All full-time competitors were honored along with the distribution of many special awards

CONCORD, NC (November 12, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrapped up a nine-month tour across the country Saturday night, and then celebrated the year’s accomplishment during the Championship Awards Banquet on Sunday.

A new champion was crowned, and every team that completed the full season with The Greatest Show on Dirt was honored for their efforts and received their point fund check for the year with the top eight drivers all banking more than $100,000. A number of special awards were also distributed to highlight impactful presences in the sport of Sprint Car racing.

CHAMPION: Before the 2024 season, only 10 individuals could call themselves a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion. This year that number grew to 11.

David Gravel finally got the elusive title. After four third-place finishes in the points and a trio of runner-ups the last three years, Gravel summited the mountaintop in 2024 with Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports. Gravel’s season included 15 wins, 33 podiums, 60 top 10s, and a 4.88 average finish.

“It’s been a long, fun ride,” Gravel said. “I was Rookie of the Year in 2013. It’s a grueling deal. Donny (Schatz) has kicked our butt so long. I started out with the All-Stars, and Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer kicked my butt every week, and you try to mold yourself around those guys and learn from those veteran guys how to win a championship. I’ve run third since 2015 and then second a couple years in a row. It was like, ‘Man, can I do this?’ You just never know. When you can finally put it all together, it’s really, really special.”

It was also Quiring’s first title as a car owner. In May, Big Game Motorsports became only the sixth team with at least 100 World of Outlaws wins, and then Quiring added his name as the 10th different owner with a championship.

Gravel and the team earned a hefty $350,000 payday for their efforts, and they’ve already announced their intentions to defend the title in 2025.

NOS ENERGY DRINK ELOY GUTIERREZ SPIRIT AWARD: The Human Horsepower Award received a new name as it fittingly became the NOS Energy Drink Eloy Gutierrez Spirit Award. It now honors the man who was instrumental to electronic timing and scoring being implemented in dirt track racing and a man whose kindness knew no bounds.

Marketing Director for NOS Energy Drink, Lauren Albano, presented a pair of the awards with one going to Donny Schatz and the other to Kraig Kinser. Both have committed a majority of their lives to the sport and exhibited a similar dedication to Sprint Car racing as Gutierrez.

KEVIN GOBRECHT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: History was made in 2024 as Michael “Buddy” Kofoid put together the best statistical debut season of all-time on his way to earning the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

“I just want to thank Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra) and Dennis and Teresa Roth for the opportunity to drive such an iconic car,” Kofoid said. “Todd Ventura, the team manager, keeps us all in line. Andy Graves at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) gives us everything we need to do this. And of course, Mobil 1 and Toyota. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I took a couple years off Sprint Car racing to run Midgets and didn’t know if I’d ever have the chance to do this. I feel like this was definitely the right opportunity and the best opportunity I’ve ever had to drive any Sprint Car and probably any race car period.”

The Penngrove, CA native racked up seven wins, 27 podiums, and 53 top 10s aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83. Those numbers led him to equaling the record for the best Rookie of the Year points finish ever of fourth, equaling Jeff Swindell (1981), Brad Doty (1982), and Giovanni Scelzi (2023).

CREW CHIEF OF THE YEAR: For the second time in his career, Cody Jacobs took home the Crew Chief of the Year honors.

The Ohio native turns the wrenches on the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 for Gravel and picked up his first Series championship along with his driver. Gravel’s win at World Finals last week was Jacobs’ 50th World of Outlaws victory as a crew chief.

He adds the 2024 Award to the one he received in 2021, which was his first year leading the Big Game crew.

TED JOHNSON MEMORIAL AWARD: Every year the World of Outlaws recognize an individual for their outstanding contributions to Sprint Car racing, and the 2024 honors went to a deserving Tony Stewart.

The Columbus, IN resident was a force behind the wheel of a Sprint Car, assembled one of the most successful organizations of all-time with Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing, has continued the legacy of Earl Baltes by taking Eldora Speedway to new heights, and done much more to grow the sport he’ll always love.

“Sprint Car racing is my passion,” Stewart said. “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing or what Series I’ve ran in the past or what I’m doing now, my heart’s always been with Sprint Car racing, and it’s always going to be there. I had a unique friendship with him (Ted), and we miss him every day. Very appreciative of the foundation he’s laid and what World Racing Group has done since they’ve taken this over and taken it to heights that it’s never seen before. Everybody has done their part. I’m just really proud to be a part of it, especially with Ted’s name on this. It really means a lot to me personally.”

JASON JOHNSON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Jason Johnson brought a warm and welcoming presence to the World of Outlaws pit area, and the Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award acknowledges those who offer a similar commitment to positivity. Jimmy Fitzwater of Sides Motorsports was the 2024 recipient as he perfectly embodies this spirit with his constant hard work and refusal to have a bad day.

FAN FAVORITE: Sheldon Haudenschild’s reign on the Fan Favorite Driver Award continued in 2024 as he was voted as the favorite again.

It’s no surprise that the Wooster, OH native continues to be beloved by fans across the nation. His all-out style follows in the footsteps of his legendary father Jac Haudenschild. He does everything he can to win every single night. Haudenschild bagged eight wins in 2024, matching the second highest total in his World of Outlaws career. He established a career-high for podiums in a season with 24.

“Thank you to all the fans,” Haudenschild said. “That’s why we do it, right? We’re entertainers, and we want to put on a show.”

FEDERATED CAR CARE WORK ZONE TEAMWORK COUNTS AWARD: For their efforts helping Logan Schuchart get back out on track at Knoxville Raceway earlier this season, the Shark Racing team was presented the Federated Car Care Work Zone Teamwork Counts Award.

SOCIAL AMBASSADOR: David Gravel also collected 2024 Social Ambassador honors with his championship trophy. The 32-year-old has prioritized social media, being sure to stay on top of keeping his fans informed of his life each and every week with the World of Outlaws.

KSE HARD CHARGER: Donny Schatz took home the KSE Hard Charger of the year by collecting a total of 12 Hard Chargers in 2024, including sweeping all three during World Finals week. Schatz was constantly on the move this year in the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15, passing more than 300 cars over the course of the season.

ENGINE BUILDER OF THE YEAR: Engines are the heartbeat of the beasts that are 410 Sprint Cars, and Brian Morrison was recognized as this year’s Engine Builder of the Year. Morrison Racing Engines power many of the sport’s elite organizations including the championship winning Big Game Motorsports No. 2.

CHASSIS BUILDER OF THE YEAR: Maxim Chassis have long been the choice for many of the sport’s top teams, and as a result they took home another Chassis Builder of the Year Award from the World of Outlaws.

Below is the list of the 12 full-time World of Outlaws competitors in 2024, where they finished in the standings, and the point fund check amount they received at the Awards Banquet:

1. David Gravel ($350,000)
2. Carson Macedo ($210,000)
3. Donny Schatz ($140,000)
4. Michael Kofoid ($122,500)
5. Sheldon Haudenschild ($113,750)
6. Giovanni Scelzi ($109,375)
7. Logan Schuchart ($105,000)
8. Bill Balog ($100,625)
9. Brock Zearfoss ($96,250)
10. Landon Crawley ($87,500)
11. Kraig Kinser ($70,000)
12. Bill Rose ($52,500)

The 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season gets rolling on Feb. 5-8 at Volusia Speedway Park’s (Barberville, FL) Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, every lap of the 2025 season will be live on DIRTVision.

 TULSA, OK (November 12, 2024) – The 2024 American Sprint Car Series National Tour season has taken the best 360 Sprint Car teams in the nation from Louisiana to Montana and everywhere in between, but the 34-race journey comes to an end this weekend in Oklahoma.

Action starts Thursday night at Tulsa Speedway with a pair of Features – the $6,000-to-win Dirt Down in T-Town main event that was postponed due to weather in June, as well as a separate $4,000-to-win full program.

Teams will then make the drive across Tulsa to Creek County Speedway for Fuzzy’s Fall Fling. A $4,000-to-win Feature on Friday night will set the stage for the season finale on Saturday night, where the race winner will take home $10,000 and the all-new ASCS Emmett Hahn Championship Trophy will be awarded.

The Sprint Cars will be joined on the card by Factory Stocks, Tuners and Dwarf Cars at Tulsa and NOW600 Dwarf Cars at Creek County.

Tickets will be available at the track on all three nights. Can’t make it? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:

ON THE VERGE: Seth Bergman has already had his best season ever on the National Tour, and with a 156-point lead in the standings, he’s in position to put a bow on it this weekend with his maiden Series championship.

His six wins and 20 top fives in 2024 are the highest totals of his career in both categories with four more chances left to add to them.

And while Snohomish, WA will always be home, Bergman has resided in the Tulsa area since 2018, which means he’ll have the opportunity to clinch the title and commence the celebration in front of his hometown fans.

If the stat sheet is anything to go by, the No. 23 team has a good chance of ending the season on a high note. Bergman finished fifth at Tulsa earlier this season in his second appearance at the track, while his visits to Creek County this year have netted him a Sooner Region win in March and a runner-up with the National Tour in June.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: The closest title fight entering the weekend is on the Owners side, as TwoC Racing leads Hill’s Racing Team by 50 markers.

For TwoC driver Hank Davis, it’s his chance to earn one more trophy for Todd Carlile and Wayne Johnson in his final weekend with the team. It also marks his return to the 360 after spending last week in Charlotte making his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car debut with Michael Dutcher Motorsports at the World of Outlaws World Finals.

As a native of nearby Sand Springs, OK, Davis is no stranger to either track on this weekend’s schedule. He made several 305 Sprint Car starts at both Tulsa and Creek County early on in his Sprint Car career and translated that experience into finishes of second at Tulsa and third at Creek County in the 360 earlier this year.

However, Sam Hafertepe Jr. and the No. 15H team are well within striking distance heading to two tracks they have had plenty of success at in the past. Hafertepe enters the weekend with momentum on his side after winning the most recent race on tour at RPM Speedway, and he went to Victory Lane with the Series at both Tulsa and Creek County in June.

The Tulsa win came in his first start at the track, while his National Tour victory at Creek County was one of three wins there this year alongside a local win in May and a POWRi triumph in September.

LAST CHANCE: For everyone not on the list of 13 names who have won a National Tour race in 2024, this weekend is their last opportunity to take the checkers before putting the race cars away for the winter.

The highest driver in the standings without a win is Matt Covington, who is looking to snap a 37-race winless streak dating back to August 25, 2023 at Lakeside Speedway. Two of Covington’s 15 National Tour top fives this year came at Tulsa and Creek County, so he isn’t far off from having a race-winning combination at either track.

Others searching for their first win of the year and of their National Tour careers include Andrew Deal, who sits 20 points behind Jason Martin in the battle for the last spot in the top five, as well as Zach Blurton, who will be looking to end the season with the same speed that garnered him a pair of podiums in August at Lincoln County Raceway and Big Sky Speedway.

SOONER SENDOFF: The 2024 season for the ASCS Sooner Region will also come to an end this weekend, with a first-time Series champion set to be crowned.

Casey Wills took on the full Sooner tour in 2024 for the first time, and the decision has paid off with a commanding lead atop the points entering the weekend. Wills is still searching for his first win of the year, but considering his season-best finish of third came at Creek County in August, he could be a threat to end the season in Victory Lane and keep the Fuzzy’s Fall Fling trophy in the Sooner State.

Other regional names to keep an eye on include Sean McClelland, who won that August Sooner Region show, as well as Alex Sewell, who has finished second at Creek County three times this season between the Sooner Region and the Oil Capital Racing Series.

OUTSIDE INVADERS: With the season drawing to a close and few options on the table for where to race, plenty of non-regulars are expected to take on the National Tour in Oklahoma.

Two drivers on that list who won’t have to travel far are Sapulpa, OK’s Blake Hahn and Broken Arrow, OK’s Roger Crockett. Hahn nearly scored his first Series win of the year last time out at RPM, where he led early in the Feature before Hafertepe slipped by. Crockett has also impressed in his limited appearances on the National Tour, winning at Arrowhead Speedway and finishing third at 81 Speedway.

Brady Baker has also announced his intentions to make the trip west from his Alexander, AR home in search of his maiden Series triumph. He’s been knocking on the door throughout the year, with podiums at Super Bee Speedway, Arrowhead and RPM highlighting his 13 National Tour appearances so far.

Knoxville Raceway will be well represented in Oklahoma, as Tasker Phillips, JJ Hickle, Riley Goodno and Zach Hampton are all expected to make the seven-hour drive south to compete.

Other drivers to keep an eye on include 14-year-old Brogan Carder, who is looking to make his first Feature start with the Series after four attempts at Riverside and RPM, as well as local favorite Emilio Hoover, who recently picked up his first National Tour top 10 at Arrowhead.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Thursday, Nov. 14 at Tulsa Speedway in Tulsa, OK
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16 at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):

1. Seth Bergman (3668 points)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-156)
3. Matt Covington (-279)
4. Hank Davis (-333)
5. Jason Martin (-551)
6. Andrew Deal (-571)
7. Landon Britt (-636)
8. Zach Blurton (-689)
9. Kyler Johnson (-754)
10. Terry Easum (-857)

FEATURE WINNERS:
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 10
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 3
Derek Hagar – Marion, AR – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1

QUICK TIME AWARDS:
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 12
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 2
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Josh McCord – Bossier City, LA – 1
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1
Lance Moss – Cherryville, NC – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1

HEAT RACE WINS:
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 9
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 8
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 8
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 7
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 6
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 4
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 3
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 3
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 3
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 2
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Juhl – Tea, SD – 1
Garet Williamson – Columbia, MO – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Hunter Schuerenberg – Sikeston, MO – 1
Tanner Holmes – Jacksonville, OR – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Parker Price-Miller – Kokomo, IN – 1
Colton Hardy – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Tanner Thorson – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Brian Brown – Hugginsville, MO – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 1
Sterling Cling – Tempe, AZ – 1
Tucker Boulton – Brighton, TN – 1
Derek Hagar – Marion, AR – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Ayden Gatewood – Caruthersville, MO – 1
Marshall Skinner – Marion, AR – 1
Carson Bolden – Quinlan, TX – 1
Colby Stubblefield – Seagoville, TX – 1
Brenham Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1

DASH APPEARANCES:
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 23
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 22
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 15
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 13
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 9
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 6
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 6
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 5
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 4
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 4
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 2
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 2
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Elijah Gile – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 1
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1
Sterling Cling – Tempe, AZ – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Derek Hagar – Marion, AR – 1
Carson Bolden – Quinlan, TX – 1
Colby Stubblefield – Seagoville, TX – 1
Brenham Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS:
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 2
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 1
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chase Porter – St. Joseph, MO – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Rich Bailey – Helena, MT – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 1
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 1
Noah Harris – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Ayden Gatewood – Caruthersville, MO – 1
Marshall Skinner – Marion, AR – 1
Colby Stubblefield – Seagoville, TX – 1

PODIUM FINISHERS:
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 18
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 17
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 11
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 7
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Derek Hagar – Marion, AR – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 1
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1
Sterling Cling – Tempe, AZ – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Kyle Jones – Kennedale, TX – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1

TOP 10 FINISHERS:
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 24
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 24
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 21
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 19
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 19
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 17
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 15
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 9
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 10
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 9
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 8
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 6
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 4
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 4
Kelly Miller – Stirling, AB – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 4
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Terry McCarl – Altoona, IA – 3
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 2
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 2
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 2
Tasker Phillips – Pleasantville, IA – 2
Jamie Ball – Knoxville, IA – 2
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 2
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 2
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 2
Sterling Cling – Tempe, AZ – 2
Derek Hagar – Marion, AR – 2
Kyle Jones – Kennedale, TX – 2
Brenham Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 2
Channin Tankersley – Arlington, TX – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Huish – Jetmore, KS – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Fred Mattox – Drumright, OK – 1
Brad Bowden – Hernando, MS – 1
Michael Day – Farmersville, TX – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Justin Peck – Monrovia, IN – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Miles Paulus – Marshall, MO – 1
Kasey Kahne – Enumclaw, WA – 1
Ryan Giles – Grimes, IA – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Alex Hill – Six Nations, ON – 1
Cole Macedo – Lemoore, CA – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Blayne Brink – Gillette, WY – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Emilio Hoover – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Anton Hernandez – Arlington, TX – 1
Howard Moore – Memphis, TN – 1
Morgan Turpen Havener – Gallatin, TN – 1
Marshall Skinner – Marion, AR – 1
Colby Stubblefield – Seagoville, TX – 1
Casey Wills – Sperry, OK – 1

2024 AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Friday, Apr. 19 / Super Bee Speedway / Chatham, LA / Seth Bergman (1)
Friday, May 10 / Red Dirt Raceway / Meeker, OK / Terry Easum (1)
Friday, May 31 / Rush County Speedway / La Crosse, KS / Seth Bergman (2)
Saturday, June 1 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
Tuesday, June 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Thursday, June 13 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
Friday, June 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Seth Bergman (3)
Saturday, June 15 / Tri-State Speedway / Pocola, OK / Seth Bergman (4)
Saturday, June 22 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Jordon Mallett (1)
Friday, June 28 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4)
Friday, July 19 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
Saturday, July 20 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6)
Thursday, Aug. 1 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kaleb Johnson (1)
Friday, Aug. 2 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (7)
Saturday, Aug. 3 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Tyler Courtney (1)
Friday, Aug. 16 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (8)
Saturday, Aug. 17 / Lincoln County Raceway / North Platte, NE / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (9)
Friday, Aug. 23 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Seth Bergman (5)
Saturday, Aug. 24 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Jake Bubak (1)
Friday, Aug. 30 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (1)
Saturday, Aug. 31 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (2)
Tuesday, Sept. 10 / Clay County Fair Speedway / Spencer, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Friday, Sept. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Roger Crockett (1)
Saturday, Sept. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Jason Martin (1)
Friday, Oct. 11 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO / Joe B. Miller (1)
Saturday, Oct. 12 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Hank Davis (3)
Friday, Oct. 18 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR / Derek Hagar (1)
Saturday, Oct. 19 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR / Derek Hagar (2)
Friday, Oct. 25 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX / Seth Bergman (6)
Saturday, Oct. 26 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (10)
Thursday, Nov. 14 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK
Friday, Nov. 15 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Saturday, Nov. 16 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK

ARTICLE: https://ascsracing.com/what-to-watch-for/what-to-watch-for-national-tour-wrapping-up-2024-at-tulsa-creek-county/

EVENT INFO: Tulsa Speedway (Nov. 14), Creek County Speedway (Nov. 15-16)
TRACK INFO: Tulsa Speedway, Creek County Speedway
FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

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LONG BEACH, CA (November 12, 2024) — There are few things as iconic or legendary as the Jim Dunn Racing Mooneyes Funny Car. Rookie Funny Car driver for Jim Dunn Racing, Buddy Hull, will be a part of that legacy for the second time this season, with the return of the Mooneyes body at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Nov. 14-17. 

“One of my favorite memories as a kid was watching Big Jim and Kenji Okazaki win the Big Bud Shootout with the Mooneyes Nitro Funny Car,” said Hull. “And now not just once, but now twice, I will be the driver piloting this car that’s literally a part of motorsports history. These are the kind of experiences that I’ve had this year that have given me chills.”


Moon Equipment Company is a California-based manufacturer of nostalgic hot rod products such as Moon tanks, discs and valve covers. Jim Dunn Racing and Mooneyes have a relationship dating back over thirty years, and the classic yellow Mooneyes car design is practically synonymous with the team.

“The Winternationals was the first time I raced the Mooneyes car, and in between now and then I’ve gotten to represent some other incredible sponsors,” said Hull. “But there’s just something about returning to this body now at this race, that makes me really excited to show everyone how far I have come this year. Particularly when this race is also the Dunn family’s home track, and I’ll be forever grateful to them for this opportunity.”

With the way the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule shakes out, the second race of the year is contested at Pomona, as well as the last. This allows the drivers, teams and fans to witness a full evolution of a season from beginning to end at the same track. For drivers like Buddy Hull, who are experiencing a rookie season in their class, this forces an extra level of reflection upon the year.

“I am one of the most blessed men in the world to be doing what I am doing, driving for an icon like Jim Dunn,” said Hull. “I’ve worked my hardest this year trying to make them and our sponsors proud. I’ve hit career bests this season on every metric from speed, to elapsed time, to reaction time. And I know with the support of the team around me, I will continue to get even better – both at this final race of the year and looking ahead to 2025.”

In addition to Mooneyes, Hull will continue to represent his season-long sponsors, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Lescure Mechanical Services, Solid Start/True Brand Products, Blaze Exhaust Probes, Kindness General Contractors, Crow Safety Gear, Koppl Pipeline Services, Good Vibrations Motorsports, Powerbuilt Tools and Wiley X. 

“This is the final race of the year, and I’m ready to hit it hard,” said Hull. “We’re going to throw everything at the wall, so we can end this season on the highest note we possibly can. I’m ready to get to Pomona and show everyone what this Mooneyes car is made of, and to give Jim and the rest of the Dunn family the biggest thank you.”

Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will make two qualifying runs on Friday, November 15 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, November 16 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars in qualifying will contend in the final day of competition on Sunday, November 17. The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT. Fans can watch the finals on FS1. For tickets or more information on the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals visit nhra.com.

Expanded Cadillac Racing GTP program kicks off 2025 prep with new, familiar faces

DETROIT (Nov. 12, 2024) – Five weeks after securing the pole and victory to close out the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Cadillac Racing begins a new chapter where 2024 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) competition started. Cadillac Racing returns this week to Daytona International Speedway with an expanded three-car lineup for IMSA-sanctioned test days that will introduce seven drivers to the racecar powered by the purpose-built 5.5-liter V8 engine and lay groundwork for the 2025 season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Scheduled to participate Friday and Saturday on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course:Cadillac Wayne Taylor RacingNo. 10 – Ricky Taylor, Filip Albuquerque, Will StevensNo. 40 – Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, Alex LynnCadillac WhelenNo. 31 – Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti Brendon Hartley and Kamui Kobayashi, who will drive in the 63rd twice-around-the-clock race in January, are not available to join their teammates this week. Wayne Taylor Racing returns under the GM umbrella with the goal of renewing the successful pairing that includes an unprecedented five-race IMSA winning streak in 2017 to start Cadillac Racing’s prototype era. “It’s fantastic to return to driving for GM/Cadillac,” Albuquerque said. “Since I started racing in America in overall class, it was with the Chevy DP in 2016, then I did another four years with Cadillac DPi and now to be back is amazing.

Media resources* Event notes* No. 10 driver CVs* No. 31 driver CVs* No. 40 driver CVs* Drivers by the numbers* 2024 IMSA statistics Driver availability 1-1:20 p.m.both days at transporters

“In the first two seasons of GTP class, I had many fights with Cadillac and saw how consistently strong they were. I just can’t wait to drive the car for the first time and feel what the car can do.”

Added Deletraz: “I can’t wait to start working together. I look forward to understanding how they work and make such fast cars. Since I joined IMSA, Cadillac Racing has always been extremely competitive and hard to beat. I can’t wait to drive the car for the first time and see what made Cadillac so strong.” Bamber and Lynn, who last drove for Cadillac Racing full time in IMSA in 2022, bring insights of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Cadillac Racing Hypercar to the respective championship-winning teams. “I’m looking forward to getting down to Daytona and starting the work to start the new year off on the right foot,” Bamber said. The 2024 season started well for Cadillac Racing as Bamber’s new team, fielded by Action Express Racing, earned the pole with a track-record lap time and finished a close second in the race. The team concluded the nine-race campaign with a track-record, pole-winning lap and fifth-place finish in the Motul Petit Le Mans. Overall, the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R scored four of Cadillac Racing’s GTP class-high six poles.

AVONDALE, AZ – November 11, 2024  – Team Penske’s Joey Logano won Sunday’s Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, marking his 36th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, fourth of the year, and his fourth at Phoenix. This win also marks the first time Ford has won the NASCAR Cup Series title three years in a row (Logano in 2022, Blaney in 2023, and Logano in 2024) and the first time that has been achieved by Team Penske. Logano is the first Ford driver to win at least three Cup Series championships and the 10th driver in NASCAR history, joining fellow three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time champions Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

“Congratulations to Roger, Tim, Paul, Joey, and everyone at Team Penske on a 1-2 finish at Phoenix and the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship!,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Both of the Team Penske cars were fast throughout the race and Joey did an amazing job on that last restart. We’re proud to have powered three NASCAR Cup Series Championships in a row, and it’s an honor to stand alongside such a talented and hardworking team.”

“I love the playoffs. I love it, man. What a race. What a Team Penske battle there at the end. I had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12. He had a lot of long run speed there and that was all I had there to hold him off. We have three of them. That’s really special. What a team to fight through today. We went through a little bit of adversity in throughout the race. I can’t thank Ford enough and Shell and Pennzoil and Hunt Brother’s Pizza. Paul Wolfe, what a crew chief I have. I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team and together we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most. We’ve got a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters,” commented Logano.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano started Sunday’s race for the championship in P2 with teammate and fellow championship contender Ryan Blaney in P17. On lap 10, Logano took the lead and held on to win Stage 1. Following pit stops during the caution, Logano fell to fifth with teammate Ryan Blaney just ahead. Blaney passed Christopher Bell for the lead on lap 178 to win Stage 2. The race only had two cautions for incidents, the first on lap 2 and the second on lap 250. The yellow flag for the second caution waved with only seven cars on the lead lap – three of which were Championship 4 contenders – Blaney, Logano and Reddick. Byron stayed out during the caution period to restart from the lead with fresh tires. Logano took the lead for the final time after gaining four spots in two laps on the final restart with 52 laps remaining, passing teammate Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell. Logano was able to hold off Blaney in the closing laps and won by 0.330 seconds for a 1-2 finish for Team Penske. Since NASCAR introduced the elimination style playoffs, Logano is the only three-time champion (2018, 2022, and 2024). Team owner Roger Penske’s organization scored its third consecutive Cup championship, having won all three titles since NASCAR introduced the Next Gen car in 2022.

A total of three Ford Performance drivers finished in the top-10: Team Penske’s Joey Logano in P1, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in P2, and RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher in P9.

The Xfinity Series also raced for the Championship at Phoenix on Saturday, with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer in contention. Teammate Riley Herbst started the race from P3 and Custer started in P7. After taking the lead on lap 10, Herbst won Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the race. After 2 overtime restarts, Herbst passed Justin Allgaier for the race win, while Justin Allgaier won the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship and Cole Custer finished second.

“I knew we were going to have a fast race car. These guys have been working on this Phoenix car as if we were in the playoffs. I knew we were going to be really fast. It has been a really tough week this past week at the shop and a lot of really emotional people. This place has been home for a lot of people for a long time, including myself and it has built me into who I am the last four years. I am grateful to every man and woman at Stewart-Haas Racing. They gave me a really fast car today and we capitalized on it. I can’t thank Monster Energy enough and everyone on the 98 team. They deserve to win. That is a championship caliber team and crew chief. I wish we could have cleaned some stuff up over the last summer but I am proud of these guys and we will see what next year has,” commented Riley Herbst.

41 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 475 WINS – 436 POLES

LAS VEGAS (November 11, 2024) – Melanie Johnson, daughter of 13-time Top Fuel world champion tuner Alan Johnson, made her competitive debut in the Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) category at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend.

Johnson qualified fifth in the 8-car field during the second qualifying session, running a 5.291-second pass at 274.11 mph among 15 competitors. In the first round, she faced 5-time TAD world champion Joey Severance, gaining a starting line advantage but losing traction just past the 60-foot mark. She ultimately had to shut off as Severance pulled ahead with a 5.309-second run at 273.44 mph.

Melanie Johnson made a TAD strong debut at Las Vegas, photo credit Johnson Digital Media

Reflecting on the weekend, Johnson said, “I’m still wrapping my head around achieving my goals of licensing and racing a Top Alcohol Dragster this year. Huge thanks to Rich McPhillips Sr. and Rich McPhillips Jr. for giving me the chance to drive their ‘green car’ and guiding me through the driving procedures. I couldn’t ask for a better group of racers to work with and learn from.  Although I would have loved to go more rounds, I’m proud of how I handled the car and all the seat time, learning something from each run.”

Ahead of the event, Johnson completed two test runs on Thursday, experiencing severe tire shake on both. However, she managed to step off the gas quickly and maintain control. In Friday’s first qualifying round, the car, set up aggressively, ran a 0.919 sixty-foot time—one of the event’s quickest—but drifted out of the groove, leading her to coast to a 6.759-second pass at 132.99 mph. The second and third qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday allowed Johnson to make smooth passes down the quarter mile, clocking a 5.291 in Q2 and a 5.335 in Q3, securing her the fifth qualifying position.

“Overall, it was a solid weekend. Melanie got test laps, qualifying runs, and an elimination round in a tough field. She competed against other A/Fuel and blown alcohol cars and experienced a lot of different conditions,” commented Rich McPhillips Jr. “She was unfazed, stayed focused, and did her job. Unfortunately, we didn’t give her the best car this weekend, with the severe tire shake, but she handled it well.”

Melanie Johnson looking to race full 2025 TAD schedule next season, photo credit Johnson Digital Media

Johnson dedicated this year to competing in Super Comp, working with Tom Bayer Racing to hone her driving fundamentals and reaction times, participating in six events to date. She had been in discussions with McPhillips Racing for over a year about earning her TAD license, which she achieved in a Monday test session in August following the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. She completed three successful passes in the McPhillips Racing dragster, including a half-track pass of 5.739 seconds at 182.53 mph, followed by full-length passes of 5.289 at 267.53 mph and 5.317 at 269.89 mph, demonstrating her potential as a driver.
Johnson’s father has been supportive of her journey into the TAD ranks. “As I watched Melanie license earlier this year in Brainerd, I was impressed by her track awareness and how well she adapted to the increased acceleration of an A/Fuel dragster,” Alan Johnson shared proudly. “In Las Vegas this weekend, Mel seemed to take the added pressure of competing in her first TAD event in stride as she displayed excellent track awareness, starting line patience, and excellent reaction times. I believe she will develop into a very competitive driver in the TAD class moving forward.”

Johnson has a bright future in TAD racing and is determined to run a full season in 2025. She is currently pursuing sponsorship opportunities and coordinating with McPhillips Racing for additional seat time. Her ultimate goal is to become a Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion, following in the footsteps of her father and her late uncle, Blaine Johnson, who together won four consecutive TAD titles from 1991 to 1994. She is eager to continue the Johnson family legacy in NHRA drag racing.

November 10, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team finished 16th in Sunday’s Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway as their Ford teammates Joey Logano and his No. 22 crew won the season title in their Team Penske Mustang.

Burton started Sunday’s season finale from ninth place and had a steady drive all day to post his seventh finish of 16th or better this season. Burton and the Wood Brothers also secured 16th place in the final points standings, thanks to a win at Daytona in August that put them in the Playoffs.

On Sunday, Burton dropped back a few spots on the initial start and ended the first 80-lap Stage in 14th place.

In the second Stage, Burton and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team continued to race mostly inside the top 20 before ending that segment in 19th place.

In the third and final portion of the 312-lap race, Burton worked his way forward, taking 18th place on Lap 264, 17th by Lap 274 and 16th with 24 laps remaining.

Sunday’s race marked Burton’s final drive in the No. 21 Mustang. Next season will see Josh Berry take the wheel with Miles Stanley as crew chief.

Eddie Wood offered his congratulations to Team Penske and to Ford Motor Company for their championship and added his thanks for those who supported his team in 2024.

 “We congratulate Roger Penske and his organization and everyone at Ford on a hard-fought championship,” Wood said. “They were most deserving.

“And as we close out the season I’d like to thank Harrison and all the members of our 21 team, as well as all of our sponsors and fans for all they do for us.

“We wish all of you a happy and safe offseason, and we are all working hard and looking forward to a successful 2025 season.”

The No. 21 team will return to the track on Feb. 2 for the Busch Light Clash at a familiar venue for the Wood Brothers – Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
 

NASCAR CUP SERIES PHOENIX RACEWAY CHAMPIONSHIP RACE TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT NOV. 10, 2024

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10:  POS.   DRIVER3rd – William Byron4th – Kyle Larson8th – Chase Elliott10th – Daniel SuarezWITH 36 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES COMPLETE: Wins: 15 Poles: 10 Top-Five Finishes: 71 Top-10 Finishes: 147 Stage Wins: 23

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the track at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Busch Light Clash at Bowman Gray on February 2, 2025.

·       In his second career Championship Four appearance, William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team drove to a third-place finish in the 312-lap season finale race – ultimately ending the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season third in the final points standings.  ·       The 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native closes out the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season with three trips to victory lane – highlighted by his first crown jewel triumph in the 66th running of the Daytona 500. Byron went on to prove his title potential early in the season, adding two more victories within the first eight points-paying races of the season (Circuit of The Americas – March; Martinsville Speedway – April). In addition to his three victories, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team tallied 13 top-fives and 21 top-10s at the conclusion of the 36-race season.  ·       Closing out the third season of competition for the Next Gen cars, Chevrolet leads its manufacturer competitors with 15 victories – recorded by eight drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. Among those triumphs included two crown jewel victories, including the Daytona 500 with Byron and the Brickyard 400 with Kyle Larson. This marks the third-consecutive season that the Bowtie brand has earned the highest win count on the season, with the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 also recording 18 wins in 2023 and 19 wins in 2022.  ·       With 93 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 48.4% with 45 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – 15 wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 18 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – 12 wins). ·       In 108 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 52 victories – a winning percentage of 48.1%.  ·       With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 866 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 Finished: 3rdIt was a different pit strategy call from crew chief Rudy Fugle. How would you describe that run to the end? Did you feel like you, maybe with a late yellow, you could have had something for Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney? “I don’t know. I know that our No. 24 Axalta Chevy team worked really hard all day, and I feel like we maximized the most part of what we had. We just didn’t quite have enough. Those guys were just faster than us. We would have a short, little surge there in the middle part of the run, and then they would start to drive away on the short and long runs.  We just didn’t have enough, but I’m really, really proud of our team. We fought hard. It was a great strategy there in the final stage to do something different, but we just didn’t have enough.” Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Worldwide Express Camaro ZL1Finished: 10th “I’m happy with our day. Just like at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I feel like we maximized the potential of our No. 99 Worldwide Express Chevy, so that’s good. We had a 10th-place car, or so, and that’s exactly where we finished. I’m really proud of this team. We had a good year, and it’s definitely something good to build off of for the future.”  Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1Finished: 23rd “We clawed all day and made the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet much better there the last few runs. Trent [Owens] made great adjustments as always. I’m proud of the hard work everyone on this team has put in this season. Today was bittersweet, but I can’t thank Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and everyone at Kaulig Racing for these past few years.”

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 10, 2024) – All dreams, all hopes, all anxieties, all wonders, and all dirt roads led to three drivers being crowned champions at the World of Outlaws World Finals Saturday night.

David Gravel, of Watertown, CT, Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL and Mat Williamson, of St. Catharines, ON, conquered all paths en route to the 2024 title with their respective series.

Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports  team – consisting of Cody Jacobs, Stephen Hamm-Reilly and Zach Patterson – earned their first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship. He became the 11th different Series champion and first new champion since 2019. Also, his car owner, Tod Quiring, became the first new team owner to win a title since 2013.

“It’s a dream come true,” Gravel said. “We’ve been working at this for a long time. To do this with Big Game (Motorsports) in our fourth year together feels really really good.”

Sheppard made history by becoming the winningest World of Outlaws Late Model champion in Series history by claiming his fifth Series championship – breaking the tie with Josh Richards. However, this was his first with the Sheppard Riggs Racing Longhorn Factory Team.

“It’s crazy to think about now,” Sheppard said. “These things are not easy to win, and we did it the absolute hardest way possible, that’s for sure. Longhorn and the whole Riggs family gave me everything I needed to get the job done. It’s been a trying year with a ton of ups and downs. We’ve showed a lot of speed but haven’t had the wins that we needed. It was a battle of attrition to keep the thing up front and just be consistent…

“The stars lined up, man. I’ve battled for this a lot of years now. I know how to do it, it’s just a matter of putting together the package to be consistent and be OK when you’re not going to win that night.”

Williamson earned his second Super DIRTcar Series championship – first since 2019 – becoming the eighth driver in Super DIRTcar Series history to win multiple titles.

“It’s unbelievable,” Williamson said about winning the championship. “The second one was way harder than the first one. We worked really hard. The guys do such a good job of getting this thing prepared. I really have to thank them for everything they do. It’s really cool to be sitting here on the front straightaway (at The Dirt Track at Charlotte) celebrating something like this.”

Sheppard and Williamson had to endure the stress of waiting until the final lap of the weekend to be crowned the champion, while Gravel was able to lock up his title on Friday. His championship rival, Carson Macedo, won Friday night’s race, but Gravel’s fourth-place finish gave him enough points to lock up the title – ending the season with 15 wins, 44 top five finishes and 60 top 10s.

Gravel’s championship season started with him winning the second race of the year at Volusia Speedway Park and then taking home his third Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title. He and the Big Game Motorsports team were then masters of consistency, finishing outside the top 12 only two times in the first half of the season. And in that time, Gravel also picked up his first Kings Royal title and a Summer Nationals win at Williams Grove Speedway.

Their win count dropped in the second half of the year, picking up only two wins in that time span, but only had two finishes outside the top 10 with the worse being 13th.

“We started off really good, but when I started to build a big lead (in points) I crashed and it got close again and then stretched it out a little bit,” Gravel said. “We went through a little bit of a slump. Once we got away from the West Coast, I thought we battled back and ran really good to close off the year. It feels good to get the job done, finally.”

Sheppard’s championship season was tame in the win column, grabbing three Series wins on the year – compared to his other four championship years, which saw him earn 18 wins with his first and second titles, 14 wins with this third title and eight with his fourth. However, he too was a master of consistency. He only had eight finishes worse than eighth in 41 starts – and only one outside the top 20.

Although, one of those finishes outside the top 10 came during the first World Finals Feature of the week, putting Nick Hoffman within 26 points of him. And then Bobby Pierce won Friday night’s Feature, while Hoffman suffered a mechanical failure, moving Pierce to second in points – 22 points behind Sheppard.

The drama continued on the final night as Pierce battled for the lead, while Sheppard fought to stay within the top 10 to hold on to his points lead. But Pierce suffered a flat tire near the halfway point and could only recover to a 17th-place finish. Sheppard finished ninth and clinched the title by 38 points.

“It was a crazy year,” Sheppard said. “We’re super happy and thankful for all the sponsors that have stuck behind us. My dad and my grandpa. The whole Riggs family. The whole Longhorn family. Just everybody that’s involved with this team. It’s wild to think about standing here right now. I know the Riggs family has been trying to get one of these for a while.”

The Super DIRTcar Series had the closest points battle of the three Series entering the World of Outlaws World Finals with Williamson trailing 10-time Series champion Matt Sheppard by 15 points. That points lead evaporated for Sheppard and transferred to Williamson after Sheppard’s engine overheated during the first Feature of the weekend. Williamson then went on to win Friday night’s Feature and finish third on Saturday – securing the championship by 33 points over Sheppard.

“In our first year (as a team with Buzz Chew Racing) we came down to Charlotte and won the championship and it was like, ‘Wow, we did it. Good job guys.’ And then the next year you expect it and the year after you expect it and the year after, and so on and so forth,” Williamson said. “To get the second one finally done is unbelievably cool.”

Williamson ended the season with eight Series wins, 14 top five finishes and 17 top 10s. He also earned his second straight DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title in February.

The 2025 season for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series will commence at Volusia Speedway Park for the DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 22-25. Then, the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park will start the new year for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series (Feb. 5-8) and Super DIRTcar Series (Feb. 12-15). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

“Sunshine” pockets $25,000 at the site of his Series debut to close World Finals

CONCORD, NC (November 9, 2024) – In a week defined by uncharacteristically nice November weather, it’s only fitting that “Sunshine” found a way to Victory Lane.

Tyler Courtney was quietly consistent through the first three nights of the World of Outlaws World Finals. Sea Foam Qualifying Night led to him clocking in seventh and 11th in the pair of flights. Then he grabbed finishes of 10th and sixth on Thursday and Friday which set him up on the front row of a Saturday Heat Race.

Then came the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season finale, and Courtney locked himself in the Toyota Dash. Good fortune in the redraw put him P1, and he capitalized.

Courtney won the Dash to set himself up on the pole for the 25-lapper, and he never looked back once the green flag flew at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The Indianapolis, IN native led every lap of the Feature, surviving a brief challenge from Series champion David Gravel to get the win and bank $25,000.

“To end the year on a win like this gives us a little bit of momentum going into 2025,” Courtney said. “Just can’t say enough about all of my guys. Jake, Ron, Bobby, they bust their tails. We struggled a little bit the second half of the season but started to find our footing here in the last month or so. I heard them talking about my debut here with Danny Smith. I think I was racing Jacob Allen for the D-main that year. So 11 years later to come here and get a victory is great.”

It’s Courtney’s third win of 2024 with The Greatest Show on Dirt and his 12th overall this year in a 410 Sprint Car, tied for the third most in the country. It was a full circle night as Courtney got his first checkered flag from the site of his World of Outlaws debut back in 2013.

When the green flag dropped Courtney quickly pulled ahead of outside polesitter Brian Brown. Courtney had the Clauson Marshall Racing No. 7BC on cruise control as he stretched the advantage early.

David Gravel surged from seventh to the runner-up spot by Lap 13 and appeared primed to give Courtney a challenge when a caution came out a lap later erasing his more than five-second lead.

But Courtney refused to let it slip away even as Gravel pressured him on the restart. Courtney kept his NOS Energy Drink ride glued to the bottom as Gravel braved the top. Gravel got the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 wound up and closed in for about a lap, but ultimately Courtney prevailed as he rolled away and took the checkered flag with more than a two-second gap between himself and Gravel.

“I think we proved to not only ourselves but a lot of other people too that we belong on the national tour and that we can compete too,” Courtney said of he and his team’s season. “I haven’t won as many Outlaw races in a year as I did this year, so to go out and do that is really accomplishing for myself and our team and just awesome.”

Gravel’s runner-up gave him a strong punctuation to his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship. He and Big Game Motorsports pieced together 15 wins, 33 podiums, 44 top fives, and 60 top 10s on their way to a title. Gravel became the 11th different driver to earn a championship with The Greatest Show on Dirt while Quiring became the 10th different owner.

While they might’ve come up one spot short, the race exemplified why Gravel and the Tod Quiring-owned crew came out on top in 2024. They’ve got a fast race car with one of the most talented Sprint Car drivers in the country who does what he needs to do without taking unnecessary risks. The Big Game No. 2 came home P2 to close out the season.

“The beginning of the race really went my way,” Gravel explained. “A couple of guys missed the bottom, and I was able to get underneath them. “Brownie” (Brian Brown) got messed up on the cushion there, and I was able to get by him. Then a caution came out and kind of had a clean slate. Then we had that run, and he started getting into traffic, I felt like that was a little bit of my chance there. Then we had the caution or the red with five to go. He was really, really good in clean track.”

Rounding out the final podium of the season was Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team. The Californian got the top going late in the running to work his way into third.

“I think late in the race there it transitioned back to the top,” Macedo said. “These guys (Courtney and Gravel) were actually running the middle which surprised me. But Brownie went to the bottom there on that restart and I think just spun a little bit, and I was able to get a run and get around him. It was a hard-fought race. It changed a lot just like I feel it has the last couple of nights with the way the track prep is. Man, hats off to this team. They’re doing a great job. They’re delivering, Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn.”

Ryan Timms and Brian Brown completed the top five.

Donny Schatz completed a clean sweep of the World Finals KSE Racing Hard Charger Awards by taking the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 from 18th to ninth for his third in a row.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, and Justin Peck. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Buddy Kofoid.

Tyler Courtney topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Bill Balog won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Giovanni Scelzi.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars begin the 2025 season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 5-8. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[7]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 4. 10-Ryan Timms[9]; 5. 21-Brian Brown[2]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen[12]; 11. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 12. 2KS-Cory Eliason[16]; 13. 39M-Anthony Macri[19]; 14. 9-Kasey Kahne[10]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[14]; 16. 14-Spencer Bayston[15]; 17. 27-Emerson Axsom[17]; 18. 17B-Bill Balog[21]; 19. 91-Kyle Reinhardt[23]; 20. 70-Kraig Kinser[27]; 21. 69K-Logan Wagner[24]; 22. 24D-Danny Sams III[22]; 23. 88-Austin McCarl[20]; 24. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 25. 7S-Landon Crawley[26]; 26. 13-Daison Pursley[13]; 27. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[25]

Allgaier’s First Career Series Title

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 9, 2024) – As the checkered flag flew for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, a long-awaited dream came to reality for JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier. Driving his No. 7 Camaro SS to a runner-up finish – the best among the Championship Four drivers – in the series’ season finale race at Phoenix Raceway, Allgaier earned the title as the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.  “We’re so proud that Justin Allgaier, one of our longest members of Team Chevy, is now a first-time champion,” said Dr. Eric Warren, Executive Director, Global Motorsports Competition, for General Motors. “Congratulations to Justin, Jim Pohlman, Mike Bumgarner and the entire No. 7 JR Motorsports Camaro SS team for winning this championship. They worked hard all season long and delivered another strong performance when it mattered the most. What a great way to finish the NASCAR Xfinity Series season for Chevrolet.” The title is the fourth in the series for JR Motorsports’ co-owners Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., all of which have been recorded under the Chevrolet banner. The feat also celebrates Chevrolet’s 22nd NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Championship since the inception of the series in 1982. “Also, congratulations to Kelley Earnhardt Miller, LW Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning their fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series championship,” added Dr. Warren. “We’re proud that they have earned each of their championships in partnership with Chevrolet.”

During the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season, the 38-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native piloted his No. 7 Camaro SS to two wins (Darlington Raceway and Michigan International Speedway) en route to his series-leading ninth playoff campaign. Despite a tumultuous opening round, Allgaier once again proved his true championship potential – earning three top-eight finishes in the Round of Eight to point his way into his seventh Championship Four appearance.  “This team never gave up,” said Allgaier. “Jim Pohlman (crew chief) – his leadership skills are second to none. He told me all weekend that we were going to have a chance.”  Allgaier joins 16 other Chevrolet drivers to earn the NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Championship title. Others on that elite list include Tyler Reddick (2018 & ’19), William Byron (2017), Chase Elliott (2014), Austin Dillon (2013), Clint Bowyer (2008), Martin Truex, Jr. (2004, ‘05), Brian Vickers (2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, ‘06), Jeff Green (2000), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (1998, ‘99), Randy LaJoie (1996, ‘97), Johnny Benson (1995), David Green (1994), Steve Grissom (1993), Joe Nemechek (1992) and Larry Pearson (1987). “Dale (Earnhardt) Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller, L.W. Miller, everybody at JR Motorsports, all the men and women, all five of our race teams – just the effort that we’ve put in, I’m at a loss for words,” added Allgaier. “We’re going to celebrate this one for sure. It’s unbelievable.” Chevrolet also led the series with 18 wins this season, with 10 drivers from four different Chevrolet teams taking the Camaro SS to victory lane. The Bowtie brand returns to competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

November 9, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will close out the 2024 season with two-straight top-10 starts as Burton has secured the ninth starting spot for Sunday’s Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway.

That follows a sixth-place start last week at Martinsville Speedway. It’s Burton’s and the team’s third top-10 start of the season, the other coming at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

Like last week at Martinsville, Burton and the team had a strong practice session on Friday at Phoenix. Burton was 12th on the speed chart with a best lap at 131.637 miles per hour. That came on the fourth of 61 laps he ran in the session. Among drivers who ran 10 consecutive green-flag laps he was 14th fastest, averaging 129.962 mph from the 23rd to the 32nd laps he ran.

In qualifying on Saturday, he was fifth fastest in Group B with a lap at 134.645 mph. Then in the final round he was ninth fastest with a speed of 132.188 mph.

“It was a really good day,” Burton told reporters at the track. “Obviously you get in the top 10 and 12th in practice. The last two weeks have just been really good, and Vegas before that was really good for us.

“Homestead, we kind of missed it a little bit, but I just can’t express enough what it means for my race team to bring me fast cars even when I’m on my way out.

“It sucks because we know we can do it. We’ve done it the last two weeks, showing that we’re fast enough.

“Obviously a mechanical failure last weekend took us out, but this is a good enough team to be a winning Cup team, so it’s bittersweet and really sad to be leaving but really proud of the effort and how we keep fighting. It’s really special.”

Burton said he’s hoping for a strong run on Sunday in his final ride in the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse.

“I think we are going to have a good race car,” he said. “We were a little bit tight, and I think that bodes well for long runs in the race.

“I want to run as good as I can, hopefully up front, and try to win this thing.”

Sunday’s 312-lap, 312-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 1 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern) with NBC carrying the TV broadcast.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 185.

NASCAR CUP SERIES PHOENIX RACEWAY CHAMPIONSHIP RACE TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING REPORT NOV. 9, 2024

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUP POS.   DRIVER3rd – Ross Chastain4th – Kyle Larson5th – Chase Elliott8th – William ByronIN 35 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES Wins: 15Poles: 10Top-Five Finishes: 69Top-10 Finishes: 143Stage Wins: 23

·       Four Chevrolet drivers posted top-10 qualifying results for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. The defending winner of the series’ season finale race, Ross Chastain, drove his No. 1 Busch Light Camaro ZL1 to a best-lap of 26.812 seconds, at 134.268 mph, in the second round of qualifying to secure a third-place starting position for tomorrow’s 312-lap event.  ·       Joining Chastain in the top-10 includes a trio of Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1’s, including Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 team in fourth; Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 team in fifth; and Championship Four contender, William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 team, in eighth.  ·       Each of Chevrolet’s top-10 qualifiers are past winners in NASCAR’s top division at Phoenix Raceway, with William Byron and Ross Chastain sweeping the 2023 races, and Kyle Larson (2021) and Chase Elliott (2020) each earning a victory in their title-winning seasons.

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1: Post-Qualifying Quotes  Q. William, do you feel like you have enough in your car this weekend to contend for the championship tomorrow? WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, I do. Just didn’t quite get the second lap I wanted to there in the second round, so bummed about that. But I feel really good about our race car. Get first pit pick, which is huge. So excited for all those things. We just need to put together a good start to the race, but really it’s such a long race. It’s just going to be about trying to get to the finish and have what you need there. Q. How much does it matter having two non playoff drivers in the front row to start things off like this? WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, I don’t think it really matters. I think it’s a race just like any other week. You’re going to have to deal with those things. So, yeah, I don’t put too much focus on that, really. Just trying to get the most out of my car and try to just get the most out of the day. Q. How much does the first pit stall assuming you’re picking the first pit stall with the No. 1 pick, how much does it matter? WILLIAM BYRON: We’ll see. The rules have changed a little bit on the lines, so we’ll see. I think I just have to do a good job throughout the day rolling time, and I have the best pit crew out there. So it’s going to be a good advantage for us just doing our jobs. The pit stall hopefully is clean for us and just work from there.  Q. Did you watch the truck race last night at all? They penalized 100 people it seemed like for not starting in the or changing lanes before start/finish line. Will that impact anything that you do or were planning to do tomorrow? WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah. I think it was a little bit different than it’s been in the past, just in the way that the restarts were going and the available space on the bottom. I’ll just adjust as needed. But yeah, I feel like I’ve understood the way it is for a while, so I don’t really worry about it too much. Q. Just speed wise alone, where do you think you guys are at this weekend? WILLIAM BYRON: I think we’re plenty capable. I feel like we had some things to improve after practice, and I feel like we did those things. So big credit to everyone – not only on our team, but back at the shop and Hendrick Motorsports as a whole. I feel good about it. I feel like we’re in a ball game. So just have to put together a good first couple of stages; try to get towards the front, and then go from there. Q. Nerves wise, is this just a normal weekend to you? Are you unfazed? WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, qualifying is probably the biggest nerves. I think just trying to get through those laps and put good laps together. But, yeah, once I get in the car, I feel like my nerves are pretty normal. Yeah, I get nervous just like everybody else, but I feel like I’m able to manage it pretty well.

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 9, 2024) – The 2025 season finale for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is coming home to Millbridge Speedway for a two-night program, Monday–Tuesday, Nov. 3–4.The move brings the Series’ championship finale to its birthplace and places it among the biggest week for dirt racing in North Carolina — the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which is 30 minutes south of Millbridge.Titled as the Xtreme Outlaw Midget World Championship: The Kickoff to World of Outlaws World Finals, the inaugural event will help commence a massive week of championship celebrations for the premier dirt racing series.“The World of Outlaws World Finals is one of the biggest events in dirt track racing, and with Millbridge’s short drive from Charlotte, we all knew we wanted to make the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series part of this special week,” said Tyler Bachman, Xtreme Outlaw Series Director. “Our relationship with the Millbridge staff has grown so much over the past three years, and what better way to grow one of our biggest events on the schedule than to put it in front of fans that travel into the area for World Finals.”For the past three seasons, the Xtreme Outlaw Series has made its annual Millbridge stop during the week leading up to Memorial Day — coinciding with the NASCAR weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway — and will now move into the fall, giving Millbridge a fall Midget program for the first time since the track’s last presentation of the Carolina Midget Showdown in 2021.“We think that the track, with the red clay, is going to bring some better racing in November than it would in the middle of the summer,” said Ashly Burnett, Millbridge Speedway co-owner and promoter. “We love our NASCAR fans, but we really want to bring some good racing to our dirt fans as well.”While the 2025 World Finals runs Nov. 5–8, the Xtreme Outlaw Midget World Championship will get the week’s racing festivities started with a $4,000-to-win Feature on Monday, Nov. 3, and a $5,000-to-win main event on Tuesday, Nov. 4.A Series championship coronation will follow the completion of Tuesday’s program, after which all attendees are encouraged to spend the rest of the week at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modified action.Historically, multiple drivers from non-open-wheel racing disciplines have had cars prepared to compete during Millbridge’s two-day Midget event, which has been contested every year since 2020 in both the spring and fall.“We see that every week at Millbridge; you never know who’s going to show up,” said Burnett, who hosts several NASCAR stars and their family members as competitors in the track’s weekly Micro Sprint program. “When you present them with a big race, especially with the Midgets and bring Xtreme in, you really never know — not only NASCAR, but any form of motorsports — we always get surprised who shows up and who enters our events.”NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe won the first-ever Midget events contested at the 1/6-mile oval in December 2020, followed by USAC champion C.J. Leary’s sweep of both Midget events on the red clay in October 2021.The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series began its inaugural season at Millbridge the following spring with multi-time track champion Gavan Boschele taking the first-ever Series checkered flag in May 2022. History was then made at the next Millbridge race as Taylor Reimer was deemed the winner, becoming the first woman to earn a win in national Midget competition.Cannon McIntosh — the 2024 Series champion — swept the two-day show in May 2023. And Karter Sarff and Zach Daumsplit this year’s shows.Tickets for the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw World Championship: The Kickoff to World of Outlaws World Finals will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch, stream every lap from every 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Series event live on DIRTVision.ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/millbridge-speedway-to-host-xtreme-outlaw-midget-championship-finale-during-world-finals-week-in-2025/EVENT INFO: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4547705 TRACK INFO: https://millbridgespeedway.com/ FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/

Macedo makes it a dozen wins in 2024 with Jason Johnson Racing after compelling duelCONCORD, NC (November 9, 2024) – Carson Macedo came into the World of Outlaws World Finals knowing he wouldn’t leave anything on the table. The odds of climbing back in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car championship fight were slim, but that didn’t mean he’d give less than maximum effort. And that kind of attitude brought him to Victory Lane on Friday night.Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew earned the pole for the 25-lap finale and came out on top of a spirited battle with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid for a $15,000 score at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.Macedo led early before Kofoid roared by on the outside, but the Lemoore, CA native refused to be beaten by his fellow Californian as Macedo came back with a slide job that proved to be the winning move.Only three spots behind him, David Gravel came home fourth to secure a World of Outlaws title and end Macedo’s outside chance. But the 28-year-old had nothing to hang his head about. He did everything he could by picking up the win, but Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports team continued the consistency they showed all season long.“I think it takes time to win a race here,” Macedo explained. “It’s definitely a chess game. As the lines and stuff move around, you’ve got to be able to move around with them. I think your car, obviously, being good helps a lot, too. I felt really confident when Buddy got by me that I could maybe get back by him.“Feels good to win the battle tonight, but obviously we kind of lost the war. That’s a little bit bittersweet, but congrats to the 2 team and David on winning the championship. Man, we fought all year. We fought as hard as we could. Someday maybe we can be sitting in that spot.”The Charlotte win made it a dozen overall in 2024 for Macedo with The Greatest Show on Dirt. That marks a new personal best for him. It was also his first ever checkered flag from the North Carolina facility. His 47th career victory moves him within four of equaling Jeff Swindell for 17th all time.As previously noted, a fourth place result locked up the championship for David Gravel. He becomes the 11th driver in Sprint Car history to own a World of Outlaws title. Big Game Motorsports team owner, Tod Quiring, is only the 10th owner to claim the championship and becomes the first new one since 2013 when Kasey Kahne got his first with Daryn Pittman behind the wheel.“It feels good to go into tomorrow just racing for a win,” Gravel said. “I want to touch that trophy and raise that trophy above my head because I’ve been doing this for a long time. We’ve been close a lot of years and been on the podium a lot in the points. To finally get it done and do it with Levi, being a dad, and having a family and everything feels really, really cool. There’s a small list of World of Outlaws champions, and I’m just proud to be one of them.”Macedo and Kofoid led the field to green, and Macedo jumped right out to an early lead.The early part of the race allowed Macedo to inch away from Kofoid and Gravel as he rolled the bottom of the freshly prepped surface, but lapped traffic threw him a curveball.Once traffic became a factor near the halfway point, Macedo’s lead started to shrink as Kofoid started to get the cushion going around the 4/10 mile. Kofoid finally found the momentum he needed to blast by for the top spot on Lap 16 out of Turn 2. Macedo came back at him with a slider in the next set of corners, but Kofoid calmly crossed him over to keep the lead.It was a short-lived stint atop the leaderboard as the tricky cushion caught Kofoid. The Roth Motorsports driver tripped up outside of Turn 2 allowing Macedo back to his tail tank. He wasted no time looking to reclaim the top spot as he tried to throw a slider in Turn 3 but couldn’t clear him. However, one more set of corners was what Macedo required as he tossed a slide job that stuck in Turns 1 and 2.From there, Macedo drove away with ease to his 12th World of Outlaws victory of the 2024 campaign.“I was just the leader and didn’t really know where to be,” Macedo said of his race. “I was running the bottom at the time and felt like it was slowing down. My pace was just getting so low. I kept getting my wing back I tried it the one time and felt like I was on ice skates it was so dirty. I just never thought that it would’ve been that good. Then I could hear Buddy get to my outside, I thought, ‘Man, he must just be running just behind me.’ Then I see him leave my left rear off of (Turn) 2. I tried to slide him in (Turns) 3 and 4 and got over the cushion a little bit. But overall, my car was incredible.’Kofoid came home in the runner-up spot for his second straight second place finish in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. He continues to make some final additions to his unbelievable rookie season résumé with the World of Outlaws.“Obviously, Carson and the 41 guys were really good,” Kofoid said. “I just had my wing back to be really good down there (Turns 3 and 4) kind of through the dust before it cleaned up. And then I was kind of running across (Turns) 1 and 2, middle-up and kind of was just getting my wing back every lap. Then it looked clean enough, so I moved up more on top into (Turn) 1 and just plugged it a little bit too hard and let Carson back by.”Like Kofoid finished up second both nights, the third position belonged to Justin Peck once again on Friday. The Monrovia, IN native continues to prove he’s quickly adapted to wheeling his new ride, the Rudeen Racing No. 26.“Two nights in a row we’ve kind of started a bit free as we started that Feature. My car is awesome. After we get a couple laps into the race it starts coming in. The longer the race goes the faster I seem to get. The car is really good man.”David Gravel and Kasey Kahne completed the top five.A 23rd to 15th run earned Donny Schatz back-to-back KSE Racing Hard Chargers.NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, and Justin Peck. Milton Hershey School Heat went to Buddy Kofoid.Carson Macedo won the Toyota Racing Dash.Logan Schuchart won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Danny Sams III.UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up their 47th season with the $25,000-to-win World of Outlaws World Finals finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. For tickets, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.FEATURE RESULTS:NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 3. 26-Justin Peck[4]; 4. 2-David Gravel[3]; 5. 9-Kasey Kahne[8]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[13]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 9. 13-Daison Pursley[6]; 10. 91-Kyle Reinhardt[10]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[9]; 14. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[23]; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart[21]; 17. 10-Ryan Timms[16]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[25]; 19. 2KS-Cory Eliason[24]; 20. 27-Emerson Axsom[22]; 21. 23W-Justin Whittall[19]; 22. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 23. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 24. 7N-Darin Naida[20]; 25. 99-Skylar Gee[12]For complete results, CLICK HERE.ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/giving-his-all-carson-macedo-out-duels-kofoid-for-charlotte-win-gravel-locks-up-title/EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6174 TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Nov. 4, 2024) – John Force Racing swept the postponed 24th NHRA Nevada Nationals on Monday, claiming victories in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. Austin Prock, driving for the Cornwell Tools team, and Brittany Force, piloting the Chevrolet Accessories Top Fuel Dragster, each secured wins from the No. 1 qualifying position, while their teammate Jack Beckman earned a semi-finalist result in his PEAK Chevrolet.  Prock’s victory marked a significant achievement, tying the record for the most Funny Car wins in a single season since 2000, when team owner and Hall of Famer John Force captured 11 victories. The win with teammate Brittany Force also marks the first double-up win since Prock and Robert Hight shared the winner’s circle at the Charlotte 4Wide on April 30, 2023.  In the final round of Funny Car, Austin Prock’s Chevrolet Camaro SS faced Paul Lee, echoing their matchup at the Northwest Nationals in Washington earlier this year. He  maneuvered his Camaro to the 1,000-foot mark, in combat with Lee, and secured a decisive victory outperforming Lee in every metric on NHRA’s official timeslip. Prock recorded a reaction time of 0.065 seconds and an elapsed time of 3.830 seconds at 327.33 mph, surpassing Lee’s 0.089-second reaction time and 3.982-second elapsed time. “I mean, this team has just been lights out this year.” said the former NHRA Rookie of The Year,  “Outstanding job by each and every one of the Cornwell Crew. They all carry their weight and pick up weight from, you know, if a guy’s behind or struggling. They all got each other’s back, and that’s what makes a team. We win and lose as a team, and we won as a team today.” The victory all but secures the first championship of the 29-year-old’s career. He enters the final race of the 2024 season just points shy of a perfect race over teammate Jack Beckman. “That’s our main goal this year, is to win the championship. When I got in the race car, at the beginning of the year, my dad [crew chief Jimmy Prock] said, I want a world championship, so we’re getting really close. And to do it with my dad and brother [co-crew chief Thomas Prock], you know, all three of us Procks, would be really special, along with this whole Chevy team.” Prock’s cross-class teammate Brittany Force was also victorious in Vegas. With guidance from crew chief David Grubnic, her Chevrolet Accessories Top Fuel team earned Force her third Nevada Nationals win and fourth overall at “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The victory marked a return to form for a team that once dominated the class, breaking a two-year absence from the winner’s circle since their last win at this event in 2022. “This is definitely a special one, and it’ll always be a special one in our book.” said the 2x NHRA Top Fuel Champion, “Not just for me, but all of John Force Racing. It’s been a difficult season for us all. And I’ve been out of the winner’s circle for two years since this event here in Vegas. I felt good coming into this race. You know, our team’s really been pushing hard, and we’ve been seeing the progress on the track. It’s just incredible for our entire Chevrolet team, and all our sponsors. Monster Energy, Cornwell Tools, HendrickCars.com, all of them. To get them back in that winner’s circle is incredible, and a really special one because it was my dad’s first race back since his wreck. To be able to celebrate with him in the winner’s circle and a double up, I mean, this is one of the biggest wins in our camp, for sure.” Force’s 3.703-second pass at 332.59 mph, moved straight down the groove as reigning champion Doug Kalitta smoked the tires off the line and shut it down early. The victory marked the 17th of her career and moved her team from eighth to seventh in the overall championship standings.  The Chevy dragster now sits  118 points behind leader Justin Ashley heading into the NHRA World Finals. When qualifying begins Nov. 15th for the In-N-Out Burger Finals at Pomona, Calif., she will be only 34 points out of fourth place in an event that pays 30 points for each round win instead of the usual 20.Jack Beckman, filling in for sidelined team owner and driver John Force in the PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car, proved to be one of the fastest in their class.   Qualifying second overall, Beckman and his team had aimed to face teammate Austin Prock in the final round but ultimately settled for a semi-final finish. Lee claimed a holeshot win over Beckman with a career-best 3.834-second pass at 330.23 mph, edging the PEAK Chevy at the stripe by just 0.0024 seconds.  “Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for me and my PEAK Chevy Team.” said the winner of 2024’s Midwest Nationals. “It was really frustrating to lose. Paul Lee’s car was gonna run a mid-81 against us, we still laid down an .82 with the cylinder out. Even when our car is not perfect, it is still one of the best hot rods out here, and it gives me nothing but excitement pulling into Pomona for the last race. Our push right now is to close the season with a win, 1-2 for John Force.” Beckman holds second place in the Funny Car championship standings behind teammate Austin Prock, trailing by 188 points with 191 points still up for grabs. To secure the title, Beckman will need a standout performance and some missteps from Prock, setting up an all-John Force Racing showdown in the season’s final stretch.

CHEVROLET IN NHRA2024 FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY LAS VEGAS, NEVADA TEAM CHEVY RACE RECAP | NOTES & STATS NOVEMBER 4, 2024  Aron Stanfield Captured Chevrolet’s 400th Pro Stock Win Since 1970 While His Father Greg Stanfield Won the Factory X Championship in Las Vegas

Notes:Doubling up at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Monday, Austin Prock, competing in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, and Brittany Force, driving the Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, both won their respective categories in team owner John Force’s first return to the track since his incident in Richmond earlier this season.Prock, who leaves Las Vegas leading the championship over teammate Jack Beckman, racing on behalf of John Force in the Countdown to the Championship, won his eighth event this season and 12th of his career by defeating Paul Lee in the final round.Force raced to her 36th career final round and faced off against Doug Kalitta in Monday’s final round, making a 3.703-second E.T. lap at 332.59 mph pass to win her 17th career Wally trophy and first this season.With a strong performance by both John Force Racing Funny Cars on Sunday up to semifinals, Prock and Jack Beckman, competing on behalf of John Force in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, ensured the team will compete for the World Championship, its 21st in team history, in Pomona. All three John Force Racing cars raced to the semifinals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before racing was suspended Sunday for cold temperatures. The Top Fuel Finals and Funny Car semifinal and final rounds were completed Monday in Las Vegas.Heading into race day atop the qualifying leaderboard, Force captured her fifth No. 1 qualifier of 2024 and 51st in her career, by running 3.660 seconds E.T. at 334.98 mph.Prock secured his 14th No. 1 qualifier this year, breaking the record of team owner and 16-time world champion John Force for most No. 1 qualifiers in a single season. First taking the provision No. 1 qualifier spot with his Q2 run of 3.843 seconds E.T. at 333.33 mph, Prock then bested his qualifying result in Q3 with 3.817 seconds E.T. at 327.98 mph.Prock secured the record as Force looked on during his return to the track at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first time since his accident in Richmond.Beckman raced his way to the semifinals against Paul Lee but faced a close drag race determined by .002 E.T. and fell to Lee.Qualifying No. 2 for Sunday’s NHRA Nationals, Beckman ran a career-best elapsed time during Q4, a stout 3.821 seconds E.T. at 330.41 mph.Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock with Elite Motorsports, captured Chevrolet’s 400th win since 1970 in the category by defeating Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.comChevrolet Camaro SS. Stanfield captured his sixth win of 2024 and 14th career in Pro Stock, beating Anderson with a .023 reaction time on a 6.606 seconds E.T. run at 206.31 mph. Anderson finished runner-up behind Stanfield by just .08 mph on a run of 6.591 seconds E.T. at 206.39 mph.With Dallas Glenn eliminated in Round 1 on Sunday in Las Vegas and Aaron Stanfield racing to the Finals on Monday, Stanfield leaves Las Vegas and heads to Pomona the Pro Stock points leader in a tight world championship battle.Concluding four qualifying sessions, Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, captured his seventh No. 1 qualifier this season and 131st of his career. Dallas Glenn, who leads the championships standings over Aaron Stanfield and Anderson, qualified No. 5 heading into race day in Las Vegas.Reaching the final round in Holley EFI Factory X, Greg Stanfield, driving the Rod Shop Chevrolet COPO Camaro, secured his sixth NHRA world championship on Friday and the inaugural in Factory X. Stanfield won the season-opening Las Vegas race, and additionally captured victories at Chicago and Dallas to win three times in 2024. Friday saw Jesse Alexandra break the six-second barrier to become the first competitor in the Holley EFI Factory X category to do so behind the wheel of his Chevrolet COPO Camaro. Alexandra raced to the feat by running a stout 6.988-second E.T. pass at 192.44 mph in his 2024 Camaro.

Quotes:AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:“I’m feeling amazing. Me and Brittany (Force) have been talking about doubling up all year long, and to get it done when John (Force) is finally back at the racetrack, the good Lord was looking down on us, blessing us today. It’s been a wild weekend, a long weekend, but it’s going to be a (dang) long day. Thank you Cornwell Tools, thank you, Chevrolet, thank you GHX, Rick Hendrick, HendrickCars.com, thank you, everyone. Let’s go!” BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:“It means everything. We’ve been chasing this win for two years at this event. It has been a long road this whole season, but I’m really proud of these guys right here. They’ve never given up. The hard work that has gone into this team, their patience, until we got back here, their fight to never give up, I’m proud of all of them. I have to thank my sponsors Chevrolet, Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com, Cornwell Tools, GHX, all of them. It took all of us to get here. This win right here, like I said, I believe, I always believe, that everything happens for a reason and I believe that God has a plan. This was his plan, to win, to double up because it’s the first race my dad (John Force) has come back to since his wreck in Virginia. It’s been a long road. I’m so proud of him. This win right here, this win is for him.” DAVID GRUBNIC, CREW CHIEF FOR BRITTANY FORCE AND THE CHEVROLET TOP FUEL TEAM:“The track is excellent. We probably didn’t get enough in it to compensate for that, but either way it got the job done. We’ve had a struggle this year, and one win isn’t going to be enough to get us back to where we need to be. I’ve got to thank all of our sponsors, the Force family, they’ve been very patient with me. But we’re turning it around. We can see where we’re going.” JOHN FORCE, TEAM OWNER OF JOHN FORCE RACING, ON TODAY’S DOUBLE-UP IN LAS VEGAS:“Well, Brittany (Force) drove the Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster and got the win, and (Austin) Prock of course, he drives the Cornwell Camaro. He got the win, too. So, I’m really excited. Brittany has struggled all year, but I think they got it figured out, and we’ll see where it goes. But I just want to thank Chevrolet for everything, and I want to really thank HendrickCars.com, all of our great partners. I got to see both of my teams win today with their support and with our entire family at the track this weekend. I’m glad to be back.” JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:“Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for me and my PEAK Chevy team. It was really frustrating to lose, and we lost to what was the quickest run of the weekend. Paul Lee’s car was going to run a mid-81 against us. We still laid down a .82 with the cylinder out. Even when our car is not perfect, it is still one of the best hot rods out here and it gives me nothing but excitement pulling into Pomona for the last race. Our push right now is to close the season with a win, 1-2, for John Force.” AARON STANFIELD, DRIVER OF THE JOHNSONS’ HORSEPOWERED GARAGE/MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS PRO STOCK FOR ELITE MOTORSPORTS:“They (his Elite Motorsports team) all went back and studied what happened, and they made the right calls here. It’s a little tricky when you don’t have as many race cars on the racetrack. Man, I’ve got the greatest guys out here at the racetrack, and thank you to (Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage), Jason and Nikki Johnson, the Melling Brothers, Joe Janac, and all these Elite Motorsports boys. This was a big day for us, and it’s Vegas baby!”

Up Next:The final race of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series takes place at the famed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip Nov. 15-17. The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals air first with Friday qualifying on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday’s finals air following, also on FS1, at 4 p.m. ET. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

Toyota Top Fuel Dragsters hold the top five in points heading to NHRA finale

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 4, 2024) – In his quest to defend his Top Fuel World Championship, Doug Kalitta fell just short of a season sweep at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, coming home as the runner-up in the Las Vegas Fall Nationals. Kalitta had to go through Toyota teammates and championship competitors, Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon, on his way to his sixth final round of the season and 118th of his career. He fell to two-time world champion, Brittany Force, in the postponed final round on Monday. 

Kalitta’s performance during the weekend’s eliminations moved him up three spots in the Top Fuel points standings to be tied for fourth position as Toyota now owns the top five in the category points heading to the final race at Pomona in two weeks. Also, with Kalitta making the Top Fuel finals, Toyota has now reached 42 consecutive NHRA event final rounds in either Top Fuel and/or Funny Car.

Looking to close the gap in the Top Fuel standings himself, Langdon went rounds on Sunday and faced Kalitta in a hotly-contested semifinal. Unfortunately, Langdon suffered a blown rear tire as he approached the 1,000-foot mark that led to a center line violation and gave the round win to Kalitta, who also faced trouble. By making the semifinals, however, Langdon has pulled within one point of Brown for second place in the Top Fuel points standings.

Justin Ashley, Brown and Steve Torrence were the other Toyota Top Fuel Dragsters to advance out of round one on Sunday. Ashley still holds a 44-point lead over Brown in the Top Fuel points standings, while Langdon inched closer to only now trail by 45 points. Torrence marginally lessened his deficit to Ashley, now sitting 85 points back of the lead in the fourth position, tied with Kalitta.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps defeated Alexis DeJoria in round one of action on Sunday but fell in round two. By making it to the quarterfinals, Capps moved up to third in the Funny Car standings, now ahead of Matt Hagan by seven points. Like DeJoria, J.R. Todd was defeated in the first round of Funny Car action on Sunday.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series concludes its 2024 season at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, with eliminations set for Sunday, November 17.

Toyota Post-Race Recap

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas Fall Nationals

Race 19 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Finalist	W (3.861) v. I. Zetterstrom (7.019) W (3.692) v. A. Brown (3.728) W (No time) v. S. Langdon (Center line violation) L (6.147) v. B. Force (3.703)
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-finals	W (3.680) v. J. Salinas (3.744) W (3.701 – holeshot) v. J. Ashley (3.698) L (Center line violation) v. D. Kalitta (No time
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.711) v. S. Massey (3.735) L (3.698) v. S. Langdon (3.701 – holeshot)
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.724) v. T. Stewart (3.735) L (3.728) v. D. Kalitta (3.692)
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.700) v. T. Schumacher (3.738) L (3.719) v. C. Millican (3.726 – holeshot)
Billy Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L (3.741) v. C. Millican (3.727)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Second Round	W (3.917) v. A. DeJoria (4.209) L (3.878) v. J. Beckman (3.853)
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L (5.338) v. C. Pedregon (3.924)
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero CaféToyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L (4.209) v. R. Capps (3.917)

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Finalist

How would you describe this weekend for you and your team?

“Yeah, don’t necessarily know exactly how we completely shake out points-wise, but would’ve definitely been nice to get those extra 20 points (by winning the final round). We were trying to throw down. Yeah, unfortunately, we didn’t make it (down the track), but like you said, we’re in a good spot hopefully going to Pomona. That place is usually really good to us. We’re all hungry here and obviously, it’d be nice to get this thing to the winner’s circle for sure (at Pomona).”

SHAWN LANGDON, Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Semi-finals

Can you take us through what happened there in your semifinal run?

“You know (pause), I just hit the gas, and the car was making a great run. Just, from the time I hit the gas, it kept trying to pull me left so I was trying to give a little bit of input in it. I know the right lane, it likes to suck you to the inside, and that’s a common thing, so I tried to cheat it just a little bit right, pointing the car just a little bit right and run that right edge and let it bring me back in. And just from the time I hit the gas, it kept pulling me left, pulling me left, but I kept trying to put input into it and you know, the dragsters, if you get your hands up around 12 and six, that’s a lot of input for a dragster. And when it catches, it going to shoot you across the lane so you have to keep that in mind. I just kept putting more input to it and it wasn’t coming back. By the time (pause), you’re hauling like crazy and next thing I know, shoot, there’s a lock and I run over (the block) and the tire blows and at that point, you try to salvage what you can. Dang, I hate it for the guys. Man (pause), it stinks. First time I’ve ever hit anything in my career – never hit a cone, never hit a wall. (Have) taken pride in that for a long time. Feel bad for the guys, they’ve worked their butts off. We’re a championship team, just tried to get that one (win) light and I feel terrible, going to be honest with you. Just, trying to hold it together. Hope I didn’t do too much damage to it. We’ve still got a shot at the championship, that’s the most important thing. Just, I don’t want to be the cause in not winning it. Love the support, love everything about it. (I) want to be a champion and (pause).”

Category leader elevates its diesel exhaust fluid purity guarantee with new triple-filtration process

LAS VEGAS (November 5, 2024) — Old World Industries announced today that America’s number one brand of diesel exhaust fluid, PEAK® BlueDEF®, has further set the standard of purity by investing in a new triple-filtration process. PEAK® BlueDEF® and the premium PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® will also debut new packaging in Q1 2025, highlighting the purity and performance benefits that set its product line apart.

“As even the smallest contaminant can create significant issues for your vehicle, it is critical that your diesel exhaust fluid is of the highest purity. BlueDEF® has always been manufactured to the highest quality and purity standards but this new process offers consumers an extra layer of assurance,” said Randy Turner, director of product management. “Every batch of PEAK® BlueDEF® and PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® is now triple-filtered, lab-tested and secure-sealed to provide ultimate protection from contaminants.”


PEAK® BlueDEF® and PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® are compatible with all diesel SCR systems and the non-flammable formula with easy-pour dispensing nozzle makes handling safe and easy. BlueDEF PLATINUM® contains a proprietary additive package to help prevent deposit build-up, optimize fuel economy and extend the life of the SCR system. 

The triple-filtration process and new packaging were announced during the AAPEX Show which runs November 5-7 at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center. If you would like to learn more about PEAK® BlueDEF® and PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM®, visit the Old World Industries display in booth #A2245 or peakauto.com. Link to show map.

LAS VEGAS (November 3, 2024) — The Funny Car class has never been more competitive, and the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals made that very clear this weekend with a crowded 21-car field. But what has made Jim Dunn Racing an iconic team for so long is how they never back down from a fight. That includes their driver, rookie Funny Car driver Buddy Hull. 

“Vegas has proven to be a tough track for us this year, but it’s nothing we can’t handle and learn from,” said Hull. “We made four runs this weekend that gave us a lot of data that we can use going into the World Finals in Pomona. We have two weeks to go to work and continue to get better before one of the biggest events of the year.”

Out of two runs on Friday and two more runs on Saturday, Hull’s best pass of the weekend came during the fourth and final round of qualifying, with a 4.090 second, 311.27 mph run, handedly outrunning fellow competitor Jeff Diehl in the other lane. Unfortunately, this run was not enough to get the Jim Dunn Racing nitro Funny Car in the show, but the team is still optimistic about what they can take away from this weekend.

Buddy Hull and Jim Dunn Racing will be back in action in two weeks after a challenging weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, photo credit Dirty Blonde Motorsports

“It’s really satisfying when your best run is the last one, because it shows that you’re picking up on what you learned in the first couple of passes,” said Hull. “What this year has taught me is that every run down the racetrack matters, because nothing beats repetition and time in the car, when it comes to improving by leaps and bounds.”

This weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hull highlighted sponsors Kindness General Contractors, LLC, and Crow Safety Gear, a local company owned by Jon Dunn. 

“When we have 20 dates on a schedule, it’s easy for race weekends to feel like they will blend together,” said Hull. “What helps make every race unique is the sponsors we represent, particularly when they are in the area. When they can attend and see their marketing dollars put in action at such an exciting event, that really puts it into focus for them why they continue to support the sport of drag racing and Jim Dunn Racing.”

After this weekend’s performance, Hull is already looking forward to the World Finals in Pomona, California to finish out the season on a high note. It will be his first time competing at this event since his Top Fuel debut in 2021.

 “We are going to put this race behind us and get excited for the finals,” said Hull.  “It’s going to be a reflective weekend for me, as I wrap up my first Funny Car season, and my first time competing in the Countdown. Even with the ups and downs, this will be a year I will never forget.”

Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be back in competition for the last race in the Countdown at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals on November 14-17 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, November 15 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, November 16. For tickets or more information on the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals visit nhra.com.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.207 sec, 275.34 mph; Qual. 13
Q2: 13.082 sec; 67.99 mph; Qual. 16
Q3: 4.316 sec; 267.37 mph; Qual. 18
Q4: 4.090 sec; 311.27 mph; Qual. 18
Bonus Points: 0

Points
Following a lengthy oil down at the conclusion of the Top Fuel semifinals in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series the NHRA announced they would be finishing the event tomorrow with eliminations resuming at 11 a.m. PT. Updated points will be available on www.nhra.com at the conclusion of the event.