Brad Sweet looks for 1st win of WoO Sprint Car season in California

[NickHolt]

Brad Sweet looks for 1st win of WoO Sprint Car season in California

CONCORD, N.C. – Six different tracks. Six different winners. It’s the early story to the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ season, and that story has a good chance of continuing Friday at Ocean Speedway and Saturday at Placerville Speedway.

The Series’ month-long swing through California has produced three different winners in its first three races alone.

Grass Valley, Calif., native Brad Sweet is one of the drivers with his eye on becoming the next first-time winner this season at either Friday’s Ocean Outlaw Showdown or Saturday’s 49er Gold Rush Classic presented by Riebes NAPA AUTO PARTS. He is the only driver to finish in the top-five in the three opening California races.

“It’s just a nice swing for me,” Sweet said. “I grew up racing here. They’re my home tracks.”

While he said he looks forward to all of the California races, Placerville hits closest to home — as it is his actual current home.

I like Placerville (Speedway) a lot,” Sweet said. “It’s my event I started a few years ago. I’ve been really trying to build it up. It’s just nice to put on an event for your hometown.”

Aside from his early season success — he’s currently third in Series championship points, just 10 points behind leader Daryn Pittman and California-based Roth Motorsports — Sweet won last year’s race at Placerville, and won the Series’ last race at Ocean Speedway in 2016.

“There really aren’t a lot of tracks here (in California) we haven’t won at,” Sweet said. “We like all of these tracks.”

He came close to winning this past weekend’s two California races at Silver Dollar Speedway and the Stockton Dirt Track, but came up one spot short in both Features.

The respective winners of those races, Lemoore, Calif., native Carson Macedo and Hanover, Pa., native Logan Schuchart are just as eager to get to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., and Placerville, to continue their early season success and end the streak of first-time winners this season.

Schuchart finished second to Sweet at the last Ocean Speedway race.

“We were fast the last time we were there, but that was three or four years ago,” said Schuchart, who claimed his ninth career Series victory at Stockton. “We’re going to go there with an open mindset and throw are best at it.”

Like Sweet, Macedo has a home-field advantage at the California tracks, having grown up racing on them. He used that knowledge to best Sweet at Silver Dollar Speedway and claim his second World of Outlaws victory. He used it again in Stockton to charge from 23rd to seventh. He’ll look to put it to use two more times this weekend.

“I’ve raced so much at Ocean,” Macedo said. “Placerville is the only one I’ve been sort of hit or miss. I’ve won some races there and I’ve been terrible there. That’s going to be more of a crapshoot. But we’ll do our best.”

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

WHEN & WHERE

Friday, March 22, at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. and Saturday March 23, at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif.

For Ocean Speedway, grandstand gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 6 p.m. and Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.

At Placerville Speedway, grandstand gates will open at 3 p.m. with Hot Laps and Time Trials at 5 p.m. and Racing at 6 p.m.

 

ABOUT THE TRACK

Ocean Speedway is a quarter-mile, slightly banked track. The track record is 10.949 sec. by Mark Kinser on Sept. 1, 2000.

Online – OceanSpeedway.com

Phone – 831-662-9466

 

Placerville Speedway is a quarter-mile, high-banked track. The track record is 9.913 sec. by Tim Kaeding on March 27, 2004.

Online – PlacervilleSpeedway.com
Phone – 530-626-3680

 

TICKETS

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

 

1/4-mile winners

There has been one race on a 1/4-mile track so far this year at Silver Dollar Speedway. Carson Macedo was the winner on Friday, March 15.

 

OCEAN SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS

2016 - Brad Sweet on April 1
2008 - Steve Kinser on October 17
2002 - Brad Furr on September 3
2001 - Andy Hillenburg on August 29
2000 - Joey Saldana on September 9

 

PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS

2018 – Brad Sweet on Sept. 12

2017 - David Gravel on March 29
2016 - Jason Johnson on March 23
2015 - Donny Schatz on April 8 
1992 - Jac Haudenschild on March 11
1987 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 2
1986 - Sammy Swindell on Sept. 3
1985 - Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 4

 

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: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif. on Friday March 29, and then to the Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif. on Saturday March 30.

 

2019 STATS

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

 

FEATURE WINNERS (6 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 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

 

 

HEAT RACE WINNERS (18 different winners)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 4

2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3

   – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 3

3 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2

   – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2

4 – Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1

   – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1

   – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1

   – Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1

   – Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1

   – Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1

   – Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1

   – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1

   – Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1

   – Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 1

   – Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 1

   – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1

   – Willie Croft, Roseville, Calif. – 1

 

DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (7 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

   – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1

   – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

   – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1

   – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1

   – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

   – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1

 

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (7 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

 

C-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

 

PODIUM FINISHES (12 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of podiums

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 4

2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3

3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2

   – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2

   – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2

   – Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. – 2

4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

   – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

   – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1

   – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1

   – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1

   – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1

 

HARD CHARGER AWARD (6 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

 

TOTAL LAPS LED (9 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36

2 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 35

3 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30

4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 27

5 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25

6 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 20

7 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 18

8 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 15

9 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14

 

QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (5 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs

1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2

   – Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2

2 – Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1

   – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1

   – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1

 

FASTEST IN PRACTICE (6 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown - # of times fastest

1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2

2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1

   – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1

   – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1

   – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1

   – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 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)

 

2019 World of Outlaws Championship Top 10 (Through Stockton Dirt Track)

 

Pos.	Car	Driver	Total	Diff	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Entered	Started	Earnings
1	83	Daryn Pittman	988	0	2	4	6	7	7	$36,050
2	15	Donny Schatz	984	-4	1	5	7	7	7	$25,600
3	49	Brad Sweet	978	-10	0	5	6	7	7	$22,300
4	1S	Logan Schuchart	930	-58	1	2	4	7	7	$20,000
5	2	Carson Macedo	930	-58	1	1	6	7	7	$21,250
6	87	Aaron Reutzel	904	-84	0	1	3	7	7	$11,900
7	41	David Gravel	890	-98	0	0	3	7	7	$10,450
8	26	Cory Eliason	888	-100	0	0	4	7	7	$11,000
9	18	Ian Madsen	884	-104	1	3	3	7	7	$19,125
10	5	Shane Stewart	880	-108	0	1	3	7	7	$12,350