BATAVIA, Ohio (January 4, 2022) – The Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup returns in 2023, adding a worthwhile bonus to an already lucrative season on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The mini-series within the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule consists of sixteen (16) events that pay $30,000 or more to the winner. Drivers with perfect attendance on the tour will earn points in these sixteen (16) events based on their respective finishes. The driver that earns the most points at the sixteen (16) Crown Jewel Cup events will be crowned the Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Champion – earning a $15,000 cash bonus at the year-end awards banquet. The drivers who finish second through fifth in the Crown Jewel Cup standings will earn $6,000, $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000 in cash, respectively for a total point fund of $30,000 for these sixteen (16) events. “We want to thank Arizona Sport Shirts for their continued support of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil. “Arizona Sport Shirts has and continues to play an important role in the growth of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Crown Jewel Cup program is a great compliment to the point fund and other contingencies that will be awarded in 2023.” “Our partnership with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is a validation of our continued commitment to dirt late model racing,” said Gerald Newton, Sr. VP of Operations at Arizona Sport Shirts. “We’re thrilled to support programs like the Crown Jewel Cup that add even more excitement to the tour.” Arizona Sport Shirts will continue to have a presence onsite at all series events with the Official Merchandise Trailer, along with their extensive online store: https://www.gottarace.com/collections/lucas-oil-late-model-dirt-series About Arizona Sports Shirts:Founded more than four decades ago, Arizona Sport Shirts has provided bold, unique, and effective apparel for race teams, businesses, and special events. Today, Arizona Sport Shirts continues its commitment to providing cutting edge apparel and merchandise found nowhere else. More information on Arizona Sport Shirts, including online ordering details, is available at: www.ArizonaSportShirts.com. 2023 Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Schedule: Sat. May 13 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – $30,000Sat. May 27 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO – $50,000Sat. Jun. 3 – West Virginia Motor Speedway – Mineral Wells, WV – $50,000Sat. Jun. 17 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Maryville, TN – $50,000Sat. Jun. 24 – Lernerville Speedway – Sarver, PA – $50,000Sat. Jul. 1 – Muskingum County Speedway – Zanesville, OH – $30,000Sat. Jul. 8 – Deer Creek Speedway – Spring Valley, MN – $50,000Sat. Jul. 22 – Huset’s Speedway – Brandon, SD – $53,000Sat. Aug. 12 – Florence Speedway – Union, KY – $75,000Sat. Aug. 19 – Batesville Motor Speedway – Batesville, AR – $50,000Sat. Aug. 26 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA – $50,000Sun. Sep. 3 – Tyler County Speedway – Middlebourne, WV – $30,000Sat. Sep. 16 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA – $50,000Sat. Sep. 23 – Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN – $30,000Sat. Sep. 30 – Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway – Imperial, PA – $30,000Sat. Oct. 21 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH – $100,000

The Des Moines, IA driver will join the 2023 Rookie Class when the season starts at Sunshine Nationals

CONCORD, NC – January 4, 2023 – Todd Cooney is preparing for an opportunity he won’t forget in 2023. 

As the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models get ready for their season opener on Jan. 18-21 during Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, he’ll join the field as a Rookie of the Year contender—all while igniting his passion for racing.

“Late Model racing is my passion,” Cooney said. “I live, eat, and breathe racing. I live for this stuff and it’s what I work for.”

Work commitments and health issues kept the Des Moines, IA, driver from living out his dream in the past. However, that changes in 2023 as Cooney’s ability to work from the road allows him to run a national tour.

“About five years ago, I had a lot of health issues, and I’m at the point where I don’t necessarily be on-site to work,” Cooney said. “I can do some of my work from the road now. It’s always been a dream to do this stuff, and it’s my first opportunity to be able to go do it. I have great guys that work for me, and they basically said go live your dream and have fun.”

While Cooney will battle for Rookie of the Year, he’s no stranger to success. He’s found Victory Lane three times at one of Iowa’s most prestigious events—the IMCA SuperNationals at Boone Speedway.

Despite his success at Boone, where the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models will compete in August, he understands what to expect when the season begins.

“We’ve won (IMCA) SuperNationals three times,” Cooney said. “Then I got sick, and Ricky (Thornton Jr.) won it for me twice. So, we’ve won it five times.

“But as far as the racing goes, there’s no comparison between what I’ve done in the past and what I’m getting ready to get into. So as far as the experience goes, it’s going to be new for me.”

Boone isn’t the only track Cooney has experience at on the 53-race schedule. He also raced at Volusia—a place he started visiting as a kid.

“I’ve been going to Volusia since I was seven years old with my dad,” Cooney said. “We go for (DIRTcar Nationals) every year, and I don’t miss a race. I don’t care if it’s the Sprint Cars, Late Models; I go to every race at Volusia. I’ve just always loved the place.”

“We did decent there with the Limited (Late Model) stuff, and we went in there last year (at DIRTcar Nationals) and sucked,” Cooney said. “We tried to go into last year prepared, but because of the shortage of parts, shortage of this, and shortage of that. Honestly, we weren’t as prepared as we should’ve been.”

That experience at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” gave him a new perspective on what’s to come at Sunshine Nationals.

“Something I learned is that when you go into one of these deals with the World of Outlaws, you better have your shit together,” Cooney said. “That was a big learning curve last year, and it’s still a big learning curve.”

Cooney won’t let the opportunity to live out his dream go to waste when he straps in his Longhorn by Wells at Sunshine Nationals. He said he feels it’s only a matter of time before he is ready to contend.

“From where I’m coming from, we’re just working-class people, and we’re going to go try to race,” Cooney said. “I think with a little time, we’ll be in the game.”

The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off their 2023 season at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals Jan. 18-21. They’ll be joined by the DIRTcar Pro Late Models and 602 Late Models, making the event a True Late Model Palooza.

GBARBERVILLE, FL (Jan. 3, 2023) – With Florida-based Germfree joining as the title sponsor, the inaugural Southern Sprint Car Shootout is set to bring fans an exciting new event, Jan. 26-28.For the first time in 18 years, the United Sprint Car Series will return to Volusia Speedway Park for the doubleheader weekend to open its 2023 season.The best 360 Sprint Car drivers in the country and beyond will gather in Barberville, FL for a $3,000-to-win prize Friday, Jan. 27, and then an impressive $5,000 top prize on Saturday, Jan. 28. There will be an open practice on Thursday, Jan. 26.Continuing its support for Volusia Speedway Park – which it will do throughout 2023 as the track’s preferred BioTech partner – Germfree joined as the event’s title sponsor looking to enhance the event and further reach fans.“We’re excited to partner with this inaugural event and continue to support Volusia Speedway Park and the racing community,” said Jessica Miller of Germfree. “Working with Volusia has created a tremendous opportunity to educate race fans about our company. We can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout.”The United Sprint Car Series’ inaugural visit came in 2001 and was won by former World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver Terry McCarl. The Series was also a part of Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals in 2004 with the World of Outlaws Late Models.Tyler Clem, of St. Petersburg, FL, has already locked himself into the event by winning the Sprint Car race during the Battle in Barberville in December.“That’s a big deal,” Clem said. “You never know what can happen in Qualifying… It’s a cool deal we’re getting to do this.”Joining them during the weekend will be Street Stocks on Friday and Thunder Stocks on Saturday – both competing for $1,000 paydays.The full list of former USCS winners at Volusia include, McCarl (2001), Sport Allen (2001), Kenny Adams (2003 x2, 2004, 2005), Joey Saldana (2004), Chad Kemenah (2004) and Terry Gray (2004).Tickets will be available at the track. If you can’t make it, you can watch Friday and Saturday night’s event live on DIRTVision.

Volusia Speedway Park — The World’s Fastest Half Mile — has been in operation for racing since 1968. The track was originally built by Benny Corbin as a way for dirt racing to grow in the Volusia County area. He owned the facility until 1982. Today, World Racing Group owns and operates Volusia Speedway Park, which plays host to the prestigious DIRTcar Nationals, Sunshine Nationals and Dale & Emil Reutimann Memorial in addition to its weekly racing program.

No Qualifying on Wednesday, Qualifying moves to Thursday-Friday

CONCORD, NC – Dec. 30, 2022 – This January, the biggest dirt Late Model event in Florida is undergoing the biggest change since its inception with a new format for two divisions.

The fourth annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, Jan. 18-21, puts the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, the DIRTcar Pro Late Models and the 602 Late Models on the same stage for a true Late Model Palooza.

With rapidly growing car counts among the three popular divisions, all-new formats have been established for the DIRTcar Pro Late Models (in conjunction with the Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series) and local 602 crate engine Late Model division to enhance the overall program. The World of Outlaws will run their normal program each night, highlighted by a $20,000-to-win Feature on Saturday.

DRIVER REGISTRATION
PRO/602 LATE MODEL COMPETITOR GUIDE

The new format focuses on the accrual of points over a series of Qualifying Features on Thursday and Friday, lined up by Hot Lap/Qualifying times on each night. Those points totals will lock the top-20 drivers into the Championship Features on Saturday and take an additional number of drivers in from the Last Chance Showdowns.

The DIRTcar Pro Late Models will contest a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win Championship Feature on Saturday, while the 602 Late Models will battle 20 laps for $3,000-to-win. Each day’s procedures under the new format are detailed in the sections below.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

An evening of practice for all three divisions will take place from 6-9pm before racing gets underway Thursday night. This is an optional session and is not required of drivers to participate.

Thursday-Friday, Jan. 19-20

Every driver in the DIRTcar Pro Late Model and 602 Late Model divisions will draw at sign-in and be seeded into one of two Hot Lap/Qualifying groups in their respective division. Drivers will qualify against only the other drivers in their group, putting a maximum of eight cars on the track at a time for two timed laps.

Each driver’s best time will be used to set that night’s Qualifying Feature lineups, staggered from fastest-to-slowest. The number of Qualifying Features for each division will be determined by car counts.

After Hot Lap/Qualifying, both divisions will then contest their set Qualifying Features – 20 laps, $1,500-to-win each for Pro Late Models and 15 laps, $1,000-to-win, for 602 Late Models. Each driver will earn points according to their finish in the Qualifying Features, giving everyone a final points total after the completion of Friday’s events.

The top-20 drivers in the standings will be locked into Saturday’s Championship Feature, while everyone else will be staggered into a Last Chance Showdown event on Saturday.

Saturday, Jan. 21
A redraw will take place to set a portion of the Championship Feature lineups within the top-20 cars locked-in via points; the details of which will be explained at Saturday’s drivers meeting.

Last Chance Showdown events will take another determined number of cars into the Championship Feature, followed by the addition of provisional starters at officials’ discretion. Once the lineups are set, the Pro Late Models will run 30 laps for $10,000-to-win, while the 602 Late Models will contest 20 laps for a $3,000 grand prize.

Every driver who starts at Last Chance Showdown or Feature will earn points toward the overall standings on Saturday, awarding the driver with the most points after the Championship Features with a special trophy as DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals champion of their respective division.

Tickets for the fourth annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals are on sale now at WorldofOutlaws.com. If you can’t be at the track, catch all the action live on DIRTVision with a FAST PASS subscription.

Canadian Officially Set to Contend for Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year in 2023DECEMBER 28, 2022 – The first contender for the 2023 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award has arrived, and his name is Robbie Price.After contesting a partial season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2022, the Cobble Hill, British Columbia native officially announced today his intent to return to the tour full-time in 2023 aboard the Sides Motorsports #7S.”I’m really excited to do the full deal finally,” Price told SPEED SPORT. “It’s been a while since someone from the Northwest has been out on the tour. I want to be able to run the whole deal and nobody from where I’m from has run the tour, let alone 90% of the tracks we go to, so Jason is the perfect fit for us. I’ve always wanted to run the Outlaws deal and that’s something I can finally put on my resume now.””We’re excited to have Robbie back with the team and look forward to him taking another step forward as we return to some tracks that he saw for the first time last year,” Jason Sides said to SPEED SPORT. “It’s tough to show up to a new track and be competitive right off the bat against the World of Outlaws. We saw improvement on some of the tracks we went back to compared to his debut, so we’re focused on continuing that development.”Qualifying for 34 NOS Energy Drink Features in 2022, Price continually improved throughout the year with his first career top-five finishes coming in back-to-back weeks at North Dakota’s Red River Valley Speedway and Washington’s Skagit Speedway.”Seat time is the biggest thing and one thing that is the hardest to get,” Price continued. “I had a lot of fun last year and I felt like we started to piece together some solid runs. I’m hoping that we start the year off with the momentum we had toward the end. I’m really focused on getting better on the big tracks and focusing on running well on smaller tracks where I’m naturally more comfortable.”Fresh off winning the Crew Chief of the Year Award, “Double Down” Jason Sides himself confirmed he won’t return to full-time racing in 2023, but does plan to get back behind the wheel for a few races. His primary focus will be continuing to assist in Price’s learning curve with The Greatest Show on Dirt.”It’s been tough being out of the seat since May,” Sides added. “I’m not planning on running full-time next year, but I’ll be there for some events. I’m excited for this role as a car owner watching an up-and-coming driver like Robbie embark on his first full season with the Outlaws. I’ll log some laps here and there, too.”Price will be trying to join Series regulars Spencer Bayston (2022), James McFadden (2021), Carson Macedo (2019), Sheldon Haudenschild (2017), Brad Sweet (2014), David Gravel (2013), Kraig Kinser (2004), and Donny Schatz (1997) as the newest Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. His car owner, Jason Sides, also won the award in 2003, 20 years prior to Price’s attempt in Sides’ own #7S.His rookie campaign with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will officially begin on February 9-11, 2023 with the 52nd DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL – another new track for the 24-year-old gasser. Tickets are available for purchase HERE.If you can’t make it to the event, the entire 2023 season will be live on DIRTVision – available either online or through the DIRTVision App.Photo – Chris Owens

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: NOS Energy Drink (Official Energy Product), Case Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ACME Trading, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), Micro-Lite LLC, MSD, My Place Hotels; manufacturer sponsors include Dirt Car Lift, FIREBULL, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, and Sea Foam.

BATAVIA, Ohio (December 28, 2022) – What is being anticipated as the biggest season to-date for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is now less than one month away. The 2023 season kicks off with a busy Georgia-Florida Speedweeks – featuring 13 events and three practice nights, at four unique venues, over the course of 17 days. The 2023 Georgia-Florida Speedweeks will run from January 25 through February 11 with visits to Golden Isles Speedway, Bubba Raceway Park, All-Tech Raceway, and East Bay Raceway Park. The action will get underway on Wednesday, January 25, with an open practice at Golden Isles Speedway, in Brunswick, Ga. followed by three nights of racing. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series teams compete for $10,000 on January 26, $12,000-to-win on January 27, and on Saturday, January 28 a record setting amount for Golden Isles Speedway, $25,000-to-win. To find more information, please visit www.gisdirt.com.  The momentum continues to Bubba Raceway Park, the oldest continuously running racetrack in the state of Florida, for two nights of racing in Ocala, Fla. Sunday, January 29 and Monday, January 30 teams will vie for a pair of $10,000-to-win events. For more information, visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com.  After two days off, teams then take the action back North approximately one hour, to Lake City, Fla. All-Tech Raceway has a practice on Thursday, February 2 followed by two nights of racing, starting on Friday, February 3 paying $12,000-to-win while Saturday, February 4 will show a top prize of $15,000. Additional information can be found at www.alltechraceway.com.  From there, the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks will wrap up at the famed “Clay by the Bay”, East Bay Raceway Park, in Tampa, Fla. The 47th Annual Wieland Winternationals kicks off with an open practice on Sunday, February 5, followed by six nights of racing.  Monday and Tuesday, February 6 and 7, teams will compete for $5,000-to-win. Wednesday, February 8 will see drivers gunning for $7,000 in top prize money. On Thursday, February 9 the winner’s prize increases to $10,000 before the stakes get even higher on Friday, February 10, with teams competing for a $12,000 paycheck. The week will end on Saturday, February 11, boasting a $15,000 top prize. For more information, please visit www.ebrp.co.  The Georgia-Florida Speedweeks will kick off the season-long Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP – and the more than $1,000,000 in point fund money to be paid out at season’s end. The 2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion will take home an industry record $200,000.  To learn more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit www.lucasdirt.com.  2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Georgia-Florida Speedweeks Schedule:Wed. Jan. 25 – Golden Isles Speedway – Brunswick, Ga. – PracticeThurs. Jan. 26 – Golden Isles Speedway – Brunswick, Ga. – $10,000 Fri. Jan. 27 – Golden Isles Speedway – Brunswick, Ga. – $12,000 Sat. Jan. 28 – Golden Isles Speedway – Brunswick, Ga. – $15,000 Sun. Jan. 29 – Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, Fla. – $10,000 Mon. Jan. 30 – Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, Fla. – $10,000 Thurs. Feb. 2 – All-Tech Raceway – Lake City, Fla. – PracticeFri. Feb. 3 – All-Tech Raceway – Lake City, Fla. – $12,000 Sat. Feb. 4 – All-Tech Raceway – Lake City, Fla. – $15,000Sun. Feb. 5 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – PracticeMon. Feb. 6 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $5,000Tues. Feb. 7 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $5,000Wed. Feb. 8 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $7,000Thurs. Feb. 9 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $10,000Fri. Feb. 10 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $12,000Sat. Feb. 11 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla. – $15,000

CLASS OF 2023: World of Outlaws Set to Showcase Exciting New Roster

Dennis Erb Jr. begins his title defense Jan. 18-21 at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals

CONCORD, NC – December 28, 2022 – As the calendar turns to 2023, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series’ roster is building to have one of the most exciting group of drivers in the sport.

Currently, 14 drivers will start their quest for the 2023 championship when the season kicks off at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 18-21. Three nights of action are on tap at The World’s Fastest Half Mile, including a $20,000 finale on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Among the 14 competitors are returning champions, the winningest driver in Series history, rising stars and talented rookies.

Here’s a look at who will make up the roster when the 2023 season begins:

Dennis Erb Jr. | 2022 Series Champion | Carpentersville, IL

Dennis Erb Jr., along with his crew chief Heather Lyne – who became the first championship winning female crew chief in a national dirt racing series – are back to defend their title.

Through a season of consistency, and four victories, they claimed their first World of Outlaws title this year. 

READ MORE: Dennis Erb Jr, Heather Lyne Turn Years of Hard Work into First World of Outlaws Championship

With a World of Outlaws championship on their resume, Erb and Lyne – who is also a two-time Series Crew Chief of the Year (2021, 2022) – plan to build off that and grow their legacy with the Series further.

If the dynamic duo can do it again, they would join Billy Moyer, Josh Richards and Brandon Sheppard as the only champions to win in back-to-back years.

Brandon Sheppard | 4X Champion & Winningest Driver | New Berlin, IL

Brandon Sheppard is the most accomplished driver in World of Outlaws CASE Late Models history with four championships and 81 victories (most all-time). But in 2023, his quest for a record fifth championship comes with changes.

For the first time on tour, Sheppard won’t be driving for Rocket1 Racing – the car he drove to his four titles. Instead, he’ll pilot the #B5 for Sheppard-Riggs racing—a joint effort between himself and Scott Riggs, who Tanner English drove for last season.

He’s also made a chassis switch for 2023, moving from a Rocket to a Longhorn Chassis.

If the New Berlin, IL driver can win the championship again, he’ll break a tie with Josh Richards for most all-time.

Tanner English | 2022 Rookie of the Year | Benton, KY

Reigning World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Rookie of the Year Tanner English is back for more in his second season on tour—hoping to build on his three-win campaign and second-place finish in 2022 points. 

READ MORE: Tanner English Aims for More Success in Second World of Outlaws Campaign

However, the Benton, KY driver has made some changes for next season, as he now drives for the Shawn and Lisa Martin-owned Viper Motorsports in a black #96 car.

English will return to a Longhorn Chassis when the season starts in January, hoping to carry his momentum from last season into 2023 and his first World of Outlaws CASE Late Models championship.

Chris Madden | Gray Court, SC

One of the top Late Model drivers in 2022 has returned to the Series to chase the championship in 2023. Chris Madden, who finished second to Sheppard in 2021, is searching for his first Series title.

READ MORE: Chris Madden Aims for 2023 World of Outlaws Late Models Championship

Madden scored four victories when he last ran the tour full-time and hopes to grab momentum at Volusia Speedway Park, where he scored his lone Series win of 2022.

“Smokey” enters his 2023 campaign after a 15-win season, including four victories worth $50,000 or more.

Nick Hoffman | Mooresville, NC

Nick Hoffman will race for a national Late Model championship for the first time in his career when he joins the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in 2023 with Tye Twarog Racing.

READ MORE: Nick Hoffman Joins World of Outlaws Late Models with Tye Twarog Racing

Hoffman, who’s racked up five DIRTcar Summit Equipment Modified National Championships, will have a learning curve in his Rookie of the Year campaign, driving a Longhorn Chassis for the first time.

He’s made 17 starts with the Series so far, picking up two top fives and five top 10s – his best finish is fifth (twice).

He’ll be one of four drivers chasing Rookie of the Year honors in 2023. And while many are used to seeing him in a blue #2 Modified – which he’ll still run from time to time – they’ll have to get used to seeing him in a blue #9 Late Model.

Max Blair | Centerville, PA

Another driver making a change in 2023 is Max Blair, who battled English for Rookie of the Year honors last season.

Coming off a two-win season, Blair will now be part of the Briggs Transport stable as a teammate to Series veteran Boom Briggs.

READ MORE: Max Blair Teams Up with Boom Briggs for 2023, Reflects on 2022 Season

The Centerville, PA driver hopes his knowledge from his first year on the road will help him vault two spots higher in the standings to claim his first Series title.

Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA

For the second consecutive season, Boom Briggs and his Briggs Transport team will have two cars on the road, this time with Max Blair as his teammate in 2023. 

The veteran driver from Bear Lake, PA, is still in search of his first World of Outlaws Late Models victory, an accomplishment that’s eluded him in his time on tour. 

Briggs has 53 chances to take the checkered flag, including a hometown trip to Stateline Speedway, where he scored a top five the last time the Series visited the Busti, NY facility in 2021.

Ryan Gustin | Marshalltown, IA

Ryan Gustin broke through for his first two World of Outlaws CASE Late Models victories in 2022 and hopes to turn that momentum into a 2023 championship run. 

“The Reaper” was in contention for many victories throughout the season before a string of bad luck kept Gustin out of Victory Lane on multiple occasions throughout the year.

Gustin will also have a change to his team in 2023, as long-time crew chief Brett Ladehoff is coming off the road. He filled that position with Taylon Center, who recently spent time as the crew chief for Hudson O’Neal and Ricky Thornton Jr.

Brent Larson | Lake Elmo, MN

Brent Larson returns to the World of Outlaws in 2023, coming off a personal best fifth-place finish in the season standings.

The Lake Elmo, MN driver, narrowly missed his first career win last season at Cedar Lake Speedway when he finished second to Mike Marlar on night one of the USA Nationals in August. He also improved his average finish by four positions.

Larson hopes he’ll continue to take strides forward and build on his fifth-place finish and hopes to grab that elusive first checkered flag.

Gordy Gundaker | St. Charles, MO

Gordy Gundaker faced many ups and downs throughout his rookie season with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models. However, a late momentum charge has him optimistic heading into 2023 and the season-opener at Sunshine Nationals.

READ MORE: Gordy Gundaker Prepares for Second Season with World of Outlaws Late Models

Despite only grabbing 10 top-10s in the 2022 season, three came over the final six races.

With more experience under his belt, Gundaker is another driver aiming for his first career Series win. He has the chance to do it at home in June when the Series visits Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL, a facility promoted by his parents.

Todd Cooney | Des Moines, IA

Todd Cooney will join Nick Hoffman in the Rookie battle and Gustin as another driver from Iowa on tour in 2023.

Cooney, who’s yet to make a World of Outlaws CASE Late Models start, will join the Series at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals—where he’s found success. The Des Moines, IA driver, scored a top 10 in a DIRTcar Pro Late Model at the event in 2021.

He’s spent most of his career racing around Iowa, including three IMCA Super Nationals Late Model wins at Boone Speedway, home of the Hawkeye 50.

He also scored three wins in two different Series in 2021. Two with the Haulin’ with Hoker Trucking Super Late Model East Series at Cresco Speedway and Manquoketa Speedway and one with the Malvern Bank Super Late Model West Series at Shelby County Speedway.

Dustin Walker | Polk, MO

After suffering a stroke in 2020, Dustin Walker will be living a dream in 2023, joining the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models full-time.

It’s a bucket list item for him and one he hopes to turn into a successful rookie season.

READ MORE: Dustin Walker Crosses Off Bucket List Item with World of Outlaws Campaign

Walker will hit the road alongside his daughter when the season starts next month and said he hopes to finish top 12 in points at the end of the year.

He made two starts with the World of Outlaws in 2022, and spent most of his season racing around the Midwest—his best finish a second at Midway Speedway in Lebanon, MO.

Logan Martin | West Plains, MO

Logan Martin, from West Plains, MO, will join the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models for the first time in 2023, hoping to grab Rookie of the Year honors.

In his 12 starts with the Series, Martin found his best success with the Series in 2021 when he had a top-five and two top 10s at Boone Speedway – which the Series will return to on Tuesday, Aug. 1, for the Hawkeye 50.

He also set fast time in 2022 during an event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 last June.

Payton Freeman | Commerce, GA

After a solid second-place finish with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2022, Payton Freeman joins a national tour for the first time with the World of Outlaws Late Models.

The Commerce, GA driver, will battle for Rookie of the Year honors behind the wheel of the G.R. Smith-owned #22 car. He already scored a win for the team in November, when he grabbed the $22,000 prize in the Southern Showcase at Deep South Speedway.

Freeman hopes his experience in the Midwest will give him an advantage throughout the season, as he’s one of the drivers aiming for their first career Series victory.

These 14 drivers will begin an 11-month, 53-race grind on Jan. 18-21 when the Series opens the 2023 season at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals. Joining them at Volusia are the DIRTcar Pro Late Models and 602 Late Models as part of a Late Model Palooza.

(12/27/22) Sacramento, CA … The Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC), sanctioning bodies and sprint car race promoters throughout California and the left coast have agreed to implement a fire suppression system rule in 2023.  Effective May 1, 2023, all sprint cars will be required to run a fully functional system meeting a SFI 17.3 specification.

The safety-enhancing rule was discussed in depth with representatives of all major sanctioning bodies and dirt tracks at the Reno RPM Workshop and all agreed on the date moving forward.  This includes the Sprint Car Challenge Tour, Kings of Thunder, Skagit Speedway and all tracks on the 2023 NARC 410 sprint car schedule.

The equipment specifications mirror what most major sprint car sanction bodies are requiring during the 2023 season.

A complete breakdown of the rule will be published in the NARC rulebook in early January.  Listed below is the baseline for the rule:

1. A fire suppression system that meets the SFI 17.3 specification must be installed and functional in all race cars at all times when competing at Northern Auto Racing Club events after May 1, 2022.
2. The fire suppression system must include a thermal trigger and a manual trigger.  Both triggers must be mounted in the driver’s compartment. The thermal trigger must be in the lower area of the drivers compartment forward of the seat near the area of the fuel pump. The manual trigger must be mounted within reach of the driver on the forward left-hand side of the cockpit. A minimum of one nozzle must be mounted in the lower area of the cockpit forward of the seat.
3. The DOT approved cylinder manufactured of aluminum or steel must be securely mounted to the frame per the manufacturer’s instructions. The cylinder must have a minimum capacity of five-pounds.
4. The system must be fully charged and display a legible and valid SFI 17.3 and manufacturer label, easily viewable at any time by NARC and/or race track officials. Cylinders that are beyond useful certification date must be inspected, serviced and re-labeled by the manufacture.
5. If a nozzle is connected to the cylinder with a line, the line must be steel or steel reinforced and must be triggered at the end of the line.

(NOTE:  SFI is a certification that demonstrates that the manufacturer certifies the racing equipment has been laboratory tested to meet or exceed SFI safety specifications. This gives consumers and sanctioning bodies a way to differentiate a certified product from one that is untested.)

Approved Manufacturer’s:

Lifeline Fire & Safety USA

Safecraft Safety Equipment, Martinez, CA

Safety Systems Inc. (Firebottle), Ft Myers, FL

Spa Technique Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Rose has a Big Block and Small Block Modified he hopes to run in 2023, along with the full World of Outlaws Sprint Car tour

BARBERVILLE, FL (Dec. 27, 2022) – Bill Rose will add another center-steer vehicle to his resume of race cars in February as he plans to make his Big Block Modified debut at DIRTcar Nationals.

After running his Sprint Car the first week of the event at Volusia Speedway Park (Feb. 6-11), he’ll climb aboard his new Teo-built Modified with the Super DIRTcar Series during week two (Feb. 15-18).

“I’ve been looking forward to it,” Rose said. “I’ve always wanted to run one. Billy Pauch had tried to get me hooked up with some people to run one and it just never came about. I started piecing one together.”

And not just one. Two.

Through the process of building one car, Rose found himself with another. He plans on making one his Big Block car, while the other will be his Small Block car.

“I went up to Teo’s for some parts and ended up buying another one from them,” Rose said with a chuckle.

He doesn’t have specific plans for the Small Block yet. Maybe run it later this year, if at all. But the Big Block he hopes to run at DIRTcar Nationals and a few more times throughout the year – especially when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series runs through Pennsylvania and New York.

His hope is to catch some of the weekday Modified events in between World of Outlaws races and bring the Big Block – potentially the Small Block – to Weedsport Speedway in the summer when the Modifieds are paired with the World of Outlaws for the Empire State Challenge Weekend, July 29-30.

If all goes well throughout the year, he’ll also run with the Super DIRTcar Series during World Finals in November at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

DIRTcar Nationals will be his first time sitting behind the wheel of a Big Block Modified. While he knows there’ll probably be a learning curve, he hopes his Silver Crown experience will be of assistance.

“To me, they remind me of a Silver Crown car in a way,” Rose said. “The only thing is, they have them to where they’re rolling over on the right front big time and raising up on the left rear like the Late Models do now. Silver Crown don’t do that. So, that’s going to be a little bit different for me. But I think they’re still going to drive about the same. If you watch them, they stay straight as hell. That’s what you have to do with Silver Crown cars, especially on the miles.”

The other challenge for the Plainfield, IN native is logistics. First, it’s the logistics of location. With the majority of the Big Block and Small Block events being in the Northeast, Rose plans to leave his Modifieds with a friend in region. The second is the logistics of help.

Most of the time, it’s he and Amanda Hoegsted working on the cars in the shop and at the track. And for Rose, his Sprint Car program will still be top priority. He said if he can hire a couple more guys to help take care of his Sprint Car, that’ll free him up to try other things.

After the 2023 Chili Bowl, Rose said all of his Midget program will be sold off. But along with his Winged Sprint Car and new Modifieds, he still has a Silver Crown car and a Non-Wing Sprint Car at his shop.

“I don’t do anything else,” Rose said. “Amanda asked, ‘Are we going to go do anything else?’ I said, ‘I don’t know what else to do.’”

His plan is to run the full World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series schedule again in 2023. After what he called his “worst year” in 2022, Rose said he’s coming back with a new car and better engine package.

“I got my ass handed to me last year,” Rose said. “But I learned, and I learned more toward the end of the year. Last year, I was so far behind because of losing a year of racing because of my shoulder (injury). The motors were worn out and I just wanted to get through the end of the year.

“The new cars are different from what I had last year. Motors, I got better motors. That’s huge. I had good motors, but I didn’t realize how much better I needed them. So, we worked on that program. Will we set the world on fire? Who knows? But I should be a whole lot better than what I was. I’m looking forward to it because I know what we’re doing.”

The sky is the limit for his new Modified program. If the stars align in the future, Rose said he could see himself attempting events like Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway. But for now, he’ll take his white #6 Big Block Modified to Florida and continue to grow his eclectic resume of race cars.

“Billy (Pauch) told me I was stupid last year when I told him I bought [a Modified],” Rose said with a chuckle. “He goes, ‘You live in Indiana, why the hell would you do that? And I said, ‘I don’t know, I’ve just always wanted to do it.’”

To see Rose and the rest of the World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series stars at DIRTcar Nationals, CLICK HERE for tickets.

Motivate, Inspire, Educate
OnTrackTM

FOLLOW A DREAM’S MISSION has always been to educate
children and adults on the power of positive thinking,
self-determination, and teamwork through motorsports.
After over twenty years of inspiring and motivating the
masses, Jay Blake says there is still work to be done. “It’s a
mission that never ends,” Jay says with an easy smile. “I like
to say, ‘with education, there is no finish line.’ I am always
humbled to hear that my story has helped someone else;
it’s incredible to witness the lives we have touched and
the impact we have made. It drives me, it inspires me, and
it energizes me to keep promoting the power of positive
thinking. These five tools really work!”
The five tools that Jay is talking about are a positive
attitude, education, passion, determination, and teamwork.
They are the basis for Jay’s speech and presentation,
designed to encourage and motivate audiences to pursue
their dreams.
After a presentation at Cape Cod Academy in June, the
teacher and long-time friend Juliana Jarvis praised the
charismatic speaker. “I’ve known Jay for over ten years, and
he has come to many events I have hosted for students. He
has a gift for connecting with people of all ages.”
After Spring visits to Granite Academy and The Victor
school, Michael Capobianco, English Teacher at Granite
Academy, echoed Juliana’s sentiments. “Jay Blake spoke
volumes about persistence, gratitude, and growth at one
of our school’s assemblies. His delivery, both engaging
and compelling, featured a sampling of comic relief as
he navigated difficult topics. With a focus on personal
responsibility and team-based support, Blake’s message
resonated with our audience and inspired us all.”
Granite Academy and The Victor School are a part of
Justice Resource Institute which offers a broad range of
specialized schools and unique programs for students
from diverse backgrounds. Blake indeed has a knack for
reaching students, especially those that may not fit the
typical mold.
After a trip to the Carroll Center, a specialized school
for the blind in Newton Massachusetts, Jay reminisced
Continued next pageabout his time there learning to live as a completely blind
man, “When I first arrived here, I was newly blind and
filled with fear, I could never have imagined what I have
accomplished. It’s amazing what can be done when you
believe in yourself and don’t let your fear stop you.”
Jay brings his race car to The Carroll Center every year
and even fires it up to give the students an idea of what
the 4000-plus horsepower engine sounds like. Cheers
and applause broke out from the crowd surrounding Jay
and his race car as it roared to life. Not only thrilling the
students and their instructors but physically representing
what they can accomplish in their lives if they don’t limit
themselves. Jay told his mostly blind audience, “Do not let
your fear stop you; let your dreams drive you.”
Students are often impressed by Jay’s abilities despite his
blindness, but it is his determination and passion that really
impresses his audience; Daniel, a young automotive student
from Madison Park Vocational Technical, Boston’s only
public Vocational Technical School, remarked, “I think his car
is fantastic, and his presentation is impressive too, it’s kind
of an emotional and moving presentation because it shows
that even though he has a disability, it doesn’t stop him from
doing what he loves. It’s the most fantastic thing ever!”
After a packed high school presentation on Cape Cod,
Dennis-Yarmouth student Daniel Springer reflected on Jay’s
visit in a journal entry he shared with us. “That Jay Blake
guy came to speak at school today. He was super inspiring
and really motivating. I am not really into cars, and I don’t
know anything about racecars, horsepower, or all that stuff.
But his story was super interesting.
I think it convinced everyone in the
audience that you can do anything.”
Jay’s speaking engagements
aren’t limited to the Bay State;
Blake has taken his motivational
and inspirational presentation
nationwide. 2022’s speaking
schedule included stops in Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Rhode
Island, and more. At Reading Muhlenberg Vocational
Technical school in Pennsylvania, a disabled girl with
bright, cheerful eyes asked Jay for a hug, saying, “You are
incredible. I always thought that my disability would keep
me from doing what I wanted to do growing up. After
seeing your presentation, I realized I don’t have to give up
on any of my dreams.” Jay embraced the young girl and
reminded her to never give up.
Mr. Blake is certain when he is
asked about his organization
and its mission, “The racing
is my dream, and to be
successful on the track means
the world to me. But, when
I return to my Creator, it will be the lives I have touched
and the people that I have inspired that will matter, not the
races we won, and I am grateful to be able to do what I do.”
Scan this code to donate to
Follow A Dream or to see how you
can volunteer to help us make a
difference. Or visit us at
www.followadream.org.
Want our newsletter emailed to you?
Let us know! Just email us at jay@followadream.org
Motivate, Inspire, Educate — Continued
“It’s amazing what can be done
when you believe in yourself and
don’t let your fear stop you.”Funnycar
Report
The
Follow A Dream
Funnycar Team
Phil Burkart
Driver
Jay Blake
Crew Chief
Anthony Terenzio
Tuner
Rich Bozzelli
Tuning Consultant
Scott “Ozzie” Osborn
Lead Engine
Technician
Anthony Mondi
Assistant Engine
Technician
Lukas VanGelder
Lead Clutch and
Transmission
Technician
Joe Driscoll
Assistant Clutch
Technician
Tom Wanders
Chef and Team
Support
Rachel McMahon
Public Relations
and Social Media
Coordinator
With Special Thanks to
David Lariviere
Alan Hadfield
Will Wallace
Scott VanGelder
David Carlson
Wyatt Kubicke
David Thornton
Andrew “Oggie” Pesek
Jack Rodgers
Daphne Irwin
THE 2022 SEASON didn’t end in victory
for the Follow A Dream Funny Car Team.
However, no one can complain about landing
in second place after more than two years
without a single run down the track. The
Dream Team came out of a two-year drought
ready to win, and they came incredibly
close to clinching the Eastern Region
Championship.
After losing primary sponsorship, the Covid-19
pandemic hit, leaving the funnycar parked
for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. However,
the team was anxious to get back onto the
track and put some pent-up energy to good
use. They did generate power and lots of
horsepower, too! The team rounded out the
season with two wins, and two runner-ups out
of seven regional races, and finished second in
the Eastern Region Championship.
They returned strong, winning their first race of
the year at Atco Dragway in April. Team owner
Jay Blake was ecstatic, and the team was fully
charged. But, unfortunately, after the season-
opening win, the Follow A Dream Team lost its
second race. The Dream Team was knocked
out in their first round of eliminations at Cecil
County Dragway in Maryland due to some
unusual transmission failure.
After fixing the issue, the team packed up and
headed to one of their favorite tracks, Maple
Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. The Follow
A Dream crew rebounded from the broken
transmission but ultimately lost after a tough
round in the semifinals.
At the fourth race of the year, Funnycar Driver
Phil Burkart was able to drive the racecar
into the winner’s circle once again. The
Follow A Dream Team celebrated capturing
their second win of the season. This time at
Lebanon Valley Raceway in West Lebanon,
New York, also Phil’s home track.
August brought another tough loss in the
finals at Atco raceway in New Jersey. Still, the
team was confident in the car’s performance
and hopeful for a win at the race team’s home
track in New Hampshire. But, unfortunately,
New England Dragway didn’t produce a Wally.
The Dream Team was able to get the car to
the final round once again, but victory slipped
away at the last moment.
In September, the Dream Team headed
to The Maple Grove Nationals, the only
National event on the schedule this season.
The Pep Boys Nationals was the perfect
platform for Follow A Dream to help promote
their long-term racing partner and former
primary sponsor, Permatex’s new endeavor,
PermatexTraining.com. Unfortunately, the
team lost in the quarterfinals. Still, Jay and
the team were happy to have had another
chance to try and clinch the elusive Maple
Grove Wally and to help our racing partner
showcase their new training website.
The team headed home filled with confidence
and ready to prepare for the next race in
Virginia. Expectations were high as Team
Tuner Anthony Terenzio, and Team Tuning
Consultant Rich Bozzelli had been working
hard to pull .40s out of the 4000-plus
horsepower racecar.
Heartbreak and disappointment hit the Dream
Team harder than a tropical storm when
the race in Virginia was canceled at the last
minute due to hurricane Ian. Nevertheless, the
Dream Team unloaded the already packed
transporter and tried to come to terms with
losing their final chance to race for The
Eastern Region Championship.
Team owner Jay Blake tried to lift the spirits
of his disheartened team. He reminded them
that he was still incredibly proud of all the
hard work and effort that went into their
almost-championship run. “After over two
years on the sidelines, we’ll take second
place. Everyone on this team has worked
tirelessly to make this season successful. We
got this far because of all your hard work and
sacrifice. We were a threat to win at every
race we attended this year. Next year, we will
win every race we attend!”

EVANS, GA. – Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson underwent surgery on Monday, December 19, 2022, to repair damage to his neck following multiple high-speed crashes dating back to 2008. Doctors have said he could be sidelined for up to six months while healing. 
“They went in there and reconstructed my spine, basically,” Jackson said from his home in Evans, Ga. “A portion of the discs had moved into the spinal column and compressed the spinal cord. They went in there, took the discs out, grafted some bone, removed some bone, fused some bone, put in a titanium cage, screwed me together.”
Jackson admitted he has been up and about since the procedure and said it didn’t take long to realize he’s not as invincible as he thought. 
“Four days removed right now, right now it feels like I’ve been in a fight with Macho Man Randy Savage,” Jackson admitted. 
Jackson said he’d had a clue for the last decade or so that he was more injured than he was willing to admit. During the 2022 NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., he could no longer ignore the situation. 
“When I got into the race car in Brainerd this year, I pulled my helmet on just like I had done a thousand times before. It sent a sharp pain all the way through the heel of my other foot, and my left hand went numb. I haven’t had feeling in my left hand since July of this year. I knew that I needed to get it looked at.
Jackson still tried to avoid having surgery. He went to doctor’s appointments and even did physical therapy. Nothing seemed to fix the problem leaving him with no other alternative but surgery to repair the damage. 
“I started having a decline in motor skills, and reflexes on the right side of my body, to where, when you check your reflexes with the little hammer, and your left leg jumps far, but your right leg barely moves, that’s kind of a bad deal,” Jackson said. 
 “I met with a bunch of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons, and we figured we need to do this right now. I was going to try to put off another season, but it ended up being a need-to-get-it-fixed-right-now deal.”
Jackson had developed a regimen of pain management over the years, even after his crash in 2018 during the final round of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, which revealed he’d further aggravated his pre-existing injuries.
“When I wrecked in 2018, in Charlotte, they did a CAT scan and MRI on my neck and showed me an area where the disc had exploded and was compressing the spinal cord,” Jackson explained.” I thought I would have to have it done at that point. But through physical therapy, exercise, and working out, I was able to get it to a manageable level.”
Jackson admits he’s been tasked with challenging scenarios throughout his career, but remaining idle while his body heals might be the toughest he’s ever faced.
“It’s killing me, man,” Jackson admitted. “Everybody’s planning, going to run at US Street Nationals and all these other races coming up, and I don’t know when I’ll be back in the car. I spoke to Scotty Cannon about this, and he didn’t have this surgery, but it was a similar type of surgery for a different part of his back. He told me the mistake he made was jumping in the car too fast. Everybody I’ve talked to has told me to wait. So while it’s hard, I’m going to wait till they clear me. I do not want to have to do this again.
“The doctors gave me a 90% chance of full recovery. That’s really good as long as I follow the steps they want me to do. I’d much rather be out of it for a while and then get to come back and be as good as I was than to rush back into it and have to do this again.”

Trip Culminates with 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic (Jan. 27-29) on DIRTVision

December 23, 2022 – The term “off-season” is merely a suggestion to the five World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars who are ditching the frigid American winter for some fun in the Australian sun over the next month.

From New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia to South Australia, Aussies all across the land will be treated to spectacular showings as the largest crop of Americans in several years take on the countrymen in their most anticipated races of the year.

While many of their travels take them to different states and separate tracks, all five Outlaws will conclude their trip following Australia Day with the 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic – Australia’s version of the Knoxville Nationals – at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, VIC, which airs live on DIRTVision for American subscribers on January 27-29, 2023. 

James McFadden, a native son of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, leads the charge back to his homeland with a little less racing planned, yet more excitement than ever with a new team. The 2021 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year and current Roth Motorsports ace is taking the wheel of the Tim Hodges Motorsports, NAPA Auto Parts #5 with backing from big names including IndyCar winner Scott McLaughlin, Jack Riewoldt, and Gerard Whateley.

J-Mac is already a two-time winner of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic (2017, 2020) and hopes this new adventure is the recipe he needs to lock down a third title before his third full-time World of Outlaws season begins in February. He debuted with the new team last week at Premier Speedway and finished second to Jock Goodyer at the famed “Max’s Race.”

“The Classic is one of the biggest races in the world,” McFadden told AutoAction.com. “I love the event, I love the speedway, I love the town, and I love how big the race has become around the world. Everyone in America wants to come down under to compete in it or come and watch it.”

Joining McFadden with NAPA Auto Parts colors is the four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, Brad Sweet, who will drive the Landrigan Motorsport #49 in his return down under. The Grass Valley, CA native is treating it as more of a family vacation with only two races planned at Avalon’s Presidents Cup (Jan. 25) and Premier’s Classic (Jan. 27-29).

“I love Australia and everyone, everything they have there,” Sweet said. “It’s exciting that we can finally travel back down under and get to events like The Classic again, but I’m just as excited to take my wife and my daughter Savanna to enjoy some family time away from racing.”

After an 11-win season with Jason Johnson Racing on the World of Outlaws trail, Carson Macedo hasn’t taken much time away from the track. The Lemoore, CA native competed with the USAC National Midget Series in his home state – nearly winning the Turkey Night Grand Prix – and then quickly caught a plane to keep racing down under with Dyson Motorsports.

Macedo has a full slate planned with the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions #99, scheduling almost 20 shows between events at Eastern Creek, Archerfield, Premier,  Toowoomba, Avalon, and Borderline. He’s already won a Midget Feature at Eastern Creek and Sprint Car show at Archerfield in his short time there.

Brock Zearfoss, the 2021 Western Australia Speedweek champion, will return to wheel a special Blue Angels edition of the Goldstar Transports #95. A two-year veteran of the World of Outlaws trail, the Jonestown, PA native will work his way from Perth, Bunbury, and Ellenbrook before heading east for Classic week at the end of January.

Sheldon Haudenschild is also heading down under to continue the family tradition in Australia, where his father Jac won the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in 1981-82. The son of “The Wild Child” is trading his Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink #17 for the Jack Lee Racing #V25 to compete at Toowoomba’s Red Hot Summer Shootout, Avalon’s Presidents Cup, Borderline’s Kings Challenge, and Premier’s Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

Following their travels down under, the 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series campaign begins at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL with the 52nd DIRTcar Nationals on February 9-11. Tickets are available for purchase HERE.

If you can’t make it to the event, the entire 2023 season will be live on DIRTVision – available either online or through the DIRTVision App.

CONCORD, NC – December 22, 2022 – The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series has found its next voice, naming Ruben Mireles as the new Series announcer.He’ll welcome fans to the 2023 season when it kicks off at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 18-21.  Mireles served as a pit reporter for the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in the past and has been the DIRTcar Summer Nationals announcer for the past five seasons. Now, he said he’s excited to take on an opportunity he’s been working toward for years.  “Ever since I was 12 years old, I’ve been working for this,” Mireles said. “If you would’ve told me I’d be here, I’d say you were crazy. “It just means the world. It’s a big responsibility. It’s a big position, and more eyeballs are on me now. It’s just a pleasure to work for World Racing Group. I’m looking forward to the friendships and relationships and just want to thank (World Racing Group CEO) Brian Carter and (World of Outlaws Late Models Series Director) Steve Francis from the bottom of my heart.” The Anthony, NM native, started announcing at age 12 at El Paso Speedway Park and Southern New Mexico Speedway before becoming the voice of the CLMA DIRTcar Series. That’s when a meeting with Rick Eshelman led to him becoming the announcer for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2018. “Rick was more than a mentor and colleague to me,” Mireles said. “Rick was like a dad to me, and to be in his shoes is surreal. Having the opportunity to be in Rick’s footsteps is just a dream come true.  “It’s honestly a huge honor to carry his legacy, and I’m going to work my tail off to fill every bit of his shoes.” Mireles and the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models start their 2023 campaign at Volusia Speedway Park, Jan. 18-21. The DIRTcar Pro Late Models and 602 Late Models will also be on the card, making the event a true Late Model Palooza. TICKETS: bit.ly/3t4XdJZ If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

The World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Case Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fox Factory (Hard Charger Award), MSD, My Place Hotels, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Swift Springs, and Wrisco–Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including Dirt Car Lift, Capital Race Cars, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, FIREBULL, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis, and Sea Foam.

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 22, 2022) – Toyota is expanding its reach across the dirt racing world in 2023 by becoming the Official Vehicle of the World of Outlaws and continuing its presenting sponsorship of the growing Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series.As the Official Vehicle, Toyota will have a strong presence in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, Super DIRTcar Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series, providing a pace truck for each.“We are extremely pleased Toyota saw so much value in working with us last season on the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series that they expanded their partnership going forward to include the Official Vehicle across our national tours,” World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter said. “Our team continues to build and deliver attractive programs that benefit companies, competition and fans.”Along with its return as the presenting sponsor for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series – which has expanded to a 35-race schedule with a $80,000 championship purse – the manufacturer will also sponsor the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Dash, making it the Toyota Dash.“The World of Outlaws as a series has an incredible fan base within the dirt community and that was something that Toyota wanted to become more involved with this season and we hope the fans enjoy seeing our Toyota Tundras pacing the fields across the country,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager, Toyota Racing. “Our support of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series last season was also a strong addition to our TRD driver development program and we look forward to seeing talent continue to be cultivated through that series as well.“The iconic brand has elevated every series it enters, collecting multiple wins and championships across the motorsports landscape and dedicated time to developing drivers. History was made in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series in 2022 with two Toyota drivers on a national level. Taylor Reimer became the first women to win a national dirt Midget race, and then, Jade Avedisian won the following Xtreme Outlaw event, making them the first back-to-back female winners in any national dirt motorsports series.The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota is set to start its sophomore season at the Southern Illinois Center, March 10-11.The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models will kick off the year in January during the DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. Then, they along with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series, will highlight the 52nd DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 6-18.If you can’t make it to the track, you can see the Toyota pace trucks leading each field and watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: NOS Energy Drink (Official Energy Product), Case Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Toyota (Official Vehicle), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ACME Trading, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), Micro-Lite LLC, MSD, Low-E Insulation; manufacturer sponsors include Dirt Car Lift, FIREBULL, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, and Sea Foam.

SCHEDULE UPDATES: Ohio Valley, Path Valley, Highland Added to 2023 Midget Tour$80,0000 championship points fund breakdown also released, Red Hill moves to August 17 CONCORD, NC – Dec. 21, 2022 – Three new tracks have been added to the 2023 schedule for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, further setting the scene on a bright sophomore campaign for the nation’s newest national dirt Midget racing tour. WHAT’S NEW The Xtreme Outlaws will now kick off a three-day weekend swing with a visit to Ohio Valley Speedway on Friday, July 28. The 3/8-mile oval, located slightly over the Ohio/West Virginia border in Washington, WV, is home to weekly racing on its red clay surface, and will host Midgets for the first time in 2023. Path Valley Speedway Park will host the Xtreme Outlaws on Friday, August 11, filling the open space on the east coast Speedweek stretch, which runs August 8-12. The 1/4-mile oval, located in Spring Run, PA, hosts regular 270 & 600cc Micro Sprint racing on Saturday nights. This event, along with each of the other four Speedweek events, will be co-sanctioned by the ARDC Midgets. Highland Speedway is the third new venue added to the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw slate on Saturday, Sept. 16. The 1/4-mile, hairpin-style bullring in Highland, IL, is a staple venue for weekly DIRTcar competition, hosting Late Models, UMP Modifieds and Factory Stocks. The track also features a handful of Micro Sprint events throughout the season, and welcomes a national Midget tour in for 2023. The Highland event replaces the Series’ appearance at Red Hill Raceway, which has since moved to Sunday, Sept. 17. The Midgets will now complete the three-day swing through Illinois with a trip to the 4/10-mile, red clay oval, located in Sumner, IL. POINTS FUND BREAKDOWN To go with these new schedule additions, a more detailed look at the $80,000 championship points fund has also been released. The 2023 Series champion will take home a $25,000 check, with the runner-up receiving $12,000, and $8,000 in store for third place. A full breakdown of what each position in year-end points pays is shown below. 1st – $25,000 2nd – $12,000 3rd – $8,000 4th – $7,000 5th – $6,000 6th – $5,500 7th – $5,000 8th – $4,500 9th – $4,000 10th – $3,000 The 2023 campaign for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota begins with the season opener and a debut indoors at the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, IL, March 10-11. If you can’t be at the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision. UPDATED 2023 SCHEDULEFriday, March 10 | Southern Illinois Center | Du Quoin, IL | $4,000-to-win Saturday, March 11 | Southern Illinois Center | Du Quoin, IL | $5,000-to-win Thursday, March 30 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | Practice Friday, March 31 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Saturday, April 1 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Friday, April 14 | Federated AP Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Saturday, April 15 | Federated AP Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000-to-win [POWRi] Friday, May 5 | Humboldt Speedway | Humboldt, KS | $4,000-to-win Saturday, May 6 | 81 Speedway | Park City, KS | $4,000-to-win Tuesday, May 23 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $4,000-to-win Wednesday, May 24 | Millbridge Speedway | Salisbury, NC | $5,000-to-win Thursday, June 1 | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, IL | $4,000-to-win Friday, June 2 | Wayne County Speedway | Wayne City, IL | $4,000-to-win Saturday, June 3 | Wayne County Speedway | Wayne City, IL | $4,000-to-win Friday, July 21 | TBA Saturday, July 22 | Southern Illinois Raceway | Marion, IL | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Friday, July 28 | Ohio Valley Speedway | Washington, WV | $4,000-to-win Saturday, July 29 | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, OH | $4,000-to-win Sunday, July 30 | Brushcreek Motorsports Complex | Peebles, OH | $4,000-to-win Friday, August 4 | Federated AP Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Saturday, August 5 | Federated AP Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | $5,000-to-win [POWRi] Tuesday, August 8 | Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway | Newmanstown, PA |$4,000-to-win [ARDC] Wednesday, August 9 | Action Track USA | Kutztown, PA | $4,000-to-win [ARDC] Thursday, August 10 | Linda’s Speedway | Jonestown, PA | $4,000-to-win [ARDC] Friday, August 11 | Path Valley Speedway Park | Spring Run, PA | $4,000-to-win [ARDC] Saturday, August 12 | Bridgeport Motorsports Park | Swedesboro, NJ | $4,000-to-win [ARDC] Thursday, August 24 | Davenport Speedway | Davenport, IA | Practice Friday, August 25 | Davenport Speedway | Davenport, IA | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Saturday, August 26 | Davenport Speedway | Davenport, IA | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Friday, September 1 | Paragon Speedway | Paragon, IN | $4,000-to-win Saturday, September 2 | Paragon Speedway | Paragon, IN | $5,000-to-win Friday, September 15 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | $4,000-to-win Saturday, September 16 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | $4,000-to-win Sunday, September 17 | Red Hill Raceway | Sumner, IL | $4,000-to-win Thursday, October 12 | Port City Raceway | Tulsa, OK | $5,000-to-win [POWRi] Friday, October 13 | I-44 Riverside Speedway | Oklahoma City, OK | $4,000-to-win [POWRi] Saturday, October 14 | I-44 Riverside Speedway | Oklahoma City, OK | $5,000-to-win [POWRi]

CONCORD, NC (Dec. 20, 2022) – Working alongside his parents at their family-owned plumbing business, Chase McDermand had dreams of own his career path.His vision was that of a full-time national dirt Midget racer.In 2023, he’s expanding upon that dream. Back behind the wheel of the #40 for Mounce/Stout Motorsports, McDermand will run full-time with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota – along with others – and has his sights set on a national Midget championship.“Our goal is to win the championship,” McDermand said. “Finish as many races as possible is the biggest thing. Limit your DNFs and pick up as many wins as you can along the way. The goal is to win the championship. I think that is realistic after the speed we showed this year. Have to hone in on the DNFs, the little details and the rest will work itself out.”The 2022 season marked his first true venture into national Midget racing, making more than 50 starts across Xtreme Outlaw, USAC and POWRi competition. In that span he earned three victories, including his first Xtreme Outlaw victory at Davenport Speedway – in conjunction with POWRi.“That was awesome,” McDermand said about his Xtreme Outlaw victory. “I haven’t been racing national Midgets that long. This is really my first year. To get a win at all is cool, let alone it being [the Xtreme Outlaw Midget’s] first year, too.“It was cool to be a part of the atmosphere, something new in the Midget world, gets a lot of attention. It was nice to be a part of that in a positive way. For our team, also. It was great to give them another national win. It was special for all of us.”McDermand, of Springfield, IL, started racing when he was 11 years old, running Quarter Midgets for three years before climbing the ladder to Lightning Sprints, then D2 Midgets and then running with the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association.With a vision of making it to the national level, he didn’t wait for someone to discover him. He took it upon himself to start knocking on doors. Eventually, Jay Mounce and Gavin Stout opened theirs for a conversation.“I didn’t know them at that time in 2021,” McDermand said. “I never talked to them in person until we started messaging back and forth about racing together.”Now, they’re like family, McDermand said. That chemistry is what he believes led to their success in 2022 and will lead to more in 2023.“Working well together and getting along, that promotes more chemistry,” McDermand added. “And with chemistry it will bring success later.”While they had success, 2022 was still a learning year for him. Learning new tracks. Learning new clay. And learning how to contend with drivers who have been on the national tour for years. None of it scared him away, though. It only made him more excited for what’s to come in 2023.“I’m really looking forward to Pennsylvania,” McDermand said about the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw schedule. “I kind of missed out on PA stuff because [other series] quit going there when I started. So, I’m excited to go there. Those tracks look awesome. Looking forward to going back to [Federated Auto Parts Raceway]. There’s a track in Southern Illinois, Red Hill Raceway, my sister used to live down there and we always drove by that place, and it was abandoned at the time. It’s crazy that we’re now racing there.”The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series will run a more than 30-race schedule with a $80,000 championship purse – $25,000 going to the Series champion – in 2023.McDermand still works full-time at McDermand Plumbing and will continue to next season. While it’s a challenge juggling his dream and his job at times, he said, it’s an opportunity he cherishes. His parents, Kevin and Shelley, have been by his side every step of the way.“Really fortunate to one, get the time off,” McDermand said. “I think we had 60 days I had to take off this year. Thanks to my parents for letting me do that and live out my dream.“(My dad goes to) mostly every race, I think he missed a few because of work. But me, my mom and our dog, we’re at every race. I don’t think my mom has ever missed one.”For tickets to Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota events, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series race live on DIRTVision.

The Polk, MO driver will be a Rookie of the Year contender in the 2023 season

CONCORD, NC – December 21, 2022 – Dustin Walker will cross a significant item off his bucket list in 2023.

After suffering a stroke in 2020, the Polk, MO driver is preparing for a season like no other—taking on the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series for the first time.

It’s an opportunity he said comes at the perfect time, as he transitions into a role as a full-time driver.

“It’s just a bucket list deal for me,” Walker said. “I had a stroke in 2020 that pretty much wrecked about everything we had going on business-wise. We do a lot of utility construction work, and I kind of had to ride those contracts out because they wouldn’t let us out of them. 

“We were finally able to get all of our equipment, and stuff sold this year, so it was kind of like, we’ve always wanted to do it, and once we finish selling off all of this race stuff, we won’t be able to do it, so I’m just excited to put it all together and give it a go.”

Walker ran a regionally-based schedule in 2023 in the Midwest, including three World of Outlaws CASE Late Models events in October. 

With 53 races on tap on the 2023 Series schedule, being able to focus solely on racing will help him down the stretch of the season’s grind.

“That’s really been the achilles heel for me running with MLRA,” Walker said. “We could run top 10 and top five with those guys on the weeks when we get into the shop to prepare. But I’m always having to work a 60, 70-hour week job running my business, and the racing was always secondary.”

“You could almost guarantee that if it was a week that I finished well, it was after a week I was at home. I’m definitely looking forward to a year where it’s the only thing I’m doing.”

Despite his eagerness to get behind the wheel at Sunshine Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park January 18-21, the results won’t be his main priority on the road.

Walker’s family will join him on the road in 2023, as his daughter has already made every effort to join him while they’re away from their Missouri home.

“We all want to compete, so you have it in your head what you want to do,” Walker said. “To be honest with you, my oldest daughter loves to go racing with me. It’s kind of the only reason I got to race this year. She’s going to remote school the last half of her senior year to go with me, so it’s going to just be me and my daughter against the World of Outlaws, I guess.

“We’re just going to try and enjoy the time, really, it’d be awesome to be able to stay in the top 12 in points, but will I be brokenhearted if I don’t, no.”

With his daughter by his side, Walker said he feels he’s ready to tackle the grind of the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models schedule—looking forward to tracks in the Midwest like 81 Speedway.

He also learned which chassis suits him best as he prepares for his rookie season in a Capital Race Car—an experience he gained during last season’s World of Outlaws swing through Kansas and Missouri.

“Really, I just got my first Capital Chassis,” Walker said. “We just wanted to run it. I’ve got a new (Rocket) XR1 sitting here, I got a Longhorn sitting here, and a new Capital. We ran all three last year to see what we liked the best to get ready for this. 

“It was a good chance to come run with the World of Outlaws but also the last chance we had anywhere close to run that Capital.”

Walker will take two Capital Race cars to Volusia Speedway Park for the 2023 season opener, where he’ll officially cross running on a national Late Model Tour off his bucket list.

The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off 2023 at Volusia for the Late Model Palooza, known as Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 18-21. Joining the Series will be the DIRTcar Pro Late Models and 602 Late Models.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Dec. 21, 2022 – The chase for national and regional championship gold is complete. It’s time to crown the kings of the 39th DIRTcar Racing season.

Each champion and special award winner will be honored at the annual DIRTcar awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Springfield Crowne Plaza.

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.

Congratulations to each of the 2022 DIRTcar national points champions.

Late Model – Bobby Pierce (Oakwood, IL)

For the fifth time in his young career, Bobby Pierce is DIRTcar Late Model national champion.

Through 39 years of DIRTcar’s weekly racing history, no driver had ever captured this prestigious crown more than four times, until 2022. One year removed from his fourth national championship-winning season in 2021, Pierce notched 15 Feature wins in 55 recorded races in DIRTcar competition this year, once again defeating three-time national champion Rusty Schlenk by 195 points in the final standings.

Pierce also clinched his fifth career DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Model championship with seven Feature wins in 19 starts, besting Hell Tour rookie Payton Freeman by 179 points at the end of the two-month stretch. He now sits only one Summer Nationals title away from tying National Dirt Late Model Hall-of-Famer Billy Moyer for most tour championships all-time.

“I’ve won a lot of races this year, we were really good, but there’s always room for improvement,” Pierce said. “I feel like I could get better just with learning stuff on the car. I would be lying if I said I knew everything I’m doing.

“Heck, I’ll probably still be learning stuff even when I’m 50.”

Though Pierce won at several tracks across the nation this year, nowhere else was he more dominant than at Fairbury Speedway. The 26-year-old parked the Allgayer Inc. #32 in Victory Lane at the 1/4-mile bullring four times in seven appearances, including the MARS Spring Nationals ($30,000), FALS Super Nationals ($10,000), the marquee special One for the Road($22,022), and the season-ending FALS Frenzy ($15,000).

For each of his big wins, Bobby accredits father and 1990 DIRTcar national champion Bob Pierce for the efforts he’s made to help his son’s career progression.

“It feels really nice to have done all the things I’ve done at such a young age,” Bobby said. “But, if it wasn’t for my dad helping me out at a really young age, I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”

UMP Modified – Mike Harrison (Highland, IL)

After three seasons barred from the top of the UMP Modified world, Mike Harrison has reclaimed his seat on the king’s throne in 2022, now the one and only eight-time DIRTcar national champion.

It was a season-long battle that came down to the final month of competition, where multiple drivers inside the top-six had an opportunity to make a push for the points lead – the best of which was three-time and defending national champion, Nick Hoffman.

Hoffman, who by the end of August was rapidly cutting into Harrison’s lead atop the standings, was trucking Northwest from his home in North Carolina to compete in a crucial Labor Day weekend swing through Illinois when he and his crew were involved in a serious traffic accident on the interstate. The crash resulted in season-ending injuries for Hoffman that took him out of the running for his fourth consecutive national title, leaving the door open for several other contenders to Harrison’s top spot.

“Everybody knows there’s a rivalry there between me and Nick,” Harrison said. “There’s gotta be rivalries in racing, but you never wanna see that happen. At the end of the day, we’re all family in this deal.”

Though he recorded three DNFs in September after going the first five months of the regular season with only one, Harrison still took the CASE IH #24H to Victory Lane four times in nine outings, securing the title in the first week of October by 35 points over runner-up Tyler Nicely.

Harrison competed in only the fifth-most race nights, yet still topped over 1,700 drivers in the wins column with 25 Feature victories in 50 recorded races – each of which he dedicates to his crew, who spend many hours in the shop and made the biggest difference in getting that win total this season.

“We’ve had the same crew, basically, since about 2010,” Harrison said. “We’ve all been together a long time and know each other inside and out. I would say that’s probably the biggest factor – we’re just all so close.”

Seven consecutive years of racing under his own operation halted after the 2020 season, when car owner Josh Carroll teamed with Harrison for 2021. The two are now going on their third year of partnership in 2023, sporting the same Hughes Racing Chassis that gave them success this year.

“This year, we started to with two brand-new ones,” Harrison said. “The cars were good. About mid-season or so, we really hit on something that fit me and was just really good, and it just kinda took off from there.”

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

Jose Parga has now claimed back-to-back DIRTcar Pro Late Model national titles after another dominant season atop the 604 Chevrolet Crate engine-powered division.

The 25-year-old standout backed up his 20-win season last year with another strong slate in 2022, winning 15 Features and holding a 99-point gap in the final standings. He also claimed another track championship at Lincoln Speedway with three Feature wins, and six Feature wins at Macon Speedway.

Other highlights included three victories at Farmer City Raceway and a top-10 finish in points for each of the three tracks he competed at this year.

Pro Modified – Deece Schwartz (Ashmore, IL)

The third generation in Schwartz family racing in Illinois has now made his own mark on DIRTcar history. Twenty-year-old Deece Schwartz is officially DIRTcar national champion of the Pro Modified division, claiming the title for the first time in his career.

Schwartz now follows in the footsteps of grandfather and two-time UMP Modified national champion Denny Schwartz, and father and veteran racer Danny Schwartz, carrying on the family legacy with a national points title of his own.

“It means a lot, seeing everything my dad and grandpa have accomplished, it’s a lot to take on,” Schwartz said. “It’s a challenge for me to be able to go out and put my name out there a lot more like they did.”

The 2022 crown comes with the memory of a lost bid for the 2020 Pro Modified title still in his mind. Schwartz was beaten for the national title that year by 13 points, sending him back to the drawing board for 2021, where he did not play as big a factor at season’s end.

However, Schwartz regrouped with a new car in 2022 and brought the firepower, winning a career-high 17 Features and claiming the Kankakee County Speedway track championship in the process.

“We struggled the first part of the season, and I was just going out and trying to get laps in the new car still, and have fun,” Schwartz said. “In 2020, I definitely lost the fun in the racing. It ate me up too much, and the one thing that dad and grandpa always told me was don’t let it eat you up. Make sure you’re out there having fun, because if not, it’s gonna be the reason you lose points – because you’re not having fun anymore.”

UMP Sportsman – Zach Sasser (Bedford, IN)

The DIRTcar UMP Sportsman national title stays in Indiana for 2022 with Brownstown Speedway track champion Zach Sasser taking home the gold.

Sasser won a fourth-best seven Features in DIRTcar competition – three at Brownstown, three at Bloomington Speedway and one at Rock Crest Raceway. His home track gave him the most fits with the tough competition in the area, but Sasser stayed resilient, clinching his first national championship by 29 points.

“We were doing it the hardest way possible,” Sasser said. “Around our area, Brownstown Speedway has the toughest competition in our class. We were racing there every Saturday night, along with trying to race for DIRTcar points. We felt sometimes, it was harder to win the Brownstown points than national points.”

Stock Car – Zane Reitz (Veedersburg, IN)

Zane Reitz joined Stock Car team owner Mike Alsop for the 2022 season and brought the team their first championship in the division with a dominating performance from April to October.

Reitz, the 19-year-old first-time national champion, won at five different tracks this year, collecting 17 total Feature wins – the most of any driver in the last five-plus seasons. Among the highlights was a season-ending victory in the DIRTcar Street Stock Fall Nationals at Charleston Speedway in October.

For his successes this year, Reitz credits Alsop for his backing and leadership throughout the season and plans on a return to the seat for 2023.

“I can’t thank him enough; it’s an awesome opportunity,” Reitz said. “To be able to work with the group of people we’re working with is amazing. All our drivers are within 20 miles of each other, we’ve all been friends before we were put on the same team, and I think we have some of the best drivers in the nation locally here.”

Factory Stock – Trevor Isaak (Highland, IL)

For the third-straight season, Trevor Isaak sits alone atop the DIRTcar Factory Stock mountain.

It’s his fourth career national championship, one which was clinched by way of 18 Feature wins in the regular season – more than any other driver in the division.

“Hard work and dedication in the garage is the biggest part of it,” Isaak said. “When I show up, my car is 100 percent ready to go every time it hits the track. It’s fine-tooth combed and stuff, make sure there’s no failures to the best of my ability.”

En route to the title, Isaak also clinched a sixth-straight track championship at his home track of Highland Speedway.

Sport Compact – Jacob Owens (North Vernon, IN)

The DIRTcar Sport Compact championship heads eastward for the first time into the state of Indiana and into the hands of 2022 Rock Crest Raceway track champion, Jacob Owens.

Owens won each of the five Sport Compact Features held at Rock Crest this year as part of a 14-win season. Though he tied third-place Trey Duncan in the win column, Owens was more consistent, posting more top-five finishes that made up the difference in points.

“We actually didn’t expect to run for a national championship this year; we just happened to start rolling off some wins around mid-season,” Owens said. “We had bad luck at the beginning of the season, but we turned that around real quick. We started kicking off some wins, and just decided to go for it.”

Mod Lite – Jimmy Smith (Toboso, OH)

DIRTcar’s newest division of weekly racing crowns its second national champion in 2022, and the honors go to United CC Modified Series champion Jimmy Smith.

Though the Mod Lites were sanctioned under the DIRTcar banner in 2021, Smith becomes the first-ever national champion with weekly sanctioned tracks in play. It’s an honor that Smith has worked hard all season for.

“We started in Florida, and it didn’t go as well as we planned,” Smith said. “We changed the motor after having trouble the first couple weeks. We came home and just put our heads together, and we just made sure the car was there every week.”

Smith was the class of the field in 2022, winning a record 15 Features. No other driver in the division won more than nine times.

“Everybody thinks since these cars are little, they’re easy to drive,” Smith said. “I’ve raced Modifieds, and I’ve raced Late Models, but these are probably one of the toughest cars to drive. And the competition from week-to-week – everybody is right there together. I’ve just been fortunate enough the last few years to put myself where we need to be every week.”

The Time Slip

Volume 11, Final Issue

Year in Review

December 2022

2022 was a good year for Brenda Grubbs Motorsports. The year started with a semi final finish in Super Stock at the Belle Rose Divisional. Unfortunately, Brenda went -.001 red against Harvey (Speedy) Emmons. After Belle Rose, the team headed to the Baby Gators where Brenda secured the Stock Class Win in AA/SA for the second year in a row.

A few months later, Brenda found herself paired up again with Harvey (Speedy) Emmons. This time, it was the Super Stock final round at the Houston National Event. Brenda had a great .002 light; however, the car didn’t run the number and Speedy got the win. The final round was special as it was the last NHRA National event at Houston Raceway Park, Brenda’s home track. Houston Raceway Park is also where Brenda secured her first Super Stock NHRA National Event Win, back in 2018.

In July, the team headed to Denver, which is one of Brenda’s favorite tracks as it is where she secured her very first NHRA National Event win. This past summer, Brenda got close to another win, losing in the Stock Semi Finals.

In the fall, the team headed to Indy. This was only the second time racing at Indy and Brenda found success, securing the SS/BA Class Win!

PRI Show

Unfortunately, the team had to miss the PRI Show this year. December is a busy time of year for Bill’s work schedule and Brenda moved to a new job at General Mills. Brenda and Bill missed seeing their partners and thanking them in person for their continued support.

Travels with Brenda’s latest feature was Top Sportsman standout, Vince Hoda and his wife, Super Street racer, Morgan. For Brenda it was an honor to tell the story of a unique husband and wife team.

As always more stories are in development.

2023 Season Starters

Testing Jan/Feb

Bradenton

Belle Rose Divisional

Gainesville Divisional

Gator Nationals

TBD
Feb 24-26

Mar 3-5 Mar 9-12

www.BrendaGrubbsMotorsports.com

www.BrendaGrubbsMotorsports.com bdgrubbs@aol.com

2023

After routine maintenance, the team will kick off the new season with testing at Bradenton before heading to the first divisional race at Belle Rose, Louisiana. A full schedule of 6 national events and 8 divisional events is on the calendar for 2023.

Charlie

Charlie is well loved, both at the racetrack and his home neighborhood.

In this picture, Charlie in his element being loved by children at the neighborhood golf cart Christmas parade.

Merry Christmas

Charlie

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year…. and a big

Thank You!
for your support of Brenda Grubbs Motorsports.

Sent of behalf of BigR Racing DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 20, 2022) – BigR Racing is excited to announce it has signed Cole Zabala to contend for the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKERchampionship during the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season aboard a Honda CRF450R. Zabala returns to Parts Unlimited AFT Singles competition following a highly successful Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines campaign in 2022. The Illinois native finished fifth in the category’s championship standings, boasting a pair of podium finishes among his seven top-five finishes. Zabala’s performance last season continued his upward trajectory after previously demonstrating his front-running potential in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class. That was especially true in 2020 and 2021, which saw him score a combined three podiums and secure a top-ten championship ranking in ‘21. Zabala will be backed by a BigR Racing team that has enjoyed a similar rise in form. Founded by team owner Ron Belt in 2017, the Kansas-based outfit stepped up to the professional ranks in 2022 and immediately proved it belonged with a string top-ten finishes in its debut Progressive AFT season. Eager to build on that strong start and fronted by a proven podium talent in Zabala, 2023 is poised to be yet another landmark season for rider and team. “I couldn’t be more excited to join Ron and his team for the 2023 season back in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Class,” said Zabala. “Since moving to Mission Production Twins, I always felt that I had unfinished business in AFT Singles to take care of. On this team, there’s so much chemistry because every one of our sponsors has known one another for years. It feels great to be a part of it. I know we have the winning combination to get the job done.” “I have always kept an eye on Cole and his talent,” said Belt. “After we were able to bring Cole in for two races last year the team knew the mission. Mission accomplished… It’s time to go racing!” BigR Racing is supported by several of the sport’s leading sponsors. Mike Vinson of Vinson Construction, Mission Foods, ODI Grips, and Motion Pro are new to the effort in ‘23, joining returning sponsors Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, Scherb Racing, L&R Racing, SPC Racing, VP Racing Fuel, and LBP.