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World of Outlaws World Finals
The Dirt Track at Charlotte | Concord, North Carolina
Saturday, November 04, 2023
Race Recap  

SEALING THE DEAL: Brad Sweet Punctuates Fifth Straight World of Outlaws Championship with Wild World Finals Win

Brad Sweet could’ve been careful. He could’ve put the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 in cruise control. With a front row starting spot, all he needed was to finish 22nd or better to seal a fifth consecutive World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship.

But “The Big Cat” had no intentions of taking it easy to close out 2023. He gave the sold-out grandstands what they paid for.

Sweet slipped back slightly to start the 25-lapper on Saturday night. But the Grass Valley, CA native rallied back to snatch the lead late from Rico Abreu after a side-by-side duel. Sweet then held on to put the exclamation mark on his title campaign with his first win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“Just happy to be here in front of this large crowd,” Sweet said. “Happy we were able to get our NAPA Auto Parts car in Victory Lane. We’ve been trying here for a long time. I think with the points you’re always so conservative, but tonight we had a car capable of doing it. I was able to be pretty conservative on the bottom and keep my tires under me and just kind of snuck by Rico there at the end and tried to just hold him off there coming to the checkered.”

Sweet’s 11th victory of 2023 with The Greatest Show on Dirt elevated his career total to 90, moving him within five of Dave Blaney’s total of 95, which is eighth all-time. It was also his first triumph at the Charlotte oval in his 38th attempt. With the fifth consecutive championship, Sweet equaled the second longest streak of all-time and is one away from Steve Kinser’s record mark of six straight.

Brian Brown and Sweet brought the field to green for the season finale, and it was Brown leading the way on the opening lap. On the second circuit, Abreu ripped the top around Sweet to take over the runner-up spot.

Abreu quickly began his pursuit of Brown and closed in little by little over the next few laps. The St. Helena, CA native attempted a slider on Brown early but couldn’t clear him. Only a couple laps later, traffic presented an issue for Brown and allowed Abreu to roar around him on the top for the lead.

Behind the two leaders, Friday’s winner – Brent Marks – was coming to life as he rolled by Sweet for third on Lap 9. Then only one lap later, he slid Brown to take control of second. Sweet followed suit by making a move on Brown to climb into the third spot.

Both Marks and Sweet began pursuit of Abreu as the race crossed the halfway point. The Pennsylvanian trimmed Abreu’s lead all the way down to barely more than two tenths on Lap 16. But he saw a surging Sweet drive by him for second on the next time around.

RELATED: Pierce, Sheppard, Sweet Crowned 2023 Champions at World Finals

Sweet then began to cut into Abreu’s lead as the two used entirely different lines. Abreu pounded the top around the fence while Sweet patiently rolled the bottom. With only four laps remaining, Sweet had knocked Abreu’s lead under two tenths of a second as the two went side by side.

“I think it takes two different setups. You’re either set up to run the top and go real fast, or you’re set up to go real slow around the bottom,” Sweet said. “I just felt like we needed to be on the bottom there with everything we had going. I feel like you can keep your tires under you and keep them cool down there, and it seems to pay off. It seems like passing lapped cars is even harder on the top when the guy is real patient on the bottom. So, I just tried to be patient.”

Ultimately, patience paid off for Sweet. Coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 23, Abreu didn’t hit the top as smoothly as he had been, and Sweet capitalized by completing the pass on the front straightaway.

Brad Sweet driving the Kasey Kahne Racing #49
Brad Sweet completed his fifth straight championship season with his 11th win of 2023 (Trent Gower Photo)

With the lead in his possession, only two more laps stood between him and closing out his title campaign with a trip to Victory Lane. He wheeled the Napa Auto Parts #49 smoothly around the 4/10-mile two more times to claim the checkered flag.

“It’s just really neat to cap it off with a win like this, and it’s basically like a walk-off homer,” Sweet said. “It just feels really good, and were going to celebrate… I’m just super happy. It’s just such a relief. These seasons are so long and so grueling and so hard. It’s just unbelievable that we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

For the second time in three nights, Abreu brought home the runner-up spot, marking his 17th World of Outlaws podium of the year – by far the most for any competitor not running the full schedule. Despite losing out on a potential win late, Abreu kept his head up and looked at the result as an opportunity to absorb a lesson.

“I think you learn more losing these races than you do winning them,” Abreu said. “You’re racing the best in the country, so your margin for error is so minimal. You have lapped traffic running side-by-side in front of you eight laps into the race. You’re just trying to manipulate and pick and choose which lanes to run. My car was set up to run the top, and I committed up there. You win and lose those races. It’s just part of it.”

Rounding out the final podium of the 2023 World of Outlaws season was Logan Schuchart aboard the Shark Racing #1S. The result helped him lock up the fifth spot in points as he entered the night in a close battle with Donny Schatz for the spot. The Hanover, PA native found speed on the top and stuck to it throughout the race.

“When I was racing with Carson a little earlier in the race, he kind of went to the bottom and that’s why I got by him. It looked like he slipped off the bottom a little bit,” Schuchart explained. “So, I didn’t want that to happen to me, and I didn’t know what it felt like. I didn’t want to go somewhere I didn’t want to go. So, I just kind of stuck to pounding the top of the racetrack and seeing what I could make happen up there. Once the tires started going away the last couple laps, I couldn’t run it in there as hard as I wanted to anymore. But all in all, a great end to our season to finish on the podium.”

Brent Marks and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.

David Gravel drove from 21st to seventh to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Rico Abreu. NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney, and Brad Sweet.

David Gravel won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown. Gravel’s result made the final margin between himself and Sweet 60 points, which is the fifth straight year it has been within 100 and the eighth closest ever.

Giovanni Scelzi completed his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign with a fourth place finish in points, equaling both Jeff Swindell (1981) and Brad Doty (1982) for the best debut season in Series history.

For the full points, CLICK HERE.

Brian Brown claimed the Toyota Racing Dash.

UP NEXT: The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car campaign will begin on with the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 8-10 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[2]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 4. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 7. 2-David Gravel[21]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 9. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[10]; 10. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 11. 5-Spencer Bayston[16]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[15]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 14. 13-Justin Peck[6]; 15. 83-James McFadden[25]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[23]; 17. 2MD-Cap Henry[12]; 18. 69K-Justin Henderson[18]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 20. 8-Cory Eliason[14]; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[11]; 22. 1T-Tanner Holmes[17]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee[19]; 24. 9-Kasey Kahne[22]; 25. 7S-Robbie Price[26]; 26. 42-Sye Lynch[24]; 27. (DNS) 20G-Noah Gass

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+149Brad Sweet 250.0003Running150$25,000
24+224Rico Abreu 25-0.75915Running146$12,000
35+21SLogan Schuchart 25-1.981Running144$6,500
43-119Brent Marks 25-2.572Running142$5,250
57+27BCTyler Courtney 25-3.020Running140$4,500
69+317Sheldon Haudenschild 25-4.179Running138$4,000
721+142David Gravel 25-4.499Running136$3,500
88041Carson Macedo 25-5.764Running134$3,250
910+155Hunter Schuerenberg 25-6.292Running132$3,000
101-921Brian Brown 25-6.6707Running130$2,800
1116+55Spencer Bayston 25-7.511Running128$2,500
1215+31AJacob Allen 25-7.603Running126$2,300
1313015Donny Schatz 25-8.430Running124$2,200
146-813Justin Peck 25-8.912Running122$2,100
1525+1083James McFadden 25-9.065Running120$375
1623+718Giovanni Scelzi 25-9.990Running118$1,900
1712-52MDCap Henry 25-10.855Running116$1,850
1818069KJustin Henderson 25-11.436Running114$1,800
1920+13ZBrock Zearfoss 25-11.681Running112$1,750
2014-68Cory Eliason 25-12.860Running110$1,750
2111-1015HSam Hafertepe Jr25-13.706Running108$1,750
2217-51TTanner Holmes 25-14.567Running106$1,750
2319-499Skylar Gee 25-15.344Running104$1,750
2422-29Kasey Kahne 25-16.672Running102$1,750
2526+17SRobbie Price 24-1 LapsRunning102$300
2624-242Sye Lynch 42--17 LapsRunning102$1,750
2727020GNoah Gass 0-25 LapsDNS102$200
KSE Hard Charger: David Gravel
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1102David Gravel 00.000Running9$0
211+99Kasey Kahne 0-1.415Running0$0
32-118Giovanni Scelzi 0-2.769Running0$0
44042Sye Lynch 0-4.625Running0$0
57+27SRobbie Price 0-5.648Running0$0
619+1339MAnthony Macri 0-6.463Running90$250
75-224DDanny Sams III0-7.877Running90$225
815+788Austin McCarl 0-8.338Running90$0
912+314Cole Macedo 0-8.506Running90$0
1016+6W20Greg Wilson 0-8.837Running90$200
119-27NYMatt Farnham 0-9.101Running90$200
1213+112Lance Dewease 0-10.031Running90$200
136-747Eric Riggins Jr0-10.950Running90$200
1418+46ZZane Devault 0-11.886Running90$200
1514-118RRyan Roberts 0-12.334Running90$200
163-135DJacob Dykstra 035.088Running90$200
178-920GNoah Gass 0275.159DNF0$0
1810-877Geoff Dodge 0290.121DNF90$200
1917-271Parker Price-Miller 0290.121DNS90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+121Brian Brown 00.000Running0$0
21-149Brad Sweet 0-1.709Running0$0
37+419Brent Marks 0-1.887Running0$0
43-124Rico Abreu 0-3.805Running0$0
5501SLogan Schuchart 0-4.894Running0$0
64-213Justin Peck 0-5.795Running0$0
76-17BCTyler Courtney 0-6.631Running0$0
88041Carson Macedo 0-7.700Running0$0
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+16ZZane Devault 00.000Running0$0
23+139MAnthony Macri 0-0.537Running0$0
34+122Riley Goodno 0-3.662Running90$150
412+89RChase Randall 0-4.569Running90$150
56+133Derek Hauck 0-5.649Running90$150
613+77NDarin Naida 0-6.098Running90$125
77014TTim Estenson 0-8.200Running90$125
811+320Tim Buckwalter 0-9.829Running90$125
99023MLance Moss 0-9.900Running90$125
108-212SBrent Shearer 0-11.843Running90$125
115-640George Hobaugh Jr0-14.053Running90$125
1210-228MConner Morrell 0-15.244Running90$125
131-1283James McFadden 0-15.244DNS0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+124Rico Abreu 00.000Running
24+221Brian Brown 0-2.059Running
33017Sheldon Haudenschild 0-2.867Running
47+315Donny Schatz 0-3.461Running
58+31TTanner Holmes 0-5.263Running
610+45DJacob Dykstra 0-5.547Running
79+247Eric Riggins Jr0-6.270Running
811+377Geoff Dodge 0-7.299Running
912+318RRyan Roberts 0-7.439Running
105-583James McFadden 0-7.812Running
1113+240George Hobaugh Jr0-9.287Running
121-112David Gravel 0489.927DNF
136-79RChase Randall 0484.414DNF
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11019Brent Marks 00.000Running
22013Justin Peck 0-3.370Running
36+355Hunter Schuerenberg 0-3.433Running
4408Cory Eliason 0-5.656Running
53-269KJustin Henderson 0-6.455Running
67+142Sye Lynch 0-7.385Running
78+17SRobbie Price 0-8.453Running
85-39Kasey Kahne 0-9.672Running
99088Austin McCarl 0-12.750Running
101006ZZane Devault 0-12.813Running
1111033Derek Hauck 0-13.824Running
1213+123MLance Moss 0-15.193Running
1312-17NDarin Naida 0-0.447Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1107BCTyler Courtney 00.000Running
22041Carson Macedo 0-1.653Running
36+315HSam Hafertepe Jr0-3.555Running
45+11AJacob Allen 0-4.813Running
58+399Skylar Gee 0-6.410Running
610+424DDanny Sams III0-7.519Running
77020GNoah Gass 0-8.408Running
83-514Cole Macedo 0-8.982Running
990W20Greg Wilson 0-9.855Running
104-639MAnthony Macri 0-10.258Running
1112+114TTim Estenson 0-11.870Running
1211-128MConner Morrell 0-13.164Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11049Brad Sweet 00.000Running
23+11SLogan Schuchart 0-0.701Running
34+12MDCap Henry 0-2.512Running
45+15Spencer Bayston 0-3.510Running
56+13ZBrock Zearfoss 0-4.311Running
62-418Giovanni Scelzi 0-5.372Running
710+37NYMatt Farnham 0-7.571Running
88012Lance Dewease 0-9.260Running
97-271Parker Price-Miller 0-10.497Running
109-122Riley Goodno 0-11.804Running
1112+112SBrent Shearer 0-13.452Running
1211-120Tim Buckwalter 0-13.750Running
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws World Finals
Saturday, November 04, 2023
The Dirt Track at Charlotte
5500 Concord Parkway S
Concord, North Carolina 28027 

Event Description
The most prestigious dirt racing event in the country lights up The Dirt Track at Charlotte with four days of heart-pounding, clay-slinging action on the lightning-fast, four-tenths mile oval. The World of Outlaws World Finals brings together the top series in the sport, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series, for four full days of racing, culminating in the crowning of all three series champions.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Support Divisions
Super DIRTcar Series

To Win Amount
$25,000.00

Feature Laps Length
25

Event Schedule
Tuesday, Oct 31
9AM Hauler Staging (West Side zMax Dragway)
3PM Pit Pass Sales begin (Gate 2)
4-6PM Hauler Parking & Hauler Parade
6PM Millbridge Event

Wednesday, Nov 1
11AM Pit Pass Sales begin & Hauler Parking resumes
12PM FAN FEST
3PM Race Day Live on the Sage Fruit Stage
3:30PM Front Gate opens & Ticket Sales begin
5PM Hot Laps

Thursday, Nov 2
11AM Pit Pass Sales begin & Hauler Parking resumes
2:30PM Front Gate opens & Ticket Sales begin
2:30PM Race Day Live on the Sage Fruit Stage
4PM Opening Ceremonies

Friday, Nov 3
11AM Pit Pass Sales begin & Hauler Parking resumes
2:30PM Front Gate opens & Ticket Sales begin
2:30PM Race Day Live on the Sage Fruit Stage
4PM Opening Ceremonies

Saturday, Nov 4
10AM Pit Pass Sales begin
1:30PM Race Day Live on the Sage Fruit Stage
2PM Front Gate opens & Ticket Sales begin
3PM Opening Ceremonies

VIEW FULL SCHEDULE
*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#AllDirtRoads

Related Documents
 https://worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com/

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(800) 455-3267

Options And Prices
4-Day Package: $139

Single Seat Tickets ON SALE October 30th

Wednesday: $40
Thursday: $60
Friday: $60
Saturday: $60




Grandstand Type
Bleacher with backs

Reserved Seating
all seating

Family Section Location
n/a

Handicapped Seating Location
Lower level and Second level - Reserved seating required - Companion seating is available

Pit Age Requirement
All ages allowed. Minors ages 17 and under must have a signed waiver sheet. ONE parent must be present OR waiver should be notarized with the required ONE parent signature. Call 1-800-455-FANS with questions.

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Parking Cost
FREE

Handicapped Parking Location
Designated handicap parking between the dirt track and zMax dragway

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

Camping Cost
Contact the track for pricing

Frequently Asked Questions  
Support Divisions
Super DIRTcar Series

To Win Amount
$25,000.00

Reserved Seating
all seating

Type of Grandstand
Bleacher with backs

Stadium Seating
Not allowed

Handicapped Seating
Lower level and Second level - Reserved seating required - Companion seating is available

Handicapped Parking
Designated handicap parking between the dirt track and zMax dragway

Pit Age Limit
All ages allowed. Minors ages 17 and under must have a signed waiver sheet. ONE parent must be present OR waiver should be notarized with the required ONE parent signature. Call 1-800-455-FANS with questions.

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Personal Coolers
Fans can bring in a soft-sided cooler no bigger than 14x14x14 and a bag/backpack no bigger than 18x18x14. Hard coolers are not allowed through the gates. Coolers are not allowed in Suites.

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Concessions, Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is also sold at the track

Smoking Policy
designated smoking areas only

Family Section
n/a

Parking Cost
FREE

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

Camping Cost
Contact the track for pricing

Track Info  

The Dirt Track at Charlotte
5500 Concord Parkway S
Concord, North Carolina 28027 

Track Phone
(704) 455-3200

Ticket Phone
(800) 455-3267

Track Type
0.400; semi banked

Sprint Car Track Record
11.880 seconds by Jeff Shepard on 10/6/01

Late Model Track Record
14.183 seconds by Kyle Larson on 11/5/20

Closest Airport
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport

Other Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Track Map
Competitor Info  
Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Tire Rules
Left Front Tire: Hoosier (Open)
Left Rear & Right Front Tire: Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 **Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

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