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Huset's High Bank Nationals
Huset's Speedway | Brandon, South Dakota
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Race Recap  

HISTORY AT HUSET’S: David Gravel Claims Storybook High Bank Nationals Win for Richest Payday in World of Outlaws History

The stage at Huset’s Speedway couldn’t have been set any better for David Gravel. Competing at the racetrack owned by his car owner – Tod Quiring. A stretch of tough-to-swallow second place finishes that continued into the week. And the biggest payday in World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car history on the line.

The Billion Auto Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards began with a pair of close runner-ups for Gravel on the Wednesday and Thursday prelims. Those came after two more second place finishes at Beaver Dam the weekend before.

Despite the disappointment of those results, Gravel remained focused and hungry heading into Saturday’s $250,000 finale. A win with the biggest stakes in The Greatest Show on Dirt’s history on the line would erase the bitter taste of so many second places. A record crowd filled in to watch what would unfold. The stage was set and Gravel delivered.

The Watertown, CT native seized on a perfect opportunity when an expired engine on Buddy Kofoid’s machine late in the 40-lap Feature gifted Gravel the lead. From there, he never looked back as he went on to etch a place in Sprint Car history.

In Victory Lane, Gravel and his crew and family erupted with joy. Gravel climbed all the way atop the wing. The rest of the cast celebrated with shouts and hugs as the reality sunk in. A win worth a quarter of a million dollars.

“I guess all the seconds (places) paid off. One of these times I was going to win one, so this is a good one to win,” Gravel said. “We’ve been really good here. Last year we had the gate deal. I thought we had a really good shot at winning last year. To come back and win with Levi (son), my whole family, for Cody (Jacobs, crew chief), Tod and everything he does for the sport. The crowd was amazing. T-shirt trailer was crazy. It just shows you when a track owner commits to trying to build an event here at a racetrack it pays off. He’s paying money. There’s big fans. It was a great event.”

The win upped Gravel’s tally with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars to 83 – one behind fellow full-timer – Brad Sweet’s – count of 84. Gravel extended his lead in 2023 wins with his seventh of the season. The 31-year-old now owns a trio of Huset’s victories in World of Outlaws competition, making it the ninth different track where he’s won at least three times.

Gravel’s story with Big Game Motorsports came full circle. Years ago, well before he established himself as one of the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers – Gravel approached Tod Quiring about driving for him. The two couldn’t work out a deal at the time. But as the years passed and Gravel’s win column skyrocketed with other teams, Quiring brought him aboard ahead of 2021. Two years later, Gravel drove to Victory Lane in the marquee event that Quiring has crafted at Huset’s.

“It’s good to take some of the boss’ money tonight,” Gravel said with a laugh.

David Gravel
David Gravel picked up the richest payday in World of Outlaws history at Huset’s with a $250,000 triumph (Trent Gower Photo)

When the green flag flew, Gravel started from the fourth spot aboard the Billion Auto #2. Right off the bat he surged into the second spot with an excellent start.

The race went green for more than 30 laps, and Gravel struggled to challenge pole-sitter – Buddy Kofoid – for the top spot. When it looked like he might close in heavy traffic Kofoid would slip by another lapped car for breathing room.

Kofoid’s hopes were dashed, though, when smoke began to rise from under the hood of the Roth Motorsports #83. The Penngrove, CA native came to a stop with an expired engine less than 10 laps away from what would’ve been the biggest day of his racing career.

“Buddy had a really fast car,” Gravel noted. “That race could’ve went green to checkered, and he could’ve potentially won the race, but it’s a shame for him. He was running really, really good and setting a really fast pace.”

Kofoid’s devastation was Gravel’s gain as he inherited the lead for the restart. One more race stoppage occurred with eight laps remaining for a pileup in Turn 4. But it made no difference for Gravel who went on to cruise to one special victory.

Behind Gravel, Rico Abreu claimed the runner-up spot for his second podium over the four nights. The St. Helena, CA native pocketed $50,000 for his efforts. Abreu continues to credit his dynamic with his crew for their steady speed in 2023.

“I’m just thankful to my crew for never giving up on me,” Abreu said. “It’s just shows with these results here. We were kind of mediocre all week to be honest. We had a good run Wednesday night then struggled the last two nights. Then Ricky (Warner, crew chief) really made a big swing at our car and made some big changes which allowed us to get in the hunt here.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Kyle Larson. “Yung Money” wheeled his way from the third row to position three for a $25,000 payday. With starting where he did, Larson felt he simply needed more laps to have a shot at coming out on top and also couldn’t help but think about his late misfortune on Thursday that potentially cost him a better starting spot.

“Once we got the cautions there, the track kind of switched over and my car got really good, just ran out of time there,” Larson explained. “I thought we could catch traffic a little quicker and maybe get those guys racing in front of us but just a little too late. Honestly, I look back at Thursday night, and if I don’t get into Rico off of (Turn) 2, I finish better and probably starting further forward in the Feature and giving myself a better shot.”

Rounding on the top five was Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo

With a run from 22nd to seventh, Brad Sweet earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Qualifier One went to David Gravel. NOS Energy Drink Qualifiers Two through Six were topped by Gio Scelzi, Kyle Larson, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, Rico Abreu.

Tyler Courtney claimed the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars travel to New Richmond, WI where Cedar Lake Speedway will host the Independence Day Spectacular (June 30 – July 1). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[4]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[3]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[6]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet[22]; 8. 5-Spencer Bayston[10]; 9. 11-Cory Eliason[9]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen[11]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 12. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 13. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[21]; 14. 20G-Noah Gass[16]; 15. 3-Tim Kaeding[18]; 16. 7S-Robbie Price[19]; 17. 11S-Parker Price Miller[17]; 18. 21-Brian Brown[12]; 19. 25-Lachlan McHugh[23]; 20. 83-James McFadden[14]; 21. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[1]; 22. 83H-Justin Henderson[15]; 23. 88-Austin McCarl[24]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[20]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
14+32David Gravel 400.00011Running90$250,000
23+124Rico Abreu 40-0.799Running90$50,000
36+357Kyle Larson 40-0.944Running90$25,000
42-21SLogan Schuchart 40-1.253Running90$15,000
57+241Carson Macedo 40-1.966Running90$10,000
65-118Giovanni Scelzi 40-3.287Running90$8,000
722+1549Brad Sweet 40-3.843Running90$7,500
810+25Spencer Bayston 40-4.529Running90$7,000
99011Cory Eliason 40-5.521Running90$6,500
1011+11AJacob Allen 40-7.082Running90$6,000
1113+215Donny Schatz 40-7.763Running90$5,500
128-417Sheldon Haudenschild 40-8.366Running90$5,400
1321+87BCTyler Courtney 40-8.971Running90$5,300
1416+220GNoah Gass 40-10.136Running90$5,200
1518+33Tim Kaeding 39-1 LapsRunning90$5,100
1619+37SRobbie Price 39-1 LapsRunning90$5,000
1717011SParker Price-Miller 39-1 LapsRunning90$5,000
1812-621Brian Brown 38-2 LapsRunning90$5,000
1923+425Lachlan McHugh 38-2 LapsRunning90$5,000
2014-683James McFadden 31-9 LapsDNF90$5,000
211-2083JRMichael Kofoid 29-11 Laps30DNF90$5,000
2215-783HJustin Henderson 28-12 LapsDNF90$5,000
2324+188Austin McCarl 18-22 LapsDNF90$5,000
2420-417BBill Balog 10-30 LapsDNF90$5,000
KSE Hard Charger: Brad Sweet
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+17BCTyler Courtney 00.000Running0$0
21-149Brad Sweet 00.000Running0$0
34+125Lachlan McHugh 00.000Running0$0
45+188Austin McCarl 00.000Running0$0
53-29Kasey Kahne 00.000Running90$3,000
67+113Mark Dobmeier 00.000Running90$2,500
76-181Jack Dover 00.000Running90$2,000
89+152Blake Hahn 00.000Running90$1,500
910+115HSam Hafertepe Jr00.000Running90$1,250
1011+15TRyan Timms 00.000Running90$1,000
1120+916Brooke Tatnell 00.000Running90$800
1212014TTim Estenson 00.000Running90$700
1316+324WGaret Williamson 00.000Running90$600
148-69RChase Randall 00.000Running90$550
1514-119Ayrton Gennetten 00.000Running90$500
1617+122KKaleb Johnson 00.000Running90$500
1718+13ZBrock Zearfoss 00.000Running90$500
1823+5105Cody Ihlen 00.000Running90$500
1921+2G5Gage Pulkrabek 00.000Running90$500
2024+422Riley Goodno 00.000Running90$500
2115-6101Cody Maroske 00.000Running90$500
2219-324TChristopher Thram 00.000Running90$500
2322-111MBrendan Mullen 00.000Running90$500
2425+117DRyan Bickett 00.000Running90$500
2513-1229Sye Lynch 00.000DNS90$500
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11016Brooke Tatnell 80.0008Running0$0
24+2G5Gage Pulkrabek 8-3.274Running0$0
35+211MBrendan Mullen 8-4.797Running0$0
410+6105Cody Ihlen 8-6.295Running0$0
53-222Riley Goodno 8-7.229Running0$0
68+217DRyan Bickett 8-7.766Running0$0
72-56CCarson McCarl 0-8 LapsDNS90$500
86-22AGTrent Pigdon 0-8 LapsDNS90$400
97-23JDusty Zomer 0-8 LapsDNS90$300
109-15XKerry Madsen 0-8 LapsDNS90$300
111106Bill Rose 0-8 LapsDNS90$300
121202KKevin Ingle 0-8 LapsDNS90$300
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 00.000Running
23+111Cory Eliason 0-2.381Running
35+283HJustin Henderson 0-3.243Running
42-27BCTyler Courtney 0-4.620Running
54-19RChase Randall 0-6.772Running
66019Ayrton Gennetten 0-7.761Running
77016Brooke Tatnell 0-7.968Running
8802AGTrent Pigdon 0-9.536Running
9902KKevin Ingle 0-9.536DNS
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+118Giovanni Scelzi 00.000Running
21-15Spencer Bayston 0-0.358Running
33020GNoah Gass 0-1.632Running
4409Kasey Kahne 0-2.362Running
56+152Blake Hahn 0-3.348Running
67+1101Cody Maroske 0-4.814Running
75-26CCarson McCarl 0-5.784Running
8803JDusty Zomer 0-6.972Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+157Kyle Larson 00.000Running
23+11AJacob Allen 0-0.539Running
35+211SParker Price-Miller 0-4.293Running
44025Lachlan McHugh 0-4.755Running
56+115HSam Hafertepe Jr0-5.643Running
67+124WGaret Williamson 0-6.692Running
71-649Brad Sweet 0178.755DNF
8806Bill Rose 0178.755DNS
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 00.000Running
22021Brian Brown 0-2.830Running
35+23Tim Kaeding 0-3.529Running
43-188Austin McCarl 0-3.967Running
54-15TRyan Timms 0-4.514Running
66022KKaleb Johnson 0-6.281Running
77022Riley Goodno 0-6.963Running
88017DRyan Bickett 0-9.069Running
Heat 5 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11017Sheldon Haudenschild 00.000Running
24+215Donny Schatz 0-1.343Running
3307SRobbie Price 0-4.216Running
47+381Jack Dover 0-4.929Running
55014TTim Estenson 0-6.447Running
6603ZBrock Zearfoss 0-8.287Running
78+1G5Gage Pulkrabek 0-11.431Running
82-65XKerry Madsen 0226.161DNF
Heat 6 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11024Rico Abreu 00.000Running
23+183James McFadden 0-2.321Running
32-117BBill Balog 0-3.063Running
45+113Mark Dobmeier 0-5.966Running
54-129Sye Lynch 0-7.006Running
66024TChristopher Thram 0-8.074Running
77011MBrendan Mullen 0-9.026Running
880105Cody Ihlen 0-0.828Running
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1367SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC10.8770.000
22641Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA10.927-0.050
33715Donny Schatz Fargo, ND11.034-0.157
4355XKerry Madsen Knoxville, IA11.041-0.164
5295TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK11.054-0.177
62888Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.055-0.178
72125Lachlan McHugh Gold Coast, QLD11.082-0.205
82721Brian Brown Higginsville, MO11.098-0.221
93814TTim Estenson Fargo, ND11.110-0.233
10303Tim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.111-0.234
114317BBill Balog North Pole, AK11.141-0.264
123417Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.143-0.266
133222Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA11.148-0.271
144724TChristopher Thram Sanborn, MN11.173-0.296
154081Jack Dover Springfield, NE11.174-0.297
161849Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA11.187-0.310
174529Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA11.190-0.313
181957Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA11.192-0.315
192211SParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN11.217-0.340
203122KKaleb Johnson Sioux Falls, SD11.240-0.363
214483James McFadden Alice Springs, NT11.240-0.363
222424WGaret Williamson Columbia, MO11.241-0.364
233317DRyan Bickett Ramona, SD11.258-0.381
24201AJacob Allen Hanover, PA11.272-0.395
254224Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA11.301-0.424
26173JDusty Zomer Brandon, SD11.320-0.443
27393ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.333-0.456
28146CCarson McCarl Altoona, IA11.361-0.484
2982AGTrent Pigdon , 11.365-0.488
301552Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK11.368-0.491
314811MBrendan Mullen Grand Forks, ND11.369-0.492
3212David Gravel Watertown, CT11.388-0.511
33256Bill Rose Plainfield, IN11.401-0.524
34583HJustin Henderson Tea, SD11.415-0.538
35139Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA11.426-0.549
361118Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.456-0.579
37311Cory Eliason Visalia, CA11.462-0.585
3849RChase Randall Waco, TX11.465-0.588
392315HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX11.491-0.614
40105Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN11.533-0.656
4116101Cody Maroske Gold Coast, QLD11.540-0.663
4249105Cody Ihlen Pipestone, MN11.540-0.663
43619Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO11.571-0.694
441220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK11.594-0.717
4527BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN11.659-0.782
46716Brooke Tatnell San Souci, NSW11.717-0.840
474613Mark Dobmeier Grand Forks, ND11.717-0.840
4892KKevin Ingle Huron, SD11.717-0.840
4941G5Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, MN11.717-0.840
Lock-In Hot Laps Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+183JRMichael Kofoid 00.000Running0$0
21-11SLogan Schuchart 0-0.367Running0$0
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Huset's High Bank Nationals
Saturday, June 24, 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
$250,000.00

Feature Laps Length
40

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
$250,000.00

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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