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World of Outlaws Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown
Merced Speedway | Merced, California
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Race Recap  

UNBEATABLE BUDDY: Kofoid Cruises to Merced Victory, California Weekend Sweep

The Californian bags fourth victory in the last five races with a perfect night at Merced

Another day, another Michael “Buddy” Kofoid win.

The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as the hottest driver on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour with Roth Motorsports. And he delivered yet another piece of evidence at Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown hosted by Merced Speedway.

Kofoid flexed his muscle every time he hit the track on his way to a clean sweep. It started with his fifth Simpson Quick Time of the year, moved on to victories in NOS Energy Drink Heat One and the Toyota Racing Dash, and the punctuation mark was made with a commanding showing in the Feature.

The Penngrove, CA native started on the pole and led every circuit at the “Golden State” bullring. Thick traffic made things interesting on multiple occasions, but Kofoid made all the right moves on the path to yet another home state triumph.

“I feel like our car has just been exceptional,” Kofoid said. “It’s all those guys – Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra). They work so hard. They’ve just got us rolling. They’ve got me really comfortable and confident. You’ve got to have confidence on the Outlaw tour and really any Series that you’re doing. I feel like I just have a ton of confidence and know exactly what I’m going to get.

“Happy to get another win. Just want to say thank you to Dennis and Teresa Roth. I can’t thank them enough for letting me live my dream on the Outlaw tour. Being this good is just a lot of fun right now.”

After earning four victories in his first 120 Feature starts with The Greatest Show on Dirt, Kofoid has now reeled off four more in the last five starts, elevating his career total to eight. Half of them have come in his home state of California. He’s now made three total trips to Merced Victory Lane to go along with USAC National Midget checkered flags in 2021 and 2022. The Roth team now hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the last nine races with an average finish of second over that span.

The pole position for the 35-lapper belonged to Kofoid after taming the Toyota Racing Dash. One the green was displayed he darted ahead to an early advantage.

Some early yellows offered Kofoid a hand as they kept him out of lapped traffic throughout the early portion of the race with Tim Kaeding looking to pounce. A restart with 26 laps remaining nearly gave Kofoid a new challenger as Carson Macedo slid Kaeding for second, but another caution before the lap was complete returned the spot to “TK.”

That yellow proved to be the final one of the evening as the laps clicked away fast once the action resumed. Kofoid faced heavy traffic with a hungry Kaeding looking for his first Series win since 2015 right behind him.

Buddy Kofoid races ahead of Tim Kaeding at Merced Speedway
Buddy Kofoid had to hold off Roth Motorsports’ second winningest Outlaw – Tim Kaeding – to take the Roth No. 83 to Victory Lane at Merced (Trent Gower Photo)

A couple close calls nearly gave Kaeding the chance he needed as first Kofoid almost slipped over the cushion and off track in Turn 2, but he managed to keep the car within the banking. Then when he attempted to lap Landon Crawley, Kofoid slid sideways and nearly spun but managed to maintain control.

After the two near misses, Kofoid drove much smoother on his way to win number five in 2024 against the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

This hot streak couldn’t come at a better time for Kofoid as the Series now steers toward one of the season’s biggest events that happens to honor Kofoid’s car owner – the Dennis Roth Classic. Next weekend’s two-night event at Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway will send the winner home with a massive $83,000 payday as a nod to Roth’s iconic car number. With the great help of his crew chief Dylan Buswell, Kofoid is heading to Tulare having the most fun racing he’s ever had and with all the momentum in his corner.

“Dylan has helped me enjoy Sprint Car racing again,” Kofoid said. “There was a while where I wasn’t enjoying it and not questioning things, but I wasn’t in the best place I wanted to be in and should be in. Dylan, and of course Dennis and Teresa Roth and everyone involved, helped me find that drive again to just enjoy it. Obviously, you’ve got to have fun to enjoy it even at this professional level. Without Dylan, Nate, and Gage it wouldn’t be this fun. And obviously running good helps it become fun. Hopefully we can just keep this rolling and try to bring the Dennis Roth Classic back to the shop.”

Finishing second was San Jose, CA’s Tim Kaeding in the Williams Motorsports No. 0, marking his first appearance on the World of Outlaws podium since the 2019 Gold Cup opener at Silver Dollar Speedway. Kaeding has now finished second in four of the six Series races contested at Merced. He thought traffic might’ve given him a shot, but overall came away happy with the runner-up.

“He (Kofoid) kept trying to dive bomb some lapped cars there,” Kaeding said. “And I thought he was going to maybe slide across the racetrack and miss it a little bit, but he didn’t. Buddy is having the time of his life right now running for the Dennis Roth car. We just needed a little bit of luck there. I’m going to take second. That’s a win for us. We’ve struggled almost all year. We’ve had a fast race car, and it finally showed tonight.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing. The No. 41 has been within the top three in five of the last six outings as they continue to click away consistency. A 13th place run for David Gravel allowed Macedo to trim his point lead down to 86 markers.

“Ultimately, we’ve just got to keep putting good nights together,” Macedo said. “That’s what we’ve been able to do lately, and it’s paying off. Man, it was a wild race there. I felt like on that one restart I wish it would’ve went. We jumped up into second, but we didn’t quite go a lap so we ended up getting put back.”

D.J. Netto and Cole Macedo completed the top five.

A 24th to 14th run earned Shane Golobic the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Buddy Kofoid claimed his fifth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 10th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four belonged to Buddy Kofoid, D.J. Netto, and Sheldon Haudenschild. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Kraig Kinser won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Chance Grasty.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finalize the California swing in a big way with Thunderbowl Raceway’s (Tulare, CA) Dennis Roth Classic on Sept. 20-21 offering an $83,000 payday to the winner. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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[1]; 2. O-Tim Kaeding[2]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 4. 88N-DJ Netto[3]; 5. 21-Cole Macedo[6]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 7. 2X-Justin Sanders[16]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[12]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 11. 10-Dominic Gorden[15]; 12. 17AU-Jamie Veal[7]; 13. 2-David Gravel[17]; 14. 17W-Shane Golobic[24]; 15. 57W-Jock Goodyer[13]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[22]; 17. 83T-Tanner Carrick[23]; 18. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[10]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[19]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 21. 70-Kraig Kinser[21]; 22. X1-Chance Grasty[11]; 23. 45-Landon Brooks[9]; 24. 73-Ryan Bernal[20]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11083Michael Kofoid 350.00035Running150$12,000
220OTim Kaeding 35-0.566Running146$8,000
34+141Carson Macedo 35-0.990Running144$5,000
43-188ND.J. Netto 35-1.520Running142$3,200
56+121Cole Macedo 35-2.303Running140$2,800
68+217BBill Balog 35-3.018Running138$2,600
716+92XJustin Sanders 35-3.410Running136$2,400
814+618Giovanni Scelzi 35-3.894Running134$2,300
912+31SLogan Schuchart 35-4.756Running132$2,200
1018+815Donny Schatz 35-4.921Running130$2,000
1115+410Dominic Gorden 35-7.558Running128$1,800
127-517AUJamie Veal 35-8.065Running126$1,600
1317+42David Gravel 35-8.890Running124$1,400
1424+1017WShane Golobic 35-9.479Running122$1,200
1513-257WJock Goodyer 35-9.749Running120$1,200
1622+63ZBrock Zearfoss 35-10.310Running118$1,200
1723+683TTanner Carrick 35-10.942Running116$1,200
1810-841SDominic Scelzi 35-11.456Running114$1,200
191907SLandon Crawley 35-12.767Running112$1,200
205-1517Sheldon Haudenschild 34-1 LapsRunning110$1,200
2121070Kraig Kinser 34-1 LapsRunning108$1,200
2211-11X1Chance Grasty 9-26 LapsRunning106$1,200
239-1445Landon Brooks 9-26 LapsRunning104$1,200
2420-473Ryan Bernal 6-29 LapsRunning102$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Shane Golobic
Last Chance Showdown 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+170Kraig Kinser 00.000Running0$0
23+13ZBrock Zearfoss 0-0.107Running0$0
34+183TTanner Carrick 0-1.014Running0$0
45+117WShane Golobic 0-2.369Running0$0
57+223Garet Williamson 0-2.509Running0$500
68+22KGauge Garcia 0-4.411Running0$400
71-614Mariah Ede 0-5.233Running0$350
86-283VDylan Bloomfield 0-5.323Running0$300
910+1121Caeden Steele 0-5.768Running0$300
109-188Austin McCarl 0-6.352Running0$300
1113+23DCaleb Debem 0-7.454Running0$200
121206Lachy McDonough 0-9.030Running0$200
1311-276Jennifer Osborne 0-9.680Running0$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+183Michael Kofoid 00.000Running0$0
21-1OTim Kaeding 0-2.201Running0$0
33088ND.J. Netto 0-5.029Running0$0
44041Carson Macedo 0-5.154Running0$0
58+317Sheldon Haudenschild 0-5.971Running0$0
65-121Cole Macedo 0-6.764Running0$0
77017AUJamie Veal 0-7.958Running0$0
86-217BBill Balog 0-9.421Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11083Michael Kofoid 00.000Running
22017AUJamie Veal 0-3.303Running
34+145Landon Brooks 0-3.819Running
43-157WJock Goodyer 0-5.962Running
57+22David Gravel 0-6.814Running
6603ZBrock Zearfoss 0-7.969Running
75-270Kraig Kinser 0-9.845Running
88088Austin McCarl 0-9.904Running
9903DCaleb Debem 0-1.244Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 00.000Running
23+117BBill Balog 0-1.135Running
34+141SDominic Scelzi 0-3.765Running
42-218Giovanni Scelzi 0-4.806Running
55015Donny Schatz 0-5.471Running
68+283TTanner Carrick 0-7.867Running
76-183VDylan Bloomfield 0-8.434Running
87-1121Caeden Steele 0-9.327Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11088ND.J. Netto 00.000Running
220OTim Kaeding 0-1.677Running
35+2X1Chance Grasty 0-3.495Running
46+210Dominic Gorden 0-4.444Running
53-27SLandon Crawley 0-4.911Running
64-214Mariah Ede 0-6.009Running
78+123Garet Williamson 0-6.257Running
87-176Jennifer Osborne 0-7.492Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11017Sheldon Haudenschild 00.000Running
22021Cole Macedo 0-3.339Running
3301SLogan Schuchart 0-4.382Running
4402XJustin Sanders 0-6.057Running
55073Ryan Bernal 0-9.503Running
66017WShane Golobic 0-9.952Running
7702KGauge Garcia 0-10.793Running
8806Lachy McDonough 0-2.246Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1783Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA10.3870.000
22141Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA10.440-0.053
3488ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA10.530-0.143
41917Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH10.542-0.155
5617AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC10.637-0.250
62518Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA10.644-0.257
71OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA10.647-0.260
81121Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA10.659-0.272
91057WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS10.676-0.289
101317BBill Balog North Pole, AK10.717-0.330
1187SLandon Crawley Benton, AR10.746-0.359
12161SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA10.771-0.384
131745Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA10.780-0.393
141441SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA10.834-0.447
15314Mariah Ede Fresno, CA10.852-0.465
16272XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA10.865-0.478
17270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN10.880-0.493
182015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND10.888-0.501
1915X1Chance Grasty Suisun City, CA10.907-0.520
20973Ryan Bernal Hollister, CA10.950-0.563
21303ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.010-0.623
221283VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA11.045-0.658
231810Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA11.062-0.675
242217WShane Golobic Fremont, CA11.096-0.709
25332David Gravel Watertown, CT11.099-0.712
2623121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA11.124-0.737
27576Jennifer Osborne Geryserville, CA11.137-0.750
28242KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA11.230-0.843
292988Austin McCarl Altoona, IA11.305-0.918
302683TTanner Carrick Lincoln, CA11.344-0.957
313123Garet Williamson Columbia, MO11.403-1.016
32286Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA11.646-1.259
33323DCaleb Debem Salinas, CA12.232-1.845
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11917Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH10.3100.000
22141Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA10.481-0.171
31441SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA10.530-0.220
41745Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA10.562-0.252
52518Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA10.564-0.254
61317BBill Balog North Pole, AK10.571-0.261
7332David Gravel Watertown, CT10.592-0.282
82015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND10.596-0.286
92988Austin McCarl Altoona, IA10.601-0.291
10783Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA10.605-0.295
11272XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA10.625-0.315
12303ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA10.636-0.326
13161SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA10.649-0.339
1415X1Chance Grasty Suisun City, CA10.672-0.362
152683TTanner Carrick Lincoln, CA10.725-0.415
16242KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA10.742-0.432
17488ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA10.749-0.439
183123Garet Williamson Columbia, MO10.760-0.450
19617AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC10.765-0.455
2023121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA10.778-0.468
212217WShane Golobic Fremont, CA10.798-0.488
22270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN10.849-0.539
23314Mariah Ede Fresno, CA10.864-0.554
24576Jennifer Osborne Geryserville, CA10.873-0.563
251810Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA10.891-0.581
26973Ryan Bernal Hollister, CA10.905-0.595
27286Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA10.920-0.610
2887SLandon Crawley Benton, AR11.000-0.690
291121Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA11.010-0.700
301057WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS11.146-0.836
311OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA11.174-0.864
321283VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA11.261-0.951
33323DCaleb Debem Salinas, CA11.436-1.126
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Merced Speedway
900 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Merced, California 95341 

Event Description
The California swing continues with a trip to Merced Speedway for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars!
The Greatest Show on Dirt makes its sixth ever visit to the high banked bullring in the Golden State's central valley.

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
Covered grandstand with chair backs

Reserved Seating
Sections A-E Top 10 Rows

Pit Pass Price
$50
Adult Pit Upgrade: $10
Child Pit Upgrade: $40

Parking Cost
None

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Reserved Seating
Sections A-E Top 10 Rows

Type of Grandstand
Covered grandstand with chair backs

Personal Coolers
No outside food or drink.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol sold on site.

Smoking Policy
In the grass behind Turn 4

Parking Cost
None

Track Info  

Merced Speedway
900 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Merced, California 95341 

Track Phone
(209) 600-8382

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size
0.25

Track Type
Semi-banked

Closest Airport
Fresno Yosemite International Airport

Other Airport
Oakland International Airport

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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