Cruz Pedregon

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals – zMax Dragway

Pre-Race Report

Quotes for NHRA 4-Wide Nationals – zMax Dragway

Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion, says:

Without a doubt, this is the best our Snap-on Funny Car has performed with consistency and speed in years, so we’re optimistic about our chances at the four-wide this weekend in Charlotte. 

We are once again qualified in the Mission event on Saturday, and, after finishing runner-up a couple of weeks ago in Vegas, we feel like we’ve got a good shot to close the deal and win it. The extra points and bonus dollars the team shares definitely add up. It also gives us an extra confidence boost entering the rounds on Sunday. 

We’ve had some big wins in the past at this Charlotte track. It’s a state-of-the-art facility and probably one of the smoothest tracks on the circuit.

After a grueling three-race West Coast swing, the team had a week off to get charged back up for this event before another mini-break prior to the Chicago race.

Name on the side of Cruz’s car – Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Randy Crewz

●      Randy Crewz is the Snap-on Nitro Franchisee on the side of Cruz’s Funny Car this week.

●      The Snap-on Dodge pays tribute to “Makers and Fixers,” and that’s how Randy got his start in the world of tools, as a machinist for a large company, before his daughter introduced him to Snap-on as a franchise opportunity.

●     After graduating college, she went to work for Snap-on and later took on her own franchise…later encouraging him to do the same. She now works with him on his truck.

●    Crewz has been a longtime fan of the race here in Charlotte and will be having dinner in Cruz’s pit, along with out-of-town friends who are fans he’s invited to join them.

April 26-27, 2025

Returning from its one and only off-weekend of the season, the NASCAR Cup Series is now full throttle towards the race for the championship with the trek to Talladega Superspeedway marking the 10th points-paying race of 2025.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

The doubleheader weekend, which also features the Xfinity Series, is the first of two stops for NASCAR’s top two divisions at the 2.66-mile Alabama venue, with all three series returning to the superspeedway in October for the penultimate race of the final playoff elimination round. Chevrolet returns to the sports’ biggest and fastest track as the winningest manufacturer, as well as the track’s defending winners, in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.

Numbers in the Next Gen Era: Hyak Motorsports’ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the most recent driver to add to Chevrolet’s winning ways at Talladega Superspeedway – delivering the manufacturer its 45th all-time Cup Series win at the Alabama venue (Oct. 2024).  Chevrolet’s success at Talladega spans across NASCAR’s 55-year history at the track, including a record-setting streak of 13-straight trips to victory lane (April 1999 to May 2005). That success carried over into the series’ Next Gen era, with the Bowtie brand collecting wins in four of the six races since the car’s competition debut – a record earned by four drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations.

Stringing Together a Double-Digit Streak:  JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith continued Chevrolet’s dominance in the Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway last fall by earning the manufacturer its 25th all-time victory at the venue. The win also extended the brand’s active record-setting streak to 11-straight Xfinity Series victories at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. The run began in April 2018 with Spencer Gallagher behind the wheel of a GMS Racing Chevrolet entry, and over the past seven years, nine different drivers have added to the Bowtie brand’s now double-digit streak.

ALLMENDINGER MAKING THE MOST OF CUP SERIES RETURNAfter completing a full-time Xfinity Series campaign in 2024, Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger made the jump back up to NASCAR’s top division this season and the veteran is proving that he hasn’t missed a beat. The 43-year-old California native will enter the 17-race stretch of the regular season with a trio of top-10 results earned in the past five races, with the most recent coming just before the off-weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway where the driver took the No. 16 Chevrolet entry to a ninth-place finish. Despite being known as a road course phenom, Allmendinger has become a silent threat on a variety of track configurations, with two of his top-10 finishes this season coming on an intermediate oval. While superspeedway-style racing presents a platter of unknowns, the Kaulig Racing driver has a boost of confidence as a past winner at Talladega Superspeedway – earning a Xfinity Series victory with the Chevrolet organization in Oct. 2022.

STACKING SUPERSPEEDWAY STATSChevrolet’s uncanny success on superspeedways in recent years spans across both of NASCAR’s top two divisions.  With the introduction of a new car and era of racing at the beginning of the 2022 season, Chevrolet quickly found its footing in the art of superspeedway-style racing – collecting wins in five of the six superspeedway races. Now entering the fourth season of competition for the Next Gen car, the Bowtie brand continues to pave the way for its manufacturer competitors with 12 wins in 20 superspeedway-style races – earned by seven drivers representing four different Chevrolet organizations.  The Bowtie brand has earned at least one trip to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway since the car’s competition debut, including a sweep of the 2022 events with Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain (April) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (Oct.). Chevrolet shares an even greater success in superspeedway-style racing in the Xfinity Series with 10 drivers from six different Chevrolet organizations garnering wins in 18 of the past 23 superspeedway-style races. Over that time span, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer among its competitors to earn multiple superspeedway triumphs each season. Heading into the Alabama race weekend, the Bowtie brand sits at a streak of four-straight superspeedway wins in the division – dating back to Austin Hill’s Atlanta win in Sept. 2024. This season, it’s been an all-RCR victory lane on superspeedway’s with Jesse Love’s win in the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway and Hill’s win at Atlanta Motor Speedway just one week later.

HILL, LOVE AMONG SUPERSPEEDWAY STUNNERSTo no surprise, the pair of Richard Childress Racing teammates, Austin Hill and Jesse Love, have commanded every major statistical category on superspeedway’s this season. The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season opened with a set of superspeedway-style events, with each RCR driver earning his first win of the season and an early berth into the playoffs (Love – Daytona International Speedway; Hill – Atlanta Motor Speedway). Other notable achievements included stage win sweeps by Hill and the No. 21 Chevrolet team for both events, as well as a pole win by Love at Atlanta. The pair also topped the laps led count in each event, with Love and Hill leading a combined 86 of 125 laps at Daytona, as well as 159 of 163 laps at Atlanta just one week later. Love is one of just three full-time competitors that is a past Talladega winner in the Xfinity Series, with the 20-year-old California native picking up his first career win at the track one year ago.

FULL THROTTLE IN RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPWith just one idle weekend on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, drivers and teams will be nonstop in the race for the championship title, with this weekend’s trip to Talladega Superspeedway marking a 17-race stretch to the end of the series’ regular season and a guaranteed ticket into the playoffs.  Here’s a look at a few of Chevrolet’s early season highlights:

·       Chevrolet leads its manufacturer competitors in a variety of statistical categories including: pole wins (five), laps led (1,167) and top-10 finishes (41).  ·       Kyle Larson’s dominating Tennessee triumph marked Chevrolet’s third NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2025 season, each of which have been recorded on a distinctly different track configuration. Among that list includes William Byron’s win at the 2.5-mile superspeedway of Daytona International Speedway, as well as Larson’s win at the 1.5-mile intermediate oval of Homestead-Miami Speedway.  ·       Chevrolet has earned at least four top-10 finishes in six of the nine points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races thus far this season, with five of those events seeing representation by three or more different Chevrolet organizations in those results. The manufacturer hit a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – earned collectively by three different Chevrolet organizations. The series’ second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway saw a season-high five different Chevrolet organizations represented in the top-10. At the conclusion of just the fifth points-paying race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, every full-time Chevrolet organization had scored a top-10 finish this season.

Chevrolet’s season statistics with nine NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 3Poles: 5Laps Led: 1,167Top-Fives: 17Top-10s: 41Stage Wins: 7

Chevrolet’s season statistics with nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete: Wins: 8Poles: 7Laps Led: 1,477Top-Fives: 33Top-10s: 64Stage Wins: 15

Chevrolet’s season statistics with six NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete: Wins: 4Poles: 2Laps Led: 456Top-Fives: 17Top-10s: 32Stage Wins: 4

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – two wins (2017 & 2024) Kyle Busch – two wins (2023 & 2008)Chase Elliott – two wins (2022 & 2019)Ross Chastain – one win (2022)  ·       Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer in both of NASCAR’s top two divisions at Talladega Superspeedway, heading into the weekend with 45 Cup Series wins and 25 Xfinity Series wins.  ·       Since the debut of the Next Gen car in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022, Chevrolet has won 12 of the 20 superspeedway-style races – recorded by seven drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. ·       Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Chevrolet has won 18 of the past 23 superspeedway-style races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – recorded by 10 drivers from six different Chevrolet organizations. ·       Chevrolet continues to dominate in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with Sammy Smith becoming the sixth different Chevrolet driver to earn a victory this season with his win at Rockingham Speedway. In 10 races, Chevrolet has also amassed a manufacturer-leading seven pole wins; wins in 15 of the 20 stages; 33 top-fives; 64 top-10s; and 1,477 laps led. ·       In 117 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 55 victories – a winning percentage of 47%.  ·       With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 869 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. ET(FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity SeriesAg-Pro 300Saturday, April 26, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Talladega?“I’m looking forward to getting back to Talladega because it’s one of those track where everything is so unpredictable but that can also make it fun. I’ve been on both sides of it at Talladega. The win in 2022 is obviously a memorable moment but there’s been a few times where I’ve been in the garage well before the end of race. Talladega is one of those tracks where you have to expect the unexpected and just take everything as it comes. Jockey is on the car this weekend and I would love nothing more than to take them to victory lane.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletYou’ve won on superspeedways. What kind of race do you expect we will see at Talladega Superspeedway?“I love racing at Talladega Superspeedway and can’t wait to get on track in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet. At Talladega, there’s a lot of movement in the draft, the packs are big and wide, and with the way this package works, there is more two-lane racing around the bottom. You can do certain things throughout that race to put yourself in a better position, but it’s one of those tracks you go into knowing that there’s probably a 75% chance that you could be in a wreck.” How does racing at Talladega Superspeedway compare to racing at Daytona International Speedway?“Talladega Superspeedway is a little bit different real estate than Daytona International Speedway. At Daytona, you’re packed in there, and it’s hard to get to someone’s inside or outside, and there is less movement in the draft. You’re kind of holding on at times, waiting to see what happens. Everybody is pushing, and you’re hoping you can get through the mess.” Do you feel the “big one” coming, or does it happen so fast that you’re just in it?“It depends. Sometimes you’re in it, and there is nothing you can do about it because you know time is running out and you’re in it either way. It’s an odd feeling knowing your putting yourself out there and something is about to happen. It’s an issue of timing. You’re hoping you just get through it. I’ve been fortunate to sneak through some of them, or be in front of some of them. You usually know when the intensity is rising and the pack is starting to get a little bit out of control. You try to do your best to give yourself an out or be in front of it.” Did you enjoy the Cup off weekend? Does it provide a nice break, or stall the momentum your team has been building?“I definitely enjoyed the off weekend. Just spending time with family, getting outdoors and recharging. We have some great momentum heading into Talladega following our performance at Bristol Motor Speedway, and I still think we will be able to build on that this weekend.”   Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve seen plenty of success at Talladega. What do you need to get the job done this weekend?“We need to qualify fast, stay up front and hope for the best. But, you can’t be too far up front because you have to save fuel. It’s honestly more mind games than it’s ever been. There is a balance of frustration and challenges. Winning it would be rewarding because you did everything right. That’s the goal.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow do you utilize the draft to make runs and can you explain that kind of process to fans that might not know what drafting is?“The draft is a big deal and honestly the energy in the draft now is not necessarily coming from ahead of you, it’s more so coming from behind you. Two, three, four, five cars behind you is where that energy really develops and you get pushed forward from that energy. So, the draft is different than what it used to be. Years ago, you would suck up to the guy in front of you and slingshot past him and make him move that way. Now, you’re really relying on everything happening behind you and building from behind.” Talk about the importance of a spotter and communication at superspeedways. What is that communication like and how important is that to you?“Communication with your spotter is the ultimate. There’s nothing else that you really use as much as your spotter on speedway racing. You can use your mirrors and look in the camera and look behind you and whatnot. But, trying to figure out a way of being able to understand the energy that’s coming rows back behind you, the only way to get that is from your spotter. When you’re in traffic and you’re three or four rows back, you’re trying to understand what the gaps are in front of you so you know how hard to push the guy in front of you to get your lane moving forward.” Pit stops are big at plate tracks as well. You wouldn’t think about a superspeedway as just about going fast, but also coming down pit road, that communication and the team communication and working together. What is that like in a superspeedway race nowadays with fuel savings and things like that?“The strategy to superspeedway racing has entirely changed. The fuel save action and what you have to do to try to prolong your time on track, to cut your time on pit road, to do the leapfrog strategy is what we call it. It is really different. I would say we all want to go out there and run as hard as we can, as fast as we can, pass and mix it up and do all that sort of stuff. But a lot of times it’s just better and it’s easier and it’s safer to just ride in line, part throttle and save fuel. So it’s definitely a whole new arena that we’ve got to get used to of what speedway racing is.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“Talladega has been a track that I have been quite successful at in my career. I’ve had a really good average finish at Talladega over the years and come close a few times but just haven’t been able to cross the finish line first yet. I did win an ARCA race at Talladega a few years back. I think we’re going to have a good chance this weekend. Our car was very fast at Daytona; we led laps and ran up front. Hopefully we have that same speed for qualifying on Saturday and then on Sunday we’ll be able to keep our car up front and have a shot at the win.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“Talladega is a place that has been very hit or miss for me. It still comes down to execution and a bit of luck to not be involved in the big one. All we can do is show up with the speed we had in Daytona, and I feel confident that that’s what we’re going to do.”   Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports ChevroletExplain what the process is like racing at the superspeedway tracks.“Superspeedway racing is high-speed chess. That’s why I love it, but that’s also why it’s difficult. It’s fun because of the strategy and knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Obviously, it can be very difficult to control the outcome of your race because so much can happen that’s out of your control – more so at those races than any other. It’s not solely just about having raw speed. It’s also about having teammates, having help and a little bit of luck.” You’ve raced at both Talladega and Daytona a number of times. While the tracks are similar in style, they can produce very different types of races. What is so different about the two tracks?“Talladega is different from Daytona for a few reasons. I think the first and most obvious thing is the characteristics of the track. Talladega is wider. It’s a little bit longer and provides a little more room for three- and four-wide racing. What also comes with that is that it’s a little bit less of a handling track than what Daytona is. Daytona gets hot and slick where, at Talladega, handling is not as important. I think, with this NextGen car, you have to have good drive quality to be able to get over the bumps, to be able to push and be pushed aggressively. It’s a little bit less chaotic in the draft because there is a little more room. You can run three-wide around there pretty comfortably, whereas at Daytona it’s pretty tight. It’s not uncommon to even see four-wide at Talladega. I think that’s just the plain difference. As far as the strategy and the job behind the wheel, though, it kind of remains the same because superspeedway races ultimately come down to that manufacturer battle, teammates and, really, fuel mileage. That’s been everything the last few years.” Even after all of that, where does Talladega rank among your favorite tracks?“It is definitely one of my favorites. I have a really good track record there with top-five finishes in Xfinity and multiple Cup Series top-10 finishes. Last year, we finished sixth there with the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevy. There are a lot of positives to build on and I have a lot of confidence heading into Talladega. I feel like I know what I need to do behind the wheel to execute, or at least to position myself. From there, it’s a matter of seeing what happens. Sometimes all you can do is put yourself in position and hope that it works out. We’ve learned some things now the last few races at Talladega and Daytona as far as what we can do as a team at Beard Motorsports. And with the cars we’ve been bringing, I think we all expect to be competitive and have a shot.” How much does your performance at Talladega last spring boost your confidence going into the weekend?“It’s a big confidence boost because last year there were a lot of unknowns for the team, and me. I was a new driver to them. We had gone to Daytona, so that got the ball rolling but, going to a new track together, I was still learning the NextGen car on a superspeedway-style track and I think there was just a lot of learning going on, and it still went exceptionally well. So I think this time we have a higher expectation. We certainly had that going into Daytona, it just didn’t work out there. But going into Talladega, we still have the same goal and it’s to go there and put ourselves in position to win the race.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat have you learned about the challenges of winning at a superspeedway in your last handful of starts?“You only get one move and you’re only one bad block away. We were fast, and last year I could obviously see the checkered flag, but I didn’t get there. We have a lot of confidence going into Talladega. I’ve been in position to win those races, and I’ve finished second, third and fourth, but we have been close to seeing that that checkered flag. I enjoy the challenge of going there and putting yourself in position to fight for the win on the last lap. Hopefully we’ll have another opportunity to do it again. You always learn what you could have done differently, how you would approach that differently and whether you think you’re right or wrong. It doesn’t matter; we didn’t win. If you didn’t win, you didn’t do it right. You always go back and analyze how you would do it differently, how you could make better choices and what led to those choices. We feel confident going back there and look forward to having a shot at it.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThe last time the Cup Series visited a drafting track, you left Atlanta with a runner-up finish and a change of view on your approach to superspeedways. Explain what changed between the first race at Daytona and the second at Atlanta, and how that applies at Talladega.“I’ve just never been a fan of superspeedways and drafting. That type of racing isn’t something I enjoyed, up until this year. Even at Daytona, my approach was stay out of trouble and hope to be there at the end when everyone else starts wrecking. That didn’t really work out for us and we ended up not finishing the race. Then at Atlanta, I decided I was just going to race as hard as I could and get as many points as I could. I don’t know if that will always work. These tracks are so different and Talladega is different from Daytona. It really just comes down to what the racing is like that day and how well your car is handling in the draft. I’d love to say we’re going to get stage points and battle for a win, and I hope that is the case. This type of racing is just so unpredictable and you never know what you’re going to get until you’re there.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Talladega?“Oh, Talladega is epic! There is nothing else like it. The drafting tracks have been a challenge for me because it’s just a different type of racing. I remember my first start at Talladega, people would put me four wide just to leave me out to dry, because I guess they didn’t want me in there. Now I feel like I can flow with the guys, have the right momentum, and judge the runs a bit better. The last Talladega I was pushed to the lead and held it a while. Definitely feel like I’m part of it and that I’m better at it now. Happy that I don’t have yellow stripes on my car.” You have to make very quick decisions at superspeedway tracks. How do you balance being analytical versus committed and knowing that you have it without overthinking?“It’s all in the preparation. You got to have a clear mind when you’re racing, things become instincts. There’s a lot of teamwork, too, with the spotter because he is going to be guiding me. Spotters are probably the most important thing when superspeedway racing. I just trust Josh’s (Williams) guidance. But you also have to make sure you have friends in this kind of racing, make sure you got the right kind of cars behind you, make sure it’s a teammate or a Chevrolet. It’s just a different kind of racing.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Talladega this weekend?“I love Talladega. At first I really didn’t like superspeedway racing but the more I did it the more I started to enjoy it. We have been so close so many times on the superspeedway. One of these days we are going to win one of these races and I hope it is Sunday.” How did you spend your off weekend?”I spent the off-week in Mexico. I was working in Mexico City, where we did a lot of race promotion and unveiled the Telcel Chevrolet we will be racing there, and then it was vacation time in Monterrey, where I got to see my family and just hang out with everyone I hadn’t seen in a while. It was good to kind of get a break, recharge, and get ready for Talladega and other upcoming races.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet“I’m looking forward to Talladega this weekend. This race can be a tossup, but I know all of the JR Motorsports drivers and teams are going to work together and try to get good results for everyone. My goal is to survive and make it to the end of the race in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. I’ve run three superspeedway races in my career and I’ve yet to finish one. Hopefully we can get some stage points and stay upfront all day on Saturday and stay out of the mess, but you never know at Talladega.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 43First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2024 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 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)                2025 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 3Poles: 5Laps Led: 1,167Top-Fives: 17Top-10s: 41Stage Wins: 7 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 869 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 758Laps led to date: 253,878Top-fives to date: 4,386Top-10s to date: 9,048                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,203           Chevrolet: 869           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 841                                                                                        Ford: 741           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 194

Next month promises to be a grind with a wide variety of tracks and racing

CONCORD, NC (April 23, 2025) – It’s going to be a busy month of May for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

There’s a little bit of everything on the agenda as the year nears summer. Next month will be jam-packed with action as The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to take on 13 races ­– including iconic Ohio venues, Sprint Car racing’s best rivalry renewed, a long-awaited return to Canada, and closing it out with a weekend in North Dakota. There’s plenty of reason for excitement when the calendar turns the page to May.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead:

Eldora Speedway | #LetsRaceTwo (May 2-3): The most visited track in World of Outlaws history is up first. The tour heads to the high speeds of Rossburg, OH’s Eldora Speedway on May’s opening weekend. They’ll meet up with the USAC National Sprint Cars to give fans the best of both worlds at #LetsRaceTwo. The pair of races will be the 240th and 241st in Series history at “The House that Earl Built.”

Ohio’s own Sheldon Haudenschild topped Friday’s Feature a year ago. Then Saturday served up a thriller with David Gravel and Donny Schatz trading the lead in the final laps before Gravel prevailed. Schatz’s 18 World of Outlaws victories at Eldora rank third most all-time.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Speedway | Gettysburg Clash (May 6): The World of Outlaws face off with the Pennsylvania Posse for the first time in 2025 in the scenic Pigeon Hills as Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway is the site for the Gettysburg Clash. The midweek battle will mark the 55th visit to The Fabulous Lincoln Speedway for The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The World of Outlaws swept two nights at Lincoln in 2024. David Gravel took May’s Gettysburg Clash to give Tod Quiring 100 Series wins as an owner. Then, Donny Schatz beat the Posse when the tour returned in October.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Williams Grove Speedway | HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup (May 9-10): After Lincoln, the World of Outlaws and PA Posse rivalry shifts venues to the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. The two sides square off for two nights, going after bragging rights and possession of the Morgan Cup.

The Cup currently resides at Williams Grove thanks to one of the biggest upsets in Series history. Liverpool, PA’s T.J. Stutts stunned the Sprint Car world by holding off David Gravel for his first World of Outlaws win. Chants of “T-J!” roared from the front straightaway grandstands as Stutts celebrated.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Ohsweken Speedway | Federated Auto Parts Showdown (May 14-15): After eight long years exclusively on U.S. soil, the World of Outlaws will finally return to Canada. Ontario’s Ohsweken Speedway is the destination as the world’s best Sprint Car drivers make the trip across the northern border for the first time since 2017. The two nights of midweek action culminate in a $20,000 finale.

Logan Schuchart claimed the most recent Series visit to Ohsweken. Nobody owns more checkered flags from the Canadian facility than Donny Schatz’s four. Ohsweken is also home to two of Tony Stewart’s three career World of Outlaws wins.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Cornwall Motor Speedway | Cornwall Clash (May 18): The Canada trip isn’t over when Ohsweken wraps up. Before the tour heads back across the border, a Sunday visit to Long Sault, ON’s Cornwall Motor Speedway awaits. The World of Outlaws have made two previous stops at Cornwall, and this year’s will be the first since 2014.

Both previous nights at Cornwall belonged to Donny Schatz as he and Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing were victorious in 2012. They followed it up with another win two years later.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Attica Raceway Park | Attica Sprint Car Showdown (May 23): An all Ohio Memorial Day weekend kicks off with a northern visit to Attica Raceway Park. It’s the first of two stops at the “Buckeye State” 1/3 mile as the Series returns in July for the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid claimed a thriller last May when he slid Carson Macedo in the final set of corners coming to the checkered flag. Then, in July, David Gravel made his way to Victory Lane at “The Doty.”

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Sharon Speedway | Sharon Sprint Car Showdown (May 24): The second stop of the weekend is northeast Ohio’s Sharon Speedway. Like Attica, it’s the opener for a pair of dates on the schedule as the World of Outlaws head back on Sept. 27 for the final Ohio stop of the year.

David Gravel got the win in May last year at Dave Blaney’s track before Mother Nature spoiled the fun in September. Sharon has seen nine different winners through 14 previous World of Outlaws Features.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe Classic (May 26): The three-race Ohio stay wraps up in the state’s southern region at Atomic Speedway on Memorial Day. The high-banked Ohio oval has hosted a dozen previous World of Outlaws races.

David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild split Friday and Saturday Features at the Chillicothe, OH dirt track in 2024. There’ll be one shot at Atomic Victory Lane this time around. Donny Schatz has won a third of the races in Series history there with four Atomic trophies in his collection.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

River Cities Speedway | Gerdau presents the First Leg of the Northern Tour (May 30): It’s a long drive north once the Ohio weekend concludes as River Cities Speedway opens two nights in North Dakota. The bullring routinely produces some of the most exciting, wheel-to-wheel racing of the year for the World of Outlaws.

The Series has competed at the Grand Forks, ND oval 33 previous times, and Donny Schatz leads the “W” category by a wide margin with a dozen wins at the track in his home state. The two 2024 visits belonged to Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Red River Valley Speedway | Ellingson presents the Rumble on the Red (May 31): The busy month closes out on the final day of May with a stop at West Fargo, ND’s Red River Valley Speedway. It’s been a regular stop of the tour since the Series debut in 1981, and Red River Valley’s 69 World of Outlaws races rank in a tie for the eighth most all-time.

To no surprise, Sprint Car legends Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell have had the most success there with “The King” claiming 16 checkered flags and Swindell’s tally at 14. Carson Macedo topped last August’s event to complete a North Dakota weekend sweep of both River Cities and Red River Valley.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

OCALA, FLA. (April 23, 2025) — Josh Hart has built his professional and motorsports career on overcoming obstacles with a positive attitude and a never give up mindset. His debut Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national event driving the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger was a lesson in turning a negative into a positive. The first race of the season, the NHRA Gatornationals, was heavily impacted by weather and his team’s limited time preparing for the race was a perfect storm of frustration and missed opportunity. However, the business owner from Ocala, Florida, who teamed up with David H. Davis Racing (DHDR) to field the factory stock entry has already put that event behind him as he focuses on this weekend’s American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. “I don’t even look at the Gatornationals as a race honestly,” said Hart, who has competed in a variety of classes in the NHRA. “I am focusing on this weekend’s Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals as my real debut. This Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger never really got a good opportunity in Florida with the rain. I am really looking forward to this weekend.” Josh Hart and the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger are eager to take on Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte this weekend, photo credit Krista Zivcic Hart has owned the Dodge Challenger he will be campaigning this weekend since the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series was announced over five years ago. Over the offseason Hart and Davies, a veteran of the factory stock class, talked about how they could work together to get Hart behind the wheel in one of the most competitive door-slammer classes in the NHRA. The plan came together quickly after the first of the year and DHDR has contributed mightily to getting Hart’s operation ready. “We made huge strides just getting ready for Gainesville from me getting my license to getting the car set up,” said Hart. “We really needed every run to shake the car down and we got hammered by the weather. We knew what we needed to fix we just didn’t get the chance to get on the track. We will be ready for this weekend, and I have to thank everyone at DHDR for all their hard work.” Hart will be pulling double duty at the American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series as well as driving the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. For the entrepreneur from Florida the added runs only help him focus on the task at hand. “I love being busy at the racetrack,” said Hart. “We will be racing in two classes plus Burnyzz Speed Shop, our factory stock sponsor, will also have a display. All these racing programs work together, and we are also working on some exciting additional programs with David and DHDR for later in the season.” Hart and the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger will make qualifying runs Friday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. with additional qualifying passes on Saturday, April 26, at 11:40 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. giving Hart one shot at each lane for competition. The category will contest one round of eliminations on Saturday night at 5:15 p.m. to close out the second day of racing action. The final two rounds of four-wide competition will be completed on Sunday, April 27. For information about tickets or schedule updates visit www.nhra.com.

After a weekend off for Easter, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are headed to Talladega Superspeedway hoping to build on what they’ve accomplished in the nine points-paying Cup Series races so far this season. Entering Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team have a win at Las Vegas and a fourth-place finish at Phoenix, have led 116 laps and qualified in the top five in a third of the races so far this year. They enter this weekend 17th in the overall points standings and own six Playoff points.Berry says racing at Talladega presents a unique set of hurdles for drivers and crews.“Speedway racing has its own style and challenges, but you see the same guys up front at these tracks for a reason,” Berry said. “They know how to position themselves and make the right moves. For us, it’s about continuing to build off the momentum we’ve had this year. The communication and chemistry within the No. 21 team has been strong, and that’s a big part of putting ourselves in a position to contend. You need a car that handles well – one that can push, be pushed, and execute the right strategy when it counts.”Per NASCAR rules for superspeedways like Talladega, there is no pre-race practice scheduled. Qualifying is set to start at 9:30 a.m. Central Time (10:30 Eastern Time) on Saturday with TV coverage on Amazon Prime. Sunday’s 188-lap, 500.8-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on FOX. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 120.

CONCORD, NC (April 23, 2025) – The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will cover plenty of ground next month with a schedule stretching from southwest Wisconsin to Pennsylvania.

The May calendar includes seven nights of racing across four tracks, and plenty of massive paydays will be up for grabs along the way.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead:

Mississippi Thunder Speedway | Dairyland Showdown (May 1-3): The annual trip to the banks of the Mississippi River has quickly become one of the biggest events on the springtime agenda, and that will reign true even more this year.

The Saturday portion of the event will pay a record $75,000 to the winner in 2025, making it the second-largest top prize on the schedule behind the $100,000-to-win USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in August.

The top three drivers in the 2025 standings – Bobby Pierce, Ryan Gustin and Nick Hoffman – are also the only three full-timers with a World of Outlaws win at Mississippi Thunder to their credit. Pierce took the checkers in 2022, while Gustin and Hoffman split the victories last season.

The Dairyland Showdown will be a home game for a pair of Outlaws in Dustin Sorensen and Jake Timm, who both grew up racing at Mississippi Thunder every Friday night. It’s also one of the closest tracks to Brent Larson’s Lake Elmo, MN home, and the site of his first podium finish with the World of Outlaws in 2021.

Both nights of the event will award points toward the Coltman Farms Racing Cup miniseries championship as well.

Raceway 7 | Great Lake Showdown (May 15): For the second-straight season, the World of Outlaws will head to Conneaut, OH for a Thursday night stop at Raceway 7.

The track has been a regular stop on Late Model schedules for decades, and the list of winners is a who’s who of legends from the region and beyond. Raceway 7’s Victory Lane has welcomed names like Chub Frank, Donnie Moran, Rick Eckert, and Series director Steve Francis, who won an Xtreme DIRTcar Series event in 2003.

More recently, Chris Madden led all 40 laps of the first World of Outlaws Feature at the track on his way to the win. Several current Outlaws are no stranger to Raceway 7 success, as Kyle Bronson and Tim McCreadie are both former Late Model winners at the track and neither has finished worse than fourth in three starts each.

Marion Center Raceway | Connor Bobik Memorial (May 16-17): After finishing up at Raceway 7, teams will make the 2.5-hour tow to Marion Center Raceway for the Connor Bobik Memorial.

Now in its fourth season on the World of Outlaws schedule, the race has expanded to a two-night show for the first time – both awarding points toward the Coltman Farms Racing Cup – and the amount of racing isn’t the only thing that has increased. Saturday’s finale will culminate with a $30,000-to-win Feature, double the mark from a year ago.

The Connor Bobik Memorial has been an annual tradition in western Pennsylvania since the inaugural running at Dog Hollow Speedway in 2011. Since then, the event has also been held at Hidden Valley Speedway and Thunder Mountain Speedway before making its way to Marion Center and appearing on the World of Outlaws calendar for the first time in 2022. Dennis Erb Jr. collected the first trophy from Marion Center on his way to the championship that year, while Gustin and Madden followed him up in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Bedford Speedway | Billy Winn Classic (May 18): The weekend closes with the first of two Sunday night events in 2025 at Bedford Speedway in southern Pennsylvania.

The track’s 5/8-mile size makes it one of the largest and fastest facilities in the sport. Tyler Bare established the track record in local competition in 2018 with an 18.490-second lap, carrying an average speed of more than 121 miles per hour.

The World of Outlaws made three trips to Bedford in the late 2000s, with Frank, Francis and Tim Fuller each picking up wins. The Series returned last summer following a 15-year hiatus, and Pierce crossed the line first for his second of six wins in a row last summer.

The rest of the field will be aiming to join Pierce as a World of Outlaws winner at Bedford, but several of them ran well at the track before. Max Blair is a former winner of the Keystone Cup – the marquee Late Model event held at the track every fall – while Hoffman wheeled a DIRTcar UMP Modified to Victory Lane in 2021.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap in May and all season long live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, N.C. (April 23, 2025) — After a six-week break in the action following the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in March, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competitors will be back in action this weekend at the American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway outside of Charlotte, N. C. Drivers wheeling Ford Cobra Jets, Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks will race four-wide in one of the most exciting drag racing events in the country. Returning to the state-of-the-art zMax Dragway, known as the “Bellagio of Drag Strips” reigning world champion Mark Pawuk will be looking to pick up his first four-wide victory. 

“I have raced in all the four-wide nationals going back to 2022,” said Pawuk. “The last two four-wide national events I made it to the final quad, but this year I am looking to get the win light. There is a lot going on at the starting line and you really have to keep your focus.”

Mark Pawuk is eager to get back in the winner’s circle, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

The first time the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series raced four-wide Bill Skillman won at zMax Dragway in 2022. The next year it was Lenny Lottig outrunning Factory Stock Showdown veterans Aaron Stanfield, Stephen Bell and Pawuk for the victory. Last year the four-wide national event was contested at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Ricky Hord winning his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national event getting to the finish line first in front of David Janac, Scott Libersher and Pawuk.

This year’s edition will see Pawuk and Libersher, two championship contending teams battling a full field of Fords, Chevrolets and Dodges for the first official win of the season. The season-opening Gatornationals was postponed as the class was entering the semifinals. That race will be concluded in conjunction with the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago, May 15-18. Lee Hartman, Doug Hamp, Jason Dietsch and Lottig are still on the ladder looking to wrap up the Gatornationals title. Three of those four drivers will be in action this weekend.

“I am ready,” said Hartman. “I love racing at Charlotte. The track is amazing. We have been going over everything on the racecar like we always do. We have checked it bumper to bumper. We tested some last week. I can’t wait to get back in action. I wish we could have finished the Gatornationals in March, but you can’t control the weather. We’ll get after it at this four-wide race and then really get into the season.” 

 Lee Hartman is looking for his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, photo credit Auto Imagery

As the eighth season of NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competition gets underway it continues to be a fan favorite with all three manufacturers battling for supremacy on the track. The class has wowed fans with some of the best competition between Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Mustang Cobra Jets and Dodge Mopar Challenger Drag Paks. The three manufacturers will be front and center at NHRA national events across the country. 

This weekend the class will receive four qualifying runs allowing each team to get data from every lane used in competition. Friday, April 25 will feature qualifying runs at 2 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. and on Saturday teams will run at 11:40 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., with the first round of eliminations kicking off Saturday night at 5:15 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live from zMax Dragway or tune into the FS1 broadcast following the conclusion of the race on Sunday.

2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Schedule
April 25-27         NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Concord, N.C.
May 15-18         Gerber Collision & Repair Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Chicago, Ill.
            Conclusion of Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals
June 6-8        Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 26-29        Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 27 – Sept. 1    Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 11-14        Reading NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 26-29        NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 23, 2025) – “Fast Jack” Beckman, who came out of retirement last season to drive John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS to a second-place points finish behind teammate Austin Prock, relishes the fact that he and his team are partnered this week with HendrickCars.com at the 15th NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway.

“Rick Hendrick is a high-performance man in every sense,” Beckman said of the CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and founder of Hendrick Motorsports. “Whatever he does, it’s 100% and it’s successful. Partnering with him at ZMax is a racer’s dream. 

“With Brittany’s dragster (and reigning NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson’s Chevy) also sporting HendrickCars.com this week, there is a very realistic possibility of giving ‘Mr. H’ a triple win,” said the two-time World Champion and 36-time Funny Car tour winner. “Our PEAK Squad is definitely up for the challenge!

“I’m looking forward to sharing some stories with him,” Beckman said of the man whose NASCAR team has won a record 315 Cup races and 14 championships. “He’s had drag boats and has been involved in drag racing for many years. This stuff is in his DNA. What you find out is, car people are car people. When you boil it down, we all are cut from the same cloth.”

Coming off a disappointing first round exit in the most recent event in the 20-race Mission Foods series, Beckman is hoping to recapture the form that made him a winner of the Charlotte 4-Wide in 2011 (a year after Force won the inaugural event featuring the non-traditional format) and 2015.

“We found our problem,” Beckman said of the glitch that led to his only first round loss in 12 races at JFR. “And I expect us to be right back into championship form this week.” 

Until it stumbled at Las Vegas, Beckman’s Chevy had been the most consistent on the circuit with a reputation for being equally adept at negotiating cool and hot racing surfaces at the direction of crew chiefs Daniel Hood, Chris Cunningham and Tim Fabrisi.

A three-time race winner for JFR and winner of the team’s 300th Funny Car race, Beckman first distinguished himself in sportsman racing where he won the 2003 World Championship in Super Comp.

On the heels of that success and after battling cancer to a standoff, the U.S. Air Force veteran got his first pro ride in a Dexter Tuttle Top Fuel dragster in 2005. A year later, he made his Funny Car debut with Don Schumacher Racing, winning 33 times from 2006 through 2020, when he lost the ride to a lack of sponsorship.

That sent him back to work as an elevator technician, the job he had left behind 22 years earlier. He never expected to take a second sabbatical, but things changed dramatically last June when Force was injured in a crash at Richmond, Va., and he was summoned to fill in.His performance, which included two wins in the Countdown, earned him a full-time shot this year at a second Funny Car championship to bookend the one he earned at DSR in 2012.

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 23, 2025) – Rick Hendrick has had tremendous success going in circles, but the NASCAR team owner actually developed his love for motorsports in drag racing, a discipline to which he returns to this weekend as primary partner on the national record-holding Top Fuel dragster in which Brittany Force will try to win the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history.

“We’re really excited to be partnered with HendrickCars.com again and flying their colors this weekend (in the 15th running of the original NHRA 4-Wide Nationals),” Force said of a relationship that began three years ago. 

“Our team made history when we won the 900th NHRA Top Fuel race,” the two-time World Champion said of her 2019 win at Las Vegas, Nevada. “So winning this weekend and taking home the trophy from the 1000th race, especially at the Bellagio of dragstrips, ZMAX Dragway, would be a great milestone and a great highlight for the season.”

As for Hendrick, the chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and founder of a NASCAR team that has won a record 315 Cup races and 14 championships, his interest in drag racing spans decades.

“I love drag racing,” he said. “It’s where I found a love for motorsports, going to the local dragstrip with my dad and competing in my ’31 Chevy. I’ve been a fan of John (Force) and his family for a long time, and it’s been a great collaboration. They’re terrific representatives for the HendrickCars.com brand.”

Indeed, the HendrickCars.com logo will be prominent on all three John Force Racing entries this weekend.  

The 2016 winner of the Charlotte 4-Wide, an event her dad won the first time it was contested in 2010, Brittany is seeking her first win of the current season, the 18th in a Monster of a professional career.

“This team is building momentum,” she said. “And we’ve done well in the past at four-wide events. Crew chiefs David Grubnic and John Collins and all my guys are looking to land this HendrickCars.com dragster in the winner’s circle on Sunday and make Mr. H proud.”

The only woman other than Shirley Muldowney to have won a championship in one of the NHRA’s fuel categories, Brittany will begin Friday’s qualifying ritual from the No. 5 position in the driver standings.

In addition to setting the current NHRA national records for both time and speed (3.623 seconds, 338.94 miles per hour), the 38-year-old Force is one of only a handful of drivers to have started as many as 50 NHRA tour events from the No. 1 qualifying position.

She’ll be seeking her 54th No. 1 start and second this season when qualifying begins with a pair of sessions on Friday.

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 23, 2025) – Since sliding into the seat of the Cornwell Tools/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS for the first time at the start of the 2024 season, Austin Prock has been on a record-setting binge he hopes to sustain this week when he competes in the 15th renewal of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway.

A victory two weeks ago at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his first of the new season but his ninth in his last 22 NHRA starts, made the 29-year-old the first to win four-across in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. 

This week, he’ll try to further enhance his resume by becoming the first to win in both categories at the same four-wide event, an achievement made possible by his 2023 Top Fuel victory in the Charlotte 4-Wide in his final season at the wheel of a John Force Racing dragster. 

“Ready to get to Charlotte,” beamed the man who last year broke boss and mentor John Force’s 28-year-old single season record when he qualified his hot rod Chevy No. 1 at 15 of the 20 events in the NHRA’s Mission Foods Series.

“I love the area, and the track is one of the nicest we go to,” said the 2019 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year.  “On top of that, it’s HendrickCars.com country. To get a win and have Mr. H (Charlotte businessman and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick) out at the track would be extra special. 

“We’re looking forward to getting started, especially coming off a win two weekends ago,” said the man who last fall became the first to break 340 miles per hour (341.68 mph), a barrier once believed to be beyond reach.

The great grandson of Jim Prock, who raced in the Indianapolis 500, and grandson of Tom Prock, a standout Funny Car driver in the 1970s, the younger Prock tried his hand at oval racing while waiting for his opportunity in a drag racing discipline in which his dad, Jimmy, has excelled as a crew chief.  

At the age of 14, he made his first competitive appearance on an oval a memorable one when he won a heat race and the feature at the Indianapolis Speedrome in a midget prepared by his brother, Thomas. Two years later, he was Rookie of the Year in the STARS National Midget Series before graduating to a sprint car he and his brother raced out of Tony Stewart’s shop.

Nevertheless, drag racing with his dad and brother always was the goal, one ultimately realized with Force’s help and blessing.

“I’m so blessed to have John Force in my corner,” Prock said. “He loves the sport and has built a dynasty off of family racing and he gets to watch that happen with my family, too, under the same roof.

“He’s given us an outstanding facility to race out of (in Brownsburg, Ind.),” said the 13-time NHRA tour winner. “He just wants to see win lights and have fun. He knows the love I have for this sport and the love I have for Funny Cars and I’m glad to have him in my corner.”

(Aidan RoosEvans (26), Dalton Gauthier (79), Evan Renshaw (65), Tarren Santero (75), Ryan Wells (94), Ethan Kitchen (105) in Senoia; Photo: American Flat Track/Tim Lester) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 23, 2025) – The hierarchy of power in AFT Singles presented by KICKER competition finds itself very much in flux as the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, picks back up with the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers on Saturday, April 26, at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California.   The Chase is On  The class’ new reality was effectively delayed until Round 3, as the Daytona double opener served as an extended, glorified victory lap for reigning triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who took both wins in a one-off appearance before switching his focus to pavement.  With Kopp not in attendance in Senoia, this year’s fight began in earnest with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) claiming a stirring victory from Row 3.   The win saw Saathoff become just the fifth rider in class history to complete the AFT Singles Grand Slam, now boasting one win apiece in the Mile, Half-Mile, TT, and Short Track disciplines after repeated near-misses in his attempt to earn a first-career victory.  Despite Saathoff’s heroics, the points lead belongs to archrival Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who continues to rack up podiums at a record pace. Drane’s runner-up finish in Georgia was his ninth consecutive top three, the most strung together in the history of the category.  Still, a pair of seconds and a third is probably not exactly how the Australian envisioned his ‘25 getting underway. He’ll be plenty motivated to back up his win at Ventura Raceway one year ago with another this weekend.  Room for More  Last season, Kopp, Drane, and Saathoff accounted for every single victory and the vast majority of podium finishes.   With Kopp not defending his #1 plate, there was reason to believe this year could wind up a two-rider show at the front – and there’s still reason to believe that. However, there’s also more than a glimmer of hope for those wanting to see a bit more unpredictability in the quest for both race wins and championship honors.  Lurking there next in line in the early-season points standings is Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who ranks among the most decorated riders in class history. He’s still finding his way to top 450cc form following a 2024 campaign spent earning the Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year award, but there is no doubt he can go bar to bar with any rider in AFT Singles competition when fully up to speed.  There’s also the strong possibility that some newer faces fight their way to the top of the box. That chance was made all the more real when second-year ace Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) earned his first-career class podium at Senoia.  There’s also Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who looks every bit the part of a race winner and title contender should his luck finally turn around and allow him to show what he’s capable of on a more consistent basis.  California Crew  AFT Singles’ strong second group is California heavy, and back-to-back races in the Golden State will no doubt see them do everything in their power to join the first group.  Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) leads that pack in the points. After claiming a career best finish of fourth last season, Raggio will look to score his first-ever Progressive AFT podium in front of his home state fans.  Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) broke through with a runner-up ride in last year’s Sturgis TT. The next step for him is to move up one more rung on the podium.  Meanwhile, the ‘Cali Kid’ himself, Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) boasts the most recent podium and most recent win among Californians in the class. Cose is a threat to add to his trophy collection in any given start.  View to a Thrill… and More  Incredible racing and spectacular beachside viewing won’t be the only attractions for fans, who can also expect a multitude of vendors, big screen viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.   Reserve Your Seats Today  General Admission tickets are just $50 (kids 12 and under free) all taxes and fees included. Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $15 and $25 more (all ages), respectively. With a student ID as proof, students can purchase a General Admission ticket for just $30 at the door on the day of the event. And new for 2025, every level of ticket automatically includes paddock access.  Also available for purchase is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($105), which includes reserved seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo ops included, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies and a portion of the night’s race action.  Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/ventura-short-track-121465 to reserve your seats today.  Gates will open for fans at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.  How to Watch  FloRacing  For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1  FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT).  For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Press Information POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 23, 2025) – After missing the most recent race on the Trans Am by Pirelli schedule, three-time series champion Chris Dyson plans to be back behind the wheel of his #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang for this weekend’s 100-mile sprint race at California’s Sonoma Raceway. Lingering effect of a hard crash in the season-opener at Sebring (caused by the loss of a front wheel) forced Dyson to withdraw from the following race at Road Atlanta. “Fortunately Matty Brabham was available when it became clear that I wasn’t yet sufficiently fit to give the 100% effort that the team deserves,” Dyson said. Brabham qualified second in Atlanta and won the 100-mile sprint race. “I’m grateful to Matty; he’s always there when we need him. And the team scored maximum points for the season championship, which is our target now.” The four-week break between the Road Atlanta race and this weekend’s at Sonoma has given Dyson the opportunity to recover from his injuries and to regain as much of his fitness as possible. “It was touch and go for me up until the last ten days, and that’s when my body started to feel somewhat healed. And then last week we were able to squeeze in a 30-minute session at the end of a club day at Lime Rock, and that run is what convinced me that racing at Sonoma was feasible,” Dyson said. “It was great to be back in the car and my body felt surprisingly good despite not a lot of conditioning. Like Sonoma, Lime Rock is physically demanding. So while I would have liked to run for a solid hour, I’m confident I’ll be good to go.” Success at Sonoma Over the Years Many Dyson-entered events at Sonoma have yielded excellent results. The team has competed at the famed Wine Country-adjacent circuit since the mid-1980s, and Dyson entries claimed memorable overall race victories in IMSA GTP, IMSA World Sports Car and American Le Mans Series events. More recently, Chris Dyson won the 2021 and 2022 Trans Am races.  When asked about contributing factors for the team’s multiple triumphs, Chris Dyson was effusive in his praise for the circuit and the demands it places on drivers and teams.  “Sonoma, with its variety of speeds and elevation changes, puts a big emphasis on chassis setup and tire management.  Fortunately our ‘truck setup’ tends to hit the track and deliver strong performance at Sonoma. Behind the wheel, the place has all the elements a driver wants in terms of challenges. There are massively fast corner entries and despite having few straight areas, the circuit has an excellent flow to it. It’s been a team favorite for all of these reasons. I’m so glad I’m going to make this one.” For more on Chris Dyson Racing.Sonoma Schedule Qualifying takes place Saturday, April 26, 3:20 PM – 3:35 PM PT (6:20 PM – 6:35 PM ET) The 100-mile race takes the green flag Sunday, March 27, at 10:35 AM PT (1:35 PM ET) Broadcast Schedule The race will be live-streamed on both SpeedTour.TV and the SpeedTour TV YouTube channel.

CRANDALL, TX (April 22, 2025) — The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) National Tour makes its first and only trip to Texas this season for a two-night program at RPM Speedway this Friday–Saturday, April 25–26.

Two $4,000-to-win programs await the stars of the national 360 Sprint Car series this weekend, racing alongside the local Factory Stock, Limited Modified and USRA Modified classes.

This weekend will mark the third and fourth visits in National Tour history to the 1/4-mile dirt track. Last October, the Tour made its debut in a two-night program, which saw Seth Bergman win on Friday and Sam Hafertepe Jr. win Saturday’s main event.

Tickets for this weekend’s events will be sold at the track on race day. If you can’t be there, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow:

HOME GAME — Sam Hafertepe Jr. begins his quest for ASCS National Tour Feature win No. 80 this weekend at a track 20 miles away from his home in Sunnyvale, TX.

The five-time Tour champion scored his 79th career Tour victory two weeks ago in Salina to tie the late Jason Johnson for second-most all-time. An 80th win would put him in sole control of No. 2 on the all-time list, trailing only four-time Tour champion Gary Wright, who amassed 128 Feature wins with the National Tour in his 20-plus-year career competing in ASCS-sanctioned events.

Opened in 2009, RPM Speedway has become Hafertepe’s closest race place, following the shuttering of Devil’s Bowl Speedway after the 2023 season. In five recorded starts at RPM, Hafertepe has posted three podium finishes, including two wins in ASCS competition, topping a Gulf South Region race in 2018 and winning on the second of a two-night event with the National Tour last October. The night before, Hafertepe led the opening 12 laps of the main event when a fire erupted underneath the hood of the Hill’s Racing No. 15H, retiring him for the remainder of the event.

SOLID START — Three races into Seth Bergman’s 2025 campaign and he’s already tallied three podium finishes.

The 37-year-old defending champion of the ASCS National Tour started his season in late March, posting back-to-back runner-up finishes in ASCS Sooner Region events at Creek County Speedway and Enid Speedway. He followed that with a third-straight second-place finish at the National Tour event in Salina two weekends ago behind only Hafertepe — his closest competition on the Tour throughout 2024 and another threat for the season points championship again this year.

Historically, Bergman has three known starts in a 360 Sprint Car at RPM, first posting a ninth-place run with the Gulf South Region in 2017. He returned to the track last October with the National Tour and won the opening round of the two-night event before mounting a 15th-to-seventh charge in the main event on Saturday.

SO CLOSE — Last October, Blake Hahn remained the car to beat throughout Saturday night’s main event at RPM but came up one spot short of victory. This weekend, he’s coming back to avenge what he lost.

Hahn, the two-time Tour champion from Sapulpa, OK, led the first 26 laps of that Feature before Hafertepe caught and passed him for the lead after a restart in the closing circuits. This remains his best finish in four main event starts at the track, also collecting a runner-up finish and zero finishes outside the top-10.

Hahn has also been strong recently, winning once with the ASCS Sooner Region in March and posting a fourth-place run with the National Tour at Salina.

LOOKING UP — After a fifth-place finish at Salina two weeks ago, Matt Covington is poised for another positive result this weekend at RPM where he’s had success.

The 34-year-old from Glenpool, OK, ran fourth on Friday and fifth on Saturday at last year’s doubleheader at RPM. Of his four recorded starts there, he’s never finished outside the top-10.

This weekend, he’s going for his second win of the season — following a United Sprint Car Series main event win at Hattiesburg Speedway in March — but his first with the National Tour since August of 2023.

BACK IN THE SADDLE — After a rough weekend at Salina for Brogan Carder and Carson Bolden, the two teenage racers are set to get back in the seat with ASCS this weekend at RPM.

Carder, the 14-year-old Rookie of the Year contender from Sioux Falls, SD, was forced to retire from the event early after a fire in the cockpit of his car erupted at the end of his Hot Laps session. According to a post from the team’s Facebook page, Carder suffered “second-degree burns on his pinky and ring finger and a small area on his knee” in the incident but has since recovered and is set to return to competition.

Later in the program, Bolden — a fellow 14-year-old racer from Quinlan, TX — was involved in a hard crash on the backstretch during the Last Chance Showdown, making contact with the outside wall and rolling over multiple times before coming to a stop at the edge of the infield. He and his team have since made repairs and have made their plans known to race again this weekend.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

Friday–Saturday, April 25–26 at RPM Speedway in Crandall, TX

TRACK FACTS

• 1/4-mile, semi-banked oval

• Track Record — 12.766 seconds set by Seth Bergman on October 25, 2024

ON THE INTERNET
X — @ASCSRacing
Instagram — @ascs_racing
Facebook — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
YouTube — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
DIRTVision — DIRTVision.com (Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (4/41 Races)

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (150pts)
2. Justin Peck (150pts)
3. Brian Brown 142pts (–8)
4. Seth Bergman 142pts (–8)
5. Cole Macedo 135pts (–15)
6. Sean McClelland 135pts (–15)
7. Blake Hahn 130pts (–20)
8. Emerson Axsom 130pts (–20)
9. Matt Covington 125pts (–25)
10. Austin McCarl 125pts (–25)

FEATURE WINNERS (2 Drivers):

1. Justin Peck (3 wins)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1 win)

FEATURE LAPS LED (3 Drivers)

1. Justin Peck (65 laps)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (25 laps)
3. Brian Brown (15 laps)

QUICK TIME AWARDS (3 Drivers)

1. Emerson Axsom, Austin McCarl, Kyler Johnson (1 award)

HEAT RACE WINNERS (13 Drivers)

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4 wins)
2. Justin Peck (3 wins)
3. Scotty Thiel (2 wins)
4. Matt Covington, Hank Davis, Blake Hahn, Chris Martin, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Austin McCarl, Seth Bergman, Sean McClelland, Caleb Saiz (1 win)

DASH APPEARANCES (21 Drivers)

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4 appearances)
2. Justin Peck (3 appearances)
3. Blake Hahn, Austin McCarl, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Thiel, Danny Dietrich, Cole Macedo, Brady Bacon, Daison Pursley (2 appearances)
4. Hank Davis, Jordan Thomas, Matt Covington, Scotty Thiel, Chris Martin, Brian Brown, Seth Bergman, Whit Gastineau, Sean McClelland, Caleb Saiz, Chance Morton (1 appearance)

SMITH TITANIUM LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers)

1. Blake Hahn, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Clem, Kyle Clark (1 win)

HARD CHARGER AWARDS (4 Drivers)

1. Austin McCarl, Emerson Axsom, Blake Hahn, Landon Britt (1 award)

PODIUM FINISHES (8 Drivers)

1. Justin Peck (3 podiums)
2. Brian Brown, Sam Hafertepe Jr (2 podiums)
3. Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo, Austin McCarl, Seth Bergman, Sean McClelland (1 podium)

2025 SCHEDULE + WINNERS

Race Number. Day, Date / Track / City, State / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Thu, Jan. 30 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Justin Peck (1)
2. Fri, Jan. 31 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Justin Peck (2)
3. Sat, Feb. 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Justin Peck (3)
4. Sat, April 12 / Salina Highbanks Speedway / Salina, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)

ARTICLE: https://ascsracing.com/what-to-watch-for/what-to-watch-for-national-tour-races-to-rpm-speedway-doubleheader-in-texas/
PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Schwanke

EVENT INFO: https://ascsracing.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4548034
TRACK INFO: http://www.rpmdirt.com/
FAN 101: https://ascsracing.com/about/

Inside Line Promotions – MERCED, Calif. (April 22, 2025) – Dominic Scelzi captured his first feature triumph of the season last Saturday during a Sprint Car Challenge Tour event at Merced Speedway.

The win marked the 11 ^th straight season with at least one winged sprint car victory for the Scelzi Motorsports driver.

“Last year we struggled the first three quarters of the season and then got a lot better late in the year,” he said. “Whenever you have a down season like we did last year you’re more anxious to start the next year on the right foot. To get the win with a big group of cars, it was a huge relief off my shoulders.”

Scelzi qualified fifth quickest in his group to open the program, which featured more than 40 drivers.

“The track was really slick in qualifying and slowed down pretty aggressively,” he said. “I think I was the 20 ^th car out of 22 in our group to go out. Everyone was running around the top. Jimmy (Carr) and I talked about trying the first lap around the top and the second lap on the bottom. On the first lap I felt as good as I could have. On the second lap we cut like three tenths off our time. I think that was the defining point of the night.”

Scelzi won a heat race to advance into the dash. A runner-up result in the dash started him on the outside of the front row in the main event.

“We didn’t win the start, but I did a big diamond move in turns one and two and was able to get by the leader down the back straightaway,” he said. “I led about the first 15 laps. He got by me and we had a restart soon after that. I was able to get back by with a slider a lap after the restart. There were a lot of sketchy moments in traffic, but they really nailed the track surface in the main event and you could race all over the race track. It was really fun and I was thankful we could knock off our first win of the year.”

The victory was his 10 ^th career Sprint Car Challenge Tour win.

Scelzi plans on doing double duty by racing with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series and Kings of Thunder this Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.

“I feel very confident going back there,” he said. “I think we have a great package racing at Tulare. I’m hoping we can get our first NARC win of the season.”

QUICK RESULTS –

April 19 – Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 2 (2); Feature: 1 (2).

SEASON STATS –

8 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 8 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series and Kings of Thunder

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DominicScelziRacing.com

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

X: http://www.x.com/DominicScelzi

OCALA, FLA. (April 22, 2025) — The Four-Wide Nationals format has been a tricky transition for several teams since it was introduced at zMax Dragway over a decade ago. For Josh Hart, driver and owner of the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team, the move from racing one competitor to three opponents at one time has been a positive work in progress. He has raced to the final quad a number of times but has yet to turn on three win lights. This weekend Hart will be looking for his first four-wide win and second win at zMax Dragway when the American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals gets underway with two qualifying sessions on Friday, April 25. 

“We have had success at zMax Dragway and our R+L Carriers team is moving in the right direction,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “Las Vegas was a hot track and we have seen every kind of track conditions this season. I talked to my crew chiefs after the race and we feel like we have a tune up that can be competitive this weekend. I am looking forward to getting back out there.”

Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team are ready for three win lights at zMax Dragway this weekend.

Two weeks ago Hart advanced out of the first quad and then smoked the tires in the second quad. By racing to the quarterfinals he will once again compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday during the third and fourth qualifying session. He will match up once again with Shawn Reed, Antron Brown and Clay Millican who is replacing Jasmine Salinas. 

“The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is a lot of fun and great way to start getting focused for race day,” said Hart. “Getting another shot at the drivers from Las Vegas with an extra payout and championship points is an added bonus.”

Hart’s record at zMax Dragway in the four-wide competition is impressive. In three of his previous four appearances, he has raced to the final quad. He has also started from the top half of the field in his first three appearances at the American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals. Getting off to a strong start in qualifying has been a focus of the R+L Carriers team as they start the 2025 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

“We want to come off the trailer on Friday with a good plan for qualifying and then run some low numbers,” said Hart. “(Crew chiefs) Ron (Douglas), Jason (McCulloch) and Joe (Barlam) have been working really well together. We have seen positive results at every race so far and we just need to keep working hard and we will see positive results.”

While Hart will be busy on the track, Burnyzz Speed Shop, his primary business, will have a display in the manufacturers midway for fans to get up close to some classic cars. Hart will also be spending time in the display talking with fans who are car collectors or might be interested in having their classic cars or trucks rebuilt or modernized by the Burnyzz Speed Shop team of experts. Hart recently announced plans to expand Burnyzz nationally building on the wild popularity and unparalleled customer service he offers at his Ocala, Florida headquarters. 

“I am always excited to talk about Burnyzz Speed Shop,” said Hart, who built the company with his wife Brittanie. “Our business has grown every year and we have a great team in Ocala. I want to expand so more people can get the full Burnyzz Speed Shop customer experience. I’ll be over in the booth throughout the weekend.”

Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, April 25 and then two more qualifying runs on April 26 at zMAX Dragway. The 16 quickest Top Fuel dragster after four rounds of qualifying will advance to race day on Sunday, April 27 at 12 p.m. ET with the finals live on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals visit nhra.com. 

First up is a trip to the “Land of Lincoln” before the only Indiana visit of 2025

JACKSONVILLE, IL (April 22, 2025) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are ready to go from a famed 1/2 mile to two of the country’s top 1/4-mile dirt tracks.

After a night at the historic Knoxville Raceway, a pair of bullrings are on the agenda as Illinois’ Jacksonville Speedway and Haubstadt, IN’s Tri-State Speedway await The Greatest Show on Dirt this weekend – April 25-26.

There’s a reason many fans circled this weekend when the 2025 schedule came out. Both tracks are tight. Both tracks create some of the closest wheel-to-wheel racing you’ll see all year. Both tracks never fail to put on a show.

A year ago, the World of Outlaws made their fifth-ever visit to Jacksonville, and the result was a green-to-checkered banger with action everywhere you looked. There’s no reason to think Friday’s Hy-Vee Perks 40 won’t serve up more of the same. Tri-State Speedway has welcomed the country’s best drivers on 44 occasions, the most of any track in the “Hoosier State.” The unique, paperclip-shaped oval presents drivers with a challenge unlike any other and has entertained fans for decades.

Clear your calendars. If you like Sprint Cars, this is a weekend you don’t want to miss.

BUY JACKSONVILLE TICKETS HERE
FOR TRI-STATE TICKETS, CALL (812) 768-6025

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

CUE THE JAWS MUSIC: After a tough 2024, Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing started this year strong in Florida, but the question was, is it sustainable? Through nearly a quarter of the campaign, they’ve answered that with a definitive yes.

The Hanover, PA native carries a three-race podium streak into this weekend. Schuchart earned three top threes during the entire 2024 season, and he’s already more than doubled that this year. He’s only finished worse than eighth once, and that was when an empty tail tank left him with a 17th-place finish during Bike Week at Volusia. It’s taken no time for the veteran and new crew chief Kyle Pruitt to click, and after their third-place result at Knoxville, Schuchart took over second in points and trails David Gravel by 68 markers.

Schuchart’s history at both tracks ahead isn’t filled with the best results, a trend he’ll have to end to continue cutting into Gravel’s advantage. His best finish through five tries at Jacksonville is eighth. Over at Tri-State, he owns four top 10s in a dozen attempts, but on the bright side, a trio are top fives and have come in the last five races at the quarter mile.

DOUBLING UP: There are only two current World of Outlaws competitors that have won at both Jacksonville and Tri-State Speedway, and to no surprise it’s a pair of the best.

David Gravel is one of the two. The defending champion and current point leader topped last year’s Jacksonville thriller by outdueling Kyle Larson. His Haubstadt résumé is home to a pair of victories (2016 & 2018), both with CJB Motorsports. The Watertown, CT native is yet to win one at Tri-State with his current Big Game Motorsports crew, but Tod Quiring’s team has been victorious three times at “The Class Track” ­– twice with Craig Dollansky and once with Sammy Swindell.

Carson Macedo is the other who has been to both Victory Lanes. A 2019 triumph at Jacksonville was his fifth career World of Outlaws win. The Lemoore, CA native won at Tri-State in 2020 and followed that up with victories the next two years to become the first with three straight. Macedo is in search of a rebound weekend after suffering his first DNF of 2025 at Knoxville.

A win for either Gravel or Macedo on Friday would make them the first to a pair of triumphs at Jacksonville in World of Outlaws competition.

HAUD’S HEARTBREAK: Both tracks ahead have dealt Sheldon Haudenschild their share of heartbreak in the past, but the stats say his luck could turn around.

He debuted at the track in 2016 and was running well within the top 10 before an early spin dropped him to a 17th-place result. Three years later, he started on the pole and led laps before spinning with six to go while battling for the win. Then, in 2021, Haudenschild had the lead with eight laps to go before a flat tire ended his hopes. Tri-State has dealt devastation to Haudenschild as he’s led laps in four different Features, but various factors have kept him from Victory Lane. He’s finished runner-up on three occasions.

The big question this weekend is, can he break through at either 1/4 mile. It’s clear he knows his way around both Jacksonville and Tri-State. He and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall team have been solid with seven top fives this season, and they’re hungry for a win.

HAUBSTADT HISTORY: It took 43 World of Outlaws races at Tri-State Speedway for someone to win three straight at the Indiana oval, and now, just two races later, the opportunity is there again.

As mentioned above, Carson Macedo has claimed a trio of wins at Haubstadt (2020 – 2022) until Broken Arrow, OK’s Brady Bacon ended that streak in 2023 with his first career World of Outlaws triumph. A year later, he conquered Tri-State Speedway again, and now he has the chance to join Macedo as the only other competitor to top three in a row.

Bacon has also topped the USAC National Sprint Cars at Tri-State twice, and he claimed the Hut Hundred with the USAC Midgets when the track hosted it in 2012. The “Macho Man’s” best finish in a winged 410 Sprint Car this year is fifth.

NON-WING KNOWLEDGE: With Tri-State Speedway being a frequent stop for the USAC National Sprint Cars over the years, along with hosting various other wingless races annually, the non-wingers tend to excel at the paperclip. A couple of full-timers with The Greatest Show on Dirt aim to continue the trend.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year leader Chris Windom experienced a lot of success without the wings before transitioning to winged cars in the last few years. The Canton, IL native topped a USAC race at Haubstadt in 2017, and he’s been in the top five a total of eight times in wingless action.

Fellow rookie contender Hunter Schuerenberg owns a trio of Tri-State non-wing wins, and he’s also been victorious with the wing, beating MOWA in 2016. “Hunter Percent” finished runner-up with the World of Outlaws at Haubstadt in 2018, his best Series finish to date.

In addition to those two, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid hasn’t raced at Tri-State in a non-wing Sprint Car, but he’s been there several times without the wing in the form of a Midget. He’s been a runner-up three times in USAC National Midget competition. Last year, he podiumed with Roth Motorsports in his second Sprint Car start at Haubstadt.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, April 25 at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL
Saturday, April 26 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
X – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (16/85 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (2264 PTS)
2. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-68 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-100 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-140 PTS)
5. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-198 PTS)
6. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-234 PTS)
7. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-238 PTS)
8. Bill Balog – B2 Motorsports No. 17B (-284 PTS)
9. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-372 PTS)
10. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-374 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers): 
5 Wins – David Gravel
2 Wins – Kyle Larson, Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
1 Win – Christopher Bell, Bill Balog, Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu

FEATURE LAPS LED (13 Drivers):
126 Laps – David Gravel
66 Laps – Logan Schuchart
65 Laps – Michael Kofoid
51 Laps – Kyle Larson
39 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo
19 Laps – Bill Balog
17 Laps – Emerson Axsom, Rico Abreu
16 Laps – Cole Macedo
9 Laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
8 Laps – Christopher Bell, Aaron Reutzel

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (9 Drivers):
8 Quick Times – David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Emerson Axsom, Kyle Larson, Danny Sams III, Logan Schuchart, Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Rico Abreu

HEAT RACE WINNERS (24 Drivers): 
9 Heat Wins – David Gravel
8 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
5 Heat Wins – Bill Balog, Logan Schuchart
4 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Heat Wins – Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson 
2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Jacob Allen, Michael Kofoid, Austin McCarl, Emerson Axsom
1 Heat Win – Hunter Schuerenberg, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson, Bryce Lucius, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Conner Morrell, Donny Schatz, Danny Dietrich, Aaron Reutzel, Tanner Thorson, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (34 Drivers):
14 Dashes – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart
11 Dashes – Carson Macedo
7 Dashes – Bill Balog
6 Dashes – Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Emerson Axsom, Giovanni Scelzi
5 Dashes – Brian Brown
3 Dashes – Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Garet Williamson, Cole Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
2 Dashes – Danny Sams III, Jacob Allen, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Donny Schatz, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Brad Sweet, Ryan Timms, Parker Price-Miller, Hunter Schuerenberg, Spencer Bayston, Conner Morrell, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram, Danny Dietrich, Tanner Thorson, Carson McCarl

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (11 Drivers):
2 LCS Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Christopher Thram, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson
1 LCS Win – Chris Martin, Anthony Macri, Bryce Lucius, Conner Morrell, Blake Hahn, J.J. Hickle

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (11 Drivers):
3 Hard Chargers – Ryan Timms
2 Hard Chargers – Chris Windom, Skylar Gee, Garet Williamson
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart, Cole Macedo, Zach Hampton, Bill Balog, Hunter Schuerenberg, Michael Kofoid

PODIUM FINISHES (15 Drivers):
11 Podiums – David Gravel
7 Podiums – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
5 Podiums – Kyle Larson
4 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
3 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
2 Podiums – Christopher Bell, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 Podium – Aaron Reutzel, Jacob Allen, Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild, Emerson Axsom, Donny Schatz, Rico Abreu

TOP 10 FINISHES (34 Drivers): 
16 Top 10s – David Gravel
15 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
14 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
11 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid
10 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi
9 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
8 Top 10s – Bill Balog
5 Top 10s – Chris Windom, Emerson Axsom, Kyle Larson
4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Hunter Schuerenberg, Aaron Reutzel, Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney
3 Top 10s – Ryan Timms, Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson 
2 Top 10s – Christopher Bell, Jacob Allen, Spencer Bayston, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Rico Abreu
1 Top 10 – Danny Sams III, Parker Price-Miller, Skylar Gee, Zach Hampton, Conner Morrell, Tanner Thorson, Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown

2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)
2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Christopher Bell (1)
3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Kyle Larson (1)
4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Kyle Larson (2)
5. Sun, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
6. Mon, March 3 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (2)
7. Fri, March 7 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Bill Balog (1)
8. Sat, March 8 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / David Gravel (3)
9. Fri, March 14 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
10. Sat, March 15 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Michael Kofoid (1)
11. Fri, March 21 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / David Gravel (4)
12. Sat, March 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / David Gravel (5)
13. Fri, March 28 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / Michael Kofoid (2)
14. Fri, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (2)
15. Sat, April 12 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Logan Schuchart (1)
16. Sat, April 19 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Rico Abreu (1)

For the complete 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

EASTABOGA, AL (April 22, 2025) – It’s race week in Talladega, but the most powerful race cars in Alabama won’t be found at Talladega Superspeedway.

Across the street sits Talladega Short Track, site of the Alabama Gang 100 (April 25-26) for the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

It’s a weekend of firsts for the Series. Talladega marks the kickoff of the Coltman Farms Racing Cup, the season-long miniseries that awards points at each Cup event toward the inaugural champion at the end of the year. Saturday’s finale wraps up with the first 100-lap Feature of the year. And the winner of that race will take home the first $50,000 payday of 2025.

The United Sprint Car Series will race alongside The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet on both nights, giving both fendered and open-wheel dirt racing fans reason to circle the event on their calendar.

Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:

PULLING AWAY: Bobby Pierce may have come up one spot short of a third-straight Illini 100 victory two weeks ago at Farmer City, but he still took a positive step toward a second World of Outlaws championship.

The Oakwood, IL native’s finishes of sixth and second at the bullring were enough to extend his lead atop the standings to 66 points over Ryan Gustin and Nick Hoffman, neither of whom were able to crack the top five on either night.

Last week, Pierce and many of his fellow Outlaws stayed busy racing in Iowa with the MARS Late Model Championship. After finishing runner-up to Brandon Sheppard for the second time in six days at Cedar County Raceway, Pierce swept the weekend at 34 Raceway to become the first dirt Late Model driver to reach double-digit wins in 2025.

The World of Outlaws title fight resumes on the red clay this weekend at a track Pierce has yet to find Victory Lane. He came close in 2023, finishing third in a split-field preliminary Feature. Gustin owns the best Talladega record of the top three, with the 2024 Ice Bowl win to his credit and a podium finish in the 2023 Alabama Gang 100.

BACKING IT UP: Coming into 2025, Ethan Dotson and ASD Motorsports jokingly dubbed their first season on the road with the World of Outlaws the “Just Don’t Suck Tour.” With 10 races in the books, they’ve passed that test with flying colors.

After coming close on multiple occasions, Dotson’s day finally arrived at Farmer City, where he led the final 27 laps of Friday’s Feature to claim his first World of Outlaws victory. He left Farmer City fifth in the overall standings and one of two rookies in the top five alongside Drake Troutman, who sits 34 points ahead of Dotson.

Talladega holds a special distinction on Dotson’s resume – it’s the only track he’s won at in a Late Model more than once since moving up from the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds in 2023. The Californian has made seven appearances with the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series at Talladega over the past two years and won two of them. With both of those scores coming in 40-lap affairs, Dotson will look to maintain that speed over the longer distance this weekend in his Alabama Gang 100 debut.

GAINING STEAM: He may not be stealing headlines like Pierce and Dotson, but Brian Shirley has quietly become one of the hottest Late Model drivers in the country over the past several weeks.

His finishes of third and fourth at Farmer City weren’t only his best runs of the year with the Outlaws, they were part of a six-race top five streak between World of Outlaws and MARS action. A ninth-place effort on Saturday at 34 Raceway may have brought that run to an end, but the Bob Cullen Racing team is still leaps and bounds ahead of where they started the year – seven of his 13 Late Model top 10s in 2025 have come in the past four weeks.

While Shirley has always been known as one of the best in the Midwest, he’ll now have to prove he can be just as fast outside of Illinois and Iowa. Talladega has been kind to him in the past, as Shirley’s first visit in 2023 netted him a runner up on Friday and a top 10 in Saturday’s main event.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: Few drivers are more eager to get to Talladega than Ashton Winger, who plans on brushing off a lackluster Illini 100 weekend at a track he’s shown plenty of pace at before.

The Hampton, GA driver is a two-time Super Late Model winner at Talladega, the first coming in Iron Man Series action in 2022 before racking up a Hunt the Front win in 2023. Winger is also no stranger to winning on NASCAR weekend at Talladega, taking the checkers in Crate Late Model competition in 2018.

More recently, Winger was one of seven World of Outlaws regulars in the field at a Hunt the Front doubleheader earlier this month and was the only one to finish top five on both nights.

MAKING STRIDES: Dennis Erb Jr. has been slowly progressing back toward the front since switching back to Rocket Chassis last month, and he took a big step in the right direction last weekend.

The 2022 Series champion has collected more FOX Factory Hard Charger Awards than anyone this year, and he started off his weekend with MARS with more of the same with a 20th-to-eighth run at Cedar County. Erb found his best early-night speed of the year at 34 Raceway to lessen the workload come Feature time, resulting in a pair of podium finishes.

Erb will aim to maintain that pace this weekend and grab his first Talladega top 10 in his third trip to the Alabama Gang 100.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday-Saturday, April 25-26 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (1448 points)
2. Ryan Gustin (-66)
3. Nick Hoffman (-66)
4. Drake Troutman (-92)
5. Ethan Dotson (-126)
6. Cody Overton (-134)
7. Max Blair (-138)
8. Brian Shirley (-148)
9. Tanner English (-162)
10. Dennis Erb Jr. (-172)

FEATURE WINNERS (7):
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 2
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1

HEAT RACE WINNERS (20):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 6
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 6
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 5
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 4
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 3
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 3
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 3
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 2
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 2
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 1
Garrett Smith – Madison, GA – 1
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 1
Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1

LANDA PRESSURE WASHERS LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (19):
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 3
Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 2
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 2
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 2
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 1
Jackson Hise – Ocala, FL – 1
Trey Mills – St. Augustine, FL – 1
Austin Smith – Cedartown, GA – 1
Shannon Babb – Moweaqua, IL – 1
Mckay Wenger – Fairbury, IL – 1

PODIUM FINISHERS (14):
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 5
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 5
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 3
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 3
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 2
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 1
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1

FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGERS (8):
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 3
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 1

SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS QUICK TIMES (6):
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 3
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 1
Tanner English – Benton, KY – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham IL – 1

BILSTEIN POLE AWARD (7):
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 2
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 2
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 1
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 1
Jason Feger – Bloomongton, IL – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1

FEATURE LAP LEADERS (12):
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 76
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 70
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 67
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 44
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 41
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 30
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 27
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 25
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 18
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 16
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 11
Brian Shirley – Chatham IL – 1

2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS REAL AMERICAN BEER LATE MODELS PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE & WINNERS
Friday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Ryan Gustin (1)
Saturday, Jan. 25 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (1)
Thursday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (2)
Friday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Devin Moran (1)
Saturday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Jonathan Davenport (1)
Friday, Mar. 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (1)
Friday, Mar. 21 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA / Bobby Pierce (2)
Saturday, Mar. 22 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA / Ryan Gustin (2)
Thursday, Apr. 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, Apr. 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ethan Dotson (1)
Saturday, Apr. 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Friday, Apr. 25 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, Apr. 26 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Thursday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Friday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Saturday, May 3 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Thursday, May 15 / Raceway 7 / Conneaut, OH
Friday, May 16 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Saturday, May 17 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Sunday, May 18 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA
Friday, June 20 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, June 21 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Monday, June 23 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA
Thursday, June 26 / I-94 EMR Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 27 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Saturday, June 28 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Sunday, June 29 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Thursday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 5 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 12 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 26 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Monday, July 28 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Thursday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Wednesday, Aug. 13 / Highland Speedway / Highland, IL
Thursday, Aug. 14 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL
Friday, Aug. 15 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 16 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Friday, Aug. 22 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Aug. 23 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sept. 12 / Needmore Speedway / Norman Park, GA
Saturday, Sept. 13 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA
Friday, Sept. 26 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Saturday, Sept. 27 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Friday, Oct. 3 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS
Saturday, Oct. 4 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS
Friday, Oct. 10 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 11 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Wednesday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 8 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/what-to-watch-for-world-of-outlaws-return-to-the-south-for-alabama-gang-100/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/schedule/event-info/?event=4547660
TRACK INFO: https://www.talladegashorttrack.com/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

LONG BEACH, CA (April 22, 2025) — Jim Dunn Racing and NHRA Funny Car driver Buddy Hull return to the track this weekend at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Hull is bringing momentum and confidence after a strong performance in Las Vegas. Driving the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car backed by KGC Construction, Hull enters Charlotte looking to capitalize on his best reaction time of the season, achieved just two weeks ago at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals. That sharp starting line performance marked a turning point for the sophomore Funny Car driver, who continues to grow more comfortable and competitive with each pass.

“This car is coming around, and I’m coming around with it,” said Hull. “Vegas showed us that we’re making progress, and getting my best light of the season there just fired me up even more for Charlotte. Four-wide racing is wild, but I love it—it keeps you sharp and makes everything that much more intense.”
 

Buddy Hull and the KGC Construction Funny Car are ready for another four-wide race in Charlotte,
photo credit NHRA/National Dragster

With the bright blue and red KGC Construction livery prominently displayed on his 12,000-horsepower Funny Car, Hull is proud to represent a company that shares his passion for building things the right way—whether it’s construction projects or successful race weekends.

“KGC Construction has been a huge part of what we’re doing this year,” Hull added. “We’re all about laying a strong foundation, and we’re heading into Charlotte with the mindset of continuing to build on what we’ve started. We’re going to keep making them proud.”

The second four-wide race of the season means that Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be battling the sport’s top Funny Car competitors in one of the most electrifying formats in all of racing. The Four-Wide Nationals features side-by-side-by-side-by-side action, testing drivers’ focus and reflexes unlike any other event on the NHRA tour. Off the track, fans can find Hull on the NHRA stage on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., where he’ll be engaging with the crowd during New Fan Orientation with Hannah Rickards.

“On and off the track, this weekend is sure to be a barn burner,” said Hull. “The Charlotte crowd always shows out for us, which is why it’s a no-brainer that we race here twice a year. We’re aiming to do well this weekend to keep moving up in points and then get lots of good data that we can use when we’re back here in September during the Countdown.”

In addition to KGC Construction, this weekend Hull will also be representing season-long sponsors Lescure Mechanical Services, Blaze Exhaust Probes, Mooneyes, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, USD and Wiley X. 

“Sponsor and fan support has never been more important than right now,” said Hull. “I truly believe that NHRA drag racing is the best sport in the world, but we can’t do it without fans and sponsors. Everyone who takes the time to support the NHRA, Jim Dunn Racing, my family and myself means everything to me. Funny Car racing is the most competitive that it’s ever been right in this moment. I am a blessed man to get to experience it with the support of the people around me.”

Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, April 25 and then two more qualifying runs on April 26 at zMAX Dragway. The 16 quickest Funny Cars after four rounds of qualifying will advance to race day on Sunday, April 27 at 12 p.m. ET with the finals live on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals visit nhra.com. 

(Brandon Robinson (44), Davis Fisher (67), Dallas Daniels (32), Justin Jones (91), Ben Lowe (25), Briar Bauman (3); Photo: American Flat Track/Tim Lester) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 22, 2025) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returns to stunning Ventura Raceway for the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers this Saturday, April 26, with an enthralling Grand National Championship fight taking form.  That clash will take center stage before a breathtaking backdrop this weekend, with previous stops at Ventura Raceway boasting grandstands packed with fans to take in both the incredible race action and the unrivaled views provided by a beach-set venue less than two hundred meters removed from the Pacific Ocean.  Void? What Void?  The sport has been extraordinarily fortunate to witness intense Mission AFT SuperTwins championship rivalries in recent seasons, with the last six title fights remaining undecided until the final race of the year.  From 2019 through 2022, the main event was ten-time king Jared Mees versus double champ Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R). And in 2023 and 2024, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) stepped forward to emerge as Mees’ primary challenger.  With Mees now retired from championship competition, it seems only natural that Bauman and Daniels would be set on a collision course for supremacy in a budding rivalry that has the potential to define motorcycle dirt track racing for the next decade or longer.  While still early days, the post-Mees era is off to a thrilling start. Despite preseason concerns of a Daniels runaway, he leads Bauman by just a single point (62-61) through three races with two victories and a third to his adversary’s pair of seconds and breakthrough win.  That developing showdown promises to continue as a close-fought affair when it arrives in Ventura, California: Daniels and Bauman split top honors in the series’ two previous visits to the oceanside circuit.  Robbed  Bauman’s immediate and highly successful acclimation to the Harley-Davidson XG750R hasn’t only come at the expense of preseason title favorite Daniels. In fact, it was Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) who appeared well on his way to at last completing his long-held goal of becoming the racebike’s first-ever premier-class winner.  Bauman denied him both that night and in the history books, charging up through the top five to snatch the lead away from Robinson with less than two short laps remaining before the checkered flag.  That near-miss runner-up finish still served as clear indication that Robinson has already found his footing in his transition back to the Harley. And it merits mentioning that it was Robinson – not Daniels nor Bauman – who finished second to Mees in last season’s Mission AFT SuperTwins title battle.  Should Robinson bring his best every weekend, he has every chance to make this a season-long three-rider melee. But that best needs to come out again in Ventura to prevent his quarry from pulling away any further up front.  Beach Par(i)ty   The all-production-based ruleset introduced this season in hopes of encouraging greater parity has delivered.  Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, KTM, and Kawasaki have all featured on the podium in the opening three rounds of the season, while Honda, Suzuki, and Royal Enfield have also featured inside the top ten on multiple occasions.  Bauman’s victory last season at Ventura Raceway came aboard a KTM 790 Duke. And despite his defection to H-D, the bike remains a serious threat up front. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) has led that charge to date, as he’s currently tied with Robinson for third in the points on the strength of a third and two fourths. And Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) is not far behind, nine points further adrift in fifth.  Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) have flashed of the speed necessary to up the manufacturer podium count this season and do so early.  Daniels’ record-setting podium streak (now at 16 and counting) has helped ensure Yamaha remains in the spotlight week in and week out. But he isn’t the only rider representing the brand. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) still seeks that maiden premier-class victory that has narrowly eluded him for years, while Californian James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) is motivated to shine in front of his home state fans after demonstrating impressive form a few weeks back in Atlanta.   View to a Thrill… and More  Incredible racing and spectacular beachside viewing won’t be the only attractions for fans, who can also expect a multitude of vendors, big screen viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.   Reserve Your Seats Today  General Admission tickets are just $50 (kids 12 and under free) all taxes and fees included. Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $15 and $25 more (all ages), respectively. With a student ID as proof, students can purchase a General Admission ticket for just $30 at the door on the day of the event. And new for 2025, every level of ticket automatically includes paddock access.  Also available for purchase is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($105), which includes reserved seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photos opps included, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies and a portion of the night’s race action.  Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/ventura-short-track-121465 to reserve your seats today.  Gates will open for fans at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.  How to Watch  FloRacing  For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1  FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT).  For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

BATAVIA, Ohio (April 21, 2025) – The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing will trek to the northeastern region of the country this weekend for three events across three states, spanning from Friday, April 25, through Sunday, April 27.  Each night will include a complete program of Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and their respective A-Main.  The weekend will kick off at the historic Georgetown Speedway for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, which will include a complete program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, culminating in a 49-lap, $20,049 main event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing.   For the April 25 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, pit gates open at 3:00 PM, grandstand gates unlock at 4:00 PM, and Hot Laps are set for 6:30 PM. The Delmarva Chargers, Southern Delaware Vintage, and Delaware Super Trucks are also on the racing card. Tickets for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial can be purchased in advance at www.lucasdirt.co/georgetownor at the gate on race day.  Georgetown Speedway is a half-mile clay oval that produces high speeds and thrilling racing action. The facility has spacious grandstands, ample parking, a large, flat pit area, room for overnight camping, and more. Georgetown Speedway is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, De. – a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md. To learn more, visit www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com.   Hagerstown Speedway is where the action will take place on Saturday, April 26. The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing will join a strong contingent of regional standouts to tackle the half-mile oval for the annual Conococheague 50 in pursuit of the $25,000 top prize. The Semi Late Models will also be a part of the program as the support division.  Hagerstown Speedway is located six miles west of Hagerstown, Md. On U.S. Route 40 (Old National Pike). The pit gate will open at 4:30 PM with the general admission gate opening at 5:00 PM. Hot laps will begin at 7:00 PM to kick off the on-track action. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.lucasdirt.co/hagerstown or onsite the day of the event. For other information, visit www.hagerstownspeedway.com.   The weekend will close out at Port Royal Speedway, often referred to as “The Speed Palace,” on Sunday, April 27. The Battle in The Borough, boasting a $10,000 top prize, will be highlighted by a 40-lap feature for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing. In addition, the Limited Late Models will be chasing a $2,000 winner’s check.  Port Royal Speedway is a half-mile oval located on the Juniata County Fairgrounds in Port Royal, Pa. The pits will close and be cleared at 3:30 PM before re-opening at 4:00 PM. General admission opens at 5:00 PM with Hot Laps slated for 6:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the gates on race day. To learn more about Port Royal Speedway, visit www.portroyalspeedway.com.     Devin Moran is atop the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP standings, followed by Ricky Thornton Jr. and Jonathan Davenport. Brandon Overton and Daulton Wilson round out the top five in championship point standings.  The Mid-Atlantic tripleheader also continues the Sunoco Road to Wheatland, the first of four bonus rounds in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP standings. The Sunoco Road to Wheatland is a long-standing incentive that awards cash bonuses to the top 15 drivers in the series’ point standings at the Show-Me 100 in May. The series point leader will earn a $2,500 bonus at the Show-Me 100, while those finishing 2nd through 15th in the series point standings will receive cash prizes from the $16,000 bonus pool that Sunoco is distributing.  For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.  Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Event Purses: Georgetown Speedway – April 25                                              1. $20,049, 2. $7,000, 3. $5,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,000, 6. $2,500, 7. $2,400, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,800, 13. $1,600, 14. $1,500, 15. $1,400, 16. $1,300, 17. $1,200, 18. $1,100, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = $68,449  Hagerstown Speedway – April 26                                               1. $25,000, 2. $10,000, 3. $6,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,500, 6. $2,700, 7. $2,500, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,900, 13. $1,800, 14. $1,700, 15. $1,600, 16. $1,500, 17. $1,500, 18. $1,500,19. $1,500, 20. $1,500, 21. $1,500, 22. $1,500, 23. $1,500, 24. $1,500 = $82,800  Port Royal Speedway – April 27                                                  1. $10,000, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,575 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule: Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4