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World of Outlaws 'Nashville West' Showdown
Bakersfield Speedway | Bakersfield, California
Friday, September 13, 2024
Race Recap  

BULLRING BANGER: Kofoid Bests Scelzi in Bakersfield Thriller

The two Californians trade the lead several times before Kofoid pulls away for fourth win of 2024

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid cut his teeth on the bullrings of California. And that upbringing was on full display Friday as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into Bakersfield Speedway.

The “Golden State’s” tight ovals are never easy to tame. Bakersfield proved to be no different. A narrow bottom, slick middle, and fast but technical cushion. But Kofoid couldn’t have looked more comfortable in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.

After charging from sixth to third in the Toyota Racing Dash, Kofoid lined up inside the second row for the 35-lap finale at the 1/3-mile. He quickly got to second before igniting a race-long war with pole sitter Giovanni Scelzi.

Kofoid fired slider after slider at the fellow Californian. Scelzi countered with crossover after crossover. They sliced through heavy traffic. They fought for every inch of space as the laps wound down. The winning move came on Lap 28 as Kofoid threw the slide job that stuck as Scelzi couldn’t drive back around exiting Turn 2.

A caution shortly after the move supplied Kofoid with clean air, and he used it to drive away to a victory on home turf.

“That was a really fun race with Gio,” Kofoid said. “Good, clean racing really hard. This is one of my favorite tracks in a Midget. I’d never ran a Sprint Car here. Now, it’s definitely up there. I just can’t thank Dylan (Buswell) enough. I’m super grateful to have someone like Dylan in my corner. In Sprint Car racing, you’re competing with guys that have been on the tour for a while. I’ve never really had a guy this long until now. I feel like Dylan and I just work well when it’s going good. It just feels easy. Not that it is because these are the best guys in the world.”

The win continued Kofoid and the Roth crew’s recent hot streak as they’ve won three of the last four races with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The 22-year-old hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the most recent eight outings. His fourth win of 2024 equals him with Donny Schatz for the fourth most this year.

Scelzi led the field to green with Landon Brooks alongside, but the initial start caused some carnage as Brooks spun from the front row in Turns 1 and 2 and collected several other vehicles.

Brooks’ misfortune lined Kofoid up on Scelzi’s outside for the second attempt to get the main event going. The second start proved to be much smoother as Scelzi pulled ahead of Kofoid to pace the first circuit.

It didn’t take long for the battle to start as Kofoid took his first shot at the lead only a few laps in. A Turn 1 slider cleared Scelzi, but the Fresno, CA driver crossed him over to get the lead right back down the back straightaway.

Cat and mouse became the story of the race’s opening half as Kofoid stayed all over Scelzi. It didn’t matter if they were in clean air or heavy traffic, Kofoid refused to let the KCP Racing No. 18 out of his sights. He attempted multiple more slide jobs that cleared but Scelzi countered each one.

Gio Scelzi races ahead of Buddy Kofoid at Bakersfield
It took several sliders, but Buddy Kofoid finally got by Giovanni Scelzi for the Bakersfield victory on Friday (Trent Gower Photo)

A restart with 15 laps to go proved to be pivotal in the outcome. Kofoid stuck with Scelzi when the green lights flashed and tried another slider into Turn 1 that didn’t quite clear. The missed attempt gave Scelzi the chance to drive away, but Kofoid had no plans of allowing that.

He stayed focused and up on the wheel as he reeled him back in. With seven laps remaining the necessary door opened as Kofoid cleared Scelzi in Turns 1 and 2, and Scelzi didn’t have the run he needed to roll back under Kofoid.

A caution one lap later opened up the track for Kofoid, and he took advantage by wheeling away to a popular triumph in his home state.

“I felt like I was really good in clear air,” Kofoid said. “So, when we had that yellow I wasn’t super worried. I knew we needed a shot. I just needed to not get tight.”

After leading the first 27 laps, Scelzi brought the KCP machine home second. He didn’t feel there was much he could’ve done different to hold off Kofoid. The Roth ride simply proved to be a little too fast to keep behind.

“I was hanging on from pretty early in the race,” Scelzi said. “We made changes every session because the track was changing so much. I felt like we stayed on top of it, just missed it. We got beat by a better driver and a better car tonight. So, I can’t be too upset. It’s our best run in a while.”

The three California World of Outlaws competitors swept the podium as Carson Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 home third. An ill-timed yellow flag took away a potential shot for Macedo to take the lead, but he still came away satisfied with his ninth top three in the last 14 races.

“It would’ve been nice for it to stick just because I think I would’ve at least came out of there in second. It seemed like Gio was going to cross me over there, but you never know,” Macedo explained. “At least I would’ve had somewhat of a shot at it. I feel like we were pacing pretty decent before then. It seemed like after that it was a little harder for me to keep pace. Buddy got good toward the end of the race there and was able to get aggressive, especially when they got to traffic. All in all, still a great effort for this team.”

Logan Schuchart and David Gravel completed the top five.

A 23rd to 11th run earned Garet Williamson the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Landon Brooks earned his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Buddy Kofoid and Giovanni Scelzi. Milton Hershey Heat Two went to Dylan Bloomfield.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Caeden Steele won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Austin McCarl.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their sixth appearance in Series history at California’s Merced Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 5. 2-David Gravel[7]; 6. 21-Cole Macedo[9]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 8. 57W-Jock Goodyer[10]; 9. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[8]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[15]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[23]; 12. 10-Dominic Gorden[24]; 13. 121-Caeden Steele[19]; 14. 17AU-Jamie Veal[20]; 15. 7S-Landon Crawley[11]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[17]; 17. 70-Kraig Kinser[21]; 18. 88N-DJ Netto[13]; 19. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[6]; 20. 6-Lachy McDonough[16]; 21. O-Tim Kaeding[18]; 22. 88-Austin McCarl[22]; 23. 45-Landon Brooks[2]; 24. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[14]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+283Michael Kofoid 350.0008Running150$12,000
21-118Giovanni Scelzi 35-1.79727Running146$8,000
34+141Carson Macedo 35-3.606Running144$5,000
45+11SLogan Schuchart 35-4.297Running142$3,200
57+22David Gravel 35-5.151Running140$2,800
69+321Cole Macedo 35-6.456Running138$2,600
712+515Donny Schatz 35-8.597Running136$2,400
810+257WJock Goodyer 35-9.257Running134$2,300
98-141SDominic Scelzi 35-10.673Running132$2,200
1015+517BBill Balog 35-11.330Running130$2,000
1123+1223Garet Williamson 35-12.049Running128$1,800
1224+1210Dominic Gorden 35-12.649Running126$1,600
1319+6121Caeden Steele 35-13.377Running124$1,400
1420+617AUJamie Veal 33-2 LapsRunning122$1,200
1511-47SLandon Crawley 33-2 LapsRunning120$1,200
1617+117Sheldon Haudenschild 27-8 LapsDNF118$1,200
1721+470Kraig Kinser 22-13 LapsDNF116$1,200
1813-588ND.J. Netto 20-15 LapsDNF114$1,200
196-1383VDylan Bloomfield 20-15 LapsDNF112$1,200
2016-46Lachy McDonough 19-16 LapsDNF110$1,200
2118-3OTim Kaeding 14-21 LapsDNF108$1,200
2222088Austin McCarl 9-26 LapsDNF106$1,200
232-2145Landon Brooks 0-35 LapsDNS104$1,200
2414-103Kaleb Montgomery 0-35 LapsDNS102$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Garet Williamson
Last Chance Showdown 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+2121Caeden Steele 120.000Running0$0
22017AUJamie Veal 12-1.399Running0$0
35+270Kraig Kinser 12-3.674Running0$0
46+288Austin McCarl 12-4.657Running0$0
57+223Garet Williamson 12-5.051Running0$0
64-210Dominic Gorden 12-5.874Running0$0
710+314Mariah Ede 12-6.766Running90$500
81-73ZBrock Zearfoss 6-6 LapsDNF90$400
99012BDawson Faria 3-9 LapsDNF90$350
108-22XJustin Sanders 0-12 LapsDNS90$300
111102KGauge Garcia 0-12 LapsDNS90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+118Giovanni Scelzi 80.0006Running0$0
21-145Landon Brooks 8-1.2372Running0$0
36+383Michael Kofoid 8-1.597Running0$0
43-141Carson Macedo 8-2.343Running0$0
5501SLogan Schuchart 8-3.455Running0$0
64-283VDylan Bloomfield 8-4.320Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+183Michael Kofoid 100.0009Running
21-145Landon Brooks 10-3.0741Running
3302David Gravel 10-4.052Running
44057WJock Goodyer 10-6.020Running
58+388ND.J. Netto 10-7.197Running
6606Lachy McDonough 10-8.971Running
770121Caeden Steele 10-9.808Running
85-33ZBrock Zearfoss 10-10.283Running
910+123Garet Williamson 10-11.336Running
109-114Mariah Ede 9-1 LapsRunning
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+183VDylan Bloomfield 100.00010Running
21-11SLogan Schuchart 10-0.508Running
33041SDominic Scelzi 10-1.965Running
4407SLandon Crawley 10-3.524Running
58+33Kaleb Montgomery 10-4.100Running
65-117Sheldon Haudenschild 10-4.368Running
77010Dominic Gorden 10-5.153Running
86-217AUJamie Veal 10-9.107Running
9902XJustin Sanders 0-10 LapsDNS
101002KGauge Garcia 0-10 LapsDNS
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11018Giovanni Scelzi 100.00010Running
22041Carson Macedo 10-0.570Running
34+121Cole Macedo 10-2.084Running
46+215Donny Schatz 10-3.397Running
53-217BBill Balog 10-4.301Running
65-1OTim Kaeding 10-6.779Running
77070Kraig Kinser 10-8.991Running
88088Austin McCarl 10-9.500Running
99012BDawson Faria 10-10.458Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11345Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA11.0090.000
241SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA11.036-0.027
31718Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.036-0.027
41083Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA11.075-0.066
5883VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA11.097-0.088
62541Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA11.108-0.099
7222David Gravel Watertown, CT11.122-0.113
8741SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA11.132-0.123
9517BBill Balog North Pole, AK11.135-0.126
10257WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS11.201-0.192
1137SLandon Crawley Benton, AR11.205-0.196
121221Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA11.214-0.205
13183ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.225-0.216
142117Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.226-0.217
151OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.234-0.225
1666Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA11.274-0.265
171117AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC11.300-0.291
182415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND11.332-0.323
1914121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA11.376-0.367
201610Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA11.437-0.428
211570Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN11.451-0.442
222888ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA11.462-0.453
23233Kaleb Montgomery Templeton, CA11.502-0.493
242688Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.523-0.514
251914Mariah Ede Fresno, CA11.547-0.538
26272XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA11.554-0.545
272012BDawson Faria Tipton, CA11.693-0.684
282923Garet Williamson Columbia, MO11.802-0.793
2992KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA13.251-2.242
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11083Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA11.0140.000
22541Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA11.151-0.137
3257WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS11.247-0.233
4883VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA11.257-0.243
5741SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA11.264-0.250
61OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.299-0.285
737SLandon Crawley Benton, AR11.355-0.341
841SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA11.369-0.355
9272XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA11.370-0.356
10517BBill Balog North Pole, AK11.374-0.360
11222David Gravel Watertown, CT11.395-0.381
122415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND11.423-0.409
132888ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA11.450-0.436
141221Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA11.467-0.453
1566Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA11.500-0.486
161117AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC11.501-0.487
172117Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.654-0.640
1814121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA11.655-0.641
192688Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.656-0.642
202923Garet Williamson Columbia, MO11.661-0.647
211610Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA11.770-0.756
2292KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA11.771-0.757
23233Kaleb Montgomery Templeton, CA11.795-0.781
241718Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.805-0.791
25183ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.808-0.794
261345Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA11.940-0.926
272012BDawson Faria Tipton, CA11.942-0.928
281914Mariah Ede Fresno, CA11.974-0.960
291570Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN12.141-1.127
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws 'Nashville West' Showdown

Friday, September 13, 2024

Bakersfield Speedway

5001 N Chester Ext

Bakersfield, California, 93308

Event Description
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are coming back to Bako!
For the 12th time in Series history, The Greatest Show on Dirt invades Bakersfield Speedway to battle the California locals.
Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Event Schedule

2:00PM Pit Gates open
5:00PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7:30PM Opening Ceremonies

*All times Pacific

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
Reserved: $45/$50 Day of Race
Adult GA: $40/$45 Day of Race
Child GA (6-12): $10
Grandstand Type
Bleachers
Family Section Location
Section D
Pit Pass Price
$50
Adult Pit Upgrade: $10
Child Pit Upgrade: $40
Parking Cost

Camping Availability

Onsite, non-electric

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00
Type of Grandstand
Bleachers
Stadium Seating
No Stadium Chairs allowed
Personal Coolers
No personal coolers allowed

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available at track
Smoking Policy
No smoking in section D
Family Section
Section D
Parking Cost

Camping Availability

Onsite, non-electric

Track Info  

Bakersfield Speedway

5001 N Chester Ext

Bakersfield, California, 93308

Track Phone
(661) 393-3373
Track Size
0.333
Track Map
Competitor Info  

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