WHAT TO WATCH FOR: New York’s Empire State Challenge Brings World of Outlaws to Weedsport Speedway
DIRTVision Showcases Championship Battle on Saturday and Sunday Night
WEEDSPORT, NY – July 28, 2022 – The busiest month of the 2022 season concludes this weekend for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to wrap up a 13-race stretch through July and visit New York for the first and only time this year with Weedsport Speedway hosting an expanded edition of The Empire State Challenge, featuring two nights on Saturday and Sunday.
Currently atop the standings, Brad Sweet leads the charge with championship contenders David Gravel (-54), Sheldon Haudenschild (-84), Carson Macedo (-100), Logan Schuchart (-178), and Donny Schatz (-190) trailing him. All six drivers have shined in the past with podium finishes at Weedsport, and look for crucial momentum with the 61st NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s only two weeks away.
BUY WEEDSPORT TICKETS (Sat-Sun)
Here’s what to watch for this weekend on DIRTVision.com:
REJUVENATED: With a 31-race winless streak in the rear-view mirror, Brad Sweet and the Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49 team are ready to hit the home stretch and chase their fourth consecutive World of Outlaws championship. Of all the places his second win of the season and first since March 30 at Vado (NM) could come at, it happened at Williams Grove (PA) last weekend – a track that had long eluded “The Big Cat” through his first 52 appearances.
With newfound momentum and revitalized confidence, Sweet heads to New York’s Weedsport Speedway this weekend holding a +54 point advantage with 34 race nights remaining in 2022. Through four trips to the unique 3/8-mile, Sweet has progressively improved with finishes of ninth, sixth, fourth, and second-place last year. Now the focus turns to his first career Weedsport win this weekend.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME: Last year, Weedsport marked the final of seven wins that Sheldon Haudenschild saw stripped from his grasp while leading within the last 10 laps when he made contact with a lap car on Lap 28 of 30. It was another heartbreaking loss for the Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17 team but served as another vital piece of experience that has turned into a career year in 2022.
The 28-year-old is amid his sixth full-time season on the World of Outlaws trail, and it’s already his best yet. The NOS Energy Drink #17 has won a Series-best eight races this year, which ties his career-best (2021) through the first 43 nights. The Wooster, OH native chases a big slice of redemption this weekend at Weedsport as he hopes to cut back into Sweet’s point lead.
SHARK WEEK: For Shark Racing, there’s no better time to turn around a rough spell than Shark Week. Over the last 10 races, the duo of Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen have struggled with a combined average finish of 12.6 for the Hanover, PA team. There have been highlights including Schuchart’s top-five finishes at Eldora’s Historical Big One and Kings Royal, but the lowlights include falling from -54 points behind the championship lead to a drastic -178 points in 30 days.
The good news is that both the DuraMAX Oil, Drydene Performance Products #1S and Pells Tire Service, Low-E Insulation #1A are familiar with strong runs at Weedsport Speedway. Schuchart was fifth last year and led 30 of 35 laps in 2016 before ultimately finishing a career-best second at the track. For Allen, he notched his Weedsport personal best at third place behind Marks and Haudenschild in 2018.
DJ PAULIE: Paulie Colagiovanni of Cicero, NY leads the charge among New York locals facing the World of Outlaws on home turf this weekend. If you remember right, the 21-year-old rising star burst onto the national scene last year when he nearly upset the Outlaws in his fourth career start at Ransomville (NY), ultimately finishing second to Aaron Reutzel. He was fast again the next night, too, finishing eighth at Weedsport as the second-highest local behind Danny Varin in sixth.
This weekend’s Weedsport doubleheader marks Colagiovanni’s first appearance with the Series since he ventured to Florida and made his DIRTcar Nationals debut in February. He’s already a two-time winner in 2022 with the Empire Super Sprint Series and recently recorded a pair of top-10s in his home state against the All Star Circuit of Champions.
TRADE-IN: A pair of Super DIRTcar Series racers will be swapping their Big Block Modifieds for 410 cubic-inch Sprint Cars this weekend, transitioning from The Beasts of the Northeast to The Greatest Show on Dirt. Driving for the Gypsum Express squad, both Larry Wight and Chris Hile will join Colagiovanni and the rest of the New York locals at Weedsport this weekend.
Wight, of Phoenix, NY, is no stranger to the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, making a sporadic six starts since 2014 and peaking with two top-10 results in the Series. Hile, of Syracuse, NY, is a different story, however, as he makes his Sprint Car debut this weekend at Weedsport.
LUCK OF THE DRAW: The redraw for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash remains a crucial element at every World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event. It not only determines the lineup for the six-to-eight lap dash, but it can also dictate how the rest of your night flows.
Of full-time teams, David Gravel sticks out the most with a 4.9 average draw through 28 Dash appearances. Nearly half of those (13) have put him on the last row, while he’s found the front row on a mere six occasions. It hasn’t hampered the Big Game Motorsports #2 too much, as he still sits second (-54) in pursuit of the $200,000 championship, but the struggles are certainly enough to make you question when his luck will turn around.
While Gravel’s -36 spots (from draw order to redraw result) hold down the negative end of the spectrum, Spencer Bayston and CJB Motorsports are gladly on the opposite end with +36 spots gained in 20 redraw appearances. There’s one theory that Bayston has luck on his side and might be the man you want to take to Vegas, but also keep in mind that at some point Gravel is due to hit it big.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Saturday-Sunday, July 30-31 at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY
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CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (43/77 Races):
1. 49-Brad Sweet (5,806 PTS); 2. 2-David Gravel (-54 PTS); 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-84 PTS); 4. 41-Carson Macedo (-100 PTS); 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-178 PTS); 6. 15-Donny Schatz (-190 PTS); 7. 5-Spencer Bayston (-324 PTS); 8. 83-James McFadden (-342 PTS); 9. 1A-Jacob Allen (-512 PTS); 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss (-636 PTS).
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (15 Drivers):
8 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17
7 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
5 wins – Brent Marks, Murray-Marks Motorsports #19
4 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
4 wins – Kyle Larson, Kevin Kozlowski/Paul Silva #57
3 wins – Jacob Allen, Shark Racing #1A
2 wins – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing #49
2 wins – Spencer Bayston, CJB Motorsports #5
2 wins – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18
1 win – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S,
1 win – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
1 win – Brock Zearfoss, Zearfoss Racing #3Z
1 win – Brian Brown, Brian Brown Racing #21
1 win – Buddy Kofoid, Crouch Motorsports #11
1 win – Lance Dewease, Don Kreitz Jr. Racing #69K
FEATURE LAPS LED (29 Drivers):
184 laps – Carson Macedo
165 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
123 laps – Brad Sweet
119 laps – Kyle Larson
114 laps – David Gravel
109 laps – Brent Marks
78 laps – Jacob Allen
66 laps – Spencer Bayston
61 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
52 laps – Donny Schatz, Brian Brown
41 laps – Logan Schuchart
31 laps – Buddy Kofoid
26 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
23 laps – Kasey Kahne
22 laps – Brock Zearfoss
21 laps – Tyler Courtney
15 laps – Justin Peck
14 laps – James McFadden
13 laps – Cory Eliason
13 laps – Rico Abreu
9 laps – Dominic Scelzi, Brady Bacon
8 laps – Anthony Macri, Riley Goodno
7 laps – Kerry Madsen
5 laps – Lance Dewease
1 lap – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel
QUICKTIME AWARDS (20 Drivers):
7 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo
5 QuickTimes – David Gravel
3 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild*, Giovanni Scelzi*
2 QuickTimes – Logan Schuchart, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Rico Abreu, Justin Peck
1 QuickTime – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Buddy Kofoid, Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen, Daryn Pittman, Anthony Macri
* Denotes New Track Record
HEAT RACE WINNERS (45 Drivers):
18 Heat Wins – David Gravel
15 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
12 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
9 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz, James McFadden, Jacob Allen
8 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi, Kerry Madsen
4 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser, Aaron Reutzel, Brian Brown
3 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Kasey Kahne, Tyler Courtney, Cory Eliason, Kyle Larson
2 Heat Wins – Austin McCarl, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, Hunter Schuerenberg
1 Heat Win – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Anthony Macri, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Parker Price-Miller, Buddy Kofoid, Mark Dobmeier, Mitchel Moles, Brooke Tatnell, Riley Goodno, Matt Juhl, Jack Croaker, Paige Polyak, Carson McCarl, Marcus Dumensy, Sye Lynch, Daryn Pittman, Danny Dietrich, Devon Borden
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH APPEARANCES (48 Drivers):
27 Dashes – David Gravel
24 Dashes – Brad Sweet
23 Dashes – Carson Macedo
20 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
18 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
17 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Jacob Allen
13 Dashes – James McFadden
10 Dashes – Rico Abreu
9 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
7 Dashes – Kraig Kinser, Kyle Larson
6 Dashes – Cory Eliason
5 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss, Kasey Kahne, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks
4 Dashes – Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown, Tyler Courtney, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Danny Dietrich
2 Dashes – Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Justin Peck
1 Dash – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Colby Copeland, Tanner Carrick, DJ Netto, Brady Bacon, Matt Campbell, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Cole Duncan, Parker Price-Miller, Austin McCarl, Matt Juhl, Buddy Kofoid, Scotty Thiel, Robbie Price, Zeb Wise, Ayrton Gennetten, Darin Pittman, Hunter Schuerenberg, Jeff Halligan, Lance Dewease, Devon Borden
MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (27 Drivers):
4 LCS Wins – James McFadden
3 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Ayrton Gennetten
2 LCS Wins – Logan Schuchart, Spencer Bayston, Noah Gass, Kerry Madsen, Rico Abreu, Anthony Macri
1 LCS Win – Donny Schatz, Brock Zearfoss, Mitchell Faccinto, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Brent Marks, DJ Foos, Christopher Bell, Austin Pierce, Jake Blackhurst, Robbie Price, Giovanni Scelzi, Scotty Thiel, Josh Schneiderman, Brian Brown, Lachlan McHugh, Justin Whittall, Chase Dietz, Brandon Rahmer
KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (24 Drivers):
7 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart
3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – David Gravel, James McFadden, Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Anthony Macri
1 Hard Charger – Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser, Jason Sides, Rico Abreu, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Tanner Thorson, Alan Krimes, Devon Borden, Greg Wilson, Travis Philo, Kyle Larson, Russell Borland, Aaron Reutzel, Scotty Thiel, Freddie Rahmer
PODIUM FINISHES (29 Drivers):
15 Podiums – Brad Sweet
14 Podiums – Carson Macedo
13 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
10 Podiums – David Gravel
9 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Kyle Larson
7 Podiums – Logan Schuchart, Brent Marks
6 Podiums – James McFadden
5 Podiums – Brian Brown
4 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Jacob Allen
3 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day, Buddy Kofoid, Anthony Macri
1 Podium – Brock Zearfoss, Kraig Kinser, Kasey Kahne, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Riley Goodno, Tyler Courtney, Danny Dietrich, Lance Dewease
TOP 10 FINISHES (48 Drivers):
37 Top 10s – David Gravel
36 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
33 Top 10s – Carson Macedo
32 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
31 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild
30 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
24 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston
23 Top 10s – James McFadden
21 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi
19 Top 10s – Jacob Allen
15 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
13 Top 10s – Kyle Larson
12 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss
10 Top 10s – Brent Marks
9 Top 10s – Anthony Macri
8 Top 10s – Cory Eliason
7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Brian Brown
6 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
5 Top 10s – Kasey Kahne, Kerry Madsen
4 Top 10s – Hunter Schuerenberg, Justin Peck, Danny Dietrich
3 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Buddy Kofoid, Scotty Thiel, Lance Dewease
2 Top 10s – Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 Top 10 – Noah Gass, Shane Golobic, DJ Netto, Carson Short, Tanner Thorson, Greg Wilson, Cole Duncan, Cale Thomas, Cole Macedo, Mark Dobmeier, Parker Price-Miller, Riley Goodno, Ayrton Gennetten, Zeb Wise, Jeff Halligan, Devon Borden, Freddie Rahmer
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 / Carson Macedo (2)
9. Fri, March 25 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
10. Sat, March 26 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / David Gravel (2)
11. Tues, March 29 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / Brad Sweet (1)
12. Sat, April 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brent Marks (1)
13. Sat, April 9 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Jacob Allen (1)
14. Fri, April 15 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (3)
15. Sat, April 23 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (4)
16. Fri, April 29 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Logan Schuchart (1)
17. Sat, April 30 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Spencer Bayston (1)
18. Wed, May 11 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Jacob Allen (2)
19. Sat, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
20. Tues, May 17 / Bridgeport Motorsports Park / Swedesboro, NJ / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Fri, May 20 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
22. Sat, May 28 / Atomic Speedway / Waverly, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
23. Mon, May 30 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Fri, June 3 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
25. Fri, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (3)
26. Sat, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1)
27. Fri, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
28. Sat, June 18 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
29. Wed, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Spencer Bayston (2)
30. Thur, June 23 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Buddy Kofoid (1)
31. Fri, June 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Carson Macedo (6)
32. Sat, June 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
33. Fri, July 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Jacob Allen (3)
34. Sat, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brock Zearfoss (1)
35. Sat, July 9 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (7)
36. Tues, July 12 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (3)
37. Wed, July 13 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (3)
38. Thur, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (4)
39. Sat, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (4)
40. Sat, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (5)
41. Wed, July 20 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Kyle Larson (4)
42. Fri, July 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Lance Dewease (1)
43. Sat, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (2)
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, My Place Hotels; 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