CRANDALL, TX (October 26, 2024) – The last two months of Sam Hafertepe Jr.’s season on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour have been a series of one headache after another.

Crashes. Tire failures. Engine trouble. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong until Saturday night at RPM Speedway, when Hafertepe finally made his way back to Victory Lane on the National Tour. And while winning for the first time in a while is special under any circumstances, doing it just 30 miles from his Sunnyvale, TX home with his family in attendance made the occasion even sweeter.

“Definitely awesome to do it close to home,” Hafertepe said following his first Series win since Lincoln County Raceway on Aug. 17. “I drive 20, 30 minutes home and I get to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

Hafertepe began the Feature from the outside of Row 2 with Blake Hahn and Brenham Crouch leading the charge on the front row. Hahn took command early riding the top lane and held the top spot throughout the opening green flag run that ended when Bradley Fezard spun in Turn 1 just before halfway.

While the field was split fairly evenly between the top and bottom grooves in the first half of the Feature, the majority of the field migrated to the top following the caution – including the top three. That gave Hafertepe the opportunity to begin moving forward, and he did just that by riding the inside around Crouch shortly after the restart before setting his sights on Hank Davis, who had climbed up to second.

After two more quick cautions, Hafertepe went to work on Davis while Hahn led on the high lane, eventually sliding into second with 11 laps left to catch Hahn. However, a caution for Aydan Saunders colliding with an infield tractor tire in Turn 2 put Hafertepe right on Hahn’s rear bumper for the dash to the finish.

With three circuits remaining, Hafertepe pulled the same move he made on Davis earlier in the race, blew past Hahn on the bottom and set sail toward his 10th National Tour win of the season.

While the unmatchable speed of the No. 15H on the bottom lane looked to be his key to victory, Hafertepe said there was a little more to the story.

“I don’t think we were better than anybody on the bottom, I just think the patience it was going to take to get down on the bottom, a lot of guys didn’t realize how slow you had to go to hit it,” Hafertepe said. “I knew if I took the lead, if a guy went and tried to hit the bottom he would probably mess up for a couple laps trying to figure it out.”

While Hafertepe would need a miracle to make up his 156-point gap in the Drivers standings to Seth Bergman with four races remaining in the season, he’s only 50 points behind TwoC Racing in the race for the Owners title. That means Hafertepe still has plenty to compete for at Tulsa Speedway and Creek County Speedway on championship weekend, and he’ll do so with a car he’s still fine tuning to his liking.

“We’ve still got to do a little bit to this car, this is a car we brought down a couple weeks ago for Paducah,” Hafertepe said. “It’s lacking a few things, we’ve just got to get it back to the shop and keep working on a few things. We’ve been having to do some stuff that we shouldn’t have to do. We’ll get it back to the shop and hopefully get it tuned up for Tulsa and Creek here at the end of the year.”

Hahn looked to be on his way to his first National Tour win since last year at Boone County Raceway, but the two-time Series champion was forced to settle for second after he was unable to hold off Hafertepe’s late charge.

“We were just really good early and just kind of faded with the car toward the end of the race, where I think maybe Sam wasn’t the best early but really started to gain toward the end,” Hahn said. “Just one of those deals, maybe just a little too good early. But our car was good all night long, I still felt good even though Sam got by me, I just think he was a little bit better on the bottom, he was able to operate and move around a little more. Other than that, the car was good, made a lot of good improvements. We’re happy with that, obviously wanted to win but we’ll take second anytime.”

Davis held off late attacks from Bergman and Jason Martin to finish third and claim his second podium of the weekend and his 11th of the season, more than anyone not named Seth or Sam.

“Wayne [Johnson]’s the best coach in the pit area, the best crew chief in the pit area, and my guys just work hard,” Davis said. “We do pretty decent, and hopefully it’ll turn into something next year.”

Martin got back in the top five for the first time since Benton Speedway with his fourth-place finish, while Matt Covington came home fifth for his second-straight top-five effort.

Bergman faded back to seventh after briefly challenging for a spot on the podium, but the points leader still earned the Hard Charger Award thanks to his drive forward from 15th on the starting grid.

UP NEXT: The 2024 ASCS National Tour season concludes in three weeks with four races in three nights in the Tulsa area – beginning with a double-Feature program at Tulsa Speedway on Thursday, Nov. 14 before the two-night finale at Creek County Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. Tickets will be available at the track on race day, but if you can’t make it, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn[1]; 3. 2C-Hank Davis[3]; 4. 36-Jason Martin[10]; 5. 95-Matt Covington[11]; 6. 1-Brenham Crouch[2]; 7. 23-Seth Bergman[15]; 8. 15D-Andrew Deal[8]; 9. 2J-Zach Blurton[13]; 10. 10-Landon Britt[5]; 11. 45X-Kyler Johnson[6]; 12. 71T-Channin Tankersley[18]; 13. 88-Terry Easum[17]; 14. 2-Brekton Crouch[9]; 15. 31-Casey Wills[22]; 16. 16G-Austyn Gossel[7]; 17. 88R-Ryder Laplante[20]; 18. 8-Aydan Saunders[12]; 19. B2-Carson Bolden[14]; 20. 938-Bradley Fezard[21]; 21. 71-Brady Baker[19]; 22. 2S-Colby Stubblefield[16]

CRANDALL, TX (October 25, 2024) – With a triple-digit lead atop the American Sprint Car Series National Tour standings, Seth Bergman has admittedly been playing the consistency game in the closing stages of the 2024 season.

But there’s no better way to build a points lead than to win, and he did just that on Friday night at RPM Speedway.

“I had hoped for it,” Bergman said after his sixth National Tour triumph of the year. “I set really high standards personally. You rattle off some stats there and it sounds great, but I think what propels us to those is that we take the losses hard. We want to win and we want to be competitive every night.”

The win comes one week after a disappointing weekend at Riverside International Speedway – where the No. 23 team finished 11th on Friday and missed the Feature on Saturday – making their rebound in Crandall all the more important.

“For us at West Memphis, it wasn’t great,” Bergman said. “We didn’t have a good run and we worked hard this week. Coming into this weekend, I was like ‘man, if I could just go win a couple races here, it’s going to really help us come down the stretch here.”

Bergman began the Feature from the inside of Row 2, with the front row occupied by his championship rival Sam Hafertepe Jr. alongside 14-year-old Carson Bolden, who was making his first start in a 360 Sprint Car.

Hafertepe’s experience prevailed over Bolden’s youth on the initial start, as the No. 15H jumped out to the early lead while Bolden fell back to fourth by the end of Lap 1 behind Bergman and Blake Hahn. The battle between the two dominant cars all season commenced immediately, with Bergman briefly making it side-by-side for the lead before slipping up on Hafertepe’s inside exiting Turn 4 and relinquishing the top spot.

The race was interrupted for the first time when Tyler Harris found the concrete in Turn 1. Less than a lap after action resumed, the yellow flew again after Andrew Deal went around while battling with Brenham Crouch in Turn 3 and collected Landon Britt and Bradley Fezard.

On the next restart, Bergman looked to the outside to try and get around Hafertepe down the backstretch before crossing him over exiting Turn 4 and diving to Hafertepe’s inside in Turn 1, but Hafertepe once again emerged with the lead. Before Bergman could set up another move, Brekton Crouch got upside down in Turn 4 to pause the field once more.

A handful of laps after holding the lead on the restart, Hafertepe’s streak of misfortune in recent weeks continued when engine issues brought his night to a fiery end at the top of Turn 2, marking an untimely conclusion to a head-to-head duel between the two top dogs of 360 Sprint Car racing.

“I felt like it was shaping up to be one hell of a race between [Hafertepe] and I in traffic,” Bergman said. “Looked like he had some engine problems, so that’s a bummer. Gave us the lead and then really, from there, I just kind of set a mediocre pace and just stayed out of trouble.”

The caution for Hafertepe was the final stoppage of the 30-lap Feature, which meant that one more solid restart was all Bergman needed to drive away to the checkered flag for the first time since Aug. 23 at Big Sky Speedway.

The win along with Hafertepe’s DNF puts Bergman up by 187 points with five races remaining in the season, and brought him one step closer to making his dream of becoming a National Tour champion a reality.

“This has been the most I’ve won in any one year on the National Tour, tonight’s six,” Bergman said. “Really happy to be able to bounce back and come back and get a win, gives us great momentum, it’s how we want to start this home stretch. Probably couldn’t find a happier guy in the pit area.”

Hank Davis looked to be in for a rough night after a seventh-place Heat Race finish sent him to the Last Chance Showdown, but after grabbing a transfer spot he put forth a remarkable effort, driving from 18th up to second to easily claim the Hard Charger Award along with his 10th podium of the year.

“We were just off early, just missed it,” Davis said. “Part of it, everyone does it. That was the first B-Feature we’ve run all year. I’m super proud of these guys. I don’t wish anything bad on anyone, but I would have liked to have gotten up there to Sam and just finished with him, just keep him close. Kind of got to take them how you can get them, and that’s a lot of points gained. Kind of the big picture here, I know we can’t win the Drivers championship, but I still want to win the Owners for Wayne.”

The third spot went to Brady Baker, who collected his third podium of the year while running a part-time schedule with the Series.

“It feels amazing, just wish I could race these guys more, it would make me a lot better,” Baker said. “That was a good race, started out a little tight, but about halfway through it just started coming and coming. I was able to rip the bottom, I don’t know if anybody else could hit it like I could, but we were ripping.”

Matt Covington maintained control of third in the standings with his fourth-place run, while Colby Stubblefield completed the top five to establish a new career best on the National Tour.

UP NEXT: The ASCS National Tour will be back for more at RPM Speedway on Saturday night with another full racing program. Tickets will be available at the track, while DIRTVision will stream every lap live for those unable to make it out.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman[3]; 2. 2C-Hank Davis[18]; 3. 71-Brady Baker[6]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[10]; 5. 2S-Colby Stubblefield[5]; 6. 1-Brenham Crouch[9]; 7. 36-Jason Martin[20]; 8. 52-Blake Hahn[4]; 9. 10-Landon Britt[16]; 10. 31-Casey Wills[11]; 11. 71T-Channin Tankersley[14]; 12. B2-Carson Bolden[2]; 13. 16G-Austyn Gossel[22]; 14. 2J-Zach Blurton[19]; 15. 938-Bradley Fezard; 16. 15D-Andrew Deal[7]; 17. 45X-Kyler Johnson[21]; 18. 88-Terry Easum[17]; 19. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[1]; 20. 2-Brekton Crouch[15]; 21. 24-Tyler Harris[8]; 22. 8-Aydan Saunders[12]; 23. 12W-Dale Wester[13]

The Californian equals his personal best for wins in a year by leading every lap at Riverside

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 25, 2024) – The championship odds might be against him, but Carson Macedo refuses to go down quietly.

It’s been an electric last couple months for he and the Jason Johnson Racing team. A magical run ignited when the pairing topped the opening night of the Jackson Nationals midway through August. Entering this weekend, Macedo had won seven of the last 18 races with the World of Outlaws.

And as the stage shifted to West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, nothing was going to slow Macedo and company.

The Lemoore, CA native started on the pole and never looked back during the 30-lapper. An incident with a lapped car put the win in question briefly, but ultimately Macedo drove away from David Gravel to claim the first World of Outlaws race at “The Ditch” since 2018.

“I was nervous,” Macedo admitted. “A lot of those double-file restarts, I didn’t know where to be. The top was kind of where the grip was, but I didn’t want to be too high and miss it and not get off (Turn) 4 nice then him (David Gravel) beat me down into Turn 1.

“I want to say I’m sorry to that lapper. I could see David behind me on the big screen. He was breathing right down my back and knew I had to make moves, or I was going to get ate up. We were just going so slow down into Turn 3, and I was getting nervous. I saw the opening and drove it in there, and it was probably silly with the track being the way it was. I didn’t want to get complacent and end up getting passed, so I’m sorry to that team and feel back their stuff is tore up.

“Nevertheless, my guys did an incredible job. Philip Dietz, he just delivered all night. We went out late there in Qualifying, and we did a great job in the Heat Race that put us in a position. Then we drew a good front row spot in the Dash and executed from there.”

Macedo’s 11th victory of 2024 matches his personal best for a season, a mark he also reached in 2021 and 2022. He’s now at 46 for his career as he closes in on becoming the 18th different driver with 50 checkered flags. It was the 70th World of Outlaws trophy for Jason Johnson Racing.

A win in the Toyota Racing Dash put Macedo on the pole of the main event. He jumped out to an early lead when the green flag flew as the battles broke out behind him. Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart swapped the second spot. Then fourth-starting David Gravel rolled by both of them.

A red flag with 11 laps complete gave Macedo a break as it took him out of lapped traffic. Sheldon Haudenschild capitalized with a huge restart. The Wooster, OH native rolled the bottom to clear multiple cars and take third by the time the pack got to the back straightaway.

Up front Gravel kept the pressure on Macedo, but a yellow at the halfway point again eliminated the concern of traffic.

The next restart saw Gravel maintain pace with Macedo as the second half of the race clicked away. It was near disaster for Macedo with seven laps remaining as he made a move to lap Ayden Gatewood in Turns 3 and 4. Macedo’s slider didn’t quite clear, and the result was hard contact. Macedo managed to keep rolling, but Gatewood wound up on his lid.

With only seven laps to go when the green lights came back on, Macedo never had to worry about traffic again as he aced the restart and drove away to yet another victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“Winning Outlaw races is not easy to do,” Macedo said. “It’s a tough thing, and it’s really tough to do on a consistent basis. I’ve got a really good race team behind me in Jason Johnson Racing. We’re racing in memory of Jason Johnson and everything he stood for, so to be winning races like this is awesome.”

While Macedo might’ve gotten the win, David Gravel didn’t let him gain many points in the battle for the title. Gravel brought the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 home second for his third consecutive podium. The advantage sits at 74 markers with four races to go. The Watertown, CT native wanted the victory, but he also had the big picture in mind.

“Good night for us,” Gravel said. “Didn’t get a great Dash draw and was able to gain a row there in the Dash. Felt good there early on and was searching, and then on Lap 10 or 11, and I kind of just got in line. Little bit of a bummer there. Wish I had a shot to win that.”

The third spot belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild as he charged from ninth to continue a recent strong stretch. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 has strung together six top fives in the last eight races including four podiums. The major move on a restart helped lead Haudenschild to another good finish.

“The one restart really just made my race,” Haudenschild explained. “I was able to get under Gio (Scelzi) and three other guys and roll the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2 really nice. I just got back in line after that. I was a little nervous when I got stuck on the top of that restart, but hats off to (Kyle) Ripper and the guys.”

Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog completed the top five.

An 18th to sixth drive earned Donny Schatz the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Bryce Lucius claimed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One, Three, and Four belonged to Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid, and Joe B. Miller. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Skylar Gee won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Dylan Cisney.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Bull Ring Blitz at West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 26. 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 (30 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 8. 55C-Chris Windom[11]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell[5]; 11. 44-Derek Hagar[15]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[10]; 13. 51B-Joe B Miller[8]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]; 15. 27-Emerson Axsom[19]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 17. 23B-Brian Bell[23]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee[21]; 19. 7C-Brad Bowden[14]; 20. 37-Ayden Gatewood[17]; 21. 32-Bryce Lucius[13]; 22. 6-Dylan Cisney[22]; 23. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 24. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

(10/25/24 – Ben Deatherage) Bakersfield, CA … Taking advantage of his front-row starting spot, Tim Kaeding led all 30-laps of the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series October Classic at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway to park it in winner’s circle.The pilot of the EMADCO Disposal #0 Maxim for Williams Motorsports was brilliant in traffic and in open racetrack to secure his 74th career series victory, second all-time on the win list, and his second triumph with the group in 2024.”This is a testament to everyone associated with this #0 car, and they’ve given me a bad fast race car all year long,” said an elated Kaeding in victory lane. “We’re inching our way to my old man’s (all-time NARC winner Brent Kaeding) number, so hopefully we can do it in the next couple of years.”At the drop of the initial green, Kaeding beat back the initial advances of a charging Justin Sanders to obtain the lead on the opening start. As the race stayed green, the two-time NARC champion pulled away from the Mittry Motorsports sprint car driven by Justin Sanders.However, several stoppages kept the field close, including a massive crash on lap 13, which involved Billy Aton, Burt Foland Jr., and NARC point leader Cole Macedo. All were done for the night.Despite lapped traffic, Kaeding was able to have the fortune of stoppages happening at the right times, which took away opportunities for anyone to challenge him for the lead. He went on to score a two-car length victory over Sanders.Sanders, with the misfortune of Macedo, regained the point lead and now possesses a nine-point lead entering the next event.Two-time NARC champion Dominic Scelzi put the Whipple Supercharges #41 Maxim on the podium at Kern for the first time since 2021 with his third-place effort.The last seven laps of the race saw an incredible battle for fourth place, highlighting the determination and resilience of a pair of young talents, Dominic Gorden and Ryan Timms. In the end, it would be the Oklahoman Timms in the Roth Motorsports #83 Maxim, outdueling the Gary Silva Ranches #10 KPC of Gorden for the position. It was Timms’ first career NARC Top 5 finish.Dylan Bloomfield and ARP Quick Qualifier Caeden Steele were sixth and seventh at the wire. Justyn Cox, finished eighth and earned the Williams Roofing Hardcharger honors after starting 19th.  Spencer Bayton and Bud Kaeding rounded out the top ten.The heat race winners were Billy Aton, Kaleb Montgomery, and Gauge Garcia.HOOSIER RACING TIRES A-FEATURE (30 LAPS):  1. 0-Tim Kaeding [1]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [2]; 3. 41-Dominic Scelzi [8]; 4. 83-Ryan Timms [11]; 5. 10-Dominic Gorden [14]; 6. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [7]; 7. 121-Caeden Steele [6]; 8. 42X-Justyn Cox [19]; 9. 14-Spencer Bayston [9]; 10. 29-Bud Kaeding [10]; 11. 15-Nick Parker [15]; 12. 19-Colby Thornhill [16]; 13. 2K-Gauge Garcia [3]; 14. 5R-Ryan Rocha [13]; 15. 76-Jennifer Osborne [18]; 16. 5-Cole Danell [17]; 17. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [22]; 18. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [5]; 19. 31-Kyle Beilman [20]; 20. 26-Billy Aton [4]; 21. 21-Cole Macedo [12]; 22. 4-Burt Foland Jr. [21]METTEC TITANIUM LAP LEADERS: Tim Kaeding 1-30WILLIAMS ROOFING HARDCHARGER: Justyn Cox +11 (19th to 8th)BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 LAPS): 1. 26-Billy Aton [1]; 2. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [2]; 3. 29-Bud Kaeding [3]; 4. 5R-Ryan Rocha [7]; 5. 121-Caeden Steele [4]; 6. 19-Colby Thornhill [6]; 7. 42X-Justyn Cox [5]; 8. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [8]KIMO’S TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 LAPS): 1. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [2]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [4]; 3. 14-Spencer Bayston [1]; 4. 21-Cole Macedo [3]; 5. 15-Nick Parker [6]; 6. 76-Jennifer Osborne [7]; 7. 31-Kyle Beilman [5]WINTERS PERFORMANCE HEAT THREE (8 LAPS): 1. 2K-Gauge Garcia [1]; 2. 41-Dominic Scelzi [3]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding [4]; 4. 83-Ryan Timms [2]; 5. 10-Dominic Gorden [5]; 6. 5-Cole Danell [6]; 7. 4-Burt Foland Jr. [7]BEACON WEALTH STRATEGIES TROPHY DASH (6 LAPS): 1. 0-Tim Kaeding [2]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [3]; 3. 2K-Gauge Garcia [5]; 4. 26-Billy Aton [1]; 5. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [6]; 6. 121-Caeden Steele [4]ARP QUALIFYING QUICK TIME: Caeden Steele, 12.621 (22 Cars)

Second-half improvements have the veterans preparing for a strong finish to their season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte 

CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2024) – Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson enter the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a chance to end the season on a high note. 

While out of contention to win the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series title, the three drivers can pick up vital points to make moves in the standings within the final trio of points races at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9. 

Shirley is still within reach of a top-five finish in points, sitting 46 points behind fifth-place Kyle Bronson – which is a $30,000 difference between fifth and seventh. Bruening is a little further out, sitting 124 points behind Bronson, but is 78 points behind Shirley for seventh. And Larson is 40 points behind Max McLaughlin for 11th in points, which pays $4,000 more than 12th. 

Since Shirley’s change to Longhorn Chassis during the Heartland Grand Tour, the Chatham, IL driver has finished outside of the top-10 four times and has picked up a career-best five Series Feature wins in 2024 – so far. 

“At the end of the year, it’s been a complete testament to this crew to start 2025, right?” Shirley said. “We’ve been consistent enough to finish in the top five in the last month and a half of racing. So that’s super positive because being consistent like what Bobby Pierce is showing, is what’s gonna win the championship. Even (Brandon) Sheppard’s consistency has put him in position to be leading the points. So, that’s the goal is to hopefully take what we can get to be ready for 2025.” 

Bruening, of Decorah, IA, had a season of growth in his return to the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in 2024, earning six top-five finishes and two podiums that came at the Beat the Heat 40 at Highland Speedway and the Hawkeye 100 opening night at Maquoketa Speedway. 

“It’s been a process more than anything,” Bruening said. “The beginning of the year, we were really trying to get our team put together and get Mike Marlar’s team going, and you like to think that you’re ready to go at the beginning of the year, but we were still working pretty hard to get stuff ready and in order. 

“I think it’s actually taken this long to get settled in and get comfortable with everything that’s going on to be able to concentrate, work on the car and make it better. We’ve been hitting our stride as of late, it feels good to end the year strong and consistent to build that momentum for next year.” 

Since Larson’s podium drive with the World of Outlaws at Thunderhill Speedway, the Lake Elmo, MN native picked up all six of his top-10 finishes in the second half of the season. While there have been areas of growth, there have been obstacles in Larson’s way that he’s had to overcome in 2024. 

“There’s been some growth in areas, but not really the season I was hoping for,” Larson said. “We had some good takeaways and stayed out of trouble for a lot of it to get decent runs to keep learning and growing. It’s a way to set ourselves up for the future, but overall, I wish we could’ve shown more of what this car is capable of, but we got what we got from 2024.” 

World Finals is unlike other events on the Series calendar, as “The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” share the track with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. This once-in-a-year event presents a new challenge of track conditions when the cars touch the Charlotte surface. 

“Yeah, it’s tough there because with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks,” Shirley said. “They have big tires, so the track goes away faster. Sometimes, when we go race with Hobby Stocks or UMP Mods, their tires create a little character in the racetrack. Most of the time at World Finals, the hardest thing is to keep up with how fast the track goes away, depending on what Heat you’re in, where we’re placed in the order of events, and other variables like that. 

“It’s very tough, very difficult to race with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks. I feel like it’s probably the toughest as far as keeping up with the racetrack compared to when we normally have local classes. They just present something new for us to figure out.” 

Bruening said he enjoys sharing the track with the Sprint Cars and Big Blocks, as their big tires give his No.16 Skyline Motorsports Late Model a good surface to compete around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. 

“Yeah, it really comes down to the tires personally,” Bruening said. “Sprint Cars can use those big tires to not necessarily dig into the dirt, but more or less slide across it and slick it off. I actually like racing with the Sprint Cars. I think they do a nice job with the track when we race with them. Everybody complains about no starters (in Sprint Cars) and taking forever, but they put on a good show for everyone to watch and a good racing surface for us to follow throughout the night. I’m looking forward to it. They’ll put on a hell of a show like we will.” 

Larson echoed much of Shirley’s statement about how the track changes faster than other facilities the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models raced around this year. 

“The track changes are a lot quicker, especially in the daytime,” Larson said. “It changes so much, and you gotta keep an eye on where the track is going, and what they’re going to do with prep before us or the other divisions race. It depends when they do it because Charlotte’s unpredictable with the fast track changes. It’s one thing you’ve really got to stay on top of a bit more closely. We do go to tracks where they change quickly through the season, but all the horsepower put down between the three classes makes it act different to others.” 

The atmosphere of World Finals is an event that brings both intensity and major ripple effects. In a high-stakes finale, every lap can make a difference between the standings and the amount of money a driver receives from the points fund payout. 

Along with being within striking distance of a top-five points finish, Shirley is also only 26 points away from Robeline, LA driver Cade Dillard in sixth – still a $10,000 payout difference between the two positions. 

“Once we left Florida, I think we were 18th in points and we had three DNFs right off the river,” Shirley said. “So, when you do that, you put yourself in such a hole and you’re not running good to try and come out of the hole you created in three weeks. 

“That was when Bob (Cullen) decided to switch chassis. When we got the car, we evaluated what the goals were for the rest of the year. Truthfully, that was the goal we kept to ourselves to see if we could get up to the top five (in points), which is not easy to overcome a couple of hundred points deficit. So, Charlotte is really the effort of what we want to accomplish next year with everybody, and how we can make the most out of a year of challenge to be better for the future.” 

Bruening has competed at World Finals once in 2021 – the year he won his Rookie of the Year title. “Fear The Beard” enjoys the season-ending atmosphere to add the cherry on top of the year as he’s on track for an eighth-place points finish. 

While Bruening has a bit of a hill to climb to move up in the points, he said he’s still excited about returning to World Finals. He’s only ran the event once in 2021, but the experience left a strong impression. 

“The environment, everybody that’s there from NASCAR celebrities, fans, the people that have supported you, sponsors, it’s a big deal for everybody,” Bruening said. “We’re pretty set on our points result this year but finishing strong (at Charlotte) lets everyone know that we mean business for next year, and we’re looking forward to that and get ready for what’s to come.” 

For Larson, there is still a lot of intensity to the week. Along with trying to gain spots in the points, he also needs to protect his current position, sitting 30 points ahead of rookie contender Cody Overton, of Evans, GA. 

“Even though it’s near the end, the week is still intense,” Larson said. “Last year, I was in a points battle with Gordy Gundaker and there was about a $25,000 or $30,000 difference between the two spots. That’s a lot of money to consider and even this year, I could move forward and get a few more thousand dollars or move back and lose a few thousand. There’s a lot on your mind while doing all you can each night. It’s focusing on what you do each night, a lot of emotion and intensity that goes into it. It’d be nice to finish strong to have momentum into next year because there’s a lot happening in those four days.” 

See Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson close the book on their World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 6-9. 

If you are in the Charlotte area, you can meet Brent Larson and see his No.B1 Landa Late Model on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET) at the CSC Industrial Sales & Service Open House in Indian Trail, NC. 

Tickets for World Finals can be found HERE. 

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision – through your computer or mobile device. 

Second-half improvements have the veterans preparing for a strong finish to their season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte 

CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2024) – Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson enter the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a chance to end the season on a high note. 

While out of contention to win the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series title, the three drivers can pick up vital points to make moves in the standings within the final trio of points races at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9. 

Shirley is still within reach of a top-five finish in points, sitting 46 points behind fifth-place Kyle Bronson – which is a $30,000 difference between fifth and seventh. Bruening is a little further out, sitting 124 points behind Bronson, but is 78 points behind Shirley for seventh. And Larson is 40 points behind Max McLaughlin for 11th in points, which pays $4,000 more than 12th. 

Since Shirley’s change to Longhorn Chassis during the Heartland Grand Tour, the Chatham, IL driver has finished outside of the top-10 four times and has picked up a career-best five Series Feature wins in 2024 – so far. 

“At the end of the year, it’s been a complete testament to this crew to start 2025, right?” Shirley said. “We’ve been consistent enough to finish in the top five in the last month and a half of racing. So that’s super positive because being consistent like what Bobby Pierce is showing, is what’s gonna win the championship. Even (Brandon) Sheppard’s consistency has put him in position to be leading the points. So, that’s the goal is to hopefully take what we can get to be ready for 2025.” 

Bruening, of Decorah, IA, had a season of growth in his return to the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in 2024, earning six top-five finishes and two podiums that came at the Beat the Heat 40 at Highland Speedway and the Hawkeye 100 opening night at Maquoketa Speedway. 

“It’s been a process more than anything,” Bruening said. “The beginning of the year, we were really trying to get our team put together and get Mike Marlar’s team going, and you like to think that you’re ready to go at the beginning of the year, but we were still working pretty hard to get stuff ready and in order. 

“I think it’s actually taken this long to get settled in and get comfortable with everything that’s going on to be able to concentrate, work on the car and make it better. We’ve been hitting our stride as of late, it feels good to end the year strong and consistent to build that momentum for next year.” 

Since Larson’s podium drive with the World of Outlaws at Thunderhill Speedway, the Lake Elmo, MN native picked up all six of his top-10 finishes in the second half of the season. While there have been areas of growth, there have been obstacles in Larson’s way that he’s had to overcome in 2024. 

“There’s been some growth in areas, but not really the season I was hoping for,” Larson said. “We had some good takeaways and stayed out of trouble for a lot of it to get decent runs to keep learning and growing. It’s a way to set ourselves up for the future, but overall, I wish we could’ve shown more of what this car is capable of, but we got what we got from 2024.” 

World Finals is unlike other events on the Series calendar, as “The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” share the track with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. This once-in-a-year event presents a new challenge of track conditions when the cars touch the Charlotte surface. 

“Yeah, it’s tough there because with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks,” Shirley said. “They have big tires, so the track goes away faster. Sometimes, when we go race with Hobby Stocks or UMP Mods, their tires create a little character in the racetrack. Most of the time at World Finals, the hardest thing is to keep up with how fast the track goes away, depending on what Heat you’re in, where we’re placed in the order of events, and other variables like that. 

“It’s very tough, very difficult to race with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks. I feel like it’s probably the toughest as far as keeping up with the racetrack compared to when we normally have local classes. They just present something new for us to figure out.” 

Bruening said he enjoys sharing the track with the Sprint Cars and Big Blocks, as their big tires give his No.16 Skyline Motorsports Late Model a good surface to compete around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. 

“Yeah, it really comes down to the tires personally,” Bruening said. “Sprint Cars can use those big tires to not necessarily dig into the dirt, but more or less slide across it and slick it off. I actually like racing with the Sprint Cars. I think they do a nice job with the track when we race with them. Everybody complains about no starters (in Sprint Cars) and taking forever, but they put on a good show for everyone to watch and a good racing surface for us to follow throughout the night. I’m looking forward to it. They’ll put on a hell of a show like we will.” 

Larson echoed much of Shirley’s statement about how the track changes faster than other facilities the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models raced around this year. 

“The track changes are a lot quicker, especially in the daytime,” Larson said. “It changes so much, and you gotta keep an eye on where the track is going, and what they’re going to do with prep before us or the other divisions race. It depends when they do it because Charlotte’s unpredictable with the fast track changes. It’s one thing you’ve really got to stay on top of a bit more closely. We do go to tracks where they change quickly through the season, but all the horsepower put down between the three classes makes it act different to others.” 

The atmosphere of World Finals is an event that brings both intensity and major ripple effects. In a high-stakes finale, every lap can make a difference between the standings and the amount of money a driver receives from the points fund payout. 

Along with being within striking distance of a top-five points finish, Shirley is also only 26 points away from Robeline, LA driver Cade Dillard in sixth – still a $10,000 payout difference between the two positions. 

“Once we left Florida, I think we were 18th in points and we had three DNFs right off the river,” Shirley said. “So, when you do that, you put yourself in such a hole and you’re not running good to try and come out of the hole you created in three weeks. 

“That was when Bob (Cullen) decided to switch chassis. When we got the car, we evaluated what the goals were for the rest of the year. Truthfully, that was the goal we kept to ourselves to see if we could get up to the top five (in points), which is not easy to overcome a couple of hundred points deficit. So, Charlotte is really the effort of what we want to accomplish next year with everybody, and how we can make the most out of a year of challenge to be better for the future.” 

Bruening has competed at World Finals once in 2021 – the year he won his Rookie of the Year title. “Fear The Beard” enjoys the season-ending atmosphere to add the cherry on top of the year as he’s on track for an eighth-place points finish. 

While Bruening has a bit of a hill to climb to move up in the points, he said he’s still excited about returning to World Finals. He’s only ran the event once in 2021, but the experience left a strong impression. 

“The environment, everybody that’s there from NASCAR celebrities, fans, the people that have supported you, sponsors, it’s a big deal for everybody,” Bruening said. “We’re pretty set on our points result this year but finishing strong (at Charlotte) lets everyone know that we mean business for next year, and we’re looking forward to that and get ready for what’s to come.” 

For Larson, there is still a lot of intensity to the week. Along with trying to gain spots in the points, he also needs to protect his current position, sitting 30 points ahead of rookie contender Cody Overton, of Evans, GA. 

“Even though it’s near the end, the week is still intense,” Larson said. “Last year, I was in a points battle with Gordy Gundaker and there was about a $25,000 or $30,000 difference between the two spots. That’s a lot of money to consider and even this year, I could move forward and get a few more thousand dollars or move back and lose a few thousand. There’s a lot on your mind while doing all you can each night. It’s focusing on what you do each night, a lot of emotion and intensity that goes into it. It’d be nice to finish strong to have momentum into next year because there’s a lot happening in those four days.” 

See Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson close the book on their World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 6-9. 

If you are in the Charlotte area, you can meet Brent Larson and see his No.B1 Landa Late Model on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET) at the CSC Industrial Sales & Service Open House in Indian Trail, NC. 

Tickets for World Finals can be found HERE. 

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision – through your computer or mobile device. 

ARTICLE:https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/all-dirt-roads-brian-shirley-tyler-bruening-brent-larson-look-to-rely-on-charlotte-experience-to-leave-world-finals-with-strong-paydays/ 

 CONCORD, NC (October 24, 2024) – Of the nearly 60 drivers competing to make the 21-car field in the World Short Track Challenge at Riverside International Speedway, several star names found themselves watching from the stands – Seth Bergman, Matt Covington, Terry Gray and more.

One name not on that list? Austyn Gossel.

“If you were to choose anybody in the field, I was probably going to be the last one they would choose to make the Feature,” said Gossel, who finished 16th in the 40-lap, $10,000-to-win affair. “We just had a really good car all weekend.”

The event didn’t get off to an ideal start for him on Friday with a B-Main exit, but the No. 16G team kept working at it until late in the Saturday program when they found themselves right where they needed to be.

“I didn’t get timed in good enough [on Friday] to be higher up in points and I think that really screwed us in the end,” Gossel said. “Then, I had a really good Heat Race. I went sixth to third, that gave me good points. Then, the B-Main, I just missed the setup completely and got run over and messed up the nose wing, and that made it really hard to pass anybody.

“Going into the second night, we had a really good car. I had a bad start on the first start of the Heat Race, but then I was able to run them down, which I wasn’t really expecting. I had a really, really good car then and I probably just needed another lap or two and I probably could have got by them. It still set me up good in points. I started third in the B-Main and finished second, and then in the Feature it was just hard to pass.

“I haven’t really been good in slick lately, that’s one thing we’re really going to need to step up on is being good late in the race instead of early. Cause it don’t pay nothing in the Heat Race.”

It’s all part of the learning process for the Windsor, CO driver, who is nearing the end of his first full season on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour. He hasn’t had to learn the ropes alone though, as Gossel emphasized the importance of having fellow competitors on tour willing to lend a hand.

“Having Hank [Davis] is a big help, we’ve been really good buddies ever since he started driving [for TwoC Racing],” Gossel said. “We talk about where I’m doing good and where I’m doing bad. Having him has really helped me confidence-wise and be a better driver at the end. He tells me where I’m good at and where I’m not good at, where I need to be and where I shouldn’t be.

“Even me and Zach Blurton, we’ve become really good friends this year. We talk to each other basically after every time we hit the track. Like, ‘Well, we tried this, and this didn’t really work out, we did this, and we didn’t really like that.’ Getting all these good people around me has really helped us out a lot.”

Gossel’s situation is different than the other rookies on tour as he and father, Bryan Gossel, make up the only two-car team on the National Tour.

“It has its pros and cons,” Gossel said. “We have our own way of doing things, me and Ryan have ours set up differently. Me and my dad run two different setups. He likes his a little tighter. I like mine a little looser.

“We weren’t going to be running two cars out of one rig like we had been the past three years, so [Bryan] decided to venture in and get himself a different setup, which has helped out a lot, stress level-wise.”

However, Gossel Racing has dropped down to a single-car effort after Bryan stepped out of the car due to injuries suffered in a crash at Arrowhead Speedway in September. While Austyn certainly misses having his dad on track with him, it has allowed the team to focus 100% of their efforts on the No. 16G, which has paid dividends toward Austyn’s performance.

“[Bryan’s] pretty good at reading the car,” Gossel said. “We talk about it every time the car’s off the track. What I should have done better, what I think the car needs. Having him just be able to focus on that has really helped me confidence-wise and performance-wise.”

Having his dad as his full-time crew chief hasn’t been the only factor in Gossel’s uptick in speed though. His engine program has also taken a turn for the better after a trying season filled with trouble.

“We’ve got this new motor program going out for us, I’m really liking this new piece we’ve got,” Gossel said. “I think it’s stepped up our program. I went through a spurt where I went through three motors in six weeks. I was out of motors, so this was our last-ditch effort to finish out the year.”

Entering the season, Gossel had a goal in mind of finishing top 10 in the final standings. Seven months later, he finds himself in the 11th spot, 111 points behind Terry Easum with six races left to make his original goal a reality.

“My expectations for this year were really not much, but I kind of had a goal, 10th in points would be reasonable for us,” Gossel said. “And we’re just right outside of 10th. We’ve been battling with Terry Easum quite a bit. Hopefully, if these next couple of weekends go good, I think we might have a shot.”

Gossel’s next stop on his rookie tour will take place at RPM Speedway in Crandall, TX, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. Tickets will be available at the track, but if you can’t make it, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

The teenager has faced challenges but is happy with his debut seasonWEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 24, 2024) – Not many 16-year-olds can say they traveled the country competing with the best Sprint Car drivers in the world on a weekly basis. But that’s Landon Crawley’s story.A couple races in the Sides Motorsports No. 7S near the end of 2023 evolved into Crawley joining forces with Jason Sides to compete full-time on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series tour in 2024, traveling coast-to-coast for 80-plus races – including a home visit this weekend at Riverside International Speedway, Oct. 25-26.The teenager had a few years of 360 Sprint Car experience but minimal 410 starts under his belt entering the season. Despite the challenges of acclimating to an entirely new lifestyle, Crawley has adapted well and gelled comfortably with Sides.“The first three or four months, I’m not going to lie, it was hard,” Crawley admitted. “You leave every single thing you have at home. It’s full commitment. If you’re not fully committed, you get the results that aren’t fully committed. It’s tough. You miss kind of everything at home. You miss birthdays and all of the events, but it’s still been fun. I’ve learned more about adulting and life in the past year than I have ever.”His growing maturity hasn’t been lost on Sides either.“It’s been really good. He’s 16 but really mature for his age. It’s never like ‘Let’s go play some arcade games,’ or nothing like that,” Sides said with a laugh. “It’s mainly about the race cars and stuff. Everywhere we went for the first time I know it was a struggle for him a lot. But sometimes he caught on really quick. Sometimes it wasn’t as good as we wanted, but we’d go back there the second time and make the shows.”The season started with a bang for Crawley. The Volusia Speedway Park season opener was also his Series debut, and Crawley promptly went out and set Simpson Quick Time to announce his presence and lift a little weight off his shoulders.“It helped a lot going into it knowing that I can qualify, and I can race halfway decent against the guys I’m racing with,” Crawley said. “They’re the best in the country, and they run with the Outlaws for a reason. It was a big confidence booster.”Another major highlight of Crawley’s first season is visiting Eldora Speedway. In May, he came home with a top 10 during his debut at the intimidating 1/2-mile dirt track, but he wasn’t done there. Fast forward two months, and Crawley made the Feature at Eldora’s crown jewel – the Kings Royal.“That was honestly one of the coolest parts of the year,” Crawley said of racing at Eldora. “That was one of the tracks I’d been looking forward to since February. Right when the season started, I wanted to race there, and I’ve always wanted to race there. Racing there in general was really cool, let alone being somewhat fast. It was pretty awesome. Everything about that place is pretty special to me.This season has so often been about visiting new tracks for Crawley, but this weekend he finally gets to head home. Two nights at Crawley’s home track, West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, are on the agenda. “The Ditch” is home to many firsts for the Benton, AR native.First race in a Micro. First Sprint Car win. And now he gets to head back to race in front of friends and family as a full-time World of Outlaws driver.It’s not only a home race for Crawley. Sides’ hometown of Bartlett, TN is right across the Mississippi River. It’s a weekend the team has had circled on their calendar all year.“I’m really looking forward to this race,” Crawley said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of nervous about it just because I feel like there’s so much pressure for this race compared to any other race I’ve ran this year. Even the first race at Volusia, there was literally no pressure. I go into this week, and you kind of have that feeling like you have to perform. It’s going to be tough. It’s a really tricky racetrack. It’s not super noticed, but the local guys are really good. (Derek) Hagar can run anywhere in the country and run pretty good, especially once the track gets slick. He has an All-Star win. It’s going to be a tough race, but I think it’s going to be a good one. I’m really looking forward to it.”“For both of us to be able to come run it, and then everybody goes home to their own bed, it’ll be pretty nice,” Sides said. “Being home and racing and seeing the people that have supported us for all of these years. We’ll get to see everybody and hoot and holler and hang out with them.”For tickets to this weekend’s racing at Riverside, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/full-commitment-crawley-reflects-on-rookie-world-of-outlaws-campaign-with-home-race-ahead-at-riverside/EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6236 TRACK INFO: https://riversideinternationalspeedway.com/FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

October 24, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse turned some impressive laps in the latter portion of last Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood is hoping the No. 21 team can pick up where they left off at Vegas as they take on a similar intermediate-length track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, in this weekend’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.

Burton was able to turn some impressive laps at Las Vegas using the outside groove, and up next to the wall has proven over the years to be the fastest way around Homestead as well.

“We are out of the running for the championship at this point, but it’s still important to finish the season on a high note,” Wood said. “Any time you go to the race track you want to run well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Harrison and the team will perform on Sunday.

Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 is set for Saturday at 9:05 a.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 9:50.

Sunday’s 400.5-mile, 267-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m. with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 165.
 

16-Time Champ Traveling to Las Vegas to Support His Teams

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Oct. 30, 2024) – With two of his race teams battling for the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car championship and daughter Brittany showing flashes of the form that carried her to a pair of Top Fuel titles, drag racing icon John Force has secured clearance from doctors treating him for a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) to attend the 24th NHRA Nevada Nationals, Nov. 1-3, at The Strip in Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “Vegas is close enough to home that (my wife) Laurie and I can drive over,” Force said. “I want to show my support for our race teams, the fans and all our sponsors. They’ve stuck with me during a hard time, and I want them to know that I haven’t forgotten them and I haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve just been doing my rehab, trying to stay strong.” The 75-year-old resident of Yorba Linda, Calif., an inductee into all the major auto racing Halls of Fame, acknowledged that doctors have been treating him not only for the injury he suffered in the June 23rd crash in Richmond, Va., but for the cumulative effect of the multitude of hard hits he has absorbed in a 50-year career during which he has collected 157 tour victories and 16 championships. Before the crash, Force already had won twice this year and his PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet team was solidly in contention for the championship. After missing two races, that team returned at Brainerd, Minn., with former World Champion Jack Beckman in the seat of the PEAK Camaro. Beckman won the NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis on Sept. 30 and, entering the LVMS event, the next to last race in the Countdown to the Championship, trails only teammate Austin Prock, a seven-time winner in the Cornwell Tools and AAA Chevrolet, in the Mission driver standings. “I’m still a work in progress,” Force said. “I have good days and bad days, but I’m motivated. Beckman’s been doing a good job working with Dan Hood, (Chris) Cunningham and (Tim) Fabrisi. He tells me it’s still my car but he’s driving it like it’s his. It’s been exciting to watch him and (Austin) Prock on Fox but watching on TV is not the same as being there. “I want to be there for Brittany and that team with (David) Grubnic and John Collins. They’re gonna win a race with Monster and HendrickCars.com and Chevrolet and I want to be there when they do, and I really can’t wait to see all my guys. I love them and I’ve missed them and can’t wait to be with them again.”

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 23, 2024) — The World Short Track Championship has grown to become the East Coast’s largest and most prestigious dirt track racing event on the fall calendar with over 500 cars racing in 10 different divisions last year.

But what is it about this supersized event at The Dirt Track at Charlotte — now only nine years old — that creates such a turnout?

“Because it’s Charlotte,” said Jason Walls, Series Director of the Mid-East Racing Association, which sanctions four divisions at the event. “On the local short track dirt racer, The Dirt Track at Charlotte is Daytona, it’s Indianapolis.

“It just means so much for everybody because a lot of the racing that goes on in this region is because of what goes on at Charlotte Motor Speedway — all the connections it has to the outside racing world. It’s so big of a stage for everybody.”

The ninth edition of the event hits the 4/10-mile, red dirt oval of Charlotte next Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 31–Nov. 2. Walls is one of many series directors bringing their regular competitors to the event, including Adam Stewart of Crate Racin’ USA (CRUSA), Scott Morgan of the Monster Mini Stock / Thunder Bomber Association (MMSA), and multiple other Southeast-based organizations.

While their car types are all different, the drivers that race them all share a common motive in making their trip out to Concord, NC, every October.

“Of course everybody wants to race there — it’s Charlotte,” Stewart said. “You’re in the shadows of the Speedway there. It’s got the name ‘America’s Home for Racing,’ so I think it gives these guys that are on a stage a bigger stage to get themselves some visibility and be able to run at a facility like that as well.”

“These guys that run here — they run with local dirt track racers; they don’t get a chance to shine on a big stage like a lot of these Late Model drivers do week-in and week-out,” Morgan said. “This is their big stage, a good chance to go and just have fun. A lot of people make a vacation out of the weekend. It’s just an overall good weekend to have fun.”

Stewart has served as the Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series director since 2013 and has seen the Chevrolet Performance 604 Crate engine-powered Late Model division’s car count increase every year at the World Short Track Championship, reaching 60 cars last year for the first time since 2017.

But this year, Stewart and the CRUSA officials have added in a new element for their trip to Charlotte. Saturday’s main event will be a points race for all drivers, which could have major implications in the championship standings as their season nears its conclusion. Unlike years past, all points championship chasers will be required to compete, including some of the Southeast’s top Crate racers like Jimmy Thomas, Matt Dooley and Matt Henderson.

“Everybody wants to beat the best, and you’ve got a bunch of cars,” Stewart said. “If you’re gonna be a champion, you’ve got to fight the heavyweights. So, I think it’s being able to outrun that number of cars — those guys that are good.

“For my core group — coming from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee — to come to the Carolinas, it sort of gives them a measuring stick to see how they measure up to the guys from over that way that come from DIRTcar world as well.”

Like the regional touring stars, the local heroes of the Southeast’s weekly dirt tracks flock to Charlotte every October as well. Morgan purchased South Carolina-based MMSA for the four-cylinder-powered Mini Stocks in 2017, and in 2023 brought in the Monster Thunder Bombers brand for the V8-powered Street Stock-type cars, which debuted at Charlotte in 2022.

Both divisions compete regularly around the weekly Carolina dirt tracks and attend Morgan’s series races throughout the year. But to the drivers, Charlotte is special — enough to force some to make extra preparations.

“They’ll actually sit out the whole month of October if they have to just to go get their motors freshened, make sure they got new tires, and go over the car — front bumper to back bumper — just to make sure that everything’s gonna be top-notch and ready to go before they get to Charlotte because it is such a big stage for them,” Morgan said.

Like the weekly racers of the Carolinas, the World Short Track Championship also brings together drivers from the Northern regions of the United States as well — including the DIRTcar Pro Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds from the Northeast, and four of Mid-East’s divisions, which operate around both Carolinas and Virginia.

As the Series Director, Walls originally got involved with the event because of the big stage it presents to his racers, but also because of the high level of weekly competition that converges on The Dirt Track at Charlotte and brings out the best his organization has to offer.

“Mid-East breaks our racing into regions — we have a north, a south, a coastal region — which keeps everybody in their own little area,” Walls said. “Through the year, we all race at different places and [World Short Track Championship] just brings everybody together at one time.

“To win this event, it means so much because you’ve beat the best of the best in this region.”

See all 10 divisions of racing in action at the ninth annual World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte — Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 31–Nov. 2. Tickets are on sale and registration is now open at DIRTcar.com/WorldShortTrack.

If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BARBERVILLE, FL (Oct. 23, 2024) – The best DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers in the country will return to Volusia Speedway Park to honor one of the division’s most legendary families in November.

“The World’s Fastest Half Mile” will host the 11th edition of the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, with $10,000 and the icon tractor trophy on the line for Saturday’s winner.

The event is held in memory of Emil Reutimann Jr., Dale Reutimann and family friend Gordon Stone, who were victims of a drunk driving crash while traveling to a race in September 1973.

About 50 drivers challenged for the prestigious triumph last year. But no one could stop Nick Hoffman, who became the second driver to win the event multiple times. Of the 10 editions of the Reutimann Memorial, there have been eight different winners. Only Hoffman and David Reutimann have taken won it multiple times.

Several local stars will be in attendance, including Hall of Famer and Volusia Speedway Park track champion Buzzie Reutimann, of Zephyrhills, FL. 2017 Reutimann Memorial champion Jeff Mathews, of Brandon, FL, will be on the hunt for his second win at the event after finishing third last year.

There will be practice on Thursday and then Showdown Features on Friday. That’ll set up Saturday’s grand finale with the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win, Feature.

The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will be joined by 3/4 Modifieds and 604 Late Models.

EVENT INFO
Date – Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23
Location – Volusia Speedway Park (1500 FL-40, De Leon Springs, FL 32130)

Tickets – Available HERE.
Driver Register – Click HERE.

Times (ET) –
Thursday:
Gates Open – 4:00 PM
Practice – 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Friday:
Pit Gate Open – 2:00 PM
Drivers Meeting – 5:30 PM
Hot Laps – 6:00 PM

Saturday:
Pit Gate Open – 3:00 PM
Drivers Meeting – 5:15 PM
Hot Laps – 5:45 PM

Previous Reutimann Memorial Winners –

• 2014 – Austin Sanders
• 2015 – David Reutimann
• 2016 – David Reutimann
• 2017 – Jeff Mathews
• 2018 – Kyle Strickler
• 2019 – David Stremme
• 2020 – Tyler Nicely
• 2021 – Nick Hoffman
• 2022 – Ethan Dotson
• 2023 – Nick Hoffman

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap of racing from the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial live on DIRTVision.

With the playoff schedule finally aligned across all three divisions, the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series will convene and head south to Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the 1.5-mile Florida venue is set to host the second race of the Round of Eight. The weekend will get underway with a doubleheader on Saturday featuring the Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series, where Chevrolet’s playoff contenders will look to join their manufacturer teammates – Grant Enfinger and AJ Allmendinger – in the Championship Four. The Cup Series will take center stage on Sunday as Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott vie for the second guaranteed spot in the title race.

Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway: In 25 all-time NASCAR Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet has earned seven trips to victory lane – each recorded with a different driver. Among those includes two Team Chevy playoff contenders, William Byron and Kyle Larson, who took their Hendrick Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet’s to the win in back-to-back seasons (Byron – Feb. 2021; Larson – Oct. 2022). This season marks the 19th year that Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted a playoff race, with its most notable stint coming between 2004 – 2019 when the venue hosted the series’ season finale race. Over that time span, three drivers took Chevrolet to the victory and a driver’s championship including Tony Stewart (2011), Kevin Harvick (2014) and Jimmie Johnson (2016).In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet leads the way with 14 all-time triumphs at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Among those victories includes an active streak of three-straight, with JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer returning as the series’ defending winner at the track (Oct. 2023). Other recent notable wins at the south Florida oval came in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when Tyler Reddick and Richard Childress Racing drove their Chevrolet-powered machine to back-to-back victories and championship titles.

One year ago, Carson Hocevar and Niece Motorsports put Chevrolet back in victory lane in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time in 10 years. The victory – Chevrolet’s sixth all-time at the track – also delivered the Chevrolet driver his first career appearance in the series’ Championship Four.

ALLMENDINGER, ENFINGER SET FOR TITLE FIGHT

Entering the second race of the Round of Eight, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer with a driver already locked into the title-deciding race for both the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. Most recently, it was Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger that drove his No. 16 Camaro SS to its first victory of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – skyrocketing from seventh in the playoff standings and a double-digit points deficit to a guaranteed ticket into Xfinity Series’ Championship Four. In similar fashion, Grant Enfinger opened the Craftsman Truck Series’ final round with a trip to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway with his first win this season, as well as the first-ever triumph in the series for team owner Codie Rohrbaugh and CR7 Motorsports.

NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

The trend of dramatic round opening races continued at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Chevrolet’s William Byron was one of just a handful of remaining title contenders that put together a strong day at the 1.5-mile Nevada venue – accumulating 48 points en route to his fourth-straight top-four finish. Despite still sitting fourth in the playoff standings, Byron was able to build a double-digit points cushion, with the Rudy Fugle-led team heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 27-point advantage over the elimination line.  The opportunity to drive to a season sweep at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quickly turned into an uphill battle for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. A set of issues in Stage Two soon found the team two laps down near the midway point of the race. To no surprise, the Cliff Daniels-led team progressively found their way back to the lead lap – ultimately entering the top-15 with 60 laps remaining in the race. Salvaging an 11th place result, Larson was still able to add a few points onto his already double-digit cushion, with the former series champion now ranked third in the playoff standings and 35-points above the cutline.  Among those playoff drivers with a dismal day in the Round of Eight opener included Chase Elliott, who was an innocent bystander in a wreck early in Stage Two. Falling to a 53-point deficit to the elimination line, the 28-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, is no stranger to capitalizing on ‘must-win’ situations. A career moment for Elliott came in 2020 when the Hendrick Motorsports driver turned a 25-point deficit into a ticket to his first appearance in the Championship Four with a victory at Martinsville Speedway – ultimately leading to his first championship title. When it comes to Homestead-Miami Speedway, consistency is key for Elliott and the No. 9 Chevrolet team. In his eight career starts at the 1.5-mile Florida venue, Elliott has earned results no worse than 15th, with his best finish of second also coming in his title-earning season.  Five of the remaining title contenders have found victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including Chevrolet’s William Byron and Kyle Larson, who took Hendrick Motorsports on back-to-back trips to victory lane in 2021-2022.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

With already one position clinched in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Championship Four, Chevrolet moves on to Homestead-Miami Speedway with five playoff contenders left vying for an early berth into the title-deciding race. Joining fellow Chevrolet driver, AJ Allmendinger, in the top-four of the playoff rankings includes JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier. Despite a challenging start to postseason competition, the No. 7 Chevrolet team had a much-needed turnaround performance to open the Round of Eight. Allgaier tallied a 53-point day – the second-highest among the playoff drivers – en route to a podium finish. The 38-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native now sits second in the playoff standings and 32 points above the cutline – a cushion exactly double the next ranking driver. Just two remaining title contenders are past Homestead-Miami Speedway winners, one of which includes JR Motorsports Sam Mayer, who returns to the track as the series’ defending winner.

Mayer’s History of Walk-Off WinsIn his young career, Mayer has been no stranger to making the most out of playoff pressure. For back-to-back seasons, the 21-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin, native earned his ticket into the Round of Eight with a walk-off win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. In 2023, Mayer made his first career appearance in the Championship Four, which also came after a momentous win. As the series ventured to Homestead-Miami Speedway one year ago, Mayer entered the second race of the round ranked sixth in the standings with a double-digit deficit to the playoff cutline. The Chevrolet driver proceeded to add onto an already career season by collecting his first oval victory and his first shot at the series’ title. Returning to the track as the defending winner, Mayer and the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team have found themselves in a similar position – currently sitting seventh in the playoff standings and 23-points below the elimination line.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

Sitting idle for two weeks, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to playoff competition at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 marking the penultimate race of the Round of Eight. Chevrolet’s Grant Enfinger is the only playoff driver that will head to the 1.5-mile Florida oval with a sense of relief after already earning his spot in the Championship Four with his win at Talladega Superspeedway. Regular Season Champion, Christian Eckes, has finished no worse than sixth in postseason competition thus far, with the 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway ranked third in the playoff standings and 29-points above the elimination line. While on the outside looking in, a trio of Chevrolet drivers still have the opportunity to point their way into the title-deciding race with Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth in fifth (-5 points); Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez in seventh (-20 points); and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum rounding out the top-eight (-23 points).

Eckes Seeks Redemption at Homestead Christian Eckes returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway looking for redemption after a heartbreaking end to his championship title run last season. In 2024, the 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native has put together a career year – earning three trips to victory lane en route to his first career regular season championship title. Eckes has tallied top-10 results in all but one of the 20 Truck Series races this season. The Chevrolet driver is riding the momentum of nine straight top-six finishes, seven of which have been podium results. In four career starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Eckes has earned three top-eight finishes.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the tripleheader race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200; The Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300; and The specially-themed pink ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.  ·       With 84 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 50% with 42 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – 15 wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 17 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – 10 wins). ·       In 15 tripleheader weekends this season, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to earn a weekend sweep – accomplishing the feat four times (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway).  ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Homestead-Miami Speedway:  Kyle Busch – two wins (2015, 2019)Kyle Larson – one win (2022)William Byron – one win (2021) ·       On NASCAR’s current non-drafting intermediate ovals, ranging from 1.25 to 1.5 miles in length, Chevrolet owns a winning percentage of 50 percent in the Next Gen era with 16 victories in 32 races. ·       In 105 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 52 victories – a winning percentage of 49.5%.  ·       With its 42 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.

FOR THE FANS·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where they can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Saturday, October 26Team Chevy Truck Series Drivers: ·       Rajah Caruth: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ·       Christian Eckes: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ·       Grant Enfinger: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ·       Nick Sanchez: 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. ·       Corey Day: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Team Chevy Xfinity Series Drivers: ·       AJ Allmendinger: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. ·       Justin Allgaier: 12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. ·       Sam Mayer: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ·       Sammy Smith: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. ·       Brandon Jones: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ·       Josh Williams: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ·       Shane van Gisbergen: 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Sunday, October 27·       Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. ·       Justin Haley: 10:55 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. ·       Daniel Suarez: 11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. ·       Carson Hocevar: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. ·       William Byron: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, October 25: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   Saturday, October 26: 9 a.m. – end of Xfinity Series RaceSunday, October 27: 10 a.m. – end of Cup Series Race

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 1208Ford: 1160 (-48)Toyota: 1155 (-53)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 1118Toyota: 1064 (-54)Ford: 964 (-154)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 745Toyota: 703 (-42)Ford: 670 (-75)

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoStraight Talk Wireless 400 Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2:30 p.m. ET(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoCredit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300Saturday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoBaptist Health 200Saturday, Oct. 26, at 12 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

CHEVROLET IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES: QUOTABLE QUOTES AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER BOATS CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts on Homestead-Miami Speedway?“I love racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s my favorite track that we race at. Homestead-Miami Speedway is a driver’s racetrack. It’s so much fun to run right up against the fence. You have to be disciplined in how you drive and save your tires. It’s an epic race. It’s always intense. We can move around in the corners to find the best line and it’s a track that’s been good to me in my career. We ran well at Homestead-Miami Speedway last year and finished fourth in 2022. The Miami atmosphere is just one of the things I love about this time of year, and I can’t wait to get on track in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet.” KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on Homestead-Miami Speedway: “I look forward to racing at Homestead-Miami – I just really love that track. We only get to go there once a year, whereas a lot of intermediates we go to twice a year. I wish we could go there twice because I just love the track. So yeah, I look forward to going there because, one, I love it, and we’re really, really fast there. And yeah, it’s just a good track for us.” JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 7 CHILI’S CATCH-A-RITA CAMARO ZL1Across the garage, Homestead is one of the most-endeared tracks to race at. Why is that?“Homestead is a fun place to race. The tire falloff is severe, which makes for lap time variability. The various grooves allow you to make time, no matter how your car drives. I haven’t gotten the results I’ve hoped for there, but I think we can turn that around this weekend. It is really cool to have Chili’s aboard, and I hope I can put on a show for them.” KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 REBEL BOURBON CAMARO ZL1How challenging is practice at Homestead? There are so many different lines you can use to improve the balance of the car but you only have 20-minutes of track time.“You have to go into practice at Homestead with a gameplan. There are so many different lines you can run at Homestead and we have such a short time frame that it can certainly be challenging for sure. The line that you’re going to use for the race is going to be significantly different that the line you use for qualifying so figuring out both of those with the short amount of time you have is very, very difficult.” How different is racing in the daylight at Homestead compared with track conditions at night?“Track conditions at Homestead in the daytime are significantly different than what the conditions will be at night. I have always been much stronger at Homestead racing at night than during the day.” CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1Elliott on the team’s outlook following Las Vegas: “Going into the Round of 8, our mindset was we’re going to have to win to have a shot in Phoenix, so what happened at Las Vegas doesn’t really change that. It was unfortunate because our NAPA Chevy was really, really good and I think we would have potentially had a shot at it there at the end if we hadn’t got caught up in that incident. The fact that we had speed though gives me confidence heading into Homestead this weekend. Our team is fully capable of winning. We just need to go and execute.” WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1Byron on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “We’re always really good at Homestead. It’s just trying to be the best car. We’ve focused a lot on that in the Chevy simulator this week. I feel like we’re in a really good spot as a team. Hopefully we can go in there with a good baseline setup and we can work through and build off of it through the weekend to be that best car.” DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1“We’re feeling confident heading to Homestead this weekend. I have not been there in the Next Gen car, but it’s a track I have always enjoyed. We’ve really been working on our intermediate track package, and the speed has shown.” ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Bowman on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “With a top five at (Las) Vegas (Motor Speedway), our Ally Racing No. 48 team is still pushing hard for a strong finish to the season. Homestead is a place I’ve been working hard at in the simulator to improve. I’ve had a couple better finishes for myself in that last handful of races there but certainly nowhere near where I want to be yet. Hopefully that practice will pay off and we can execute a solid race on Sunday as a team.” ZANE SMITH, NO. 71 WELLCARE CAMARO ZL1How are you feeling about your first Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend?“I’ve always looked forward to going to Homestead. It’s a unique mile-and-a-half, and even though we haven’t gotten the best results at the intermediates this year, we’re coming off a top 10 at Kansas. That definitely gives us some positive momentum heading into the weekend. I’m excited to have Wellcare on board my Chevrolet and to go 400 miles on Sunday! Still a lot to accomplish in the final three races this year.” CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 ZEIGLER AUTO GROUP / LOJACK CAMARO ZL1You have had success at Homestead in the past. How does that help your confidence heading into the weekend.“I’m excited to get back to Homestead. I’ve ran really well at Miami in the trucks and it is a fun track overall. I didn’t get to run the Cup Series race there last year, but was able to watch and learn some things. Winning a race at a track helps build your confidence. Luke (Lambert) and everybody at Spire likes this racetrack, and Luke even won the XFINITY race a couple years ago with Noah (Gragson). So yeah, we’re pretty excited.” The high line has been the preferred line at Homestead. Do you still see that as the case, or has the Next Gen car allowed the other lines to make just as much ground?“I don’t know if running against the fence is the end all be all. I feel like with this car, you can move around a bit more. With the old car, you had to bang it against the fence. I think the best line is probably going to be around the fence, but at the same time, it’s super easy to knock a toe link out or bend up the suspension. I’m ready to get to practice and figure out what the best lines are going to be for me and my No.77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevy.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2023): 42First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2024 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 15Poles: 10Laps Led: 3,177Top-Five Finishes: 66Top-10 Finishes: 133Stage Wins: 22·       Chase Elliott: 1 ·       Kyle Larson: 12·       Ross Chastain: 2·       William Byron: 2·       Shane van Gisbergen: 1·       Daniel Suarez: 1·       Kyle Busch: 1·       Alex Bowman: 1·       AJ Allmendinger: 1 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 866 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 753Laps led to date: 252,332Top-five finishes to date: 4,364Top-10 finishes to date: 8,993                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,200           Chevrolet: 866           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 838                                                                      Ford: 738           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 188

Cruz Pedregon

Ford Performance NHRA Nationals – Las Vegas 2

Pre-Race Report

News of Note:

Cruz Pedregon and primary sponsor Snap-on are debuting a new “Own It” paint scheme in Las Vegas, bringing a fresh, bold look to the track while celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit behind the Snap-on franchise opportunity. The new scheme represents the pride, freedom, and independence franchisees experience as they serve skilled professionals on-site, embodying the spirit of “Own It” on and off the track.

Quotes for the upcoming Vegas race –

Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

“This time around, we’re aiming to keep it on all fours and punch the Snap-on car into the winner’s circle. We’ve been knocking on the door, especially after our strongest event in Dallas, with a season-best 3.87 time. We’re hoping to carry that momentum into Vegas and Pomona.”

“The Las Vegas Strip holds many great memories for me, but none bigger than the 2016 wheelstand. The car took flight and stayed up on two wheels for half a quarter mile at close to 290 MPH. It’s been one of the most iconic runs of my career.”

“People ask me all the time what I was thinking during that run. All I can say is it was scary—I was staring at the clear blue sky the whole time, not fully understanding how I got there. Luckily, it landed back on all fours, and I lived to talk about it.”

“We’re debuting our freshly wrapped Snap-on Franchisee car—an annual design I look forward to every year, especially since I ride with franchisees before events along the racing route and often host them in the pit. We’re looking forward to hitting the track with the ‘Own It’ message.”

Experienced, championship-winning roster to lead three-car GTP factory program

DETROIT (Oct. 23, 2024) – Cadillac Racing’s driver roster for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season includes a lineup of experienced and championship-winning drivers. Is 2025, Cadillac Racing expands its factory program from two to three cars for the third year of Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) competition that starts January 25-26 with the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway. Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing will run two cars, while Action Express Racing will run one car as Cadillac Whelen.

Drivers who will contest all nine rounds of the IMSA GTP schedule in Cadillac V-Series.Rs — powered by the purpose-built Cadillac 5.5L DOHC V8 engine — and endurance race drivers:

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 10)* Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque (full season; photo)* Will Stevens (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)* Brendon Hartley (Daytona) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 40)* Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz (full season; photo)* Alex Lynn (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)* Kamui Kobayashi (Daytona) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

Cadillac Whelen (No. 31)* Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken (full season; photo)* Frederik Vesti (endurance races) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

The lineup represents seven FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1/Hypercar championships, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories (six with Cadillac Racing) and 11 24 Hours of Le Mans overall/class victories among other significant accomplishments. The Nos. 10 and 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing full-time roster is unchanged from the 2024 season in which the team posted two victories and two other podium finishes with another manufacturer. Deletraz and Jordan Taylor teamed for victory in the 12-hour race at Sebring while Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor won the 100-minute sprint on the streets of Detroit. Additional media resources* Who has won what and when* Cadillac Racing 2024 IMSA GTP statistics* Cadillac Racing all-time victories, championships* Cadillac Racing 2017-2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona results

By the numbers:’25 roster notables* WEC LMP1/Hypercar championships: 7* WEC LMP2 championships: 2* Grand-Am Rolex/IMSA prototype championships: 3* Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories: 8 (6 with Cadillac)* Twelve Hours of Sebring overall victories: 6 (4 with Cadillac)* Motul Petit Le Mans overall victories: 4* 24 Hours of Le Mans overall/class victories: 11

FIA WEC 2024 full-season Hypercar drivers Bamber, Lynn, Hartley, Stevens and Kobayashi will compete in the season finale November 2 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Kobayashi returns to Cadillac Racing for the Daytona season opener after a two-year absence. Aitken returns for his second full season and third overall in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing, which recorded four pole starts and three runner-up finishes this past season. Bamber, who has driven the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R the past two seasons in the WEC, is no stranger to IMSA competition. The 2019 IMSA GTLM champion co-drove a Cadillac DPi-V.R to victory in 2022 at Sebring and this past season drove a Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R in GTD Pro class endurance races. Vesti, the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship vice-champion, will make his IMSA GTP debut at Daytona.

Cadillac, which closed the 2024 IMSA season with an overall victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans, has earned nine Manufacturer Championships in sports car racing since 2005 and five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championships since 2017. The Cadillac V-Series.R marks the third generation Cadillac prototype racecar and first with an electric motor component. The car – co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara – incorporates key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements, such as vertical lighting and floating blades.

 CRANDALL, TX (October 22, 2024) – For the first and only time in 2024, the American Sprint Car Series National Tour is set to invade the Lone Star State.

The 1/4-mile RPM Speedway – located in Crandall, TX near Dallas – will welcome the Series for the first time ever this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. The third of three-straight weekends of racing for the National Tour marks the final two races on the schedule before the Series heads to Oklahoma to wrap up the season in mid-November.

Both nights will conclude with a $4,000-to-win/$400-to-start Feature, and the Sprint Cars will be joined on the card by Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks on both nights.

Tickets will be available at the track on race day. Can’t make it? Catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:

HOMETOWN HERO: RPM Speedway sits about 25 miles southeast of Sunnyvale, TX, making it the home track on tour for Sam Hafertepe Jr.

The driver of the No. 15H sits 129 points behind Seth Bergman in the championship battle, and with only six races to go in the season, Hafertepe desperately needs a statement weekend at home to give himself a realistic chance at a sixth title entering Oklahoma next month. And if the Drivers championship wasn’t enough to think about, Hill’s Racing Team is also 15 points behind TwoC Racing in a tight battle atop the Owners standings.

Fortunately for Hafertepe, RPM has been good to him in the past. The most recent winged 360 Sprint Car race at the track was an ASCS Gulf South Region event in 2018, and the winner that night was none other than Hafertepe. He finished second in Gulf South action a year prior to give himself a 1.5 average finish in ASCS competition at RPM, and he plans on keeping that number intact this weekend.

CRANDALL KNOW HOW: Hafertepe wasn’t the only current National Tour driver in the field on those two nights though.

Matt Covington finished 10th in 2017 and sixth in 2018 in his only two starts at RPM. He still has plenty to play for even with the Drivers title being out of reach, as the No. 95 team is third in the Owners standings, 51 points behind TwoC Racing. Additionally, Covington has six more chances to avoid going winless on the National Tour in 2024, something he hasn’t done since 2016.

Bergman was also present at the 2017 Gulf South Region race and came home ninth. After a weekend at the World Short Track Challenge in which he never found his footing – finishing 11th on Friday and missing the show on Saturday – Bergman will be looking to get back to his usual consistency this weekend to maintain his triple-digit lead atop the standings.

MIDGET MEMORIES: The top three in the standings may be the only ones with Sprint Car experience at RPM, but a pair of others have competed at the facility before.

Andrew Deal made a pair of trips to Crandall to race with the POWRi West Midgets and scored finishes of 12th in 2016 and sixth in 2017. He’ll look to transfer that knowledge from the small car into the big car as he tries to rebound from a pair of DNQs at Riverside last weekend.

Rookie of the Year leader Hank Davis also has laps around RPM in a Midget, with his only visit to the track ending with a seventh-place finish in 2018.

HERE COMES MARTIN: The closest points battle in the top 10 entering RPM is the fight for the final spot in the top five, with Deal leading Jason Martin by 15 points.

The two drivers entered the season with polar-opposite backgrounds – Martin as the defending Series champion with two decades of Sprint Car experience under his belt, while Deal is wrapping up his first full season on a national Sprint Car series.

Martin has been climbing back up the order for much of the season after an injury forced him to miss the Batesville Motor Speedway event, knocking him outside the top 10 in points. His ascent has accelerated in the last few weeks, with his first win of the season at Arrowhead Speedway highlighting a stretch of six-straight top 10s – Martin’s longest of the season.

Following a tough weekend at Riverside, Deal will head to RPM looking for his first top five since Clay County Fair Speedway on Sept. 10. If he can get that done, it would be his first on a 1/4-mile bullring since finishing second in the season opener at Super Bee Speedway in April.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, at RPM Speedway in Crandall, TX

AROUND THE TURN:
The American Sprint Car Series National Tour season will conclude in Oklahoma at Tulsa Speedway (Thursday, Nov. 14) and Creek County Speedway (Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16).

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):

1. Seth Bergman (3399 points)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-129)
3. Matt Covington (-265)
4. Hank Davis (-341)
5. Andrew Deal (-516)
6. Jason Martin (-531)
7. Landon Britt (-590)
8. Zach Blurton (-635)
9. Kyler Johnson (-689)
10. Terry Easum (-786)

FEATURE WINNERS:
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 5
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
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
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Joe B. Miller – Millersville, MO – 1
Lance Moss – Cherryville, NC – 1

HEAT RACE WINS:
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 8
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 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
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 2
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 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

DASH APPEARANCES:
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 21
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 21
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 14
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 13
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 9
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 6
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 5
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 5
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 4
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 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
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 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

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS:
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
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

PODIUM FINISHERS:
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 17
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 16
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 9
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

TOP 10 FINISHERS:
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 22
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 22
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 19
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 18
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 17
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 15
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 14
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 9
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 8
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 8
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 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
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
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 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
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

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
Saturday, Oct. 26 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Thursday, Nov. 14 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK
Friday, Nov. 15 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Saturday, Nov. 16 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2024) – Dominic Scelzi produced a career-best run during the famed Trophy Cup last weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway.

Scelzi’s charge from 22 ^nd to eighth during the finale of the three-day event earned him the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars. More importantly, it placed him second – only three points, which was one position – in the final standings out of the more than 60 drivers.

“At the end of the day with everything we’ve had to overcome this year I can’t been too upset coming up one spot short,” he said. “The competitor in me and a guy who loves the Trophy Cup can’t help but be sick to my stomach. Coming that close to a dream of mine since I was a little kid is hard to swallow, but I’m thankful we had so much speed and were so close.”

Scelzi qualified sixth quickest in his group and placed sixth in a heat race during Thursday’s opener. He advanced from seventh to second place during a B Main to transfer into the back of the main event.

“We qualified well,” he said. “They did a full rework of the track before the heat races and it was super, super wet. The outside row got a little better start and we fell into sixth. We moved through the B Main. Then in the feature it was one lane and hard to pass. I decided to pull off the track early to save the engine knowing that we could have a fresh start on Friday.”

Scelzi was stout on Friday when he timed in seventh quickest in his qualifying group. He followed that up by hustling from fifth to second place in a heat race. Scelzi gained two positions in the main event to finish second.

“We were really good,” he said. “The track was slick and wide when we heat raced and we were able to race around. When we went green in the feature I ripped around the top and that got me to third. I want to say maybe six or seven laps in I was able to slide for second. It laid rubber about halfway through and we managed a second-place result.”

Scelzi was the highest-ranked driver in points following the two preliminary nights. He kicked Saturday’s program off by maneuvering from eighth to fifth place in a heat race. That lined him up 22 ^nd in the 50-lap main event that was inverted.

“It was a good run in the heat race and that kept us in the hunt,” he said. “We battled our butts off all feature long. Our car was really good and we were able to put some good cars behind us early. We were able to continue to pace and able to change lanes really well. All in all, we had a really strong run. We were at (D.J.) Netto’s left rear coming across the finish line for seventh. We did everything in our power and just came up one spot short.”

The second-place result in the final Trophy Cup standings was Scelzi’s best in his career.

He plans to race with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series this Friday at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., and Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif.

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 17 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 2 (7); Feature: 24 (21).

Oct. 18 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 2 (5); Feature: 2 (4).

Oct. 19 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Heat race: 5 (8); Feature: 8 (22).

SEASON STATS –

58 races, 3 wins, 15 top fives, 25 top 10s, 38 top 15s, 47 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., for the October Classic and Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for the Anthony Simone Classic with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DominicScelziRacing.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scelzi41

(10/22/24 – Ben Deatherage) Bakersfield, CA … The 65th Anniversary NARC 410 Sprint Car Series campaign is quickly winding down but will offer a fix of open wheel racing with a rare October doubleheader this weekend featuring shows at two different facilities. Fans will be treated to 900+ horsepower sprint car racing at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield on Friday, October 25th, for the October Classic.This show runs in conjunction with the ARCA stock car series, which will be practicing and qualifying on the neighboring half-mile paved oval earlier in the day. Then the show moves over to the dirt track.Kings Speedway in Hanford will cap the weekend with the Anthony Simone Classic on Saturday, the 26th.The Anthony Simone Classic, a race held in memory of the late Fresno-based driver, is a unique event in the NARC 410 Series. Known as ‘Mr. Excitement,’ the event is a celebration of Simone’s spirited personality and legendary stories, both on and off the track. His iconic #10 machine and trademark mustache were synonymous with his racing career where he raced on both pavement and dirt.”Returning to my home track in Hanford, I believe we have a slight advantage due to the numerous laps I’ve run there,” said Cole Macedo, the current NARC point leader. “We also had a strong performance at Kern last year, and I’m eager to tackle both tracks.”Since its establishment in 2021, the Simone Classic has yet to have a repeat winner, with Shane Golobic, Rico Abreu, and Corey Day scoring wins.Complementing the NARC 410 Series at Kern County will be the Western Midget Racing series and the Southern California Dwarf Cars. The Kings of Thunder 360 Sprints and the Western RaceSaver Series 305 Sprints will join the card at Hanford.Championship ChaseCole Macedo brings a slim 11-point advantage into Bakersfield, a position he reclaimed after his victory at the Chris & Brian Faria Memorial on October 12th. Now back in the driver’s seat of the championship chase for the NARC King of the West title, the Lemoore racer hopes to build a healthy cushion to ease the pressure of going into the November 2nd season finale at Stockton.”Ultimately, the goal is to have a big enough points lead where we can have some breathing room at Stockton,” mentioned Macedo, “I’d love to have a little bit of a bubble to have a decent night and not worry about it, run really hard, and put it all on the line.”In the lone NARC trip to Kings this season, Macedo piloted the Tarlton Motorsports #21 entry scored a pair of third place finishes during the Morrie William Memorial Twin 20s and won the event championship. His last journey to Kern ended with a fourth-place result, his career-best at the facility.On the other side of the battlefield is Justin Sanders. The Aromas driver is determined to bounce back big after a heartbreaking night at Tulare, which saw him bow out early due to mechanical problems. Something notable that favors the Mittry Motorsports #2X chauffeur is that he’s achieved wins at both tracks. The last two times NARC has been to Hanford, both during the Williams Memorial weekend, Sanders has won. His lone winner’s circle visit at Kern was on October 30th, 2021.While there is no doubt the chase for the King of the West championship has been a primary focus, the race for third in the table is also a hot contest between three competitors.2017 NARC champion Bud Kaeding leads the trio, rustling for third in points. Representing Campbell, Kaeding has a streak of five consecutive Top 10 finishes. A winner at Kings in 2012, he boasts four top five’s and a lone podium at Kern when he finished runner-up in 2019.Leading Rookie of the Year candidate Caeden Steele hopes to rebound from a tough night in Tulare a couple of weeks ago. Trailing Kaeding by 18 markers, the Easton driver will hope to carve his way to the podium in his remarkable campaign. At Kings at the beginning of the month, he was tenth and sixth in the Twin 20s of “The Morrie.”  He has never made an appearance at Kern.Completing the current top five in points, Oakley’s Dylan Bloomfield is among several drivers hungry for his first career NARC feature. Aboard the Dave and Debbie Vertullo-owned #83V, he finished fourth and fifth in his last two series starts, with his previous venture to Kings producing a fifth-place result, and he was sixth in his most recent outing at Kern. He’s 26 points behind Kaeding and just eight markers behind Steele.Who To WatchShane Golobic, as noted, will be a driver to be on the lookout for. The Fremont pilot in the Matt Wood Racing #17W has had a fair share of success at both venues. His lone win at Hanford was the Simone Classic in ’21, while he’s collected three victories at KCRP, including one in 2021 and two in 2018.Two-time NARC champion Dominic Scelzi is also ready to rip at two tracks he’s managed to succeed at over the years. The Fresno phenom swept the pair of NARC events at Kern in 2019 and has amassed an impressive win total of five visits to victory lane at Kings.Two other newcomers not to be discounted are Gauge Garcia and Dominic Gorden. Behind the wheel of the Keller Motorsports #2K, Garcia had an impressive third place at Kings, while his lone appearance at KCRP resulted in a 15th place finish. posting. Both results were from last year, but the young man from Lemoore finished eleventh in both Twin 20s for the Morrie Williams Memorial at Kings earlier in October.Dominic Gorden remains the only Rookie to have won a NARC main event this season. The young man from Clovis recently had his best run ever at Kings when he finished ninth in the second Twin 20 a few weeks ago, and in his only trip to Kern, he was seventh last year.A notable addition to the mix will be Justyn Cox, who steps back into the Bates-Hamilton Racing #42X entry after a hiatus due to an injury suffered at the Douglas County Dirt Track on August 26th with the High Limit Series. Before being sidelined, Cox picked up a win at Cottage Grove this season and was in contention for a victory at Santa Maria in late July. The Roseville racer has a good history with NARC at Hanford, including eight Top 10s in eleven career starts, including two podium finishes.2019 NARC champion D.J. Netto is hopeful to earn his first series win of the season. It has not been for lack of trying. The Hanford native was a couple of laps away from doing so at Tulare in the most recent NARC event.Arizona transplant Nick Parker is looking to build off of what’s been an incredible 2024 season. Now living in Chico, Parker has procured a pair of his first career top five results with NARC earlier this season.Benicia’s Billy Aton is another NARC regular making the journey this weekend. He has three top ten finishes this season, with one coming at Kings. He has five top ten’s at Kings, including a fifth-place finish in 2021.Fan & Competitor InfoKern County Raceway Park is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, Bakersfield, California, just off Interstate 5.  Ticket prices are $25.00 for Adults (Ages 13+), $10.00 for Juniors (6-12), and Kids (5 and under) are FREE.  Front Gates open at 5:00, Hot Laps around 5:30, and Opening Ceremonies are scheduled to kick off around 7:00.Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the day of the race or online at https://tickets.thefoat.com/kernraceway/event-245551/clear_cart-1. For more information, visit kernraceway.com.Kings Speedway is located at the Kings Fairgrounds at 801 S 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. For ticket information, log on to https://www.myracepass.com/1797/tickets/1419102 for online purchases.  Tickets are $30.00 for adults and $25.00 for Children (7-17), Military (With Valid ID), and Seniors (65+).  Pit Gates open at 1:30 PM and Front Gates open at 4:00 PM.  Qualifying gets underway around 6:00 PM.Additional information can be found at the track website, www.racekingsspeedway.com.The NARC racing format includes qualifying, four 8-lap heat races, an exciting six-lap trophy dash, a 12-lap last chance race, and a 30-lap main event.The NARC 410 Sprint Series is the leading 410 Sprint Car tour west of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1960, it has entertained countless thousands of fans at tracks up and down the Pacific Coast. For more information, visit its website at www.narc410.com or social media pages.All NARC 410 Sprint Car Series events can be viewed live on Floracing.com.Former Anthony Simone Classic Winners:
2021- Shane Golobic
2022- Rico Abreu
2023- Corey DayThe NARC 410 Sprint Car Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Beacon Wealth Strategies, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Diversified Machine Inc., Jim Allen Promotions, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Enterprises, Lifeline LLC, Maxim Racing Products, Mettec Titanium, Pyrotect, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Scelzi Enterprises, SCI Racing Products, Starr Property Management, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Williams Roofing, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.NARC 410 SPRINT CARS SERIESCHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS
(AFTER 20 EVENTS IN 23-RACE SERIES – 10/22/24)

1. Cole Macedo, Lemoore – 2599
2. Justin Sanders, Aromas – 2588
3. Bud Kaeding, Campbell – 2514
4. Caeden Steele, Fresno (R) – 2496
5. Dylan Bloomfield, Oakley – 2488
6. Gauge Garcia, Lemoore (R) – 2468
7. Nick Parker, Chico – 2426
8. Dominic Gorden, Clovis (R) – 2320
9. Justyn Cox, Clarksburg – 2253
10. Billy Aton, Benicia – 2105
11. Chase Johnson, Penngrove – 1972
12. Tanner Carrick, Lincoln – 1944
13. Shane Golobic, Fremont – 1607
14. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno – 1601
15. DJ Netto, Hanford – 1471
16. John Clark, Windsor (R) – 1439
17. Sean Becker, Roseville – 1346
18. Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR – 1320
19. Jarrett Soares – Gilroy – 1207
20. Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton – 1181

Upcoming Events:
November 2nd – Stockton Dirt Track – Tribute to Gary Patterson Triple Crown w/SCCT & Hunt Wingless TourNovember 3rd – Brookside County Club (Stockton) – Championship Celebration Awards Banquet

ROSSBURG, OHIO (October 19, 2024) – The 44th Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship, presented by ARP at Eldora Speedway, did not disappoint on Saturday night. Bobby Pierce came from the 14th starting spot to win his first career DTWC, worth $100,000, concluding the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season. Ricky Thornton Jr.’s third-place finish clinched the 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship. The Martinsville, Indiana, driver earned his first career title, which pays $200,000. Tim McCreadie, who led the most laps during the race (79), came home in second ahead of Thornton, Devin Moran, and Max Blair. Pierce led the final 17 laps of the race to score his 35th win of the season. He became the 28th different driver in the DTWC’s 44-year history to win the event, which began in 1981. McCreadie jumped to the lead at the start of the race as he led the first two laps until Davenport seized the lead on lap three. Davenport would stay out in front until McCreadie worked his way back to the point on lap six.  McCreadie and Davenport then raced one-two until Thornton briefly slipped past Davenport for second on lap 25, but Davenport got back by him a lap later. The second caution of the race flew on lap 28 for a slowing Wil Herrington. On the restart, McCreadie still held the lead, and at the halfway point, he was still leading over Davenport and Josh Rice. With 63 laps scored, it was now a tight battle for the race lead among McCreadie, Davenport, and Rice, with Thornton holding down the fourth position. Coming off of turn four to score lap 64, Davenport was able to edge ahead of McCreadie, but just a few feet later, heading into turn number one, Davenport’s title bid and race would end with mechanical issues as he slowed, bringing out the caution flag. On the restart, McCreadie was back out in front, with Thornton running in second. Pierce, who started on the inside of the seventh row, then moved past Thornton and into the second slot. Pierce was then able to get by McCreadie for the race lead on lap 84, as he led the rest of the way to pick up the victory. “The car was awesome,” said the Oakwood, Illinois racer who won for the 24th time in his career with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. “There was a stretch in the race where I was worried, around the halfway point. I sometimes saw those other guys, and they would pull away. I got stalemated and didn’t know what happened to Davenport. When that caution came out for him, I had just found that line down there in three and four, and I knew I had to get back down there. I think I restarted fourth and got to third, and it was like 30 laps to go. I was pretty nervous because I knew I had a car that could win the race right then. So, I had to calm myself down.” “I knew I had a car that could win, and I just had to catch them guys. I had to keep hitting my lines there; there was something about it; I just kept getting better and better. Normally, here you’ll slow down, but the line I was running, and I guess the car kept rotating better and better down there, and at the very end, I found that middle, and it just felt awesome,” said Pierce, who just won his second career World 100 a month ago at Eldora. “I have been eyeing this race since it moved from Portsmouth to here. I thought it was a good move. This track can provide some good racing when it’s right. I think we saw a really good racetrack tonight. I saw the hoodies and shirts with the guys’ names on them that had won this race before. A mixture of guys have won this race. Of course, [Brandon] Sheppard and Freddy [Smith] have won it a lot. I wanted to be one of those names on the back of those.” McCreadie, to overcome going to a back-up car after hot laps, ended up in second at the finish line, 8.717 seconds behind Pierce in the final 10 laps of the race. “Yeah, my guys did a great job. They always do a great job. They give me great equipment to run, and when we get out there, it’s up to me to try to bring it home. I came up a little short. I didn’t know where Bobby was, but I assumed he was on the cushion. I was up there 90% of the time, and we just faded a little. I needed some timely yellows, and we fired back off when I got them. We pulled this car out, and I don’t even remember when we last ran this one; it was probably May or something, and having to switch a bunch of stuff over and get no hot laps before the feature was pretty cool for this team to pull this off. I was hoping to get them one, and it didn’t work out.” Thornton, who entered the night needing to finish in sixth place or higher to clinch the championship, stayed within the top five the entire race despite a scary moment when he brushed the turn two wall, which damaged the right rear quarter panel. “I got into turn three and thought the right rear was flat. It kind of laid over on the right rear, and I’m like, man, I really just gave this thing away. I don’t know if I want to come back in the pits if it is flat. I’d been better off to go out the back gate,” he said. “It took a lot of hard work and determination. My job is pretty easy getting to wheel this thing. Overall, I get all the glory, and they do all the hard work. So, this is definitely a big team effort by everyone at Koehler Motorsports. It’s pretty awesome.”  “This car ran flawlessly during this playoff deal. Chris Madden [crew chief], I don’t think we could have won this without him. He has been a great leader for our team and helped us stay as a whole team. I had input this weekend, but I told him this is your racetrack and like we are better off letting him make the decisions.”  A Vic Hill Racing Engine powers the winner’s Bobby Pierce Racing, Longhorn Chassis, and is sponsored by Hoker Trucking, Churchill Transport, Low Voltage Solutions, Toyota of Danville, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Rio Grande Waste Services, Collins Brothers Towing, Carnaghi Towing and Repair, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint and Body Shop, VP Fuels, and Leka Tree Service. Completing the top ten were Josh Rice, Hudson O’Neal, Ryan Gustin, Kyle Bronson, and Daulton Wilson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 44th Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship Presented by ARPSaturday, October 19, 2024Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 3. 12-Jason Jameson[9]; 4. 4G-Kody Evans[6]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]; 6. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 7. 96-Tanner English[5]; 8. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 9. 95J-Jerry Bowersock[10]; 10. 29-Clint Keenan[15]; 11. 21B-Rich Bell[14]; 12. 7B-Jeff Babcock[12]; 13. 99J-Donnie Jeschke[13]; 14. 93-Cory Lawler[11]; 15. 6-Clay Harris[2] UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 7-Ross Robinson[1]; 2. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[2]; 3. 17D-Zack Dohm[4]; 4. 9-Nick Hoffman[3]; 5. 89-Mike Spatola[5]; 6. 74-Ethan Dotson[13]; 7. 17SS-Brenden Smith[6]; 8. 28B-Carson Brown[12]; 9. 57-Zack Mitchell[14]; 10. 51-Devin Shiels[7]; 11. 8-Rob Anderzack[10]; 12. 11K-Evan Koehler[8]; 13. 69-Jon Hodgkiss[9]; 14. 39-Brandon Moore[11] MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 15X-Wil Herrington[1]; 2. 20-Jimmy Owens[2]; 3. B5-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 4. 99B-Boom Briggs[3]; 5. 28C-Tyler Carpenter[7]; 6. 1T-Tyler Erb[10]; 7. C4-Freddie Carpenter[4]; 8. 10S-Garrett Smith[8]; 9. 18-Shannon Babb[6]; 10. 54-David Breazeale[9]; 11. 49X-Brian Ruhlman[12]; 12. 88-Chad Green[11]; 13. W1-Cory Workman[14]; 14. (DNS) 23-Cory Hedgecock Jim Dunn Non-Qualifier Race Finish (25 Laps): 1. B5-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 2. 74-Ethan Dotson[10]; 3. 28C-Tyler Carpenter[9]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 5. 12-Jason Jameson[1]; 6. 1T-Tyler Erb[11]; 7. 17D-Zack Dohm[2]; 8. 10S-Garrett Smith[16]; 9. 4G-Kody Evans[4]; 10. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[14]; 11. 96-Tanner English[12]; 12. C4-Freddie Carpenter[13]; 13. 49X-Brian Ruhlman[25]; 14. 89-Mike Spatola[8]; 15. 7B-Jeff Babcock[26]; 16. 21B-Rich Bell[23]; 17. 29-Clint Keenan[20]; 18. 28B-Carson Brown[15]; 19. 95J-Jerry Bowersock[17]; 20. 8-Rob Anderzack[24]; 21. 51-Devin Shiels[21]; 22. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 23. 57-Zack Mitchell[18]; 24. 54-David Breazeale[22]; 25. 99B-Boom Briggs[6]; 26. (DNS) 18-Shannon Babb 44th Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship Presented by ARP Feature Finish (100 Laps): Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay1 – 14 – 32P – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $100,0002 – 1 – 1 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $20,9003 – 3 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – $10,8004 – 18 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $8,9005 – 13 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $8,2006 – 11 – 11R – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $7,0007 – 17 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $7,0008 – 16 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $5,0009 – 22 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $4,50010 – 7 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $4,70011 – 6 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $4,20012 – 9 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,85013 – 25 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,70014 – 23 – 20TC – Tristan Chamberlain – Richmond, IN – $2,75015 – 29 – B5 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,70016 – 27 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $75017 – 28 – 93 – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $70018 – 5 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $3,47519 – 20 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $3,25020 – 24 – 20 – Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – $3,32521 – 19 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,50022 – 8 – 17M – Dale McDowell – Chickamauga, GA – $2,50023 – 26 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $3,00024 – 2 – 25Z – Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – $2,50025 – 15 – 11J – James Rice – Verona, KY – $2,50026 – 21 – 15X – Wil Herrington – Hawkinsville, GA – $2,50027 – 10 – 7T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $3,20028 – 12 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $2,50029 – 4 – 114 – Jordan Koehler – Mount Airy, NC – $2,500 Race Statistics  Entrants: 61Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Tim McCreadieLap Leaders: Tim McCreadie (Laps 1-2); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 3-5); Tim McCreadie (Laps 6-63); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 64); Tim McCreadie (Laps 65-83); Bobby Pierce (Laps 84-100)Wieland Feature Winner: Bobby PierceArizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: Bobby PierceBrandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: Bobby PierceMargin of Victory: 8.716 secondsDave Warren Powersports Cautions: Drake Troutman (Initial Start); Jordan Koehler (Lap 2); Wil Herrington (Lap 28); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 64)LOLMDS Series Provisionals: Garrett Alberson; Clay HarrisFast Time Provisional: n/aLOLMDS Emergency Provisionals: Brenden Smith; Cory LawlerTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton, Jr.Penske Shocks Top 5: Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin Moran, Max BlairTodd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Devin Moran (Advanced 14 Positions) PEM 4th Place Feature: Devin MoranWilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealDeatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonMD3 Most Laps Led: Tim McCreadie (79 Laps) Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Tim McCreadieMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadieO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Carson FergusonColtman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Tim McCreadie | Lap 7 | 16.639 secondsSlicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Devin MoranMiller Welders Hard Luck Award: Jonathan DavenportOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Bob Pierce (Bobby Pierce)ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Tyler Carpenter (15.5475 seconds)Time of Race: 44 minutes 45 seconds Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Pay1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – 6910 – $435,6692 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 6850 – $372,4553 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 6780 – $387,2754 – 1 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 6765 – $252,9755 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 5985 – $196,9286 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 5780 – $159,9557 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 5720 – $202,9158 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – 5490 – $168,8359 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 5460 – $137,24010 – 20 – Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 5310 – $111,29011 – 7T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 4920 – $103,93512 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 4650 – $92,75513 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4605 – $68,72514 – 99B – Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – 4140 – $55,80515 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 4045 – $42,00516 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4030 – $69,56517 – 93 – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3850 – $27,325

LAS VEGAS, NV – October 21, 2024 – Joey Logano won Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, advancing to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4. The victory marks Ford’s 738th all-time in Cup Series competition along with Team Penske’s 99th series win with Ford. Currently, Logano has the most Championship 4 appearances of any driver with six and will compete for his third title this year at Phoenix.

“Congratulations to Roger, Tim, Paul, Joey and everyone at Team Penske on the race win at Las Vegas,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “The No. 22 team was fast throughout the day, executed their fuel mileage strategy, and now will be racing for the NASCAR Cup Championship in Phoenix.”

“Holy cow. What an incredible turn of events the last week. What a very fast Pennzoil Mustang. We’ve got the old kids crew here today and a lot of kids rooting us on, so it was really special to win in front of them again. My kids at home, I wish you guys were out here, but we’re going to the Championship 4 again. I don’t know what the deal is with the even year thing, but maybe it’s real. Thanks to the fans out here. Thanks to Roush Yates Engines for making great fuel mileage, great calls by Paul and Nick Hensley, our gas man, making sure she’s full, giving me the good info I need to save fuel and keep the lead that we needed to. Boy, we’re going racing again. What an incredible situation. I’m so blessed,” commented Logano.

In Sunday’s 267-lap race, six of the eight playoff drivers started in the top 10, including Team Penske’s Joey Logano in P10. With 16 laps to go in Stage 1, an accident in Turn 3 brought out the first caution of the race, creating multiple pit strategies throughout the field. While some teams opted for track position, others opted for new tires. An accident on lap 89 involving multiple playoff drivers brought out the caution again, putting several drivers in a must-win situation to advance to the Round of 4. At the end of Stage 2, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher finished in P4 with Team Penske’s Joey Logano right behind in P5. While most of the front-runners pitted for fuel under green, several drivers decided to stretch their fuel to the finish, led by Daniel Suarez and Joey Logano. Logano began closing the gap on Suarez with 10 laps remaining and took the lead with six laps to go. Logano held off Christopher Bell to win the race by 0.662 seconds, automatically advancing to the Championship 4, something he has done every other year since the format’s debut in 2014.

RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher finished in P10.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series also raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg finished in P2 and Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Riley Herbst and Cole Custer finished in P7 and P8. The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series both compete this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

39 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 472 WINS – 436 POLES