Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

THE BIG GUN: Kyle Larson scores win at Knoxville Raceway
Big night at Knoxville sees the return of fans and a milestone for Johnny Gibson

KNOXVILLE, IA – June 12, 2020 – Kyle Larson’s last attempt at taking on the Outlaws two weeks ago saw 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz steal the win from him on the final lap.

In his return Friday night at Knoxville Raceway, Larson, again, found Schatz standing in the way of another victory. This time, he made sure the Fargo, ND driver was out of rage on the final lap to secure his first win at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” during the first night of the Brownells Big Guns Bash doubleheader.

“It’s awesome,” Larson said in Victory Lane. “It’s a pleasure to drive for (car owner and crew chief) Paul Silva and everybody who helps out on this team.”

He had already accumulated three wins in four days with Silva while racing down south, before the night. That momentum carried over to the iconic half-mile track, where Larson and Silva struggled in their last two races there. They finished 10th when the Series returned to racing at the track in May and failed to qualify for the Knoxville Nationals last year.

This year, they’ve found their rhythm. Larson didn’t show it early on in the night, though. While David Gravel set Quick Time for the third time this year, Larson qualified seventh in his flight. He was able to make it up to second in his Drydene Heat Race, behind Gravel, but settled for a sixth-place finish in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – won by Gravel.

When it came time for the 25-lap Feature, Gravel – who won the Knoxville race in May – and Schatz appeared to be the favorites. Gravel had dominated everything up until that point and Schatz’s speed improved as the night went on.

The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver showed that in the opening laps of the Feature by taking the lead from Gravel on the second lap and driving away from the field.

Larson was putting on an impressive performance behind them, darting his way from sixth to third on the first lap. Five laps later, he worked his way around the outside of Gravel to take second. A caution on Lap 6 then put Larson on Schatz’s bumper.

On the restart, Larson launched ahead of Schatz to take the lead, but Rico Abreu flipped in Turn 2 before the lap was completed, giving Schatz the lead back. When the race went green, again, Schatz was ready for Larson. He had a two-car length lead on Larson by the time they exited Turn 2 and pulled away further the next corner.

Schatz looked to be in command of the race and on his way to another Knoxville win. However, the ever-adaptable Larson found a new line that cut Schatz’s lead from half a straightaway to nothing in about three laps.

“Before the first caution I could enter above the holes here in (Turn) one and diamond the corner off of (Turn) two and I felt like I could maintain with him (Schatz),” Larson said. “Once I got into second, Donny was still following the top and I was able to make that line work to get the run off of (Turn) three and pass him.”

Once he took the lead from Schatz with 15 laps to go, Larson ran to home base on a home run swing. Lap cars did little to slow him down. The only hinderance he faced was when his nose wing fell down on the final lap, giving him little downforce on the front of his car. It caused him to miss his marks, but they were tiny errors in the overall scope of the race. The Elk Grove, CA driver crossed the finish line 3.1 sec. ahead of Schatz, bringing the crowd of fans to their feet – Knoxville’s first time with fans at a World of Outlaws race this year – and giving Johnny Gibson a special memory for his 2,000th consecutive race.

“Knoxville is one of my favorite tracks,” Larson said. “Paul Silva has been working his butt off. I’ve been complaining to him a lot. But we’re a great team and like I said, it’s a pleasure to get to race for him.”

The win is Larson’s second World of Outlaws win of 2020 and 10th overall, tying him on the all-time wins list with Danny Smith and Joe Gaerte, who is the crew chief for Kyle Larson Racing.

While Schatz had to settle for second, the finish is his fifth top-five finish in a row.

“He just found a different line in (turns) one and two,” Schatz said. “I didn’t think it would stay that long, so I didn’t try it. You can’t be making any mistakes. But, if you’re going to make them, now is the time to do it. It was a real solid night.”

Gravel ended the night third and said he’s pleased with it considering Jason Johnson Racing brought out a new car for the event.

Carson Macedo, who drivers for Kyle Larson Racing, earned his second top-five of the season with a fourth-place finish.

Series points leader Brad Sweet had a rough night, finishing 12th – his first finish outside the top-10 this year. He wasn’t alone as Logan Schuchart had an engine fail in Qualifying and found himself having to use a provisional to start the Feature. He was able to charge from 25th to 13th, earning his the KSE Hard Charger award.

Sweet is now ahead of Schatz by eight points and Schuchart by 38.

UP NEXT

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Knoxville Raceway Saturday, June 13 for the final night of the Brownells Big Guns Bash. You can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Race Results: 6/12/20 – Knoxville Raceway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [6]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 3. 41-David Gravel [1]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [9]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [11]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [4]; 7. 39-Sammy Swindell [7]; 8. 71-Shane Stewart [5]; 9. 7-Tim Kaeding [20]; 10. 2M-Kerry Madsen [10]; 11. O9-Matt Juhl [12]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [18]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [25]; 14. 5X-Gio Scelzi [21]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [15]; 16. 17A-Austin McCarl [23]; 17. 83-Daryn Pittman [19]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [14]; 19. 14-Parker Price-Miller [16]; 20. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [13]; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser [26]; 22. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [22]; 23. 1A-Jacob Allen [17]; 24. 20-A.J. Moeller [8]; 25. 2C-Wayne Johnson [24]; 26. 24-Rico Abreu [3]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1, Donny Schatz 2-9, Kyle Larson 10-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+12]

Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 41-David Gravel, 15.022; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.119; 3. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 15.121; 4. 39-Sammy Swindell, 15.158; 5. 2-Carson Macedo, 15.226; 6. 21-Brian Brown, 15.245; 7. 57-Kyle Larson, 15.333; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.386; 9. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 15.419; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 15.483; 11. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.537; 12. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 15.552; 13. 56N-Davey Heskin, 15.565; 14. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 15.568; 15. 44S-Trey Starks, 15.607; 16. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.652; 17. 17W-Shane Golobic, 15.661; 18. 5-Brent Marks, 15.684; 19. 7X-Justin Henderson, 15.727; 20. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg, 15.904; 21. 6-Bill Rose, 15.934; 22. 44-Chris Martin, 16.001; 23. 35-Zach Hampton, 16.037; 24. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 16.06; 25. 56-Joe Simbro, 16.375; 26. 14K-Tori Knutson, 16.994; 27. 1S-Logan Schuchart, NT

Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.572; 2. 20-A.J. Moeller, 15.663; 3. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.752; 4. O9-Matt Juhl, 15.804; 5. 5X-Gio Scelzi, 15.848; 6. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 15.872; 7. 39M-Anthony Macri, 15.873; 8. 71-Shane Stewart, 15.913; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 15.914; 10. 7-Tim Kaeding, 15.967; 11. 4-Terry McCarl, 16.007; 12. 17A-Austin McCarl, 16.009; 13. 55M-McKenna Haase, 16.016; 14. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 16.027; 15. 49-Brad Sweet, 16.035; 16. 2KS-Chad Boespflug, 16.145; 17. 9-Kasey Kahne, 16.197; 18. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips, 16.226; 19. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer, 16.29; 20. 33M-Mason Daniel, 16.294; 21. 9W-Ryan Giles, 16.305; 22. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 16.327; 23. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 16.369; 24. R44-Jeff Swindell, 16.545; 25. 50-Mike Ayers, 17.405; 26. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, NT

Non-Qualifier (8 Laps) – 1. 9W-Ryan Giles [2]; 2. 6-Bill Rose [9]; 3. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [6]; 4. 44-Chris Martin [3]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4]; 6. R44-Jeff Swindell [8]; 7. 15M-Bobby Mincer [7]; 8. 35-Zach Hampton [5]; 9. 56-Joe Simbro [9]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13]; 11. 50-Mike Ayers [10]; 12. 14K-Tori Knutson [11]

DRYDENE Heat #1 – Flight (A) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [4]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [3]; 4. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [2]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]; 6. 2C-Wayne Johnson [5]; 7. 56N-Davey Heskin [7]; 8. 44S-Trey Starks [8]; 9. 7X-Justin Henderson [10]; 10. 17W-Shane Golobic [9]; 11. 9W-Ryan Giles [11]

DRYDENE Heat #2 – Flight (A) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 39-Sammy Swindell [2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 21-Brian Brown [3]; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman [8]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [7]; 7. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 8. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 9. 5-Brent Marks [9]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [10]; 11. 6-Bill Rose [11]

DRYDENE Heat #3 – Flight (B) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 24-Rico Abreu [2]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [1]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri [4]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [8]; 6. 5X-Gio Scelzi [3]; 7. 4-Terry McCarl [6]; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne [9]; 9. 55M-McKenna Haase [7]; 10. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [11]; 11. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer [10]

DRYDENE Heat #4 – Flight (B) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [4]; 2. 20-A.J. Moeller [1]; 3. O9-Matt Juhl [2]; 4. 14-Parker Price-Miller [3]; 5. 7-Tim Kaeding [5]; 6. 17A-Austin McCarl [6]; 7. 13-Mark Dobmeier [7]; 8. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips [9]; 9. 44-Chris Martin [11]; 10. 33M-Mason Daniel [10]; 11. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [8]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (6 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [8]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [2]; 4. 18-Ian Madsen [6]; 5. 71-Shane Stewart [3]; 6. 57-Kyle Larson [7]; 7. 39-Sammy Swindell [5]; 8. 20-A.J. Moeller [4]

C-Main (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer – 1. 17W-Shane Golobic [1]; 2. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [3]; 3. 9W-Ryan Giles [5]; 4. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [2]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9]; 6. 33M-Mason Daniel [4]; 7. R44-Jeff Swindell [10]; 8. 15M-Bobby Mincer [11]; 9. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [8]; 10. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer [6]; 11. 14K-Tori Knutson [15]; 12. 50-Mike Ayers [14]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13]; 14. 56-Joe Simbro [12]; 15. 6-Bill Rose [7]; 16. 35-Zach Hampton [16]; 17. 3P-Sawyer Phillips [17]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 5X-Gio Scelzi [2]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [3]; 3. 17A-Austin McCarl [4]; 4. 2C-Wayne Johnson [1]; 5. 4-Terry McCarl [6]; 6. 56N-Davey Heskin [5]; 7. 5-Brent Marks [15]; 8. 3-Jac Haudenschild [7]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne [10]; 10. 7X-Justin Henderson [13]; 11. 17W-Shane Golobic [17]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [11]; 13. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips [12]; 14. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [18]; 15. 44S-Trey Starks [9]; 16. 55M-McKenna Haase [14]; 17. 44-Chris Martin [16]; 18. 13-Mark Dobmeier [8]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

SWEET SWEEP: Brad Sweet dominates Beaver Dam Raceway doubleheader
The reigning champion went back to back at Beaver Dam and reclaimed the points lead

BEAVER DAM, WI – June 6, 2020 – Brad Sweet spent years watching 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz drive away from him and dominate races.

The roles reversed Saturday night at Beaver Dam Raceway.

“The Big Cat” turned the 1/3-mile track his personal playground for the weekend. He thrilled fans with a last lap pass on Sheldon Haudenschild to win Friday night and then dominated the 40-lap Feature on Saturday to sweep the weekend and take home $16,000 in winnings between the two nights. He led the final 30 laps, lapped up to 10th place and beat Schatz to the line by close to two seconds.

“You don’t know how many times I’d lead a race until 25-30 laps in and he’d (Schatz) go driving by me,” Sweet said after getting a congratulatory handshake from Schatz. “I wouldn’t call him a mentor because he didn’t tell me his secrets, but years and years of studying him is why we’re standing here. I feel like we got a little bit of an edge right now. He’s going to push his team and we’re going to push our team. It’s going to be a heck of a battle this year.”

Sweet’s teammate and car owner Kasey Kahne had one of his best performances of the year, stealing the lead from polesitter Shane Stewart on the opening lap and holding it for the next 10. After Sweet passed him for the lead on Lap 11, he maintained a top-five for the majority of race before fading to ninth.

With the lead in hand, Sweet was untouchable in his Kasey Kahne Racing NAPA Auto Parts #49. His closest competitor was second-place Logan Schuchart, who he gapped by 3.5 seconds before a caution with eight laps to go. On the restart, Schuchart stayed in tow with Sweet before jumping the cushion in Turn 4 and hitting the wall. Schatz then moved into the runner-up spot to take his turn at Sweet.

On the final restart with three laps to go, Sweet spun his tires exiting Turn 4. Knowing Schatz would attack, Sweet stayed low down the front stretch to deny Schatz a lane underneath him. When they got to Turn 1, Sweet went high and Schatz dove low, edging his nose ahead of Sweet. However, Sweet had the better momentum off the corner and launched ahead of Schatz’s CARQUEST Auto Parts #15.

Sweet was then on cruise control with what he called his best car of the year and claimed his fourth win this season – third win in a row at Beaver Dam.

“We’re just here to win races,” said Sweet, of Grass Valley, CA. “When we’re standing here (in Victory Lane) we’re doing our job. I know everybody is working hard on our race team to get better. As the car gets better, we’re going to keep clicking these wins off. We were better tonight than we were last night. Eric (Prutzman, crew chief) keeps fine tuning on this thing. It really came to life about halfway through the race. I was just cruising really. When I get cars like that, it makes my job easy.”

Schatz’s second-place finish was his fourth top-five in a row with his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team. And while he’d rather be one spot better, he acknowledged that some nights you’re just going to finish second – especially when you have to compete against Sweet.

“They’ve had a good target to chance for a while,” said Schatz, of Fargo, ND. “It’s time to move that bar again… It is what it is. This is a humbling sport. It’s a humbling game. We’re not hanging our heads. Some nights you’re going to run second. There’s a lot of nights you’re going to run second to that (#49 KKR) car. We just keep digging. That’s what it takes. There’s not been a lot of racing this year. At least we’re getting back going and glad to see people in the stands. That makes this all worth it.”

David Gravel rounded out the podium. Haudenschild had an impressive run from 16th to fourth – earning the KSE Racing Hard Charger award. And Shane Stewart finished fifth – his fifth top-five finish in a row, moving him to fourth in points.

With Schuchart finishing 21st, Sweet reclaimed the points lead – now 28 points ahead of Schatz, who also moved past Schuchart into second. Schuchart fell to third, 36 points behind Sweet.

UP NEXT

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” Knoxville Raceway on June 12-13 for the Brownells Big Guns Bash. Tickets for the doubleheader event can be purchased by clicking here. https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=KNXV_PL_MPV&orgid=54409&packageId=16538&packageListId=16535#/event/PKG/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=64&maxPrice=64&quantity=2&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false

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

Race Results: 6/6/20 – Beaver Dam Raceway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$5,000]; 3. 41-David Gravel [7][$3,000]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [16][$2,700]; 5. 71-Shane Stewart [1][$2,500]; 6. 5-Brent Marks [14][$2,200]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [11][$2,000]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [8][$1,800]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne [2][$1,600]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$1,450]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [15][$1,300]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [21][$1,100]; 14. 14-Parker Price-Miller [19][$1,000]; 15. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$950]; 16. 3-Tim Kaeding [17][$900]; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier [12][$850]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [23][$750]; 19. 9K-Kyle Schuett [24][$725]; 20. 6-Bill Rose [18][$700]; 21. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$700]; 22. 73-Jake Blackhurst [20][$700]; 23. 10W-Scotty Thiel [22][$700]; 24. 33M-Mason Daniel [10][$700]; Lap Leaders: Kasey Kahne 1-10, Brad Sweet 11-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+12]

Qualifying – 1. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.429; 2. 71-Shane Stewart, 11.461; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.537; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne, 11.615; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.631; 6. 41-David Gravel, 11.641; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.647; 8. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.657; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.675; 10. 5-Brent Marks, 11.697; 11. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.717; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.735; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.769; 14. 33M-Mason Daniel, 11.833; 15. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 11.835; 16. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 11.835; 17. 10W-Scotty Thiel, 11.843; 18. 23-Russel Borland, 11.856; 19. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.879; 20. 73-Jake Blackhurst, 11.9; 21. 3-Tim Kaeding, 11.938; 22. 6-Bill Rose, 11.952; 23. 2W-Scotty Neitzel, 12.001; 24. 9K-Kyle Schuett, 12.033; 25. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 12.062; 26. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.078; 27. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 12.125; 28. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.146; 29. 12W-Josh Walter, 12.185; 30. 25-Danny Schlafer, 12.268; 31. 10V-Matt Vandervere, 12.506; 32. 55-Austin DeBlauw, 12.812; 33. 20R-Robbie Pribnow, 13.227; 34. 10S-Jay Steinebach, 13.503; 35. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, NT

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [4]; 5. 3-Tim Kaeding [6]; 6. 10W-Scotty Thiel [5]; 7. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [7]; 8. 12W-Josh Walter [8]; 9. 20R-Robbie Pribnow [9]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 41-David Gravel [2]; 3. 33M-Mason Daniel [4]; 4. 5-Brent Marks [3]; 5. 6-Bill Rose [6]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog [7]; 7. 23-Russel Borland [5]; 8. 25-Danny Schlafer [8]; 9. 10S-Jay Steinebach [9]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [1]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [3]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 5. 14-Parker Price-Miller [4]; 6. 2C-Wayne Johnson [7]; 7. 10V-Matt Vandervere [8]; 8. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [6]; 9. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [9]

DRYDENE Heat #4 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne [1]; 3. 13-Mark Dobmeier [4]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 5. 73-Jake Blackhurst [5]; 6. 9K-Kyle Schuett [6]; 7. 68-Dave Uttech [7]; 8. 55-Austin DeBlauw [8]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne [2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [6]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [5]; 7. 41-David Gravel [8]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [7]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 17B-Bill Balog [3][-]; 2. 10W-Scotty Thiel [1][-]; 3. 23-Russel Borland [2][-]; 4. 9K-Kyle Schuett [5][-]; 5. 2C-Wayne Johnson [4][$300]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [6][$250]; 7. 25-Danny Schlafer [10][$225]; 8. 10V-Matt Vandervere [7][$200]; 9. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [11][$200]; 10. 68-Dave Uttech [8][$200]; 11. 20R-Robbie Pribnow [13][$200]; 12. 55-Austin DeBlauw [12][$200]; 13. 12W-Josh Walter [9][$200]; 14. 10S-Jay Steinebach [14][$200]; 15. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [15][$200]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

FIGHTING CHANCE: Brad Sweet steals Beaver Dam win on final lap
The Kasey Kahne Racing driver earns his third win at Beaver Dam Raceway and third of 2020

BEAVER DAM, WI – June 5, 2020 – With 11 laps to go, reigning champion Brad Sweet couldn’t throw a stone far enough to reach leader Sheldon Haudenschild. The next lap, he could just about reach out and touch him.

A slip up in Turn 4 at Beaver Dam Raceway Friday night by Haudenschild allowed Sweet to grab hold and never let go. He went wherever the NOS Energy Drink #17 wasn’t, looking for an opening to victory.

He found it around the outside of Haudenschild with the white flag in the air. And once he found it, the reigning champion charged his way to his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of 2020 and third at Beaver Dam Raceway – also his second in a row at the 1/3-mile track.

“I tried to drive it as hard as I could to get to him (Haudenschild),” said Sweet as he tried to catch his breath in Victory Lane. “It’s hard sometimes to know where to go in lap traffic. Hats off to the team. They had a really good race car tonight. But the NAPA Auto Parts guys keep digging. Last weekend was a tough weekend on us, but we still came out with two decent finishes. It’s nice to be back on top. That’s where this team belongs.”

Sweet showcased the poise of a champion last weekend at Lake Ozark Speedway after he got put into the wall and flipped. If there was any stress, he didn’t show it. He had to use a rare provisional to start the Feature and charged from 25th to eighth. The next night, he finished third. He and his Kasey Kahne Racing team carried that momentum into the doubleheader weekend at Beaver Dam.

The Grass Valley, CA driver won the first Team Drydene Heat Race of the night and then went on to start third in the 30-lap Feature.

Haudenschild took the lead on the first lap, leaving Shane Stewart in second and Sweet in third. His Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing car was in a different league than everyone else. Even with having to wrestle lap traffic, Haudenschild had about a straightaway lead by Lap 10.

Sweet moved by Stewart on Lap 11 for second and then looked to run down Haudenschild. His NAPA Auto Parts #49 cut into Haudenschild’s lead a little every lap but never enough to put him on a trajectory toward victory. That didn’t stop him from trying, though.

Haudenschild ran the bottom, making consistent and smooth laps. However, with 11 laps to go, he got sideways in Turn 4, almost coming to a stop. By the time to straightened out his car and made it to the front stretch, Sweet was on his bumper.

The two battled side by side in the closing laps until Sweet built a strong enough run to launch around the outside of Haudenschild off Turn 4 with the white flag in front of them. With another clean lap around the top of the track and a little help from a lap car blocking Haudenschild’s lane, Sweet drove away with the win.

“Sometimes we set these cars up to be fast for the last 10 laps and you have to try and maintain the first 10,” Sweet said. “We were probably a little too tight in the first 10, but it did come to life there. Never give up. I didn’t think for one second I wasn’t going to win. At least didn’t stop trying and settle for second. You never know what can happen in racing… Anyway, we’re happy to get the win and happy to be racing in front of fans.”

Haudenschild had to settle for a runner-up finish – his third top-five of the year – but was motivated by the car his team gave him.

“Ah, man, definitely a really good race car,” said Haudenschild, of Wooster, OH. “Kyle, Nicholas, Drew, they’ve been working their butts off to give me great race cars and getting me starting up front. Putting me in position to battle for these wins. I feel like I ran a good race. Just should have moved around a little bit.”

Rounding out the podium was current points leader Logan Schuchart, of Hanover, PA – his eighth top-five finish in nine starts this year (the most of all drivers). He now has a six-point lead over Sweet and a 30-point lead over third-place 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who finished fourth.

UP NEXT

Sweet will attempt to sweep the weekend and win three races in a row at Beaver Dam Raceway when the Series returns to the track on Sat., June 6 for the $10,000-to-win event. Tickets are sold out, but you can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Race Results: 6/5/20 – Beaver Dam Raceway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$6,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$3,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$2,300]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$2,000]; 5. 71-Shane Stewart [1][$1,850]; 6. 14-Parker Price-Miller [4][$1,750]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [7][$1,550]; 8. 41-David Gravel [14][$1,350]; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen [11][$1,250]; 10. 2-Carson Macedo [8][$1,100]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,000]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$950]; 13. 5-Brent Marks [12][$900]; 14. 3-Tim Kaeding [16][$850]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog [13][$800]; 16. 9-Kasey Kahne [17][$750]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$700]; 18. 73-Jake Blackhurst [20][$700]; 19. 10V-Matt Vandervere [24][$700]; 20. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [23][$700]; 21. 13-Mark Dobmeier [19][$700]; 22. 68-Dave Uttech [18][$700]; 23. 10W-Scotty Thiel [15][$700]; 24. 2C-Wayne Johnson [22][$700]; Lap Leaders: Sheldon Haudenschild 1-26, 28; Brad Sweet 27, 29-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 41-David Gravel[+6]

Qualifying – 1. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 11.395; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.517; 3. 71-Shane Stewart, 11.525; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.533; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.568; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.589; 7. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.604; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.607; 9. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.644; 10. 41-David Gravel, 11.67; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.704; 12. 73-Jake Blackhurst, 11.739; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.747; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.783; 15. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 11.793; 16. 5-Brent Marks, 11.869; 17. 9-Kasey Kahne, 11.879; 18. 2W-Scotty Neitzel, 11.892; 19. 6-Bill Rose, 11.895; 20. 3-Tim Kaeding, 11.899; 21. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.938; 22. 23-Russel Borland, 11.979; 23. 10W-Scotty Thiel, 11.997; 24. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 12.022; 25. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.042; 26. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.061; 27. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 12.115; 28. 9K-Kyle Schuett, 12.122; 29. 12W-Josh Walter, 12.124; 30. 10V-Matt Vandervere, 12.308; 31. 10S-Jay Steinebach, 12.52; 32. 25-Danny Schlafer, 12.791; 33. 55-Austin DeBlauw, 12.796; 34. 20R-Robbie Pribnow, 13.084; 35. 18S-Bryce Schmitt, 13.82; 36. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, NT

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 2. 14-Parker Price-Miller [1]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [6]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog [3]; 5. 9-Kasey Kahne [5]; 6. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 7. 33M-Mason Daniel [7]; 8. 12W-Josh Walter [8]; 9. 55-Austin DeBlauw [9]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 2-Carson Macedo [1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [4]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3]; 5. 68-Dave Uttech [7]; 6. 10V-Matt Vandervere [8]; 7. 20R-Robbie Pribnow [9]; 8. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [5]; 9. 23-Russel Borland [6]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [2]; 4. 10W-Scotty Thiel [6]; 5. 13-Mark Dobmeier [7]; 6. 2C-Wayne Johnson [4]; 7. 6-Bill Rose [5]; 8. 18S-Bryce Schmitt [9]; 9. 10S-Jay Steinebach [8]

DRYDENE Heat #4 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2]; 3. 5-Brent Marks [4]; 4. 3-Tim Kaeding [5]; 5. 73-Jake Blackhurst [3]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [6]; 7. 9K-Kyle Schuett [7]; 8. 25-Danny Schlafer [8]; 9. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [9]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 4. 14-Parker Price-Miller [2]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [7]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [5]; 8. 2-Carson Macedo [8]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 7S-Jason Sides [1][-]; 2. 2C-Wayne Johnson [2][-]; 3. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [4][-]; 4. 10V-Matt Vandervere [3][-]; 5. 2W-Scotty Neitzel [10][$300]; 6. 33M-Mason Daniel [5][$250]; 7. 9K-Kyle Schuett [8][$225]; 8. 6-Bill Rose [7][$200]; 9. 23-Russel Borland [14][$200]; 10. 55-Austin DeBlauw [13][$200]; 11. 10S-Jay Steinebach [15][$200]; 12. 25-Danny Schlafer [12][$200]; 13. 18S-Bryce Schmitt [11][$200]; 14. 12W-Josh Walter [9][$200]; 15. 20R-Robbie Pribnow [6][$200]; 16. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [16][$200]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

JUST SEND IT: Schatz Edges Larson on Last Lap in Lake Ozark Thriller
10-time World of Outlaws champ claims second victory of the year

ELDON, MO – May 30, 2020 – After more than 1,700 starts with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and 10 championships, Donny Schatz is still learning.

Every race provides a new hurdle to leap and a new challenge to conquer. Saturday night at Lake Ozark Speedway, that challenge was Kyle Larson.

The two titans of Sprint Car racing waged a war of slide jobs and chance in their quest to claim the $10,000 top prize on the final night of the doubleheader event. Schatz had to throw everything his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 car could handle to deny Larson his second World of Outlaws win in a week.

After 35 laps of fierce competition between Schatz and Larson and swapping the lead multiple times at the halfway point, Schatz learned there was only one final option to claim victory with a lap to go.

“I decided I was just going to send it,” Schatz said about his winning move. “He would have done the same thing. I got a run on him there in (turns) one and two. We went into (turn) three and I just went. … I was stuck pretty decent. Happy to get the win. It’s about time here. Feels like it’s been forever.”

After sliding by Larson for the lead off Turn 4 with the white flag in the air, the Fargo, ND driver claimed his second win of the season and became the first driver to win multiple World of Outlaws races at the 1/3-mile track.

“I’ve been out here 24 years,” Schatz said. “Every night is a learning experience still. You just have to take what you learned day in, and day out and just make a decision. At this point it is just instinct. The hard part is getting these cars right, the way you want them to stick with the tires and all of that. My guys, incredible what they’ve done all weekend.”

Larson appeared to have everything in place throughout the night to win at Lake Ozark in just his second Series start at the track. He went out first for qualifying. Set Quick Time. Won his Drydene Heat Race. Won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. And then gapped the field by close to a full straightaway at the start of the 35-lap Feature.

Schatz was a quiet threat all night, making his way into the Dash and earning a fourth-place starting spot for the Feature. He made quick work of Shane Stewart and Kraig Kinser in front of him to move into second by Lap 4. Larson was out of sight. But when he hit lap traffic a few laps later, he was invincible no more.

Committed to the bottom, Schatz hacked away at Larson’s lead and darted underneath him on the exit of Turn 2 by the halfway point. He led the next four laps before getting held up by a lap car and allowing Larson to steal the lead back.

While still focused on making another attack at Larson for the lead, Schatz now had to also worry about holding off reigning champion Brad Sweet behind him. In doing so, Larson began to distance himself from Schatz.

The win was in Larson’s hands. While holding Sweet behind with one hand, Schatz tried to reach for Larson with the other, looking underneath the #57 car each corner, but was never close enough to put fear in Larson’s hopes.

However, a late caution, creating a green-white-checkered finish, gave Schatz one last attempt to try something. Anything from what he’d learned. With a run off Turn 2 that kept him in tow with Larson down the backstretch, Schatz “sent it.” He dove underneath Larson going into Turn 3 and cleared him off Turn 4 to drive away with the victory, leaving the two California drivers behind him to round out the podium.

“Obviously, it would have been nice to get the win,” Larson said with a heavy breath after his runner-up performance. “I figured Donny would have ripped the middle. On the restarts before he would almost clear me anyway here in (turns) three and four. So, I should have just known to protect and block his momentum.”

His brother-in-law and Kasey Kahne Racing driver Brad Sweet finished third – after starting ninth. He continues to sit in the runner-up spot in the championship points, but with points leader Logan Schuchart finishing sixth, Sweet is now 12 points behind him.

Schatz is still third in points – 28 points behind Schuchart – but relishes his victory. He won the season opening race at Volusia Speedway Park in February and hadn’t finished in the top-five since then until this weekend. He is now only four wins away from 300 career World of Outlaws wins.

“I’m very satisfied,” said an elated Schatz about his victory. “It’s a crazy time in the world. All we can do is do our part to be good people. We’re back racing. That’s the important part for us. That’s who I’m made of. Glad to be here. Glad you [fans] are all here. Hopefully we can get to a point where you can see my ugly face again without this mask and we can all have a great time like we used to.”

UP NEXT

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, WI on Fri., June 5 and Sat., June 6 for another thrilling doubleheader weekend with $16,000-to-win on the line between the two days. Tickets are sold out for Saturday’s event, but you can still get tickets for Friday’s event by clicking here. www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=140347

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

Race Results: 5/30/20 – Lake Ozark Speedway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$10,000]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [1][$5,000]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$3,000]; 4. 71-Shane Stewart [3][$2,700]; 5. 41-David Gravel [11][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [12][$2,200]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2][$2,000]; 8. 83-Daryn Pittman [10][$1,800]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [17][$1,600]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$1,450]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$1,300]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [16][$1,200]; 13. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten [14][$1,100]; 14. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [8][$1,000]; 15. 24-Rico Abreu [21][$950]; 16. 39M-Anthony Macri [22][$900]; 17. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [23][$850]; 18. 21X-Carson Short [24][$750]; 19. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [20][$725]; 20. 14-Parker Price-Miller [13][$700]; 21. 3-Jac Haudenschild [18][$700]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [6][$700]; 23. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [19][$700]; 24. 2M-Kerry Madsen [15][$700]; Lap Leaders: Kyle Larson 1-14, 19-34; Donny Schatz 15-18, 35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Carson Macedo[+8]

Qualifying – 1. 57-Kyle Larson, 11.426; 2. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.588; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.599; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 11.618; 5. 71-Shane Stewart, 11.639; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 11.703; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.812; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.822; 9. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 11.845; 10. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten, 11.862; 11. 41-David Gravel, 11.931; 12. 7S-Jason Sides, 11.938; 13. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.959; 14. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.968; 15. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 11.991; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.995; 17. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.017; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri, 12.019; 19. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 12.063; 20. 9-Kasey Kahne, 12.096; 21. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 12.108; 22. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 12.117; 23. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.136; 24. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt, 12.154; 25. 21X-Carson Short, 12.188; 26. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 12.198; 27. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.21; 28. 23B-Brian Bell, 12.217; 29. 14E-Kyle Bellm, 12.241; 30. 6-Bill Rose, 12.258; 31. 21-Brian Brown, 12.317; 32. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 12.326; 33. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.342; 34. 5-Brent Marks, 12.38; 35. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.394; 36. 6X-Frank Rodgers, NT

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 71-Shane Stewart [2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 4. 14-Parker Price-Miller [3]; 5. 2-Carson Macedo [5]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [6]; 7. 21X-Carson Short [7]; 8. 33M-Mason Daniel [9]; 9. 14E-Kyle Bellm [8]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 18-Ian Madsen [1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [4]; 4. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten [3]; 5. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri [5]; 7. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [7]; 8. 5-Brent Marks [9]; 9. 6-Bill Rose [8]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1]; 3. 41-David Gravel [3]; 4. 2M-Kerry Madsen [6]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [4]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [9]; 7. 91-Cale Thomas [7]; 8. 2C-Wayne Johnson [5]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [8]

DRYDENE Heat #4 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [1]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [3]; 5. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [6]; 6. 9-Kasey Kahne [5]; 7. 23B-Brian Bell [7]; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [8]; 9. 6X-Frank Rodgers [9]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 3. 71-Shane Stewart [5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [8]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [4]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [7]; 8. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [3]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 24-Rico Abreu [4][-]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri [1][-]; 3. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [3][-]; 4. 21X-Carson Short [6][-]; 5. 2C-Wayne Johnson [2][$300]; 6. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [7][$250]; 7. 91-Cale Thomas [8][$225]; 8. 5-Brent Marks [11][$200]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne [5][$200]; 10. 33M-Mason Daniel [10][$200]; 11. 23B-Brian Bell [9][$200]; 12. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [12][$200]; 13. 14E-Kyle Bellm [13][$200]; 14. 6-Bill Rose [14][$200]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [15][$200]; 16. 6X-Frank Rodgers [16][$200]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

LAKE SHARK: Logan Schuchart sails to World of Outlaws win at Lake Ozark Speedway
Shark Racing pilot extends his points lead over reigning champion Brad Sweet

ELDON, MO – Logan Schuchart won his second race of the 2020 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season in the same fashion he won his first – having never won at the track before, nor led a lap there.

On Friday night, that track was Lake Ozark Speedway. The Hanover, PA driver and his Shark Racing Team dominated the night, leading all 30 laps en route to his 18th career Series win – tying Brad Doty for 28th on the all-time wins list. In February, he pulled off a similar feat to win at Volusia Speedway Park.

“I think it’s just learning and learning,” Schuchart said about his strong start to the season. “You see teams do well early and then struggle in the summertime or toward the end of the year. I feel like we’re clicking right now, and everyone is working on the same page. We’re going back to some of these racetracks that we’ve had some bad runs at in the past, but we’re qualifying well and running good in the Heat races. We’re just putting the whole night together.”

He’s still yet to finish outside the top-five this season and is now the second driver to have multiple wins – the other being reigning champion Brad Sweet. And with Sweet having to use a rare provisional to start the Feature – finishing eighth – Schuchart now holds an 18-point lead over the Kasey Kahne Racing driver – his biggest margin since taking the top spot for the first time in his career after Knoxville.

The night looked like it might go to his Shark Racing teammate and uncle Jacob Allen, though. He powered past Sheldon Haudenschild to win his Drydene Heat Race and then outdueled Schuchart for the lead in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.

The two occupied the front row for the Feature – a family battle the limited crowd in the stands and thousands watching on DIRTVision were eager to see.

Schuchart edged ahead of Allen on the initial start, but Allen fought to stay next to him as hard as he could without running into his fellow Drydene car. With the advantage of the momentum he could carry off the corner running the top line, Schuchart cleared Allen for the lead at the conclusion of the first lap.

Allen – whose best finish at Lake Ozark is 11th – was putting on one of his best performances at the 1/3-mile track, keeping pace with Schuchart in early laps of the race. On a restart with five laps completed, Allen got the jump on Schuchart and pulled ahead to the lead. However, when he ventured into Turn 1, he hit a rut, bicycled and flipped. He was OK, but his night was over, finishing 25th.

He took to Twitter after the race and said, “I want to win more than anything, I don’t get down on myself about if the cards don’t play out right. I always am trying to get better after every race to see what I can do to be more ready for the next time! I feel proud to be able to compete for wins with the Outlaws.”

With Schuchart still holding the lead, Haudenschild was the next contender to try and dethrone the king shark. But Schuchart was too strong. He pulled away to a half a straightaway lead over the NOS Energy Drink #17 car.

Lap traffic came into play at the halfway point of the race, hindering Schuchart’s speed. Haudenschild then saw the Drydene #1S back up to him every lap. The half-a-straightaway gap dwindled to about a car length. Haudenschild could smell redemption after flipping while leading last week at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

Schuchart showed poise and patience with the slower cars, though. He never forced the issue on a pass. He went where they weren’t and methodically worked his way by.

Then, with eight laps to go, Haudenschild got crossed up in Turn 2, nearly spinning. He made the save and held onto second, but Schuchart was gone – about a full straightaway ahead.

With no pressure from behind, Schuchart cruised to his first win at Lake Ozark Speedway.

“I didn’t feel very good at certain times, but we just worked our way through traffic,” Schuchart said. “I figured Sheldon would be up top, bouncing against something but there wasn’t a whole lot up there. You kind of just had to hit the holes and the ruts the right way and get yourself through them.”

While he didn’t pick up the win, Haudenschild’s second-place run was a boost for he and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team.

“My guys have been working really hard,” Haudenschild said about his Ricky Stenhouse Jr. owned team. “We had a rough week last week, so to get on the podium this week feels good for them.”

Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team also had a solid recovery from last weekend – where he also had to use a rare provisional to start the Feature – by finishing third.

“We just need to get qualified better, so we don’t have to pass so many cars,” Schatz joked after the race. “These (TSR) guys are solid. It’s a challenge trying to get a good balance with all of this horsepower. Ford does a good job. Sometimes too good of a job. We’re working on that, trying to get caught up and tonight was a big step in that.”

Sweet found himself barrel rolling in Turn 3 after contact from Anthony Macri in his Heat Race, which put him in the back of the Last Chance Showdown. He was unable to make his way into a transfer position in time and used a provisional to start at the rear of the Feature. He charged from 25th to eighth, earning the KSE Hard Charger award for the night. His teammate and car owner Kasey Kahne set Quick Time at the beginning of the night and finished 12th in the Feature, two spots behind last Saturday’s winner, Kyle Larson, who was 10th.

UP NEXT

Schuchart will have a chance to sweep the weekend on Sat., May 30 for the final night of the doubleheader event at Lake Ozark Speedway with $10,000-to-win on the line. Tickets for the event are sold out, but you can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Race Results: 5/29/20 – Lake Ozark Speedway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2][$6,000]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$3,000]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,300]; 4. 71-Shane Stewart [6][$2,000]; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen [18][$1,850]; 6. 41-David Gravel [5][$1,750]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [3][$1,550]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [25][$650]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$1,250]; 10. 57-Kyle Larson [19][$1,100]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [8][$1,000]; 12. 9-Kasey Kahne [4][$950]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [12][$900]; 14. 14-Parker Price-Miller [15][$850]; 15. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten [16][$800]; 16. 91-Cale Thomas [10][$750]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$700]; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild [17][$700]; 19. 39M-Anthony Macri [24][$700]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [23][$700]; 21. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [20][$700]; 22. 23B-Brian Bell [21][$700]; 23. 14E-Kyle Bellm [22][$700]; 24. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [14][$700]; 25. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$700]; Lap Leaders: Logan Schuchart 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+17]

Qualifying – 1. 9-Kasey Kahne, 11.647; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.726; 3. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.746; 4. 41-David Gravel, 11.766; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 11.812; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.873; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 11.875; 8. 71-Shane Stewart, 11.911; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.92; 10. 91-Cale Thomas, 11.993; 11. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 11.993; 12. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 12.022; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.044; 14. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 12.067; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.094; 16. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.101; 17. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.199; 18. 23B-Brian Bell, 12.223; 19. 14E-Kyle Bellm, 12.225; 20. 33M-Mason Daniel, 12.226; 21. 39M-Anthony Macri, 12.237; 22. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.263; 23. 57-Kyle Larson, 12.265; 24. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten, 12.271; 25. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 12.275; 26. 21-Brian Brown, 12.386; 27. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 12.39; 28. 21X-Carson Short, 12.395; 29. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 12.395; 30. 5-Brent Marks, 12.42; 31. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.442; 32. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 12.455; 33. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt, 12.475; 34. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.53; 35. 6-Bill Rose, 12.701

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [2]; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne [1]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [5]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 5. 3-Jac Haudenschild [7]; 6. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [9]; 7. 39M-Anthony Macri [6]; 8. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [8]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [3]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1]; 3. 91-Cale Thomas [3]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [4]; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen [6]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9]; 7. 23B-Brian Bell [5]; 8. 21-Brian Brown [7]; 9. 5-Brent Marks [8]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 4. 14-Parker Price-Miller [3]; 5. 57-Kyle Larson [6]; 6. 14E-Kyle Bellm [5]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu [8]; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [7]; 9. 6-Bill Rose [9]

DRYDENE Heat #4 (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 71-Shane Stewart [2]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [4]; 4. 3X-Ayrton Gennetten [6]; 5. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [3]; 6. 2C-Wayne Johnson [8]; 7. 21X-Carson Short [7]; 8. 33M-Mason Daniel [5]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [4]; 4. 9-Kasey Kahne [5]; 5. 41-David Gravel [7]; 6. 71-Shane Stewart [8]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6]; 8. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [3]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 23B-Brian Bell [1][-]; 2. 14E-Kyle Bellm [2][-]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4][-]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri [6][-]; 5. 21X-Carson Short [8][$300]; 6. 5-Brent Marks [13][$250]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [15][$225]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [7][$200]; 9. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [3][$200]; 10. 2C-Wayne Johnson [5][$200]; 11. 33M-Mason Daniel [12][$200]; 12. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [11][$200]; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [9][$200]; 14. 6-Bill Rose [14][$200]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [10][$200]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

PERSONAL VICTORY: Kyle Larson earns emotional World of Outlaws win at I-55
Drydene Double Down Invitational thrilled fans on DIRTVision with Larson’s big win

PEVELY, MO – May 23, 2020 – Kyle Larson climbed out of his #57 Sprint Car and immediately threw his arms around crew chief and car owner Paul Silva.

The two embraced each other for a moment that was both congratulatory and compassion.

One of the highest profile drivers in motorsports, Larson’s last month and a half has been “life changing,” he said. By his side for the whole journey has been Silva, his family and fans.

On Saturday night, in front of a limited crowd of fans at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Memorial Day Weekend, he was able to turn a page in his journey and reward those who stuck behind him with a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory. After a derogatory comment he made during an online racing event cost Larson much of what he built in NASCAR, he was visibly relieved after winning just three races into his return to his dirt racing roots.

“Can’t thank all of you fans enough for the support,” Larson said. “It really means a lot. My family. My friends. This win means so much personally. I can’t even describe it.”

He won big not only for his supporters, but for himself by winning the Drydene Double Down Invitational finale, which paid an incredible $20,000 top prize. The victory is his ninth career World of Outlaws win and first at I-55 — in only his second start there. He broke the track record at the 1/3-mile high-banked dirt oval and finished second in the Feature the night before, too.

While he made brother-in-law Brad Sweet fight for the win Friday night, Larson, again, had his work cut out for him to take the emotional victory on the second night of the doubleheader weekend.

Sweet and last year’s Ironman 55 winner Sheldon Haudenschild were shaping up to be the two top cars to beat. Both won Drydene Heat Races and Haudenschild set a blistering pace in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, beating Sweet to the finish line by more than two seconds.

At the start of the 40-lap Feature, Sweet bested Haudenschild on the initial start and stole the lead. However, it only took Haudenschild two laps to get into a rhythm around the top of the track — the same line he used to win the Ironman by 10.3 sec. — and rocketed by Sweet as if he had an issue to reclaim the lead.

From then on Haudenschild seemed poised to repeat his Ironman performance. He pulled away from Sweet and sliced through traffic with the precision of a fighter jet.

Larson was on the move behind him, already up to second by Lap 10. However, two laps later he touched the wall with his right rear and broke the Jacobs Ladder on the rear end of the car that helps with handling. His car turned tight and his nerves rose, unsure how he’d fair for the rest of the race.

For some, that’s the end of their night. For Larson, he adapted and learned how to drive his car without it.

“It took me a handful of laps to get used to it,” Larson said. “I finally just started running the crap out of it. And keeping it wide open was the only way I could keep it from bouncing.”

With a handle on his car, Larson said he felt like he could run down Haudenschild and duel with him for the win like he did with Sweet the night before.

That opportunity came to an end on Lap 23 when Haudenschild went over the cushion going into Turn 1 and flipped.

Haudenschild took to Twitter after the race and said, “Man, hate it for my team. Had a great car all weekend. My guys don’t quit.”

Larson then inherited the lead for the final 17 laps. For the final half of the race he had to fend off challenges from Sweet and Brent Marks. However, Marks and Sweet’s battle for the runner-up spot in the back half of the race helped Larson extend his lead over them.

A few cautions interrupted their rhythm in the time frame with the final caution of the night setting up a six-lap shootout with Larson out front, Marks second and Sweet third. Sweet became preoccupied trying to hold off current points lead Logan Schuchart behind him and while Marks made attempts to close on Larson, the Finley Farms #57 was too strong.

“This thing was awesome tonight,” said Marks about his second-place run. “Wish we could have stayed in lap traffic there at the end. The yellows kept falling on us. It just didn’t really work out there. We got lucky to finish there. We were running out of fuel with a couple of laps to go. We were hanging on.”

Sweet was third with current points leader Schuchart behind him in fourth — who now has a two-point lead over Sweet and continues to be the only driver with a top-five finish in every race this year.

Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz had an eventful night of his own, not transferring to the Feature from the Last Chance Showdown and having to use a rare provisional to start 25th. He was able to work his way to an eighth-place finish and earn the KSE Hard Charger award.

As Larson sped down the front stretch toward the checkered flag, the crowd of fans around the facility erupted into cheers. They continued when his car rolled into Victory Lane, as he hugged Silva and climbed to the top wing of his car to celebrate in an explosion of confetti.

“To win in front of a huge field, and crowd too, it feels great,” Larson said. “Just really proud of Paul (Silva) and everyone who helps out on his team. Everyone who has stuck behind us after my mistake there. It means a lot. I’m having a blast. Trying to have as much fun as I can anyways. Trying to keep my mind off things. It’s cool to come here. We’ve struggled the last two weeks. To turn it around here now, it gives us confidence for sure.”

UP NEXT

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on May 29-30 will RETURN to RACING at Lake Ozark Speedway. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=124311

Race Results: 5/23/20 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [4][$20,000]; 2. 5-Brent Marks [8][$7,000]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$3,000]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$2,700]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [3][$2,500]; 6. 71-Shane Stewart [6][$2,200]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [12][$2,000]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [25][$800]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [20][$1,600]; 10. 26-Cory Eliason [14][$1,450]; 11. 83-Daryn Pittman [7][$1,300]; 12. 14-Parker Price-Miller [10][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$1,100]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog [18][$1,000]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9][$1,000]; 16. 51-Freddie Rahmer [11][$1,000]; 17. 41-David Gravel [23][$1,000]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides [26][$]; 19. 13-Paul McMahan [21][$1,000]; 20. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [16][$1,000]; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen [17][$1,000]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [24][$1,000]; 23. 4-Terry McCarl [13][$1,000]; 24. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1][$1,000]; 25. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [15][$1,000]; 26. 21-Brian Brown [22][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-2, Sheldon Haudenschild 3-23, Kyle Larson 24-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+17]

Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.948; 2. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 10.965; 3. 57-Kyle Larson, 11.007; 4. 71-Shane Stewart, 11.032; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.196; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.22; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen, 11.308; 8. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 11.428; 9. 21-Brian Brown, 11.436; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich, 11.667; 11. 4-Terry McCarl, 11.698; 12. 24-Rico Abreu, 11.718; 13. 35X-Stuart Brubaker, 11.724; 14. 33M-Mason Daniel, 11.793; 15. 99M-Kyle Moody, 11.82; 16. 17W-Shane Golobic, 11.848; 17. 17A-Austin McCarl, 11.877; 18. 24W-Lucas Wolfe, 11.946; 19. 41-David Gravel, 11.963; 20. 3-Ayrton Gennetten, 12.263; 21. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.274; 22. 35-Zach Hampton, 12.314; 23. 44S-Trey Starks, 12.361; 24. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier, 12.367; 25. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.456; 26. 9K-Kyle Schuett, 12.657; 27. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 12.679; 28. 55W-Logan Wagner, 12.774; 29. 6-Bill Rose, 12.791; 30. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg, NT; 31. 42-Cory Bruns, NT

Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 11.531; 2. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 11.806; 3. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 11.856; 4. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 11.859; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 11.874; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 11.886; 7. 26-Cory Eliason, 11.894; 8. 5-Brent Marks, 11.923; 9. 13-Paul McMahan, 11.927; 10. 18-Ian Madsen, 11.975; 11. 17B-Bill Balog, 11.986; 12. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 11.998; 13. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.015; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.037; 15. 9-Kasey Kahne, 12.038; 16. 11-Zeb Wise, 12.061; 17. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.074; 18. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 12.083; 19. 39M-Anthony Macri, 12.12; 20. 2KS-Chad Boespflug, 12.249; 21. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt, 12.279; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.281; 23. 51B-Joe Miller, 12.283; 24. 70-Justin Peck, 12.334; 25. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 12.473; 26. 64-Scotty Thiel, 12.552; 27. 44-Jeff Swindell, 12.556; 28. 11T-T.J. Stutts, 12.61; 29. 21X-Brinton Marvel, 12.935; 30. 23B-Brian Bell, 13.127

Non-Qualifier #1 (8 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [7]; 2. 35-Zach Hampton [2]; 3. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [4]; 4. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 5. 44S-Trey Starks [3]; 6. 9K-Kyle Schuett [6]; 7. 6-Bill Rose [9]; 8. 55W-Logan Wagner [8]; 9. 42-Cory Bruns [11]

Non-Qualifier #2 (8 Laps) – 1. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [6]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [7]; 3. 51B-Joe Miller [8]; 4. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [10]; 5. 70-Justin Peck [9]; 6. 44-Jeff Swindell [12]; 7. 11T-T.J. Stutts [13]; 8. 23B-Brian Bell [15]; 9. 21X-Brinton Marvel [14]

DRYDENE Heat #1 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [2]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 4. 4-Terry McCarl [6]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [4]; 6. 41-David Gravel [10]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [11]; 8. 17A-Austin McCarl [9]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [5]; 10. 35X-Stuart Brubaker [7]; 11. 99M-Kyle Moody [8]

DRYDENE Heat #2 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 71-Shane Stewart [2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 3. 51-Freddie Rahmer [1]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [4]; 5. 24-Rico Abreu [6]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [5]; 7. 17W-Shane Golobic [8]; 8. 24W-Lucas Wolfe [9]; 9. 3-Ayrton Gennetten [10]; 10. 33M-Mason Daniel [7]; 11. 35-Zach Hampton [11]

DRYDENE Heat #3 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [3]; 3. 14-Parker Price-Miller [2]; 4. 26-Cory Eliason [4]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog [6]; 6. 13-Paul McMahan [5]; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [7]; 8. 91-Cale Thomas [9]; 9. 9-Kasey Kahne [8]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri [10]; 11. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [11]

DRYDENE Heat #4 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 5-Brent Marks [4]; 2. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [1]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [3]; 4. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [2]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [5]; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel [6]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [7]; 8. 11-Zeb Wise [8]; 9. 2C-Wayne Johnson [9]; 10. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [10]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [11]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 3. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [1]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson [6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 6. 71-Shane Stewart [3]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [8]; 8. 5-Brent Marks [5]

C-Main (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer – 1. 39M-Anthony Macri [2][-]; 2. 35X-Stuart Brubaker [1][-]; 3. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [9][$150]; 4. 33M-Mason Daniel [3][$150]; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen [11][$150]; 6. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [4][$125]; 7. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [6][$125]; 8. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [12][$125]; 9. 99M-Kyle Moody [5][$125]; 10. 44S-Trey Starks [13][$125]; 11. 70-Justin Peck [14][$125]; 12. 23B-Brian Bell [20][$125]; 13. 51B-Joe Miller [10][$125]; 14. W20-Greg Wilson [8][$125]; 15. 6-Bill Rose [17][$125]; 16. 11T-T.J. Stutts [18][$125]; 17. 9K-Kyle Schuett [15][$125]; 18. 35-Zach Hampton [7][$125]; 19. 42-Cory Bruns [21][$125]; 20. 44-Jeff Swindell [16][$125]; 21. 55W-Logan Wagner [19][$125]; 22. 21X-Brinton Marvel [22][$125]; 23. 64-Scotty Thiel [23][$125]; 24. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [24][$125]; 25. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [25][$125]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 13-Paul McMahan [2][-]; 2. 21-Brian Brown [1][-]; 3. 41-David Gravel [3][-]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4][-]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [5][$300]; 6. 91-Cale Thomas [10][$250]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [7][$225]; 8. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [6][$200]; 9. 17W-Shane Golobic [9][$200]; 10. 9-Kasey Kahne [14][$200]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [8][$200]; 12. 11-Zeb Wise [12][$200]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri [17][$200]; 14. 17A-Austin McCarl [11][$200]; 15. 24W-Lucas Wolfe [13][$200]; 16. 2C-Wayne Johnson [16][$200]; 17. 35X-Stuart Brubaker [18][$200]; 18. 3-Ayrton Gennetten [15][$200]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

FAMILY FEUD: Brad Sweet holds off Kyle Larson for I-55 win
Reigning champion wins night 1 of the Drydene Double Down Invitational on DIRTVision

PEVELY, MO – May 22, 2020 – Brad Sweet’s win Friday night at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 was a return to form for the reigning champion after a disappointing return at Knoxville, but it came with a challenge.

A challenge from his own brother-in-law Kyle Larson.

There was no family love in their battle. Both wanted the win just as bad as the other, racing clean but hard. However, the reigning champion made the right move at the right time to hold off Larson to win the first night of the Drydene Double Down Invitational against a star-studded field and in front of a limited crowd of fans in the stands — the first return of fans at a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race since February.

“That was a lot of fun,” Sweet said. “Kyle is an unbelievable talent. He’s my brother-in-law, but he makes me earn these wins dammit… It’s a lot of fun to see fans back in the stands. It’s not a lot of fun to win in front of empty grandstands. Hopefully the crowds keep getting bigger and bigger.”

Larson, in his first World of Outlaws appearance at I-55, stunned everyone and gave Johnny Gibson a reason to hit his high octave of excitement by announcing Larson’s incredible track record setting 9.995 sec. qualifying lap around the 1/3-mile track. It’s the first lap under 10 seconds at the track for the World of Outlaws.

Shortly after, the attention turned to Jacob Allen — poised to potentially win his first World of Outlaws race. He took a dominating win in his Drydene Heat Race and then bolted by Sweet at the start of the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash to claim the pole for the 30-lap Feature.

Allen was impressive in the early laps for the Feature. He pulled ahead of second-place Shane Stewart by half a straightaway in the first three laps and when Sweet moved into the runner-up spot and caught the Drydene #1A Shark Racing car in lap traffic, Allen was still able to hold the hungry champion behind him.

However, a mistake on a restart after a caution nine laps into the Feature cost him the lead. He eventually fell to fifth but is not hanging his head. The Pennsylvania driver had a smile after the race and an attitude of confidence.

“All of these guys have a chip on their shoulder, we’re only getting to race so much,” Allen said. “Those guys that ran in front of me, the other four there, are aggressive racers and the track was aggressive. I’m not hanging my head about it at all. I was leading laps. I felt very strong. I wasn’t looking forward to the caution, but I wasn’t scared of it either. I just think I drove through too hard through the bottom and it took me a few laps to get going. Other than that, I felt like I was ripping just as good as anybody and had a car to win the race.”

Larson followed Sweet by Allen and began to slowly real him in every lap. He looked to steal the lead with 12 laps to go on a restart by diving under Sweet in Turn 1 but didn’t have the traction to pull it off. Sweet sped away and Larson’s slow exit off Turn 2 put third-place Logan Schuchart on his bumper.

A few laps later Sweet found himself caught in lap traffic, giving Larson another opportunity to go after the NAPA Auto Parts #49 car.

He stalked his brother-in-law for several laps before throwing another slide job at him in Turn 3. This time he made it stick, taking the lead with five laps to go. Sweet wasn’t done with Larson either, though.

The next corner, while Larson went high, Sweet dove to the bottom and found enough grip in the track for his Hoosier tires to dig into and charge ahead of Larson’s Finley Farms #57.

With the lead back in his hands, Sweet rode the high side hoping to block any on coming run by Larson and make him have to pass him down low. Larson built up a run to take another shot at Sweet but ran out of time before Sweet was the first to see the checkered flag.

“Early in the race I was tight and waited for the racetrack to come to us,” Larson said. “I could maintain with him (Sweet) and was able to slide by him once in traffic, but I couldn’t get the grip I needed to stay in front of him. It was a good race. Good run for our team. We’ve struggled a lot so far this year with the 57. Good run. Hopefully we can come back tomorrow and win and click off some good finishes.”

For Sweet, he said he gave it everything he had in the physically demanding race.

“There were some developing lines on the racetrack,” Sweet said. With him (Larson) behind me, I thought the top would be the place to be. But he found the middle and I got stuck behind in lap traffic there. Just need to do a little better job on my end. They (Kasey Kahne Racing team) gave me a great race car. It was a lot of fun to be back.”

Schuchart rounded out the podium and maintains the points lead by four points over Sweet. Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who finished seventh, has now moved up into third — 26 points behind Schuchart.

UP NEXT

Drivers will compete for an incredible $20,000-to-win prize on Saturday for night two of the Drydene Double Down Invitational at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. All of the action can be watched LIVE on DIRTVision, starting at 6 p.m. (CT).

Race Results: 5/22/20 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$6,000]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [4][$3,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][$2,300]; 4. 71-Shane Stewart [2][$2,000]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$1,850]; 6. 41-David Gravel [8][$1,750]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$1,550]; 8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [21][$1,350]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [7][$1,250]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel [16][$1,100]; 11. 26-Cory Eliason [12][$1,000]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [18][$950]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [13][$900]; 14. 13-Paul McMahan [9][$850]; 15. 14-Parker Price-Miller [23][$800]; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich [17][$750]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [14][$700]; 18. 9-Kasey Kahne [20][$700]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22][$700]; 20. 6-Bill Rose [25][$]; 21. 64-Scotty Thiel [6][$700]; 22. 51-Freddie Rahmer [15][$700]; 23. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [24][$700]; 24. 4-Terry McCarl [19][$700]; 25. 2-Carson Macedo [10][$700] Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-9; Brad Sweet 10-24, 26-30; Kyle Larson 25 KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+13]

Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 57-Kyle Larson, 9.995; 2. 71-Shane Stewart, 10.12; 3. 41-David Gravel, 10.176; 4. 21-Brian Brown, 10.185; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 10.212; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 10.238; 7. 13-Paul McMahan, 10.241; 8. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 10.247; 9. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey, 10.255; 10. 15-Donny Schatz, 10.261; 11. 48-Danny Dietrich, 10.269; 12. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg, 10.288; 13. 17B-Bill Balog, 10.289; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 10.311; 15. 6-Bill Rose, 10.326; 16. 24W-Lucas Wolfe, 10.353; 17. 39M-Anthony Macri, 10.356; 18. 35-Zach Hampton, 10.361; 19. 24-Rico Abreu, 10.373; 20. 5-Brent Marks, 10.394; 21. 35X-Stuart Brubaker, 10.454; 22. 21X-Brinton Marvel, 10.457; 23. 49J-Josh Schneiderman, 10.488; 24. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 10.493; 25. 2KS-Chad Boespflug, 10.532; 26. 18-Ian Madsen, 10.537; 27. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 10.543; 28. 11-Zeb Wise, 10.558; 29. 3-Ayrton Gennetten, 10.609; 30. 42-Cory Bruns, 10.788; 31. 9K-Kyle Schuett, 10.848

Qualifying Flight-B – 1S-Logan Schuchart, 10.113; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen, 10.148; 3. 7S-Jason Sides, 10.241; 4. 64-Scotty Thiel, 10.251; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 10.256; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 10.277; 7. 2-Carson Macedo, 10.278; 8. 9-Kasey Kahne, 10.302; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 10.312; 10. 15H-Sam Hafertepe, 10.323; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 10.336; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 10.346; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 10.353; 14. 11T-T.J. Stutts, 10.384; 15. 91-Cale Thomas, 10.397; 16. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier, 10.416; 17. W20-Greg Wilson, 10.456; 18. 14-Parker Price-Miller, 10.464; 19. 55W-Logan Wagner, 10.51; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 10.516; 21. 17A-Austin McCarl, 10.517; 22. 44-Jeff Swindell, 10.531; 23. 70-Justin Peck, 10.532; 24. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt, 10.574; 25. 17W-Shane Golobic, 10.58; 26. 23B-Brian Bell, 10.594; 27. 33M-Mason Daniel, 10.646; 28. 99M-Kyle Moody, 10.656; 29. 51B-Joe B. Miller, 10.688; 30. 44S-Trey Starks, 10.694

Non-Qualifier #1(8 Laps) – 35X-Stuart Brubaker [1]; 2. 21X-Brinton Marvel [2]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [6]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [4]; 5. 2C-Wayne Johnson [7]; 6. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [3]; 7. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [5]; 8. 3-Ayrton Gennetten [9]; 9. 9K-Kyle Schuett [11]; 10. 42-Cory Bruns [10]; 11. 11-Zeb Wise [8]

Non-Qualifier #2 (8 Laps) – 17A-Austin McCarl [6]; 2. 44-Jeff Swindell [7]; 3. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [9]; 4. 70-Justin Peck [8]; 5. 17W-Shane Golobic [10]; 6. 99M-Kyle Moody [13]; 7. 23B-Brian Bell [11]; 8. 33M-Mason Daniel [12]; 9. 44S-Trey Starks [15]; 10. 51B-Joe B.Miller [14]

DRYDENE Heat #1 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [2]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [4]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [3]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [6]; 6. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [5]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog [7]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [10]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri [9]; 10. 6-Bill Rose [8]; 11. 35X-Stuart Brubaker [11]

DRYDENE Heat #2 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – 1. 21-Brian Brown [2]; 2. 71-Shane Stewart [1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [5]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [4]; 5. 4-Terry McCarl [3]; 6. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [6]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7]; 8. 5-Brent Marks [10]; 9. 24W-Lucas Wolfe [8]; 10. 21X-Brinton Marvel [11]; 11. 35-Zach Hampton [9]

DRYDENE Heat #3 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [4]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [2]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [6]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7]; 8. 55W-Logan Wagner [10]; 9. 17A-Austin McCarl [11]; 10. 91-Cale Thomas [8]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [9]

DRYDENE Heat #4 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – 1. 1A-Jacob Allen [1]; 2. 64-Scotty Thiel [2]; 3. 26-Cory Eliason [6]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [3]; 5. 9-Kasey Kahne [4]; 6. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [5]; 7. 14-Parker Price-Miller [9]; 8. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [8]; 9. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [10]; 10. 44-Jeff Swindell [11]; 11. 11T-T.J. Stutts [7]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 2. 71-Shane Stewart [4]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson [3]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 6. 64-Scotty Thiel [6]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [7]; 8. 41-David Gravel [8]

D-main (8 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer – 1. 99M-Kyle Moody [2][-]; 2. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [1][-]; 3. 2KS-Chad Boespflug [3][$125]; 4. 44S-Trey Starks [8][$125]; 5. 33M-Mason Daniel [6][$125]; 6. 11-Zeb Wise [11][$125]; 7. 51B-Joe B. [10][$125]; 8. 9K-Kyle Schuett [7][$125]; 9. 42-Cory Bruns [9][$125]; 10. 3-Ayrton Gennetten [5][$125]; 11. 23B-Brian Bell [4][$125]

C-Main (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer – 1. 91-Cale Thomas [2][-]; 2. 6-Bill Rose [1][-]; 3. 44-Jeff Swindell [4][$150]; 4. 18-Ian Madsen [9][$150]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [6][$150]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [11][$125]; 7. 21X-Brinton Marvel [3][$125]; 8. 91R-Kyle Reinhardt [10][$125]; 9. 17W-Shane Golobic [14][$125]; 10. 35X-Stuart Brubaker [5][$125]; 11. 11T-T.J. Stutts [8][$125]; 12. 99M-Kyle Moody [15][$125]; 13. 35-Zach Hampton [7][$125]; 14. 2C-Wayne Johnson [13][$125]; 15. 49J-Josh Schneiderman [16][$125]; 16. 70-Justin Peck [12][$125]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][-]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7][-]; 3. 14-Parker Price-Miller [8][-]; 4. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [1][-]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [4][$300]; 6. 5-Brent Marks [11][$250]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu [9][$225]; 8. 17A-Austin McCarl [14][$200]; 9. 55W-Logan Wagner [10][$200]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri [13][$200]; 11. 17B-Bill Balog [5][$200]; 12. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [16][$200]; 13. 24W-Lucas Wolfe [15][$200]; 14. 91-Cale Thomas [17][$200]; 15. 13JT-Mark Dobmeier [12][$200]; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen [2][$200]; 17. 6-Bill Rose [18][$200]; 18. 55-Hunter Schuerenburg [3][$200]