DIRT 101
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Below are Answers to some of the most common DIRT racing questions
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is the premier sanctioning body for winged sprint car racing in the world. The series was founded by the late Ted Johnson in 1978, giving winged sprint car racers somewhere to compete with uniform rules and guaranteed purse money.
A World of Outlaws Sprint Car is a purpose-built open-wheel race car that must weigh at least 1,400 pounds with the driver in the car. The 410-cubic inch engine is fueled by methanol and produces approximately 900 horsepower.
2022 Sprint Car Specs:
Engine: 410 cubic inch max
Fuel System: Fuel injection
Horsepower: Approx 900 hp
Compression Ratio: 13-17:1
RPM: 8,000 – 9,000
Speed: Up to 160 mph
Powertrain: In/Out direct drive with quick change rear end
Lubrication: Dry sump oil system
Fuel: Methanol
Wheelbase: 86″ – 90″
Width: 77″
Weight: 1,400 lbs with the driver
Chassis: Chrome-moly frame
Suspension: Mostly torsion bar, some coil over
Ground Clearance: 6″ on right, 4″ on left
Tire Brand: Hoosier
Right Rear Tire: 22.5″ wide, 105″ circumference
Wheels: Aluminum
Steering System: Power steering
Brakes: Disc brakes
A large wing on top of the car with sideboards that face opposite directions produces a great amount of downforce to help keep the car planted on the track and turn in the corners. The wings also help to absorb energy in the case of the car getting airborne in an accident. Top wings became prominent in the early 1980s. The cars also have nose wings.
Sprint Cars do not have starters, so push trucks are used to fire the engine and get the car in gear. The car only has an in/out drive, no reverse.
The Series races from coast to coast. Some of the most well-known tracks on the circuit include: Eldora Speedway in Ohio, Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, Silver Dollar Speedway in California, and Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania.
The season traditionally opens in early February in Florida at the DIRTcar Nationals and concludes in early November with the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC.
Races take place from coast to coast and on dirt tracks ranging in size from a quarter mile to a 5/8-mile. The schedule consists of about 90 events and is considered one of the most grueling in all of motorsports.
Drivers Meeting — Prior to each night of racing, all World of Outlaws drivers and crew members attend a mandator meeting conducted by Series Officials. The meting outlines the night’s racing and any procedural changes that may be in place.
Hot Laps — Group practice sessions of three or more laps (depending on track size) are run at speed for drivers to ensure their cars are ready for qualifying. Groups are determined by a draw that also determines the order for time trails.
Qualifying (Time Trials) — Each driver runs two timed laps to determine where they will start in the Heat races. Any competitor who misses his spot in the qualifying order by more than two places is allowed one lap at the end of time trails with restrictions placed on how well they can officially be scored.
Heat Races (or Heats) — A series of 8- to 12-lap races (depending on size of track) that determine which cars will move on to the Feature or Last Chance Showdown. The top five cars in the Heats transfer when there are four heat races. If there are three heat races, then the top six transfer to the Feature. The number of Heats depends on the number of cars.
DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash — The top two finishers from each of the Heats qualify for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, which determines their starting order in the Feature. The drivers draw for their place in the Dash lineup.
Last Chance Showdown — This is the final chance a driver has to make it into the Feature. The top 4-6 drivers (depending on car totals/heat races) in an 8 to 12 lap race (depending on track size) will transfer to the back of the Feature lineup.
NOS Energy Drink Feature — The final race of the night determines the champion, who enters Victory Lane followed by the second and third place finishers. These three constitute the Podium. Depending on the size of the track, the Feature usually ranges from 25 to 40 laps, which is predetermined and shared with the drivers and teams at the Drivers Meeting.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Radio Frequencies are
451.9250
452.0250
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is the nation’s premier traveling tour for dirt Late Model stock cars. A cousin of the longer-running World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series that was founded by the late Ted Johnson in 1978, the Late Model Series first ran in 1988-89 under the direction of Johnson. The series sat dormant until being rekindled in 2004 by World Racing Group and has grown each season since then to take its place as the most competitive and lucrative tour for dirt Late Model racers.
A dirt Late Model is a full-bodied, purpose-built race car that headlines arguably the most popular dirt track division in the U.S. and Canada. There is no cubic inch limit for the aluminum-head engines, but most teams use power plants of 400-430 cubic inches that produce over 800 horsepower. Dozens of builders construct dirt Late Model chassis, and the bodies of the cars are designed to resemble popular street-car makes from manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, etc. The cars weigh 2,350 pounds and run on racing gasoline.
The tour has visited tracks up and down the East Coast, heading as far north as Ontario and as far south as Florida; along the Gulf Coast; and throughout the Midwest and Great Plains. Some of the nation’s most well-known tracks will host events in 2019 for the Late Model Series including Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania; The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina; Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida; Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois; and Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series season traditionally opens in mid-February and concludes in early November with the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC – this year from Nov 7-9. The national tour – loaded with some of dirt Late Model racing’s heaviest hitters – includes 47 races in 16 states in 2019.
Yes! DIRTVision provides live broadcast coverage of every World of Outlaws Late Model Series event on the season schedule, as well as the entire DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour. Fans can purchase a monthly subscription at $39.99 monthly subscription or a $299.99 yearly subscription that gets them access to every World of Outlaws Late Model event except the USA Nationals in August. Individual event pay-per-views will still be available for an average price of $24.99 per night.
A standard, one-day show is headlined by a 50-lap Feature race that pays $10,000 to win from a total purse of around $50,000. There are some shorter, 40-lap events that carry an $8,000 top prize and several longer, multi-day, crown-jewel races that offer blockbuster payoffs, like the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway ($50,000 to win), the Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway ($30,000), the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury American Legion Speedway ($30,000) and the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway – a two-night showdown ($15,000 to-win finale).
For winning the 2021 Series title, Brandon Sheppard was rewarded with a $150,000 points fund check, a championship ring, and the traditional World of Outlaws trophy for his efforts throughout the year.
Only the biggest names in dirt Late Model racing have been able to join the select group of World of Outlaws Late Model Series title holders. Arkansas legend Billy Moyer holds three championships (1988, 1989, 2005); Tennessee’s Scott Bloomquist won the first crown of the tour’s modern era in 2004; New York-native Tim McCreadie came out on top of a titanic six-driver battle for the title in 2006; Kentucky’s Steve Francis broke through for his first title in 2007 after finishing second in the points standings three times; Another Kentuckian, Darrell Lanigan, set a record for largest points margin by a champion in 2008 and won the title again in 2012; 21-year-old West Virginian Josh Richards became the youngest champ in series history in 2009, backed it up in 2010 by putting himself in the record books as the first repeat champion since World Racing Group began operating the series in 2004, earned a World Racing Group-era record third points crown in 2013, and won again in 2016 where he broke the all-time single season win record. Longtime Series regular Rick Eckert broke through for his first crown in 2011 after a dramatic battle with Richards that was decided on the final lap of the season; Georgia-native Shane Clanton earned the championship title in 2015 but has finished second in the overall points standings three times; Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL scored the Series championship after a dominant season in 2017 with 18 wins, tying Richards’ single-season wins record. And most recently, Tennessee’s Mike Marlar became the second driver from his home state to win the title after a nail-biting championship battle that came down to the last race of the 2018 season over 2017 champ Sheppard and Series veteran Chris Madden.
Points are awarded for finishing positions in the Feature and Last Chance Showdown events, and to drivers who enter a program and fail to qualify. The Feature winner receives 150 points, second place receives 146 points, third place receives 144 points and so on. Drivers who do not start a Last Chance Showdown receive 60 points.
An evening at a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event occurs in the following order:
Drivers Meeting – Prior to each night of racing, all World of Outlaws drivers attend a mandatory meeting, which is conducted by the World of Outlaws Competition Director and other Series officials. The meeting outlines the night’s racing events and any procedural changes that may be in place.
Hot Laps – A practice session held prior to time trials that allows drivers and teams to fine-tune their cars. Hot laps are run in groups, with each driver assigned to their group by the pill draw that determined the order for time trials. Each driver is allotted three or more laps (depending on track size) at speed in order to ensure that their car is ready for qualifying.
Time Trials – Each competitor is given two timed laps to determine where they will start in a heat race. If a competitor misses their spot in the qualifying order (determined by a pill draw when each driver signs in at the Series control trailer) by more than two places, by rule they are relegated to one lap at the end of time trials and the best they can qualify is 50 percent-plus-one of the overall number of qualifiers no matter what qualifying time they post.
Heat Race –A 10-lap race that determines the drivers who will move on to the Feature or Last Chance Showdown. Depending on the number of heat races needed for the field of cars on hand, the top three, four or six finishers in each preliminary transfer directly to the Feature and the remainder of the finishers move on to the Last Chance Showdown. The heat races are aligned from the results of time trials – ie., the driver who earns the fastest-time starts from the pole position in the first heat, second-fastest starts from the pole in Heat 2, etc.
Redraw –The top six to eight drivers (dependent upon the amount of heat races that take place) report to the front stretch of the racetrack before the Last Chance Showdown to redraw for starting positions. The starting positions will be within in the first three to four rows of the Feature event.
Last Chance Showdown –This is the final chance a driver has to qualify for the Feature. Depending on the number of heat races run, the top two, three or more finishers in a Last Chance Showdown will transfer into the night’s headline event. Last Chance Showdown distances are set at 12 laps. The two highest-ranked drivers in the Series points standings who do not qualify receive provisional spots to start at the rear of the Feature; track promoters have the option to add more provisional starters at their discretion.
Feature –The final race of the night which decides who is the overall winner of the event. The Feature is normally 40, 50 or 100 laps and the purses offered increase correspondingly with the length of the race. Caution-flag laps do not count toward the total laps completed. Additionally, the Feature must finish with at least two consecutive laps of green-flag racing.
