CONCORD, NC – December 5, 2023 – Dustin Sorensen grew up watching the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models Series at his home track. And now, he’ll compete against them every night.

The Rochester, MN driver will join the Series in 2024, racing for Rookie of the Year honors in his family-owned #19.

Sorensen first saw the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models sitting in the grandstands at Deer Creek Speedway and said he’s loved them ever since.

“I remember the Gopher 50 growing up at Deer Creek, my home track,” Sorensen said. “And I loved watching the races there.”

Deer Creek was also the site of his best Series finish in eight starts—a third place behind World of Outlaws champions Bobby Pierce and Brandon Sheppard.

The podium finish boosted the confidence of the 23-year-old driver, who’s using it as fuel for 2024.

“(Deer Creek) is a track that I probably have more laps around than anyone else I raced against that night,” Sorensen said. “That’s a big part of why I ran so good is because I’m so comfortable there. It also made me realize I could probably be good and run better at other places if I could learn to adapt more quickly.”

While Sorensen is preparing for his first season with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models, he’s no stranger to a national tour. Two years ago, he won the United States Modified Touring Series championship—a feat also claimed by Series competitor Ryan Gustin.

Sorensen said it’s more travel that he’s dealt with in the past but something he’s prepared for.

“It isn’t quite as rigorous of a schedule with USMTS,” Sorensen said. “Living in Minnesota we aren’t as far from home as we will be now or be on the road for as long as we will be with the World of Outlaws. But I have experience going to new tracks, and I’ll adapt quickly to that, and it’s just being on the road.”

As Sorensen enters his rookie season with the World of Outlaws, he knows his experience will help him, especially at tracks near home like Deer Creek and Mississippi Thunder Speedway, where he won a Dirt Kings Series Feature in August. And with that knowledge, his expectations are set for 2024.

“I guess I just want to be competitive and be consistently inside the top 10 on tour,” Sorensen said. “If we can knock off a couple of wins, that’d be great.”

From the grandstands at Deer Creek to the driver’s seat of his Late Model, Sorensen said he’s excited about what’s to come next season.

“There’s no better place to run Late Models than with the World of Outlaws,” Sorensen said.

Sorensen and the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals Jan. 17-20, as part of the Late Model Palooza. FOR TICKETS, CLICK HERE.

1st December 2023— Drift driver Steve “Baggsy” Biagioni, has officially unleashed a true engineering masterpiece on to the drift scene – the SB Motorsport X Quinn M-Sport X Motorsport 56 2024 GT86. This awe-inspiring custom designed and built creation is the result of a collaborative effort between SB Motorsport, Quinn M-Sport, and Motorsport 56, bringing together some of the industry’s top talents.Click here for photos & videosFacebookInstagramYouTubeBaggsyBoy.comIn His Words… “I’m incredibly excited about the debut of my 2024 GT86 drift car. It’s been a long and meticulous journey building this machine, ensuring every detail is just right. We’ve taken our time, not rushing the process, and I believe we’ve done an exceptional job. This car is not just a local contender; it’s designed to be a global force at drift events worldwide. The GT86, with its amazing platform, provided the perfect canvas for this project, and the new 2JZ engine package takes it to a whole new level.”The initial release will be at the ST Suspension Booth at Essen Motorshow, followed by appearances at the Monster Energy conference, the Autosport Show, and the Snap On Franchisee show in February. It’s an honor to unveil this masterpiece at such prestigious events. This build stands out as one of the best in the scene, featuring full carbon kevlar from HGK Racing. The collaboration between SB Motorsport, Motorsport 56, and Quinn M-Sport has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Motorsport 56 handled the initial fabrication and wiring, while Quinn M-Sport took charge of the dry build and paint. I can’t wait to unleash the full potential of this GT86 on the track and share it with the global drifting community. It’s more than just a car; it’s a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved in this incredible project.” Power and Performance: Under the hood sits an incredible DY Engine Services 2JZ built engine, tuned to deliver a tyre shredding 1000hp and 900nm of torque. Not just that, but extra punch is added by the Garret G35 1150 turbo, Turbosmart wastegate, Walton Motorsport exhaust manifold, and a Vibrant Performance titanium exhaust system.   Fueling the Fire: Fueled by Sunoco E85 Race Fuel and a Radium Engineering fuel system, this GT86 is ready to race with ASNU 1500cc injectors and a K&N air filter. Keeping it all cool is a Forge Motorsport intercooler and radiator, supported by Funk Motorsport heat management, Vibrant Performance engine fittings, and HD clamps. Samco Sport engine hoses ensure everything stays connected in the most extreme on-track conditions.   Drivetrain Dominance: Shifting gears is handled by a fully built Quaife 69G 6-speed gearbox with a Competition Clutch triple disc, while the Winters/Sikky diff and subframe provide the necessary stability for Baggsy’s on-the-door drift runs.   Suspension and Handling: The GT86 drift car boasts ST Branded KW 3-way competition suspension, coupled with a Wisefab v2 suspension setup; ensuring precision control over every drift. Rolling on iconic BBS LM wheels, the GT86 is as stylish as it is powerful.   Safety First: Of course, inside the cockpit, safety is paramount with Sparco seats and belts, complemented by a Wilwood brake system and Hel Performance brake linesTech and Electronics: The brains behind the operation include a Link ECU, Motec PDM, AEM dash, and Motorsport 56 wiring, forming a cutting-edge electronic architecture.   Aesthetics and Branding: The eye-catching design of Baggsy’s GT86 is courtesy of Fleet Livery Solutions, using high-quality Arlon vinyl for a striking visual impact.Check out our new YouTube video of the GT86 at Essen Motorshow 2023.  Want to know more? Follow Baggsy’s journey with the new GT86 on social media @BaggsyBoyUK.

New Team Partners With Aprilia in the World’s Premier Motorcycle Series

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a move that expands its global motorsports presence, Trackhouse Entertainment Group owner Justin Marks announced today his organization will field a MotoGP World Championship team beginning in the 2024 season. The newly formed team will be managed by Trackhouse Entertainment Group from Nashville, Tennessee but operate in Noale, Italy in an alliance with motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia and the Piaggio Group. A team presentation unveiling riders, corporate partners and livery will be held at a later date.

“This is a monumental moment for Trackhouse Entertainment Group,” said the 42-year-old Marks.“It has been in the ethos of Trackhouse since the very first day to put in the work, have the vision, and deploy the enthusiasm and passion necessary to build one of the most valuable motorsports entertainment companies in the world. Our entry into the MotoGP World Championship is another step in the execution of that vision.”

The 75-year-old FIM MotoGP World Championship is the premier motorcycle racing series in the world with eleven teams each fielding two riders. The 2024 schedule includes 22 races in 19 countries across five continents, The season begins on March 10 in Qatar with an American race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on April 14. Trackhouse Entertainment Group is the owner of Trackhouse Racing’s NASCAR team, which operates out of Concord, North Carolina. After a full-time driving career in sports cars and NASCAR, Marks founded Trackhouse Racing in 2020 and started fielding Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021.

The new team has enjoyed success on track. Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win a Cup Series race when he visited victory lane in 2022, New Zealander and three-time Supercar champion Shane van Gisbergen won at Chicago in his debut Cup race on July 2 and American Ross Chastain finished second in the standings in 2022 and posted four victories including the 2023 Cup Series season finale on Nov. 5.

Marks brought 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen to NASCAR and Trackhouse Racing in 2022 and 2023 as part of the team’s PROJECT91 program created to give international stars a chance to compete in the sport. It was the same program that led to van Gisbergen’s win in Chicago.Off the track, Trackhouse Racing as a brand has proven itself as a progressive, marketing-minded team, reimagining how the sport is presented to its fans, media partners and sponsors. It brought in international entertainment superstar Pitbull as a team partner, created a new style of team clothing, increased digital presence to fans and created live entertainment at racetracks throughout the season.

“We feel that MotoGP is perfectly positioned for massive growth in the coming years not only in the United States, but internationally,” Marks said.“It has all the ingredients necessary to continue its rise to global prominence: a thrilling on-track product, aspirational stars, unmatched fan and partner experience, and an environment that’s fan-friendly and welcoming.”

Trackhouse Racing will be the only American team in the MotoGP class, but the USA boasts a long list of successful riders including Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts Jr, Freddie Spencer, Randy Mamola, Colin Edwards and the late Nicky Hayden.

The arrival of the Trackhouse Racing Team into MotoGP in 2024 brings American motorcycle racing back to the pinnacle of the sport. With its close partnership with Aprilia, as its official factory supported team, Trackhouse Racing is determined to be a competitive force for the future.

A chat at Millbridge Speedway led to a new partnership for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw season

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 1, 2023) – Chase McDermand is coming back in 2024 with a new team, a new home base and a new plan for the future.

The 23-year-old is relocating from his home in Springfield, IL, to join Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports (DMD) in Mooresville, NC, and pilot the team’s flagship Toyota-powered Spike Chassis for the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota campaign.

As fate would have it, their partnership was forged at the birthplace of the Series – Millbridge Speedway. McDermand and team owner Dave McIntosh paired for a Micro Sprint event at the North Carolina oval in October, and it was there they spoke and discovered a shared vision for 2024.

“They kind of aligned, what both of us wanted to do,” McDermand said. “I was looking for something different and he was having a fresh start with things. That kinda meshed, and that’s where it started.”

McDermand landed in the hunt for his first national Midget series championship this year, scoring the most Feature wins, most Quick Time awards with a fifth-place finish in points in his second season with Mounce/Stout Motorsports. But he felt it was time for a change, and it just so happened McIntosh did as well.

Following the departure of son Cannon McIntosh from DMD in September, Dave was in need of a new driver to fill the seat for the upcoming season. And with crew chief and business partner Robert Dalby taking up an opportunity in NASCAR next year, the team was in need of some multi-faceted help.

McDermand is a two-way racer, excelling both as a driver and his own crew chief. It’s an attribute few other young drivers in the pit area possess, and one that has always stood out to McIntosh.

“When we started thinking and talking about Chase – this is a guy that can take on more,” McIntosh said. “I think we’ve made it pretty clear that he’s coming to drive for our team, but he’s gonna be a very crucial part of the day-to-day stuff as well.”

Wrenching on and maintaining his own equipment is how McDermand has built his career, going back to his days as a multi-time D2 Midget champion. He’ll do the same in his new position at DMD, trying to gain an advantage on his competition.  

“Being a driver and a crew chief, I feel like both of them help each other,” McDermand said. “You can apply things differently when you look at it from a different angle.”

During the week, McDermand will be hands-on with DMD’s newly formed Micro Sprint division, Dave Mac-Barnhill Motorsports, preparing the team’s fleet of Micro Sprints for weekly competition at Millbridge in addition to his Midget. Heading into year two of operation, the team is aiming to handle an influx of new Micro Sprint racers even greater than they hosted in 2023.

“We want to work with drivers and see them develop from our Micro program and carry that on into a prepared racecar driver that’s ready to go race Midgets,” McIntosh said. “I look back on working with Cannon when he was little and some other drivers we worked with, just seeing when it all clicks – that’s what it’s all about for me.”

Likewise, McDermand has plans to become an owner, and feels his time at DMD will also help in laying down the foundation of principles on which he’ll build his own team in the future.

“My ultimate goal is to give someone an opportunity that may not be able to afford one or have the right connections to work something out,” McDermand said. “It’s what I’ve done in the past a few times this year, and I really enjoyed doing that alongside racing myself.”

But until then, McDermand is focused on his own driving career. His next step – debuting with Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports at the season opener inside the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL, March 15-16, where his path to a first Xtreme Outlaw Series championship begins.

“I’m confident that we have everything we need to win the championship with Xtreme next year,” McDermand said. “We just need to put all the pieces together, and I’m really confident that we can do that.”

“I don’t think we’d be doing this if we didn’t feel like we could compete for a title,” McIntosh said. “We share that same drive, and that’s what we’re pushing for.”

Stream all 30 races of the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota campaign live on DIRTVision.

BATAVIA, Ohio (December 1, 2023) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series continues its prosperity as it embarks on its 20th season of competition as the premier tour for dirt late models. The 2024 season will bring the elite teams of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series together for 63 events at 28 unique venues across 16 different states. The 2024 schedule is highlighted by 21 events that will pay a minimum of $20,000 to the winner. Of those, are 12 crown jewel events that boast a $50,000 or more top prize. The 2024 campaign will launch with a record 15 events during the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, including a return to Golden Isles Speedway for a $10,000-to-win event on February 23 and a $20,000-to-win on February 24. The $100,000-to-win 44th Annual Dirt Track World Championship returns to Eldora Speedway, set for October 18-19 to cap off the year. Two tracks make first-time appearances on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series slate in 2024. Nebraska’s Eagle Raceway will host the tour on Monday, July 15 before the action shifts to Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa on Tuesday, July 16.  Numerous events on the tour, including the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, 32nd Annual Show-Me 100, 18th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals, 14th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals, 42nd Annual North/South 100, 45th Annual Jackson 100, and the 36th Annual Pittsburgher will see sizeable purse increases in 2024. During the tour’s 20-year history, Brownstown Speedway, East Bay Raceway Park, Florence Speedway, Muskingum County Speedway and Tri-City Speedway have become staples on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series calendar. Each have appeared on the tour schedule annually since 2005. The full 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule can be viewed below or at www.lucasdirt.com/schedules. 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule:

The World of Outlaws will visit more than 40 racetracks in 2024CONCORD, NC (November 30, 2023) – The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule is set to bring The Greatest Show on Dirt coast to coast with new tracks, multiple six-figure crown jewels and iconic venues.From Volusia Speedway Park in February to the championship finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in November, the 2024 season will have 86 race nights at 41 different tracks and 19 different states.Along the way, the nation’s top Sprint Car drivers will take on new tracks, make long-awaited returns, compete in the sport’s most prestigious crown jewels, and race in many events that have become staples of the calendar.“We’re really looking forward to the robust schedule assembled for 2024,” Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “We listened to both teams and fans and put together a calendar featuring the biggest crown jewel events in the sport and exciting new facilities, while returning to fan favorites. Every year we strive to make sure fans in all regions of the country get to enjoy The Greatest Show on Dirt.”GETTIN’ STARTED:For the 20th year in a row, the World of Outlaws campaign will kick off in Florida with Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) hosting the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 7-10. The four nights will culminate in the crowning of the Big Gator champion.Then, four wheels will meet two wheels for the second straight year when the Series returns to Volusia for the Bike Week Jamboree, March 3-4, occurring in conjunction with the iconic Bike Week, which takes place throughout the Daytona Beach region.NEW ADDITIONS:Kennedale Speedway (March 8-9) – The first of four new facilities The Greatest Show on Dirt will visit in 2024 begins a spring swing in the south. Kennedale Speedway – a Texas quarter mile – will host the Series for two nights of action in “The Lone Star State.”Big O Speedway (March 22) – Two weeks after Kennedale, the tour tackles another new Texas track. The World of Outlaws will invade Ennis, TX’s Big O Speedway for a Friday night battle at the quarter mile in late March. Thunderbird Speedway (March 29) – The third new track on the 2024 calendar takes the tour to the “Sooner State.” Muskogee, OK’s Thunderbird Speedway will host the World of Outlaws for the first time ever on March 29. The half mile recently welcomed the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) with Sam Hafertepe Jr. winning.Arrowhead Speedway (April 6) – The last of the four tracks that the World of Outlaws will debut at in 2024 is Arrowhead Speedway. Like Thunderbird, Arrowhead also recently hosted ASCS. The Series will make a springtime visit as the Colcord, OK 1/3-mile has the honor of hosting the sixth Jason Johnson Classic. BACK ON THE SCHEDULE:Paducah International Raceway (April 19) – The World of Outlaws are returning to “The Bluegrass State” for the first time since 2012 with a visit to Kentucky’s Paducah International Raceway. The trip promises to provide a new winner at the track as all four previous winners are not active competitors.Jacksonville Speedway (May 1) – Illinois race fans are in for a treat as the World of Outlaws return to the endlessly exciting Jacksonville Speedway for some midweek racing in May. Brad Sweet topped the most recent trip to the quarter mile.Fremont Speedway (May 27) – Memorial Day takes the tour to an Ohio destination that hasn’t been visited since 2016 – Fremont Speedway. The Monday night race will be the ninth in Series history at “The Buckeye State” 1/3-mile.Selinsgrove Speedway (Oct. 11-12) – It’s been 32 years since the World of Outlaws last visited PA’s Selinsgrove Speedway, but that’ll change next year. The half mile will host the Series for the Jim Nace Memorial in mid-October with a $30,000-to-win finale. When the World of Outlaws made their last trip to Selinsgrove, Todd Shaffer drove Gary Turnbaugh’s #11 to his only Series win on June 1, 1991.Dirt Oval 66 (Oct. 18-19) – The second and final Illinois stop of the season will see the Series return to Joliet’s Dirt Oval 66 for a pair of races in the fall. Donny Schatz topped the last event at the 3/8 mile in 2017. Riverside International Speedway (Oct. 25-26) – The end of October will bring the Series to Arkansas’ Riverside International Speedway for the first time since 2018. The two nights will be the 16th and 17th World of Outlaws races at the quarter mile.MAINSTAYS:Tri-State Speedway (April 20) – Southern Indiana will see the World of Outlaws come to town when Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway hosts its annual World of Outlaws race in the spring. The 1/4-mile track also produces some of the best racing of the season.Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (April 12-13/Aug. 2-3) – The World of Outlaws make their standard springtime stop at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in mid-April. The two nights at the Pevely, MO bullring serve as a precursor to August’s Ironman 55.16th Ironman 55 – The Ironman 55 isn’t for the faint of heart as it ignites a 55-lap battle on one of the fastest bullrings in the country – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. The two-nights conclude with the longest Feature of the season in terms of laps, and the winner goes home with the iconic dumbbell trophy and $20,000. This year, Kyle Larson bested Logan Schuchart in a race he called “the most fun Sprint Car race I’ve ran maybe ever.”Beaver Dam Raceway (May 31-June 1) – The first trip to “The Badger State” in 2024 takes the tour to Beaver Dam Raceway. The Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial will take place slightly earlier than normal in 2024 but still feature all the same action Beaver Dam offers with $20,000 going to the winner of the finale.Knoxville Raceway (April 26-27/June 14-15/Aug. 7-10) – The World of Outlaws will get three trips to “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” in 2024. First, the Series will visit Knoxville Raceway for a doubleheader, April 26-27. Then, the usual June visit moves back a week (June 14-15) in 2024 with an exciting schedule alignment. The World of Outlaws will compete for a pair of nights at Knoxville during NASCAR’s Cup Series debut at nearby Iowa Speedway. In August, Knoxville will welcome the World of Outlaws back for the prestigious Knoxville Nationals.Cedar Lake Speedway (June 28-29) – Expect fireworks on and off the track when the World of Outlaws journey to Cedar Lake Speedway at the end of June. On top of providing thrilling racing, the New Richmond, WI facility also puts on a can’t-miss fireworks show with the Fourth of July right around the corner.Wilmot Raceway (July 12-13) – After taking Fourth of July weekend off, the Series heads to another familiar facility when Wilmot hosts the Larry Hillerud Memorial. The event will grow in 2024 as it becomes a two-night visit to the Wisconsin oval.Brad Doty Classic (July 16) – The World of Outlaws salute the kid from Apple Creek, OH on a Tuesday summertime with the Brad Doty Classic. Attica Raceway Parks hosts the highly anticipated event that saw Kyle Larson become the first to win two in a row this past season.Williams Grove Speedway (May 10-11/July 26-27/Oct. 4-5) – The famed half-mile track will continue to host the World of Outlaws for its three marquee events against the PA Posse. First will be the Morgan Cup in May before the Summer Nationals in late July. The epic Outlaw versus PA Posse battle will see its biggest fireworks of the year at the National Open in October.CROWN JEWELS:Huset’s High Bank Hustle/Nationals (June 19-22) – The 2024 Summer of Money will begin in a massive way as the Huset’s High Bank Nationals will grow even more. Next season’s edition will be two events within one. Wednesday’s $20,000-to-win opener will lead into Thursday’s $100,000 payday in the Huset’s High Bank Hustle. Then Friday will transition to the Huset’s High Bank Nationals with another $20,000 on the line before Saturday’s finale puts up another $250,000 to the winner.41st Kings Royal (July 19-20) – The 41st King will be crowned a week later than usual as Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal moves seven days from its normal mid-July slot on the calendar. Per usual, Friday’s Knight Before will precede the Kings Royal. And then, on Saturday, King XLI will be decided and bank a six-figure payday. This July, Donny Schatz claimed his sixth crown and could tie Steve Kinser’s record of seven in 2024.63rd Knoxville Nationals (Aug. 7-10) – The entire Sprint Car world will converge on Knoxville, IA in early August for the 63rd running of the The Granddaddy of ‘em All. The Knoxville Raceway crown jewel will again offer a huge, balanced purse across the four-day event with the champion claiming of the year’s biggest checks. Kyle Larson topped the most recent running for his second NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals title.46th Jackson Nationals (Aug. 16-17) – After the Knoxville Nationals, it’s straight to another crown jewel as Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex hosts the 46th Jackson Nationals. The last two editions of the prestigious event have belonged to Carson Macedo. 62nd National Open (Oct. 4-5) – The 62nd running of the Champion Racing Oil National Open at Williams Grove Speedway falls just outside of summer’s space on the calendar. But one of the sport’s most historic crown jewels belongs in the list of major money events. The finale will hand out another huge payday to the winner.CALIFORNIA LOVE:Stockton Dirt Track (Sept. 6) – The California swing will kick off with a track that the World of Outlaws haven’t invaded since 2019 – Stockton Dirt Track. The 3/8-mile was an annual staple from when it opened in 2013 through 2019, and the Series will return in early September.Tom Tarlton Classic (Sept. 7) – Night two of the “Golden State” stay takes the teams south to Hanford, CA’s Kings Speedway for the fifth Tom Tarlton Classic. As a tribute to Tom and Tommy Tarlton’s famed all black Sprint Car, the winner will again take home $21,000.Bakersfield Speedway (September 13) – After being absent last year, the World of Outlaws are back to Bako in 2024. Bakersfield Speedway will host the Series for the 12th time. California’s own Giovanni Scelzi topped the 2022 event at the 1/3 mile.Merced Speedway (September 14) – Another “Golden State” oval back after a one-year hiatus is Merced Speedway. The high-banked quarter mile bullring hosts the World of Outlaws for the sixth time and first since Carson Macedo’s 2022 triumph.Dennis Roth Classic (Sept. 20-21) – The World of Outlaws will invade Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway for the third running of the Dennis Roth Classic in late September. As a nod to Roth’s iconic #83 that has toured with the Series for decades, the finale will award a huge $83,000 paycheck to the winner. FULL 2024 SCHEUDLE:Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 7-10 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) Sunday-Monday, March 3-4 – Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) Friday-Saturday, March 8-9 – Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX) Friday-Saturday, March 15-16 – Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX) Friday, March 22 – Big O Speedway (Ennis, TX) Saturday, March 23 – Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK) Friday, March 29 – Thunderbird Speedway (Muskogee, OK) Saturday, March 30 – 81 Speedway (Wichita, KS) Friday, April 5 – US 36 Raceway (Osborn, MO) Saturday, April 6 – Arrowhead Speedway (Colcord, OK) Friday-Saturday, April 12-13 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO) Friday, April 19 – Paducah International Raceway (Paducah, KY) Saturday, April 20 – Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN) Friday-Saturday, April 26-27 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) Wednesday, May 1 – Jacksonville Speedway (Jacksonville, IL) Friday-Saturday, May 3-4 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH) Wednesday, May 8 – Lincoln Speedway (Abbottstown, PA) Friday-Saturday, May 10-11 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) Friday, May 17 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH) Saturday, May 18 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) Friday-Saturday, May 24-25 – Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH) Monday, May 27 – Fremont Speedway (Fremont, OH) Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 – Beaver Dam Raceway (Beaver Dam, WI) Friday, June 7 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) Saturday, June 8 – Ogilvie Raceway (Ogilvie, MN) Friday-Saturday, June 14-15 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)\ Wednesday-Saturday, June 19-22 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD) Friday-Saturday, June 28-29 – Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) Friday-Saturday, July 12-13 – Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, WI) Tuesday, July 16 – Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH) Friday-Saturday, July 19-20 – Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH) Wednesday, July 24 – BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA) Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) Sunday, July 28 – Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, NY) Friday-Saturday, Aug. 2-3 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO) Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 7-10 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) Friday-Saturday, Aug. 16-17 – Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN) Friday, Aug. 23 – River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) Saturday, Aug. 24 – Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND) Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 – Huset’s Speedway (Brandon, SD) Friday, Sept. 6 – Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) Saturday, Sept. 7 – Kings Speedway (Hanford, CA) Friday, Sept. 13 – Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, CA) Saturday, Sept. 14 – Merced Speedway (Merced, CA) Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21 – Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) Friday, Sept. 27 – Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH) Saturday, Sept. 28 – Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5 – Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, CA) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 11-12 – Selinsgrove Speedway (Selinsgrove, PA) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19 – Dirt Oval 66 (Joliet, IL) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26 – Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR) Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 6-9 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC)Tickets to these events will be available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. Keep an eye on our social media channels for ticket renewals.If you can’t make it to the track, every lap of every race will be live on DIRTVision.

Gustin will drive a Longhorn Chassis owned by Cooney starting next season

CONCORD, NC – November 30, 2023 – In 2023, Ryan Gustin and Todd Cooney battled every night with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series. And that will continue in 2024.

However, they won’t just be competing against each other when the season kicks off at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals Jan 17-20. They’ll also be teammates.

After three seasons on tour driving for Tri-Star Promotions, Gustin will join forces with Cooney in 2024 in a second Todd Cooney Racing Late Model. Having Gustin in one of his cars was an easy decision for the Cooney, whose time as a driver is nearing its end.

“I know that 2024 will probably be my last year racing,” Cooney said. “I want to try and get one more year in but understand I’ve been saying this for the last 10 years. That being said, I still want to be in the sport and be relevant in the sport. 

“Ryan lives right up the street from us. We’ve known him since he was a baby. So, we have a good relationship as far as that goes, and Ryan’s a super nice kid. He’s up on the wheel and drives it for everything it’s got. We just feel it’s a perfect fit.”

Gustin echoed Cooney’s words and said he’s ready for what’s to come racing for a long-time family friend.

“I’ve known Todd for basically my whole life,” Gustin said. “Our families go way back. The deal kind of came about where he’s probably going to do one more year and then hang his driving shoes up. So, we’ll be the one to take over the Cooney Racing ride and hopefully have some big things to come in the future.”

A team change won’t be the only difference for Gustin in 2024. The Marshalltown, IA driver will also make a chassis change. 

After three years in a Rocket Chassis, he’ll step into a Longhorn for the first time in 2024. Gustin said he isn’t sure what to expect once he reaches the Sunshine State.

“I honestly have no idea,” Gustin said. “Hopefully, we’re fast out of the gate, and there isn’t much of a learning curve.”

What won’t be a learning curve for either driver is the knowledge the two will share throughout the season. Sharing information isn’t anything new, as Gustin frequently gave Cooney pointers at the track.

“Ryan gives me advice all the time,” Cooney said. “Even before we made this deal, he came over and gave me some advice here and there. I think it’ll help me tremendously. He’ll be a little more in touch with me during the week, and it’ll make it to where I understand this a little better.”

Those notes are something Cooney hopes will make him better in 2024, as one of his struggles was racing at new tracks. It’ll be a challenge Cooney will need to overcome next season, with 16 new venues on the 2024 schedule.

RELATED: 2024 SCHEDULE: High Payouts, Crown Jewels, New Venues Await World of Outlaws Late Models

However, with Gustin as his teammate, he’s looking forward to continue racing with the best drivers dirt Late Model racing has to offer.

“It wasn’t as bad as it probably looked or as I felt we were,” Cooney said. “It’s just a learning curve. And the reason I want to do this so bad is because I feel these are the best racecar drivers in the country, and that’s who I like to compete against.”

As Cooney aims to improve off his 2023 season, Gustin still has the same mindset after his best World of Outlaws season statistically. He earned three victories, 12 top fives, and 22 top 10s—putting him in a heated battle for fourth in the standings entering the season’s final weekend.

“Anytime you can beat these guys you’ve accomplished something,” Gustin said. “Anytime that you can outrun any of these guys, it definitely makes you feel good.”

“Everyone’s goal is to win a championship. I thought that maybe we had a shot at it early in [2023], but whatever Bobby (Pierce) found, I don’t know. He’s been kicking our butts. To win a championship is my ultimate goal.”

Gustin and Cooney will battle as teammates for the first time when the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models open the 2024 season Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park Jan. 17-20 as part of the Late Model Palooza.

TICKETS: http://bit.ly/3tT75tN

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all our events live on DIRTVision – available either online or through the DIRTVision App.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 30, 2023) – Tickets for the Black Hills Half-Mile, round 12 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are now available for purchase. Progressive AFT will once again serve as a showcase event of this year’s 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a special Tuesday race on August 6, at Black Hills Speedway, in Rapid City, South Dakota. “America’s Original Extreme Sport” and the world’s largest motorcycle rally have proven a perfect pairing over the years, with handlebar-to-handlebar action featuring the world’s elite two-wheeled dirt track racers of prime interest to the 500,000 strong attendees who flock to Sturgis each summer. Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees earned his fourth Black Hills Half-Mile victory a year ago in dominant fashion but could find it more difficult to earn a fifth with the likes of Dallas Daniels, Briar Bauman, Brandon Robinson, Davis Fisher and more hoping to steal his Mission SuperTwins crown in 2024. Last year’s event was big one for the defending (and still) champions as Kody Kopp reeled in top honors in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER action, despite being pushed by fleet of talented young aces, including Tom Drane, Trent Lowe, Max Whale, Trevor Brunner, Chase Saathoff, and Declan Bender.  The ‘24 event will feature numerous attractions off the track as well, including a playground for kids, numerous vendors, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options. General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under $5), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $15 more (All Ages). A Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport. Finally, fans can also receive VIP treatment by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to the exclusive, premium indoor VIP viewing area and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $125. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-86674 to reserve your seats today.

Cadillac Racing will take lessons learned in first year of GTP into Daytona test

DETROIT (Nov. 30, 2023) – Cadillac Racing returns to Daytona International Speedway Dec. 6-7 to begin preparations for the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona, which kicks off the second season of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype competition. Both the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and championship-winning No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R will work through test plans on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn course that incorporates sections of the high-banked oval.

The event, with four day/night sessions, is the only IMSA-sanctioned test before teams reconvene for the Jan. 20-22 Roar Before the 24, which includes qualifications. Ten Grand Touring Prototype teams are entered for the Jan. 28-29 marathon race. “We’ll be taking all the lessons from 24 hours of racing this year and apply to see what we can do to get ready for next year,” GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser said. Cadillac Racing placed third, fourth and fifth in the season-opening IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in January, which marked the debut of the GTP class. Cadillac went on to sweep manufacturer and team/driver championships in the nine-race season.

Media resources * CVs: 2024 IMSA driver roster* Numbers: Cadillac GTP statistics* Rolex 24: 2023-2017 results* History: Cadillac titles, wins

“One of the things that we’re excited about with our carryover program for ’24 is we’re able to focus on the car and understanding it more as well as making sure we have all the support on the GM and Dallara side ready to help the teams be successful,” Klauser added. “One of the most challenging things this year has been the lack of time. We’ve been running race to race to race, and we’d occasionally slip in a test. Really, it was our race schedule in 2023 that kept us busy, which was phenomenal because you can’t have a better test than a race to see what you can do with the car. “So, it will be nice to be back at Daytona, focus on a test plan.”

Cadillac Racing Rolex 24 At Daytona roster No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R: Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Scott DixonBourdais and van der Zande return for their third season as teammates. They won at Laguna Seca – raising their win total to four over two seasons — opened the season with a third place in the Rolex 24 and closed with a runner-up finish in the Petit Le Mans. … Qualified fourth for the Rolex 24. … Six-time INDYCAR champion Dixon returns for the Rolex 24 and additional endurance races. … Combined, they have eight Rolex 24 victories. … The trio co-drove to fourth place overall in the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. … Van der Zande has 19 IMSA victories, including nine with Cadillac Racing, and Bourdais has 11 IMSA wins. Sebbastien Bourdais: “Toward the end of the season with the couple of tests we had, we started to learn more about the car and what makes it go and what doesn’t work. It’s just going to take time. People think we’ve had a lot of testing, but it was all centered toward homologation and reliability. We’re still really green on knowledge of the car as far as designing setups and getting performance out of it. Since we homologated the car, there’s really been little time to optimize it and understand it as far as finding that last half a second that’s a game-changer when you come to race weekends. It’s going to be a continuous learning process, trying to make numbers fall into place and validate the reads.” Renger van der Zande: “Test days are helpful in understanding the car because we’re still developing the car, still optimizing the package. It’s a dream car to drive and a dream championship to be in.” No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R: Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken, Tom Blomqvist2023 IMSA GTP championship- and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup-winning team. … Driver title is the second for Derani. … Aitken, the ’23 endurance race driver, is on board for the full season. … Derani, Aitken and Alexander Sims co-drove to fifth place in the Rolex 24 in January after qualifying sixth. They won at Sebring International Raceway and were runners-up at Watkins Glen International. … Blomqvist drove to the Rolex 24 overall victory in 2023 and ’22 and was the 2022 IMSA DPi champion. He earned the pole for the race in January. Pipo Derani: “Like any new car, you always want more testing, more practice time. Especially when it’s such a complex racecar with the hybrid and a complex car makes it for a longer road in terms of development. We’re a year and a bit into the development of this car but only just now starting to understand a few things that make sense to the setup and how we make this car go quicker. Still a lot to improve from everyone. We’ve done a strong job despite all the difficulties we had this season. It’s always a learning process and you have to be humble enough to know you have to continue that way if you want to succeed in this series.” Jack Aitken: “We have a lot to work on and improve; I think that’s the case for everybody with these cars that are still so early in the development cycle that everybody is learning quickly. We’ve made massive gains through the season, but when you don’t have racing, it gives everybody the opportunity to breathe a little bit and the capacity to make some changes and updates and advancements. It’s going to be a busy period for us. The race to be ready for the Roar and Daytona will be pretty intense. Though it feels a long way from now, it will come around quickly.”

BATAVIA, Ohio (November 29, 2023) – Centerville, Pennsylvania native, Max Blair earned the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2023. Blair’s rookie season with the tour took him to 29 different venues, most of which he was visiting for the first time in his career. Blair was able to claim his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory on June 23 in his home state at Lernerville Speedway. Additionally, Blair finished inside the top five on five occasions and recorded 24 top ten performances. “We came out of the gate strong at Speedweeks,” said Blair. “After that it was an up and down season for us. We had some good runs but were a little more inconsistent than I had hoped for this season. Regardless, it’s been a fun year with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. We’ve made some great memories. I want to thank my dad; I couldn’t do any of this without him. A huge thanks to everyone at Briggs Transport and all our great sponsors for making this possible, we couldn’t have done it without them.” Blair will receive an industry record $20,000 at the Championship Awards Banquet on December 8th. Additionally, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year will receive multiple product awards from various motorsports manufacturers, valued at over $10,000 bringing Blair’s total earning in cash and product awards to over $30,000 for winning the Rookie of the Year title in 2023. Blair’s Briggs Transport, Inc.-owned, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Excess Storage, Murphy’s Logging, Creekside Auto Sales, Valvoline, Penske Racing Shocks, C and J Dairy, Corner Stone Builders LLC, Previty’s Auto Wrecking Inc, Meridien Hardwoods of PA Inc, Three Rivers Karting & Axe Throwing, Northeast Paving & Sealcoat, CJ’s Auto Transport, Bulldog Rear Ends, Wilwood, Keyser Manufacturing, Simpson, XS Power, Fast Shafts, MWB Designs, Performance Bodies, BRINN, Sweet Manufacturing, TruForm Race Products, Swift Springs, Beyea Headers, STAKT Products, Accu-Force Dynos, Gotta Race, Wieland, Allstar Performance, Colonial Metal Products Inc, and VP Racing Fuels. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.

Young title contenders Dallas Daniels and Tom Drane return to spearhead a 2024 AFT championship campaign for the Estenson Racing squad

Sent on behalf of Estenson Racing MARIETTA, Ga. (November 27, 2023) – Estenson Racing is pleased to announce the return of Dallas Daniels and Tom Drane for the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season. The two phenoms will spearhead the team’s title campaign in the series, with Daniels leading the way in the Mission SuperTwins Championship aboard the Yamaha MT-07 and Drane looking to take the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER crown aboard the Yamaha YZ450F. On the heels of a stellar rookie season in the premier class, Daniels came out swinging in 2023. The fast rider from Illinois fired the first shot by sweeping the season opener at the Daytona Short Track doubleheader and led the points standings for most of the season aboard his Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07. It was a landmark year for Daniels, who completed a dirt track grand slam (a career win in all four Grand National Championship track disciplines – Short Track, Half-Mile, Mile, and TT) in just his second year in the premier class. It was an exciting season, with the title chase going down to the wire and the 20-year-old ultimately finishing the year runner-up with five wins and a total of 15 podiums in 18 rounds. Daniels heads into his sixth season with the team looking to add a Grand National Championship to his already impressive resume of back-to-back Parts Unlimited AFT Singles titles and multiple victories aboard the MT-07 and YZ450F. Drane returns for his second season with the team and looks to build on his standout rookie season in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Championship. With a new team, new bike, and new tracks, the Australian hit his stride before the halfway mark of the season, quickly climbing his way up the points standings and finishing the year in the runner-up spot with a total of four wins and 10 podiums. The 17-year-old looks to build on that progress in 2024, battle for top honors, and return the number-one plate to the Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F.

Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager“2024 will be a change for us with a two-rider team, but we feel that a more concentrated effort will allow us to make another step forward in performance next season. As a team, we had a lot to be proud of this past season, but to come so close to a SuperTwins Championship and not get it done definitely stung and has motivated us to come back even stronger next year. With the way Dallas performed this past season in just his second year as a SuperTwins rider and the way Tom improved over the course of his first full year in AFT, I believe we are in a good position to fight for the championship in both classes in 24′. “As excited as we are about next year, it is also difficult not to be continuing with JD and Trevor. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both of these guys and nothing but good things to say about them. They are both true professionals on- and off- the track, and I will genuinely miss working with them. With JD in particular, he started with our program from the beginning. Although there were many bumps in the road along the way with the development, he always gave us his best effort, performed like a champion, and won some big races for us and Yamaha. I would like to thank both of them for everything they gave the team and wish them the best in their future endeavors.” Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins“I’m very excited to be back with the Estenson Racing team for 2024. I’ve been with them every year since I turned pro, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build on our relationship and to keep learning. I’m very happy with this team and super happy that they are having me back. We learned so much last year. So even though the year didn’t end exactly how we wanted, finishing second in the championship, we had a lot of success and are going to apply all of that to next year. I’m looking forward to fighting for more race wins and trying to get that championship.” Tom Drane – Estenson Racing AFT SinglesI’m really excited to be returning with Estenson Racing after such a good first year. It was great to have my first full season traveling the championship, getting to know everyone, finding a lot of different setups, and learning from the team. We were able to improve all year, which was really good. At the end of the season, we started to really come on strong and were able to win races. I feel really comfortable on the bike, and we’re looking to continue that stretch through next year.”

2023 champion Bobby Pierce jumps 19 positions on all-time wins list after 14-win season

CONCORD, NC – November 22, 2023 – Racing across the country with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models Series is a grind. One that makes earning the thrill of victory even sweeter.

In 2023, 14 drivers, including two first-timers, scored a win, bringing the total number of winners to 101.

Here’s a look at who moved up the list during the 2023 season:

Piercing Forward: Reigning Series champion Bobby Pierce made the most significant jump of the 2023 season, winning 14 times in 2023. With 18 Series wins on his resume, the Oakwood, IL driver moved up 21 positions to 13th on the all-time wins list, passing former champions Mike Marlar and Dennis Erb Jr. along the way. 

The “Smooth Operator” is two wins away from tying Brandon Overton for 12th on the list and is 10 wins away from cracking the top 10, which would tie current World of Outlaws Late Models Series Director Steve Francis (28).

Still On Top: Four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard remained atop the World of Outlaws CASE Late Model’s all-time wins list, adding two wins in the 2023 campaign. He earned victories at Davenport Speedway and Mississippi Thunder Speedway, bringing his total to 83 victories.

Madden’s Three: With two victories at Sharon Speedway, and one at Cedar Lake Speedway, Chris Madden broke a tie with 2004 Series champion Scott Bloomquist for eighth on the all-time wins list.

“Smokey” ends the year with 36 career wins, good enough for seventh all-time. He’s two wins away from tying 2011 Series champion Rick Eckert for sixth.

The Reaper’s Climb: In his third year with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models, Ryan Gustin earned three victories—all coming on Friday nights.

The Marshalltown, IA scored wins at Marion Center Raceway and Sharon in May, before grabbing a win at River Cities Speedway in June. That gives him five career Series wins, moving him into a six-way tie for 26th with Bart Hartman, Donnie Moran, Earl Pearson Jr., Brady Smith, and Max Blair.

Gustin will try and add to his total in 2024 with his new team – Todd Cooney Racing.

A Pair of Triples: Mike Marlar and Ricky Thornton Jr. made steps up the World of Outlaws ladder in 2023 by scoring three victories throughout the season.

Marlar, the 2018 Series champion, earned wins at Red River Valley Speedway, The Dirt Track at Charlotte, and Ponderosa Speedway. The win at Ponderosa was memorable, as he climbed from 22nd to first in the Johnny Mulligan classic.

The Winfield, TN driver is now 14th on the all-time wins list with 17 wins—one behind Pierce.

Thornton also had three wins on the season, all coming on big stages. “RTJ” won the Prairie Dirt Classic in July before grabbing the season’s final two races at World Finals in Charlotte. The Martinsville, IN driver has four career victories, tied for 32nd all-time with Steve Shaver, Cade Dillard, Gregg Satterlee, Ashton Winger, and Chase Junghans.

Doubling Down: Devin Moran opened the season in style for the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models, sweeping Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park for his two Series wins in 2023. The Dresden, OH, driver is 22nd in all-time wins with 11 victories.

Hitting The Century Mark: Hudson O’Neal and Nick Hoffman earned their first World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win in 2023—O’Neal becoming the 100th different winner in Series history. 

With only a handful of starts for Rocket1 Racing, the Martinsville, IN driver stormed from 23rd to win the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals finale. He added another milestone for Rocket1, the most accomplished team in Series history.

Hoffman, meanwhile, earned his first career win at New York’s Stateline Speedway in May. The Mooresville, NC driver passed Gordy Gundaker on Lap 1 and held on to become the Series’ 101st winner.

Plus One: Along with O’Neal and Hoffman, five other drivers earned one World of Outlaws victory in 2023.

Corey Hedgecock scored his lone win at 411 Motor Speedway in April, moving the Loudon, TN driver to a 13-way tie for 47th on the all-time wins list with two.

Kyle Bronson is one spot ahead of Hedgecock with three victories after winning at Tri-City Speedway by inches over Brian Shirley in June.  The Brandon, FL driver has three World of Outlaws wins to his credit, putting him in a nine-way tie for 38th.

Shirley also added a win to his total in June, holding off Bronson for the win at Paducah International Raceway. The victory was the Chatham, IL driver’s seventh career triumph, tying him with Brian Birkhofer for 24th all-time.

Dennis Erb Jr., the 2022 Series champion, added a win to his total at 81 Speedway in June with a $30,000 triumph. The win was Erb’s 14th World of Outlaws win, tying him with Tim Fuller, Dale McDowell, and Jonathan Davenport for 14th all-time.

Brandon Overton scored his lone World of Outlaws Late Models win of the season when the Series visited Talladega Short Track for the Alabama Gang 100. The $50,000 win was “Big Sexy’s” 20th career win, putting him 12th on the all-time wins list.

For a complete look at the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models all-time wins list, CLICK HERE.

The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park at Sunshine Nationals on Jan. 17-20 as part of the Late Model Palooza.

Ahead of 2024 GT Daytona campaign in IMSA WeatherTech Championship PONTIAC, Mich. (November 21, 2023) – The first two customer Corvette Z06 GT3.R racecars are now in private hands as AWA has taken delivery of its two Corvettes for the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

A pair of Z06 GT3.Rs rolled into AWA team transporters from GM’s Performance and Racing Center on Monday. The Canadian team will campaign the Corvettes in the GT Daytona (GTD) class starting with the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. “Delivering the first two customer Z06 GT3.Rs to AWA marks the start of the next phase of our Corvette Customer Support program,” said Christie Bagne, Corvette Z06 GT3.R Program Manager. “A big thank you to our constructor Pratt Miller, our GM Performance and Racing team and everyone at the GM Assembly Plant in Bowling Green. We look forward to the continued collaboration with AWA ahead of their preseason test program and on toward the Rolex 24.” The highly anticipated delivery is the first of three leading up to the debut of the Corvette GT3 on racetracks around the world; TF Sport will receive their Z06 GT3.Rs in January ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, followed by DXDT Racing for GT World Challenge America. “Receiving our two Corvette Z06 GT3.R was a special moment,” said Andrew Wojteczko, AWA team owner. “We are excited and motivated for this next chapter, and I’d like to extend my gratitude to Team Chevy for welcoming us with open arms. We can’t wait to get out on track.” The 2024 IMSA season begins with the Rolex 24 on Jan. 27-28.

CONCORD, NC (November 21, 2023) – The 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season offered 71 opportunities at official Series victories. As a result, many competitors bagged multiple checkered flags and elevated their name on the all-time win list that accounts for more than 3,600 races.This season offered plenty of parity in the win column. A total of 19 different drivers visited Victory Lane with The Greatest Show on Dirt this year, the most since 2019 and tied for the 10th most in one season.Donny Schatz (311 wins): While Donny Schatz didn’t gain any spots, he did add to his incredible win total. The 10-time Series champion won four times in 2023 including his sixth Kings Royal, this one worth $175,000. Schatz is 83 behind Sammy Swindell (394 wins) for the second most in Series history.Brad Sweet (90 wins): The now five-time World of Outlaws champion reached a coveted top 10 spot on the list in 2023. Sweet’s sixth victory of the year came at Cedar Lake Speedway in late June and moved him ahead of Stevie Smith (84 wins). Then a win in his home state of California at Kings Speedway in September elevated him above former teammate – Daryn Pittman (86 wins) – for ninth on the list. “The Big Cat” added three more before the year was over to bring his tally to 90, only five away from equaling Dave Blaney for eighth.David Gravel (88 wins): Three wins in the first five races of 2023 brought Gravel into a tie with Sweet for career wins before Sweet managed to inch ahead with Gravel right behind him all year long. Like Sweet, Gravel moved ahead of both Smith and Pittman to crack the top 10. A dozen victories for Gravel led the Series this year, and his career total of 88 is currently good enough for 10th all-time.Logan Schuchart (41 wins): During his 10th year on tour, Logan Schuchart racked up six wins with his Shark Racing team. The second of those put him ahead of Shane Stewart for 19th most. The Hanover, PA native will enter 2024 only one behind Andy Hillenburg (42 wins) for 18th on the list.Carson Macedo (35 wins): It was another strong year for Carson Macedo aboard the Jason Johnson Racing #41 as the pairing bagged seven victories. His first of the year in March broke a tie with fellow Californian – Kyle Larson – on the all-time list. Macedo also went on to surpass Bobby Allen (30 wins) and Sheldon Haudenschild (34 wins) and now sits 21st all-time, only one away from tying for 20th.Sheldon Haudenschild (34 wins): The exciting talent from Wooster, OH may have not gained any positions on the all-time list, but Sheldon Haudenschild did add to his career total. He tallied a trio of triumphs this year including a memorable charge from 16th to victory at Skagit Speedway.Kyle Larson (32 wins): While Macedo moved ahead of him, Kyle Larson still managed to make his own climb in 2023 with four wins. He broke a tie with Kerry Madsen (28 wins) and leaped ahead of Bobby Allen. “Yung Money” owns 32 triumphs in 136 career Feature starts (23.5%) and is 23rd on the all-time win list.Rico Abreu (15 wins): This year proved to be Rico Abreu’s best by far. Competing on a part-time basis, the St. Helena, CA driver claimed six victories in 2023. His previous high for one season was two. Abreu’s efforts allowed him to move up more than 10 spots into a tie for the 36th most wins.Brent Marks (14 wins): The former full-timer with the Series added two more tallies to his win column. Brent Marks grabbed his second National Open title and night two of the World Finals in November to go from 12 to 14 wins, giving him possession of the 38th most.James McFadden (11 wins): In his second year piloting the Roth Motorsports #83, James McFadden made a huge climb up the list. “J-Mac” entered 2023 with five career wins and more than doubled that mark with six this year. He went from outside the top 60 to a tie for 46th.Buddy Kofoid (3 wins): The only driver to wheel two different machines to a win in 2023 was Buddy Kofoid. The Californian topped Talladega in March with CMS Racing and Placerville in September aboard a second Roth Motorsports entry. Kofoid’s three career wins puts him in a tie with seven others for the 75th most.More Movers: On top of those who made big leaps on the list, many drivers topped one race in 2023 to make a small step forward. The following five competitors made one trip to Victory Lane this year – Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Giovanni Scelzi, Spencer Bayston, and Tyler Courtney.First-timers: In addition to the many movers, the all-time win list also grew by three in 2023 as a trio of drivers notched their first Series victory. Brady Bacon topped Tri-State Speedway. Corey Day claimed the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway. And Zeb Wise beat the best of the World of Outlaws and PA Posse at Port Royal Speedway. Now, 152 competitors have won a World of Outlaws race.For the complete all-time Series win list, CLICK HERE.The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season begins on Feb. 7-10 at Volusia Speedway Park with the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the racing live on DIRTVision.

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2023) – Dominic Scelzi wraps up the 2023 season this Wednesday at Merced Speedway.

Scelzi guided his family owned team into Victory Lane at the bullring in Merced, Calif., in April. It was the site of his first triumph of the season and it marked his first-ever win at the track.

“It’s a big, high-banked bullring,” he said. “I love the place. It’s one of my favorites anywhere. It seems like it’s always two grooves and racy. We’ve been incredibly fast there. I think I’ve run second there like six times and the last time we were there was when we won. Racing there this time of the year is perfect because the weather isn’t hot and that helps the track surface.”

Scelzi placed fifth and 20^th, respectively, during a pair of races at Merced Speedway to end last season.

He is seeking to end his season with a second straight victory after capturing the finale of an ASCS Southwest Region doubleheader in Arizona earlier this month. It was Scelzi’s 13 ^th win of the season and the fourth different state he’s been victorious in this year.

“It’s been a great year and I’m happy with the season we’ve had,” he said. “This is the third year in a row we’ve had 10 or more wins. Over the last four seasons we’ve averaged 12.5 wins per year. It’s been a great run. We’re looking forward to finishing strong. I’d love to pick up one more win in Merced and head into the offseason with momentum.”

Scelzi is also aiming for his first time of ending a sprint car season with a triumph. His best result in a season finale has been a fourth-place outing, which occurred in 2021.

SEASON STATS –

55 races, 13 wins, 38 top fives, 44 top 10s, 49 top 15s, 53 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Wednesday at Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif.

Troutman finishes second from 21st, Hoffman ties David Reutimann for most event wins

BARBERVILLE, FL (Nov. 18, 2023) – He hadn’t driven a DIRTcar UMP Modified in almost 14 months, but you wouldn’t have known it the way Nick Hoffman drove to Victory Lane Saturday night.

Hoffman, the three-time national DIRTcar points champion from Mooresville, NC, was sidelined from Modified action in September 2022 after suffering a serious head injury in a highway crash. After completing his first full-time season on the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series this year, he decided to wind-down the season with a trip to visit a few friends – Volusia Speedway Park for the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial, piloting a car he built for longtime customer, NASCAR Xfinity Series star Justin Allgaier.

With no prior practice, Hoffman jumped in the Federated Auto Parts, Elite Chassis #7 Saturday afternoon and showed he hadn’t forgotten how to get around in the Modified.

“Allgaier called me and was like, ‘Do you wanna run Volusia?’” he said. “We were gonna run Eldora, and that didn’t work out. I was like, “Yeah, if you wanna drive 16 hours so I can come play, we’ll do it.’

“I can’t thank them enough. They brought me a great racecar. They worked really hard. I was a helmet bag carrier this week.”

He’d won the prestigious event that honors the legendary Reutimann family for the first time in 2021, but this time was different. After winning his Showdown Feature earlier in the program, Hoffman redrew the pole for the main event and took off at the drop of the green, never once relinquishing the top spot as he led all 50 laps en route to collecting the $10,000 grand prize and his second career tractor trophy.

After being out of UMP Modified action for so long, what enabled him to climb back in and pick it up so quickly?

“I think the biggest thing is I know every square inch of every one of these cars,” said Hoffman, who drove Allgaier’s #7 to the 2020 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals championship. “It makes a big difference, for sure.”

Though he led green-to-checkered, his drive to victory was anything but a cakewalk. For 50 circuits around the half-mile oval, Hoffman was chased relentlessly by several different challengers – the fiercest of which were Mitch Thomas and Drake Troutman.

Thomas, 17, of Oakland, MD, started fourth and drove to second in six laps, putting the first bit of pressure on Hoffman in the early going. He stuck a nose underneath Hoffman on a Lap 23 restart in a bid for the lead, but Hoffman denied his challenge.

By this time, Troutman had already charged up to third, and took second when Thomas slipped up coming out of Turn 2 on Lap 25. From 21st on the grid, he had charged all the way up through the field in only half of the race and was now looking at the rear bumper of only one car – leader Nick Hoffman.

“We just had a good car,” Troutman, 18, of Hyndman, PA, said. “If someone went high, we were able to pick off a few on the bottom. If someone went low, we were able to pick off a few on top.”

After Thomas dropped out after slowing suddenly under green on Lap 32, Troutman next felt the wrath of Florida Modified standout Devin Dixon, who had climbed up from 11th in the Jeff Mathews Motorsports #33x. Dixon took second from Troutman down the backstretch on a Lap 35 restart and held it until the next caution flag on Lap 44, when he slowed under yellow with an empty fuel tank and retired to the pits.

One final restart, one final shot for Troutman in the final laps. Despite his ability to keep pace with Hoffman, Troutman knew it was going to be tough to execute a pass.

“He just didn’t really mess up,” Troutman said of Hoffman. “That was really my only hope. I was like maybe if he messes up, that was the only chance I was getting by him. If not, we’ll be running second.”

Hoffman had controlled the entire race to that point, though he knew Troutman’s Jerry Foster Racing #5 was fast as well.

“I knew he was getting close, especially with two-to-go, I came by and saw him on the board not far behind me,” Hoffman said. “At that point, dad was just telling me to stay smooth. As long as I didn’t make a mistake, it was gonna be pretty tough.”

Troutman was able to chop Hoffman’s gap down from a full second down to under a half-second but was unable to get any closer by the checkered flag. Hoffman cruised to his second Reutimann Memorial victory in the last three years and tied David Reutimann for most wins in event history. Reutimann won the 2015 and 2016 editions of the event at East Bay Raceway Park, matching Hoffman’s 2021 and 2023 victories at Volusia.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

DIRTcar UMP Modified Feature (50 Laps): 1. 7-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 5-Drake Troutman[21]; 3. 33M-Jeff Mathews[5]; 4. 88-Cody Thornhill[19]; 5. 3S-Josh Sanford[10]; 6. 07-Eric Moon[29]; 7. 2N-Ty Norder[26]; 8. 54-Zach Hawk[12]; 9. 51-Dalton Lanich[6]; 10. 3D-Makayla Tyrrell[28]; 11. 33X-Devin Dixon[11]; 12. 00B-Buzzie Reutimann[27]; 13. 99S-Austin Sanders[15]; 14. 97-Mitch Thomas[4]; 15. 09-Michael Leach[14]; 16. 54J-Jason Jack[24]; 17. D2-Nolan Dalton[20]; 18. 72-Todd Neiheiser[3]; 19. 16-Rusty Griffaw[16]; 20. 96S-Slade Parsons[25]; 21. 27G-Jason Garver[23]; 22. 43A-Mark Anderson[9]; 23. 2J-Troy Johnson[2]; 24. 24B-Dillon Buhr[22]; 25. 78-Raymond Rogers[17]; 26. J82-Treb Jacoby[8]; 27. 21-Devin McLeod[18]; 28. 8A-Austin Holcombe[7]; 29. 6B-Dave Baldwin[13]

The Mooresville, NC driver will battle for Rookie of the Year with the World of Outlaws; Run Part-Time Super DIRTcar Series Schedule

CONCORD, NC – November 18, 2023 – After years of driving various dirt and pavement race cars, Super DIRTcar Series star Max McLaughlin will take on a new challenge in 2024.

The Mooresville, NC driver, and son of NASCAR veteran Mike McLaughlin, will transition to a dirt Late Model, joining the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series full time in 2024.

McLaughlin will run for the Germfree Rookie of the Year title in the GR Smith-owned #22 Longhorn chassis, with backing from Al Heinke – his owner in the Super DIRTcar Series – and Mohawk Northeast Inc. as the team’s main sponsor. 

“I’m beyond excited,” McLaughlin said. “This is the opportunity that everyone dreams of as a young dirt racer. I’m very thankful for GR, the Smith family and Al Heinke for helping us put it together. I’ve prayed a lot for something like this to happen one day. And to see this day finally come is very humbling.”

While it’ll be his first time racing an entire season in a dirt Late Model, it’s not the first time he’s run with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models. McLaughlin finished eighth at Orange County Fair Speedway in 2021 while driving a Boom Briggs-owned entry in his only Series start.

Despite the limited experience, he said he feels he can adapt quickly.

“It’s no doubt going to be a huge learning curve,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a different animal, but I’m dedicated to putting together everything I have into getting better, and I’m prepared to fight through the struggle.”

While his focus will be on his rookie season with the World of Outlaws Late Models in 2024, he’ll still run at Big Block Modified for Heinke-Baldwin Racing (owned by Al Heinke) in select races. He plans on running a part-time Super DIRTcar Series schedule in the Heinke-Baldwin Racing #8H, including Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway on Oct. 7-13.

Heinke has been a key part in developing McLaughlin’s career, giving him a chance to test Matt Sheppard’s Big Block Modified in 2015and then putting him in a car for the World of Outlaws World Finals at 15 years old. From then on, McLaughlin, now 23, has won five races with the Super DIRTcar Series, a Supermodified race at Oswego Speedway in 2021 and a NASCAR East Series race at Watkins Glen International in 2019.

McLaughlin highlighted how meaningful his relationship with Heinke is to his racing career and how important he is to his new venture.

“I’m just blessed that I have Al Heinke, honestly,” McLaughlin said. “We are going to keep the 8H fresh and ready to go in the shop, and every break in the schedule, I’m going to come up and race.

“Not only has he been the biggest sponsor of my career, he’s like family to me. I don’t just lean on him for racing. I lean on him for advice, too. He’s been with me through every step of my career from 2015 to the present. And he’s a huge part of making this Late Model deal come to life.”

Max would also like to thank Gambler Transport, Brickhouse Tavern, Victory Circle Auto Sales, Team22INC, Dirt King Apparel, and Bell Helmets.

McLaughlin and the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park at Sunshine Nationals Jan. 17-20 as part of the Late Model Palooza.

BARBERVILLE, FL (Nov. 17, 2023) – Due to substantial rainfall throughout the week continuing into Friday morning, officials have postponed the Friday portion of the 10th annual Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial to Saturday, Nov. 18, creating a single-day lineup of events leading up to the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win DIRTcar UMP Modified finale.

Pit gates are set to open on Saturday at 11:30am with a great weather outlook of sunshine and clear skies projected. Drivers meeting will commence at 2pm, followed by Hot Laps and Qualifying for all six divisions at 2:30. Once opening ceremonies are complete, UMP Modified Showdown Features will kick off the racing action, followed by necessary Last Chance Showdowns for 604 Late Models.

The 602 Late Models will start the Feature racing action, followed by the 3/4 Modifieds, UMP Modified Last Chance Showdowns, and the 604 Late Model Feature. The 50-lap Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial UMP Modified Feature will then take to the track, followed by the Street Stock and Thunder Stock Features to wrap up the program.

The full order of events has been posted in the updated competitor guide, which can be viewed here.

Those who purchased Friday-only tickets in advance through VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com will be admitted for Saturday’s program. If you purchased a two-day package, you can request a refund by calling 844-DIRT-TIX or via email at tickets@dirtcar.com.

If you can’t be at the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 16, 2023) – Tickets for the Ventura Short Track, Round 6 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are now on sale. Progressive AFT will make its second-ever visit to scenic Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California, on Saturday, May 11. One year ago, the venue’s unique setting provided the series an opportunity to impress before a sellout crowd and it delivered. Handlebar-to-handlebar action featuring the world’s elite motorcycle dirt track motorcycle racers on a 1/5-mile dirt track just 100 meters removed from the Pacific Ocean made for an unforgettable evening. That night, emerging superstar Dallas Daniels took top honors while the legendary Jared Meesscored the second of what would eventually grow to become a 14-race podium streak en route to his record-tying ninth Grand National Championship. With seven decades of history and inch-close racing, Progressive AFT left no doubt for those in attendance why it consistently ranks among the most compelling and unpredictable brands of racing the nation has ever produced. Another barnburner is expected in ‘24, with Daniels, Mees, Briar Bauman, Brandon Robinson, Davis Fisher, and the remainder of the world-class Mission SuperTwins title contenders destined to battle for supremacy. There’s an equal amount of intrigue in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKERcategory. Last season, Kody Kopp took a big step towards his ultimately successful campaign to repeat as champion by outdueling another of the sport’s brightest young talents, Chase Saathoff, in a back-and-forth affair to the checkered flag. Off-track attractions will be in abundance as well, with numerous vendors, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options featured on site. General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $45 (kids 12 and under $5), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $10 more (All Ages).  Back this season, a Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/ventura-short-track-85607 to reserve your seats today.

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 16, 2023) – The milestone 40th year of DIRTcar Racing saw one of the most competitive and lucrative seasons in weekly dirt track racing history. And with the final checkered flag having fallen, we recognize those who shined the brightest in each division.

Nine kings of their respective divisions, plus special award winners, are set to be honored for their yearlong efforts at the 2023 DIRTcar Racing Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the Springfield Crowne Plaza in Springfield, IL.

Late Model and UMP Modified drivers finishing inside the top-50 of national points, plus any driver in the top-20 of all other divisions, are eligible to receive their points fund check and trophies at the banquet. The top-10 of each division’s region are also eligible for recognition during the ceremony.

Tickets for award winners and drivers receiving points fund checks will be available for purchase in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to DIRTcar Racing social media for updates and more information on how and when to purchase.

Congratulations to each of DIRTcar’s 2023 national points champions:

Late Model – Jason Feger (Bloomington, IL)

For the first time since 2009, Jason Feger is king of the DIRTcar Late Models.

Sixteen Feature victories in DIRTcar competition topped the win column in addition to a nation-high 66 starts he made this year. Eight of those wins came in MARS Late Model Championship action en route to the 2023 points title, making Feger the third driver from the State of Illinois to win the series championship.

“This is the most wins we’ve had since probably 2012 or 2013,” Feger said. “There’s a lot of races [going on]. There’s midweek shows, the Summer Nationals and now the MARS Series – there’s just so many races, so we get to race more.”

Feger topped fields at nine different DIRTcar tracks this season, including marquee victories on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals trail at Brownstown Bullring, Lincoln Speedway and Paducah International Raceway in addition to two weekly points titles. He and veteran crew chief Jason Palubicki have spent the past two seasons conforming to their current setup after multiple chassis changes over the past few seasons and have since reaped the big rewards.

“[It’s my] second year in a Longhorn [Chassis] car; it just fits me really well,” Feger said. “We’ve just had a really good balance and we’ve got a good notebook. Pretty much everywhere we unloaded, we were fast. We were just making good decisions, we know what to do, and it just comes from working hard.”

UMP Modified – Tyler Nicely (Owensboro, KY)

Two years ago, he ranked third. Last year, he came up one spot short in second. But this year, Tyler Nicely is the 2023 DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion.

A nation-high 27 Feature wins this season put the 28-year-old Kentucky racer on top of DIRTcar’s most populated division for the first time in his career. He began the year with five wins during UMP Modified Florida Speedweeks in January-February and continued his excellence throughout the summer, winning five times in 17 starts en route to his first DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals championship.

Nicely was also the early favorite to win the inaugural MARS Modified Championship, but Late Model duty called later in the summer aboard the Hatcher’s Auto Sales, Longhorn Chassis #6, shuffling his priorities and taking him out of contention for the points title. Still, he notched a total of three victories in MARS competition this year en route to a fifth-place finish in points.

“The main thing was just [me being] comfortable and having a good group behind me that kept the car going and do what we set out to this year,” Nicely said. “At the beginning of the year, we wanted to win the national title, the [Summit Modified title], and we were leading the MARS championship too when I got the Late Model ride.

“To do what we did with both series, it’s kind of hard to believe.”

Pro Late Model – Jose Parga (New Berlin, IL)

Twenty Feature wins in 22 starts. A 19-race win streak. A fourth national points championship. Jose Parga has had quite the 2023 season.

The 26-year-old racer dominated the Pro Late Model division like none before him have, winning over 90 percent of the races he started.

“I thought three years ago was the best year I would’ve ever had,” Parga said. “And then to sit back and really look at everything we’ve done this year, it’s like, wow. Now we definitely don’t think we’ll be able to do what we’ve done this year again.”

Read More – ‘UNBELIEVABLE’: Jose Parga Headlines DIRTcar Fall Nationals After Near-Perfect, 19-Win Season

Parga made the switch to a BMF Race Car for 2023 and made the most of it, going a perfect seven-for-seven at Farmer City Raceway and six-for-six at Lincoln Speedway in weekly competition. Near perfection at this level requires immense talent and attention-to-detail, and Parga devotes a lot of the credit for keeping up with those details to his crew who worked throughout the season to keep him on top.

“I firmly believe races are won in the race shop, not at the racetrack,” Parga said. “Me and my crew chief, Alex [Zuniga]… he’s picked up on a lot of things. I wouldn’t necessarily say I do all the work; he does a lot of it. It’s just a deal where I’ve got to teach him the right and wrong way that we do things.

“I could trust him to go, ‘Hey, do this,’ and it gets done. It just makes life a lot easier as a driver, not having to worry about other things on the race car. All I have to do is worry about driving.”

Pro Modified – Deece Schwartz (Ashmore, IL)

Twenty-year-old Deece Schwartz had big shoes to fill when he began his career a short time ago. His grandfather – 2006 DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion Denny Schwartz – and father – famed Illinois veteran racer Danny Schwartz – watched him as he began racing in the Pro Modified ranks around DIRTcar’s staple Illinois tracks with aspirations of success.

They’ve since watched Deece transform as a driver in the Crate-engine-powered Modified division, winning his first national championship last year and now a second in 2023.

“It’s great because I’ve always wanted to do something my dad and grandpa have never done,” Schwartz said. “My grandpa’s won a [UMP] Modified national championship, so that’s kinda hard to beat. But it’s something he hasn’t done, dad hasn’t been able to do, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do and I could only dream of doing my whole career.”

Schwartz also notched both the Kankakee County Speedway and Charleston Speedway track championships with a total of 25 Feature wins in DIRTcar-sanctioned action.

UMP Sportsman – Josh Litton (Paragon, IN)

Deep in the heart of Indiana dirt track racing country lies a hotbed for DIRTcar UMP Sportsman racing and the home tracks of 2023 national champion, Josh Litton.

Litton, 28, of Paragon, IN, collected his first career DIRTcar national points title on the back of eight Feature wins, spread between two Indiana dirt staples – Lincoln Park Speedway and his home track, Paragon Speedway.

He defeated nearest rival Larry Raines by only 22 points in the final standings. Raines was one of several tough competitors Litton raced on a weekly basis this year and credited him for the challenge throughout the season.

“There were nights we had all of the top-10 from Indiana at the track,” Litton said. “Larry Raines – he’s one of the best there is – it was just great competition over there.”

Stock Car – Jerrad Krick (Earl Park, IN)

After winning a three-peat of national DIRTcar championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Jerrad Krick endured a dry spell of championship gold.

“We’ve been second so many times, I didn’t know if I was ever going to get back to the top again or not before my career was over,” Krick said.

But 2023 was the 46-year-old veteran’s year, as he cashed in for a nation-high 13 Feature wins in 31 starts en route to his first national championship in 15 years. Krick joined forces with Stock Car dynasty owner Mike Alsop for 2023 and closed out the championship in the final weekend of the season at Charleston Speedway, where he also won the track championship with nine Feature wins in local competition.

“Mike Alsop Racing put me in good equipment, Cody Roberts at Bullet Chassis built me a hell of a racecar, and HP Machine had some awesome power to go with it,” Krick said.

Factory Stock – Trevor Isaak (Highland, IL)

The last four seasons of DIRTcar Factory Stock racing have been dominated by one man who continued his rule over the division in 2023 – Trevor Isaak.

Isaak, 33, of Highland, IL, collected his fourth-straight national championship – fifth of his career – this season on the back of 18 Feature wins in 25 recorded races. Boasting a win percentage of 72, Isaak has established a longstanding reputation of winning with the fans and in the pit area.

“I try not to get a big ego or a big head over it,” Isaak said. “I want to go out there and do the best I can at any given second and put on a show for the fans.”

The fans show up every week at his home track of Highland Speedway, where he’s now won the last six division track championships. Isaak greatly values the success he has at the 1/4-mile oval and knows the role it’s played in his quest for the national title each year.

“Highland’s always been one of those tracks when you talk to people like if you run well at Highland, you can run pretty decent at most tracks,” Isaak said. “That’s my backyard track, I’ve got thousands of laps around there, so that definitely comes into play.”

Sport Compact – Jimmy Dutlinger (Peoria, IL)

Another first-time national champion in DIRTcar’s 40th weekly racing season, Jimmy Dutlinger topped the Sport Compact division with a perfect, 20-win season in 53 recorded races.

Dutlinger captured both the Kankakee County Speedway and Charleston Speedway track championships en route to the national title, notching a combined 16 Feature wins between the two tracks.

Dutlinger becomes the sixth different driver in the last six years to win the Sport Compact national title.

Mod Lite – Jimmy Smith (Toboso, OH)

For the second-straight year, Jimmy Smith has captured the DIRTcar Mod Lite national championship.

The 38-year-old Ohio racer has raced Modifieds and Late Models before but has since found a home racing in the Mod Lite division. He dominated his competition this season with 18 wins in 31 recorded races; no other driver has more than nine Feature wins.

Thirteen of those wins in 2023 came at Hilltop Speedway, where he captured the track championship again, thanks in part to a chassis change from his 2022 setup.

“We switched chassis brands earlier in the year and it all just fell together,” Smith said. “I just feel more comfortable in the new car, and the people that are behind me – they treat me like family.”