. With 11 laps to go he began to extend the distance between he and Larson. With three laps to go, he had a 4.6 second advantage over the No. 57 car and had lapped 13th-place Ian Madsen.
“I thought I had a shot the first time we got to little bit heavy traffic, but once we got to the heavier stuff he did a really good job getting through it,” Larson said. “I didn’t really feel like I got hung up, he just got through it really fast. I just needed a little bit more to be able to move around and run the lines he was running.”
The last five laps were tricky, though. Gravel said the track got slick and he “was just holding on” at the end. Larson closed the gap to about four seconds at the end, but Gravel held on to claim his second Silver Cup win and 44th career victory.
“It’s awesome to win another one of these,” Gravel said.
With two wins in the last seven races and a string of 13 top-five finishes in the last 14 races, Gravel has slowly been working his way into the battle for the points lead with current leader Brad Sweet, and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. With Sweet finishing fourth and Schatz finishing fifth at Lernerville, Gravel is now 112 points behind Sweet, and 90 points behind Schatz. He’s gained 48 points on Sweet in the last 11 races.
However, points aren’t the main focus at the moment. He wants to win. With $28,000 on the line this weekend during the doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway and the $150,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals coming up, there are still several big races to crave during the “months of money.”
“There’s more money on the line the rest of the year, so hopefully we can keep this rolling and win some more big races,” Gravel said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27, will be at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. for the Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [4][$25,000]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [6][$7,000]; 3. 9-James McFadden [2][$5,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$4,000]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,000]; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,900]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$2,800]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$2,700]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [11][$2,600]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [21][$2,500]; 11. 1-Logan Wagner [9][$2,400]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$2,300]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,200]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [8][$2,100]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$2,000]; 16. 4N-Dale Blaney [17][$1,500]; 17. 7K-Dan Shetler [16][$1,300]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [15][$1,200]; 19. 2AJ-A.J. Flick [14][$1,200]; 20. 3C-Cale Conley [23][$1,200]; 21. K4-Chad Kemenah [24][$1,200]; 22. 42-Sye Lynch [22][$1,200]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$1,200]; 24. 13-Brandon Matus [20][$1,200]; 25. 11-Carl Bowser [25]; Lap Leaders: James McFadden 1-14, David Gravel 15-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+11]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.838; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.844; 3. 9-James McFadden, 13.99; 4. 19-Brent Marks, 14.166; 5. 4N-Dale Blaney, 14.236; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich, 14.239; 7. 1-Logan Wagner, 14.25; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.301; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.498; 10. 42-Sye Lynch, 14.536; 11. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 14.615; 12. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.061; 13. 11-Carl Bowser, 15.074; 14. C1-Clay Riney, 15.124; 15. J4-John Garvin, 15.425; 16. O8-Dan Kuriger, 15.514; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.515; 18. 250-Jared McFarland, 15.541; 19. 14-Jeremy Hill, 15.767; 20. 76-Davey Jones, 16.388; 21. 4K-Bill Kiley, 16.459
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.939; 2. 41-David Gravel, 13.994; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 14.014; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.395; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.447; 6. 3C-Cale Conley, 14.499; 7. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.689; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.827; 9. 2AJ-A.J. Flick, 14.912; 10. 40-George Hobaugh, 15.073; 11. K4-Chad Kemenah, 15.13; 12. 13-Brandon Matus, 15.19; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.24; 14. 7K-Dan Shetler, 15.266; 15. 53-Jesse Attard, 15.609; 16. 33-Brent Matus, 15.88; 17. 91-Tony Fiore, 15.891; 18. 55-Dallas Schott, 16.284; 19. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, 16.351; 20. 55K-Gary Kriess, NT
Sweet wins the biggest purse in Sprint Car history and his second Kings Royal victory
by Nick Graziano
Flaming towers burst into the air around the prestigious wooden throne. It was a signal. A celebration. The throne had a new king.
King Brad Sweet.
“Holy shit! Yeah!” Sweet yelled with the last few pockets of air in his lungs.
The Grass Valley, Calif.-native won his second Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway Saturday night. And this time it paid an unprecedented $175,000 to win.
“A hundred and seventy-five mother grand!” Sweet bellowed out once he regained his breath.
Since the inception of the prestigious event in 1984, it has always paid $50,000 – which was still one of the largest paying purses for Sprint Car racing in the country last year. But for the 36th year of the race, track owner Tony Stewart raised it to be the largest.
“Sprint car racers make money based off how they finish,” Sweet said. “When you have a race that pays $175,000 to win and basically $20,000 for second, it’s kind of all or nothing coming in here. I’m a fan of it. It’s nerve-racking. It gets the fans’ attention. It’s what we need in this sport.
“It’s intense all night long. All day. Under the red. Basically, if you don’t win the race it’s a missed opportunity. You only get so many of these opportunities. So, I’m just happy and want to cherish the moment.”
Claiming his second Kings Royal victory – 11th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory of the year and 45th Series win over all – required Sweet to battle all night long. Battle the competition and battle through the Kings Royal’s 2019 format.
He started the long night qualifying 18th, which placed him in the fourth starting position for his Drydene Heat race. With a daring slide job on the first lap to go from fourth to the lead, Sweet cruised to the Heat win.
With his Heat race being the first one of the night, under the event’s format, he was placed sixth in the line up for the 40-lap Feature.
On the pole was three-time Kings Royal winner Sammy Swindell, in his son Kevin Swindell’s No. 39 car. To his outside was 10-time Series champion and five-time Kings Royal winner Donny Schatz – who had also won two of the last three races at Eldora during the week; Sweet won the other race.
Once the final sparks of fireworks fell into the dark of the night and the field of 24-cars filed back in line two-by-two, the anxiety and anticipation of the night was about to fade away with the drop of the green flag.
Leading the charge off turn four, Swindell charged to the high side on the start, while Schatz dove underneath him. Swindell had the better run on the top, though, and powered to the lead off turn two.
Behind them, Sweet split Cory Eliason and Aaron Reutzel, charging between them down the front stretch and launched to fourth-place in the first corner.
Swindell maintained his lead over Schatz for the next three laps, before the first caution of the night flew for Tom Harris coming to a stop on the track. When the race went back green Sweet threw another massive slide job into turn one, going from fourth to the lead. However, another caution came out before the lap was complete – placing cars back in their starting order before the restart.
The field lined up single file and Swindell pulled away from Schatz on the start, putting about a three-car length distance between them.
While Swindell led, Schuchart was forging a strong run. By Lap eight, the Drydene No. 1s car had already made its way from 12th to fourth and then bolted by Sweet for third. Two laps later he torpedoed his car into turn three, diving past Schatz and Swindell by the exit of turn four.
After not transferring into the Kings Royal last year, Schuchart was now leading and running away with the event this year.
Sweet fought his way past Schatz for second-place by Lap 15, but couldn’t match Schuchart’s pace. By Lap 25, Schuchart had a 2.5 second lead over Sweet and was poised to increase it riding the cushion around the track.
However, with the flash of yellow lights around the speedway, “The Big Cat” Sweet was brought to the bumper of the Shark Racing car.
Due to the long nature of the race, an open red was called, giving crews the chance to add fuel to their car, insuring it could make it to the end of the 40-lap race around the half-mile track.
On the restart, with 15 laps to go, Sweet continued to make a case for claiming the title of “restart king.” He throttled passed the outside of Schuchart before the flag stand and latched on to the cushion for momentum to pull away.
“Honestly, to be dead honest, I didn’t want to see the red,” Sweet said. “I felt like I just found the top in (turns) three and four and Logan hadn’t known about it. I think I found some speed there I was going to be able to make some moves with. We didn’t touch the race car, we put five gallons of fuel in it. I told my guys I was just going to put it to the fence and go for it.”
Schuchart said restarts had been an issue for him all week long. His car struggled to take off from the start.
“That’s part of the game,” Schuchart said. “We didn’t get the job done in that part of the race.”
Sweet used the high line during Wednesday’s Jokers Wild event to out duel Schatz for the win and it was working for him again Saturday night. Schuchart couldn’t build enough of a run again to make a charge at the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car.
With about eight laps to go, a new winged-warrior joined the battle. From his 16th starting position, Brent Marks drove by Schatz for third-place like he founded 10 extra horsepower on the track. Schuchart was next. With three laps to go, the two Pennsylvania-natives waged war for second-place. Marks pulled a slide job on Schuchart in turn one and had the position exiting turn two, but Schuchart had the better run down the backstretch and reclaimed second. Marks wouldn’t let Schuchart out of his sight, staying within striking distance lap after lap. However, the laps ran out.
Sweet left the Pennsylvanians to battle for second, while he charged to the Kings Royal victory and the big $175,000 check.
“You have to pinch me. It feels surreal,” Sweet said.
Schuchart crossed the line second with Marks two-tenths of a second behind him in third.
“Hell, we started twelfth and led the Kings Royal, that’s something to be proud about,” Schuchart said. “To be leading this race with all of the people in this pit supporting me, it’s a great feeling. I didn’t make the show last year. We went from not making the show to out here in the top-five every single night.”
While Marks ran out of time to try and make a run at Sweet, he left with confidence in his strong run and the hard charger award.
“This car was badass tonight,” Marks said. “That was a fun race. The track was perfect tonight. You could get up against that wall and just hold the throttle down and carry the momentum. I was trying like hell to get to second.”
When Sweet won the first big paying race of the year, the $41,000-to-win Jackson Nationals, he was jubilant. After winning the $175,000 at Eldora Speedway, jubilant would only be strong enough to describe his smile. After climbing out of his car, Sweet leaped about a foot in the air onto the Victory Lane stage with his arm held high. He couldn’t inhale air fast enough to continue his joyous yelling spree.
With the cloak on his back and the crown placed on his head, he was king. The wooden throne was his – for a few minutes. The $175,000 check, though, is going home with him.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, July23, will be at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. for the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$175,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$20,000]; 3. 19-Brent Marks [16][$15,000]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [9][$12,500]; 5. 41-David Gravel [11][$10,000]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$7,500]; 7. 39-Sammy Swindell [1][$6,500]; 8. 3-Jac Haudenschild [10][$6,000]; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8][$5,500]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [3][$5,000]; 11. 12N-Joey Saldana [18][$4,750]; 12. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$4,500]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$4,000]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [24][$3,750]; 15. 11-Dale Blaney [14][$3,500]; 16. 24-Rico Abreu [17][$3,450]; 17. 26-Cory Eliason [5][$3,400]; 18. 91-Cale Thomas [7][$3,350]; 19. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$3,300]; 20. 70-Brock Zearfoss [23][$3,250]; 21. 92-Sye Lynch [19][$3,200]; 22. 70X-Justin Peck [22][$3,150]; 23. 84-Tom Harris [20][$3,100]; 24. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-10, Logan Schuchart 11-25, Brad Sweet 26-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Qualifying – 1. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.019; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.127; 3. 84-Tom Harris, 13.148; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.159; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.16; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.191; 7. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.215; 8. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.217; 9. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.225; 10. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.226; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.228; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.239; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.244; 14. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.27; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.273; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.284; 17. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.302; 18. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.302; 19. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.305; 20. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.309; 21. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.321; 22. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.327; 23. 21-Brian Brown, 13.334; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.349; 25. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.36; 26. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.367; 27. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.371; 28. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.38; 29. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.383; 30. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.399; 31. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.404; 32. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.42; 33. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.435; 34. 9-James McFadden, 13.441; 35. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.457; 36. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.463; 37. 7-Jason Sides, 13.474; 38. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.475; 39. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.495; 40. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.5; 41. 41-David Gravel, 13.502; 42. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.512; 43. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.513; 44. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.537; 45. 23-Hunter Schuerenburg, 13.551; 46. 71M-Paul May, 13.588; 47. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.595; 48. 17XL-Caleb Helms, 13.604; 49. 4-Cap Henry, 13.635; 50. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.64; 51. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.658; 52. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.673; 53. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.708; 54. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 13.721; 55. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.737; 56. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.743; 57. 64-Scotty Thiel, 13.752; 58. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.814; 59. 33W-Michael Walter, 13.847; 60. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 14.059; 61. 25R-Mitchell Harble, 14.228; 62. 10P-Jim Perricone, 14.962
Donny Schatz wins at Eldora Speedway for third time this year
Schatz holds off charge by David Gravel to win The Knight Before the Kings Royal
The duty of a knight is to protect their king and his castle.
At the Tony Stewart owned Eldora Speedway Friday night, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver Donny Schatz claimed his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory at the Ohio track this year. It was also the 300th Series career win for Tony Stewart as a car owner.
"Eldora has always been really good to me," said Schatz, who's now won at the speedway 18 times and has an average finish of 1.25.
He led every lap of The Knight Before the Kings Royal 30-lap Feature, but his reign of the night wasn't an easy task.
Hunting the 10-time Series champion all night was a fierce David Gravel. Coming off two podium finishes in-a-row at Eldora, the Jason Johnson Racing driver was eager to claim his third victory at the speedway – his last coming in 2016.
Schatz, of Fargo, N.D., started on the pole for the Feature – a virtue of winning the first DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash; Daryn Pittman, of Owasso, Okla., won the second Dash and lined up on the outside pole. When the race went green, Schatz jumped to the lead and immediately began to put distance between he and Pittman.
The reigning champion had a horse capable of charging to the victory. However, 10 laps into the run, Pittman and third-place Gravel began reeling in Schatz.
While Schatz rode the bottom lane, Pittman powered along the cushion – the same line Brad Sweet used to win at Eldora the night before. The Roth Motorsports No. 83 had a run brewing to challenge for the lead. But while he tried to focus on catching Schatz, Gravel continued to poke his nose under Pittman lap by lap, looking to find enough grip on the bottom to make the pass for second.
With 19 laps to go Pittman came within feet of Schatz's bumper going into turn one, but unlike the lap before Schatz chose the high line. That decision gave Schatz a strong enough run off turn two to put about a six-car length distance between he and Pittman. Then Gravel dove underneath Pittman the next corner and took the position on the exit.
However, Pittman charged back, driving underneath the Watertown, Conn.-native down the front stretch and back by him into turn two. The next time into turn three Gravel mimicked his previous lap, again, diving underneath Pittman. This time it worked, though. He cleared him off the corner and maintained the position into turn one with 14 laps to go.
The hunt for Schatz was on. Lap after lap, running the bottom in turns one and two and the high side in turns three and four, the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 crept closer and closer to the Toco Warranty No. 15 car.
Schatz said he and his team tried something new with the set up and while it worked in the Dash, he was just hanging on to his car throughout the Feature. He wouldn't have been surprised if someone drove by him.
With 11 laps to go, Schatz went from a dot in Gravel's line of sight to a boulder. But despite Gravel's charge, Schatz's proficiency with running the bottom of the speedway threw a shield in Gravel's run. A few car lengths distance was as close as Gravel could bring his car to Schatz.
To beat Schatz, he was going to need help. With six laps to go, he got it in the form of lap traffic.
Twenty-third-place Parker Price-Miller gave the leader his biggest challenge of the night. Schatz attempted to pass the slower No. 71p car on the bottom through turns one and two – where he struggled to find grip all night – but Price-Miller charged back in front of him down the backstretch. Into turns three and four Schatz, again, tried to pass Price-Miller on the bottom and, again, failed.
"I could make good laps in (turns) three and four and hold my own, but in turns one and two, I was just... I got to lap traffic and watched the 71 car drive by me," Schatz said. "I had to change everything I did. I was stomping and stabbing and slinging, doing everything I could. I just couldn't make it do what I wanted it to do."
Schatz's battle with Price-Miller put Gravel a car length behind him.
With five laps to, Schatz launched underneath Price-Miller into turn one, finally able to make the pass. However, he lost traction off turn two, allowing Price-Miller to charge underneath the No. 15 car with Gravel following his trail.
Choosing the middle lane of the track in turn three, Schatz cleared Price-Miller and pulled away from him and Gravel, who had to make a split-second evasive maneuver around the slower Price-Miller into turn three.
Behind them, Pittman and Logan Schuchart traded slide jobs lap after lap for third-place.
While they battled for third, Schatz had pulled back to a comfortable half a straightaway lead over Gravel. He looked to be en route for another Eldora Speedway victory, but with three laps to go the caution came out for Cory Eliason, who spun on the backstretch.
Gravel was now close enough to reach out and touch Schatz's bumper. When the race restart, Schatz chose the high line and Gravel launched his car to the bottom of the track in turn one, coming side-by-side with Schatz in the middle of the corner.
Schatz had the advantage, though, being able to carry the momentum of riding the high side down the backstretch, leaving Gravel to catch up.
The duo remained a few car lengths distance from one another the remaining two laps.
When the white flag was shown, Gravel made one last attempt at out dueling Schatz for the win by, again, diving underneath him in turn one. Like before, it wasn't enough. Schatz had the run on the high side and carried it the remainder of the circuit to his sixth win of the season – 289th career World of Outlaws win overall.
"My dad always taught me to worry about what's in front of me, not what's behind me," Schatz said. "It's paid off this long in my career."
Gravel picked up his sixth podium finish in-a-row, but he was left still hungry for more.
"I think we were good enough to win tonight," Gravel said. "I wish the yellow didn't come out. I liked the lap traffic. I had the shot to pass him (Schatz) that one time. I'm happy where we're at, though. Just a touch off."
Schuchart was able to make the pass on Pittman for third – collecting his third top-five in three races at Eldora Speedway.
"I just feel like we started too far back," said Hanover, Pa.-native Schuchart, who started ninth. "I feel like we might have had one of the fastest cars. On the last restart a bolt came out of the wing there and let it go the whole way back, so I got real tight. Before that, I feel like I was running right with those guys."
With Schatz's win and Series points leader Sweet finishing seventh, the gap between them has shrunk to 20 points.
But right now, Schatz isn't worried about points. He's not even engrossed in his second win in two races at the speedway. He's focused on Saturday's $175,000-to-win Kings Royal.
"Everything is about tomorrow night," said five-time Kings Royal winner Schatz. "The night is over. We'll forget about it. It's all about the Kings Royal now."
There's no points on the line. Just an unprecedented winning purse and the opportunity to go from a knight to a king.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, July 20, will return to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for the prestigious Kings Royal event. Get tickets and more information.
Learn more about the Kings Royal format.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$12,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,700]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$3,500]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu [8][$3,000]; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,600]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,400]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,300]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$2,200]; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [13][$2,150]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$2,100]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$1,600]; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss [9][$1,350]; 13. 21-Brian Brown [11][$1,300]; 14. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$1,200]; 15. 19-Brent Marks [25][$1,100]; 16. 5-Shane Stewart [16][$1,000]; 17. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [14][$900]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$850]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$800]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [24][$800]; 21. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [20][$800]; 22. 26-Cory Eliason [4][$800]; 23. 11-Dale Blaney [5][$800]; 24. 98H-Dave Blaney [23][$800]; 25. 92-Sye Lynch [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1A-Jacob Allen[+10]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.005; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.111; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.182; 4. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.187; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 13.191; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.204; 7. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.225; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.276; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.306; 10. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.31; 11. 84-Tom Harris, 13.321; 12. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.414; 13. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.418; 14. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.419; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.42; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.42; 17. 9-James McFadden, 13.422; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 13.435; 19. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.439; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel, 13.486; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.5; 22. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.507; 23. 33W-Michael Walter, 13.563; 24. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.589; 25. 71M-Paul May, 13.707; 26. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.774; 27. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 13.779; 28. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.833; 29. 10P-Jim Perricone, 14.237; 30. 3C-Cale Conley, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.167; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.295; 3. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.315; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.317; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.343; 6. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.353; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.361; 8. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.388; 9. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.405; 10. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.438; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.446; 12. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.453; 13. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.453; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.461; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.528; 16. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.567; 17. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.594; 18. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.639; 19. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.683; 20. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.726; 21. 17XL-Caleb Helms, 13.747; 22. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.752; 23. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.759; 24. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.792; 25. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.835; 26. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.982; 27. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 14.128; 28. J4-John Garvin, 14.194; 29. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.434; 30. 83C-Adam Cruea, 14.454
Brad Sweet out duels Donny Schatz for Jokers Wild win
After swapping the lead early in the race, Sweet holds off Schatz to win at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – July 18, 2019 – The flagman held the checkered flag tight, anxiously waiting to thrust it in the air and wave it over Eldora Speedway when the leader exited turn four.
The question of who that victor would be left the crowd of thousands in a knot throughout the 30-lap $10,000-to-win Jokers Wild Feature Thursday night.
Brad Sweet lead, but Donny Schatz – fresh off a win at Eldora from the night before – hung on to the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car's bumper throughout the race. The two swapped positions lap after lap in the early circuits.
However, Sweet found the 16-time Eldora Speedway winner's kryptonite – the high line up against the wall. If the walls of the half-mile track had eyes, Sweet made sure they were closed all race, leaving inches between the concrete barrier and his right rear tire most of the night.
Schatz wasn't able to run the top groove like Sweet, having to move off it and stick to the bottom. That allowed Sweet to use the momentum of the high side to fend of challenges by the 10-time Series champion and claim his 10th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of the season – 44th Series win overall.
"We held off Donny," Sweet said, after winning for the second time at the Ohio track. "That's what it takes to win at Eldora. He threw everything he had at me. I saw him multiple times. I just wasn't sure where to be on the race track there at the end. I felt pretty good on the top, but it's such a fine line."
The win was a rebound for Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team after a fourth-place finish at the speedway Wednesday night – which to Sweet and his crew was a disappointing run.
Withholding the fine details, Sweet said, they tried something different with the set up for Thursday night's race, and it worked.
He was second fastest in the first flight of Qualifying. Then went on to win his Drydene Heat race and the first of two DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash races. But every step Sweet made, Schatz was there following in his footsteps. The reigning champion went second fastest in the second flight of Qualifying. He, too, won his Drydene Heat race and claimed the win in the second Dash of the night.
That placed the two championship contenders on the front row together. The title match at Eldora Speedway was set.
When the flagman thrusted the green flag in the air, Sweet passed the flag stand first, but Schatz launched underneath the Grass Valley, Calif.-native looking to take the lead on the first lap in turn one. Sweet had the momentum on the high side, though. He charged around the Toco Warranty No. 15 down the backstretch and moved to the bottom of the track in turns three and four.
Schatz did the opposite. He ran the high line through turns three and four, giving him a strong enough run down the front stretch to again dive underneath Sweet in turn one. This time, Schatz had the lead.
Sweet wasn't about to let Schatz cruise to another Eldora win over him, though. He charged back around Schatz the next lap and began to put distance between the two.
"He makes it awful tough when he sets his pace and runs his lines," Sweet said. "It makes it real hard to pass. I wanted to get ahead and set a pace."
Ten laps into the Feature Logan Schuchart also made his way around Schatz by riding the high line. However, he got held up by a lap car going into turn three and Schatz took the opportunity to pounce. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver made a massive drive to the bottom of the track through turns three and four, blowing by Schuchart and gaining about four car lengths on Sweet off the corner.
He carried the momentum through the next corner, getting underneath Sweet and edging him by a nose off turn two with 19 laps to go. Sweet, again, used the high side to propel his car back in front of Schatz down the backstretch, though.
Into turn three the duo both slid their cars sideways to the bottom of the track, almost making contact at the apex. With Sweet blocking Schatz's lane, he charged off the corner to a comfortable lead and added to it from there.
Schatz then had to compete with Schuchart for second, eventually losing the position to the Drydene No. 1s car right before a caution with 11 laps to.
When the race resumed, Schuchart had a terrible restart, falling from second to fifth and stacking up the top line behind him. His mistake allowed Schatz an easy pass for second and another shot at Sweet.
While Sweet stayed high, Schatz was determined to make the low line work. He put together enough of a charge to get side-by-side with Sweet in turn one the next lap, but the run was still no match for Sweet's mastery of the high line.
"We stayed with him there, he was ripping the top, I had to get off it," Schatz said about the final restart. "We thought we were going to be a shot at him there, but for some reason when I got to traffic, I couldn't maneuver well or just kept making mistakes. You'll have that. If you're going to do it, I'd rather do it tonight than two nights from now."
Able to stay in clean air and see where lap cars were going to go, Sweet rode the cushion until the final corner when he moved down a lane to see how his car would do. He was satisfied as he drove by the waving checkered flag for the 10th time this year – the most wins he's collected in a season, so far.
While it's an accomplishment he's proud of, Sweet said there's still work to do. Still tweaks needed to make the car better. And still many big races on the line – including Saturday's $175,000-to-win Kings Royal.
"I'm not going to sit and dwell on it too much, because we're trying to just stay in the moment and keep winning," Sweet said. "I don't want to just settle in and say, 'That's great, I just won my 10th race.' Obviously, so far, it's a dream season, but all of the big races are coming up. I think we just try to keep our heads down and at the end of the season when it's time to look back at the stats we hope we'll have 10 more wins, or more, and a championship."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to Eldora Speedway Friday, July 19, for the Knight Before the Kings Royal. Get tickets and more information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [10][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$2,800]; 5. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$2,500]; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6][$2,300]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$2,200]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [9][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [25][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [15][$2,000]; 11. 11-Dale Blaney [8][$1,500]; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss [7][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [18][$1,100]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel [24][$1,050]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$1,000]; 16. 26-Cory Eliason [17][$900]; 17. 9-James McFadden [21][$800]; 18. 39-Sammy Swindell [11][$800]; 19. 92-Sye Lynch [12][$800]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [19][$800]; 21. 12N-Joey Saldana [3][$800]; 22. 21-Brian Brown [14][$800]; 23. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 24. 13-Paul McMahan [22][$800]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet1, 3-30; Donny Schatz 2; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+16]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.02; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.077; 3. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.099; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.108; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.14; 6. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.17; 7. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.222; 8. 39-Sammy Swindell, 13.245; 9. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.28; 10. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.286; 11. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.292; 12. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.413; 13. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.462; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.476; 15. 18J-R.J. Jacobs, 13.516; 16. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.552; 17. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.56; 18. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.591; 19. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.654; 20. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.695; 21. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 13.727; 22. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.73; 23. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.787; 24. 71M-Paul May, 13.89; 25. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 13.91; 26. 33W-Michael Walter, 14.097; 27. 64-Scotty Thiel, 17.155
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.215; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.241; 3. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.279; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.31; 5. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.336; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.349; 7. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.374; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.39; 9. 9-James McFadden, 13.438; 10. 21-Brian Brown, 13.459; 11. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.459; 12. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.461; 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.462; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.463; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.473; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.481; 17. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.49; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 13.512; 19. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.585; 20. 7-Jason Sides, 13.629; 21. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.643; 22. 70X-Justin Peck, 13.69; 23. 84-Tom Harris, 13.784; 24. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 13.844; 25. 85-Dustin Daggett, 13.968; 26. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 14.027; 27. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.37
LET'S MAKE IT TWO: Schatz goes two-for-two at Eldora
Donny Schatz sweeps the #LetsRaceTwo events at Eldora Speedway for second straight year
ROSSBURG, OH – July 17, 2019 – There's magic to Donny Schatz's dominate performances at Eldora Speedway.He used that "magic" to cruise to his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Eldora Speedway win of the year Wednesday night, during the make-up #LetsRaceTwo event – sweeping the #LetRaceTwo races for the second year in-a-row.
To Schatz, though, there is no "magic." It's a matter of knowing what to do, he said, and having the experience to do it.
"The misconception in this sport is there's always something magic, there's one thing you can do to make yourself better," said Schatz, 10-time Series champion from Fargo, N.D. "It's not. It's ten thousand little things and this team has learned that over the years.
"It's the same today. Probably even more so today. A quarter turn here or there makes a big difference."
That's what it took for Schatz to charge from fourth to win in the 30-lap Feature. He started the night winning his Drydene Heat race, and then went on to finish fourth in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – almost four seconds behind leader Carson Macedo.
Then "a quarter turn here and there" before the Feature. When field erupted into a thunderous echo across the half-mile speedway and charged to the green flag, it was already clear the adjustments worked.
When the field exited turn four at the start, the race took on a different appearance. Brad Sweet had darted by polesitter Carson Macedo for the lead and Schatz stole third from David Gravel. The reigning champion then tried to steal second away from Macedo in turn one, but the rookie had the stronger run off turn two. His Chevrolet Accessories No. 2 launched underneath Schatz's Toco Warranty No. 15 down the backstretch, and he cleared him into turn three.
The veteran and the rookie battled side-by-side for the next four laps with experience winning the fight. While Macedo played his luck, running as close as he could to the outside wall, Schatz cruised around the bottom line of the track – the same line he used to win at Eldora in May.
A lap after passing Macedo, Schatz, again, used the low line to his advantage, sneaking underneath leader Sweet in turn one and throttling past him off turn two.
From there, Schatz made being fast around Eldora look easy. Lap after lap, he added another car length distance between he and second-place. Even when the field was brought back together for a caution on Lap 15 – due to Kerry Madsen coming to a stop on the track – Schatz pulled away on the restart and left the field to fight for second.
Behind him, though, the hard charger of the year was coming. Logan Schuchart – who has earned the most Hard Charger awards this year, so far, with five – was making another impressive run to the front.
Schuchart started the race seventh and found himself in sixth when the caution for Madsen came out. On the restart, though, he wasn't going to let the leaders run away. With the throttle down, the Drydene No. 1s darted to fourth by the time the field reached turn one and carried that momentum off turn two to claim third from Gravel.
From there the hunt was one. With a head of steam, while rim riding around the track, Schuchart charged his way past Sweet for second with 12 laps to go. Next on his list, Schatz. Schuchart had finished second to Schatz for the last three #LetsRaceTwo events. It was time for a change.
However, even with finding speed along the high side of the track, it still wasn't enough to outpace Schatz.
"I was a little loose, and I think that's why I was good on the restarts," Schuchart said. "I'd be good for about three or four laps and then I'd start slowing down again, especially when I got the tires hot."
With eight laps to go, a new contender emerged. Gravel found traction and got in a rhythm, passing Sweet for third. Five laps later, he found himself in second after dueling with Schuchart for a couple of laps. He, too, marked Schatz next on his list, but, again, the reigning champion was still too strong. Even with trying different lines around lap cars.
"I closed a little, but lap cars slowed him down a little bit and he started moving around," Gravel said. "I have a good feeling we're really close, just going to keep tuning on this thing and hoping we can beat the 15 car."
Schatz held almost a straightaway lead over Gravel when he saw the checkered flags for the fifth time this year – becoming the second most winning driver, so far, behind nine-time winner Brad Sweet – and for his 288th career World of Outlaws win. It was also his second win in-a-row after winning the last Series race at Wilmot Raceway.
His win took a small bite out of Sweet's points lead, again, too. Schatz is now 30-points behind the Kasey Kahne Racing driver.
Even though he claimed his last two wins in dominating fashion, Schatz admitted a wrong "quarter turn here or there" can be the difference between winning and struggling.
With three more races at Eldora Speedway to go – leading up to the $175,000-to-win Kings Royal on Saturday – Schatz isn't looking to magic to keep his winning streak going. It's the determination of his team to never give up and never settle. Even after a win.
"Even though we won a race tonight, they're (the race team) going to go to bed tonight thinking about things to be better," Schatz said. "That's what it takes."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to Eldora Speedway Thursday, July 18, for the Jokers Wild. Get tickets and information.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$3,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,700]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [9][$2,500]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [14][$2,200]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [10][$2,000]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [11][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [6][$1,600]; 10. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$1,450]; 11. 70-Brock Zearfoss [19][$1,300]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [18][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [13][$1,100]; 14. 12N-Joey Saldana [20][$1,000]; 15. 5-Shane Stewart [5][$950]; 16. 91-Cale Thomas [24][$900]; 17. 13-Paul McMahan [17][$850]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen [16][$750]; 19. 57-Kyle Larson [12][$725]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [8][$700]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$700]; 22. 26-Cory Eliason [21][$700]; 23. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$700]; 24. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-7, Donny Schatz 8-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 21-Brian Brown, 13.253; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.282; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.287; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.388; 5. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.407; 6. 19-Brent Marks, 13.426; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.445; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.445; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.446; 10. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.45; 11. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.462; 12. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.501; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.533; 14. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.537; 15. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.554; 16. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.643; 17. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.712; 18. 14M-Marcus Dumesny, 13.94; 19. 2AU-Andrew Scheuerle, 14.077; 20. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 14.117; 21. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.371
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.194; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.325; 3. 41-David Gravel, 13.401; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.429; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.474; 6. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.479; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.48; 8. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.516; 9. 92-Sye Lynch, 13.566; 10. 12N-Joey Saldana, 13.577; 11. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.613; 12. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.65; 13. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.651; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.657; 15. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.662; 16. 9-James McFadden, 13.694; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.792; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 13.843; 19. 3C-Cale Conley, 13.968; 20. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 14.056; 21. 84-Tom Harris, 14.177
Donny Schatz dominates at Wilmot Raceway
The 10-time Series champion claimed his first World of Outlaws Wilmot Raceway win
WILMOT, WI – July 13, 2019 – Donny Schatz couldn't hold back the emotion any longer.
With his arms raised and cheeks pushed up by a grin, Schatz yelled with a childlike giggle "Hell yeah, I won at Wilmot! That's off the books."
The 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion and now 287-time Series winner claimed his first victory at Wilmot Raceway Saturday night – and fourth win of the season.
"The older you get, you probably put more of a fine-tooth comb on places you haven't won at and this was one of them," Schatz said.
Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team unloaded Saturday evening with the finest comb they could build. He set the pace in Hot Laps and then Qualified second behind Series points leader Brad Sweet.
In his Drydene Heat race, Schatz won by 1.4 sec. He backed that performance up by winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash with a 2.7 sec. lead at the finish.
Dominating the night was not enough to convince Schatz he would excel in the Feature, though. He admitted he didn't know what to expect from the 1/3-mile track, anticipating lap times to drop during the Feature.
On the initial start, outside polesitter Daryn Pittman made a charge at Schatz for the lead. He kept pace with the reigning champion down the back stretch and dove underneath him in turn three. The two entered turn four side-by-side – the closest anyone came all night to passing Schatz. But the Fargo, N.D.-native had the better run off the corner and cleared Pittman down the front stretch.
For the remaining 39 laps, the only time drivers got close enough to see the bumper of Schatz's Toco Warranty No. 15 car was during a caution on Lap 13 for a car going off track in turn two. After that, Schatz spent his night methodically navigating lap traffic.
However, Friday night's Feature winner at Hartford Speedway, David Gravel, was not going to let Schatz cruised to the victory. Gravel, Sweet and Pittman traded positions in the top-four all night. After battling side-by-side for several laps, having to be gentle on the throttle through the tight slick corners, Sweet eventually passed Pittman for second on Lap 16. Gravel did the same a lap later, moving past the Roth Motorsports No. 83 car for third.
With 10 laps to go, Gravel finally put together a strong enough lap to work his way by Sweet and try to track down Schatz.
At that point there was about a two second gap between Schatz and second-place. Gravel slowly closed it lap by lap. Every lap car that halted Schatz's momentum was a few more tenths of a second gained by Gravel.
By the time the white flag came out, Gravel had made up close to a second on Schatz. It wasn't enough, though. He ran out of time.
"I couldn't get by Daryn very quick and then couldn't get by Brad," Gravel said. "Then it was just a little too late to make a charge a Donny."
He and his Jason Johnson Racing team were happy with the run, though, leaving the weekend with a win and runner-up finish.
By taking the win Schatz finally broke his winless streak he's had since the end of May when he won at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
"I'm sure somebody was coming there at the end," Schatz said. "I was kind of hanging. We could get through a few lap cars, but then when I had to move around in (turns) one and two I wasn't as good. But glad to get a win. It's been a while. Always feels good to get the win, especially here in Wisconsin."
Schatz's win put a small dent in Sweet's point lead over him – he's now 38 points behind the Kasey Kahne Racing driver.
Sweet still leads the Series as the winningest driver with nine wins, so far. Schatz's fourth victory of the year ties him with Gravel as the third winningest driver, behind Logan Schuchart, who has five wins.
For the past four years, Schatz has had double digit wins at this point in the season. He's also amassed 20 or more wins in a year since 2013. After winning at Wilmot, he acknowledged the level of competition in the World of Outlaws right now makes those statistics hard to live up to.
"I don't know how many guys there are capable of winning 20 races in a year," Schatz said. "There's some. But it's hard to live up to them standards and there's a lot of fast race cars out here right now. The parity in this sport is pretty crazy and to keep up with it is even more so."
That hasn't stopped he and his team from striving to do so, though. They continue to make changes and try new things with the car, he said.
At the moment, they've found a feel Schatz likes. He's now eager to carry his winning momentum into the upcoming weeks of prestigious and big paying races. And with another grin and a chuckle, Schatz said he's even looking forward to going to Tri-State Speedway in October – another track he hasn't one at.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, July 16 will venture to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio for the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic. To purchase tickets and get more information go to WorldofOutlaws.com.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,800]; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding [5][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,050]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,000]; 11. 9-James McFadden [8][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$1,050]; 15. 7-Jason Sides [10][$1,000]; 16. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [16][$900]; 17. 68-Dave Uttech [18][$800]; 18. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski [19][$800]; 19. 19T-Todd Daun [21][$800]; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder [20][$800]; 21. 23-Russel Borland [15][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$800]; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+6]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.563; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.587; 3. 41-David Gravel, 12.595; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.602; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 12.604; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.637; 7. 7-Jason Sides, 12.671; 8. 9-James McFadden, 12.746; 9. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.75; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 12.791; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.817; 12. 23-Russel Borland, 12.824; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.827; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.827; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.844; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.861; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.982; 18. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.982; 19. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer, 13.131; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 13.49; 21. 19T-Todd Daun, 13.491; 22. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 14.626; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
David Gravel makes late race pass to win at Hartford Speedway
Gravel sneaks under Logan Schuchart on a late race restart to take the lead and win his fourth race of the season
HARTFORD, MI – July 12, 2019 – Repeated speeches about strong podium runs and satisfying runner-up finishes became commonplace for David Gravel the past two months. A fourth win of the year was in his grasp on several occasions but lost in the closing stage of the race.
The same story was playing out again in the final three laps of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Hartford Speedway Friday night. But behind the façade of being content with another podium was the raging fire to win again.
"You never want to finish second. You want to win these races," Gravel said.
On the final restart of the race, with three laps to go, Gravel let the fire loose. He had worked too hard to put himself in a winning position and lose it again.
Gravel won his Drydene Heat race and finished second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – putting him on the front row for the 30-lap Feature. He had an advantage over the entire field, too – he's the only driver to have won on the track's 3/8-mile configuration.
On the initial start Gravel lost second-place to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who snuck under the Watertown, Conn.-native in turn one and cleared him down the back stretch. However, the red flag came out before a lap was completed.
Several cars were involved in an accident on the back stretch, including Series points leader Brad Sweet. The lengthy red flag period – to tow three cars off the track – allowed Sweet's Kasey Kahne Racing team, along with team members from several other teams, to get the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car fixed and back on track before the race went green again.
Since a lap was not complete, drivers lined back up in their initial starting order, putting Gravel back in second-place. This time, his lesson was learned. When the green flag flew again Gravel dove to the bottom of turn one, blocking any attempt by Schatz for another pass. It also allowed him to get a run underneath leader Carson Macedo down the back stretch and into turn three.
Gravel had his nose in front of Macedo exiting turn four, but Macedo had the better run off the corner and charged back to the lead down the front stretch.
From there, Macedo held command of the lead for the next seven laps before the caution flew again for a slowed Bill Balog. When the race restarted, Gravel, again, put pressure on Macedo. Inches were left between their bumper for the next two laps. Gravel dived underneath the rookie in turn three but like before Macedo prevailed.
They stayed first and second, respectively, to the halfway point of the Feature. In that time, Logan Schuchart quietly worked his way from ninth to third with the top two in sight.
With 14 laps to go, Gravel, not willing to settle for second, capitalized on a strong run. While Macedo searched for traction on the high side, Gravel had already found it on the bottom. He powered by Macedo and officially took the lead with 13 laps to go.
"Carson had a good pace. I think he just got free halfway through," Gravel said. "I just kept working him, working him, trying to keep the pressure up, hoping he would spin his tires and kind of wear his stuff out. Luckily we were able to get by him."
Gravel's fortunes looked to have finally turned in his favor. Instead of losing the race in the second half of the event, he was on track to win it. However, with nine laps to go, the "dun dun" of an imaginary bass played in your head. The Shark Racing No. 1s of Logan Schuchart was closing. Fast.
Cruising around the high side of the track, Schuchart caught Gravel with four laps to go and sped around him with ease through turns one and two. Before Schuchart could run away with his fifth win of the season, the caution came out again for Tim Kaeding coming to a stop in turn four.
With three laps to go and Schuchart now backed up to Gravel, the Jason Johnson Racing driver had one last chance to harness his fire to win.
Gravel timed the restart just right, sneaking a nose underneath Schuchart as they raced down the front stretch. On their charge into turn one, Gravel dove to the bottom leaving no time for Schuchart to attempt a block. They exited turn two side-by-side and remained that way down the backstretch.
When they made it to turn three Gravel, again, launched his car into the corner, pulling ahead of Schuchart, and maintained the run off turn four to clear Schuchart for the lead.
He could throw away the runner-up speech. The win at Hartford Speedway was his.
"We've been wanting to win so bad," Gravel said. "Finally getting the win, we've been so close. As a driver I've let a couple of wins get away. Just happy I can get another win. You never know when your next one is going to be."
While Gravel celebrated a special victory – which he got to do with Jason Johnson's son, Jaxx, for the first time this year in Victory Lane – Schuchart had to settle for another runner-up finish.
"That stings a little bit," Schuchart said. "We had one like that last week, we lost the race at the end and did it again tonight. Last week I feel like I blame that on myself. Tonight, the guys did a fantastic job... We qualified bad, didn't give up and raced hard all night."
He didn't leave Michigan without some kind of win, though. His charge from ninth to second earned him the KSE Hard Charger award.
Sweet also had an impressive charge after getting involved in the wreck – which required his front axle to be replaced and his top wing to be replaced – at the start of the race. He restarted at the back of the field and methodically made his way to sixth-place by the end of the race.
"Had a pretty nasty vibration. I think we bent a rear axle," Sweet said. "Honestly, a good salvage for us. Hung in there and tried not to shake my teeth out... Luckily, we were able to over come it. I think that's a good sign for us to overcome that adversity tonight."
He maintains his points lead over Schatz – who finished third – now 44 points over the reigning champion. Gravel still sits third in points – 130 points behind Sweet.
Gravel's win at Hartford was his second at track – the first driver to win more than one race at the speedway – his fourth win of the season and 43rd career World of Outlaws win – placing him 16th on the all-time wins list, passing Andy Hillenburg.
"Hopefully we'll get some more (wins) and get this thing rolling for the month of money," Gravel said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Saturday, July 13, will venture to Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. for the Badger 40. For tickets and more information, go to WorldofOutlaws.com.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 41-David Gravel [2][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$3,200]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [10][$2,500]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,200]; 8. 9-James McFadden [13][$2,100]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,050]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [8][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding [4][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [17][$1,100]; 14. 7-Jason Sides [5][$1,050]; 15. 81-Lee Jacobs [16][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$900]; 17. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$800]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [19][$800]; 19. 97-Max Stambaugh [11][$800]; 20. 2L-Landon Lalonde [18][$800]; 21. 28-Brian Paulus [21][$800]; 22. 39-Tyler Rankin [20][$800]; 23. 71H-Ryan Ruhl [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-16; David Gravel 17-26, 28-30; Logan Schuchart 27; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+7]
Qualifying – 1. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 14.014; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.53; 3. 7-Jason Sides, 14.664; 4. 9-James McFadden, 14.702; 5. 71H-Ryan Ruhl, 14.714; 6. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.787; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.823; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.824; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.859; 10. 17B-Bill Balog, 14.882; 11. 41-David Gravel, 14.915; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 14.948; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.122; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.202; 15. 97-Max Stambaugh, 15.206; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.363; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs, 15.492; 18. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.578; 19. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 15.653; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.702; 21. 39-Tyler Rankin, 15.893; 22. 28-Brian Paulus, 16.232; 23. 23-Russel Borland, 16.326
Huge payouts mean more than $2 MILLION on the line the next two months at World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series events
CONCORD, NC — July 12, 2019 — Brad Sweet's yell projected an octave higher than previous victory chants after winning at the Jackson Motorplex. Not only did he claim the Jackson Nationals, but the large $41,000 payday along with it.
The passion to win is instilled in all drivers, but when large paydays are on the line that passion reaches a new height. It was apparent in Sweet's charge to win the Jackson Nationals and in Shane Stewart's relentless pursuit of the $25,000 payday at Nashville Fairgrounds in June.
That passion is sure to be on display for the next couple of months in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series schedule with more than $500,000 on the line just to win and more than $2 million at stake overall.
RACE TRACK
WIN
START
PURSE
7/16 – Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic
Attica Raceway Park
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/17 – #LetsRaceTwo
Eldora Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/18 – Jokers Wild
Eldora Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
7/19 – Knight Before the Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway
$12,000
$800
$57,700
7/20 – Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway
$175,000
$3,000
$366,025 + $,5000 bonus
7/23 – Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup
Lernerville Speedway
$25,000
$1,200
$85,300
7/26 – Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals
Williams Grove Speedway
$8,000
$600
7/27 – Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals
Williams Grove Speedway
$20,000
$1,000
$124,900
8/2 – Night Before the Ironman
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
$8,000
$600
$42,050
8/3 – Ironman 55
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
$20,000
$1,000
$68,000
8/7 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$12,000
$1,000
8/8 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$12,000
$1,000
8/9 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$4,000
$1,000
8/10 – NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway
$150,000
$1,000
$957,320
8/16 – Gerdau Northern Tour
River Cities Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
8/17 – Duel in the Dakotas
Red River Valley Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
8/23 – NOS Energy Drink Rushmore Outlaw Showdown
Black Hills Speedway
$20,000
$800
$62,850
8/24 – The Brawl at Big Sky Speedway
Big Sky Speedway
$10,000
$800
$52,850
TOTAL
$526,000
$17,800
$2,086,245
There are six races throughout the two months paying $20,000 or more to win, starting with the unprecedented $175,000-to-win Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 20. The payout is a drastic increase from the $50,000-to-win purse the event has had since it started in 1984.
"The Sprint Car world has never seen a winning share like that before," Shane Stewart said.
Before the prestigious event, drivers will have the chance to pocket $42,000 as there are three $10,000-to-win races and one $12,000-to-win race leading up to it.
On July 16 is the Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio. Then the three races at Eldora Speedway leading up to the Kings Royal — #LetsRaceTwo, Jokers Wild and the Knight Before the Kings Royal, the sole $12,000-to-win event.
"It's a great week to be able to run the Brad Doty on Tuesday and then four nights in-a-row at Eldora," Daryn Pittman said. "One hundred and seventy-five (thousand dollars), that'll change anyone's year."
Following the Kings Royal is the biggest weekday show of the year on Tuesday, July 23, the $25,000-to-win, $1,200-to-start Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
Immediately following the Silver Cup is the July 26-27 Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. There will be $28,000 on the line to win between the two nights — $8,000-to-win the first night and $20,000-to-win the second.
Drivers will, again, have the chance to earn another $28,000 the next weekend with the Aug. 2-3 Ironman event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Miss. Friday's Night Before the Ironman event will pay $8,000-to-win, while the main event on Saturday will pay $20,000-to-win.
Then, less than a month after the Kings Royal, drivers will find themselves battling to win another high-paying prestigious event – the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa.
From Wednesday, Aug. 7, to Friday, Aug. 9, drivers will compete for more than $30,000-to-win in the three preliminary races. Then on Saturday, Aug. 10, the passion to win will hit its zenith. Drivers will be competing for the illustrious Knoxville Nationals champion title and the extravagant $150,000 payday.
A string of $10,000-to-win races follow the Nationals. Until Friday, Aug. 23, when the World of Outlaws return to Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D. for the NOS Energy Drink Rushmore Outlaw Showdown. The purse will be $20,000-to-win, thanks in part to NOS Energy Drink sponsoring the event this year and adding another $10,000 to the winning purse.
By the end of August, one driver could potentially end the summer swing of races with more than $500,000. It'll be a challenging task, but there's no doubt every driver's passion to win will be peaked at each event.
"This is what it's all about as a race car driver is the big money races," Brad Sweet said. "It's great our sport has so many big paying races and they're all coming up."
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. As always, if you can't make it to the track watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Brad Sweet takes back-up car to Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway
Sweet rebounds from early night woes to win the second round of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown
The right rear tire of Brad Sweet's NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car sagged lower to the ground with every inch the car rolled into the infield.
Fortunate for Sweet, his infield trip was to Cedar Lake Speedway's Victory Lane Saturday night. It was his ninth win of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season – tying his win total last year and his record for most wins in a season – and his 43rd career Series win overall.
The image of Sweet waving the checkered flag atop his car with a flat tire was symbolistic of his path to victory.
Rain forced the remaining 28 laps of Friday night's FVP Platinum Battery Showdown Feature to be run Saturday evening – making Saturday a doubleheader event. Sweet restarted the race in fourth and kept pace with the leaders, eyeing his third win in-a-row and 14th top-five in a row.
But four laps into the race, Sweet slowed to a stop. A U-joint broke in the car, damaging it beyond a quick repair. Sweet was forced to take his first DNF of the season. His Kasey Kahne Racing team had to pull out the back-up car for the second Feature of the night.
"I was disappointed, but we win as a team, we lose as a team," Sweet said. "Every now and then you have a mechanical failure. We'll go back and look at it and make sure it doesn't happen again."
After about an hour turnaround to get the back-up car ready, he Qualified eighth and then finished second in his Dryden Heat race behind Sheldon Haudenschild – who won the first Feature of the night. If there were still any concerns about how the back-up car would run, they were extinguished in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
Sweet ran second to Dominic Scelzi for the first half of the Dash, but found grip riding the bottom of the track and reeled Scelzi in lap by lap. On the final lap, the two California-natives charged down the front stretch side-by-side with Sweet edging out Scelzi for the win.
Now with the pole position for the Feature, Sweet was in prime position to rebound from his 23rd-place finish earlier in the night.
He launched to the lead on the initial start. Scelzi didn't let Sweet get far, though. Five laps into the race, Scelzi snuck underneath Sweet in turns one and two. It wasn't enough. Sweet charged off the top side of the track and maintained the lead. Scelzi wasn't ready to give up. He charged back underneath Sweet, but, again, Sweet had the advantage on the high side. He shot to the lead and pulled away from Scelzi.
For the remaining 30 laps, Sweet held command of the race. Scelzi was left to fight for second-place, which he eventually lost to David Gravel. Carson Macedo wasn't far behind, stealing third from Scelzi, as well.
Lap traffic became an obstacle at times for Sweet, but had little effect on slowing him down. He was denied a chance at a win earlier in the night. That was not going to happen again. He crossed the finish line with about a straightaway lead, ending the long day with a win.
"It was pretty cool that a car that just sits in our trailer we can bring out first night out and get it going that good," Sweet said. "It's been a long day, but it's nice to celebrate another win. I want to keep it rolling. I have a great race car."
In the first Feature of the night, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz finished second – cutting Sweet's points lead in half. However with Schatz finishing seventh in the second Feature of the night, Sweet was able to maintain a 50-point lead over the Fargo, N.D.-native.
Gravel has moved into third – 142 points behind Sweet.
"We're happy with a second," said Gravel, who went Quick Time for both Features at Cedar Lake Speedway. "We didn't have a shot to win there. But happy with second. I think that was the best-case scenario for us. Brad got by a couple of lap cars and just wasn't able to get back by the cars he did and kind of got stuck there."
While Sweet dominated the race, leading all 35 laps, he said there is still room for improvement as his car lost grip throughout the run.
"If we keep fine tuning this thing, I think we can win a lot of races this year," Sweet said.
With nine wins halfway through the season – seven of them in the last 10 races – Sweet is already on track to a career best year.
"We've got a good thing going and all we want to do is keep the throttle down," Sweet said. "We just want to win as many of these races as we can. You don't get these opportunities like we have very often."
Sweet made the most of his latest opportunity with minutes to spare before his right rear tire gave out for the night in Victory Lane.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Friday, July 12, will be at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Mich. for the Battle of Michigan.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,000]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$3,000]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [2][$2,700]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,200]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,000]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [9][$1,800]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog [6][$1,600]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$1,450]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [15][$1,300]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [19][$1,100]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$1,000]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [17][$950]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$900]; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier [18][$850]; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild [22][$750]; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [24][$725]; 20. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12][$700]; 21. 9N-Wade Nygaard [16][$700]; 22. 19P-Paige Polyak [20][$700]; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$700]; 24. 23-Russel Borland [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.015; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.032; 3. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.295; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.32; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.48; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.501; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.551; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.553; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.562; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.619; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.657; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.66; 13. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 13.779; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.943; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.958; 16. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.985; 17. 21-Brian Brown, 14.003; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 14.005; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.382; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.394; 21. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 14.398; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 14.511; 23. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 15.319; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 15.385; 25. 23-Russel Borland, 15.589
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Haudenschild holds off Donny Schatz to win at Cedar Lake Speedway's rain delayed FVP Platinum Battery Showdown
Nerves set in for Sheldon Haudenschild in the closing laps of the early Saturday evening World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series FVP Platinum Battery Showdown at Cedar Lake Speedway.
While leading with less than 10 laps to go, he brushed the wall off turn four while trying to pass a lap car on one lap and jumped the cushion in turn one, upsetting his car, in another. With 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz lurking behind him – hungry to return to Victory Lane – Haudenschild knew errors were not an option.
"I made a couple of sloppy laps there honestly," Haudenschild said. "I was a little nervous. That's usually when Donny capitalizes. I wasn't very happy with myself making a few of those mistakes."
Schatz closed, but after the couple errors, Haudenschild in his NOS Energy Drink No. 17 was flawless. Powering around the high side of the speedway, the Wooster, Ohio-native cruised to his first win of the season – 6th career win – and first win since August.
It wasn't an easy drive though. Before having to hold off Schatz, he had to work his way from eighth-place past drivers like Brad Sweet, Shane Stewart, David Gravel and Schatz for the lead.
Rain was also a hinderance. Seven laps of the 35-lap Feature were completed Friday night before rain fell, postponing the race until Saturday evening – leaving 28 laps to go. Before the rain fell, Gravel had taken the lead and Haudenschild had moved his way to seventh.
"Starting seventh (when the race restarted) I wasn't really sure what to expect," Haudenschild said. "I had Brad, Donny, Gravel and the five-car up there. It definitely wasn't easy pickings to get up there. Luckily, I made a couple of passes on the bottom in (turns) one and two while it was still good, and I think I moved up at the right time.
"We've had a little bit of a down period. So, to get a win for them (Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team), and myself is huge."
When the Feature went back green early Saturday evening, Schatz launched by Gravel for the lead and never looked back. Pulling away from the field he looked poised to claim his fourth win of the season. However, a fast Haudenschild charged his way through the field and eventually worked his way around Schatz on the high side to steal the top spot and lead the final 19 laps.
While Schatz had to settle for second, he made a big gain in the points with Sweet breaking a part during the race and finishing 23rd.
"Wins is what keeps you a job and keep these teams going, keeps them motivated," said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D.-native. "So, we wanted to win. Sheldon did a better job. When he got up on the top there in three and four, he's good at that stuff."
Rounding out the podium was Kerry Madsen, who used a few late race slide jobs to secure the position.
"Just didn't get my rhythm until halfway," Madsen said. "The car came alive and started attacking."
With the new track conditions Saturday evening, versus Friday night, drivers were unsure what they would be faced with, but Haudenschild stayed confident throughout the delay. He knew he had a good car Friday night and knew he could keep his strong run going into Saturday.
With the sun's evening rays bathing him, his NOS Energy Drink can newly awarded glimmering gold trophy in Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway, Haudenschild's nerves were gone, replaced by relief and joy.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will complete the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown tonight at Cedar Lake Speedway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$5,000]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$3,000]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [16][$2,700]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$2,500]; 6. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 7. 41-David Gravel [2][$2,000]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$1,800]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [14][$1,600]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [6][$1,450]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$1,300]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [3][$1,100]; 14. 3-Jac Haudenschild [19][$1,000]; 15. 9N-Wade Nygaard [23][$950]; 16. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$900]; 17. 23-Russel Borland [21][$850]; 18. 13-Mark Dobmeier [22][$750]; 19. 29-Hunter Custer [24][$725]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$700]; 21. 21-Brian Brown [17][$700]; 22. O5-Colin Smith [18][$700]; 23. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$700]; 24. 55-Brooke Tatnell [9][$700]; 25. 14K-Tori Knutson [25][$700]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-7, Donny Schatz 1-16, Sheldon Haudenschild 17-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+12]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.072; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.079; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 11.127; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.129; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.136; 6. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.145; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.169; 8. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.183; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.21; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.219; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.231; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.239; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.258; 14. 21-Brian Brown, 11.275; 15. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 11.298; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.304; 17. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.309; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.332; 19. 19-Brent Marks, 11.367; 20. 23-Russel Borland, 11.412; 21. O5-Colin Smith, 11.429; 22. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 11.57; 23. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 11.658; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 11.975; 25. 14K-Tori Knutson, 12.718; 26. 17B-Bill Balog, NT
Sweet continues winning ways in South Dakota
Brad Sweet takes advantage of Logan Schuchart's mistake to get eighth win of the season at Brown County Speedway
Brad Sweet admitted running second isn't always a bad thing.
That's because he used it to his advantage to win six of the last eight races – including Wednesday night's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Brown County Speedway, in Aberdeen, S.D.
However, with a fifth-place starting position and several cautions, it took Sweet about half the race to make his way to second and catch leader Logan Schuchart.
His trek to the front took patience. And a few key adjustments by his Kasey Kahne Racing crew before the 35-lap Feature.
"We were awful in the Dash and the NAPA Auto Parts guys made a great adjustment for the [Feature] and we had a really good car," Sweet said.
Sweet started the night as the quickest car in Hot Laps and won his Drydene Heat race. The Dash was a drastic change of pace for the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 team, though. Sweet finished fifth out of six cars – falling from a third-place starting position.
Then the adjustments, and patience.
Schuchart jumped to the lead at the start of the Feature, but had pressure from Kraig Kinser for the position. Their runs were cut short with a caution on the first lap for Paige Polyak spinning in turn one. Before they could battle for the lead again, there was another. This time for Jac Haudenschild going off track – an issue several drivers had throughout the night.
When the race went green, Kinser fell victim to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Sweet, who passed Kinser for second and third, respectively. The trio of Schuchart, Schatz and Sweet remained in that running order until Lap 15.
With 20 laps to go, Sweet dove to the bottom of turn three, while Schatz ran high – the line just about every car was on – and slid up in front of the Fargo, N.D.-native to take second-place. He was now in a position to learn. To stalk. To hunt.
Lap traffic was a benefit to Sweet in previous races, helping him catch the leader. However, with multiple cautions for cars either spinning or going off track, Schuchart had little traffic to deal for the majority of the Feature. He never fumbled on the restarts, either. The rear tires of the Drydene No. 1s held on to clay surface with the grip of a shark biting into its prey, launching Schuchart to a multi-car length lead every time.
On the final restart with 19 laps to go, the race went green flag to checkered flag. Schuchart again launched to the lead and cruised around the high side of the track, while Sweet and Schatz followed in his footsteps.
With about 10 laps to go, Schuchart found himself having to navigate through heavy lap traffic. That brought Sweet and Schatz back into the battle for the lead. Sweet's patient was paying off.
Four laps later, Schuchart slid off the bottom of the track while trying to pass a slower car. His loss of momentum allowed Sweet to dart to the inside of the Shark Racing car. The duo drag raced down the front stretch of the quarter-mile track, neither willing to succumb to the other.
On their charge into turn one, Sweet used the middle lane to his advantage, powering by Schuchart for the lead and running away with it for the remaining five laps.
"I think he (Schuchart) thought he could get that lap car and it just allowed me to get the run," Sweet said.
Sweet went on to see the duel checkered flags waving over his car for the eighth time his year – and the 42nd time in his World of Outlaws career.
"I was just trying to be patient there," Sweet said. "Sometimes it's good to be second again. Logan wasn't sure what to do with the lap car. I knew there was no way to pass him. The rubber was starting to move down the race track and it was tricky to hit."
Schuchart, who led 30 laps, puts the blame on himself for letting the win slip away.
"I just got a little over anxious," Schuchart said. "It was a bad deal on my part. I thought I had to pass a lap car and I didn't. But I'm happy to be up here running second."
While Schuchart was still satisfied with his podium finish, Schatz, who ended up third – his second podium finish in-a-row – was left still looking for more.
"We're close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and we're not doing either of those, so we'll keep digging and trying to get the wins," Schatz said.
At this point last year, Schatz had double digit wins and the points lead. Currently, the Fargo, N.D.-native has three wins and sits second in points – now 78 points behind the KKR No. 49 car. Sweet is on an impressive run of 13 top-five finishes in-a-row and is already nearing his 2018 win total of nine victories.
"I've had years when we only win five races in a whole season," Sweet said. "I know how special it is when you get on a roll like this... This is what we're meant to be doing out here. It's fun to win these races. I'm not going to take it for granted and we're going to keep working hard."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6, will be a Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$3,200]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,800]; 5. 41-David Gravel [8][$2,500]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$2,300]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,200]; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman [11][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [17][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [18][$1,200]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$1,050]; 15. 13-Mark Dobmeier [16][$1,000]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [4][$800]; 18. 17B-Ryan Bickett [22][$800]; 19. 2K-Kevin Ingle [21][$800]; 20. 19P-Paige Polyak [19][$800]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [10][$800]; 22. 11M-Brendan Mullen [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-30, Brad Sweet 31-35 ; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+8]
Qualifying – 1. 7S-Jason Sides, 10.961; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.049; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.063; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.092; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.12; 6. 19-Brent Marks, 11.143; 7. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 11.152; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.154; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.168; 10. 19P-Paige Polyak, 11.168; 11. 41-David Gravel, 11.173; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.19; 13. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.19; 14. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.212; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.223; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.236; 17. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.258; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.295; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 11.474; 20. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 11.482; 21. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 11.734; 22. 17B-Ryan Bickett, 11.894
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Brad Sweet wins 2019 Jackson Nationals
By holding off 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz to win at Jackson Motorplex, Brad Sweet pockets $41,000 payday
The "Big Cat" Brad Sweet was starving for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win at Jackson Motorplex Saturday night.
He's tasted victory six times already this season – including a win Thursday night at Jackson Motorplex – but with $41,000 and the title of Jackson Nationals champion on the line, his appetite wouldn't be appeased until the night's entrée was his.
He had to battle through cautions, lap traffic, smoking tires and an equally as hungry Donny Schatz, but at the end of the 35-lap Feature, Sweet drove his NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car to Victory Lane for the seventh time this year, claiming the 41st Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals.
"Forty-one thousand, that's awesome," Sweet said. "These big money races are hard to win."
After winning opening night of the Jackson Nationals, Thursday, and finishing fifth Friday night, his total combined points locked him into the pole position for Saturday night's DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He dominated the field in the Dash, pulling away to a 3.5 second lead over second-place Daryn Pittman by the end.
Sweet had the plate of $41,000 in his hands and was ready to walk away with it. But when the Feature went green, he found himself having to brawl for it.
Pittman charged around the outside of Sweet through turns one and two to take the lead. The next time around, Sweet dove underneath Pittman in turn one, putting the two side-by-side at the exit of turn two. Neither were going to lift. But to avoid sliding up into Pittman, Sweet had to jerk his car sideways and allowed the Roth Enterprises No. 83 car to pull away.
Pittman held command of the lead for the next 11 laps before there was contact between he and the lap car of Austin McCarl, which sent McCarl rolling into turn one.
When the race went back green after the red flag, Sweet got the jump on Pittman, clearing him for the lead before they got back to the flag stand. Into turn one, Sweet moved to the top of the track, blocking Pittman's line. The Grass Valley, Calif-native then pulled away to about a four-car-length lead exiting turn two.
Pittman's fortunes continued to decline with Schatz working his way by the Oklahoma-native and dropping him to third – where he would remain for the rest of the Feature.
"I keep finding ways to lose races," said Pittman, whose third-place finish was his seventh top-five in-a-row. "Getting frustrating, but my Roth Motorsports guys keep working really hard. They're doing a great job."
Leaving Pittman in third, Schatz began his hunt of Sweet. With just three wins this season, so far, and his last win coming nine races ago, the 10-time Series champion was as hungry as Sweet to return to Victory Lane.
Sweet lost grip exiting turn two on the slick track while trying to pass a lap car, with 11 laps to go. That allowed Schatz to close on Sweet and dive underneath him in turn three. The two were side-by-side exiting turn four with Sweet smoking his tires on the rubbered down groove of the track and Schatz fighting to keep his car straight.
"It didn't surprise me one bit when the fifteen (car) was sneaking under me," said Sweet, who has battled Schatz for the points lead all season long. "He's got me chasing my tail a little bit."
After Schatz's attempt at passing the Kasey Kahne Racing car, Sweet got into a rhythm. He found his line and rode it for the remaining 10 laps to claim his 41st career Series win during the 41st Annual Jackson Nationals with a $41,000 payday.
"Once I got in clean track, I knew just to run right in the rubber and I didn't want to allow any runs to happen," Sweet said. "It was just one of those things where we were just good enough to get the win tonight. It wasn't pretty I don't think, but that's why you set yourself up all weekend to get in the right position and we were in the right position and we were able to get the win."
Schatz's second-place finish was a rebound from Friday when he blew a motor while leading the Dash and ended up eighth in the Feature.
"Hats off to these (Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing) guys," Schatz said. "They're digging. They've got an awesome race car. The driver's got to step up to the plate a little bit, start swinging a bigger bat. We'll work on that."
Sweet has now won five of the last seven races. That's resulted in him extending his championship lead to 72-points over Schatz.
"We've had a good little run here," Sweet said. "It's been a lot of fun."
While the "Big Cat's" winning appetite was appeased Saturday night, hunger is sure to return next week.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Wednesday, July 3, will return to Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D. for the Star Spangled Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$41,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$20,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$12,000]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3][$9,000]; 5. 9-James McFadden [9][$8,000]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [6][$7,000]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$6,500]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$6,000]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$5,500]; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer [21][$5,000]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$4,000]; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell [12][$3,700]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [16][$3,600]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [24][$3,500]; 15. 2M-Kerry Madsen [23][$3,400]; 16. 3-Jac Haudenschild [11][$3,300]; 17. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [18][$3,200]; 18. 4-Terry McCarl [10][$3,100]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$3,000]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$3,000]; 21. O9-Matt Juhl [20][$3,000]; 22. 7-Justin Henderson [15][$3,000]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$3,000]; 24. 2KS-Austin McCarl [22][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-11, Brad Sweet 12-35 KSE Hard Charger Award:49X-Tim Shaffer[+11]
Carson Macedo wins night two of the Jackson Nationals
Rookie Carson Macedo holds off veterans Logan Schuchart and Daryn Pittman for third career win
You couldn't see it, but Carson Macedo was standing up in the seat of his Kyle Larson Racing No. 2 car for all 30 laps of the Feature at Jackson Motorplex Friday night.
Or at least, that's how it felt to the rookie driver after holding off veterans Daryn Pittman and Logan Schuchart to claim his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race.
"I knew I needed to stand up in the seat and make it happen," Macedo said. "These Outlaw races are hard to win and you don't get those opportunities that often to be up front and be there to capitalize on a win."
The record book will officially show Macedo led all 30 laps. However, the sweat drenching down his forehead and the lack of breath in his speech know better.
Macedo started on the pole of the Feature, by virtue of winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash after Dash leader Donny Schatz blew a motor. When the green flag hit the air, Macedo and Pittman drag raced side by side down the front stretch. Macedo launched his car under Pittman into turn one, sliding ahead within inches of his bumper.
Macedo then sped away, leaving about a three-car gap between he and Pittman.
By Lap seven, Macedo's pace put him in lap traffic. Behind him, Pittman and Schuchart wrestled for second-place. Schuchart tried to slide in front of Pittman off turn two, but carried too much speed and exited the corner sideways, allowing Pittman to dart back by.
The top three remained unchanged for the next five laps with Macedo cautiously navigating his way through lap traffic. Within those five laps, Pittman closed to about a car length distance from Macedo, while Schuchart stocked them both. The veterans were ready to steal the rookie's win.
With 15 laps to go, Schuchart powered his Drydene No. 1s around the outside of Pittman in turn one. Then next lap, he attempted a slide job underneath Macedo in turn one, but the Chevrolet Accessories No. 2 car had a strong enough run on the outside to get beside Schuchart before he could slide up in front of him.
When they crossed the line for 13 laps to go, Macedo was given 14 seconds to breathe with no attempts for a pass. But Schuchart was still there. Lurking. Waiting.
With 12 laps to go, Macedo couldn't sit. Schuchart threw another slide job at him in turn one. This time, it worked. The Shark Racing car cleared Macedo exiting turn two and pulled away down the backstretch.
Macedo was determined to not let the win slip away. With a Hail Marry dive into turn three – closing about a three-car length gap – Macedo sped by Schuchart on the bottom of the track and reclaimed the lead on the exit of the turn.
They charged by the flag stand with 11 laps to go and Schuchart threw his car back underneath Macedo into turn one. They slid through the corner side by side, but Macedo had the advantaged against the cushion and powered to the lead down the backstretch. Behind them, Pittman won his own battle against Ian Madsen to remain third.
"Once I did get by Carson, I was maybe a little too conservative," Schuchart said. "I had one more shot after I passed him, when he passed me back, to try to throw one more slider on him. I was a little too hesitant to let it go up and I feel like I could have. Once he went by, I feel like he went by in a slower motion, a little bit further than I was expecting him to."
Six laps went by with Macedo continuing to balance maintaining the lead while negotiating lap cars. He put a comfortable gap between he and second-place, which became a three-way between Schuchart, Pittman and Madsen.
With three laps to go, Pittman slid by Schuchart for second and put together one last effort to run Macedo down. But it wasn't enough. Macedo cruised to the win during night two of the Jackson Nationals.
"I knew that if we could get in clean air and make good clean laps and get through traffic well we could run OK," Macedo said.
Pittman finished second and Schuchart held on to third – a big improvement from his 18th-place run during Thursday's opening night race for the Jackson Nationals.
Pittman's second-place finish was his fifth top-five in-a-row – after finishing fourth Thursday night. It's a positive trajectory toward his quest to return to Victory Lane.
"If we keep running, top-three, top-five every night, god, you got to think wins will come," Pittman said. "We're close. I think we were closer to winning tonight than we were last night, so I'm happy with the direction we're going."
Strong runs from Pittman and Macedo – who finished eighth Thursday night – during the two preliminary opening night Jackson Nationals races have garnered them enough points to lock themselves into Saturday's DIRTVision Fast Pass, along with David Gravel and Thursday night's winner Brad Sweet. The remaining four Dash starters will be determined by Saturday's Heat races.
When it comes to Saturday's 40-lap $41,000-to-win Feature, Pittman said he thinks he and his team are as good as anyone competing.
For Macedo, Friday night was all about his third Series win. The Lemoore, Calif.-native's first two Series wins came at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. With his win in Jackson, Minn., people can now stop asking him when he'll win at another track.
"A couple of people said, 'We need to see you win an Outlaw race somewhere other than Chico,'" Macedo said. "So, it feels good to do that. This is my third time ever racing at this track."
His relief and triumphant joy were clear for everyone to see when he went from "standing in his seat" to standing on the back of his car, arms in the air and a joyous yell loud enough to be heard through his helmet.
UP NEXT:
The 41st Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals at Jackson Motorplex will conclude Saturday, June 29.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$5,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,700]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [6][$2,000]; 7. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,800]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$1,500]; 10. O9-Matt Juhl [10][$1,400]; 11. 7-Justin Henderson [14][$1,300]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [13][$1,200]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer [15][$1,100]; 14. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$1,000]; 15. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [17][$950]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$925]; 17. 3-Jac Haudenschild [16][$900]; 18. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [19][$850]; 19. 44S-Trey Starks [22][$825]; 20. 2KS-Austin McCarl [23][$800]; 21. 55-Brooke Tatnell [20][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [24][$800]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$800]; 24. 19P-Paige Polyak [9][$800]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+4]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.744; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.798; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.943; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.954; 5. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.968; 6. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 13.008; 7. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.058; 8. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.105; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.106; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.129; 11. 4-Terry McCarl, 13.162; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.212; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 13.257; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 13.277; 15. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 13.331; 16. 9-James McFadden, 13.336; 17. 7W-R.J. Johnson, 13.422; 18. 5J-Jamie Ball, 13.442; 19. 44-Chris Martin, 13.475; 20. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 13.598; 21. 8-Jack Croaker, 13.844
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.011; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.017; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.04; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.064; 5. O9-Matt Juhl, 13.148; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.168; 7. 7-Justin Henderson, 13.17; 8. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.177; 9. 44S-Trey Starks, 13.235; 10. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 13.268; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.307; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 13.336; 13. 21-Brian Brown, 13.457; 14. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.486; 15. 16-Travis Whitney, 13.54; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.596; 17. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 13.784; 18. O5-Colin Smith, 13.894; 19. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 13.939; 20. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 14.259
Brad Sweet wins Jackson Nationals opening night
Brad Sweet makes late race pass on David Gravel to claim third win in-a-row, 40th overall
Questions with no clear answers lingered in heads of thousands like a painless headache during the final three laps of the Jackson Nationals opening Thursday night race at the Jackson Motorplex.
Could Brad Sweet catch David Gravel? Could Gravel hold Sweet off?
Gravel had the 4/10-mile tamed, leading every lap up until that point. But on a charge behind him, the untamable "Big Cat" Sweet.
With two laps to go, they were side by side down the back stretch. Gravel hesitated for a millisecond on a lap car's trajectory, while Sweet didn't blink, darting underneath the lap car and Gravel into turn three and claiming the lead off turn four.
From there the answer was clear. Sweet would go on to win his sixth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race of the season – his 40th career win and third win in-a-row.
"It's sure fun to drive this thing right now," said a jubilant Sweet. "We've really hit on some stuff. It's been a joy to drive good the last few weeks.
"I'm a little worn out, I was really clutching the wheel, trying to hit my marks there late in that race. I knew it was coming down to the white there."
The win may have been Sweet's sixth of the season – further extending his title as winningest driver, so far, this year – but it was one of the hardest wins he had to work for.
Starting sixth in the 30-lap Feature, Sweet had a host of competitive cars between he and the lead. Also, on the start, Gravel cruised by Donny Schatz on the outside for the lead and the two pulled away to about a straightaway gap on third-place Brian Brown.
It took Sweet two laps to make his way by Terry McCarl for fifth-place, but it was another nine laps before he caught Brown and Daryn Pittman who were battling for third. He made quick work of the two, passing them both with a daring drive through turn three and four, leaving inches between he and Pittman's car.
Three laps later Sweet made his way by second-place Schatz and set his sight on closing the half-a-straightaway gap between he and Gravel with 15 laps to go. However, Schatz, who hadn't won in seven races, was still determined to close that gap himself.
With Sweet getting held up by a lap car in turn four, Schatz throttled back by the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car and put his Toco Warranty No. 15 car back in second. Sweet had to regroup and find this rhythm riding the bottom of the track again. Two laps later, with a slide job through turns three and four, Sweet cleared Schatz on the front stretch and reclaimed second-place.
He now had 12 laps to catch the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 of Gravel.
Could he catch him? With three laps to go, Sweet had Gravel in sight. Two laps to go they were side by side. After Sweet darted by Gravel and a lap car in turn three, Gravel had to throw his car sideways on the exit of turn four to avoid hitting another lap car. From there, with one lap to go, Sweet pulled away to a half second lead and a $10,000 victory.
"I was hunkered down and determined to catch him (Gravel)," Sweet said. "It always helps sometimes to be in second, you can watch where he's not running and try to find a line."
Carrying the weight of defeat in every word, runner-up Gravel congratulated Sweet on the win, but knew the race should've been his.
"We had the race winning car there," said Gravel, who set Quick Time and won his Drydene Heat race earlier in the night. "That's not our issue. As a driver I've got to put myself in a better spot there. We'll come back tomorrow hungrier."
Schatz's third-place finish was his first podium finish since he won at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway at the end of May. However, he was still looking for more.
"You slip a little bit, and someone is going to take advantage of it," Schatz said. "So, it's one of them nights."
Sweet has extended his points lead over Schatz, the 10-time Series champion to a 60-point advantage. That stems from Sweet claiming 10 top-five finishes in-a-row and his determination to keep winning.
"When you start winning races you're just never satisfied unless you're winning," Sweet said. "I guess when you get beat down by Donny year after year you just try to keep getting better. I think this year, we're just a little bit better right now, but that doesn't mean a whole lot. Everybody's a half a turn or change or something away from putting the pressure back on us. We're just ahead right now and that allows me to keep leading laps and winning more race. It just gives me confidence."
With one more preliminary night of racing at the Jackson Motorplex on Friday, the question of who will win Saturday night's $41,000-to-win Jackson Nationals finale will linger for the next 48 hours.
However, with a win on night one, Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team have set themselves up to possibly answer that question, as well.
UP NEXT:
Night two of the Jackson Nationals at the Jackson Motorplex with the World of Outlaws will take place Friday, June 28.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [2][$5,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$3,000]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$2,700]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [3][$2,500]; 6. 9-James McFadden [9][$2,000]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,800]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [14][$1,600]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$1,500]; 10. 4-Terry McCarl [4][$1,400]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,300]; 12. 7-Justin Henderson [7][$1,200]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [21][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$1,000]; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer [18][$950]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$925]; 17. O9-Matt Juhl [11][$900]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$850]; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$825]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$800]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$800]; 22. 3-Jac Haudenschild [23][$800]; 23. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [16][$800]; 24. 2KS-Austin McCarl [24][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-28, Brad Sweet 29-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2M-Kerry Madsen[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.752; 2. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.766; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.888; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.916; 5. 9-James McFadden, 12.922; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.943; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.001; 8. O9-Matt Juhl, 13.043; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.08; 10. 44S-Trey Starks, 13.181; 11. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.213; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.262; 13. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.414; 14. 44-Chris Martin, 13.467; 15. 8-Jack Croaker, 13.518; 16. 5J-Jamie Ball, 13.668; 17. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 13.677; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.706; 19. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 13.868; 20. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 14.029; 21. O5-Colin Smith, 14.059
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.811; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 12.966; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.969; 4. 7-Justin Henderson, 12.995; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.016; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.04; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.09; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 13.104; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.11; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.156; 11. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.178; 12. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.33; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 13.376; 14. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 13.468; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 13.496; 16. 7W-R.J. Johnson, 13.522; 17. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 13.563; 18. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 13.617; 19. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 13.618; 20. 16-Travis Whitney, 13.729; 21. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 14.024
Sweet wins at Beaver Dam for back-to-back wins
Brad Sweet continues early season dominance by winning at Beaver Dam Raceway, extending his points lead over Donny Schatz
In the words of Brad Sweet, "the more you lead, the better you get at it." The statement rings like a prophecy he wrote from himself.
Almost halfway through the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series 2019 season, Sweet has made leading a habit and gotten better at it each race.
With more than 100 laps led already this season, the Grass Valley, Calif.-native added another 38 laps to that total after claiming his fifth win of the season Saturday night at Beaver Dam Raceway – and his second win in-a-row.
"I'm just happy we're clicking them off and have a little bit of momentum on our side," said Sweet, after claiming his 39th career Series victory.
His second victory at the Wisconsin track wasn't earned without a few faults and lessons learned along the way.
The 1/3-mile track was slick and technical for the 40-lap Feature, he said. That meant finding the right line at the right time; a feat the Kasey Kahne Racing driver faults himself for not executing perfectly.
But before the track began to take rubber late in the race, forcing Sweet to contemplate the best line, he had to contest with DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash winner Shane Stewart for the lead.
On the initial start, Stewart jumped to the lead riding the high side of the track. Sweet chose the bottom. In two laps, the advantage proved to be Sweet's. The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 sped by Stewart, putting close to a second gap between them.
His newfound lead was cut short a few seconds later when Logan Schuchart brought out the first caution of the night by coming to a stop in turn three.
On the restart, Sweet returned to form. He shot to the lead, leaving the remaining 23 cars to content for second amongst themselves. Stewart held on to the position for the next few laps before trying the low line and bicycling his car off turn four, giving Daryn Pittman an easy pass for second-place.
For the remaining 33 laps, third-place was traded between Stewart, David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz and Ian Madsen. Each driver throwing a slide job on the next to try and claim the position.
By the halfway point, Sweet caught lap traffic and Pittman started to close in. However, navigating lap traffic – a situation Sweet has found himself in several times already this year while leading – only made him faster.
Pittman eventually transitioned to the high side and again began to close in on Sweet. But with 15 laps to go, Sweet also moved to the top and pulled away to the $20,000 victory.
"It was finesse. It was tricky," Sweet said about the race. "I had to move around on the race track. I think the bottom caught a few guys off guard. I don't know if they thought they should be on the bottom in (turns) three and four. I kind of had an idea. I did my warm up down there to see how much grip was down there.
"Luckily it was good down there early and I was able to get the lead. I made a couple of mistakes there. I probably stayed down there too long. But I didn't want to follow lap guys. It's just tricky sometimes leading and moving around."
While Pittman's second-place finish – his third podium finish in-a-row – was a momentum building performance with his Roth Motorsports team, he's hungry for more.
"It just feels like it's been a while since I won," said Pittman, who last won in Florida in February. "I've gone from, how do we turn things around, to being consistent, to now dammit I want to win. We've still got to get a little bit better, but we're close."
The duel for third was won by the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 car of Gravel. In JJR's return to Beaver Dam Raceway after Jason Johnson's fatal accident at the raceway last year, Gravel kept the No. 41 car up front all night. He was fastest in practice, went Quick Time in Qualifying, won his Drydene Heat race and fought hard for a podium.
"We wanted to win tonight, but we're happy with a podium," Gravel said. "Third is good. We've been rolling pretty good here. Just have to keep it going."
Gravel's podium finish leaves him fourth in points – 144 points behind leader Sweet. Pittman is third – 138 points back – and Schatz is second – now 54 points behind Sweet after finishing seventh.
Along with the points lead, Sweet now leads World of Outlaws drivers in the most laps led, the most podium finishes – with 12 – and most wins, so far, this year. To Sweet, though...
"It really doesn't mean a whole lot," Sweet said. "It's not a bad thing ever to, toward the end of June, have the most wins. But I've been there before. I'll keep saying it over and over and over, these next few months, July, August and in even September, those are the months that are going to make or break the season. You can run good all the way to July 1 and never win another race."
Consistency is key to Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team. Lead more, win
more.
The more he leads, the better he gets.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Sunday, June 23, will venture, for the first time, to Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$20,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$6,000]; 3. 41-David Gravel [6][$3,500]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$3,000]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$2,500]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [8][$2,050]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell [20][$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [16][$1,100]; 14. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [11][$1,050]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [21][$1,000]; 17. 25-Jake Blackhurst [14][$1,000]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [19][$1,000]; 19. 9-James McFadden [18][$1,000]; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel [17][$1,000]; 21. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [23][$1,000]; 22. 4B-Scott Biertzer [24][$1,000]; 23. 73-Ben Schmidt [22][$1,000]; 24. 2-Carson Macedo [12][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-2, Brad Sweet 3-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1-Sammy Swindell[+10]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.554; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.657; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.665; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.699; 5. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.711; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.752; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.803; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.806; 9. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.815; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.816; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.823; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.837; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.887; 14. 23-Russel Borland, 11.894; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.906; 16. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.915; 17. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.95; 18. 9-James McFadden, 11.963; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.196; 20. 64-Scotty Thiel, 12.259; 21. 73-Ben Schmidt, 12.309; 22. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 12.309; 23. 25-Jake Blackhurst, 12.389; 24. 4B-Scott Biertzer, 12.467; 25. 2W-Scotty Neitzel, 12.596; 26. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 12.965; 27. 68-Dave Uttech, NT
Brad Sweet wins second night of World of Outlaws doubleheader weekend at Knoxville Raceway
When the checkered flags waved over a victorious Brad Sweet at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night the time was close to 1 a.m. Central Time, due to Mother Nature's evening splash of rain.
Exhaustion had no presence on Sweet's face, though. Sweat and a big grin, yes. Maybe even a hint of relief. But no fatigue. For the Grass Valley, Calif.-native, his fourth win of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season was just another day in the office.
"We live a recluse life out here on the Outlaw tour where you pretty much train yourself to not get out of bed before 10 or 11 (in the morning) because all the work has to be done at night time," Sweet said. "This is pretty normal for us. Once you get in the seat of the race car, it's just like any other night."
While he cruised to the victory in the closing laps of the 25-lap Feature with no pressure from behind, the laps prior forced Sweet to earn the win.
In a rare start at Knoxville Raceway, polesitter Lance Dewease out dueled Sweet for the lead at the start of the Feature and pulled away by three car lengths. The Fayetteville, Pa.-native led the first 13 laps of the Feature – a drastic turn of events after Dewease failed to transfer to Friday night's Knoxville Feature.
"We made a lot of changes," said Dewease, who finished sixth. "I really screwed up in time trials (Friday night) and didn't run the right laps and corners. I knew tonight we were going to make that up, as far as me, personally. And they got the car a lot better from the drop of the green."
As laps clicked off during the Feature Dewease said he got too loose, and Sweet passed him for the lead with 12 laps to go.
Sweet only led the next two laps, before Logan Schuchart, who also got by Dewease, caught the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car.
Continuing to run the bottom of the track, Sweet bounced off the inside berm in turn one, slowing his momentum and allowing the Drydene No. 1s of Schuchart to charge by him on the outside. Sweet wasn't ready to let Schuchart drive away, though.
The two drivers traded lanes going into turn three; Sweet high, and Schuchart low. Sweet stayed within a car length of Schuchart exiting turn four and threw his car underneath him going back into turn one. His attack didn't work. Schuchart powered off turn two, maintaining the lead.
Sweet, still resilient, kept Schuchart in sight. In their return to turn three, Schuchart went high and Sweet back low. This time around, the advantage went to Sweet. He found enough grip to get side-by-side with Schuchart down the front stretch and dart by him for the lead in turn one.
Schuchart made one final attempt to pass Sweet exiting turn two, looking to his inside, but Sweet shut the door going into turn three. Schuchart was then left to fend off Daryn Pittman for second-place.
"He made me work for it," Sweet said about Schuchart. "About all I had there to beat him."
Once Sweet reclaimed the lead, he maintained it for the final seven laps, riding the bottom of the track – the key to his victory.
"When the track's fast like that it's tricky," said a nearly out of breath Sweet. "Everything happening way faster than you want it to. And you still have to try to hit that narrow bottom. That was the key tonight.
"I figured a few things out in the [Feature] and got the bottom to work. I still missed it about 50 percent of the time, So, we still got to get a little bit better. But I think we were better than most tonight."
Sweet's fourth victory of the season now ties him with Schuchart for the most wins this year. The win also helped Sweet extend his points lead over second-place Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion finished 15th, creating a 40-point deficit between he and Sweet.
While Schuchart missed out on his fifth win of the season, he still sees his performance as a positive to build off of.
"This [Brad Sweet team] won the Knoxville Nationals last year and we ran them down and passed them," Schuchart said. "That's something to be proud of."
Pittman ended up third, after starting 10th. It was his second podium finish in-a-row at Knoxville – a track he didn't feel like he was good at.
"Maybe I don't suck here after all," said Pittman with a smirk. "My car was really good. It was good last night. We really thought about some things that we needed to be better from last night."
Sweet's Knoxville victory is his 38th career Series victory and his eighth top-five finish in-a-row. With tricky track conditions and late nights yet to create any fatigue for Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing team, they're poised to build upon their recent momentum.
"We've been on a stretch of good runs, just want to keep it going," Sweet said.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, June 22, will venture to Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$5,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [10][$3,000]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,700]; 5. 41-David Gravel [8][$2,500]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [1][$2,200]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [6][$2,000]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [7][$1,800]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [11][$1,600]; 10. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [5][$1,450]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [25][$600]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [12][$1,200]; 13. 9-James McFadden [15][$1,100]; 14. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [16][$1,000]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz [21][$950]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [19][$900]; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$850]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides [14][$750]; 19. 3P-Sawyer Phillips [9][$725]; 20. O9-Matt Juhl [13][$700]; 21. 7X-Justin Henderson [23][$700]; 22. 44S-Trey Starks [20][$700]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$700]; 24. 2M-Kerry Madsen [24][$700]; 25. 20-A.J. Moeller [22][$700] Lap Leaders: Lance Dewease 1-13; Brad Sweet 14-15, 18-25; Logan Schuchart 16-17 KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+14]
Qualifying Flight-A: 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.977; 2. 41-David Gravel, 14.981; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 15.004; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.014; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.089; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.091; 7. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 15.166; 8. 9-James McFadden, 15.228; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.232; 10. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 15.275; 11. O9-Matt Juhl, 15.286; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 15.3; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 15.335; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.383; 15. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 15.394; 16. 1-Sammy Swindell, 15.422; 17. 56N-Davey Heskin, 15.425; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.498; 19. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.681
Qualifying Flight-B: 1. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.112; 2. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.2; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.205; 4. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.247; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.282; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.375; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.375; 8. 4-Terry McCarl, 15.38; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.402; 10. 20-A.J. Moeller, 15.503; 11. 7X-Justin Henderson, 15.579; 12. 44S-Trey Starks, 15.628; 13. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 15.676; 14. 7SX-R.J. Johnson, 15.734; 15. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 15.783; 16. 44-Chris Martin, 15.884; 17. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 16.005; 18. 56-Joe Simbro, 16.009; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 16.604
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Brian Brown dominates World of Outlaws field to win at Knoxville Raceway
There was gravitas in Brian Brown's yell. After slapping the top wing of his Casey's General Stores/FVP No. 21 Sprint Car, he held his right fist in the air and stared out to the crowd with the expression of an alpha predator after claiming his territory.
Brown won his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race of 2019 at Knoxville Raceway Friday night, and his fourth win in four starts, this year at the iconic raceway.
"It's huge," Brown said, holding his emotion back with chuckles. "I dreamed of racing and saying, 'I hope when I win my first Outlaw show, I can win it at Knoxville.'"
It wasn't his first World of Outlaws win. Instead, his fifth. That doesn't make it any less special, though. He wanted a World of Outlaws win at the track he considers home.
"That was my goal," Brown said. "But I won at North Carolina. Then we won the next two in Arizona. Then I finally win one in Kansas, but it's still not home. This is."
To claim the win, he had to fend off Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart – both winners already this season – and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. Beating the eminent World of Outlaws competition meant Brown had to be aggressive.
"My mindset the whole while, really all night, was to just be aggressive," Brown said. "If there was an opportunity to do something, go."
He took that opportunity in the first turn on the initial start. Polesitter Daryn Pittman fired to the lead past second-place Shane Stewart and took his Roth Motorsports No. 83 to the high side going into turn one. At the same time, Brown had made his way underneath Stewart and threw a daring slide job into turn one, clearing Stewart and Pittman at the apex of the corner.
Brown's car then slid to the high side of turn two, a car length ahead of Pittman. Exiting the turn, Pittman could get as close as Brown's bumper before the white No. 21 rocketed down the back stretch, putting about a three-car length distance between first and second-place.
"We got a good start there and got by Shane, and I didn't really know what Daryn was going to do... I went on across," Brown said. "I thought that was very important."
Brown continued to grow his lead over Pittman until a caution on Lap two for Sammy Swindell who lost power on the front stretch.
On the restart, Brown launched to the lead, clearing Pittman going into turn one. Like the original start, Pittman closed to Brown's bumper exiting turn two, but that was as close as he would get to the lead again all night. Brown sped away, putting almost half a track distance between he and Pittman 10 laps into the 25-lap Feature.
The three-time Knoxville Raceway track champion – two in a 410 Sprint Car, one in a 360 – cruised around the half-mile raceway like it was a house he built. Lap cars only made Brown faster. He stayed aggressive, passing two or three of the slower cars at a time.
"I knew it was going to be tough to pass lap cars," Brown said. "I knew I had to make my moves count. If I could get a chance to get two or three at the same time, we had to do that. Because that just makes it harder for the guys behind."
Brown took the checkered flag four seconds ahead of second-place Pittman. He led all 25 laps. Stewart finished third, after dueling with Schatz for the position.
Pittman showed speed all night, finishing second in his Drydene Heat race and winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – after getting the outside pole starting position in the Dash draw.
While he didn't leave with the win, Pittman was still pleased with the overall performance.
"That's the closest I've ever been to the front or seeing the front here," Pittman said. "This is not a great race track for me. So, for me, to feel like I could keep him (Brown) in my sights was a huge accomplishment for myself and this race team. All and all, my car was pretty close. I've just got to make a few better decisions and maybe get our car a little better."
His second top-five in-a-row has now left him tied for third in points with David Gravel, who finished ninth. Brad Sweet continues to lead – now by 10 points over Schatz, who finished one spot ahead of him Friday night; Schatz, fourth, and Sweet, fifth.
Brown, not running full-time with the World of Outlaws, isn't concerned about points. He's here for wins. And when it comes to Knoxville Raceway, he's solidified himself as the current alpha.
"I've been here before where I've maybe been the fastest car at Knoxville, but come to these (World of Outlaws) races I kind of lay an egg, or finish fourth or fifth, which is laying an egg for us," Brown said. "It's good to be able to have a fast race car and capitalize on that. We'll celebrate tonight and get back to the drawing board tomorrow."
UP NEXT:
Brown will get the chance to double down for another World of Outlaws Knoxville win, when the Series returns Saturday, June 15, for the final race of the Brownells Big Guns Bash doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 21-Brian Brown [3][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [1][$5,000]; 3. 5-Shane Stewart [2][$3,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,700]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [4][$2,200]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,000]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,800]; 9. 41-David Gravel [10][$1,600]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [14][$1,450]; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [21][$1,300]; 12. 4-Terry McCarl [11][$1,200]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$1,100]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [16][$1,000]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$950]; 16. 9-James McFadden [19][$900]; 17. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [18][$850]; 18. O9-Matt Juhl [23][$750]; 19. 1-Sammy Swindell [7][$725]; 20. 56N-Davey Heskin [17][$700]; 21. 33M-Mason Daniel [9][$700]; 22. 3P-Sawyer Phillips [13][$700]; 23. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [22][$700]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 41S-Dominic Scelzi[+10]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.735; 2. 21-Brian Brown, 14.906; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.037; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell, 15.13; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.143; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 15.197; 7. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.231; 8. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.238; 9. 7-Dustin Selvage, 15.281; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 15.281; 11. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 15.302; 12. 9-James McFadden, 15.302; 13. 56N-Davey Heskin, 15.323; 14. 44S-Trey Starks, 15.365; 15. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.376; 16. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 15.381; 17. 7X-Justin Henderson, 15.457; 18. 20-A.J. Moeller, 15.463; 19. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.503; 20. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.547; 21. 21K-Thomas Kennedy, 15.609
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.902; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.059; 3. 41-David Gravel, 15.099; 4. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.123; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.163; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.2; 7. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.21; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 15.348; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.386; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.534; 11. O9-Matt Juhl, 15.539; 12. 55-Brooke Tatnell, 15.554; 13. 2KS-Austin McCarl, 15.588; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 15.73; 15. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 15.766; 16. 44-Chris Martin, 15.902; 17. 5J-Jamie Ball, 15.966; 18. 7SX-R.J. Johnson, 16.012; 19. 56-Joe Simbro, 16.113; 20. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 17.819; 21. 35-Skylar Prochaska, NT
Brad Sweet overcomes mistake to win big at Granite City Speedway
A rapid of blood forced its way through hearts of thousands. Beats per minute spiked to the redline.
Leader Brad Sweet hit the cushion exiting turn four at Granite City Speedway Saturday night, launching his NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car several inches off the track. With David Gravel breathing down his neck, he was about to lose a jackpot of a night.
Not only was he en route to claiming another World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win, after four podium finishes in-a-row, he was destined to reclaim the points lead due to points leader Donny Schatz not finishing the race.
His error sent a wave of shock, excitement and qualm among the crowd.
Under Sweet's helmet, there was nothing but focus. No shock. No thrill. No qualm. His heart, beating as normal – as normal as a heart does in a 900hp Sprint Car.
"I've been on the tour long enough that I don't let the emotions get to me," Sweet said.
That mentality led to him overcoming his mistake and claiming his third Series win this season at the Sauk Rapids, Minn. speedway – his 37th career Series win overall. And the points lead.
"I was bound and determined I think to win that one," Sweet said. "I'm just happy to get the win."
At the start of the 35-lap Feature, Sweet was a cheetah among kittens. He rocketed by polesitter Gravel for the lead on the initial start and pulled away by half a track.
Sweet caught lap traffic by Lap six and was lapping up to 14th-place by Lap 15. There was no catching the blue and yellow Kasey Kahne Racing car.
However, once the race reached the halfway point, Gravel began to reel Sweet in. The obstacle course of lap cars Sweet had mastered became a cluster of road blocks.
Then, with 11 laps to go, the unimaginable happened. Ten-time Series champion Schatz hit the wall exiting turn four, destroying the rear end birdcage and ending his night.
On the following restart, Gravel snuck underneath Sweet, slid up in front of him in turn one and launched to the lead.
"I just spun my tires," Sweet said. "I was too anxious to make sure I got the jump. Once you get spinning there's really no way to get your tires back."
Sweet wasn't ready to let another win slip away. He followed Gravel's tracks, riding the high side of the speedway, keeping the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 in sight.
With seven laps to go, Gravel bounced his car off the cushion exiting turn four, drastically killing his speed. Sweet then threw his car underneath Gravel going into turn one and slid back in front of him.
Sweet's next trip around turn four crashed a wave of shock, excitement and qualm into the crowd. He hammered the cushion, sending his front end toward the wall. While he wrestled to stay off the white barrier, Gravel turned back underneath Sweet and reclaimed the lead.
Sweet was bound and determined, though.
With a Hail Mary slide job, he hurled his car to the bottom of the turn one and slid up in front of Gravel exiting turn two. The lead was his. And in the next few laps, the win was, too.
"All you can do is try your hardest and sometimes when you over try bad things happen," Sweet said about having to rebound from hitting the cushion. "I thought we had the superior car, so I was frustrated with myself I was even in that position. But it played out right. You're going to win some of those. You're going to lose some of those. Luckily, tonight we got the win."
When Sweet sped away with the lead, Gravel was left having to defend second from a hard charging Logan Schuchart in third-place.
"It was a good effort. It was a good race," Gravel said. "He (Sweet) just pulled away from us early, but I kind of let him go and hopefully I was going to be better than him."
Schuchart claimed his fourth win of the season Friday night at River Cities Speedway to become the winningest driver, so far, this year. However, he said then his team still needed to put together consistent podium finishes. Saturday night's third-place run was a good start to that.
"This is definitely what we're talking about," Schuchart said. "You always want to win, but this is the consistency we're talking about."
Sweet's consistency of five podium finishes in-a-row has led to him holding a 12-point lead over, now second-place, Schatz. He doesn't let the emotions of battling for the points lead get to him either.
"Honestly, I don't pay much attention to the points," Sweet said. "I don't want Donny to have a 200-point lead because our goal is to win the championship. But I also know that there are stretches of races that if you're not running good the points can shift so much.
"At the beginning of my career with the Outlaws, I would look at the points after every race. Now I'm lucky to look at it every three or four races and kind of see where things are at. I know if we're running good and (Schatz) is behind us we're going to be gaining. If he's in front of us every night, then he's going to be ahead of us. The points will take care of themselves. We're 26 races into an 80-race schedule. Really, June, July and August are what set the tone for the points. Honestly, we just want to win races."
They're bound and determined to do so.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws next heads to the iconic Knoxville Raceway on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [1][$5,500]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$2,800]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [7][$2,500]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$2,100]; 9. 9-James McFadden [10][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [12][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$1,100]; 14. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$1,050]; 15. 20A-Jordan Adams [19][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [15][$900]; 17. O-Nick Omdahl [20][$800]; 18. 35-Skylar Prochaska [13][$800]; 19. 11M-Brendan Mullen [23][$800]; 20. 9N-Wade Nygaard [18][$800]; 21. 91A-Reed Allex [24][$800]; 22. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [21][$800]; 23. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$800]; 24. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-24, 31-35; David Gravel 25-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.471; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.628; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.676; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.699; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.832; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.871; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.886; 8. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.898; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.936; 10. 9-James McFadden, 11.941; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.982; 12. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.007; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 12.011; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.091; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.092; 16. 35-Skylar Prochaska, 12.11; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 12.219; 18. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 12.254; 19. 8H-Jade Hastings, 12.296; 20. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 12.457; 21. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 12.564; 22. 20A-Jordan Adams, 12.82; 23. O-Nick Omdahl, 12.973; 24. 91A-Reed Allex, NT
Logan Schuchart holds off Kasey Kahne Racing teammates for River Cities Speedway victory
With his grinning shark teeth painted helmet in one hand and the checkered flag in the other in Victory Lane at River Cities Speedway Friday night, Logan Schuchart accomplished more than just another win.
He did what no World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver has done since 2014 – win more races than 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz a third of the way through the season.
By claiming his fourth win of the season at the Grand Forks, N.D. track, Schuchart is now the winningest driver this year. Schatz and David Gravel are behind him with three wins each.
"To lead the Outlaws in Series wins this time of the year is a pretty cool accomplishment, for where you look at where this team was six years ago and how it started and where we've come," Schuchart said.
Last year, the Shark Racing driver had two wins in total for the season. He won four races in total in 2017 but has yet to surpass that number in a single season. He's knocking on the door to beat that record now – especially with his performance on the 3/10-mile track to claim his 12th career Series victory.
He started the night winning his Drydene Heat race and then won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
In the 40-lap Feature, Schuchart did not favor sharing the lead. The record book will show he led every lap. However, Gravel and Australian James McFadden have stories that say otherwise.
At the start of the Feature, Schuchart was a shark racing minnows. He pulled away from second-place Brad Sweet by almost a straightaway, leaving the top-five to figure out their running order as they swapped positions lap after lap. Some cranked their car sideways to the bottom of the track, while others tempted disaster by riding the outside rim of the turns, hoping to not slide off track and down the steep embankment on the other side.
Hope was not enough to keep several drivers on track. Carson Macedo brought out the first of seven cautions by going off track in turn three. On the restart, Gravel went from fourth to second in the first turn, while Kasey Kahne Racing teammates McFadden and Brad Sweet battled for third.
Running the high side, Gravel found enough traction to eat into Schuchart's lead, getting to his outside by Lap 15. However, before he could attempt a pass. Another caution for a car going off track.
On the following restart, Gravel launched ahead of Schuchart, taking the lead and pulling away to a two-car length lead. It was short lived, though. Exiting turn two, Gravel slid off the corner allowing Schuchart to dart back by him.
The lap went to Schuchart. There was no sharing the lead.
"It's tough when you're leading to be able to tell where to go, when the rubber or where the rubber's coming in," Schuchart said. "Actually, in the beginning, when Dave got around me, I knew he got a run from the top of three and four, but it actually wasn't totally rubber, yet. I knew he had to get a run from the top, so I moved up in three and four and I wasn't going to move my line in one and two until I saw somebody or heard somebody."
While Schuchart put distance between himself and the top-five once again, the KKR teammates were now battling for second – continuing their spectacular battling from Tuesday night's race at Fairbury Speedway.
Riding the low line of the slick track, McFadden found enough traction to pull ahead of Sweet and begin his march toward Schuchart.
Round two of Schuchart versus McFadden, after the two raced for the win a couple of weeks ago at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Schuchart won that battle.
McFadden ran Schuchart down. He could stay on his bumper, but couldn't find a big enough run to get by the Hanover, Pa. driver.
Then, on a restart with 13 laps to go, McFadden found that run. He launched pass Schuchart on the outside and sailed away. This time, it looked like Schuchart would have to share the lead. But before McFadden could complete the lap, another caution.
McFadden showed his hand. Schuchart now knew what he had to do to win.
"I wasn't squirting off the bottom as hard as I needed to in (turns) one and two and it was cleaned off a little bit above the bottom," Schuchart said. "He (McFadden) showed me that, and lucky enough the caution did come out."
When the race went back green, McFadden could keep Schuchart close enough in sight to read the sponsors on his car, but never garnered enough of a run again to get back by him.
"Once Logan's out front on that kind of track, he's probably one of the best guys at racing that," McFadden said. "I think he was holding back, trying not to get to lap traffic, thinking if he didn't make a mistake, he wasn't going to get past. I was just sitting there waiting, and hoping, and it didn't happen. Still happy with second."
While Schuchart claimed his fourth win this season, Sweet, who ended up third, earned his fourth podium finish in-a-row.
"We'll keep plugging away," Sweet said. "As long as we're standing on the front stretch each and every night, the wins will start coming."
Sweet, with two wins this season, continues to sit second in points to Schatz. But with Schatz finishing fourth, the Grass Valley, Calif.-native gained two points on the reigning champion and is now 36 points behind him.
Being the winningest driver, so far, this season has injected Schuchart with pride and confidence. Although, the amount of wins he has won't mean anything if he can't find consistency. His performance this year has left him fifth in points -- 202 points behind Schatz.
"It seems one night we win, the next night we're fifteenth," he said. "We're going to keep working at it, try to figure it out and hopefully pick up some more wins."
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will continue its tour through the Northwest on Saturday, June 8, at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minn.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$10,000]; 2. 9-James McFadden [3][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,800]; 5. 41-David Gravel [4][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,300]; 7. 4-Terry McCarl [6][$2,200]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [7][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$2,050]; 10. 13-Mark Dobmeier [13][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [23][$1,500]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,100]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [18][$1,050]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [12][$1,000]; 16. O-Nick Omdahl [19][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$800]; 18. 8-Jack Croaker [16][$800]; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams [22][$800]; 20. 31-Shane Roemeling [25][$800]; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings [24][$800]; 22. 2A-Austin Pierce [14][$800]; 23. 9N-Wade Nygaard [17][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$800]; 25. 11M-Brendan Mullen [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 10.399; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.432; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.47; 4. 9-James McFadden, 10.477; 5. 4-Terry McCarl, 10.624; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 10.648; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 10.68; 8. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 10.734; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.768; 10. 8-Jack Croaker, 10.819; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 10.836; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.841; 13. O-Nick Omdahl, 10.866; 14. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.915; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.928; 16. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 10.932; 17. 11M-Brendan Mullen, 11.015; 18. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.035; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams, 11.039; 20. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.057; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings, 11.057; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 11.22; 23. 2A-Austin Pierce, 11.361; 24. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.536; 25. 31-Shane Roemeling, 12.192
Kyle Larson out duels Kasey Kahne Racing teammates to claim first ever World of Outlaws back-to-back victories
Your heart tried to explode. If you stopped to think you'd realize you weren't breathing. But there was no time for that. Every lap, every corner, the potential for a new leader. A new reason to not blink.
James McFadden? Brad Sweet? Kyle Larson? Your mind spun with the question of who will win, unable to find a clear answer as the three drivers dueled with the intensity of gladiators fighting to be the last man standing.
Then the dust settled. A moment of quiet ease spread around the quarter-mile Fairbury Speedway arena. Climbing atop the wing of his No. 57 machine to thunderous applause and an explosion of confetti was Larson – claiming his eighth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win Tuesday night.
The win gives him back-to-back World of Outlaws victories, after winning his last Series race at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Memorial Day.
"Cool to get a win back-to-back with the Outlaws, I've never done that before," Larson said.
The last time he won more than one World of Outlaws race in a season was back in 2013 – a year before he went full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing.
Larson had to duel with fellow NASCAR competitor Christopher Bell and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz to claim the win at Lawrenceburg. This time around, he had to face the dominate Kasey Kahne Racing duo of McFadden and Sweet.
The KKR teammates started the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown event going first and second in practice with Sweet pacing the field. The No. 49 car then backed up its speed in Qualifying by setting Quick Time. McFadden was third. Larson seventh.
Sweet then won his Drydene Heat race with ease. Larson and McFadden dueled for the win in the third Drydene Heat race of the night with Larson dominating the field.
McFadden came back with force, charging to the win in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Sweet finished third, and Larson sixth – setting their starting position for the 40-lap Feature.
McFadden wrestled with his 900hp machine, taming it like a wild stallion at the start of the Feature to take the early lead. His run was cut short by a red flag on the first lap for Dylan Tuxhorn rolling over in turn one.
When the Feature went back green, heart rates amplified. Breaths were held. McFadden led, but Sweet was charging for a fight.
The two teammates traded lanes lap after lap, corner after corner. Sweet could power his way to either the inside or outside of the orange No. 9 car into the turn, but McFadden could launch off the exit with the power of the gods.
While they dueled, Larson slayed the competition between him and the leaders with ease. By Lap 13, he gave the KKR duo something else to fear. Going into turn three he forced his car under Sweet, making it a three-wide battle through the corner – a common theme throughout the next several laps.
Sweet built up a strong enough run to steal the lead from McFadden on Lap 17. He couldn't shake him, though. McFadden and Larson stayed on his bumper and the next time around they both snuck by him. McFadden threw his car low in turn three, while Larson squeezed his car between the outside of Sweet and the wall.
McFadden reclaimed the lead and now had a fierce Larson to contend with. The next lap, back in turns three and four, McFadden, again, went low and Larson high. The god-like launches McFadden could get exiting a corner were no match for the resilient throttle hungry Larson.
The two traded the lead for the next couple of laps with Larson eventually prevailing. McFadden still had fight left in him, though. And not far behind was Sweet, lurking. Waiting for another opportunity to strike.
In the closing laps, with the leaders having to navigate lap traffic, Larson couldn't lose McFadden. The Australian was building momentum lap after lap, inching closer and closer to Larson. But then, with eight laps to go, McFadden's battle came to an end.
While stuck behind a lap car through turns one and two, McFadden hit the corner tire and spun to a stop.
"Really fun race track," said McFadden, still with a smile, after the Feature. "It was awesome racing with Brad and Kyle. They're obviously a couple of the best guys in the country. I don't know if I just misjudged the lap car. He got the tractor tire I think and slowed him a bunch. I just got into the back of him and when I did that, the tractor tire came out, after he hit it, and I got it and that was that. At the end of the day, it was a positive step for the team."
In the remaining eight laps, Larson now had to contest with a hard charging Sweet.
Larson stuck to the bottom of the track – the least likely place for him to make a mistake, he said. Sweet took advantage of that, soaring around the outside of the speedway to find as much grip as he could to catch the white No. 57 Silva Motorsports car.
Coming to the checkered flag, Larson faltered. He slid off turn four, scrubbing speed and allowing Sweet the opportunity to strike one final time.
The distance between the leaders was still too much for Sweet, though. Like a warrior on a steed signifying his victory, Larson sprinted to the checkered flag with his front two wheels off the ground.
"That was just an exciting race from start to finish for me," Larson said. "Shoot, 40 laps around this place was crazy. It felt like we swapped the lead a lot. Just an awesome race track. Short tracks are always a blast."
Sweet's runner-up finish helped him cut into Schatz's points – now only 38 points behind the reigning champion. He said he felt like he had the better car, but probably got too timid in lap traffic, compared to Larson's maneuvers.
"He's crazy," Sweet said about Larson with a grin. "He was bouncing off the wall in (turn) one and bouncing off the wall in three and four."
Larson would agree with Sweet's sentiment.
"I'm always all out," Larson said. "I don't even know how I would be if I was running for points with the Outlaws. It would be hard for me to change my driving style. I'm just crazy, yeah."
That craziness makes speed though, he added.
The kind of speed that made your heart explode with excitement. Your breath run and hide. And your mind spin with questions. But there was no time to worry about that. Because every corner, every lap, there was the potential for a new leader. A new reason not to blink.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws will next trek to the Northwest on Friday, June 7, to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [6][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,100]; 9. 5-Shane Stewart [22][$2,050]; 10. 21-Brian Brown [7][$2,000]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog [2][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,100]; 14. 41-David Gravel [24][$1,050]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$1,000]; 16. 9-James McFadden [1][$900]; 17. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [14][$800]; 18. 5X-Justin Peck [18][$800]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$800]; 20. 70X-Spencer Bayston [21][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$800]; 22. 96-Parker Price-Miller [8][$800]; 23. 4-Terry McCarl [19][$800]; 24. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: James McFadden 1-15, 19, 21; Brad Sweet 16-18; Kyle Larson 20, 22-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-Shane Stewart[+13]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.266; 2. 5X-Justin Peck, 11.305; 3. 9-James McFadden, 11.309; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.381; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 11.386; 6. 96-Parker Price-Miller, 11.433; 7. 57-Kyle Larson, 11.444; 8. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 11.449; 9. 19-Brent Marks, 11.45; 10. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.455; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.472; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.493; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.497; 14. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.506; 15. 4-Terry McCarl, 11.508; 16. 17X-Aaron Reutzel, 11.522; 17. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.523; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.53; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.539; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.59; 21. 17A-Austin McCarl, 11.592; 22. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.604; 23. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 11.605; 24. 21X-Carson Short, 11.619; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.65; 26. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.661; 27. 41-David Gravel, 11.688; 28. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.709; 29. 98-Chad Boespflug, 11.722; 30. 26-Cory Eliason, 11.723; 31. 85-Mike Terry, 11.855; 32. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn, 12.183; 33. 5M-Max Stambaugh, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Shane Stewart beats Brent Marks for Music City Outlaw Nationals win in thrilling show
Among the music halls and concert venues of Nashville, there was no bigger stage than the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' Music City Outlaw Nationals at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday night.
Thousands of buoyant fans filled the grandstand. Spotlights gleamed off the brown clay quarter-mile oval surface. The prize, a guitar shaped trophy, $25,000 in winnings and the pride of making history; becoming an inaugural Music City Outlaw Nationals champion.
That kind of stage can birth a star. Rejuvenate a career.
Coming up on almost a year since winning a race, that's exactly what Shane Stewart needed.
His winning performance Saturday night showed it. In spectacular fashion, the Oklahoma-native claimed his first win of the season with his new CJB Motorsports team and his 34th career World of Outlaws win.
"Big stage, big win for this team," Stewart said.
With one win during the 2018 season, Stewart was released from his ride with Kyle Larson Racing at the end of the year. At the same time CJB Motorsports parted ways with its then driver, David Gravel – a pairing that never finished worse than third in points together.
The two paired together for the 2019 season, starting the season off strong in Volusia by leading laps and finishing second in the opening race. From there on out, races of disappointment and wins that could have been.
It was a scenario Stewart almost had to cope with again.
With a pinch of luck, Stewart's team drew an early Qualifying order position, leading to the No. 5 car being second fastest to Brad Sweet's track record breaking 14.083 sec. time. Stewart then went on to win his Drydene Heat race and finish second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – putting him on the outside pole for the 30-lap Feature.
Throwing his car around the tight turns of the quarter-mile track, Stewart took the lead on the first lap of the Feature and put distance between he and second-place lap after lap. His early run was cut short by Daryn Pittman spinning and bringing out the caution on Lap two.
On the restart, Stewart set sail again. Behind him, though, lurked another driver just as eager to return to Victory Lane.
In the early stage of year, Brent Marks missed two Features and didn't find the top-10 until the tenth race of the 2019 season. The Myerstown, Pa.-native earned his first top-five during the first round of the Music City Outlaw Nationals Friday night and was poised to do better on night two.
Marks methodically charged his way from fourth to second by Lap five. Two laps later, he found himself to the outside of Stewart down the front stretch. The two went side-by-side into turn one. Marks high. Stewart low.
Stewart slid up the track in turn two, allowing Marks to dart underneath him exiting the corner. But before he could complete the pass, a caution came out for several cars tangled in turn four.
Marks showed his hand. Stewart now knew there was no cruising to a win. The battle was on.
When the race went back green, Stewart stuck to the high side, while Marks ran low. The red No. 19 car showed its nose to Stewart turn after turn. Until Lap 11.
Marks finally found enough traction on the bottom of turns three and four to pull past Stewart for the lead. He cleared the No. 5 car the next corner, but Stewart wasn't ready to watch another potential win slip away. He launched his car around the outside of Marks through turns three and four and charged back to the lead.
Marks then returned the move by throwing his car to the bottom of turn one and sliding up in front of Stewart in the center of the turn. Stewart cut underneath Marks, but couldn't find enough traction to challenge Marks again for the position.
Marks was on his way to a historic win.
Lap traffic soon became an obstacle, though. Stewart kept Marks in his crosshairs, giving the Pennsylvanian no room for error while the track slicked up each lap.
With nine laps to go, Marks misjudged his drive into turn one around the outside of a lapped car and hit the cushion. His error allowed Stewart to dart past him and reclaim the lead, again.
The win wasn't his, yet. Marks stayed close behind and with three laps to go Sweet made it a three-horse race for the win, challenging Marks for second. And even though Stewart reclaimed the lead, he knew it was going to be a battle to keep it.
"I don't think I had the best car, but I knew once we got in to lap traffic, I had to be patient," Stewart said. "I knew the bottom was going to be key."
Stewart cautiously slid his car to the bottom of the track each turn and eased back on the throttle off of it, leaving no opening for Marks to make a run. He did that with fine-tuned precision, leading to a standing ovation by the crowd as he soared past the checkered flag.
"It's special," Stewart said about the win. "Being the inaugural race here at Nashville. So many people here that came out to support the World of Outlaws, which is really cool to see. Just a big win. I don't know where it ranks, but it's up there for sure."
For Marks, he was left meandering by his car, contemplating what could have been. But he still had fun.
"It actually was a lot of fun," Marks said. "I thought the track was in real good shape there for the Feature and made it racy for us. Sort of took a little bit of rubber there toward the end. It wasn't like lock down rubber, so when you're following lap cars around and keep hearing people behind you because obviously everybody is so close, you've got to try to outsmart them.
"Another good thing to do is put a lap car between them. That's what I tried to do and just caught the wall the wrong way."
Sweet, who finished third said he hopes to continue to build momentum with his team. He cut a small chuck out of Donny Schatz's points lead, now sitting 48 points behind the reigning champion in second.
Stewart's win also puts him into Nashville's history books. He became the second World of Outlaws driver to win on the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway dirt track, constructed on the speedway's quarter-mile asphalt track with about seven million pounds of dirt put on it. Schatz claimed the first night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals Friday night.
There was no bigger stage this weekend than the Music City Outlaw Nationals doubleheader. It birthed a new star of an event that left several fans asking when the Series will return to Nashville. And it rejuvenated Stewart's season with a guitar shaped trophy and $25,000 pay day. More importantly, just a win. Exactly what he needed.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will make its next trip on Tuesday, June 4, to Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, Ill. for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 5-Shane Stewart [2][$25,000]; 2. 19-Brent Marks [4][$7,000]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$5,000]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [5][$4,000]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$3,000]; 6. 41-David Gravel [3][$2,900]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [12][$2,800]; 8. 14X-Jeff Swindell [1][$2,700]; 9. 19X-Kevin Thomas [10][$2,600]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$2,500]; 11. 7-Jason Sides [6][$2,400]; 12. 9JR-Derek Hagar [23][$2,300]; 13. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$2,200]; 14. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,100]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$2,000]; 16. 23-Russel Borland [11][$1,500]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [19][$1,500]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,500]; 19. 98-Chad Boespflug [20][$1,500]; 20. 4X-Jim Stinson [21][$1,500]; 21. 9-James McFadden [22][$1,500]; 22. 90-Jordan Givler [18][$1,500]; 23. 21-Carson Short [24][$1,500]; 24. 64-Scotty Thiel [8][$1,500]; Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-10, 12, 22-30; Brent Marks 11, 13-21; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9JR-Derek Hagar[+11]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.083; 2. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.094; 3. 14-Tony Stewart, 14.38; 4. 98-Chad Boespflug, 14.383; 5. 14X-Jeff Swindell, 14.498; 6. 19X-Kevin Thomas, 14.561; 7. 64-Scotty Thiel, 14.576; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 14.609; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.714; 10. 41-David Gravel, 14.724; 11. 23-Russel Borland, 14.762; 12. 4X-Jim Stinson, 14.771; 13. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 14.846; 14. 90-Jordan Givler, 14.881; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.888; 16. 21-Carson Short, 14.893; 17. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.993; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.031; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.121; 20. 7-Jason Sides, 15.147; 21. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 15.216; 22. 10P-Jim Perricone, 15.255; 23. 9-James McFadden, 15.256; 24. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.326; 25. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 15.33; 26. 17B-Bill Balog, 15.371; 27. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 15.441; 28. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.567; 29. 99-Brady Bacon, 15.602; 30. 4-Danny Smith, 15.626; 31. 28-Brian Paulus, 15.763; 32. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.781; 33. 4K-Kody Kinser, 15.785; 34. J4-Chad Kemenah, 15.851; 35. 71M-Paul May, 15.868; 36. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.982; 37. 6-Bill Rose, NT
Schatz wins first night of Music City Outlaw Nationals
Schatz makes late race pass on Bill Balog to be first World of Outlaws winner in Nashville
NASHVILLE, TN – Ballads of broken hearts and dirt roads are ingrained in Nashville's history. On Friday night, a new hit was written during the inaugural World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Music City Outlaw Nationals at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
It's intro, an impassioned announcer filling ear drums with a four-wide call. It's verse, thunderous 900-hp Sprint Cars shaking a packed grandstand for 30 laps. And its coda, a jubilant Donny Schatz exhaling a single "Woo!" from the top wing of his car with the checkered flag in hand and glimmering confetti floating around him.
"Anytime you go anywhere new it's always good to get a win," said 10-time Series champion Schatz, after claiming his 286th career win. "We're in an awesome market that we've never been to before. It's great to win the inaugural race here."
Schatz became the first World of Outlaws driver to win on the quarter-mile Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway track, which is an asphalt track that was covered with about seven million pounds of dirt to accommodate the Series.
The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver didn't just conclude the ballad of the historic race, he was the bridge – the turning point of the night that made fans' eye lids widen and heart rate increase.
He built to that point of the night by first winning his Drydene Heat race and drawing the third starting position for Feature.
From there he had to find his way around polesitter Bill Balog and outside polesitter Brad Sweet – who sits runner-up in points to Schatz – in order to claim the first night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals doubleheader.
On the first lap, Schatz worked his way under Sweet by hugging the bottom of turns one and two, clearing the Kasey Kahne Racing car before the next turn. The battle was then between the northerners – Fargo, N.D.-native Schatz and Wisconsin resident Balog.
Schatz rode the low line throughout the night, keeping a light right foot on the throttle around the tight slick track. Balog stayed a lane above the bottom, finding enough grip to stay ahead of the reigning Series champion, but not enough to increase the distance between them.
The duo reached a hoard of lap traffic by Lap nine – a scenario typically tightening the battle for the lead. However, Balog was able to use the traffic to his advantage. At times Schatz would close the gap, but with each lap car Balog passed he put a car length between he and Schatz.
Then on Lap 14, caution. Schatz was brought back to being inches away from the yellow No. 17B's bumper.
When the race resumed, Balog didn't give into the pressure. He maintained his lead and put about a two-car length distance between he and Schatz.
The race was building to be the song of Balog's second career Series win. Then the bridge.
With nine laps to go, Balog lost traction off turn four, exiting the corner sideways. By the time he straightened out the car, Schatz was there. His winning performance was over.
Schatz slid past Balog for the lead in turn one. Balog attempted to sneak underneath Schatz exiting turn two, but Schatz shut the door, briefly touching his left rear tire with Balog's right front.
"We probably tightened it up too much," said Balog, who ended up third. "But... leading some laps with the World of Outlaws is pretty awesome. It was disappointing, I made a couple of little mistakes and you can't do it with them guys. They're going to get you."
His mistake allowed Schatz to click off laps in the lead until reaching the checkered flag – picking up his third win of the season.
"My guys, it's incredible what they do," Schatz said. "They've been on their game. They've been making the race car better and better and better. And it's fun to drive."
Sweet followed Schatz passed Balog to finish second, but with the No. 15 car finishing one spot ahead of him, Sweet remains second in points, now with a 52-point deficit.
Behind the podium, Brent Marks
earned his first top-five of the season, finishing fourth, and Sheldon Haudenschild found his way back into the top-five, finishing fifth, after a tough month of May that saw him miss four Features in a row.
"It's definitely good. Good for our team," Haudenschild said. "I think anytime you get in the top-five is definitely a little bit of a confidence builder and something to build off."
Schatz is also looking to build off his Nashville win to turn his team's consistent run of top-five finishes into consistent wins.
"You've got to crawl before you can walk, and you've got to walk before you can run and I feel like we're walking pretty solid, so now it's time to get running," Schatz said.
With the air strumming of his newly earned metal guitar trophy in Victory Lane and $15,000 prize winnings, Schatz wrote a new ballad into Nashville's history books. A ballad of heart break. A ballad of dirt roads. And a ballad of outlaws. The World of Outlaws in Nashville.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will return to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday, June 1, for the final night of the Music City Outlaw Nationals with $25,000-to-win on the line.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$15,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$6,000]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog [1][$3,200]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [5][$2,800]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,500]; 6. 21-Carson Short [7][$2,300]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$2,200]; 8. 64-Scotty Thiel [8][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$2,000]; 11. 9JR-Derek Hagar [12][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [11][$1,200]; 13. 14-Tony Stewart [16][$1,100]; 14. 83-Daryn Pittman [15][$1,050]; 15. 19X-Kevin Thomas [14][$1,000]; 16. 91-Cale Thomas [10][$1,000]; 17. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$1,000]; 18. 2-Carson Macedo [23][$1,000]; 19. 5-Shane Stewart [19][$1,000]; 20. 9-James McFadden [21][$1,000]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$1,000]; 22. 51B-Joe B.Miller [18][$1,000]; 23. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [22][$1,000]; 24. 98-Chad Boespflug [24][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Bill Balog 1-22, Donny Schatz 23-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+5]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.32; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.324; 3. 19-Brent Marks, 15.328; 4. 41-David Gravel, 15.542; 5. 9-James McFadden, 15.818; 6. 21-Carson Short, 15.839; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.876; 8. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.905; 9. 99-Brady Bacon, 15.909; 10. 83-Daryn Pittman, 16.025; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 16.053; 12. K4-Chad Kemenah, 16.08; 13. 71M-Paul May, 16.142; 14. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 16.144; 15. 7-Jason Sides, 16.16; 16. 4-Danny Smith, 16.265; 17. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 16.327; 18. 4X-Jim Stinson, 16.383; 19. 28-Brian Paulus, 16.528; 20. 4K-Kody Kinser, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.857; 2. 64-Scotty Thiel, 15.972; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 16.256; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 16.269; 5. 91-Cale Thomas, 16.293; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 16.516; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 16.593; 8. J4-John Garvin, 16.651; 9. 19X-Kevin Thomas, 16.795; 10. 90-Jordan Givler, 16.859; 11. 2-Carson Macedo, 16.347; 12. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 16.87; 13. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 16.882; 14. 10P-Jim Perricone, 16.887; 15. 98-Chad Boespflug, 16.972; 16. 14X-Jeff Swindell, 16.972; 17. 17X-Josh Baughman, 17.209; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.253; 19. 23-Russel Borland, 17.418; 20. 6-Bill Rose, 17.525
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
NASCAR's Kyle Larson claims World of Outlaws win at Lawrenceburg Speedway after intense battle with Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson versus Christopher Bell. It's a tale that's been told many times, in many ways.
But Larson's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory Monday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway may be the most enticing tale of them, yet. And controversial.
Or as Larson put it, "It was a heck of a race."
The stage was set at the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash draw. Larson drew the second-place starting spot. Bell drew the pole. Behind them, an abundance of fast World of Outlaws stars, such as two-time winner at the speedway, Shane Stewart, and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz.
Bell dominated them all in the Dash. He was three-tenths of a second quicker than Larson and ended the eight-lap race more than two seconds in front of him. Larson's runner-up finish placed the two NASCAR stars back on the front row for the 35-lap Feature.
Larson versus Bell. Again.
This chapter of the tale usually ends in Bell's favor, though. During the Turkey Night Classic midget race last year, Bell beat Larson for the second consecutive year. And earlier this year, Bell denied Larson his first Chili Bowl Nationals win by passing him late in the race to claim his third Chili Bowl win in-a-row.
Larson also had to cope with defeat during the first night of the World of Outlaws Patriot Nationals race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Friday. After dominating the majority of the Feature, a late race mistake allowed Giovanni Scelzi to slip by the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series $1 million All-Star winner and roll into Victory Lane.
Bell and Larson were hungry for another win.
However, Stewart looked to spoil the NASCAR party in the early stage of the race by charging to second on the first lap and keeping pace with Bell – making it an Oklahoma-native shootout at the front.
No one could touch Bell, though. Once the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab car clicked off laps on the high side of the 12-degree banked track, he out paced Stewart every lap. Larson was mired in third-place watching another potential victory drive away.
However, cautions came to Larson's rescue. With 19 laps to go, Sheldon Haudenschild spun directly in front of Bell, bringing out the second caution of the night – the first being early in the race for Spencer Bayston breaking a rear end.
On the restart, Larson rode the cushion through turns one and two and carried enough momentum to throw a slide job underneath Stewart the next corner. Coming off turn four, the two made contact. Both kept control of their car, but it was to the benefit of Larson. He secured second-place, while Stewart eventually faded to fourth-place after an intense battle with Schatz for third.
From there, Larson seemed destined for another runner-up finish. There was no catching Bell.
Then came Lap 27. Bell slid up into the cushion in turn two, throwing his 27 laps of domination out the window. In the second it took Bell to correct his car, the white No. 57 was there. Larson torpedoed his car underneath Bell in turn three and cleared him through the center of the turn.
Bell charged back, getting a run to the outside of Larson down the front stretch. This was it. This was the battle fans waited at the edge of their seat for.
Side by side going into turn one, both were committed to their line. Bell pressed to the cushion. Larson a lane below. The two were close enough to grab each other's steering wheel. Then, those fans at the edge of their seat left them.
The hard racing between Larson and Bell resulted in the black No. 39 jumping the cushion and spinning through the air before tumbling to the center of the turn. Bell's night was over.
"I'm not sure what happened into (turn) one there," Larson said after the race. "He probably didn't know exactly where I was going. He thought I might slide myself or what, and I think I just entered in a spot that put him in a bad spot and he probably got tight on the cushion."
From Bell's point of view, "I didn't run him over, but I didn't have an option."
"My car was really fast," a dejected Bell said. "The thing was the best I've ever been here, for sure. Thank you to Kevin and Jordan (Swindell) for allowing me to drive their car. So, bummer we didn't win."
Larson said he didn't feel any contact between the two of them.
"It was unfortunate on his part to wreck," Larson said. "It would have been a good battle for the fans, but at the same time it's always nice when you don't have to battle Chris for a win because he's so good."
There were still seven laps to go, and Larson now had Schatz and Scelzi lurking behind him. But once the race went back green, Larson put a period on the night charging to his seventh career Series win at the Memorial Day Spectacular presented by KOI Auto Parts.
"These Outlaw wins are so hard to win," Larson said, while holding a new burgundy and gold trophy to add to his collection. "I mean, you've got Bell, leading, he's one of, if not the best drivers in the country or in the world right now, in open wheel cars. And Donny Schatz (the Series' points leader by 48 points), who's arguably the best in winged sprint cars. So, to beat those two feels really cool."
Larson versus Bell. It's a tale that's been told many times and will continue to be told for years to come.
This time, though, Larson won.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next make history by making its first trip to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for the inaugural Music City Outlaw Nationals on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [2][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$5,500]; 3. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [5][$3,200]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,500]; 6. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [7][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [14][$2,200]; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,100]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,000]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [21][$1,200]; 13. 41-David Gravel [13][$1,100]; 14. 91-Cale Thomas [12][$1,050]; 15. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [16][$1,000]; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen [18][$900]; 17. 2-Carson Macedo [22][$800]; 18. 26-Cory Eliason [15][$800]; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$800]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 21. A79-Brandon Wimmer [20][$800]; 22. 39-Christopher Bell [1][$800]; 23. 87-Aaron Reutzel [3][$800]; 24. 70X-Spencer Bayston [11][$800]; Lap Leaders:Christopher Bell 1-27, Kyle Larson 28-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.166; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.208; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 12.226; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.233; 5. 39-Christopher Bell, 12.321; 6. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.35; 7. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 12.36; 8. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 12.361; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.383; 10. 41-David Gravel, 12.387; 11. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.406; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 12.411; 13. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.423; 14. 19-Brent Marks, 12.425; 15. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.431; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.434; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.45; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.456; 19. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.48; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.489; 21. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 12.497; 22. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 12.534; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.542; 24. 6-Bill Rose, 12.557; 25. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.566; 26. 85-Mike Terry, 12.573; 27. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.624; 28. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.637; 29. 21-Brinton Marvel, 12.678; 30. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 12.701; 31. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 13.187
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Logan Schuchart fends off a hard charging James McFadden to win at Charlotte
Inches before Logan Schuchart claimed his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of the season, he could feel defeat breathing down his neck.
To it, he said, not today. Even with few options to stop it.
Life was close to leaving his right rear tire – a used tire from last year. It seemed inevitable. He claimed the lead with the assist of several drivers blowing a tire during the second night of the $15,000-to-win United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday.
That caused Schuchart's right foot to become wary of the throttle in the closing laps of the Feature.
"I was trying to be kind of conservative and not spin the tires, not run it into the corner very hard, try to not wear the tire very much," Schuchart said.
A second too long on the throttle or off it handed defeat the win.
That was not an option, though. He had something to lose. The top four in points blew a tire with a handful of laps to go, giving Schuchart the opportunity for a healthy points gain.
Behind him, though, defeat had nothing to lose. Australian James McFadden, running just his second race in the No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing car, is only driving the car until an injured Kahne is ready to return. Points are of no concern. He's there to win at no cost.
To McFadden, defeat was in front of him, and he was going to do whatever it took to beat it.
Having blown a tire in the early stage of the race, McFadden managed to stay on the lead lap and use his newly granted right rear grip to blow by anxiety-ridden drivers trying to save their tire.
"We just had nothing to lose, really," McFadden said. "Everyone was trying to conserve, and I wasn't."
With three laps to go, McFadden became the hare chasing tortoises. Due to his carefree ability to run his car as hard as he wanted and several drivers blowing a tire, he went from 16th on Lap 27 to 5th on Lap 28. A lap later he was in the podium.
A caution flew with one lap to go, setting up a green-white-checkered finished. On the start, he blew by Kerry Madsen on the high side to take second. Next became a duel between the Tasmanian devil and the shark.
McFadden had nothing to lose, but Schuchart said he was going to make his Shark Racing car as wide as he could. Coming off turn two on the final lap, McFadden launched off the corner and went from being two car lengths back to on Schuchart's bumper. Then into the final turn, both drivers threw their car into the turn. McFadden up top. Schuchart on the bottom.
A car length distance grew between the two through turn three, but coming off turn four McFadden had a race winning run. Schuchart knew it. Defeat was breathing down his neck. His only option was to move up a lane, blocking McFadden's run.
"I knew somebody would be coming, especially the guys who changed their tire," Schuchart said. "I heard James when we went through (turns) one and two. I just tried to make my car as wide as possible. Definitely if we had another corner, he would have got by me. But it all worked out great."
McFadden wishes there was that extra corner.
"It was good fun. I wish we had a couple of more laps," McFadden said. "We were pretty decent there."
McFadden did earn the hard charger award for the night, after starting 18th. Schuchart had his own impressive charge, coming from 14th to win – the furthest back a driver has come from this year to win.
His win leaves him fifth in points – 136 points behind leader Donny Schatz. It was more than a 20-point gain from the night before.
Schatz ended the race 11th, after being three laps from victory before blowing a tire. Brad Sweet, who sits second in points – 42 points behind Schatz – also blew a tire after taking the lead from Schatz, finishing 18th.
Schuchart's right rear tire resembled an asphalt modified tire more than a Sprint Car tire after the 31-lap Feature, making he and his team shake their head on how it survived.
"I knew I had a lot more rubber than the other cars, just by looking at them and when I go into the corner the last five laps it just felt like it wanted to drive right by them," Schuchart said. "I don't know why. This thing [the tire] was used. I'm pretty sure it was up in the rack from last year. So, maybe if it sits for a while it adds something to it.
"I actually wasn't real happy with the tire being put on before the race, but it lasted and it got us the win."
With defeat breathing down his neck, Schuchart and his used – now very used – right rear tire said, not today.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Memorial Day Monday, May 27, will next venture to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (31 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14]; 2. 9-James McFadden [18]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1]; 4. 98H-Dave Blaney [9]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [16]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [21]; 8. 7S-Jason Sides [15]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [13]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [11]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [20]; 15. 57-Kyle Larson [12]; 16. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [24]; 17. 41-David Gravel [8]; 18. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 19. 19-Brent Marks [10]; 20. 24-Rico Abreu [19]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [22]; 22. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [6]; 23. K4-Chad Kemenah [23]; 24. 22-Cole Duncan [17]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-16, Donny Schatz 17-27, Logan Schuchart 28-31; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-James McFadden[+16]
Qualifying – 1. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.11; 2. 41-David Gravel, 13.117; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.16; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.178; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.229; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.262; 7. 19-Brent Marks, 13.271; 8. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.282; 9. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.295; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.299; 11. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.318; 12. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.321; 13. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.368; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.368; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.372; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.373; 17. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.376; 18. 47-Eric Riggins, 13.42; 19. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.428; 20. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.51; 21. 9-James McFadden, 13.515; 22. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.528; 23. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.539; 24. 1-Jamie Myers, 13.569; 25. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse, 13.57; 26. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.702; 27. J4-John Garvin, 13.922; 28. 27G-Jay Galloway, 13.964; 29. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Giovanni Scelzi beats NASCAR's Kyle Larson to win first night of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals in Charlotte
A gasp echoed over the field of 24 thunderous Sprint Cars raging around the 4/10-mile Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Goliath fell. David won.
Seventeen-year-old Giovanni Scelzi did the unthinkable. He passed a dominate Kyle Larson in the closing laps of night one of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Friday night. In doing so, he claimed his second World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win.
"That's so cool," said Scelzi, choosing his words with hesitation, as those having to convince himself it actually happened. "I can't believe I got by him. Normally when he (Larson) gets away, he's gone."
Larson – still riding the momentum of his $1 million NASCAR All-Star win – showed no signs of rust in a Sprint Car by Qualifying fourth, finishing second in his Drydene Heat race and winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
With all of the attention on Larson, Scelzi quietly pieced together a competitive run. He also finished second in his Drydene Heat race and finished runner-up to Larson in the Dash.
When the 30-lap Feature went green, Larson left Scelzi to play with Brad Sweet and David Gravel for second-place. In the early stage of the race, Gravel looked to be the one potential car to challenge Larson, charging his way from fourth to second by lap four.
Scelzi shutdown Gravel's hope of another win the next lap with a slide job through turns one and two to reclaim second. Gravel made the same move the next lap, but Scelzi outpowered the No. 41 car again through turns three and four.
By the time Scelzi returned to second, Larson was gone. Riding the high side of the speedway, the No. 57 of Larson became a speck in the cloud of dust to Scelzi. However, the teenager's duel with Gravel taught him a lesson.
"David passed me and when I got by him, I knew it was time to go to the top," Scelzi said.
Moving to the top kept Scelzi on pace with Larson, but as the track began to rubber up, he moved a lane down again. His lane transitions proved beneficial. With about eight laps to go, Larson went from being a speck to a full frame picture. The NASCAR winner slid up off his line through turn two, making the back end step out and scrubbed off speed.
That gave Scelzi the advantage through turns one and two. He darted underneath Larson down the backstretch and slid by him in turns three and four to officially take the lead with five laps to go.
"I caught him in the rubber, and it looked like he was still searching, and I had the perfect opportunity to pull the trigger," Scelzi said. "I figured he'd chop me, but he's a very clean racer."
From there, Larson had nothing for the Fresno, Calif. native. Instead he had to fend off a hard charging Logan Schuchart, who came from seventh-place to third.
"Second is always a good spot to be because you can see the leader struggling and make your move, which Gio did." Larson said. "I made a mistake through that corner, I just go arched out too much and got the car bent and then I lost my right rear grip, which didn't help for my exit speed."
While Schuchart was happy with his strong run, he left knowing it could have been better. He said he needs to get better at Qualifying up front more to put himself in position to start further up front and have a better shot at the win.
His finish leaves him fifth in the Series' points standings – 158 points behind leader Donny Schatz. The 10-time Series champion currently sits 28 points ahead of second-place Brad Sweet.
The finish to the opening night of the inaugural United Rentals Patriot Nationals left many fans stunned, but it's not the first time Scelzi has pulled off an astonishing feat. Last year, he became the youngest ever World of Outlaws winner, at 16 years old, by winning his first Series race at the historic Williams Grove Speedway.
This time though, he had extra attention. NASCAR attention.
In the grandstands, the likes of Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney and Jeff Gordon watched on. While on the track, he had to compete with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Larson.
When the helmet goes on, Scelzi said he's just focused on the race, but he hopes his run gained him a little more attention.
"Man, I'd like to be over across the street at the NASCAR track," Scelzi said. "But who knows. I'm having a ball racing Sprint Cars. I'm just happy being here.
The crowd of thousands at the Charlotte dirt track knew the NASCAR names. When Larson was announced at the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash draw, the bleachers erupted into emphatic cheers. Scelzi was greeted with golf claps.
When he pulled into Victory Lane ahead of Larson that changed. Standing atop the wing of his car, taller than Goliath, those emphatic cheers became his.
Larson fell. Scelzi won.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws will return to the The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday, May 25, for the final night of the United Rentals Patriot Nationals in Concord, NC.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 5. 41-David Gravel [5]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [11]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [9]; 10. 9-James McFadden [14]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen [10]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [3]; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen [13]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [16]; 15. 2-Carson Macedo [15]; 16. 22-Cole Duncan [12]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [20]; 18. 5-Shane Stewart [21]; 19. K4-Chad Kemenah [23]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [17]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [19]; 22. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [18]; 23. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [24]; 24. 24-Rico Abreu [22]; Lap Leaders: Kyle Larson 1-24, Giovanni Scelzi 25-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+4]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 12.871; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.01; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.044; 4. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.056; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.06; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.065; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.09; 8. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.096; 9. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse, 13.1; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.103; 11. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.112; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.125; 13. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.141; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.146; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.175; 16. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.192; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 13.2; 18. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.311; 19. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.348; 20. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.361; 21. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.361; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 13.372; 23. 9-James McFadden, 13.426; 24. J4-John Garvin, 13.512; 25. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.622; 26. 5B-Justin Barger, 13.63; 27. 1-Jamie Myers, 13.685; 28. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.693; 29. 47-Eric Riggins, 13.694; 30. 27G-Jay Galloway, 13.863; 31. 49H-Bradley Howard, 14.102
NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY GETS DIRTY FOR THE MUSIC CITY OUTLAW NATIONALS
Putting dirt on top of asphalt is nothing new for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series; the practice dates back decades prior to the formation of the series. Bringing The Greatest Show on Dirt to the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on the other hand, is brand new.
The planning process began in 2018, long before the first dump truck full of Tennessee clay was dropped onto the quarter-mile bullring at the historic venue. While numerous players were involved in the process, World of Outlaws President Tom Deery credits Events Manager Megan Hazel with the idea.
"Megan lived here for a couple of years and knew how exciting the racing at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway was. She brought up the conversation. In the meantime, Matt Crews of Brewco Marketing Group, an event production company that has a long history with NASCAR events, was talking to (World of Outlaws CMO) Ben Geisler about an event in Nashville. Then, I was talking to Jason Rittenberry, a Nashville promoter, at a SEMA event about the idea, and the seed that Megan planted grew into this," said Deery
William Scogin, Clarksville Speedway owner and part-time track prepper, was on hand to help work the dirt and get the track configuration dialed in. Finding the right dirt for such an event was a logistical challenge. Originally, the dirt was going to come from nearby Nissan Stadium, where a SuperCross event was held just a few weeks prior.
"They [AMA Supercross] just put too much sand in it for us. So, we had to go to a backup option," said Scogin. "The backup option was to get freshly dug up dirt from further away. Yesterday we put on 72 loads, and we only had eight trucks running. Traffic is killing us. The dirt we were going to use is only a couple minutes away; we'd be halfway done by now. People don't realize how much work this is to do."
Moving enough dirt to cover the asphalt was a feat in and of itself. Over the course of four days, a constant stream of dump trucks shuttled the soil some 20 miles from Millersville, Tenn. Fighting traffic and weather, it took each truck about an hour to make a roundtrip. The man in charge of the move was Shane Trucking and Excavating owner Carl Shane.
A lifelong race fan, Shane dabbled in racing himself as a young man.
"I raced motorcycles in my younger days, and I've done a limited amount of dirt track racing in automobiles," Shane said. "We have worked with another group that does monster truck events, so not particularly a racing event like this with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car races. Our biggest challenge is the weather and the condition of the soil. This is pretty much like a typical construction project — except we're doing it on asphalt at a racing venue."
After heavy rains on Wednesday morning, the hauling was halted while a team of people worked the dirt that had already been put down. Using heavy equipment, they spent the better part of the afternoon driving back and forth over the clay surface to expel the moisture and allow the dirt to compact.
"It's easier to manage less dirt than more dirt. So, if it's already wet, the less you have, the less you have to dry. When they were driving over it yesterday it was still pretty spongy, so we're going to sheepsfoot it and roll it some more. It's firming up a lot, but it's still got some moisture in it," said Scogin.
While the dirt was being laid down another team worked to move two-ton barriers into place, reconfiguring the small track into a suitable course for the 900 horsepower sprint cars. During the weeks leading into the event, the crew will also add fencing, guardrail and cables.
The renewed interest in the speedway by community members and civic leaders is welcomed by everyone in the industry. The track has seen it's ups and downs over the last decade, and recent attempts by large organizations and politicians to improve the facility and preserve its history has brought renewed hope for fans and those in the industry.
"I've lived here all my life. It's good, we don't need to lose any more race tracks. All race tracks need to survive. Anything, whether it's asphalt or dirt, we need everybody's support in this industry," mused Scogin.
Asked about future plans to bring dirt to pavement Deery said, "We are always planning. We are always looking for new places to bring the World of Outlaws Sprints, the World of Outlaws Late Models, or DIRTcar Racing to introduce and show the race fans The Greatest Show on Dirt."
When the lights go on for the first event of the two-weekend show, 12 trucks will have made a combined 181 trips, hauling in a total of 3,500 cubic yards of dirt. That comes out to roughly 7,000,000 pounds of dirt.
For Hazel, seeing the project come to fruition has been a professional highlight. "Seeing the dirt starting to go down after 15 months of dreaming and planning is absolutely incredible," she said. "It has been a ton of work by so many to make this idea come to life. I'm so thankful for leadership that listened to an idea, believed in it and helped push it to become a reality."
More than $150,000 is up for grabs over the course of the event, making it one of the Outlaws' biggest racing weekends all year. Drivers like Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing's 10-time Champion Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne Racing's Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson Racing's Carson Macedo and Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing's Sheldon Haudenschild will all be trying to capture the Friday $15,000-to-win Feature and the Saturday $25,000-to-win Feature.
Tickets are available online or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
-- By James McMahen
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
John Rich's Redneck Riviera Welcomes World of Outlaws Race Fans to Downtown Nashville During Music City Outlaw Nationals
NASHVILLE, TN — May 23, 2019 — Music and racing have a long history together that will be amped up during the Music City Outlaw Nationals May 31-June 1 in Nashville. While the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their inaugural appearance at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the party will no doubt spread across the city.
Nowhere will it be bigger than John Rich's Redneck Riviera, which will have drink specials all week for those with passes to the VIP Party Deck at the Fairgrounds, which are available by calling 844-DIRT-TIX or even upgrading tickets at the event.
"The Redneck Riviera at 208 Broadway in Downtown Nashville is THE SPOT for Music City Outlaw RACE FANS," Rich exclaimed. "Coldest beer, hottest bartenders and best live music on the planet!!"
More than $150,000 is up for grabs over the course of the Music City Outlaw Nationals, making it one of the Outlaws' biggest racing weekends all year. Drivers like Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing's 10-time champion Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne Racing's Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson Racing's Carson Macedo and Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing's Sheldon Haudenschild will all be trying to capture the Friday $15,000-to-win Feature and the Saturday $25,000-to-win Feature.
Tickets are available online at WorldofOutlaws.com or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Lance Dewease out duels Donny Schatz for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway
The battle for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway Saturday night turned into the title match of the century between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse.
One the front row of the 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature, representing the World of Outlaws was 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and next to him, on the pole, representing the PA Posse was Lance Dewease – whose won more races than anyone at Williams Grove.
Dewease added another win to that list Saturday night, defeating Schatz to claim the Morgan Cup and his 17th career World of Outlaws victory. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver didn’t make it an easy fight, though.
Schatz got the first punch, jumping to the lead at the start of the race. From there, Schatz set a pace the No. 69K couldn’t match.
Dewease contributed that to his setup, stating it takes five or six laps for his car to get going. Because of that, he said he anticipated Schatz would get the jump on him. He knew the race he needed to run.
“The pace we were trying to run, we were going to be hard on tires at that whole 30 laps,” Dewease said about Schatz’s early run. “But hell, I wasn’t too easy with them.”
Schatz’s early lead didn’t last long, though. On Lap two, Logan Schuchart stopped on the front stretch due to an ignition box issue. The caution allowed the two front runners a quick rest to gauge their early run.
When the green flag flew again, Schatz landed another jab, jumping back to the lead. Dewease kept pace with him, though.
“I was shocked how good I hung with him there on the bottom,” Dewease said. “I thought we’d be alright if I could get by him (Schatz). He knows how to get around here when it’s slick.”
Like Dewease predicted, once he got in six consecutive laps, his car took off. While Schatz rode the high side, Dewease found enough grip on the bottom to wear out Schatz’s lead. By that time the two leaders entered lap traffic, which proved to be an advantage for Dewease.
Schatz struggled to navigate around lap traffic, allowing Dewease to plant the attack he needed on Lap 17 to charge by the No. 15 car and take the lead.
“It just came down to getting through lap traffic,” Schatz said. “I got to the 70 car and I didn’t push the issue, to go across the race car and go in front of him and I didn’t do it. It got me in a funk for a few laps and Lance got by. I got myself back going, but it was too late.”
Dewease then cruised to his second win in four days, after winning Wednesday’s night race at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. That night he heard the chant, “Posse! Posse! Posse!” in Victory Lane. Then heard it again Saturday night as the PA Posse fans were jubilant to retain the iconic Morgan Cup.
“This rivalry is pretty intense,” Dewease said. “It goes back a long way. We’re some of the few areas that can consistently win against these (Outlaws) guys. We were very fortunate to get it done tonight and keep the cup for another year. Beating Donny is always special because he gets around this place so good.”
While Schatz accepted his defeat, having to settle for second, he laid down a further challenge for the PA Posse fans.
“I hear all of that Posse chant, and I love that,” Schatz said. “Come August, I’m pretty sure he’s (Dewease) going to win the money to go to the Knoxville Nationals, so there’s going to be no damn reason every person in this place isn’t at the Knoxville Nationals watching it.”
While Schatz and Dewease put on a show at the front of the field, California-native Giovanni Scelzi was the show of the race behind them.
Scelzi won the C-Main, transferring to the rear of the 12-car Last Chance Showdown. He then made his way to fourth in the Showdown, transferring to the rear of the Feature. After starting 24th, he charged his way to a seventh-place finish in the Feature, earning the KSE Hard Charger award.
“Just qualified bad, and when you do that it puts you behind the eight-ball,” Scelzi said. “We just kept trucking in the Feature and kept going and going and going. I wish we had a yellow. I think we had something to get back in the top-five.”
Scelzi won his first Series victory at Williams Grove last year, becoming the youngest ever World of Outlaws winner at 16 years old. However, he’s not sure why he meshes with the Pennsylvania track so well.
“I just seem to have some natural speed,” Scelzi said, “I don’t know where it comes from. Seems to be a place I’m comfortable at.”
Both Schatz and Dewease – who credited each other as being exceptional drivers – said they’ve found the set up their comfortable with, leading to another potential title match when the Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway in July.
UP NEXT
The World of Outlaws will continue its Northeast swing Sunday, May 19, at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$5,500]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [6][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,800]; 5. 51-Freddie Rahmer [7][$2,500]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,300]; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [24][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [4][$2,100]; 9. 41-David Gravel [9][$2,050]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$2,000]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [14][$1,200]; 13. 24-Lucas Wolfe [8][$1,100]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,050]; 15. 72-Ryan Smith [11][$1,000]; 16. 39-Cory Haas [20][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$800]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [18][$800]; 19. 21-Brian Montieth [16][$800]; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$800]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney [22][$800]; 22. 1X-Chad Trout [25][$]; 23. 2-Carson Macedo [21][$800]; 24. 26-Cory Eliason [19][$800]; 25. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [12][$800]; 26. 70-Brock Zearfoss [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-12, Lance Dewease 13-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 71-G
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 19.334; 2. 72-Ryan Smith, 19.36; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease, 19.374; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich, 19.438; 5. 5-Shane Stewart, 19.441; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 19.523; 7. 41-David Gravel, 19.537; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 19.611; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 19.629; 10. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 19.667; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 19.716; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 19.742; 13. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 19.78; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 19.929; 15. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 19.944; 16. 19M-Landon Myers, 19.963; 17. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 20.023; 18. 11-T.J. Stutts, 20.071; 19. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 20.163
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 19.378; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 19.547; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 19.621; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 19.687; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 19.69; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 19.729; 7. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 19.792; 8. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 19.798; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 19.806; 10. 1X-Chad Trout, 19.822; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 19.969; 12. 39-Cory Haas, 19.97; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 20.017; 14. 47K-Kody Lehman, 20.082; 15. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 20.116; 16. 21-Brian Montieth, 20.125; 17. 98H-Dave Blaney, 20.186; 18. 73B-Brett Michalski, 21.304; 19. 12W-Troy Fraker, 21.427
David Gravel rides low line to Morgan Cup first round win
MECHANICSBURG, PA – May 17, 2019 – A simple point of the finger by Jason Sides gave David Gravel the assistance he needed to go on and win his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race this season.
Gravel lost the lead to Daryn Pittman at the start of the 25-lap Williams Grove Speedway Feature and 10 laps later lost second to Pennsylvanian Danny Dietrich. It looked like Gravel may have to settle for his second third-place finish in-a-row, but everything changed with 13 laps to go.
Dietrich and Gravel were nose to tail heading down the front stretch with the lap car of Sides in front of them.
"Going into (turn) one, Sides pointed low and I think Dietrich thought he pointed low like he was going to go low and Dietrich was going to go high, but he actually pointed low to pass him down low," Gravel said. "Dietrich followed him in the corner, and I went low. So, I'm glad it worked out for me and not for him."
That move allowed Gravel to slide back into second-place, while Dietrich fell several car lengths behind him after having to lift out of the throttle due to Sides blocking his line. Dietrich cited getting caught behind Sides was the one mistake that kept him from a potential win Friday night.
"That was the race I think for me," Dietrich said.
With Dietrich far behind, Gravel had breathing room to try and run Pittman back down. And he didn't waste any time. Two laps after passing Dietrich, he was on Pittman's bumper. Gravel stuck to the low line most of the race, while Pittman stayed high. But with 12 laps to go, the two swapped lanes in turns three and four. The advantage went to Gravel.
On Pittman's tail, he dove underneath the No. 83 Roth Motorsports car in turn one and charged his way back to the lead.
After the disappointment of losing a potential win at Lincoln Speedway Wednesday night, Gravel was not going to let another win slip through his fingers.
He prepared himself for the Feature throughout the night, studying how his car worked in different lanes. While he won his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash by riding the high line, he tested the bottom during the Dash.
"I was just trying it (different lines) out all night," Gravel said. "Luckily things worked out the way they did, and I found something better than they did."
Once he cleared Pittman and began to pull away with the lead, Dietrich wasn't letting him out of his sight. The blue No. 48 also got by Pittman and made his own charge for the lead. At times a blanket could be thrown over the top three.
Dietrich continued to run the high side, while Gravel stayed low. At times he would close on the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing car, but Gravel could always out power him out of the turn, leading to his 42nd career World of Outlaws victory – and fifth Series win at Williams Grove Speedway.
The ability of the No. 41 car to drive hard through the turn without any issues has Pittman scratching his head on how he can get his car to do the same.
"We didn't get from the center off very good," Pittman said. "My car would drop too far and not drive down the straightaway. I think the 41 drivers really hard, a lot harder than mine and we've got to figure out why that is. I just start spinning way too easy."
Gravel and his new Jason Johnson Racing team have found the level of consistency they were hoping to find at the start of the year. He's finished in the top-five in the last four races – three of those finishes being on the podium. And with three wins now, Gravel is the winningest driver, so far, this season.
"Man, we're trying all sorts of stuff," Gravel said. "Every night I don't think we run the same bar combination. Philip (Dietz, JJR crew chief) is always working, trying to make the car better. It works nine times out of 10. Hopefully we jot down the things that work really well and continue to grow as a team and keep winning races."
His Williams Grove win has propelled the Watertown, Conn.-native to be tied for third in the Series' points standings with Pittman – 64 points behind leader Donny Schatz, who only has a two-point lead over Brad Sweet.
With three wins in the early stage of the season, the championship isn't on Gravel's mind, yet. He's focused on staying consistent and winning races.
"The past couple of races have been really good," Gravel said. "We're qualifying well consistently now, which is a huge part of this. If we keep that up good things will happen. Where we end up in the points is where we end up. I just want to keep winning races and try to be as consistent as we can."
A simple point of the finger to the sky in Victory Lane Friday night made that clear.
UP NEXT:
Gravel will get the chance to sweep the weekend when the World of Outlaws return for the final round of the Morgan Cup Saturday, May 18, at Williams Grove Speedway.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [1][$8,000]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich [4][$4,000]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,500]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$2,200]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [7][$2,100]; 6. 69K-Lance Dewease [10][$2,000]; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [5][$1,800]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$1,600]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,500]; 10. 1X-Chad Trout [6][$1,300]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,200]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [16][$1,100]; 13. 72-Ryan Smith [11][$1,000]; 14. 51-Freddie Rahmer [18][$700]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$600]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [24][$600]; 17. 2M-Kerry Madsen [17][$600]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [19][$600]; 19. 21-Brian Montieth [20][$600]; 20. 2-Carson Macedo [22][$600]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney [15][$600]; 22. 39-Cory Haas [21][$600]; 23. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [8][$600]; 24. 24-Lucas Wolfe [26][$]; 25. O7-Gerard McIntyre [23][$600]; 26. 11-T.J. Stutts [27][$]; 27. 7S-Jason Sides [25][$]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-14, David Gravel 15-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+8]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 16.854; 2. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 16.991; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 16.994; 4. 1X-Chad Trout, 17.1; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 17.108; 6. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 17.132; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 17.137; 8. 72-Ryan Smith, 17.168; 9. 2-Carson Macedo, 17.208; 10. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 17.312; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.314; 12. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 17.341; 13. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 17.38; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.394; 15. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 17.495; 16. 98H-Dave Blaney, 17.688; 17. 19M-Landon Myers, 17.821; 18. 47K-Kody Lehman, 17.913; 19. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.561; 20. 99M-Kyle Moody, NT
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease, 16.761; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich, 16.96; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 16.983; 4. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 17.082; 5. 18-Ian Madsen, 17.103; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.122; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 17.144; 8. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.156; 9. 39-Cory Haas, 17.174; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 17.177; 11. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.201; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.206; 13. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 17.291; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 17.355; 15. 11-T.J. Stutts, 17.364; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.416; 17. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 17.449; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.475; 19. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.492; 20. 73B-Brett Michalski, 17.737
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Lance Dewease out duels World of Outlaws for PA Posse victory at Lincoln Speedway
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Thousands of fans lined the straightaway fence at Lincoln Speedway Wednesday night, testing the limit of how close they can get to pushing themselves through.
A faint cheer could be heard from the end of the line when the No. 69K of Lance Dewease came into sight, rounding the corner of turn four. The cheers and screams became a tidal wave down the front stretch as Dewease slowly rolled into Victory for the Gettysburg Clash presented by Drydene.
The local hero won. Dewease out dueled the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for his 16th career Series victory – moving past Jason Sides to sit 31st on the all-time wins list.
"It's means everything," Dewease said about claiming his first World of Outlaws win of the season. "It's a good rivalry (between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse). To me it's friendly. It's not like we hate each other, but we want to beat each other pretty bad."
Dewease showed how bad he wanted to win Wednesday night, wrestling with a competitive David Gravel all night.
Both won their respective Drydene Heat race and started on the front row for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Gravel won the battle in the Dash, passing Dewease on the high side and charging to the win. The start to the 35-lap was déjà vu with the two side-by-side and Gravel charging back to the lead.
The Watertown, Conn.-native pulled to about a two-car length lead over Dewease at the start and was able to maintain it while navigating through lap traffic in the early stage of the race.
Gravel was poised to claim his third win of the season, able to maintain the lead no matter what line he chose. Although, in similar fashion, no matter which line Dewease chose to run, he could keep Gravel close enough in sight that if the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing car made a mistake, he would be ready to capitalize.
And that mistake came with 17 laps to go. After sticking to the high side most of the race, Gravel tried the bottom through turns one and two. It didn't work for him this time. He slid off the bottom, dramatically slowing his pace and allowing Dewease an easy pass to the lead.
"I knew sooner or later we would have to be on the bottom," Dewease said. "I made my mind up I was going to go to the bottom, and he went at the same time, but he didn't stay there. He slid up and crossed and I got by him, which meant everything to me. I just made sure I didn't mess up in lap traffic."
While Dewease weaved through traffic seeming to know where each car would be before he got to them, the lap cars didn't always cooperate. One came close to ending Dewease's night, leaving centimeters between he and Deweases car off turn two.
"Laps cars were really hard for both David and me," Dewease said. "So, that last caution with six laps to go I decided I wasn't going to catch any lap cars if I didn't have to."
He didn't. After a couple of late race cautions, the Fayetteville, Pa.-native cruised with ease to another victory at Lincoln Speedway.
The late race cautions were no benefit to Gravel. After hitting the restart cone during one of the restarts, Gravel said he tried to just protect his second-place position, but ended up losing it to Ryan Smith and had to settle for third.
"I'm disappointed I lost second," Gravel said. "I wish I didn't make the mistakes I did. It's part of racing."
He's still holding his head high though, for having a strong night with being the fastest car in Flight 2 of Qualifying, winning his Drydene Heat race and the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He also sits fourth in the Series' points standing — 80 points behind Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz, who for the second time this year are tied for the points lead.
Schatz was the KSE Hard Charger of the night, racing from 25th to 11th, after having to use a provisional to start the Feature.
Dewease's win marks the first-round win for the PA Posse in the Series' Pennsylvania swing this month. The World of Outlaws will make its next trip Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. for the Morgan Cup.
As Dewease stood in Victory Lane holding the three-foot tall Gettysburg Clash presented by Drydene trophy, the hundreds of fans lined along the fence, and those that found their way to Victory Lane, not only drowned out the speedway with cheers for Dewease, they started the chant "Posse! Posse! Posse!"
"It's great to get this week started off good and hopefully if I can't win Friday or Saturday somebody else does," Dewease said about the PA Posse support. "It's a neat fanbase. We have the best fans in the world as far as I'm concerned. They love our racing. They come out in rain and snow. So, we're pretty fortunate."
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [2][$10,000]; 2. 72-Ryan Smith [12][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [1][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$2,500]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [6][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,200]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$2,100]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$2,050]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$2,000]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [25][$700]; 12. 19M-Landon Myers [19][$1,200]; 13. 87-Alan Krimes [26][$300]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri [18][$1,050]; 15. 75-Chase Dietz [16][$1,000]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [20][$900]; 17. 39-Cory Haas [22][$800]; 18. 1X-Chad Trout [10][$800]; 19. 2-Carson Macedo [27][$]; 20. 99M-Kyle Moody [24][$800]; 21. 21-Brian Montieth [9][$800]; 22. 83-Daryn Pittman [4][$800]; 23. 11-T.J. Stutts [21][$800]; 24. 59-Jim Siegel [28][$]; 25. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 26. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$800]; 27. 88-Brandon Rahmer [11][$800]; 28. 48-Danny Dietrich [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-18, Lance Dewease 19-35l KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+14]
Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.116; 2. 69K-Lance Dewease, 13.129; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.347; 4. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 13.413; 5. 21-Brian Montieth, 13.431; 6. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 13.441; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.455; 8. 19M-Landon Myers, 13.473; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.493; 10. 11-T.J. Stutts, 13.494; 11. 39-Cory Haas, 13.515; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.54; 13. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.545; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.572; 15. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 13.577; 16. 59-Jim Siegel, 13.649; 17. 15X-Adam Wilt, 13.672; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.683; 19. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.688; 20. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.691; 21. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.971; 22. 91-Tony Fiore, 18.514
Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.349; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.49; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.556; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.607; 5. 1X-Chad Trout, 13.628; 6. 72-Ryan Smith, 13.629; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody, 13.644; 8. 75-Chase Dietz, 13.651; 9. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.662; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 13.688; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 13.694; 12. 69-Tim Glatfelter, 13.699; 13. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.808; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.81; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.837; 16. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 13.949; 17. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 13.971; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.995; 19. 90-Jordan Givler, 14.29; 20. 73B-Brett Michalski, 14.398; 21. 27G-Jay Galloway, 14.427
EVENING SHOWERS FORCE SECOND NIGHT OF #LETSRACETWO AT ELDORA TO BE POSTPONED
ROSSBURG, OH – While drivers dueled during the second Drydene Heat Race of the night, heavy persistent rain showers fell at Eldora Speedway forcing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to postpone Saturday's event at the speedway.
The event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 17, making it the kickoff to the 36th annual Kings Royal Weekend. The July 17 event will be an entirely new show.
Fans and competitors may use their tickets and wristbands as rainchecks for the rescheduled doubleheader on Wednesday, July 17 or redeem for admission towards any other event at Eldora Speedway by September 1.
If you have any further questions, call the track at 937-338-3815 or visit the track's website, EldoraSpeedway.com.
The Greatest Show on Dirt will continue its high-octane show Wednesday, May 15 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown,Pa.
For the latest on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, make sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Donny Schatz claims second win of 2019 at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – May 10, 2019 – Donny Schatz said he has nothing to prove to anyone.
But after leading every lap and winning the caution free 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Eldora Speedway Friday night, he proved he's still a dominating threat.
"I'm not done," a jubilated Schatz said after winning his second race of the season – 285th Series win overall.
Schatz, in his Tony Stewart Racing car, swept the May #LetsRaceTwo doubleheader at Eldora Speedway last year, which at that time was his seventh and eighth wins of the year. However, Schatz has a new crew chief this year – after his former Crew Chief Ricky Warner, who he spent most of his career with, went to work for Ford.
The 10-time Series champion doesn't point any fingers at the crew chief change for the lack of comparison to last year's performance. There's a multitude of changes to take into consideration.
"We've got a pretty good play book we've had over the years, but things change," Schatz said. "Tires change. Cars change. The ways guys race change, so you've got to stay on the front side of it. That's what we've been working on the past couple of months. I feel like we've figured out what we need to do to get things right for us. I'm happy about that and hopefully we can keep that to ourselves and not have to race against it."
Friday night's win won't define the rest of his season, though.
"You can't gauge anything off of one race," Schatz said. "It's just the way racing is. You make changes and you have to battle through it. If this was easy everybody would do it. Look at the stats over the past 10 or 12 years. You'll see what the stats say."
The stats of night one of #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway show Schatz dominated the Feature, leading every lap from the pole, but Logan Schuchart and rookie Carson Macedo didn't let Schatz cruise to an easy win.
When the green flag flew, Schatz launched to the lead, with Macedo close behind. While Schatz rode the inside line, Macedo threw his car to the high side. The rookie, in his Kyle Larson Racing car, charged on the outside like a starving predator in pursuit of an innocent prey.
By the time the two reached turn one for the second time, Macedo had already hurled his car underneath Schatz and cleared him by the apex. However, his momentum drew him back to the wall, allowing Schatz to ease underneath him and reclaim the lead.
"I thought when I was throwing stuff at him (Schatz) at the beginning, and I was kind of able to maintain after that, I thought maybe if we get to traffic, maybe I could make a move," said Macedo, who settled for third. "But Donny is just exceptional. I didn't pull the trigger when I probably should have. Just my fault. Something I need to work on as a driver. To win these World of Outlaws races, you just can't do that."
After Macedo's attempt to steal the champion's lead, Schatz set sail showing his expertise on the track he's won at more than 10 times. No matter if he had to go high or go low, Schatz could put his car wherever he needed to navigating lap traffic.
Slower cars would block his chosen lane at times, killing his momentum. That allowed the hard charging Schuchart to further close on Schatz every lap. Schuchart, who finished second to Schatz during both nights of last year's #LetsRaceTwo doubleheader, was determined to finish one spot better this year.
With about four laps to go, Schuchart close to a car length behind Schatz. The Shark Racing No. 1a was in sight for its third win of the season. But like Schatz, a lap car killed Schuchart's momentum and ended his chance for a second win at the speedway.
"I was following a car on the top and he hit the wall and I had to check up pretty good there," said runner-up Schuchart. "All and all I thought it was a good race. I think we actually fell to sixth at the beginning and had to work our way back up there. I think we had the car to beat and the fastest race car. I hope we can come back tomorrow and get another shot at it."
While Schatz had command of the race all night, there was still a lot going through his head on what he needed to do and look out for to secure the victory.
"Over the course of the run, you start to lose a little bit and lose a little bit," Schatz said. "And you use your tires. This place is always a question on fuel. You've got to be cautious on the gas, too, for being able to make the distance. We didn't have any yellows, thank goodness. That's another thing you have to take into play. You think about those things when you're leading."
He added the hardest thing to do is lead a race, and he hasn't done a lot of that this year -- just 14 laps before Friday night's race.
He's still having fun, though.
"I've won every race I've wanted to win," said Schatz, who now leads the Series standings by 14 points over Brad Sweet. "Everything from here is gravy. I'm racing the way I want. I'm racing with the people I want, and we're having a good time.
"The funny thing about the sport is, if you can have a fun time when you're not winning, when you are winning it's going to be really good. That's where we're at."
He has nothing left to prove. But that won't stop him from continuing to be a dominate threat.
UP NEXT:
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, May 11, at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for the final night of #LetsRaceTwo.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$5,000]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [2][$3,000]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3][$2,700]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [9][$2,500]; 6. 39-Christopher Bell [8][$2,200]; 7. 7S-Tim Kaeding [6][$2,000]; 8. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [4][$1,800]; 9. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$1,600]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,450]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [13][$1,300]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [24][$1,200]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [7][$1,100]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$1,000]; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$950]; 16. 24-Rico Abreu [22][$900]; 17. 70X-Spencer Bayston [20][$850]; 18. 19-Brent Marks [25][$50]; 19. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$725]; 20. 7-Jason Sides [23][$700]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [21][$700]; 22. 83-Daryn Pittman [16][$700]; 23. 1-Sammy Swindell [15][$700]; 24. 70-Brock Zearfoss [17][$700]; 25. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$700]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.825; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.833; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 12.848; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.857; 5. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.861; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.896; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.919; 8. 41-David Gravel, 12.936; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.942; 10. 7-Jason Sides, 13.01; 11. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.017; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.021; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.034; 14. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.045; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.062; 16. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.063; 17. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.065; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 13.086; 19. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.091; 20. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.109; 21. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.158; 22. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.177; 23. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.178; 24. 99G-Skylar Gee, 13.346; 25. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.497
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.881; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.947; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.009; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.02; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.038; 6. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.102; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.126; 8. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.137; 9. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.14; 10. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.196; 11. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.203; 12. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.208; 13. 99-Brady Bacon, 13.234; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.257; 15. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.27; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.307; 17. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.318; 18. 97-Caleb Helms, 13.368; 19. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.402; 20. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.532; 21. 8J-Jess Stiger, 13.599; 22. J4-John Garvin, 13.627; 23. 20I-Kelsey Ivy, 13.871; 24. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 13.975
Kevin Swindell seeks first World of Outlaws win as an owner with Christopher Bell at Eldora
ROSSBURG, OH – Kevin Swindell has unfinished business in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
A spinal injury from a crash at the 2015 Knoxville Nationals ended his driving career — leaving him with one World of Outlaws victory as a driver — but it hasn't stopped him from chasing wins.
For the past three years Swindell has been entering his No. 39 Sprint Car in various races — next on the schedule will be this weekend's World of Outlaws doubleheader at Eldora Speedway. But the top wing no longer has "Swindell" stickered across the front of it. Instead it's been names like Bayston and Bell.
Accented by a teal strip and letters, Swindell's name has found a new home on the side of the car as Swindell SpeedLab — the name of his team and other avenues, such as apparel — signifying his transition to car owner.
"I think any of the guys out there (in the Sprint Car community) would say they've thought about it (owning a team)," Swindell said. "Done right I think owner-driver is the most profitable way to do it. But someone else driving for me never was a thought."
It never was after his accident, either. Owning a team grew out of trying to help a young driver enter the top Sprint Car ranks.
In 2015, Swindell found himself acting as a driver coach and crew chief for Spencer Bayston, who at the time was running Parker Price-Miller's spare car in select races. The two clicked. When Bayston was looking to do more Sprint Car races the year after and rides fell through, Swindell said they linked up. The inaugural Swindell SpeedLab team was born.
"We really built it for him (Bayston) with no real future plan in mind for it then," Swindell said.
The pair won multiple races together in the All Star Circuit of Champions Series, and Bayston's success propelled him to a current full-time ride in that Series.
As for Swindell and his team, the vision into the future is a little blurry. Swindell said he's not sure what the ultimate goal for the team is.
"We've been lucky so far just kinda letting it evolve on its own," he said. "So, we'll just keep seeing where it takes us."
At the moment, he hopes to be able to continue helping young drivers. He plans to have Missouri-native Hunter Schuerenberg drive the car in a couple of races this year. Going full-time with the World of Outlaws isn't on the radar at the moment, but he's still eyeing several victories in the Series.
"It's the premier dirt Series in the world, in my opinion," said Swindell, son of three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell. "And it's been such a big part of my family for so long that winning those races is huge to me. I think in a way there were things I left unfinished in the seat that now I'm chasing from this side with it."
Swindell won his lone World of Outlaws race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2006. He was 17 years old when he won, which at the time made him the youngest ever winner in the Series, a record that was broken by 16-year-old Giovanni Scelzi last year. After that he won several other Sprint Car and Midget races — including four Chili Bowl Midget Nationals wins in-a-row — and had a short stint in NASCAR before his 2015 accident.
With Bayston in a new ride, Swindell has hired another young up-and-coming driver to help him chase more wins — NASCAR star Christopher Bell. And those wins almost came during the two World of Outlaws season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park.
Bell finished third on the first night of racing after winning the Drydene Heat Race. He then followed that up the second night by winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, leading 25 of the 30 laps in the Feature and battling with 2013 Series champion Daryn Pittman late in the race, eventually having to settle for second. He ended up leaving Florida second in points to Pittman.
"I was pumped," Swindell said about Bell's performance. "I really felt like had traffic played in our favor a little bit more we would have picked up two or three of those nights (at DIRTcar Nationals) but that's part of racing with these guys. They don't let you slack anywhere. It makes you so much better."
Swindell started working with Bell last year after Bayston and the team were going through a low point.
"We crashed and just needed to get a second opinion for both of our sake on the cars," Swindell said.
At the time, Bell was ride hopping, he said, so he sent him a text to gauge his interest. Bell had shown interest before, but Swindell said he wasn't sure if the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series champion was just joking or not.
"His team is new, but he has proven it (is a strong team) with multiple drivers," Bell said. "They had a lot of speed with Spencer in the car, so I knew it was capable of running up front."
Bell added that driving for a team owner who recently stepped out of the car has its advantages, as well.
Bell's schedule with the Swindell SpeedLab team is up in the air. At the beginning of the year Bell said he hoped to do about 20 to 25 Sprint Car races this season. Many depend on the approval of his NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing, giving him the approval to run the races.
Swindell said he would like to extend his schedule with Bell, who he treats like any other Sprint Car driver — paying him for his time in the car. At the moment, however, he's excited to get to their next race already scheduled — Eldora Speedway, on Friday May 10 and Saturday May 11 for the #LetsRaceTwo.
Bell cites the Rossburg, Ohio speedway as one of his best tracks. And for good reason. Of his four World of Outlaws victories two have come at Eldora, with the most recent being the Series last visit to speedway in October.
"Obviously his track record speaks for itself, so now I gotta do my job with it," Swindell said. "I just truly don't want to screw it up. We know he does his part there. So, I'm excited but nervous at the same time."
While it's Swindell's car going around tracks he would like to win at, there's no weird feeling watching someone other than him drive it. He said part of that is it wasn't his car to drive to begin with. The accident may have ended his driving career, but it far from ended his Sprint Car career.
He's still chasing wins. Still has unfinished business.
"After feeling like we were so close to winning one at Lake Ozark (Speedway) last year with Spencer, then such good runs at World Finals, I'm dying to close one out," Swindell said.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. with Hot Laps at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Eldora Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 12.707 sec. set by Craig Dollansky on April 13, 2002.
Online – EldoraSpeedway.com
Phone – (937) 338-3815
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/2-mile winners
There have been six races on a 1/2-mile track this season. Daryn Pittman won at Volusia Speedway on Feb. 8-9. Tim Shaffer won at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Feb. 27 and Donny Schatz won in Las Vegas on Feb. 28. Aaron Reutzel won at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30. And Logan Schuchart won at Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 12.
ELDORA SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
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 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 – 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 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 – 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 – 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, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 – 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 – 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 – Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 – Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 – Dave Blaney on April 18, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 – Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 – Jeff Swindell on April 23, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 – Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 – Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 – Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 – Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 – Brad Doty on May 22
1982 – Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, 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 25, Steve Kinser on July 5, 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. 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
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint – @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
David Gravel – @DavidGravel
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – @SidesMotorsport
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next race on Wednesday, May 15, at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and Sunday, May 19, at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY.
2019 STATS
There have been 13 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (25 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 6
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
4 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
5 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, Iowa – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
— Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– Carson Short, Marion, Ill. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 5
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 4
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 4
4 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
6 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 67
2– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
3 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 37
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 36
5 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
6 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
7 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 29
8 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
11 – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 10
12 – Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 3
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
18. Friday, April 12 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Logan Schuchart (2)
19. Saturday April 13 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
20. Friday April 26 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, Mo. / Brad Sweet (2)
21. Saturday April 27 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway / Pevely, Mo. / Rainout-Canceled
22. Sunday April 28 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, Ill. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Sept. 25
23. Friday May 3 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, Ark. / Rainout-Canceled
24. Saturday May 4 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, Ind. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Oct. 13
Rain postpones World of Outlaws Jacksonville Speedway Feature
JACKSONVILLE, IL – April 28, 2019 – A new track record. Wrecks in qualifying. And hard racing in the Drydene Heat races. All were leading up to a thrilling 40-lap Feature Sunday night at Jacksonville Speedway, but then heavy rain fell.
World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials were forced to postpone the remainder of the event, which still had the Last Chance Showdown and Feature to go.
Series and track officials are looking for a reschedule date. Make sure to watch WorldofOutlaws.com for updates.
Race Fans that attended the race should hold on to their wristband for the makeup Feature. If you have any further questions, call the speedway at (217) 207-3005.
With 42 cars in attendance and a packed house at the speedway, the night started with NASCAR-star Christopher Bell setting a blistering sub-10 sec. lap in Hot Laps – 9.887 sec., a second faster than Logan Schuchart's 2016 record setting lap of 10.805 sec. With the lap coming in Hot Lap, though, it was not considered an official new track record.
That honor would go to Aaron Reutzel. He set a 10.028 sec. lap in Qualifying, making him the fastest overall and the new Jacksonville Speedway track record holder.
"We were fortunate enough to draw good and not go out too late," Reutzel said after claiming the new track record. "The track definitely fell off there."
The event then moved into four thrilling Drydene Heat races. Reutzel continued to show his speed by winning the first Heat. Three-time Series champion Sammy Swindell and rookie Carson Macedo had a fierce battle to the finish of the second Heat with Swindell coming out on top. Schatz won the third Heat and David Gravel won the final Heat with Brent Marks finishing second, from 10th.
The final Heat was the start to Marks' comeback story, after crashing in Qualifying and not making a lap. His strong Heat race run put him in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He grabbed the lead at the start of the Dash and set sail for the checkered flag, claiming his first Dash win of the season.
The Last Chance Showdown was on track to follow the Dash, but Mother Nature decided to let rain fall once again ending the night.
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Friday, May 3, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., and Saturday, May 4, at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Brad Sweet makes late race pass on David Gravel to win at Lake Ozark
ELDON, MO – April 26, 2019 – Brad Sweet was in his own timeline Friday night for the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Lake Ozark Speedway.
Laps clicked off when he wanted them too. Slower cars were placed where he wanted them. The lead was his. Only his.
Until a red flag with 10 laps to go in the 40-lap Feature.
The atmosphere of dust around the 1/3-mile track fell to the ground in slow motion around the still cars. Sweet's straightaway lead on second-place David Gravel vanished with the snap of a finger. Time was no longer his to freely play with. He had to defend it.
When the green flag flew once again and the thunder of the cars struck the facility, Sweet – looking for his second win of the season – tried to jolt his way back to a commanding lead. But Gravel struck just as hard.
Determined to win in his Jason Johnson Racing team's backyard, Gravel became the mad titan of the high side. He used every inch of it to find the grip he needed to conquer his quest for the lead.
A lap after the restart, he did.
Gravel took the lead and set course for Victory Lane; a place he has visited twice this year already. His power lust of the high side soon became his downfall, though.
Sweet was not going to live with second. Determined to leave hoisting the trophy, the Grass Valley, Calif. native used his years of experience to find the right line and reel Gravel back in.
With four laps to go, Sweet found his advantage. He slid under Gravel in turns one and two, clearing him on the backstretch and then changing course to the high side of the track for the final few laps.
Sweet still wasn't invulnerable, though. Gravel tried every line he could to stay on Sweet's bumper. Not only did the Watertown, Conn.-native not want to lose the lead, but he could feel the breath of 10-time champion Donny Schatz down his neck.
With the checkered flag flying, Sweet saw a potential victory and defeat at the same time. One turn away from victory, a lap car blocked Sweet's run off turn four, allowing Gravel to close through the middle of the track and Schatz to close on Gravel on the bottom.
But they were in Sweet's endgame. He hammered the throttle off of turn four and found enough grip worthy of a strong run off the corner to claim his 36th career World of Outlaws victory.
"I almost gave it away in the last corner," Sweet said. "All that matters is we hung on to the checkers and got the win."
While the battle with Gravel was nerve-racking, he said, the most challenging part of the night was trying to find the best line.
"The top got tricky, then I had to get the bottom going, and the bottom got slow and tricky, as well," Sweet said. "Just trying to maneuver through lap cars, that's key to winning these races. We're getting better and better at managing our tires and getting through lap cars. Tonight, I thought we did a really good job and did everything perfectly until that caution."
Gravel knew if Sweet stuck to the bottom on the restart he could get by him on the high side. But he said, with five to go, the high side just didn't work for him anymore.
"The top got extremely tricky at the end," Gravel said. "Our right rear tire was going low, and that doesn't help on the cushion. A couple of little things that hurt us a little bit. Just those last three-four laps were not good laps, and paid for it."
His second-place finish is not looked at as a failure, though. With his team based about eight miles from Lake Ozark Speedway, Gravel said the No. 41 car team's performance was good and they have to be proud of their night, which started with going Quick Time in Qualifying.
"If we can do that nine times out of 10, we'll be having a really good year," Gravel said.
Gravel's second-place finished has left him tied for fourth in points with rookie Carson Macedo, who also had a night to be proud of. In his first appearance at the speedway, Macedo earned the KSE Hard Charger award – making his way through the field like a veteran, going from 18th to sixth.
"I think it took us a little bit to learn the race track and know what we need," Macedo said. "It took a little bit for me to get use to the place, as well. Being the first year with me out here, I think it's one of them deals where we have to learn throughout the night and continue to try and get better and better."
Macedo and Gravel are 96 points behind points leader Sweet. The battle for the points lead remains tight with Schatz only eight points behind Sweet and Daryn Pittman – who finished fifth – 16 points back in third.
Sweet has become the fourth driver this year to win more than one race – Pittman, Gravel and Logan Schuchart also have two wins. His triumphs this season have not changed his itinerary for the season.
He still plans to end every race the same way he did at Lake Ozark Speedway – in his own timeline with an atmosphere of confetti falling to the ground in slow motion around his still car and a trophy that's his. Only his.
UP NEXT:
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,200]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [12][$2,800]; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman [1][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [18][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,200]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$2,100]; 9. 91-Cale Thomas [3][$2,050]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [15][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$1,100]; 14. 1-Sammy Swindell [9][$1,050]; 15. 4-Terry McCarl [10][$1,000]; 16. 21X-Carson Short [21][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [14][$800]; 18. 21-Brian Brown [23][$800]; 19. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [8][$800]; 20. 45-Chad Kemenah [16][$800]; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 22. 17B-Bill Balog [24][$800]; 23. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [19][$800]; 24. 64-Scotty Thiel [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31, 37-40; David Gravel 32-36; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+12]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.714; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.738; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.791; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.804; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.815; 6. 91-Cale Thomas, 11.822; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.852; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 11.871; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.874; 10. 21X-Carson Short, 11.91; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.928; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.935; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.951; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.953; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.984; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.005; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.11; 18. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.142; 19. 64-Scotty Thiel, 12.158; 20. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.169; 21. 5X-Justin Peck, 12.241; 22. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.255; 23. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.287; 24. 45-Chad Kemenah, 12.331; 25. 21-Brian Brown, 12.343; 26. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 12.362; 27. 22-Dustin Barks, 12.436; 28. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.495; 29. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.54; 30. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.618; 31. 8S-Steve Short, 13.093; 32. 68-Frank Rodgers, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Jason Johnson Racing Eyes Backyard Victory In The Midwest
ELDON, Mo. — There wasn't a big enough word in the dictionary to describe how Jason Johnson Racing team owner Bobbi Johnson felt when David Gravel and the team claimed their first win of the season in March at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
It was the team's first World of Outlaws win since her husband and team co-owner Jason Johnson died in a racing accident last year.
"There were tears of joy. Tears of sadness. Tears of everything, really, all mixed into one ball," Johnson said. "I got on the dictionary and tried to find the biggest word to describe your feeling. It's just unreal."
The team's feeling of joy continued two races later when Gravel won again at Arizona Speedway, and it could return this weekend. The Missouri-based team will be racing close to home at Lake Ozark Speedway on Friday, Federated Auto Parts Raceway on Saturday and Jacksonville Speedway on Sunday.
Of the three Midwest tracks, Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., is the one Johnson has circled on the schedule with it being just eight miles from the team's shop in Rocky Mount, Mo. A win at the speedway would be "wild and unique," she said.
Racing close to JJR's home, with local sponsor and fan support, doesn't come with any added pressure to win for Gravel. Instead, he said it's more relaxing.
"I think it makes it more enjoyable for the guys," Gravel said. "You can drive 15 minutes and be at the shop, it's definitely a good thing."
Locating Jason Johnson Racing in Missouri was by design. Johnson said with the more than 90 race World of Outlaws schedule that spans the United States, there are times when teams are home only once or twice throughout the season. Being centrally located in the Midwest, Johnson said the team gets to come home about six times a year.
"It's probably one of the best, super exciting feelings you can have on the whole tour, that you get to sleep in your own bed," Johnson said. "We felt we picked a great location to have a race team based out of just because you get to come home, per se, and have a couple extra fun things to do."
With the Series being off for a week, teams had an extra week of being home. Work didn't stop though. Their focus is still on winning the next race, and even though Gravel already has two wins — one of three drivers, so far, this season with more than one win — that hasn't changed his or JJR's approach to the season.
"We come to win every night," Gravel said. "Realistically that's not possible, but you like to run the best and make the best of every night no matter where you start. I think as a team we want to consistently be in the top five."
This season is Gravel's first year with Jason Johnson Racing, after three years with CJB Motorsports, and Johnson couldn't be happier with the progress of the team, so far.
"Jason (Johnson) used to say it's so hard to win an Outlaw race," Bobbi Johnson said. "You're racing against the best. It's the most elite. So, to pull off not only one victory, but two victories, in my eyes, it's totally awesome. We had some highs and lows already this season, and then accomplished the almighty — win a race with the World of Outlaws together as a new team."
When looking for a driver to fill Johnson's seat in the No. 41 Sprint Car, there were a few drivers being looked at, but Bobbi Johnson said, her heart leaned toward Watertown, Conn. driver, David Gravel.
During their long hours together on the road, Johnson said she and Jason would talk about different drivers they felt were up and coming and would rise to the top of the World of Outlaws. Gravel was one of them.
"We talked a lot about his driving capabilities," Johnson said. "When it came available that he was available, we reached out and had a meeting."
To her, Gravel was the right fit.
"I'm very happy with the progress that we've made," Gravel said, who currently sits sixth in points, 92 points behind leader Brad Sweet. "And hopefully we just keep that going."
Same as Gravel, Johnson's ultimate goal is to win more races. This weekend's Midwest triple-header will be the next target. But she's still living in the moment of seeing the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing Sprint Car return to victory lane, not once, but twice already this season, trying to define her feelings.
"We beat some of the best out there," she said. "I guess you can't really describe that feeling because it's just unreal. I guess I'm more proud that the team pulled together."
NEWS & NOTES
• PARTY TIME AT LAKE OZARK: The night before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars battle at Lake Ozark Speedway, fans have the unique opportunity to meet several of the racers from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Fat Polly's Pub next to The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. The event will feature live music and a chance to see some of the cars up close and meet some of the drivers. Plus, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series souvenir trailer will have all of the latest specials, too. Tickets for the race are available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
• MULTIPLE WINS: When Logan Schuchart won Friday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway, he became just the third driver with more than one victory this season, joining Daryn Pittman – who won the first two Features of the year – and David Gravel – who won at Keller Auto Speedway and Arizona Speedway.
• BUILDING CONSISTENCY: After scoring their first top-10 of the season at Arizona Speedway, Jacob Allen and Kraig Kinser backed up their performance with strong runs at Devil's Bowl. Kinser scored the Quick Time of the night and finished second in his Heat race to winner Allen. Kinser then went on to win the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and start on the pole for the Feature. He led the first three laps before Allen took the lead. Both eventually faded out of the top two spots, but remained in the top-five with Allen finishing third and Kinser fourth.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 26, at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. for the Battle at the Lake
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. for the Spring Classic
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Lake Ozark Speedway is a 1/3-mile, slightly-banked track.
Online – LakeOzarkSpeedway.net
Phone – (573) 418-0565
Federated Auto Parts Raceway is a 1/3-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 10.189 sec. set by Stevie Smith on March 30, 2002.
Online – FederatedAutoPartsRaceway.com
Phone – (636) 479-3219
Jacksonville Speedway is a quarter-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 11.544 sec. set by Donny Schatz on May 7, 2014.
Online – JacksonvilleSpeedway.com
Phone – (217) 207-3005
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/3-mile and 1/4-mile winners
There have been two races on a 1/3-mile track, so far, this year. Ian Madsen won at Thunderbowl Raceway on March 9 and David Gravel won at Arizona Speedway on April 6.
There has been one race on a 1/4-mile track so far this year. Carson Macedo won at Silver Dollar Speedway on March 15.
LAKE OZARK SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Donny Schatz
2007 - Craig Dollansky
2005 - Tim Shaffer
FEDERATED AUTO PARTS RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 21, Rico Abreu on August 3, Logan Schuchart on August 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
JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2016 - Joey Saldana on May 4
2014 - Christopher Bell on May 7
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next race on Friday, May 3, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. and on Saturday, May 4, at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
2019 STATS
There have been 12 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 6
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
5 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
6 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (16 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 37
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 32
– Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 31
5 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
6 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 29
7 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
8 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
9 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
10 – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 10
11 – Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 3
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
18. Friday, April 12 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Logan Schuchart (2)
19. Saturday April 13 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
Shark Racing takes a bite out of the record books at Devil's Bowl
MESQUITE, TX – April 12, 2019 – Logan Schuchart totaled two wins in the 2018 World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season. He now has two wins in just 12 races this year.
He wrote his name into the record books Friday night, claiming his first win at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway – the site of the inaugural World of Outlaws race in 1978 – and his 10th Series win overall.
"I've watched old videos of my grandfather (Bobby Allen) running good here and winning races," Schuchart said. "Now, I get to put my name in the history books and this team gets to put its name in the history books."
Not only did he claim the win for the Pennsylvania-based Shark Racing team – owned by his grandfather – his teammate Jacob Allen led 10 laps of the 25-lap Feature and finished third – his first top-five this season.
"I love it," said Bobby Allen, who won at Devil's Bowl in 1986. "That's what we're here for. We got a first and a third, so we're real happy... Happier."
Schuchart had to "cowboy up" for his first win of the season at the Stockton Dirt Track, wrestling with rough track conditions. He had to do the same again at Devil's Bowl, but not because of the track. The competition.
After finding their way into the top-10 for the first time this season at Arizona Speedway, Kraig Kinser started on the pole for the Feature – after winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – and Jacob Allen started second. The two were the class of the field at the start of the race.
When the green flag flew, Kinser pulled away to the early lead. Allen nearly ended his race before it started. He had a slow start, allowing Daryn Pittman to get by him for second and was side by side with Schuchart for third going down the front stretch. But Allen was hooked on the high side of the track.
He bested his teammate through turns one and two, and nearly came side by side with Pittman down the backstretch before Pittman blocked his run. The next lap, Allen didn't give Pittman the chance to pull the same move twice. He made his way by Pittman and set his sight on Kinser.
Allen took the lead by Lap four and began to put about a car length distance between he and the second-place car every lap. However, his pace put him in traffic by Lap seven.
Behind him, Schuchart and Pittman traded slide jobs turn after turn, lap after lap, fighting to claim third. Schuchart was the victory and led the train of he and Pittman to the front.
While the high side led Allen to the lead, it became his downfall. Schuchart and Pittman both found grip on the bottom of the track and made their way by Kinser and Allen.
"It made it tough trying to take the lead away from Jake," Schuchart said about passing his teammate, who was going for his first win. "I'm going to race him just as hard as anybody else. He's going to get his first win. He's getting better and better every year. That breakthrough win is going to happen for this team."
Pittman didn't care about either of them winning. The Owasso, Okla. native wanted another win at the track just a few hours from his home. With about 10 laps to go, Schuchart slid up the track off of turn two, allowing Pittman to get a run underneath him and take the lead. But a lap later, Pittman made the same mistake, allowing Schuchart to get back by and charge to his first Texas Outlaw Nationals win.
"Gave that one away," Pittman said. "The bottom just took off. It got so much faster in a hurry. Pretty frustrated, but we had a good car."
It was Pittman's first top-five finish since finishing second to David Gravel at Keller Auto Speedway last month.
He continues to sit third in points, but now just six points behind leader Brad Sweet. Donny Schatz is second, two points behind Sweet. Rookie Carson Macedo, continues to impress, remaining fourth in points – 84 points behind Sweet – and Schuchart sits fifth – 90 points behind the lead.
After missing three Features early this season, Allen is starting to find consistency, winning two Drydene Heat races in-a-row, making his way into the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and earning two top-10 finishes in-a-row.
"Obviously I want to win more than anything," Allen said. "It is what it is, but I had fun. It's really good to see Logan win and both Shark Racing cars on the podium. We work hard at this and this is what it's about."
Schuchart was the king shark Friday night, and even though he's already matched his 2018 win total, he said that won't change his approach to the rest of the season.
"We just want to win races," a grinning Schuchart said. "We just want to get out there and win races every time we go."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 13, at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway for the second night of the Texas Outlaw Nationals.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$8,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [4][$4,000]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [2][$2,500]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1][$2,200]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,100]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,000]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$1,800]; 8. 1B-Travis Rilat [8][$1,600]; 9. 41-David Gravel [12][$1,500]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,300]; 11. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$1,100]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,000]; 14. 1-Sammy Swindell [19][$700]; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah [18][$600]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 17. 28-Scott Bogucki [13][$600]; 18. 55-Danny Wood [22][$600]; 19. 33M-Mason Daniel [21][$600]; 20. 99X-Dalton Stevens [24][$600]; 21. 12H-Tony Bruce [23][$600]; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson [16][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$600]; 24. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [17][$600]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-3, Jacob Allen 4-13, Logan Schuchart 14-15, 17-25; Daryn Pittman 16; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1-Sammy Swindell[+5]
Qualifying - 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.699; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.76; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.792; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.879; 5. 1B-Travis Rilat, 13.909; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.934; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.942; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 13.957; 9. 41-David Gravel, 13.976; 10. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.992; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.105; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.135; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell, 14.138; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.142; 15. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 14.149; 16. 28-Scott Bogucki, 14.166; 17. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.201; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.365; 19. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 14.442; 20. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.442; 21. 21P-Robbie Price, 14.466; 22. 55-Danny Wood, 14.563; 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 14.595; 24. 12H-Tony Bruce, 14.689; 25. 2X-Tucker Doughty, 15.119; 26. 99X-Dalton Stevens, 15.313; 27. 10P-Jim Perricone, 16.028
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Allen, Kinser, Marks look to continue strong finishes at Devil's Bowl after finding the top-10 in Arizona
MESQUITE, TX – While Brad Sweet and David Gravel are carrying winning momentum into this weekend's doubleheader at Devil's Bowl Speedway, a few drivers are carrying the relieving momentum of getting their first top-10 of the year.
Before entering the Arizona races at USA Raceway and Arizona Speedway last weekend, Brent Marks had finished no better than 11th, Kraig Kinser 15th and Jacob Allen 21st. Kinser had also missed transferring to one Feature, Marks two and Allen three – in the first nine races of the season.
But their fortune turned in the desert. Marks finished 6th at USA Raceway, and followed it up with an 11th place finish at Arizona Speedway the next night. Kinser and Allen finished 16th and 19th respectively at USA Raceway, but then Allen made his way to seventh and Kinser eighth at Arizona Speedway.
"I think things will start going our way," Marks said, after claiming his first top-10 of the year.
The Myerstown, Pa., native is coming off of his best season, finishing ninth in points with three victories. He said his team has been working hard on the car each week to get it back to its competitive nature. Putting together a good race day starts with good time trial results, he said.
"We're getting ourselves better there," Marks said. "Just need to get ourselves better in race trim, too."
Kinser – son of 20-time Series champion Steve Kinser – also credited good Qualifying results as the key to securing his first top-10 of the season.
"It just worked out in our favor," Kinser said, sweat drenched across his face after the Arizona Speedway Feature. "We've been working on our car about every week. Some big changes, some little changes."
Kinser has 17 career wins, but has not won since 2017. He's looking to carry and build momentum into Devil's Bowl Speedway and beyond. It's his goal to be running up front every week.
"We struggled pretty hard in the West Coast swing," the Bloomington, Ind.-native said. Now we're getting back toward the Midwest and back closer to home and hopefully we'll start picking up and this is a good start to that."
A seventh-place finish at Arizona Speedway is the confidence booster Allen needed.
"It definitely feels good," Allen said. "I know I can do it."
He started off his night at Arizona Speedway winning his first Drydene Heat race of the year, putting him in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash where he finished third.
Allen, who is still looking for his first career World of Outlaws win, credits some of his success to having a better understanding of different set-ups for different track conditions.
"Last year, I kind of stuck to one set-up," said Allen, of Hanover, Pa. "It would work on certain race tracks at certain times for the year, but I'm just learning more of the set-ups."
His struggle this year has been keeping up with the car's set-up throughout the night.
"Sometimes I just struggle," he said. "Other times I can Qualify good and then I go out there and mess with the set-up for a Heat race and it just makes me feel uncomfortable. I can't race it the way I want to."
Now after putting together a successful race throughout the whole night, he has momentum to build off of with his Shark Racing team going into the doubleheader at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13.
"To get back up front with everybody and not fall, and just to compete and feel that good is definitely rewarding," Allen said.
The last time the Series visited Devil's Bowl Speedway, Kinser and Marks both finished in the top-10, while Allen finished 11th.
Don't miss a second of the action at Devil's Bowl, get your tickets by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or call 844-DIRT-TIX. If you can't make it to the track, be sure to watch the race LIVE on DIRTVISION.com.
Shane Stewart looks to build momentum at Devil's Bowl with new CJB Motorsports team
MESQUITE, TX – April 8, 2019 – Oklahoma native Shane Stewart is looking forward to heading home this weekend — kind of.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is returning to historic Devil's Bowl Speedway, Friday April 12, and Saturday, April 13 — a track Stewart now considers home and has circled on his calendar.
The Mesquite, Texas track — where the inaugural World of Outlaws race was held in 1978 — is about four hours away from Stewart's hometown of Bixby, Okla. With most tracks in Oklahoma either torn down, or a distant memory, Devil's Bowl Speedway has become his surrogate hometrack. However, it's more than just a hometrack.
"Devil's Bowl has always been one of those bigger races on the schedule," Stewart said. "Back when I was growing up, Devil's Bowl, besides Knoxville, was always it for me. If you look at the drivers that have won there, especially Outlaw drivers, the list is pretty deep, with a lot of history there. It's definitely a track that everybody wants to win at."
He won at the track in 2016 and had a podium finish at the second race there last year. After an up and down early start to the season, Stewart's hoping for similar results this year as he and his new CJB Motorsports team continue to learn each other.
Stewart started off the World of Outlaws season strong, finishing second on the opening night of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, but then finished 19th and 21st the next two races. Since then his results have been a mix of top-15 and top-10 finishes — placing him currently eighth in Series points.
"Our finishes haven't really shown how we've been," Stewart said. "I feel like we've been in contention to win three races, and I let one of them sneak away at Volusia, and we were leading the other night and had a flat at Stockton. When we Qualify in the right spot, put ourselves in the Dash, we've been in contention to win."
He spent the past five years driving for Kyle Larson Racing, and while each team is unique with its own personality, Stewart said there's been no difficulties adjusting to driving the No. 5 car with 2017 Crew Chief of the Year Barry Jackson.
Jackson agrees.
"He (Shane) and I, we communicate real well, and relate real well," Jackson said.
David Gravel, who moved over to Jason Johnson Racing this year, spent the last three years as Jackson's driver, and while they found success winning more than 30 races and finishing third in points all three years together, Jackson said it's easier to connect with Stewart.
"I think with Shane and I, we come from a little bit more similar background," Jackson said, "We're closer in age. It's a little harder for the older guys to work with the real young guys, at least for me. And Shane and I have a lot of similarities, and we're clicking pretty good in that department."
What's hindered the team this year is consistency with races, bad luck and the team's engine program, Jackson said.
After 12 years of working with Kistler Engines, Jackson said, at USA Raceway, he made the difficult decision to switch to engines from Gray Motorsports — which races in the NHRA Pro Stock division.
"We kind of had some issues, kind of going on for about a year," Jackson said about the team's engine program. "It's going to be a little bit of a learning experience for both them and myself. They're great engine builders, but it's like me going over there to try and work on a Pro Stock car or a Funny Car. It's a whole different ball game."
He made the decision to switch engine builders after the second race at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas — where Stewart finished 21st — after about 15 hours of talking over the decision with several people. However, Jackson said he's not sure if the engine switch is his final decision, though. Stewart finished 10th at USA Raceway and 12th at Arizona Speedway last weekend.
But if there was a time to have a slow run in the season, Jackson said he wants it to be now.
"Sometimes you've just got to get the season rolling," Jackson said. "I don't feel like we've got a chance to do that yet with all of the rain outs. If I'm going to have a little bit of a slow time in the season, as far as performance, I want it to be now. Because whenever May rolls around and you start looking at the races we have in May and the races we have in June, July and August, that's where I want to get on a roll. Hopefully we're getting this stuff out of the way now and we'll be set to roll real soon."
Having run well at Devil's Bowl Speedway previously, Stewart looks for the team chemistry and momentum to grow this weekend.
"Going to different race tracks and putting yourself in different situations, knowing how to communicate with each other is one of the things that we continue to work on," Stewart said. "I feel like we're heading in the right direction."
NEWS & NOTES
• PARTY TIME AT LAKE OZARK: The night before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars battle at Lake Ozark Speedway, fans have the unique opportunity meet several of the racers from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Fat Polly's Pub next to The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. The event will feature live music and a chance to see some of the cars up close and meet some of the drivers. Plus, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series souvenir trailer will have all of the latest specials, too. Tickets for the race are available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
• MULTIPLE WINS: When David Gravel won on Saturday night at Arizona Speedway, he became only the second driver with more than one victory this season, joining Daryn Pittman, who won the first two Features of the year.
• MR. CONSISTENCY: Brad Sweet, who won at USA Raceway on Friday and was second on Saturday at Arizona Speedway has taken over the championship lead. He's finished in the top-five in six of his past seven races — four of which have been podium finishes, and one a victory. That's placed him as the current Series points leader, four points ahead of reigning champion Donny Schatz.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas for the Texas Outlaw Nationals
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps at 7 p.m., Time Trials at 7:30 p.m. and Racing at 8 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Devil's Bowl Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 13.530 sec. by Mark Kinser on April 24, 1999.
Online – DevilsBowl.com
Phone – (972) 222-2421
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/2-mile winners
There have been five races on a 1/2-mile track this season. Daryn Pittman won at Volusia Speedway on Feb. 8-9. Tim Shaffer won at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Feb. 27 and Donny Schatz won in Las Vegas on Feb. 28. Aaron Reutzel won at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30.
DEVIL'S BOWL SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 27, Donny Schatz on April 28
2017 - Jason Johnson on April 14, Brad Sweet on April 15
2016 - Joey Saldana on April 22, Shane Stewart on April 23
2015 - Donny Schatz on April 25
2014 - Donny Schatz on April 18, Daryn Pittman on April 19
2003 - Tyler Walker on March 15
2002 - Joey Saldana on March 16
2001 - Craig Dollansky on March 10, Joey Saldana on October 27
2000 - Danny Lasoski on March 11, Sammy Swindell on October 28
1999 - Danny Lasoski on April 24, Sammy Swindell on April 24 (1998 Winter Nat'ls finale), Gary Wright on October 15
1998 - Steve Kinser on March 21
1997 - Mark Kinser on March 22, Mark Kinser on October 18
1996 - Steve Kinser on March 23, Mark Kinser on October 19
1995 - Gary Wright on March 18, Stevie Smith on July 29, Gary Wright on October 21
1994 - Andy Hillenburg on March 19, Steve Kinser on July 30, Sammy Swindell on October 23
1993 - Steve Kinser on March 20, Gary Wright on July 31, Dave Blaney on October 23
1992 - Stevie Smith on March 21, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Steve Kinser on October 24
1988 - Dave Blaney on March 19, Steve Kinser on June 18
1987 - Sammy Swindell on March 15, Bobby Davis, Jr., on June 20
1986 - Bobby Allen on March 9, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1985 - Steve Kinser on March 3, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1984 - Steve Kinser on March 4, Bobby Davis, Jr., on May 4, Jeff Swindell on June 22
1983 - Doug Wolfgang on April 22, Ron Shuman on June 24
1982 - Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 20, Steve Kinser on June 25
1981 - Danny Smith on March 14, Doug Wolfgang on March 21, Ron Shuman on June 26
1980 - Doug Wolfgang on March 15, Sammy Swindell on March 22, Sammy Swindell on June 27, Sammy Swindell on September 13
1979 - Steve Kinser on March 31, Sammy Swindell on September 8
1978 - Jimmy Boyd on March 18, Sammy Swindell on September 16
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: After a week off, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will continue its Spring tour Friday, April 26, at Lake Ozark Speedway in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. and Sunday, April 28, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
2019 STATS
There have been 11 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 5
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
4 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
5 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
-- Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
-- Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 32
– Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 31
5 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
6 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
7 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
8 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
David Gravel claims 41st World of Outlaws victory in Jason Johnson Racing's #41 car
QUEEN CREEK, AZ – April 6, 2019 – David Gravel's first win of the season last month with his new Jason Johnson Racing team was sentimental for several reasons. His second win, Saturday night at Arizona Speedway, was no different.
Not only did he win on his sister Victoria's birthday, he claimed his 41st career World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win in the #41 car – the number chosen by the late Jason Johnson to run.
"I've kind of forgot about it, because if you try too hard to win a race, you know, it's not going to come," Gravel said about looking for win number 41. "I knew the next one was going to be 41, but it didn't really all click. I'm glad to win on my sister's birthday and it's cool to be my 41st win. All of those things coming together, I guess it was meant to be."
Win 41 was no easier than win 40, though.
Starting fourth in the 30-Lap Arizona Desert Shootout Feature, Gravel had his work cut out for him. He made his way by third-place Jacob Allen in a lap, but then had to contend with 2017 Rookie of the Year, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Friday night's Feature winner Brad Sweet – the two fastest cars of the night.
Sweet was a tenth of a second off setting a new track record in Qualifying, and then went on to win his Drydene Heat race. He took the early lead in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, but Haudenschild showed his muscle in the closing laps, powering by Sweet on the high side for the win.
Haudenschild then continued where he left off in the Dash, cruising to the lead in the Feature and pulling away from the field. His blistering pace put him in lap traffic a third of the way through the caution-free Feature, allowing Sweet and Gravel to get close enough to taste the lead.
Sweet used lap traffic to his advantage the night prior, besting Ian Madsen in the game of maneuverability through slower cars. That looked to be his fortune once again, until Gravel continued to make ground on him. While Sweet reeled in Haudenschild, Gravel had Sweet locked in his visor.
The two battled side by side for about four laps, swapping lanes every corner. By Lap 13, Gravel mastered the bottom of the tacky track through turns three and four, clearing Sweet down the front stretch and maintaining the position with a run on the high side of turns one and two.
That run not only cleared him of the blue Kasey Kahne Racing car, it put him in striking distance of Haudenschild's car. While Haudenschild tried to maneuver around a lap car in turns three and four, Gravel pulled the same move on him that he pulled on Sweet, claiming the lead on Lap 14 and never relinquishing it.
"He (Haudenschild) didn't hit his exit, and that just opened the door for me," Gravel said. "Luckily, it all worked out. Whatever lane I went, I seemed to be faster."
Haudenschild concurred with Gravel's assessment of the race, acknowledging he made a mistake.
"I figured if I could just rip the cushion and make consistent laps, I'd be alright," said Haudeschild, who ended up third. "Once I got to lappers and the guy was running the top, I really didn't make a good move. Like David said, I lost my run off the exit."
After starting the season with four finishes in-a-row outside the top-12, the Wooster, Ohio native has found consistency. He's finished in the top-10 in his last five races – two of which have been top-five finishes.
"It's been kind of a rocky start, but we've been building momentum here in these last few races," Haudenschild said.
On a more consistent run is second-place finisher, Sweet. He's finished in the top-five in six of his last seven races – four of which have been podium finishes, and one a victory. That's placed him as the current Series points leader – four points ahead of reigning champion Donny Schatz.
"It's always cool to lead the points, but I don't even think we're a tenth of the way through the season," Grass Valley, Calif. native, Sweet said. "It's going to be a long summer. As long as we keep getting better and standing on the podium, the points will shake out how they will at the end."
Gravel, of Watertown, Conn., became only the second driver this year to claim more than one victory – Daryn Pittman was the first winning both races at Volusia Speedway Park.
With win number two out of the way, Gravel looks for more consistency with his Jason Johnson Racing team.
"We struggled, got a win, the next day ran 12th," Gravel said. "Now, this weekend (in Arizona) we went third and first. As a team, that's what you're looking for, is having podiums and top-fives. That's what makes a good season."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 41-David Gravel [4][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$2,800]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,500]; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman [7][$2,300]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [3][$2,200]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [8][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$1,200]; 13. 45-Chad Kemenah [12][$1,100]; 14. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [5][$1,050]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [18][$900]; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel [20][$800]; 18. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$800]; 19. 21-Brian Brown [9][$800]; 20. 11-Mike Kuemper [21][$800]; 21. 21P-Robbie Price [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-13, David Gravel 14-30; KSE Hard Charger Award:15-Donny Schatz[+9]Qualifying - 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.452; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.573; 3. 41-David Gravel, 12.601; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.625; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.644; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.685; 7. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.686; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 12.704; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 12.718; 10. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.759; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.766; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.767; 13. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.796; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.845; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.859; 16. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.859; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.875; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah, 12.962; 19. 21P-Robbie Price, 12.968; 20. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.104; 21. 11-Mike Kuemper, 13.573
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
'Big Cat' Brad Sweet claims Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway
TUCSON, AZ – April 5, 2019 – With five laps to go in the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway Friday night, Brad Sweet's victory was far from certain.
Sweet had command of the race, having stolen the lead from Ian Madsen just before a Lap 19 caution. However, Madsen did not let the blue Kasey Kahne Racing car of Sweet out of his sight.
With lap traffic in Sweet's windshield, Madsen used it to his advantage turning a car length distance between them into half a car length. Then a quarter. The laps were winding down in a hurry, but the race was far from over.
That is until the lap traffic that was helping Madsen catch Sweet, ended up killing his momentum with a lap to go, putting more than a car length back between he and Sweet, who went on to claim his first win of the 2019 season – his 35th career win overall.
"I was just kind of lucky to get through a few of those guys, just mistakes in lap traffic and we were in the right spot to capitalize," said Grass Valley, Calif. native Sweet. "The car was superfast and made the opportunities for us to take advantage of those opportunities."
His night didn't start off looking like he would claim his second win at the raceway – his first coming in 2014. He broke down at the start of Hot Laps, but his KKR team got him back on track in time for Qualifying, ending up fifth. Sweet then went on to finish second in his Heat race – to winner Madsen. However, he then struggled in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, finishing last.
That resulted in Sweet starting sixth for the 30-lap Feature, while Madsen, who fared better in the Dash, started on the outside pole.
When the green flag flew, Madsen, last year's Rookie of the Year, shot by polesitter Donny Schatz and ran away with the lead.
"Everyone's always better in clean air," said Madsen, who ended up second. "It just kind of got pretty tricky there in the middle of the race. We got stuck behind some lap cars and we just weren't as good as Brad tonight to maneuver around to get past the lap cars."
Madsen's blistering pace at the start of the race put him in lap traffic by Lap five. While the Australian hustled his way around the slower cars, Sweet – with a little bit of luck on his side – methodically moved his way to the front, lap by lap.
"I think we were in the right place at the right time a lot of the time and we were able to capitalize," Sweet said. "Coming from sixth to win is hard in these things, especially on a pretty fast track. We'll take it any way we can get it."
Luck wasn't the only factor that helped him to the front. A little bit of skill, knowing where to put his car helped, too.
"Luckily for me, I kind of found a low line in turn one, and kind of low down the front stretch," Sweet said. "If I could get off (turn) four equal or a little better than the guy in front of me, I could go low in turn one and it seemed like I could carry more speed. That's where I made all of my passes."
While Sweet and Madsen stole the show, Brent Marks raced his way to his best finish so far this year – sixth. Prior to that his best finish this year had been 11th in Las Vegas. After that he missed two races and had finished no better than 12th. But now, momentum is on his side going forward.
"I know my results through California don't really show, but we've been getting our car really good," said Marks after his first race at USA Raceway. "We'll just keep plugging away and fine tuning this race car and try to have a little bit better luck on our side. Excited we got a good run tonight."
Sweet is the ninth different winner this season in 10 races. Both Madsen and third-place finisher David Gravel, claimed a victory during the Series' March California swing. While Sweet didn't claim a victory during the swing, he had one of the best performances during it. He finished in the top-10 in all five races – four of them top-five finishes. And had the best average finish of 4.4.
That consistency, in addition to Friday night's win, has left him tied for the points lead with 10-times Series champion, Schatz. Daryn Pittman, who was tied for the points lead with Schatz coming into the race is now third – just six points behind the two.
"It's nice to get the first win and hopefully we can carry the momentum going forward," Sweet said. "It's a long season. We're 10 races into a 94-race schedule, so hopefully this is good signs to come for us."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 6, at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$10,000]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [2][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [5][$2,500]; 6. 19-Brent Marks [3][$2,300]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [10][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$2,100]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,050]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [8][$2,000]; 11. 13-Mark Dobmeier [16][$1,500]; 12. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,200]; 13. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [19][$1,100]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [13][$1,050]; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah [9][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$900]; 17. 21P-Robbie Price [17][$800]; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel [18][$800]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$800]; 21. 7-Gravy Fairfield [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-18, Brad Sweet 19-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.234; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.272; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.279; 4. 21-Brian Brown, 13.295; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.302; 6. 41-David Gravel, 13.321; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.339; 8. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.368; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.39; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 13.432; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.433; 12. 45-Chad Kemenah, 13.472; 13. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.505; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.518; 15. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.592; 16. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.619; 17. 21P-Robbie Price, 13.648; 18. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.76; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.84; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.866; 21. 7-Gravy Fairfield, 18.4
Gravel, Macedo hope their winning momentum carries into this week's events in Arizona
TUCSON, AZ – With the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series California swing now concluded, David Gravel and Carson Macedo are looking to ride the momentum of their recent strong finishes into this weekend's doubleheader in Arizona.
The swing wrapped up last Friday at Keller Auto Speedway, where Gravel claimed his first win of the season, and last Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway, where rookie Carson Macedo got his second podium finish of the year.
For Macedo and his Kyle Larson Racing team it was the continuation of an impressive stretch of races — finishing in the top-10 in all five races during the California swing, including claiming his second career win at Silver Dollar Speedway — while for Gravel, his win was finally the end to a stretch of three races in-a-row without a top-10 finish.
The win was needed, Gravel said.
"We started off the season pretty good at Volusia and kind of laying an egg since," Gravel said.
He finished third in points with CJB Motorsports last year, but Gravel and the team decided to part ways. That opened the door for him to join Jason Johnson Racing this year. While he and his new team have found success, Gravel admitted the transition hasn't been entirely smooth.
"I made a couple of mistakes as a driver," Gravel said about the season so far. "Growing pains with the new team. Hopefully we hit our stride here and get on a role."
After claiming an emotional win for the JJR team in Hanford, Calif. — the team's first World of Outlaws win since Jason Johnson died last year — he was unable to make it back in the top-10 the next day at Perris Auto Speedway. But he said he is looking forward to the Arizona races, having run decent at them in the past.
He finished sixth at Arizona Speedway last year and had a top-10 run at USA Raceway the last time the Series visited the track in 2016 — that race won by Daryn Pittman, who is currently tied for the Series points lead with 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. Gravel is currently seventh in points, 92-points behind the two champions.
Macedo was not at either of those races, but also said he is looking forward to the doubleheader in Arizona. He's raced at both Arizona tracks before and hopes to use that experience to his advantage as well as he did during the California swing.
"I knew the West Coast was going to be, hopefully, one of our strong suits," said Macedo, who is now fourth in points after the California swing. "So, to kind of put that together and get a win, put strong runs up on the board and leave the West Coast I pretty good shape is big for this (Kyle Larson Racing) team. Especially being in the rookie year."
While the California native lacks World of Outlaws experience at the two Arizona tracks, his KLR team has years of it. Successful years of it. The team won the first Series race at Arizona Speedway in 2016 with Shane Stewart and haven't finished outside the top-10 at the track since. KLR also finished in the top-five with Stewart at the last Series race at USA Raceway.
"I'm looking forward to it all," Macedo said.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 5, at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. for the Wildcat Shootout
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6, at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. for the Arizona Desert Shootout
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
USA Raceway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 12.076 sec. by Paul McMahan on March 9, 2013.
Online – RaceUSARaceway.com
Phone – 520-664-2074
Arizona Speedway is a 1/3-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 12.361 sec. by Brian Brown on March 6, 2016.
Online – ArizonaSpeedway.net
Phone – 480-926-6688
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/3-mile winners
There have been two races on a 3/8-mile track so far this year. Logan Schuchart won at the Stockton Dirt Track on March 16, and David Gravel won at Keller Auto Speedway on March 29.
There has been one race on a 1/3-mile track so far this year. Ian Madsen won at Thunderbowl Raceway on March 9.
USA RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2016 - Daryn Pittman on April 18
2015 - Brian Brown on March 7
2014 - Brad Sweet on March 8
2013 - Daryn Pittman on March 9
2007 - Steve Kinser on March 2
2006 - Paul McMahan on March 4, Donny Schatz on Oct. 21
ARIZONA SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 - Donny Schatz on April 7
2017 - Rico Abreu on April 8
2016 - Shane Stewart on March 6
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas on Friday April 12-13.
2019 STATS
There have been nine World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (21 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 5
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
4 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
-- Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
-- Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
6 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 20
7 – Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 19
8 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Texan Reutzel Dominates Every Phase of Perris SoCal Showdown
PERRIS, CA – MARCH 30, 2019 – Aaron Reutzel wrote an eloquent ending to the eventful and riveting story of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' California swing, ending it Saturday night in similar fashion to how it began.
Last year's Rookie of the Year Ian Madsen opened the swing in early March at Thunderbowl Raceway — where Reutzel won his first ever World of Outlaws race last year during the swing — winning everything he could: fastest in practice, Quick Time, Heat win, drew the pole for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, won the Dash, lead every lap in the Feature and won it.
Reutzel did exactly the same at the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway. He was fastest in practice. Quick Time. Won his Heat race. Drew the pole for the Dash. Won the Dash. Lead every lap in the 30-lap Feature and claimed his second World of Outlaws win at the SoCal Showdown.
"Unbelievable," the Clute, Texas native said, having to pause afterward, as if to try and grasp the dominance himself.
Coming into the Perris race, Reutzel had a top-five and two top-10 finishes in the California swing and sat seventh in Series points, ahead of full-time World of Outlaws drivers such as Shane Stewart and Madsen. But to Reutzel, he was having a terrible year and it was time for a change.
He and his Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports team made one the morning of the race. It worked.
"We just went back to everything we were doing last year," Reutzel said. "We just made one little change and it made the difference."
That little change; ditching a newly built car to put an old car back together.
"There's nothing different between them," Reutzel said. "Sometimes you just get a car that doesn't work, and that might have been one that doesn't work. Everything else exactly them same. It just worked out for us."
With the car he's been running, Reutzel said it felt like he and his team were always playing catch up when it came to the Feature and could never qualify well anymore.
"That's something you can't do with these (World of Outlaws) guys," Reutzel said.
Now, his confidence is back. It showed on track, holding off two California natives who grew up racing on the California swing tracks — rookie Carson Macedo and Rico Abreu.
In the early stage of the Feature, Macedo presented himself as a possible threat to Reutzel, inching in on him lap after lap. After an early red flag, for a flip involving Brent Marks, Reutzel had his biggest challenge yet with Macedo starting next to him and Abreu behind them. But when the green flag dropped, Macedo and Abreu were left trading slide jobs to determine who would finish second while Reutzel sailed away. It was the same story with on another restart a couple of laps later.
"I felt like I had a couple of runs at him on a couple of restarts, and it just seemed like... It's just the way it went," said Macedo, who finished second. "Aaron did a good job all night. I felt like we had a good race car. I felt like we had a good package all night."
Macedo has had one of the best California swings out of all full-time World of Outlaws drivers, having finished in the top-10 in all five races and got his first win of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway.
"We're having a lot of fun right now," Macedo said. "We're putting good runs up on the board and that's what it's all about with the Outlaws."
In line with Macedo and Madsen, Reutzel is the eighth different winner this year in the past nine races. And even though it's his second ever Series win, it's still as special as the first.
"Whether you have 100 (wins) or your Donny Schatz getting another one or me getting my second one, just winning an Outlaw race is huge in general," Reutzel said. "It feels really good to get it."
Reutzel's win closes the story of the 2019 World of Outlaws Spring Break California swing, but the Series continues next weekend on Friday, April 5, for the Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. and on Saturday, April 6, for the Arizona Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz.
The Texan's next chapter with the World of Outlaws will begin in May at Eldora Speedway.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [1][$10,000]; 2. 2-Carson Macedo [3][$5,500]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2][$3,200]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$2,800]; 5. 26-Cory Eliason [7][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [10][$2,100]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,050]; 10. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$2,000]; 11. 45-Chad Kemenah [4][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [11][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [12][$1,100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [18][$1,050]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart [16][$1,000]; 16. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [13][$900]; 17. 21-Brian Brown [17][$800]; 18. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [24][$800]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [23][$800]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$800]; 21. 21P-Robbie Price [20][$800]; 22. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$800]; 23. 19-Brent Marks [19][$800]; 24. 33M-Mason Daniel [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Aaron Reutzel 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 71P-Parker Price-Miller[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.377; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.398; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.409; 4. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 14.418; 5. 24-Rico Abreu, 14.546; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.559; 7. 26-Cory Eliason, 14.585; 8. 21-Brian Brown, 14.59; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.592; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.653; 11. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.671; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.672; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 14.681; 14. 41-David Gravel, 14.684; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.719; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.724; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.732; 18. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.732; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.748; 20. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 14.785; 21. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.809; 22. 21P-Robbie Price, 14.832; 23. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 14.842; 24. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 14.845; 25. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.929; 26. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 15.399
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Gravel rides low groove to victory for Jason Johnson Racing's first World of Outlaws win since Johnson's death
HANFORD, CA – MARCH 29, 2019 – Nothing was going to stop David Gravel from jumping out of his car.
Out of breath with a wide grin on his face, he high-fived and hugged his crew members while en route to a bath of confetti when he stood on the back of his car and pointed to the sky.
Not only was he celebrating his first win of the season at Keller Auto Speedway, his 40th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win and his first win with his new Jason Johnson Racing team, he honored the man whose car he drives.
This is the first World of Outlaws win for the Jason Johnson Racing team since co-owner and driver Jason Johnson died in a crash last June at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin.
"It's definitely special," said Gravel, almost lost for words.
The start of his night did not signal a potential victory, with the luck of the draw sending him out last for qualifying. He managed a 15th-place qualifying effort on a track several drivers called "tricky" due to its slick condition.
It didn't take long for Gravel to figure out the trick, winning his Heat race.
"It really set us up for the rest of the night," Gravel said. "I knew the bottom was going to be a factor."
Gravel's crew chief, Philip Dietz, said Gravel called his shot before the Feature. He was going to stick to the bottom until he figured it out. And he did.
Starting from the pole, Sheldon Haudenschild shot to the early lead of the Feature, riding the high side of the slick track. While he led, the hoard of drivers behind him were rarely in the same lane or position lap after lap. They tried high. They tried low. Wherever there was grip, they made sure to use up every inch of it.
Closing in on halfway through the 35-lap Feature, the bottom proved to be the preferred line of choice. Shane Stewart, who faced heart-break last race at the Stockton Dirt Track after blowing a tire while leading with five laps to go, looked to have his sight set on redemption, reeling in the 2017 Rookie of the Year.
Stewart took the lead on lap 20, but his hope for redemption was short lived as Gravel had been working the bottom of the track to perfection and was not far behind. He took the lead from Stewart – driving for Gravel's former team, CJB Motorsports – two laps later.
"Honestly, I just didn't have the patients to run the bottom in turns 1 and 2," said Stewart, who ended up third. "Driver instincts, you just don't know what to do at times. Once David went by me, I tried to run the bottom again, and missed it a couple of times. I thought I should get back up to the top and then (Daryn) Pittman got me."
Pittman, who extended his points lead over second-place Donny Schatz to 12 points by finishing second, was still all smiles after his third runner-up finish of the year.
"I would have never guessed from the beginning of that race that we would be just putting around the bottom," Pittman said. "We were not set up for that at all. I honestly thought the top would stay dominate. It never crossed my mind that we would be running the bottom."
Like he planned it himself, Gravel said he knew other drivers would burn off the top of the track and the bottom would be the dominate line. He just had to stay patient enough to remain there throughout the race.
Although he did go to the top one lap, but he said that was only because the bottom was crowded. He ran his race.
"I was just trying to run my line," Gravel said. "I knew if I missed up one corner and was still in the lead, I knew I wouldn't have gotten passed if I just hit my marks after that. Luckily we were able to hang on and win."
It was a special win to him and his crew.
"It's definitely different," said Tyler Elliott, the car chief for the Jason Johnson Racing team. "It's not the same. But it's exciting. Overwhelming."
After three races in-a-row without a top-10 finish, Elliot said the win is well needed.
Dietz added its "definitely an emotional night" for the team.
"This is one track we've struggled at over the years," he said. "We knew we had to up our game when we came in tonight. To go out and pick up a win for JJR and all of our sponsors, you know, we couldn't ask for a better night."
Nothing was going to stop Dietz and the Jason Johnson team from celebrating in Victory Lane with an out of breath and wide grinning Gravel.
The Series will wrap up its Spring Break tour through California Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps)
1. 41-David Gravel [7][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$5,500]; 3. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$3,200]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$2,300]; 7. 17W-Shane Golobic [8][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,100]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [11][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [22][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [23][$1,500]; 12. 26-Cory Eliason [12][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [4][$1,100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$1,050]; 15. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Tim Kaeding [21][$900]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [16][$800]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$800]; 19. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 20. 45-Chad Kemenah [18][$800]; 21. 7-Jason Sides [10][$800]; 22. O-Bud Kaeding [14][$800]; 23. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$800]; 24. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [9][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-19, Shane Stewart 20-21, David Gravel 22-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.531; 2. 19-Brent Marks, 14.609; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 14.799; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic, 14.853; 5. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.048; 6. 21P-Robbie Price, 15.125; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.133; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.178; 9. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.207; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.217; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.228; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 15.287; 13. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.308; 14. 7-Jason Sides, 15.312; 15. 41-David Gravel, 15.333; 16. 26-Cory Eliason, 15.363; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.37; 18. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 15.43; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.479; 20. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 15.526; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 15.535; 22. 45-Chad Kemenah, 15.571; 23. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.617; 24. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.618; 25. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.627; 26. O-Bud Kaeding, 15.643; 27. 88N-DJ Netto, 15.663; 28. 21X-Ryan Bernal, 15.696; 29. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 15.703; 30. 98-Sean Watts, 15.709; 31. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.743; 32. 28-Nathan Rolfe, 15.95
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Pittman Still Leading Standings with Two Races Left on California Spring Break
HANFORD, CA – Fresno, Calif.-based Roth Motorsports went into the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' month-long California swing with the points lead for the first time in its historic career and may leave with it.
The team's new driver, 2013 Series champion Daryn Pittman, currently holds the points lead going into the final two races of the swing — Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway and Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway.
Pittman started off the season in his new #83 Roth Sprint Car winning the two season-opening races at Volusia Speedway Park — claiming his third DIRTcar Nationals championship, and Roth's first. He then followed that up with a top-10 and runner-up finish in Las Vegas, giving him a four-point advantage over reigning champion Donny Schatz going into the California swing.
Three races into the swing, Pittman still leads Schatz by just four points. However, points are the last thing on his mind.
"Truthfully, I don't put a lot of thought to it," Pittman said. "Obviously, it's better to lead than to be chasing. And I do know it will mean something to (car owners) Dennis and Teresa (Roth) for us to be leading. But if something happens and we're not, I have no doubt we have some better tracks for me and our team coming up."
The Owasso, Okla.-native has produced a podium and a couple of top-10 finishes in the three California swing races, so far. Looking ahead to Friday night, he said the 3/8-mile Keller Auto Speedway has been hit-or-miss for him. His results show it.
He finished 20th the last time the Series raced at the track in 2017 – the race won by the Series' most recent winner Logan Schuchart. Prior to that he had a top-10, a 17th place finish and a top-five, respectively.
Like all tracks, Pittman said he wants to perform well in Hanford, but this year he has extra motivation to do so. The speedway is about 40 minutes from the Roth Motorsports shop.
Of the final two races in the California swing, Perris Auto Speedway is the one he's looking forward to the most. He's won at the track three times — most recently in 2016 — and before the Series revised its wins list last year, it was the site of his first Series win.
"Perris has always been a place that's been pretty special to me," Pittman said. "For years it was considered my first win. I beat Steve Kinser to the line by about half a car length. I couldn't ask for it to happen in more of a dramatic fashion, for my first win to come against the greatest to ever sit behind a Sprint Car."
Not only is Pittman looking forward to going to the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway because he's won there before, he's had the most success this year on half-mile tracks. In the four races on half-mile tracks this year, Pittman has two wins, three podiums and four top-10 finishes.
"Right now, I'm really excited for the half-mile stuff," Pittman said. "I think our engine program is really good. I think our cars are really good."
His love for the half-mile tracks is new found this year. When he drove for Kasey Kahne Racing last year, Pittman said he almost dreaded going to half-mile tracks because he didn't have speed at them.
While he's performed better on the half-miles, so far this year, he doesn't dread short tracks. His second-place run at the third-mile Thunderbowl Speedway shows he and his team can still be a threat on the smaller tracks. There is room for improvement on them, though, Pittman said.
"Right now, just based on performance wise, the half-mile stuff has been more suited for our team right now," he said.
With seven races down, Pittman said he and the Roth Motorsports crew are happy where they're at as a team. One of his early season goals was to perform well at Volusia. Mission accomplished.
He has several other goals he's set for himself to put together a successful year with his new team and try to secure a second championship. Leaving the California swing with the points lead, while ideal, isn't necessarily one of them.
"I try not to focus on them (points) too much, just focus on each race for what it is and try to win races," Pittman said. "It's definitely always good to be up front. It gives everyone something to talk about, but it's definitely not something we're really focused on right now."
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
Keller Auto Speedway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 12.293 sec. by Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, 2001.
Online – RaceKingsSpeedway.com
Phone – 559-584-7223
Perris Auto Speedway is a half-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 13.875 sec. by Danny Lasoski on Feb. 23, 2002.
Online – PerrisAutoSpeedway.com
Phone – 800-595-4849
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/2-mile winners
There has been one race on a 3/8-mile track so far this year at the Stockton Dirt Track. Logan Schuchart was the winner on Saturday, March 16.
There have been four races on a 1/2-mile track so far this year, two at Volusia Speedway Park and two at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas. Daryn Pittman won the two races at Volusia on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9. Tim Shaffer won the first race in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Feb. 27, and Donny Schatz won the second on Thursday, Feb. 28.
KELLER AUTO SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2017 - Logan Schuchart on March 31
2015 - Shane Stewart on April 17
2014 - Cody Darrah on April 11
2013 - Donny Schatz on April 12
2003 - Tim Kaeding on Feb. 21
2002 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 22
2001 - Andy Hillenburg on Feb. 23, Stevie Smith on Aug. 28
2000 - Johnny Herrera on Feb. 25, Joey Saldana on Sept. 8
1999 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 19, Steve Kinser on Sept. 10
1998 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 11
1997 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 12
1996 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 11
1995 - Danny Lasoski on Sept.6
1994 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 7
1993 - Stevie Smith on Sept. 1
1992 - Stevie Smith on March 4, Sammy Swindell on Sept. 2
1991 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 18
1990 - Steve Kinser on Feb. 28, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1989 - Joe Gaerte on March 8, Bobby Davis Jr. on Sept. 19
1988 - Doug Wolfgang on Feb. 24, Steve Kinser on Sept. 20
1987 - Bobby Davis Jr. on Feb. 25, Steve Kinser on Sept. 9
1986 - Brad Doty on Feb. 26, Steve Kinser on Sept. 27
1985 - Jeff Swindell on Sept. 25
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2017 - David Gravel on April 1
2016 - Daryn Pittman on April 16
2015 – Paul McMahan on April 18
2014 - Joey Saldana on April 12
2013 - Daryn Pittman on April 13
2012 - Joey Saldana on March 10
2007 - Kerry Madsen on Oct. 20
2004 - Jason Meyers on Feb. 28
2003 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 23
2002 - Daryn Pittman on Feb. 23
2000 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 26
1999 - Johnny Herrera on Feb. 20, Craig Dollansky on Oct. 30
1998 - Mark Kinser on Oct. 31, Mark Kinser on Oct. 31
1997 - Mark Kinser on Feb. 15, Mark Kinser on Oct. 26
1996 - Mark Kinser on Nov. 1
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. on Friday April 5, and then to Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. on Saturday April 6.
2019 STATS
There have been seven World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (18 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 4
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
4 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 27
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
6 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 20
7 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
8 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
9 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Rain, Saturated Grounds Cancel Ocean and Placerville Events
Placerville Speedway race rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 11
CONCORD, NC – March 20, 2019 — Persistent rain showers and saturated grounds at Ocean Speedway and Placerville Speedway have forced World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to cancel Friday's event at Ocean and reschedule Saturday's event at Placerville to Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Those who purchased tickets to Placerville's event will have their tickets automatically moved to the rescheduled date in September. Those with tickets to Friday's event at Ocean Speedway will receive a full ticket-value credit to their MyDirtTickets.com account to be used towards any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled Placerville event have 30 days to call 844-DIRT-TIX to speak with a customer service representative about their options.
Two of those events include next weekend's conclusion to The Greatest Show on Dirt's month-long swing through California on Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford and Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris. Both are sure to be exciting races with the last three California events producing three different winners and the battle for the Series championship points lead down to just four points between leader Daryn Pittman and reigning champion Donny Schatz.
Rain hasn't completely washed out all motorsports activity this week in Placerville, either. Last year's Knoxville Nationals winner Brad Sweet and NHRA Funny Car World Champion Ron Capps will still make an appearance rain or shine at Riebes NAPA AUTO PARTS in Placerville from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.
For the latest on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, make sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Schuchart bucks wild Stockton to become sixth different winner in seven races
STOCKTON, CA — MARCH 16, 2019 — Blue and orange confetti painted the landscape around Logan Schuchart, who climbed to the top wing of his Shark Racing Sprint Car with the checkered flag in one hand and other pointing to the sky.
Thousands of fans cheered, and the first-time winner this season, Schuchart, cheered with them in Victory Lane at the Stockton Dirt Track.
It was a scene that could have looked much different for Schuchart until about five laps to go in Saturday night's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series 30-lap FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
Shark Racing showed they were the apex predator from the start of the event. Hanover, Pa. native Schuchart was quickest in practice, and backed that up qualifying second behind teammate Jacob Allen. He then won his Heat race and drew the pole for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, which he also won.
At the start of the Feature, Schuchart and Allen dueled side-by-side in front for less than half a lap before Schuchart shot to the lead. Four cautions in the first six laps never allowed him to get into a rhythm, but he maintained the lead each restart.
Lurking behind him, though, was Bixby, Okla., native Shane Stewart — equally as hungry for his first Series win of the season, after finishing outside the top-10 the day prior. When restarting on lap six, Stewart did not let Schuchart out of his sight. With each passing lap he inched closer and closer to the red-and-white Drydene-sponsored #1s.
Coming off of turn four on lap 11, Schuchart, who had kept his car on the high side of the track, hit a rut, about bounced his car completely off the ground and into the wall, and lost the lead to Stewart.
"I was running pretty hard when I was out by myself," Schuchart said. "That's what kind of got me in trouble. I almost flipped the thing, bouncing around, jumping up and down."
He added to stay consistent on the rough track conditions you had to "cowboy up."
While Stewart began to pull away to close to a half a track lead, Schuchart didn't lose hope. He knew Stewart would face the same rough conditions running the top side of the track — providing the potential for his own mistake.
But he never made one. Even when navigating lap traffic. Schuchart still didn't give up hope.
"I knew he was going to have the same issues, he's going to want to get out front and stand on it," Schuchart said. "You can count on probably some more yellows, because we were having one right after the other."
On lap 23, he got one. Kasey Kahne stopped on the front stretch when his right rear tire gave up, with debris left in turn four. When the race went back green, Stewart maintained the point once again. Until a lap later. His paced slowed, and Schuchart shot by Stewart for the lead with Brad Sweet following to surge into second place. Shortly after, Stewart was off the track in turn three with a flat right rear tire.
"They were saying some stuff may have broke off of Kasey's (Kahne) car when I was trying to get around him, and I must have ran something over," Stewart said. "Just one of those deals."
When the race went back green, Schuchart took command of the lead once again and drove his car into Victory Lane, claiming his ninth World of Outlaws win.
"I thought his (Stewart's) right rear looked a little low, but I'm not going to be the guy running second and tell him his tire is low, but I knew he wasn't going to give up," Schuchart said. "I'm just happy for this whole team. It's very rewarding for all of their hard work to be able to get a win this early in the season."
Schuchart is the sixth different Series winner this year in seven races. Carson Macedo, who was the fifth different winner this season Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway pulled off another impressive run finishing seventh after starting 23rd – making him the KSE Hard Charger of the night.
Having as equally of an impressive run was Sheldon Haudenschild, who started 25th using a provisional and finished 10th.
Even though Stewart's promising night ended with disappointment, he is still leaving with newfound confidence.
"I think we made some big gains throughout the night and learned a lot of stuff," Stewart said. "We continue to learn. Even Barry (Jackson), you know, he's been out here a long, long time. But he is dealing with a new driver, so we're still trying to learn each other. We're getting better."
Schuchart's win moves him to fourth in the Series' championship points – tied with Macedo, 58 points behind leader Daryn Pittman. The Oklahoma driver finished 11th for his California-based Roth Motorsports team, allowing 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who finished 8th, to continue to close the points deficit to just four points.
Quietly closing on the two points leaders is Sweet, who finished second two nights in a row – now 10 points behind Pittman.
"Tonight, it took some juevos, you had to get up on the wheel and try to hammer through the holes (in the track)," Sweet said. "Logan did a good job. It was kind of survival there... Two seconds place, we're knocking on the door (of the points lead)."
While Sweet took his second-place finish with stride, Schuchart basked in the glory of his win in Victory Lane, confetti still floating to the ground and fans still cheering.
"The fans are awesome (in California)," Schuchart said. "They're very passionate. It's awesome to win in front of this great crowd."
The Series will make its next stop on the California tour Saturday, March 22, at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. and Saturday, March 23, at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$5,500]; 3. 7S-Tim Kaeding [13][$3,200]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$2,800]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto [9][$2,500]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [14][$2,300]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [23][$2,200]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,100]; 9. 26-Cory Eliason [8][$2,050]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$1,200]; 11. 83-Daryn Pittman [16][$1,500]; 12. O-Bud Kaeding [24][$1,200]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$1,100]; 14. 17W-Shane Golobic [18][$1,050]; 15. 41-David Gravel [20][$1,000]; 16. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$900]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [6][$800]; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah [15][$800]; 19. 29-Willie Croft [5][$800]; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne [11][$800]; 21. 5H-Cole Macedo [17][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [2][$800]; 23. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [3][$800]; 24. 4-Terry McCarl [21][$800]; 25. 21-Brian Brown [19][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-11, 24-30, Shane Stewart 12-23; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+16]
Qualifying - 1. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.873; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.889; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.895; 4. 29-Willie Croft, 12.9; 5. 26-Cory Eliason, 12.95; 6. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.985; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.011; 8. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.056; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.057; 10. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.059; 11. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.061; 12. 41-David Gravel, 13.064; 13. 4-Terry McCarl, 13.092; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.133; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah, 13.135; 16. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.14; 17. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.16; 18. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.175; 19. 21-Brian Brown, 13.197; 20. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.201; 21. 5H-Cole Macedo, 13.229; 22. 31C-Justyn Cox, 13.268; 23. 16A-Colby Copeland, 13.273; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.287; 25. 88N-DJ Netto, 13.289; 26. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.313; 27. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.34; 28. 19-Brent Marks, 13.353; 29. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.394; 30. 7-Jason Sides, 13.397; 31. 21P-Robbie Price, 13.433; 32. O-Bud Kaeding, 13.529; 33. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.58; 34. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.637; 35. 83T-Tanner Carrick, 14.15
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
California rookie Macedo conquers Mini Gold Cup with veteran moves
CHICO, CA — March 15, 2019 — "Rookie" is a title Carson Macedo will hear before his name throughout the 2019 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series tour, but at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., it should be "veteran."
Or "winner."
Lemoore, Calif., native, Macedo, bested 34-time Series winner, and Grass Valley, Calif., native, Brad Sweet in a spectacular dual on Friday night at the quarter-mile speedway, to claim his second ever Series win and second at the track — his first win came in 2014.
His advantage; it's a track he grew up racing on. Local knowledge that paid off as he led an all-Outlaw podium sweep in the Mini Gold Cup presented by Riebes NAPA AUTO PARTS.
"I've raced here so much and just know the characteristics of it," Macedo said. "It's not a big part of winning these races, but it gives you that edge. It's a home track for me."
Sweet is no stranger to Silver Dollar Speedway, though. He, too, grew up racing at the track, and won a race there last year.
Having led more than half the race, Sweet looked to be en route to his second win at the speedway. Last week's Feature winner at Thunderbowl Raceway, Ian Madsen – who ended up third – hunted Sweet for most of the race with enough speed to potentially make his own challenge for the lead. But then came Macedo.
From his seventh starting spot, Macedo raced much like his car owner Kyle Larson so often does — on the cushion lap after lap. Never considering another line. That confidence almost cost him, though. About half way through the race, he hit a rut on the high side of the track, throwing his car of balance and dropping from fourth to fifth.
That didn't deter the young rookie's victory lust. Continuing to stick to the high side of the track, he fought his way into the top three and then traded slide jobs with Madsen for second. In the lead Sweet had a different mentality then Macedo. He stuck to the bottom of the track — a move that ultimately proved to be his downfall.
On a restart with 15 laps to, Macedo got a strong enough run off turn four to slide under Sweet going into turn one and steal the lead. Madsen, on the bottom of the track, tried to best them both, edging Macedo for the lead out of turn two. He couldn't compete with Macedo's strength on the high side, though. Once Macedo cleared Madsen, the race was his.
"I had been getting some pretty good runs off of four on the top, with people in front of me, so I knew without anyone there I could get a run on him (Sweet) going down the front stretch," Macedo said.
Sweet knows his rookie mistake was staying on the bottom of the track.
"Obviously, I made a mistake there, and stayed on the bottom probably one or two restarts too long," Sweet said. "It was just really hard to get me to change my mind because I kept winning the restarts. But I really felt vulnerable on the restart, so it was no surprise when Carson got by me. You have to be perfect to win these races."
Madsen went into the Series' month-long California tour unsure how he'll perform at the Golden State short tracks, claiming he's not good at them. In two races, he's secured two podium finishes — one being a victory.
"It's (California) has been really good to us, so far," Madsen said. "We've had an awesome race car ever since we got here. I just have to thank my crew for that."
Macedo also credited his crew for his winning performance, including his crew chief Joe Gaerte, who he called "his hero." Macedo drove for Gaerte in the All Star Circuit of Champions Series last year, finishing second in points.
With a win in the first six races of the more than 90 race World of Outlaws schedule, Macedo said it won't change how he approaches the remainder of the season.
"I think I'm just going to race exactly the same," he said. "Just drive every lap like it's my last. Wherever the cards fall at the end of the year at the banquet, that's what they'll be."
He currently sits fourth in the Series' championship points — 66 points behind leader Daryn Pittman.
Pittman, who was coming off two second place finishes in a row, managed to salvage a ninth-place finish after starting 18th. He continues to lead the championship standings for California car owners Dennis and Teresa Roth over second place Donny Schatz, who finished fourth and cut his points deficit in half, now only 10 points behind Pittman.
The Series will make its next stop on the California tour Saturday, March 16, at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., where Macedo hopes to utilize his veteran California track skills to once again be called, "winner."
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$5,500]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$2,800]; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [14][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,300]; 7. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5][$2,200]; 8. 17W-Shane Golobic [12][$2,100]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [18][$2,050]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [6][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [24][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [17][$1,200]; 13. 16A-Colby Copeland [23][$1,100]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [25][$250]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,000]; 16. 41-David Gravel [21][$900]; 17. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 18. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [10][$800]; 19. 9-Kasey Kahne [22][$800]; 20. 26-Cory Eliason [16][$800]; 21. 121-Justin Sanders [8][$800]; 22. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [9][$800]; 23. 7S-Tim Kaeding [3][$800]; 24. 92-Andy Forsberg [20][$800]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$800]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-20, Carson Macedo 21-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 87-Aaron Reutzel[+13]
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.536; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne, 11.553; 3. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 11.597; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.692; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.717; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.759; 7. 121-Justin Sanders, 11.762; 8. 83T-Tanner Carrick, 11.768; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.772; 10. 88N-DJ Netto, 11.778; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.853; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.895; 13. O-Bud Kaeding, 11.903; 14. 21-Brian Brown, 11.943; 15. 21P-Robbie Price, 11.955; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.969; 17. 5H-Cole Macedo, 12.118; 18. 21W-Jake Wheeler, 12.17; 19. 28-Mark Herz, 14.325; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart, NT
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.551; 2. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 11.56; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.575; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic, 11.671; 5. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 11.682; 6. 92-Andy Forsberg, 11.682; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.695; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.7; 9. 29-Willie Croft, 11.744; 10. 41-David Gravel, 11.768; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.794; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 11.867; 13. 45-Chad Kemenah, 11.874; 14. 16A-Colby Copeland, 11.96; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.067; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.231; 17. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.335; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 12.346; 19. 31C-Justyn Cox, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Kasey Kahne talks new life racing with World of Outlaws
Kasey Kahne Adds This Week's Silver Dollar, Stockton Events to His Huge Sprint Car Schedule
CONCORD, N.C. – Kasey Kahne's race days have always been a bit noisy. Dozens of crews scurrying around a nearly two-ton Stock Car for days, wrenching and tuning. Hundreds of fans walking through the garage area, determined to get a picture or autograph. Media and cameras at every turn, questioning every detail of the weekend.
Now, that noise has been turned down, but just a bit.
In the pit area of a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car event, like the ones this Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., or Saturday at The Stockton (Calif.) Dirt Track, Kahne is surrounded by only a couple of crew members, who tweak on his 1,400 lb. Sprint Car. A few dozen fans meandering up and down the pits — some looking for a quick picture or a handshake. And a handful of media members, the majority just looking to take pictures.
Turning the volume down was not entirely voluntary. It was forced upon him by a health issue that caused him to put an early end to his NASCAR career.
While he was not medically cleared to race again in NASCAR, he's found a new challenge focusing on racing Sprint Cars – a division he's loved since a kid.
"It's like the first thing I really got into at a young age," Kahne says kneeling next his to orange #9 Sprint Car. "Because I got into it at a young age, and liked it so much, whether I was watching or racing myself, I've been hooked."
Kahne began racing Sprint Cars as a teenager in his home state of Washington. He eventually moved into the USAC ranks, winning a championship in 2000. Then a couple of years later made his move to NASCAR.
A few years into his NASCAR career Kahne formed his own World of Outlaws Sprint Car team, Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), which helped keep him in touch with the Series — along with running a few races himself.
"I've had a blast with all that over the years, whether I was at a NASCAR race watching the DIRTVision part of it or actually traveling and watching the races with the guys," Kahne says. "I've always stayed really close to it and enjoyed it."
Since its inception in 2005, KKR has amassed one World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship — in 2013 with Daryn Pittman — and more than 170 Series wins among several drivers, including last year's Knoxville Nationals championship with Brad Sweet.
Of the drivers that have won a Series race for the team, Kahne is not one of them. He would like to be.
"When I knew I was done with the NASCAR deal, I thought I would give it a shot (driving Sprint Cars) for a little while, you know, and kind of see how it goes and see if I can't figure it out and get competitive driving these cars," Kahne says.
NASCAR was his job. Sprint Cars... well, Kahne says he doesn't really know what it is right now.
"I hope that I actually feel like it's a bit of a job," Kahne says, following up with a joke that racing is never really a job.
But he wants to work at it.
"I want to feel like I'm working at it to make it work and do the things I want and then when we do have success it'll feel that much better," Kahne says. "I want to put the time in. I want to put the effort in. No matter what it is, to try and have that success. Doing that is definitely a little bit of work."
He knows he has a bit of homework to do, too.
Kahne didn't qualifying for the season opening race at Volusia Speedway Park and has cracked the top-15 twice so far this season.
"I didn't feel that my performance was good at all (at Volusia)," Kahne says. "I thought the track was really tough... It was slick and it was greasy all in the same corner. Around the whole track just about. It was tough to learn and figure out."
None of it had to do with his health, and he doesn't expect it to ever be an issue with Sprint Car racing. Kahne says his issue is driving a car for an hour or two hours straight in humid weather. He would sweat a lot, get dehydrated and cramp up.
He knows the temperature during mid-summer World of Outlaws races can get humid, but he is only in the car for 30 to 40 minutes. He says he felt fine after racing in Florida and expects to the rest of this season.
His issue is seat time.
When he first started in NASCAR, Kahne regularly made time to race Sprint Cars, but over time put more focus on his Cup Series car. Leaving less time for Sprint Cars.
"I feel like now is by far the most difficult time I've had learning Sprint Cars," Kahne says. "I've been so focused on the other style and it's so much different than this (Sprint Car racing). The feel side of it I'm lacking a little bit and have to do a better job with my feet and my hands in different situations. And I think that's all just laps. Once I figure that out, I'll feel a lot more comfortable night in and night out."
His teammate, and last year's runner-up in Series points, Brad Sweet understands Kahne's struggles well, having raced in NASCAR for three seasons then transitioning to the World of Outlaws full-time.
"It's relearning a lot of things and retraining himself," Sweet says. "It's just a completely different discipline."
Sweet is happy to see his car owner racing with the Series though, citing Kahne's deep passion for the sport and love for driving the cars.
Kahne has scheduled more than 50 Sprint Car races – 44 of which, so far, are World of Outlaws races – for himself this year, but says he could easily add more, bringing his schedule to about 70 races. Kahne says he chose that schedule to ease into Sprint Car racing this year, giving himself time to formulate what he wants to do in 2020.
There's not one race he's looking forward to more than the other. He's eager for them all. When the Texas races rained out in late February, Kahne says he was ready to race in the rain.
"I don't like racing in the rain, mud, and all that, but I was like let's do it, I'll race," Kahne says, grinning ear to ear.
In the quiet pit area, kneeling next to his car with a couple of crew guys leisurely working around it, Kahne says he knows the new atmosphere and traveling schedule will be a big adjustment.
"It's a different type of pressure," Kahne says. "There's so many differences to it. I'm not doing normal things each week I would normally be doing the last 15, 17 years. Everything is different week to week, day to day for what it's been in the past."
While 50 races are close to half of the World of Outlaws schedule, it's about a quarter longer than NASCAR's. There are weekday races, and doubleheader weekend races – sometimes at two different tracks, and sometimes in two different states.
Instead of large team debriefs, it's now just he and a few crew guys. Instead of hundreds of fans, a handful walk by on a race night, some just looking for a quick picture or handshake. And the media mostly is photographers looking for a picture.
"So, it's a much different day to day than what I've done for a long time," Kahne says. "I think as we go, I'll get more and more use to this and just really, really enjoy it."
To see Kahne take on the Outlaws this weekend (or any of the events on his schedule below), go to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix, or call 844-DIRT-TIX to reserve your seat.
Kasey Kahne's Remaining World of Outlaws schedule:
March 15 – Silver Dollar Speedway
March 16 – Stockton Dirt Track
May 10 – Eldora Speedway
May 11 – Eldora Speedway
May 15 – Lincoln Speedway
May 17 – Williams Grove Speedway
May 18 – Williams Grove Speedway
May 19 – Weedsport Speedway
May 21 – Bridgeport Speedway
May 24 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 25 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 31 – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
June 1 – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
June 4 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway
June 7 – River Cities Speedway
June 8 – Granite City Speedway
June 14 – Knoxville Raceway
June 15 – Knoxville Raceway
June 21 – Farley Speedway
June 22 – Beaver Dam Raceway
June 27 – Jackson Motorplex
June 28 – Jackson Motorplex
June 29 – Jackson Motorplex
July 3 – Brown County Speedway
July 5 – Cedar Lake Speedway
July 6 – Cedar Lake Speedway
July 16 – Attica Raceway Park
July 18 – Eldora Speedway
July 19 – Eldora Speedway
July 20 – Eldora Speedway
July 23 – Lernerville Speedway
Oct. 25 – Port Royal Speedway
Oct. 26 – Port Royal Speedway
Nov. 7 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 8 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 9 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
HOPEFUL HEALING... World of Outlaws 'California Fire Relief Tour' opening eyes to devastating wildfires
CHICO, CA – Racing is not the only focus of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series this weekend.
The Series' California Fire Relief Tour kicks off Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., and Saturday at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., in an effort to assist the thousands of Northern and Southern California residents still healing from last year's devastating wildfires.
From Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday, March 15, to Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway, $1 of every ticket sold will be donated directly to California fire relief. Also, $5 from each Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour shirt sold will be donated to California fire relief, which helps those effected by the fire.
Many effected by the fire thought they'd return to a normal life, having lived through fires before.
Kyle Hirst, who won his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2017, heard what he thought was rain, not thinking the wildfire was near his Paradise, Calif., home. It wasn't rain. It was ash. He and his wife packed up what they needed and left with their daughter.
When they eventually returned, among the ashes of what were once homes, they were fortunate to be one of the lucky ones to return to a home. However, Hirst's shop behind the house was not as fortunate. Race suits, helmets, stacks of trophies, including from his win at Silver Dollar Speedway, and more gone. Now just a few pieces of burnt scrap metal.
He said fortunately for him, he races for Roth Motorsports, so he didn't have cars or too many tools in the shop when the fire came through. Just stacks of he and his dad's trophies. Years of memories he said he can no longer share with his kid.
But he still has a home to return to. Just not for a while, though, due to contaminated water in the area. For now, Hirst said he is able to rent a home from a friend. He plans to return, but knows it'll take months and years before the rubble of burned homes around his are cleaned up.
"I'll be outside playing with my daughter and this is what she'll see," Hirst said, pointing out the charred debris across the street from him.
The majority of the damage throughout Paradise, Calif., happened in the first 12 hours of the fire, according to firemen at the Chico Fire Department, who bravely battled the fire. They were donated tickets to Friday's race at Silver Dollar Speedway, and more tickets throughout the Tour will be donated to local firemen.
Fans unable to attend the races in California that would like to participate can purchase the Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour shirt online at store.worldofoutlaws.com and are able to purchase additional tickets to donate to local firemen at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Home-field Advantage - California drivers eager to race at Silver Dollar Speedway, Stockton Dirt Track
CONCORD, N.C. – California natives conquered the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' tour through the Golden State last year and are hoping to repeat that success going into this weekend's races at Silver Dollar Speedway and the Stockton Dirt Track.
Grass Valley, Calif. native Brad Sweet and St. Helena, Calif. native Rico Abreu found victory at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., while Visala, Calif. native Cory Eliason claimed his first Series win at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., last year.
For Sweet, it was his first win at the quarter-mile Chico track, but no matter if the win was in Chico or Stockton, he said it is always satisfying to win in front of family and friends.
"The biggest thing for me is I grew up here (in California) racing, so they're home tracks," Sweet said. "There's always something about where you learned and where you grew up racing that is special. You know, I hadn't had a lot of luck at Chico in the last few years, but last year I was able to get a win there, so I feel a little bit more confident going back there and excited."
Sweet started off Series' month-long swing through California strong with a top-five finish at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif, leaving him third in the Series' points standing – 42 points behind leader Daryn Pittman.
Abreu hasn't been as fortunate, unable to qualify for the Feature in Tulare. But like Sweet, he said he is looking forward to going back to Silver Dollar Speedway – a track he has won at twice now with the World of Outlaws. He also has one Series win at the 3/8-mile Stockton Dirt Track.
He cites the Chico and Stockton tracks as two of his most successful tracks, having grown up racing at them.
"I've ran probably the majority of my California races at those two tracks," Abreu said. "I've just made sure my cars are close every time we get there and where it puts the ball in my court where I can maneuver my car around. I like going to those tracks."
Eliason has had a solid start to the season, claiming three top-10s and two KSE Hard Charger awards in the first five races of the season, placing him fifth in points. He is coming off a seventh-place finish at Thunderbowl Raceway and hitting his stride just in time for his favorite part of the year.
"The whole California swing is (a confidence booster), just because that's where I grew up racing," Eliason said. "I think we finished inside the top-five every time we were in California last year, in the March and the September swings. There's a lot of confidence just being able to roll out here and know, even if it's not perfect, we can still make something of it just because of knowing the race tracks and being from around here."
Having raced, and won, at the tracks before, Eliason said that knowledge not only helps him, but his crew. He can confidently relay to his team what he needs in his car, making their job easier.
"Every race is hard with these (World of Outlaws) guys, but it should at least level the playing field back to normal with them, instead of going somewhere where we haven't been and they dominate instead of us," Eliason said.
Sweet said, for some drivers the California swing is hard traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast and missing their families. For the California drivers, they have the advantage of staying home with their family about every night throughout the swing.
"There's just something to be said about that," Sweet said. "I, obviously, love the beginning of the year West Coast swing."
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 15, at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. and Saturday March 16, at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.
For Silver Dollar Speedway, gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Stockton Dirt Track is on a Flex Schedule approach. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with Time Trials at 5 p.m. and Racing at 6 p.m. If the temperature rises, gates will still open at 3 p.m., but Time Trials will shift to 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Silver Dollar Speedway is a high-banked, quarter-mile oval. The track record is 10.918 sec. by Daryn Pittman on March 22, 2013.
Online – SilverDollarSpeedway.com
Phone – 916-969-7484
Tickets at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or 844-DIRT-TIX.
Stockton Dirt Track is a semi-banked 3/8-mile oval. The track record is 12.566 by Donny Schatz on March 21, 2015.
Online – Stockton99.com
Phone – 209-466-9999
Tickets at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or 844-DIRT-TIX.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/4-mile winners
This will be the first World of Outlaws Features this year on tracks that size.
SILVER DOLLAR SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Brad Sweet on Sept. 7, Rico Abreu on Sept. 8
2017 - Kyle Hirst on Sept. 8, Shane Stewart on Sept.9
2016 - Donny Schatz on April 2, Shane Stewart on Sept. 9, Rico Abreu on Sept. 10
2015 - Donny Schatz on March 28, Shane Stewart on Sept. 11, Donny Schatz on Sept. 12
2014 - Carson Macedo on Sept. 5, Jonathan Allard on Sept. 6
2013 - Paul McMahan on March 23, Joey Saldana on Sept. 6, Jason Meyers on Sept. 7
2012 - Donny Schatz on March 23, Donny Schatz on Sept. 6, Sean Becker on Sept. 7, Kyle Larson on Sept. 8
2011 - Craig Dollansky on March 12, Paul McMahan on Sept. 9, Kyle Larson on Sept. 10
2010 - Jason Meyers on Sept. 11
2009 - Joey Saldana on March 13, Jason Meyers on March 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 12
2008 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 6
2007 - Joey Saldana on Sept. 8
2006 - Daryn Pittman on Sept. 9
2005 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 10
2004 - Donny Schatz on Sept. 11
2003 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 6
2002 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 7
2001 - Mark Kinser on Sept. 8
2000 - Danny Lasoski on Sept. 16
1999 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 18
1998 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 19
1997 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 20
1996 - Jeff Swindell on Sept. 21
1995 - Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 16
1994 - Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 17
1993 - Stevie Smith on Sept. 18
1992 - Steve Kinser on March 13, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1991 - Brent Kaeding on March 16, Joe Gaerte on Sept. 14
1990 - Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 11, Steve Kinser on Sept. 15
1989 - Jac Haudenschild on March 11, Darrell Hanestad on Sept. 20
1988 - Jimmy Sills on March 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 17
1987 - Jac Haudenschild on March 7, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1986 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 21
1985 - Danny Smith on Sept. 21
1984 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 22
1983 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 24
STOCKTON DIRT TRACK PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Cory Eliason on March 17
2017 - Brad Sweet on March 25
2016 - Donny Schatz on March 18, Donny Schatz on March 19
2015 - Donny Schatz on March 21, Rico Abreu on March 22
2014 - Kerry Madsen on March 22
2013 - Kyle Larson on March 22
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. on Friday March 22, and then to the Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif. on Saturday March 23.
2019 STATS
There have been four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (4 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (13 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 3
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (5 different drivers)
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
5 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 15
6 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
POLE POSITIONS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
Madsen Dominates World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in Tulare
TULARE, CA – March 9 – Last year's World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Ian Madsen claims one of his weak points has been short tracks.
Not anymore.
The Australian won everything there was to win at the third-mile Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., Saturday night. Not even a couple of rain showers could slow him down.
His team has been working hard to get the KCP Racing car better on the California short tracks, and "it showed tonight," said Madsen, as he earned his first victory of the season with championship leader Daryn Pittman second and Sheldon Haudenschild in third.
Madsen, who hails from St. Mary's, NSW, Australia, started the night fastest in practice — three tenths faster than second fastest Donny Schatz. He followed that up by claiming his second pole of the season.
Then he dominated the first Heat race of the night, crossing the line about one second ahead of second place Tim Kaeding. That led to him being the first driver to draw for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and leaving seven other drivers disappointed by drawing the pole.
A heavy rain shower lingered over the track for about 15 minutes in between Madsen's Heat and the Dash. It only made him faster. Again, in dominating fashion, he led every lap of the Dash, this time finishing close to two seconds ahead of second-place Pittman.
While he already dominated everything up to the Feature, Madsen showed his true speed in the final 35 laps of the night. He pulled away to an early lead, but "The Steel City Outlaw" Tim Shaffer showed muscle early on, keeping pace with Madsen. It didn't last though.
By lap 10, Pittman slid his way underneath Shaffer for second and began to hunt Madsen. Pittman, coming off a heartbreaking runner-up finish in Las Vegas, looked to be the only driver all night who could contend with Madsen. While Madsen battled lap traffic, Pittman closed the gap between them to about a couple of car lengths.
And that was as close as he was going to get to the #18's bumper. Madsen found his rhythm in lap traffic, pulling away to about a four second lead over Pittman, whose #83 Roth Motorsports car was able to close on Madsen again, but only to a second-and-a-half gap.
"Ian was good. We just got beat," said Pittman, of Owasso, Okla. "I liked the track conditions before it rained, but it is what it is."
Like Madsen, Pittman was unsure how he would perform at the Tulare short track, coming off strong performances at half-mile speedways.
"We were kind of curious how our car was going to shake out at a smaller place," he said. "We kind of got both spectrums there of super dry early in the night and pretty wet after the rain and the car was really good."
Both Madsen and Pittman drive a KPC Chassis, which is located nearby in Fresno, Calif.
Aside from leading every lap, Madsen's dominance was showcased by him lapping the field up to 11th-place and catching 10th-place Donny Schatz toward the end of the race.
"It was just unreal," Madsen said in almost disbelief, standing on the front stretch podium. "To get the clean sweep tonight is pretty awesome."
Madsen's best finish at Thunderbowl Raceway had been 12th. Of his previous three wins, the smallest track he had won at is the 3/8th-mile Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota.
"I feel like we've been working hard toward this for the last two years," Madsen said. "It's really good to see some good results pay off."
While Pittman finished second, he said he won't hang his head on the finish. He continues to lead the Series' championship standings over second-place Donny Schatz — adding 16 points to his cushion between the 10-time Series champion. This is the first time in the storied history of the California-based Roth Motorsports team it continues to lead the points through the Series month-long California swing.
The Series continues its trek through California next weekend on Friday, March 15, at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., and March 16 at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.
Even though Madsen began the California tour dominating Thunderbowl Raceway, to him there is still a question on how he'll perform at the upcoming races.
"We ran good at Stockton last year and Chico we've been hit or miss, so we'll see what happens," Madsen said. "Hopefully we can keep it (momentum) going through the Cali-swing."
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Race Report
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) — 1. 18-Ian Madsen [1][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,500]; 6. 5-Shane Stewart [10][$2,300]; 7. 26-Cory Eliason [11][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$2,100]; 9. 87-Aaron Reutzel [14][$2,050]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$2,000]; 11. O-Bud Kaeding [15][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [12][$1,200]; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne [8][$1,100]; 14. 4-Terry McCarl [16][$1,050]; 15. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [22][$1,000]; 16. 45-Chad Kemenah [24][$900]; 17. 68-Chase Johnson [17][$800]; 18. 19-Brent Marks [20][$800]; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [6][$800]; 21. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$800]; 22. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 23. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 24. 11K-Kraig Kinser [21][$800]; 25. 16A-Colby Copeland [18][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 45-Chad Kemenah[+8]
Qualifying — 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.404; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.467; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.488; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.532; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.532; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.539; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.559; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne, 14.561; 9. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 14.571; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.572; 11. 26-Cory Eliason, 14.575; 12. 41-David Gravel, 14.576; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 14.592; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.605; 15. O-Bud Kaeding, 14.61; 16. 4-Terry McCarl, 14.612; 17. 17W-Shane Golobic, 14.613; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.663; 19. 88N-DJ Netto, 14.667; 20. 19-Brent Marks, 14.675; 21. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 14.714; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.715; 23. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.775; 24. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 14.777; 25. 24-Rico Abreu, 14.835; 26. 7-Jason Sides, 14.913; 27. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.93; 28. 29-Willie Croft, 14.964; 29. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.054; 30. 16A-Colby Copeland, 15.067; 31. 21-Brian Brown, 15.128; 32. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.18; 33. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.187
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
World of Outlaws Racers See Positives in Competing with NASCAR Drivers
CONCORD, N.C. – Peanut butter and jelly. Movies and popcorn. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus ... well, maybe not that last one.
But World of Outlaws and NASCAR?
Even though three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart won a World of Outlaws crown with Danny Lasoski in 2001 and a truckload of titles and trophies with Donny Schatz, the two series being mentioned in the same sentence has become more commonplace of late. Most recently with the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West being paired together for the first time at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
The race drew a crowd of thousands, a larger media presence and NASCAR drivers. Some drivers were in the stands watching, and a few in the Sprint Car race themselves. Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and retired NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne joined the stars of the World of Outlaws for the doubleheader race at the Las Vegas Dirt Track last week and will continue to compete periodically with the Series throughout the season.
When the NASCAR stars join the Series, the media spotlight is usually turned on them for the night. But that's not an issue to some of the Series regulars.
"I don't mind it at all," said Series veteran Kraig Kinser, the 2005 Knoxville Nationals champion and son of Steve Kinser, the legendary King of the Outlaws. "The exposure they (NASCAR drivers) bring is always a plus. Anything that can highlight our Sprint Car racing is always a positive."
From a veteran to a rookie, the opinion stays the same. Rookie contender Carson Macedo, who drives for Kyle Larson Racing, enjoys when his boss and others come to race with the World of Outlaws.
"I love it," Macedo said. "I always said if you want to be the best, you got to race with the best. And those guys are proven to be some of the best in the world. That's what's unique about racing in the World of Outlaws, you never know who is going to show up to give you a run for your money every night."
Bell, Kahne and Larson grew up racing Sprint Cars. It's what they love, and they take every opportunity they get to drive one.
"I just love Sprint Car racing in general," Larson said. "To me the Outlaws are the toughest series to race with, that's why I really like competing with them. I hit a lot of different races, but I always have the most fun racing the Outlaw stuff."
Kahne, who like Larson owns a World of Outlaws Sprint Car team, said he became enamored with Sprint Cars at a young age and never lost that passion. Even during his years in NASCAR when he wasn't able to run many Sprint Car races. Through his Kasey Kahne Racing team, and watching the races on DIRTVision, he said he always stayed connected to it. He's enjoyed watching his team's accomplishments, such as winning the 2013 World of Outlaws championship and 2018 Knoxville Nationals crown.
This year Kahne is scheduled to run about 50 Sprint Car races. Bell is hoping to do about 20 to 25. And Larson sneaks in Sprint Car races to his schedule whenever he can.
"I just hit whatever is available," Larson said. "I don't have many days throughout the year that I can go race."
Larson and Bell both stated while there may not be much of a comparison between a Stock Car and a Sprint Car, more seat time never hurts.
"The biggest thing for me is, the way I get better is by racing cars," Bell said. "If I'm sitting on the couch, I'm not becoming a better race car driver."
Larson echoed Bell saying, anytime he gets to race, he feels like he becomes a better driver.
"It's why I try to run a lot," Larson said.
Kinser said it is nice to be able to race with the NASCAR drivers while they're in the peak of their career. And while they bring a lot of positive exposure to the sport, he said the Series is full of diehard fans that fill the stands most nights.
Unlike some other forms of motorsports, Kinser said World of Outlaws drivers are easily accessible to the fans right at their trailer.
"A lot of older fans know you can come down into the pit area afterwards, a lot of newer ones don't realize that," Kinser said. "It's always nice to speak with the fans and get face time with them. That's a positive for our sport, too."
When Bell, Kahne or Larson attend a Series race, they're just as accessible as Kinser or Macedo, making the World of Outlaws and NASCAR a favorable combination, like peanut butter and jelly or movies and popcorn.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars continue their West Coast Spring Break Tour this weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., before heading north to Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday March 15 in Chico, Calif., and Saturday, March 16 in Stockton, Calif.
The next time the World of Outlaws and NASCAR intersect will be during Memorial Day Weekend, when the inaugural two-day World of Outlaws Patriot Nationals takes over The Dirt Track at Charlotte during the nights on May 24-25 while NASCAR runs its Coca-Cola 600 events during the day at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Kyle Larson's Rookie Macedo Taking Aim at His Native California Bullrings
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars Begin March Through Golden State on Friday
CONCORD, N.C. — March 4, 2019 — World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champions Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz have solidified themselves as early favorites this season, winning three of the four races this year combined. But a new favorite may emerge during this month's California swing.
Rookie contender, and Lemoore, Calif. native, Carson Macedo has put together an impressive start to the season with his Kyle Larson Racing team, claiming three top-10 finishes and two Heat wins in the first four races.
While he's found speed on the bigger half-mile tracks of Volusia Speedway Park and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, he's most comfortable on short tracks — like the ones he grew up racing on in California.
"My whole life I feel like I've been better on the short tracks than the big tracks," said Macedo, 22. "Lately over the past couple of years I've been able to be a little bit better on those (bigger) tracks to try and carry that balance. When you race with the World of Outlaws, you've got to be good everywhere."
Going home to tracks he grew up racing on also adds another level of confidence.
"You know what to expect, and how the race tracks are going to change," Macedo said. "A lot of the time, for me, going to a track I'm comfortable at, it's usually a huge advantage, because you're usually a little bit quicker right out of the gate."
He used that extra level of confidence to his advantage in 2014 when he won his first World of Outlaws race at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. — a track the Series will return to this year on March 15, and again later in the year Sept. 6-7.
Macedo is still looking for his second Series win, having mostly raced with the All Star Circuit of Champions the last couple of years. And while he's won at Silver Dollar Speedway before, Macedo said he is most looking forward to going to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. — the next track on the Series' schedule March 8-9.
"It's probably the track I've gotten along with the most," said Macedo, who finished fifth at the track last year. "The past few years it seems like I've always been able to put together some good runs there."
To Macedo, Thunderbowl Raceway's best characteristic is the cushion builds up along the fence, allowing drivers to enter and drive through the turns aggressively.
Aggressiveness is a trait Macedo's car owner, Kyle Larson said he sees in the rookie.
"He's fun to watch," Larson said. "I think he'll have a good season (being paired with experienced crew chief Joe Gaerte)."
Macedo said he is looking forward to getting to the familiar California tracks and continue his early season success, which has currently left him sixth in the Series championship standings.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps starting at 5 p.m., Time Trials at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Thunderbowl Raceway is a high-banked, 1/3-mile oval. The track record is 12.582 sec. by Brad Sweet on March 13, 2015.
Online – ThunderbowlRaceway.com
Phone – 559-688-0909
TICKETS
Tickets for Thunderbowl Raceway are available by calling the track at 559-688-0909. Tickets for the rest of the events on the California swing can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/3-MILE WINNERS
This will be the first World of Outlaws Feature on a track that size this year.
PREVIOUS TRACK WINNERS
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, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 - Terry McCarl on Nov. 1
2003 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 2
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DiRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet4
Brent Marks – @BrentMarks19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. on Friday March 15, and then to the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. on Saturday March 16.
2019 STATS
There have been four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (3 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (12 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
2 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (4 different drivers)
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
2 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
3 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. -1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (3 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 15
5 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
POLE POSITIONS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (3 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Schatz defies odds in Sin City
LAS VEGAS, NV – Feb. 28, 2019 – The final night of racing at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas was Donny Schatz's to lose. He was hundredths of a second away from winning his Heat race, he won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, and he pulled away with the lead at the start of the Feature in front of thousands that came to see a historic night of racing that paired the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
But on lap 14 he lost it. Series points leader Daryn Pittman had inched closer and closer to Schatz every lap, eventually finding grip in the middle of the track and darting by him.
He stretched the lead of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown presented Star Nursery between he and Schatz to about a straightaway's length. Even with multiple cautions, and an Open Red, allowing teams to refuel their car, Pittman never fluttered, always knowing where to find grip on the rubbered down track, gradually moving from the top of the track at the beginning of the race to the bottom of the track by the end. The race was then his to lose.
And on the final lap of the race, he lost it. Blocked by a slower lap car – a situation Pittman used to his advantage to win his first race of the season – Schatz took advantage of a clear opening on the high side of the track to get his Tony Stewart Racing car back by Pittman and then held him off to claim a victory he thought he lost.
"I didn't think we'd get him (Pittman)," said 10-time Series Champion Schatz. "But we hit traffic on the last corner. He went there (low), and I was going the other place. It was either win it or wear it, and lucky we won it."
Lady Luck was good to Schatz. Not only did he find luck in lap traffic, he found luck in his tires holding on until the end of the 30-lap Feature, extended by multiple cautions – as his right rear tire could have been mistaken for a slick stock car tire by the end of the race. Pittman cited drivers' fear of blowing a tire is why he caught lap traffic in five laps after a late race caution, leading to him losing the race.
"We were lapping really good cars. The problem was everybody's pace was off, because I think everybody was afraid of blowing tires," Pittman said. "They were just going slower than I thought they would. Honestly if I could have replayed it, I probably would have just slowed down from the time we went green with five to go."
However, Pittman acknowledged he couldn't slow down too much because Schatz "will blow his tire trying to win a race and not think twice about it."
The victory is Schatz's 13th win at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas and his 284th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory. He went winless in the first three races of the season for the first time since 2013 – a stat he laughed off, but is glad to get past.
"I went three races without a win. Holy hell, I'm glad we're over that hump," Schatz said.
Looking to spoil the Schatz and Pittman battle for the lead, which ended with a 0.071-sec. gap, was third place finisher Logan Schuchart. He quietly worked his way through the field, from 10th, getting to third by lap 13. He stalked the two Series champions throughout the race, staying close enough to pounce if one bobbled, but neither did.
"I thought I might have a shot right there at the end with both of them," Schuchart said. "But these guys are World of Outlaws champions. They're going to be tough to beat and they're not going to make many mistakes."
He too was worried about his tires at the end of the race, stating he slowed his pace a little to not blow one.
Tires plagued Cory Eliason's night with his right rear tire blowing in the closing laps of the race, but he still managed to be the KSE Hard Charger for the second night in a row. He finished 13th after starting 24th.
While Schatz claimed the victory at the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown, Pittman remains the points leader – by just four points over Schatz.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series actions resumes March 8-9 at ThunderbowlRaceway in Tulare, CA. As always, you can catch all the action on DIRTVision.com.
Historic wins
Donny Schatz's last lap pass to claim his 284th win came on an historic night for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Car Series. For the first time, the World of Outlaws and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West were paired together for a thrilling night of racing at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
It was an event that drew a crowd of thousands in the stands and attracted a wide range of media attention.
"I'm glad to see a lot of the NASCAR fans here," Schatz said. "We met a lot of NASCAR people the last couple of days, people who have never seen a Sprint Car before. So hopefully it opens their eyes to new things."
Echoing the heart-pounding finish to the World of Outlaws race, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West put on an equally exciting show, with rising NASCAR star Hailie Deegan making a last lap pass for the win in the 100-lap Star Nursery 100. While the 17-year-old is paving a bright future for herself in NASCAR, she couldn't help but be drawn to the "gnarly" Sprint Cars.
"It's sick," Deegan said about NASCAR racing with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars. "At Volusia (Speedway Park) was the first time I saw Outlaw racing, and man, I wanted to get into a car so bad... I think coming out here with the Sprint Cars definitely made for a good show."
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Lady Luck on Shaffer's side in Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV – Feb. 27, 2019 – Tim Shaffer was in route to a dominating performance at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown presented by Star Nursery, leading every lap, but with five laps to go worry set in.
He could hear his motor sputtering. There was no doubt in his mind he was going to run out of fuel, with Giovanni Scelzi and Tim Kaeding – who made their first World of Outlaws appearance this season – breathing down his neck for the lead.
"I knew the laps had to be getting close," Shaffer said, as the 30-lap Feature saw eight cautions by lap 26.
After multiple attempts of restarting the race on lap 26, Series officials called for an Open Red, stopping the cars on the front stretch and allowing the teams to refuel their cars.
"Everything worked out, the cautions, the red flag," Shaffer said. "It was our night."
After the cars were refueled, and the race went back to green on lap 26, Shaffer acted like nothing changed, commanding the lead once again all the way to victory lane – claiming his 26th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win and his fourth win at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
While everything worked in Shaffer's favor, Fresno, Calif. native Giovanni Scelzi was not as fortunate. After falling to fourth, from third, at the beginning of the race, he worked his way to second place by lap 10 and began closing in on Shaffer while he entered lap traffic. Scelzi in the #83JR for Roth Motorsports never let Shaffer out of his sight in the closing laps of the race. He even stole the lead from him on one of the restart attempts on lap 26, but a caution was thrown before the field could complete at lap, putting him back in second place.
Once the field took the green flag, after stopping to refuel, Scelzi stayed on pace with Shaffer until entering turns three and four too aggressively, hitting the cushion and falling back two positions.
"I blistered my tires really, and kind of just overdrove the car and made some mistakes," Scelzi said. "But first night in this car, it's a good start with a top five."
Roth Motorsports has had a strong start to the season with Daryn Pittman winning the two season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park – also resulting in his third DIRTcar Nationals championship and Roth Motorsport's first. Pittman finished seventh, maintaining his points lead from Florida, now eight points ahead of second place Donny Schatz.
Schatz also had a strong run coming from 11th to third – his second podium finish in three races.
"That's the best we could do there," Schatz said. "We're gaining on things and feeling a little bit better."
Like Schatz, Kaeding had to climb his way through the field, finishing second after starting 10th. When Shaffer entered lapped traffic, you could throw a blanket over he, Scelzi and Kaeding. While Scelzi stocked Shaffer, Kaeding in his Sides Motorsports car was close behind stocking them both.
After Scelzi bounced off the cushion, the 21-time Series winner capitalized on the opportunity, darting by the black #83JR to take second place. With a clear track in front of him he could focus on hunting down Shaffer. The only problem was Shaffer had mastered the high line of the track, keeping more than a second between himself and Kaeding by the end of the race.
"I think we just ran out of time," Kaeding said "Right before that red flag came out, I knew something was wrong, he might run out of fuel."
Understanding how to drive the Las Vegas track was key to winning, Shaffer said.
"It's a tricky track," Shaffer said. "It's demanding. You know, you've got to be on your game. This place is so tough. You've got to be good in the slick to get to the tacky (spots). When your car is evil here, it's a handful."
He credits his team for giving him a good handling car that could handle the track conditions.
While Shaffer has more than 20 wins, and has raced with the Series for several years, beating the star-studded field of World of Outlaws drivers is still special to him.
"It's just awesome to be competing with them (the Outlaws)," Shaffer said. "To come here and win this deal is pretty awesome."
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action at the DIRTcar Nationals resumes tomorrow at The DIRT Track at Las Vegas. As always, you can catch all the action from the Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars Shift Placerville Event to Saturday, March 23
'The Greatest Show on Dirt' invades Golden State for entire month of March
CONCORD, NC – Feb. 18, 2019 – The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will make California its home in March, competing on eight nights at seven different Golden State tracks throughout the month. Among those is the 49er Gold Rush Classic presented by Riebes NAPA at Placerville Speedway, which will now be on Saturday, March 23.
The Series will commence its West Coast tour – featuring some of the toughest local competition the Outlaws see all season – March 8 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., and will cap the run off on March 30 at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
Brad Sweet, a native of Grass Valley, Calif., will aim to hold off the competition in his home state to add to his win list. However, Series points leader Daryn Pittman and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz won't make it easy, with strong runs to open the season in Florida.
Last year, Sweet won at Placerville Speedway after a tight race-long battle with Rico Abreu. The Series will return to the high-octane quarter-mile oval this year on the new date.
"We have had great crowds and support at Placerville and we want to keep it growing," Sweet said. "Our goal is to keep making this event bigger and bigger as time goes on."
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are also returning to the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, and Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford. The Series last visited the Hanford track in 2017, when Logan Schuchart scored the win.
Last March in California was a success for first-time winners.
Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare saw a fierce battle between the No. 87 of Aaron Reutzel and the No. 83 of Cory Eliason, as the two traded the lead for several laps with both in search of their first Series win. With four laps to go, Reutzel was able to overpower Eliason and make his first trip to victory lane.
Eliason had his day in the sun just a couple of weeks later, commanding the Stockton Dirt Track race from start to finish. No one had anything for the California-native as he become the second driver that month to earn his first Series win.
Tickets are now on sale for all West Coast swing races at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. For the races at Thunderbowl Raceway call 559-688-0909.
A portion of proceeds from tickets and a special t-shirt will benefit the California Fire Foundation as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars looked for ways to give back to those affected by California wildfires over the winter.
California Spring Break Tour
March 8 – Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif.
March 9 – Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif.
March 15 – Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, Calif.
March 16 – Stockton Dirt Track, Stockton, Calif.
March 22 – Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, Calif.
March 23 – Placerville Speedway, Placerville, Calif.
March 29 – Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds, Hanford, Calif.
March 30 – Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, Calif.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Pittman Claims Third Golden Gator
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 10, 2019 – Mother Nature put a halt to Daryn Pittman's quest for three wins in a row at Volusia Speedway Park, canceling Sunday's Sprint Car event, but handed him his third DIRTcar Nationals championship. And the first for his new Roth Motorsports team.
"To do it with a different team makes it that much more special," Pittman said about getting another golden gator. "For us to come out here and be as fast and consistent every time we hit the track just speaks volumes for the guys working on this team."
Pittman won two thrilling shows during Friday and Saturday nights' World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Volusia and finished on the podium during the Tuesday and Wednesday night Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Mobil 1 races. His consistency gave him a 28-point lead over Brad Sweet coming into Sunday night's race, and now his third DIRTcar Nationals championship – his two previous were in 2013 and 2015.
Last year, in his No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing ride, Pittman never cracked the top-11 during the three Volusia Speedway Park DIRTcar Nationals races.
"To be able to bounce back this year and dominate the way that we did, by being the most consistent car every night, is pretty good redemption for myself, personally," Pittman said. "There were a lot of questions about my move and changing teams, and you want to get off to a strong start. We'll see what the rest of the year holds."
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will trek forward with the schedule to Texas Friday Feb. 22 at Cotton Bowl Speedway and Saturday Feb. 23 at LoneStar Speedway for the East Texas Lonestar Shootout. As always, you can catch all the action from the DIRTcar Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit to the World of Outlaws woosprint.com.
Pittman Goes Two-for-Two at Volusia Speedway Park's DIRTcar Nationals
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 9, 2019 – One of Daryn Pittman's favorite drivers growing up was Stevie Smith. By capturing his 83rd win – in the 83 car – during the second night of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the DIRTcar Nationals he is now just one win away from tying his childhood hero.
"Just that number (83 wins) to me is pretty staggering," Pittman said after winning his second race in a row at Volusia Speedway Park. To him, it's surreal he would ever get close to Smith's record.
He cruised to win number 82 Friday night, making each pass with ease on the bottom of the track. Win 83 wasn't as easy. NASCAR Xfinity Series star Christopher Bell made sure of it.
Bell pulled to the lead at the start of the race and held it until lap 18 when Pittman's quest for the top spot finally reached the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab car. The two traded the lead five times – three times in the last five laps.
By the time Bell and Pittman began battling for the lead, lapped traffic came into play. The slower cars worked in Pittman's favor Friday night, as leader Shane Stewart got hung up behind one, allowing Pittman to shoot by.
They weren't an issue for Bell, maneuvering around them like an obstacle course he designed. If Pittman wanted the win, he had to outpower Bell without help.
Pittman was able to make the bottom of the track work for him early, clearing Bell on lap 19. But Bell fought back, reclaiming the lead just a lap later. Pittman was forced to regroup and try another method of catching Bell and getting back by him.
It took six laps to do so, using the high side and middle of the track as his path back to Bell's bumper. Pittman was able to again clear him for the lead, but Bell was resilient, throwing his car to the bottom of turn one and again reclaiming the lead.
After trading slide jobs in the last five laps of the race, by lap 28 the No. 83 Roth Motorsports car finally found enough grip on the high side of turns one and two to clear Bell and pull away. However, he didn't know he created gap between himself and Bell.
"As a driver I felt like once I got the lead that should have been the end of it, because I felt like my car was better, so once I gave it back, I thought I might be in trouble," Pittman said. "Honestly I thought he passed me back on the last lap. I thought I gave the race away because I completely missed the bottom on the white flag lap, and I guess it was a lapped car."
While Bell is happy with the speed he's shown this week, finishing third in Friday's Feature and winning Saturday night's DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, he's left wondering what he could have done better.
"Most of the time, I feel like in winged cars, especially on half miles, you get beat in lapped traffic," Bell said. "In this scenario, I didn't really get beat in lap traffic. He (Pittman) was obviously better than me, somehow, some way, so just go back and watch what he was doing to make up time on me. It sucks because most of the time you don't get beat in an open track like that."
Pittman credits some of the early success his team has shown to the ideas his Crew Chief Brent Ventura has provided, and that he has more say with adjustments than he did with the No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing car. While he is coming off two wins in a row, Pittman is not taking his latest wins for granted.
"Every win is special," Pittman said. "Eighty-two is great. Eighty-three is awesome. You never know when your last one is going to be. We'll enjoy this one, and hopefully we have a lot more left in us."
If he wins the Series' finale to the DIRTcar Nationals Sunday, not only will he claim his third DIRTcar Nationals championship, he'll tie his childhood hero, Stevie Smith.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will wrap up its DIRTcar Nationals championship tomorrow at Volusia Speedway Park. As always, you can catch all the action from the DIRTcar Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 39-Christopher Bell [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [2][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [15][$2,300]; 7. 87-Aaron Reutzel [8][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$2,100]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$2,050]; 10. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,000]; 11. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [10][$1,500]; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer [13][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [12][$1,100]; 14. 26-Cory Eliason [14][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$1,000]; 16. 71-Parker Price-Miller [5][$900]; 17. 13-Paul McMahan [17][$800]; 18. 70X-Spencer Bayston [11][$800]; 19. 5-Shane Stewart [21][$800]; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne [20][$800]; 21. 7K-Cale Conley [16][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [25][$]; 23. 70-Brock Zearfoss [24][$800]; 24. 17W-Shane Golobic [23][$800]; 25. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$800]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]
Lap Leaders: Christopher Bell 1-18, 20-25, 27; Daryn Pittman 19, 26, 28-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 71-Parker Price-Miller, 12.849; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.011; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 13.013; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.015; 5. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.065; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.073; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.126; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.147; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.151; 10. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.151; 11. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.162; 12. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.173; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.176; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.217; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.222; 16. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.24; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.248; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.249; 19. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.266; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.292; 21. 41-David Gravel, 13.319; 22. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.329; 23. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.347; 24. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.389; 25. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.426; 26. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.532; 27. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.6; 28. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.641; 29. 47-Brant O'Banion, 13.817; 30. 19-Brent Marks, NT; 31. 84-Tom Harris, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit: World of Outlaws woosprint.com.
Pittman Powers to Opening Night Victory at Volusia Speedway Park's DIRTcar Nationals
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 8, 2019 – Daryn Pittman is no stranger to winning at Volusia Speedway Park. However, when he pulled his Sprint Car into Victory Lane during the opening night of the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the DIRTcar Nationals it was like a first win.
NOS Energy Drink dawned Victory Lane for the first time as the new title sponsor of the Series, but the biggest change for Pittman was the car he drove to the win – the legendary Roth Motorsports No. 83.
"There is nothing better than starting the year off with a win," said Pittman, who won for the 82nd time in his World of Outlaws career. "It's hard to do. Everyone of these wins is hard to come by. But to start the season off like this, I don't think we could have scripted it any better."
For the past six years, Pittman drove the No. 9 for Kasey Kahne Racing – winning his only Series championship in 2013, his first year with the team. He lost that ride at the end of 2018, as car owner Kasey Kahne planned to run more Sprint Car races this year. Losing that ride didn't put any more pressure on him to perform, though. The pressure is always there.
"I put enough pressure on myself every day, no matter who I'm driving for or what I'm racing," Pittman said. "At my age (40), I'm not young anymore. The truth is, you have too many bad seasons and you get to my age, people start wondering 'Man has he lost it or not?'. I just have pressure on myself to get out there and perform."
Pittman added his goal with Roth Motorsports is to build a long-lasting, competitive program.
He showed speed all day, qualifying second, finishing second in his Heat Race and finishing third in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – behind fellow Oklahoma-natives Shane Stewart in the CJB Motorsports No. 5 car and Christopher Bell in the Swindell SpeedLab No. 39 car, who he battled for the win during the 30-lap caution free Feature.
Stewart, who is also in a new ride this year with the CJB Motorsports team, shot to the lead on the opening lap of the Feature. He utilized the top side of the track to his advantage most of the night, holding off attacks by Bell and Pittman for the lead. He switched to the bottom of the track for a few laps, allowing Bell, on the high side, to make his best attempt to steal the lead. Bell was able to pull side-by-side with Stewart, but never able to clear him.
Bell and Pittman traded second-place a few times throughout the race. By lap 15, Pittman was able to clear Bell for second, utilizing the traction at the bottom of the track.
Sticking to the bottom, Pittman began to reel in Stewart, who had entered lap traffic. With 10 laps to go, Stewart looked to have the race under control, keeping a healthy distance between he and Pittman while maneuvering through lap cars. Until five laps later.
Coming off turn four on the high side, Stewart's run was disrupted by a slower lap car, allowing Pittman to get underneath him in turn one, then clearing him on the backstretch. Once Pittman stole the lead, Stewart was unable to challenge for it back and had to settle for second.
"I wish I had a couple of them laps back," Stewart said. "I got caught behind (Jason) Sides, and I wasn't really sure what to do. And to win these races you can't make little mistakes like that. We had a solid night. This car has been fast since I've set foot in it and I'm really excited about this year."
Bell finished third, ahead of Brad Sweet in fourth and Donny Schatz in fifth. However, Schatz and David Gravel – also in a new ride this year – tied coming to the line for fifth. Schatz was awarded fifth, because per Series rules, going back to the previous lap Schatz was ahead of Gravel.
Gravel did earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger honor, coming from 17th to sixth.
For Pittman, while he is dealing with a lot of new, Friday night's win is the start to showing people he will be a threat to win every night, he said.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action at the DIRTcar Nationals resumes tomorrow at Volusia Speedway Park. As always, you can catch all the action from the Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$5,500]; 3. 39-Christopher Bell [2][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [17][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [4][$2,200]; 8. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [6][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [8][$2,050]; 10. 26-Cory Eliason [11][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$1,200]; 13. 71-Parker Price-Miller [16][$1,100]; 14. 13-Paul McMahan [13][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$1,000]; 16. 70X-Spencer Bayston [7][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$800]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$]; 19. 17W-Shane Golobic [19][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [22][$800]; 21. 7K-Cale Conley [21][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 23. 70-Brock Zearfoss [15][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 25. 33M-Mason Daniel [20][$800]; 26. 49X-Tim Shaffer [18][$800]
Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-15, Daryn Pittman 16-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: 41-David Gravel [+12]
Qualifying: 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.024; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.097; 3. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.11; 4. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.121; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.133; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.188; 7. 21-Brian Brown, 13.225; 8. 1K-Kyle Larson, 13.238; 9. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.302; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.309; 11. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.341; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.405; 13. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.433; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.439; 15. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.441; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.52; 17. 41-David Gravel, 13.501; 18. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.535; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.552; 20. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.598; 21. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.601; 22. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.634; 23. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.706; 24. 71-Parker Price-Miller, 13.752; 25. 19-Brent Marks, 13.77; 26. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.771; 27. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.786; 28. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.859; 29. J4-John Garvin, 13.875; 30. 84-Tom Harris, 13.898; 31. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 14.055; 32. K4-Chad Kemenah, 14.079; 33. 47-Brant O'Banion, 14.259.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
World of Outlaws - woosprint.com.
Schatz Wins Thriller From 10th in 2018 Season Finale at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 3, 2018 – In fitting fashion, Donny Schatz came from 10th at The Dirt Track at Charlotte to win the final night of the World Finals presented by Can-Am. Schatz wrapped up his 10th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Championship on Thursday. Logan Schuchart, who exchanged slide jobs with Schatz coming to the White Flag, settled for second with ninth-starting Brad Sweet completing the podium.
Spencer Bayston, in search of his first career World of Outlaws win, won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap Feature alongside Carson Macedo, who won the second Dash.
It was Macedo, who will join the Outlaws full-time with Kyle Larson Racing in 2019, getting the jump on the initial start to lead the opening circuit. Bayston remained in tow as fifth-starting Logan Schuchart darted to third on the second lap.
Schuchart, who came from 20th to complete the podium Saturday afternoon, took second from Bayston on Lap 8 and set his eyes on Macedo.
Schuchart went for the lead on Lap 9 with a big slide job in turn four, but Macedo powered around the Shark Racing No.1S. Schuchart took the lead on Lap 11 with a slide job in turn two but once again Macedo was ready with a slide job of his own out of turn four to lead the lap.
Jason Sides brought out the first caution of the event on Lap 14. Schatz, who started 10th, went from sixth to fourth on the restart before Sheldon Haudenschild slowed on the following lap.
On that restart Schatz maneuvered by Bayston and Schuchart for the runner-up position and began closing in on Macedo.
Macedo set a strong pace and looked poised out front in his second night racing for KLR but it was not meant to be as a flat right rear tire sent the Lemoore, CA native into the wall with 23 laps complete.
Schatz inherited the lead, but his job was far from done as a determined Schuchart stayed right with the Champion on the restart. As Schuchart closed in on Schatz, the sellout crowd roared in anticipation of an upset victory.
With two laps remaining, Schuchart pulled the big slide job through turn one and two but Schatz returned the favor on the other end to remain in command coming to the White Flag.
A last-ditch effort from Schuchart came up just short as Schatz went on to win his 22nd Feature of the season.
When asked about the pace set by young guns Macedo and Schuchart, Schatz said, “The sport’s pretty damn bright. Even the old guys can still get it done.”
“Hats off to my guys, they have worked their butts off all season. I’m the hardest guy in the pits to work for because if it’s not perfect, I’m not happy,” Schatz said with a smile next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15. “These guys do an excellent job night in and night out. I felt great on that restart with seven to go and I knew it would take someone with a lot of speed to get by me and sure enough here comes the 1S.”
Before celebrating his victory, Schatz showed true sportsmanship going over and congratulating Schuchart on a great, clean race.
“I knew it was going to be tough to beat him. I had one shot and couldn’t make it stick but it is great to be able to have a good, clean race with the 10-time Champion,” Schuchart said.
When asked about the progress of Shark Racing, who just secured Drydene Performance as a title sponsor, Schuchart couldn’t help but get emotional, “We have grown tremendously, and it all starts with [Bobby Allen]. I’m so proud to be his grandson,” Schuchart said to a huge ovation.
Brad Sweet clawed his way forward from ninth to finish on the podium. “We’ve been in the hunt all year long. It was a great season and it was nice to end on the podium,” Sweet, who enjoyed a career-best season, said.
Tim Shaffer finished fourth, his second top-five of the day, with 11th-starting Gio Scelzi completing the top-five.Kraig Kinser earned KSE Hard Charger honors, advancing 13 positions after taking a Provisional.
The 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series 40th Anniversary officially comes to an end tomorrow evening with the Awards Banquet. DIRTVision.com will be live streaming both the Sprint Car and Late Model banquets for free.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$12,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$3,200]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,800]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [11][$2,500]; 6. 39-Spencer Bayston [1][$2,300]; 7. 5-David Gravel [6][$2,200]; 8. 5M-Kerry Madsen [4][$2,100]; 9. 41-Joey Saldana [13][$2,050]; 10. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [7][$2,000]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [25][$100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [19][$1,050]; 15. 9-Daryn Pittman [24][$1,000]; 16. 21-Brian Brown [21][$1,000]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [27][$]; 18. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [18][$1,000]; 19. 87-Aaron Reutzel [14][$1,000]; 20. 13-Paul McMahan [12][$1,000]; 21. 19-Brent Marks [17][$1,000]; 22. 83-Cory Eliason [22][$1,000]; 23. W20-Greg Wilson [28][$]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [16][$1,000]; 25. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; 26. 17A-Austin McCarl [15][$1,000]; 27. 22-Carson Macedo [2][$1,000]; 28. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-23, Donny Schatz 24-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Ian Madsen Gets First Win of Season During Saturday Afternoon Portion of World Finals at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 3, 2018 – Australian Ian Madsen will be named the 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year and accentuated that honor with his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature win of the year Saturday afternoon during World Finals presented by Can-Am action at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tim Shaffer surged late to finish second with 20th-starting Logan Schuchart completing the podium.
Tim Shaffer and Aaron Reutzel led the field to Green on the daytime dry, slick racing surface but it was Madsen taking control off of turn four to lead the opening lap.
Shane Stewart, who started beside Madsen in row two, found speed on the cushion blasting to the lead on Lap 5.
It’s no secret it’s been a challenging year for Shane Stewart and that continued Saturday afternoon as a flat tire on the Kyle Larson Racing No.2 on Lap 13 summarized their 2018 season.
Madsen inherited the lead for the double-file restart, but all eyes were on 20th-starting Logan Schuchart and 17th-starting Greg Wilson who made their way into the top-five before the half-way point.
The ensuing restart saw Brian Brown go for a vicious ride through turn one and two. Brown was uninjured in the accident.
When action resumed, Wilson and Schuchart jockeyed for the runner-up position as they both reeled in the KCP Racing No.18.
With Madsen out front, Wilson glued to the bottom and Schuchart banging down the cushion, the capacity crowd at The Dirt Track at Charlotte roared with excitement as they nearly went 3-wide for the lead.
With five laps remaining a caution for Brent Marks halted the torrid battle for the lead with Madsen out front followed by Schuchart and Wilson. The single-file restart gave Schuchart the opportunity to set up a pass for the lead, but Madsen powered away convincingly.
Tim Shaffer reclaimed third from Wilson before the Red Flag flew with three laps remaining for Parker Price-Miller, who tipped lightly on his side.
With one last restart, Schuchart again looked to the bottom side for the lead but brushed off his speed and allowed Tim Shaffer to regain second as Ian Madsen went on to win his third career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature.
“This is an awesome feeling. We’ve been coming to this event every year and it keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s awesome to be a part of the World Finals,” a relieved Madsen said.
“Day-time racing is tricky, especially when the preferred racing line kept changing. I saw Logan behind me and I know he’s particularly good on these type of race tracks,” the Australian added before thanking his KCP Racing Team and saying hello to all of his family, friends and car owner, who are scattered around the world.
Tim Shaffer and 20th-starting Schuchart completed the podium. Shaffer found speed late, said he wished there were 10 more laps and referenced how strong he felt when he pulled the wing all the way back.
Schuchart, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors, emphasized that he wanted to get the win for Drydene Performance, who announced Thursday a multi-year partnership with both Shark Racing cars and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
12th-starting Spencer Bayston charged to fourth with Greg Wilson fading late, but still officially being scored with a strong 17th to fifth run. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series completes its 40th Anniversary Season with the night portion of the World Finals presented by Can-Am double-header at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway! As always, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature: (30 Laps): 1. 18-Ian Madsen [3][$12,000]; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$5,500]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$3,200]; 4. 39-Spencer Bayston [12][$2,800]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$2,500]; 6. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,300]; 7. 83-Cory Eliason [15][$2,200]; 8. 22-Carson Macedo [8][$2,100]; 9. 87-Aaron Reutzel [2][$2,050]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [21][$2,000]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [18][$1,500]; 12. 4-Kasey Kahne [13][$1,200]; 13. 5M-Kerry Madsen [11][$1,100]; 14. 9-Daryn Pittman [25][$50]; 15. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [27][$]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [28][$]; 18. 41-Joey Saldana [24][$1,000]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$1,000]; 20. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 21. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [16][$1,000]; 22. 13-Paul McMahan [5][$1,000]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [29][$]; 24. 44-Trey Starks [23][$1,000]; 25. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [22][$1,000]; 26. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [19][$1,000]; 27. 19P-Paige Polyak [9][$1,000]; 28. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$1,000]; 29. 21-Brian Brown [6][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-4, 13-30; Shane Stewart 5-12; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+17]
Afternoon Rain and Track Curfew Force Friday’s World Finals Features to Saturday Afternoon
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 2, 2018 – Heavy afternoon rain and a midnight curfew at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway allowed the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series to get everything in except the Features on Night Two of the World Finals presented by Can-Am. Friday's Super DIRTcar Series Feature will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:30 with the Late Model and Sprint Car Features to follow. Saturday’s portion of the event will kick-off with Opening Ceremonies at 4:45pm.
Paige Polyak, Tim Shaffer, Ian Madsen, Aaron Reutzel, Spencer Bayston and David Gravel won the six World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Heat Races before Gerard McIntyre won the C Main and fast timer Parker Price-Miller won the Last Chance Showdown.
Shaffer and Reutzel drew the pole and won their respective Sears Craftsman Dashes to earn the front row for the 30-lap, $12,000 to win, $1,000 to start Feature. Shaffer will look for his first Outlaw triumph of the season while Reutzel will be in search of his second, after scoring his first career World of Outlaws win at Tulare in March.
Ian Madsen and Shane Stewart will occupy the second row. Madsen, who will be crowned 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, would love nothing more to accentuate that honor with his first win of the season. Stewart’s five-year tenure with Kyle Larson Racing will come to a close tomorrow and a victory would be a strong ending to a challenging year.
David Gravel entered the evening 24 points ahead of Daryn Pittman for third in the Series Point Standings. Gravel was strong winning his Heat Race and will lineup 10th, while Pittman struggled and was forced to use a Provisional, meaning he will start 25th.
Donny Schatz Nets $51,000 with Tuscarora 50 Triumph at Port Royal Speedway
PORT ROYAL, PA – October 28, 2018 – Donny Schatz continued his remarkable 2018 campaign with a $51,000 payday at Port Royal Speedway, passing Brad Sweet on Lap 32 to win the Tuscarora 50. Freddie Rahmer surged from 16th to finish second with Daryn Pittman charging from 23rd to third on the excellent daytime racing surface.
The ‘Kings Royal’ type format saw four cars inverted in six Heat Races. Lucas Wolfe and Brad Sweet won their respective Heats to earn the front row for the 50-Lap, $51,000 to win Feature.
Sweet led the opening circuit before a nasty crash involving Port Royal’s Track Champion Logan Wagner and Tim Shaffer, halted action with one complete. Both drivers were uninjured in the accident but done for the afternoon.
Sweet was strong on the restart and didn’t reach traffic before Logan Schuchart’s night came to an end on Lap 6, stopping on the front stretch.
Lucas Wolfe remained in second on the ensuing restart, looking for a way around the 2018 Knoxville Nationals Champion. Donny Schatz worked his way forward to third from his fifth starting position and remained within striking distance of Sweet and Wolfe.
Consecutive cautions on Lap 16 and 17 allowed Wolfe to set up an attack for the lead on the restart. As Sweet brought the field back to Green on the 18th circuit, Wolfe blasted to the top side of the racing surface and took control of the field down the backstretch to a large roar from the Port Royal faithful, only to have the pass negated by a caution for a stopped Ian Madsen.
The following restart Sweet was prepared and fended off Wolfe’s charge before the caution flew on Lap 21 for the designated fuel stop.
When action resumed, Donny Schatz moved into second and began closing in on Sweet for the lead. Schatz found grip on the bottom and got underneath Sweet to lead the 32nd lap before the caution flew for fourth-place running Gio Scelzi.
Schatz ran away on the restart as Wolfe began going to work on the cushion, closing in on Sweet, eventually reclaiming the second position on Lap 38. At this point, 16th-starting Freddie Rahmer had climbed to fourth with 23rd-starting Daryn Pittman coming forward to sixth.
A caution with eight laps remaining bunched the field together and gave Wolfe a chance to steal the victory from Schatz.
Schatz powered away on the restart, completing a lap before the Yellow Flag flew for debris, as the hood flew off seventh-place running TJ Stutts’ car, ending his evening.
Schatz again blasted away on the restart, leaving no doubt who the class of the field was, en route to his 21st World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018.
“That felt like a 500-miler,” Schatz said with a chuckle in Victory Lane about the caution-filled race, next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15. As always, Schatz deflected the credit of the victory his crew, “These guys are incredible at what they do, it’s pretty cool to win that big money. Anytime you win in Pennsylvania it’s big and this is a big one.”
“We decided we better start testing out the 2019 rule changes and since we’ve done that, we haven’t finished worse than second and that’s really important,” Schatz, who was sporting a special Arctic Cat paint scheme, added before expressing his gratitude to Port Royal Speedway for not giving in to Mother Nature this weekend.
Freddie Rahmer continued his impressive 2018 season, surging from 16th to finish second. “My car was really good, I could really move around. They did a great job with the track,” Rahmer, who scored his first career World of Outlaws victory earlier this year in July, said in appreciation of Port Royal.
Daryn Pittman, who charged from 23rd to complete the podium, echoed the sentiments about Port Royal Speedway, “Hats off to Port Royal, they could’ve easily thrown in the towel for this weekend. They did a really nice job widening out the track. It’s always a pleasure to come back to this place and see the improvements they do on a weekly basis.”
“To start 23rd and end up on the podium says a lot about how great my race car was and the track. I wish we would have been a little stronger earlier in the night to get a better starting position,” Pittman, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors added.
Brad Sweet finished fourth with 17th-starting David Gravel completing the top five.
Persistent rain and cold temperatures led to the cancellation of Friday and Saturday’s program, forcing the World of Outlaws and Port Royal to use the Sunday rain date.
The program was moved forward in the afternoon; a good decision by all parties, as heavy rain began to fall less than an hour after the Feature concluded.
Brian Brown bested the 51-car field in Qualifying and broke the Track Record in Qualifying with a lap of 14.868. In total, seven drivers in Qualifying went under the existing record and for the first time in track history a sub-15-second lap was run.
With the unique format, the Tuscarora 50 was show-up points only for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series teams.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series finishes off its 40th Anniversary Season with the World Finals presented by Can-Am at The Dirt Track at Charlotte next Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 1st-3rd. Tickets still remain for one of dirt track racing’s biggest spectacles as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars and Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block-Modifieds crown their champions.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (50 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$51,513]; 2. 51-Freddie Rahmer [16][$12,000]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [23][$5,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$4,437]; 5. 5-David Gravel [17][$3,000]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [1][$2,500]; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich [6][$2,300]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [14][$2,100]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [10][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$1,900]; 12. 58-Jim Siegel [15][$1,500]; 13. 5C-Dylan Cisney [25][$300]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo [7][$1,250]; 15. 11-T.J. Stutts [19][$1,200]; 16. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [12][$1,150]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [11][$1,100]; 18. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$1,075]; 19. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [8][$1,050]; 20. 5T-Tyler Reeser [18][$1,025]; 21. 39M-Anthony Macri [13][$1,000]; 22. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [22][$1,000]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$1,000]; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer [20][$1,000]; 25. 1-Logan Wagner [24][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31, Donny Schatz 32-50; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman[+20]
Qualifying Flight-A: 1. 41-Carson Macedo, 14.891; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.905; 3. 11-T.J. Stutts, 14.929; 4. 1-Logan Wagner, 14.968; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.969; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 14.98; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.017; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri, 15.028; 9. 58-Jim Siegel, 15.036; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 15.037; 11. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 15.063; 12. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 15.083; 13. 5-David Gravel, 15.091; 14. 83-Cory Eliason, 15.121; 15. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 15.126; 16. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.131; 17. 5M-Kerry Madsen, 15.132; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.163; 19. 55-Mike Wagner, 15.233; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.299; 21. 35-Justin Henderson, 15.393; 22. 33-Jared Esh, 15.44; 23. 1R-Kyle Reinhardt, 15.442; 24. W20-Greg Wilson, 15.465; 25. 29-Brent Shearer, 16.543; 26. 12W-Troy Fraker, 16.712
Qualifying Flight-B: 1. 21-Brian Brown, 14.868; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 15.046; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman, 15.099; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.116; 5. 71X-Dominic Scelzi, 15.134; 6. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 15.165; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich, 15.184; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 15.233; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.233; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.238; 11. 2-Shane Stewart, 15.264; 12. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 15.28; 13. 94-Ryan Smith, 15.295; 14. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 15.297; 15. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 15.305; 16. 7K-Cale Conley, 15.322; 17. 44-Trey Starks, 15.347; 18. 39C-Cory Haas, 15.367; 19. 39-Spencer Bayston, 15.374; 20. 5T-Tyler Reeser, 15.481; 21. 21X-Brian Montieth, 15.512; 22. 91-Tony Fiore, 15.534; 23. 70-Dave Blaney, 15.591; 24. 10K-Joe Kata, 16.009; 25. 47K-Kody Lehman, 16.174
Donny Schatz Hits 20-Win Mark for Sixth Consecutive Season with Dodge City Victory
DODGE CITY, KS – October 20, 2018 – Donny Schatz passed Ian Madsen on Lap 9 in lapped traffic and held off Madsen’s late race surge to win his 20th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series of 2018, Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Madsen, in his first visit to Dodge City, settled for second with Daryn Pittman completing the podium.
Ian Madsen set a new Dodge City track record in Qualifying, won his Heat and the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature. Madsen got a strong initial start to lead the opening lap. The Australian, who will be crowned as the 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year at the years end, reached lapped traffic by the fourth circuit on the lightning-fast racing surface.
Madsen cleared the first slower car, but was held up by local Steven Richardson, allowing Schatz to close the gap. Madsen remained behind Richardson as Schatz got a strong run entering turn one to take the lead down the backstretch on the ninth circuit.
Schatz officially led the ninth lap before the caution flew for third-place running Sheldon Haudenschild. Haudenschild, who was also making his Dodge City debut, was able to return at the rear of the field.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Schatz and Madsen race away from the field, establishing themselves as the class of the field. Similar to Madsen early in the race, Schatz’ pace slowed dramatically when he reached lapped traffic. Madsen closed in on the nine-time Series Champion, and took a look underneath for the lead, but couldn’t complete the pass.
A sputtering Adam Gullion brought out the caution with 18 laps complete, giving the leaders a clear track. Two laps later, Jade Hastings blew up, setting up a ten-lap sprint to the finish.
Schatz and Madsen again pulled away from the field, as Kasey Kahne Racing teammates Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet jockeyed for third. Schatz reached traffic and again was forced to slow his pace on the tacky racing surface. Madsen closed in once again but came up .279 short, as Schatz took the Checkered Flag for the 20th time in 2018.
When asked about the difficulties of lapped traffic, Schatz said with a smile, “It’s how I got the lead and it’s how I almost lost it. They didn’t do anything wrong, but it was definitely tough to get by them.”
The win was Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15 team 20th win of the year, marking the sixth consecutive season they’ve reached that total. “It’s a testament to how great this team is, but we’re never satisfied. 20 wins isn’t enough, 40 wins isn’t enough, that’s what makes this team so great,” Schatz said about reaching the 20-win plateau.
“It’s a privilege to be able to drive for this great team against the greatest drivers in the world at the nicest facilities in the country,” Schatz said as a dual-compliment to the World of Outlaws competition and Dodge City Raceway Park.
Ian Madsen was obviously disappointed to not finish the job but remained in good spirits. “It was a great night for this KCP team, I had a lot of family and friends here tonight and our car owner was here as well, so it was great to have a good finish for all of them. I just read lapped traffic wrong, hopefully we can pick up a win here in the last two weeks,” Madsen said.
Daryn Pittman, fresh off his Lakeside victory a night ago, completed the podium and continued his recent hot streak. “We’re really happy where this team is right now, it’s a shame the year is coming to an end,” Pittman said next to his Ionomy-sponsored KKR No.9.
Brad Sweet and 12th-starting Brian Brown completed the top-five. Sam Hafertepe Jr. earned KSE Hard Charger honors, coming from last to 15th.
A chilly evening and good air had Dodge City Raceway Park in unchartered territory as 22 of the 23 cars signed in broke the 13-year-old track record. Ian Madsen’s Quick Time was nearly a half-second quicker than the existing fastest lap. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has two weekends left in its 40th Anniversary Season.
Next weekend, the Series heads back to Central Pennsylvania for the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway. Saturday’s 50-lap Feature will pay $51,000 to the winner. Following that, the Outlaws will conclude the year at the World Finals presented by Can-Am at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$10,000]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [1][$5,500]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [12][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [5][$2,200]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$2,100]; 9. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [11][$2,050]; 10. 5-David Gravel [14][$2,000]; 11. 41-Joey Saldana [15][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$1,100]; 14. 4-Brock Zearfoss [10][$1,050]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [23][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$900]; 17. 1X-Don Droud [19][$800]; 18. 8H-Jade Hastings [18][$800]; 19. 91-Adam Gullion [20][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [13][$800]; 21. O-Steven Richardson [21][$800]; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson [22][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-8, Donny Schatz 9-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15H-Sam Hafertepe[+8]
Daryn Pittman Convincingly Scores 9th Win of 2018 in FVP Platinum Battery Shootout at Lakeside Speedway
KANSAS CITY, KS – October 19, 2018 – Daryn Pittman scored his ninth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature win of the season in convincing fashion, leading every lap of the FVP Platinum Battery Shootout at Lakeside Speedway. Donny Schatz extended his points lead with a runner-up finish and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the podium. It was Pittman’s 81st career World of Outlaws win and second at Lakeside with his prior triumph coming 15 years ago in 2003.
Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature, alongside Logan Schuchart. Pittman held off an early charge from Schuchart to take command of the field.
A fast racing surface allowed Pittman to reach lapped traffic on Lap 8. The Oklahoma veteran negotiated traffic well, before the lone caution flag of the Feature fell on Lap 12 as heartbreak struck second-place running Logan Schuchart. Schuchart smoked down the frontstretch before coming to stop in turn one, ending his evening.
Sheldon Haudenschild assumed second place alongside Pittman with Jason Sides and Donny Schatz in row two of the double-file restart.
Pittman powered away from the field with a strong restart as Haudenschild and Schatz waged war for the second spot with the nine-time and defending Series Champion taking the position for good on Lap 16.
Schatz narrowed Pittman’s lead, but the Kasey Kahne Racing, Ionomy-sponsored No.9 remained proficient through traffic.
The best battle on the race track was between Jason Sides, Brad Sweet and Joey Saldana, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, as the trio utilized the entire the Lakeside Speedway racing surface battling for the fifth position.
Back up front, Schatz continued to close in on Pittman, but time was running out. With five laps remaining, Pittman maintained good speed on the cushion as Schatz was a car-length lower than him, desperately trying to reel him in.
Pittman stayed strong up top and rode the cushion to victory, a mere .586 seconds ahead of Schatz.
“This place is always been a track I’ve enjoyed coming to. If your car is good, you can get by guys and as a racer that’s all you can ask for,” Pittman said speaking fondly of Lakeside Speedway.
“Hats off to my guys, my car was great. It was a lot of fun, lapped traffic was tight, but I could move around and maintain speed everywhere. Man, these wins are hard to come by. I’ve been doing this a long time and they never get easier,” Pittman said with a smile next to his KKR No.9.
Schatz settled for second and kept things simple after the race, “That’s the way it goes sometimes. We got ourselves up there to compete for the win but didn’t get it. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
In his second career Lakeside appearance, Sheldon Haudenschild landed on the podium for the second consecutive year, finishing third. “The 9 and 15 were good, I like this place, it’s wide and fast. It’s definitely cool to have Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.] here and a couple of the NASCAR boys, we’ll try again tomorrow,” Haudenschild said next to his NOS Energy Drink sponsored Stenhouse Jr-Marshall No.17.
Shane Stewart was strong all night and finished fourth with Joey Saldana finishing fifth in his debut aboard the JJR No.41.
Brad Sweet, Jason Sides, Ian Madsen, Kraig Kinser and Brent Marks completed the all-Outlaw top-ten. Brock Zearfoss, in his Lakeside debut, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from the LCS to finish 11th.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season tomorrow with a return to Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS. Weather has prevented the Series from racing there since 2015, don’t miss this year’s Boot Hill Showdown. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$2,800]; 5. 41-Joey Saldana [8][$2,500]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,300]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [6][$2,200]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$2,050]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,000]; 11. 4-Brock Zearfoss [19][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [11][$1,200]; 13. 21-Brian Brown [12][$1,100]; 14. 5-David Gravel [15][$1,050]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [18][$1,000]; 16. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [14][$900]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 18. 35L-Cody Ledger [24][$800]; 19. 33M-Mason Daniel [17][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [22][$800]; 21. 2C-Wayne Johnson [23][$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2][$800]; 23. 12-Lynton Jeffrey [21][$800]; 24. 1X-Don Droud [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 4-Brock Zearfoss[+8]
Qualifying: 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.626; 2. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.734; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.744; 4. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.758; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.76; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.764; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.799; 8. 41-Joey Saldana, 13.814; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 13.831; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.833; 11. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.844; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.909; 13. 1X-Don Droud, 13.964; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.969; 15. 5-David Gravel, 13.98; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.985; 17. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.997; 18. 4-Brock Zearfoss, 14.022; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.024; 20. 12-Lynton Jeffrey, 14.04; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 14.117; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 14.123; 23. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.226; 24. 35L-Cody Ledger, 14.302; 25. 8H-Jade Hastings, 14.395; 26. 91-Adam Gullion, 14.853; 27. 91X-Riley Kreisel, 15.125
Christopher Bell Dominates Eldora Speedway for Fourth Career Outlaw Win
ROSSBURG, OH – October 14, 2018 – Christopher Bell pounded the cushion to perfection up against the Eldora Speedway wall to win his fourth career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature, but first of 2018, Sunday evening at the Ohio half-mile. Bell fell as far back as eighth but took the lead on Lap 14 and never looked back. Donny Schatz extended his Series points lead finishing second for a Tony Stewart Racing/Curb-Agajanian Racing one-two punch. Parker Price-Miller, who led the first 13 laps, completed the podium.
Tim Shaffer won the Sears Craftsman Dash and led the field down the backstretch, but a strong sweeping move across the racing surface from Parker Price-Miller saw the youngster lead the opening lap by a nose.
Carson Macedo, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, took second from Shaffer on Lap 9 and began closing in on Price-Miller for the lead.
Christopher Bell fell back from his fifth-starting spot on the initial start, but began his cushion-pounding charge forward immediately. As Macedo passed Shaffer for second on the ninth circuit, Bell re-entered the top five. Two laps later, Bell was third and visibly closing on the leaders. Bell passed Macedo for second on Lap 13 and took the lead the following lap from Price-Miller in turn one.
From there, Bell set sail, rim riding his way to a sizable advantage through lapped traffic.
Donny Schatz worked his way forward from his eighth starting spot to take third just past the halfway point.
The lone caution of the event flew on Lap 21 for a slowing Aaron Reutzel, setting up a double-file restart.
Price-Miller, who had fallen back to fourth, got an excellent restart and challenged Bell for the lead before settling into second. Bell once again powered away from the field, establishing a sizeable lead over the field.
Schatz went to work on Price-Miller for second, completing the pass with one to go. At this point, his TSR teammate was gone, as Bell cruised to win by over four seconds.
“I’m very grateful to run this thing, it’s a rocket every time I come to this place. It was so fast on the top, I could zoom right around,” Bell said in Victory Lane.
When asked about riding the wall at Eldora with a near-perfect race car, Bell didn’t hold back, saying, “It’s the most fun thing you’ll ever do.”
“It’s a dream come true to be able to win World of Outlaws races at Eldora,” Bell, who was making his fifth Outlaw start of the season, added with a smile.
Donny Schatz settled for second for the second consecutive night and was pleased with his car, “My car was really good. These guys keep working on it and making some gains, it was great to have some grip out there.”
Parker Price-Miller, in one of three Indy Race Parts entries, held off Macedo to complete the podium, “We were really good. When you are out front, you don’t know how strong you really are, and Christopher blew my doors off. He was the class of the field. I can’t thank Bernie and Betsy enough for giving me this opportunity.”
Macedo, who will return to the JJR No.41 at Port Royal in two weeks, finished fourth with Ian Madsen completing the top five.
Brent Marks came forward from 12th to sixth with Joey Saldana, in another Indy Race Parts car, was strong finishing seventh.
Sheldon Haudenschild charged from 18th to eighth and Logan Schuchart earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 20th to ninth. Pennsylvanian Brock Zearfoss, who will finish out the season following the Outlaw tour, completed the top-ten.
A night after breaking a 19-year-old track record at Terre Haute, teenager Gio Scelzi was within striking distance of the 16-year-old Eldora track record in Qualifying, missing it by seven hundredths of a second.
It was an early start at Eldora, which was coming off a double-header World 100 program the night before, with the Outlaw Feature ending before 7:30 on a brisk October evening.
A rare off-weekend for the NASCAR Xfinity Series allowed Bell to compete back in his dirt track roots. Bell currently leads Xfinity points and recently set the single-season win record for a rookie with six. Bell finished 11th last night at Terre Haute.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action next weekend with a pair of dates in Kansas, starting Friday, October 19 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City for the FVP Platinum Battery Shootout and concluding Saturday, October 20 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 14B-Christopher Bell [5][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$5,500]; 3. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [2][$3,200]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo [4][$2,800]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [3][$2,500]; 6. 19-Brent Marks [12][$2,300]; 7. 71X-Joey Saldana [6][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$2,100]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$2,050]; 10. 4-Brock Zearfoss [10][$2,000]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [15][$1,500]; 12. 21-Brian Brown [14][$1,200]; 13. 49-Brad Sweet [13][$1,100]; 14. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [9][$1,050]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [7][$1,000]; 16. 39-Spencer Bayston [17][$900]; 17. 5-David Gravel [16][$800]; 18. 9-Daryn Pittman [22][$800]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$800]; 20. 81-Chad Kemenah [24][$800]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$800]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [11][$800]; 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [21][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Parker Price-Miller 1-13, Christopher Bell 14-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+11]
Brad Sweet Continues Career Year with Terre Haute Triumph
TERRE HAUTE, IN – October 13, 2018 – Brad Sweet’s added another page to his unforgettable 2018 season with a flag-to-flag victory at the historic Terre Haute Action Track, his ninth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of the year. Donny Schatz charged from 12th to second, getting by Tim Shaffer, who completed the podium, on the Green-White-Checkered finish.
Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Daryn Pittman put on a show on the final lap of the Sears Craftsman Dash finishing side-by-side. Sweet edged Pittman by 0.054 to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature.
Sweet powered to the lead on the initial start to lead the opening circuit and reached lapped traffic on Lap 9 at the spacious Indiana half-mile. Pittman and 2001 Terre Haute Outlaw winner Tim Shaffer were in tow.
At the halfway point, Donny Schatz had worked forward from his 12th-starting spot to sixth aboard the Tony Stewart Racing/Curb-Agajanian No.15. By lap 19, the nine-time Series Champion and current points leader had maneuvered to fourth.
Sweet continued to work his way through traffic as Schatz closed the gap on Pittman and Shaffer for the runner-up position.
Lap 27 saw Shaffer and Schatz get by Pittman for position down the backstretch and through turn three, respectively.
As the White Flag flew for Brad Sweet, he would not be caught, as he had multiple lapped cars between himself and Shaffer and Schatz, who were in a torrid battle for second.
It wouldn’t be that easy for the driver known as ‘The Big Cat’, however, as the caution flew for a stopped Ian Madsen as Sweet was about to take the Checkered.
The caution set up a single-file, Green, White, Checkered finish with Shaffer, who was ahead of Schatz at the last completed lap, in second and Schatz in third.
On the restart, Schatz quickly disposed of Shaffer in turn one and set his eyes on Sweet for his 20th victory of the season. Schatz closed the gap in each corner, but it wasn’t enough, as Sweet went on to win by .686 seconds.
When asked about the late restart, Brad Sweet chuckled and said with a smile, “Well, I’ve been getting used to it. Knoxville, Black Hills, Chico and Lernerville have all had late race restarts and sometimes it’s not bad to get a clean track. I think we were just good enough to hold these guys off tonight.”
“Lapped traffic was tricky. I think I made a few mistakes, but I guess I had a big enough lead,” Sweet said of the long Green Flag period to open the race, before thanking his NAPA Auto Parts crew for their continued hard work.
“Terre Haute is a special place. I’ve won a non-wing USAC race here, so it’s cool to come back here and win with the World of Outlaws,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
Donny Schatz, who had passed Tim Shaffer for second on the final lap but had to go back to third for the Green-White-Checkered finish, was obviously disappointed to come up just short.
“We did what we could, the car was obviously rolling to get up there on an open race track. My guys did an incredible job, we wanted to get a win,” Schatz, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors for his efforts, said.
Tim Shaffer’s excellent 2018 season continued with a podium finish and he was pleased, “We had a great car, it kept coming in little by little as the race went on.”
Pittman settled for fourth with Sheldon Haudenschild charging from 15th to complete the top-five.
A week of rain and frigid temperatures had Terre Haute Action Track in unchartered territory during Qualifying, as 19 of the 32 cars signed in broke the existing track record set back in 1999. Brian Brown, who went out late, ended up establishing the new Terre Haute track record at 16.028, nearly a half-second faster than the existing record.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season tomorrow evening at Eldora Speedway with an early start time. Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 3:30pm, tickets for the The Greatest Show on Dirt’s final appearance of the year at ‘The Big E’ can be found here. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (31 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$5,500]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$3,200]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,800]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,500]; 6. 71X-Joey Saldana [6][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [5][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$2,100]; 9. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [7][$2,050]; 10. 5-David Gravel [4][$2,000]; 11. 14B-Christopher Bell [8][$1,500]; 12. 2-Shane Stewart [18][$1,200]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo [16][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$1,050]; 15. 4-Brock Zearfoss [9][$1,000]; 16. 39-Spencer Bayston [21][$900]; 17. 19-Brent Marks [20][$800]; 18. 83-Cory Eliason [22][$800]; 19. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [23][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [19][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$800]; 22. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 24. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+10]
Schuchart Dominant at Fulton for Second Win of Year
FULTON, NY – October 6, 2018 – Logan Schuchart dominated all 30 laps to win Saturday Night at Fulton Speedway as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series invaded Super DIRT Week in New York. Sheldon Haudenschild charged late to second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
Kraig Kinser won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap affair, in search of his first win of the season, alongside Schuchart.
Schuchart's forgettable Qualifying laps put him 15th quick, forcing him to start fifth in his Heat. Methodically, Schuchart worked his way by three cars in the eight-lap event to excitingly secure that all-important spot in the Sears Craftsman Dash.
In the Feature, Schuchart got the initial jump to lead the opening lap. The Hanover, PA native reached lapped traffic quickly around the 3/8th mile and maneuvered it well.
Nine-time and defending Series Champion Donny Schatz moved by Kinser for second on Lap 12 and began closing in on Schuchart as the leaders navigated traffic.
While most drivers were fighting for the bottom, Sheldon Haudenschild, to no one’s surprise, went to work on the cushion in exciting fashion. Haudenschild got to fourth on Lap 16 and was visibly closing in on Kinser and Schatz, who both remained loyal to the bottom.
Haudenschild roared around Kinser for third on Lap 22 and caught Schatz quickly after. Sheldon used a big run out of turn two to cross-under Schatz for second into turn three.
In need of a Yellow, Haudenschild closed in on Schuchart but the latter powered away on the final lap and went on to win his second Feature of the year.
“I’m really proud of this team, we’ve been really strong this year, especially lately, with a handful of Quick Times and consistently in the top five. We just haven’t been able to pull off a lot of wins this year. This Drydene Performance/Shark Racing team is really strong, we just keep growing and keep getting better and I can’t wait for what is in store," Schuchart, who currently sits a career-high sixth in the Series Points Standings, said.
"The bossman Bobby Allen does a great job with this two-car operation and I’m proud to have him as my grandfather,” Schuchart, who holds the Fulton Speedway track record from back in 2016, added in Victory Lane.
Sheldon Haudenschild settled for second and walked through his charge forward, “I kind of had to wait until it cleaned off a little bit [before I could get going up top]. I committed to going up a groove in traffic and my car was really good up there.”
“I was praying for a Yellow, but we didn’t have any all night, the whole field did a good job. We have some really good tracks coming up, hopefully we can pull off a couple more wins and cap off a good season,” the Wooster, OH native said about this Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall No.17.
Donny Schatz extended his Series points lead with his podium finish. “With the finishes we’ve had lately, third is like a win. We had a decent run and traffic made it fun. The younger guys are getting their game on and making us old guys look silly,” Schatz said with a smile next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15 machine.
Shane Stewart, who set Quick Time, finished fourth with Kinser rounding out the top five. Larry Wight, who arrived late after competing during the day at Oswego Speedway, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 18th to ninth.
As Haudenschild mentioned, the entire World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series program went caution-free. With Mother Nature threatening the area all evening, a successful accelerated program was run, with both racing divisions done by 9pm.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action for a triple-header weekend starting Friday, October 12 with a makeup date at Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois before heading to Terre Haute Action Track Saturday and Eldora Speedway Sunday. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2][$10,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1][$2,500]; 6. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$2,200]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,100]; 9. 99L-Larry Wight [18][$2,050]; 10. 9-Daryn Pittman [7][$2,000]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [9][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$1,100]; 14. 7S-Jason Sides [3][$1,050]; 15. 49K-Scott Kreutter [13][$1,000]; 16. 10K-Joe Kata [15][$900]; 17. 90-Matt Tanner [16][$800]; 18. 3-Denny Peebles [20][$800]; 19. 98-Joe Trenca [17][$800]; 20. 45-Chuck Hebing [19][$800]; 21. 54J-Steven Hutchinson [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 99L-Larry Wight[+9]
Lance Dewease Wins Emotional Williams Grove National Open Worth $56,000
MECHANICSBURG, PA – September 29, 2018 – The all-time Williams Grove win leader, Lance Dewease, passed Brock Zearfoss on Lap 24 and never looked back to win his 15th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of his career. Dewease, full of emotion in Victory Lane, dedicated the $56,000 Champion Racing Oil National Open win to the late, great Greg Hodnett. Daryn Pittman came from eighth to second with Brian Montieth completing the podium at the famous Williams Grove Speedway.
Zearfoss won the first of two Sears Craftsman Dashes to earn the pole for the 40-Lap Feature alongside Dewease, who won the second Dash. Zearfoss, who scored his first career World of Outlaws win last year at Williams Grove, got a strong start and led the opening lap.
Dewease didn’t let Zearfoss out of his sights, as Brian Montieth passed Brian Brown for third on Lap 7. Zearfoss reached the back of field on Lap 8 and began to maneuver through traffic before the caution flew Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz, as the top two in World of Outlaws in points sat atop turn two, with 12 laps complete. Schatz returned at the rear but Sweet was done for the evening.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Zearfoss maintain control and turn under a Dewease slide job on Lap 15 to retain the lead. Dewease was determined and not going away, chipping away on the bottom at Zearfoss’ lead.
As Zearfoss once again reached traffic, Dewease got a huge run through the middle of turn one to pull even with Zearfoss down the backstretch and take command of the field to lead Lap 24.
At Lap 25, World of Outlaws and Williams Grove officials made the decision to throw the caution flag to prevent a majority of teams from running out of fuel. The decision was based on the fact the air quality was so good and that there were extra parade laps in honor of Hodnett and Johnson.
Following the Open Red, Zearfoss had something break on the car entering turn one and he came to a stop at the end of the frontstretch. Understandably disappointed, Zearfoss walked away from his car under his own power.
Brian Montieth assumed second and threatened Dewease for the lead on the restart running his typical cushion-pounding line.
Daryn Pittman found speed on the bottom and got by Monteith for second on Lap 27.
At this point, Dewease had established he was the class of the field and powered away from the field, navigating traffic with ease. Pittman was formidable and quick, but never got within striking distance of Dewease as the Hall of Famer went on to win his 92nd Feature at Williams Grove and fourth National Open.
“This is for Greg [Hodnett]. This whole week is about Greg. Everyone that knew him knows how great of a racer is, but he was an even better person,” Dewease said holding back tears in Victory Lane. “No one understands how difficult this week has been,” Dewease added somberly. “I wanted this one bad for this team. You always want to run well at this race, we had some bad luck last year,” Dewease said about his Kreitz Racing No.69K team.
Daryn Pittman was strong and finished runner-up at the National Open for the fourth time in his career. “This weekend wasn’t about Posse or Outlaws, it was about honoring Greg and it was great to see Bobbi and Jaxx Johnson as well,” the well-spoken Oklahoman said. “I feel that were at the same pace as the 69K and that’s an accomplishment in its own right,” Pittman said with a grin.
Local fan-favorite Brian Montieth finished third, the best of his National Open career, and was pleased, “We were pretty good, I’m sitting here, real proud.”
Tim Shaffer finished fourth with Ryan Smith completing the top-five. Shane Stewart earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 22nd to ninth.
Gio Scelzi was awarded $1300 from the Beerhill Gang as the National Open Rookie of the Year and Chad Trout earned $1527 from Dirt Track Digest and SprintCarUnlimited.com with the ‘Just Missed Award’.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season next Saturday, October 6 at Fulton Speedway in New York during NAPA Super DIRT Week. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [2][$56,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [8][$12,000]; 3. 21X-Brian Montieth [5][$7,500]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [10][$4,000]; 5. 94-Ryan Smith [12][$3,500]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [4][$3,000]; 7. 11-T.J. Stutts [9][$2,700]; 8. 27-Paul McMahan [15][$2,500]; 9. 2-Shane Stewart [22][$2,200]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,100]; 11. O7-Gerard McIntyre [13][$2,000]; 12. 39-Cory Haas [16][$1,650]; 13. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$1,550]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$1,200]; 15. 51-Freddie Rahmer [28][$100]; 16. 5-David Gravel [19][$1,050]; 17. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$1,000]; 18. 24-Lucas Wolfe [26][$]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$1,000]; 20. 41-Carson Macedo [18][$1,000]; 21. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,000]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [25][$]; 23. 55K-Robbie Kendall [14][$1,000]; 24. 11K-Kraig Kinser [27][$]; 25. 15G-Jordan Givler [17][$1,000]; 26. 4-Brock Zearfoss [1][$1,000]; 27. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$1,000]; 28. 1-Logan Wagner [21][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brock Zearfoss 1-23, Lance Dewease 24-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Shane Stewart[+13]
Gio Scelzi Becomes Youngest World of Outlaws Winner in Series History on Night One of the Williams Grove National Open
MECHANICSBURG, PA – September 28, 2018 – On an emotional night in Pennsylvania Posse country, it was neither the locals or Outlaws in Victory Lane, as California phenom Gio Scelzi passed two-time National Open Champion David Gravel to lead Lap 16 and never looked back to win his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Victory on the opening night of the Champion Racing Oil Williams Grove National Open. Scelzi becomes the youngest driver to ever win a World of Outlaws race at the ripe age of 16 years old. Gravel settled for second with Lucas Wolfe completing the podium.
Gravel won the first of two Sears Craftsman Dashes to the earn the pole for the Feature, which went 27 laps in honor of five-time Williams Grove Track Champion and 1993 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, Greg Hodnett. Gio Scelzi won the second Dash to start outside the front row.
Gravel got the jump on the initial start and led the opening circuit with Scelzi in tow. Logan Schuchart, while running third, brought out the first caution of the evening, coming to a stop on the backstretch with five laps complete. That set up the first of three double-file restarts. Gravel elected the bottom on this one, putting Scelzi to his outside.
Gravel remained out front on the restart, but it was evident that Scelzi was a threat as he stayed right with the CJB Motorsports No.5 around the paperclip shaped half-mile. 2017 Track Champion Freddie Rahmer maneuvered his way into third from eighth and tried to close in on the lead duo.
Sheldon Haudenschild brought out the caution with 11 laps complete and this time Gravel elected the top on the double-file restart.
Again, Gravel remained out front as Scelzi took a peak underneath for the lead once again.
Carson Macedo, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, brought out the final caution of the evening on Lap 15. Gravel elected the bottom on the double-file restart, once again giving Scelzi the outside. Gravel entered high into turn one and tried to catch momentum to get a run off of turn two.
Scelzi pitched his Indy Race Parts No.71 hard to the bottom, couldn’t complete the slide job, but maintained speed on the bottom and pulled even with Gravel under the bridge and edged in front heading into turn three.
Scelzi, now in command of the field, powered away to lead Lap 16.
Lucas Wolfe moved by Freddie Rahmer into third and set his eyes on the leaders. For the first time, the leaders would reach lapped traffic as Gio Scelzi’s job was far from done. Scelzi approached traffic and Gravel closed in, looking to steal a win from the young California native.
With two to go, Gravel was within three car lengths as Scelzi continued to run the cushion through traffic. Gravel pitched the car hard into turn three before coming to the White Flag.
With Scelzi carrying speed on the cushion and a lapped on the bottom, there was no room for Gravel to make a last-ditch effort, as Gio Scelzi crossed under the Checkered Flag .732 seconds ahead of Gravel to become the youngest World of Outlaws winner in the Series 40-year history.
“I don’t think I am ever going to believe this one,” Scelzi said in Victory Lane when track announcer Bruce Ellis asked him about the night. “I was so good at the beginning, I was afraid I wouldn’t be any good at the end. David is good here, he’s a two-time National Open winner,” Scelzi, engulfed in positive emotion, said.
“I don’t know what to say, we could work anywhere. Hopefully we can Qualify good tomorrow and see what we can do,” Scelzi, who was grinning cheek-to-cheek, added about his chances tomorrow for the $56,000 payday.
David Gravel settled for second and was understandably disappointed.
“I didn’t know what to do on the restarts, I tried both lanes. When I was on the outside, I didn’t take off as well as I would have liked, so I went back to the bottom to try and protect myself from the slide job,” Gravel said of the pass for the lead. “Congrats to Gio, that first career win is hard to get, especially at Williams Grove,” Gravel added in good spirits. “Tomorrow is 13 more laps and pays a lot more to win, so hopefully we can finish one spot better.”
Lucas Wolfe was the highest finishing local and also applauded young Scelzi, “What a tremendous result for him, congrats to him. It wasn’t a bad night for us, we passed some good cars to get up here and hopefully we can do a little better tomorrow,” Wolfe said.
After Scelzi, Gravel and Wolfe crossed the finish line, Freddie Rahmer and Tim Shaffer got together battling for fourth, resulting in Shaffer ending up backwards at the bottom of turn four, bringing out the Yellow and Checkered simultaneously. Unfortunately for Shaffer, who was a couple hundred feet from a top-five finish, as the cause of the yellow, he was scored as the last car on the lead lap, which was 21st.
Freddie Rahmer officially finished fourth with 12th-starting Shane Stewart completing the top-five. Donny Schatz earned KSE Hard Charger Honors coming from 22nd to complete the top ten.
Logan Schuchart set Quick Time over an outstanding field of 50 cars, worth $327 courtesy of Fast Tee’s. Schuchart generously donated his bonus to Sherry Hodnett. Schatz’s effort also earned him a $500 bonus courtesy of Wicked Cushion, which he generously donated to the Hodnett family as well.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway tomorrow night for the $56,000 to win Champion Racing Oil National Open. Tonight’s results have no bearing on tomorrow’s program. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (27 Laps): 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,000]; 3. 24-Lucas Wolfe [5][$3,000]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [8][$2,700]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,500]; 6. 44-Trey Starks [6][$2,200]; 7. 21X-Brian Montieth [3][$2,000]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [7][$1,600]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [22][$1,450]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,300]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,200]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$1,100]; 14. 69K-Lance Dewease [19][$1,000]; 15. 27-Paul McMahan [21][$950]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$200]; 17. 11-T.J. Stutts [14][$850]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [24][$750]; 19. 1X-Chad Trout [27][$25]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$700]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [9][$700]; 22. O7-Gerard McIntyre [18][$700]; 23. 39-Cory Haas [26][$]; 24. 55K-Robbie Kendall [20][$700]; 25. 41-Carson Macedo [15][$700]; 26. 94-Ryan Smith [16][$700]; 27. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$700]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-15, Giovanni Scelzi 16-27 KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+12]
Brad Sweet Tames Lernerville for Exciting Commonwealth Clash Victory
SARVER, PA – September 23, 2018 - Brad Sweet’s fantastic 2018 season continued Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway when he passed Donny Schatz on Lap 28 to become the fourth and final different leader of the 2018 Commonwealth Clash for his eighth win on the year. Schatz settled for second with former Lernerville track champion Tim Shaffer completing the podium.
Daryn Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 35-Lap Feature, alongside Tim Shaffer. Pittman jumped out to the early lead through a caution-filled first few laps. Brent Marks fell off the race track in turn three on the opening lap, leaving David Gravel nowhere to go as the two made contact, resulting in terminal front end damage for Marks
After consecutive Yellows on Lap 1, the field lined up single-file. Shaffer went for the slide job to take the lead on the restart, but Pittman turned it back under to maintain control.
Shaffer was relentless in pursuit of Pittman and took the lead off of turn four to lead Lap 6 to the delight of the hometown crowd.
During the long Green Flag stretch, Shaffer established a healthy lead through the heavy traffic. Donny Schatz got underneath Pittman to take second on Lap 18 and set his eyes on Shaffer.
Sweet continued his way forward getting by Pittman and getting an up-close look on the battle for the lead between Schatz and Shaffer. Schatz got a good run off the cushion in turn four to slide Shaffer into turn one to take command on Lap 22.
A lap later Sweet slid in front of Shaffer as the top two in Outlaw points established themselves as the class of the field as they have so many times this season.
Sweet got a massive run on the nine-time Series Champion out of turn two and blasted underneath to take the lead down the backstretch and officially lead Lap 28. Sweet powered away and looked to be well on his way to his eighth victory of the year, but a caution for sixth-place running Sheldon Haudenschild with three laps to go put the celebration on hold.
With less than five to go in the Feature World of Outlaws rules dictate a single-file restart, which allowed Schatz to attempt a slide job for the lead. Sweet powered around the Schatz slider to maintain the lead down the backstretch and go on to win his first Outlaw Feature at Lernerville.
“I struggled for the first few years of my career at this track, it’s nice to come here and be as fast we’ve been this year. The track was great, there were so many options of where to go in lapped traffic. You could rimride on that thin ledge or get going around the bottom,” Sweet said in Victory Lane in appreciation of the racing surface.
“This one is for Greg Hodnett, he was a good friend of mine. It’s been a tough year. We’ll celebrate this one a little for him and move on to the next one,” Sweet said with his heart on his sleeve.
Donny Schatz bounced back from an uncharacteristic bad night at Eldora to finish second.
“The track was tricky tonight, second isn’t bad, especially considering the night we had last night,” Schatz, who was forced into a Provisional for the first time in 2018 last night, said with a little grin.
When asked about the late-race restart, Schatz was honest. “I didn’t have much grip and I’m not going to use Brad up or run myself off the track. Luckily, I have these [crew] guys behind me and we’ll have more grip next time we come back,” Schatz said positively.
Tim Shaffer completed the podium and complimented Sweet and Schatz. “Those guys are on their game and third isn’t too bad against these guys. Those [pointing at Sweet and Schatz’ team] teams are what we are trying to build up this team up to,” Shaffer said next to his DR Racing No.49X.
Logan Schuchart was strong for the second consecutive night coming home fourth with Daryn Pittman completing the top-five. Central Pennsylvania invader Danny Dietrich earned KSE Hard Charger Honors coming from 14th to sixth.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series heads into Central Pennsylvania next weekend for the Champion Racing Oil National Open against the Pennsylvania Posse at Williams Grove Speedway. Saturday’s Feature at The Grove will pay $56,000 to win, making it the second-highest paying event on the World of Outlaws schedule in 2018. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$5,500]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [2][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6][$2,800]; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$2,500]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [14][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [12][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,100]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [8][$2,050]; 10. W20-Greg Wilson [16][$2,000]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,200]; 13. 35-Justin Henderson [20][$1,100]; 14. 2-Shane Stewart [10][$1,050]; 15. 11-Carl Bowser [19][$1,000]; 16. O7-Gerard McIntyre [13][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [18][$800]; 18. 29-Dan Shetler [17][$800]; 19. C1-Clayton Riney [23][$800]; 20. 2L-Sye Lynch [21][$800]; 21. 40-George Hobaugh [22][$800]; 22. O8-Dan Kuriger [24][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$800]; 24. 19-Brent Marks [11][$800] Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-5, Tim Shaffer 6-21, Donny Schatz 22-27, Brad Sweet 28-35 KSE Hard Charger Award: 48-Danny Dietrich[+8]
Brent Marks Caps Emotional Evening with Thrilling Eldora Triumph
ROSSBURG, OH - September 21, 2018 — On an emotional night at one of the most famous dirt tracks in the world, Brent Marks won a thrilling race, passing fellow Central Pennsylvania Outlaw Logan Schuchart for the lead on Lap 23 and holding off a furious charge from 13th-starting Dave Blaney, Schuchart and 23rd-starting Greg Wilson. It was Marks' third career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory and first at the historic Eldora Speedway. Marks dedicated the win to Greg Hodnett, who passed tragically the night before in an unsanctioned race in Pennsylvania.
Logan Schuchart won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside David Gravel. Schuchart darted out to the early lead and Brent Marks, who started third, blasted around the bottom to take second down the backstretch.
Schuchart set a torrid pace out front as Marks went to war with Kraig Kinser for the runner-up position. With Marks banging down the cushion and Kinser catfishing around the bottom, the duo battled side-by-side for the better part of five laps.
As Schuchart reached heavy lapped traffic, Kinser and Marks’ battle continued and they both closed in on the Shark Racing No.1S. Kinser edged Marks by a nose at the line on Lap 12, which would prove crucial as the caution would fly for Parker Price-Miller, who lost a left rear tire running in the top ten.
Schuchart elected the bottom on the double-file restart, moving Kinser to his outside. Kinser, who was glued to the bottom prior to the caution, fell back on the start, as Marks moved back into second. Some contact the following lap between a slew of cars in the top ten, sent Gio Scelzi high into turn one, grazing the wall. Scelzi came down off the wall and got together with Daryn Pittman, resulting in the Kasey Kahne Racing No.9 upside down. Both drivers were uninjured but done for the evening.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Schuchart again choose the bottom with Marks to his outside this time. Schuchart remained in command with Marks in tow. 13th-starting Dave Blaney threw his name in the ring, battling Gravel and Kinser for the third position, three-wide at times.
Simultaneously, 23rd-starting Greg Wilson was coming, in typical Greg Wilson Eldora fashion, glued to the inside guard rail.
Back up front, Marks was closing in on Schuchart and threw a slide job for the lead into turn one on Lap 23. Schuchart fought back underneath Marks to maintain the lead going into turn three, where he went to the bottom. Marks put his family-owned No.19 right up against the wall, grabbing the cushion off of turn four and taking command of the field to lead the lap.
Marks powered away from Schuchart, who now had his hands full with the hard-charging Blaney and Wilson. Blaney took second from Schuchart and set his sights on Marks. After Marks got held up ever so slightly in traffic, Blaney attempted a slide job in turn three with three laps remaining, but Marks stayed on the gas and powered around the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame member to maintain control.
Blaney’s slide job attempt for the lead cost him momentum as Wilson and Schuchart, who found late race speed right up against the outside wall, caught and surpassed the veteran by the White Flag.
But tonight, there was no catching Brent Marks, as the Myerstown, PA native went on to win his third World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the season and of his career.
“We’re all really thinking about Greg [Hodnett] and his family, he’s somebody I’ve respected tremendously throughout my whole career and was always a fan of growing up in Central Pennsylvania. This race is for him and his whole family and everyone back in Pennsylvania mourning his loss,” an emotional Marks said to a large applause from the Eldora Speedway crowd.
“This is awesome, I can’t believe I won a race at Eldora. This is my first Outlaw win that my Mom and Dad were able to see. I can’t thank my guys Jesse and Dallas enough, and we just added Jim Shuttlesworth. Last week was our first weekend together, we kept talking and improving throughout the night and working together well. This is special, I can’t believe I’m standing in Victory Lane at Eldora,” Marks added.
When asked about the race itself, Marks talked about the tricky cushion, “I knew I needed to be more aggressive on the wall, but the top was right up against the wall and I didn’t want to tear this thing up. I changed my entry into turn three and Logan started coming to me,”
“I can’t believe it’s my sophomore season with the World of Outlaws and I have three wins now, I can’t thank everyone who helps out with this operation enough,” Marks concluded.
Fellow Central Pennsylvania native Logan Schuchart settled for second after leading 22 laps, “It’s tough, lapped cars are so hard to judge. It’s hard leading a race and knowing where to go, I didn’t feel as comfortable up top and I felt I was slowing down, so I moved down. Brent drove a great race.”
“This is all for the Heffner Racing No.27 team and everybody back home, we’ve got a couple of PA boys up front and this is all for them,” Schuchart added with emotion.
The obvious KSE Hard Charger was 23rd-starting Greg Wilson who finished on the podium for the second time this year at Eldora.
“We’re good when it slicks off. This is how the tracks need to be. The race track was awesome tonight, there was passing,” Wilson said before reflecting about the recent tragedy in Sprint Car Racing.
“My heart goes out to the Hodnett family. I woke up this morning and looked at my wife and girls and wondered if I should keep doing this. I love it, though. I wouldn’t trade this opportunity to race with my wife and kids at Eldora in front of all you fans for anything,” Wilson, the Ohio native, said to a thunderous roar from the crowd.
Dave Blaned faded to fourth in the closing laps, still no small feat coming from 13th, with Gravel completing the top five.
Kraig Kinser was strong all evening and settled for sixth with Hunter Schuerenburg, who set Quick Time, and Sheldon Haudenschild finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. Rico Abreu charged from 21st to ninth with 17th-starting Jason Sides completing the top-ten.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes the trek to Western Pennsylvania tomorrow night, September 22 with the running of the Commonwealth Clash in Sarver, PA. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks [3][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$5,500]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [23][$3,200]; 4. 70-Dave Blaney [13][$2,800]; 5. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,500]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5][$2,300]; 7. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [4][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,100]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [21][$2,050]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [17][$2,000]; 11. 3G-Carson Macedo [24][$1,500]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [10][$1,200]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz [25][$300]; 14. 4-Brock Zearfoss [15][$1,050]; 15. 12N-Cole Duncan [20][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$100]; 17. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$800]; 18. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$800]; 19. 49X-Tim Shaffer [19][$800]; 20. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [11][$800]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [12][$800]; 22. 17X-Aaron Reutzel [14][$800]; 23. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [6][$800]; 24. 9-Daryn Pittman [16][$800]; 25. 19P-Paige Polyak [18][$800]; 26. 13-Paul McMahan [8][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-22, Brent Marks 23-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+20]
Eliason Gets Second Career Outlaw Win at Calistoga
CALISTOGA, CA – September 15, 2018 – An opportune Yellow Flag allowed Cory Eliason to officially lead all 25 laps Saturday night at Calistoga Speedway for his second career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory. Donny Schatz took the lead off of turn four coming to the White Flag, but the caution negated the pass, forcing Schatz to be relegated back to second, where he finished. Logan Schuchart finished third, his second podium in as many nights at Calistoga.
Eliason won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for 25-Lap Feature alongside his good friend and fellow California native Giovanni Scelzi. Eliason and Scelzi waged war on the opening lap, with Eliason turning under a Scelzi slide job to lead Lap 1.
Eliason, who scored his first career Outlaw win earlier this year at Stockton, powered away from the field as Scelzi, Schatz and Schuchart captivated the large Calistoga Speedway audience with their battle for second.
Schatz, who won the Wine Country Outlaw Showdown last year, moved by Schuchart into third on Lap 10 and set his eyes on young Scelzi, who was in search of his first career Outlaw triumph. Schatz edged in front of the youngster on Lap 11, but the Fresno, CA teenager battled back underneath the nine-time Series Champion to grab the runner-up position back.
Despite Scelzi’s resilience, Schatz wrestled the position away for good on Lap 14 as the Fargo, ND native focused his sights on Eliason. Schatz gradually cut into Eliason’s lead, setting up some potential late race fireworks. With five to go, Schuchart got by Scelzi for third as Schatz had all but erased Eliason’s lead.
Coming to the White Flag, Eliason slipped out of the rubber in turn three, opening the door for Schatz. Schatz got underneath Eliason, who was desperately trying to get back into the groove and the two made slight contact, resulting with Schatz having the advantage coming to the White Flag.
It was all for nothing as the caution flew for Brent Marks who came to a stop atop turn two, ending his charge forward.
The caution set up a Green-White-Checkered finish, and after getting a second chance at it, Eliason wasn’t going to make a mistake this time. The Visalia, CA native went on to win his second World of Outlaws Feature of the year and his career.
“I got out of the rubber and saw [Schatz] underneath me and thought was it, I’m going to finish second,” a jubilant Eliason said.
Eliason, who was making his 43rd Outlaw start of the season, has spent the majority of the 2018 season in the Midwest and East Coast and has valued his time at new race tracks. “I can’t thank Dennis and Theresa Roth enough, it’s absolutely been beneficial to be out on the road this year and I think our speed these few weeks at home show that,” Eliason added.
Donny Schatz was understandably disappointed to see the Yellow Flag fly, preventing his 20th win of the year. “That’s part of racing. Sometimes the Yellows fall your way, sometimes they don’t. We’ll take second and move on to Eldora on Friday,” Schatz said.
Logan Schuchart was pleased to be on the podium once again and gain momentum heading back East, “Being out here all the way from Pennsylvania, it’s great to finish on the podium back-to-back nights here, it says a lot about this team and how hard they work. Hopefully we can pick up some more wins to finish off the season,” Schuchart said positively.
Brad Sweet got by Gio Scelzi on the late restart to finish fourth with Scelzi matching his career-best Outlaw finish in fifth. Greg Wilson earned KSE Hard Charger honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes the cross-country trek to Eldora Speedway to compete Friday, September 21 before returning to Sarver, PA and Lernerville Speedway for the Commonwealth Clash Saturday, September 22. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 83-Cory Eliason [1][$12,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$5,700]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,500]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$3,000]; 5. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$2,600]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$2,400]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,300]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [7][$2,200]; 9. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,150]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [12][$2,100]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,600]; 12. 17W-Shane Golobic [15][$1,350]; 13. 29-Willie Croft [11][$1,300]; 14. 26-Joey Saldana [13][$1,200]; 15. 88N-DJ Netto [17][$1,100]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$1,000]; 17. 68-Chase Johnson [19][$900]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson [23][$850]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$800]; 20. O-Bud Kaeding [20][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [21][$800]; 23. 45-Austen Wheatley [24][$800]; 24. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [22][$800] Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-25 KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+5]
Daryn Pittman Scores 8th Win of 2018 in Dramatic Fashion at Calistoga
CALISTOGA, CA – September 14, 2018 – Daryn Pittman held off Logan Schuchart by a car-length to win his 8th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Friday night at Calistoga Speedway. Pittman led all 25 laps but shredded a right rear immediately after the checkered and limped his Kasey Kahne Racing No.9 to the scales and to Victory Lane. Schuchart settled for second, just 0.133 seconds behind Pittman, with Rico Abreu completing the podium.
Daryn Pittman drew the pole for the Sears Craftsman Dash and won the six-lap event to earn the pole for the 25-Lap Feature. Pittman used a strong start to lead the first two laps before a Red Flag for Sheldon Haudenschild and Willie Croft halted the action. Both drivers were uninjured. Haudenschild was able to return and run a few laps but was forced back to the pits with lingering issues.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Donny Schatz get by Logan Schuchart for third and begin to put pressure on Abreu for second. Cory Eliason brought out the Yellow with seven laps complete running sixth. As Pittman and Abreu powered away from the field, Schuchart was able to get back by Schatz for third on the restart down the backstretch.
The remaining 18 laps went non-stop allowing Pittman to reach the back of the field, forcing the Owasso, OK native to slow his pace out front. Abreu, Schuchart and Schatz closed in on Pittman as the racing surface became locked down. Schatz took third back from Schuchart with five laps remaining and looked poised to make a late-race charge.
With two laps remaining, the top four were nose-to-tail entering turn one. Schuchart muscled his way underneath Schatz to take third down the backstretch, then hit the rubber perfectly off of turn four to take second from Abreu coming to the White Flag.
Schuchart got a big run off turn two and took a peak underneath Pittman for the lead down the backstretch but thought better of it entering turn three. Schuchart turned the car hard left off turn four to try and steal the win but came up .133 short as Pittman collected his 8th win of 2019.
As Pittman went into turn one after the Checkered, his right rear tire blew, and he had to limp his KKR No.9 to the scales.
“I knew something was wrong the last three laps, I must have hit something,” Pittman said about the dramatic ending. “Hopefully we can continue to pick up wins and land a sponsor on this thing, it’s been a good stretch for Kasey Kahne Racing, Brad [Sweet] has obviously been really good this year. I’m so blessed to be able to be out here with my family doing this for a living,” Pittman said as his two daughters hugged him.
Logan Schuchart matched his career-best at the historic Calistoga Speedway with a second-place finish, “It was one of those deals where you wish it would have been one more lap,” the Hanover, PA native said with a smile. “I’m really proud of this team and hopefully we can finish one spot better tomorrow.”
Rico Abreu was the highest finishing local, coming home third with Donny Schatz, who set Fast Time and Brad Sweet completing the top-five.
Joey Saldana was strong all evening finishing sixth with Shane Stewart, 14th-starting Brent Marks, Gio Scelzi and Jacob Allen completing the top-ten. Shane Golobic earned KSE Hard Charger honors, coming from 19th to finish 12th.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series concludes the West Coast portion of its 40th Anniversary Season at Calistoga Speedway tomorrow evening. Tickets are still available. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$8,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$4,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2][$2,500]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,100]; 6. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$2,000]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$1,800]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,600]; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [10][$1,500]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$1,300]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$1,200]; 12. 17W-Shane Golobic [19][$1,100]; 13. 5-David Gravel [13][$1,000]; 14. O-Bud Kaeding [12][$700]; 15. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [18][$600]; 16. 83-Cory Eliason [9][$600]; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$600]; 18. 88N-DJ Netto [24][$600]; 19. 45-Austen Wheatley [23][$600]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$600]; 21. 37-Mitchell Faccinto [21][$600]; 22. W20-Greg Wilson [20][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$600]; 24. 29-Willie Croft [15][$600]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17W-Shane Golobic[+7]
Brad Sweet Masters Lapped Traffic En Route to $20,000 Placerville Victory
PLACERVILLE, CA – September 12, 2018 – Brad Sweet passed Rico Abreu on Lap 8, was masterful through heavy lapped traffic, and held off Sheldon Haudenschild in a Green-White-Checkered finish to win the 49er Gold Rush Classic Presented by Riebes NAPA Auto Parts at Placerville Speedway. The win was Sweet’s 7th of the season and worth $20,000. Haudenschild kept the fans on the edge of their seat and came home second with local Andy Forsberg, who scored $2000 for setting Quick Time earlier in the evening, completing the podium.
Rico Abreu, fresh off his Gold Cup Race of Champions victory Saturday at Chico, won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 49-Lap Feature alongside Sweet. Abreu got a good initial start and led the opening circuit and paced the field before Jason Sides brought out the first caution of the event with three laps complete.
Abreu powered away on the restart and reached lapped traffic quickly around the quarter-mile, high-banked oval. Sweet hawked Abreu as the latter entered traffic and made the move to take command of the field off of turn four to lead Lap 8.
A Red Flag for Brent Marks on Lap 14 halted action and took the leaders out of heavy traffic. Marks, who had come forward seven positions to 11th, was uninjured, but done for the evening.
The next 34 laps went non-stop allowing the leaders to endure as heavy of lapped traffic as they will see all season.
Sheldon Haudenschild, who started third, fell back to fifth at the time of the Red Flag for Marks but became the show on the restart. Haudenschild’s go to line was entering high into turn one and diamonding off the bottom of turn two. Haudenschild took fourth with that line from Pittman on the restart. Five laps later Haudenschild got by Eliason off of turn two to grab third and set his eyes on Abreu and leader Brad Sweet.
Abreu bobbled in turn four on the cushion on Lap 28, allowing Haudenschild to move into second. But Haudenschild made the same mistake the following lap as Abreu slid back in front of the young Wooster, OH native to reclaim second at the line.
By Lap 35, there were lapped cars scattered all over the racing surface in front of Sweet, forcing him to slow his pace and allowing the pack to close in. Abreu took a couple of looks underneath Sweet, but the latter remained in the gas and never gave Abreu a chance to slide him.
Lap 45 saw Sweet trying his best to navigate traffic on the cushion with Abreu looking desperately for a way by him and Haudenschild looming as the leaders were nose to tail down the backstretch.
Sweet had a strong three laps, putting two lapped cars in between himself and Abreu and Haudenschild coming to the White Flag. Haudenschild grabbed second at the White Flag and then slid to the top of turn one to maintain momentum. Stuck with nowhere to go, lapped car Jacob Allen flipped off of the top of turn one. Allen was uninjured with the Red Flag setting up a Green-White-Checkered finish.
As the cars came to a stop for the Red Flag, Abreu uncharacteristically rolled into Haudenschild. Abreu got out of his car and informed World of Outlaws officials that the steering broke on his family-owned No.24 and his night was over.
Sweet got an excellent restart, thwarting any chance of Haudenschild’s late race heroics as Sweet went to win, the, now, 50-Lap Feature, by 0.611 seconds.
Sweet, who was a co-promoter of the event, was visibly excited to get the big win in his hometown. “I don’t know if that’s cool or not [that I won my own race], but $20,000 was on the line. It’s great to get the NAPA car in Victory Lane in the Riebes NAPA Auto Parts Race,” Sweet said next to his Kasey Kahne, who was in attendance, owned No.49.
“It’s awesome to come back here in my hometown in front of all my friends and family and get the win. Lapped traffic was really tough, I hope you guys enjoyed the show. We’ll be back next year,” Sweet added.
When asked about the hectic lapped traffic, Sweet said, “I thought I covered most of my lines, but I knew someone was close. You just try to keep your composure and pick off the lapped cars the best you can. The cushion was tricky, kudos to the Russell family, they do a great job here every week and we get to play in their playground once a year.”
Sweet ended with a heartfelt statement, “I have so many people to thank for helping put on this show and I’m very appreciative.”
Sheldon Haudenschild finished second and was equally as appreciative. “Brad did a great job and a huge thanks to him for putting this race on. Thanks to the fans for coming out on a weekday, I know it’s difficult and we appreciate it. Hopefully you all enjoyed the show, I had a blast. This is a beautiful track. I’m definitely grateful to be in this position and to be able to race Sprint Cars for a living,” Haudenschild said next to his NOS Energy Sponsored, Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall No.17.
Andy Forsberg, the current Placerville Speedway 360 Sprint Car points leader, led the local charge finishing third, his third top-ten against the Outlaws in as many starts this season. “This is a 2009 chassis and the youngest guy on my crew is 54 years old and they work their tails off,” Forsberg, who will wrap his 20th points title as a driver this Saturday at Placerville, said with a big smile. “Every once in a while, you can sneak a good run against the Outlaws,” Forsberg added before stating how proud he was of his team for their runs against The Greatest Show on Dirt this week.
Tim Kaeding continued his outstanding success in a second Sides Motorsports entry coming from 10th to fourth with Eliason settling for fifth. David Gravel crashed in the Heat Race was forced to take a Provisional and earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward to 13th.
Shane Stewart and Justin Sanders flipped in the Sears Craftsman Dash, forcing Stewart to a backup car and to start at the rear while Sanders start and parked because of the damage. High Sierra Industries put up $1000 cash if a World of Outlaws driver set Quick Time and doubled that if a non-Outlaw set Quick Time, which sent Forsberg home with $2000 extra in his pocket for his 10.282 lap around the bullring.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series concludes its California swing this weekend September 14 and 15 at the beautiful historic Calistoga Speedway. Tickets for the Wine Country Classic are still available. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (50 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish) 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$20,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$6,000]; 3. 92-Andy Forsberg [6][$3,750]; 4. 3-Tim Kaeding [10][$3,250]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [4][$2,750]; 6. 3C-Tanner Thorson [11][$2,500]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,400]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,300]; 9. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$2,200]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$2,100]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$1,700]; 12. 22-Mason Moore [8][$1,400]; 13. 5-David Gravel [24][$300]; 14. 31C-Justyn Cox [15][$1,200]; 15. 2-Shane Stewart [23][$1,100]; 16. 25-Bobby McMahan [19][$1,000]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$1,000]; 18. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$1,000]; 19. 7-Scott Bogucki [17][$1,000]; 20. 88N-DJ Netto [14][$1,000]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,000]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [18][$1,000]; 23. O-Bud Kaeding [22][$1,000]; 24. 29-Willie Croft [20][$1,000]; 25. 121-Justin Sanders [25][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Rico Abreu 1-7, Brad Sweet 8-50; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-David Gravel[+11]
Rico Abreu Pockets $15,000 in Gold Cup Thriller
CHICO, CA – September 8, 2018 – Rico Abreu went from third to first to lead Lap 26 and never looked back, securing his second Gold Cup title in a slide job war Saturday Night at Silver Dollar Speedway. Tim Kaeding, in a second Sides Motorsports entry, finished second for the second consecutive night with Cory Eliason completing the all-California podium.
16-year-old Buddy Kofoid won the Sears Craftsman Dash by 4.921 seconds to earn the pole for the 40-Lap Gold Cup Race of Champions alongside Justin Sanders, both drivers in search of their first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victories.
Kofoid and Sanders set a slow pace as the field came to Green and Kofoid slipped off the bottom, opening the door for third-starting Cory Eliason to blast into the lead and take command.
With three provisionals being used, there were 27 410 Sprint Cars blasting around the tight-quartered Silver Dollar Speedway. Eliason, aboard the famous Roth Motorsports No.83, reached lapped traffic on Lap 5 around the bullring oval. Cars were littered all around the racing surface as Eliason worked through traffic to extend his lead.
Tanner Thorson established himself as a threat, coming forward from his seventh starting position to grab second on Lap 10 as he set his eyes on Eliason in search of his first career Outlaw win. Rico Abreu, who came from eighth to fifth in the Dash, moved into third on Lap 12, shuffling young Kofoid back to fourth with Sanders in fifth.
As Eliason negotiated heavy lapped traffic, Thorson closed in on Lap 18 and took a peak underneath the Roth Motorsports No.83. The duo battled hard, allowing Abreu to clear slower cars and reel both of them in.
Thorson used a big slider in three and four on Eliason to take the lead on Lap 25. Eliason tried to get back by into turn one, but left the door open for Abreu who took second down the backstretch and then went for the home run slider in turn three and completed it to take the lead from Thorson and lead Lap 26 with the crowd on their feet.
Eliason and Thorson continued to battle it out for second with the pair making contact with 27 laps complete, resulting in a broken front axle of Thorson’s No.3C. Thorson’s night was done, moving ninth-starting Tim Kaeding into third and defending Gold Cup Champion Shane Stewart into fourth.
The first caution of the event allowed the fans and drivers to catch their breath after an action-packed first 27 laps. A pair of cautions on the ensuing double-file restart and two laps later kept the action tame.
When action resumed Abreu darted away from the field as Kaeding and Eliason waged for second. The duo made contact coming off of turn four on Lap 31, allowing Stewart to get to third in front of Kaeding. The final caution of the evening flew for Outlaw Rookie Ian Madsen with front end damage with nine laps remaining.
Again, Abreu blasted away from the field as Kaeding, Eliason and Stewart battled for position behind him. The trio of cars battling allowed Abreu to run and hide en route to his second Outlaw win of the season in popular fashion and be crowned Gold Cup Champion for the second time in his career.
“It is so much fun to drive when your car is like it was tonight,” Abreu said in compliments of his young team, which features no one older than 23 years old.
“They are a young group, but they are becoming the best in the business. It’s hard to find a group of young guys that want to work. They all want to race, but my guys want to work. Drivers can showcase their talents when their cars are fast,” Abreu added speaking highly of his crew headlined by Ricky Warner’s son, Drew.
“I grew up racing here every Friday night in Sprint Cars, so this track is close to home to me. It’s great to get a win, especially when you beat the Outlaws,” Abreu said with a big smile to a huge roar from the crowd.
Tim Kaeding edged in front Eliason for good to secure second on back-to-back nights. “I have to thank Jason Sides and everyone that came on board for this deal. They let me have fun and that’s the one thing that has been lacking the past few years,” Kaeding said.
“That was one hell of a race from my point of view, I hope you fans enjoyed it, because that was fun,” Kaeding added to another large applause from the engaged crowd.
Cory Eliason completed the all-California podium and took the time to apologize to Thorson. “I want to apologize to Tanner for getting into him,” Eliason said humbly. “Tim and I got into each other, but we both kept going and you get that racing hard on a slick track. It was a great week,” Eliason, who finished fifth Friday, added.
Shane Stewart was the highest finishing Outlaw, coming home fourth with young Kofoid netting a career-best fifth. Justin Sanders finished sixth with 13th-starting Shane Golobic coming forward to seventh, as California was well-represented up front for the second night in a row.
Outlaws Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet charged forward from 19th and 16th, respectively, to finish eighth and ninth with track champion Andy Forsberg completing the top ten. DJ Netto garnered KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 24th to finish 12th. Brent Marks made noise by running the alphabet, transferring from the C to the Feature, where he came home 17th in his second weekend at Silver Dollar. Joey Saldana set Quick Time over the 41-car field but was on the wrong end of contact in his Heat Race, sending him to the LCS, which he won and then came forward to 15th in the Feature.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and California locals get three days off before heading to Placerville for the $20,000 to win 49er Gold Rush Classic on Wednesday, September 12. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, catch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu [5][$15,000]; 2. 3-Tim Kaeding [9][$5,700]; 3. 83-Cory Eliason [3][$3,500]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6][$3,000]; 5. 4S-Michael Kofoid [1][$2,600]; 6. 121-Justin Sanders [2][$2,400]; 7. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$2,300]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [19][$2,200]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [16][$2,150]; 10. 92-Andy Forsberg [4][$2,100]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [10][$1,600]; 12. 88N-DJ Netto [24][$1,350]; 13. O-Bud Kaeding [15][$1,300]; 14. 5-David Gravel [20][$1,200]; 15. 26-Joey Saldana [21][$1,100]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [11][$1,000]; 17. 19-Brent Marks [23][$900]; 18. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [14][$850]; 19. 45-Austen Wheatley [12][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [27][$]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$800]; 22. 21P-Robbie Price [22][$800]; 23. 29-Willie Croft [17][$800]; 24. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$800]; 25. 3C-Tanner Thorson [7][$800]; 26. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 27. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-24, Tanner Thorson 25, Rico Abreu 26-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 88N-DJ Netto[+12]
Brad Sweet Gets His 6th of the Year in Front of Hometown Crowd at Silver Dollar Speedway
CHICO, CA – September 7, 2018 – Grass Valley, California native Brad Sweet passed Tim Kaeding on Lap 17 and powered around a Kaeding slide job in the Green-White-Checkered finish to win his sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Tim Kaeding, aboard a second Sides Motorsports entry, settled for second and his brother Bud Kaeding completed the podium.
Tim Kaeding, fresh off of a fifth-place finish at the Knoxville Nationals, won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature alongside fellow California native Cory Eliason. Eliason powered off the cushion of turn four to lead the opening lap with Kaeding in tow.
Eliason, aboard the famous Roth Motorsports No.83, reached traffic quickly around the quarter-mile oval and Kaeding took advantage with a slider in turn one to lead Lap 9. Meanwhile, Brad Sweet worked his way forward from his fifth-starting spot to third on Lap 10.
Sweet battled with Eliason for second for a couple circuits before securing the position for good on Lap 14. Sweet set his eyes on Kaeding and reeled him in quickly in heavy lapped traffic before completing the slide job for the lead in turn one to lead Lap 17.
As Sweet motored away, Kaeding and Eliason waged war for second with the latter taking the position at the conclusion of the 18th circuit. Bud Kaeding closed in on his brother and Eliason making it a three-car battle for the runner-up position. Tim Kaeding established the position and tried to reel Sweet back in as the leaders sliced and diced their way through traffic around the bullring.
Sweet had a comfortable lead coming to the White Flag, but a caution for Buddy Kofoid put the celebration on hold. A Green-White-Checkered finish would end the race, officially making the event 31 laps.
Tim Kaeding threw a big slider into turn one, but Sweet stayed on the gas, powered around him down the backstretch and went on to win his sixth Feature of 2018.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and it’s cool to get a win here. It’s all about tomorrow night now, it would be awesome to get a Gold Cup victory tomorrow, that’s something I dreamed about as a kid,” Sweet said next to his NAPA Racing, Kasey Kahne No.49.
When prompted about the late restart, Sweet didn’t hold back, “I made a mistake and I will learn from it in the future. I think I had the best car, but you’ve got to finish races and I was fortunate to survive that restart,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
Tim Kaeding continued his impressive week coming home second in the Sides Motorsports No.3.
“It’s a privilege to be able to drive for Jason. Jason is a great guy and one of the last true guys in the sport. It’s great to be competitive with the Outlaws again,” Kaeding said.
When asked about the last restart Kaeding chuckled and said, “10 years ago I probably would have crashed both of us.”
The San Jose, CA fan-favorite concluded the interview by encouraging the large crowd to get some cold beer and go to the annual Chili Feed.
Tim’s brother, Bud, was pleased to be on the podium aboard the famous Williams No.0. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on the podium with the Outlaws. Morrie and Kate Williams have been doing this a long time and I can’t thank them enough,” Bud said in appreciation before thanking the fans for supporting Gold Cup and dirt track racing.
10th-starting Shane Golobic, who competed last night in the BC39 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, finished fourth with Eliason fading to fifth.
Following Sweet to the line were seven California locals, meaning the first eight finishers were California natives to the delight of the hometown crowd. Outlaws Ian Madsen and Shane Stewart completed the top-ten. Daryn Pittman garnered KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 18th to 11th.
The Gold Cup Race of Champions concludes Saturday, September 8, 2018 with a $15,000 top prize on the line. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$8,000]; 2. 3-Tim Kaeding [1][$4,000]; 3. O-Bud Kaeding [4][$2,500]; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic [10][$2,200]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [2][$2,100]; 6. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [6][$2,000]; 7. 121-Justin Sanders [13][$1,800]; 8. 92-Andy Forsberg [9][$1,600]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,500]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$1,300]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [18][$1,200]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz [17][$1,100]; 13. 16A-Colby Copeland [3][$1,000]; 14. 88N-DJ Netto [12][$700]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$600]; 16. 3C-Tanner Thorson [19][$600]; 17. 45-Austen Wheatley [8][$600]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [16][$600]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$600]; 20. 5-David Gravel [21][$600]; 21. 26-Joey Saldana [23][$600]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 23. 22-Mason Moore [24][$600]; 24. 4S-Michael Kofoid [7][$600]; 25. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$600]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-8, Tim Kaeding 9-16, Brad Sweet 17-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman[+7]
Donny Schatz Does It Again at Willamette Speedway
LEBANON, OR – September 5, 2018 – Donny Schatz won for the second time in 48 hours, passing Logan Schuchart on Lap 14 to win his 19th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Wednesday at Willamette Speedway in the Series lone visit to Oregon. Schuchart, who passed Schatz on Lap 4 and led 10 laps, settled for second with David Gravel completing the podium.
Overcoming a mediocre Qualifying effort, Schatz was able to come from fourth to second in his Heat Race to earn a spot in the Sears Craftsman Dash. Schatz drew the one for the Dash and won it to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside David Gravel.
Schatz got the jump on the initial start and led the opening lap. Logan Schuchart and Shane Stewart fought their way to second and third, with Gravel getting shuffled back to fourth. Brent Marks came to a stop on Lap 2, bringing out the caution and setting up a double-file restart.
Schatz chose the bottom and stayed committed down there as Schuchart got a run to his outside. Schuchart used a big surge off the cushion of turn four to lead the fourth circuit. Schuchart reached lapped traffic on Lap 9 and negotiated it well, but Schatz stayed right with him. Schatz continued to stalk Schuchart through traffic.
Schuchart followed the slower car of Willie Croft on the bottom into turn one on Lap 13 and then slipped up on the bottom off of turn four and that was all the nine-time Series Champion needed to steal the top spot back and lead Lap 14.
A long Green Flag run allowed Schatz to show his prowess in lapped traffic as he built a sizable advantage over Schuchart. Behind Schuchart a slew of cars were littered across the racing surface, waging war for third through sixth.
Ian Madsen brought out the Yellow Flag with 26 laps complete and four laps to run, giving Schuchart and company one last chance to get Schatz for the win. Schuchart followed Schatz into turn one on the bottom and tried to get a run off of turn four to no avail, as Schatz powered away and won by 1.804 seconds for the 19th time in 2018.
“I was a little evil early, I was trying to burn off the fuel and the more I did, the better I got. My car was really good, hats off to my guys, they are the ones that should be standing here,” Schatz said of his Tony Stewart Racing No.15 crew.
When asked about the long Green Flag run, Schatz said, “That’s what you live for when you are running second, or when you are leading. If you can get out front and you do the right things in lapped traffic, you know it.”
“There were a lot of grooves out there, a top, a bottom and a middle sometimes. Hats off to the track crew for providing an excellent race track,” Schatz, who also won at Willamette in 2016, said of the racing surface.
Schuchart settled for second and wasted no time complimenting Schatz. “Props to the 15 team, they do a great job every night and Donny drove a great race. Second-place is still pretty good and this Team Drydene, Shark Racing No.1S is really fast right now. I’m proud of where we are at,” Schuchart said with confidence.
After starting on the front row David Gravel fell as far back as sixth before finding speed on the top side of the racing surface to surge back to third. “We tried to run the bottom early and I went backwards so I had to move up and make some of that ground back up. It’s good to be on the podium, but when you start up front you want to get some wins. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going,” Gravel said next to his CJB Motorsports No.5 machine.
2014 Willamette winner Shane Stewart finished fourth with Sheldon Haudenschild rim-riding his way to fifth.
13th-starting Kyle Larson, in his 8th Outlaw start of the year, came forward to sixth with his brother-in-law Brad Sweet finishing seventh. Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana, who set Quick Time to open the evening, and 20th-starting Rico Abreu completed the top-ten. Abreu’s efforts were good enough to garner KSE Hard Charger honors in his first visit to Willamette Speedway.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will return to California this weekend at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA with the running of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Saturday’s Feature will pay $15,000 to win. Wednesday, September 12 the Outlaws stop at Placerville Speedway for the 49er Gold Rush Classic, which will pay $20,000 to win and $1,000 to take the Green. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$8,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$4,000]; 3. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,500]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,100]; 6. 57-Kyle Larson [13][$2,000]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$1,800]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [9][$1,600]; 9. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$1,500]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$1,300]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [10][$1,200]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [11][$1,100]; 13. 7S-Jason Sides [12][$1,000]; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen [16][$700]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$600]; 16. 45-Austen Wheatley [15][$600]; 17. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [8][$600]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [21][$600]; 19. 55-Trey Starks [19][$600]; 20. 29-Willie Croft [18][$600]; 21. 96-Andy Caruana [22][$600]; 22. 21P-Robbie Price [17][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-3, 14-30; Logan Schuchart 4-13; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+10]
Donny Schatz Scores 18th Victory of 2018 at Grays Harbor
ELMA, WA – September 3, 2018 – Donny Schatz continued his recent dominance at Grays Harbor Raceway, leading all 30 laps en route to his 18th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Victory of the 2018 season and fourth in his last five starts at Grays Harbor. Daryn Pittman threw everything he had at Schatz but settled for second with David Gravel surging late to complete the podium.
Schatz won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap affair around the high-banked 3/8th oval alongside Sheldon Haudenschild, who was making just his second start at the Elma, WA facility. Schatz and Sheldon put on a show battling for the lead throughout the first five laps, exchanging slide jobs, trading lines and using the entire racing surface.
The caution came out with five laps complete for Brent Marks, who hit the infield tire and busted his front axle, ending his night. Although Haudenschild led momentarily on two occasions, Schatz officially led all of the first five laps and maintained the lead on the double-file restart.
Schatz elected the bottom, putting Haudenschild on the cushion. Haudenschild ventured out wide and tried to get a run on the restart but subsequently left the door open for Logan Schuchart, who restarted fourth, to cut to the middle and halt Haudenschild’s momentum causing him to fall back to fifth as Schuchart, Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet passed the young Wooster, OH native by the backstretch.
As Sheldon tried to recover, Sweet, Pittman and Schuchart waged war for the second spot, allowing Schatz to pull away. Pittman established himself in the position by Lap 7 and set his eyes on Schatz.
With a long Green Flag run, Schatz was able to showcase his premier ability to navigate lapped traffic. Schatz was strong on both the cushion and down low hugging the berm, allowing him to move through traffic at a quick pace. Pittman was equally strong though, closing the gap on the nine-time Series Champion ever so slightly each lap.
The caution flew with eight laps remaining for Andy Caruana, who fell off the pace down the backstretch.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Pittman go for gold into turn one and attempt to slide Schatz. Pittman couldn’t clear the Tony Stewart Racing No.15 and left the bottom open off turn two for Sweet to get a run. Pittman fended off his fellow Kasey Kahne Racing teammate to secure the second spot, but the laps were winding down to reel in Schatz.
As Pittman tried to chase down Schatz, Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet had a hellacious battle going for third, with Schuchart sliding in front for good with four to go.
As the leaders were coming to the White Flag, Caruana slowed drastically on the frontstretch, forcing both Schuchart and Sweet to take evasive action. Both Schuchart and Sweet did 360’s in the infield and kept going while Caruana brought out the Yellow. Sweet and Schuchart both had wing panel damage and unfortunately for Schuchart, he also had a flat left rear that would force him to the pits, relinquishing third. The caution was for Caruana and Sweet never came to a stop, so he was given his spot back, with noticeable wing damage.
With less than five to go in the Feature, the restart was single-file giving Pittman one last chance to steal the win from Schatz. Schatz entered turn one high and Pittman followed him, leaving the bottom open for David Gravel, who surged from fourth across the bottom. Pittman checked up anticipating a full slider from Gravel, allowing Schatz to secure the victory for the fourth time in the last five Outlaw visits to Grays Harbor.
“The track was really good, you had to move around to get through traffic. I actually wish we would have stayed in lapped traffic more, that’s when it gets really fun,” Schatz said in Victory Lane. “I don’t know any driver that wants cautions,” Schatz added about the Green-White-Checkered finish. “I was hoping we could stay in lapped traffic because my car was good all over the race track and that I can attribute to my guys.”
Pittman, who won Saturday at Skagit, settled for second and kept it simple. “He’s tough to beat. I was hoping he would get slowed up behind the 96 and I would be able to get a run, but then it took me longer to get by him than I would have liked,” Pittman said about the lapped traffic before thanking his crew and car owner Kasey Kahne for the opportunity.
David Gravel was pleased with third, but wish he had 10 more laps to work with. “The track was really fast, hopefully we can get some momentum and build on this. I have two new crew guys - Tyler and Andy - so I thank them and Barry for their hard work,” Gravel said in good spirits.
Sheldon Haudenschild charged late to fourth with Brad Sweet fading to fifth with his damaged car. Greg Wilson picked up KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 17th to ninth. Logan Schuchart set a New Track Record in Qualifying with a lap of 11.699 and was poised for a podium finish before getting into the lapped car of Caruana.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with the Series lone visit to Oregon on Wednesday, September 5 when The Greatest Show on Dirt stops at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon. Tickets are still available for the event here. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$8,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$4,000]; 3. 5-David Gravel [6][$2,500]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,100]; 6. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$2,000]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,800]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$1,600]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$1,500]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [12][$1,300]: 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$1,200]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$1,100]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$1,000]; 14. 21P-Robbie Price [9][$700]; 15. 29-Willie Croft [11][$600]; 16. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [14][$600]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 18. 55-Trey Starks [21][$600]; 19. 33V-Henry VanDam [15][$600]; 20. 45-Austen Wheatley [19][$600]; 21. 96-Andy Caruana [22][$600]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [18][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+8]
Daryn Pittman Goes Flag-to-Flag at Skagit for 7th Win of 2018
ALGER, WA – September 1, 2018 – Daryn Pittman led all 40 laps to score his 7th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of the season on the second night of the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway. Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet exchanged the runner-up position multiple times in the closing stages with Schatz grabbing the position and Sweet settling for third.
Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole of the 40-lap Feature, alongside Schatz. Pittman controlled the initial start and led the opening lap as Schatz and Logan Schuchart jockeyed for the runner-up position before a Red Flag halted action. A handful of slowed cars littered the racing surface, resulting in Dominic Scelzi getting upside down. Scelzi was alert and talking to the safety crew but was transported to the local hospital with a hip injury.
Friday night’s winner Sheldon Haudenschild spun to a stop on Lap 3, ending his top-ten run and bunching the field back together. The next 10 laps allowed the leaders to delve into lapped traffic. With the preferred racing line up on the cushion, Pittman was able to methodically work his way through traffic efficiently with calculated slide jobs.
Buddy Kofoid’s good run came to an end on Lap 13, when he stopped in turn one. On the ensuing restart, Brad Sweet went to work on Schuchart, as the duo exchanged slide jobs for third. Schuchart resisted, but Sweet was able to wrestle the position away for good on Lap 15 and began to close in on Pittman and Schatz.
As lapped traffic picked up, Pittman was forced to slow his pace around the cushion, allowing Schatz and Sweet to knock on the door. The best racing action of the night came on Lap 27 through 30 as Pittman remained committed to the top, Schatz found some traction on the bottom and Sweet was looking for a way around both of them. The trio were within inches for the better part of those laps, exciting the large Skagit Speedway crowd.
Donny Schatz bobbled on the tricky cushion off of turn two on Lap 31, allowing Sweet to steal the runner-up position and, more importantly, allow Pittman to extend his advantage. Sweet began to close in on his Kasey Kahne Racing teammate, potentially setting up another nail-biting finish. Although, unlike last night, this time the battle was for second, as Schatz and Sweet waged war in lapped traffic, ultimately allowing Daryn Pittman to pull further away and pocket the $12,000 payday at Skagit Speedway for the second consecutive year.
“My guys did a good job. Glad to get the Adams family a win, Justin lost his Grandfather the other day and he’s been doing a great job for us this year, so this one was for him,” Pittman said sincerely in the Victory Lane. “It’s great to get another win, you cherish every one of this because you never know when your next one is going to come,” Pittman, who collected his 79th career Outlaw win, added humbly.
“I am so grateful to have my family here and that they can travel with me. I’m far from my home but there’s obviously a lot of Kasey Kahne fans here in Washington, so I’m glad to get this win for him,” Pittman said to a large cheer from the crowd.
When asked about his game plan starting on the front row, Pittman was honest. “My plan was if the 15 got under me, I better get my butt in gear,” the Owasso, OK native said with a smile.
Schatz got back by Sweet coming to the White Flag and held on for second. “It’s not where anyone wants to be, but you have to take it some days,” Schatz said of his runner-up finish. “40 laps is 40 laps, I felt like I needed it to be 100 laps to win tonight,” the Fargo, ND native added with a grin.
Brad Sweet came home third and talked about the three-car battle for the lead. “It was a good battle, I was trying to give it all I’ve got, I thought we had a really good car. It’s a little disappointing to give that spot back to Donny on the last lap, but still a good run for this team and to end the weekend on the podium is nothing to be ashamed of,” Sweet said in good spirits.
Logan Schuchart was strong all evening and finished fourth, with Ian Madsen completing the top-five in his second-ever weekend at Skagit Speedway.
Brent Marks earned a career-best Skagit finish in sixth with Shane Stewart finishing seventh. Washington’s own Trey Starks finished eighth. David Gravel earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 16th to ninth while Kraig Kinser completed the top ten.
Sheldon Haudenschild Wins Thriller on Night One at Skagit on his 25th Birthday
ALGER, WA – August 31, 2018 – Sheldon Haudenschild celebrated his 25th birthday in style, sliding Shane Stewart for the lead coming to the White Flag on Night One of the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway to win his 5th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Stewart did everything in his power to get back by Haudenschild but settled for second in the thrilling finish.Rico Abreu completed the podium in his first Outlaw start at Skagit.
California fan favorite Rico Abreu won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-Lap Feature alongside Shane Stewart. Abreu got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening lap before action was halted for a backwards Jacob Allen, who spun to avoid a logjam of cars with one lap complete.
Abreu chose the bottom on the ensuing double-file restart and led the field down the backstretch but Shane Stewart, a two-time Outlaw winner at Skagit, got a massive run on the cushion off of turn four to lead Lap 2. As Abreu searched around the race track, Sheldon Haudenschild snuck by into second on Lap 4 and began closing in on Stewart.
Stewart and Haudenschild gave the Skagit Speedway fans a glimpse of what was to come on Lap 7 as Sheldon got underneath Stewart to lead down the backstretch, only to have Stewart blast back around to lead the lap at the line by a hair.
The intense action halted on Lap 10 when Keoni Texeira spun to a stop. On the opposite end of the track, Jason Solwold’s eventful evening continued as he stopped with a flat right front tire. Solwold would return, but Texeira would not.
The ensuing double-file restart saw contact in the back of the pack and Austen Wheatley end up in the infield with damage that would end his evening. Following that, the decision was made to conduct single-file restarts the rest of the evening.
Lap 13 saw Solwold’s night go from bad to worse as his No.18S went end-over-end down the backstretch into turn three after incidental contact with Jacob Allen. Solwold walked away from his mangled car under his own power.
The remaining 17 laps went Green-to-Checkered and they did not disappoint. Haudenschild hawked the veteran Stewart through heavy lapped traffic, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seat as the drivers navigated a tacky racing surface.
Haudenschild looked to be within striking distance multiple times, but remained patient until the perfect opportunity, which came on Lap 28. Stewart bobbled ever-so-slightly on the treacherous cushion off of turn four, opening a narrow window for Haudenschild to pounce and the young Wooster, OH native did just that.
Haudenschild threw his NOS Energy Sponsored, Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall racing No.17 hard into the corner and inched in front of Stewart at the edge of turn four. Stewart and Haudenschild made slight contact after the slide job but both drivers kept going under the White Flag. Stewart tried one last ditch effort to get the lead back coming to the checkered, but to no avail as he would finish .311 behind Haudenschild in an exciting Feature.
“I knew I was running out of time and had to make something happen. I don’t think my slider was dirty, you kind of had to stop his momentum to pull it off. I know he bumped by back bumper but on a small track like this, I think you’re going to have some wheel-banging and the track tonight was beautiful,” Haudenschild said in Victory Lane.
Shane Stewart despite the tough finish remained in good spirits, “I thought we were going to have one, I knew Sheldon was going to be tough. I thought I was getting through lapped cars pretty good, but I jumped the cushion just a little bit coming to the White and allowed Sheldon to get a good run on me. That’s how these races go, you can’t stub your toe, can’t slow down at all or you’re going to get passed.”
Rico Abreu, who has been following the Outlaws back to his home state of California since Knoxville, came home third in his first Outlaw start at Skagit. “This place races great. I didn’t get to the top soon enough on that restart and that’s where we lost the race. My car was perfect and I’m excited for tomorrow,” an upbeat Abreu said.
Though it was Sheldon Haudenschild’s fifth win of the 2018 Season, it was his first since Fairbury back on June 5th. “To get a win after not winning for a while feels really good. I can’t thank Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.], the Marshall family, our sponsors and my crew guys enough,” Haudenschild added in Victory Lane.
Joey Saldana was strong all night and finished fourth with Brad Sweet completing the top five. Ian Madsen, in his first look at Skagit Speedway, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward 10 positions to 12th.
Washington’s own and former World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series regular Jason Solwold had a night he will certainly never forget, for all the wrong reasons. Solwold set Quick Time over the field, only to have a water pump issue on his team’s only 410 motor. The team was forced to change to their 360ci engine for the Heat Race, where he fended off numerous charges to finish second to advance to the Dash. While that was ongoing and during the intermission and dash draw, Solwold and the team successfully scrambled to fix the water pump issue on the 410 in time for the Feature. All for the Burlington, WA native to get a flat tire 10 laps into the Feature while running eighth and go for a wild ride down the backstretch three laps later. Fortunately, Solwold was uninjured in the accident, but the rest of his weekend remains in jeopardy.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season back at Skagit Speedway Saturday, September 1, 2018 before heading over to Elma, WA on Monday, September 3 for an appearance at the Grays Harbor Raceway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$8,000]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [2][$4,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$2,500]; 4. 26-Joey Saldana [3][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,100]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,000]; 7. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [5][$1,800]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [7][$1,600]; 9. 5-David Gravel [16][$1,500]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$1,300]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [9][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$1,100]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson [18][$1,000]; 14. 29-Willie Croft [11][$700]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$600]; 16. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [21][$600]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$600]; 18. 55-Trey Starks [19][$600]; 19. 18S-Jason Solwold [6][$600]; 20. 45-Austen Wheatley [13][$600]; 21. 7S50-Keoni Texeira [12][$600]; 22. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 23. 21P-Robbie Price [14][$600]; 24. 8R-Michael Kofoid [24][$600]; Lap Leaders: Rico Abreu 1, Shane Stewart 2-28, Sheldon Haudenschild 29-30 KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+10]
Pittman Goes Back-To-Back at Big Sky Speedway for 6th Win of Season
BILLINGS, MT – August 25, 2018 – Daryn Pittman got by Jacob Allen on a double-file restart halfway through the race and never looked back, scoring his second consecutive win at Big Sky Speedway and capturing his sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of 2018. Allen settled for second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
For the second consecutive night, Jacob Allen won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 35-Lap Feature. Allen drag raced with fellow front row starter Pittman the entire opening lap and edged ahead off of turn four to lead Lap 1.
The first 15 laps went non-stop, forcing Allen to negotiate lapped traffic and allowing Pittman and Schatz to close in. Brent Marks had a right rear explode, bringing out the first of a handful of cautions.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Allen elect the top of the speedway. Allen fought off two Pittman slidejobs to maintain control and lead Lap 16 before the yellow flew for Dominic Scelzi, who lost the handle of his family-owned machine off of turn one.
The caution restacked the field double-file once again, but this time the veteran Pittman prevailed over young Allen, controlling the field off of turn two to lead Lap 17.
A pair of cautions for Alan Gilbertson and Jason Sides gave Allen ample opportunity to steal the lead back from Pittman, but the Owasso, OK native was too strong on the double-file restarts and motored away.
The final caution of the evening came with four to go as Sheldon Haudenschild’s engine gave out. With less than five laps to go in the Feature, Outlaw rules dictate single-file restarts, giving Allen a different chance to wrestle the lead back. Allen stayed with Pittman on the restart, but couldn’t mount a serious challenge as Pittman went on to win by .904 seconds.
“To get this win the way the last few months have been is really something special. Man, our last win was tough,” Pittman said solemnly before thanking his Kasey Kahne Racing crew for their continued support.
“There’s nothing better than winning these races, you never know when your last one is going to be,” Pittman, who now has 78 career Outlaw wins, added. "As you can see there’s nothing on the side of this car and there’s no better way to sign a sponsor than by winning races. That’s my job, to go out there and focus on putting this car in Victory Lane so I can keep this job and keep doing what I love,” Pittman said before thanking the sellout crowd at Big Sky Speedway.
Jacob Allen’s first World of Outlaws win continues to elude him, but the young Hanover, PA native remains in good spirits. “Leading laps and running up front is a lot of fun. Obviously, I want to get that first win, but to be able to be on the podium, finish top-five and contend for a win against these guys is something to be proud of and I’m proud of my race team,” Allen said positively.
Donny Schatz was pleased to come home third but wished the race got into more lapped traffic. “It’s fun to be in traffic, but that wasn’t in the cards tonight. Third is pretty respectable, the race track was fun and that’s all you can ask for as a racer. Full house tonight, thank you guys for being here, it was an awesome night for all of us,” Schatz said in good spirits.
Brad Sweet picked up KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward to fourth with Kraig Kinser completing the top five.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its trek west to Washington and has a pair of dates at Skagit Speedway this upcoming weekend Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 in Alger, WA. Following that, the Series will head to Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma on Monday, September 3rd before making its lone appearance in Oregon at Willamette Speedway on Wednesday, September 5.
If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$10,000]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$2,300]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [3][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [7][$2,050]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$1,500]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson [16][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,100]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee [13][$1,050]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$1,000]; 16. 97-Alan Gilbertson [17][$900]; 17. 37-Trever Kirkland [19][$800]; 18. 9K-Kory Wermling [22][$800]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [14][$800]; 20. 2JR-Kelly Miller [18][$800]; 21. 27DD-David Hoiness [20][$800]; 22. 77-Damon McCune [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-16, Daryn Pittman 17-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+5]
Brad Sweet Steals Black Hills Win on Late Restart
RAPID CITY, SD – August 24, 2018 – Brad Sweet used a double-file restart with seven laps remaining to get by race-long leader Jacob Allen and win his fifth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the 2018 season Friday night at Black Hills Speedway. Schatz used that same restart to surge from ninth to finish second with Dominic Scelzi completing the podium.
Jacob Allen won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 25-lap Feature alongside 2018 Knoxville Nationals Champion, Brad Sweet. The initial start saw David Gravel blast from fourth to the lead down the backstretch, but Allen muscled his Shark Racing No.1A underneath Gravel’s CJB No.5 off of turn four to lead the opening lap.
The first of two cautions in the Feature flew with two laps complete as Sheldon Haudenschild spun to a stop after battling for fifth. Haudenschild’s crew thrashed to get the Stenhouse Jr-Marshall No.17 back out, which would prove crucial later. The ensuing double-file restart saw 2017 Black Hills winner Shane Stewart move into second as Gravel got shuffled back to fifth.
Allen, in search of his first career Outlaw triumph, motored away from the field as the rest of the field waged war behind him. Intense racing action on Lap 4 saw Sweet move into second, Dominic Scelzi into third as Stewart got shuffled back to fourth. Scelzi, also in search of his first Outlaw triumph, pounded the cushion in turn one and two, to get by fellow California native Sweet for second on Lap 7 and set his eyes on Allen.
Allen navigated lapped traffic like a veteran and appeared to be on his way for the long-awaited first Outlaw win. Sweet worked back by Scelzi on Lap 17 for second and the next lap Sheldon Haudenschild brought out the final caution of the evening with seven laps remaining.
The caution erased the 2 and half-second lead Allen had accumulated and put one of Sprint Car Racing’s elite talents right next to him for the double-file restart.
Allen elected the bottom, but Sweet was able to remain even for the lead on the restart. Sweet edged in front to lead Lap 19, but a determined Allen threw a slide job to grab the lead momentarily off of turn two.
While all eyes were on Sweet and Allen’s torrid battle for the lead, Donny Schatz surged forward from ninth to third.
Back up front, Sweet’s momentum allowed him to regain control down the backstretch and into turn three and four. As a last-ditch effort to get the lead back, Allen threw the car low, but spun the tires off turn four, scrubbing his speed and allowing Donny Schatz and Dominic Scelzi to split him down the frontstretch for position.
Scelzi and Schatz jockeyed for position briefly, allowing Sweet to extend his lead and go on to win his fifth Feature of the year.
“I kinda feel bad for Jacob, he’s been working really hard and has a really fast car. He was probably the guy to beat, sometimes those late restarts will get you. I’ve been fortunate to have been out here a couple of more years and the experience can help in those situations,” Sweet said honestly.
“My car was really good, I just lost some track position on the start. It was nice to get back into second right when we did to get that shot on the restart,” Sweet added next to his NAPA Auto Parts, Kasey Kahne Racing No.49 in Victory Lane.
Donny Schatz, who was coming off a weekend sweep in his home state, settled for second after his surge on the Lap 18 restart.
“Hats off to my guys they always give me a good race car and we were pretty good at the end. I felt like we were running 43rd most of the race,” Schatz said with a smile.
It was all smiles for Dominic Scelzi, who completed the podium, tying his career-best Outlaw finish. “I had a dream of a race car to drive. We’ve had a heck of a last few months and to be on the podium with the Outlaws is awesome. We were fast at Billings last year, hopefully we can finish one or two spots better tomorrow,” Scelzi, who is following the World of Outlaws back to his home-state of California, said.
Logan Schuchart came forward to fourth with his Shark Racing teammate Allen settling for fifth. Greg Wilson earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 17th to finish sixth.
For the second consecutive year, the Black Hills Speedway track record fell, this year to Daryn Pittman, who paced the full-field of cars in Qualifying with a blistering 14.813 seconds, just a fraction off of Shane Stewart’s time last year.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Saturday, August 25 at Big Sky Speedway in Billings, MT. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$5,500]; 3. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [7][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,800]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$2,500]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$2,300]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [6][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [4][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,050]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [3][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,050]; 15. 99-Skylar Gee [16][$1,000]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$900]; 17. 97-Alan Gilbertson [14][$800]; 18. 2JR-Kelly Miller [18][$800]; 19. 88-Travis Reber [19][$800]; 20. 2K-Kevin Ingle [20][$800]; 21. 14-Ben Holmberg [21][$800]; 22. 4-Adam Speckman [23][$800]; 23. 3-Mike Pennel [22][$800]; 24. O-Ned Powers [24][$800] Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-18, Brad Sweet 19-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.813; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.817; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.836; 4. 2-Shane Stewart, 14.838; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.862; 6. 5-David Gravel, 14.931; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.979; 8. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.999; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.053; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.055; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.064; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.068; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 15.162; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 15.271; 15. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.328; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 15.369; 17. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 15.677; 18. 2JR-Kelly Miller, 16.236; 19. 88-Travis Reber, 16.758; 20. 4-Adam Speckman, 16.945; 21. 14-Ben Holmberg, 16.971; 22. 3-Mike Pennel, 17.104; 23. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 17.18; 24. O-Ned Powers, NT
Donny Schatz Sweeps Weekend at Home with 17th Win of 2018 at Red River Valley
WEST FARGO, ND – August 18, 2018 – Donny Schatz completed the weekend sweep of his home state of North Dakota, taking the lead on Lap 23 to win his 17th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Saturday night at Red River Valley Speedway. Jacob Allen finished second as he continues to close in on his first career Outlaw win with Kerry Madsen completing the podium for the second consecutive night.
David Gravel won the Sears Craftsman Dash to the earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature alongside Shane Stewart. Gravel got the jump on the initial start and led the opening circuit. Jacob Allen worked his way forward from fourth to take second away from Donny Schatz on Lap 5 and two laps later Allen got by Gravel to take command of the field.
Allen led for four laps before bobbling in lapped traffic, trying to split a pair of lapped cars, on Lap 12, allowing Gravel to steal the lead back and Schatz to move into second. The trio captivated the large Red River Valley Speedway crowd as they jockeyed for the lead.
Gravel worked his way through traffic, before the first caution of the event flew for Thomas Kennedy, who ended up backwards in turn one after battling with Sides for sixth with 18 laps complete.
Allen edged back in front of Schatz on the restart, but Schatz slid the young Hanover, PA native to take second back at the line. A lap later, Ian Madsen slowed with a flat tire, ending his top-ten run. Brad Sweet also headed pit side with a flat tire.
With tires going down, the decision was made to go with single-file restarts the rest of the night, which allowed David Gravel to steadily lead with 11 to go. Schatz reeled in Gravel with a big run off of turn two and shot underneath him down the backstretch to take the lead on Lap 23. As it turns out, Gravel was nursing an ailing tire as he slowed with a flat right rear the next lap, bringing out the final caution of the evening.
Allen stayed right with Schatz on the restart and looked for a way around the nine-time Series Champion, to no avail. Schatz hit his marks, didn’t make any mistakes and went on to win his 17th Feature of the season and extend his points lead.
When asked about what it means to win in front of his hometown crowd, Schatz kept it simple, “It’s what you live for. You hope when you roll near home to put on a good show, have some good runs and win some races.” “I’m so fortunate for my team, they are the reason I’m standing here. We’ve been together for a long time and we have a lot of fun doing this,” Schatz added before thanking the track crew for their efforts to provide a multiple-groove racing surface and the large crowd for coming out and supporting.
Jacob Allen continues to impress, finishing second and while he was a little disappointed to not seal the deal, he was still pleased with the run.
“Donny is a legend and to compete with him for a win was a lot of fun. I’ve ran second quite a few times this year and I want to win one so bad. One of these days, I’m going to bag on,” Allen said convincingly.
For the second consecutive night, Kerry Madsen completed the podium and was in good spirts. “I’ve always loved coming up here [to North Dakota]. My team works really hard and we’re happy with two podiums this weekend,” Madsen said before thanking the fans for coming out, letting them know his appreciation for the racing support in the area.
Greg Wilson was humming on the bottom of the speedway and charged from 13th to fourth. Logan Schuchart went up in smoke in his Heat, relegating him to the Last Chance Showdown, which he won with ease. Schuchart charged from 19th to complete the top five in the Feature, earning KSE Hard Charger Honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with a return to the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, SD next Friday, August 24 before making the trek over to Big Sky Speedway in Billings, MT on Saturday, August 25. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$10,000]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [4][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$3,200]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [13][$2,800]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$2,500]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [2][$2,300]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [14][$2,200]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [8][$2,100]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$2,050]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,000]; 11. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [17][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [21][$1,200]; 13. 13-Mark Dobmeier [11][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$1,050]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,000]; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [10][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$800]; 18. 5-David Gravel [1][$800]; 19. 13T-Ty Hanten [23][$800]; 20. 9N-Wade Nygaard [20][$800]; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$800]; 22. 20A-Jordan Adams [24][$800]; 23. 21K-Thomas Kennedy [12][$800]; 24. 19P-Paige Polyak [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-7, 12-22; Jacob Allen 8-11; Donny Schatz 23-30 KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+14]
Donny Schatz Scores 16th Win of 2018 Season at River Cities and Adds a Late Model Win for Extra Measure
GRAND FORKS, ND – August 17, 2018 – Donny Schatz took the lead on Lap 28, after Brad Sweet spun while leading, and held off 17th-starting Mark Dobmeier to win his 16th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 and seventh in his last eight River Cities Speedway starts. Kerry Madsen completed the podium. Schatz also won the Late Model portion of the event.
Sheldon Haudenschild won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 40-lap Feature alongside recent Knoxville Nationals winner Brad Sweet. Haudenschild led the opening lap before a Red Flag for Logan Schuchart, Wade Nygaard and Brent Marks halted the action with one lap complete. All drivers were uninjured, but only Marks returned.
Haudenschild continued to pace the field as he reached lapped traffic quickly around the ¼ bullring. Sweet stalked the Ohio native and took the lead on Lap 12 on the bottom, in heavy lapped traffic.
Jordan Adams, who flipped earlier in the night but repaired his car to transfer out of the LCS, brought out the caution with 15 laps complete.
A caution on the ensuing double-file restart, set up a single-file restart. Four laps later, Ian Madsen was involved in his second incident of the Feature, this time with too much damage to continue, bringing out Open Red conditions.
When action resumed, Sheldon Haudenschild got shuffled back to fourth behind Kerry Madsen and Donny Schatz, who moved into second. Schatz set his eyes on Sweet and closed in as the duo raced through heavy traffic.
As Schatz went high to challenge for the lead, Sweet entered low into turn one and lost the handle of his No.49, spinning to a stop. Schatz assumed the lead alongside Kerry Madsen.
Schatz stormed away on the restart as the rest of the field, especially 17th-starting Mark Dobmeier, used every inch of real estate around the River Cities Speedway to advance forward.
The final restart flew with four to go and by this time Dobmeier, the all-time winning Feature leader at River Cities Speedway, had worked his way to second, trailing Schatz. The capacity crowd was bubbling with anticipation of the finish as the two North Dakota natives led the field back to Green.
Schatz pulled away in convincing fashion for his 16th Outlaw win of the year and seventh in his last eight starts at River Cities Speedway as Dobmeier finished second, picking up KSE Hard Charger honors for advancing 15 positions.
“I’m just a lucky guy. To drive for the for the best guys in the pit area, the best owner in the country and the people that build these cars. They stand behind us through thick and then,” Schatz said of his Textron Off Road-sponsored crew, Tony Stewart and J & J Chassis.
“Mark [Dobmeier] had a good run, I saw the 13 on the board and I thought, oh boy, here we go. He’s pretty good around here,” Schatz said of his fellow North Dakota native.
“Lapped traffic definitely made your hair stand up tonight, we might not have been the best car tonight, but I’m glad we could get it done in Grand Forks,” Schatz, who also won the NLRA Late Model Feature, added in Victory Lane.
The massive crowd at River Cities was pleased to see six-time winner at River Cities in 2018, Dobmeier finish second. “It’s great to have the crowd cheer like this, this is why we do it,” Dobmeier said. “I wish I didn’t use up all my tires at the beginning of the race, I wanted to start in the Dash and start in the top-ten and get that track position early, but we didn’t have it early, so I had to dig deep, I gave everything I had. Considering we got to second to this guy [pointing at Schatz], I feel pretty good about that run,” Dobmeier said with a smile.
Kerry Madsen finished on the podium once again at River Cities, “I had a big plan on the double-file restart with six to go and it didn’t work and I lost a spot,” Madsen said with a grin before complimenting River Cities Speedway. “They do such a good job with the track here, I love coming to Grand Forks.”
14th-starting Daryn Pittman finished fourth with Brad Sweet charging back to fifth. Shane Stewart, who was involved in two accidents, recovered to finish sixth. David Gravel stayed out of trouble and finished seventh.
21st-starting Brent Marks recovered from a Lap One accident to finish eighth, Hunter Schuerenburg, who went to the work area running sixth early in the race, came back to ninth with local Jade Hastings, who brought out the Yellow with 6 laps left, completing the top-ten, the first of his World of Outlaws career.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action in West Fargo tomorrow night, Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Red River Valley Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$10,000]; 2. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [14][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,500]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,300]; 7. 5-David Gravel [13][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [21][$2,100]; 9. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [10][$2,050]; 10. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$2,000]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$1,500]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$1,200]; 13. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$1,100]; 14. 24-Terry McCarl [6][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$1,000]; 16. 20A-Jordan Adams [24][$900]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson [8][$800]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$800]; 19. 24R-Rico Abreu [3][$800]; 20. 17A-Austin McCarl [23][$800]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$800]; 22. 9N-Wade Nygaard [18][$800]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$800]; 24. 21K-Thomas Kennedy [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-11, Brad Sweet 12-27, Donny Schatz 28-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 13-Mark Dobmeier[+15]
ROSSBURG, OH – May 10, 2019 – Donny Schatz said he has nothing to prove to anyone.
But after leading every lap and winning the caution free 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Eldora Speedway Friday night, he proved he's still a dominating threat.
"I'm not done," a jubilated Schatz said after winning his second race of the season – 285th Series win overall.
Schatz, in his Tony Stewart Racing car, swept the May #LetsRaceTwo doubleheader at Eldora Speedway last year, which at that time was his seventh and eighth wins of the year. However, Schatz has a new crew chief this year – after his former Crew Chief Ricky Warner, who he spent most of his career with, went to work for Ford.
The 10-time Series champion doesn't point any fingers at the crew chief change for the lack of comparison to last year's performance. There's a multitude of changes to take into consideration.
"We've got a pretty good play book we've had over the years, but things change," Schatz said. "Tires change. Cars change. The ways guys race change, so you've got to stay on the front side of it. That's what we've been working on the past couple of months. I feel like we've figured out what we need to do to get things right for us. I'm happy about that and hopefully we can keep that to ourselves and not have to race against it."
Friday night's win won't define the rest of his season, though.
"You can't gauge anything off of one race," Schatz said. "It's just the way racing is. You make changes and you have to battle through it. If this was easy everybody would do it. Look at the stats over the past 10 or 12 years. You'll see what the stats say."
The stats of night one of #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway show Schatz dominated the Feature, leading every lap from the pole, but Logan Schuchart and rookie Carson Macedo didn't let Schatz cruise to an easy win.
When the green flag flew, Schatz launched to the lead, with Macedo close behind. While Schatz rode the inside line, Macedo threw his car to the high side. The rookie, in his Kyle Larson Racing car, charged on the outside like a starving predator in pursuit of an innocent prey.
By the time the two reached turn one for the second time, Macedo had already hurled his car underneath Schatz and cleared him by the apex. However, his momentum drew him back to the wall, allowing Schatz to ease underneath him and reclaim the lead.
"I thought when I was throwing stuff at him (Schatz) at the beginning, and I was kind of able to maintain after that, I thought maybe if we get to traffic, maybe I could make a move," said Macedo, who settled for third. "But Donny is just exceptional. I didn't pull the trigger when I probably should have. Just my fault. Something I need to work on as a driver. To win these World of Outlaws races, you just can't do that."
After Macedo's attempt to steal the champion's lead, Schatz set sail showing his expertise on the track he's won at more than 10 times. No matter if he had to go high or go low, Schatz could put his car wherever he needed to navigating lap traffic.
Slower cars would block his chosen lane at times, killing his momentum. That allowed the hard charging Schuchart to further close on Schatz every lap. Schuchart, who finished second to Schatz during both nights of last year's #LetsRaceTwo doubleheader, was determined to finish one spot better this year.
With about four laps to go, Schuchart close to a car length behind Schatz. The Shark Racing No. 1a was in sight for its third win of the season. But like Schatz, a lap car killed Schuchart's momentum and ended his chance for a second win at the speedway.
"I was following a car on the top and he hit the wall and I had to check up pretty good there," said runner-up Schuchart. "All and all I thought it was a good race. I think we actually fell to sixth at the beginning and had to work our way back up there. I think we had the car to beat and the fastest race car. I hope we can come back tomorrow and get another shot at it."
While Schatz had command of the race all night, there was still a lot going through his head on what he needed to do and look out for to secure the victory.
"Over the course of the run, you start to lose a little bit and lose a little bit," Schatz said. "And you use your tires. This place is always a question on fuel. You've got to be cautious on the gas, too, for being able to make the distance. We didn't have any yellows, thank goodness. That's another thing you have to take into play. You think about those things when you're leading."
He added the hardest thing to do is lead a race, and he hasn't done a lot of that this year -- just 14 laps before Friday night's race.
He's still having fun, though.
"I've won every race I've wanted to win," said Schatz, who now leads the Series standings by 14 points over Brad Sweet. "Everything from here is gravy. I'm racing the way I want. I'm racing with the people I want, and we're having a good time.
"The funny thing about the sport is, if you can have a fun time when you're not winning, when you are winning it's going to be really good. That's where we're at."
He has nothing left to prove. But that won't stop him from continuing to be a dominate threat.
UP NEXT:
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, May 11, at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for the final night of #LetsRaceTwo.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$5,000]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [2][$3,000]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3][$2,700]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [9][$2,500]; 6. 39-Christopher Bell [8][$2,200]; 7. 7S-Tim Kaeding [6][$2,000]; 8. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [4][$1,800]; 9. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$1,600]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,450]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [13][$1,300]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [24][$1,200]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [7][$1,100]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$1,000]; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$950]; 16. 24-Rico Abreu [22][$900]; 17. 70X-Spencer Bayston [20][$850]; 18. 19-Brent Marks [25][$50]; 19. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$725]; 20. 7-Jason Sides [23][$700]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [21][$700]; 22. 83-Daryn Pittman [16][$700]; 23. 1-Sammy Swindell [15][$700]; 24. 70-Brock Zearfoss [17][$700]; 25. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$700]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.825; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.833; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 12.848; 4. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.857; 5. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.861; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.896; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.919; 8. 41-David Gravel, 12.936; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.942; 10. 7-Jason Sides, 13.01; 11. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.017; 12. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.021; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.034; 14. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.045; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.062; 16. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.063; 17. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.065; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 13.086; 19. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.091; 20. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.109; 21. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.158; 22. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.177; 23. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.178; 24. 99G-Skylar Gee, 13.346; 25. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.497
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.881; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.947; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.009; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.02; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.038; 6. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.102; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.126; 8. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.137; 9. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.14; 10. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.196; 11. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.203; 12. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.208; 13. 99-Brady Bacon, 13.234; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.257; 15. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.27; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.307; 17. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.318; 18. 97-Caleb Helms, 13.368; 19. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 13.402; 20. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 13.532; 21. 8J-Jess Stiger, 13.599; 22. J4-John Garvin, 13.627; 23. 20I-Kelsey Ivy, 13.871; 24. 4X-Bradley Ashford, 13.975
Kevin Swindell seeks first World of Outlaws win as an owner with Christopher Bell at Eldora
ROSSBURG, OH – Kevin Swindell has unfinished business in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
A spinal injury from a crash at the 2015 Knoxville Nationals ended his driving career — leaving him with one World of Outlaws victory as a driver — but it hasn't stopped him from chasing wins.
For the past three years Swindell has been entering his No. 39 Sprint Car in various races — next on the schedule will be this weekend's World of Outlaws doubleheader at Eldora Speedway. But the top wing no longer has "Swindell" stickered across the front of it. Instead it's been names like Bayston and Bell.
Accented by a teal strip and letters, Swindell's name has found a new home on the side of the car as Swindell SpeedLab — the name of his team and other avenues, such as apparel — signifying his transition to car owner.
"I think any of the guys out there (in the Sprint Car community) would say they've thought about it (owning a team)," Swindell said. "Done right I think owner-driver is the most profitable way to do it. But someone else driving for me never was a thought."
It never was after his accident, either. Owning a team grew out of trying to help a young driver enter the top Sprint Car ranks.
In 2015, Swindell found himself acting as a driver coach and crew chief for Spencer Bayston, who at the time was running Parker Price-Miller's spare car in select races. The two clicked. When Bayston was looking to do more Sprint Car races the year after and rides fell through, Swindell said they linked up. The inaugural Swindell SpeedLab team was born.
"We really built it for him (Bayston) with no real future plan in mind for it then," Swindell said.
The pair won multiple races together in the All Star Circuit of Champions Series, and Bayston's success propelled him to a current full-time ride in that Series.
As for Swindell and his team, the vision into the future is a little blurry. Swindell said he's not sure what the ultimate goal for the team is.
"We've been lucky so far just kinda letting it evolve on its own," he said. "So, we'll just keep seeing where it takes us."
At the moment, he hopes to be able to continue helping young drivers. He plans to have Missouri-native Hunter Schuerenberg drive the car in a couple of races this year. Going full-time with the World of Outlaws isn't on the radar at the moment, but he's still eyeing several victories in the Series.
"It's the premier dirt Series in the world, in my opinion," said Swindell, son of three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell. "And it's been such a big part of my family for so long that winning those races is huge to me. I think in a way there were things I left unfinished in the seat that now I'm chasing from this side with it."
Swindell won his lone World of Outlaws race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2006. He was 17 years old when he won, which at the time made him the youngest ever winner in the Series, a record that was broken by 16-year-old Giovanni Scelzi last year. After that he won several other Sprint Car and Midget races — including four Chili Bowl Midget Nationals wins in-a-row — and had a short stint in NASCAR before his 2015 accident.
With Bayston in a new ride, Swindell has hired another young up-and-coming driver to help him chase more wins — NASCAR star Christopher Bell. And those wins almost came during the two World of Outlaws season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park.
Bell finished third on the first night of racing after winning the Drydene Heat Race. He then followed that up the second night by winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, leading 25 of the 30 laps in the Feature and battling with 2013 Series champion Daryn Pittman late in the race, eventually having to settle for second. He ended up leaving Florida second in points to Pittman.
"I was pumped," Swindell said about Bell's performance. "I really felt like had traffic played in our favor a little bit more we would have picked up two or three of those nights (at DIRTcar Nationals) but that's part of racing with these guys. They don't let you slack anywhere. It makes you so much better."
Swindell started working with Bell last year after Bayston and the team were going through a low point.
"We crashed and just needed to get a second opinion for both of our sake on the cars," Swindell said.
At the time, Bell was ride hopping, he said, so he sent him a text to gauge his interest. Bell had shown interest before, but Swindell said he wasn't sure if the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series champion was just joking or not.
"His team is new, but he has proven it (is a strong team) with multiple drivers," Bell said. "They had a lot of speed with Spencer in the car, so I knew it was capable of running up front."
Bell added that driving for a team owner who recently stepped out of the car has its advantages, as well.
Bell's schedule with the Swindell SpeedLab team is up in the air. At the beginning of the year Bell said he hoped to do about 20 to 25 Sprint Car races this season. Many depend on the approval of his NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing, giving him the approval to run the races.
Swindell said he would like to extend his schedule with Bell, who he treats like any other Sprint Car driver — paying him for his time in the car. At the moment, however, he's excited to get to their next race already scheduled — Eldora Speedway, on Friday May 10 and Saturday May 11 for the #LetsRaceTwo.
Bell cites the Rossburg, Ohio speedway as one of his best tracks. And for good reason. Of his four World of Outlaws victories two have come at Eldora, with the most recent being the Series last visit to speedway in October.
"Obviously his track record speaks for itself, so now I gotta do my job with it," Swindell said. "I just truly don't want to screw it up. We know he does his part there. So, I'm excited but nervous at the same time."
While it's Swindell's car going around tracks he would like to win at, there's no weird feeling watching someone other than him drive it. He said part of that is it wasn't his car to drive to begin with. The accident may have ended his driving career, but it far from ended his Sprint Car career.
He's still chasing wins. Still has unfinished business.
"After feeling like we were so close to winning one at Lake Ozark (Speedway) last year with Spencer, then such good runs at World Finals, I'm dying to close one out," Swindell said.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. with Hot Laps at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Eldora Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 12.707 sec. set by Craig Dollansky on April 13, 2002.
Online – EldoraSpeedway.com
Phone – (937) 338-3815
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/2-mile winners
There have been six races on a 1/2-mile track this season. Daryn Pittman won at Volusia Speedway on Feb. 8-9. Tim Shaffer won at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Feb. 27 and Donny Schatz won in Las Vegas on Feb. 28. Aaron Reutzel won at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30. And Logan Schuchart won at Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 12.
ELDORA SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
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 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 – 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 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 – 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 – 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, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 – 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 – 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 – Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 – Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 – Dave Blaney on April 18, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 – Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 – Jeff Swindell on April 23, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 – Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 – Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 – Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 – Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 – Brad Doty on May 22
1982 – Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, 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 25, Steve Kinser on July 5, 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. 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
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint – @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
David Gravel – @DavidGravel
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – @SidesMotorsport
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next race on Wednesday, May 15, at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and Sunday, May 19, at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY.
2019 STATS
There have been 13 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (25 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 6
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
4 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
5 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, Iowa – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
— Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– Carson Short, Marion, Ill. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 5
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 4
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 4
4 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
6 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 67
2– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
3 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 37
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 36
5 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
6 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
7 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 29
8 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
11 – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 10
12 – Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 3
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
18. Friday, April 12 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Logan Schuchart (2)
19. Saturday April 13 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
20. Friday April 26 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, Mo. / Brad Sweet (2)
21. Saturday April 27 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway / Pevely, Mo. / Rainout-Canceled
22. Sunday April 28 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, Ill. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Sept. 25
23. Friday May 3 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, Ark. / Rainout-Canceled
24. Saturday May 4 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, Ind. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Oct. 13
Rain postpones World of Outlaws Jacksonville Speedway Feature
JACKSONVILLE, IL – April 28, 2019 – A new track record. Wrecks in qualifying. And hard racing in the Drydene Heat races. All were leading up to a thrilling 40-lap Feature Sunday night at Jacksonville Speedway, but then heavy rain fell.
World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials were forced to postpone the remainder of the event, which still had the Last Chance Showdown and Feature to go.
Series and track officials are looking for a reschedule date. Make sure to watch WorldofOutlaws.com for updates.
Race Fans that attended the race should hold on to their wristband for the makeup Feature. If you have any further questions, call the speedway at (217) 207-3005.
With 42 cars in attendance and a packed house at the speedway, the night started with NASCAR-star Christopher Bell setting a blistering sub-10 sec. lap in Hot Laps – 9.887 sec., a second faster than Logan Schuchart's 2016 record setting lap of 10.805 sec. With the lap coming in Hot Lap, though, it was not considered an official new track record.
That honor would go to Aaron Reutzel. He set a 10.028 sec. lap in Qualifying, making him the fastest overall and the new Jacksonville Speedway track record holder.
"We were fortunate enough to draw good and not go out too late," Reutzel said after claiming the new track record. "The track definitely fell off there."
The event then moved into four thrilling Drydene Heat races. Reutzel continued to show his speed by winning the first Heat. Three-time Series champion Sammy Swindell and rookie Carson Macedo had a fierce battle to the finish of the second Heat with Swindell coming out on top. Schatz won the third Heat and David Gravel won the final Heat with Brent Marks finishing second, from 10th.
The final Heat was the start to Marks' comeback story, after crashing in Qualifying and not making a lap. His strong Heat race run put him in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He grabbed the lead at the start of the Dash and set sail for the checkered flag, claiming his first Dash win of the season.
The Last Chance Showdown was on track to follow the Dash, but Mother Nature decided to let rain fall once again ending the night.
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Friday, May 3, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., and Saturday, May 4, at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Brad Sweet makes late race pass on David Gravel to win at Lake Ozark
ELDON, MO – April 26, 2019 – Brad Sweet was in his own timeline Friday night for the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Lake Ozark Speedway.
Laps clicked off when he wanted them too. Slower cars were placed where he wanted them. The lead was his. Only his.
Until a red flag with 10 laps to go in the 40-lap Feature.
The atmosphere of dust around the 1/3-mile track fell to the ground in slow motion around the still cars. Sweet's straightaway lead on second-place David Gravel vanished with the snap of a finger. Time was no longer his to freely play with. He had to defend it.
When the green flag flew once again and the thunder of the cars struck the facility, Sweet – looking for his second win of the season – tried to jolt his way back to a commanding lead. But Gravel struck just as hard.
Determined to win in his Jason Johnson Racing team's backyard, Gravel became the mad titan of the high side. He used every inch of it to find the grip he needed to conquer his quest for the lead.
A lap after the restart, he did.
Gravel took the lead and set course for Victory Lane; a place he has visited twice this year already. His power lust of the high side soon became his downfall, though.
Sweet was not going to live with second. Determined to leave hoisting the trophy, the Grass Valley, Calif. native used his years of experience to find the right line and reel Gravel back in.
With four laps to go, Sweet found his advantage. He slid under Gravel in turns one and two, clearing him on the backstretch and then changing course to the high side of the track for the final few laps.
Sweet still wasn't invulnerable, though. Gravel tried every line he could to stay on Sweet's bumper. Not only did the Watertown, Conn.-native not want to lose the lead, but he could feel the breath of 10-time champion Donny Schatz down his neck.
With the checkered flag flying, Sweet saw a potential victory and defeat at the same time. One turn away from victory, a lap car blocked Sweet's run off turn four, allowing Gravel to close through the middle of the track and Schatz to close on Gravel on the bottom.
But they were in Sweet's endgame. He hammered the throttle off of turn four and found enough grip worthy of a strong run off the corner to claim his 36th career World of Outlaws victory.
"I almost gave it away in the last corner," Sweet said. "All that matters is we hung on to the checkers and got the win."
While the battle with Gravel was nerve-racking, he said, the most challenging part of the night was trying to find the best line.
"The top got tricky, then I had to get the bottom going, and the bottom got slow and tricky, as well," Sweet said. "Just trying to maneuver through lap cars, that's key to winning these races. We're getting better and better at managing our tires and getting through lap cars. Tonight, I thought we did a really good job and did everything perfectly until that caution."
Gravel knew if Sweet stuck to the bottom on the restart he could get by him on the high side. But he said, with five to go, the high side just didn't work for him anymore.
"The top got extremely tricky at the end," Gravel said. "Our right rear tire was going low, and that doesn't help on the cushion. A couple of little things that hurt us a little bit. Just those last three-four laps were not good laps, and paid for it."
His second-place finish is not looked at as a failure, though. With his team based about eight miles from Lake Ozark Speedway, Gravel said the No. 41 car team's performance was good and they have to be proud of their night, which started with going Quick Time in Qualifying.
"If we can do that nine times out of 10, we'll be having a really good year," Gravel said.
Gravel's second-place finished has left him tied for fourth in points with rookie Carson Macedo, who also had a night to be proud of. In his first appearance at the speedway, Macedo earned the KSE Hard Charger award – making his way through the field like a veteran, going from 18th to sixth.
"I think it took us a little bit to learn the race track and know what we need," Macedo said. "It took a little bit for me to get use to the place, as well. Being the first year with me out here, I think it's one of them deals where we have to learn throughout the night and continue to try and get better and better."
Macedo and Gravel are 96 points behind points leader Sweet. The battle for the points lead remains tight with Schatz only eight points behind Sweet and Daryn Pittman – who finished fifth – 16 points back in third.
Sweet has become the fourth driver this year to win more than one race – Pittman, Gravel and Logan Schuchart also have two wins. His triumphs this season have not changed his itinerary for the season.
He still plans to end every race the same way he did at Lake Ozark Speedway – in his own timeline with an atmosphere of confetti falling to the ground in slow motion around his still car and a trophy that's his. Only his.
UP NEXT:
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,200]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [12][$2,800]; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman [1][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [18][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,200]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [13][$2,100]; 9. 91-Cale Thomas [3][$2,050]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [15][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$1,100]; 14. 1-Sammy Swindell [9][$1,050]; 15. 4-Terry McCarl [10][$1,000]; 16. 21X-Carson Short [21][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [14][$800]; 18. 21-Brian Brown [23][$800]; 19. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [8][$800]; 20. 45-Chad Kemenah [16][$800]; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 22. 17B-Bill Balog [24][$800]; 23. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [19][$800]; 24. 64-Scotty Thiel [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31, 37-40; David Gravel 32-36; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+12]
Qualifying - 1. 41-David Gravel, 11.714; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.738; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.791; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.804; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.815; 6. 91-Cale Thomas, 11.822; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.852; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 11.871; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.874; 10. 21X-Carson Short, 11.91; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.928; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.935; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.951; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.953; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.984; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.005; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.11; 18. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.142; 19. 64-Scotty Thiel, 12.158; 20. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.169; 21. 5X-Justin Peck, 12.241; 22. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.255; 23. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.287; 24. 45-Chad Kemenah, 12.331; 25. 21-Brian Brown, 12.343; 26. 51B-Joe B.Miller, 12.362; 27. 22-Dustin Barks, 12.436; 28. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.495; 29. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.54; 30. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.618; 31. 8S-Steve Short, 13.093; 32. 68-Frank Rodgers, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Jason Johnson Racing Eyes Backyard Victory In The Midwest
ELDON, Mo. — There wasn't a big enough word in the dictionary to describe how Jason Johnson Racing team owner Bobbi Johnson felt when David Gravel and the team claimed their first win of the season in March at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
It was the team's first World of Outlaws win since her husband and team co-owner Jason Johnson died in a racing accident last year.
"There were tears of joy. Tears of sadness. Tears of everything, really, all mixed into one ball," Johnson said. "I got on the dictionary and tried to find the biggest word to describe your feeling. It's just unreal."
The team's feeling of joy continued two races later when Gravel won again at Arizona Speedway, and it could return this weekend. The Missouri-based team will be racing close to home at Lake Ozark Speedway on Friday, Federated Auto Parts Raceway on Saturday and Jacksonville Speedway on Sunday.
Of the three Midwest tracks, Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., is the one Johnson has circled on the schedule with it being just eight miles from the team's shop in Rocky Mount, Mo. A win at the speedway would be "wild and unique," she said.
Racing close to JJR's home, with local sponsor and fan support, doesn't come with any added pressure to win for Gravel. Instead, he said it's more relaxing.
"I think it makes it more enjoyable for the guys," Gravel said. "You can drive 15 minutes and be at the shop, it's definitely a good thing."
Locating Jason Johnson Racing in Missouri was by design. Johnson said with the more than 90 race World of Outlaws schedule that spans the United States, there are times when teams are home only once or twice throughout the season. Being centrally located in the Midwest, Johnson said the team gets to come home about six times a year.
"It's probably one of the best, super exciting feelings you can have on the whole tour, that you get to sleep in your own bed," Johnson said. "We felt we picked a great location to have a race team based out of just because you get to come home, per se, and have a couple extra fun things to do."
With the Series being off for a week, teams had an extra week of being home. Work didn't stop though. Their focus is still on winning the next race, and even though Gravel already has two wins — one of three drivers, so far, this season with more than one win — that hasn't changed his or JJR's approach to the season.
"We come to win every night," Gravel said. "Realistically that's not possible, but you like to run the best and make the best of every night no matter where you start. I think as a team we want to consistently be in the top five."
This season is Gravel's first year with Jason Johnson Racing, after three years with CJB Motorsports, and Johnson couldn't be happier with the progress of the team, so far.
"Jason (Johnson) used to say it's so hard to win an Outlaw race," Bobbi Johnson said. "You're racing against the best. It's the most elite. So, to pull off not only one victory, but two victories, in my eyes, it's totally awesome. We had some highs and lows already this season, and then accomplished the almighty — win a race with the World of Outlaws together as a new team."
When looking for a driver to fill Johnson's seat in the No. 41 Sprint Car, there were a few drivers being looked at, but Bobbi Johnson said, her heart leaned toward Watertown, Conn. driver, David Gravel.
During their long hours together on the road, Johnson said she and Jason would talk about different drivers they felt were up and coming and would rise to the top of the World of Outlaws. Gravel was one of them.
"We talked a lot about his driving capabilities," Johnson said. "When it came available that he was available, we reached out and had a meeting."
To her, Gravel was the right fit.
"I'm very happy with the progress that we've made," Gravel said, who currently sits sixth in points, 92 points behind leader Brad Sweet. "And hopefully we just keep that going."
Same as Gravel, Johnson's ultimate goal is to win more races. This weekend's Midwest triple-header will be the next target. But she's still living in the moment of seeing the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing Sprint Car return to victory lane, not once, but twice already this season, trying to define her feelings.
"We beat some of the best out there," she said. "I guess you can't really describe that feeling because it's just unreal. I guess I'm more proud that the team pulled together."
NEWS & NOTES
• PARTY TIME AT LAKE OZARK: The night before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars battle at Lake Ozark Speedway, fans have the unique opportunity to meet several of the racers from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Fat Polly's Pub next to The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. The event will feature live music and a chance to see some of the cars up close and meet some of the drivers. Plus, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series souvenir trailer will have all of the latest specials, too. Tickets for the race are available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
• MULTIPLE WINS: When Logan Schuchart won Friday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway, he became just the third driver with more than one victory this season, joining Daryn Pittman – who won the first two Features of the year – and David Gravel – who won at Keller Auto Speedway and Arizona Speedway.
• BUILDING CONSISTENCY: After scoring their first top-10 of the season at Arizona Speedway, Jacob Allen and Kraig Kinser backed up their performance with strong runs at Devil's Bowl. Kinser scored the Quick Time of the night and finished second in his Heat race to winner Allen. Kinser then went on to win the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and start on the pole for the Feature. He led the first three laps before Allen took the lead. Both eventually faded out of the top two spots, but remained in the top-five with Allen finishing third and Kinser fourth.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 26, at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. for the Battle at the Lake
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. for the Spring Classic
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Lake Ozark Speedway is a 1/3-mile, slightly-banked track.
Online – LakeOzarkSpeedway.net
Phone – (573) 418-0565
Federated Auto Parts Raceway is a 1/3-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 10.189 sec. set by Stevie Smith on March 30, 2002.
Online – FederatedAutoPartsRaceway.com
Phone – (636) 479-3219
Jacksonville Speedway is a quarter-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 11.544 sec. set by Donny Schatz on May 7, 2014.
Online – JacksonvilleSpeedway.com
Phone – (217) 207-3005
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/3-mile and 1/4-mile winners
There have been two races on a 1/3-mile track, so far, this year. Ian Madsen won at Thunderbowl Raceway on March 9 and David Gravel won at Arizona Speedway on April 6.
There has been one race on a 1/4-mile track so far this year. Carson Macedo won at Silver Dollar Speedway on March 15.
LAKE OZARK SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Donny Schatz
2007 - Craig Dollansky
2005 - Tim Shaffer
FEDERATED AUTO PARTS RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 21, Rico Abreu on August 3, Logan Schuchart on August 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
JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2016 - Joey Saldana on May 4
2014 - Christopher Bell on May 7
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next race on Friday, May 3, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. and on Saturday, May 4, at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
2019 STATS
There have been 12 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 6
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
5 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
6 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (16 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (11 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 37
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 32
– Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 31
5 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
6 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 29
7 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
8 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
9 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
10 – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 10
11 – Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 3
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
18. Friday, April 12 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Logan Schuchart (2)
19. Saturday April 13 / Devil's Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
Shark Racing takes a bite out of the record books at Devil's Bowl
MESQUITE, TX – April 12, 2019 – Logan Schuchart totaled two wins in the 2018 World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season. He now has two wins in just 12 races this year.
He wrote his name into the record books Friday night, claiming his first win at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway – the site of the inaugural World of Outlaws race in 1978 – and his 10th Series win overall.
"I've watched old videos of my grandfather (Bobby Allen) running good here and winning races," Schuchart said. "Now, I get to put my name in the history books and this team gets to put its name in the history books."
Not only did he claim the win for the Pennsylvania-based Shark Racing team – owned by his grandfather – his teammate Jacob Allen led 10 laps of the 25-lap Feature and finished third – his first top-five this season.
"I love it," said Bobby Allen, who won at Devil's Bowl in 1986. "That's what we're here for. We got a first and a third, so we're real happy... Happier."
Schuchart had to "cowboy up" for his first win of the season at the Stockton Dirt Track, wrestling with rough track conditions. He had to do the same again at Devil's Bowl, but not because of the track. The competition.
After finding their way into the top-10 for the first time this season at Arizona Speedway, Kraig Kinser started on the pole for the Feature – after winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – and Jacob Allen started second. The two were the class of the field at the start of the race.
When the green flag flew, Kinser pulled away to the early lead. Allen nearly ended his race before it started. He had a slow start, allowing Daryn Pittman to get by him for second and was side by side with Schuchart for third going down the front stretch. But Allen was hooked on the high side of the track.
He bested his teammate through turns one and two, and nearly came side by side with Pittman down the backstretch before Pittman blocked his run. The next lap, Allen didn't give Pittman the chance to pull the same move twice. He made his way by Pittman and set his sight on Kinser.
Allen took the lead by Lap four and began to put about a car length distance between he and the second-place car every lap. However, his pace put him in traffic by Lap seven.
Behind him, Schuchart and Pittman traded slide jobs turn after turn, lap after lap, fighting to claim third. Schuchart was the victory and led the train of he and Pittman to the front.
While the high side led Allen to the lead, it became his downfall. Schuchart and Pittman both found grip on the bottom of the track and made their way by Kinser and Allen.
"It made it tough trying to take the lead away from Jake," Schuchart said about passing his teammate, who was going for his first win. "I'm going to race him just as hard as anybody else. He's going to get his first win. He's getting better and better every year. That breakthrough win is going to happen for this team."
Pittman didn't care about either of them winning. The Owasso, Okla. native wanted another win at the track just a few hours from his home. With about 10 laps to go, Schuchart slid up the track off of turn two, allowing Pittman to get a run underneath him and take the lead. But a lap later, Pittman made the same mistake, allowing Schuchart to get back by and charge to his first Texas Outlaw Nationals win.
"Gave that one away," Pittman said. "The bottom just took off. It got so much faster in a hurry. Pretty frustrated, but we had a good car."
It was Pittman's first top-five finish since finishing second to David Gravel at Keller Auto Speedway last month.
He continues to sit third in points, but now just six points behind leader Brad Sweet. Donny Schatz is second, two points behind Sweet. Rookie Carson Macedo, continues to impress, remaining fourth in points – 84 points behind Sweet – and Schuchart sits fifth – 90 points behind the lead.
After missing three Features early this season, Allen is starting to find consistency, winning two Drydene Heat races in-a-row, making his way into the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and earning two top-10 finishes in-a-row.
"Obviously I want to win more than anything," Allen said. "It is what it is, but I had fun. It's really good to see Logan win and both Shark Racing cars on the podium. We work hard at this and this is what it's about."
Schuchart was the king shark Friday night, and even though he's already matched his 2018 win total, he said that won't change his approach to the rest of the season.
"We just want to win races," a grinning Schuchart said. "We just want to get out there and win races every time we go."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 13, at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway for the second night of the Texas Outlaw Nationals.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$8,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [4][$4,000]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [2][$2,500]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1][$2,200]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,100]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,000]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$1,800]; 8. 1B-Travis Rilat [8][$1,600]; 9. 41-David Gravel [12][$1,500]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,300]; 11. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$1,100]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,000]; 14. 1-Sammy Swindell [19][$700]; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah [18][$600]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 17. 28-Scott Bogucki [13][$600]; 18. 55-Danny Wood [22][$600]; 19. 33M-Mason Daniel [21][$600]; 20. 99X-Dalton Stevens [24][$600]; 21. 12H-Tony Bruce [23][$600]; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson [16][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$600]; 24. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [17][$600]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-3, Jacob Allen 4-13, Logan Schuchart 14-15, 17-25; Daryn Pittman 16; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1-Sammy Swindell[+5]
Qualifying - 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.699; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.76; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.792; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.879; 5. 1B-Travis Rilat, 13.909; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.934; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.942; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 13.957; 9. 41-David Gravel, 13.976; 10. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.992; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.105; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.135; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell, 14.138; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.142; 15. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 14.149; 16. 28-Scott Bogucki, 14.166; 17. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.201; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.365; 19. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 14.442; 20. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.442; 21. 21P-Robbie Price, 14.466; 22. 55-Danny Wood, 14.563; 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 14.595; 24. 12H-Tony Bruce, 14.689; 25. 2X-Tucker Doughty, 15.119; 26. 99X-Dalton Stevens, 15.313; 27. 10P-Jim Perricone, 16.028
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Allen, Kinser, Marks look to continue strong finishes at Devil's Bowl after finding the top-10 in Arizona
MESQUITE, TX – While Brad Sweet and David Gravel are carrying winning momentum into this weekend's doubleheader at Devil's Bowl Speedway, a few drivers are carrying the relieving momentum of getting their first top-10 of the year.
Before entering the Arizona races at USA Raceway and Arizona Speedway last weekend, Brent Marks had finished no better than 11th, Kraig Kinser 15th and Jacob Allen 21st. Kinser had also missed transferring to one Feature, Marks two and Allen three – in the first nine races of the season.
But their fortune turned in the desert. Marks finished 6th at USA Raceway, and followed it up with an 11th place finish at Arizona Speedway the next night. Kinser and Allen finished 16th and 19th respectively at USA Raceway, but then Allen made his way to seventh and Kinser eighth at Arizona Speedway.
"I think things will start going our way," Marks said, after claiming his first top-10 of the year.
The Myerstown, Pa., native is coming off of his best season, finishing ninth in points with three victories. He said his team has been working hard on the car each week to get it back to its competitive nature. Putting together a good race day starts with good time trial results, he said.
"We're getting ourselves better there," Marks said. "Just need to get ourselves better in race trim, too."
Kinser – son of 20-time Series champion Steve Kinser – also credited good Qualifying results as the key to securing his first top-10 of the season.
"It just worked out in our favor," Kinser said, sweat drenched across his face after the Arizona Speedway Feature. "We've been working on our car about every week. Some big changes, some little changes."
Kinser has 17 career wins, but has not won since 2017. He's looking to carry and build momentum into Devil's Bowl Speedway and beyond. It's his goal to be running up front every week.
"We struggled pretty hard in the West Coast swing," the Bloomington, Ind.-native said. Now we're getting back toward the Midwest and back closer to home and hopefully we'll start picking up and this is a good start to that."
A seventh-place finish at Arizona Speedway is the confidence booster Allen needed.
"It definitely feels good," Allen said. "I know I can do it."
He started off his night at Arizona Speedway winning his first Drydene Heat race of the year, putting him in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash where he finished third.
Allen, who is still looking for his first career World of Outlaws win, credits some of his success to having a better understanding of different set-ups for different track conditions.
"Last year, I kind of stuck to one set-up," said Allen, of Hanover, Pa. "It would work on certain race tracks at certain times for the year, but I'm just learning more of the set-ups."
His struggle this year has been keeping up with the car's set-up throughout the night.
"Sometimes I just struggle," he said. "Other times I can Qualify good and then I go out there and mess with the set-up for a Heat race and it just makes me feel uncomfortable. I can't race it the way I want to."
Now after putting together a successful race throughout the whole night, he has momentum to build off of with his Shark Racing team going into the doubleheader at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13.
"To get back up front with everybody and not fall, and just to compete and feel that good is definitely rewarding," Allen said.
The last time the Series visited Devil's Bowl Speedway, Kinser and Marks both finished in the top-10, while Allen finished 11th.
Don't miss a second of the action at Devil's Bowl, get your tickets by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or call 844-DIRT-TIX. If you can't make it to the track, be sure to watch the race LIVE on DIRTVISION.com.
Shane Stewart looks to build momentum at Devil's Bowl with new CJB Motorsports team
MESQUITE, TX – April 8, 2019 – Oklahoma native Shane Stewart is looking forward to heading home this weekend — kind of.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is returning to historic Devil's Bowl Speedway, Friday April 12, and Saturday, April 13 — a track Stewart now considers home and has circled on his calendar.
The Mesquite, Texas track — where the inaugural World of Outlaws race was held in 1978 — is about four hours away from Stewart's hometown of Bixby, Okla. With most tracks in Oklahoma either torn down, or a distant memory, Devil's Bowl Speedway has become his surrogate hometrack. However, it's more than just a hometrack.
"Devil's Bowl has always been one of those bigger races on the schedule," Stewart said. "Back when I was growing up, Devil's Bowl, besides Knoxville, was always it for me. If you look at the drivers that have won there, especially Outlaw drivers, the list is pretty deep, with a lot of history there. It's definitely a track that everybody wants to win at."
He won at the track in 2016 and had a podium finish at the second race there last year. After an up and down early start to the season, Stewart's hoping for similar results this year as he and his new CJB Motorsports team continue to learn each other.
Stewart started off the World of Outlaws season strong, finishing second on the opening night of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, but then finished 19th and 21st the next two races. Since then his results have been a mix of top-15 and top-10 finishes — placing him currently eighth in Series points.
"Our finishes haven't really shown how we've been," Stewart said. "I feel like we've been in contention to win three races, and I let one of them sneak away at Volusia, and we were leading the other night and had a flat at Stockton. When we Qualify in the right spot, put ourselves in the Dash, we've been in contention to win."
He spent the past five years driving for Kyle Larson Racing, and while each team is unique with its own personality, Stewart said there's been no difficulties adjusting to driving the No. 5 car with 2017 Crew Chief of the Year Barry Jackson.
Jackson agrees.
"He (Shane) and I, we communicate real well, and relate real well," Jackson said.
David Gravel, who moved over to Jason Johnson Racing this year, spent the last three years as Jackson's driver, and while they found success winning more than 30 races and finishing third in points all three years together, Jackson said it's easier to connect with Stewart.
"I think with Shane and I, we come from a little bit more similar background," Jackson said, "We're closer in age. It's a little harder for the older guys to work with the real young guys, at least for me. And Shane and I have a lot of similarities, and we're clicking pretty good in that department."
What's hindered the team this year is consistency with races, bad luck and the team's engine program, Jackson said.
After 12 years of working with Kistler Engines, Jackson said, at USA Raceway, he made the difficult decision to switch to engines from Gray Motorsports — which races in the NHRA Pro Stock division.
"We kind of had some issues, kind of going on for about a year," Jackson said about the team's engine program. "It's going to be a little bit of a learning experience for both them and myself. They're great engine builders, but it's like me going over there to try and work on a Pro Stock car or a Funny Car. It's a whole different ball game."
He made the decision to switch engine builders after the second race at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas — where Stewart finished 21st — after about 15 hours of talking over the decision with several people. However, Jackson said he's not sure if the engine switch is his final decision, though. Stewart finished 10th at USA Raceway and 12th at Arizona Speedway last weekend.
But if there was a time to have a slow run in the season, Jackson said he wants it to be now.
"Sometimes you've just got to get the season rolling," Jackson said. "I don't feel like we've got a chance to do that yet with all of the rain outs. If I'm going to have a little bit of a slow time in the season, as far as performance, I want it to be now. Because whenever May rolls around and you start looking at the races we have in May and the races we have in June, July and August, that's where I want to get on a roll. Hopefully we're getting this stuff out of the way now and we'll be set to roll real soon."
Having run well at Devil's Bowl Speedway previously, Stewart looks for the team chemistry and momentum to grow this weekend.
"Going to different race tracks and putting yourself in different situations, knowing how to communicate with each other is one of the things that we continue to work on," Stewart said. "I feel like we're heading in the right direction."
NEWS & NOTES
• PARTY TIME AT LAKE OZARK: The night before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars battle at Lake Ozark Speedway, fans have the unique opportunity meet several of the racers from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Fat Polly's Pub next to The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. The event will feature live music and a chance to see some of the cars up close and meet some of the drivers. Plus, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series souvenir trailer will have all of the latest specials, too. Tickets for the race are available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
• MULTIPLE WINS: When David Gravel won on Saturday night at Arizona Speedway, he became only the second driver with more than one victory this season, joining Daryn Pittman, who won the first two Features of the year.
• MR. CONSISTENCY: Brad Sweet, who won at USA Raceway on Friday and was second on Saturday at Arizona Speedway has taken over the championship lead. He's finished in the top-five in six of his past seven races — four of which have been podium finishes, and one a victory. That's placed him as the current Series points leader, four points ahead of reigning champion Donny Schatz.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas for the Texas Outlaw Nationals
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps at 7 p.m., Time Trials at 7:30 p.m. and Racing at 8 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Devil's Bowl Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 13.530 sec. by Mark Kinser on April 24, 1999.
Online – DevilsBowl.com
Phone – (972) 222-2421
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/2-mile winners
There have been five races on a 1/2-mile track this season. Daryn Pittman won at Volusia Speedway on Feb. 8-9. Tim Shaffer won at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Feb. 27 and Donny Schatz won in Las Vegas on Feb. 28. Aaron Reutzel won at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30.
DEVIL'S BOWL SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 27, Donny Schatz on April 28
2017 - Jason Johnson on April 14, Brad Sweet on April 15
2016 - Joey Saldana on April 22, Shane Stewart on April 23
2015 - Donny Schatz on April 25
2014 - Donny Schatz on April 18, Daryn Pittman on April 19
2003 - Tyler Walker on March 15
2002 - Joey Saldana on March 16
2001 - Craig Dollansky on March 10, Joey Saldana on October 27
2000 - Danny Lasoski on March 11, Sammy Swindell on October 28
1999 - Danny Lasoski on April 24, Sammy Swindell on April 24 (1998 Winter Nat'ls finale), Gary Wright on October 15
1998 - Steve Kinser on March 21
1997 - Mark Kinser on March 22, Mark Kinser on October 18
1996 - Steve Kinser on March 23, Mark Kinser on October 19
1995 - Gary Wright on March 18, Stevie Smith on July 29, Gary Wright on October 21
1994 - Andy Hillenburg on March 19, Steve Kinser on July 30, Sammy Swindell on October 23
1993 - Steve Kinser on March 20, Gary Wright on July 31, Dave Blaney on October 23
1992 - Stevie Smith on March 21, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Steve Kinser on October 24
1988 - Dave Blaney on March 19, Steve Kinser on June 18
1987 - Sammy Swindell on March 15, Bobby Davis, Jr., on June 20
1986 - Bobby Allen on March 9, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1985 - Steve Kinser on March 3, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1984 - Steve Kinser on March 4, Bobby Davis, Jr., on May 4, Jeff Swindell on June 22
1983 - Doug Wolfgang on April 22, Ron Shuman on June 24
1982 - Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 20, Steve Kinser on June 25
1981 - Danny Smith on March 14, Doug Wolfgang on March 21, Ron Shuman on June 26
1980 - Doug Wolfgang on March 15, Sammy Swindell on March 22, Sammy Swindell on June 27, Sammy Swindell on September 13
1979 - Steve Kinser on March 31, Sammy Swindell on September 8
1978 - Jimmy Boyd on March 18, Sammy Swindell on September 16
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: After a week off, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will continue its Spring tour Friday, April 26, at Lake Ozark Speedway in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. and Sunday, April 28, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
2019 STATS
There have been 11 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 5
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 4
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
4 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
5 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
-- Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
-- Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 53
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 32
– Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 31
5 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
6 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
7 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
8 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
David Gravel claims 41st World of Outlaws victory in Jason Johnson Racing's #41 car
QUEEN CREEK, AZ – April 6, 2019 – David Gravel's first win of the season last month with his new Jason Johnson Racing team was sentimental for several reasons. His second win, Saturday night at Arizona Speedway, was no different.
Not only did he win on his sister Victoria's birthday, he claimed his 41st career World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win in the #41 car – the number chosen by the late Jason Johnson to run.
"I've kind of forgot about it, because if you try too hard to win a race, you know, it's not going to come," Gravel said about looking for win number 41. "I knew the next one was going to be 41, but it didn't really all click. I'm glad to win on my sister's birthday and it's cool to be my 41st win. All of those things coming together, I guess it was meant to be."
Win 41 was no easier than win 40, though.
Starting fourth in the 30-Lap Arizona Desert Shootout Feature, Gravel had his work cut out for him. He made his way by third-place Jacob Allen in a lap, but then had to contend with 2017 Rookie of the Year, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Friday night's Feature winner Brad Sweet – the two fastest cars of the night.
Sweet was a tenth of a second off setting a new track record in Qualifying, and then went on to win his Drydene Heat race. He took the early lead in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, but Haudenschild showed his muscle in the closing laps, powering by Sweet on the high side for the win.
Haudenschild then continued where he left off in the Dash, cruising to the lead in the Feature and pulling away from the field. His blistering pace put him in lap traffic a third of the way through the caution-free Feature, allowing Sweet and Gravel to get close enough to taste the lead.
Sweet used lap traffic to his advantage the night prior, besting Ian Madsen in the game of maneuverability through slower cars. That looked to be his fortune once again, until Gravel continued to make ground on him. While Sweet reeled in Haudenschild, Gravel had Sweet locked in his visor.
The two battled side by side for about four laps, swapping lanes every corner. By Lap 13, Gravel mastered the bottom of the tacky track through turns three and four, clearing Sweet down the front stretch and maintaining the position with a run on the high side of turns one and two.
That run not only cleared him of the blue Kasey Kahne Racing car, it put him in striking distance of Haudenschild's car. While Haudenschild tried to maneuver around a lap car in turns three and four, Gravel pulled the same move on him that he pulled on Sweet, claiming the lead on Lap 14 and never relinquishing it.
"He (Haudenschild) didn't hit his exit, and that just opened the door for me," Gravel said. "Luckily, it all worked out. Whatever lane I went, I seemed to be faster."
Haudenschild concurred with Gravel's assessment of the race, acknowledging he made a mistake.
"I figured if I could just rip the cushion and make consistent laps, I'd be alright," said Haudeschild, who ended up third. "Once I got to lappers and the guy was running the top, I really didn't make a good move. Like David said, I lost my run off the exit."
After starting the season with four finishes in-a-row outside the top-12, the Wooster, Ohio native has found consistency. He's finished in the top-10 in his last five races – two of which have been top-five finishes.
"It's been kind of a rocky start, but we've been building momentum here in these last few races," Haudenschild said.
On a more consistent run is second-place finisher, Sweet. He's finished in the top-five in six of his last seven races – four of which have been podium finishes, and one a victory. That's placed him as the current Series points leader – four points ahead of reigning champion Donny Schatz.
"It's always cool to lead the points, but I don't even think we're a tenth of the way through the season," Grass Valley, Calif. native, Sweet said. "It's going to be a long summer. As long as we keep getting better and standing on the podium, the points will shake out how they will at the end."
Gravel, of Watertown, Conn., became only the second driver this year to claim more than one victory – Daryn Pittman was the first winning both races at Volusia Speedway Park.
With win number two out of the way, Gravel looks for more consistency with his Jason Johnson Racing team.
"We struggled, got a win, the next day ran 12th," Gravel said. "Now, this weekend (in Arizona) we went third and first. As a team, that's what you're looking for, is having podiums and top-fives. That's what makes a good season."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, at the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 41-David Gravel [4][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$2,800]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,500]; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman [7][$2,300]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [3][$2,200]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [8][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [14][$1,200]; 13. 45-Chad Kemenah [12][$1,100]; 14. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [5][$1,050]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [18][$900]; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel [20][$800]; 18. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$800]; 19. 21-Brian Brown [9][$800]; 20. 11-Mike Kuemper [21][$800]; 21. 21P-Robbie Price [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-13, David Gravel 14-30; KSE Hard Charger Award:15-Donny Schatz[+9]Qualifying - 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.452; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.573; 3. 41-David Gravel, 12.601; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.625; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.644; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.685; 7. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.686; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 12.704; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 12.718; 10. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.759; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.766; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.767; 13. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.796; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.845; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.859; 16. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.859; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.875; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah, 12.962; 19. 21P-Robbie Price, 12.968; 20. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.104; 21. 11-Mike Kuemper, 13.573
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
'Big Cat' Brad Sweet claims Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway
TUCSON, AZ – April 5, 2019 – With five laps to go in the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway Friday night, Brad Sweet's victory was far from certain.
Sweet had command of the race, having stolen the lead from Ian Madsen just before a Lap 19 caution. However, Madsen did not let the blue Kasey Kahne Racing car of Sweet out of his sight.
With lap traffic in Sweet's windshield, Madsen used it to his advantage turning a car length distance between them into half a car length. Then a quarter. The laps were winding down in a hurry, but the race was far from over.
That is until the lap traffic that was helping Madsen catch Sweet, ended up killing his momentum with a lap to go, putting more than a car length back between he and Sweet, who went on to claim his first win of the 2019 season – his 35th career win overall.
"I was just kind of lucky to get through a few of those guys, just mistakes in lap traffic and we were in the right spot to capitalize," said Grass Valley, Calif. native Sweet. "The car was superfast and made the opportunities for us to take advantage of those opportunities."
His night didn't start off looking like he would claim his second win at the raceway – his first coming in 2014. He broke down at the start of Hot Laps, but his KKR team got him back on track in time for Qualifying, ending up fifth. Sweet then went on to finish second in his Heat race – to winner Madsen. However, he then struggled in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, finishing last.
That resulted in Sweet starting sixth for the 30-lap Feature, while Madsen, who fared better in the Dash, started on the outside pole.
When the green flag flew, Madsen, last year's Rookie of the Year, shot by polesitter Donny Schatz and ran away with the lead.
"Everyone's always better in clean air," said Madsen, who ended up second. "It just kind of got pretty tricky there in the middle of the race. We got stuck behind some lap cars and we just weren't as good as Brad tonight to maneuver around to get past the lap cars."
Madsen's blistering pace at the start of the race put him in lap traffic by Lap five. While the Australian hustled his way around the slower cars, Sweet – with a little bit of luck on his side – methodically moved his way to the front, lap by lap.
"I think we were in the right place at the right time a lot of the time and we were able to capitalize," Sweet said. "Coming from sixth to win is hard in these things, especially on a pretty fast track. We'll take it any way we can get it."
Luck wasn't the only factor that helped him to the front. A little bit of skill, knowing where to put his car helped, too.
"Luckily for me, I kind of found a low line in turn one, and kind of low down the front stretch," Sweet said. "If I could get off (turn) four equal or a little better than the guy in front of me, I could go low in turn one and it seemed like I could carry more speed. That's where I made all of my passes."
While Sweet and Madsen stole the show, Brent Marks raced his way to his best finish so far this year – sixth. Prior to that his best finish this year had been 11th in Las Vegas. After that he missed two races and had finished no better than 12th. But now, momentum is on his side going forward.
"I know my results through California don't really show, but we've been getting our car really good," said Marks after his first race at USA Raceway. "We'll just keep plugging away and fine tuning this race car and try to have a little bit better luck on our side. Excited we got a good run tonight."
Sweet is the ninth different winner this season in 10 races. Both Madsen and third-place finisher David Gravel, claimed a victory during the Series' March California swing. While Sweet didn't claim a victory during the swing, he had one of the best performances during it. He finished in the top-10 in all five races – four of them top-five finishes. And had the best average finish of 4.4.
That consistency, in addition to Friday night's win, has left him tied for the points lead with 10-times Series champion, Schatz. Daryn Pittman, who was tied for the points lead with Schatz coming into the race is now third – just six points behind the two.
"It's nice to get the first win and hopefully we can carry the momentum going forward," Sweet said. "It's a long season. We're 10 races into a 94-race schedule, so hopefully this is good signs to come for us."
The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Saturday, April 6, at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$10,000]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [2][$5,500]; 3. 41-David Gravel [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [5][$2,500]; 6. 19-Brent Marks [3][$2,300]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [10][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$2,100]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,050]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [8][$2,000]; 11. 13-Mark Dobmeier [16][$1,500]; 12. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,200]; 13. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [19][$1,100]; 14. 2-Carson Macedo [13][$1,050]; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah [9][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$900]; 17. 21P-Robbie Price [17][$800]; 18. 33M-Mason Daniel [18][$800]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$800]; 21. 7-Gravy Fairfield [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-18, Brad Sweet 19-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.234; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.272; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.279; 4. 21-Brian Brown, 13.295; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.302; 6. 41-David Gravel, 13.321; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.339; 8. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.368; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.39; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 13.432; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.433; 12. 45-Chad Kemenah, 13.472; 13. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.505; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.518; 15. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.592; 16. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.619; 17. 21P-Robbie Price, 13.648; 18. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.76; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.84; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.866; 21. 7-Gravy Fairfield, 18.4
Gravel, Macedo hope their winning momentum carries into this week's events in Arizona
TUCSON, AZ – With the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series California swing now concluded, David Gravel and Carson Macedo are looking to ride the momentum of their recent strong finishes into this weekend's doubleheader in Arizona.
The swing wrapped up last Friday at Keller Auto Speedway, where Gravel claimed his first win of the season, and last Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway, where rookie Carson Macedo got his second podium finish of the year.
For Macedo and his Kyle Larson Racing team it was the continuation of an impressive stretch of races — finishing in the top-10 in all five races during the California swing, including claiming his second career win at Silver Dollar Speedway — while for Gravel, his win was finally the end to a stretch of three races in-a-row without a top-10 finish.
The win was needed, Gravel said.
"We started off the season pretty good at Volusia and kind of laying an egg since," Gravel said.
He finished third in points with CJB Motorsports last year, but Gravel and the team decided to part ways. That opened the door for him to join Jason Johnson Racing this year. While he and his new team have found success, Gravel admitted the transition hasn't been entirely smooth.
"I made a couple of mistakes as a driver," Gravel said about the season so far. "Growing pains with the new team. Hopefully we hit our stride here and get on a role."
After claiming an emotional win for the JJR team in Hanford, Calif. — the team's first World of Outlaws win since Jason Johnson died last year — he was unable to make it back in the top-10 the next day at Perris Auto Speedway. But he said he is looking forward to the Arizona races, having run decent at them in the past.
He finished sixth at Arizona Speedway last year and had a top-10 run at USA Raceway the last time the Series visited the track in 2016 — that race won by Daryn Pittman, who is currently tied for the Series points lead with 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz. Gravel is currently seventh in points, 92-points behind the two champions.
Macedo was not at either of those races, but also said he is looking forward to the doubleheader in Arizona. He's raced at both Arizona tracks before and hopes to use that experience to his advantage as well as he did during the California swing.
"I knew the West Coast was going to be, hopefully, one of our strong suits," said Macedo, who is now fourth in points after the California swing. "So, to kind of put that together and get a win, put strong runs up on the board and leave the West Coast I pretty good shape is big for this (Kyle Larson Racing) team. Especially being in the rookie year."
While the California native lacks World of Outlaws experience at the two Arizona tracks, his KLR team has years of it. Successful years of it. The team won the first Series race at Arizona Speedway in 2016 with Shane Stewart and haven't finished outside the top-10 at the track since. KLR also finished in the top-five with Stewart at the last Series race at USA Raceway.
"I'm looking forward to it all," Macedo said.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 5, at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. for the Wildcat Shootout
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6, at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. for the Arizona Desert Shootout
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
USA Raceway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 12.076 sec. by Paul McMahan on March 9, 2013.
Online – RaceUSARaceway.com
Phone – 520-664-2074
Arizona Speedway is a 1/3-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 12.361 sec. by Brian Brown on March 6, 2016.
Online – ArizonaSpeedway.net
Phone – 480-926-6688
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/3-mile winners
There have been two races on a 3/8-mile track so far this year. Logan Schuchart won at the Stockton Dirt Track on March 16, and David Gravel won at Keller Auto Speedway on March 29.
There has been one race on a 1/3-mile track so far this year. Ian Madsen won at Thunderbowl Raceway on March 9.
USA RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2016 - Daryn Pittman on April 18
2015 - Brian Brown on March 7
2014 - Brad Sweet on March 8
2013 - Daryn Pittman on March 9
2007 - Steve Kinser on March 2
2006 - Paul McMahan on March 4, Donny Schatz on Oct. 21
ARIZONA SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 - Donny Schatz on April 7
2017 - Rico Abreu on April 8
2016 - Shane Stewart on March 6
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas on Friday April 12-13.
2019 STATS
There have been nine World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (21 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 5
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
4 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
-- Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
-- Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
-- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
-- Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
-- Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
-- Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
-- Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
6 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 20
7 – Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 19
8 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Texan Reutzel Dominates Every Phase of Perris SoCal Showdown
PERRIS, CA – MARCH 30, 2019 – Aaron Reutzel wrote an eloquent ending to the eventful and riveting story of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' California swing, ending it Saturday night in similar fashion to how it began.
Last year's Rookie of the Year Ian Madsen opened the swing in early March at Thunderbowl Raceway — where Reutzel won his first ever World of Outlaws race last year during the swing — winning everything he could: fastest in practice, Quick Time, Heat win, drew the pole for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, won the Dash, lead every lap in the Feature and won it.
Reutzel did exactly the same at the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway. He was fastest in practice. Quick Time. Won his Heat race. Drew the pole for the Dash. Won the Dash. Lead every lap in the 30-lap Feature and claimed his second World of Outlaws win at the SoCal Showdown.
"Unbelievable," the Clute, Texas native said, having to pause afterward, as if to try and grasp the dominance himself.
Coming into the Perris race, Reutzel had a top-five and two top-10 finishes in the California swing and sat seventh in Series points, ahead of full-time World of Outlaws drivers such as Shane Stewart and Madsen. But to Reutzel, he was having a terrible year and it was time for a change.
He and his Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports team made one the morning of the race. It worked.
"We just went back to everything we were doing last year," Reutzel said. "We just made one little change and it made the difference."
That little change; ditching a newly built car to put an old car back together.
"There's nothing different between them," Reutzel said. "Sometimes you just get a car that doesn't work, and that might have been one that doesn't work. Everything else exactly them same. It just worked out for us."
With the car he's been running, Reutzel said it felt like he and his team were always playing catch up when it came to the Feature and could never qualify well anymore.
"That's something you can't do with these (World of Outlaws) guys," Reutzel said.
Now, his confidence is back. It showed on track, holding off two California natives who grew up racing on the California swing tracks — rookie Carson Macedo and Rico Abreu.
In the early stage of the Feature, Macedo presented himself as a possible threat to Reutzel, inching in on him lap after lap. After an early red flag, for a flip involving Brent Marks, Reutzel had his biggest challenge yet with Macedo starting next to him and Abreu behind them. But when the green flag dropped, Macedo and Abreu were left trading slide jobs to determine who would finish second while Reutzel sailed away. It was the same story with on another restart a couple of laps later.
"I felt like I had a couple of runs at him on a couple of restarts, and it just seemed like... It's just the way it went," said Macedo, who finished second. "Aaron did a good job all night. I felt like we had a good race car. I felt like we had a good package all night."
Macedo has had one of the best California swings out of all full-time World of Outlaws drivers, having finished in the top-10 in all five races and got his first win of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway.
"We're having a lot of fun right now," Macedo said. "We're putting good runs up on the board and that's what it's all about with the Outlaws."
In line with Macedo and Madsen, Reutzel is the eighth different winner this year in the past nine races. And even though it's his second ever Series win, it's still as special as the first.
"Whether you have 100 (wins) or your Donny Schatz getting another one or me getting my second one, just winning an Outlaw race is huge in general," Reutzel said. "It feels really good to get it."
Reutzel's win closes the story of the 2019 World of Outlaws Spring Break California swing, but the Series continues next weekend on Friday, April 5, for the Wildcat Shootout at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. and on Saturday, April 6, for the Arizona Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz.
The Texan's next chapter with the World of Outlaws will begin in May at Eldora Speedway.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [1][$10,000]; 2. 2-Carson Macedo [3][$5,500]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2][$3,200]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$2,800]; 5. 26-Cory Eliason [7][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8][$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 8. 5-Shane Stewart [10][$2,100]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,050]; 10. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$2,000]; 11. 45-Chad Kemenah [4][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [11][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [12][$1,100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [18][$1,050]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart [16][$1,000]; 16. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg [13][$900]; 17. 21-Brian Brown [17][$800]; 18. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [24][$800]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [23][$800]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$800]; 21. 21P-Robbie Price [20][$800]; 22. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$800]; 23. 19-Brent Marks [19][$800]; 24. 33M-Mason Daniel [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Aaron Reutzel 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 71P-Parker Price-Miller[+6]
Qualifying - 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.377; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.398; 3. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.409; 4. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 14.418; 5. 24-Rico Abreu, 14.546; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.559; 7. 26-Cory Eliason, 14.585; 8. 21-Brian Brown, 14.59; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.592; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.653; 11. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.671; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.672; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 14.681; 14. 41-David Gravel, 14.684; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.719; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.724; 17. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.732; 18. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.732; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.748; 20. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 14.785; 21. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.809; 22. 21P-Robbie Price, 14.832; 23. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 14.842; 24. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 14.845; 25. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.929; 26. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 15.399
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Gravel rides low groove to victory for Jason Johnson Racing's first World of Outlaws win since Johnson's death
HANFORD, CA – MARCH 29, 2019 – Nothing was going to stop David Gravel from jumping out of his car.
Out of breath with a wide grin on his face, he high-fived and hugged his crew members while en route to a bath of confetti when he stood on the back of his car and pointed to the sky.
Not only was he celebrating his first win of the season at Keller Auto Speedway, his 40th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win and his first win with his new Jason Johnson Racing team, he honored the man whose car he drives.
This is the first World of Outlaws win for the Jason Johnson Racing team since co-owner and driver Jason Johnson died in a crash last June at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin.
"It's definitely special," said Gravel, almost lost for words.
The start of his night did not signal a potential victory, with the luck of the draw sending him out last for qualifying. He managed a 15th-place qualifying effort on a track several drivers called "tricky" due to its slick condition.
It didn't take long for Gravel to figure out the trick, winning his Heat race.
"It really set us up for the rest of the night," Gravel said. "I knew the bottom was going to be a factor."
Gravel's crew chief, Philip Dietz, said Gravel called his shot before the Feature. He was going to stick to the bottom until he figured it out. And he did.
Starting from the pole, Sheldon Haudenschild shot to the early lead of the Feature, riding the high side of the slick track. While he led, the hoard of drivers behind him were rarely in the same lane or position lap after lap. They tried high. They tried low. Wherever there was grip, they made sure to use up every inch of it.
Closing in on halfway through the 35-lap Feature, the bottom proved to be the preferred line of choice. Shane Stewart, who faced heart-break last race at the Stockton Dirt Track after blowing a tire while leading with five laps to go, looked to have his sight set on redemption, reeling in the 2017 Rookie of the Year.
Stewart took the lead on lap 20, but his hope for redemption was short lived as Gravel had been working the bottom of the track to perfection and was not far behind. He took the lead from Stewart – driving for Gravel's former team, CJB Motorsports – two laps later.
"Honestly, I just didn't have the patients to run the bottom in turns 1 and 2," said Stewart, who ended up third. "Driver instincts, you just don't know what to do at times. Once David went by me, I tried to run the bottom again, and missed it a couple of times. I thought I should get back up to the top and then (Daryn) Pittman got me."
Pittman, who extended his points lead over second-place Donny Schatz to 12 points by finishing second, was still all smiles after his third runner-up finish of the year.
"I would have never guessed from the beginning of that race that we would be just putting around the bottom," Pittman said. "We were not set up for that at all. I honestly thought the top would stay dominate. It never crossed my mind that we would be running the bottom."
Like he planned it himself, Gravel said he knew other drivers would burn off the top of the track and the bottom would be the dominate line. He just had to stay patient enough to remain there throughout the race.
Although he did go to the top one lap, but he said that was only because the bottom was crowded. He ran his race.
"I was just trying to run my line," Gravel said. "I knew if I missed up one corner and was still in the lead, I knew I wouldn't have gotten passed if I just hit my marks after that. Luckily we were able to hang on and win."
It was a special win to him and his crew.
"It's definitely different," said Tyler Elliott, the car chief for the Jason Johnson Racing team. "It's not the same. But it's exciting. Overwhelming."
After three races in-a-row without a top-10 finish, Elliot said the win is well needed.
Dietz added its "definitely an emotional night" for the team.
"This is one track we've struggled at over the years," he said. "We knew we had to up our game when we came in tonight. To go out and pick up a win for JJR and all of our sponsors, you know, we couldn't ask for a better night."
Nothing was going to stop Dietz and the Jason Johnson team from celebrating in Victory Lane with an out of breath and wide grinning Gravel.
The Series will wrap up its Spring Break tour through California Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps)
1. 41-David Gravel [7][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$5,500]; 3. 5-Shane Stewart [3][$3,200]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$2,300]; 7. 17W-Shane Golobic [8][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,100]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [11][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [22][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [23][$1,500]; 12. 26-Cory Eliason [12][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [4][$1,100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$1,050]; 15. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Tim Kaeding [21][$900]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [16][$800]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$800]; 19. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 20. 45-Chad Kemenah [18][$800]; 21. 7-Jason Sides [10][$800]; 22. O-Bud Kaeding [14][$800]; 23. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$800]; 24. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [9][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-19, Shane Stewart 20-21, David Gravel 22-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+12]
Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.531; 2. 19-Brent Marks, 14.609; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 14.799; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic, 14.853; 5. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.048; 6. 21P-Robbie Price, 15.125; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.133; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.178; 9. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.207; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.217; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.228; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 15.287; 13. 5-Shane Stewart, 15.308; 14. 7-Jason Sides, 15.312; 15. 41-David Gravel, 15.333; 16. 26-Cory Eliason, 15.363; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.37; 18. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 15.43; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.479; 20. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 15.526; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 15.535; 22. 45-Chad Kemenah, 15.571; 23. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.617; 24. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.618; 25. 33M-Mason Daniel, 15.627; 26. O-Bud Kaeding, 15.643; 27. 88N-DJ Netto, 15.663; 28. 21X-Ryan Bernal, 15.696; 29. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 15.703; 30. 98-Sean Watts, 15.709; 31. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.743; 32. 28-Nathan Rolfe, 15.95
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Pittman Still Leading Standings with Two Races Left on California Spring Break
HANFORD, CA – Fresno, Calif.-based Roth Motorsports went into the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' month-long California swing with the points lead for the first time in its historic career and may leave with it.
The team's new driver, 2013 Series champion Daryn Pittman, currently holds the points lead going into the final two races of the swing — Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway and Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway.
Pittman started off the season in his new #83 Roth Sprint Car winning the two season-opening races at Volusia Speedway Park — claiming his third DIRTcar Nationals championship, and Roth's first. He then followed that up with a top-10 and runner-up finish in Las Vegas, giving him a four-point advantage over reigning champion Donny Schatz going into the California swing.
Three races into the swing, Pittman still leads Schatz by just four points. However, points are the last thing on his mind.
"Truthfully, I don't put a lot of thought to it," Pittman said. "Obviously, it's better to lead than to be chasing. And I do know it will mean something to (car owners) Dennis and Teresa (Roth) for us to be leading. But if something happens and we're not, I have no doubt we have some better tracks for me and our team coming up."
The Owasso, Okla.-native has produced a podium and a couple of top-10 finishes in the three California swing races, so far. Looking ahead to Friday night, he said the 3/8-mile Keller Auto Speedway has been hit-or-miss for him. His results show it.
He finished 20th the last time the Series raced at the track in 2017 – the race won by the Series' most recent winner Logan Schuchart. Prior to that he had a top-10, a 17th place finish and a top-five, respectively.
Like all tracks, Pittman said he wants to perform well in Hanford, but this year he has extra motivation to do so. The speedway is about 40 minutes from the Roth Motorsports shop.
Of the final two races in the California swing, Perris Auto Speedway is the one he's looking forward to the most. He's won at the track three times — most recently in 2016 — and before the Series revised its wins list last year, it was the site of his first Series win.
"Perris has always been a place that's been pretty special to me," Pittman said. "For years it was considered my first win. I beat Steve Kinser to the line by about half a car length. I couldn't ask for it to happen in more of a dramatic fashion, for my first win to come against the greatest to ever sit behind a Sprint Car."
Not only is Pittman looking forward to going to the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway because he's won there before, he's had the most success this year on half-mile tracks. In the four races on half-mile tracks this year, Pittman has two wins, three podiums and four top-10 finishes.
"Right now, I'm really excited for the half-mile stuff," Pittman said. "I think our engine program is really good. I think our cars are really good."
His love for the half-mile tracks is new found this year. When he drove for Kasey Kahne Racing last year, Pittman said he almost dreaded going to half-mile tracks because he didn't have speed at them.
While he's performed better on the half-miles, so far this year, he doesn't dread short tracks. His second-place run at the third-mile Thunderbowl Speedway shows he and his team can still be a threat on the smaller tracks. There is room for improvement on them, though, Pittman said.
"Right now, just based on performance wise, the half-mile stuff has been more suited for our team right now," he said.
With seven races down, Pittman said he and the Roth Motorsports crew are happy where they're at as a team. One of his early season goals was to perform well at Volusia. Mission accomplished.
He has several other goals he's set for himself to put together a successful year with his new team and try to secure a second championship. Leaving the California swing with the points lead, while ideal, isn't necessarily one of them.
"I try not to focus on them (points) too much, just focus on each race for what it is and try to win races," Pittman said. "It's definitely always good to be up front. It gives everyone something to talk about, but it's definitely not something we're really focused on right now."
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
Keller Auto Speedway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 12.293 sec. by Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, 2001.
Online – RaceKingsSpeedway.com
Phone – 559-584-7223
Perris Auto Speedway is a half-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 13.875 sec. by Danny Lasoski on Feb. 23, 2002.
Online – PerrisAutoSpeedway.com
Phone – 800-595-4849
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/2-mile winners
There has been one race on a 3/8-mile track so far this year at the Stockton Dirt Track. Logan Schuchart was the winner on Saturday, March 16.
There have been four races on a 1/2-mile track so far this year, two at Volusia Speedway Park and two at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas. Daryn Pittman won the two races at Volusia on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9. Tim Shaffer won the first race in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Feb. 27, and Donny Schatz won the second on Thursday, Feb. 28.
KELLER AUTO SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2017 - Logan Schuchart on March 31
2015 - Shane Stewart on April 17
2014 - Cody Darrah on April 11
2013 - Donny Schatz on April 12
2003 - Tim Kaeding on Feb. 21
2002 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 22
2001 - Andy Hillenburg on Feb. 23, Stevie Smith on Aug. 28
2000 - Johnny Herrera on Feb. 25, Joey Saldana on Sept. 8
1999 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 19, Steve Kinser on Sept. 10
1998 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 11
1997 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 12
1996 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 11
1995 - Danny Lasoski on Sept.6
1994 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 7
1993 - Stevie Smith on Sept. 1
1992 - Stevie Smith on March 4, Sammy Swindell on Sept. 2
1991 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 18
1990 - Steve Kinser on Feb. 28, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1989 - Joe Gaerte on March 8, Bobby Davis Jr. on Sept. 19
1988 - Doug Wolfgang on Feb. 24, Steve Kinser on Sept. 20
1987 - Bobby Davis Jr. on Feb. 25, Steve Kinser on Sept. 9
1986 - Brad Doty on Feb. 26, Steve Kinser on Sept. 27
1985 - Jeff Swindell on Sept. 25
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2017 - David Gravel on April 1
2016 - Daryn Pittman on April 16
2015 – Paul McMahan on April 18
2014 - Joey Saldana on April 12
2013 - Daryn Pittman on April 13
2012 - Joey Saldana on March 10
2007 - Kerry Madsen on Oct. 20
2004 - Jason Meyers on Feb. 28
2003 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 23
2002 - Daryn Pittman on Feb. 23
2000 - Danny Lasoski on Feb. 26
1999 - Johnny Herrera on Feb. 20, Craig Dollansky on Oct. 30
1998 - Mark Kinser on Oct. 31, Mark Kinser on Oct. 31
1997 - Mark Kinser on Feb. 15, Mark Kinser on Oct. 26
1996 - Mark Kinser on Nov. 1
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. on Friday April 5, and then to Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. on Saturday April 6.
2019 STATS
There have been seven World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (18 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 4
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
4 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 27
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
6 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 20
7 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
8 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
9 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Rain, Saturated Grounds Cancel Ocean and Placerville Events
Placerville Speedway race rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 11
CONCORD, NC – March 20, 2019 — Persistent rain showers and saturated grounds at Ocean Speedway and Placerville Speedway have forced World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to cancel Friday's event at Ocean and reschedule Saturday's event at Placerville to Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Those who purchased tickets to Placerville's event will have their tickets automatically moved to the rescheduled date in September. Those with tickets to Friday's event at Ocean Speedway will receive a full ticket-value credit to their MyDirtTickets.com account to be used towards any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled Placerville event have 30 days to call 844-DIRT-TIX to speak with a customer service representative about their options.
Two of those events include next weekend's conclusion to The Greatest Show on Dirt's month-long swing through California on Friday, March 29, at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford and Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris. Both are sure to be exciting races with the last three California events producing three different winners and the battle for the Series championship points lead down to just four points between leader Daryn Pittman and reigning champion Donny Schatz.
Rain hasn't completely washed out all motorsports activity this week in Placerville, either. Last year's Knoxville Nationals winner Brad Sweet and NHRA Funny Car World Champion Ron Capps will still make an appearance rain or shine at Riebes NAPA AUTO PARTS in Placerville from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.
For the latest on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, make sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Schuchart bucks wild Stockton to become sixth different winner in seven races
STOCKTON, CA — MARCH 16, 2019 — Blue and orange confetti painted the landscape around Logan Schuchart, who climbed to the top wing of his Shark Racing Sprint Car with the checkered flag in one hand and other pointing to the sky.
Thousands of fans cheered, and the first-time winner this season, Schuchart, cheered with them in Victory Lane at the Stockton Dirt Track.
It was a scene that could have looked much different for Schuchart until about five laps to go in Saturday night's World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series 30-lap FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
Shark Racing showed they were the apex predator from the start of the event. Hanover, Pa. native Schuchart was quickest in practice, and backed that up qualifying second behind teammate Jacob Allen. He then won his Heat race and drew the pole for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, which he also won.
At the start of the Feature, Schuchart and Allen dueled side-by-side in front for less than half a lap before Schuchart shot to the lead. Four cautions in the first six laps never allowed him to get into a rhythm, but he maintained the lead each restart.
Lurking behind him, though, was Bixby, Okla., native Shane Stewart — equally as hungry for his first Series win of the season, after finishing outside the top-10 the day prior. When restarting on lap six, Stewart did not let Schuchart out of his sight. With each passing lap he inched closer and closer to the red-and-white Drydene-sponsored #1s.
Coming off of turn four on lap 11, Schuchart, who had kept his car on the high side of the track, hit a rut, about bounced his car completely off the ground and into the wall, and lost the lead to Stewart.
"I was running pretty hard when I was out by myself," Schuchart said. "That's what kind of got me in trouble. I almost flipped the thing, bouncing around, jumping up and down."
He added to stay consistent on the rough track conditions you had to "cowboy up."
While Stewart began to pull away to close to a half a track lead, Schuchart didn't lose hope. He knew Stewart would face the same rough conditions running the top side of the track — providing the potential for his own mistake.
But he never made one. Even when navigating lap traffic. Schuchart still didn't give up hope.
"I knew he was going to have the same issues, he's going to want to get out front and stand on it," Schuchart said. "You can count on probably some more yellows, because we were having one right after the other."
On lap 23, he got one. Kasey Kahne stopped on the front stretch when his right rear tire gave up, with debris left in turn four. When the race went back green, Stewart maintained the point once again. Until a lap later. His paced slowed, and Schuchart shot by Stewart for the lead with Brad Sweet following to surge into second place. Shortly after, Stewart was off the track in turn three with a flat right rear tire.
"They were saying some stuff may have broke off of Kasey's (Kahne) car when I was trying to get around him, and I must have ran something over," Stewart said. "Just one of those deals."
When the race went back green, Schuchart took command of the lead once again and drove his car into Victory Lane, claiming his ninth World of Outlaws win.
"I thought his (Stewart's) right rear looked a little low, but I'm not going to be the guy running second and tell him his tire is low, but I knew he wasn't going to give up," Schuchart said. "I'm just happy for this whole team. It's very rewarding for all of their hard work to be able to get a win this early in the season."
Schuchart is the sixth different Series winner this year in seven races. Carson Macedo, who was the fifth different winner this season Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway pulled off another impressive run finishing seventh after starting 23rd – making him the KSE Hard Charger of the night.
Having as equally of an impressive run was Sheldon Haudenschild, who started 25th using a provisional and finished 10th.
Even though Stewart's promising night ended with disappointment, he is still leaving with newfound confidence.
"I think we made some big gains throughout the night and learned a lot of stuff," Stewart said. "We continue to learn. Even Barry (Jackson), you know, he's been out here a long, long time. But he is dealing with a new driver, so we're still trying to learn each other. We're getting better."
Schuchart's win moves him to fourth in the Series' championship points – tied with Macedo, 58 points behind leader Daryn Pittman. The Oklahoma driver finished 11th for his California-based Roth Motorsports team, allowing 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who finished 8th, to continue to close the points deficit to just four points.
Quietly closing on the two points leaders is Sweet, who finished second two nights in a row – now 10 points behind Pittman.
"Tonight, it took some juevos, you had to get up on the wheel and try to hammer through the holes (in the track)," Sweet said. "Logan did a good job. It was kind of survival there... Two seconds place, we're knocking on the door (of the points lead)."
While Sweet took his second-place finish with stride, Schuchart basked in the glory of his win in Victory Lane, confetti still floating to the ground and fans still cheering.
"The fans are awesome (in California)," Schuchart said. "They're very passionate. It's awesome to win in front of this great crowd."
The Series will make its next stop on the California tour Saturday, March 22, at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. and Saturday, March 23, at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif.
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$5,500]; 3. 7S-Tim Kaeding [13][$3,200]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$2,800]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto [9][$2,500]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [14][$2,300]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [23][$2,200]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,100]; 9. 26-Cory Eliason [8][$2,050]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$1,200]; 11. 83-Daryn Pittman [16][$1,500]; 12. O-Bud Kaeding [24][$1,200]; 13. 5-Shane Stewart [4][$1,100]; 14. 17W-Shane Golobic [18][$1,050]; 15. 41-David Gravel [20][$1,000]; 16. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$900]; 17. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [6][$800]; 18. 45-Chad Kemenah [15][$800]; 19. 29-Willie Croft [5][$800]; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne [11][$800]; 21. 5H-Cole Macedo [17][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [2][$800]; 23. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [3][$800]; 24. 4-Terry McCarl [21][$800]; 25. 21-Brian Brown [19][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-11, 24-30, Shane Stewart 12-23; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+16]
Qualifying - 1. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.873; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.889; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.895; 4. 29-Willie Croft, 12.9; 5. 26-Cory Eliason, 12.95; 6. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.985; 7. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.011; 8. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.056; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.057; 10. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.059; 11. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.061; 12. 41-David Gravel, 13.064; 13. 4-Terry McCarl, 13.092; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.133; 15. 45-Chad Kemenah, 13.135; 16. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.14; 17. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 13.16; 18. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.175; 19. 21-Brian Brown, 13.197; 20. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.201; 21. 5H-Cole Macedo, 13.229; 22. 31C-Justyn Cox, 13.268; 23. 16A-Colby Copeland, 13.273; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.287; 25. 88N-DJ Netto, 13.289; 26. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.313; 27. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.34; 28. 19-Brent Marks, 13.353; 29. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.394; 30. 7-Jason Sides, 13.397; 31. 21P-Robbie Price, 13.433; 32. O-Bud Kaeding, 13.529; 33. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.58; 34. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 13.637; 35. 83T-Tanner Carrick, 14.15
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
California rookie Macedo conquers Mini Gold Cup with veteran moves
CHICO, CA — March 15, 2019 — "Rookie" is a title Carson Macedo will hear before his name throughout the 2019 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series tour, but at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., it should be "veteran."
Or "winner."
Lemoore, Calif., native, Macedo, bested 34-time Series winner, and Grass Valley, Calif., native, Brad Sweet in a spectacular dual on Friday night at the quarter-mile speedway, to claim his second ever Series win and second at the track — his first win came in 2014.
His advantage; it's a track he grew up racing on. Local knowledge that paid off as he led an all-Outlaw podium sweep in the Mini Gold Cup presented by Riebes NAPA AUTO PARTS.
"I've raced here so much and just know the characteristics of it," Macedo said. "It's not a big part of winning these races, but it gives you that edge. It's a home track for me."
Sweet is no stranger to Silver Dollar Speedway, though. He, too, grew up racing at the track, and won a race there last year.
Having led more than half the race, Sweet looked to be en route to his second win at the speedway. Last week's Feature winner at Thunderbowl Raceway, Ian Madsen – who ended up third – hunted Sweet for most of the race with enough speed to potentially make his own challenge for the lead. But then came Macedo.
From his seventh starting spot, Macedo raced much like his car owner Kyle Larson so often does — on the cushion lap after lap. Never considering another line. That confidence almost cost him, though. About half way through the race, he hit a rut on the high side of the track, throwing his car of balance and dropping from fourth to fifth.
That didn't deter the young rookie's victory lust. Continuing to stick to the high side of the track, he fought his way into the top three and then traded slide jobs with Madsen for second. In the lead Sweet had a different mentality then Macedo. He stuck to the bottom of the track — a move that ultimately proved to be his downfall.
On a restart with 15 laps to, Macedo got a strong enough run off turn four to slide under Sweet going into turn one and steal the lead. Madsen, on the bottom of the track, tried to best them both, edging Macedo for the lead out of turn two. He couldn't compete with Macedo's strength on the high side, though. Once Macedo cleared Madsen, the race was his.
"I had been getting some pretty good runs off of four on the top, with people in front of me, so I knew without anyone there I could get a run on him (Sweet) going down the front stretch," Macedo said.
Sweet knows his rookie mistake was staying on the bottom of the track.
"Obviously, I made a mistake there, and stayed on the bottom probably one or two restarts too long," Sweet said. "It was just really hard to get me to change my mind because I kept winning the restarts. But I really felt vulnerable on the restart, so it was no surprise when Carson got by me. You have to be perfect to win these races."
Madsen went into the Series' month-long California tour unsure how he'll perform at the Golden State short tracks, claiming he's not good at them. In two races, he's secured two podium finishes — one being a victory.
"It's (California) has been really good to us, so far," Madsen said. "We've had an awesome race car ever since we got here. I just have to thank my crew for that."
Macedo also credited his crew for his winning performance, including his crew chief Joe Gaerte, who he called "his hero." Macedo drove for Gaerte in the All Star Circuit of Champions Series last year, finishing second in points.
With a win in the first six races of the more than 90 race World of Outlaws schedule, Macedo said it won't change how he approaches the remainder of the season.
"I think I'm just going to race exactly the same," he said. "Just drive every lap like it's my last. Wherever the cards fall at the end of the year at the banquet, that's what they'll be."
He currently sits fourth in the Series' championship points — 66 points behind leader Daryn Pittman.
Pittman, who was coming off two second place finishes in a row, managed to salvage a ninth-place finish after starting 18th. He continues to lead the championship standings for California car owners Dennis and Teresa Roth over second place Donny Schatz, who finished fourth and cut his points deficit in half, now only 10 points behind Pittman.
The Series will make its next stop on the California tour Saturday, March 16, at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., where Macedo hopes to utilize his veteran California track skills to once again be called, "winner."
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$5,500]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [13][$2,800]; 5. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [14][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,300]; 7. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5][$2,200]; 8. 17W-Shane Golobic [12][$2,100]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [18][$2,050]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [6][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [24][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [17][$1,200]; 13. 16A-Colby Copeland [23][$1,100]; 14. 5-Shane Stewart [25][$250]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,000]; 16. 41-David Gravel [21][$900]; 17. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 18. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [10][$800]; 19. 9-Kasey Kahne [22][$800]; 20. 26-Cory Eliason [16][$800]; 21. 121-Justin Sanders [8][$800]; 22. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [9][$800]; 23. 7S-Tim Kaeding [3][$800]; 24. 92-Andy Forsberg [20][$800]; 25. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$800]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-20, Carson Macedo 21-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 87-Aaron Reutzel[+13]
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.536; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne, 11.553; 3. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 11.597; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.692; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.717; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.759; 7. 121-Justin Sanders, 11.762; 8. 83T-Tanner Carrick, 11.768; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.772; 10. 88N-DJ Netto, 11.778; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 11.853; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.895; 13. O-Bud Kaeding, 11.903; 14. 21-Brian Brown, 11.943; 15. 21P-Robbie Price, 11.955; 16. 5-Shane Stewart, 11.969; 17. 5H-Cole Macedo, 12.118; 18. 21W-Jake Wheeler, 12.17; 19. 28-Mark Herz, 14.325; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart, NT
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.551; 2. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 11.56; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.575; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic, 11.671; 5. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 11.682; 6. 92-Andy Forsberg, 11.682; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.695; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.7; 9. 29-Willie Croft, 11.744; 10. 41-David Gravel, 11.768; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.794; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 11.867; 13. 45-Chad Kemenah, 11.874; 14. 16A-Colby Copeland, 11.96; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.067; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.231; 17. 4-Terry McCarl, 12.335; 18. 7-Jason Sides, 12.346; 19. 31C-Justyn Cox, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Kasey Kahne talks new life racing with World of Outlaws
Kasey Kahne Adds This Week's Silver Dollar, Stockton Events to His Huge Sprint Car Schedule
CONCORD, N.C. – Kasey Kahne's race days have always been a bit noisy. Dozens of crews scurrying around a nearly two-ton Stock Car for days, wrenching and tuning. Hundreds of fans walking through the garage area, determined to get a picture or autograph. Media and cameras at every turn, questioning every detail of the weekend.
Now, that noise has been turned down, but just a bit.
In the pit area of a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car event, like the ones this Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., or Saturday at The Stockton (Calif.) Dirt Track, Kahne is surrounded by only a couple of crew members, who tweak on his 1,400 lb. Sprint Car. A few dozen fans meandering up and down the pits — some looking for a quick picture or a handshake. And a handful of media members, the majority just looking to take pictures.
Turning the volume down was not entirely voluntary. It was forced upon him by a health issue that caused him to put an early end to his NASCAR career.
While he was not medically cleared to race again in NASCAR, he's found a new challenge focusing on racing Sprint Cars – a division he's loved since a kid.
"It's like the first thing I really got into at a young age," Kahne says kneeling next his to orange #9 Sprint Car. "Because I got into it at a young age, and liked it so much, whether I was watching or racing myself, I've been hooked."
Kahne began racing Sprint Cars as a teenager in his home state of Washington. He eventually moved into the USAC ranks, winning a championship in 2000. Then a couple of years later made his move to NASCAR.
A few years into his NASCAR career Kahne formed his own World of Outlaws Sprint Car team, Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), which helped keep him in touch with the Series — along with running a few races himself.
"I've had a blast with all that over the years, whether I was at a NASCAR race watching the DIRTVision part of it or actually traveling and watching the races with the guys," Kahne says. "I've always stayed really close to it and enjoyed it."
Since its inception in 2005, KKR has amassed one World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship — in 2013 with Daryn Pittman — and more than 170 Series wins among several drivers, including last year's Knoxville Nationals championship with Brad Sweet.
Of the drivers that have won a Series race for the team, Kahne is not one of them. He would like to be.
"When I knew I was done with the NASCAR deal, I thought I would give it a shot (driving Sprint Cars) for a little while, you know, and kind of see how it goes and see if I can't figure it out and get competitive driving these cars," Kahne says.
NASCAR was his job. Sprint Cars... well, Kahne says he doesn't really know what it is right now.
"I hope that I actually feel like it's a bit of a job," Kahne says, following up with a joke that racing is never really a job.
But he wants to work at it.
"I want to feel like I'm working at it to make it work and do the things I want and then when we do have success it'll feel that much better," Kahne says. "I want to put the time in. I want to put the effort in. No matter what it is, to try and have that success. Doing that is definitely a little bit of work."
He knows he has a bit of homework to do, too.
Kahne didn't qualifying for the season opening race at Volusia Speedway Park and has cracked the top-15 twice so far this season.
"I didn't feel that my performance was good at all (at Volusia)," Kahne says. "I thought the track was really tough... It was slick and it was greasy all in the same corner. Around the whole track just about. It was tough to learn and figure out."
None of it had to do with his health, and he doesn't expect it to ever be an issue with Sprint Car racing. Kahne says his issue is driving a car for an hour or two hours straight in humid weather. He would sweat a lot, get dehydrated and cramp up.
He knows the temperature during mid-summer World of Outlaws races can get humid, but he is only in the car for 30 to 40 minutes. He says he felt fine after racing in Florida and expects to the rest of this season.
His issue is seat time.
When he first started in NASCAR, Kahne regularly made time to race Sprint Cars, but over time put more focus on his Cup Series car. Leaving less time for Sprint Cars.
"I feel like now is by far the most difficult time I've had learning Sprint Cars," Kahne says. "I've been so focused on the other style and it's so much different than this (Sprint Car racing). The feel side of it I'm lacking a little bit and have to do a better job with my feet and my hands in different situations. And I think that's all just laps. Once I figure that out, I'll feel a lot more comfortable night in and night out."
His teammate, and last year's runner-up in Series points, Brad Sweet understands Kahne's struggles well, having raced in NASCAR for three seasons then transitioning to the World of Outlaws full-time.
"It's relearning a lot of things and retraining himself," Sweet says. "It's just a completely different discipline."
Sweet is happy to see his car owner racing with the Series though, citing Kahne's deep passion for the sport and love for driving the cars.
Kahne has scheduled more than 50 Sprint Car races – 44 of which, so far, are World of Outlaws races – for himself this year, but says he could easily add more, bringing his schedule to about 70 races. Kahne says he chose that schedule to ease into Sprint Car racing this year, giving himself time to formulate what he wants to do in 2020.
There's not one race he's looking forward to more than the other. He's eager for them all. When the Texas races rained out in late February, Kahne says he was ready to race in the rain.
"I don't like racing in the rain, mud, and all that, but I was like let's do it, I'll race," Kahne says, grinning ear to ear.
In the quiet pit area, kneeling next to his car with a couple of crew guys leisurely working around it, Kahne says he knows the new atmosphere and traveling schedule will be a big adjustment.
"It's a different type of pressure," Kahne says. "There's so many differences to it. I'm not doing normal things each week I would normally be doing the last 15, 17 years. Everything is different week to week, day to day for what it's been in the past."
While 50 races are close to half of the World of Outlaws schedule, it's about a quarter longer than NASCAR's. There are weekday races, and doubleheader weekend races – sometimes at two different tracks, and sometimes in two different states.
Instead of large team debriefs, it's now just he and a few crew guys. Instead of hundreds of fans, a handful walk by on a race night, some just looking for a quick picture or handshake. And the media mostly is photographers looking for a picture.
"So, it's a much different day to day than what I've done for a long time," Kahne says. "I think as we go, I'll get more and more use to this and just really, really enjoy it."
To see Kahne take on the Outlaws this weekend (or any of the events on his schedule below), go to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix, or call 844-DIRT-TIX to reserve your seat.
Kasey Kahne's Remaining World of Outlaws schedule:
March 15 – Silver Dollar Speedway
March 16 – Stockton Dirt Track
May 10 – Eldora Speedway
May 11 – Eldora Speedway
May 15 – Lincoln Speedway
May 17 – Williams Grove Speedway
May 18 – Williams Grove Speedway
May 19 – Weedsport Speedway
May 21 – Bridgeport Speedway
May 24 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 25 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 31 – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
June 1 – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
June 4 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway
June 7 – River Cities Speedway
June 8 – Granite City Speedway
June 14 – Knoxville Raceway
June 15 – Knoxville Raceway
June 21 – Farley Speedway
June 22 – Beaver Dam Raceway
June 27 – Jackson Motorplex
June 28 – Jackson Motorplex
June 29 – Jackson Motorplex
July 3 – Brown County Speedway
July 5 – Cedar Lake Speedway
July 6 – Cedar Lake Speedway
July 16 – Attica Raceway Park
July 18 – Eldora Speedway
July 19 – Eldora Speedway
July 20 – Eldora Speedway
July 23 – Lernerville Speedway
Oct. 25 – Port Royal Speedway
Oct. 26 – Port Royal Speedway
Nov. 7 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 8 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 9 – Dirt Track at Charlotte
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
HOPEFUL HEALING... World of Outlaws 'California Fire Relief Tour' opening eyes to devastating wildfires
CHICO, CA – Racing is not the only focus of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series this weekend.
The Series' California Fire Relief Tour kicks off Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., and Saturday at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., in an effort to assist the thousands of Northern and Southern California residents still healing from last year's devastating wildfires.
From Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday, March 15, to Saturday, March 30, at Perris Auto Speedway, $1 of every ticket sold will be donated directly to California fire relief. Also, $5 from each Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour shirt sold will be donated to California fire relief, which helps those effected by the fire.
Many effected by the fire thought they'd return to a normal life, having lived through fires before.
Kyle Hirst, who won his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2017, heard what he thought was rain, not thinking the wildfire was near his Paradise, Calif., home. It wasn't rain. It was ash. He and his wife packed up what they needed and left with their daughter.
When they eventually returned, among the ashes of what were once homes, they were fortunate to be one of the lucky ones to return to a home. However, Hirst's shop behind the house was not as fortunate. Race suits, helmets, stacks of trophies, including from his win at Silver Dollar Speedway, and more gone. Now just a few pieces of burnt scrap metal.
He said fortunately for him, he races for Roth Motorsports, so he didn't have cars or too many tools in the shop when the fire came through. Just stacks of he and his dad's trophies. Years of memories he said he can no longer share with his kid.
But he still has a home to return to. Just not for a while, though, due to contaminated water in the area. For now, Hirst said he is able to rent a home from a friend. He plans to return, but knows it'll take months and years before the rubble of burned homes around his are cleaned up.
"I'll be outside playing with my daughter and this is what she'll see," Hirst said, pointing out the charred debris across the street from him.
The majority of the damage throughout Paradise, Calif., happened in the first 12 hours of the fire, according to firemen at the Chico Fire Department, who bravely battled the fire. They were donated tickets to Friday's race at Silver Dollar Speedway, and more tickets throughout the Tour will be donated to local firemen.
Fans unable to attend the races in California that would like to participate can purchase the Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour shirt online at store.worldofoutlaws.com and are able to purchase additional tickets to donate to local firemen at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Home-field Advantage - California drivers eager to race at Silver Dollar Speedway, Stockton Dirt Track
CONCORD, N.C. – California natives conquered the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series' tour through the Golden State last year and are hoping to repeat that success going into this weekend's races at Silver Dollar Speedway and the Stockton Dirt Track.
Grass Valley, Calif. native Brad Sweet and St. Helena, Calif. native Rico Abreu found victory at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., while Visala, Calif. native Cory Eliason claimed his first Series win at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., last year.
For Sweet, it was his first win at the quarter-mile Chico track, but no matter if the win was in Chico or Stockton, he said it is always satisfying to win in front of family and friends.
"The biggest thing for me is I grew up here (in California) racing, so they're home tracks," Sweet said. "There's always something about where you learned and where you grew up racing that is special. You know, I hadn't had a lot of luck at Chico in the last few years, but last year I was able to get a win there, so I feel a little bit more confident going back there and excited."
Sweet started off Series' month-long swing through California strong with a top-five finish at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif, leaving him third in the Series' points standing – 42 points behind leader Daryn Pittman.
Abreu hasn't been as fortunate, unable to qualify for the Feature in Tulare. But like Sweet, he said he is looking forward to going back to Silver Dollar Speedway – a track he has won at twice now with the World of Outlaws. He also has one Series win at the 3/8-mile Stockton Dirt Track.
He cites the Chico and Stockton tracks as two of his most successful tracks, having grown up racing at them.
"I've ran probably the majority of my California races at those two tracks," Abreu said. "I've just made sure my cars are close every time we get there and where it puts the ball in my court where I can maneuver my car around. I like going to those tracks."
Eliason has had a solid start to the season, claiming three top-10s and two KSE Hard Charger awards in the first five races of the season, placing him fifth in points. He is coming off a seventh-place finish at Thunderbowl Raceway and hitting his stride just in time for his favorite part of the year.
"The whole California swing is (a confidence booster), just because that's where I grew up racing," Eliason said. "I think we finished inside the top-five every time we were in California last year, in the March and the September swings. There's a lot of confidence just being able to roll out here and know, even if it's not perfect, we can still make something of it just because of knowing the race tracks and being from around here."
Having raced, and won, at the tracks before, Eliason said that knowledge not only helps him, but his crew. He can confidently relay to his team what he needs in his car, making their job easier.
"Every race is hard with these (World of Outlaws) guys, but it should at least level the playing field back to normal with them, instead of going somewhere where we haven't been and they dominate instead of us," Eliason said.
Sweet said, for some drivers the California swing is hard traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast and missing their families. For the California drivers, they have the advantage of staying home with their family about every night throughout the swing.
"There's just something to be said about that," Sweet said. "I, obviously, love the beginning of the year West Coast swing."
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 15, at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. and Saturday March 16, at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.
For Silver Dollar Speedway, gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. with Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
Stockton Dirt Track is on a Flex Schedule approach. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with Time Trials at 5 p.m. and Racing at 6 p.m. If the temperature rises, gates will still open at 3 p.m., but Time Trials will shift to 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Silver Dollar Speedway is a high-banked, quarter-mile oval. The track record is 10.918 sec. by Daryn Pittman on March 22, 2013.
Online – SilverDollarSpeedway.com
Phone – 916-969-7484
Tickets at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or 844-DIRT-TIX.
Stockton Dirt Track is a semi-banked 3/8-mile oval. The track record is 12.566 by Donny Schatz on March 21, 2015.
Online – Stockton99.com
Phone – 209-466-9999
Tickets at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or 844-DIRT-TIX.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
3/8-mile and 1/4-mile winners
This will be the first World of Outlaws Features this year on tracks that size.
SILVER DOLLAR SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Brad Sweet on Sept. 7, Rico Abreu on Sept. 8
2017 - Kyle Hirst on Sept. 8, Shane Stewart on Sept.9
2016 - Donny Schatz on April 2, Shane Stewart on Sept. 9, Rico Abreu on Sept. 10
2015 - Donny Schatz on March 28, Shane Stewart on Sept. 11, Donny Schatz on Sept. 12
2014 - Carson Macedo on Sept. 5, Jonathan Allard on Sept. 6
2013 - Paul McMahan on March 23, Joey Saldana on Sept. 6, Jason Meyers on Sept. 7
2012 - Donny Schatz on March 23, Donny Schatz on Sept. 6, Sean Becker on Sept. 7, Kyle Larson on Sept. 8
2011 - Craig Dollansky on March 12, Paul McMahan on Sept. 9, Kyle Larson on Sept. 10
2010 - Jason Meyers on Sept. 11
2009 - Joey Saldana on March 13, Jason Meyers on March 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 12
2008 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 6
2007 - Joey Saldana on Sept. 8
2006 - Daryn Pittman on Sept. 9
2005 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 10
2004 - Donny Schatz on Sept. 11
2003 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 6
2002 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 7
2001 - Mark Kinser on Sept. 8
2000 - Danny Lasoski on Sept. 16
1999 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 18
1998 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 19
1997 - Dave Blaney on Sept. 20
1996 - Jeff Swindell on Sept. 21
1995 - Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 16
1994 - Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 17
1993 - Stevie Smith on Sept. 18
1992 - Steve Kinser on March 13, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1991 - Brent Kaeding on March 16, Joe Gaerte on Sept. 14
1990 - Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 11, Steve Kinser on Sept. 15
1989 - Jac Haudenschild on March 11, Darrell Hanestad on Sept. 20
1988 - Jimmy Sills on March 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 17
1987 - Jac Haudenschild on March 7, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1986 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 21
1985 - Danny Smith on Sept. 21
1984 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 22
1983 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 24
STOCKTON DIRT TRACK PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Cory Eliason on March 17
2017 - Brad Sweet on March 25
2016 - Donny Schatz on March 18, Donny Schatz on March 19
2015 - Donny Schatz on March 21, Rico Abreu on March 22
2014 - Kerry Madsen on March 22
2013 - Kyle Larson on March 22
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. on Friday March 22, and then to the Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif. on Saturday March 23.
2019 STATS
There have been four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (4 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (13 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 3
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (5 different drivers)
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 35
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
5 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 15
6 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
POLE POSITIONS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
Madsen Dominates World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in Tulare
TULARE, CA – March 9 – Last year's World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Ian Madsen claims one of his weak points has been short tracks.
Not anymore.
The Australian won everything there was to win at the third-mile Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., Saturday night. Not even a couple of rain showers could slow him down.
His team has been working hard to get the KCP Racing car better on the California short tracks, and "it showed tonight," said Madsen, as he earned his first victory of the season with championship leader Daryn Pittman second and Sheldon Haudenschild in third.
Madsen, who hails from St. Mary's, NSW, Australia, started the night fastest in practice — three tenths faster than second fastest Donny Schatz. He followed that up by claiming his second pole of the season.
Then he dominated the first Heat race of the night, crossing the line about one second ahead of second place Tim Kaeding. That led to him being the first driver to draw for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and leaving seven other drivers disappointed by drawing the pole.
A heavy rain shower lingered over the track for about 15 minutes in between Madsen's Heat and the Dash. It only made him faster. Again, in dominating fashion, he led every lap of the Dash, this time finishing close to two seconds ahead of second-place Pittman.
While he already dominated everything up to the Feature, Madsen showed his true speed in the final 35 laps of the night. He pulled away to an early lead, but "The Steel City Outlaw" Tim Shaffer showed muscle early on, keeping pace with Madsen. It didn't last though.
By lap 10, Pittman slid his way underneath Shaffer for second and began to hunt Madsen. Pittman, coming off a heartbreaking runner-up finish in Las Vegas, looked to be the only driver all night who could contend with Madsen. While Madsen battled lap traffic, Pittman closed the gap between them to about a couple of car lengths.
And that was as close as he was going to get to the #18's bumper. Madsen found his rhythm in lap traffic, pulling away to about a four second lead over Pittman, whose #83 Roth Motorsports car was able to close on Madsen again, but only to a second-and-a-half gap.
"Ian was good. We just got beat," said Pittman, of Owasso, Okla. "I liked the track conditions before it rained, but it is what it is."
Like Madsen, Pittman was unsure how he would perform at the Tulare short track, coming off strong performances at half-mile speedways.
"We were kind of curious how our car was going to shake out at a smaller place," he said. "We kind of got both spectrums there of super dry early in the night and pretty wet after the rain and the car was really good."
Both Madsen and Pittman drive a KPC Chassis, which is located nearby in Fresno, Calif.
Aside from leading every lap, Madsen's dominance was showcased by him lapping the field up to 11th-place and catching 10th-place Donny Schatz toward the end of the race.
"It was just unreal," Madsen said in almost disbelief, standing on the front stretch podium. "To get the clean sweep tonight is pretty awesome."
Madsen's best finish at Thunderbowl Raceway had been 12th. Of his previous three wins, the smallest track he had won at is the 3/8th-mile Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota.
"I feel like we've been working hard toward this for the last two years," Madsen said. "It's really good to see some good results pay off."
While Pittman finished second, he said he won't hang his head on the finish. He continues to lead the Series' championship standings over second-place Donny Schatz — adding 16 points to his cushion between the 10-time Series champion. This is the first time in the storied history of the California-based Roth Motorsports team it continues to lead the points through the Series month-long California swing.
The Series continues its trek through California next weekend on Friday, March 15, at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., and March 16 at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.
Even though Madsen began the California tour dominating Thunderbowl Raceway, to him there is still a question on how he'll perform at the upcoming races.
"We ran good at Stockton last year and Chico we've been hit or miss, so we'll see what happens," Madsen said. "Hopefully we can keep it (momentum) going through the Cali-swing."
As always, you can catch all the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Race Report
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) — 1. 18-Ian Madsen [1][$10,000]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,500]; 6. 5-Shane Stewart [10][$2,300]; 7. 26-Cory Eliason [11][$2,200]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [7][$2,100]; 9. 87-Aaron Reutzel [14][$2,050]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$2,000]; 11. O-Bud Kaeding [15][$1,500]; 12. 41-David Gravel [12][$1,200]; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne [8][$1,100]; 14. 4-Terry McCarl [16][$1,050]; 15. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [22][$1,000]; 16. 45-Chad Kemenah [24][$900]; 17. 68-Chase Johnson [17][$800]; 18. 19-Brent Marks [20][$800]; 19. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 20. 7S-Tim Kaeding [6][$800]; 21. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$800]; 22. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi [23][$800]; 23. 88N-DJ Netto [19][$800]; 24. 11K-Kraig Kinser [21][$800]; 25. 16A-Colby Copeland [18][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 45-Chad Kemenah[+8]
Qualifying — 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.404; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.467; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.488; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.532; 5. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.532; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 14.539; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.559; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne, 14.561; 9. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 14.571; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.572; 11. 26-Cory Eliason, 14.575; 12. 41-David Gravel, 14.576; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 14.592; 14. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.605; 15. O-Bud Kaeding, 14.61; 16. 4-Terry McCarl, 14.612; 17. 17W-Shane Golobic, 14.613; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.663; 19. 88N-DJ Netto, 14.667; 20. 19-Brent Marks, 14.675; 21. 83JR-Giovanni Scelzi, 14.714; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.715; 23. 45-Chad Kemenah, 14.775; 24. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 14.777; 25. 24-Rico Abreu, 14.835; 26. 7-Jason Sides, 14.913; 27. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.93; 28. 29-Willie Croft, 14.964; 29. 68-Chase Johnson, 15.054; 30. 16A-Colby Copeland, 15.067; 31. 21-Brian Brown, 15.128; 32. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.18; 33. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.187
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
World of Outlaws Racers See Positives in Competing with NASCAR Drivers
CONCORD, N.C. – Peanut butter and jelly. Movies and popcorn. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus ... well, maybe not that last one.
But World of Outlaws and NASCAR?
Even though three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart won a World of Outlaws crown with Danny Lasoski in 2001 and a truckload of titles and trophies with Donny Schatz, the two series being mentioned in the same sentence has become more commonplace of late. Most recently with the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West being paired together for the first time at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
The race drew a crowd of thousands, a larger media presence and NASCAR drivers. Some drivers were in the stands watching, and a few in the Sprint Car race themselves. Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and retired NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne joined the stars of the World of Outlaws for the doubleheader race at the Las Vegas Dirt Track last week and will continue to compete periodically with the Series throughout the season.
When the NASCAR stars join the Series, the media spotlight is usually turned on them for the night. But that's not an issue to some of the Series regulars.
"I don't mind it at all," said Series veteran Kraig Kinser, the 2005 Knoxville Nationals champion and son of Steve Kinser, the legendary King of the Outlaws. "The exposure they (NASCAR drivers) bring is always a plus. Anything that can highlight our Sprint Car racing is always a positive."
From a veteran to a rookie, the opinion stays the same. Rookie contender Carson Macedo, who drives for Kyle Larson Racing, enjoys when his boss and others come to race with the World of Outlaws.
"I love it," Macedo said. "I always said if you want to be the best, you got to race with the best. And those guys are proven to be some of the best in the world. That's what's unique about racing in the World of Outlaws, you never know who is going to show up to give you a run for your money every night."
Bell, Kahne and Larson grew up racing Sprint Cars. It's what they love, and they take every opportunity they get to drive one.
"I just love Sprint Car racing in general," Larson said. "To me the Outlaws are the toughest series to race with, that's why I really like competing with them. I hit a lot of different races, but I always have the most fun racing the Outlaw stuff."
Kahne, who like Larson owns a World of Outlaws Sprint Car team, said he became enamored with Sprint Cars at a young age and never lost that passion. Even during his years in NASCAR when he wasn't able to run many Sprint Car races. Through his Kasey Kahne Racing team, and watching the races on DIRTVision, he said he always stayed connected to it. He's enjoyed watching his team's accomplishments, such as winning the 2013 World of Outlaws championship and 2018 Knoxville Nationals crown.
This year Kahne is scheduled to run about 50 Sprint Car races. Bell is hoping to do about 20 to 25. And Larson sneaks in Sprint Car races to his schedule whenever he can.
"I just hit whatever is available," Larson said. "I don't have many days throughout the year that I can go race."
Larson and Bell both stated while there may not be much of a comparison between a Stock Car and a Sprint Car, more seat time never hurts.
"The biggest thing for me is, the way I get better is by racing cars," Bell said. "If I'm sitting on the couch, I'm not becoming a better race car driver."
Larson echoed Bell saying, anytime he gets to race, he feels like he becomes a better driver.
"It's why I try to run a lot," Larson said.
Kinser said it is nice to be able to race with the NASCAR drivers while they're in the peak of their career. And while they bring a lot of positive exposure to the sport, he said the Series is full of diehard fans that fill the stands most nights.
Unlike some other forms of motorsports, Kinser said World of Outlaws drivers are easily accessible to the fans right at their trailer.
"A lot of older fans know you can come down into the pit area afterwards, a lot of newer ones don't realize that," Kinser said. "It's always nice to speak with the fans and get face time with them. That's a positive for our sport, too."
When Bell, Kahne or Larson attend a Series race, they're just as accessible as Kinser or Macedo, making the World of Outlaws and NASCAR a favorable combination, like peanut butter and jelly or movies and popcorn.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars continue their West Coast Spring Break Tour this weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., before heading north to Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday March 15 in Chico, Calif., and Saturday, March 16 in Stockton, Calif.
The next time the World of Outlaws and NASCAR intersect will be during Memorial Day Weekend, when the inaugural two-day World of Outlaws Patriot Nationals takes over The Dirt Track at Charlotte during the nights on May 24-25 while NASCAR runs its Coca-Cola 600 events during the day at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Kyle Larson's Rookie Macedo Taking Aim at His Native California Bullrings
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars Begin March Through Golden State on Friday
CONCORD, N.C. — March 4, 2019 — World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champions Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz have solidified themselves as early favorites this season, winning three of the four races this year combined. But a new favorite may emerge during this month's California swing.
Rookie contender, and Lemoore, Calif. native, Carson Macedo has put together an impressive start to the season with his Kyle Larson Racing team, claiming three top-10 finishes and two Heat wins in the first four races.
While he's found speed on the bigger half-mile tracks of Volusia Speedway Park and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, he's most comfortable on short tracks — like the ones he grew up racing on in California.
"My whole life I feel like I've been better on the short tracks than the big tracks," said Macedo, 22. "Lately over the past couple of years I've been able to be a little bit better on those (bigger) tracks to try and carry that balance. When you race with the World of Outlaws, you've got to be good everywhere."
Going home to tracks he grew up racing on also adds another level of confidence.
"You know what to expect, and how the race tracks are going to change," Macedo said. "A lot of the time, for me, going to a track I'm comfortable at, it's usually a huge advantage, because you're usually a little bit quicker right out of the gate."
He used that extra level of confidence to his advantage in 2014 when he won his first World of Outlaws race at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. — a track the Series will return to this year on March 15, and again later in the year Sept. 6-7.
Macedo is still looking for his second Series win, having mostly raced with the All Star Circuit of Champions the last couple of years. And while he's won at Silver Dollar Speedway before, Macedo said he is most looking forward to going to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. — the next track on the Series' schedule March 8-9.
"It's probably the track I've gotten along with the most," said Macedo, who finished fifth at the track last year. "The past few years it seems like I've always been able to put together some good runs there."
To Macedo, Thunderbowl Raceway's best characteristic is the cushion builds up along the fence, allowing drivers to enter and drive through the turns aggressively.
Aggressiveness is a trait Macedo's car owner, Kyle Larson said he sees in the rookie.
"He's fun to watch," Larson said. "I think he'll have a good season (being paired with experienced crew chief Joe Gaerte)."
Macedo said he is looking forward to getting to the familiar California tracks and continue his early season success, which has currently left him sixth in the Series championship standings.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps starting at 5 p.m., Time Trials at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
Thunderbowl Raceway is a high-banked, 1/3-mile oval. The track record is 12.582 sec. by Brad Sweet on March 13, 2015.
Online – ThunderbowlRaceway.com
Phone – 559-688-0909
TICKETS
Tickets for Thunderbowl Raceway are available by calling the track at 559-688-0909. Tickets for the rest of the events on the California swing can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
1/3-MILE WINNERS
This will be the first World of Outlaws Feature on a track that size this year.
PREVIOUS TRACK WINNERS
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, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 - Terry McCarl on Nov. 1
2003 - Steve Kinser on Sept. 2
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws - @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint - @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DiRTVision - @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet4
Brent Marks – @BrentMarks19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. on Friday March 15, and then to the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. on Saturday March 16.
2019 STATS
There have been four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (3 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (12 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
2 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (4 different drivers)
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (6 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
2 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
3 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. -1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (3 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 15
5 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
POLE POSITIONS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (3 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest
1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Schatz defies odds in Sin City
LAS VEGAS, NV – Feb. 28, 2019 – The final night of racing at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas was Donny Schatz's to lose. He was hundredths of a second away from winning his Heat race, he won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, and he pulled away with the lead at the start of the Feature in front of thousands that came to see a historic night of racing that paired the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
But on lap 14 he lost it. Series points leader Daryn Pittman had inched closer and closer to Schatz every lap, eventually finding grip in the middle of the track and darting by him.
He stretched the lead of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown presented Star Nursery between he and Schatz to about a straightaway's length. Even with multiple cautions, and an Open Red, allowing teams to refuel their car, Pittman never fluttered, always knowing where to find grip on the rubbered down track, gradually moving from the top of the track at the beginning of the race to the bottom of the track by the end. The race was then his to lose.
And on the final lap of the race, he lost it. Blocked by a slower lap car – a situation Pittman used to his advantage to win his first race of the season – Schatz took advantage of a clear opening on the high side of the track to get his Tony Stewart Racing car back by Pittman and then held him off to claim a victory he thought he lost.
"I didn't think we'd get him (Pittman)," said 10-time Series Champion Schatz. "But we hit traffic on the last corner. He went there (low), and I was going the other place. It was either win it or wear it, and lucky we won it."
Lady Luck was good to Schatz. Not only did he find luck in lap traffic, he found luck in his tires holding on until the end of the 30-lap Feature, extended by multiple cautions – as his right rear tire could have been mistaken for a slick stock car tire by the end of the race. Pittman cited drivers' fear of blowing a tire is why he caught lap traffic in five laps after a late race caution, leading to him losing the race.
"We were lapping really good cars. The problem was everybody's pace was off, because I think everybody was afraid of blowing tires," Pittman said. "They were just going slower than I thought they would. Honestly if I could have replayed it, I probably would have just slowed down from the time we went green with five to go."
However, Pittman acknowledged he couldn't slow down too much because Schatz "will blow his tire trying to win a race and not think twice about it."
The victory is Schatz's 13th win at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas and his 284th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory. He went winless in the first three races of the season for the first time since 2013 – a stat he laughed off, but is glad to get past.
"I went three races without a win. Holy hell, I'm glad we're over that hump," Schatz said.
Looking to spoil the Schatz and Pittman battle for the lead, which ended with a 0.071-sec. gap, was third place finisher Logan Schuchart. He quietly worked his way through the field, from 10th, getting to third by lap 13. He stalked the two Series champions throughout the race, staying close enough to pounce if one bobbled, but neither did.
"I thought I might have a shot right there at the end with both of them," Schuchart said. "But these guys are World of Outlaws champions. They're going to be tough to beat and they're not going to make many mistakes."
He too was worried about his tires at the end of the race, stating he slowed his pace a little to not blow one.
Tires plagued Cory Eliason's night with his right rear tire blowing in the closing laps of the race, but he still managed to be the KSE Hard Charger for the second night in a row. He finished 13th after starting 24th.
While Schatz claimed the victory at the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown, Pittman remains the points leader – by just four points over Schatz.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series actions resumes March 8-9 at ThunderbowlRaceway in Tulare, CA. As always, you can catch all the action on DIRTVision.com.
Historic wins
Donny Schatz's last lap pass to claim his 284th win came on an historic night for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Car Series. For the first time, the World of Outlaws and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West were paired together for a thrilling night of racing at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
It was an event that drew a crowd of thousands in the stands and attracted a wide range of media attention.
"I'm glad to see a lot of the NASCAR fans here," Schatz said. "We met a lot of NASCAR people the last couple of days, people who have never seen a Sprint Car before. So hopefully it opens their eyes to new things."
Echoing the heart-pounding finish to the World of Outlaws race, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West put on an equally exciting show, with rising NASCAR star Hailie Deegan making a last lap pass for the win in the 100-lap Star Nursery 100. While the 17-year-old is paving a bright future for herself in NASCAR, she couldn't help but be drawn to the "gnarly" Sprint Cars.
"It's sick," Deegan said about NASCAR racing with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars. "At Volusia (Speedway Park) was the first time I saw Outlaw racing, and man, I wanted to get into a car so bad... I think coming out here with the Sprint Cars definitely made for a good show."
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
Lady Luck on Shaffer's side in Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV – Feb. 27, 2019 – Tim Shaffer was in route to a dominating performance at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown presented by Star Nursery, leading every lap, but with five laps to go worry set in.
He could hear his motor sputtering. There was no doubt in his mind he was going to run out of fuel, with Giovanni Scelzi and Tim Kaeding – who made their first World of Outlaws appearance this season – breathing down his neck for the lead.
"I knew the laps had to be getting close," Shaffer said, as the 30-lap Feature saw eight cautions by lap 26.
After multiple attempts of restarting the race on lap 26, Series officials called for an Open Red, stopping the cars on the front stretch and allowing the teams to refuel their cars.
"Everything worked out, the cautions, the red flag," Shaffer said. "It was our night."
After the cars were refueled, and the race went back to green on lap 26, Shaffer acted like nothing changed, commanding the lead once again all the way to victory lane – claiming his 26th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win and his fourth win at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
While everything worked in Shaffer's favor, Fresno, Calif. native Giovanni Scelzi was not as fortunate. After falling to fourth, from third, at the beginning of the race, he worked his way to second place by lap 10 and began closing in on Shaffer while he entered lap traffic. Scelzi in the #83JR for Roth Motorsports never let Shaffer out of his sight in the closing laps of the race. He even stole the lead from him on one of the restart attempts on lap 26, but a caution was thrown before the field could complete at lap, putting him back in second place.
Once the field took the green flag, after stopping to refuel, Scelzi stayed on pace with Shaffer until entering turns three and four too aggressively, hitting the cushion and falling back two positions.
"I blistered my tires really, and kind of just overdrove the car and made some mistakes," Scelzi said. "But first night in this car, it's a good start with a top five."
Roth Motorsports has had a strong start to the season with Daryn Pittman winning the two season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park – also resulting in his third DIRTcar Nationals championship and Roth Motorsport's first. Pittman finished seventh, maintaining his points lead from Florida, now eight points ahead of second place Donny Schatz.
Schatz also had a strong run coming from 11th to third – his second podium finish in three races.
"That's the best we could do there," Schatz said. "We're gaining on things and feeling a little bit better."
Like Schatz, Kaeding had to climb his way through the field, finishing second after starting 10th. When Shaffer entered lapped traffic, you could throw a blanket over he, Scelzi and Kaeding. While Scelzi stocked Shaffer, Kaeding in his Sides Motorsports car was close behind stocking them both.
After Scelzi bounced off the cushion, the 21-time Series winner capitalized on the opportunity, darting by the black #83JR to take second place. With a clear track in front of him he could focus on hunting down Shaffer. The only problem was Shaffer had mastered the high line of the track, keeping more than a second between himself and Kaeding by the end of the race.
"I think we just ran out of time," Kaeding said "Right before that red flag came out, I knew something was wrong, he might run out of fuel."
Understanding how to drive the Las Vegas track was key to winning, Shaffer said.
"It's a tricky track," Shaffer said. "It's demanding. You know, you've got to be on your game. This place is so tough. You've got to be good in the slick to get to the tacky (spots). When your car is evil here, it's a handful."
He credits his team for giving him a good handling car that could handle the track conditions.
While Shaffer has more than 20 wins, and has raced with the Series for several years, beating the star-studded field of World of Outlaws drivers is still special to him.
"It's just awesome to be competing with them (the Outlaws)," Shaffer said. "To come here and win this deal is pretty awesome."
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action at the DIRTcar Nationals resumes tomorrow at The DIRT Track at Las Vegas. As always, you can catch all the action from the Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit- World of Outlaws woosprint.com
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars Shift Placerville Event to Saturday, March 23
'The Greatest Show on Dirt' invades Golden State for entire month of March
CONCORD, NC – Feb. 18, 2019 – The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will make California its home in March, competing on eight nights at seven different Golden State tracks throughout the month. Among those is the 49er Gold Rush Classic presented by Riebes NAPA at Placerville Speedway, which will now be on Saturday, March 23.
The Series will commence its West Coast tour – featuring some of the toughest local competition the Outlaws see all season – March 8 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., and will cap the run off on March 30 at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.
Brad Sweet, a native of Grass Valley, Calif., will aim to hold off the competition in his home state to add to his win list. However, Series points leader Daryn Pittman and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz won't make it easy, with strong runs to open the season in Florida.
Last year, Sweet won at Placerville Speedway after a tight race-long battle with Rico Abreu. The Series will return to the high-octane quarter-mile oval this year on the new date.
"We have had great crowds and support at Placerville and we want to keep it growing," Sweet said. "Our goal is to keep making this event bigger and bigger as time goes on."
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are also returning to the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, and Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford. The Series last visited the Hanford track in 2017, when Logan Schuchart scored the win.
Last March in California was a success for first-time winners.
Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare saw a fierce battle between the No. 87 of Aaron Reutzel and the No. 83 of Cory Eliason, as the two traded the lead for several laps with both in search of their first Series win. With four laps to go, Reutzel was able to overpower Eliason and make his first trip to victory lane.
Eliason had his day in the sun just a couple of weeks later, commanding the Stockton Dirt Track race from start to finish. No one had anything for the California-native as he become the second driver that month to earn his first Series win.
Tickets are now on sale for all West Coast swing races at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. For the races at Thunderbowl Raceway call 559-688-0909.
A portion of proceeds from tickets and a special t-shirt will benefit the California Fire Foundation as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars looked for ways to give back to those affected by California wildfires over the winter.
California Spring Break Tour
March 8 – Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif.
March 9 – Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif.
March 15 – Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, Calif.
March 16 – Stockton Dirt Track, Stockton, Calif.
March 22 – Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, Calif.
March 23 – Placerville Speedway, Placerville, Calif.
March 29 – Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds, Hanford, Calif.
March 30 – Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, Calif.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Pittman Claims Third Golden Gator
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 10, 2019 – Mother Nature put a halt to Daryn Pittman's quest for three wins in a row at Volusia Speedway Park, canceling Sunday's Sprint Car event, but handed him his third DIRTcar Nationals championship. And the first for his new Roth Motorsports team.
"To do it with a different team makes it that much more special," Pittman said about getting another golden gator. "For us to come out here and be as fast and consistent every time we hit the track just speaks volumes for the guys working on this team."
Pittman won two thrilling shows during Friday and Saturday nights' World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at Volusia and finished on the podium during the Tuesday and Wednesday night Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Mobil 1 races. His consistency gave him a 28-point lead over Brad Sweet coming into Sunday night's race, and now his third DIRTcar Nationals championship – his two previous were in 2013 and 2015.
Last year, in his No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing ride, Pittman never cracked the top-11 during the three Volusia Speedway Park DIRTcar Nationals races.
"To be able to bounce back this year and dominate the way that we did, by being the most consistent car every night, is pretty good redemption for myself, personally," Pittman said. "There were a lot of questions about my move and changing teams, and you want to get off to a strong start. We'll see what the rest of the year holds."
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will trek forward with the schedule to Texas Friday Feb. 22 at Cotton Bowl Speedway and Saturday Feb. 23 at LoneStar Speedway for the East Texas Lonestar Shootout. As always, you can catch all the action from the DIRTcar Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit to the World of Outlaws woosprint.com.
Pittman Goes Two-for-Two at Volusia Speedway Park's DIRTcar Nationals
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 9, 2019 – One of Daryn Pittman's favorite drivers growing up was Stevie Smith. By capturing his 83rd win – in the 83 car – during the second night of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the DIRTcar Nationals he is now just one win away from tying his childhood hero.
"Just that number (83 wins) to me is pretty staggering," Pittman said after winning his second race in a row at Volusia Speedway Park. To him, it's surreal he would ever get close to Smith's record.
He cruised to win number 82 Friday night, making each pass with ease on the bottom of the track. Win 83 wasn't as easy. NASCAR Xfinity Series star Christopher Bell made sure of it.
Bell pulled to the lead at the start of the race and held it until lap 18 when Pittman's quest for the top spot finally reached the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab car. The two traded the lead five times – three times in the last five laps.
By the time Bell and Pittman began battling for the lead, lapped traffic came into play. The slower cars worked in Pittman's favor Friday night, as leader Shane Stewart got hung up behind one, allowing Pittman to shoot by.
They weren't an issue for Bell, maneuvering around them like an obstacle course he designed. If Pittman wanted the win, he had to outpower Bell without help.
Pittman was able to make the bottom of the track work for him early, clearing Bell on lap 19. But Bell fought back, reclaiming the lead just a lap later. Pittman was forced to regroup and try another method of catching Bell and getting back by him.
It took six laps to do so, using the high side and middle of the track as his path back to Bell's bumper. Pittman was able to again clear him for the lead, but Bell was resilient, throwing his car to the bottom of turn one and again reclaiming the lead.
After trading slide jobs in the last five laps of the race, by lap 28 the No. 83 Roth Motorsports car finally found enough grip on the high side of turns one and two to clear Bell and pull away. However, he didn't know he created gap between himself and Bell.
"As a driver I felt like once I got the lead that should have been the end of it, because I felt like my car was better, so once I gave it back, I thought I might be in trouble," Pittman said. "Honestly I thought he passed me back on the last lap. I thought I gave the race away because I completely missed the bottom on the white flag lap, and I guess it was a lapped car."
While Bell is happy with the speed he's shown this week, finishing third in Friday's Feature and winning Saturday night's DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, he's left wondering what he could have done better.
"Most of the time, I feel like in winged cars, especially on half miles, you get beat in lapped traffic," Bell said. "In this scenario, I didn't really get beat in lap traffic. He (Pittman) was obviously better than me, somehow, some way, so just go back and watch what he was doing to make up time on me. It sucks because most of the time you don't get beat in an open track like that."
Pittman credits some of the early success his team has shown to the ideas his Crew Chief Brent Ventura has provided, and that he has more say with adjustments than he did with the No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing car. While he is coming off two wins in a row, Pittman is not taking his latest wins for granted.
"Every win is special," Pittman said. "Eighty-two is great. Eighty-three is awesome. You never know when your last one is going to be. We'll enjoy this one, and hopefully we have a lot more left in us."
If he wins the Series' finale to the DIRTcar Nationals Sunday, not only will he claim his third DIRTcar Nationals championship, he'll tie his childhood hero, Stevie Smith.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will wrap up its DIRTcar Nationals championship tomorrow at Volusia Speedway Park. As always, you can catch all the action from the DIRTcar Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 39-Christopher Bell [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [2][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [15][$2,300]; 7. 87-Aaron Reutzel [8][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$2,100]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$2,050]; 10. 2-Carson Macedo [6][$2,000]; 11. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [10][$1,500]; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer [13][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [12][$1,100]; 14. 26-Cory Eliason [14][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$1,000]; 16. 71-Parker Price-Miller [5][$900]; 17. 13-Paul McMahan [17][$800]; 18. 70X-Spencer Bayston [11][$800]; 19. 5-Shane Stewart [21][$800]; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne [20][$800]; 21. 7K-Cale Conley [16][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [25][$]; 23. 70-Brock Zearfoss [24][$800]; 24. 17W-Shane Golobic [23][$800]; 25. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$800]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]
Lap Leaders: Christopher Bell 1-18, 20-25, 27; Daryn Pittman 19, 26, 28-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 71-Parker Price-Miller, 12.849; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.011; 3. 21-Brian Brown, 13.013; 4. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.015; 5. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.065; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.073; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.126; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.147; 9. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.151; 10. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.151; 11. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.162; 12. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.173; 13. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.176; 14. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.217; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.222; 16. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.24; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.248; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.249; 19. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.266; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.292; 21. 41-David Gravel, 13.319; 22. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 13.329; 23. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.347; 24. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.389; 25. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.426; 26. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.532; 27. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.6; 28. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.641; 29. 47-Brant O'Banion, 13.817; 30. 19-Brent Marks, NT; 31. 84-Tom Harris, NT
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Article credit: World of Outlaws woosprint.com.
Pittman Powers to Opening Night Victory at Volusia Speedway Park's DIRTcar Nationals
BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 8, 2019 – Daryn Pittman is no stranger to winning at Volusia Speedway Park. However, when he pulled his Sprint Car into Victory Lane during the opening night of the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the DIRTcar Nationals it was like a first win.
NOS Energy Drink dawned Victory Lane for the first time as the new title sponsor of the Series, but the biggest change for Pittman was the car he drove to the win – the legendary Roth Motorsports No. 83.
"There is nothing better than starting the year off with a win," said Pittman, who won for the 82nd time in his World of Outlaws career. "It's hard to do. Everyone of these wins is hard to come by. But to start the season off like this, I don't think we could have scripted it any better."
For the past six years, Pittman drove the No. 9 for Kasey Kahne Racing – winning his only Series championship in 2013, his first year with the team. He lost that ride at the end of 2018, as car owner Kasey Kahne planned to run more Sprint Car races this year. Losing that ride didn't put any more pressure on him to perform, though. The pressure is always there.
"I put enough pressure on myself every day, no matter who I'm driving for or what I'm racing," Pittman said. "At my age (40), I'm not young anymore. The truth is, you have too many bad seasons and you get to my age, people start wondering 'Man has he lost it or not?'. I just have pressure on myself to get out there and perform."
Pittman added his goal with Roth Motorsports is to build a long-lasting, competitive program.
He showed speed all day, qualifying second, finishing second in his Heat Race and finishing third in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – behind fellow Oklahoma-natives Shane Stewart in the CJB Motorsports No. 5 car and Christopher Bell in the Swindell SpeedLab No. 39 car, who he battled for the win during the 30-lap caution free Feature.
Stewart, who is also in a new ride this year with the CJB Motorsports team, shot to the lead on the opening lap of the Feature. He utilized the top side of the track to his advantage most of the night, holding off attacks by Bell and Pittman for the lead. He switched to the bottom of the track for a few laps, allowing Bell, on the high side, to make his best attempt to steal the lead. Bell was able to pull side-by-side with Stewart, but never able to clear him.
Bell and Pittman traded second-place a few times throughout the race. By lap 15, Pittman was able to clear Bell for second, utilizing the traction at the bottom of the track.
Sticking to the bottom, Pittman began to reel in Stewart, who had entered lap traffic. With 10 laps to go, Stewart looked to have the race under control, keeping a healthy distance between he and Pittman while maneuvering through lap cars. Until five laps later.
Coming off turn four on the high side, Stewart's run was disrupted by a slower lap car, allowing Pittman to get underneath him in turn one, then clearing him on the backstretch. Once Pittman stole the lead, Stewart was unable to challenge for it back and had to settle for second.
"I wish I had a couple of them laps back," Stewart said. "I got caught behind (Jason) Sides, and I wasn't really sure what to do. And to win these races you can't make little mistakes like that. We had a solid night. This car has been fast since I've set foot in it and I'm really excited about this year."
Bell finished third, ahead of Brad Sweet in fourth and Donny Schatz in fifth. However, Schatz and David Gravel – also in a new ride this year – tied coming to the line for fifth. Schatz was awarded fifth, because per Series rules, going back to the previous lap Schatz was ahead of Gravel.
Gravel did earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger honor, coming from 17th to sixth.
For Pittman, while he is dealing with a lot of new, Friday night's win is the start to showing people he will be a threat to win every night, he said.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action at the DIRTcar Nationals resumes tomorrow at Volusia Speedway Park. As always, you can catch all the action from the Nationals and the World of Outlaws on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 5-Shane Stewart [1][$5,500]; 3. 39-Christopher Bell [2][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,500]; 6. 41-David Gravel [17][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [4][$2,200]; 8. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [6][$2,100]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [8][$2,050]; 10. 26-Cory Eliason [11][$2,000]; 11. 87-Aaron Reutzel [12][$1,500]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$1,200]; 13. 71-Parker Price-Miller [16][$1,100]; 14. 13-Paul McMahan [13][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$1,000]; 16. 70X-Spencer Bayston [7][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$800]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$]; 19. 17W-Shane Golobic [19][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [22][$800]; 21. 7K-Cale Conley [21][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 23. 70-Brock Zearfoss [15][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 25. 33M-Mason Daniel [20][$800]; 26. 49X-Tim Shaffer [18][$800]
Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-15, Daryn Pittman 16-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: 41-David Gravel [+12]
Qualifying: 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.024; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.097; 3. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.11; 4. 39-Christopher Bell, 13.121; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.133; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.188; 7. 21-Brian Brown, 13.225; 8. 1K-Kyle Larson, 13.238; 9. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.302; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.309; 11. 26-Cory Eliason, 13.341; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.405; 13. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.433; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.439; 15. 7K-Cale Conley, 13.441; 16. 33M-Mason Daniel, 13.52; 17. 41-David Gravel, 13.501; 18. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.535; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.552; 20. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.598; 21. 9-Kasey Kahne, 13.601; 22. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.634; 23. 17W-Shane Golobic, 13.706; 24. 71-Parker Price-Miller, 13.752; 25. 19-Brent Marks, 13.77; 26. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.771; 27. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.786; 28. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.859; 29. J4-John Garvin, 13.875; 30. 84-Tom Harris, 13.898; 31. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 14.055; 32. K4-Chad Kemenah, 14.079; 33. 47-Brant O'Banion, 14.259.
The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
World of Outlaws - woosprint.com.
Schatz Wins Thriller From 10th in 2018 Season Finale at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 3, 2018 – In fitting fashion, Donny Schatz came from 10th at The Dirt Track at Charlotte to win the final night of the World Finals presented by Can-Am. Schatz wrapped up his 10th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Championship on Thursday. Logan Schuchart, who exchanged slide jobs with Schatz coming to the White Flag, settled for second with ninth-starting Brad Sweet completing the podium.
Spencer Bayston, in search of his first career World of Outlaws win, won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap Feature alongside Carson Macedo, who won the second Dash.
It was Macedo, who will join the Outlaws full-time with Kyle Larson Racing in 2019, getting the jump on the initial start to lead the opening circuit. Bayston remained in tow as fifth-starting Logan Schuchart darted to third on the second lap.
Schuchart, who came from 20th to complete the podium Saturday afternoon, took second from Bayston on Lap 8 and set his eyes on Macedo.
Schuchart went for the lead on Lap 9 with a big slide job in turn four, but Macedo powered around the Shark Racing No.1S. Schuchart took the lead on Lap 11 with a slide job in turn two but once again Macedo was ready with a slide job of his own out of turn four to lead the lap.
Jason Sides brought out the first caution of the event on Lap 14. Schatz, who started 10th, went from sixth to fourth on the restart before Sheldon Haudenschild slowed on the following lap.
On that restart Schatz maneuvered by Bayston and Schuchart for the runner-up position and began closing in on Macedo.
Macedo set a strong pace and looked poised out front in his second night racing for KLR but it was not meant to be as a flat right rear tire sent the Lemoore, CA native into the wall with 23 laps complete.
Schatz inherited the lead, but his job was far from done as a determined Schuchart stayed right with the Champion on the restart. As Schuchart closed in on Schatz, the sellout crowd roared in anticipation of an upset victory.
With two laps remaining, Schuchart pulled the big slide job through turn one and two but Schatz returned the favor on the other end to remain in command coming to the White Flag.
A last-ditch effort from Schuchart came up just short as Schatz went on to win his 22nd Feature of the season.
When asked about the pace set by young guns Macedo and Schuchart, Schatz said, “The sport’s pretty damn bright. Even the old guys can still get it done.”
“Hats off to my guys, they have worked their butts off all season. I’m the hardest guy in the pits to work for because if it’s not perfect, I’m not happy,” Schatz said with a smile next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15. “These guys do an excellent job night in and night out. I felt great on that restart with seven to go and I knew it would take someone with a lot of speed to get by me and sure enough here comes the 1S.”
Before celebrating his victory, Schatz showed true sportsmanship going over and congratulating Schuchart on a great, clean race.
“I knew it was going to be tough to beat him. I had one shot and couldn’t make it stick but it is great to be able to have a good, clean race with the 10-time Champion,” Schuchart said.
When asked about the progress of Shark Racing, who just secured Drydene Performance as a title sponsor, Schuchart couldn’t help but get emotional, “We have grown tremendously, and it all starts with [Bobby Allen]. I’m so proud to be his grandson,” Schuchart said to a huge ovation.
Brad Sweet clawed his way forward from ninth to finish on the podium. “We’ve been in the hunt all year long. It was a great season and it was nice to end on the podium,” Sweet, who enjoyed a career-best season, said.
Tim Shaffer finished fourth, his second top-five of the day, with 11th-starting Gio Scelzi completing the top-five.Kraig Kinser earned KSE Hard Charger honors, advancing 13 positions after taking a Provisional.
The 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series 40th Anniversary officially comes to an end tomorrow evening with the Awards Banquet. DIRTVision.com will be live streaming both the Sprint Car and Late Model banquets for free.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$12,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$3,200]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$2,800]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [11][$2,500]; 6. 39-Spencer Bayston [1][$2,300]; 7. 5-David Gravel [6][$2,200]; 8. 5M-Kerry Madsen [4][$2,100]; 9. 41-Joey Saldana [13][$2,050]; 10. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [7][$2,000]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [25][$100]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [19][$1,050]; 15. 9-Daryn Pittman [24][$1,000]; 16. 21-Brian Brown [21][$1,000]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [27][$]; 18. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [18][$1,000]; 19. 87-Aaron Reutzel [14][$1,000]; 20. 13-Paul McMahan [12][$1,000]; 21. 19-Brent Marks [17][$1,000]; 22. 83-Cory Eliason [22][$1,000]; 23. W20-Greg Wilson [28][$]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [16][$1,000]; 25. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; 26. 17A-Austin McCarl [15][$1,000]; 27. 22-Carson Macedo [2][$1,000]; 28. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-23, Donny Schatz 24-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 11K-Kraig Kinser[+12]
Ian Madsen Gets First Win of Season During Saturday Afternoon Portion of World Finals at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 3, 2018 – Australian Ian Madsen will be named the 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year and accentuated that honor with his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature win of the year Saturday afternoon during World Finals presented by Can-Am action at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tim Shaffer surged late to finish second with 20th-starting Logan Schuchart completing the podium.
Tim Shaffer and Aaron Reutzel led the field to Green on the daytime dry, slick racing surface but it was Madsen taking control off of turn four to lead the opening lap.
Shane Stewart, who started beside Madsen in row two, found speed on the cushion blasting to the lead on Lap 5.
It’s no secret it’s been a challenging year for Shane Stewart and that continued Saturday afternoon as a flat tire on the Kyle Larson Racing No.2 on Lap 13 summarized their 2018 season.
Madsen inherited the lead for the double-file restart, but all eyes were on 20th-starting Logan Schuchart and 17th-starting Greg Wilson who made their way into the top-five before the half-way point.
The ensuing restart saw Brian Brown go for a vicious ride through turn one and two. Brown was uninjured in the accident.
When action resumed, Wilson and Schuchart jockeyed for the runner-up position as they both reeled in the KCP Racing No.18.
With Madsen out front, Wilson glued to the bottom and Schuchart banging down the cushion, the capacity crowd at The Dirt Track at Charlotte roared with excitement as they nearly went 3-wide for the lead.
With five laps remaining a caution for Brent Marks halted the torrid battle for the lead with Madsen out front followed by Schuchart and Wilson. The single-file restart gave Schuchart the opportunity to set up a pass for the lead, but Madsen powered away convincingly.
Tim Shaffer reclaimed third from Wilson before the Red Flag flew with three laps remaining for Parker Price-Miller, who tipped lightly on his side.
With one last restart, Schuchart again looked to the bottom side for the lead but brushed off his speed and allowed Tim Shaffer to regain second as Ian Madsen went on to win his third career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature.
“This is an awesome feeling. We’ve been coming to this event every year and it keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s awesome to be a part of the World Finals,” a relieved Madsen said.
“Day-time racing is tricky, especially when the preferred racing line kept changing. I saw Logan behind me and I know he’s particularly good on these type of race tracks,” the Australian added before thanking his KCP Racing Team and saying hello to all of his family, friends and car owner, who are scattered around the world.
Tim Shaffer and 20th-starting Schuchart completed the podium. Shaffer found speed late, said he wished there were 10 more laps and referenced how strong he felt when he pulled the wing all the way back.
Schuchart, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors, emphasized that he wanted to get the win for Drydene Performance, who announced Thursday a multi-year partnership with both Shark Racing cars and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
12th-starting Spencer Bayston charged to fourth with Greg Wilson fading late, but still officially being scored with a strong 17th to fifth run. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series completes its 40th Anniversary Season with the night portion of the World Finals presented by Can-Am double-header at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway! As always, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature: (30 Laps): 1. 18-Ian Madsen [3][$12,000]; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$5,500]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$3,200]; 4. 39-Spencer Bayston [12][$2,800]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$2,500]; 6. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,300]; 7. 83-Cory Eliason [15][$2,200]; 8. 22-Carson Macedo [8][$2,100]; 9. 87-Aaron Reutzel [2][$2,050]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [21][$2,000]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [18][$1,500]; 12. 4-Kasey Kahne [13][$1,200]; 13. 5M-Kerry Madsen [11][$1,100]; 14. 9-Daryn Pittman [25][$50]; 15. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [27][$]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [28][$]; 18. 41-Joey Saldana [24][$1,000]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$1,000]; 20. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 21. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [16][$1,000]; 22. 13-Paul McMahan [5][$1,000]; 23. 7S-Jason Sides [29][$]; 24. 44-Trey Starks [23][$1,000]; 25. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [22][$1,000]; 26. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [19][$1,000]; 27. 19P-Paige Polyak [9][$1,000]; 28. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$1,000]; 29. 21-Brian Brown [6][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-4, 13-30; Shane Stewart 5-12; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+17]
Afternoon Rain and Track Curfew Force Friday’s World Finals Features to Saturday Afternoon
CHARLOTTE, NC – November 2, 2018 – Heavy afternoon rain and a midnight curfew at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway allowed the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series to get everything in except the Features on Night Two of the World Finals presented by Can-Am. Friday's Super DIRTcar Series Feature will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:30 with the Late Model and Sprint Car Features to follow. Saturday’s portion of the event will kick-off with Opening Ceremonies at 4:45pm.
Paige Polyak, Tim Shaffer, Ian Madsen, Aaron Reutzel, Spencer Bayston and David Gravel won the six World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Heat Races before Gerard McIntyre won the C Main and fast timer Parker Price-Miller won the Last Chance Showdown.
Shaffer and Reutzel drew the pole and won their respective Sears Craftsman Dashes to earn the front row for the 30-lap, $12,000 to win, $1,000 to start Feature. Shaffer will look for his first Outlaw triumph of the season while Reutzel will be in search of his second, after scoring his first career World of Outlaws win at Tulare in March.
Ian Madsen and Shane Stewart will occupy the second row. Madsen, who will be crowned 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, would love nothing more to accentuate that honor with his first win of the season. Stewart’s five-year tenure with Kyle Larson Racing will come to a close tomorrow and a victory would be a strong ending to a challenging year.
David Gravel entered the evening 24 points ahead of Daryn Pittman for third in the Series Point Standings. Gravel was strong winning his Heat Race and will lineup 10th, while Pittman struggled and was forced to use a Provisional, meaning he will start 25th.
Donny Schatz Nets $51,000 with Tuscarora 50 Triumph at Port Royal Speedway
PORT ROYAL, PA – October 28, 2018 – Donny Schatz continued his remarkable 2018 campaign with a $51,000 payday at Port Royal Speedway, passing Brad Sweet on Lap 32 to win the Tuscarora 50. Freddie Rahmer surged from 16th to finish second with Daryn Pittman charging from 23rd to third on the excellent daytime racing surface.
The ‘Kings Royal’ type format saw four cars inverted in six Heat Races. Lucas Wolfe and Brad Sweet won their respective Heats to earn the front row for the 50-Lap, $51,000 to win Feature.
Sweet led the opening circuit before a nasty crash involving Port Royal’s Track Champion Logan Wagner and Tim Shaffer, halted action with one complete. Both drivers were uninjured in the accident but done for the afternoon.
Sweet was strong on the restart and didn’t reach traffic before Logan Schuchart’s night came to an end on Lap 6, stopping on the front stretch.
Lucas Wolfe remained in second on the ensuing restart, looking for a way around the 2018 Knoxville Nationals Champion. Donny Schatz worked his way forward to third from his fifth starting position and remained within striking distance of Sweet and Wolfe.
Consecutive cautions on Lap 16 and 17 allowed Wolfe to set up an attack for the lead on the restart. As Sweet brought the field back to Green on the 18th circuit, Wolfe blasted to the top side of the racing surface and took control of the field down the backstretch to a large roar from the Port Royal faithful, only to have the pass negated by a caution for a stopped Ian Madsen.
The following restart Sweet was prepared and fended off Wolfe’s charge before the caution flew on Lap 21 for the designated fuel stop.
When action resumed, Donny Schatz moved into second and began closing in on Sweet for the lead. Schatz found grip on the bottom and got underneath Sweet to lead the 32nd lap before the caution flew for fourth-place running Gio Scelzi.
Schatz ran away on the restart as Wolfe began going to work on the cushion, closing in on Sweet, eventually reclaiming the second position on Lap 38. At this point, 16th-starting Freddie Rahmer had climbed to fourth with 23rd-starting Daryn Pittman coming forward to sixth.
A caution with eight laps remaining bunched the field together and gave Wolfe a chance to steal the victory from Schatz.
Schatz powered away on the restart, completing a lap before the Yellow Flag flew for debris, as the hood flew off seventh-place running TJ Stutts’ car, ending his evening.
Schatz again blasted away on the restart, leaving no doubt who the class of the field was, en route to his 21st World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018.
“That felt like a 500-miler,” Schatz said with a chuckle in Victory Lane about the caution-filled race, next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15. As always, Schatz deflected the credit of the victory his crew, “These guys are incredible at what they do, it’s pretty cool to win that big money. Anytime you win in Pennsylvania it’s big and this is a big one.”
“We decided we better start testing out the 2019 rule changes and since we’ve done that, we haven’t finished worse than second and that’s really important,” Schatz, who was sporting a special Arctic Cat paint scheme, added before expressing his gratitude to Port Royal Speedway for not giving in to Mother Nature this weekend.
Freddie Rahmer continued his impressive 2018 season, surging from 16th to finish second. “My car was really good, I could really move around. They did a great job with the track,” Rahmer, who scored his first career World of Outlaws victory earlier this year in July, said in appreciation of Port Royal.
Daryn Pittman, who charged from 23rd to complete the podium, echoed the sentiments about Port Royal Speedway, “Hats off to Port Royal, they could’ve easily thrown in the towel for this weekend. They did a really nice job widening out the track. It’s always a pleasure to come back to this place and see the improvements they do on a weekly basis.”
“To start 23rd and end up on the podium says a lot about how great my race car was and the track. I wish we would have been a little stronger earlier in the night to get a better starting position,” Pittman, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors added.
Brad Sweet finished fourth with 17th-starting David Gravel completing the top five.
Persistent rain and cold temperatures led to the cancellation of Friday and Saturday’s program, forcing the World of Outlaws and Port Royal to use the Sunday rain date.
The program was moved forward in the afternoon; a good decision by all parties, as heavy rain began to fall less than an hour after the Feature concluded.
Brian Brown bested the 51-car field in Qualifying and broke the Track Record in Qualifying with a lap of 14.868. In total, seven drivers in Qualifying went under the existing record and for the first time in track history a sub-15-second lap was run.
With the unique format, the Tuscarora 50 was show-up points only for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series teams.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series finishes off its 40th Anniversary Season with the World Finals presented by Can-Am at The Dirt Track at Charlotte next Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 1st-3rd. Tickets still remain for one of dirt track racing’s biggest spectacles as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars and Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block-Modifieds crown their champions.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (50 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$51,513]; 2. 51-Freddie Rahmer [16][$12,000]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [23][$5,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$4,437]; 5. 5-David Gravel [17][$3,000]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [1][$2,500]; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich [6][$2,300]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [14][$2,100]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [10][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$1,900]; 12. 58-Jim Siegel [15][$1,500]; 13. 5C-Dylan Cisney [25][$300]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo [7][$1,250]; 15. 11-T.J. Stutts [19][$1,200]; 16. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [12][$1,150]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [11][$1,100]; 18. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$1,075]; 19. 71X-Dominic Scelzi [8][$1,050]; 20. 5T-Tyler Reeser [18][$1,025]; 21. 39M-Anthony Macri [13][$1,000]; 22. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [22][$1,000]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$1,000]; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer [20][$1,000]; 25. 1-Logan Wagner [24][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31, Donny Schatz 32-50; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman[+20]
Qualifying Flight-A: 1. 41-Carson Macedo, 14.891; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.905; 3. 11-T.J. Stutts, 14.929; 4. 1-Logan Wagner, 14.968; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.969; 6. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 14.98; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.017; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri, 15.028; 9. 58-Jim Siegel, 15.036; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 15.037; 11. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 15.063; 12. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 15.083; 13. 5-David Gravel, 15.091; 14. 83-Cory Eliason, 15.121; 15. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 15.126; 16. 69K-Lance Dewease, 15.131; 17. 5M-Kerry Madsen, 15.132; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.163; 19. 55-Mike Wagner, 15.233; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.299; 21. 35-Justin Henderson, 15.393; 22. 33-Jared Esh, 15.44; 23. 1R-Kyle Reinhardt, 15.442; 24. W20-Greg Wilson, 15.465; 25. 29-Brent Shearer, 16.543; 26. 12W-Troy Fraker, 16.712
Qualifying Flight-B: 1. 21-Brian Brown, 14.868; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 15.046; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman, 15.099; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.116; 5. 71X-Dominic Scelzi, 15.134; 6. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 15.165; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich, 15.184; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 15.233; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.233; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.238; 11. 2-Shane Stewart, 15.264; 12. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 15.28; 13. 94-Ryan Smith, 15.295; 14. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 15.297; 15. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 15.305; 16. 7K-Cale Conley, 15.322; 17. 44-Trey Starks, 15.347; 18. 39C-Cory Haas, 15.367; 19. 39-Spencer Bayston, 15.374; 20. 5T-Tyler Reeser, 15.481; 21. 21X-Brian Montieth, 15.512; 22. 91-Tony Fiore, 15.534; 23. 70-Dave Blaney, 15.591; 24. 10K-Joe Kata, 16.009; 25. 47K-Kody Lehman, 16.174
Donny Schatz Hits 20-Win Mark for Sixth Consecutive Season with Dodge City Victory
DODGE CITY, KS – October 20, 2018 – Donny Schatz passed Ian Madsen on Lap 9 in lapped traffic and held off Madsen’s late race surge to win his 20th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series of 2018, Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Madsen, in his first visit to Dodge City, settled for second with Daryn Pittman completing the podium.
Ian Madsen set a new Dodge City track record in Qualifying, won his Heat and the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature. Madsen got a strong initial start to lead the opening lap. The Australian, who will be crowned as the 2018 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year at the years end, reached lapped traffic by the fourth circuit on the lightning-fast racing surface.
Madsen cleared the first slower car, but was held up by local Steven Richardson, allowing Schatz to close the gap. Madsen remained behind Richardson as Schatz got a strong run entering turn one to take the lead down the backstretch on the ninth circuit.
Schatz officially led the ninth lap before the caution flew for third-place running Sheldon Haudenschild. Haudenschild, who was also making his Dodge City debut, was able to return at the rear of the field.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Schatz and Madsen race away from the field, establishing themselves as the class of the field. Similar to Madsen early in the race, Schatz’ pace slowed dramatically when he reached lapped traffic. Madsen closed in on the nine-time Series Champion, and took a look underneath for the lead, but couldn’t complete the pass.
A sputtering Adam Gullion brought out the caution with 18 laps complete, giving the leaders a clear track. Two laps later, Jade Hastings blew up, setting up a ten-lap sprint to the finish.
Schatz and Madsen again pulled away from the field, as Kasey Kahne Racing teammates Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet jockeyed for third. Schatz reached traffic and again was forced to slow his pace on the tacky racing surface. Madsen closed in once again but came up .279 short, as Schatz took the Checkered Flag for the 20th time in 2018.
When asked about the difficulties of lapped traffic, Schatz said with a smile, “It’s how I got the lead and it’s how I almost lost it. They didn’t do anything wrong, but it was definitely tough to get by them.”
The win was Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15 team 20th win of the year, marking the sixth consecutive season they’ve reached that total. “It’s a testament to how great this team is, but we’re never satisfied. 20 wins isn’t enough, 40 wins isn’t enough, that’s what makes this team so great,” Schatz said about reaching the 20-win plateau.
“It’s a privilege to be able to drive for this great team against the greatest drivers in the world at the nicest facilities in the country,” Schatz said as a dual-compliment to the World of Outlaws competition and Dodge City Raceway Park.
Ian Madsen was obviously disappointed to not finish the job but remained in good spirits. “It was a great night for this KCP team, I had a lot of family and friends here tonight and our car owner was here as well, so it was great to have a good finish for all of them. I just read lapped traffic wrong, hopefully we can pick up a win here in the last two weeks,” Madsen said.
Daryn Pittman, fresh off his Lakeside victory a night ago, completed the podium and continued his recent hot streak. “We’re really happy where this team is right now, it’s a shame the year is coming to an end,” Pittman said next to his Ionomy-sponsored KKR No.9.
Brad Sweet and 12th-starting Brian Brown completed the top-five. Sam Hafertepe Jr. earned KSE Hard Charger honors, coming from last to 15th.
A chilly evening and good air had Dodge City Raceway Park in unchartered territory as 22 of the 23 cars signed in broke the 13-year-old track record. Ian Madsen’s Quick Time was nearly a half-second quicker than the existing fastest lap. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has two weekends left in its 40th Anniversary Season.
Next weekend, the Series heads back to Central Pennsylvania for the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway. Saturday’s 50-lap Feature will pay $51,000 to the winner. Following that, the Outlaws will conclude the year at the World Finals presented by Can-Am at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$10,000]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [1][$5,500]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [12][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [5][$2,200]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$2,100]; 9. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [11][$2,050]; 10. 5-David Gravel [14][$2,000]; 11. 41-Joey Saldana [15][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$1,200]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$1,100]; 14. 4-Brock Zearfoss [10][$1,050]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [23][$1,000]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$900]; 17. 1X-Don Droud [19][$800]; 18. 8H-Jade Hastings [18][$800]; 19. 91-Adam Gullion [20][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [13][$800]; 21. O-Steven Richardson [21][$800]; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson [22][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: Ian Madsen 1-8, Donny Schatz 9-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15H-Sam Hafertepe[+8]
Daryn Pittman Convincingly Scores 9th Win of 2018 in FVP Platinum Battery Shootout at Lakeside Speedway
KANSAS CITY, KS – October 19, 2018 – Daryn Pittman scored his ninth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature win of the season in convincing fashion, leading every lap of the FVP Platinum Battery Shootout at Lakeside Speedway. Donny Schatz extended his points lead with a runner-up finish and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the podium. It was Pittman’s 81st career World of Outlaws win and second at Lakeside with his prior triumph coming 15 years ago in 2003.
Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature, alongside Logan Schuchart. Pittman held off an early charge from Schuchart to take command of the field.
A fast racing surface allowed Pittman to reach lapped traffic on Lap 8. The Oklahoma veteran negotiated traffic well, before the lone caution flag of the Feature fell on Lap 12 as heartbreak struck second-place running Logan Schuchart. Schuchart smoked down the frontstretch before coming to stop in turn one, ending his evening.
Sheldon Haudenschild assumed second place alongside Pittman with Jason Sides and Donny Schatz in row two of the double-file restart.
Pittman powered away from the field with a strong restart as Haudenschild and Schatz waged war for the second spot with the nine-time and defending Series Champion taking the position for good on Lap 16.
Schatz narrowed Pittman’s lead, but the Kasey Kahne Racing, Ionomy-sponsored No.9 remained proficient through traffic.
The best battle on the race track was between Jason Sides, Brad Sweet and Joey Saldana, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, as the trio utilized the entire the Lakeside Speedway racing surface battling for the fifth position.
Back up front, Schatz continued to close in on Pittman, but time was running out. With five laps remaining, Pittman maintained good speed on the cushion as Schatz was a car-length lower than him, desperately trying to reel him in.
Pittman stayed strong up top and rode the cushion to victory, a mere .586 seconds ahead of Schatz.
“This place is always been a track I’ve enjoyed coming to. If your car is good, you can get by guys and as a racer that’s all you can ask for,” Pittman said speaking fondly of Lakeside Speedway.
“Hats off to my guys, my car was great. It was a lot of fun, lapped traffic was tight, but I could move around and maintain speed everywhere. Man, these wins are hard to come by. I’ve been doing this a long time and they never get easier,” Pittman said with a smile next to his KKR No.9.
Schatz settled for second and kept things simple after the race, “That’s the way it goes sometimes. We got ourselves up there to compete for the win but didn’t get it. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
In his second career Lakeside appearance, Sheldon Haudenschild landed on the podium for the second consecutive year, finishing third. “The 9 and 15 were good, I like this place, it’s wide and fast. It’s definitely cool to have Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.] here and a couple of the NASCAR boys, we’ll try again tomorrow,” Haudenschild said next to his NOS Energy Drink sponsored Stenhouse Jr-Marshall No.17.
Shane Stewart was strong all night and finished fourth with Joey Saldana finishing fifth in his debut aboard the JJR No.41.
Brad Sweet, Jason Sides, Ian Madsen, Kraig Kinser and Brent Marks completed the all-Outlaw top-ten. Brock Zearfoss, in his Lakeside debut, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from the LCS to finish 11th.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season tomorrow with a return to Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS. Weather has prevented the Series from racing there since 2015, don’t miss this year’s Boot Hill Showdown. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$5,500]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$2,800]; 5. 41-Joey Saldana [8][$2,500]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,300]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [6][$2,200]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$2,050]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,000]; 11. 4-Brock Zearfoss [19][$1,500]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [11][$1,200]; 13. 21-Brian Brown [12][$1,100]; 14. 5-David Gravel [15][$1,050]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [18][$1,000]; 16. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [14][$900]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [20][$800]; 18. 35L-Cody Ledger [24][$800]; 19. 33M-Mason Daniel [17][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [22][$800]; 21. 2C-Wayne Johnson [23][$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2][$800]; 23. 12-Lynton Jeffrey [21][$800]; 24. 1X-Don Droud [16][$800]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 4-Brock Zearfoss[+8]
Qualifying: 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.626; 2. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.734; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.744; 4. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.758; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.76; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.764; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.799; 8. 41-Joey Saldana, 13.814; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 13.831; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.833; 11. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.844; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.909; 13. 1X-Don Droud, 13.964; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.969; 15. 5-David Gravel, 13.98; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.985; 17. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.997; 18. 4-Brock Zearfoss, 14.022; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.024; 20. 12-Lynton Jeffrey, 14.04; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 14.117; 22. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 14.123; 23. 33M-Mason Daniel, 14.226; 24. 35L-Cody Ledger, 14.302; 25. 8H-Jade Hastings, 14.395; 26. 91-Adam Gullion, 14.853; 27. 91X-Riley Kreisel, 15.125
Christopher Bell Dominates Eldora Speedway for Fourth Career Outlaw Win
ROSSBURG, OH – October 14, 2018 – Christopher Bell pounded the cushion to perfection up against the Eldora Speedway wall to win his fourth career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature, but first of 2018, Sunday evening at the Ohio half-mile. Bell fell as far back as eighth but took the lead on Lap 14 and never looked back. Donny Schatz extended his Series points lead finishing second for a Tony Stewart Racing/Curb-Agajanian Racing one-two punch. Parker Price-Miller, who led the first 13 laps, completed the podium.
Tim Shaffer won the Sears Craftsman Dash and led the field down the backstretch, but a strong sweeping move across the racing surface from Parker Price-Miller saw the youngster lead the opening lap by a nose.
Carson Macedo, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, took second from Shaffer on Lap 9 and began closing in on Price-Miller for the lead.
Christopher Bell fell back from his fifth-starting spot on the initial start, but began his cushion-pounding charge forward immediately. As Macedo passed Shaffer for second on the ninth circuit, Bell re-entered the top five. Two laps later, Bell was third and visibly closing on the leaders. Bell passed Macedo for second on Lap 13 and took the lead the following lap from Price-Miller in turn one.
From there, Bell set sail, rim riding his way to a sizable advantage through lapped traffic.
Donny Schatz worked his way forward from his eighth starting spot to take third just past the halfway point.
The lone caution of the event flew on Lap 21 for a slowing Aaron Reutzel, setting up a double-file restart.
Price-Miller, who had fallen back to fourth, got an excellent restart and challenged Bell for the lead before settling into second. Bell once again powered away from the field, establishing a sizeable lead over the field.
Schatz went to work on Price-Miller for second, completing the pass with one to go. At this point, his TSR teammate was gone, as Bell cruised to win by over four seconds.
“I’m very grateful to run this thing, it’s a rocket every time I come to this place. It was so fast on the top, I could zoom right around,” Bell said in Victory Lane.
When asked about riding the wall at Eldora with a near-perfect race car, Bell didn’t hold back, saying, “It’s the most fun thing you’ll ever do.”
“It’s a dream come true to be able to win World of Outlaws races at Eldora,” Bell, who was making his fifth Outlaw start of the season, added with a smile.
Donny Schatz settled for second for the second consecutive night and was pleased with his car, “My car was really good. These guys keep working on it and making some gains, it was great to have some grip out there.”
Parker Price-Miller, in one of three Indy Race Parts entries, held off Macedo to complete the podium, “We were really good. When you are out front, you don’t know how strong you really are, and Christopher blew my doors off. He was the class of the field. I can’t thank Bernie and Betsy enough for giving me this opportunity.”
Macedo, who will return to the JJR No.41 at Port Royal in two weeks, finished fourth with Ian Madsen completing the top five.
Brent Marks came forward from 12th to sixth with Joey Saldana, in another Indy Race Parts car, was strong finishing seventh.
Sheldon Haudenschild charged from 18th to eighth and Logan Schuchart earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 20th to ninth. Pennsylvanian Brock Zearfoss, who will finish out the season following the Outlaw tour, completed the top-ten.
A night after breaking a 19-year-old track record at Terre Haute, teenager Gio Scelzi was within striking distance of the 16-year-old Eldora track record in Qualifying, missing it by seven hundredths of a second.
It was an early start at Eldora, which was coming off a double-header World 100 program the night before, with the Outlaw Feature ending before 7:30 on a brisk October evening.
A rare off-weekend for the NASCAR Xfinity Series allowed Bell to compete back in his dirt track roots. Bell currently leads Xfinity points and recently set the single-season win record for a rookie with six. Bell finished 11th last night at Terre Haute.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action next weekend with a pair of dates in Kansas, starting Friday, October 19 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City for the FVP Platinum Battery Shootout and concluding Saturday, October 20 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 14B-Christopher Bell [5][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$5,500]; 3. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [2][$3,200]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo [4][$2,800]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [3][$2,500]; 6. 19-Brent Marks [12][$2,300]; 7. 71X-Joey Saldana [6][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [18][$2,100]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$2,050]; 10. 4-Brock Zearfoss [10][$2,000]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [15][$1,500]; 12. 21-Brian Brown [14][$1,200]; 13. 49-Brad Sweet [13][$1,100]; 14. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [9][$1,050]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [7][$1,000]; 16. 39-Spencer Bayston [17][$900]; 17. 5-David Gravel [16][$800]; 18. 9-Daryn Pittman [22][$800]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$800]; 20. 81-Chad Kemenah [24][$800]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$800]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [11][$800]; 23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [21][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Parker Price-Miller 1-13, Christopher Bell 14-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+11]
Brad Sweet Continues Career Year with Terre Haute Triumph
TERRE HAUTE, IN – October 13, 2018 – Brad Sweet’s added another page to his unforgettable 2018 season with a flag-to-flag victory at the historic Terre Haute Action Track, his ninth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of the year. Donny Schatz charged from 12th to second, getting by Tim Shaffer, who completed the podium, on the Green-White-Checkered finish.
Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Daryn Pittman put on a show on the final lap of the Sears Craftsman Dash finishing side-by-side. Sweet edged Pittman by 0.054 to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature.
Sweet powered to the lead on the initial start to lead the opening circuit and reached lapped traffic on Lap 9 at the spacious Indiana half-mile. Pittman and 2001 Terre Haute Outlaw winner Tim Shaffer were in tow.
At the halfway point, Donny Schatz had worked forward from his 12th-starting spot to sixth aboard the Tony Stewart Racing/Curb-Agajanian No.15. By lap 19, the nine-time Series Champion and current points leader had maneuvered to fourth.
Sweet continued to work his way through traffic as Schatz closed the gap on Pittman and Shaffer for the runner-up position.
Lap 27 saw Shaffer and Schatz get by Pittman for position down the backstretch and through turn three, respectively.
As the White Flag flew for Brad Sweet, he would not be caught, as he had multiple lapped cars between himself and Shaffer and Schatz, who were in a torrid battle for second.
It wouldn’t be that easy for the driver known as ‘The Big Cat’, however, as the caution flew for a stopped Ian Madsen as Sweet was about to take the Checkered.
The caution set up a single-file, Green, White, Checkered finish with Shaffer, who was ahead of Schatz at the last completed lap, in second and Schatz in third.
On the restart, Schatz quickly disposed of Shaffer in turn one and set his eyes on Sweet for his 20th victory of the season. Schatz closed the gap in each corner, but it wasn’t enough, as Sweet went on to win by .686 seconds.
When asked about the late restart, Brad Sweet chuckled and said with a smile, “Well, I’ve been getting used to it. Knoxville, Black Hills, Chico and Lernerville have all had late race restarts and sometimes it’s not bad to get a clean track. I think we were just good enough to hold these guys off tonight.”
“Lapped traffic was tricky. I think I made a few mistakes, but I guess I had a big enough lead,” Sweet said of the long Green Flag period to open the race, before thanking his NAPA Auto Parts crew for their continued hard work.
“Terre Haute is a special place. I’ve won a non-wing USAC race here, so it’s cool to come back here and win with the World of Outlaws,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
Donny Schatz, who had passed Tim Shaffer for second on the final lap but had to go back to third for the Green-White-Checkered finish, was obviously disappointed to come up just short.
“We did what we could, the car was obviously rolling to get up there on an open race track. My guys did an incredible job, we wanted to get a win,” Schatz, who earned KSE Hard Charger honors for his efforts, said.
Tim Shaffer’s excellent 2018 season continued with a podium finish and he was pleased, “We had a great car, it kept coming in little by little as the race went on.”
Pittman settled for fourth with Sheldon Haudenschild charging from 15th to complete the top-five.
A week of rain and frigid temperatures had Terre Haute Action Track in unchartered territory during Qualifying, as 19 of the 32 cars signed in broke the existing track record set back in 1999. Brian Brown, who went out late, ended up establishing the new Terre Haute track record at 16.028, nearly a half-second faster than the existing record.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season tomorrow evening at Eldora Speedway with an early start time. Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 3:30pm, tickets for the The Greatest Show on Dirt’s final appearance of the year at ‘The Big E’ can be found here. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (31 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$5,500]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3][$3,200]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,800]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,500]; 6. 71X-Joey Saldana [6][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [5][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$2,100]; 9. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [7][$2,050]; 10. 5-David Gravel [4][$2,000]; 11. 14B-Christopher Bell [8][$1,500]; 12. 2-Shane Stewart [18][$1,200]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo [16][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [14][$1,050]; 15. 4-Brock Zearfoss [9][$1,000]; 16. 39-Spencer Bayston [21][$900]; 17. 19-Brent Marks [20][$800]; 18. 83-Cory Eliason [22][$800]; 19. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [23][$800]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson [19][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$800]; 22. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [24][$800]; 24. 99-Brady Bacon [17][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-31; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+10]
Schuchart Dominant at Fulton for Second Win of Year
FULTON, NY – October 6, 2018 – Logan Schuchart dominated all 30 laps to win Saturday Night at Fulton Speedway as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series invaded Super DIRT Week in New York. Sheldon Haudenschild charged late to second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
Kraig Kinser won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap affair, in search of his first win of the season, alongside Schuchart.
Schuchart's forgettable Qualifying laps put him 15th quick, forcing him to start fifth in his Heat. Methodically, Schuchart worked his way by three cars in the eight-lap event to excitingly secure that all-important spot in the Sears Craftsman Dash.
In the Feature, Schuchart got the initial jump to lead the opening lap. The Hanover, PA native reached lapped traffic quickly around the 3/8th mile and maneuvered it well.
Nine-time and defending Series Champion Donny Schatz moved by Kinser for second on Lap 12 and began closing in on Schuchart as the leaders navigated traffic.
While most drivers were fighting for the bottom, Sheldon Haudenschild, to no one’s surprise, went to work on the cushion in exciting fashion. Haudenschild got to fourth on Lap 16 and was visibly closing in on Kinser and Schatz, who both remained loyal to the bottom.
Haudenschild roared around Kinser for third on Lap 22 and caught Schatz quickly after. Sheldon used a big run out of turn two to cross-under Schatz for second into turn three.
In need of a Yellow, Haudenschild closed in on Schuchart but the latter powered away on the final lap and went on to win his second Feature of the year.
“I’m really proud of this team, we’ve been really strong this year, especially lately, with a handful of Quick Times and consistently in the top five. We just haven’t been able to pull off a lot of wins this year. This Drydene Performance/Shark Racing team is really strong, we just keep growing and keep getting better and I can’t wait for what is in store," Schuchart, who currently sits a career-high sixth in the Series Points Standings, said.
"The bossman Bobby Allen does a great job with this two-car operation and I’m proud to have him as my grandfather,” Schuchart, who holds the Fulton Speedway track record from back in 2016, added in Victory Lane.
Sheldon Haudenschild settled for second and walked through his charge forward, “I kind of had to wait until it cleaned off a little bit [before I could get going up top]. I committed to going up a groove in traffic and my car was really good up there.”
“I was praying for a Yellow, but we didn’t have any all night, the whole field did a good job. We have some really good tracks coming up, hopefully we can pull off a couple more wins and cap off a good season,” the Wooster, OH native said about this Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall No.17.
Donny Schatz extended his Series points lead with his podium finish. “With the finishes we’ve had lately, third is like a win. We had a decent run and traffic made it fun. The younger guys are getting their game on and making us old guys look silly,” Schatz said with a smile next to his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No.15 machine.
Shane Stewart, who set Quick Time, finished fourth with Kinser rounding out the top five. Larry Wight, who arrived late after competing during the day at Oswego Speedway, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 18th to ninth.
As Haudenschild mentioned, the entire World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series program went caution-free. With Mother Nature threatening the area all evening, a successful accelerated program was run, with both racing divisions done by 9pm.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action for a triple-header weekend starting Friday, October 12 with a makeup date at Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois before heading to Terre Haute Action Track Saturday and Eldora Speedway Sunday. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2][$10,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1][$2,500]; 6. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$2,200]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,100]; 9. 99L-Larry Wight [18][$2,050]; 10. 9-Daryn Pittman [7][$2,000]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [9][$1,200]; 13. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$1,100]; 14. 7S-Jason Sides [3][$1,050]; 15. 49K-Scott Kreutter [13][$1,000]; 16. 10K-Joe Kata [15][$900]; 17. 90-Matt Tanner [16][$800]; 18. 3-Denny Peebles [20][$800]; 19. 98-Joe Trenca [17][$800]; 20. 45-Chuck Hebing [19][$800]; 21. 54J-Steven Hutchinson [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 99L-Larry Wight[+9]
Lance Dewease Wins Emotional Williams Grove National Open Worth $56,000
MECHANICSBURG, PA – September 29, 2018 – The all-time Williams Grove win leader, Lance Dewease, passed Brock Zearfoss on Lap 24 and never looked back to win his 15th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of his career. Dewease, full of emotion in Victory Lane, dedicated the $56,000 Champion Racing Oil National Open win to the late, great Greg Hodnett. Daryn Pittman came from eighth to second with Brian Montieth completing the podium at the famous Williams Grove Speedway.
Zearfoss won the first of two Sears Craftsman Dashes to earn the pole for the 40-Lap Feature alongside Dewease, who won the second Dash. Zearfoss, who scored his first career World of Outlaws win last year at Williams Grove, got a strong start and led the opening lap.
Dewease didn’t let Zearfoss out of his sights, as Brian Montieth passed Brian Brown for third on Lap 7. Zearfoss reached the back of field on Lap 8 and began to maneuver through traffic before the caution flew Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz, as the top two in World of Outlaws in points sat atop turn two, with 12 laps complete. Schatz returned at the rear but Sweet was done for the evening.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Zearfoss maintain control and turn under a Dewease slide job on Lap 15 to retain the lead. Dewease was determined and not going away, chipping away on the bottom at Zearfoss’ lead.
As Zearfoss once again reached traffic, Dewease got a huge run through the middle of turn one to pull even with Zearfoss down the backstretch and take command of the field to lead Lap 24.
At Lap 25, World of Outlaws and Williams Grove officials made the decision to throw the caution flag to prevent a majority of teams from running out of fuel. The decision was based on the fact the air quality was so good and that there were extra parade laps in honor of Hodnett and Johnson.
Following the Open Red, Zearfoss had something break on the car entering turn one and he came to a stop at the end of the frontstretch. Understandably disappointed, Zearfoss walked away from his car under his own power.
Brian Montieth assumed second and threatened Dewease for the lead on the restart running his typical cushion-pounding line.
Daryn Pittman found speed on the bottom and got by Monteith for second on Lap 27.
At this point, Dewease had established he was the class of the field and powered away from the field, navigating traffic with ease. Pittman was formidable and quick, but never got within striking distance of Dewease as the Hall of Famer went on to win his 92nd Feature at Williams Grove and fourth National Open.
“This is for Greg [Hodnett]. This whole week is about Greg. Everyone that knew him knows how great of a racer is, but he was an even better person,” Dewease said holding back tears in Victory Lane. “No one understands how difficult this week has been,” Dewease added somberly. “I wanted this one bad for this team. You always want to run well at this race, we had some bad luck last year,” Dewease said about his Kreitz Racing No.69K team.
Daryn Pittman was strong and finished runner-up at the National Open for the fourth time in his career. “This weekend wasn’t about Posse or Outlaws, it was about honoring Greg and it was great to see Bobbi and Jaxx Johnson as well,” the well-spoken Oklahoman said. “I feel that were at the same pace as the 69K and that’s an accomplishment in its own right,” Pittman said with a grin.
Local fan-favorite Brian Montieth finished third, the best of his National Open career, and was pleased, “We were pretty good, I’m sitting here, real proud.”
Tim Shaffer finished fourth with Ryan Smith completing the top-five. Shane Stewart earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 22nd to ninth.
Gio Scelzi was awarded $1300 from the Beerhill Gang as the National Open Rookie of the Year and Chad Trout earned $1527 from Dirt Track Digest and SprintCarUnlimited.com with the ‘Just Missed Award’.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season next Saturday, October 6 at Fulton Speedway in New York during NAPA Super DIRT Week. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [2][$56,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [8][$12,000]; 3. 21X-Brian Montieth [5][$7,500]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [10][$4,000]; 5. 94-Ryan Smith [12][$3,500]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [4][$3,000]; 7. 11-T.J. Stutts [9][$2,700]; 8. 27-Paul McMahan [15][$2,500]; 9. 2-Shane Stewart [22][$2,200]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,100]; 11. O7-Gerard McIntyre [13][$2,000]; 12. 39-Cory Haas [16][$1,650]; 13. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$1,550]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$1,200]; 15. 51-Freddie Rahmer [28][$100]; 16. 5-David Gravel [19][$1,050]; 17. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$1,000]; 18. 24-Lucas Wolfe [26][$]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$1,000]; 20. 41-Carson Macedo [18][$1,000]; 21. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,000]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [25][$]; 23. 55K-Robbie Kendall [14][$1,000]; 24. 11K-Kraig Kinser [27][$]; 25. 15G-Jordan Givler [17][$1,000]; 26. 4-Brock Zearfoss [1][$1,000]; 27. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$1,000]; 28. 1-Logan Wagner [21][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brock Zearfoss 1-23, Lance Dewease 24-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Shane Stewart[+13]
Gio Scelzi Becomes Youngest World of Outlaws Winner in Series History on Night One of the Williams Grove National Open
MECHANICSBURG, PA – September 28, 2018 – On an emotional night in Pennsylvania Posse country, it was neither the locals or Outlaws in Victory Lane, as California phenom Gio Scelzi passed two-time National Open Champion David Gravel to lead Lap 16 and never looked back to win his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Victory on the opening night of the Champion Racing Oil Williams Grove National Open. Scelzi becomes the youngest driver to ever win a World of Outlaws race at the ripe age of 16 years old. Gravel settled for second with Lucas Wolfe completing the podium.
Gravel won the first of two Sears Craftsman Dashes to the earn the pole for the Feature, which went 27 laps in honor of five-time Williams Grove Track Champion and 1993 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, Greg Hodnett. Gio Scelzi won the second Dash to start outside the front row.
Gravel got the jump on the initial start and led the opening circuit with Scelzi in tow. Logan Schuchart, while running third, brought out the first caution of the evening, coming to a stop on the backstretch with five laps complete. That set up the first of three double-file restarts. Gravel elected the bottom on this one, putting Scelzi to his outside.
Gravel remained out front on the restart, but it was evident that Scelzi was a threat as he stayed right with the CJB Motorsports No.5 around the paperclip shaped half-mile. 2017 Track Champion Freddie Rahmer maneuvered his way into third from eighth and tried to close in on the lead duo.
Sheldon Haudenschild brought out the caution with 11 laps complete and this time Gravel elected the top on the double-file restart.
Again, Gravel remained out front as Scelzi took a peak underneath for the lead once again.
Carson Macedo, aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No.41, brought out the final caution of the evening on Lap 15. Gravel elected the bottom on the double-file restart, once again giving Scelzi the outside. Gravel entered high into turn one and tried to catch momentum to get a run off of turn two.
Scelzi pitched his Indy Race Parts No.71 hard to the bottom, couldn’t complete the slide job, but maintained speed on the bottom and pulled even with Gravel under the bridge and edged in front heading into turn three.
Scelzi, now in command of the field, powered away to lead Lap 16.
Lucas Wolfe moved by Freddie Rahmer into third and set his eyes on the leaders. For the first time, the leaders would reach lapped traffic as Gio Scelzi’s job was far from done. Scelzi approached traffic and Gravel closed in, looking to steal a win from the young California native.
With two to go, Gravel was within three car lengths as Scelzi continued to run the cushion through traffic. Gravel pitched the car hard into turn three before coming to the White Flag.
With Scelzi carrying speed on the cushion and a lapped on the bottom, there was no room for Gravel to make a last-ditch effort, as Gio Scelzi crossed under the Checkered Flag .732 seconds ahead of Gravel to become the youngest World of Outlaws winner in the Series 40-year history.
“I don’t think I am ever going to believe this one,” Scelzi said in Victory Lane when track announcer Bruce Ellis asked him about the night. “I was so good at the beginning, I was afraid I wouldn’t be any good at the end. David is good here, he’s a two-time National Open winner,” Scelzi, engulfed in positive emotion, said.
“I don’t know what to say, we could work anywhere. Hopefully we can Qualify good tomorrow and see what we can do,” Scelzi, who was grinning cheek-to-cheek, added about his chances tomorrow for the $56,000 payday.
David Gravel settled for second and was understandably disappointed.
“I didn’t know what to do on the restarts, I tried both lanes. When I was on the outside, I didn’t take off as well as I would have liked, so I went back to the bottom to try and protect myself from the slide job,” Gravel said of the pass for the lead. “Congrats to Gio, that first career win is hard to get, especially at Williams Grove,” Gravel added in good spirits. “Tomorrow is 13 more laps and pays a lot more to win, so hopefully we can finish one spot better.”
Lucas Wolfe was the highest finishing local and also applauded young Scelzi, “What a tremendous result for him, congrats to him. It wasn’t a bad night for us, we passed some good cars to get up here and hopefully we can do a little better tomorrow,” Wolfe said.
After Scelzi, Gravel and Wolfe crossed the finish line, Freddie Rahmer and Tim Shaffer got together battling for fourth, resulting in Shaffer ending up backwards at the bottom of turn four, bringing out the Yellow and Checkered simultaneously. Unfortunately for Shaffer, who was a couple hundred feet from a top-five finish, as the cause of the yellow, he was scored as the last car on the lead lap, which was 21st.
Freddie Rahmer officially finished fourth with 12th-starting Shane Stewart completing the top-five. Donny Schatz earned KSE Hard Charger Honors coming from 22nd to complete the top ten.
Logan Schuchart set Quick Time over an outstanding field of 50 cars, worth $327 courtesy of Fast Tee’s. Schuchart generously donated his bonus to Sherry Hodnett. Schatz’s effort also earned him a $500 bonus courtesy of Wicked Cushion, which he generously donated to the Hodnett family as well.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway tomorrow night for the $56,000 to win Champion Racing Oil National Open. Tonight’s results have no bearing on tomorrow’s program. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (27 Laps): 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,000]; 3. 24-Lucas Wolfe [5][$3,000]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [8][$2,700]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,500]; 6. 44-Trey Starks [6][$2,200]; 7. 21X-Brian Montieth [3][$2,000]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [7][$1,600]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [22][$1,450]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,300]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,200]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$1,100]; 14. 69K-Lance Dewease [19][$1,000]; 15. 27-Paul McMahan [21][$950]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$200]; 17. 11-T.J. Stutts [14][$850]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [24][$750]; 19. 1X-Chad Trout [27][$25]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$700]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [9][$700]; 22. O7-Gerard McIntyre [18][$700]; 23. 39-Cory Haas [26][$]; 24. 55K-Robbie Kendall [20][$700]; 25. 41-Carson Macedo [15][$700]; 26. 94-Ryan Smith [16][$700]; 27. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$700]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-15, Giovanni Scelzi 16-27 KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+12]
Brad Sweet Tames Lernerville for Exciting Commonwealth Clash Victory
SARVER, PA – September 23, 2018 - Brad Sweet’s fantastic 2018 season continued Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway when he passed Donny Schatz on Lap 28 to become the fourth and final different leader of the 2018 Commonwealth Clash for his eighth win on the year. Schatz settled for second with former Lernerville track champion Tim Shaffer completing the podium.
Daryn Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 35-Lap Feature, alongside Tim Shaffer. Pittman jumped out to the early lead through a caution-filled first few laps. Brent Marks fell off the race track in turn three on the opening lap, leaving David Gravel nowhere to go as the two made contact, resulting in terminal front end damage for Marks
After consecutive Yellows on Lap 1, the field lined up single-file. Shaffer went for the slide job to take the lead on the restart, but Pittman turned it back under to maintain control.
Shaffer was relentless in pursuit of Pittman and took the lead off of turn four to lead Lap 6 to the delight of the hometown crowd.
During the long Green Flag stretch, Shaffer established a healthy lead through the heavy traffic. Donny Schatz got underneath Pittman to take second on Lap 18 and set his eyes on Shaffer.
Sweet continued his way forward getting by Pittman and getting an up-close look on the battle for the lead between Schatz and Shaffer. Schatz got a good run off the cushion in turn four to slide Shaffer into turn one to take command on Lap 22.
A lap later Sweet slid in front of Shaffer as the top two in Outlaw points established themselves as the class of the field as they have so many times this season.
Sweet got a massive run on the nine-time Series Champion out of turn two and blasted underneath to take the lead down the backstretch and officially lead Lap 28. Sweet powered away and looked to be well on his way to his eighth victory of the year, but a caution for sixth-place running Sheldon Haudenschild with three laps to go put the celebration on hold.
With less than five to go in the Feature World of Outlaws rules dictate a single-file restart, which allowed Schatz to attempt a slide job for the lead. Sweet powered around the Schatz slider to maintain the lead down the backstretch and go on to win his first Outlaw Feature at Lernerville.
“I struggled for the first few years of my career at this track, it’s nice to come here and be as fast we’ve been this year. The track was great, there were so many options of where to go in lapped traffic. You could rimride on that thin ledge or get going around the bottom,” Sweet said in Victory Lane in appreciation of the racing surface.
“This one is for Greg Hodnett, he was a good friend of mine. It’s been a tough year. We’ll celebrate this one a little for him and move on to the next one,” Sweet said with his heart on his sleeve.
Donny Schatz bounced back from an uncharacteristic bad night at Eldora to finish second.
“The track was tricky tonight, second isn’t bad, especially considering the night we had last night,” Schatz, who was forced into a Provisional for the first time in 2018 last night, said with a little grin.
When asked about the late-race restart, Schatz was honest. “I didn’t have much grip and I’m not going to use Brad up or run myself off the track. Luckily, I have these [crew] guys behind me and we’ll have more grip next time we come back,” Schatz said positively.
Tim Shaffer completed the podium and complimented Sweet and Schatz. “Those guys are on their game and third isn’t too bad against these guys. Those [pointing at Sweet and Schatz’ team] teams are what we are trying to build up this team up to,” Shaffer said next to his DR Racing No.49X.
Logan Schuchart was strong for the second consecutive night coming home fourth with Daryn Pittman completing the top-five. Central Pennsylvania invader Danny Dietrich earned KSE Hard Charger Honors coming from 14th to sixth.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series heads into Central Pennsylvania next weekend for the Champion Racing Oil National Open against the Pennsylvania Posse at Williams Grove Speedway. Saturday’s Feature at The Grove will pay $56,000 to win, making it the second-highest paying event on the World of Outlaws schedule in 2018. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$5,500]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [2][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6][$2,800]; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$2,500]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [14][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [12][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,100]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [8][$2,050]; 10. W20-Greg Wilson [16][$2,000]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,200]; 13. 35-Justin Henderson [20][$1,100]; 14. 2-Shane Stewart [10][$1,050]; 15. 11-Carl Bowser [19][$1,000]; 16. O7-Gerard McIntyre [13][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [18][$800]; 18. 29-Dan Shetler [17][$800]; 19. C1-Clayton Riney [23][$800]; 20. 2L-Sye Lynch [21][$800]; 21. 40-George Hobaugh [22][$800]; 22. O8-Dan Kuriger [24][$800]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$800]; 24. 19-Brent Marks [11][$800] Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-5, Tim Shaffer 6-21, Donny Schatz 22-27, Brad Sweet 28-35 KSE Hard Charger Award: 48-Danny Dietrich[+8]
Brent Marks Caps Emotional Evening with Thrilling Eldora Triumph
ROSSBURG, OH - September 21, 2018 — On an emotional night at one of the most famous dirt tracks in the world, Brent Marks won a thrilling race, passing fellow Central Pennsylvania Outlaw Logan Schuchart for the lead on Lap 23 and holding off a furious charge from 13th-starting Dave Blaney, Schuchart and 23rd-starting Greg Wilson. It was Marks' third career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory and first at the historic Eldora Speedway. Marks dedicated the win to Greg Hodnett, who passed tragically the night before in an unsanctioned race in Pennsylvania.
Logan Schuchart won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside David Gravel. Schuchart darted out to the early lead and Brent Marks, who started third, blasted around the bottom to take second down the backstretch.
Schuchart set a torrid pace out front as Marks went to war with Kraig Kinser for the runner-up position. With Marks banging down the cushion and Kinser catfishing around the bottom, the duo battled side-by-side for the better part of five laps.
As Schuchart reached heavy lapped traffic, Kinser and Marks’ battle continued and they both closed in on the Shark Racing No.1S. Kinser edged Marks by a nose at the line on Lap 12, which would prove crucial as the caution would fly for Parker Price-Miller, who lost a left rear tire running in the top ten.
Schuchart elected the bottom on the double-file restart, moving Kinser to his outside. Kinser, who was glued to the bottom prior to the caution, fell back on the start, as Marks moved back into second. Some contact the following lap between a slew of cars in the top ten, sent Gio Scelzi high into turn one, grazing the wall. Scelzi came down off the wall and got together with Daryn Pittman, resulting in the Kasey Kahne Racing No.9 upside down. Both drivers were uninjured but done for the evening.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Schuchart again choose the bottom with Marks to his outside this time. Schuchart remained in command with Marks in tow. 13th-starting Dave Blaney threw his name in the ring, battling Gravel and Kinser for the third position, three-wide at times.
Simultaneously, 23rd-starting Greg Wilson was coming, in typical Greg Wilson Eldora fashion, glued to the inside guard rail.
Back up front, Marks was closing in on Schuchart and threw a slide job for the lead into turn one on Lap 23. Schuchart fought back underneath Marks to maintain the lead going into turn three, where he went to the bottom. Marks put his family-owned No.19 right up against the wall, grabbing the cushion off of turn four and taking command of the field to lead the lap.
Marks powered away from Schuchart, who now had his hands full with the hard-charging Blaney and Wilson. Blaney took second from Schuchart and set his sights on Marks. After Marks got held up ever so slightly in traffic, Blaney attempted a slide job in turn three with three laps remaining, but Marks stayed on the gas and powered around the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame member to maintain control.
Blaney’s slide job attempt for the lead cost him momentum as Wilson and Schuchart, who found late race speed right up against the outside wall, caught and surpassed the veteran by the White Flag.
But tonight, there was no catching Brent Marks, as the Myerstown, PA native went on to win his third World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the season and of his career.
“We’re all really thinking about Greg [Hodnett] and his family, he’s somebody I’ve respected tremendously throughout my whole career and was always a fan of growing up in Central Pennsylvania. This race is for him and his whole family and everyone back in Pennsylvania mourning his loss,” an emotional Marks said to a large applause from the Eldora Speedway crowd.
“This is awesome, I can’t believe I won a race at Eldora. This is my first Outlaw win that my Mom and Dad were able to see. I can’t thank my guys Jesse and Dallas enough, and we just added Jim Shuttlesworth. Last week was our first weekend together, we kept talking and improving throughout the night and working together well. This is special, I can’t believe I’m standing in Victory Lane at Eldora,” Marks added.
When asked about the race itself, Marks talked about the tricky cushion, “I knew I needed to be more aggressive on the wall, but the top was right up against the wall and I didn’t want to tear this thing up. I changed my entry into turn three and Logan started coming to me,”
“I can’t believe it’s my sophomore season with the World of Outlaws and I have three wins now, I can’t thank everyone who helps out with this operation enough,” Marks concluded.
Fellow Central Pennsylvania native Logan Schuchart settled for second after leading 22 laps, “It’s tough, lapped cars are so hard to judge. It’s hard leading a race and knowing where to go, I didn’t feel as comfortable up top and I felt I was slowing down, so I moved down. Brent drove a great race.”
“This is all for the Heffner Racing No.27 team and everybody back home, we’ve got a couple of PA boys up front and this is all for them,” Schuchart added with emotion.
The obvious KSE Hard Charger was 23rd-starting Greg Wilson who finished on the podium for the second time this year at Eldora.
“We’re good when it slicks off. This is how the tracks need to be. The race track was awesome tonight, there was passing,” Wilson said before reflecting about the recent tragedy in Sprint Car Racing.
“My heart goes out to the Hodnett family. I woke up this morning and looked at my wife and girls and wondered if I should keep doing this. I love it, though. I wouldn’t trade this opportunity to race with my wife and kids at Eldora in front of all you fans for anything,” Wilson, the Ohio native, said to a thunderous roar from the crowd.
Dave Blaned faded to fourth in the closing laps, still no small feat coming from 13th, with Gravel completing the top five.
Kraig Kinser was strong all evening and settled for sixth with Hunter Schuerenburg, who set Quick Time, and Sheldon Haudenschild finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. Rico Abreu charged from 21st to ninth with 17th-starting Jason Sides completing the top-ten.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes the trek to Western Pennsylvania tomorrow night, September 22 with the running of the Commonwealth Clash in Sarver, PA. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks [3][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$5,500]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [23][$3,200]; 4. 70-Dave Blaney [13][$2,800]; 5. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,500]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5][$2,300]; 7. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [4][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,100]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [21][$2,050]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [17][$2,000]; 11. 3G-Carson Macedo [24][$1,500]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [10][$1,200]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz [25][$300]; 14. 4-Brock Zearfoss [15][$1,050]; 15. 12N-Cole Duncan [20][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$100]; 17. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$800]; 18. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$800]; 19. 49X-Tim Shaffer [19][$800]; 20. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [11][$800]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [12][$800]; 22. 17X-Aaron Reutzel [14][$800]; 23. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [6][$800]; 24. 9-Daryn Pittman [16][$800]; 25. 19P-Paige Polyak [18][$800]; 26. 13-Paul McMahan [8][$800]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-22, Brent Marks 23-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+20]
Eliason Gets Second Career Outlaw Win at Calistoga
CALISTOGA, CA – September 15, 2018 – An opportune Yellow Flag allowed Cory Eliason to officially lead all 25 laps Saturday night at Calistoga Speedway for his second career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory. Donny Schatz took the lead off of turn four coming to the White Flag, but the caution negated the pass, forcing Schatz to be relegated back to second, where he finished. Logan Schuchart finished third, his second podium in as many nights at Calistoga.
Eliason won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for 25-Lap Feature alongside his good friend and fellow California native Giovanni Scelzi. Eliason and Scelzi waged war on the opening lap, with Eliason turning under a Scelzi slide job to lead Lap 1.
Eliason, who scored his first career Outlaw win earlier this year at Stockton, powered away from the field as Scelzi, Schatz and Schuchart captivated the large Calistoga Speedway audience with their battle for second.
Schatz, who won the Wine Country Outlaw Showdown last year, moved by Schuchart into third on Lap 10 and set his eyes on young Scelzi, who was in search of his first career Outlaw triumph. Schatz edged in front of the youngster on Lap 11, but the Fresno, CA teenager battled back underneath the nine-time Series Champion to grab the runner-up position back.
Despite Scelzi’s resilience, Schatz wrestled the position away for good on Lap 14 as the Fargo, ND native focused his sights on Eliason. Schatz gradually cut into Eliason’s lead, setting up some potential late race fireworks. With five to go, Schuchart got by Scelzi for third as Schatz had all but erased Eliason’s lead.
Coming to the White Flag, Eliason slipped out of the rubber in turn three, opening the door for Schatz. Schatz got underneath Eliason, who was desperately trying to get back into the groove and the two made slight contact, resulting with Schatz having the advantage coming to the White Flag.
It was all for nothing as the caution flew for Brent Marks who came to a stop atop turn two, ending his charge forward.
The caution set up a Green-White-Checkered finish, and after getting a second chance at it, Eliason wasn’t going to make a mistake this time. The Visalia, CA native went on to win his second World of Outlaws Feature of the year and his career.
“I got out of the rubber and saw [Schatz] underneath me and thought was it, I’m going to finish second,” a jubilant Eliason said.
Eliason, who was making his 43rd Outlaw start of the season, has spent the majority of the 2018 season in the Midwest and East Coast and has valued his time at new race tracks. “I can’t thank Dennis and Theresa Roth enough, it’s absolutely been beneficial to be out on the road this year and I think our speed these few weeks at home show that,” Eliason added.
Donny Schatz was understandably disappointed to see the Yellow Flag fly, preventing his 20th win of the year. “That’s part of racing. Sometimes the Yellows fall your way, sometimes they don’t. We’ll take second and move on to Eldora on Friday,” Schatz said.
Logan Schuchart was pleased to be on the podium once again and gain momentum heading back East, “Being out here all the way from Pennsylvania, it’s great to finish on the podium back-to-back nights here, it says a lot about this team and how hard they work. Hopefully we can pick up some more wins to finish off the season,” Schuchart said positively.
Brad Sweet got by Gio Scelzi on the late restart to finish fourth with Scelzi matching his career-best Outlaw finish in fifth. Greg Wilson earned KSE Hard Charger honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes the cross-country trek to Eldora Speedway to compete Friday, September 21 before returning to Sarver, PA and Lernerville Speedway for the Commonwealth Clash Saturday, September 22. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 83-Cory Eliason [1][$12,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$5,700]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,500]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$3,000]; 5. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$2,600]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$2,400]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,300]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [7][$2,200]; 9. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,150]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [12][$2,100]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,600]; 12. 17W-Shane Golobic [15][$1,350]; 13. 29-Willie Croft [11][$1,300]; 14. 26-Joey Saldana [13][$1,200]; 15. 88N-DJ Netto [17][$1,100]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$1,000]; 17. 68-Chase Johnson [19][$900]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson [23][$850]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$800]; 20. O-Bud Kaeding [20][$800]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$800]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [21][$800]; 23. 45-Austen Wheatley [24][$800]; 24. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [22][$800] Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-25 KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+5]
Daryn Pittman Scores 8th Win of 2018 in Dramatic Fashion at Calistoga
CALISTOGA, CA – September 14, 2018 – Daryn Pittman held off Logan Schuchart by a car-length to win his 8th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Friday night at Calistoga Speedway. Pittman led all 25 laps but shredded a right rear immediately after the checkered and limped his Kasey Kahne Racing No.9 to the scales and to Victory Lane. Schuchart settled for second, just 0.133 seconds behind Pittman, with Rico Abreu completing the podium.
Daryn Pittman drew the pole for the Sears Craftsman Dash and won the six-lap event to earn the pole for the 25-Lap Feature. Pittman used a strong start to lead the first two laps before a Red Flag for Sheldon Haudenschild and Willie Croft halted the action. Both drivers were uninjured. Haudenschild was able to return and run a few laps but was forced back to the pits with lingering issues.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Donny Schatz get by Logan Schuchart for third and begin to put pressure on Abreu for second. Cory Eliason brought out the Yellow with seven laps complete running sixth. As Pittman and Abreu powered away from the field, Schuchart was able to get back by Schatz for third on the restart down the backstretch.
The remaining 18 laps went non-stop allowing Pittman to reach the back of the field, forcing the Owasso, OK native to slow his pace out front. Abreu, Schuchart and Schatz closed in on Pittman as the racing surface became locked down. Schatz took third back from Schuchart with five laps remaining and looked poised to make a late-race charge.
With two laps remaining, the top four were nose-to-tail entering turn one. Schuchart muscled his way underneath Schatz to take third down the backstretch, then hit the rubber perfectly off of turn four to take second from Abreu coming to the White Flag.
Schuchart got a big run off turn two and took a peak underneath Pittman for the lead down the backstretch but thought better of it entering turn three. Schuchart turned the car hard left off turn four to try and steal the win but came up .133 short as Pittman collected his 8th win of 2019.
As Pittman went into turn one after the Checkered, his right rear tire blew, and he had to limp his KKR No.9 to the scales.
“I knew something was wrong the last three laps, I must have hit something,” Pittman said about the dramatic ending. “Hopefully we can continue to pick up wins and land a sponsor on this thing, it’s been a good stretch for Kasey Kahne Racing, Brad [Sweet] has obviously been really good this year. I’m so blessed to be able to be out here with my family doing this for a living,” Pittman said as his two daughters hugged him.
Logan Schuchart matched his career-best at the historic Calistoga Speedway with a second-place finish, “It was one of those deals where you wish it would have been one more lap,” the Hanover, PA native said with a smile. “I’m really proud of this team and hopefully we can finish one spot better tomorrow.”
Rico Abreu was the highest finishing local, coming home third with Donny Schatz, who set Fast Time and Brad Sweet completing the top-five.
Joey Saldana was strong all evening finishing sixth with Shane Stewart, 14th-starting Brent Marks, Gio Scelzi and Jacob Allen completing the top-ten. Shane Golobic earned KSE Hard Charger honors, coming from 19th to finish 12th.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series concludes the West Coast portion of its 40th Anniversary Season at Calistoga Speedway tomorrow evening. Tickets are still available. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1][$8,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$4,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2][$2,500]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$2,100]; 6. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$2,000]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$1,800]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,600]; 9. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi [10][$1,500]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$1,300]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$1,200]; 12. 17W-Shane Golobic [19][$1,100]; 13. 5-David Gravel [13][$1,000]; 14. O-Bud Kaeding [12][$700]; 15. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [18][$600]; 16. 83-Cory Eliason [9][$600]; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$600]; 18. 88N-DJ Netto [24][$600]; 19. 45-Austen Wheatley [23][$600]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$600]; 21. 37-Mitchell Faccinto [21][$600]; 22. W20-Greg Wilson [20][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [17][$600]; 24. 29-Willie Croft [15][$600]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17W-Shane Golobic[+7]
Brad Sweet Masters Lapped Traffic En Route to $20,000 Placerville Victory
PLACERVILLE, CA – September 12, 2018 – Brad Sweet passed Rico Abreu on Lap 8, was masterful through heavy lapped traffic, and held off Sheldon Haudenschild in a Green-White-Checkered finish to win the 49er Gold Rush Classic Presented by Riebes NAPA Auto Parts at Placerville Speedway. The win was Sweet’s 7th of the season and worth $20,000. Haudenschild kept the fans on the edge of their seat and came home second with local Andy Forsberg, who scored $2000 for setting Quick Time earlier in the evening, completing the podium.
Rico Abreu, fresh off his Gold Cup Race of Champions victory Saturday at Chico, won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 49-Lap Feature alongside Sweet. Abreu got a good initial start and led the opening circuit and paced the field before Jason Sides brought out the first caution of the event with three laps complete.
Abreu powered away on the restart and reached lapped traffic quickly around the quarter-mile, high-banked oval. Sweet hawked Abreu as the latter entered traffic and made the move to take command of the field off of turn four to lead Lap 8.
A Red Flag for Brent Marks on Lap 14 halted action and took the leaders out of heavy traffic. Marks, who had come forward seven positions to 11th, was uninjured, but done for the evening.
The next 34 laps went non-stop allowing the leaders to endure as heavy of lapped traffic as they will see all season.
Sheldon Haudenschild, who started third, fell back to fifth at the time of the Red Flag for Marks but became the show on the restart. Haudenschild’s go to line was entering high into turn one and diamonding off the bottom of turn two. Haudenschild took fourth with that line from Pittman on the restart. Five laps later Haudenschild got by Eliason off of turn two to grab third and set his eyes on Abreu and leader Brad Sweet.
Abreu bobbled in turn four on the cushion on Lap 28, allowing Haudenschild to move into second. But Haudenschild made the same mistake the following lap as Abreu slid back in front of the young Wooster, OH native to reclaim second at the line.
By Lap 35, there were lapped cars scattered all over the racing surface in front of Sweet, forcing him to slow his pace and allowing the pack to close in. Abreu took a couple of looks underneath Sweet, but the latter remained in the gas and never gave Abreu a chance to slide him.
Lap 45 saw Sweet trying his best to navigate traffic on the cushion with Abreu looking desperately for a way by him and Haudenschild looming as the leaders were nose to tail down the backstretch.
Sweet had a strong three laps, putting two lapped cars in between himself and Abreu and Haudenschild coming to the White Flag. Haudenschild grabbed second at the White Flag and then slid to the top of turn one to maintain momentum. Stuck with nowhere to go, lapped car Jacob Allen flipped off of the top of turn one. Allen was uninjured with the Red Flag setting up a Green-White-Checkered finish.
As the cars came to a stop for the Red Flag, Abreu uncharacteristically rolled into Haudenschild. Abreu got out of his car and informed World of Outlaws officials that the steering broke on his family-owned No.24 and his night was over.
Sweet got an excellent restart, thwarting any chance of Haudenschild’s late race heroics as Sweet went to win, the, now, 50-Lap Feature, by 0.611 seconds.
Sweet, who was a co-promoter of the event, was visibly excited to get the big win in his hometown. “I don’t know if that’s cool or not [that I won my own race], but $20,000 was on the line. It’s great to get the NAPA car in Victory Lane in the Riebes NAPA Auto Parts Race,” Sweet said next to his Kasey Kahne, who was in attendance, owned No.49.
“It’s awesome to come back here in my hometown in front of all my friends and family and get the win. Lapped traffic was really tough, I hope you guys enjoyed the show. We’ll be back next year,” Sweet added.
When asked about the hectic lapped traffic, Sweet said, “I thought I covered most of my lines, but I knew someone was close. You just try to keep your composure and pick off the lapped cars the best you can. The cushion was tricky, kudos to the Russell family, they do a great job here every week and we get to play in their playground once a year.”
Sweet ended with a heartfelt statement, “I have so many people to thank for helping put on this show and I’m very appreciative.”
Sheldon Haudenschild finished second and was equally as appreciative. “Brad did a great job and a huge thanks to him for putting this race on. Thanks to the fans for coming out on a weekday, I know it’s difficult and we appreciate it. Hopefully you all enjoyed the show, I had a blast. This is a beautiful track. I’m definitely grateful to be in this position and to be able to race Sprint Cars for a living,” Haudenschild said next to his NOS Energy Sponsored, Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall No.17.
Andy Forsberg, the current Placerville Speedway 360 Sprint Car points leader, led the local charge finishing third, his third top-ten against the Outlaws in as many starts this season. “This is a 2009 chassis and the youngest guy on my crew is 54 years old and they work their tails off,” Forsberg, who will wrap his 20th points title as a driver this Saturday at Placerville, said with a big smile. “Every once in a while, you can sneak a good run against the Outlaws,” Forsberg added before stating how proud he was of his team for their runs against The Greatest Show on Dirt this week.
Tim Kaeding continued his outstanding success in a second Sides Motorsports entry coming from 10th to fourth with Eliason settling for fifth. David Gravel crashed in the Heat Race was forced to take a Provisional and earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward to 13th.
Shane Stewart and Justin Sanders flipped in the Sears Craftsman Dash, forcing Stewart to a backup car and to start at the rear while Sanders start and parked because of the damage. High Sierra Industries put up $1000 cash if a World of Outlaws driver set Quick Time and doubled that if a non-Outlaw set Quick Time, which sent Forsberg home with $2000 extra in his pocket for his 10.282 lap around the bullring.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series concludes its California swing this weekend September 14 and 15 at the beautiful historic Calistoga Speedway. Tickets for the Wine Country Classic are still available. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (50 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish) 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$20,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3][$6,000]; 3. 92-Andy Forsberg [6][$3,750]; 4. 3-Tim Kaeding [10][$3,250]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [4][$2,750]; 6. 3C-Tanner Thorson [11][$2,500]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,400]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,300]; 9. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$2,200]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$2,100]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [21][$1,700]; 12. 22-Mason Moore [8][$1,400]; 13. 5-David Gravel [24][$300]; 14. 31C-Justyn Cox [15][$1,200]; 15. 2-Shane Stewart [23][$1,100]; 16. 25-Bobby McMahan [19][$1,000]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$1,000]; 18. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$1,000]; 19. 7-Scott Bogucki [17][$1,000]; 20. 88N-DJ Netto [14][$1,000]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,000]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [18][$1,000]; 23. O-Bud Kaeding [22][$1,000]; 24. 29-Willie Croft [20][$1,000]; 25. 121-Justin Sanders [25][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Rico Abreu 1-7, Brad Sweet 8-50; KSE Hard Charger Award: 5-David Gravel[+11]
Rico Abreu Pockets $15,000 in Gold Cup Thriller
CHICO, CA – September 8, 2018 – Rico Abreu went from third to first to lead Lap 26 and never looked back, securing his second Gold Cup title in a slide job war Saturday Night at Silver Dollar Speedway. Tim Kaeding, in a second Sides Motorsports entry, finished second for the second consecutive night with Cory Eliason completing the all-California podium.
16-year-old Buddy Kofoid won the Sears Craftsman Dash by 4.921 seconds to earn the pole for the 40-Lap Gold Cup Race of Champions alongside Justin Sanders, both drivers in search of their first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victories.
Kofoid and Sanders set a slow pace as the field came to Green and Kofoid slipped off the bottom, opening the door for third-starting Cory Eliason to blast into the lead and take command.
With three provisionals being used, there were 27 410 Sprint Cars blasting around the tight-quartered Silver Dollar Speedway. Eliason, aboard the famous Roth Motorsports No.83, reached lapped traffic on Lap 5 around the bullring oval. Cars were littered all around the racing surface as Eliason worked through traffic to extend his lead.
Tanner Thorson established himself as a threat, coming forward from his seventh starting position to grab second on Lap 10 as he set his eyes on Eliason in search of his first career Outlaw win. Rico Abreu, who came from eighth to fifth in the Dash, moved into third on Lap 12, shuffling young Kofoid back to fourth with Sanders in fifth.
As Eliason negotiated heavy lapped traffic, Thorson closed in on Lap 18 and took a peak underneath the Roth Motorsports No.83. The duo battled hard, allowing Abreu to clear slower cars and reel both of them in.
Thorson used a big slider in three and four on Eliason to take the lead on Lap 25. Eliason tried to get back by into turn one, but left the door open for Abreu who took second down the backstretch and then went for the home run slider in turn three and completed it to take the lead from Thorson and lead Lap 26 with the crowd on their feet.
Eliason and Thorson continued to battle it out for second with the pair making contact with 27 laps complete, resulting in a broken front axle of Thorson’s No.3C. Thorson’s night was done, moving ninth-starting Tim Kaeding into third and defending Gold Cup Champion Shane Stewart into fourth.
The first caution of the event allowed the fans and drivers to catch their breath after an action-packed first 27 laps. A pair of cautions on the ensuing double-file restart and two laps later kept the action tame.
When action resumed Abreu darted away from the field as Kaeding and Eliason waged for second. The duo made contact coming off of turn four on Lap 31, allowing Stewart to get to third in front of Kaeding. The final caution of the evening flew for Outlaw Rookie Ian Madsen with front end damage with nine laps remaining.
Again, Abreu blasted away from the field as Kaeding, Eliason and Stewart battled for position behind him. The trio of cars battling allowed Abreu to run and hide en route to his second Outlaw win of the season in popular fashion and be crowned Gold Cup Champion for the second time in his career.
“It is so much fun to drive when your car is like it was tonight,” Abreu said in compliments of his young team, which features no one older than 23 years old.
“They are a young group, but they are becoming the best in the business. It’s hard to find a group of young guys that want to work. They all want to race, but my guys want to work. Drivers can showcase their talents when their cars are fast,” Abreu added speaking highly of his crew headlined by Ricky Warner’s son, Drew.
“I grew up racing here every Friday night in Sprint Cars, so this track is close to home to me. It’s great to get a win, especially when you beat the Outlaws,” Abreu said with a big smile to a huge roar from the crowd.
Tim Kaeding edged in front Eliason for good to secure second on back-to-back nights. “I have to thank Jason Sides and everyone that came on board for this deal. They let me have fun and that’s the one thing that has been lacking the past few years,” Kaeding said.
“That was one hell of a race from my point of view, I hope you fans enjoyed it, because that was fun,” Kaeding added to another large applause from the engaged crowd.
Cory Eliason completed the all-California podium and took the time to apologize to Thorson. “I want to apologize to Tanner for getting into him,” Eliason said humbly. “Tim and I got into each other, but we both kept going and you get that racing hard on a slick track. It was a great week,” Eliason, who finished fifth Friday, added.
Shane Stewart was the highest finishing Outlaw, coming home fourth with young Kofoid netting a career-best fifth. Justin Sanders finished sixth with 13th-starting Shane Golobic coming forward to seventh, as California was well-represented up front for the second night in a row.
Outlaws Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet charged forward from 19th and 16th, respectively, to finish eighth and ninth with track champion Andy Forsberg completing the top ten. DJ Netto garnered KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 24th to finish 12th. Brent Marks made noise by running the alphabet, transferring from the C to the Feature, where he came home 17th in his second weekend at Silver Dollar. Joey Saldana set Quick Time over the 41-car field but was on the wrong end of contact in his Heat Race, sending him to the LCS, which he won and then came forward to 15th in the Feature.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and California locals get three days off before heading to Placerville for the $20,000 to win 49er Gold Rush Classic on Wednesday, September 12. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, catch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu [5][$15,000]; 2. 3-Tim Kaeding [9][$5,700]; 3. 83-Cory Eliason [3][$3,500]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6][$3,000]; 5. 4S-Michael Kofoid [1][$2,600]; 6. 121-Justin Sanders [2][$2,400]; 7. 17W-Shane Golobic [13][$2,300]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [19][$2,200]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [16][$2,150]; 10. 92-Andy Forsberg [4][$2,100]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [10][$1,600]; 12. 88N-DJ Netto [24][$1,350]; 13. O-Bud Kaeding [15][$1,300]; 14. 5-David Gravel [20][$1,200]; 15. 26-Joey Saldana [21][$1,100]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [11][$1,000]; 17. 19-Brent Marks [23][$900]; 18. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [14][$850]; 19. 45-Austen Wheatley [12][$800]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [27][$]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$800]; 22. 21P-Robbie Price [22][$800]; 23. 29-Willie Croft [17][$800]; 24. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$800]; 25. 3C-Tanner Thorson [7][$800]; 26. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 27. 1A-Jacob Allen [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-24, Tanner Thorson 25, Rico Abreu 26-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 88N-DJ Netto[+12]
Brad Sweet Gets His 6th of the Year in Front of Hometown Crowd at Silver Dollar Speedway
CHICO, CA – September 7, 2018 – Grass Valley, California native Brad Sweet passed Tim Kaeding on Lap 17 and powered around a Kaeding slide job in the Green-White-Checkered finish to win his sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Tim Kaeding, aboard a second Sides Motorsports entry, settled for second and his brother Bud Kaeding completed the podium.
Tim Kaeding, fresh off of a fifth-place finish at the Knoxville Nationals, won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature alongside fellow California native Cory Eliason. Eliason powered off the cushion of turn four to lead the opening lap with Kaeding in tow.
Eliason, aboard the famous Roth Motorsports No.83, reached traffic quickly around the quarter-mile oval and Kaeding took advantage with a slider in turn one to lead Lap 9. Meanwhile, Brad Sweet worked his way forward from his fifth-starting spot to third on Lap 10.
Sweet battled with Eliason for second for a couple circuits before securing the position for good on Lap 14. Sweet set his eyes on Kaeding and reeled him in quickly in heavy lapped traffic before completing the slide job for the lead in turn one to lead Lap 17.
As Sweet motored away, Kaeding and Eliason waged war for second with the latter taking the position at the conclusion of the 18th circuit. Bud Kaeding closed in on his brother and Eliason making it a three-car battle for the runner-up position. Tim Kaeding established the position and tried to reel Sweet back in as the leaders sliced and diced their way through traffic around the bullring.
Sweet had a comfortable lead coming to the White Flag, but a caution for Buddy Kofoid put the celebration on hold. A Green-White-Checkered finish would end the race, officially making the event 31 laps.
Tim Kaeding threw a big slider into turn one, but Sweet stayed on the gas, powered around him down the backstretch and went on to win his sixth Feature of 2018.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and it’s cool to get a win here. It’s all about tomorrow night now, it would be awesome to get a Gold Cup victory tomorrow, that’s something I dreamed about as a kid,” Sweet said next to his NAPA Racing, Kasey Kahne No.49.
When prompted about the late restart, Sweet didn’t hold back, “I made a mistake and I will learn from it in the future. I think I had the best car, but you’ve got to finish races and I was fortunate to survive that restart,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
Tim Kaeding continued his impressive week coming home second in the Sides Motorsports No.3.
“It’s a privilege to be able to drive for Jason. Jason is a great guy and one of the last true guys in the sport. It’s great to be competitive with the Outlaws again,” Kaeding said.
When asked about the last restart Kaeding chuckled and said, “10 years ago I probably would have crashed both of us.”
The San Jose, CA fan-favorite concluded the interview by encouraging the large crowd to get some cold beer and go to the annual Chili Feed.
Tim’s brother, Bud, was pleased to be on the podium aboard the famous Williams No.0. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on the podium with the Outlaws. Morrie and Kate Williams have been doing this a long time and I can’t thank them enough,” Bud said in appreciation before thanking the fans for supporting Gold Cup and dirt track racing.
10th-starting Shane Golobic, who competed last night in the BC39 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, finished fourth with Eliason fading to fifth.
Following Sweet to the line were seven California locals, meaning the first eight finishers were California natives to the delight of the hometown crowd. Outlaws Ian Madsen and Shane Stewart completed the top-ten. Daryn Pittman garnered KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 18th to 11th.
The Gold Cup Race of Champions concludes Saturday, September 8, 2018 with a $15,000 top prize on the line. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$8,000]; 2. 3-Tim Kaeding [1][$4,000]; 3. O-Bud Kaeding [4][$2,500]; 4. 17W-Shane Golobic [10][$2,200]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [2][$2,100]; 6. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [6][$2,000]; 7. 121-Justin Sanders [13][$1,800]; 8. 92-Andy Forsberg [9][$1,600]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$1,500]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$1,300]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [18][$1,200]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz [17][$1,100]; 13. 16A-Colby Copeland [3][$1,000]; 14. 88N-DJ Netto [12][$700]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$600]; 16. 3C-Tanner Thorson [19][$600]; 17. 45-Austen Wheatley [8][$600]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [16][$600]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20][$600]; 20. 5-David Gravel [21][$600]; 21. 26-Joey Saldana [23][$600]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25][$]; 23. 22-Mason Moore [24][$600]; 24. 4S-Michael Kofoid [7][$600]; 25. 19-Brent Marks [26][$]; 26. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$600]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-8, Tim Kaeding 9-16, Brad Sweet 17-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman[+7]
Donny Schatz Does It Again at Willamette Speedway
LEBANON, OR – September 5, 2018 – Donny Schatz won for the second time in 48 hours, passing Logan Schuchart on Lap 14 to win his 19th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Wednesday at Willamette Speedway in the Series lone visit to Oregon. Schuchart, who passed Schatz on Lap 4 and led 10 laps, settled for second with David Gravel completing the podium.
Overcoming a mediocre Qualifying effort, Schatz was able to come from fourth to second in his Heat Race to earn a spot in the Sears Craftsman Dash. Schatz drew the one for the Dash and won it to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside David Gravel.
Schatz got the jump on the initial start and led the opening lap. Logan Schuchart and Shane Stewart fought their way to second and third, with Gravel getting shuffled back to fourth. Brent Marks came to a stop on Lap 2, bringing out the caution and setting up a double-file restart.
Schatz chose the bottom and stayed committed down there as Schuchart got a run to his outside. Schuchart used a big surge off the cushion of turn four to lead the fourth circuit. Schuchart reached lapped traffic on Lap 9 and negotiated it well, but Schatz stayed right with him. Schatz continued to stalk Schuchart through traffic.
Schuchart followed the slower car of Willie Croft on the bottom into turn one on Lap 13 and then slipped up on the bottom off of turn four and that was all the nine-time Series Champion needed to steal the top spot back and lead Lap 14.
A long Green Flag run allowed Schatz to show his prowess in lapped traffic as he built a sizable advantage over Schuchart. Behind Schuchart a slew of cars were littered across the racing surface, waging war for third through sixth.
Ian Madsen brought out the Yellow Flag with 26 laps complete and four laps to run, giving Schuchart and company one last chance to get Schatz for the win. Schuchart followed Schatz into turn one on the bottom and tried to get a run off of turn four to no avail, as Schatz powered away and won by 1.804 seconds for the 19th time in 2018.
“I was a little evil early, I was trying to burn off the fuel and the more I did, the better I got. My car was really good, hats off to my guys, they are the ones that should be standing here,” Schatz said of his Tony Stewart Racing No.15 crew.
When asked about the long Green Flag run, Schatz said, “That’s what you live for when you are running second, or when you are leading. If you can get out front and you do the right things in lapped traffic, you know it.”
“There were a lot of grooves out there, a top, a bottom and a middle sometimes. Hats off to the track crew for providing an excellent race track,” Schatz, who also won at Willamette in 2016, said of the racing surface.
Schuchart settled for second and wasted no time complimenting Schatz. “Props to the 15 team, they do a great job every night and Donny drove a great race. Second-place is still pretty good and this Team Drydene, Shark Racing No.1S is really fast right now. I’m proud of where we are at,” Schuchart said with confidence.
After starting on the front row David Gravel fell as far back as sixth before finding speed on the top side of the racing surface to surge back to third. “We tried to run the bottom early and I went backwards so I had to move up and make some of that ground back up. It’s good to be on the podium, but when you start up front you want to get some wins. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going,” Gravel said next to his CJB Motorsports No.5 machine.
2014 Willamette winner Shane Stewart finished fourth with Sheldon Haudenschild rim-riding his way to fifth.
13th-starting Kyle Larson, in his 8th Outlaw start of the year, came forward to sixth with his brother-in-law Brad Sweet finishing seventh. Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana, who set Quick Time to open the evening, and 20th-starting Rico Abreu completed the top-ten. Abreu’s efforts were good enough to garner KSE Hard Charger honors in his first visit to Willamette Speedway.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will return to California this weekend at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA with the running of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Saturday’s Feature will pay $15,000 to win. Wednesday, September 12 the Outlaws stop at Placerville Speedway for the 49er Gold Rush Classic, which will pay $20,000 to win and $1,000 to take the Green. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$8,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$4,000]; 3. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,500]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [4][$2,200]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$2,100]; 6. 57-Kyle Larson [13][$2,000]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$1,800]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [9][$1,600]; 9. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$1,500]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [20][$1,300]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [10][$1,200]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [11][$1,100]; 13. 7S-Jason Sides [12][$1,000]; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen [16][$700]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [14][$600]; 16. 45-Austen Wheatley [15][$600]; 17. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [8][$600]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [21][$600]; 19. 55-Trey Starks [19][$600]; 20. 29-Willie Croft [18][$600]; 21. 96-Andy Caruana [22][$600]; 22. 21P-Robbie Price [17][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-3, 14-30; Logan Schuchart 4-13; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+10]
Donny Schatz Scores 18th Victory of 2018 at Grays Harbor
ELMA, WA – September 3, 2018 – Donny Schatz continued his recent dominance at Grays Harbor Raceway, leading all 30 laps en route to his 18th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Victory of the 2018 season and fourth in his last five starts at Grays Harbor. Daryn Pittman threw everything he had at Schatz but settled for second with David Gravel surging late to complete the podium.
Schatz won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-lap affair around the high-banked 3/8th oval alongside Sheldon Haudenschild, who was making just his second start at the Elma, WA facility. Schatz and Sheldon put on a show battling for the lead throughout the first five laps, exchanging slide jobs, trading lines and using the entire racing surface.
The caution came out with five laps complete for Brent Marks, who hit the infield tire and busted his front axle, ending his night. Although Haudenschild led momentarily on two occasions, Schatz officially led all of the first five laps and maintained the lead on the double-file restart.
Schatz elected the bottom, putting Haudenschild on the cushion. Haudenschild ventured out wide and tried to get a run on the restart but subsequently left the door open for Logan Schuchart, who restarted fourth, to cut to the middle and halt Haudenschild’s momentum causing him to fall back to fifth as Schuchart, Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet passed the young Wooster, OH native by the backstretch.
As Sheldon tried to recover, Sweet, Pittman and Schuchart waged war for the second spot, allowing Schatz to pull away. Pittman established himself in the position by Lap 7 and set his eyes on Schatz.
With a long Green Flag run, Schatz was able to showcase his premier ability to navigate lapped traffic. Schatz was strong on both the cushion and down low hugging the berm, allowing him to move through traffic at a quick pace. Pittman was equally strong though, closing the gap on the nine-time Series Champion ever so slightly each lap.
The caution flew with eight laps remaining for Andy Caruana, who fell off the pace down the backstretch.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Pittman go for gold into turn one and attempt to slide Schatz. Pittman couldn’t clear the Tony Stewart Racing No.15 and left the bottom open off turn two for Sweet to get a run. Pittman fended off his fellow Kasey Kahne Racing teammate to secure the second spot, but the laps were winding down to reel in Schatz.
As Pittman tried to chase down Schatz, Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet had a hellacious battle going for third, with Schuchart sliding in front for good with four to go.
As the leaders were coming to the White Flag, Caruana slowed drastically on the frontstretch, forcing both Schuchart and Sweet to take evasive action. Both Schuchart and Sweet did 360’s in the infield and kept going while Caruana brought out the Yellow. Sweet and Schuchart both had wing panel damage and unfortunately for Schuchart, he also had a flat left rear that would force him to the pits, relinquishing third. The caution was for Caruana and Sweet never came to a stop, so he was given his spot back, with noticeable wing damage.
With less than five to go in the Feature, the restart was single-file giving Pittman one last chance to steal the win from Schatz. Schatz entered turn one high and Pittman followed him, leaving the bottom open for David Gravel, who surged from fourth across the bottom. Pittman checked up anticipating a full slider from Gravel, allowing Schatz to secure the victory for the fourth time in the last five Outlaw visits to Grays Harbor.
“The track was really good, you had to move around to get through traffic. I actually wish we would have stayed in lapped traffic more, that’s when it gets really fun,” Schatz said in Victory Lane. “I don’t know any driver that wants cautions,” Schatz added about the Green-White-Checkered finish. “I was hoping we could stay in lapped traffic because my car was good all over the race track and that I can attribute to my guys.”
Pittman, who won Saturday at Skagit, settled for second and kept it simple. “He’s tough to beat. I was hoping he would get slowed up behind the 96 and I would be able to get a run, but then it took me longer to get by him than I would have liked,” Pittman said about the lapped traffic before thanking his crew and car owner Kasey Kahne for the opportunity.
David Gravel was pleased with third, but wish he had 10 more laps to work with. “The track was really fast, hopefully we can get some momentum and build on this. I have two new crew guys - Tyler and Andy - so I thank them and Barry for their hard work,” Gravel said in good spirits.
Sheldon Haudenschild charged late to fourth with Brad Sweet fading to fifth with his damaged car. Greg Wilson picked up KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 17th to ninth. Logan Schuchart set a New Track Record in Qualifying with a lap of 11.699 and was poised for a podium finish before getting into the lapped car of Caruana.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with the Series lone visit to Oregon on Wednesday, September 5 when The Greatest Show on Dirt stops at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon. Tickets are still available for the event here. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$8,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$4,000]; 3. 5-David Gravel [6][$2,500]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,100]; 6. 26-Joey Saldana [7][$2,000]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$1,800]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$1,600]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$1,500]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [12][$1,300]: 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$1,200]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$1,100]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$1,000]; 14. 21P-Robbie Price [9][$700]; 15. 29-Willie Croft [11][$600]; 16. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [14][$600]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 18. 55-Trey Starks [21][$600]; 19. 33V-Henry VanDam [15][$600]; 20. 45-Austen Wheatley [19][$600]; 21. 96-Andy Caruana [22][$600]; 22. 19-Brent Marks [18][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+8]
Daryn Pittman Goes Flag-to-Flag at Skagit for 7th Win of 2018
ALGER, WA – September 1, 2018 – Daryn Pittman led all 40 laps to score his 7th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of the season on the second night of the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway. Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet exchanged the runner-up position multiple times in the closing stages with Schatz grabbing the position and Sweet settling for third.
Pittman won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole of the 40-lap Feature, alongside Schatz. Pittman controlled the initial start and led the opening lap as Schatz and Logan Schuchart jockeyed for the runner-up position before a Red Flag halted action. A handful of slowed cars littered the racing surface, resulting in Dominic Scelzi getting upside down. Scelzi was alert and talking to the safety crew but was transported to the local hospital with a hip injury.
Friday night’s winner Sheldon Haudenschild spun to a stop on Lap 3, ending his top-ten run and bunching the field back together. The next 10 laps allowed the leaders to delve into lapped traffic. With the preferred racing line up on the cushion, Pittman was able to methodically work his way through traffic efficiently with calculated slide jobs.
Buddy Kofoid’s good run came to an end on Lap 13, when he stopped in turn one. On the ensuing restart, Brad Sweet went to work on Schuchart, as the duo exchanged slide jobs for third. Schuchart resisted, but Sweet was able to wrestle the position away for good on Lap 15 and began to close in on Pittman and Schatz.
As lapped traffic picked up, Pittman was forced to slow his pace around the cushion, allowing Schatz and Sweet to knock on the door. The best racing action of the night came on Lap 27 through 30 as Pittman remained committed to the top, Schatz found some traction on the bottom and Sweet was looking for a way around both of them. The trio were within inches for the better part of those laps, exciting the large Skagit Speedway crowd.
Donny Schatz bobbled on the tricky cushion off of turn two on Lap 31, allowing Sweet to steal the runner-up position and, more importantly, allow Pittman to extend his advantage. Sweet began to close in on his Kasey Kahne Racing teammate, potentially setting up another nail-biting finish. Although, unlike last night, this time the battle was for second, as Schatz and Sweet waged war in lapped traffic, ultimately allowing Daryn Pittman to pull further away and pocket the $12,000 payday at Skagit Speedway for the second consecutive year.
“My guys did a good job. Glad to get the Adams family a win, Justin lost his Grandfather the other day and he’s been doing a great job for us this year, so this one was for him,” Pittman said sincerely in the Victory Lane. “It’s great to get another win, you cherish every one of this because you never know when your next one is going to come,” Pittman, who collected his 79th career Outlaw win, added humbly.
“I am so grateful to have my family here and that they can travel with me. I’m far from my home but there’s obviously a lot of Kasey Kahne fans here in Washington, so I’m glad to get this win for him,” Pittman said to a large cheer from the crowd.
When asked about his game plan starting on the front row, Pittman was honest. “My plan was if the 15 got under me, I better get my butt in gear,” the Owasso, OK native said with a smile.
Schatz got back by Sweet coming to the White Flag and held on for second. “It’s not where anyone wants to be, but you have to take it some days,” Schatz said of his runner-up finish. “40 laps is 40 laps, I felt like I needed it to be 100 laps to win tonight,” the Fargo, ND native added with a grin.
Brad Sweet came home third and talked about the three-car battle for the lead. “It was a good battle, I was trying to give it all I’ve got, I thought we had a really good car. It’s a little disappointing to give that spot back to Donny on the last lap, but still a good run for this team and to end the weekend on the podium is nothing to be ashamed of,” Sweet said in good spirits.
Logan Schuchart was strong all evening and finished fourth, with Ian Madsen completing the top-five in his second-ever weekend at Skagit Speedway.
Brent Marks earned a career-best Skagit finish in sixth with Shane Stewart finishing seventh. Washington’s own Trey Starks finished eighth. David Gravel earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 16th to ninth while Kraig Kinser completed the top ten.
Sheldon Haudenschild Wins Thriller on Night One at Skagit on his 25th Birthday
ALGER, WA – August 31, 2018 – Sheldon Haudenschild celebrated his 25th birthday in style, sliding Shane Stewart for the lead coming to the White Flag on Night One of the Outlaw Energy Showdown at Skagit Speedway to win his 5th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Stewart did everything in his power to get back by Haudenschild but settled for second in the thrilling finish.Rico Abreu completed the podium in his first Outlaw start at Skagit.
California fan favorite Rico Abreu won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30-Lap Feature alongside Shane Stewart. Abreu got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening lap before action was halted for a backwards Jacob Allen, who spun to avoid a logjam of cars with one lap complete.
Abreu chose the bottom on the ensuing double-file restart and led the field down the backstretch but Shane Stewart, a two-time Outlaw winner at Skagit, got a massive run on the cushion off of turn four to lead Lap 2. As Abreu searched around the race track, Sheldon Haudenschild snuck by into second on Lap 4 and began closing in on Stewart.
Stewart and Haudenschild gave the Skagit Speedway fans a glimpse of what was to come on Lap 7 as Sheldon got underneath Stewart to lead down the backstretch, only to have Stewart blast back around to lead the lap at the line by a hair.
The intense action halted on Lap 10 when Keoni Texeira spun to a stop. On the opposite end of the track, Jason Solwold’s eventful evening continued as he stopped with a flat right front tire. Solwold would return, but Texeira would not.
The ensuing double-file restart saw contact in the back of the pack and Austen Wheatley end up in the infield with damage that would end his evening. Following that, the decision was made to conduct single-file restarts the rest of the evening.
Lap 13 saw Solwold’s night go from bad to worse as his No.18S went end-over-end down the backstretch into turn three after incidental contact with Jacob Allen. Solwold walked away from his mangled car under his own power.
The remaining 17 laps went Green-to-Checkered and they did not disappoint. Haudenschild hawked the veteran Stewart through heavy lapped traffic, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seat as the drivers navigated a tacky racing surface.
Haudenschild looked to be within striking distance multiple times, but remained patient until the perfect opportunity, which came on Lap 28. Stewart bobbled ever-so-slightly on the treacherous cushion off of turn four, opening a narrow window for Haudenschild to pounce and the young Wooster, OH native did just that.
Haudenschild threw his NOS Energy Sponsored, Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall racing No.17 hard into the corner and inched in front of Stewart at the edge of turn four. Stewart and Haudenschild made slight contact after the slide job but both drivers kept going under the White Flag. Stewart tried one last ditch effort to get the lead back coming to the checkered, but to no avail as he would finish .311 behind Haudenschild in an exciting Feature.
“I knew I was running out of time and had to make something happen. I don’t think my slider was dirty, you kind of had to stop his momentum to pull it off. I know he bumped by back bumper but on a small track like this, I think you’re going to have some wheel-banging and the track tonight was beautiful,” Haudenschild said in Victory Lane.
Shane Stewart despite the tough finish remained in good spirits, “I thought we were going to have one, I knew Sheldon was going to be tough. I thought I was getting through lapped cars pretty good, but I jumped the cushion just a little bit coming to the White and allowed Sheldon to get a good run on me. That’s how these races go, you can’t stub your toe, can’t slow down at all or you’re going to get passed.”
Rico Abreu, who has been following the Outlaws back to his home state of California since Knoxville, came home third in his first Outlaw start at Skagit. “This place races great. I didn’t get to the top soon enough on that restart and that’s where we lost the race. My car was perfect and I’m excited for tomorrow,” an upbeat Abreu said.
Though it was Sheldon Haudenschild’s fifth win of the 2018 Season, it was his first since Fairbury back on June 5th. “To get a win after not winning for a while feels really good. I can’t thank Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.], the Marshall family, our sponsors and my crew guys enough,” Haudenschild added in Victory Lane.
Joey Saldana was strong all night and finished fourth with Brad Sweet completing the top five. Ian Madsen, in his first look at Skagit Speedway, earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward 10 positions to 12th.
Washington’s own and former World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series regular Jason Solwold had a night he will certainly never forget, for all the wrong reasons. Solwold set Quick Time over the field, only to have a water pump issue on his team’s only 410 motor. The team was forced to change to their 360ci engine for the Heat Race, where he fended off numerous charges to finish second to advance to the Dash. While that was ongoing and during the intermission and dash draw, Solwold and the team successfully scrambled to fix the water pump issue on the 410 in time for the Feature. All for the Burlington, WA native to get a flat tire 10 laps into the Feature while running eighth and go for a wild ride down the backstretch three laps later. Fortunately, Solwold was uninjured in the accident, but the rest of his weekend remains in jeopardy.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season back at Skagit Speedway Saturday, September 1, 2018 before heading over to Elma, WA on Monday, September 3 for an appearance at the Grays Harbor Raceway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$8,000]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [2][$4,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$2,500]; 4. 26-Joey Saldana [3][$2,200]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [8][$2,100]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,000]; 7. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [5][$1,800]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [7][$1,600]; 9. 5-David Gravel [16][$1,500]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17][$1,300]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [9][$1,200]; 12. 18-Ian Madsen [22][$1,100]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson [18][$1,000]; 14. 29-Willie Croft [11][$700]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$600]; 16. 83JR-Kyle Hirst [21][$600]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$600]; 18. 55-Trey Starks [19][$600]; 19. 18S-Jason Solwold [6][$600]; 20. 45-Austen Wheatley [13][$600]; 21. 7S50-Keoni Texeira [12][$600]; 22. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$600]; 23. 21P-Robbie Price [14][$600]; 24. 8R-Michael Kofoid [24][$600]; Lap Leaders: Rico Abreu 1, Shane Stewart 2-28, Sheldon Haudenschild 29-30 KSE Hard Charger Award: 18-Ian Madsen[+10]
Pittman Goes Back-To-Back at Big Sky Speedway for 6th Win of Season
BILLINGS, MT – August 25, 2018 – Daryn Pittman got by Jacob Allen on a double-file restart halfway through the race and never looked back, scoring his second consecutive win at Big Sky Speedway and capturing his sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory of 2018. Allen settled for second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
For the second consecutive night, Jacob Allen won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 35-Lap Feature. Allen drag raced with fellow front row starter Pittman the entire opening lap and edged ahead off of turn four to lead Lap 1.
The first 15 laps went non-stop, forcing Allen to negotiate lapped traffic and allowing Pittman and Schatz to close in. Brent Marks had a right rear explode, bringing out the first of a handful of cautions.
The ensuing double-file restart saw Allen elect the top of the speedway. Allen fought off two Pittman slidejobs to maintain control and lead Lap 16 before the yellow flew for Dominic Scelzi, who lost the handle of his family-owned machine off of turn one.
The caution restacked the field double-file once again, but this time the veteran Pittman prevailed over young Allen, controlling the field off of turn two to lead Lap 17.
A pair of cautions for Alan Gilbertson and Jason Sides gave Allen ample opportunity to steal the lead back from Pittman, but the Owasso, OK native was too strong on the double-file restarts and motored away.
The final caution of the evening came with four to go as Sheldon Haudenschild’s engine gave out. With less than five laps to go in the Feature, Outlaw rules dictate single-file restarts, giving Allen a different chance to wrestle the lead back. Allen stayed with Pittman on the restart, but couldn’t mount a serious challenge as Pittman went on to win by .904 seconds.
“To get this win the way the last few months have been is really something special. Man, our last win was tough,” Pittman said solemnly before thanking his Kasey Kahne Racing crew for their continued support.
“There’s nothing better than winning these races, you never know when your last one is going to be,” Pittman, who now has 78 career Outlaw wins, added. "As you can see there’s nothing on the side of this car and there’s no better way to sign a sponsor than by winning races. That’s my job, to go out there and focus on putting this car in Victory Lane so I can keep this job and keep doing what I love,” Pittman said before thanking the sellout crowd at Big Sky Speedway.
Jacob Allen’s first World of Outlaws win continues to elude him, but the young Hanover, PA native remains in good spirits. “Leading laps and running up front is a lot of fun. Obviously, I want to get that first win, but to be able to be on the podium, finish top-five and contend for a win against these guys is something to be proud of and I’m proud of my race team,” Allen said positively.
Donny Schatz was pleased to come home third but wished the race got into more lapped traffic. “It’s fun to be in traffic, but that wasn’t in the cards tonight. Third is pretty respectable, the race track was fun and that’s all you can ask for as a racer. Full house tonight, thank you guys for being here, it was an awesome night for all of us,” Schatz said in good spirits.
Brad Sweet picked up KSE Hard Charger honors coming forward to fourth with Kraig Kinser completing the top five.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its trek west to Washington and has a pair of dates at Skagit Speedway this upcoming weekend Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 in Alger, WA. Following that, the Series will head to Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma on Monday, September 3rd before making its lone appearance in Oregon at Willamette Speedway on Wednesday, September 5.
If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$10,000]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$2,300]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [3][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [7][$2,050]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$1,500]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson [16][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,100]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee [13][$1,050]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$1,000]; 16. 97-Alan Gilbertson [17][$900]; 17. 37-Trever Kirkland [19][$800]; 18. 9K-Kory Wermling [22][$800]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [14][$800]; 20. 2JR-Kelly Miller [18][$800]; 21. 27DD-David Hoiness [20][$800]; 22. 77-Damon McCune [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-16, Daryn Pittman 17-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+5]
Brad Sweet Steals Black Hills Win on Late Restart
RAPID CITY, SD – August 24, 2018 – Brad Sweet used a double-file restart with seven laps remaining to get by race-long leader Jacob Allen and win his fifth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the 2018 season Friday night at Black Hills Speedway. Schatz used that same restart to surge from ninth to finish second with Dominic Scelzi completing the podium.
Jacob Allen won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 25-lap Feature alongside 2018 Knoxville Nationals Champion, Brad Sweet. The initial start saw David Gravel blast from fourth to the lead down the backstretch, but Allen muscled his Shark Racing No.1A underneath Gravel’s CJB No.5 off of turn four to lead the opening lap.
The first of two cautions in the Feature flew with two laps complete as Sheldon Haudenschild spun to a stop after battling for fifth. Haudenschild’s crew thrashed to get the Stenhouse Jr-Marshall No.17 back out, which would prove crucial later. The ensuing double-file restart saw 2017 Black Hills winner Shane Stewart move into second as Gravel got shuffled back to fifth.
Allen, in search of his first career Outlaw triumph, motored away from the field as the rest of the field waged war behind him. Intense racing action on Lap 4 saw Sweet move into second, Dominic Scelzi into third as Stewart got shuffled back to fourth. Scelzi, also in search of his first Outlaw triumph, pounded the cushion in turn one and two, to get by fellow California native Sweet for second on Lap 7 and set his eyes on Allen.
Allen navigated lapped traffic like a veteran and appeared to be on his way for the long-awaited first Outlaw win. Sweet worked back by Scelzi on Lap 17 for second and the next lap Sheldon Haudenschild brought out the final caution of the evening with seven laps remaining.
The caution erased the 2 and half-second lead Allen had accumulated and put one of Sprint Car Racing’s elite talents right next to him for the double-file restart.
Allen elected the bottom, but Sweet was able to remain even for the lead on the restart. Sweet edged in front to lead Lap 19, but a determined Allen threw a slide job to grab the lead momentarily off of turn two.
While all eyes were on Sweet and Allen’s torrid battle for the lead, Donny Schatz surged forward from ninth to third.
Back up front, Sweet’s momentum allowed him to regain control down the backstretch and into turn three and four. As a last-ditch effort to get the lead back, Allen threw the car low, but spun the tires off turn four, scrubbing his speed and allowing Donny Schatz and Dominic Scelzi to split him down the frontstretch for position.
Scelzi and Schatz jockeyed for position briefly, allowing Sweet to extend his lead and go on to win his fifth Feature of the year.
“I kinda feel bad for Jacob, he’s been working really hard and has a really fast car. He was probably the guy to beat, sometimes those late restarts will get you. I’ve been fortunate to have been out here a couple of more years and the experience can help in those situations,” Sweet said honestly.
“My car was really good, I just lost some track position on the start. It was nice to get back into second right when we did to get that shot on the restart,” Sweet added next to his NAPA Auto Parts, Kasey Kahne Racing No.49 in Victory Lane.
Donny Schatz, who was coming off a weekend sweep in his home state, settled for second after his surge on the Lap 18 restart.
“Hats off to my guys they always give me a good race car and we were pretty good at the end. I felt like we were running 43rd most of the race,” Schatz said with a smile.
It was all smiles for Dominic Scelzi, who completed the podium, tying his career-best Outlaw finish. “I had a dream of a race car to drive. We’ve had a heck of a last few months and to be on the podium with the Outlaws is awesome. We were fast at Billings last year, hopefully we can finish one or two spots better tomorrow,” Scelzi, who is following the World of Outlaws back to his home-state of California, said.
Logan Schuchart came forward to fourth with his Shark Racing teammate Allen settling for fifth. Greg Wilson earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 17th to finish sixth.
For the second consecutive year, the Black Hills Speedway track record fell, this year to Daryn Pittman, who paced the full-field of cars in Qualifying with a blistering 14.813 seconds, just a fraction off of Shane Stewart’s time last year.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Saturday, August 25 at Big Sky Speedway in Billings, MT. As always, if you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$5,500]; 3. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [7][$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,800]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$2,500]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$2,300]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [6][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [4][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,050]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [3][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,050]; 15. 99-Skylar Gee [16][$1,000]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$900]; 17. 97-Alan Gilbertson [14][$800]; 18. 2JR-Kelly Miller [18][$800]; 19. 88-Travis Reber [19][$800]; 20. 2K-Kevin Ingle [20][$800]; 21. 14-Ben Holmberg [21][$800]; 22. 4-Adam Speckman [23][$800]; 23. 3-Mike Pennel [22][$800]; 24. O-Ned Powers [24][$800] Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-18, Brad Sweet 19-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.813; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.817; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.836; 4. 2-Shane Stewart, 14.838; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.862; 6. 5-David Gravel, 14.931; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.979; 8. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.999; 9. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.053; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 15.055; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.064; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.068; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 15.162; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 15.271; 15. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.328; 16. 99-Skylar Gee, 15.369; 17. 97-Alan Gilbertson, 15.677; 18. 2JR-Kelly Miller, 16.236; 19. 88-Travis Reber, 16.758; 20. 4-Adam Speckman, 16.945; 21. 14-Ben Holmberg, 16.971; 22. 3-Mike Pennel, 17.104; 23. 2K-Kevin Ingle, 17.18; 24. O-Ned Powers, NT
Donny Schatz Sweeps Weekend at Home with 17th Win of 2018 at Red River Valley
WEST FARGO, ND – August 18, 2018 – Donny Schatz completed the weekend sweep of his home state of North Dakota, taking the lead on Lap 23 to win his 17th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Saturday night at Red River Valley Speedway. Jacob Allen finished second as he continues to close in on his first career Outlaw win with Kerry Madsen completing the podium for the second consecutive night.
David Gravel won the Sears Craftsman Dash to the earn the pole for the 30-lap Feature alongside Shane Stewart. Gravel got the jump on the initial start and led the opening circuit. Jacob Allen worked his way forward from fourth to take second away from Donny Schatz on Lap 5 and two laps later Allen got by Gravel to take command of the field.
Allen led for four laps before bobbling in lapped traffic, trying to split a pair of lapped cars, on Lap 12, allowing Gravel to steal the lead back and Schatz to move into second. The trio captivated the large Red River Valley Speedway crowd as they jockeyed for the lead.
Gravel worked his way through traffic, before the first caution of the event flew for Thomas Kennedy, who ended up backwards in turn one after battling with Sides for sixth with 18 laps complete.
Allen edged back in front of Schatz on the restart, but Schatz slid the young Hanover, PA native to take second back at the line. A lap later, Ian Madsen slowed with a flat tire, ending his top-ten run. Brad Sweet also headed pit side with a flat tire.
With tires going down, the decision was made to go with single-file restarts the rest of the night, which allowed David Gravel to steadily lead with 11 to go. Schatz reeled in Gravel with a big run off of turn two and shot underneath him down the backstretch to take the lead on Lap 23. As it turns out, Gravel was nursing an ailing tire as he slowed with a flat right rear the next lap, bringing out the final caution of the evening.
Allen stayed right with Schatz on the restart and looked for a way around the nine-time Series Champion, to no avail. Schatz hit his marks, didn’t make any mistakes and went on to win his 17th Feature of the season and extend his points lead.
When asked about what it means to win in front of his hometown crowd, Schatz kept it simple, “It’s what you live for. You hope when you roll near home to put on a good show, have some good runs and win some races.” “I’m so fortunate for my team, they are the reason I’m standing here. We’ve been together for a long time and we have a lot of fun doing this,” Schatz added before thanking the track crew for their efforts to provide a multiple-groove racing surface and the large crowd for coming out and supporting.
Jacob Allen continues to impress, finishing second and while he was a little disappointed to not seal the deal, he was still pleased with the run.
“Donny is a legend and to compete with him for a win was a lot of fun. I’ve ran second quite a few times this year and I want to win one so bad. One of these days, I’m going to bag on,” Allen said convincingly.
For the second consecutive night, Kerry Madsen completed the podium and was in good spirts. “I’ve always loved coming up here [to North Dakota]. My team works really hard and we’re happy with two podiums this weekend,” Madsen said before thanking the fans for coming out, letting them know his appreciation for the racing support in the area.
Greg Wilson was humming on the bottom of the speedway and charged from 13th to fourth. Logan Schuchart went up in smoke in his Heat, relegating him to the Last Chance Showdown, which he won with ease. Schuchart charged from 19th to complete the top five in the Feature, earning KSE Hard Charger Honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with a return to the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, SD next Friday, August 24 before making the trek over to Big Sky Speedway in Billings, MT on Saturday, August 25. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$10,000]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [4][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5][$3,200]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [13][$2,800]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$2,500]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [2][$2,300]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [14][$2,200]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [8][$2,100]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [7][$2,050]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,000]; 11. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [17][$1,500]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [21][$1,200]; 13. 13-Mark Dobmeier [11][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$1,050]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,000]; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [10][$900]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$800]; 18. 5-David Gravel [1][$800]; 19. 13T-Ty Hanten [23][$800]; 20. 9N-Wade Nygaard [20][$800]; 21. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$800]; 22. 20A-Jordan Adams [24][$800]; 23. 21K-Thomas Kennedy [12][$800]; 24. 19P-Paige Polyak [22][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-7, 12-22; Jacob Allen 8-11; Donny Schatz 23-30 KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+14]
Donny Schatz Scores 16th Win of 2018 Season at River Cities and Adds a Late Model Win for Extra Measure
GRAND FORKS, ND – August 17, 2018 – Donny Schatz took the lead on Lap 28, after Brad Sweet spun while leading, and held off 17th-starting Mark Dobmeier to win his 16th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 and seventh in his last eight River Cities Speedway starts. Kerry Madsen completed the podium. Schatz also won the Late Model portion of the event.
Sheldon Haudenschild won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 40-lap Feature alongside recent Knoxville Nationals winner Brad Sweet. Haudenschild led the opening lap before a Red Flag for Logan Schuchart, Wade Nygaard and Brent Marks halted the action with one lap complete. All drivers were uninjured, but only Marks returned.
Haudenschild continued to pace the field as he reached lapped traffic quickly around the ¼ bullring. Sweet stalked the Ohio native and took the lead on Lap 12 on the bottom, in heavy lapped traffic.
Jordan Adams, who flipped earlier in the night but repaired his car to transfer out of the LCS, brought out the caution with 15 laps complete.
A caution on the ensuing double-file restart, set up a single-file restart. Four laps later, Ian Madsen was involved in his second incident of the Feature, this time with too much damage to continue, bringing out Open Red conditions.
When action resumed, Sheldon Haudenschild got shuffled back to fourth behind Kerry Madsen and Donny Schatz, who moved into second. Schatz set his eyes on Sweet and closed in as the duo raced through heavy traffic.
As Schatz went high to challenge for the lead, Sweet entered low into turn one and lost the handle of his No.49, spinning to a stop. Schatz assumed the lead alongside Kerry Madsen.
Schatz stormed away on the restart as the rest of the field, especially 17th-starting Mark Dobmeier, used every inch of real estate around the River Cities Speedway to advance forward.
The final restart flew with four to go and by this time Dobmeier, the all-time winning Feature leader at River Cities Speedway, had worked his way to second, trailing Schatz. The capacity crowd was bubbling with anticipation of the finish as the two North Dakota natives led the field back to Green.
Schatz pulled away in convincing fashion for his 16th Outlaw win of the year and seventh in his last eight starts at River Cities Speedway as Dobmeier finished second, picking up KSE Hard Charger honors for advancing 15 positions.
“I’m just a lucky guy. To drive for the for the best guys in the pit area, the best owner in the country and the people that build these cars. They stand behind us through thick and then,” Schatz said of his Textron Off Road-sponsored crew, Tony Stewart and J & J Chassis.
“Mark [Dobmeier] had a good run, I saw the 13 on the board and I thought, oh boy, here we go. He’s pretty good around here,” Schatz said of his fellow North Dakota native.
“Lapped traffic definitely made your hair stand up tonight, we might not have been the best car tonight, but I’m glad we could get it done in Grand Forks,” Schatz, who also won the NLRA Late Model Feature, added in Victory Lane.
The massive crowd at River Cities was pleased to see six-time winner at River Cities in 2018, Dobmeier finish second. “It’s great to have the crowd cheer like this, this is why we do it,” Dobmeier said. “I wish I didn’t use up all my tires at the beginning of the race, I wanted to start in the Dash and start in the top-ten and get that track position early, but we didn’t have it early, so I had to dig deep, I gave everything I had. Considering we got to second to this guy [pointing at Schatz], I feel pretty good about that run,” Dobmeier said with a smile.
Kerry Madsen finished on the podium once again at River Cities, “I had a big plan on the double-file restart with six to go and it didn’t work and I lost a spot,” Madsen said with a grin before complimenting River Cities Speedway. “They do such a good job with the track here, I love coming to Grand Forks.”
14th-starting Daryn Pittman finished fourth with Brad Sweet charging back to fifth. Shane Stewart, who was involved in two accidents, recovered to finish sixth. David Gravel stayed out of trouble and finished seventh.
21st-starting Brent Marks recovered from a Lap One accident to finish eighth, Hunter Schuerenburg, who went to the work area running sixth early in the race, came back to ninth with local Jade Hastings, who brought out the Yellow with 6 laps left, completing the top-ten, the first of his World of Outlaws career.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action in West Fargo tomorrow night, Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Red River Valley Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$10,000]; 2. 13-Mark Dobmeier [17][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [4][$3,200]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [14][$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,500]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,300]; 7. 5-David Gravel [13][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [21][$2,100]; 9. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [10][$2,050]; 10. 8H-Jade Hastings [16][$2,000]; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$1,500]; 12. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$1,200]; 13. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$1,100]; 14. 24-Terry McCarl [6][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$1,000]; 16. 20A-Jordan Adams [24][$900]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson [8][$800]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$800]; 19. 24R-Rico Abreu [3][$800]; 20. 17A-Austin McCarl [23][$800]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$800]; 22. 9N-Wade Nygaard [18][$800]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$800]; 24. 21K-Thomas Kennedy [20][$800]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-11, Brad Sweet 12-27, Donny Schatz 28-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 13-Mark Dobmeier[+15]
Logan Schuchart Tames Pevely for $20,000 Ironman 55 Victory
PEVELY, MO – August 4, 2018 – Logan Schuchart passed Daryn Pittman on Lap 15 and never looked back to claim the 2018 Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, worth $20,000. The final 42 laps went non-stop as Schuchart negotiated lap traffic to claim his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Kasey Kahne Racing teammates Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman completed the podium.
Schuchart won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 55-Lap Feature alongside Daryn Pittman. Pittman, who won at Pevely in April, got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening circuit.
Pittman reached lapped traffic by Lap 5 around the tight-quartered bullring with Schuchart close in tow. Schuchart pulled even with the 2013 Outlaw Champion on Lap 9, but couldn’t make the pass. Pittman and Schuchart were side-by-side for the better part of the next four laps, before the lone caution of the event flew with 13 complete for Aaron Reutzel.
Pittman maintained control on the restart, but Schuchart remained persistent and took command of the field on Lap 15 through turn two. Pittman tried to get back by the No.1S, but ended up losing second to his teammate Brad Sweet in the process.
Following Reutzel’s caution, the remaining 42 laps went non-stop as the Ironman 55 lived up to its name as the most grueling event on the World of Outlaws schedule. Schuchart navigated lapped traffic like a veteran. As rubber began to set in around the I-55 Raceway in the closing laps, Schuchart made the decision to follow lapped traffic and force Sweet and Pittman to find a way around him.
“I tried to hold my line as the rubber set in and force someone to go around me,” Schuchart said in reference to the closing laps.
Sweet and Pittman closed in on Schuchart, but could do nothing but watch the Shark Racing No.1S capture his first win of the season. Both Sweet and Pittman were within a second of Schuchart at the checkered flag.
“Man, this is awesome. I feel like we have the best team we’ve ever had. This is Drydene Performance’s first Outlaw win and we can’t thank them enough for their support,” an exhausted, but elated, Schuchart said in Victory Lane.
“This is one of the big ones – Ironman 55. It’s tough, it wears you out. It’s awesome to get one of these wins and a big one at that,” Schuchart added.
Sweet settled for second but was pleased with his car speed. “I was biding my time, waiting to see if he was going to make a mistake and he never gave us a real good shot to get by him, he set a really good pace up top,” Sweet said before expressing his excitement to get to Knoxville for the Nationals.
Pittman led early and finished on the podium with his KKR teammate. “My car was getting better as the race went on, I’m a little frustrated with myself,” Pittman said. “I wasn’t quite quick enough on top on that restart and then I broke my momentum and Brad got by me. I’m really happy with our car right now, we’ll take third and go to Knoxville and try and improve there,” Pittman added in good spirits.
James McFadden came from 11th to finish fourth with Schuchart’s teammate Jacob Allen completing the top five. Brent Marks earned KSE Hard Charger honors surging from 22nd to ninth.
It was announced that tonight was the largest crowd in Ironman 55 history and the World of Outlaws will return once again to Pevely on August 2nd and 3rd of 2019. Next up for The Greatest Show on Dirt is a trip to the Sprint Car Capitol of the World for the biggest race of the year – the Knoxville Nationals, which will pay $150,000 to the winner. After Nationals, the Outlaws will begin a trek to the West Coast starting in North and South Dakota.
Feature (55 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$20,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$6,000]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$3,750]; 4. 3H-James McFadden [11][$3,250]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$2,750]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,500]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$2,400]; 8. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,300]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [22][$2,200]; 10. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [14][$2,100]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [21][$1,700]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$1,400]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [13][$1,300]; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8][$1,200]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [23][$1,100]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$1,000]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich [20][$1,000]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,000]; 19. 51B-Joe B [15][$1,000]; 20. 21X-Carson Short [18][$1,000]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [19][$1,000]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [7][$1,000]; 23. 79J-Jacob Patton [24][$1,000]; 24. 35-Jamie Veal [16][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-14, Logan Schuchart 15-55; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Qualifying: 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.668; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.742; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.772; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.795; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.862; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman, 11.895; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.912; 8. 48-Danny Dietrich, 11.924; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.928; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 11.93; 11. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.948; 12. 5-David Gravel, 11.95; 13. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.005; 14. 3H-James McFadden, 12.011; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.019; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.028; 17. 2-Shane Stewart, 12.029; 18. 21X-Carson Short, 12.072; 19. 19-Brent Marks, 12.149; 20. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.15; 21. 71M-Paul May, 12.164; 22. 35-Jamie Veal, 12.168; 23. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 12.197; 24. 51B-Joe B, 12.552; 25. 15M-Steve Short, 13.144; 26. 79J-Jacob Patton, 13.192; 27. 28AU-Allan Woods, NT
Rico Abreu Wins Second Consecutive Ironman at I-55
PEVELY, MO – August 4, 2018 – Rico Abreu took the lead away from Kraig Kinser on Lap 21 and held off charges from Tim Shaffer and David Gravel to win his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the 2018 season. Abreu survived two Gravel slide jobs in the closing laps and held off the Connecticut driver for his second consecutive Ironman 55 triumph for a $20,000 payday. Jacob Allen completed the podium.
Rico Abreu won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 55-Lap Feature, alongside Outlaw veteran Kraig Kinser. Kinser got the jump on the initial start and powered away in search of his first victory of the season.
Kinser reached lapped traffic on Lap 5 on the high-banked ¼ mile and negotiated it well, establishing an early lead.
Kinser turned under an Abreu slide job on Lap 17 to maintain the race lead. Abreu cleared Kinser to take the lead two laps later, but a caution for a slowing Joe B. Miller negated the pass and allowed Kinser to maintain the lead with 36 laps remaining.
The ensuing restart saw Kinser and Abreu exchange slide jobs for the lead with Kinser holding the lead on Lap 20, but Abreu wrestling it away the following circuit.
Brent Marks brought out the caution on Lap 27 with a flat right rear, setting up the first of many double-file restarts where Abreu would be in control. Each time, Abreu elected the bottom.
Tim Shaffer, who originally started 12th, charged from fourth on the restart to second and took a look under Abreu for the lead with a brilliant restart, but settled for second as Abreu powered away.
The action was halted for Hunter Schuerenburg, who got upside in turn two, on Lap 33. Schuerenburg was uninjured, but was done for the event. Turn two proved treacherous for both Paul Nienhiser and Sheldon Haudenschild as well, as both drivers ended the evening on the hook after contact with the wall.
Haudenschild’s incident was on Lap 42, which set up a 13-lap dash to the finish for $20,000.
Abreu powered away on the restart in clean air, but would need to navigate lapped traffic one more time to secure the victory.
With five laps remaining, Abreu approached heavy lapped traffic, allowing Gravel to close in. Gravel attempted slide jobs on Lap 50 and 51, but Abreu stayed in the gas and powered around the CJB Motorsports No.5 to maintain the lead. Abreu’s margin of victory was .655 seconds, as he claimed the Ironman 55 trophy for the second consecutive time.
“Man, that was a lot of fun. Hats off to my guys, that was the best I’ve felt in a long time. It’s all about working together and getting chemistry,” Abreu said in Victory Lane. “Back-to-back Ironman wins is awesome, but we’re not done yet, we’ve got another one tonight,” the St. Helena, CA native added with a smile.
Abreu applauded David Gravel for racing him clean at the end, “If the roles were reversed, it would be the same way."
Being so close to victory, Gravel was understandably disappointed to come up short. “I really thought I had him cleared and he got back by me. I’m a little mad at myself for not winning this, it sucks to finish second. But I am really happy for Drew [Warner] for him to get his first career Outlaw victory and for Rico,” Gravel added in good spirits. Drew Warner is the crew chief for Rico and is the son of Ricky Warner, the long-time wrench for Donny Schatz.
Jacob Allen continues to chip away in search of his first career Outlaw victory and scored another podium finish. “This is a great race track and I think most drivers would agree it’s a lot of fun. Congrats to Rico and David, it was a good race for 55 laps,” Allen said in Victory Lane.
Allen’s Shark Racing teammate finished fourth with Tim Shaffer coming home fifth. Shaffer’s efforts were good enough to earn KSE Hard Charger honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 tomorrow evening, Saturday, August 4, 2018 for another 55-Lap, $20,000 to win Feature. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (55 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$20,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [6][$6,000]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$3,750]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,250]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12][$2,750]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [8][$2,500]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,400]; 8. 3H-James McFadden [15][$2,300]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,100]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$1,700]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,400]; 13. 91-Cale Thomas [14][$1,300]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2][$1,200]; 15. 71M-Paul May [21][$1,100]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,000]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson [4][$1,000]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$1,000]; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [20][$1,000]; 20. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$1,000]; 21. 51B-Joe Miller [22][$1,000]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [17][$1,000]; 23. 1M-James Moughan [24][$1,000]; 24. 65-Jordon Goldesberry [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-20, Rico Abreu 21-55 KSE Hard Charger Award: 49X-Tim Shaffer[+7]
Qualifying: 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.709; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.77; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.894; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.903; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 11.908; 6. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.936; 7. 5-David Gravel, 11.947; 8. 91-Cale Thomas, 11.955; 9. 3H-James McFadden, 11.98; 10. 71M-Paul May, 12.031; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.046; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.1; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 12.11; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.145; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.178; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.218; 17. 2-Shane Stewart, 12.23; 18. 1M-James Moughan, 12.235; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.259; 20. 21X-Carson Short, 12.26; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.293; 22. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.47; 23. 65-Jordon Goldesberry, 12.494; 24. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.504; 25. 51B-Joe Miller, 12.523; 26. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.567; 27. 35-Jamie Veal, 12.678; 28. 79J-Jacob Patton, 12.879; 29. 28AU-Allan Woods, 12.936; 30. 15M-Steve Short, 13.693; 31. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn, 13.893
David Gravel Tames Ransomville for Fifth Victory of 2018
RANSOMVILLE, NY – July 27, 2018 – David Gravel fought off multiple charges from Brad Sweet to lead all 30 laps and claim his fifth win of the 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series 40th Anniversary Season at Ransomville Speedway. Sweet took the lead on two occasions but settled for second for the second consecutive year at Ransomville. Polesitter Donny Schatz completed the podium.
Donny Schatz won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30 Lap Feature, in search of his 16th victory of the year.
Action was halted on the opening lap after Paulie Colagiovanni went for a wild ride up and over the turn three and four wall. Colagiovanni was uninjured and walked away from the incident under his own power to a large roar from the massive Ransomville Speedway crowd.
David Gravel powered around Donny Schatz to pace the field down the backstretch and lead the opening lap. Brad Sweet went around Schatz to take second on Lap 3.
Another Red Flag halted action as Daryn Pittman got upside down battling for position inside the top ten on Lap 4. Pittman walked away from the incident under his own power.
A long stretch of Green Flag laps allowed Gravel and Sweet to reach heavy lapped traffic. The duo sliced and diced through cars littered around the 3/8th mile. Sweet cleared Gravel with a slide job on Lap 10, but Gravel turned back underneath to edge Sweet at the line.
As the duo continued to navigate traffic, Sweet edged in front of Gravel once again down the backstretch on Lap 17, but once again Gravel willed his CJB Motorsports No.5 back in front at the stripe.
One lap later the final caution of the night flew for an ailing Dan Bennett, taking the leaders out of traffic with 12 laps remaining. Gravel motored away with a clear track in front of him.
Gravel would be forced to clear a pair of lapped cars running side-by-side and he did so with relative ease, axing any chance of late race heroics from Sweet.
“I was being a little cautious, I blew a tire here last year and I didn’t want to do that again this year. When Brad showed his nose, I knew I had to step up my game and luckily, I was able to get back by him,” Gravel said in Victory Lane.
“We’ve been fast here the past couple of weeks, it’s good to get another win. This is our first win in a CJB house car, Barry [Jackson] has put a lot of hours in to make these things go fast,” Gravel added.
Sweet settled for second and complimented Gravel. “David did a nice job getting through traffic, especially with the lapped cars battling side-by-side. I think we were pretty equal with him, my guys gave me a great car,” Sweet said next to his Kasey Kahne Racing No.49.
After starting on the pole, Schatz was disappointed to fade to third, but made no excuses. “We weren’t good enough to compete for the win, you lick your wounds some days and come back stronger,” Schatz said before thanking his crew for their continued effort.
Kraig Kinser had a season-best fourth place finish with Logan Schuchart completing the top five.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Sunday, July 29 at Weedsport Speedway with the Empire State Challenge. Following that, the Series will head to Pevely, MO for two 55-lap, $20,000 to win Ironman 55 Features at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55! If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 5-David Gravel [2][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$3,200]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,800]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,500]; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$2,100]; 9. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [5][$2,000]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [11][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$1,200]; 13. 35-Jared Zimbardi [20][$1,100]; 14. 18X-Ryan Susice [16][$1,050]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$1,000]; 16. 36-Matt Billings [15][$900]; 17. 54JR-Scott Just [18][$800]; 18. 54J-David Just [13][$800]; 19. X-Dan Bennett [23][$800]; 20. 9-Daryn Pittman [10][$800]; 21. 49K-Scott Kreutter [14][$800]; 22. 33-Mike Mahaney [17][$800]; 23. 10-Paul Colagiovanni [12][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.9; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.077; 3. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.153; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.157; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.184; 6. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.195; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.22; 8. 2-Shane Stewart, 14.278; 9. 5-David Gravel, 14.28; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.302; 11. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.38; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 14.405; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.532; 14. 33-Mike Mahaney, 14.663; 15. 10-Paul Colagiovanni, 14.805; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.965; 17. 49K-Scott Kreutter, 15.031; 18. 36-Matt Billings, 15.133; 19. 18X-Ryan Susice, 15.215; 20. 35-Jared Zimbardi, 15.268; 21. 54JR-Scott Just, 15.335; 22. 54J-David Just, 15.38; 23. X-Dan Bennett, 15.695
Lance Dewease Becomes Winningest Driver in Williams Grove History with World of Outlaws Triumph on Night One of Summer Nationals
MECHANICSBURG, PA – July 20, 2018 – Lance Dewease got better with each restart and passed Donny Schatz on Lap 20 to win his 91st career Feature at Williams Grove Speedway and 14th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series triumph. Schatz settled for second with Brian Montieth completing the podium.
Lucas Wolfe won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 25-Lap Feature, but it was fellow front row starter, Donny Schatz that got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening lap.
Ian Madsen brought out the first caution of the evening on Lap 3. Lance Dewease, who started fourth, used the restart to move into second by Wolfe. Greg Hodnett moved by Wolfe into third a lap later.
Dewease closed in on Schatz as the duo established themselves as the class of the field. Schatz negotiated lapped traffic with ease, before a caution for Sheldon Haudenschild on Lap 16 bunched the field together.
Schatz cleared Dewease on the following double-file restart, but a caution for Jim Siegel set up a single-file restart. Dewease took a look underneath Schatz for the top spot, but couldn’t make it stick. A lap later Jacob Allen went up in smoke, setting up another double-file restart.
Once again, Schatz kept Dewease at bay on the restart. One lap later, Trey Starks was backwards, setting up the final restart with seven laps remaining.
This time, Dewease stayed right Schatz. Dewease followed Schatz on the top for a lap before making his move with a slide job in turn one to lead down the backstretch to the delight of the large Williams Grove Speedway crowd.
Dewease extended the lead and went on to win by 1.201 seconds for his 14th career Outlaw win and to become the winningest driver in Williams Grove history.
“It just feels great to be in Victory Lane and to beat Donny Schatz, he’s one of the best racers to ever drive these cars and he races you as clean as anybody.
I hope my pass on him was as clean as he races all of us,” Dewease said in Victory Lane, deflecting the attention away from his record-breaking win at the facility. Dewease acknowledged his great car owners and teams that have helped him to get to this point in his career, including his current team which is assembled with 3 Hall of Famers – himself, Car Owner Don Kreitz, Jr. and Crew Chief Davey Brown.
“Every start I got a little better off of four and I finally got a big run at him,” Dewease said of his winning pass on Schatz. “For all of you fans that come out and support us every week, this is for you,” Dewease added to a chorus of “Posse” chants from the local faithful.
“If you come around here and race with Lance for the win, you’re doing something right. No excuses, he beat us,” Schatz said to track announcer Bruce Ellis. “You do the best you can and tonight was second. It was still a good night for us.”
Brian Montieth finished third and was in good spirits, “We got going a little better at the end, my guys gave me a great car. Hats off to them, we wrecked a car last week and had to build a new one and it paid off.”
Hodnett finished fourth with 11th-starting Logan Schuchart completing the top five.
Wolfe finished sixth with Outlaw Regulars 15th-starting David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart completing the top ten. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway tomorrow night for the conclusion of the Summer Nationals, which will pay $20,000 to the winner.If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [4][$13,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$4,000]; 3. 21-Brian Montieth [5][$2,500]; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett [3][$2,200]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,100]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [1][$2,000]; 7. 5-David Gravel [15][$1,800]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,600]; 9. 9-Daryn Pittman [12][$1,500]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [7][$1,300]; 11. 3-James McFadden [10][$1,200]; 12. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [17][$1,100]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich [13][$1,000]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [24][$700]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$600]; 16. 58-Jim Siegel [25][$600]; 17. 55K-Robbie Kendall [14][$600]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [21][$600]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [22][$600]; 20. 44-Trey Starks [6][$600]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$600]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$600]; 24. 39-Cory Haas [19][$600]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [23][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-17, Lance Dewease 18-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+10]
Freddie Rahmer Sends Lincoln Speedway into Pandemonium with First Career Outlaw Win
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – July 19, 2018 – Freddie Rahmer got by David Gravel on a double-file restart with nine laps remaining to win the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway for the Pennsylvania Posse. Rahmer, joining his father Fred, became the sixth father-son duo to win World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Features. Gravel and Daryn Pittman completed the podium.
Last year’s Gettysburg Clash winner David Gravel won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 35-Lap Feature. Gravel got the jump on the start while Daryn Pittman got around front row starter Alan Krimes for second down the backstretch.
Gravel reached heavy lapped traffic on Lap 8 allowing Pittman, Krimes and company to close in. Two laps later, James McFadden brought out the Yellow Flag, giving Gravel a clear track. On the restart, Krimes took second from Pittman down the backstretch briefly, only to have Pittman power back to the runner-up position coming back to the line.
Rahmer, who started sixth, worked by Krimes for third on Lap 13 with a slider and set his sets on the lead duo. As Gravel and Pittman worked through heavy traffic, Rahmer closed in and moved by Pittman for second on Lap 20.
Danny Dietrich, a five-time Lincoln winner in 2018, worked his way into third by Pittman and began reeling in Rahmer and Gravel. In heavy lapped traffic, Dietrich threw a massive slider for second on Rahmer in turn three, but lost the handle and spun, leaving fourth-place running Brad Sweet nowhere to go. Neither were able to continue, a crushing blow to Sweet’s Championship efforts.
The caution also negated Gravel’s sizable lead. The double-file restart with nine laps remaining lined up Rahmer to the outside of Gravel. Rahmer used a brilliant run, glued to the middle, to take the lead down the backstretch, sending the Pennsylvania fans into a frenzy anticipating a hometown win.
Rahmer extended the lead and was just reaching the back of the field as he took the checkered for the first time as a World of Outlaws winner and sent Lincoln Speedway into pandemonium.
After collecting his breath, Rahmer said, “We work so hard for this, I knew if we got into position, we could win one of these races. I didn’t know if they were close the last two laps, but we got it done.”
Freddie and Fred Rahmer joined racing royalty as just the sixth father-son duo to win World of Outlaws Features, joining the Kinser, Swindell, Haudenschild, Smith and Kaeding families.
“Of all the things that have happened in racing, this is the coolest,” National Sprint Car Hall of Famer member Fred Rahmer, who is the all-time leading Feature winner at Lincoln Speedway, said while holding back tears in Victory Lane. “It took me a lot damn longer to win one of these races than him,” Rahmer added with a smile.
David Gravel was understandably disappointed after leading 26 laps to come home second, but wished his best on Freddie Rahmer and congratulated him on his first victory. “I didn’t need that yellow, but that’s racing. It’s a tough one to swallow, you lead that many laps, you want to win,” Gravel said.
Daryn Pittman completed the podium after a torrid battle with Donny Schatz for third and also congratulated the Rahmer family, “Congrats to Fred and Freddie, what an amazing performance from them. We were really good in the beginning, but kind of faded at the end. The last few laps with Donny were excellent, he ran me clean as always. This is a good run for this whole team and we’ll see what we have at The Grove.”
Schatz came from 11th to finish fourth with Lucas Wolfe completing the top five.
Greg Wilson came forward to sixth with Brian Montieth finishing seventh. Brent Marks earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 21st to eighth, Krimes faded to ninth and 20th-starting Logan Schuchart completed the top ten.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season this weekend at Williams Grove Speedway with two increased purses. Friday, July 20th’s Feature will carry the $5,000 bonus of the Morgan Cup, meaning the winner will take home $13,000. Saturday, July 21st’s Feature will pay $20,000 to the winner. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer [6][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,500]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,800]; 5. 24-Lucas Wolfe [8][$2,500]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [10][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Montieth [9][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [21][$2,100]; 9. 87-Alan Krimes [2][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$2,000]; 11. O7-Gerard McIntyre [12][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$400]; 13. 39-Cory Haas [22][$1,100]; 14. 55K-Robbie Kendall [19][$1,050]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [3][$1,000]; 16. 27-Greg Hodnett [13][$900]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri [28][$]; 18. 2-Shane Stewart [14][$800]; 19. 3-James McFadden [16][$800]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [27][$]; 21. 1X-Chad Trout [18][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$800]; 23. 1XX-Tim Wagaman [24][$800]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [17][$800]; 25. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$800]; 26. 48-Danny Dietrich [7][$800]; 27. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$800]; 28. 59-Jim Siegel [26][$]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-26, Freddie Rahmer 27-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Kyle Larson Dominates Silver Cup at Lernerville for $25,000 Payday
SARVER, PA – July 17, 2018 – Kyle Larson started fourth and worked his way by Ian Madsen on Lap 9 and never looked back to win his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the year and sixth in his career. Larson also set Quick Time over the 37-car field and won his Heat Race. Brad Sweet finished second with Donny Schatz coming from ninth to complete the podium at the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway.
Western Pennsylvania’s own Tim Shaffer won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 40-lap Feature. Shaffer, the 1993 Lernerville Track Champion and two-time Silver Cup winner, led the opening four laps before Brandon Spithaler spun off the track, bringing out the only caution of the event.
World of Outlaws rookie Ian Madsen took advantage of the double-file restart to take the lead from Shaffer down the backstretch. Madsen led lap five and Larson took second from Shaffer a lap later.
Larson slid Madsen for the lead on Lap 8, but the Australian turned back underneath Larson’s No.57 to lead into turn three. It was short-lived, however, as Larson pounded the cushion and blasted around Madsen to lead the ninth circuit.
Larson established he was the class of the field and quickly built up a lead as the field stretched out around the 4/10th oval.
Brad Sweet, fresh off his runner-up finish at the Kings Royal, began making the top work and moved by Shaffer for third on Lap 26 and then used the same line to move by Madsen for second a lap later. Simultaneously, Donny Schatz began making the bottom work. Schatz worked his way into third on Lap 31.
As Larson diced through heavy traffic, Sweet began to close in on Larson as the large crowd at Lernerville Speedway watched closely to see if the driver referred to as ‘The Big Cat’ could make a move. Larson was flawless through traffic, re-extending his lead and going on to win by 1.893 seconds over his brother-in-law, Sweet.
“I was able to get through traffic pretty well. There was a strip of moisture in turns three and four. I was trying to check the board because I knew if [Schatz] was coming, I was going to have to do some searching,” Larson said in Victory Lane.
Larson was making his first start at Lernerville in five years, he came from 24th to second in the 2013 Silver Cup. “I didn’t think we were that great in the Dash, but Paul Silva was able to tune it up and I knew right away in the Feature I had a good shot of winning this one.”
“These Outlaw races are so hard to win. I was able to get an Outlaw win for Ricky [Stenhouse] last year, but it has been a couple years since I got an Outlaw win in the No.57,” Larson added.
"It’s great to see a packed house, I was only able to get here five minutes before engine heat because of plane troubles, but I’m glad we made it. We couldn’t be out here without all you fans,” Larson, who won everything but the Sears Craftsman Dash, said to a loud applause.
Brad Sweet settled for second and referenced how similar tonight was to Saturday’s Kings Royal, where he was trying to chase down Schatz on the cushion.
“You know [Larson] is going to be tough to beat out front, I wasn’t making as much speed once the top in turns one and two went away. I kind of saw Donny coming at the end so I moved down on the race track,” Sweet said in good spirits.
"The past few races the tracks have been slick and technical with a lot of Green Flag laps, it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been right in the hunt throughout this Month of Money and hopefully we can pick up some more wins here soon,” Sweet added.
Schatz came from ninth to complete the podium and referenced his slow start, “We were a little better at the end than at the beginning, but we’ve got to be better earlier. It wasn’t a bad night or a bad finish, it was just one of those nights,” Schatz, who had won three of the last four races prior to tonight, said.
David Gravel came from 10th to finish fourth with Ian Madsen fading to fifth. Kasey Kahne made a last-lap pass in the Last Chance Showdown to make the Feature and earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming to 17th at the Checkered Flag.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with a trio of dates with the Pennsylvania Posse starting Thursday, July 19 at Lincoln Speedway before heading over to Williams Grove Speedway for the Summer Nationals. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson [4][$25,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$7,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$5,000]; 4. 5-David Gravel [10][$4,000]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [2][$3,000]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,900]; 7. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$2,800]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [7][$2,700]; 9. 10H-Chad Kemenah [14][$2,600]; 10. 7K-Cale Conley [6][$2,500]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [13][$2,400]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$2,300]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [15][$2,200]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,100]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [20][$2,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,500]; 17. 4K-Kasey Kahne [24][$1,300]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$1,200]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$1,200]; 20. 83-Cory Eliason [21][$1,200]; 21. 39-Spencer Bayston [12][$1,200]; 22. 22-Brandon Spithaler [22][$1,200]; 23. 40-George Hobaugh [18][$1,200]; 24. 4-Parker Price-Miller [23][$1,200]; 25. 2AJ-A.J. Flick [25][$]; 26. 51-John Garvin [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer 1-4, Ian Madsen 5-8, Kyle Larson 9-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 4K-Kasey Kahne[+7]
Donny Schatz Wins Third Consecutive Kings Royal to Become King Donny the 35th
ROSSBURG, OH – July 14, 2018 – Donny Schatz started fourth, took the lead on Lap 15 and never looked back, leading the rest of the way to win his 15th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 and third consecutive Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, worth $50,000. Brad Sweet surged late and came within half of a car-length at the checkered flag, finishing behind Schatz by just 0.189 seconds. Cory Eliason, in his first career Kings Royal start, completed the podium.
With the unique Kings Royal format, the six Heat Race winners occupied the first three rows for the 40-lap Feature. Trey Starks won Heat 6, earning the pole in his first Kings Royal start alongside Heat 5 winner, Paul McMahan. A caution on the initial start involving Hunter Schuerenburg, Sheldon Haudenschild and Brock Zearfoss brought out the only stoppage of the event.
The complete restart saw Starks shoot to the lead, in search of his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature victory in a big way. Schatz and McMahan battled for second with Schatz taking the position on Lap 3 and setting his sights on Starks. Schatz took a look underneath Starks on Lap 14 and completed the pass for the lead one lap later down the backstretch.
Cory Eliason, who started sixth after winning Heat 1, established himself as a threat moving by Starks into second on Lap 16. Eliason actually slid Schatz for position, but was never able to maintain momentum and stay in front of the Tony Stewart Racing No.15.
Brad Sweet maneuvered into third on Lap 17 and showed a lot of speed pounding the cushion. As Sweet closed in on Eliason for second, Donny Schatz extended his margin out front. Sweet would get by Eliason for second on Lap 27 and begin cutting into Schatz’ sizable advantage.
As Schatz searched for grip the last 10 laps, Sweet really closed in. Sweet got hung up behind Daryn Pittman in lapped traffic and finally cleared him with five to go, setting up one last charge at Schatz. And charge he did.
On the absolute cushion of the racing surface, Sweet closed in on Schatz, setting up a hectic finish. Sweet cut the gap to five car-lengths down the backstretch on the final lap and ended up just half a car-length short from his second career Kings Royal triumph.
Schatz acknowledged that he was searching for speed the last 10 laps, “I knew someone had to be coming. I was hanging the last 10 laps, I could not get stuck anywhere. I’m lucky it wasn’t 41 laps tonight, because obviously the No.49 was coming there at the end,” Schatz said in Victory Lane.
“Lapped traffic was tough tonight, it was tricky and slick. I feel like I completely failed in Qualifying going 21st quick, but the way format works tonight it put us in the right position,” Schatz said before thanking all the fans, even the ones that boo him, for coming out and praising the track crew given the high temperatures all weekend.
Brad Sweet was obviously disappointed but was pleased with the speed he showed.
“I came up one lap short, some of those lapped cars didn’t cut me a break. Coming to the checkered, I was cussing because I wanted it to be the White Flag,” Sweet said with a smirk. “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and the way [Schatz] shows up at these big money events, is why he’ll down in history as one of, if not the best of all time. This NAPA racing team has nothing to be ashamed of tonight, I just wish it was one more lap tonight,” Sweet added before encouraging the huge crowd to come to the pits and introduce themselves.
Cory Eliason was extremely pleased with his third-place run, “That was a great learning experience. I got to follow and watch Donny and Brad tonight and they are the two best out here right now. There is a huge learning curve coming to these tracks and to go out and be competitive is awesome.”
“After not making the first two shows of the weekend, to finish third behind Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet, feels like a win for this team,” Eliason added in good spirits after the race.
Lee Jacobs represented the Buckeye State coming from 16th to finish fourth with Kraig Kinser coming from 13th to complete the top five.
12th-starting Jacob Allen finished sixth with Paul McMahan coming home seventh. 16th-starting David Gravel finished eighth with Rico Abreu coming from 24th to ninth, earning KSE Hard Charger Honors. Outlaw rookie Ian Madsen completed the top ten, coming from 23rd.
Christopher Bell set Quick Time over the 51-car field and was running in the top five, when he pulled pit side with 14 laps remaining. After the caution on the initial start, the race went non-stop.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season and Month of Money with the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway, which will pay $25,000 to the winner. Following that the Outlaws will head to Central Pennsylvania to take on the Pennsylvania Posse at Lincoln and Williams Grove Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$50,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$20,000]; 3. 83-Cory Eliason [6][$15,000]; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs [16][$12,500]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$10,000]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$7,500]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan [2][$6,500]; 8. 5-David Gravel [14][$6,000]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [24][$5,500]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$5,000]; 11. 44-Trey Starks [1][$4,750]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$4,500]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson [21][$4,000]; 14. 94-Ryan Smith [8][$3,750]; 15. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$3,500]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [18][$3,450]; 17. 4-Parker Price-Miller [3][$3,400]; 18. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [22][$3,350]; 19. 9-Daryn Pittman [17][$3,300]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$3,250]; 21. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$3,200]; 22. 17B-Bill Balog [10][$3,150]; 23. 14-Christopher Bell [7][$3,100]; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Trey Starks 1-14, Donny Schatz 15-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+15]
Donny Schatz Wins Knight Before Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – July 13, 2018 – Donny Schatz passed Brian Brown on Lap 10 and never looked back en route to his Knight Before the Kings Royal victory at Eldora Speedway. It was Schatz’ 275th career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory. Greg Wilson charged from 14th to finish second, with Sheldon Haudenschild completing the podium in the non-stop Feature.
Brian Brown won the first Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside Hunter Schuerenburg, who won the second Dash. Brown, in search of his fifth career Outlaw victory, set the pace out front of the field as Schuerenburg remained within striking distance.
Donny Schatz, who started third, recovered from his start and got by Tim Shaffer for third on Lap 5, but not without making heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn two. The contact didn’t faze Schatz at all as he began chasing down Schuerenburg and Brown for the lead.
On Lap 9, Schatz ducked underneath Schuerenburg for second and one lap later, using the same line, Schatz took the lead from Brown. From there, Schatz began to work through lapped traffic in an attempt to extend his lead while all eyes were on Greg Wilson.
Wilson, a former Outlaw Eldora winner, was charging forward from his 14th-starting spot. Wilson took third from Schuerenburg on Lap 21 and surpassed Brown a lap later for the runner-up position. Wilson, glued to the extreme bottom of the racing surface, then set his sights on Schatz. Sheldon Haudenschild was in hot pursuit of Wilson running the polar opposite line, banging down the cushion. Haudenschild worked by Schuerenburg and Brown on Lap 23 to move into third. Wilson closed slightly in traffic, but Schatz had built too much of an advantage and went on to win his 14th Feature of the season by 2.273 seconds.
“It got real slick,” Schatz said after the race. “I think my car was best in the middle and it’s not exactly my bag of tea to bounce off the cushion every lap,”
Schatz added with a smile. “Greg [Wilson] is really good when the track gets like that. I know if I do everything right, there’s not many people that will pass this 15 car, but Greg is one of them. We’ve got to a get a little bit better tomorrow for 10 more laps or Greg will kick all our asses,” Schatz said in good spirits.
Wilson had high praise for Schatz following his personal season-best finish. “That 15 car man, he’s the best out here and the cleanest race car driver I have ever raced with,” Wilson said before thanking the Eldora Speedway track crew for providing an excellent dry-slick racing surface.
Sheldon Haudenschild was pleased with his third-place finish and looks forward to Saturday’s King’s Royal.
“My crew has done a phenomenal job and I think we’ll be right there tomorrow. I can’t thank the fans for being great all weekend,” Sheldon said.
Early race leader Brian Brown fell to fourth at the checkered flag with Dave Blaney charging from 22nd to complete the top five and earn KSE Hard Charger Honors. Heading into Saturday’s Kings Royal event, Shane Stewart and Donny Schatz, with their wins on the first two nights of the weekend, have earned the right to go out in Qualifying wherever they please during Saturday’s $50,000 to win program.
With the unique Kings Royal format being utilized, Saturday’s event will be show up points only for the World of Outlaws regulars. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com as the 35th Annual Kings Royal crowns a champion.
Feature: 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$12,000]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$5,700]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$3,500]; 4. 21-Brian Brown [1][$3,000]; 5. 70-Dave Blaney [22][$2,600]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,400]; 7. 3G-Carson Macedo [8][$2,300]; 8. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [2][$2,200]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$2,150]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel [6][$2,100]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,600]; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer [4][$1,350]; 13. 5-David Gravel [18][$1,300]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [21][$1,200]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [25][$300]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [26][$200]; 17. 24-Rico Abreu [10][$900]; 18. 10H-Chad Kemenah [11][$850]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [24][$800]; 20. 12N-Cole Duncan [20][$800]; 21. 4-Parker Price-Miller [16][$800]; 22. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$800]; 23. 2-Shane Stewart [17][$800]; 24. 44-Trey Starks [19][$800]; 25. 26-Joey Saldana [23][$800]; 26. 13-Paul McMahan [12][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-9, Donny Schatz 10-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 70-Dave Blaney[+17]
Brad Sweet Sweeps Night One of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown at Cedar Lake
NEW RICHMOND, WI – July 6, 2018 - Brad Sweet completed a clean sweep of the opening night of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown with his third win of the season at Cedar Lake Speedway. A late race caution took Sweet out of heavy lapped traffic and gave him a clean track and clean air with eight laps remaining. David Gravel and Brent Marks completed the podium.
Sweet started the night off right, setting fast time over the field before edging Gravel in a potential Heat Race of the year. Sweet started second in the Sears Craftsman Dash and won that to earn the pole for the 35-lap Feature.
While it may have looked easy on paper, it was far from it. Sweet, driver of the Kasey Kahne Racing No.49, grabbed the lead early and distanced himself, while Gravel and Marks battled for the runner-up position.
Sweet reached traffic by Lap 6 and negotiated the slower cars well. Marks, while running third, made contact with the slower car of Jason Tostenson and lost the third spot to Sheldon Haudenschild in the process.
As traffic intensified, Gravel and company closed in looking to steal the victory away from Sweet.
Sweet, at this point, was lapping some impressive race cars. As the Grass Valley, CA native tried to put Kerry Madsen, who swept both nights of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown last year, and Cory Eliason, who has an Outlaw win this year, Gravel, Haudenschild and Marks closed significantly. Haudenschild bobbled on the bottom of one and two and relinquished the third spot back to Marks on Lap 22.
Just as Gravel and Marks were closing in, ready to pounce, debris in turn four forced a caution on Lap 27.
With eight laps remaining and a clean track, Sweet was never truly challenged and went on to win by .968 seconds.
“I’ve never done a clean sweep before. That’s a heck of a way to start the weekend,” Sweet said in Victory Lane before giving a shout out to Bobbi and Jaxx Johnson.
“Lapped traffic was tough tonight, but it’s what wins and loses races. We needed a win, it’s been a while. These NAPA Auto Parts guys have been working hard and they deserve more of these wins,” Sweet, who continues to sit second in the Series Point Standings added.
David Gravel finished a nose ahead of Marks for third, after getting held up with a lapped car coming to the checkered.
“I definitely didn’t want to see that yellow. My car was getting better as the race went on, luckily, tomorrow’s race is 41 laps. Hopefully we can finish one position better,” the driver of the CJB Motorsports No.5 said in good spirits.
Second-year Outlaw Brent Marks was very pleased with his evening, “I was surprised tonight, we weren’t very good here last year but we were excellent tonight. I’m really proud of my guys and I’m excited to be up here on the podium.
After not getting a Qualifying lap and starting last in his Heat Race, Donny Schatz picked up KSE Hard Charger honors, finishing fourth in the Feature from 11th. Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top-five.
The FVP Platinum Battery Showdown concludes Saturday evening at Cedar Lake Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Abbreviated Results from Cedar Lake Speedway - July 7, 2018:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [2][$5,000]; 3. 19-Brent Marks [3][$3,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,700]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,500]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$2,200]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,000]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [14][$1,800]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$1,600]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [6][$1,450]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$1,300]; 12. 21-Brian Brown [10][$1,200]; 13. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,100]; 14. 55-Brooke Tatnell [12][$1,000]; 15. 83H-Justin Henderson [16][$950]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson [15][$900]; 17. 83-Cory Eliason [21][$850]; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$750]; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier [20][$725]; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [17][$700]; 21. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [18][$700]; 22. 19L-RJ Johnson [22][$700]; 23. 97-Alan Gilbertson [24][$700]; 24. 36-Jason Tostenson [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+7]
Pittman Powers to 4th Win of Season at Nodak
MINOT, ND – June 17, 2018 – Daryn Pittman passed Cory Eliason on Lap 22 and never looked back, winning his fourth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Sunday evening at Nodak Speedway. Pittman hounded the California native for the majority of the race before making the race-winning move in turn one. Pittman’s Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Brad Sweet finished second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
Eliason won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole of the 30-lap Feature in his first career start at Nodak Speedway. Eliason powered away on the initial start, as Pittman maneuvered underneath front row starter David Gravell to take command of second down the backstretch of the opening circuit.
The lone caution of the event flew for Jack Croaker on Lap 5. Eliason again motored away on the ensuing restart as Pittman had his hands full with his KKR teammate Sweet. Sweet had the second position at the line on Lap 6, but Pittman muscled back underneath to take the position back the next lap.
Eliason set a strong pace out front in search of his second career Outlaw triumph. But as Eliason worked lapped traffic, the rest of the field closed in. At the halfway point, a blanket could be thrown over the top five.
Pittman reached Eliason’s tail tank on multiple occasions, looking for a way around the Roth Motorsports No.83. Pittman pulled even with Eliason in turn one on Lap 18, but the latter maintained the lead with momentum around the top down the backstretch.
Pittman got another run, this time on the top of three and four, that propelled his Ionomy-sponsored No.9 to the lead into turn one on Lap 22. From there, Pittman proved he was the class of the field, distancing himself and getting through lapped traffic like the veteran he is.
While Pittman pulled away, the war continued behind him. Sweet, Eliason, Schatz and Gravel all jockeyed for position in heavy traffic. Sweet, who at this point had lost his brakes completely, and Schatz shuffled Eliason back to fourth on Lap 25.
Out front though, it was all Daryn Pittman, who went on to win by more than three seconds for his fourth win of the year.
“My car was really good all night long from the moment we unloaded,” Pittman, who set Quick Time and won his Heat Race, said.
“The last few weeks we’ve really been hitting stride. I love winning before we have a week off and I love winning on Father’s Day, I am extremely blessed to travel with my wife and kids out here,” Pittman, the 2007 Outlaw winner at Nodak, added before thanking the large crowd for coming out on a Sunday.
Sweet was pleased with another runner-up finish.
“We were battling with Daryn and Cory the whole race, I actually lost brakes with around ten laps to go and I was just hanging on. You don’t realize how much you need brakes until they are gone,” Sweet said with a smile. “We’ll take another second place and move on to next week,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
North Dakota’s own Donny Schatz was in good spirits after finishing third and thanked the large crowd for coming out on Father’s Day. “Obviously, we would have liked to get a win, but to be out here on Father’s Day in Minot was great. Thanks to all the fans for their support these past 25 years and for supporting dirt track racing,” Schatz added.
Last year’s winner at Nodak, David Gravel settled for fourth with Eliason getting shuffled back to fifth. Sheldon Haudenschild earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 13th to finish sixth. Logan Schuchart, Brent Marks, Ian Madsen and Dominic Scelzi completed the top ten at Nodak.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with its first trip to the newly-reconfigured Farley Speedway in Iowa in over 20 years Friday, June 22 before heading back into Wisconsin for a date at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, June 23rd. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$3,200]; 4. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,800]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [1][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [13][$2,300]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [12][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [5][$2,050]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [8][$2,000]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$1,500]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$1,200]; 13. 41-Jason Johnson [15][$1,100]; 14. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$1,050]; 15. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [17][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$900]; 17. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$800]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$800]; 19. 6N-Greg Nikitenko [19][$800]; 20. 20A-Jordan Adams [21][$800]; 21. 9N-Wade Nygaard [20][$800]; 22. 8-Jack Croaker [22][$800]; 23. 20L-Dusty Lawson [23][$800]; 24. 20-Kevin Lawson [24][$800]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-21, Daryn Pittman 22-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+7]
Qualifying: 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.467; 2. 5-David Gravel, 13.507; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.521; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.535; 5. 83-Cory Eliason, 13.588; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.6; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.651; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.651; 9. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.71; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.79; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.793; 12. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.793; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.795; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.842; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 13.842; 16. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.904; 17. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, 13.938; 18. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.944; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams, 13.984; 20. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier, 14.085; 21. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 14.109; 22. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 14.175; 23. 8-Jack Croaker, 14.337; 24. 20L-Dusty Lawson, 15.285; 25. 14-Bill Holler, 15.792; 26. 20-Kevin Lawson, 16.052
Donny Schatz Continues Dominance at River Cities
GRAND FORKS, ND – June 15, 2018 – North Dakota’s own Donny Schatz continued his dominance at River Cities Speedway, passing race-long leader Kerry Madsen on Lap 25 to win his 11th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. It was Schatz’s sixth win in his last seven starts at the bullring. Brad Sweet came forward to finish second with Madsen settling for third.
The “Mad Man” Kerry Madsen won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 40-lap Feature alongside Schatz. Local driver Austin Pierce brought out the first of many cautions in the lengthy event, flipping off the banking on the opening lap. Pierce, the 2017 NOSA Sprints Champion, was uninjured in the accident.
Madsen got the jump on the start once again, utilizing the bottom of the speedway as Schatz pounded the cushion. Lap 6 saw third-starting Austin McCarl go for a light tumble in turn four, bringing out the Red Flag once again. McCarl completed the race with a damaged top wing.
Four laps later, Cory Eliason and Jade Hastings bounced off the racing surface, bringing out another caution and keeping the leaders out of lapped traffic. On each restart, Schatz, on the top, was able to stay with Madsen for a lap or two before the Australian would distance himself on the bottom.
Sheldon Haudenschild’s Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No.17 lost power while running sixth on Lap 17, bringing out the caution. A caution on the ensuing double-file restart brought the field back to Green under single-file conditions.
Following that caution, for the first time, the leaders reached traffic on the bullring. Lapped cars were littered all over the racing surface. Madsen was able to clear the first few cars getting underneath them while remaining committed to the bottom. Schatz would follow suit on the bottom by some of the lappers, but the entire capacity crowd at River Cities Speedway knew the Tony Stewart Racing No.15 would be able to maintain speed on the cushion as well.
Schatz capitalized on Madsen’s inability to clear a slower car on the backstretch, powering around the No.2M off of turn four to lead Lap 25. Schatz used the same line to clear the lapped car before getting back to the bottom to protect the lead.
Brad Sweet followed Schatz on the cushion around Madsen as well and would line up next to Schatz with eight laps remaining after the caution flew for Jason Johnson. Schatz motored away on the restart and did the same thing on the final restart with four laps to go to win his 11th Feature of the 2018 campaign and extend his lead atop the Point Standings.
Sweet would finish 2.369 seconds behind the Fargo, ND native with Madsen settling for third.
“I kept trying that top and I knew if we got into traffic I might be able to make it work,” Schatz said in Victory Lane. When asked about the multitude of cautions, Schatz simply cited that they are part of racing, but the early cautions had him wondering how the track would change as the race would go on. The North Dakota native savored the emotion of the hometown victory saying, “You never know when your last win is going to be.”
Brad Sweet was upbeat about his runner-up finish. “We were fast, I had a couple of lines working in one and two. I would have liked to give Donny a better run for his money, but he never missed a mark out front. Eventually, we’ll figure out how to beat him here,” Sweet added with a smile.
Kerry Madsen led the first 24 laps but settled for third after losing the lead in lapped traffic. “I didn’t do a good enough job. I became immobile in traffic. I tried to play a patient game and I should have been more aggressive,” Madsen said honestly before thanking his team for giving him a great car.
Shane Stewart had a strong run coming from 11th to finish fourth with Daryn Pittman completing the top five. Dominic Scelzi charged from 21st to sixth, but Mark Dobmeier grabbed KSE Hard Charger honors coming from a provisional starting 25th to finish ninth. The massive crowd at River Cities was engaged all evening, especially when track regular Thomas Kennedy set Quick Time and won his Heat Race.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Sunday at Nodak Speedway in Minot, ND. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$2,800]; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,500]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [21][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,100]; 9. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [25][$1,250]; 10. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,000]; 11. 83-Cory Eliason [4][$1,500]
PEVELY, MO – August 4, 2018 – Logan Schuchart passed Daryn Pittman on Lap 15 and never looked back to claim the 2018 Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, worth $20,000. The final 42 laps went non-stop as Schuchart negotiated lap traffic to claim his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. Kasey Kahne Racing teammates Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman completed the podium.
Schuchart won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 55-Lap Feature alongside Daryn Pittman. Pittman, who won at Pevely in April, got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening circuit.
Pittman reached lapped traffic by Lap 5 around the tight-quartered bullring with Schuchart close in tow. Schuchart pulled even with the 2013 Outlaw Champion on Lap 9, but couldn’t make the pass. Pittman and Schuchart were side-by-side for the better part of the next four laps, before the lone caution of the event flew with 13 complete for Aaron Reutzel.
Pittman maintained control on the restart, but Schuchart remained persistent and took command of the field on Lap 15 through turn two. Pittman tried to get back by the No.1S, but ended up losing second to his teammate Brad Sweet in the process.
Following Reutzel’s caution, the remaining 42 laps went non-stop as the Ironman 55 lived up to its name as the most grueling event on the World of Outlaws schedule. Schuchart navigated lapped traffic like a veteran. As rubber began to set in around the I-55 Raceway in the closing laps, Schuchart made the decision to follow lapped traffic and force Sweet and Pittman to find a way around him.
“I tried to hold my line as the rubber set in and force someone to go around me,” Schuchart said in reference to the closing laps.
Sweet and Pittman closed in on Schuchart, but could do nothing but watch the Shark Racing No.1S capture his first win of the season. Both Sweet and Pittman were within a second of Schuchart at the checkered flag.
“Man, this is awesome. I feel like we have the best team we’ve ever had. This is Drydene Performance’s first Outlaw win and we can’t thank them enough for their support,” an exhausted, but elated, Schuchart said in Victory Lane.
“This is one of the big ones – Ironman 55. It’s tough, it wears you out. It’s awesome to get one of these wins and a big one at that,” Schuchart added.
Sweet settled for second but was pleased with his car speed. “I was biding my time, waiting to see if he was going to make a mistake and he never gave us a real good shot to get by him, he set a really good pace up top,” Sweet said before expressing his excitement to get to Knoxville for the Nationals.
Pittman led early and finished on the podium with his KKR teammate. “My car was getting better as the race went on, I’m a little frustrated with myself,” Pittman said. “I wasn’t quite quick enough on top on that restart and then I broke my momentum and Brad got by me. I’m really happy with our car right now, we’ll take third and go to Knoxville and try and improve there,” Pittman added in good spirits.
James McFadden came from 11th to finish fourth with Schuchart’s teammate Jacob Allen completing the top five. Brent Marks earned KSE Hard Charger honors surging from 22nd to ninth.
It was announced that tonight was the largest crowd in Ironman 55 history and the World of Outlaws will return once again to Pevely on August 2nd and 3rd of 2019. Next up for The Greatest Show on Dirt is a trip to the Sprint Car Capitol of the World for the biggest race of the year – the Knoxville Nationals, which will pay $150,000 to the winner. After Nationals, the Outlaws will begin a trek to the West Coast starting in North and South Dakota.
Feature (55 Laps): 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1][$20,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$6,000]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$3,750]; 4. 3H-James McFadden [11][$3,250]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$2,750]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,500]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$2,400]; 8. 5-David Gravel [9][$2,300]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [22][$2,200]; 10. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [14][$2,100]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [21][$1,700]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$1,400]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [13][$1,300]; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8][$1,200]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [23][$1,100]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson [17][$1,000]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich [20][$1,000]; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$1,000]; 19. 51B-Joe B [15][$1,000]; 20. 21X-Carson Short [18][$1,000]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [19][$1,000]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [7][$1,000]; 23. 79J-Jacob Patton [24][$1,000]; 24. 35-Jamie Veal [16][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-14, Logan Schuchart 15-55; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Qualifying: 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.668; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.742; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.772; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.795; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.862; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman, 11.895; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.912; 8. 48-Danny Dietrich, 11.924; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.928; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 11.93; 11. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 11.948; 12. 5-David Gravel, 11.95; 13. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.005; 14. 3H-James McFadden, 12.011; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.019; 16. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.028; 17. 2-Shane Stewart, 12.029; 18. 21X-Carson Short, 12.072; 19. 19-Brent Marks, 12.149; 20. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.15; 21. 71M-Paul May, 12.164; 22. 35-Jamie Veal, 12.168; 23. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 12.197; 24. 51B-Joe B, 12.552; 25. 15M-Steve Short, 13.144; 26. 79J-Jacob Patton, 13.192; 27. 28AU-Allan Woods, NT
Rico Abreu Wins Second Consecutive Ironman at I-55
PEVELY, MO – August 4, 2018 – Rico Abreu took the lead away from Kraig Kinser on Lap 21 and held off charges from Tim Shaffer and David Gravel to win his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the 2018 season. Abreu survived two Gravel slide jobs in the closing laps and held off the Connecticut driver for his second consecutive Ironman 55 triumph for a $20,000 payday. Jacob Allen completed the podium.
Rico Abreu won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 55-Lap Feature, alongside Outlaw veteran Kraig Kinser. Kinser got the jump on the initial start and powered away in search of his first victory of the season.
Kinser reached lapped traffic on Lap 5 on the high-banked ¼ mile and negotiated it well, establishing an early lead.
Kinser turned under an Abreu slide job on Lap 17 to maintain the race lead. Abreu cleared Kinser to take the lead two laps later, but a caution for a slowing Joe B. Miller negated the pass and allowed Kinser to maintain the lead with 36 laps remaining.
The ensuing restart saw Kinser and Abreu exchange slide jobs for the lead with Kinser holding the lead on Lap 20, but Abreu wrestling it away the following circuit.
Brent Marks brought out the caution on Lap 27 with a flat right rear, setting up the first of many double-file restarts where Abreu would be in control. Each time, Abreu elected the bottom.
Tim Shaffer, who originally started 12th, charged from fourth on the restart to second and took a look under Abreu for the lead with a brilliant restart, but settled for second as Abreu powered away.
The action was halted for Hunter Schuerenburg, who got upside in turn two, on Lap 33. Schuerenburg was uninjured, but was done for the event. Turn two proved treacherous for both Paul Nienhiser and Sheldon Haudenschild as well, as both drivers ended the evening on the hook after contact with the wall.
Haudenschild’s incident was on Lap 42, which set up a 13-lap dash to the finish for $20,000.
Abreu powered away on the restart in clean air, but would need to navigate lapped traffic one more time to secure the victory.
With five laps remaining, Abreu approached heavy lapped traffic, allowing Gravel to close in. Gravel attempted slide jobs on Lap 50 and 51, but Abreu stayed in the gas and powered around the CJB Motorsports No.5 to maintain the lead. Abreu’s margin of victory was .655 seconds, as he claimed the Ironman 55 trophy for the second consecutive time.
“Man, that was a lot of fun. Hats off to my guys, that was the best I’ve felt in a long time. It’s all about working together and getting chemistry,” Abreu said in Victory Lane. “Back-to-back Ironman wins is awesome, but we’re not done yet, we’ve got another one tonight,” the St. Helena, CA native added with a smile.
Abreu applauded David Gravel for racing him clean at the end, “If the roles were reversed, it would be the same way."
Being so close to victory, Gravel was understandably disappointed to come up short. “I really thought I had him cleared and he got back by me. I’m a little mad at myself for not winning this, it sucks to finish second. But I am really happy for Drew [Warner] for him to get his first career Outlaw victory and for Rico,” Gravel added in good spirits. Drew Warner is the crew chief for Rico and is the son of Ricky Warner, the long-time wrench for Donny Schatz.
Jacob Allen continues to chip away in search of his first career Outlaw victory and scored another podium finish. “This is a great race track and I think most drivers would agree it’s a lot of fun. Congrats to Rico and David, it was a good race for 55 laps,” Allen said in Victory Lane.
Allen’s Shark Racing teammate finished fourth with Tim Shaffer coming home fifth. Shaffer’s efforts were good enough to earn KSE Hard Charger honors.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 tomorrow evening, Saturday, August 4, 2018 for another 55-Lap, $20,000 to win Feature. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (55 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu [1][$20,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [6][$6,000]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [7][$3,750]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$3,250]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12][$2,750]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [8][$2,500]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,400]; 8. 3H-James McFadden [15][$2,300]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$2,200]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [10][$2,100]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$1,700]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,400]; 13. 91-Cale Thomas [14][$1,300]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2][$1,200]; 15. 71M-Paul May [21][$1,100]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,000]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson [4][$1,000]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$1,000]; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [20][$1,000]; 20. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$1,000]; 21. 51B-Joe Miller [22][$1,000]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [17][$1,000]; 23. 1M-James Moughan [24][$1,000]; 24. 65-Jordon Goldesberry [23][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-20, Rico Abreu 21-55 KSE Hard Charger Award: 49X-Tim Shaffer[+7]
Qualifying: 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.709; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.77; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 11.894; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.903; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 11.908; 6. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.936; 7. 5-David Gravel, 11.947; 8. 91-Cale Thomas, 11.955; 9. 3H-James McFadden, 11.98; 10. 71M-Paul May, 12.031; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.046; 12. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.1; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 12.11; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.145; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.178; 16. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.218; 17. 2-Shane Stewart, 12.23; 18. 1M-James Moughan, 12.235; 19. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.259; 20. 21X-Carson Short, 12.26; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.293; 22. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.47; 23. 65-Jordon Goldesberry, 12.494; 24. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.504; 25. 51B-Joe Miller, 12.523; 26. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.567; 27. 35-Jamie Veal, 12.678; 28. 79J-Jacob Patton, 12.879; 29. 28AU-Allan Woods, 12.936; 30. 15M-Steve Short, 13.693; 31. 9T-Dylan Tuxhorn, 13.893
David Gravel Tames Ransomville for Fifth Victory of 2018
RANSOMVILLE, NY – July 27, 2018 – David Gravel fought off multiple charges from Brad Sweet to lead all 30 laps and claim his fifth win of the 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series 40th Anniversary Season at Ransomville Speedway. Sweet took the lead on two occasions but settled for second for the second consecutive year at Ransomville. Polesitter Donny Schatz completed the podium.
Donny Schatz won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 30 Lap Feature, in search of his 16th victory of the year.
Action was halted on the opening lap after Paulie Colagiovanni went for a wild ride up and over the turn three and four wall. Colagiovanni was uninjured and walked away from the incident under his own power to a large roar from the massive Ransomville Speedway crowd.
David Gravel powered around Donny Schatz to pace the field down the backstretch and lead the opening lap. Brad Sweet went around Schatz to take second on Lap 3.
Another Red Flag halted action as Daryn Pittman got upside down battling for position inside the top ten on Lap 4. Pittman walked away from the incident under his own power.
A long stretch of Green Flag laps allowed Gravel and Sweet to reach heavy lapped traffic. The duo sliced and diced through cars littered around the 3/8th mile. Sweet cleared Gravel with a slide job on Lap 10, but Gravel turned back underneath to edge Sweet at the line.
As the duo continued to navigate traffic, Sweet edged in front of Gravel once again down the backstretch on Lap 17, but once again Gravel willed his CJB Motorsports No.5 back in front at the stripe.
One lap later the final caution of the night flew for an ailing Dan Bennett, taking the leaders out of traffic with 12 laps remaining. Gravel motored away with a clear track in front of him.
Gravel would be forced to clear a pair of lapped cars running side-by-side and he did so with relative ease, axing any chance of late race heroics from Sweet.
“I was being a little cautious, I blew a tire here last year and I didn’t want to do that again this year. When Brad showed his nose, I knew I had to step up my game and luckily, I was able to get back by him,” Gravel said in Victory Lane.
“We’ve been fast here the past couple of weeks, it’s good to get another win. This is our first win in a CJB house car, Barry [Jackson] has put a lot of hours in to make these things go fast,” Gravel added.
Sweet settled for second and complimented Gravel. “David did a nice job getting through traffic, especially with the lapped cars battling side-by-side. I think we were pretty equal with him, my guys gave me a great car,” Sweet said next to his Kasey Kahne Racing No.49.
After starting on the pole, Schatz was disappointed to fade to third, but made no excuses. “We weren’t good enough to compete for the win, you lick your wounds some days and come back stronger,” Schatz said before thanking his crew for their continued effort.
Kraig Kinser had a season-best fourth place finish with Logan Schuchart completing the top five.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Sunday, July 29 at Weedsport Speedway with the Empire State Challenge. Following that, the Series will head to Pevely, MO for two 55-lap, $20,000 to win Ironman 55 Features at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55! If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 5-David Gravel [2][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$3,200]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,800]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,500]; 6. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6][$2,300]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [9][$2,200]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$2,100]; 9. 2-Shane Stewart [8][$2,050]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [5][$2,000]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [11][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$1,200]; 13. 35-Jared Zimbardi [20][$1,100]; 14. 18X-Ryan Susice [16][$1,050]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$1,000]; 16. 36-Matt Billings [15][$900]; 17. 54JR-Scott Just [18][$800]; 18. 54J-David Just [13][$800]; 19. X-Dan Bennett [23][$800]; 20. 9-Daryn Pittman [10][$800]; 21. 49K-Scott Kreutter [14][$800]; 22. 33-Mike Mahaney [17][$800]; 23. 10-Paul Colagiovanni [12][$800]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+11]
Qualifying: 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.9; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.077; 3. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.153; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.157; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.184; 6. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.195; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.22; 8. 2-Shane Stewart, 14.278; 9. 5-David Gravel, 14.28; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.302; 11. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.38; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 14.405; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.532; 14. 33-Mike Mahaney, 14.663; 15. 10-Paul Colagiovanni, 14.805; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.965; 17. 49K-Scott Kreutter, 15.031; 18. 36-Matt Billings, 15.133; 19. 18X-Ryan Susice, 15.215; 20. 35-Jared Zimbardi, 15.268; 21. 54JR-Scott Just, 15.335; 22. 54J-David Just, 15.38; 23. X-Dan Bennett, 15.695
Lance Dewease Becomes Winningest Driver in Williams Grove History with World of Outlaws Triumph on Night One of Summer Nationals
MECHANICSBURG, PA – July 20, 2018 – Lance Dewease got better with each restart and passed Donny Schatz on Lap 20 to win his 91st career Feature at Williams Grove Speedway and 14th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series triumph. Schatz settled for second with Brian Montieth completing the podium.
Lucas Wolfe won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 25-Lap Feature, but it was fellow front row starter, Donny Schatz that got the jump on the initial start to lead the opening lap.
Ian Madsen brought out the first caution of the evening on Lap 3. Lance Dewease, who started fourth, used the restart to move into second by Wolfe. Greg Hodnett moved by Wolfe into third a lap later.
Dewease closed in on Schatz as the duo established themselves as the class of the field. Schatz negotiated lapped traffic with ease, before a caution for Sheldon Haudenschild on Lap 16 bunched the field together.
Schatz cleared Dewease on the following double-file restart, but a caution for Jim Siegel set up a single-file restart. Dewease took a look underneath Schatz for the top spot, but couldn’t make it stick. A lap later Jacob Allen went up in smoke, setting up another double-file restart.
Once again, Schatz kept Dewease at bay on the restart. One lap later, Trey Starks was backwards, setting up the final restart with seven laps remaining.
This time, Dewease stayed right Schatz. Dewease followed Schatz on the top for a lap before making his move with a slide job in turn one to lead down the backstretch to the delight of the large Williams Grove Speedway crowd.
Dewease extended the lead and went on to win by 1.201 seconds for his 14th career Outlaw win and to become the winningest driver in Williams Grove history.
“It just feels great to be in Victory Lane and to beat Donny Schatz, he’s one of the best racers to ever drive these cars and he races you as clean as anybody.
I hope my pass on him was as clean as he races all of us,” Dewease said in Victory Lane, deflecting the attention away from his record-breaking win at the facility. Dewease acknowledged his great car owners and teams that have helped him to get to this point in his career, including his current team which is assembled with 3 Hall of Famers – himself, Car Owner Don Kreitz, Jr. and Crew Chief Davey Brown.
“Every start I got a little better off of four and I finally got a big run at him,” Dewease said of his winning pass on Schatz. “For all of you fans that come out and support us every week, this is for you,” Dewease added to a chorus of “Posse” chants from the local faithful.
“If you come around here and race with Lance for the win, you’re doing something right. No excuses, he beat us,” Schatz said to track announcer Bruce Ellis. “You do the best you can and tonight was second. It was still a good night for us.”
Brian Montieth finished third and was in good spirits, “We got going a little better at the end, my guys gave me a great car. Hats off to them, we wrecked a car last week and had to build a new one and it paid off.”
Hodnett finished fourth with 11th-starting Logan Schuchart completing the top five.
Wolfe finished sixth with Outlaw Regulars 15th-starting David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart completing the top ten. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway tomorrow night for the conclusion of the Summer Nationals, which will pay $20,000 to the winner.If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [4][$13,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$4,000]; 3. 21-Brian Montieth [5][$2,500]; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett [3][$2,200]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,100]; 6. 24-Lucas Wolfe [1][$2,000]; 7. 5-David Gravel [15][$1,800]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,600]; 9. 9-Daryn Pittman [12][$1,500]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [7][$1,300]; 11. 3-James McFadden [10][$1,200]; 12. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [17][$1,100]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich [13][$1,000]; 14. 19-Brent Marks [24][$700]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$600]; 16. 58-Jim Siegel [25][$600]; 17. 55K-Robbie Kendall [14][$600]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [21][$600]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [22][$600]; 20. 44-Trey Starks [6][$600]; 21. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$600]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [8][$600]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$600]; 24. 39-Cory Haas [19][$600]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [23][$600]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-17, Lance Dewease 18-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+10]
Freddie Rahmer Sends Lincoln Speedway into Pandemonium with First Career Outlaw Win
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – July 19, 2018 – Freddie Rahmer got by David Gravel on a double-file restart with nine laps remaining to win the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway for the Pennsylvania Posse. Rahmer, joining his father Fred, became the sixth father-son duo to win World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Features. Gravel and Daryn Pittman completed the podium.
Last year’s Gettysburg Clash winner David Gravel won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 35-Lap Feature. Gravel got the jump on the start while Daryn Pittman got around front row starter Alan Krimes for second down the backstretch.
Gravel reached heavy lapped traffic on Lap 8 allowing Pittman, Krimes and company to close in. Two laps later, James McFadden brought out the Yellow Flag, giving Gravel a clear track. On the restart, Krimes took second from Pittman down the backstretch briefly, only to have Pittman power back to the runner-up position coming back to the line.
Rahmer, who started sixth, worked by Krimes for third on Lap 13 with a slider and set his sets on the lead duo. As Gravel and Pittman worked through heavy traffic, Rahmer closed in and moved by Pittman for second on Lap 20.
Danny Dietrich, a five-time Lincoln winner in 2018, worked his way into third by Pittman and began reeling in Rahmer and Gravel. In heavy lapped traffic, Dietrich threw a massive slider for second on Rahmer in turn three, but lost the handle and spun, leaving fourth-place running Brad Sweet nowhere to go. Neither were able to continue, a crushing blow to Sweet’s Championship efforts.
The caution also negated Gravel’s sizable lead. The double-file restart with nine laps remaining lined up Rahmer to the outside of Gravel. Rahmer used a brilliant run, glued to the middle, to take the lead down the backstretch, sending the Pennsylvania fans into a frenzy anticipating a hometown win.
Rahmer extended the lead and was just reaching the back of the field as he took the checkered for the first time as a World of Outlaws winner and sent Lincoln Speedway into pandemonium.
After collecting his breath, Rahmer said, “We work so hard for this, I knew if we got into position, we could win one of these races. I didn’t know if they were close the last two laps, but we got it done.”
Freddie and Fred Rahmer joined racing royalty as just the sixth father-son duo to win World of Outlaws Features, joining the Kinser, Swindell, Haudenschild, Smith and Kaeding families.
“Of all the things that have happened in racing, this is the coolest,” National Sprint Car Hall of Famer member Fred Rahmer, who is the all-time leading Feature winner at Lincoln Speedway, said while holding back tears in Victory Lane. “It took me a lot damn longer to win one of these races than him,” Rahmer added with a smile.
David Gravel was understandably disappointed after leading 26 laps to come home second, but wished his best on Freddie Rahmer and congratulated him on his first victory. “I didn’t need that yellow, but that’s racing. It’s a tough one to swallow, you lead that many laps, you want to win,” Gravel said.
Daryn Pittman completed the podium after a torrid battle with Donny Schatz for third and also congratulated the Rahmer family, “Congrats to Fred and Freddie, what an amazing performance from them. We were really good in the beginning, but kind of faded at the end. The last few laps with Donny were excellent, he ran me clean as always. This is a good run for this whole team and we’ll see what we have at The Grove.”
Schatz came from 11th to finish fourth with Lucas Wolfe completing the top five.
Greg Wilson came forward to sixth with Brian Montieth finishing seventh. Brent Marks earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 21st to eighth, Krimes faded to ninth and 20th-starting Logan Schuchart completed the top ten.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season this weekend at Williams Grove Speedway with two increased purses. Friday, July 20th’s Feature will carry the $5,000 bonus of the Morgan Cup, meaning the winner will take home $13,000. Saturday, July 21st’s Feature will pay $20,000 to the winner. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer [6][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,500]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,800]; 5. 24-Lucas Wolfe [8][$2,500]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [10][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Montieth [9][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [21][$2,100]; 9. 87-Alan Krimes [2][$2,050]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [20][$2,000]; 11. O7-Gerard McIntyre [12][$1,500]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$400]; 13. 39-Cory Haas [22][$1,100]; 14. 55K-Robbie Kendall [19][$1,050]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [3][$1,000]; 16. 27-Greg Hodnett [13][$900]; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri [28][$]; 18. 2-Shane Stewart [14][$800]; 19. 3-James McFadden [16][$800]; 20. 18-Ian Madsen [27][$]; 21. 1X-Chad Trout [18][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [15][$800]; 23. 1XX-Tim Wagaman [24][$800]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [17][$800]; 25. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$800]; 26. 48-Danny Dietrich [7][$800]; 27. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$800]; 28. 59-Jim Siegel [26][$]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-26, Freddie Rahmer 27-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+13]
Kyle Larson Dominates Silver Cup at Lernerville for $25,000 Payday
SARVER, PA – July 17, 2018 – Kyle Larson started fourth and worked his way by Ian Madsen on Lap 9 and never looked back to win his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of the year and sixth in his career. Larson also set Quick Time over the 37-car field and won his Heat Race. Brad Sweet finished second with Donny Schatz coming from ninth to complete the podium at the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway.
Western Pennsylvania’s own Tim Shaffer won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 40-lap Feature. Shaffer, the 1993 Lernerville Track Champion and two-time Silver Cup winner, led the opening four laps before Brandon Spithaler spun off the track, bringing out the only caution of the event.
World of Outlaws rookie Ian Madsen took advantage of the double-file restart to take the lead from Shaffer down the backstretch. Madsen led lap five and Larson took second from Shaffer a lap later.
Larson slid Madsen for the lead on Lap 8, but the Australian turned back underneath Larson’s No.57 to lead into turn three. It was short-lived, however, as Larson pounded the cushion and blasted around Madsen to lead the ninth circuit.
Larson established he was the class of the field and quickly built up a lead as the field stretched out around the 4/10th oval.
Brad Sweet, fresh off his runner-up finish at the Kings Royal, began making the top work and moved by Shaffer for third on Lap 26 and then used the same line to move by Madsen for second a lap later. Simultaneously, Donny Schatz began making the bottom work. Schatz worked his way into third on Lap 31.
As Larson diced through heavy traffic, Sweet began to close in on Larson as the large crowd at Lernerville Speedway watched closely to see if the driver referred to as ‘The Big Cat’ could make a move. Larson was flawless through traffic, re-extending his lead and going on to win by 1.893 seconds over his brother-in-law, Sweet.
“I was able to get through traffic pretty well. There was a strip of moisture in turns three and four. I was trying to check the board because I knew if [Schatz] was coming, I was going to have to do some searching,” Larson said in Victory Lane.
Larson was making his first start at Lernerville in five years, he came from 24th to second in the 2013 Silver Cup. “I didn’t think we were that great in the Dash, but Paul Silva was able to tune it up and I knew right away in the Feature I had a good shot of winning this one.”
“These Outlaw races are so hard to win. I was able to get an Outlaw win for Ricky [Stenhouse] last year, but it has been a couple years since I got an Outlaw win in the No.57,” Larson added.
"It’s great to see a packed house, I was only able to get here five minutes before engine heat because of plane troubles, but I’m glad we made it. We couldn’t be out here without all you fans,” Larson, who won everything but the Sears Craftsman Dash, said to a loud applause.
Brad Sweet settled for second and referenced how similar tonight was to Saturday’s Kings Royal, where he was trying to chase down Schatz on the cushion.
“You know [Larson] is going to be tough to beat out front, I wasn’t making as much speed once the top in turns one and two went away. I kind of saw Donny coming at the end so I moved down on the race track,” Sweet said in good spirits.
"The past few races the tracks have been slick and technical with a lot of Green Flag laps, it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been right in the hunt throughout this Month of Money and hopefully we can pick up some more wins here soon,” Sweet added.
Schatz came from ninth to complete the podium and referenced his slow start, “We were a little better at the end than at the beginning, but we’ve got to be better earlier. It wasn’t a bad night or a bad finish, it was just one of those nights,” Schatz, who had won three of the last four races prior to tonight, said.
David Gravel came from 10th to finish fourth with Ian Madsen fading to fifth. Kasey Kahne made a last-lap pass in the Last Chance Showdown to make the Feature and earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming to 17th at the Checkered Flag.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with a trio of dates with the Pennsylvania Posse starting Thursday, July 19 at Lincoln Speedway before heading over to Williams Grove Speedway for the Summer Nationals. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson [4][$25,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$7,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$5,000]; 4. 5-David Gravel [10][$4,000]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [2][$3,000]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,900]; 7. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1][$2,800]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [7][$2,700]; 9. 10H-Chad Kemenah [14][$2,600]; 10. 7K-Cale Conley [6][$2,500]; 11. 2-Shane Stewart [13][$2,400]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [11][$2,300]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [15][$2,200]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$2,100]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [20][$2,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,500]; 17. 4K-Kasey Kahne [24][$1,300]; 18. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [19][$1,200]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$1,200]; 20. 83-Cory Eliason [21][$1,200]; 21. 39-Spencer Bayston [12][$1,200]; 22. 22-Brandon Spithaler [22][$1,200]; 23. 40-George Hobaugh [18][$1,200]; 24. 4-Parker Price-Miller [23][$1,200]; 25. 2AJ-A.J. Flick [25][$]; 26. 51-John Garvin [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer 1-4, Ian Madsen 5-8, Kyle Larson 9-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 4K-Kasey Kahne[+7]
Donny Schatz Wins Third Consecutive Kings Royal to Become King Donny the 35th
ROSSBURG, OH – July 14, 2018 – Donny Schatz started fourth, took the lead on Lap 15 and never looked back, leading the rest of the way to win his 15th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 and third consecutive Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, worth $50,000. Brad Sweet surged late and came within half of a car-length at the checkered flag, finishing behind Schatz by just 0.189 seconds. Cory Eliason, in his first career Kings Royal start, completed the podium.
With the unique Kings Royal format, the six Heat Race winners occupied the first three rows for the 40-lap Feature. Trey Starks won Heat 6, earning the pole in his first Kings Royal start alongside Heat 5 winner, Paul McMahan. A caution on the initial start involving Hunter Schuerenburg, Sheldon Haudenschild and Brock Zearfoss brought out the only stoppage of the event.
The complete restart saw Starks shoot to the lead, in search of his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature victory in a big way. Schatz and McMahan battled for second with Schatz taking the position on Lap 3 and setting his sights on Starks. Schatz took a look underneath Starks on Lap 14 and completed the pass for the lead one lap later down the backstretch.
Cory Eliason, who started sixth after winning Heat 1, established himself as a threat moving by Starks into second on Lap 16. Eliason actually slid Schatz for position, but was never able to maintain momentum and stay in front of the Tony Stewart Racing No.15.
Brad Sweet maneuvered into third on Lap 17 and showed a lot of speed pounding the cushion. As Sweet closed in on Eliason for second, Donny Schatz extended his margin out front. Sweet would get by Eliason for second on Lap 27 and begin cutting into Schatz’ sizable advantage.
As Schatz searched for grip the last 10 laps, Sweet really closed in. Sweet got hung up behind Daryn Pittman in lapped traffic and finally cleared him with five to go, setting up one last charge at Schatz. And charge he did.
On the absolute cushion of the racing surface, Sweet closed in on Schatz, setting up a hectic finish. Sweet cut the gap to five car-lengths down the backstretch on the final lap and ended up just half a car-length short from his second career Kings Royal triumph.
Schatz acknowledged that he was searching for speed the last 10 laps, “I knew someone had to be coming. I was hanging the last 10 laps, I could not get stuck anywhere. I’m lucky it wasn’t 41 laps tonight, because obviously the No.49 was coming there at the end,” Schatz said in Victory Lane.
“Lapped traffic was tough tonight, it was tricky and slick. I feel like I completely failed in Qualifying going 21st quick, but the way format works tonight it put us in the right position,” Schatz said before thanking all the fans, even the ones that boo him, for coming out and praising the track crew given the high temperatures all weekend.
Brad Sweet was obviously disappointed but was pleased with the speed he showed.
“I came up one lap short, some of those lapped cars didn’t cut me a break. Coming to the checkered, I was cussing because I wanted it to be the White Flag,” Sweet said with a smirk. “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and the way [Schatz] shows up at these big money events, is why he’ll down in history as one of, if not the best of all time. This NAPA racing team has nothing to be ashamed of tonight, I just wish it was one more lap tonight,” Sweet added before encouraging the huge crowd to come to the pits and introduce themselves.
Cory Eliason was extremely pleased with his third-place run, “That was a great learning experience. I got to follow and watch Donny and Brad tonight and they are the two best out here right now. There is a huge learning curve coming to these tracks and to go out and be competitive is awesome.”
“After not making the first two shows of the weekend, to finish third behind Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet, feels like a win for this team,” Eliason added in good spirits after the race.
Lee Jacobs represented the Buckeye State coming from 16th to finish fourth with Kraig Kinser coming from 13th to complete the top five.
12th-starting Jacob Allen finished sixth with Paul McMahan coming home seventh. 16th-starting David Gravel finished eighth with Rico Abreu coming from 24th to ninth, earning KSE Hard Charger Honors. Outlaw rookie Ian Madsen completed the top ten, coming from 23rd.
Christopher Bell set Quick Time over the 51-car field and was running in the top five, when he pulled pit side with 14 laps remaining. After the caution on the initial start, the race went non-stop.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season and Month of Money with the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway, which will pay $25,000 to the winner. Following that the Outlaws will head to Central Pennsylvania to take on the Pennsylvania Posse at Lincoln and Williams Grove Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$50,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$20,000]; 3. 83-Cory Eliason [6][$15,000]; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs [16][$12,500]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$10,000]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [12][$7,500]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan [2][$6,500]; 8. 5-David Gravel [14][$6,000]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [24][$5,500]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$5,000]; 11. 44-Trey Starks [1][$4,750]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$4,500]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson [21][$4,000]; 14. 94-Ryan Smith [8][$3,750]; 15. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$3,500]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [18][$3,450]; 17. 4-Parker Price-Miller [3][$3,400]; 18. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [22][$3,350]; 19. 9-Daryn Pittman [17][$3,300]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$3,250]; 21. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$3,200]; 22. 17B-Bill Balog [10][$3,150]; 23. 14-Christopher Bell [7][$3,100]; 24. 49X-Tim Shaffer [11][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Trey Starks 1-14, Donny Schatz 15-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 24-Rico Abreu[+15]
Donny Schatz Wins Knight Before Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH – July 13, 2018 – Donny Schatz passed Brian Brown on Lap 10 and never looked back en route to his Knight Before the Kings Royal victory at Eldora Speedway. It was Schatz’ 275th career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory. Greg Wilson charged from 14th to finish second, with Sheldon Haudenschild completing the podium in the non-stop Feature.
Brian Brown won the first Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole for the 30-Lap Feature, alongside Hunter Schuerenburg, who won the second Dash. Brown, in search of his fifth career Outlaw victory, set the pace out front of the field as Schuerenburg remained within striking distance.
Donny Schatz, who started third, recovered from his start and got by Tim Shaffer for third on Lap 5, but not without making heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn two. The contact didn’t faze Schatz at all as he began chasing down Schuerenburg and Brown for the lead.
On Lap 9, Schatz ducked underneath Schuerenburg for second and one lap later, using the same line, Schatz took the lead from Brown. From there, Schatz began to work through lapped traffic in an attempt to extend his lead while all eyes were on Greg Wilson.
Wilson, a former Outlaw Eldora winner, was charging forward from his 14th-starting spot. Wilson took third from Schuerenburg on Lap 21 and surpassed Brown a lap later for the runner-up position. Wilson, glued to the extreme bottom of the racing surface, then set his sights on Schatz. Sheldon Haudenschild was in hot pursuit of Wilson running the polar opposite line, banging down the cushion. Haudenschild worked by Schuerenburg and Brown on Lap 23 to move into third. Wilson closed slightly in traffic, but Schatz had built too much of an advantage and went on to win his 14th Feature of the season by 2.273 seconds.
“It got real slick,” Schatz said after the race. “I think my car was best in the middle and it’s not exactly my bag of tea to bounce off the cushion every lap,”
Schatz added with a smile. “Greg [Wilson] is really good when the track gets like that. I know if I do everything right, there’s not many people that will pass this 15 car, but Greg is one of them. We’ve got to a get a little bit better tomorrow for 10 more laps or Greg will kick all our asses,” Schatz said in good spirits.
Wilson had high praise for Schatz following his personal season-best finish. “That 15 car man, he’s the best out here and the cleanest race car driver I have ever raced with,” Wilson said before thanking the Eldora Speedway track crew for providing an excellent dry-slick racing surface.
Sheldon Haudenschild was pleased with his third-place finish and looks forward to Saturday’s King’s Royal.
“My crew has done a phenomenal job and I think we’ll be right there tomorrow. I can’t thank the fans for being great all weekend,” Sheldon said.
Early race leader Brian Brown fell to fourth at the checkered flag with Dave Blaney charging from 22nd to complete the top five and earn KSE Hard Charger Honors. Heading into Saturday’s Kings Royal event, Shane Stewart and Donny Schatz, with their wins on the first two nights of the weekend, have earned the right to go out in Qualifying wherever they please during Saturday’s $50,000 to win program.
With the unique Kings Royal format being utilized, Saturday’s event will be show up points only for the World of Outlaws regulars. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com as the 35th Annual Kings Royal crowns a champion.
Feature: 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$12,000]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$5,700]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$3,500]; 4. 21-Brian Brown [1][$3,000]; 5. 70-Dave Blaney [22][$2,600]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [5][$2,400]; 7. 3G-Carson Macedo [8][$2,300]; 8. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [2][$2,200]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [13][$2,150]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel [6][$2,100]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$1,600]; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer [4][$1,350]; 13. 5-David Gravel [18][$1,300]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [21][$1,200]; 15. 18-Ian Madsen [25][$300]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [26][$200]; 17. 24-Rico Abreu [10][$900]; 18. 10H-Chad Kemenah [11][$850]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [24][$800]; 20. 12N-Cole Duncan [20][$800]; 21. 4-Parker Price-Miller [16][$800]; 22. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [15][$800]; 23. 2-Shane Stewart [17][$800]; 24. 44-Trey Starks [19][$800]; 25. 26-Joey Saldana [23][$800]; 26. 13-Paul McMahan [12][$800]; Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-9, Donny Schatz 10-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 70-Dave Blaney[+17]
Brad Sweet Sweeps Night One of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown at Cedar Lake
NEW RICHMOND, WI – July 6, 2018 - Brad Sweet completed a clean sweep of the opening night of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown with his third win of the season at Cedar Lake Speedway. A late race caution took Sweet out of heavy lapped traffic and gave him a clean track and clean air with eight laps remaining. David Gravel and Brent Marks completed the podium.
Sweet started the night off right, setting fast time over the field before edging Gravel in a potential Heat Race of the year. Sweet started second in the Sears Craftsman Dash and won that to earn the pole for the 35-lap Feature.
While it may have looked easy on paper, it was far from it. Sweet, driver of the Kasey Kahne Racing No.49, grabbed the lead early and distanced himself, while Gravel and Marks battled for the runner-up position.
Sweet reached traffic by Lap 6 and negotiated the slower cars well. Marks, while running third, made contact with the slower car of Jason Tostenson and lost the third spot to Sheldon Haudenschild in the process.
As traffic intensified, Gravel and company closed in looking to steal the victory away from Sweet.
Sweet, at this point, was lapping some impressive race cars. As the Grass Valley, CA native tried to put Kerry Madsen, who swept both nights of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown last year, and Cory Eliason, who has an Outlaw win this year, Gravel, Haudenschild and Marks closed significantly. Haudenschild bobbled on the bottom of one and two and relinquished the third spot back to Marks on Lap 22.
Just as Gravel and Marks were closing in, ready to pounce, debris in turn four forced a caution on Lap 27.
With eight laps remaining and a clean track, Sweet was never truly challenged and went on to win by .968 seconds.
“I’ve never done a clean sweep before. That’s a heck of a way to start the weekend,” Sweet said in Victory Lane before giving a shout out to Bobbi and Jaxx Johnson.
“Lapped traffic was tough tonight, but it’s what wins and loses races. We needed a win, it’s been a while. These NAPA Auto Parts guys have been working hard and they deserve more of these wins,” Sweet, who continues to sit second in the Series Point Standings added.
David Gravel finished a nose ahead of Marks for third, after getting held up with a lapped car coming to the checkered.
“I definitely didn’t want to see that yellow. My car was getting better as the race went on, luckily, tomorrow’s race is 41 laps. Hopefully we can finish one position better,” the driver of the CJB Motorsports No.5 said in good spirits.
Second-year Outlaw Brent Marks was very pleased with his evening, “I was surprised tonight, we weren’t very good here last year but we were excellent tonight. I’m really proud of my guys and I’m excited to be up here on the podium.
After not getting a Qualifying lap and starting last in his Heat Race, Donny Schatz picked up KSE Hard Charger honors, finishing fourth in the Feature from 11th. Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top-five.
The FVP Platinum Battery Showdown concludes Saturday evening at Cedar Lake Speedway. If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Abbreviated Results from Cedar Lake Speedway - July 7, 2018:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [2][$5,000]; 3. 19-Brent Marks [3][$3,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,700]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,500]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [5][$2,200]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,000]; 8. 2-Shane Stewart [14][$1,800]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [8][$1,600]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [6][$1,450]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$1,300]; 12. 21-Brian Brown [10][$1,200]; 13. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,100]; 14. 55-Brooke Tatnell [12][$1,000]; 15. 83H-Justin Henderson [16][$950]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson [15][$900]; 17. 83-Cory Eliason [21][$850]; 18. 2M-Kerry Madsen [19][$750]; 19. 13-Mark Dobmeier [20][$725]; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [17][$700]; 21. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [18][$700]; 22. 19L-RJ Johnson [22][$700]; 23. 97-Alan Gilbertson [24][$700]; 24. 36-Jason Tostenson [23][$700]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+7]
Pittman Powers to 4th Win of Season at Nodak
MINOT, ND – June 17, 2018 – Daryn Pittman passed Cory Eliason on Lap 22 and never looked back, winning his fourth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018 Sunday evening at Nodak Speedway. Pittman hounded the California native for the majority of the race before making the race-winning move in turn one. Pittman’s Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Brad Sweet finished second with Donny Schatz completing the podium.
Eliason won the Sears Craftsman Dash to earn the pole of the 30-lap Feature in his first career start at Nodak Speedway. Eliason powered away on the initial start, as Pittman maneuvered underneath front row starter David Gravell to take command of second down the backstretch of the opening circuit.
The lone caution of the event flew for Jack Croaker on Lap 5. Eliason again motored away on the ensuing restart as Pittman had his hands full with his KKR teammate Sweet. Sweet had the second position at the line on Lap 6, but Pittman muscled back underneath to take the position back the next lap.
Eliason set a strong pace out front in search of his second career Outlaw triumph. But as Eliason worked lapped traffic, the rest of the field closed in. At the halfway point, a blanket could be thrown over the top five.
Pittman reached Eliason’s tail tank on multiple occasions, looking for a way around the Roth Motorsports No.83. Pittman pulled even with Eliason in turn one on Lap 18, but the latter maintained the lead with momentum around the top down the backstretch.
Pittman got another run, this time on the top of three and four, that propelled his Ionomy-sponsored No.9 to the lead into turn one on Lap 22. From there, Pittman proved he was the class of the field, distancing himself and getting through lapped traffic like the veteran he is.
While Pittman pulled away, the war continued behind him. Sweet, Eliason, Schatz and Gravel all jockeyed for position in heavy traffic. Sweet, who at this point had lost his brakes completely, and Schatz shuffled Eliason back to fourth on Lap 25.
Out front though, it was all Daryn Pittman, who went on to win by more than three seconds for his fourth win of the year.
“My car was really good all night long from the moment we unloaded,” Pittman, who set Quick Time and won his Heat Race, said.
“The last few weeks we’ve really been hitting stride. I love winning before we have a week off and I love winning on Father’s Day, I am extremely blessed to travel with my wife and kids out here,” Pittman, the 2007 Outlaw winner at Nodak, added before thanking the large crowd for coming out on a Sunday.
Sweet was pleased with another runner-up finish.
“We were battling with Daryn and Cory the whole race, I actually lost brakes with around ten laps to go and I was just hanging on. You don’t realize how much you need brakes until they are gone,” Sweet said with a smile. “We’ll take another second place and move on to next week,” the Grass Valley, CA native added.
North Dakota’s own Donny Schatz was in good spirits after finishing third and thanked the large crowd for coming out on Father’s Day. “Obviously, we would have liked to get a win, but to be out here on Father’s Day in Minot was great. Thanks to all the fans for their support these past 25 years and for supporting dirt track racing,” Schatz added.
Last year’s winner at Nodak, David Gravel settled for fourth with Eliason getting shuffled back to fifth. Sheldon Haudenschild earned KSE Hard Charger honors coming from 13th to finish sixth. Logan Schuchart, Brent Marks, Ian Madsen and Dominic Scelzi completed the top ten at Nodak.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season with its first trip to the newly-reconfigured Farley Speedway in Iowa in over 20 years Friday, June 22 before heading back into Wisconsin for a date at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, June 23rd. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action LIVE on DIRTVision.com.
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [3][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$3,200]; 4. 5-David Gravel [2][$2,800]; 5. 83-Cory Eliason [1][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [13][$2,300]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [12][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [5][$2,050]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [8][$2,000]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$1,500]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$1,200]; 13. 41-Jason Johnson [15][$1,100]; 14. 2-Shane Stewart [9][$1,050]; 15. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [17][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$900]; 17. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg [18][$800]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson [14][$800]; 19. 6N-Greg Nikitenko [19][$800]; 20. 20A-Jordan Adams [21][$800]; 21. 9N-Wade Nygaard [20][$800]; 22. 8-Jack Croaker [22][$800]; 23. 20L-Dusty Lawson [23][$800]; 24. 20-Kevin Lawson [24][$800]; Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason 1-21, Daryn Pittman 22-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+7]
Qualifying: 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.467; 2. 5-David Gravel, 13.507; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.521; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.535; 5. 83-Cory Eliason, 13.588; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.6; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.651; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.651; 9. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.71; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.79; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.793; 12. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.793; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.795; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.842; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 13.842; 16. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.904; 17. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, 13.938; 18. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.944; 19. 20A-Jordan Adams, 13.984; 20. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier, 14.085; 21. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg, 14.109; 22. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 14.175; 23. 8-Jack Croaker, 14.337; 24. 20L-Dusty Lawson, 15.285; 25. 14-Bill Holler, 15.792; 26. 20-Kevin Lawson, 16.052
Donny Schatz Continues Dominance at River Cities
GRAND FORKS, ND – June 15, 2018 – North Dakota’s own Donny Schatz continued his dominance at River Cities Speedway, passing race-long leader Kerry Madsen on Lap 25 to win his 11th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Feature of 2018. It was Schatz’s sixth win in his last seven starts at the bullring. Brad Sweet came forward to finish second with Madsen settling for third.
The “Mad Man” Kerry Madsen won the Sears Craftsman Dash, earning the pole for the 40-lap Feature alongside Schatz. Local driver Austin Pierce brought out the first of many cautions in the lengthy event, flipping off the banking on the opening lap. Pierce, the 2017 NOSA Sprints Champion, was uninjured in the accident.
Madsen got the jump on the start once again, utilizing the bottom of the speedway as Schatz pounded the cushion. Lap 6 saw third-starting Austin McCarl go for a light tumble in turn four, bringing out the Red Flag once again. McCarl completed the race with a damaged top wing.
Four laps later, Cory Eliason and Jade Hastings bounced off the racing surface, bringing out another caution and keeping the leaders out of lapped traffic. On each restart, Schatz, on the top, was able to stay with Madsen for a lap or two before the Australian would distance himself on the bottom.
Sheldon Haudenschild’s Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No.17 lost power while running sixth on Lap 17, bringing out the caution. A caution on the ensuing double-file restart brought the field back to Green under single-file conditions.
Following that caution, for the first time, the leaders reached traffic on the bullring. Lapped cars were littered all over the racing surface. Madsen was able to clear the first few cars getting underneath them while remaining committed to the bottom. Schatz would follow suit on the bottom by some of the lappers, but the entire capacity crowd at River Cities Speedway knew the Tony Stewart Racing No.15 would be able to maintain speed on the cushion as well.
Schatz capitalized on Madsen’s inability to clear a slower car on the backstretch, powering around the No.2M off of turn four to lead Lap 25. Schatz used the same line to clear the lapped car before getting back to the bottom to protect the lead.
Brad Sweet followed Schatz on the cushion around Madsen as well and would line up next to Schatz with eight laps remaining after the caution flew for Jason Johnson. Schatz motored away on the restart and did the same thing on the final restart with four laps to go to win his 11th Feature of the 2018 campaign and extend his lead atop the Point Standings.
Sweet would finish 2.369 seconds behind the Fargo, ND native with Madsen settling for third.
“I kept trying that top and I knew if we got into traffic I might be able to make it work,” Schatz said in Victory Lane. When asked about the multitude of cautions, Schatz simply cited that they are part of racing, but the early cautions had him wondering how the track would change as the race would go on. The North Dakota native savored the emotion of the hometown victory saying, “You never know when your last win is going to be.”
Brad Sweet was upbeat about his runner-up finish. “We were fast, I had a couple of lines working in one and two. I would have liked to give Donny a better run for his money, but he never missed a mark out front. Eventually, we’ll figure out how to beat him here,” Sweet added with a smile.
Kerry Madsen led the first 24 laps but settled for third after losing the lead in lapped traffic. “I didn’t do a good enough job. I became immobile in traffic. I tried to play a patient game and I should have been more aggressive,” Madsen said honestly before thanking his team for giving him a great car.
Shane Stewart had a strong run coming from 11th to finish fourth with Daryn Pittman completing the top five. Dominic Scelzi charged from 21st to sixth, but Mark Dobmeier grabbed KSE Hard Charger honors coming from a provisional starting 25th to finish ninth. The massive crowd at River Cities was engaged all evening, especially when track regular Thomas Kennedy set Quick Time and won his Heat Race.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series continues its 40th Anniversary Season Sunday at Nodak Speedway in Minot, ND. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.com!
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [11][$2,800]; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman [9][$2,500]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [21][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [16][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,100]; 9. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [25][$1,250]; 10. 5-David Gravel [10][$2,000]; 11. 83-Cory Eliason [4][$1,500]