Turning the Corner

Shane Stewart looks to build momentum at Devil’s Bowl with new CJB Motorsports team

WoO Tucson, AZ 4/5/2019

MESQUITE, TX – April 8, 2019 – Oklahoma native Shane Stewart is looking forward to heading home this weekend — kind of.

The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is returning to historic Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13 — a track Stewart now considers home and has circled on his calendar.

The Mesquite, Texas track — where the inaugural World of Outlaws race was held in 1978 — is about four hours away from Stewart’s hometown of Bixby, Okla. With most tracks in Oklahoma either torn down, or a distant memory, Devil’s Bowl Speedway has become his surrogate hometrack. However, it’s more than just a hometrack.

“Devil’s Bowl has always been one of those bigger races on the schedule,” Stewart said. “Back when I was growing up, Devil’s Bowl, besides Knoxville, was always it for me. If you look at the drivers that have won there, especially Outlaw drivers, the list is pretty deep, with a lot of history there. It’s definitely a track that everybody wants to win at.”

He won at the track in 2016 and had a podium finish at the second race there last year. After an up and down early start to the season, Stewart’s hoping for similar results this year as he and his new CJB Motorsports team continue to learn each other.

Stewart started off the World of Outlaws season strong, finishing second on the opening night of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, but then finished 19th and 21st the next two races. Since then his results have been a mix of top-15 and top-10 finishes — placing him currently eighth in Series points.

“Our finishes haven’t really shown how we’ve been,” Stewart said. “I feel like we’ve been in contention to win three races, and I let one of them sneak away at Volusia, and we were leading the other night and had a flat at Stockton. When we Qualify in the right spot, put ourselves in the Dash, we’ve been in contention to win.”

He spent the past five years driving for Kyle Larson Racing, and while each team is unique with its own personality, Stewart said there’s been no difficulties adjusting to driving the No. 5 car with 2017 Crew Chief of the Year Barry Jackson.

Jackson agrees.

“He (Shane) and I, we communicate real well, and relate real well,” Jackson said.

David Gravel, who moved over to Jason Johnson Racing this year, spent the last three years as Jackson’s driver, and while they found success winning more than 30 races and finishing third in points all three years together, Jackson said it’s easier to connect with Stewart.

“I think with Shane and I, we come from a little bit more similar background,” Jackson said, “We’re closer in age. It’s a little harder for the older guys to work with the real young guys, at least for me. And Shane and I have a lot of similarities, and we’re clicking pretty good in that department.”

What’s hindered the team this year is consistency with races, bad luck and the team’s engine program, Jackson said.

After 12 years of working with Kistler Engines, Jackson said, at USA Raceway, he made the difficult decision to switch to engines from Gray Motorsports — which races in the NHRA Pro Stock division.

“We kind of had some issues, kind of going on for about a year,” Jackson said about the team’s engine program. “It’s going to be a little bit of a learning experience for both them and myself. They’re great engine builders, but it’s like me going over there to try and work on a Pro Stock car or a Funny Car. It’s a whole different ball game.”

He made the decision to switch engine builders after the second race at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas — where Stewart finished 21st — after about 15 hours of talking over the decision with several people. However, Jackson said he’s not sure if the engine switch is his final decision, though. Stewart finished 10th at USA Raceway and 12th at Arizona Speedway last weekend.

But if there was a time to have a slow run in the season, Jackson said he wants it to be now.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to get the season rolling,” Jackson said. “I don’t feel like we’ve got a chance to do that yet with all of the rain outs. If I’m going to have a little bit of a slow time in the season, as far as performance, I want it to be now. Because whenever May rolls around and you start looking at the races we have in May and the races we have in June, July and August, that’s where I want to get on a roll. Hopefully we’re getting this stuff out of the way now and we’ll be set to roll real soon.”

Having run well at Devil’s Bowl Speedway previously, Stewart looks for the team chemistry and momentum to grow this weekend.

“Going to different race tracks and putting yourself in different situations, knowing how to communicate with each other is one of the things that we continue to work on,” Stewart said. “I feel like we’re heading in the right direction.”

NEWS & NOTES

• PARTY TIME AT LAKE OZARK: The night before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars battle at Lake Ozark Speedway, fans have the unique opportunity meet several of the racers from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, at Fat Polly’s Pub next to The Lodge at Port Arrowhead. The event will feature live music and a chance to see some of the cars up close and meet some of the drivers. Plus, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series souvenir trailer will have all of the latest specials, too. Tickets for the race are available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.

• MULTIPLE WINS: When David Gravel won on Saturday night at Arizona Speedway, he became only the second driver with more than one victory this season, joining Daryn Pittman, who won the first two Features of the year.

• MR. CONSISTENCY: Brad Sweet, who won at USA Raceway on Friday and was second on Saturday at Arizona Speedway has taken over the championship lead. He’s finished in the top-five in six of his past seven races — four of which have been podium finishes, and one a victory. That’s placed him as the current Series points leader, four points ahead of reigning champion Donny Schatz.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

WHEN & WHERE
Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas for the Texas Outlaw Nationals
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps at 7 p.m., Time Trials at 7:30 p.m. and Racing at 8 p.m.

ABOUT THE TRACK
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is a half-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 13.530 sec. by Mark Kinser on April 24, 1999.
Online – DevilsBowl.com
Phone – (972) 222-2421

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.

1/2-mile winners
There have been five races on a 1/2-mile track this season. Daryn Pittman won at Volusia Speedway on Feb. 8-9. Tim Shaffer won at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Feb. 27 and Donny Schatz won in Las Vegas on Feb. 28. Aaron Reutzel won at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30.

DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Daryn Pittman on April 27, Donny Schatz on April 28
2017 – Jason Johnson on April 14, Brad Sweet on April 15
2016 – Joey Saldana on April 22, Shane Stewart on April 23
2015 – Donny Schatz on April 25
2014 – Donny Schatz on April 18, Daryn Pittman on April 19
2003 – Tyler Walker on March 15
2002 – Joey Saldana on March 16
2001 – Craig Dollansky on March 10, Joey Saldana on October 27
2000 – Danny Lasoski on March 11, Sammy Swindell on October 28
1999 – Danny Lasoski on April 24, Sammy Swindell on April 24 (1998 Winter Nat’ls finale), Gary Wright on October 15
1998 – Steve Kinser on March 21
1997 – Mark Kinser on March 22, Mark Kinser on October 18
1996 – Steve Kinser on March 23, Mark Kinser on October 19
1995 – Gary Wright on March 18, Stevie Smith on July 29, Gary Wright on October 21
1994 – Andy Hillenburg on March 19, Steve Kinser on July 30, Sammy Swindell on October 23
1993 – Steve Kinser on March 20, Gary Wright on July 31, Dave Blaney on October 23
1992 – Stevie Smith on March 21, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Steve Kinser on October 24
1988 – Dave Blaney on March 19, Steve Kinser on June 18
1987 – Sammy Swindell on March 15, Bobby Davis, Jr., on June 20
1986 – Bobby Allen on March 9, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1985 – Steve Kinser on March 3, Sammy Swindell on June 21
1984 – Steve Kinser on March 4, Bobby Davis, Jr., on May 4, Jeff Swindell on June 22
1983 – Doug Wolfgang on April 22, Ron Shuman on June 24
1982 – Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 20, Steve Kinser on June 25
1981 – Danny Smith on March 14, Doug Wolfgang on March 21, Ron Shuman on June 26
1980 – Doug Wolfgang on March 15, Sammy Swindell on March 22, Sammy Swindell on June 27, Sammy Swindell on September 13
1979 – Steve Kinser on March 31, Sammy Swindell on September 8
1978 – Jimmy Boyd on March 18, Sammy Swindell on September 16

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint – @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision

DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Brent Marks – @bmracing19
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17

AROUND THE TURN: After a week off, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will continue its Spring tour Friday, April 26, at Lake Ozark Speedway in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. and Sunday, April 28, at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.

2019 STATS
There have been 11 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.

FEATURE WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
— Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
— Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 5
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 4
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 3
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
4 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
— Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
5 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
— Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
— David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
— Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1

DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
— Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
— Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W.Va. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
— Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1
— Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1

C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 5
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 3
— David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
4 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
— Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
— Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1

HARD CHARGER AWARD (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
— Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
— Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
— Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1

TOTAL LAPS LED (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 53
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 32
– Sheldon Haundenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 31
5 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
— Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
6 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
7 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
8 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18
9 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
10 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14

QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1

FASTEST IN PRACTICE (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of times fastest
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 3 (Two sets of Hot Laps at Arizona Speedway)
2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1

2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
8. Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
9. Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
10. Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
11. Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
12. Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
13. Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
14. Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
15. Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
16. Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
17. Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)

2019 World of Outlaws Championship Top 10 (Through Arizona Speedway)

The World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products and MSD; manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, and TNT Rescue.

Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.