World of Outlaws Stars and Stripes Salute
Race Recap
ON A HEATER: Aaron Reutzel Stays Hot with Dominant Knoxville Victory
The Clute, TX native nabs his sixth victory in the last eight races
Good luck stopping Aaron Reutzel and Ridge and Sons Racing right now.
The combination entered Saturday’s Stars and Stripes Salute opener at Knoxville Raceway as one of if not the hottest team in the sport of Sprint Car racing. They’d clicked off five wins in their last seven races with finishes of fourth and second in the other two. The one thing missing from the run? A victory with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
Well, the No. 87 team made sure to change that in dominant fashion Saturday night.
The Clute, TX native started on the outside of the front row and rocketed by polesitter Donny Schatz to take control of the race. Reutzel wasted no time growing the advantage as the early portion of the 25-lapper unfolded. Lapped traffic posed little threat as Reutzel sliced his way through the slower cars while Schatz and Rico Abreu slugged it out for second. Schatz secured the spot and tried to put together a late run, but it was too little, too late as Reutzel wheeled his way to Victory Lane.
“I was hoping I could get a full car length on him so I could close the bottom,” Reutzel said of the start. “I thought for sure I had enough where I didn’t need to block him in the Dash, and typical Donny he just went blowing by me. I made sure to close the door on him that time. It was tough. Traffic was tough.”
The hot streak is now at six triumphs in the last eight races for Reutzel. With Knoxville earning him another $20,000, he’s nearly at $200,000 in earnings already in 2026. The eighth World of Outlaws victory of Reutzel’s career ties him with Jimmy Sills and Cody Darrah for 56th all-time. His win total at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” is up to 28 combining 410 and 360 Sprint Car competition.
Donny Schatz came out on top of a fierce battle with Rico Abreu to claim the runner-up spot, giving the 10-time champion four podiums in 2026 in the CJB Motorsports No. 15.
Abreu brought the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24 home third for his fifth consecutive podium finish.
David Gravel and J.J. Hickle completed the top five.
NIGHTLY NOTES
Garet Williamson earned his second Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night in the last three races.
Aaron Reutzel set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.
Heat Races belonged to Aaron Reutzel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), David Gravel (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Austin McCarl (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).
The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Donny Schatz.
Schatz also topped the Toyota Dash.
Justin Henderson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.
Carson Macedo marched from 22nd to ninth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.
Sheldon Haudenschild was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.
Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.
Aaron Reutzel clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.
The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Spencer Bayston.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Stars and Stripes Salute with a $20,000-to-win visit to Brandon, SD’s Huset’s Speedway on Sunday, May 24. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 3. 24A-Rico Abreu[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 2M-JJ Hickle[4]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 7. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[22]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[17]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[10]; 12. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 13. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]; 14. 11-Justin Henderson[21]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart[20]; 16. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 17. 10-Ryan Timms[24]; 18. 17-Spencer Bayston[13]; 19. 28-Jace Park[9]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[18]; 21. (DNF) 27C-Carson McCarl[23]; 22. (DNF) 27-Emerson Axsom[14]; 23. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[19]; 24. (DQ) 88-Austin McCarl[7]
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Feature Results
| POS | Start | +/- | # | Driver | Laps | Behind | Led | Status | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | +1 | 87 | Aaron Reutzel | 25 | 0.000 | 25 | Running | 150 | $20,000 |
| 2 | 1 | -1 | 15 | Donny Schatz | 25 | -1.577 | Running | 146 | $12,000 | |
| 3 | 6 | +3 | 24A | Rico Abreu | 25 | -3.190 | Running | 144 | $6,000 | |
| 4 | 5 | +1 | 2 | David Gravel | 25 | -5.570 | Running | 142 | $5,250 | |
| 5 | 4 | -1 | 2M | J.J. Hickle | 25 | -5.632 | Running | 140 | $4,500 | |
| 6 | 3 | -3 | 23 | Garet Williamson | 25 | -6.548 | Running | 138 | $4,000 | |
| 7 | 8 | +1 | 18 | Sheldon Haudenschild | 25 | -7.799 | Running | 136 | $3,500 | |
| 8 | 12 | +4 | 83 | Michael Kofoid | 25 | -8.256 | Running | 134 | $3,000 | |
| 9 | 22 | +13 | 41 | Carson Macedo | 25 | -10.367 | Running | 132 | $2,750 | |
| 10 | 17 | +7 | 7BC | Tyler Courtney | 25 | -11.764 | Running | 130 | $2,500 | |
| 11 | 10 | -1 | 21 | Brian Brown | 25 | -11.918 | Running | 128 | $2,300 | |
| 12 | 11 | -1 | 71 | Parker Price-Miller | 25 | -13.503 | Running | 126 | $2,250 | |
| 13 | 16 | +3 | 55 | Kerry Madsen | 25 | -13.681 | Running | 124 | $2,000 | |
| 14 | 21 | +7 | 11 | Justin Henderson | 25 | -14.884 | Running | 122 | $1,600 | |
| 15 | 20 | +5 | 1S | Logan Schuchart | 25 | -16.139 | Running | 120 | $1,500 | |
| 16 | 15 | -1 | 2C | Cole Macedo | 25 | -16.217 | Running | 118 | $1,300 | |
| 17 | 24 | +7 | 10 | Ryan Timms | 24 | -1 Laps | Running | 116 | $1,300 | |
| 18 | 13 | -5 | 17 | Spencer Bayston | 24 | -1 Laps | Running | 114 | $1,300 | |
| 19 | 9 | -10 | 28 | Jace Park | 24 | -1 Laps | Running | 112 | $1,300 | |
| 20 | 18 | -2 | 7S | Chris Windom | 24 | -1 Laps | Running | 110 | $1,300 | |
| 21 | 23 | +2 | 27C | Carson McCarl | 18 | -7 Laps | DNF | 108 | $1,300 | |
| 22 | 14 | -8 | 27 | Emerson Axsom | 11 | -14 Laps | DNF | 106 | $1,300 | |
| 23 | 19 | -4 | 15H | Sam Hafertepe Jr | 9 | -16 Laps | DNF | 104 | $1,300 | |
| 24 | 7 | -17 | 88 | Austin McCarl | 25 | -6.202 | DQ | 102 | $1,300 |
DIRTVision Highlights
Event Info
World of Outlaws Stars and Stripes Salute
Saturday, May 23rd to Saturday, May 23rd
Knoxville Raceway
1000 North Lincoln Street
Knoxville, IA, 50138
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with a doubleheader collaboration between Knoxville Raceway and Huset's Speedway. The first stop is at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 23, for a $20,000-to-win event.
2PM Pit Gates Open
5:30PM Gates Open
5:30PM World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Drivers Meeting
6PM Motor Heat
6:30PM World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Hot Laps
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying
Randall Roofing 360 Sprint Car Hot Laps
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Non Qualifiers Race(s) (8 Laps)-If Needed
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Heat Races (8 Laps)
--NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1
--The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race #2
--WIX Filters Heat Race #3
--Golf Cart Services Heat Race #4
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Toyota Dash Draw
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car D-Main (8 Laps)-If Needed
Randall Roofing 360 Sprint Car Heats
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car C-Main (10 Laps)-If Needed
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Toyota Dash (6 Laps)
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps)
Randall Roofing 360 Sprint Car Feature
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Feature (25 Laps)
*All times Central
Know Before You Go
Cooler Policy
Soft side, collapsible coolers no bigger than 6-pack size and empty are allowed
Alcohol
Alcohol is available at the track
Smoking
All grandstands are non-smoking. Smoking areas are available underneath stands.
Seating
Bench style, metal seats with backrests
General Admission: N/A
Reserved: All seating
Foam or other seat cushions are permitted as long as they are not more than 20" wide. Stadiums seats are NOT ALLOWED
Numbered seating available
Accessibility
Seating: Located in the front stretch grandstands. Wheelchairs and scooters seating is available in row 39 (AA & BB) Also is section D, row 1
Parking: Behind the front stretch grandstands and behind Dyer-Hudson Hall.
Parking
$15.00
Camping
Cost: Knoxville Nationals camping: Camping is $200 for all 4 days. A 4-day package is required to stay at the North Campground. Water and electric hookups are available.
Payments
Cards accepted: Concessions, Pit Gate, Ticket Window
ATMs available on-site
Knoxville Raceway
The Sprint Car Capital of the World!
Knoxville, Iowa
1000 North Lincoln Street , 50138
The Knoxville Raceway, located on the Marion County Fairgrounds, began as a track for horse racing. The first automobile race was held in 1901. Johnny Gerber and "Speed" Adams were among the drivers featured between 1927 and 1936 during racing’s growth in popularity.
Racing came to a halt in the early 1940s due to the war, and returned late in the decade with hot rod racing. Soon after, midget and stock car racing became common.
In 1954, weekly racing began at the Knoxville Raceway. By this time, lighting was added to the track, along with new fencing. Stock car racing was the primary attraction, which were passenger cars stripped of glass, innards and extra metal. Roll cages were often constructed inside the car as a safety precaution.
Events at the Knoxville Raceway were promoted by the Southern Iowa Stock Car Racing Association until 1956, when Marion Robinson took over as promoter. During Robinson's tenure, "modifieds", (a stock car with modifications made to the engine), and "supermodifieds" (modifieds with the car bodies cut away to eliminate weight), were the rage. Eventually, tubing replaced the car frames, giving way to the sprint car as we know it today. Under Robinson's leadership, the Knoxville Nationals were born.
P. Ray Grimes came into leadership at the Knoxville Raceway in 1974, promoting races until 1977. Grimes' legacy includes extending the length of the Knoxville Nationals to four days.
1977 brought about a new Race Director, Ralph Capitani. Capitani continued to build on the growth of his predecessors, increasing the payoff for the 4-day Knoxville Nationals event to $100,000. The first tape-delayed broadcast of the Nationals was in 1987, with the first live broadcast in 1993.
Known as the "Sprint Car Capital of the World," Knoxville Raceway is home to the most prestigious Sprint Car event on the planet—the Knoxville Nationals, often called "The Granddaddy of 'Em All." For Sprint Car racing, it's the equivalent of the Super Bowl.
Each August, more than 100 Sprint Cars from across the country descend on Knoxville to chase one of the sport's biggest prizes. While it doesn't offer the richest winner's check, the Knoxville Nationals boasts the largest overall purse in Sprint Car racing, with more than $1 million on the line.
The legendary half-mile also keeps fans entertained all season long as a weekly racing destination featured on DIRTVision, bringing Knoxville's action to race fans around the world.
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