THE BIG E: Eldora Speedway Hosts First of Seven World of Outlaws Sprint Car Races on May 6-7
Let’s Race Two Includes USAC Non-Wing Sprint Cars at 1/2-Mile
ROSSBURG, OH – April 7, 2022 – Dating back to the beginning, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series has always had a special relationship with Eldora Speedway.
Since formed in 1978, The Greatest Show on Dirt has hosted 225 Features at the Rossburg, OH 1/2-mile, the most all-time among tracks. That record will be extended in 2022 with another seven Series races planned at Tony Stewart’s premier facility known as The Big E.
The first of those seven shows comes in one month with a Let’s Race Two doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, May 6-7. The World of Outlaws will be joined by the USAC National Sprint Cars to create a thrilling pair of open-wheel programs at The House That Earl Built.
BUY ELDORA TICKETS (May 6-7)
Seven full-time Outlaws have won with the Series at Eldora, including: Donny Schatz (17 wins), Brad Sweet (3 wins), Logan Schuchart (3 wins), Carson Macedo (2 wins), David Gravel (2 wins), Jason Sides (2 wins), and Sheldon Haudenschild (1 win).
Traditionally, Donny Schatz has ruled Let’s Race Two weekend with seven of his 17 victories coming in the Month of May. The 10-time World of Outlaws champion has swept the weekend on three occasions in 2015, 2018, and 2019. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Ford Performance, Advance Auto Parts #15 has already collected one win this season, and looks for two more next month at his boss’s race track.
Brad Sweet, a three-time Outlaw winner at Eldora, has earned the bulk of his money with a $50,000 score (2013) and $175,000 payday (2019) in July’s Kings Royal. He’s yet to win at the 1/2-mile in May, but could change that next month as he continues pursuit of a fourth consecutive World of Outlaws championship aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49.
With only two top-five finishes through the first 12 races, Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing haven’t exactly had a dream start to 2022. However, seeing Eldora on the upcoming schedule brings a sigh of relief for the three-time winner, who won the last race at the track last September. The Hanover, PA native hopes recent success will carry the DuraMAX, Drydene Performance Products #1S to its first win of the year.
Carson Macedo made history last year, becoming the first driver since Sammy Swindell in 1997 to win twice at Eldora, twice at Knoxville, and twice at Williams Grove in a single season. The Lemoore, CA 25-year-old has shined on 1/2-mile venues since joining Jason Johnson Racing in 2021 and is currently tied for the most wins this year with two to his credit.
Watertown, CT native David Gravel has won at Eldora in the Roth Motorsports #83, CJB Motorsports #5, and Jason Johnson Racing #41, but now returns with the Big Game Motorsports #2. He’s already a two-time winner in 2022 with both victories coming at other 1/2-mile tracks Volusia (FL) Speedway Park and Perris (CA) Auto Speedway.
The Wild Child Jac Haudenschild is a nine-time World of Outlaws winner at Eldora, and last year his son Sheldon Haudenschild joined him on that list with his first. The Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink #17 topped the final night of 2021 Let’s Race Two and like Macedo & Gravel, currently owns two wins already in 2022.
Double Down Jason Sides is another former winner at Eldora, topping the 2004 Kings Royal and 2009 4-Crown race.
A handful of other full-time Outlaws like Kasey Kahne, James McFadden, Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, and Spencer Bayston have been close to Eldora victory lane, but will still be chasing that first win next month.
Recent Eldora winners that may potentially compete next month include Kyle Larson, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Tim Shaffer, Kerry Madsen, and Greg Wilson, among others.
Following Let’s Race Two, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will have another five races left at Eldora Speedway this season. The Jokers Wild (July 13), the $100,000-to-win Historical Big One (July 14), the Knight Before the Kings Royal (July 15), the $175,000-to-win Kings Royal XXXIX (July 16), and the BeFour the Crowns Showdown (September 23) still remain.
ELDORA SPEEDWAY WINNERS (225 Races):
41 wins – Steve Kinser
30 wins – Sammy Swindell
17 wins – Donny Schatz
15 wins – Doug Wolfgang
13 wins – Joey Saldana
10 wins – Dave Blaney
9 wins – Jac Haudenschild
6 wins – Kerry Madsen, Mark Kinser
5 wins – Rick Ferkel, Shane Stewart
4 wins – Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman, Tim Shaffer
3 wins – Brad Sweet, Kenny Jacobs, Logan Schuchart
2 wins – Andy Hillenburg, Bobby Allen, Brent Marks, Carson Macedo, Christopher Bell, Dale Blaney, David Gravel, Jason Meyers, Jason Sides, Jeff Swindell, Johnny Herrera, Paul McMahan, Ron Shuman, Shane Carson, Stevie Smith
1 win – Bobby Davis Jr, Brad Doty, Chad Kemenah, Danny Lasoski, Danny Smith, Dub May, Greg Hodnett, Greg Wilson, Kyle Larson, Lee Brewer, Randy Ford, Rickey Hood, Ronnie Daniels, Sheldon Haudenschild, Terry McCarl, Tyler Courtney, Tyler Walker
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