HAUBSTADT, IN – After thrilling fans with constant lead changes, wrecks and a side by side finish last year, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Saturday, May 4, will return to Tri-State Speedway.
David Gravel claimed victory at the track last year, but the Series stars had their hands full several fast, local Indiana drivers, and NASCAR-star Kyle Larson, showing why the World of Outlaws is The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Gravel was the meat in between the Indiana-native sandwich at the start of the race with Kevin Thomas Jr. taking the early lead, and Josh Peck breathing down Gravel’s neck. Gravel managed to get the lead on the first lap, but it didn’t last long. Thomas lost a wheel on the first lap, bringing out a caution, and on the restart Peck out dueled Gravel for the lead.
In familiar fashion, Sheldon Haudenschild had his No. 17 NOS Energy Sprint Car glued to the high side of the track, passing cars lap by lap. He and Gravel gave fans their money’s worth trading positions for about three laps before a caution ended their war for second.
Haudenschild eventually took the lead in the closing laps of the race, but on a late restart, Peck tried to pull a slide job on Haudenschild and failed. The two made contact, leaving Haudenschild sideways on the track and collecting several other cars.
Their loss gained Gravel the lead. In the final three laps of the race, Gravel held off Indiana-native Hunter Schuerenberg and third-place Kyle Larson for his first win at the track.
This year’s race is sure to be just as exiting.
Gravel is already having a successful year, winning two races in the first 12 races of the year. He is also only the fourth driver this year with more than one win – Daryn Pittman, Logan Schuchart and Brad Sweet are the other two.
Kraig Kinser, of Bloomington, Ind., will be on the hunt for his first win since 2017 in his home state. He finished 15th at the track last year, but is steadily gaining momentum this year. After getting his first top-10 of the season at Arizona Speedway, he followed it up with leading laps at Devil’s Bowl Speedway and finishing fourth.
The battle for the points lead will be exciting to watch as it could change every lap. Brad Sweet currently leads second-place Donny Schatz by eight points and third-place Daryn Pittman by sixteen points.
Event information for the race is available at www.WorldofOutlaws.com. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch the race LIVE on DIRTVISION.com. Should Saturday’s event fall to weather, Sunday, May 5, will be the makeup, with all times starting one hour earlier than Saturday’s scheduled race.
Following the Series’ visit to Tri-State Speedway, The Greatest Show on Dirt will make its next stop Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, for a doubleheader weekend at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Previous Feature winners:
2018 – David Gravel on May 13
2017 – Parker Price-Miller on May 14
2016 – David Gravel on May 14
2015 – Paul McMahan on May 3
2014 – Paul McMahan on May 10
2013 – Tim Kaeding on April 20
2012 – Craig Dollansky on April 21
2011 – Sammy Swindell on May 30
2010 – Craig Dollansky on Oct. 16
2009 – Steve Kinser on June 25
2008 – Craig Dollansky on July 6
2007 – Steve Kinser on April 21
2006 – Craig Dollansky on April 15
2005 – Steve Kinser on April 16
2004 – Tim Kaeding on Oct. 8
1999 – Mark Kinser on May 16
1998 – Mark Kinser on May 10, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1997 – Steve Kinser on May 11, Sammy Swindell on June 22
1996 – Mark Kinser on May 12
1995 – Stevie Smith on May 14, Steve Kinser on July 16
1994 – Andy Hillenburg on May 15, Dave Blaney on July 17
1993 – Dave Blaney on May 16, Andy Hillenburg on July 18
1992 – Gary Wright on May 10, Sammy Swindell on July 26
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on May 12, Steve Kinser on July 14
1990 – Doug Wolfgang on May 13
1989 – Steve Kinser on May 14
1988 – Bobby Davis, Jr. and Sammy Swindell on May 15 (co-winners)
1980 – Steve Kinser on May 11
1979 – Lee James on May 13, Larry Gates on Aug. 19
