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38th annual Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, Ohio
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Race Recap  

SHINE OF A KING: Tyler ‘Sunshine’ Courtney claims 38th Kings Royal in first appearance

The crown’s gems gleamed from the sun. Not from the giant star in the sky above. From the emotional rising star it rested upon.

Perched on his throne with a $175,000 check, “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney donned the crown and cloak worthy only to a Kings Royal champion – the 38th Kings Royal champion to be specific. His eyes were wide. His smile, never bigger. His dream had come true.

“I don’t even know how to describe it really,” Courtney sputtered out while searching for a word. “Excitement… Excitement is probably the best. I saw everyone stand up and that’s something you dream about as a kid. I’ve watched a lot of these races as a kid. Seen all the crowds go crazy when people like this win. You never think in your dreams it is going to be you. Not very often does it actually happen.

“It really sank in once we cleared the scales and went back through the pit gate there and the crowd cheered again… that really got me. That got my tears flowing again. I had to soak them back in when I got on top of that win.”

The win at Eldora Speedway was not only his first Kings Royal victory, and his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win, it was his first-ever appearance at the Kings Royal. It was also his 10th win overall at the “Big E.”

King Tyler Courtney sits on his throne as the 38th Kings Royal winner / Trent Gower photo

To Courtney, nothing in his career compares to being king.

“This is by far the biggest win in my career,” he said with a smile only the thought of $175,000 can produce. “I don’t think I’ve even won over $12,000 before, let alone a crown jewel even like this.”

The 38th Kings Royal was set to take place on Thursday evening, and while Qualifying and one Heat Race was completed, rain forced the remainder of the program to Saturday afternoon – giving one driver the opportunity to potentially win two Kings Royals in one day and an incredible payday of $350,000.

Courtney set the stage early for his future glory with a fifth-place qualifying effort. He then won the fifth Heat Race on Saturday, giving him the outside pole for the start of the Feature.

When the green unfolded in the humid air to commence the historic day, Courtney powered his NOS Energy Drink #7BC around the outside of polesitter Justin Peck to take the lead on the opening lap. Behind him, 36th Kings Royal winner Brad Sweet made quick work of David Gravel and Peck to take second down the backstretch. A red flag in that first lap hindered both of their strong starts, though.

However, even with them having to return to their original starting positions due to a complete restart, Courtney and Sweet put their moves on replay by claiming first and second, again, in the same fashion as before.

Sweet, eager to sit on the throne for the third time in his career, slid Courtney for the lead on Lap 2 and pulled away. Daryn Pittman was also on a charge behind them, making his way from sixth to third.

The top-three acted like an accordion for the first 20 laps. Courtney closed on Sweet when they hit lap traffic, but then would fade when he neared his bumper. Pittman struggled with the same results when trying to run down Courtney. In that time, rubber started to lay down on the track.

With 21 laps to go, a caution flew for Lachlan McHugh slowing on track with a flat right rear tire. As the field made laps, word came over the radio that Sweet had a cut right rear tire. The NAPA Auto Parts #49 charged into the pit area for his team to put a new right rear tire on his machine. Sweet’s chance at another Kings Royal victory deflated at that moment. He had to settle for a ninth-place result.

His misfortune handed Courtney the chance of a lifetime. The chance at a dream. He led the field to the green on the restart with Gravel in second. Danny Dietrich, who was on a charge to the front before the halfway caution, stole third from Pittman that lap.

Running the high side of the half-mile track, the top-three continued the accordion dance. Gravel closed on Courtney and then fell. Dietrich closed on Gravel, even close enough to try and make a pass, but never enough and fell.

With only two laps standing between one driver and a $175,000 payday, Gravel made a charge to the outside of Courtney in Turn 3 but couldn’t slide his way by. His move gave Courtney an unneeded scare, though.

Tyler Courtney (bottom left), Brad Sweet (center left), Daryn Pittman (center right) and David Gravel (top right) battle at Eldora Speedway / Trent Gower photo

“I had no idea,” Courtney said about how close Gravel got. “I knew he got to the outside of him in Turn 3 and knew I needed to pick it up a little bit. But I was still running pretty slow, just to make it (not blow a tire). I hadn’t gotten any tire shake, so I knew it was in good shape, well better shape than I thought, and had enough to finish the race.”

He brought the crowd to their feet as he eased his throttle down the front stretch for the final time with the checkered flag waving.

Gravel crossed the line second but was light at the scales and disqualified – ending the day 24th. His disqualification moved Pittman to second and Dietrich to third.

“It’s a great finish for us,” said Pittman, who made his fourth World of Outlaws appearance of 2021 in the Swindell Speedlab #39. “Kevin (Swindell) has done a great job. Our whole crew has been working hard. We haven’t raced a lot, but to come out of here with a third place, obviously, a crown jewel in the sport is nothing to hang our heads over. We’ll just go and try to tweak on it a little bit more.”

For Dietrich, he said he needed Gravel and Courtney to take each other out to win… with a chuckle after.

“It was so hard to pass,” Dietrich said. “I think you saw where I tried to pull the trigger on David but as soon as you moved down it seemed like you just slid through the rubber and killed your exit speed. I don’t know if I could’ve done anything with them. I pulled the wing back hoping they would get to racing each other really hard and push each other out of the rubber and take advantage of it. But it never got to that point.”

Sitting in the media center with his crown at his side, Courtney was physically there but his mind was elsewhere. He wore his smile. He spoke his words. But he was clearly living in his dream.

“This is insane,” Courtney exclaimed.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to Eldora Speedway at 7 p.m. today, starting with Hot Laps, for the 37th Kings Royal. Drivers will compete for another $175,000 top prize.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription or the monthly FAST PASS subscription.

RESULTS
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps)

  1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [2][$175,000]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich [8][$20,000]; 3. 39-Daryn Pittman [6][$15,000]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog [9][$12,500]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [23][$10,000]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo [15][$7,500]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$6,500]; 8. 24-Rico Abreu [16][$6,000]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 10. 21-Brian Brown [13][$5,000]; 11. 13-Justin Peck [1][$4,750]; 12. 42-Sye Lynch [11][$4,500]; 13. 11-Spencer Bayston [22][$4,000]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [24][$3,750]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$3,500]; 16. 5-Paul McMahan [20][$3,450]; 17. 101-Lachlan McHugh [21][$3,400]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$3,350]; 19. 49D-Shawn Dancer [17][$3,300]; 20. 10B-Dave Blaney [19][$3,250]; 21. 26-Cory Eliason [7][$3,200]; 22. 14-Kerry Madsen [12][$3,150]; 23. 18-Giovanni Scelzi [14][$3,100]; 24. 2-David Gravel [3][$3,000]; Lap Leaders: Tyler Courtney 1, 20-40; Brad Sweet 2-19; KSE Hard Charger Award: 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[+18]
[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+17BCTyler Courtney 400.000Running90$175,000
28+648Danny Dietrich 400.000Running90$20,000
36+339Daryn Pittman 400.000Running90$15,000
49+517BBill Balog 400.000Running90$12,500
523+1817Sheldon Haudenschild 400.000Running90$10,000
615+941Carson Macedo 400.000Running90$7,500
75-215Donny Schatz 400.000Running90$6,500
816+824Rico Abreu 400.000Running90$6,000
94-549Brad Sweet 400.000Running90$5,500
1013+321Brian Brown 400.000Running90$5,000
111-1013Justin Peck 400.000Running90$4,750
1211-142Sye Lynch 400.000Running90$4,500
1322+911Spencer Bayston 400.000Running90$4,000
1424+103ZBrock Zearfoss 39-1 LapsRunning90$3,750
1518+311KKraig Kinser 39-1 LapsRunning90$3,500
1620+45Paul McMahan 39-1 LapsRunning90$3,450
1721+4101Lachlan McHugh 37-3 LapsDNF90$3,400
1810-81SLogan Schuchart 19-21 LapsDNF90$3,350
1917-249DShawn Dancer 12-28 LapsDNF90$3,300
2019-110BDave Blaney 6-34 LapsDNF90$3,250
217-1426Cory Eliason 0-40 LapsDNF90$3,200
2212-1014Kerry Madsen 0-40 LapsDNF90$3,150
2314-918Giovanni Scelzi 0-40 LapsDNF90$3,100
243-212David Gravel 400.000DQ90$3,000
KSE Hard Charger: Sheldon Haudenschild
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+2101Lachlan McHugh 00.000Running0$0
22011Spencer Bayston 00.000Running0$0
35+217Sheldon Haudenschild 00.000Running0$0
46+23ZBrock Zearfoss 00.000Running0$0
54-112NJoey Saldana 00.000Running90$110
611+555Hunter Schuerenberg 00.000Running90$110
78+149XIan Madsen 00.000Running90$110
89+119Parker Price-Miller 00.000Running90$110
919+1071Anthony Macri 00.000Running90$110
1013+322Jac Haudenschild 00.000Running90$110
1116+555VC.J. Leary 00.000Running90$110
1217+59JRDerek Hagar 00.000Running90$110
1320+79James McFadden 00.000Running90$110
1414091Kyle Reinhardt 00.000Running90$110
1510-547NMarcus Dumesny 00.000Running90$110
1622+67SJason Sides 00.000Running90$110
1712-51AJacob Allen 00.000DNF90$110
181-175TTravis Philo 00.000DNF90$110
197-1257Kyle Larson 00.000DNS90$110
2018-228Tim Shaffer 00.000DNS90$110
2115-610Zeb Wise 00.000DNS90$110
2221-115HSam Hafertepe Jr00.000DNS90$110
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
110+99JRDerek Hagar 00.000Running0$0
26+428Tim Shaffer 00.000Running0$0
315+1271Anthony Macri 00.000Running90$0
424+209James McFadden 00.000Running90$0
52-315HSam Hafertepe Jr00.000Running90$0
64-27SJason Sides 00.000Running90$0
73-42CWayne Johnson 00.000Running90$0
85-329D.J. Foos 00.000Running90$0
921+1225RJordan Ryan 00.000Running90$0
107-311NHarli White 00.000Running90$0
1116+53JTrey Jacobs 00.000Running90$0
1220+823Jordan Harble 00.000Running90$0
1318+522MDan McCarron 00.000Running90$0
1417+370MHenry Malcuit 00.000Running90$0
1519+483XNate Reeser 00.000Running90$0
1622+697Greg Wilson 00.000DNF90$0
171-1618XCole Macedo 00.000DNF90$0
189-970Carson Short 00.000DNS90$0
198-1119PPaige Polyak 00.000DNS90$0
2011-96Ryan Smith 00.000DNS90$0
2112-983Aaron Reutzel 00.000DNS90$0
2213-918SBryce Schmitt 00.000DNS90$0
2314-94XBradley Ashford 00.000DNS90$0
2423-119MBrent Marks 00.000DNS90$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11039Daryn Pittman 00.000Running
22026Cory Eliason 00.000Running
34+121Brian Brown 00.000Running
43-15Paul McMahan 00.000Running
57+23ZBrock Zearfoss 00.000Running
65-155Hunter Schuerenberg 00.000Running
711+418XCole Macedo 00.000Running
88011NHarli White 00.000Running
99018SBryce Schmitt 00.000Running
1010083XNate Reeser 00.000Running
116-59James McFadden 00.000DNF
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+115Donny Schatz 00.000Running
23+148Danny Dietrich 00.000Running
35+218Giovanni Scelzi 00.000Running
41-35TTravis Philo 00.000Running
54-110BDave Blaney 00.000Running
68+21AJacob Allen 00.000Running
76-115HSam Hafertepe Jr00.000Running
89+119PPaige Polyak 00.000Running
910+14XBradley Ashford 00.000DNF
107-37John Carney II00.000DNS
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11049Brad Sweet 00.000Running
22017BBill Balog 00.000Running
34+141Carson Macedo 00.000Running
46+211Spencer Bayston 00.000Running
53-257Kyle Larson 00.000Running
65-122Jac Haudenschild 00.000Running
79+270Carson Short 00.000Running
87-171Anthony Macri 00.000Running
910+123Jordan Harble 00.000Running
108-22CWayne Johnson 00.000DNS
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 00.000Running
24+21SLogan Schuchart 00.000Running
33024Rico Abreu 00.000Running
42-2101Lachlan McHugh 00.000Running
57+249XIan Madsen 00.000Running
68+291Kyle Reinhardt 00.000Running
76-17SJason Sides 00.000Running
85-39JRDerek Hagar 00.000Running
910+13JTrey Jacobs 00.000Running
109-125RJordan Ryan 00.000Running
Heat 5 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
14+37BCTyler Courtney 00.000Running
22042Sye Lynch 00.000Running
31-249DShawn Dancer 00.000Running
45+112NJoey Saldana 00.000Running
56+119Parker Price-Miller 00.000Running
63-310Zeb Wise 00.000Running
77029D.J. Foos 00.000Running
810+26Ryan Smith 00.000Running
98-170MHenry Malcuit 00.000Running
109-197Greg Wilson 00.000Running
Heat 6 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11013Justin Peck 00.000Running
24+214Kerry Madsen 00.000Running
37+411KKraig Kinser 00.000Running
45+117Sheldon Haudenschild 00.000Running
59+447NMarcus Dumesny 00.000Running
62-455VC.J. Leary 00.000Running
710+328Tim Shaffer 00.000Running
83-583Aaron Reutzel 00.000Running
98-122MDan McCarron 00.000Running
106-419MBrent Marks 00.000DNF
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1821Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.3260.000
2510BDave Blaney High Point, NC13.345-0.019
36041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.401-0.075
411SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.418-0.092
577BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN13.478-0.152
61814Kerry Madsen Knoxville, IA13.484-0.158
7275Paul McMahan Nashville, TN13.499-0.173
81048Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA13.558-0.232
91957Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA13.577-0.251
101324Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.598-0.272
11910Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.623-0.297
123883Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.651-0.325
131226Cory Eliason Visalia, CA13.659-0.333
145315Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.671-0.345
15217BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.725-0.399
164101Lachlan McHugh Gold Coast, QLD13.748-0.422
172042Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA13.758-0.432
182355VC.J. Leary Greenfield, IN13.767-0.441
193439Daryn Pittman Owasso, OK13.774-0.448
2065TTravis Philo Waterville, OH13.798-0.472
212949Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.815-0.489
22592David Gravel Watertown, CT13.832-0.506
231449DShawn Dancer Delphos, OH13.867-0.541
243113Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.870-0.544
251655Hunter Schuerenberg Sikeston, MO13.877-0.551
263918Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.889-0.563
274922Jac Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.904-0.578
28179JRDerek Hagar Marion, AR13.907-0.581
293612NJoey Saldana Brownsburg, IN13.950-0.624
305517Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.963-0.637
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

38th annual Kings Royal
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Eldora Speedway
13929 State Route 118
Rossburg, Ohio 45348 

Event Description
Four nights. Two Kings. More than $800,000 on the line.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$175,000.00

Event Schedule
Wednesday: Jokers Wild

Thursday: 38th Annual Kings Royal

Friday - The Knight Before the Kings Royal: A complete program of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series paying $10,000-to-win.

Saturday - 37th Annual Kings Royal: Featuring the bravest sprint car racers in the world, this night will celebrate the traditional pomp and pageantry of motorsports’ most unique victory lane ceremony and its rich purse of $175,000-to-win!
*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
Wed-Fri:
Ages 13 and up $29 GA / $34 Reserved
12 and under: Free GA, $9-10 Reserved

Saturday:
Ages 13 and up $39 GA / $44 Reserved
12 and under: Free GA, $15 Reserved

Purchase a 3-day pit pass for Thursday-Friday-Saturday for only $102.

Handicapped Seating Location
The top row of main grandstand and terrace sections. Reserved seats are recommended. Companion seating is available, please request when ordering tickets. Chair not provided.

Pit Age Requirement
Must be 14 years of age or older. Minors aged 14 through 17 require fully completed Minor Waiver & Parental Consent form.

Parking Cost
$10 or FREE

Handicapped Parking Location
Main parking lot (entry off of State Route 118) and outside of the Turn 4 admission gate.

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
$49

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$175,000.00

Stadium Seating
Seat cushions are permitted. Stadium style seats may NOT exceed 18 inches, cannot have arms/armrests. No high back seats.

Handicapped Seating
The top row of main grandstand and terrace sections. Reserved seats are recommended. Companion seating is available, please request when ordering tickets. Chair not provided.

Handicapped Parking
Main parking lot (entry off of State Route 118) and outside of the Turn 4 admission gate.

Pit Age Limit
Must be 14 years of age or older. Minors aged 14 through 17 require fully completed Minor Waiver & Parental Consent form.

Personal Coolers
Yes, personal coolers are allowed in the track. Maximum size is 14" in any direction. Glass items are prohibited. Fans cannot bring in their own alcohol.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available at the track

Smoking Policy
State law prohibits smoking in all spectator areas, buildings, structures and lines. Smoking permitted in designated areas only.

Parking Cost
$10 or FREE

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
$49

Track Info  

Eldora Speedway
13929 State Route 118
Rossburg, Ohio 45348 

Track Phone
(937) 338-3815

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size
0.5

Track Type
High banked

Sprint Car Track Record
12.599 seconds by David Gravel on 9/23/20

Late Model Track Record
14.761 seconds by Brandon Sheppard on 10/12/18

Closest Airport
Dayton, OH (DAY / KDAY) James M. Cox Dayton International Airport

Other Airport
Fort Wayne, IN (FWA / KFWA) Fort Wayne International Airport

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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