11th Title for Silverado

DETROIT (October 21, 2023) – Chevrolet has clinched the first championship title of the season in the NASCAR national ranks by earning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) Manufacturer Championship. This marks the 11th time in NCTS history that Chevrolet has captured the title.  Chevrolet has been racing the Silverado model exclusively in the NCTS since the series’ inception in 1995, producing 275 all-time victories and 14 driver championships – both of which are series-leading feats.  “Winning the Manufacturer Championship title is a tremendous accomplishment for everyone involved in Chevrolet’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program,” said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Program Manager for the NASCAR Truck Series. “The dedicated and focused effort among Chevrolet’s teams, engineers and technical partners throughout the season have resulted in this prestigious title. Congratulations to all on winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturer Championship, and we are looking forward to a strong finish to the season.” Five drivers from five different Chevrolet teams have driven to victory lane in the NCTS this season, earning a combined 13 wins with 22 races complete. Team Chevy drivers contributing to those wins include NCTS full-time competitors Carson Hocevar (four wins) and Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger (three wins each), as well as Team Chevy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch (two wins) and Kyle Larson (one win). William Byron and Chandler Smith also collected finishes that contributed to this season’s manufacturer championship title.                                                                                                                                In pursuit of the 2023 NCTS Driver Championship, Chevrolet maintained 50 percent of the series’ playoff field through both rounds of its postseason competition, with Carson Hocevar and Grant Enfinger advancing to the Championship Four to compete for the championship title at Phoenix Raceway.  

OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE: How Super DIRT Week 51 Prevailed Through Unfavorable Conditions

OSWEGO, NY (Oct. 23, 2023) – Super DIRT Week staff members took their seats in the auditorium of the Oswego Community Christian School as the clock neared 8 a.m. Coffee hovered to the lips of most. Eyelids drooped. Muscles, every muscle, fatigued.

It was Monday, Oct. 9. Day nine of Super DIRT Week 51 at Oswego Speedway. For some, day “who knows anymore.” About four inches of rain fell the night before in the area, on top of the rain that had already plagued a promising week on Friday and Saturday.

Jeff Hachmann, Super DIRT Week’s executive director of events, walked between the cluster of chairs and zombified staff members, clipboard in hand, directed toward the podium in front of them all. With no need to spare seconds, he delivered the medicine everyone needed. A message many feared may never come.

“We’re racing.”

For the first time in Super DIRT Week’s 51 years, the northeast epic ran on Monday, producing three unforgettable Features and an unforgettable experience for those involved. Because getting to that point was a trial in overcoming the impossible.

On Saturday, Sept. 30 – more than a week before the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 – Hachmann initiated talks with Precision Weather Service and Meteorologist Wayne Mahar, who provided daily weather updates, to map out what was expected for the week.

Monday through Thursday, great. Friday through Sunday…

As the week progressed, the forecast never improved. With that knowledge, the first proactive move came Wednesday after the city parade, moving all Time Trials to Thursday.

“Knowing what was potentially going to happen over the weekend, we were trying to get to the point where we could set the field,” Hachmann said. “So, if worst case scenario is we don’t get to do anything or time to do anything, we can still run Features. So, that’s why we set all the qualifying on Thursday.

“We were told that Friday was a chance, and that Saturday was our best chance to get racing in. We were always focused on trying to get to Saturday, knowing Sunday, all week long, looked like a complete wash out. The whole intent was to get the fans home on the day they were planning on getting home.”

Mother Nature didn’t care about intents. She closed the initial window to get racing in on Friday and canceled the entire day. But what resulted from that was a moment rarely seen in any form of motorsports. Officials invited all 200-plus drivers on site to a town hall-style meeting to discuss options for the rest of the weekend.

“We had a small group that included, production, officials, operations, track crew, ticketing and PR, that I kept consistent throughout the weekend when making decisions, everything was thought out,” Hachmann said. “But we knew we were starting to mess with format and people’s time and the overall completion of the event and felt like the drivers needed to be up to speed on the situation and give them that one-to-one conversation, give them that opportunity to ask questions, instead of just putting out a press release.”

From the guidance of Precision Weather Service, the best window to get racing in was 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday was never presented as a viable option. Monday was the rain date, but also had a threat of rain and presented several logistical issues.

So with that information, it was decided to try and give drivers and fans all the Features – the Billy Whittaker Cars 200, DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150, DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet 75 and DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 – on Saturday. But, to do so, the Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Sportsman Qualifying Heats had to be scrapped. Instead, the Top-30 Super DIRTcar Series qualifiers and Top-26 DIRTcar Sportsman qualifiers would be locked in. Drivers in both divisions would at least get to try and race their way in through Last Chance Showdowns on Saturday. Also, the Sportsman Feature had to be cut to 50 laps and the Pro Stock Feature to 25.

After presenting drivers with the changes at the Friday meeting, Super DIRTcar Series Director Dean Reynolds left surprised and relieved by their unanimous understanding.

“I’ll tell ya, about 260 drivers were at that meeting and only about 10 of them had gripes. And legitimate gripes,” Reynolds said. “I think the one thing we gotta say is the race teams were understanding. They really were. When Doug (Leonard, the Race Director) had the drivers meeting and said what we were going to do and we were going to cut these laps, and everything, we stood there and stayed and really it was some one-on-ones and that was it.

“I think they knew the forecast and I think they really put their trust in us.”

The meeting was a new experience for Jimmy Phelps. In his more than 30 years of racing at Super DIRT Week, he couldn’t recall seeing one like it before.

“I thought that was good,” said Phelps, who also had the SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel Pole for the Billy Whittaker Cars 200. “It seemed the decisions were certainly around trying to get it in, trying to get us a paycheck. It was disappointing that we lost the Big Block Heats, but it was probably a good call and a necessary evil. I think everyone made the best decision.

“It was disappointing for some of the fans that couldn’t stay. I didn’t really see that there were too many people upset. Everyone that was there, they were paying attention to what Mother Nature was dealing for a hand.”

With everyone in agreement on Saturday’s plan, track crews massaged and cared for the track in preparation of a massive Super DIRT Week Saturday. In the 50 years of the event, the main Big Block Modified Feature had not run on Sunday only twice – Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, and Saturday, April 15, 1978.

However, when the day came, the 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. window that had been touted all week tightened to 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Once the rain moved out at 2:45 p.m., the mission for the day became, “go, go, go!” Hachmann said.

Two Super DIRTcar Series Last Chance Showdowns, done. The 25-lap DIRTcar Pro Stock Feature, done. Two DIRTcar 358 Modified Last Chance Showdowns, done. Three DIRTcar Sportsman Last Chance Showdowns, done.

Then, it looked like it was finally going to happen. Big Block Modifieds, accompanied by four wheelers and toolboxes, staged in the infield.

Curious eyes peaked at phones and watches, then quickly veered away. The estimated window was closing. Fast.

With cars in place on pit road and drivers at their cars, the ‘200’ was seconds away from getting the green light. Seconds that turned into a fantasy with the first drop of water from the sky. Hopes of it being a passing cloud vanished as the sprinkle turned into an assault of rain drops.

“It rained hard enough that we knew there was nothing to do,” Hachmann said. “It wasn’t a tough decision. We knew, OK, now we’re in it.”

The release that night said the three remaining Features would be moved to Sunday, but officials would reevaluate the situation in the morning. Hachmann stated there wasn’t much confidence from any party that there would be racing on Sunday as Precision Weather Service called for the day to be a washout all week. But it would’ve been a disservice to fans if the option wasn’t left open.

When he woke up the next morning, the decision was easy. A bucket of precipitation was dropped on Oswego, accompanied by flood warnings and gale warnings.

Wasting no time when he got to the podium in the auditorium of the Oswego Community Christian School – used as the command center for Super DIRT Week staff during the week – Hachmann’s message was clear:

“We’re not racing today.”

Instead, for the next two hours, everyone focused on how to make Monday a reality for the first time in the history of Super DIRT Week. The ticketing department worked out how to accommodate those who could and couldn’t make it back. The track crew devised a plan on what they’d do to have the track ready in the morning. The facilities crew planned out what was needed to keep the grounds in good shape for an extra day. The public relations department constructed messaging and storylines everyone needed to know. Competition directors worked out the best plan of attack to get all the racing in. DIRTVision adjusted broadcast plans for fans who had purchased tickets but couldn’t stay for Monday. The events team meticulously mapped out details for the entire day.

And in addition to the event itself, there were several factors outside of it that needed to be addressed. Flights and rental cars needed to be changed. Hotels needed to be extended. Camper rentals needed to be extended. Internet service needed to be extended on the property. Porta-Johns needed to stay another day. The church school needed to stay closed another day for staff and security. The state needed to extend the event’s mass gathering permit. Oswego City Mayor William Barlow needed to enact an executive order to keep certain roads closed for an extra day. And more, and more.

Monday was the last chance to make Super DIRT Week 51 happen in 2023.

The day presented the largest window of opportunity to get racing in, but Mother Nature tried to throw one more curve ball at ruining the event. Nearly four inches of rain fell Sunday night, putting doubt in the mind of many if racing would still be possible.

“At 6:30 (Monday morning), I texted (the track crew) Larry Fink, Eric Fink and Paul Kirkland, and asked, ‘So, what do you guys think?’ Waiting for the answer to be, ‘We’re flooded, we’re not going to be able to do anything,’” Hachmann said, before pausing. “I’m going to get emotional here… Paul’s answer was, ‘We’ll have cars on the track by 11 (a.m.).’ Wow… Talk about the sunlight popping out of the clouds.”

When Hachmann returned to the podium in front of the group of tired and fatigued staff members for the 8 a.m. Monday morning ready meeting, he, again, wasted no time to deliver a clear message. This time, it dispersed through the audience like a divine message.

“We’re racing,” were words of healing, replacing torturous anxiety with excitement.

Cars rolled to the infield at 10 a.m. as committed fans filed into the grandstands, and the four-wide parade lap for the DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 rolled at 11 a.m. The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds proved the track was even better than many expected with multiple lead changes, a smooth surface and cars able to run multiple lanes.

“The racetrack proved a lot of us wrong,” Phelps said.

The day progressed without a hitch – although Mother Nature, with her ever apparent sense of humor, spit a few sprinkles during the DIRTcar Sportsman race that never evolved into anything more – leading to a historic Super DIRT Week and Billy Whittaker Cars 200, won for the third time by Mat Williamson.

For Hachmann, it was a Super DIRT Week he’d never experienced before. And hopes to never experience again. But, despite the stress and chaos, it’ll forever be one of the most important moments in his career and for the World Racing Group team.

“I look at it as a team effort and we really showed the true colors of our ability to fight adversity and succeed,” Hachmann said. “Albeit all the pain of the rain and the pain of rescheduling and all the changes that had to be made, I’d say this Super DIRT Week had to be one of the most gratifying for myself in the sense that we were challenged, we had to make tough decisions that ended up being good decisions and ended up creating a sense of success for something that could’ve just been a wash.

“I saw something that you don’t always see. There are close to 250 employees and contractors and vendors that work Super DIRT Week and I saw a consistent vison that we are going to get this in. A consistent positive message around the group… On the drop of the green flag on the 358 race, I’ll tell you, a tear came to my eye. It felt good that we got there. We never gave up.”

Fans can renew their tickets for Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 7-13, now at SuperDIRTWeek.com or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 23, 2023) – The Dirt Track at Charlotte is “Where Local Heroes Become World Champions” during the eighth annual World Short Track Championship, Oct. 26-28.

More than 300 drivers, divided among 10 divisions, will gather in Concord, NC for the fall marquee event – arguably the biggest event of the year for most of them as it’s the one they all want to win.

From weekly racers to national stars, this year’s edition is set to showcase the most impressive field yet, including National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Steve Francis, multi-time World Short Track champion Nick Hoffman and NASCAR Cup Series star Justin Haley.

Same as last year, Thursday night’s action will be highlighted by All Star Invitational Features – featuring 2023 track champions – for the DIRTcar Pro (604) Late Models, UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks. Friday will be comprised of Heat Races, Last Chance Showdown and the first round of Hornet Features. Then, Saturday will host the remaining Last Chance Showdowns and Feature for all 10 divisions. For the full schedule and tickets, click here.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all three days of racing live on DIRTVision.

Here are the top storylines to follow for each division:

FOX FACTORY DIRTCAR PRO (604) LATE MODELS – Standing as one of the most competitive Crate-engine Late Model races in the southeast, several of the region’s top competitors will be gunning for the $4,000 grand prize, some with series points championship implications on the line.

Dillon Brown, of Gaffney, SC, triumphed over the Pro Late Model field in 2021 for his first World Short Track title – adding to his All-Star Invitational win in the 2016 edition. Last October, he nearly went back-to-back, leading the first 18 laps of the main event before eventual winner Trent Ivey passed him for the win in the closing laps. Though Brown went on to finish second, he’s headed back to The Dirt Track this weekend to avenge his defeat from one year ago.

Co-sanctioned by the Mid-East 604 Crate Late Model Series and the Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series, a notable points battle in the Mid-East standings will also be settled this weekend. Dalton Jacobs, of Reidsville, NC, leads Travis Steele, of Clover, SC, by a single point in the series standings with the season finale on tap Saturday at Charlotte. Jacobs faded back from 10th on the starting grid to finish 18th last year, while Steele makes his first World Short Track appearance in a 604.

CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE MID-EAST 602 LATE MODELS – World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series Director Steve Francis will make his return to the seat of a Late Model for the first time since his formal retirement in 2017 this weekend, making the first competitive start of his career in a 602 Crate-engine Late Model – one owned by DIRTcar Racing CEO, Brian Carter.

Francis, a 2014 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee, tested the CASE Construction Equipment, Rocket XR1 #6c in a practice session last week and is set for a weekend of fun back in the seat before returning to his leadership duties at The Dirt Track, Nov. 1-4, for the World of Outlaws World Finals – an event he clinched his World of Outlaws points championship at in 2007.

Racing alongside the Kentucky veteran are several other notable pre-entrants including Daniel Parker (Raeford, NC) – two-time Mid-East 602 Series winner in 2023 and runner up in last year’s 602 World Short Track main event, Preston Blalock (Clemmons, NC) – who charged from 18th to seventh at Charlotte last year and has won three times with Mid-East in 2023, and John Ruggiero Jr. (Lincolnton, NC) – the 2021 World Short Track winner.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT DIRTCAR UMP MODIFIEDS – Three-time World Short Track Championship winner Nick Hoffman returns to the seat of a DIRTcar UMP Modified this weekend for the first time in 13 months to chase a fourth World Short Track crown.

Hoffman, now a full-time competitor with the World of Outlaws Late Models, made the announcement via social media last week of his intent to build a Modified from scratch for this weekend in what will be a tune-up before he goes back on Late Model duty for the World Finals the following weekend. Standing in his way of a fourth event crown will be a long list of accomplished veterans and eastern series regulars looking to put a stop to his Charlotte dominance.

Other notable pre-entries include Chris Arnold (Matoaca, VA) – runner-up in 2020 and 2023 Modified Mafia Tour champion, defending UMP Modified World Short Track champion Taylor Cook (Stanley, NC), NASCAR Cup Series regular Justin Haley (Winamac, IN), 2020 All-Star Invitational winner David Stremme (Mifflintown, PA), 2016 All-Star Invitational winner Evan Taylor (Saltsburg, PA) and Super Late Model standout Mason Zeigler (Chalk Hill, PA).

HOOSIER RACING TIRE MID-EAST PRO MODIFIEDS – Several past World Short Track Champions of the Pro Modified division are set to return to the field this weekend including Austin Holcombe (2021), Jeff Parsons (2017, 2019, 2020), and Buck Stevens (2016).

Holcombe, of Elm City, NC, started 17th on the grid last year and drove his #8A up to fourth by the checkered. Parsons, the only three-time division winner from Union Grove, NC, competed exclusively with the UMP Modifieds last year but has the Crate engine back in his #44P, ready to try for an all-time record of four World Short Track titles. Stevens, of Statesville, NC, finished 14th in last year’s main event and returns to The Dirt Track this year with eyes on his first win there since the inaugural running in 2016.

SRI PERFORMANCE MONSTER THUNDER BOMBERS – Added to the event lineup only one year ago, the southeast-favorite Thunder Bomber division has quickly become the most populated World Short Track Championship division with 60 pre-entries already signed up to compete.

Leading the charge into Charlotte is the defending winner of the inaugural Thunder Bomber main event – Rod Tucker. The 28-year-old from Greensville, SC, became the only driver in event history to win a Feature in two different divisions with the win last year after topping the MMSA Mini Stock main event in 2018. An 18-time Feature winner in 2023 between Thunder Bombers, Street Stocks, 602 Late Models and Renegade Sportsman, Tucker is among the frontrunners for another win this weekend.

Standing in his way are a host of other notable entrants including three of the other top-five finishers from last year’s main event – Benji Knight (Heath Springs, SC); Greg Carroll (Greer, SC) – two-time Travelers Rest Speedway winner this year; and Hunter Funderburke (Rock Hill, SC) – three-time 2023 Thunder Bomber winner at Cherokee Speedway.

VP RACING DIRTCAR SPORTSMAN – An all-star field of the northeast’s best DIRTcar Sportsman drivers will make the trek south for their final marquee event this year.

Leading that charge is Andrew Buff, of Latham, NY – the 2023 Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly champion and 2023 DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion. He’ll be after his first World Short Track victory after finishing second in the event twice, most recently during last year’s All Star Invitational.

He’ll go up against the last two World Short Track victors, Kevin Ridley, of Waterloo, NY, and David Rogers, of LaFargeville, NY. Rogers won the main event in 2021 and then the All Star race last year. Ridley scored his first World Short Track victory during last year’s Saturday night show.

Another champion in the field looking for their first World Short Track win is Niagara Falls, ON’s Nelson Mason. However, his title isn’t on dirt. Mason is the 2013 European F3 Open Winter Series champion. He made his Super DIRT Week debut this year and finished ninth.

MSD DIRTCAR PRO STOCKS – The DIRTcar Pro Stock division has been one of the most competitive groups since its introduction to the World Short Track Championship in 2018 with seven different winners in seven races – including the All Star Invitationals.

That group of champions include, Nick Stone (2018), Rick Duzlak (2018 All Star), Luke Horning (2019), Scott Towslee (2019 All Star), Sheldon Martin (2021), Sean Corr (2021 All Star) Pete Stefanski (2022 All Star) and Josh Coonradt (2022).

With Coonradt moving up to the Modified ranks and not entered in the event, this year could produce a sixth different winner. However, Horning enters with a wealth of momentum to try and be the first repeat winner. Horning’s 2023 season already includes his first DIRTcar Pro Stock Series title, his first DIRTcar Pro Stock Super DIRT Week title and four DIRTcar Pro Stock Series wins.

Sean Corr and Pete Stefanski are also entered to try and repeat but will be looking for their first main event Feature win.

DIRTVISION HORNETS – Three wide. Four wide. FIVE wide. The Hornet division consistently puts on one of the most exciting shows during the World Short Track Championship, using every inch of the 4/10-mile Charlotte dirt track.

In the six Feature events last year, Zach Slone and Dan Benson became first time winners while John Windham and Newman Presnell added two more titles to their collection – making them the winningest drivers of the event as Windham has five wins and Presnell has four.

Nearly 50 drivers are already entered for the marquee Hornet race. Of them are 16 North Carolina natives looking for a home state win, including Kenneth Colf, of Denver, NC. The World Short Track regular scored his first top-five finish in the event last year.

RACEQUIP MID-EAST STREET STOCKS – The best drivers from the mid-east region will gather at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the biggest race of their season.

Devon Morgan, of Easley, SC, left as the champion last year and will be back to try and defend his title this year.

Of the more than 40 drivers entered in the division, Terry Caples Jr., of Sumter, SC, will enter with the best momentum, having recently won with the division at Fayetteville Motor Speedway at the beginning of the month.

COMP CAMS (MMSA) MINI STOCKS – In seven Feature events at the World Short Track Championship, there have been six different winners.

Matt Gilbert, of Marietta, SC, earned his first World Short Track title last year, adding to his impressive resume with the Monster Mini Stock Association. He’s the three-time and defending champion with the Series and has already earned multiple wins this year.

He’ll try to be the first repeat Monster Mini World Short Track winner since Brayden Pruitt accomplished the feat with his back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020.

 

PLAINVIEW, NY (October 24, 2023) — Coming down the homestretch of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Justin Ashley and the Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel team powered by Phillips Connect are in familiar territory. Ashley, the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is in the middle of a tight quartet of drivers trying to win the Top Fuel world championship. Last year Ashley was in an equally tight race with eventual champion Brittany Force and Steve Torrence. This year he needs to outpace Torrence, Leah Pruett and Doug Kalitta for the championship with only 108 points separating the four drivers.

Justin Ashley and the Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel dragster powered by Phillips Connect, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

“We have been in this position before and I think we can lean on that experience,” said Ashley, a six-time Top Fuel winner in 2023. “Last year we were in and out of the points lead during the Countdown and there were always several teams grouped together trying to take the top spot.  The field is more competitive than it’s ever been, and it’s shown throughout the first four races of the Countdown. If we can find success in Las Vegas I believe we’ll have an opportunity for the championship in Pomona.”

Three of the four top teams, including Ashley, are vying for their first championship. Kalitta has finished second six times in his career, most recently in 2020 and 2019. Pruett’s best finish in Top Fuel is fourth which she has accomplished three times in 2020, 2019 and 2018. Ashley has secured back-to-back fourth place finishes in 2021 and 2022. The opportunity to win his first championship after a stellar regular season is top of mind for Ashley and the Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel team.

“Our goal from the start of the season was to win the world championship for this team and all our sponsors including Phillips Connect, Toyota, Mac Tools, KATO Fastening Systems, Lucas Oil, Impact, Strutmasters and now Leatherwood Distillery,” said Ashley. “We know what we need to do, and that begins by taking it one lap at a time in Las Vegas. Every opportunity for points is critical whether its qualifying or raceday.”

Throughout his career at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Ashley has had some solid outings at the Nevada Nationals. In 2020 he raced to the semifinals from the No. 12 qualifier position defeating Kalitta and Pruett in the first two rounds of that race. If he could duplicate those early round wins this year, he would put himself right in the middle of the point battle going into the final race of the season. The most recent two Nevada Nationals saw Ashley and his Mike Green and Tommy DeLago tuned Top Fuel dragster qualify No. 3 and in 2021 he raced to another semifinal finish.

“We have had some good races at the Nevada Nationals and hope to take it even a step further at this year’s race, said Ashley. “There are so many variables in this sport including the ladder and where everyone in the Countdown is positioned going into race day. But all we can control is where we qualify and doing the very best that we can each and every lap down the racetrack.  We aren’t going to approach anything differently when it comes to how we run our racecar.”

This year Ashley has had a breakout season winning six national events, tops in the Top Fuel category, and securing the No. 1 seed coming into the Countdown. Over the final nine races of the regular season Ashley’s team only experienced one first round exit (Denver) and one quarterfinal finish (Seattle). The remaining seven races included four wins, a runner-up and two semifinal finishes. In the first four Countdown races he has experienced two quarterfinal finishes and two first round losses, his toughest results stretch of the season.

“We all know you have to perform in the playoffs and we haven’t been able to capitalize on as many opportunities as we did in the regular season,” said Ashley. “But we have two more races and remain right in the thick of things. We just need to get back to our routine of stacking round wins on top of one another and let the points take care of themselves. Vegas is a city where fortunes can turn around in an instant and that is what we are going to be looking for. It will be exciting and I can’t wait to get to The Strip.”

The Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel dragster powered by Phillips Connect will have two qualifying runs on Friday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. PT followed by two more qualifying sessions on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. PT. The final eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday for the quickest 16 Top Fuel teams. The race will be broadcasted nationally on FS1 on Sunday night.

CHICAGO, IL (October 24, 2023) — The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster is revving up for the highly anticipated NHRA Nevada Nationals, taking place from October 27 to October 29 at the prestigious The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This race is the team’s final appearance in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. TJ Zizzo, a skilled second-generation driver, is focused on maintaining the upward momentum his team has carried throughout the season, as he prepares for his seventh appearance at The Strip.

TJ Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster are ready to take on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 
As the penultimate event in the NHRA countdown playoff series, the Nevada Nationals is set to witness the nation’s best talents and teams, all vying for critical playoff points to carry into the final race of the season held in Pomona, California from November 10 to November 12. Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster team, led by crew chief Mike Kern, has consistently showcased their potential and improvement in every race, resulting in consistent improvement in Indianapolis and St. Louis.
 
“Year after year, the Nevada Nationals have held a special place on our calendar. The tremendous progress we’ve made only heightens our anticipation for this year,” said Zizzo, a six-time NHRA Nevada National event qualifier. “The stakes are undeniably high at the NHRA Nevada Nationals with the looming pressure of the playoffs, but our focus remains firmly fixed on the race at hand.”
 
The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team’s last run at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway track was in 2017 when they posted their second-best qualifying performance as the No. 9 qualifier. Their strongest qualifying position occurred during their debut race in Las Vegas in 2010 when they secured the No. 7 position.
 
“As the saying goes, ‘the proof is in the pudding’: we have consistently qualified at the Nevada Nationals each time we’ve entered,” said Zizzo. “If we execute as I know we can, I have full confidence that we can win rounds on Sunday, capping off our triumphant return to action this year.”
 
Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team will make their first two qualifying runs Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. PST, with two additional qualifying runs slated for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations for the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The NHRA Nevada Nationals will be broadcasted nationally on FS1.
 

CHICAGO, IL (October 24, 2023) — The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster is revving up for the highly anticipated NHRA Nevada Nationals, taking place from October 27 to October 29 at the prestigious The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This race is the team’s final appearance in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. TJ Zizzo, a skilled second-generation driver, is focused on maintaining the upward momentum his team has carried throughout the season, as he prepares for his seventh appearance at The Strip.

TJ Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster are ready to take on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 
As the penultimate event in the NHRA countdown playoff series, the Nevada Nationals is set to witness the nation’s best talents and teams, all vying for critical playoff points to carry into the final race of the season held in Pomona, California from November 10 to November 12. Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster team, led by crew chief Mike Kern, has consistently showcased their potential and improvement in every race, resulting in consistent improvement in Indianapolis and St. Louis.
 
“Year after year, the Nevada Nationals have held a special place on our calendar. The tremendous progress we’ve made only heightens our anticipation for this year,” said Zizzo, a six-time NHRA Nevada National event qualifier. “The stakes are undeniably high at the NHRA Nevada Nationals with the looming pressure of the playoffs, but our focus remains firmly fixed on the race at hand.”
 
The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team’s last run at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway track was in 2017 when they posted their second-best qualifying performance as the No. 9 qualifier. Their strongest qualifying position occurred during their debut race in Las Vegas in 2010 when they secured the No. 7 position.
 
“As the saying goes, ‘the proof is in the pudding’: we have consistently qualified at the Nevada Nationals each time we’ve entered,” said Zizzo. “If we execute as I know we can, I have full confidence that we can win rounds on Sunday, capping off our triumphant return to action this year.”
 
Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team will make their first two qualifying runs Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. PST, with two additional qualifying runs slated for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations for the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The NHRA Nevada Nationals will be broadcasted nationally on FS1.
 

OCALA, FL (October 24, 2023) — Josh Hart will be racing the Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster for the second race in a row with the support of his long-time sponsor TechNet. Two weeks ago Hart debuted the pink 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster at the Texas Fall Nationals to begin to raise awareness for breast cancer treatment awareness. Heading into the Nevada Nationals this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Hart will also be looking to end a tough streak on the racetrack. Hart battled through a tough regular season and was looking to make waves in the Countdown. With two races remaining Hart is looking to make a move up in the standings to have another Top Ten finish at the highest level of professional drag racing.

 Josh Hart and the Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

“To be honest this has been one of the hardest seasons of my racing career,” said Hart, who raced to the final round of the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 Nationals earlier this year. “We have a great team and we have made a serious investment in the sport but that doesn’t guarantee you success. I said after the Dallas race that we call this sport racing not winning. You have to earn everything you get out here and that is the challenge.”
 
Hart opened the season winning the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout at his home racetrack Gainesville Raceway. After that successful day his season began a series of positive moves followed by on-track challenges. The third year Top Fuel team owner and driver has had his optimistic attitude tested but he is unwavering in his belief that ‘Anything’s Possible.’
 
“I have overcome a lot growing up and this is just another struggle,” said Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner. “I have been blessed to be able to race Top Fuel thanks to support from R+L Carriers and TechNet. I don’t ever want to take anything for granted. You look at the drivers who have been very successful and they all had to struggle to get to the top. We are in our struggling phase now and we have two races to move into the off-season with momentum for 2024.”
 
The Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster is a positive change of pace and provides Hart a great opportunity to talk about using his race program for good works and awareness. Part of the Advance Auto Parts portfolio of brands, TechNet Professional Automotive Service features a network of more than 16,000 repair shops across the U.S. and Canada. TechNet shops are locally owned and focused on delivering exceptional customer care and service. Shops that are part of TechNet Nation employ highly skilled and trained staff while also using quality parts from Carquest, DieHard® batteries and other leading brands. Shops also participate in important charitable initiatives in the communities they serve, such as Brakes for Breasts.
 
“Josh has been an incredible advocate of our Brakes for Breasts campaign, and we’re excited to feature TechNet’s involvement in the program for Josh’s next two NHRA events,” said Lauren Beaulieu, Advance’s vice president of professional marketing. “With October serving as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re hoping the presence of Josh’s car encourages NHRA fans to get screened or make a contribution to support women’s health and life-saving breast cancer vaccine research.”
 
Hart and his team are also raising money through the sale of special edition Brakes for Breasts T-shirts on the team’s website. Fans can click here to purchase. All proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts and specialty caps will go to Brakes for Breasts. Hart hopes his efforts with the Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster and the additional social and media promotion will help raise awareness around the 1 in 8 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Donations from fans and TechNet customers are funding critical research to put the brakes on breast cancer, with 100% of donations going toward funding the breast cancer vaccine research fund at the Cleveland Clinic. Since 2019, TechNet Professional shops have raised over $90,000 for this great cause.
 
To find your local TechNet Professional Automotive Service Center, click here and help us put the brakes on breast cancer! Or donate directly to TechNet Nation’s team donation page here.
 
Hart will be on track for two qualifying runs on Friday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. PT followed by two more qualifying sessions on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. PT. The final eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday for the quickest 16 Top Fuel teams. The race will be broadcasted nationally on FS1 on Sunday night. Hart is looking forward to another race with four qualifying sessions.

“Our team needs as much track time as possible and the four qualifying sessions definitely helps us,” said Hart. “I also like the fact that we are running qualifying in similar conditions to what we will see on race day. My crew chief Ron Douglas has a good handle on the tune-up we just need to get some momentum going and we can definitely race with anyone out here.”
 

NEW WESTON, Ohio (October 20, 2023) – Friday’s portion of the 43rd Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by ARP has been postponed to Saturday afternoon. Officials from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Eldora Speedway, and the Dirt Track World Championship have jointly agreed that, even if a window of opportunity presented itself tonight, the track surface is too soft and would not be safe for competition. The pit gates at Eldora Speedway will open at 9:00AM on Saturday. Tech inspection for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series entries will begin at 10:00AM. The general admission gates will open at 11:00AM. A Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers meeting will take place at 12:30PM with hot laps slated for 1:00PM. All times are Eastern Time. All 3-Day, 2-Day, and Friday only tickets and pit passes are valid for the afternoon show. Following the completion of the Friday program, the grandstands will be cleared, cleaned, and then reopened. As this clearing process takes place, the track will be refreshened and prepared for the Saturday evening show. 3-Day, 2-Day, and Saturday only tickets and pit passes are valid for entry to the Saturday evening show. The Saturday evening show will start as soon as the stands are reopened, and the track surface is ready.

CONCORD, NC – October 20, 2023 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte holds fond memories for World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models Series Director Steve Francis.

In 2007, it was where he officially claimed his World of Outlaws championship. And this year, it’ll be where he returns to racing for the first time since 2017 during the World Short Track Championship, Oct. 26-28. 

The “Kentucky Colonel” will pilot the CASE Construction Equipment #6c 602 Late Model owned by World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter. 

“I asked [Carter] if he was going to test at Charlotte, he said I’m out of town that weekend, so why don’t you just try and drive it,” Francis said.

After a few laps of “trying and driving” around the 4/10-mile track, it didn’t take long for the 28-time World of Outlaws winner to feel comfortable again – even in a 602 Late Model, which he’d never driven before.

“I had never really driven a 602 [Late Model] before, so I didn’t know much about it,” Francis said. “It kind of felt like riding a bike. It takes you some time to get your timing right. And I’m not nearly as consistent as I used to be or anything like that. I could tell that just by driving it. 

“It was kind of like putting on an old pair of shoes or something. It was comfortable.”

That test was all Francis needed to decide his next move. When he called Carter on Tuesday morning, Francis told him he’d race the car at the World Short Track Championship if he could have fun.

However, it’s not only Francis having fun. World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Tech Inspector Ken Kenneda will be his crew chief, and Series Official Ricci Carringola will also help work on the car.

Working with Kenneda takes Francis back to his former racing days, as the two have crossed paths many times before working together with the Series.

“It’s neat for me and Kenny,” Francis said. “Kenny and I did some of this stuff 20-30 years ago. Kenny’s helped me on my racecars at different times and been around, so it’s kind of cool to be able to do something like this that we did 20-30 years ago. We even raced against each other back in the day. 

“To kind of have him as Crew Chief is a fun experience for all of us we can do together that’s racing-oriented, but way different than our normal jobs.”

Kenneda echoed those words, hoping that it’s just like old times.

“I worked for Steve back in the day, and we always had a lot of fun back then,” Kenneda said. “I grew up together, so we kind of know what each other does and I guess we have a lot of faith in each other to do what we do. So, it’s going to be a good time.

“I made a remark the other night that we were going to be like the old Days of Thunder crew back in the day except when he comes in for a tire change, we’re going to be drinking a cold Busch Light instead of an ice cream.”

As Francis prepares to get back in a racecar for the World Short Track Championship, regaining the competitive edge isn’t his primary goal when he gets on the track. He has one objective as he creates another memory at Charlotte—have fun.

“I’m going out there to have fun and enjoy myself,” Francis said. “That is 100 percent it. No high expectations, no anything else. Just go out there and enjoy myself for a couple of days.”

Francis is one of more than 200 drivers from around the country that will gather at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Oct. 26-28, to compete in one of 10 divisions throughout the World Short Track Championship weekend.

For tickets to the World Short Track Championship, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap of the World Short Track Championship live on DIRTVision with a monthly or annual subscription.

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 19, 2023) – There’s a small list of events in the dirt track racing world that have reached an elite level of prestige. Win one, and you’ve cemented your place in motorsports history.

Knoxville Nationals. World 100. Chili Bowl Nationals. Super DIRT Week.

For the weekly racer, it’s the World Short Track Championship.

Every October since 2016, The Dirt Track at Charlotte is “Where Local Heroes Become World Champions.” Next Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 26-28, over 350 entrants are expected to flood The Dirt Track pit area in the eighth running of the marquee fall event for a shot at the season’s biggest trophy.

Ask any driver on that short list of champions and they won’t hold back. This event has become one – the one – every driver wants to win.

“I’m thinking about it in February,” said Dillon Brown, 2021 FOX Factory Pro Late Model Feature winner. “When I start making my schedule – Halloween weekend or the last weekend in October, I don’t really care what else there is out there do to or where you could go, I’m going to Charlotte.

“I’m thinking about it all year because Charlotte just means that much to me.”

“It’s in its own category in terms of races for me,” said Devon Morgan, the 2022 Mid-East Street Stock Feature winner.

“Just hearing people talk when the month of October’s here, the chatter starts, ‘Hey man, are you going to Charlotte this year?’” said Rod Tucker, two-time World Short Track Champion. “Of course I’m gonna be there. It’s a really prestigious event, I feel like it’s become that.”

For the past seven years, World Short Track Championship winners have represented the best in Northeast, Mid-East and Southeast dirt track racing. And there’s no question they recognize that distinction.

Tucker, the 28-year-old racer from Greenville, SC, has the exclusive honor as the only driver to win two World Short Track Championships in two different divisions. He conquered the MMSA Mini Stock field in 2018 before topping a 42-car field in the debut of the Monster Thunder Bombers last year, driving from 11th on the grid to score his second main event trophy.

“To have done it in two different classes with the amount of competition we’re racing against in this day and time, it’s unbelievable that we have done something like that,” Tucker said.

When he pulls into the pits, his competition takes note. Respected as one of the best dirt track racers week-to-week in the Southeast, Tucker has padded that reputation with his success at The Dirt Track, though he said he doesn’t always see it that way.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s a respect thing, I think it’s more of a target thing,” Tucker said. “I feel like I’ve got a bullseye painted on my back.”

Brown, 30, of Gaffney, SC, also captured the checkers in the 2016 Pro Late Model All-Star Invitational Feature to match his 2021 Pro Late Model Championship Feature win. Between those two wins and a weekend sweep of a special event for Crate-engine Late Models in 2018, he said his success at Charlotte has unlocked several opportunities for him in his career.

“From the time I left that race, the amount of people that knew my name and the popularity with product sponsors in the pits, I put it on my grave – that race in 2018 really boosted my career,” Brown said. “I think it has a lot to do with Charlotte. Just that stage and the number of media outlets that see that place.”

For Morgan, the 21-year-old Street Stock and Late Model racer from Easley, SC, his charge from 11th on the starting grid one year ago was a race he’ll never forget. He’d made the trip to Charlotte three times prior – twice in a Street Stock and once with a 602 Late Model – but fell short each time, until his breakthrough last year.

“I watched the replay back just a couple weeks ago,” Morgan said. “I still get goosebumps just watching it back.”

In Victory Lane, he received a coveted steel trophy to commemorate his triumph on one of the biggest stages of the year – one that he said stands out against the others in his collection.

“It’s one of the few that I keep in my room up in front of my TV,” Morgan said. “It’s definitely my favorite Street Stock win. Probably top-three wins out of any win that I’ve had.”

When the air begins to cool and the fall months arrive, all eyes turn to the red clay, 4/10-mile oval in Concord, NC. It’s a track unlike anything else in its region, and the drivers agree.

“When you get to go to Charlotte and it slicks off and widens-out, it puts on a show,” Morgan said. “We all look forward to that and being able to actually race people and not just be stuck where you start at.”

“It’s a very fun place – it’s wide and it’s racey. It’s always more than one lane,” Brown said. “That’s saying a lot in this part of the world. I look forward to any opportunity that I have to race there.”

Now, one week out before showtime, the anticipation is boiling-over. There’s a phenomenon that exists amongst new drivers entering the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway before their first laps on the track – their heads fill with excitement, nerves and wonder. The Dirt Track at Charlotte evokes a similar feeling from its own competitors every October.

“When I roll through the bottom gate down there and we’re headed up there to park, you get butterflies when you’re getting up through there,” Tucker said. “I’ll hop on my pit bike and ride down to Turns 3-4 and I’ll just sit there and look, survey the track and just take in everything.”

See each of these World Short Track Champions take on The Dirt Track at Charlotte in the eighth annual World Short Track Championship – Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 26-28. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream all the action live on DIRTVision.

The World of Outlaws will sendoff the track that was the birthplace of the Series, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, this weekendMESQUITE, TX (Oct. 19, 2023) – The year is 1978. It’s mid-March in Texas, and race season is blooming like the bluebonnets. Roughly 90 competitors representing 20 states have gathered in a town 20 minutes east of Dallas named Mesquite. Among the roster are some of the country’s greatest drivers. They’ve all made the journey to take on the Spring Nationals hosted by Devil’s Bowl Speedway. A 22-year-old from Tennessee is the defending event champion. His name is Sammy Swindell. But this edition of the Spring Nationals isn’t the same as the year prior. Ted Johnson – a salesman and motorsports enthusiast from Beloit, WI – has worked together with a handful of the drivers to construct a organization. A way for the best traveling talents to collectively compete for big purses in pursuit of a championship and attract big crowds. They call it the World of Outlaws.Johnson and the drivers come up with a number. To be considered a World of Outlaws points paying event, the Feature must award at least $2,000 to the winner. The first race to meet the criteria? The final night of the Spring Nationals at Devil’s Bowl.Among those who’ve made the trip is an accomplished racer from California – Jimmy Boyd.“The main thing I remember about that race is everybody that was anybody in Sprint Car racing at that time was there,” Boyd recalled during an interview on Open Red. “Rick Ferkel, (Doug) Wolfgang, (Steve) Kinser, and there’s a lot of people that guys don’t know about that were fast. Just everybody that was anybody was there.”The pre-race promotion and press doesn’t often mention the unproven idea of the World of Outlaws in the lead up to the race. Two preliminary nights are run, but neither meet the $2,000 mark to be considered a World of Outlaws race. A local Devil’s Bowl regular – Norman Martin – claims the first on Thursday, March 16. The following night, South Dakota’s Doug Wolfgang bests Steve Kinser for the win.Then, the focus shifts to Saturday, March 18. The day the World of Outlaws are truly born. A 50-lap finale around the Mesquite half mile sets the stage for the first race in Series history. Prelim winners – Martin and Wolfgang – make up the front row.Martin gets the jump and leads the opening 23 circuits. But on the 24th lap, third-starting Jimmy Boyd moves into the lead. The Californian holds off Wolfgang to take the checkered flag and bank $2,000. He also leaves Devil’s Bowl as the first World of Outlaws winner and points leader.“There’s a track out in Sacramento (CA) called West Capital Raceway. It’s closed down now, but the dirt (at Devil’s Bowl) was kind of similar to that,” Boyd said, looking back. “I was always better on a heavy track. I kind of suffered when it got dry slick. Devil’s Bowl reminded us a lot of West Capital. It was a little bigger than West Capital Raceway but pretty much the same. We took to it real good.”Racers and fans alike didn’t yet understand the significance of that first race. The lack of coverage focusing on the World of Outlaws continues post-race. But it’s not long before the racing community grows aware of Johnson’s band of travelers. More events at premier facilities quickly elevates notoriety, and fans prioritize attending World of Outlaws races. As Jerry Clum wrote, “A strong heartbeat was heard, and the World of Outlaws was very definitely alive and kicking up a storm.”Fast forward 45 years and more than 3,600 races, and Johnson’s vision still exists within today’s World of Outlaws. It remains the home to the country’s top Sprint Car drivers traveling the nation each and every year. But this weekend, the piece of history that started it all will conclude its final chapter.The Greatest Show on Dirt is heading to Devil’s Bowl for two nights (Oct. 20-21). The track’s recent sale means the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Stampede will be the final event hosted by the historic facility. It’s only right that the Series that had its doors opened by Devil’s Bowl is there to help close the track’s doors. As a nod to both the first and final year of Devil’s Bowl hosting a World of Outlaws race, Saturday’s Feature pays $1,978-to-start and $20,023 to the winner.And much like that race on March 18, 1978, the track will welcome many of the country’s best Sprint Car drivers ready to battle for the honor of the final winner at the Mesquite oval. Devil’s Bowl’s time may be coming to an end this weekend, but its impact and significance within the racing world will never be forgotten.For tickets to the final race weekend at Devil’s Bowl, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Andrew Buff looks to cap off his championship season with his first World Short Track Championship title

CONCORD, NC (OCT. 19, 2023) – Andrew Buff’s 2023 season is already highlighted by a Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly championship and DIRTcar Sportsman Series title, but he’s not stopping there.

The Latham, NY driver has one more challenge he plans to tackle before the offseason: the World Short Track Championship.

Buff will head to The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Oct. 26-28, to attempt to capture his third straight major victory of the season and his first World Short Track title at the Concord, NC oval. 

“It would be really cool to win all of that in one year,” Buff said. “It’s definitely something to think about. Hopefully we can do it and be able to say that we accomplished it.” 

His championship season started with scoring nine wins and 34 top-five finishes in 42 Hoosier Racing Championship matchups on his way to winning his first Weekly title over Labor Day Weekend. 

That success continued as he won three of his nine starts on the DIRTcar Sportsman Series tour, each coming at a different track: Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Land of Legends Raceway, and Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. He was officially crowned the Series champion at the conclusion of the Oct. 14 matchup at Brockville-Ontario Speedway. 

“I think a lot of it is being consistent and staying up towards the front,” Buff said. “We didn’t have too many DNFs and were able to finish about 90% of the races that we were in and within the top-five. I think that goes a long way in adding up all the points for the end… I think just overall, I became a better driver and was able to take myself out of bad situations.” 

Buff will try to keep that momentum rolling one more weekend during the World Short Track Championship. He’ll be entered for Thursday night’s (Oct. 26) DIRTcar Sportsman All Star Invitational Feature and then will try to qualify for Saturday’s (Oct. 28) 30-lap finale.

He’ll take some time to visit friends in the Charlotte area and enjoy the mild fall climate on his way down, but he stated one thing will linger in his mind the whole time.

“We haven’t won the (World Short Track Championship title),” Buff said. “But I want to win.” 

The annual event draws 10 different divisions weekly racers, leading to nearly 300 entries for the weekend. For most of them, the World Short Track Championship will be their first time seeing the 4/10-mile red clay track this year. But Buff is ready for the test, prepared with a robust notebook from previous visits to the 4/10-mile oval.

He posted a seventh-place finish in 2021 followed by an 18th place finish in 2022. After starting on the inside of row two, mechanical issues forced him out of the race seven laps shy of the finish. 

But the 25-year-old will be looking over every inch of his equipment for the next week and a half, making sure it is in optimal condition to bare any conditions that may arise. He isn’tunderestimating his competition and is ready to put in the work to win one more time. 

“The level (of competition) is crazy,” Buff said. “We’re on such a level playing field (at The Dirt Track), every little bit to get ahead helps. Everybody is working just as hard as everybody else to go down there and win on such a huge stage… You have to work just as hard here as you do throughout the year.” 

For tickets to the World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Oct. 26-28, CLICK HERE.

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

BATAVIA, Ohio (October 19, 2023) – The battle for the Arizona Sport Shirt Crown Jewel Cup will end with the 43rd Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by ARP at Eldora Speedway.  A tight battle for the $15,000 bonus between Ricky Thornton Jr. and Hudson O’Neal will be decided at the conclusion of Saturday’s 100-lap finale. Thornton Jr. holds a 70-point advantage over O’Neal in the current Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup standings. 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. Arizona Sport Shirts will a huge a presence at 43rd Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by ARP as the Official Merchandise Provider for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series – along with their extensive online store at https://www.gottarace.com/collections/lucas-oil-late-model-dirt-series For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. 2023 Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Schedule:Sat. May 13 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – $30,000 – Bobby PierceSat. May 27 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO – $50,000 – Devin MoranSat. Jun. 3 – West Virginia Motor Speedway – Mineral Wells, WV – $50,000 – Rained OutSat. Jun. 17 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Maryville, TN – $50,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Jun. 24 – Lernerville Speedway – Sarver, PA – $50,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Jul. 1 – Muskingum County Speedway – Zanesville, OH – $30,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Jul. 8 – Deer Creek Speedway – Spring Valley, MN – $50,000 – Bobby PierceSat. Jul. 22 – Huset’s Speedway – Brandon, SD – $53,000 – Brandon SheppardSat. Aug. 12 – Florence Speedway – Union, KY – $75,000 – Bobby PierceSat. Aug. 19 – Batesville Motor Speedway – Batesville, AR – $50,000 – Dale McDowellSat. Aug. 26 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA – $50,000 – Hudson O’NealSun. Sep. 3 – Tyler County Speedway – Middlebourne, WV – $30,000 – Jonathan DavenportSat. Sep. 16 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA – $50,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Sep. 23 – Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN – $30,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Sep. 30 – Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway – Imperial, PA – $30,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Oct. 21 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH – $100,000

Champions to form formidable roster in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

DETROIT (Oct. 19, 2023) – Drivers who have won the past three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype titles are joining forces for Cadillac Racing in 2024. Tom Blomqvist will team up with Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken to drive the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races next season. First up is the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona, where Blomqvist co-drove to the overall victory in 2023 and ’22.

“We’re thrilled that Tom is going to join our team for the IMSA endurance events,” said Gary Nelson, team manager for Action Express Racing that fields the championship-winning hybrid racecar for Cadillac Racing. “We feel that with his experience and recent successes it’s a natural fit for Jack Aitken and Pipo Derani. We’re looking forward to getting in some work this winter so we can hit the ground running when we get to Daytona.” Derani wrapped up the inaugural IMSA Grand Touring Prototype Driver Championship on Saturday in the Motul Petit Le Mans to complement his 2021 DPi title. Blomqvist earned the 2022 DPi Driver Championship. Derani, Aitken and Alexander Sims also secured the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Driver and Team Championships with their sixth-place finish in the 10-hour event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R won the Twelve Hours of Sebring, earned two other podium finishes, two pole awards and recorded the fastest race lap four times.Blomqvist, who turns 30 on Nov. 30, has five wins in 30 IMSA starts since 2019, including three in GTP this season. In addition to the 2023 season-opening Rolex 24 triumph, Blomqvist co-drove to victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and capped the year by co-driving the No. 60 entry to victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans. Blomqvist, son of 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist, is looking forward to continuing competition in the classification with GTP Manufacturer and IMEC GTP Manufacturer champion Cadillac Racing. “After another great season with Meyer Shank Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it is an honor to be joining Action Express Racing and Cadillac for the endurance rounds of the 2024 campaign,” said Blomqvist, who recently signed a multiyear agreement with Meyer Shank Racing to compete full time in the NTT INDYCAR Series in 2024. “It is a series I love being a part of, and I’m delighted to be returning once again. To be able to come back to the series and to try to defend my title at Daytona is a huge motivation and I can’t thank Meyer Shank Racing and Honda Performance Development (HPD) enough for allowing me the opportunity.”

Blomqvist has also co-driven an LMP2 entry this year in the FIA World Endurance Championship and will compete in the season-concluding race Nov. 4 in Bahrain. In 2021, Blomqvist and teammates were WEC vice-champion in LPM2 and runner-up in the class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He has also competed in Formula 3, DTM and Formula E. Aitken moves into a full-season role in 2024 to replace Sims, who will remain in the GM Motorsports family to drive the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in IMSA’s GTD PRO class. North Carolina-based Action Express Racing has earned IMSA Team and Driver Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023 as well as claiming the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 endurance championship. Cadillac earned a sweep of the IMSA GTP Manufacturer titles, securing its fourth IMSA prototype championship since 2017 and its fifth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship.

October 18, 2023

As Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team prepare for this weekend’s 4EVER 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, there’s an air of optimism around the race shop.

Crew chief Jeremy Bullins said he believes the 1.5-mile Homestead track suits Burton’s driving style, and he believes the team’s comeback late in the most recent race, at Las Vegas, is a good sign heading into another intermediate-length track.

“It should be a fun weekend for us with our DEX Mustang,” Bullins said. “Harrison and I have talked about Homestead a lot. Harrison always runs well at Darlington, and Darlington and Homestead both are race tracks with a lot of lap-time falloff and places you wind up running the fence at some point.”
Then there’s the team’s recent performance, including the late-race surge during a long green-flag run to the checkered flag at Las Vegas, which led to a 20th-place finish after starting 33rd.

“I really think we are making some good gains, and if we had another run last week I think we had a top-15 car,” Bullins said. “Hopefully we can get some momentum going and come away with a good finish this weekend.”

Practice for the 4EVER 400, named in honor of retiring driver Kevin Harvick who drives the No. 4 Ford, is set for Saturday at 9:05 Eastern Time, and will be followed by qualifying at 9:50. Coverage can be found on the NBC Sports App.

Sunday’s 400-mile, 267-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m., with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 165. 

Homestead-Miami SpeedwayHomestead, FloridaOctober 21-22, 2023

ROUND OF EIGHT TRIPLEHEADERThe Round of Eight will continue on as all three NASCAR national series will convene at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. The 1.5-mile South Florida oval has a history of being a staple fixture on NASCAR’s postseason schedule with the track holding the championship-deciding race from 2004-2019. Making its return to the playoffs in 2022, the track will again host the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) for the second race of the Round of Eight, while holding the position of the Round of Eight elimination race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS).

·       Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami SpeedwayFor the past two seasons, Chevrolet has been the only manufacturer to win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in two of NASCAR’s top series. In the NASCAR Cup Series, a pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates took the Bowtie brand to back-to-back triumphs at the South Florida oval with a triumph by William Byron in 2021 and, most recently, with Kyle Larson in 2022 – bringing the manufacturer to its seventh all-time NCS victory at the track. In Homestead-Miami Speedway’s tenure as the host for the series’ season finale event, three of Chevrolet’s wins at the track also led to a driver’s championship with Tony Stewart (2011), Kevin Harvick (2014) and Jimmie Johnson (2016).

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet has amassed 13 victories in 29 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Four of those wins have come in the series’ past six appearances at the track, including back-to-back wins by Tyler Reddick – taking JR Motorsports to the win and a championship title in 2018, and reciprocating the success with Richard Childress Racing in 2019. The Bowtie brand also found victory lane in 2021 with Myatt Snider behind the wheel of a Richard Childress Racing-prepared Camaro SS and, most recently, with Noah Gragson in the No. 9 JR Motorsports Camaro SS in 2022.

IN COMMAND OF THE STANDINGSTeam Chevy’s Kyle Larson clinched the first bid into the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Four following a masterful performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend – leading a race-high 133 laps and a sweep of the stage wins to collect his fourth win of the season. One of only two former series champions left in title contention, the 31-year-old California native solidified his chance at becoming a repeat champion in NASCAR’s premier series – now reaching the Championship Four for the second time in his three-year tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. Larson last took the win in the Round of Eight opening race in 2021 – the year that ended with his first championship title.  Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron nabbed his series-leading 19th top-10 finish of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after driving his No. 24 Camaro ZL1 home to a seventh-place result. The 25-year-old North Carolina native put on yet another strong postseason performance in the Round of Eight opener with the finish putting Byron second in the standings with a nine-point advantage over the playoff cutline – giving Chevrolet the top-two positions in the standings. The Team Chevy driver is trending towards having one of the most consistent runs of the postseason – earning one win, four top-fives, six top-10s and an average finish of 5.71 with seven races complete.  A look at Team Chevy’s playoff contenders heading into Race Two of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight at Homestead-Miami Speedway:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 1st in Playoff Standings; Clinched Championship Four PositionVictories: 4Poles: 2Top-Fives: 14 Top-10s: 16Laps Led: 1,031Average Finish: 14.7Stage Wins: 7 At Homestead-Miami Speedway:      Wins: 1 Top-Fives: 5Top-10s: 5Average Finish: 10.667William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 2nd in Playoff Standings; nine-points above the cutlineVictories: 6 Poles: 3Top-Fives: 13Top-10s: 19Laps Led: 896 Average Finish: 11.3Stage Wins: 8  At Homestead-Miami Speedway:  Wins: 1Poles: 1Top-Fives: 1Top-10s: 2Average Finish: 17.000

HALFWAY TO ANOTHER MILESTONEKyle Larson’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend took Chevrolet to its series-leading 17th victory in 33 NASCAR Cup Series races this season – a record more than double its manufacturer competitors combined. The winningest manufacturer in NASCAR’s top division, Chevrolet has also hit the halfway point to its next milestone victory with the Bowtie brand now sitting at 850 all-time victories in the series. Chevrolet’s milestone 800th NCS victory came with Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021. Since then, 14 drivers from seven different Chevrolet teams have taken the manufacturer to victory lane to reach its 850th all-time triumph in the series:  ·       Hendrick Motorsports: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman·       Richard Childress Racing: Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch and Tyler Reddick ·       Trackhouse Racing: Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez and Shane van Gisbergen·       JTG Daugherty: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ·       Kaulig Racing: AJ Allmendinger·       Petty GMS: Erik Jones·       Chip Ganassi Racing: Kurt Busch

ALLGAIER, HILL CONTINUE IN THE TOP-FOURWith a non-playoff driver taking the NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of Eight opener win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, each of the Championship Four positions remain unclaimed as the series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend.  Chevrolet drivers accounted for seven of the top-10 positions on the final leaderboard at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – four of which are still in the championship title hunt. Kaulig Racing’s Chandler Smith led the Bowtie brigade to the finish at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval in the fourth position, but remains the first driver below the playoff cutline by 15-points. Each fighting their own battles throughout the race, Team Chevy’s Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill still managed to record stage points and top-10 finishes – putting both drivers above the playoff cutline. Despite sustaining nose damage early in the race and struggling with the overall balance of his No. 7 JR Motorsports Camaro SS, Allgaier was able to collect valuable points in both stages en route to a sixth-place finish – moving the 37-year-old Illinois native to second in the standings and 21-points above the playoff cutline. Hill took his No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Camaro SS to a top-10 finish in Stage One, but a loose wheel resulted in no points earned in Stage Two. The regular-season champion managed to drive back to a seventh-place finish – putting him third in the standings with a 19-point advantage over the playoff cutline.

ONE LAST CHANCE TO ADVANCEComing off a two-week break from on-track competition, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns with major playoff implications on the line as the series has reached the Round of Eight elimination race. Saturday’s Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 will mark the final opportunity for Team Chevy’s four remaining playoff contenders to either win or point their way into the Championship Four. Chevrolet has maintained 50 percent of the NCTS playoff field through the duration of its postseason competition with the manufacturer heading into the elimination race with three drivers in the top-four positions of the standings.  Niece Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar is coming off an 11th-place finish in the series’ last event at Talladega Superspeedway. Earning top-three points in both stages of the race, Hocevar finds himself second in the standings with a 23-point cushion over the playoff cutline. Poised to have a shot at the victory at the 2.66-mile Alabama superspeedway, McAnally-Hilgemann’s Christian Eckes led the field to the white-flag in his No. 19 Silverado RST, but the shuffling of positions on the final lap saw the Team Chevy driver ultimately take the checkered-flag in the 19th position. Thankfully entering Talladega Superspeedway with a 29-point cushion, Eckes still remains above the playoff cutline in the third position and nine-points above the playoff cutline.   For the first time in the Round of Eight, Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez has found himself above the playoff cutline as the series rookie heads to his home track. Heading into Talladega Superspeedway, the 22-year-old Florida native was seventh in the standings with a 22-point deficit to the playoff cutline. After driving his No. 2 Silverado RST to the Stage One win and a runner-up finish in Stage Two, Sanchez ended the race in the seventh position, but a strong points day moved the Team Chevy driver up to fourth in the standings and three-points above the playoff cutline.  GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger and the No. 23 Silverado RST team had to muddle through a challenging race to salvage a 13th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite no stage points earned in the race, the series veteran still finds himself within reach of his second career appearance in the Championship Four – entering the weekend fifth in the standings and only three-points below the playoff cutline. The 38-year-old Alabama native has added confidence when it comes to intermediate-style tracks this season with two of his three victories this season coming at Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile oval) and World Wide Technology Raceway (1.25-mile oval).

RETURN OF THE SPECIAL ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ CAMARO ZL1 PACE CARFor the 13th consecutive year, Chevrolet has partnered with the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative. The specially-themed pink Camaro ZL1 will serve as the official pace vehicle for three NASCAR Cup Series races during the month of October, including Sunday’s NCS 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For every caution lap the pink Camaro ZL1 completes, Chevrolet will make a donation of $350 (up to $50,000) to the American Cancer Society to honor the ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative. The 267-lap, 400.5-mile NCS race at the South Florida oval will mark the second of three races that are part of the initiative. The first event that is part of the program took place at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this month. The pink Camaro ZL1 pace car led NASCAR’s premier series for 19 laps under caution at the 2.66-mile Alabama superspeedway, bringing Chevrolet’s contribution total to $6,650 towards the campaign, so far.

BOWTIE BULLETS: ·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the tripleheader race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Saturday’s Baptist Health Cancer Care 200; the Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Contender Boats 300; and the specially-themed pink ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobile 1. ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Homestead-Miami Speedway:  Kyle Busch – 2 wins (2015, 2019)Kyle Larson – 1 win (2022)William Byron – 1 win (2021) ·       In 24 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded seven victories, including the series’ past two appearances at the 1.5-mile South Florida oval (Kyle Larson – 2022; William Byron – 2021) ·       In 33 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (17), top-fives (72), top-10s (142), stage wins (24) and laps led (3,172). ·       Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with 17 victories in 33 NASCAR Cup Series races, 15 victories in 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and 12 wins in 21 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – all with a winning percentage of at least 50 percent.   ·       Chevrolet’s series-leading 17 NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by seven drivers from five different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), William Byron and Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports), Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) and AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing).  ·       Chevrolet drivers have recorded 24 of the 66 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (eight; series-leading), Kyle Larson (seven), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Busch (two) and Chase Elliott (two). ·       Chevrolet continues to sit atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 81 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 79 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 60 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  ·       Chevrolet has swept the Manufacturer Championships across all three NASCAR national series in a single season four different times (2012, 2005, 1998, 1996). ·       With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 850 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS:·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ·       Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles at the Team Chevy Racing Display including: 2024 1500 ZR2, 2024 2500HD Crew High Country Diesel, 2024 Equinox Premier,Tahoe RST, Traverse High Country, Colorado Crew Z71 2.7L, Corvette Coupe 3LT Z51, Camaro ZL1. ·       Fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 show car.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:Friday, October 20 ·       Nick Sanchez: 6:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Saturday, October 21·       Christian Eckes & Jake Garcia: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ·       Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth & Daniel Dye: 9:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. ·       Justin Allgaier: 12:10 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. ·       Sam Mayer: 1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. ·       Brandon Jones: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ·       Josh Berry: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Sunday, October 22·       Erik Jones: 10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. ·       Austin Dillon: 11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ·       Carson Hocevar: 12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: ·       Friday, October 20: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ·       Saturday, October 21: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. ·       Sunday, October 22: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

TUNE IN: NASCAR Cup Series: 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1Race Two of the Round of Eight  Sunday, October 22, at 2:30 p.m. ET(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity Series: Contender Boats 300Race Two of the Round of EightSaturday, October 21, at 3 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Baptist Health Cancer Care 200Round of Eight Elimination RaceSaturday, October 21, at 12 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 KUBOTA CAMARO ZL1What are your goals for the rest of the season?“Winning and running well are still very important even though we are not in the playoffs. Finding speed in our car is important. Just because we aren’t in the playoffs doesn’t mean that we take a step back. We’re still grinding because we want to do well and it’s important for our team, our partners and everyone involved. I still want to collect wins and end the season on a high note.” AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS CAMARO ZL1“I look forward to returning to Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last year was a great race for our No. 3 Chevrolet team, finishing fourth. We were two spots away from winning the race and I feel like we can improve and race for the win this weekend. Homestead-Miami Speedway is a driver’s racetrack. We can move around in the corners to find the best line and it’s a track that’s been good to me in my career with winning a NASCAR Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. The Miami atmosphere is just one of the things I love about this time of year. There is nice weather and fans always show up to support NASCAR racing.” KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “It’s nice to be locked in (to the Championship 4), the points are really close. It’s nice to not have to worry about points and go there and race our own race. I aim to race up front and try to make good decisions on the racetrack. Knowing that I’m locked in, I’m not going into these next two races thinking that they are throw aways. I want to go there (Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Raceway) and have some good runs and potentially have a couple more wins to roll into Phoenix (Raceway) with a lot of confidence and momentum chasing a second Championship.” CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Daniels on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “We are certainly glad to have the momentum (from Las Vegas Motor Speedway), but being realistic we know that there is still an uphill battle ahead of us. There are still two more races we need to go run good at. Plus, making sure we are doing everything right to have our mind set- including our processes and everything about how we execute our days while getting ready for Phoenix (Raceway). That’s kind of our focus and we need to make sure that we do all the right things right at Homestead (Miami Speedway) to execute a good race. Same thing at Martinsville (Speedway). The momentum is nice to have, but we are going to keep our blinders on and stay as grounded as we can while continuing to push forward.” KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 3CHI CAMARO ZL1Is Homestead-Miami Speedway the ideal design with its size, shape, and progressive banking?“Homestead is a really cool racetrack. I feel like its design, its shape and everything with the progressive banking is really neat. It lends itself to some really good racing, from the bottom, middle and top and trying different lines, going in low and exiting high or going in high and exiting low. There are all kinds of opportunities for crisscross moves and some other cool stuff and that’s always pretty fun.” Is the preferred groove at Homestead right up against the wall or can you make another line (middle of the track or at the bottom) work effectively?“The preferred groove is right up against the wall. That’s the fastest way around. You can do that every lap an inch away from the wall and not hit it but it takes so much focus, attention, and skill to be so perfect to do that. There are only a couple of guys that can really do that and do it comfortably all day long. I’ve always been the best around the bottom and have been really good at entering high and bringing the car down and exiting low or in the middle. Those were my favorite lines to run when we won championships in 2015 and 2019 but those races ended at night.” Do you consider the 2015 and 2019 Homestead races two of the best that you’ve ever driven in the Cup Series? “Obviously 2015 and 2019 were very rewarding years. I would just say that we kind of let the race play out naturally and let it kind of come to us and we were fortunate enough to be out front when it mattered and we won. The best one was 2017. That year we came up just short of Truex. We were fast, had a dominate car and were ahead of him on a pit cycle and then a caution came out and they were able to get ahead of us. It just took me too many laps in traffic to get back up to ‘em and by the time I got there I had my tires burned up.” CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 HOOTERS CAMARO ZL1Elliott on how he approaches the remainder of the Round of 8 in the owner playoffs: “Last weekend was tough for sure, but right now we’re focused on Homestead (Miami Speedway) and I’m looking forward to getting there. Obviously, we’re in a position where we need to win one of the next two to get into the Championship 4 on the owner side and I do think we’re a team that’s capable of doing that. I feel like, other than Vegas, we’ve really been making gains and, overall, have just enjoyed the challenge of trying to advance through these rounds. I’m going to continue doing what I can to improve where I need to. This team deserves a win and I want to get them one.” AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 CAMPERS INN RV CAMARO ZL1“We have really good memories from last year at Homestead-Miami; it was probably one of the most fun races in the Cup car. I think with this car, you don’t necessarily have to rip the fence the whole time. You’re able to maneuver to use the bottom, middle, and top of the racetrack. It was really cool to have a shot at the win last year and get my best mile and a half finish. I’m looking forward to going back. I gained a lot of confidence last year at this track and I think we can have a solid run again this year.” ERIK JONES, NO. 43 ALLEGIANT CAMARO ZL1“Homestead is a good place. It’s a track that we struggled at a bit last year, but I feel like our 1.5-mile stuff has gotten a good chunk better than our last trip. It is a tricky place. It is tough. It is slick and worn out, and you run against the fence, so there are a lot of things that you must do right in order to have a good day there. I like racing there, and I am hoping we can put together a good day to keep our momentum going.” CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RSTHaving limited experience at Homestead-Miami, how will you prepare for this race?“I’ll approach this one just like any other weekend, watching film and going to the simulator. Being that it is a track that I don’t have as much experience at, I’m being diligent with watching film and constantly making notes for myself and talking to guys that are really good there. We’ve had fast trucks all season long and watching what KBM has been able to do there in years past, I think we should have another fast Bama Buggies Silverado. Just as long as I do my job and we all execute we’ll be fine.” Do you feel like that speed that you showed at Kansas will translate over to this race at Homestead-Miami since it’s another multi-groove mile-and-a-half race track?“Certainly — I don’t see why it shouldn’t. We’re bringing the same Bama Buggies Silverado we raced at Kansas, and we all saw how fast it was there. The only reason we didn’t get the result we deserved at Kansas was because of some mishaps that were out of our control. I’m looking forward to it, the ability to run multiple grooves makes it an exciting race. It will be fun for the drivers and for the fans.” GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RSTHomestead-Miami is one of the more unique intermediate tracks on the schedule, so what is the key to making speed here?“I feel like everything at Homestead revolves around tire management. You have to have a vehicle that can still be aggressive though. All of our truck races, you have to push it hard on restarts, but the harder you push it early on in a run, the more you’re going to pay the price at the end of the run. It’s still a place where you’ve got to have track position, but there are multiple grooves there. There’s guys that have had a lot of success running up against the wall, but there’s also guys that have been able to win the race by just wrapping the bottom. But normally, the truck that’s able to win the race is one that can move around a little bit.” What will it take to move onto Phoenix this weekend?“For our team in the situation that we’re in, I think we have to be a little bit more on the aggressive side. A little more aggressive than smart. I think we’ve got four of us within 12 or so points there. It’s going to be critical that we all get some stage points, and hopefully we can put ourselves in a position to win. We’re racing the same truck that we won Kansas with earlier this year, and Jeff and I like Homestead. I feel like it’s been good to us in the past. We’ve never won there; but we’ve had good trucks in the past. We had a good truck there last year, maybe not one that could contend for the win with, but definitely a solid truck nonetheless. We’re going to try to build off of last year and make it even better this year.” RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION SILVERADO RSTYou’ve been looking forward to racing at Homestead-Miami for a while now, so what about this track excites you?“I’m pretty excited for Homestead because I’ve put a lot of emphasis on being able to run the fence this year – not only in a truck, but also in my Xfinity starts this year and even for the races that I’ve ran at Millbridge Speedway in a non-wing micro sprint car. I’d say that it’s safe to say that my confidence is high going to Homestead for sure, especially because we will take our same truck that we raced with earlier at Darlington, and we will also be on the same tire compound. With this facility known for having very low grip, I think that should fall into my wheelhouse. The expectations for our No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation team are high, and hopefully we can capitalize on this opportunity to run well on Saturday.” DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 BULL & BOAR BARBECUE SHOP SILVERADO RSTHow much of a weight off your shoulders did you feel when you were able to score your first top-10 finish last race, and how eager are you to return to Florida?“I’m really looking forward to getting to Homestead. First and foremost, to race in front of my friends and family, as well as having Danny from Bull & Boar Barbecue Shop bringing along his family will be super cool. But yeah, finally being able to get a top-10 was definitely a weight off my shoulders. It was good to finally get that out of the way, and we’ve also been having some good runs in the Xfinity Series car the last few weeks. So, it will be nice to carry some added momentum from Talladega as well as the two Xfinity races I’ve made now into Homestead. On that note, I think that the Xfinity races that I’ve had will make me a better driver when I’m in the truck, so I’m looking forward to see what I can do now that I’ve ran a couple of mile-and-a-half tracks in a different car to see how it translates to our truck.” JACK WOOD, NO. 51 HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION SILVERADO RSTHomestead is unique for a mile-and-a-half track. Talk about how you will prepare for this weekend?“I feel like this is the track I struggled at the most last year. As far as my preparation, I have done film study, iRacing, and talked to as many people as I can — much like I’ve done for other races in the past. We’ve had multiple sim sessions for this race which is something that we normally don’t get. Hopefully, that means I have a better feel for what I need and I’m sure the truck will be fast. It will just be about getting me to where I need to be to execute the right way. It will be a lot of work going into it, but I think the uniqueness of this racetrack will make it fun. I always like a new challenge.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2022): 41First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2023 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 17Poles: 8Laps Led: 3,172Top-five finishes: 72Top-10 finishes: 142Stage wins: 24·       Ross Chastain – 5 (Daytona), (Auto Club x2), (Dover), (Darlington)·       William Byron – 8 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover), (Charlotte), (Watkins Glen)·       Kyle Larson – 7 (Phoenix), (Bristol Dirt), (Pocono), (Kansas), (Texas), (Las Vegas x2)·       Chase Elliott – 2 (Talladega), (Charlotte RC)·       Kyle Busch – 2 (WWTR), (Sonoma) CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 850 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 742Laps led to date: 248,716Top-five finishes to date: 4,293Top-10 finishes to date: 8,854                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,184           Chevrolet: 850           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 827                                                                      Ford: 727           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 179

Team Chevy high-resolution ra

BATAVIA, Ohio (October 18, 2023) – The highly anticipated end to the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship – Presented by ARP will take place at the famed Eldora Speedway, October 20-21. The top four drivers in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship – Presented by ARP – Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, and Devin Moran – will enter the season finale will their points consolidated, each with an equal opportunity at the title of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion. The first of the four drivers to cross the finish line in the 43rd Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by ARP will be crowned the 2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion. In addition to the revitalized championship format, more than $470,000 has been added to the championship point fund, bringing the grand total for the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP to over $1,000,000. 2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Fund: 1. $200,000, 2. $150,000, 3. $125,000, 4. $100,000, 5. $75,000, 6. $60,000, 7. $50,000, 8. $45,000, 9. $40,000, 10. $35,000, 11. $30,000, 12. $25,000, 13. $20,000, 14. $15,000 Chase Bonuses: $66,000Point Fund: $970,000Total: $1,036,000 For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. About Big River Steel a U.S. Steel Company:Big River Steel started in 2014 in an area of northeast Arkansas that has been called “steel mill heaven.” They’ve we’ve always been about more than just building a steel mill. In fact, they’ve always been about more than just building a steel company. Big River takes a visionary, entrepreneurial approach to the ever-changing American manufacturing industry. They’re reimagining what it means to be a steel company in the global marketplace. To keep pace with evolving and emerging industries, they’ve attracted and trained the best steel technicians in the business. They’ve equipped them with the most advanced technology to make the steels customers need today and a decade from now. All while creating minimal impact on the environment. From their Flex Mill® equipment to AI technology to their partnerships with academic research institutes, they’re daring to be more than what you’d expect from a steel company. To learn more visit www.bigriversteel.com. About Automotive Racing Products:ARP is the world leader in fastener technology, proudly made in the USA. Located in Ventura, CA, ARP’s product line contains thousands of part numbers, and has expanded to include virtually every fastener found in an engine and driveline and throughout the suspension and frame. These range from quality high performance OEM replacement parts to exotic specialty hardware for all forms of motorsports and marine applications.

BARBERVILLE, FL (Oct. 18, 2023) – Volusia Speedway Park will welcome the best DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers from around the country for the 10th annual Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial, Nov. 16-18.The marquee event will see drivers battle for 50 laps around The World’s Fastest Half Mile with a $10,000 payday on the line.Honoring one of motorsports’ most storied families, the event attracts some of the biggest names in DIRTcar UMP Modified racing and beyond – with the likes of NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley having made time to compete in the event.Its last nine iterations have seen legends of the division take home the prestigious victory, and only one repeat winner (David Reutimann in 2015 and 2016). Since Reutimann’s repeat, there have been seven consecutive different winners.Ethan Dotson added his name to that list last year, joining Nick Hoffman, Tyler Nicely, David Stremme, Kyle Strickler, Jeff Mathews and Reutimann as the most recent winners. Austin Sanders won the inaugural race in 2014.The week will kick off with practice on Thursday, Nov. 16. Hot Lap/Qualifying and Showdown Features for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds highlight Friday’s program (Nov. 17) alongside a full show for 602 Late Models, Street Stocks and Thunder Stocks. Saturday will host the 50-lap main event, along with Features for 604 Late Models and 3/4 Modifieds.What you need to know: TICKETS: CLICK HEREREGISTRATION: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/2999/registrations/6932EVENT INFO: CLICK HERETRACK: 1/2 mile in Barberville, FL TRACK RECORD: 17.031 seconds set by Ethan Dotson in 2022LAST RACE VIDEO RECAP (Nov. 19, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15M88j6JwB8&t=1sPREVIOUS REUTIMANN MEMORIAL WINNERS: 2022 – Ethan Dotson 2021 – Nick Hoffman 2020 – Tyler Nicely 2019 – David Stremme 2018 – Kyle Strickler 2017 – Jeff Mathews 2016 – David Reutimann 2015 – David Reutimann 2014 – Austin SandersHOW TO WATCH: If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action 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.

Six-Time World Champ Hopes To Mow Down the Competition In Final Two Races Of Season

WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (October 18, 2023) – When Pro Stock star Jeg Coughlin Jr. stepped back from driving in 2020, he left the door open a crack, telling Drag Illustrated that he would consider coming back if the right opportunity presented itself. And now it has. The fan-favorite driver with six world championships to his credit is returning to the track to compete in a new RJ Race Cars Pro Stock Camaro thanks to the support of SCAG Power Equipment.  Coughlin is known as one of the greats in the history of Pro Stock and has been a meaningful mentor to reigning five-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders. In fact, his return behind the wheel is motivated by the team’s desire to get some early runs on this new machine before Enders pilots it full-time in 2024.  “Our friends at SCAG Power Equipment helped make this a reality along with all of our supportive partners involved in our program,” said Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman. “Getting runs on the new RJ Race Cars Pro Stock Camaro before the end of the season was something we wanted to do and having Jeg Jr. driving the car in real competition is about as good as it gets. Who knows, maybe the planets will align and Jeg Jr. can return full-time in a cat’s-eye-gold SCAG Power Equipment hot rod in 2024.” With 84 national event victories including 65 in Pro Stock, Coughlin’s resume is unparalleled. The talented second-generation drag racer has landed in the winners circle with numerous vehicles across a myriad of categories. He raced for Elite Motorsports, the largest professional team in drag racing, for the last four years of his career and played an integral role in its growth.  SCAG Power Equipment, the company responsible for getting Coughlin back behind the wheel for the final two races in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, is one of the largest independent manufacturers of commercial and residential mowing equipment and debris/turf management equipment in the world.  “I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to drive this new RJ Race Cars hot rod,” said Coughlin. “And I’m honored to race under the SCAG Power Equipment banner. They’ve done so much for drag racing across the board and their commitment to excellence mirrors my own values, so I think it’s a fitting partnership. Above all else, I’m excited to work with everyone at Team Elite again. We are going to have some fun out there and if all goes according to plan, we will learn a little something in the process.” Coughlin will make his return to Pro Stock at the NHRA Nevada Nationals October 16-29 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  ***

Photos

Rendering of Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s SCAG Power Equipment Camaro. (Photo credit: Elite Motorsports)

The Mooresville, NC driver has the chance to finish as high as fourth in the standings

CONCORD, NC – October 18, 2023– Nick Hoffman will officially achieve one goal for the season when he enters the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 1-4), while still having to battle for another.

The Mooresville, NC will claim the Germfree Rookie of the Year honors – a prize worth $10,000 – at Charlotte after stellar first year with Tye Twarog Racing on the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model tour. But he’d also like to cap off his impressive rookie season with a top-five finish in Series points… and maybe another win or two.

“To be in control of my own destiny, being more hands-on, and keeping the team in North Carolina made a big difference,” Hoffman said. “[The season] went pretty smooth. I would’ve liked to get more wins than just one, but to get one, I feel like it leads into next year really well. Our car has been fast, and that’s all you can hope for. 

“We’re still in a pretty good hunt for a top-five in the championship standings. Going into Charlotte, that’s our main focus is trying to get to the top five.”

His high-performance season in the NOS Energy Drink #9 Late Model started off strong at Volusia Speedway Park during Sunshine Nationals, with a top-five and top-10 finish. It was an early sign of his Modified experience providing comfort at tracks he’d been to.

“Volusia has been one of my best racetracks in all forms of racing,” Hoffman said. “I’ve won a lot of races there. So, I knew starting the year off there would be crucial for my confidence going forward. I was lucky enough that our race car was good and could run up front every night. I felt like what helped was having a ton of laps around there. 

“If you look, our best finishes were at places I’d been to before and run well at in my (DIRTcar UMP) Modified. So, going into next year, having a notebook at some of these places that I’ve never even seen before will help us out a lot.”

After scoring four top 10s in the first seven races, Hoffman’s most significant breakthrough came at Stateline Speedway in May. Lining up next to his best friend Gordy Gundaker, he raced with him side-by-side for a lap before taking the lead.

Hoffman went on to lead the final 39 laps, earning his first victory at a place he never expected it to happen.

RELATED:NOS 101: Nick Hoffman Nets First Career World of Outlaws Win at Stateline

“I was able to get to the lead right away and clear him and kind of set the pace from there,” Hoffman said. “Looking back on it, it all happened so quick that I don’t really remember how it all went. I felt like I would’ve been more emotional in Victory Lane. I don’t remember what I said or anything because it all happened so quick. Then, you move on to the next day. It was super cool to get that, and it helped us out to get through those summer months of making sure we ran good and staying on top of things. 

“That was a neat racetrack. A place I’ve never seen before. If I would’ve looked at the racetracks, that wouldn’t have been a place I would’ve picked to be that good at. To run well, there was a big momentum swing for us.”

Since that historic night in May, Hoffman has been battling for the fourth spot in the World of Outlaws CASE Late Model standings. He currently sits sixth in points, only 10 points out of fourth.

Entering the three-race weekend, Kyle Bronson, who’s in fourth, is only 42 points ahead of defending Series champion Dennis Erb Jr., who’s ninth. There’s a $32,000 difference between fourth and ninth. The driver who finishes fourth wins $75,000, while the driver who finishes ninth gets $43,000.

With those final three Features on the horizon, Hoffman said he thinks the first night of World Finals, where the Series runs two Qualifying sessions, will be important.

“World Finals is totally different than most of these Outlaw races,” Hoffman said. “We’re going to have all of the heavy hitters there from all forms of Late Model racing. That makes it difficult. In an Outlaw race, it’s a little easier to drive from 20th to say 15th. Now that you have all of those guys, it’s going to be tough to get a top-five or compete for a win. 

“If you put yourself behind at the beginning of the night, it’s so much harder to dig out of that hole for a guy on this weekend than it is anywhere else. You just have to look at it and try and finish ahead of those guys. It’s going to really come down to those Qualifying laps more than anything. Charlotte is a place I really enjoy, and I was able to make some laps earlier this week and felt really good. So, I look for a decent run there.”

While Hoffman made laps during a test session, he may also have another advantage over his competitors. The five-time DIRTcar Summit Equipment Modified Summer Nationals champion plans to race a Modified during the World Short Track championship Oct. 26-28—an event he’s won three times.

He said any laps on Charlotte’s surface are critical to learning the track conditions for World Finals.

“I was able to make some laps there [Monday] and see the track transitions, where the grip goes and stuff, and that’s what I’ll be looking for the most in the Modified is where the racetrack ends up racing,” Hoffman said. “I was talking to the guy that prepped the racetrack, and he was talking about the things they did differently with the soil and the way the racetrack has been blowing off and stuff. 

“We saw a little bit of that [Monday], and then we will for sure in the Modified. Just how much the track slows down and where the racetrack races. Whether it becomes more bottom dominant or moves up the track, I feel like that’s definitely to build a notebook on.”

No matter what happens when the season concludes at Charlotte after the World Finals, Hoffman has accomplishments he can be proud of. However, as he looks back on 2023, he isn’t satisfied with those milestones.

“I’m pretty hard on myself, so I’d say (this season’s) right around a C,” Hoffman said. “We won some non-outlaw races throughout the year, and to win one [Series] race was pretty cool. I feel like for next year, I’ll definitely be more focused on winning races and getting top three in points. I was able to get to second at one point there and got close to Bobby, and then it went to shambles during the summer. 

“For me, it’s just staying on top of it and not having issues. And me as a driver not making as many mistakes. That’s what it’s going to take. Bobby hasn’t made any mistakes all year and will obviously be crowned a champion. It’s fun to race on this [Series], and I’m excited to do it again next year.”

Hoffman and the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models conclude the 2023 season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World of Outlaws World Finals Nov. 1-4, along with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.

Devil’s Bowl win list is occupied by many of the sport’s greats 

MESQUITE, TX (Oct. 18, 2023) – One of the most important dirt ovals in Sprint Car racing history can be found 20 minutes outside of Dallas.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX.

The track is known as the home of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars after hosting the Series’ inaugural race in 1978. The Greatest Show on Dirt has visited the half mile dozens of times in the years since – a tradition that will sadly come to a close this weekend (Oct. 20-21). Promoter Lanny Ross Edwards recently confirmed the sale of the track, meaning this weekend’s Sprint Car Stampede will be the final two nights of racing at the historic facility.

Throughout the years, Devil’s Bowl Victory Lane has been reserved for the sport’s best names – many already in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and others on their way. Of the 28 different drivers to top a race at the half mile, only three of them have less than 10 World of Outlaws triumphs. 

California’s Jimmy Boyd won the Series debut event on March 18, 1978, forever cementing himself as the first World of Outlaws winner.

Later that year in September, the driver who went on to become the most dominant at Devil’s Bowl, Sammy Swindell, came out on top for his first win at the track. The Germantown, TN legend eventually collected 18 triumphs in Mesquite, winning races in four different decades (‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s). Swindell’s dominance was highlighted by a five-race winning streak in 1986-1987.

To nobody’s surprise, next in line to win at Devil’s Bowl after Swindell was Steve Kinser in March of 1979. “The King” tallied 16 of his 690 Feature wins at the half mile, trailing only Swindell’s total. Behind Steve is his cousin, Mark Kinser, with six victories including a streak of three straight in 1996-1997.

Hooks, TX native, Gary Wright, may not have the number of wins as Swindell and both Kinsers, but he proved he could contend with anyone at the track located just a few hours west of his hometown. Wright won six races with the World of Outlaws during his time, and all but one came at Devil’s Bowl – each occurring in the ‘90s.

Danny Lasoski’s four Devil’s Bowl wins rank fifth all-time. The 2001 Series champion and 122-time Series winner experienced a brief stretch of dominance at the facility, earning all four of his victories over an eight-race span from 1999-2001.

Behind the top-five that separated themselves, the list gets a little crowded. Seven drivers have won three times at Devil’s Bowl, all of which are in the top 20 on the all-time Series win list. Among the three-time winners are current full-timers, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Logan Schuchart. The latter of the two became only the third driver to top three consecutive World of Outlaws races at Devil’s Bowl with his wins from 2019-2021.

Those with a pair of Devil’s Bowl victories include even more legends like 1995 Series champion Dave Blaney (95 career wins), four-time and reigning champion Brad Sweet (89 wins), Stevie Smith (84 wins) and Jeff Swindell (51 wins), among others making two trips to Victory Lane.

Ten different drivers have won once at Devil’s Bowl, most recently James McFadden back on April 1.

This weekend offers two final chances for drivers to add their name to the Devil’s Bowl win list and position themselves next to legends. If the current list is any indicator, it’s nearly a guarantee that name will go down in history as one of the greats of the sport and a trip to the Hall of Fame may be on the horizon.

For tickets to the Sprint Car Stampede, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action on DIRTVision.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway Winners (92 Races, 28 Drivers)

18 – Sammy Swindell
16 – Steve Kinser
6 – Mark Kinser
5 – Gary Wright
4 – Danny Lasoski
3 – Doug Wolfgang, Bobby Davis Jr., Andy Hillenburg, Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart
2 – Ron Shuman, Jeff Swindell, Dave Blaney, Stevie Smith, Shane Stewart, Brad Sweet
1 – Jimmy Boyd, Danny Smith, Tim Green, Bobby Allen, Craig Dollansky, Brad Furr, Tyler Walker, Jason Johnson, Brent Marks, James McFadden