5/23/2019
RacinBoys
Sweet, KKR look to build momentum at Charlotte
By Nick Graziano, WOO Sprint Series PR (Concord, NC) -- Kasey Kahne Racing is heading home. And just in time.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend. The inaugural doubleheader United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be on Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, and the Memorial Day Spectacular presented by KOI Auto Parts at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Monday, May 27.
PHOTO: Brad Sweet--CREDIT: Trent Gower
The trip back to Charlotte is a rare homecoming for the Mooresville, NC-based KKR team. It’s time at home. Time with family. Time to reenergize before the busy summer schedule.
“We get to be at the shop and around family and friends,” said Brad Sweet, driver of the No. 49 KKR car. “It’s kind of a home-field advantage.”
While Sweet has never won at the Charlotte dirt track before, he had a strong run there last year, running in the top-five all night and finishing fourth. Unlike last year, though, he’ll have two chances to claim a May victory at the track this season. Now known as the United Rentals Patriot Nationals, the May race has expanded to two nights of racing with a $15,000-to-win purse both nights.
“I always look forward to going to Charlotte,” Sweet said. “It’s nice to have two nights during the Memorial Day weekend. It’s a great setting. A lot of great fans around there. I’m looking forward to the event growing, as well.”
He’ll have a new teammate alongside him this year, too. Kasey Kahne was scheduled to run the two Charlotte races, but an injury from an accident at Williams Grove Speedway earlier this year has left his sidelined. To fill in for him while he heals, Kahne has tapped Australian James McFadden to drive his No. 9 car.
“Obviously, the circumstances aren’t ideal, but the opportunity to drive the KKR nine (car) is always going to be a cool one,” McFadden said. “It’s an iconic car, and a car that’s had some great drivers in it. It’s definitely exciting and pretty humbling to get an opportunity like this one. For me, it is a huge tick off the bucket list.”
While never a full-time driver in the Series, McFadden has one World of Outlaws win. In 2017, he beat the likes of Greg Hodnett and 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz to win at Williams Grove Speedway.
“I’d say they (the World of Outlaws) are the pinnacle of our sport, so naturally racing with them is a goal I’ve had for a long time,” McFadden said. “I’m looking forward to the intensity that comes each time you roll out with the Outlaws. We have a chance to string together probably the most nights with the World of Outlaws that I’ve ever had a chance to do, so that’s exciting.”
He doesn’t have a set schedule with the team. At the moment, McFadden said he’s in the car until Kahne is good to go. Until then, he said he hopes to be able to gel with the KKR team and put consistent runs together.
Friday’s race at Charlotte will be his first time seeing the track. With it being KKR’s home track, he said he has confidence in the car; he just hopes he can keep up with it. Having Sweet as a teammate will help with that, too.
“It’ll be cool to have a teammate at some of these tracks I’ve never seen before, so hopefully he’ll be happy to share a few tips with me along the way,” McFadden said.
While Sweet is looking forward to working with McFadden, the Grass Valley, Calif. native said whether it’s Kahne or someone else, there is no more or less of a benefit to him. He just stays focused on the No. 49 car.
That focus has kept him in a tight points battle with Schatz in the early stage of the season. After 17 races, Sweet sits second in the Series’ standings – 26 points behind Schatz. However, for the past few races the two have been swapping the lead, tying for it twice.
While Sweet knows that, he doesn’t really want to.
“I don’t really want to pay attention to points,” Sweet said. “People point it out all of the time, so you kind of know where it’s at, but it doesn’t really matter. “I think to me it’s just about getting your car where you want it. You know, consistent, good runs every night. So, when you get to those summer months when we’re racing every other night, that’s where the points really can shift.”
The points could shift several times during the Memorial Day weekend. Schatz has won the May Charlotte race last year and Sweet won last year’s Memorial Day race at Lawrenceburg Speedway – beating Schatz for the win.
“Last year we kind of hit on something and we had a great race with Donny Schatz,” Sweet said about last year’s race at Lawrenceburg. “I’m just looking forward to getting back there. Hopefully we can do it again. We just need to put a string of good runs together and get some momentum on our side.”
For McFadden, he said he wants to make it through Charlotte first before trying to predict his performance at Lawrenceburg.
After the trip to the Indiana track, the Series’ busy summer schedule begins – starting with the historic inaugural doubleheader at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on May 31 and June 1. To some, the summer is when the season really begins.
“This is what we do this for, are these summer months where you’re really racing,” Sweet said. “I’m looking forward to really trying to get some momentum on our side and some momentum going into the summer months. It’s a crucial part of the season.”
NEWS & NOTES
FAN DAY: Want to see where DIRTVision is broadcasted from? Where Open Red is recorded? And where the inner workings of the World of Outlaws are constructed from? Then make sure to come to the World of Outlaws Fan Day on Thursday, May 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be free food, driver appearances – such as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Sheldon Haudenschild – and office tours.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. for the United Rentals Patriot Nationals
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m. and Racing at 8 p.m.
Monday, May 27, at Lawrenceburg Speedway at Lawrenceburg, Ind. for the Memorial Day Spectacular presented by KOI Auto Parts
-Grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps at 6 p.m. and Racing at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE TRACK
The Dirt Track at Charlotte is a 4/10-mile, semi-banked track. The track record is 11.880 sec. set by Jeff Shepard on Oct. 6, 2001.
Online – http://www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com
Phone – (800) 455-FANS
Lawrenceburg Speedway is a 3/8-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 11.628 sec. set by Spud Gustin on Sept. 13, 2008.
Online – http://www.LawrenceburgSpeedway.com
Phone – (812) 539-4700
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by going to http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
4/10-mile and 3/8-mile winners
There have been no other races on a 4/10-mile, so far, this year.
There have been four races on a 3/8-mile track so far this year. Logan Schuchart won at the Stockton Dirt Track on March 16. David Gravel won at Keller Auto Speedway on March 29. Brad Sweet won at USA Raceway on April 5. And Lance Dewease won at Lincoln Speedway on May 15.
THE DIRT TRACK AT CHARLOTTE PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Donny Schatz on May 25, Ian Madsen and Donny Schatz on Nov. 3
2017 – Logan Schuchart on May 26, Donny Schatz on Nov. 3, David Gravel on Nov. 4
2016 – Greg Wilson on May 27, Jason Johnson on Oct. 28, Donny Schatz on Oct. 29
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 22, Dusty Zomer on Nov. 6, Donny Schatz on Nov. 7
2014 – Joey Saldana on May 23, Daryn Pittman on Nov. 7, Brian Brown Nov. 8
2013 – Paul McMahan on May 24, Donny Schatz on Nov. 8, Paul McMahan on Nov. 9
2012 – Joey Saldana on May 25, Sammy Swindell on Nov. 2, Dale Blaney on Nov. 3
2011 – Paul McMahan on May 28, Donny Schatz on Nov. 5, Donny Schatz on Nov. 6
2010 – Donny Schatz on May 29, Jason Meyers on Sept. 6, Jason Meyers on Sept. 6
2009 – Joey Saldana on May 22, Jason Meyers on Nov. 6, Joey Saldana on Nov. 7
2008 – Lance Dewease on May 23, Brooke Tatnell on Oct. 31, Donny Schatz on Nov. 1
2007 – Donny Schatz on May 25, Jason Meyers on Nov. 2, Steve Kinser on Nov. 3
2006 – Kevin Swindell on May 24
2003 – Blake Feese on May 24
2002 – Greg Hodnett on May 24, Greg Hodnett on May 25, Tyler Walker on Oct. 11, Daryn Pittman on Oct. 12
2001 – Danny Lasoski on May 26, Mark Kinser on May 26, Tim Shaffer on Oct. 5, Steve Kinser on Oct. 6
2000 – Sammy Swindell on May 25, Mark Kinser on May 26, Donny Schatz on Oct. 5, Mark Kinser on Oct. 6
LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Brad Sweet on May 28
2017 – Shane Stewart on May 29
2016 – Shane Stewart on May 30
2015 – Paul McMahan on Oct. 16
2014 – Donny Schatz on May 26
2013 – Donny Schatz on May 27
2012 – Chad Kemenah on May 28
2009 – Joey Saldana on June 5, Donny Schatz on June 6
2006 – Jac Haudenschild on July 7
2005 – Kraig Kinser on Aug. 3
2004 – Danny Smith on May 6
2003 – Paul McMahan on May 6
1981 – Sammy Swindell on Aug. 21
1979 – Steve Kinser on May 11
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
David Gravel – @DavidGravel
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – @SidesMotorsport
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will next race on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tenn.
2019 STATS
There have been 17 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (10 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
– Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 2
3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (29 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 7
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 6
– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 6
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 4
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
4 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 3
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
5 – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 2
– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 2
– Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 2
– Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, Pa. – 2
6 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1
– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1
– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1
– Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, Iowa – 1
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Freddie Rahmer, Salfordville, Pa. – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
2 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
3 – 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
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
– Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (15 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
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– Carson Short, Marion, Ill. – 1
– Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– T.J. Stutts, Liverpool, Pa. – 1
– Cory Haas, York, Pa. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (5 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Freddie Rahmer, Salfordville, Pa. – 1
– Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (18 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 7
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 6
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 6
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 5
4 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 3
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 3
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 3
5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2
– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 2
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
– Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 2
– Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, Pa. – 2
6 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, Pa. – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (14 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Chad Kemenah, Alveda, Ohio – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, Mo. – 1
– Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Ind. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 67
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 65
3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 53
4 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 51
5 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 46
6 – Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 35
7 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 32
8 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 30
9 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 29
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 29
10 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25
11 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15
12 – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 10
13 – Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 3
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (12 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 2
3 – 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
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pa. – 1
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (11 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
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 2
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 2
3 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Freddie Rahmer, Salfordville, Pa. – 1
2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)
Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)
Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Rainout-Canceled
Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)
Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)
Friday, March 8 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
Saturday, March 9 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Ian Madsen (1)
Friday, March 15 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Carson Macedo (1)
Saturday, March 16 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Logan Schuchart (1)
Friday, March 22 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, Calif. / Rainout-Canceled
Saturday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Rainout-Rescheduled for Sept. 11
Friday, March 29 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
Saturday, March 30 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Friday, April 5 / USA Raceway / Tucson, Ariz. / Brad Sweet (1)
Saturday, April 6 / Arizona Speedway / Queen Creek, Ariz. / David Gravel (2)
Friday, April 12 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Logan Schuchart (2)
Saturday, April 13 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, Texas / Rainout-Canceled
Friday, April 26 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, Mo. / Brad Sweet (2)
Saturday, April 27 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway / Pevely, Mo. / Rainout-Canceled
Sunday, April 28 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, Ill. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Sept. 25
Friday, May 3 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, Ark. / Rainout-Canceled
Saturday, May 4 / Tri-State International Speedway / Haubstadt, Ind. / Postponed-Rescheduled for Oct. 13
Friday, May 10 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, Ohio / Donny Schatz (2)
Saturday, May 11 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, Ohio / Postponed-Rescheduled for July 17
Wednesday, May 15 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, Pa. / Lance Dewease (1)
Friday, May 17 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / David Gravel (3)
Saturday, May 18 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Lance Dewease (2)
Sunday, May 19 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Rainout-Canceled
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
