World of Outlaws

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

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

Winner Donny Schatz (DB3 Photo)

A NEW RIFF: 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 www.DIRTVision.com.

For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

Race Results: 5/31/19 - Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

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

DRYDENE Heat #1 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1]; 2. 19-Brent Marks [2]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 5. 99-Brady Bacon [5]; 6. 7-Jason Sides [8]; 7. 7S-Tim Kaeding [9]; 8. 9-James McFadden [3]; 9. 71M-Paul May [7]; 10. 28-Brian Paulus [10]

DRYDENE Heat #2 – Flight (A) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 21-Carson Short [3]; 3. 41-David Gravel [2]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [5]; 5. 5-Shane Stewart [4]; 6. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [7]; 7. 4-Danny Smith [8]; 8. 4K-Kody Kinser [10]; 9. 4X-Jim Stinson [9]; 10. K4-Chad Kemenah [6]

DRYDENE Heat #3 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 3. 91-Cale Thomas [3]; 4. 19X-Kevin Thomas [5]; 5. 51B-Joe B.Miller [7]; 6. 98-Chad Boespflug [8]; 7. 17X-Josh Baughman [9]; 8. 23-Russel Borland [10]; 9. 2-Carson Macedo [6]; 10. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [4]

DRYDENE Heat #4 – Flight (B) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer – 1. 64-Scotty Thiel [1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog [2]; 3. 9JR-Derek Hagar [6]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [3]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9]; 6. 6-Bill Rose [10]; 7. 14X-Jeff Swindell [8]; 8. 10P-Jim Perricone [7]; 9. J4-John Garvin [4]; 10. 90-Jordan Givler [5]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (0 Laps) – 1. 17B-Bill Balog [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [5]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]; 7. 21-Carson Short [7]; 8. 64-Scotty Thiel [8]

C-Main (8 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer – 1. 4X-Jim Stinson [1][]; 2. 28-Brian Paulus [3][]; 3. 23-Russel Borland [4][$150]; 4. 4K-Kody Kinser [5][$150]; 5. 14X-Jeff Swindell [2][$150]; 6. 17X-Josh Baughman [8][$125]; 7. 71M-Paul May [7][$125]; 8. 6-Bill Rose [6][$125]

Last Chance Showdown (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer – 1. 9-James McFadden [1][]; 2. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [2][]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [8][]; 4. 98-Chad Boespflug [12][]; 5. J4-John Garvin [4][$500]; 6. 7-Jason Sides [7][$400]; 7. 28-Brian Paulus [14][$350]; 8. 83R-Lynton Jeffrey [5][$300]; 9. 10P-Jim Perricone [10][$300]; 10. 7S-Tim Kaeding [11][$300]; 11. 90-Jordan Givler [6][$300]; 12. 4-Danny Smith [9][$300]; 13. 4X-Jim Stinson [13][$300]; 14. K4-Chad Kemenah [3][$300]

World of Outlaws

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

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

Winner Kyle Larson (Tim Aylwin Photo)

MEMORIAL DAY SPECTACLE

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 www.DIRTVision.com.

For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

Race Results: 5/27/19 – Lawrenceburg Speedway

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

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 5-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 3. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [3]; 4. 18-Ian Madsen [5]; 5. 41-David Gravel [4]; 6. G1-Hunter Schuerenberg [7]; 7. 2-Carson Macedo [9]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [6]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [10]; 10. 49D-Shawn Dancer [8]; 11. 4X-Bradley Ashford [11]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [1]; 2. 39-Christopher Bell [2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 4. 70X-Spencer Bayston [3]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [5]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8]; 9. 85-Mike Terry [9]; 10. 21-Brinton Marvel [10]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [3]; 4. 91-Cale Thomas [5]; 5. 26-Cory Eliason [4]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [6]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [9]; 8. A79-Brandon Wimmer [7]; 9. 6-Bill Rose [8]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [10]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 39-Christopher Bell [1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [2]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel [3]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [5]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [4]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 24-Rico Abreu [1][-]; 2. A79-Brandon Wimmer [3][-]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][-]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [7][-]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5][-]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][-]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$300]; 8. 6-Bill Rose [6][$250]; 9. 85-Mike Terry [8][$225]; 10. 21-Brinton Marvel [11][$200]; 11. 49D-Shawn Dancer [4][$200]; 12. 4X-Bradley Ashford [13][$200]; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$200]

World of Outlaws

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

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

LUCKY LOGAN: VICTORIOUS AT PATRIOT NATIONALS
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 www.DIRTVision.com.

For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

Race Results: 5/25/19 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte

NOS Energy Drink Feature (31 Laps due to green-white-checkered finish) – 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$15,000]; 2. 9-James McFadden [18][$5,500]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1][$3,000]; 4. 98H-Dave Blaney [9][$2,700]; 5. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$2,500]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [16][$2,300]; 7. 83-Daryn Pittman [21][$2,200]; 8. 7S-Jason Sides [15][$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2][$2,000]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$1,700]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,300]; 13. 2-Carson Macedo [11][$1,200]; 14. 18-Ian Madsen [20][$1,100]; 15. 57-Kyle Larson [12][$1,000]; 16. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [24][$1,000]; 17. 41-David Gravel [8][$1,000]; 18. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$1,000]; 19. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,000]; 20. 24-Rico Abreu [19][$1,000]; 21. 91-Cale Thomas [22][$1,000]; 22. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [6][$1,000]; 23. K4-Chad Kemenah [23][$1,000]; 24. 22-Cole Duncan [17][$1,000]; 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

DRYDENE Heat #1 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [3]; 5. 5-Shane Stewart [8]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]; 7. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [9]; 8. 27G-Jay Galloway [10]; 9. 83-Daryn Pittman [7]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu [5]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [4]; 2. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [2]; 3. 41-David Gravel [1]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [8]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 6. 22-Cole Duncan [6]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [3]; 8. 91-Cale Thomas [7]; 9. K4-Chad Kemenah [9]; 10. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [10]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 2M-Kerry Madsen [2]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1]; 3. 98H-Dave Blaney [4]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson [3]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 6. 9-James McFadden [7]; 7. 1-Jamie Myers [8]; 8. J4-John Garvin [9]; 9. 47-Eric Riggins [6]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (6 Laps) – 1. 2M-Kerry Madsen [2]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4]; 3. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [1]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [3]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 24-Rico Abreu [2]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [1]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [4]; 4. 91-Cale Thomas [5]; 5. K4-Chad Kemenah [8]; 6. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [7]; 7. 1-Jamie Myers [6][$500]; 8. 47-Eric Riggins [3][$250]; 9. 27G-Jay Galloway [10][$225]; 10. J4-John Garvin [9][$200]; 11. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [11][$200]

World of Outlaws

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

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

SCELZI IMPRESSES WITH STUNNING WIN
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 www.DIRTVision.com.

For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

Race Results: 05/24/19 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte

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

DRYDENE Heat #1 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [2]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen [3]; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 6. 19-Brent Marks [8]; 7. 98H-Dave Blaney [10]; 8. 91-Cale Thomas [6]; 9. 24-Rico Abreu [7]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [9]; 11. 49H-Bradley Howard [11]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 83-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 4. 18-Ian Madsen [4]; 5. 9-James McFadden [8]; 6. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 7. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [6]; 8. 5B-Justin Barger [9]; 9. K4-Chad Kemenah [7]; 10. 47-Eric Riggins [10]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 22-Cole Duncan [6]; 5. 2-Carson Macedo [5]; 6. 17JR-Ricky Stenhouse [3]; 7. 5-Shane Stewart [7]; 8. J4-John Garvin [8]; 9. 27G-Jay Galloway [10]; 10. 1-Jamie Myers [9]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (6 Laps) – 1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [5]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 5. 41-David Gravel [6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [4]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 91-Cale Thomas [1]; 2. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [2]; 3. 5-Shane Stewart [5]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu [3]; 5. K4-Chad Kemenah [4]; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [7]; 7. 98H-Dave Blaney [10]; 8. 5B-Justin Barger [8]; 9. J4-John Garvin [6]; 10. 49H-Bradley Howard [13]; 11. 47-Eric Riggins [11]; 12. 1-Jamie Myers [9]; 13. 27G-Jay Galloway [12]