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Huset's High Bank Nationals
Huset's Speedway | Brandon, South Dakota
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Race Recap  

ROTH REBOUND: James McFadden Tops Night Two of Huset’s High Bank Nationals After Disappointing Opener

When adversity presents itself, James McFadden doesn’t allow self-doubt to overtake him. Instead, he brings out his best behind the wheel.

Back at the beginning of April, McFadden and his Roth Motorsports crew faced the troubling circumstances of four straight finishes of 13th or worse including a pair of DNFs. Their response? A win the very next race at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

Heading into this week’s Billion Auto Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards, McFadden carried a strong streak of nine consecutive top 10s that was ended in discouraging fashion. On Wednesday’s opening night, McFadden didn’t qualify for the Huset’s Speedway main event and was forced to watch from the sidelines. His response? Driving to Victory Lane the very next night at Huset’s to bank $20,000.

McFadden raced around his Roth teammate – Buddy Kofoid – in the middle of the 35-lap main event and held off David Gravel’s last gasp on the final lap to claim the checkered flag. The Australian is now up to nine career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victories. His total of four this season is double his previous best for any past season. McFadden is the eighth different winner in the last eight World of Outlaws races contested at the Brandon, SD oval.

“After last night, I was contemplating if I could drive a Sprint Car anymore,” McFadden said. “Hats off to Brent (Ventura), Wood (Gary Patellaro), and Rob (Beattie). I didn’t do a very good job last night. I couldn’t figure out whether I wasn’t comfortable or it was me not doing my job right. We worked hard. I felt really good all night, and it shows. These deals are tough to win, so anytime you can win one is great.”

Leading the field to green in the Feature was Buddy Kofoid and Carson Macedo. Kofoid powered ahead of Macedo but couldn’t pull away from him as they worked through the early laps.

As the lead duo began to approach traffic, Macedo made a costly mistake, getting loose in the middle of Turns 1 and 2 and looping the Jason Johnson Racing #41 before coming to a stop and bringing out the race’s first yellow flag.

Macedo’s misfortune moved McFadden to the second spot, making a Roth front row for the ensuing restart. Kofoid drove ahead of his teammate when the green flag waved and began to build the gap.

By the time Kofoid met the tail of the field, he’d constructed a sizeable advantage. But as he began to battle lapped cars, McFadden quickly began to close. Lap by lap Kofoid’s lead shrank until McFadden found himself right behind his tail tank. On lap 18, Kofoid looked low trying to pass a lapped car, and McFadden seized on the opportunity – ripping around the outside to take the top spot.

“This is probably the hardest track we come to for dirty air. I think it’s because the air is so thick,” McFadden noted. “It’s super hard to get yourself in a position to slide someone to pass them. I was hoping Buddy would do what he did and go to the bottom there to try to get a lapped car. It was enough for us to get a run.”

James McFadden
James McFadden is already up to four World of Outlaws wins this season with Roth Motorsports (Trent Gower Photo)

Shortly after McFadden grabbed the lead, a hungry David Gravel moved around Kofoid to take second. Gravel, who entered Thursday with a streak of three straight second place finishes, went to work cutting into McFadden’s lead.

The two were nearly nose to tail when a yellow flag flew in the closing stages setting up a five-lap dash to the finish.

With the luxury of clean air, McFadden initially roared away from Gravel when the green lights came back on. But then Gravel again began to close. On the final lap, McFadden tripped up on the cushion in Turns 1 and 2. Gravel looked to capitalize by going low on corner exit and driving side by side down with McFadden the backstretch. McFadden protected in the final set of corners by sliding himself, and Gravel couldn’t quite find the traction to pull alongside off of Turn 4 as McFadden crossed the finish line first.

“I thought I threw it away there on that last lap,” McFadden admitted. “I had my wing back a ways, and after that caution my left rear tire went down a little bit and kept pushing, and I knew if I didn’t keep my wing back I’d lose some drive. Just messed up there on that last lap and was lucky enough I was racing a guy like David. He’s super respectful.”

Gravel notched his fourth consecutive runner-up finish. A second straight strong outing to begin the High Bank Nationals placed he and his Big Game Motorsports/Billion Auto team atop the standings in combined points with a wide 20-point gap back to second. Gravel remains encouraged with their speed, but the hunger for a win continues to intensify.

“Man, I really wanted to win that race,” Gravel said. “James made that car about as wide as possible. It wasn’t anything dirty. He was protecting the win, but me made that wide. I really want to win for these guys.”

Rounding out the podium was early race leader – Buddy Kofoid. With McFadden claiming the win and Kofoid finishing third, Thursday marked the first time that two cars powered by Toyota Racing Engines both wound up on the World of Outlaws podium on the same night. Kofoid couldn’t help but regret leaving McFadden a lane while the two navigated traffic.

“That’s close to the best that I’ve felt here in any Sprint Car,” Kofoid said. “Happy about that. I guess if I could’ve done it over again, I would’ve stayed committed to the top. I tried the bottom to get by a lapper because I felt like I wasn’t gaining much on him, and I just should’ve stayed up and got my momentum up.”

Shark Racing teammates – Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen – completed the top-five.

It was also Schuchart who claimed the night’s Simpson Performance Products QuickTime Award – his fourth of the season and the 35th of his career.

For the fourth time in 2023, Sheldon Haudenschild earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a run from 22nd to ninth.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Noah Gass (third Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Six were topped by James McFadden (40th of career), Lachlan McHugh (first of career), Bill Balog (fifth of career), Kerry Madsen (191st of career), and Carson Macedo (103rd of career).

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are back at Huset’s Speedway for the final prelim night of the Billion Auto High Bank Nationals presented by Menards on Friday, June 23. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS: 

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-James McFadden[3]; 2. 2-David Gravel[7]; 3. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[1]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen[8]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[9]; 7. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[22]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[18]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 12. 20G-Noah Gass[23]; 13. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[13]; 14. 9-Kasey Kahne[11]; 15. 7S-Robbie Price[10]; 16. 21-Brian Brown[14]; 17. 5X-Kerry Madsen[24]; 18. 15-Donny Schatz[16]; 19. 88-Austin McCarl[15]; 20. 6C-Carson McCarl[12]; 21. 11S-Parker Price Miller[17]; 22. 57-Kyle Larson[19]; 23. 11-Cory Eliason[21]; 24. 9R-Chase Randall[20]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+283James McFadden 350.00018Running90$20,000
27+52David Gravel 35-0.121Running90$10,000
31-283JRMichael Kofoid 35-0.47317Running90$6,000
45+11SLogan Schuchart 35-0.914Running90$5,500
58+31AJacob Allen 35-1.277Running90$5,000
69+37BCTyler Courtney 35-1.695Running90$4,500
74-35Spencer Bayston 35-2.947Running90$3,500
86-249Brad Sweet 35-3.666Running90$2,500
922+1317Sheldon Haudenschild 35-4.392Running90$2,400
1018+824Rico Abreu 35-4.944Running90$2,300
112-941Carson Macedo 35-5.319Running90$2,200
1223+1120GNoah Gass 35-6.634Running90$2,100
1313018Giovanni Scelzi 35-6.857Running90$2,000
1411-39Kasey Kahne 35-8.789Running90$1,500
1510-57SRobbie Price 35-9.096Running90$1,400
1614-221Brian Brown 35-9.313Running90$1,300
1724+75XKerry Madsen 35-10.061Running90$1,200
1816-215Donny Schatz 35-10.125Running90$1,200
1915-488Austin McCarl 35-10.367Running90$1,200
2012-86CCarson McCarl 35-11.351Running90$1,200
2117-411SParker Price-Miller 35-12.051Running90$1,200
2219-357Kyle Larson 30-5 LapsDNF90$1,200
2321-211Cory Eliason 29-6 LapsDNF90$1,200
2420-49RChase Randall 22-13 LapsDNF90$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Sheldon Haudenschild
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+111Cory Eliason 120.00012Running0$0
21-117Sheldon Haudenschild 12-0.797Running0$0
34+120GNoah Gass 12-1.644Running0$0
49+55XKerry Madsen 12-2.461Running0$0
56+125Lachlan McHugh 12-4.288Running90$300
67+117BBill Balog 12-4.400Running90$250
75-229Sye Lynch 12-5.051Running90$225
813+515HSam Hafertepe Jr12-5.226Running90$200
915+65TRyan Timms 12-5.983Running90$200
1010012Tyler Drueke 12-7.241Running90$200
118-324WGaret Williamson 12-7.660Running90$200
1219+752Blake Hahn 12-8.380Running90$200
1311-216Brooke Tatnell 12-9.141Running90$200
1417+313Mark Dobmeier 12-10.021Running90$200
1514-183HJustin Henderson 12-10.733Running90$200
1618+281Jack Dover 12-11.404Running90$200
1720+322Riley Goodno 12-12.362Running90$200
1816-224TChristopher Thram 12-12.712Running90$200
1921+23JDusty Zomer 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
2012-814TTim Estenson 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
2122+1101Cody Maroske 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
223-193Tim Kaeding 10-2 LapsRunning90$200
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1103JDusty Zomer 100.00010Running0$0
23+1101Cody Maroske 10-0.833Running0$0
34+13ZBrock Zearfoss 10-1.855Running90$150
42-219Ayrton Gennetten 10-4.935Running90$150
57+222KKaleb Johnson 10-5.613Running90$150
68+217DRyan Bickett 10-7.820Running90$150
711+4105Cody Ihlen 10-11.749Running90$150
810+278Bill Wagner 9-1 LapsRunning90$150
95-46Bill Rose 8-2 LapsRunning90$150
1012+22KKevin Ingle 2-8 LapsDNF90$150
116-5G5Gage Pulkrabek 0-10 LapsDNS90$150
129-32AGTrent Pigdon 0-10 LapsDNS90$150
1313011MBrendan Mullen 0-10 LapsDNS90$150
1414001Jim Enga 0-10 LapsDNS90$150
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11020GNoah Gass 100.00010Running
22024Rico Abreu 10-1.153Running
3306CCarson McCarl 10-3.199Running
4407SRobbie Price 10-3.439Running
56+11SLogan Schuchart 10-4.125Running
65-111SParker Price-Miller 10-4.835Running
77081Jack Dover 10-5.609Running
8803ZBrock Zearfoss 10-7.236Running
99017DRyan Bickett 10-9.195Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
14+383James McFadden 100.0008Running
21-124WGaret Williamson 10-2.5412Running
32-129Sye Lynch 10-3.364Running
46+283JRMichael Kofoid 10-3.726Running
57+213Mark Dobmeier 10-4.447Running
65-157Kyle Larson 10-5.216Running
73-45TRyan Timms 10-5.957Running
8806Bill Rose 10-6.984Running
9902AGTrent Pigdon 0-10 LapsDNS
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11025Lachlan McHugh 100.00010Running
2203Tim Kaeding 10-3.367Running
33015Donny Schatz 10-3.866Running
46+22David Gravel 10-4.089Running
54-111Cory Eliason 10-5.606Running
65-117Sheldon Haudenschild 10-6.256Running
77022Riley Goodno 10-7.244Running
88011MBrendan Mullen 0-10 LapsDNS
99001Jim Enga 0-10 LapsDNS
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11017BBill Balog 100.00010Running
23+118Giovanni Scelzi 10-0.359Running
34+17BCTyler Courtney 10-2.676Running
42-212Tyler Drueke 10-3.899Running
55021Brian Brown 10-4.610Running
6609Kasey Kahne 10-5.434Running
7703JDusty Zomer 10-6.613Running
880G5Gage Pulkrabek 10-8.515Running
99078Bill Wagner 2-8 LapsDNF
Heat 5 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1105XKerry Madsen 100.00010Running
24+25Spencer Bayston 10-1.564Running
3309RChase Randall 10-2.680Running
46+21AJacob Allen 10-3.284Running
55088Austin McCarl 10-5.055Running
62-424TChristopher Thram 10-5.230Running
78+1101Cody Maroske 10-6.314Running
87-119Ayrton Gennetten 10-7.494Running
990105Cody Ihlen 10-9.377Running
Heat 6 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
16+541Carson Macedo 100.0001Running
21-116Brooke Tatnell 10-0.5388Running
35+249Brad Sweet 10-1.476Running
42-215HSam Hafertepe Jr10-1.5601Running
53-214TTim Estenson 10-1.856Running
67+152Blake Hahn 10-2.046Running
74-383HJustin Henderson 10-2.718Running
88022KKaleb Johnson 10-4.148Running
9902KKevin Ingle 1-9 LapsDNF
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
121SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA10.8510.000
23583JRMichael Kofoid Penngrove, CA10.888-0.037
3172David Gravel Watertown, CT10.905-0.054
4129Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA10.909-0.058
5181AJacob Allen Hanover, PA10.919-0.068
62041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA10.924-0.073
7511SParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN10.962-0.111
83757Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA10.998-0.147
91017Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH10.998-0.147
101321Brian Brown Higginsville, MO11.012-0.161
11488Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.017-0.166
123149Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA11.033-0.182
13167SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC11.034-0.183
145383James McFadden Alice Springs, NT11.035-0.184
154811Cory Eliason Visalia, CA11.046-0.195
16437BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN11.051-0.200
17255Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN11.056-0.205
182183HJustin Henderson Tea, SD11.063-0.212
19196CCarson McCarl Altoona, IA11.067-0.216
20235TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK11.073-0.222
215015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND11.076-0.225
223018Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.079-0.228
23429RChase Randall Waco, TX11.080-0.229
244014TTim Estenson Fargo, ND11.086-0.235
254724Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA11.089-0.238
26729Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA11.098-0.247
27383Tim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.100-0.249
283212Tyler Drueke Eagle, NE11.112-0.261
29624TChristopher Thram Sanborn, MN11.115-0.264
303915HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX11.131-0.280
312220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK11.134-0.283
323624WGaret Williamson Columbia, MO11.145-0.294
332625Lachlan McHugh Gold Coast, QLD11.147-0.296
341417BBill Balog North Pole, AK11.155-0.304
35345XKerry Madsen Knoxville, IA11.158-0.307
364416Brooke Tatnell San Souci, NSW11.161-0.310
373381Jack Dover Springfield, NE11.202-0.351
38313Mark Dobmeier Grand Forks, ND11.209-0.358
394622Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA11.218-0.367
4093JDusty Zomer Brandon, SD11.230-0.379
415219Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO11.231-0.380
42152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK11.232-0.381
43153ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.268-0.417
44116Bill Rose Plainfield, IN11.293-0.442
452711MBrendan Mullen Grand Forks, ND11.316-0.465
4624G5Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, MN11.332-0.481
4741101Cody Maroske Gold Coast, QLD11.339-0.488
484522KKaleb Johnson Sioux Falls, SD11.382-0.531
492917DRyan Bickett Ramona, SD11.421-0.570
50512AGTrent Pigdon , 11.543-0.692
51801Jim Enga Madison, SD12.134-1.283
524978Bill Wagner , 12.651-1.800
5328105Cody Ihlen Pipestone, MN16.127-5.276
54542KKevin Ingle Huron, SD16.127-5.276
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
13583JRMichael Kofoid Penngrove, CA11.0050.000
2437BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN11.011-0.006
32041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA11.056-0.051
44811Cory Eliason Visalia, CA11.089-0.084
55383James McFadden Alice Springs, NT11.089-0.084
65015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND11.091-0.086
73757Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA11.110-0.105
83915HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX11.134-0.129
93018Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.139-0.134
102625Lachlan McHugh Gold Coast, QLD11.165-0.160
113149Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA11.171-0.166
12383Tim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.171-0.166
13345XKerry Madsen Knoxville, IA11.188-0.183
145219Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO11.195-0.190
1541101Cody Maroske Gold Coast, QLD11.208-0.203
16172David Gravel Watertown, CT11.211-0.206
174014TTim Estenson Fargo, ND11.218-0.213
183381Jack Dover Springfield, NE11.221-0.216
194724Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA11.230-0.225
2028105Cody Ihlen Pipestone, MN11.248-0.243
21181AJacob Allen Hanover, PA11.250-0.245
223624WGaret Williamson Columbia, MO11.254-0.249
234416Brooke Tatnell San Souci, NSW11.273-0.268
244522KKaleb Johnson Sioux Falls, SD11.275-0.270
25255Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN11.315-0.310
263212Tyler Drueke Eagle, NE11.319-0.314
274622Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA11.364-0.359
28196CCarson McCarl Altoona, IA11.391-0.386
292183HJustin Henderson Tea, SD11.427-0.422
30235TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK11.440-0.435
31511SParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN11.462-0.457
32429RChase Randall Waco, TX11.485-0.480
33167SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC11.533-0.528
342711MBrendan Mullen Grand Forks, ND11.537-0.532
351017Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.553-0.548
36129Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA11.554-0.549
371417BBill Balog North Pole, AK11.589-0.584
382220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK11.601-0.596
39624TChristopher Thram Sanborn, MN11.607-0.602
401321Brian Brown Higginsville, MO11.631-0.626
41729Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA11.667-0.662
42488Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.683-0.678
43116Bill Rose Plainfield, IN11.721-0.716
4421SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA11.763-0.758
4524G5Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, MN11.784-0.779
46152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK11.841-0.836
4793JDusty Zomer Brandon, SD11.970-0.965
48313Mark Dobmeier Grand Forks, ND12.010-1.005
49153ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA12.059-1.054
50542KKevin Ingle Huron, SD12.734-1.729
514978Bill Wagner , 12.776-1.771
52801Jim Enga Madison, SD14.233-3.228
53512AGTrent Pigdon , 14.233-3.228
542917DRyan Bickett Ramona, SD14.233-3.228
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Huset's High Bank Nationals
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Huset's Speedway
2012 S Splitrock Blvd
Brandon, South Dakota 57005 

Event Description
The High Bank Nationals returns as the richest event in Sprint Car Racing's long history. Paying a staggering $250,000-to-win, the event expanded in purse and length with an extra day being added to the docket.


Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$20,000.00

Feature Laps Length
35

Event Schedule
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7:30PM Opening Ceremonies
*All times Central

Ticket Options  
Parking Cost
$10

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Reserved Electric Camping: Sold Out. Email [email protected] to be placed on the waiting list. Reserved Dry Camping: $300 for the event week

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$20,000.00

Personal Coolers
No coolers

Parking Cost
$10

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Reserved Electric Camping: Sold Out. Email [email protected] to be placed on the waiting list. Reserved Dry Camping: $300 for the event week

Track Info  

Huset's Speedway
2012 S Splitrock Blvd
Brandon, South Dakota 57005 

Track Type
0.333; high-banked

Sprint Car Track Record
10.319 seconds by Terry McCarl on 5/10/09

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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