Patience Pays Off: David Gravel wins at Hartford Speedway
HARTFORD, Mich. – July 29, 2017 – Patience was certainly a must on Friday night in the Battle of Michigan for the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series. David Gravel showed the patience of a true veteran, enduring five cautions and one red flag period en route to winning at the re-configured Hartford Speedway.
Gravel, who started third, was able to get by Brad Sweet in lapped traffic with just three laps remaining, after erasing a sizeable lead that Sweet had as the laps wound down in the 30-lapper. For Gravel, it was his 11th win of the season for the CJB Motorsports team. He credited the changes his team made during a lap-17 open red flag to helping him reach victory lane.
“I think it was better running second,” said Gravel. “It was a lot of fun. We raced real hard, even with how slick it was. It was very technical out there. We had the red flag and I think we made the car better during it. We were really tight, but you needed to be on a slick track like this. Thanks to my guys for busting their butts and I’m happy we could get another one.”
Brad Sweet jumped out to the lead on the start, after lining up on the outside of the front row. He paced the field for the first eight laps, with Gravel taking the lead on the top side of turn two. Sweet returned to the point on a lap-11 restart using the high groove. Gravel ran side-by-side with Sweet through three and four with four laps to go and took the top spot on the very next lap.
“When I was second, I had a really good restart and got the lead,” explained Gravel. “Then when I was leading, I lost the lead on a restart, so they went both ways tonight. It was tough to get going on the starts. You kind of had to ease on the throttle on the straightaway to get into turn one.”
Sweet, who led 25 total laps in the 30-lapper, finished second to earn his 40th top-five finish of the season, which is tied for the series lead in that category with eight-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz.
“I got a little free at the end and just didn’t cover the lines well enough in traffic,” said Sweet. “I got to the first lapped car and we just weren’t good enough to pass him. If I could have moved around, I think I could have held David (Gravel) off. It just got super technical and line-sensitive. I just made too many mistakes and gave the race away late. We’ll keep fighting and hopefully we can get this NAPA Auto Parts car to victory lane where it belongs. The car is good enough to win, we just need to make it happen.”
Logan Schuchart followed up a win earlier this week at Ohsweken Speedway in Canada with a third-place finish. The Pennsylvania native battled for a large portion of the race with Gravel, while the eventual winner was running second. Since debuting a new car, the driver of the No. 1S for Shark Racing hasn’t finished off the podium.
“We wanted a better car about a month ago,” said Schuchart. “The one we were running was worn out. This one is brand new and has a first and a third. I can’t say enough about the guys who put this car on the race track. It was a fast race car when we got it and its rolling good. This is a good time of the year to be rolling good and be fast. We just have to keep it up and make the right changes at the right times.”
Brent Marks, one of the contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award, finished a season-best fourth at Hartford Speedway. For the Pennsylvania native, it was his first top-five finish of the season.
Kraig Kinser crossed the line fifth, with Donny Schatz sixth. Daryn Pittman recovered from a trip to the work area on the 11th lap to weave his way back through the field to finish seventh. Sheldon Haudenschild was eighth with fellow Ohioan Greg Wilson ninth. Wilson was the KSE Hard Charger, after taking a provisional to start 25th. Shane Stewart rounded out the top-10.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action on Saturday, July 29 at Wilmot Raceway in Wisconsin for the running of the Badger 40.
|
Pos.
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Total
|
Diff
|
Wins
|
Top 5’s
|
Top 10’s
|
|
1
|
15
|
Donny Schatz
|
7314
|
0
|
15
|
40
|
46
|
|
2
|
49
|
Brad Sweet
|
7234
|
-80
|
4
|
39
|
47
|
|
3
|
5
|
David Gravel
|
7196
|
-118
|
11
|
30
|
46
|
|
4
|
9
|
Daryn Pittman
|
6842
|
-472
|
0
|
14
|
34
|
|
5
|
2
|
Shane Stewart
|
6828
|
-486
|
4
|
15
|
36
|
|
6
|
41
|
Jason Johnson
|
6678
|
-636
|
2
|
14
|
30
|
|
7
|
11k
|
Kraig Kinser
|
6436
|
-878
|
1
|
4
|
20
|
|
8
|
93
|
Sheldon Haudenschild
|
6436
|
-878
|
0
|
7
|
23
|
|
9
|
1S
|
Logan Schuchart
|
6312
|
-1002
|
4
|
9
|
17
|
|
10
|
7S
|
Jason Sides
|
6266
|
-1048
|
0
|
8
|
19
|
|
11
|
19
|
Brent Marks
|
6234
|
-1080
|
0
|
1
|
13
|
|
12
|
4
|
Paul McMahan
|
6188
|
-1126
|
0
|
3
|
13
|
|
13
|
W20
|
Greg Wilson
|
5914
|
-1400
|
0
|
5
|
14
|
|
14
|
1A
|
Jacob Allen
|
5254
|
-2060
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
|
15
|
71
|
Joey Saldana
|
4956
|
-2358
|
0
|
4
|
11
|
|
16
|
13
|
Clyde Knipp
|
4916
|
-2398
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
17
|
18
|
Ian Madsen
|
4042
|
-3272
|
1
|
5
|
16
|
|
18
|
21
|
Brian Brown
|
3508
|
-3806
|
1
|
11
|
14
|
|
19
|
2X
|
Parker Price-Miller
|
2990
|
-4324
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
20
|
2M
|
Kerry Madsen
|
2940
|
-4374
|
4
|
11
|
17
|
TO SEE THE FULL RESULTS FROM HARTFORD, CLICK HERE
Sources: Tony Veneziano/World of Outlaws PR
http://www.woosprint.com/news/race-reports/458-2017-race-reports/4638-gravel-wins-11th-at-hartford
7/28/2017 – Hartford Speedway
-
Published On 29 July 2017
HARTFORD, MI — (July 28, 2017) — The Battle of Michigan at Hartford Speedway definitely lived up to its name on Friday evening. With numerous lead changes throughout the 30-lap feature event, it was David Gravel that closed nearly a two-second gap of Brad Sweet to overtake the No. 49 machine in the closing laps en route to pick up his 11th World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the year. Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart rounded out the podium. Brent Marks who started 15th came home in fifth. Greg Wilson was the KSE hardcharger gaining 16 positions.
FEATURE (30 Laps): 1. 5-David Gravel [3][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$5,500]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8][$3,200]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [15][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7][$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$2,300]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [10][$2,200]; 8. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [9][$2,100]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [25][$1,250]; 10. 2-Shane Stewart [1][$2,000]; 11. 41-Jason Johnson [6][$1,500]; 12. 3G-Carson Macedo [19][$1,200]; 13. 71-Joey Saldana [16][$1,100]; 14. 17M-Max McGhee [21][$1,050]; 15. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [11][$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [4][$900]; 17. 17-Jac Haudenschild [13][$800]; 18. 16-Ryan Ruhl [14][$800]; 19. 4-Paul McMahan [5][$800]; 20. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [23][$800]; 21. 7J-Joe Swanson [22][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$800]; 23. 5B-Chad Blonde [17][$800]; 24. 13-Clyde Knipp [20][$800]; 25. 10S-Jason Steinebach [24][$800], Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-8, 11-27; David Gravel 9-10, 28-30, KSE Hard Charger Award: W20-Greg Wilson[+16]
Qualifying : 1. 5-David Gravel, 13.731; 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.855; 3. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.901; 4. 17-Jac Haudenschild, 13.927; 5. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 13.994; 6. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.121; 7. 4-Paul McMahan, 14.162; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.175; 9. 3G-Carson Macedo, 14.178; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.186; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 14.199; 12. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.268; 13. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.273; 14. 7J-Joe Swanson, 14.3; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.316; 16. 71-Joey Saldana, 14.333; 17. 16-Ryan Ruhl, 14.362; 18. 19-Brent Marks, 14.367; 19. 13-Clyde Knipp, 14.387; 20. 5B-Chad Blonde, 14.447; 21. 27Z-Sean Zemunik, 14.541; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.577; 23. 17M-Max McGhee, 14.708; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.85; 25. 10V-Matt Vandervere, 15.271; 26. 10S-Jason Steinebach, 15.294; 27. 5QB-Quentin Blonde, 15.379
Heat #1 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer: 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 4-Paul McMahan [3]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [5]; 5. 17-Jac Haudenschild [2]; 6. 71-Joey Saldana [6]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson [8]; 8. 10V-Matt Vandervere [9]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [7]
Heat #2 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer: 1. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 2. 41-Jason Johnson [1]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 4. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [2]; 5. 16-Ryan Ruhl [6]; 6. 5B-Chad Blonde [7]; 7. 17M-Max McGhee [8]; 8. 7J-Joe Swanson [5]; 9. 10S-Jason Steinebach [9]
Heat #3 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer: 1. 2-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides [2]; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [5]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [6]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [8]; 7. 3G-Carson Macedo [3]; 8. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [7]; 9. 5QB-Quentin Blonde [9]
Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps): 1. 2-Shane Stewart [2]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 3. 5-David Gravel [4]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [6]; 5. 4-Paul McMahan [1]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [5]
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer: 1. 3G-Carson Macedo [1][-]; 2. 13-Clyde Knipp [3][-]; 3. 17M-Max McGhee [6][-]; 4. 7J-Joe Swanson [2][-]; 5. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [4][-]; 6. 10S-Jason Steinebach [8][-]; 7. 10V-Matt Vandervere [7][$300]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [5][$250]; 9. 5QB-Quentin Blonde [9][$225]
SEASON WINNERS
- Donny Schatz – 15 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway May 13, Knoxville Raceway on June 10, Granite City on June 20, Dirt Oval at Route 66 on June 27, Dakota State Fair Speedway on July 1, Eldora Speedway on July 15, Lernerville Speedway on July 18)
- David Gravel – 11 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 13, Plymouth Speedway on April 28, Lincoln Speedway on May 17, Williams Grove on May 19, New Egypt Speedway on May 24, River Cities Speedway on June 16, Attica Raceway Park on July 11, Hartford Speedway on July 28)
- Brad Sweet – 4 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil’s Bowl on April 15, Jackson Motorplex on June 3, Knoxville Raceway on June 9)
- Shane Stewart – 4 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 20, Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 29, West Liberty Raceway on June 23, Beaver Dam Raceway on June 24)
- Kerry Madsen – 4 (Jackson Motorplex on June 2, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 7, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 8, Eldora Speedway on July 13)
- Logan Schuchart – 4 (Keller Auto Speedway on March 31, Eldora Speedway on May 12, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, Ohsweken Speedway on July 25)
- Jason Johnson – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil’s Bowl on April 14)
- Brian Brown – 1 (Cocopah Speedway on April 7)
- Rico Abreu – 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8)
- Parker Price-Miller – 1 (Tri-State Speedway on May 14)
- Ian Madsen – 1 (Jackson Motorplex on June 1)
- Kyle Larson – 1 (Eagle Raceway on June 13)
- Kraig Kinser – 1 (Deer Creek Speedway on July 6)
- Christopher Bell – 1 (Eldora Speedway on July 14)
- Brock Zearfoss – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21)
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Top-20 Standings – July 28, 2017
| Pos. | Car | Driver | Total | Diff | Wins | Top 5’s | Top 10’s |
| 1 | 15 | Donny Schatz | 7314 | 0 | 15 | 40 | 46 |
| 2 | 49 | Brad Sweet | 7234 | -80 | 4 | 39 | 47 |
| 3 | 5 | David Gravel | 7196 | -118 | 11 | 30 | 46 |
| 4 | 9 | Daryn Pittman | 6842 | -472 | 0 | 14 | 34 |
| 5 | 2 | Shane Stewart | 6828 | -486 | 4 | 15 | 36 |
| 6 | 41 | Jason Johnson | 6678 | -636 | 2 | 14 | 30 |
| 7 | 11k | Kraig Kinser | 6436 | -878 | 1 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | 93 | Sheldon Haudenschild | 6436 | -878 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
| 9 | 1S | Logan Schuchart | 6312 | -1002 | 4 | 9 | 17 |
| 10 | 7S | Jason Sides | 6266 | -1048 | 0 | 8 | 19 |
| 11 | 19 | Brent Marks | 6234 | -1080 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 12 | 4 | Paul McMahan | 6188 | -1126 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| 13 | W20 | Greg Wilson | 5914 | -1400 | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| 14 | 1A | Jacob Allen | 5254 | -2060 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | 71 | Joey Saldana | 4956 | -2358 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| 16 | 13 | Clyde Knipp | 4916 | -2398 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 18 | Ian Madsen | 4042 | -3272 | 1 | 5 | 16 |
| 18 | 21 | Brian Brown | 3508 | -3806 | 1 | 11 | 14 |
| 19 | 2X | Parker Price-Miller | 2990 | -4324 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 20 | 2M | Kerry Madsen | 2940 | -4374 | 4 | 11 | 17 |