HARTFORD, Mich. — The World of Outlaws NOS Power Drink Dash Automotive Collection is gearing up for a full weekend of motion with three races at three tracks in three nights.
First on the agenda is a extremely anticipated return to Michigan. The tour hasn’t crossed into the state’s border since 2019, however that’ll change on Friday, June 5, when Hartford Speedway takes middle stage for the Pure Michigan Showdown.
Then, it’s across the southern rim of Lake Michigan and as much as Wisconsin’s Plymouth Filth Observe on Saturday, June 6, for the Cheese City Showdown. The World of Outlaws returned to the “Badger State” observe in thrilling style a 12 months in the past after twenty years away.
Finalizing the weekend is a Sunday, June 7, cease at Solar Prairie’s Angell Park Speedway. It’ll be a particular evening because the tour honors the person liable for the World of Outlaws with the Ted Johnson Memorial Race on the observe the place he fell in love with the game.
NIGHTMARE’S HOME
Few fanbases admire a neighborhood hero the best way Wisconsin loves Invoice Balog. His route is a bit unconventional in spending a number of many years racing on a primarily native foundation earlier than deciding to hit the highway with the World of Outlaws.
He amassed an enormous following within the “Badger State” over that point, and so they’re at all times desirous to welcome him to acquainted territory.
The numbers are monumental for Balog at each Wisconsin tracks forward. He’s received a whopping 20 occasions at Plymouth with the Interstate Racing Affiliation. Two of these have been co-sanctioned occasions with the All Star Circuit of Champions. Balog was seventh ultimately 12 months’s Cheese City Showdown. His versatility has been on show at Angell Park with 16 victories unfold throughout winged dash automobiles, non-winged dash automobiles and midgets.
Balog heads residence nonetheless chasing his first checkered flag of the season. He’s been shut with laps led at a number of races and a Kennedale Speedway Park runner-up. Historical past says don’t be stunned if he’s in rivalry this weekend.
MIGHTY MICHIGAN
There’s just one driver on the tour at present with a World of Outlaws win at Hartford, and it’s the two-time and defending champion, David Gravel.
The Watertown, Conn., native took the CJB Motorsports No. 5 to victory lane in 2017. He backed that up two years later in a distinct journey, the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, by being the final of a three-leader thriller at Hartford. That made him the primary and solely competitor to prime consecutive visits.
Friday will probably be Gravel’s first go to to the “Nice Lakes State” since climbing aboard the Huge Sport Motorsports No. 2, however the staff itself completed on the rostrum at Hartford in 2011 with Craig Dollansky. Gravel enters the weekend atop the standings with a 114-point benefit.
UNDEFEATED
Sheldon Haudenschild will put his excellent Angell Park report on the road Sunday.
He debuted on the third-mile throughout a 2014 IRA race aboard Chris Hartnell’s No. 48H and obtained the job carried out. The Wooster, OH native didn’t return for 11 years, however as soon as he did, the consequence was the identical as he steered the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 from third to the entrance. He’ll intention to make it three wins in three rides Sunday as he makes the journey with the KCP Racing crew.
Current weeks have produced a stretch of consistency for Haudenschild within the NOS Power Drink No. 18. He’s bagged six prime fives within the final eight races, together with a pair of runner-up outcomes. He and Donny Schatz have traded the fourth spot in factors a number of occasions this 12 months, and Haudenschild’s Might pace has given him the benefit by six markers getting into June.
PRAIRIE SPEED
Haudenschild may be the one one with an ideal report at Angell Park, however he’s not the lone World of Outlaws competitor to seek out some pace in Solar Prairie, Wis.
Donny Schatz’s first go to to Angell Park led to victory lane. He claimed the World of Outlaws debut on the oval in 2016 aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 15 and can head there this Sunday within the CJB Motorsports No. 15.
Earlier than his time on the World of Outlaws tour started, Carson Macedo topped a POWRi Midget race at Angell Park a decade in the past. His finest dash automotive consequence there may be seventh at a 2016 IRA race aboard Jimmy Davies’ No. 99x. Macedo enters the weekend as the latest collection winner, courtesy of charging from ninth to the checkered flag at River Cities Speedway on Friday.
SUMMER OF MONEY
The time is now for World of Outlaws groups to ensure their automobiles are firing on all cylinders.
The start of the “Summer season of Cash” is lower than three weeks away. What started because the Month of Cash has developed right into a three-month stretch crammed by pocket-stuffing races. From June 17 via Sept. 19, the groups will deal with 14 races that ship the winner residence with not less than $20,000.
4 of them serve up a six-figure payday, together with the biggest in collection historical past, the $300,000-to-win finale of the BillionAuto.com Huset’s Excessive Financial institution Nationals on June 20. That’s a part of a large week at Huset’s Speedway that additionally boasts the $150,000-to-win Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle on June 18.
The stretch additionally options the $200,000-to-win Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway (July 17-18) and the $200,000-to-win NOS Power Drink Knoxville Nationals introduced by Casey’s at Knoxville Raceway (Aug. 12-15). It’s punctuated by the $83,000-to-win Dennis Roth Traditional at California’s Stockton Filth Observe (Sept. 18-19).
