WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws California Swing Continues at Merced & Ocean
Both Venues Back on Sprint Car Schedule for First Time in 5+ Years
MERCED, CA – March 16, 2022 – The California spring swing is officially off & running, and boy is the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series offering some thrillers.
Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway had first dibs last weekend and saw a pair of Golden State natives defend their home turf. Fresno’s Giovanni Scelzi won a frantic Friday Feature and Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson drove forward to top Saturday’s race against The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Up next is a pair of bullrings with Merced Speedway on deck this Friday and Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway set for Saturday.
It’s been quite a while since the World of Outlaws visited both venues with the most recent appearances being won by David Gravel at Merced (2014) and Brad Sweet at Ocean (2016). Both of those championship contenders along with 13 other full-time Outlaws and a heap of local superstars will be in action this weekend.
MERCED TICKETS (FRIDAY)
OCEAN TICKETS (SATURDAY)
Here’s a quick look at what to watch for this weekend:
HUNGRY FOR MORE: There is no denying that the start of David Gravel’s ninth full-time World of Outlaws campaign is the greatest of his career. The Watertown, CT native is firing on all cylinders to kick off his second season with Tod Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports. Through seven races, they’ve finished no worse than seventh with four podiums and six top-five finishes.
However, those stats alone prove why Gravel is hungry for more. He’s led the most laps (52) thus far, but only has one win to show for it. He said following Friday’s second-place effort he’s “getting tired of not being on the top step of the podium.” With one excellent season under their belts, Gravel, Cody Jacobs, Trey Jacobs, and Zach Patterson expect wins and lots of them in year two.
The 29-year-old hopes to score win #2 this Friday night at Merced Speedway, where he enters as the defending winner with a 2014 score.
NOT SO SWEET: It’s hard to believe that it has been over half a year since Brad Sweet won a World of Outlaws race, but it’s true. The Big Cat is currently riding a 23-race drought, his longest dry spell in more than 250 races dating back to a stretch that saw 29 nights without a victory from 2017-18.
That’s not to say the Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49 team is struggling, they’re just barely coming up short of Sweet’s milestone 75th career Series win. Excluding the season opener, the Grass Valley, CA native has an average finish of 4.1 and last weekend upped his season-best to second-place at Tulare. He currently sits second in the standings (-36 to Gravel) with a fourth consecutive World of Outlaws championship on the line this year.
Sweet has scored wins at both upcoming tracks with an ASCS National Tour victory at Merced in 2020, and he’s the defending World of Outlaws winner at Ocean from 2016.
SUPER SCELZI BROS: The California swing brings not one, but two Scelzi brothers to national attention. Both Dominic (24) and Giovanni (20) led laps last weekend at Tulare, and both will compete in the remaining four World of Outlaws races this month in California.
Giovanni, the youngest of Gary & Julianne’s sons, is already a four-time Series winner with an extra pep in his step following his first Outlaw win in California last week. The KCP Racing #18 driver fended off countless challenges to win Friday’s Feature at Tulare and now turns his attention to his first win at Merced & Ocean this week.
Dominic, the elder of two boys, came closer than ever to scoring his first-career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win. He led nine laps in Saturday’s show before slipping to finish seventh in the Scelzi Motorsports #41.
BUILDING STEAM: Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender Spencer Bayston led laps in both races last weekend at Tulare, leading back-to-back World of Outlaws Features for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old native of Lebanon, IN is beginning to hit his stride with Crew Chief Barry Jackson and the rest of the CJB Motorsports #5 team.
Bayston, and fellow rookie Noah Gass (Mounds, OK), will make their first appearances at Merced & Ocean this weekend in World of Outlaws competition. However, Bayston does have experience at both tracks from a USAC Midget top-five at Merced to a NARC podium at Ocean.
BOUNCE BACK: Another three full-time World of Outlaws drivers are hoping to bounce back from a rough go at Tulare last weekend.
After finishing 1st-7th-6th-5th-8th through the first five events, Donny Schatz ran 13th & 24th (flip) at Tulare. The 10-time Series champion has won at six different California ovals, but neither Merced or Ocean are on that list. He’ll try to change that this weekend aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15.
Logan Schuchart of Hanover, PA left California as the Gold Cup champion last fall but didn’t find that same luck in his spring debut. Tulare results of 15th & 12th marked his first occurrence of back-to-back finishes outside the top-10 since last summer. The driver of the DuraMAX, Drydene #1S has yet to run a Feature at Merced but did finish second in our last visit to Ocean.
James McFadden had an up-and-down opening weekend in Dennis & Teresa Roth’s home state of California. The Australian was Friday’s KSE Hard Charger (21st-to-6th) but ended the Tulare trip with a 15th-place finish on Saturday after being caught in three different cautions. If all goes well at both Merced & Ocean, J-Mac could reach 100 World of Outlaws top-10 finishes this weekend.
SEASON DEBUT: A trio of Californians who missed out at Tulare are expected to make their season debut with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series this weekend.
Justin Sanders of Aromas, CA is one of the betting favorites to be the next first-time winner with the Series. He’s a two-time podium finisher in 15 World of Outlaws starts and has the opportunity to race at his home track of Ocean Speedway this weekend. He’s won 30+ times at the Watsonville, CA track and even has winning experience at Merced, too, topping a NARC show there last year.
Tim Kaeding, a 21-time World of Outlaws winner, returns to competition with the Series this weekend in the Bates/Hamilton #42X. TK has yet to beat the Outlaws at either facility, but he does own 15+ local/regional wins at Ocean and three podiums in four visits to Merced.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell, CA is planning to compete only at Ocean Speedway on Saturday, his first World of Outlaws race since 2019. BK has 85 starts throughout his career with the Series and 19 top-10 finishes and a career-best of third-place to show for it. He’s trying to join father Brent Kaeding & brother Tim Kaeding on the All-Time Win List.
LOCAL LOVE: While California natives are 2-0 against the World of Outlaws on this trip west, the true local racers still remain winless. That’s something that could very well change this weekend, though.
Along with the likes of Dominic, Justin, Tim & Brent, there are several others to keep your eyes on at Merced & Ocean. Shane Golobic has plenty of laps at both tracks and enters fresh off a top-10 at Tulare. He’ll be going for a third-career World of Outlaws win this weekend in the NOS Energy Drink #17W.
Colby Copeland made it in Saturday’s Dash at Tulare and earned his first SCCT victory at Merced and his first NARC win at Ocean. Now he’ll have the chance to get his first World of Outlaws win at either bullring. Mitchell Faccinto, aboard the Tarlton #21, is another multi-time Ocean Speedway winner with his sights set on a career-best run this weekend.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Friday, March 18 at Merced Speedway in Merced, CA
Saturday, March 19 at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, CA
On the Internet
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month
CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (7/86 Nights):
1. 2-David Gravel (1,004 PTS); 2. 49-Brad Sweet (-36 PTS); 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-42 PTS); 4. 41-Carson Macedo (-60 PTS); 5. 83-James McFadden (-64 PTS); 6. 15-Donny Schatz (-78 PTS); 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-104 PTS); 8. 26-Cory Eliason (-106 PTS); 9. Giovanni Scelzi (-114 PTS); 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss (-140 PTS).
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (6 Drivers):
2 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17
1 win – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
1 win – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
1 win – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
1 win – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18
1 win – Kyle Larson, Kevin Kozlowski #57
FEATURE LAPS LED (12 Drivers):
52 laps – David Gravel
29 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
26 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
25 laps – Donny Schatz
17 laps – Kyle Larson
15 laps – Spencer Bayston
13 laps – Cory Eliason
10 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
9 laps – Dominic Scelzi
8 laps – James McFadden
7 laps – Brad Sweet
4 laps – Carson Macedo
SLICK WOODY’S QUICKTIME AWARDS (7 Drivers):
1 QuickTime – David Gravel, Aaron Reutzel, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet
HEAT RACE WINNERS (14 Drivers):
4 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen
3 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
2 Heat Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, James McFadden, Giovanni Scelzi, Kraig Kinser, Aaron Reutzel
1 Heat Win – Tyler Courtney, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Dominic Scelzi
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH APPEARANCES (23 Drivers):
5 Dashes – David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Jacob Allen
4 Dashes – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason
3 Dashes – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
2 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden, Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston, Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson, Tyler Courtney
1 Dash – Brock Zearfoss, Logan Schuchart, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Brent Marks, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Rico Abreu, Dominic Scelzi, Colby Copeland
MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (5 Drivers):
2 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Ayrton Gennetten
1 LCS Win – James McFadden, Spencer Bayston, Anthony Macri,
PODIUM FINISHES (12 Drivers):
4 Podiums – David Gravel
3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson
2 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden
1 Podium – Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, Cory Eliason, Giovanni Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
TOP 10 FINISHES (22 Drivers):
7 Top 10s – David Gravel
6 Top 10s – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, James McFadden, Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi
4 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart, Cory Eliason
3 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu
2 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Spencer Bayston, Jacob Allen, Aaron Reutzel
1 Top 10 – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Shane Golobic, Dominic Scelzi
2022 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Thur, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
2. Fri, Feb. 11 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
3. Sat, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
4. Fri, March 4 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
5. Sat, March 5 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
6. Fri, March 11 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
7. Sat, March 12 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Kyle Larson (1)
8. Fri, March 18 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA /
9. Sat, March 19 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, CA
10. Fri, March 25 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA
11. Sat, March 26 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA
12. Tues, March 29 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM
13. Fri, April 1 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK
14. Sat, April 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX
15. Fri, April 8 / US-36 Raceway / Osborn, MO
16. Sat, April 9 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO
17. Fri, April 15 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO
18. Sat, April 16 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO
19. Fri, April 22 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
20. Sat, April 23 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN
21. Fri, April 29 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN
22. Sat, April 30 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN
23. Fri, May 6 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
24. Sat, May 7 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
25. Wed, May 11 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA
26. Fri, May 13 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
27. Sat, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
28. Tues, May 17 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ
29. Fri, May 20 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
30. Sat, May 21 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
31. Sat, May 28 / Atomic Speedway / Waverly, OH
32. Mon, May 30 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN
33. Fri, June 3 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
34. Sun, June 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
35. Fri, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
36. Sat, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
37. Fri, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, IA
38. Sat, June 18 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, IA
39. Thur, June 23 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
40. Fri, June 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
41. Sat, June 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
42. Fri, July 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
43. Sat, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
44. Fri, July 8 / 34 Raceway / West Burlington, IA
45. Sat, July 9 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
46. Tues, July 12 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
47. Wed, July 13 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
48. Thur, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
49. Fri, July 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
50. Sat, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
51. Wed, July 20 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
52. Fri, July 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
53. Sat, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
54. Sat, July 30 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
55. Sun, July 31 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
56. Fri, Aug. 5 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO
57. Sat, Aug. 6 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO
58. Wed, Aug. 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
59. Thur, Aug. 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
60. Fri, Aug, 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
61. Sat, Aug. 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
62. Thur, Aug. 18 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
63. Fri, Aug. 19 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
64. Sat, Aug. 20 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
65. Fri, Aug. 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
66. Sat, Aug. 27 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
67. Thur, Sept. 1 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA
68. Fri, Sept. 2 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA
69. Sat, Sept. 3 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA
70. Mon, Sept. 5 / Gray’s Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA
71. Fri, Sept. 9 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA
72. Sat, Sept. 10 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA
73. Fri, Sept. 16 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, CA
74. Sat, Sept. 17 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, CA
75. Fri, Sept. 23 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
76. Sat, Sept. 24 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
77. Fri, Sept. 30 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
78. Sat, Oct. 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
79. Fri, Oct. 7 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
80. Sat, Oct. 8 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
81. Fri, Oct. 14 / I-80 Speedway / Greenwood, NE
82. Sat, Oct. 15 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS
83. Thur, Nov. 3 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
84. Fri, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
85. Sat, Nov. 5 The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: NOS Energy Drink (Official Energy Product), CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ACME Trading, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), Micro-Lite LLC, MSD and Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award); manufacturer sponsors include Dirt Car Lift, FIREBULL, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, and Sea Foam.
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 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.
Sources: Brian Walker, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series PR
Photo – Trent Gower