The road to Charlotte is almost over, but two more stops remain before officially concluding the 2021 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season at the NGK/NTK World Finals on November 4-6.
Oklahoma’s Lawton Speedway and Texas’ Devil’s Bowl Speedway highlight this weekend’s slate as The Greatest Show on Dirt continues the 80-race grind.
A combination of 13 full-time Outlaws, several top-tier invaders, and a contingent of local talent will make up the stout fields on Halloween weekend.
Let’s look at some of the top storylines to follow:
ON THE PROWL: If all goes right this weekend, Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne Racing could clinch their third consecutive World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship. The Big Cat enters the doubleheader in front of David Gravel by 98 points and will essentially seal the deal if he exits with a 96-point advantage.
The points system pays out 150 points to the winner, 146 points for second, and then drops by two points per position until 24th on back earns 102 points. With Sweet’s stash of provisionals, a 98-point margin would seal the deal entering next week’s NGK/NTK World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
The good news for fans of the Grass Valley, CA native is he thrives at both venues on the slate this weekend. His only appearance at Lawton Speedway resulted in a second-place effort last year, and he’s a former winner at Devil’s Bowl. If he gets the job done, Sweet will join legends Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz as the only drivers to three-peat in 44 seasons of World of Outlaws history.
SCHATZ SURGING: Since the Knoxville Nationals, nobody on the World of Outlaws tour has been more consistent than Donny Schatz and the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 team. With an average finish of 4.0, the 10-time Series champion is far and away ahead of his next closest competitors including David Gravel (6.25), Brad Sweet (6.55), and Logan Schuchart (6.85).
Last weekend the Fargo, ND native passed Carson Macedo for the third spot in the championship standings and still has an outside chance at David Gravel for the second spot. He’s -60 points behind Gravel with four races remaining and a $40,000 difference in the points fund separating second place’s $100,000 check and third place’s $60,000 payday.
20,000 REASONS: Saturday’s Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl marks the 13th event of the season paying $20,000 or more to the winner. Through the previous 12 events of such magnitude, only Kyle Larson ($176,000 at Knoxville, $175,000 at Eldora) and Carson Macedo ($75,000 at Williams Grove, $25,000 at Skagit, $21,000 at Keller Auto) have topped multiple shows.
Another seven drivers including Tyler Courtney ($175,000 at Eldora), Logan Schuchart ($50,000 at Jackson), Aaron Reutzel ($30,000 at Huset’s), David Gravel ($25,000 at Bristol), Brad Sweet ($25,000 at Lernerville), Brent Marks ($20,000 at Williams Grove), and Sheldon Haudenschild ($20,000 at I-55) also have high-payday wins.
OOOOKLAHOMA: For almost 40 seasons, the Outlaws in Oklahoma has been a yearly tradition. A wide-ranging variety of seven different “Sooner State” tracks have graced the schedule and this Friday night, Lawton Speedway will join State Fair Speedway and Tulsa Speedway as the only three tracks to hold 10+ races.
Owasso, OK’s own Daryn Pittman is the most recent winner in his home state, topping last year’s long-awaited Lawton return over Brad Sweet & David Gravel. When it comes to other Outlaw winners through 87 races in Oklahoma, only Donny Schatz, Kerry Madsen, and Brad Sweet are among the active crop to win within state lines.
A handful of local Oklahoma natives are expected to compete in Friday’s Feature, including Noah Gass of Mounds, OK, who has attended a career-high 23 events with The Greatest Show on Dirt this year.
WHERE IT ALL STARTED: Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX is forever the birthplace of the World of Outlaws. The date was March 18, 1978, and Ted Johnson was the man who brought The Greatest Show on Dirt to life. An all-star cast of drivers was led by winner Jimmy Boyd, then Doug Wolfgang, and Tom Corbin.
Sure, 43 years have passed since that spring night in the heart of Texas, but the World of Outlaws and Devil’s Bowl Speedway still shine brightly in 2021. Saturday’s stop at the 1/2-mile is the 89th all-time event at the track with Sammy Swindell (18 wins) and Steve Kinser (16 wins) sticking out above the rest.
HOT SAUCE: 19-year-old Giovanni Scelzi of Fresno, CA will enter this weekend as the most recent winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Using a late-race restart at Lakeside Speedway on Friday night, the young superstar stormed by veteran Kerry Madsen and stole his first win of the year and third of his career with the Series.
It marked his first World of Outlaws win driving for Iowa-based KCP Racing and the team’s first win in Outlaw action in more than two years. The victory also came during Dylan Buswell’s first night as the new crew chief on the #18 after already earning four Series wins earlier this year while working for Roth Motorsports and Aaron Reutzel.
Although not a platinum member, Scelzi and KCP have competed with the Series the most of any non-full-time driver. Through 44 races they’ve collected 25 top-10 finishes, 11 top-five results, and one victory from last weekend.
PERFECT 10: With four races remaining, Sheldon Haudenschild has his eyes set squarely on victory lane. He’s still in the midst of an important battle for the fifth spot in the championship standings with Logan Schuchart, but the Wooster, OH native also wants to hit the 10-win mark for the first time in his World of Outlaws career.
It’s already been a career year for the pilot of the Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink #17, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get better. With crew chief Kyle Ripper, Haudenschild has already made eight visits to victory lane this year at Magnolia (MS), Cotton Bowl (TX), Eldora (OH), Beaver Dam (WI), Williams Grove (PA), I-55 (MO), and Black Hills (SD).
He’ll have four chances to reach 10 wins with Lawton and Devil’s Bowl this weekend and two Features at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on November 4-6.
This Week at a Glance – When and Where
Friday, October 29 at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK
Saturday, October 30 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX
On the Internet
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month
Around the Turn: Following this weekend, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the 2021 season finale. Another epic edition of the NGK/NTK World Finals on November 4-6 will conclude the campaign for Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, and the Super DIRTcar Big Blocks.
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (14 Drivers):
16 wins – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #49
10 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
10 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
8 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing #17
6 wins – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S
4 wins – Kyle Larson, Silva Motorsports #57
4 wins – Aaron Reutzel, Roth Motorsports #83
3 wins – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
3 wins – Kerry Madsen, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #14
2 wins – James McFadden, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9
2 wins – Brent Marks, Brent Marks Racing #19
1 win – Spencer Bayston, Sam McGhee Motorsports #11 / CJB Motorsports #5
1 win – Dave Blaney, Dave Blaney #10
1 win – Tyler Courtney, Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC
1 win – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18
FEATURE LAPS LED (29 Drivers):
333 laps – Brad Sweet
296 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
292 laps – Carson Macedo
254 laps – Logan Schuchart
241 laps – David Gravel
220 laps – Donny Schatz
188 laps – Aaron Reutzel
114 laps – Kerry Madsen
97 laps – Kyle Larson
66 laps – James McFadden
63 laps – Spencer Bayston
57 laps – Tyler Courtney
39 laps – Brent Marks
33 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
27 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
25 laps – Wayne Johnson
16 laps – Tanner Carrick
13 laps – Colby Copeland
11 laps – Sye Lynch
10 laps – Jacob Allen, Brock Zearfoss, Parker Price-Miller
9 laps – Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl
3 laps – Ian Madsen
1 lap – Kraig Kinser, Brandon Spithaler, Dave Blaney, Brian Brown
SLICK WOODY’S QUICKTIME AWARDS (24 Drivers):
18 QuickTimes – David Gravel
7 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
5 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet
4 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo, Kerry Madsen
3 QuickTimes – Aaron Reutzel
2 QuickTimes – James McFadden, Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne, Cory Eliason, Giovanni Scelzi, Parker Price-Miller, Lance Dewease, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 QuickTime – Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Sye Lynch, Logan Wagner
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (45 Drivers)
32 Heat Wins – David Gravel
28 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
24 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
19 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
17 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Heat Wins – Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart
11 Heat Wins – James McFadden
8 Heat Wins – Brian Brown
7 Heat Wins – Kerry Madsen
5 Heat Wins – Kraig Kinser
4 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Jason Sides, Wayne Johnson, Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, Ian Madsen
3 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Anthony Macri, Lance Dewease, Brent Marks, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen, Kyle Larson, DJ Netto, Parker Price-Miller
1 Heat Win – Danny Dietrich, Hunter Schuerenberg, Brandon Spithaler, Tim Kaeding, Jack Dover, Scotty Thiel, Paul McMahan, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, Jac Haudenschild, Sye Lynch, Chad Trout, TJ Stutts, Ryan Robinson, Blake Carrick, Ayrton Gennetten, Dylan Cisney, Logan Wagner, Spencer Bayston
PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):
34 Podiums – Brad Sweet
24 Podiums – David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo
21 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Podiums – Logan Schuchart
12 Podiums – James McFadden
10 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel
8 Podiums – Kerry Madsen
6 Podiums – Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi
4 Podiums – Kyle Larson, Lance Dewease
3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Anthony Macri
2 Podiums – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason, Anthony Macri, Danny Dietrich, Tyler Courtney, Spencer Bayston
1 Podium – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Anthony Macri, Dave Blaney, Daryn Pittman, Paulie Colagiovanni, Austin McCarl, Colby Copeland, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2021 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Fri, Feb. 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Sun, Feb. 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Logan Schuchart (1)
3. Fri, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)
4. Sat, March 6 / East Bay Raceway Park / Tampa, FL / Aaron Reutzel (1)
5. Fri, March 12 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
6. Sat, March 13 / The Rev / Monroe, LA / David Gravel (1)
7. Fri, March 19 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
8. Sat, March 20 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brad Sweet (2)
9. Sat, March 27 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Brad Sweet (3)
10. Fri, April 2 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (4)
11. Sat, April 3 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (5)
12. Fri, April 9 / Kokomo Speedway / Kokomo, IN / James McFadden (1)
13. Sat, April 10 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (2)
14. Fri, April 22 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (2)
15. Sun, April 24 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (3)
16. Thur, April 29 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Brad Sweet (6)
17. Fri, April 30 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (7)
18. Sat, May 1 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (8)
19. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (1)
20. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Wed, May 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Brad Sweet (9)
22. Fri, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (3)
23. Sat, May 15 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Aaron Reutzel (2)
24. Tues, May 18 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ / Logan Schuchart (2)
25. Fri, May 21 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (4)
26. Sat, May 22 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Dave Blaney (1)
27. Mon, May 31 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Kyle Larson (1)
28. Sat, June 5 / Granite City Speedway /Sauk Rapids, MN / David Gravel (5)
29. Fri, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (4)
30. Sat, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (5)
31. Thur, June 17 / 34 Raceway / West Burlington, IA / Brad Sweet (10)
32. Fri, June 18 / Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway / Dubuque, IA / Donny Schatz (1)
33. Sat, June 19 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
34. Mon, June 21 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
35. Tues, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Aaron Reutzel (3)
36. Thur, June 24 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (1)
37. Fri, June 25 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (2)
38. Sat, June 27 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
39. Fri, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (11)
40. Sat, July 3 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (12)
41. Sat, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Brad Sweet (13)
42. Tues, July 13 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Spencer Bayston (1)
43. Wed, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (6)
44. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Tyler Courtney (1)
45. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
46. Sun, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (7)
47. Tues, July 20 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / Brad Sweet (14)
48. Fri, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
49. Sat, July 24 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
50. Fri, July 30 / Ransomville Speedway / Ransomville, NY / Aaron Reutzel (4)
51. Sat, July 31 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (7)
52. Fri, August 6 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
53. Sat, August 7 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
54. Wed, August 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (NP)
55. Thur, August 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (NP)
56. Fri, August 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Rico Abreu (NP)
57. Sat, August 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
58. Sat, August 21 / Red River Valley Speedway / Fargo, ND / Donny Schatz (2)
59. Sun, August 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (8)
60. Wed, August 25 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Brad Sweet (15)
61. Fri, August 27 / I-80 Speedway / Greenwood, NE / Donny Schatz (3)
62. Sun, August 29 / Black Hills Speedway / Rapid City, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
63. Fri, September 3 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / James McFadden (2)
64. Sat, September 4 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Brad Sweet (16)
65. Sun, September 5 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Carson Macedo (8)
66. Mon, September 6 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Logan Schuchart (4)
67. Fri, September 10 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / David Gravel (9)
68. Sat, September 11 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / Logan Schuchart (5)
69. Sat, September 18 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
70. Fri, September 24 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (6)
71. Sat, September 25 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / David Gravel (10)
72. Fri, October 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kyle Larson (4)
73. Sat, October 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (10)
74. Fri, October 8 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Kerry Madsen (3)
75. Sat, October 9 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Spencer Bayston (2)
76. Fri, October 22 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
